《After Being Reborn, Her Only Mission Is to Love Him》


 Chapter 1 - 1 Song Sinian, will you marry me?

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Song Sinian, will you marry me?


    Late at night, a sound echoed through the empty villa.


    ¡°Is the person taken care of?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s already eaten the stuff, the drug should take effect soon. Remember to be neat about it, she won¡¯t have the chance to regret it when the time comes!¡±


    Lying on the bedroom sofa, Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows, sitting up in a groggy state.


    She was still clutching Song Sinian¡¯s photo frame in her arms.


    The man¡¯s features were extremely handsome; even a scholarly pair of gold-rimmed glasses couldn¡¯t hide a hint of his cold, noble demeanor.


    To this day, she couldn¡¯t believe that the man was already dead, and the ridiculous thing was, he died the day after their divorce.


    The burning sensation on her body made her chest feel as though it was scorched by fire, desperately seeking relief.


    She staggered to her feet, the choking sensation of being unable to breathe causing her to clutch at her collar tightly.


    Suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open from the outside.


    Xiao Mo, standing at the door, was taken aback to see Lu Zhaozhao still awake.


    ¡°You... why are you in my house?¡± Lu Zhaozhao twisted her brows, desperately pinching her palm, trying to keep herself conscious.


    This man was one of Song Sinian¡¯s acquaintances but not really a friend; he was gentle and warm, but Song Sinian didn¡¯t seem to like him much.


    Since returning from Song Sinian¡¯s funeral, she had stayed at home alone and hadn¡¯t opened the door for anyone.


    The only people besides her with a key to this villa were herself and Song Sinian.


    ¡°Ha! Goddammit!¡± Xiao Mo rubbed his hair irritably. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to force things, but who would have thought you¡¯d still be awake?¡±


    His sleazy eyes roamed over Lu Zhaozhao, who was breathing heavily, landing on her disheveled shirt.


    His vile appearance bore no trace of the previously polite demeanor.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a step back, gripping the photo frame in her hand even tighter, ¡°Get out of my house before I call the police!¡±


    Xiao Mo let out a cold laugh, his narrow eyes carrying a venomous look as he slowly closed in on her, ¡°Do you really think you have a choice? I¡¯d advise you to give in quietly... Ah!¡±


    His words were cut off as Lu Zhaozhao slammed the photo frame onto his forehead with great force.


    Seizing the moment Xiao Mo was disoriented, she immediately ran toward the corner of the staircase.


    But at the end of the hallway, she saw a familiar figure¡ªXiao Jinglan, Song Sinian¡¯s stepmother.


    The person who had been kindest to her in the Song Family.


    Was she here because she was worried about Lu Zhaozhao?


    ¡°Aunt Xiao, run... run quickly! Xiao Mo, he...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words cut off as a cold dagger pressed against her neck.


    Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Xiao Jinglan, realizing then that she and Xiao Mo were in cahoots.


    Xiao Jinglan scolded the approaching Xiao Mo from the darkness, ¡°Can¡¯t you even do this simple task right? You let her escape? If I hadn¡¯t been still here, the whole plan would¡¯ve been exposed!¡±


    Xiao Mo, clutching his bloody head, frowned in irritation, ¡°You have the nerve to say that? Wasn¡¯t it you who said the drug would work quickly? Why is she still awake?!¡±


    ¡°Why...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice was tinged with desperation, echoing starkly in the empty and quiet corridor.


    Xiao Jinglan laughed scornfully as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Why? Because Song Sinian left all his wealth to you, his ex-wife!¡±


    ¡°How is that possible...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes trembled slightly.


    The man she¡¯d married for three years hadn¡¯t so much as touched her and even sent her an inexplicable divorce agreement at the end.


    Why would he leave all his wealth to her?


    Seeing her reaction, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s lips curled up with satisfaction, ¡°You didn¡¯t know how much he loved you, did you? It¡¯s also true, how could that freak, who can¡¯t even control his basic expressions, ever be loved by anyone? Hahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to have suddenly understood something, ¡°It was you... it¡¯s always been you...¡±


    Her kindness at the Lu Family, her nagging, it was all aimed against Song Sinian!


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re quite smart,¡± Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression suddenly turned sinister, ¡°Thanks to you, that kid got to feel what it¡¯s like to be despised by the person he loved the most...¡±


    She leaned in close to Lu Zhaozhao and spoke word by word, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know, but that child had severe depression before.¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡± The last strand of rationale in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind completely crumbled in an instant.


    Was it her, was she the one... who killed Song Sinian?!


    Unforgivable! How much suffering had that man endured over these three years!


    A suffocating feeling overwhelmed her, and the excruciating pain spreading throughout her limbs dragged her into a deep abyss of utter despair.


    She lunged at Xiao Jinglan and, clutching her tightly, hurled them both down the stairs with force.


    Song Sinian, I¡¯m sorry.


    I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll never have the chance to repay you in this lifetime.


    ¡°If there¡¯s a next life... I¡¯ll definitely love you well...¡±


    ...


    ¡°Miss Lu?¡±


    ¡°Miss Lu, wake up?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao faintly heard someone calling her.


    Was she still alive?


    She slowly opened her eyes, the warm sunlight was a bit blinding, and she subconsciously raised her hand to shield her forehead, but she was startled when she saw the man opposite her.


    It was, Song Sinian.


    His cold, handsome features were just as distant and indifferent as she remembered, and his pale complexion was accentuated by the dark-colored suit he wore.


    Perhaps it was the effect of the sunlight, but his inherently cold and aloof demeanor seemed to carry a bit more warmth.


    It looked like she really was dead.


    Otherwise, why would she see Song Sinian?


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, tears of grievance, like beads off a broken string, started pouring from her eyes.


    Song Sinian and Zhao Xi, who stood behind him, didn¡¯t seem to expect this reaction from Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°If you dislike it, there¡¯s no need to force yourself,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice was low, as if shrouded in a layer of fog.


    The gold-rimmed glasses on his nose caught a few strands of cold, dark light from the sunset outside the window.


    He spoke and nodded at Lu Zhaozhao, then stood up to leave.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± Lu Zhaozhao suddenly got up and bumped into the table.


    A dining knife that had been lying on the table slid off and the sharp serrated edge grazed the back of her hand.


    ¡°Hisss...¡±


    She could actually... feel pain?


    Lu Zhaozhao stared at the tiny beads of blood forming on the back of her hand, utterly stunned.


    She wasn¡¯t dreaming?


    This was the real world!


    She glanced subconsciously at the mobile phone on the table; the date on the calendar was clearly three years in the past!


    It was the day she first met Song Sinian!


    In her previous life, Song Sinian had a reputation for being a bloodthirsty psychopath, and no woman dared to come close, let alone marry him.


    And she was forced to meet for a marriage interview because the Lu Family needed funds.


    So their first meeting wasn¡¯t pleasant, and just like that, Song Sinian had hurriedly left.


    Their next meeting would not be until two months later!


    No, absolutely not!


    She couldn¡¯t let him just leave like that! As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, she grabbed onto the cuff of Song Sinian¡¯s sleeve even more tightly.


    ¡°You¡¯re injured.¡± A cool voice brought her thoughts back to reality.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked, looking at Song Sinian standing in place, unsure of what to say.


    He might be seeing her for the first time, but she had been married to him for three years...


    And had been divorced by him.


    Suddenly, a long hand rested on her cheek, a thumb gently wiping away a tear from beneath her eye.


    The warm touch left Lu Zhaozhao slightly dazed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry, I¡¯ll take you to get bandaged.¡±


    His voice was as distant as ever, but he bent down to meet her gaze eye-to-eye.


    Was it her imagination?


    She felt that Song Sinian was a little different from the previous life.


    Seemingly... very gentle toward her.


    With her head reeling, she was directly escorted by Song Sinian to the back seat of the car.


    There was an emergency medical kit in the car, and her hand wound was promptly treated.


    Looking at the gauze taped to her hand, and then at Song Sinian, who was putting the medical kit away, Lu Zhaozhao decisively said, ¡°Song Sinian, let¡¯s get married.¡±

 Chapter 2 - 2 Shes Going to Be an Arrogant and Domineering Villainess!

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2 She¡¯s Going to Be an Arrogant and Domineering Villainess!


    Song Sinian¡¯s body suddenly stiffened, and his eyes gradually turned dark and cold. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    His expressionless face showed no emotion, but the light in his eyes was clear and piercing.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s scalp tingled instantly.


    How could Song Sinian possibly agree to such a preposterous thing as a flash marriage?


    In their previous life, they had known each other for a full two years before they got married under Xiao Jinglan¡¯s urging.


    This time she couldn¡¯t make the same mistake. To save Song Sinian, she had to take the initiative.


    Thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s hand directly. ¡°I, I fell for you at first sight! I want to marry you...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao saw that he didn¡¯t respond and could only proceed to tug at his sleeve gently, ¡°Please~ Please~ marry me...¡±


    Her voice grew softer with the words that followed, but her ears and cheeks became redder and redder...


    This was so embarrassing.


    It was the first time she had acted coquettishly in front of Song Sinian.


    If he didn¡¯t agree...


    ¡°Then... let¡¯s get married.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± He agreed just like that?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t believe her ears, her eyes wide with astonishment. She hadn¡¯t misheard him, had she?


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao in a daze, Song Sinian turned to look at Zhao Xi, who was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, and said indifferently, ¡°Go to the civil affairs bureau.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao became flustered for a moment, ¡°I... I...¡±


    Song Sinian held her small hand, his brow slightly furrowed, ¡°Don¡¯t move your hand.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Lu Zhaozhao immediately complied obediently.


    She had always known that Song Sinian was efficient, but this was too efficient, wasn¡¯t it?


    The first blind date and they were getting a marriage certificate on the spot?


    Song Sinian raised his eyes, his glance carrying a hint of scrutiny as he spoke slowly, ¡°You... are not satisfied?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt his gaze like a sweat-inducing spotlight and immediately shook her head, ¡°No, I¡¯m very satisfied! It¡¯s just that I seem to have forgotten some documents...¡±


    At that moment, Zhao Xi, who was driving, suddenly spoke up, ¡°Miss Lu, don¡¯t worry. These documents can be completed later. As long as you have your ID card, you and sir can go ahead and get the certificate.¡±


    He said this, offering a polite nod through the rearview mirror.


    Now Lu Zhaozhao was completely bewildered; even though it was her initiative, why did it feel like Song Sinian was more afraid of her escaping?


    Uh, it must be an illusion!


    Even after receiving the marriage certificate, Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t snapped out of that illusion.


    Looking at the photo on the marriage certificate in her hand, Lu Zhaozhao still heard Song Sinian¡¯s recent words echoing, ¡°Go back and pack up; tomorrow I¡¯ll have the driver take you home.¡±


    Today had been the day Song Sinian talked to her the most in years.


    She walked towards the community entrance in a daze, clutching the marriage certificate.


    In the distance, inside the parked sedan, the man was propping up his chin, quietly watching that graceful silhouette disappear from his field of vision through the window.


    The inside of the car was especially quiet, with only the blinking indicator light making a soft ¡°tick-tock¡± sound.


    ¡°Sir, why did you agree to get a certificate with Miss Lu?¡± Zhao Xi lifted his gaze towards where Lu Zhaozhao had vanished, a flicker of puzzlement in his eyes.


    What was so special about this Miss Lu that made their master agree to get a certificate the moment he saw her?


    There had been no intention to get married before.


    And after personally bandaging Lu Zhaozhao earlier, he had held onto her hand and never let go...


    It seemed he was very satisfied with her.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t even lift an eyelid as he replied indifferently, ¡°She said she fell for me at first sight and wanted to marry me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s mouth twitched. He wasn¡¯t deaf; the two had just been under his watch.


    How could he possibly not have heard?


    ¡°Sir...¡± Zhao Xi hesitated for a moment, ¡°You don¡¯t really believe it, do you?¡±


    Finally, Song Sinian regained his gaze and lazily gave him a straight look, blurting out, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s brow furrowed even tighter, ¡°Then why are you still marrying Miss Lu?¡±


    ¡°Why...¡± Song Sinian muttered the word to himself. His eyelids drooped slightly as he gently twiddled his fingertips that seemed to still retain the previous touch.


    Soft, warm, and a nice feel to it.


    And she wasn¡¯t scared of him at all.


    Nor did she dislike his touch.


    His fist suddenly clenched. This feeling wasn¡¯t bad.


    Seeing that Song Sinian didn¡¯t speak, Zhao Xi asked again, ¡°Is this the first time you¡¯ve met Miss Lu?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils lowered as he subconsciously stroked the colorful woven bracelet on his wrist; it seemed a little worn on the outside from wearing it for too long.


    After all these years, she was still as adorable as she was when she was a child, irresistibly making people want to cling to her tightly.


    Faced with Song Sinian¡¯s silence, Zhao Xi immediately understood.


    Definitely not the first time!


    Their master has always been straightforward, not fond of lying. The meaning behind his silence was self-explanatory.


    What charm does this Miss Lu Zhaozhao possess to shake the deep-sea iceberg of their master?


    It seemed they¡¯d have to be more careful around her from now on...


    Since Mr. and Mrs. Lu had gone on a trip out of town and had not returned, there was little resistance on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s part.


    The next morning, Lu Zhaozhao packed up briefly and was picked up by the driver sent by Song Sinian.


    When she arrived at the destination, she was stunned.


    Was this... Song Sinian¡¯s villa?


    In her past life, even after she registered her marriage with Song Sinian, she lived in the Song Mansion for over a year before she had the chance to stay here.


    Now she could actually live here directly?


    Was it because she had made different choices in this life, so the future had changed?


    Lu Zhaozhao entered the door in a daze, only to see a familiar figure at the entrance.


    ¡°Young Master has already instructed us to prepare a comfortable guest room for Miss Lu.¡±


    The familiar voice, with not a single change in lines.


    She was Song Sinian¡¯s female housekeeper, Liao Yan. It was said that she had already been with the Song Family since Song Sinian was very young.


    Even in her past life, after marrying Song Sinian for over a year, this woman still referred to her as Miss Lu.


    Taking advantage of her seniority in the Song Family, she had not spared any effort to torment her.


    With Song Sinian seldom returning home, they even purposefully gave her spoiled food, locked her in the storage room, and once, during a heavy rain, locked her on an uncovered balcony all night long.


    Thinking back now, after each psychological and physical torment in her previous life, Xiao Jinglan had suspiciously appeared at the right time to aid her.


    The outdoor sunlight was brilliant, and the bright rays shone on the floor, making Liao Yan¡¯s wrinkled face appear even more sinister.


    Lu Zhaozhao tossed her luggage to the side and slightly lifted her chin, her eyes sharply fixed on Liao Yan, ¡°Song Si and I are newlyweds, what do you mean by arranging this?¡±


    Liao Yan¡¯s contemptuous gaze swept over Lu Zhaozhao as she feigned ignorance, ¡°All our arrangements are made according to the Young Master¡¯s requests. If Miss Lu has any dissatisfaction, she can speak directly to the Young Master.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced up at the camera in the corner of the living room; it showed no reaction.


    Although the time of her stay at Song Sinian¡¯s place had changed, Liao Yan¡¯s actions remained the same.


    In her previous life, she knew she was coming, so she deliberately turned off the surveillance camera at home, threw all her luggage out as trash in front of the other servants, and even had people tear her clothes.


    At that time, she had suffered immensely from her fake identity as Lu Family¡¯s illegitimate daughter and from unbearable gossip.


    Originally, she was quite pleased when Song Sinian asked her to move to his place, but she hadn¡¯t expected to encounter such an incident on the first day, leaving her physically and emotionally drained, and she fell ill.


    From that day on, the servants of the Song Family figured she was an easy target, too scared to bring matters to Song Sinian¡¯s attention, and they grew increasingly cruel towards her.


    In her past life, she was brainwashed by Xiao Jinglan, believing that Song Sinian liked graceful, virtuous ladies, women who wouldn¡¯t trouble him in any way, so she suffered in silence...


    But now... no more restraint! She would become the arrogant vixen she was destined to be!

 Chapter 3 - 3 You Can Leave Once Youve Heard This Clearly!

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3 You Can Leave Once You¡¯ve Heard This Clearly!


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I might as well call my dear husband directly...¡± Lu Zhaozhao said as she took out her phone to dial Song Sinian¡¯s number.


    Liao Yan indeed panicked instantly, rushing forward to stop her, ¡°The young master must be at work right now; he hates being disturbed the most. It¡¯s better for Miss Lu not to touch this taboo.¡±


    Her words clearly carried a warning tone.


    Lu Zhaozhao snorted lightly and gestured with her hand, beckoning Liao Yan to come closer.


    Liao Yan, not understanding why, approached subconsciously.


    With a ¡°slap,¡± the sharp sound of a palm striking flesh echoed through the living room.


    The other servants present were all stunned; they hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to actually hit someone.


    And it was the housekeeper she had hit.


    Liao Yan fell to the ground, glaring at Lu Zhaozhao with uncontrollable anger, ¡°Have you lost your mind?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked coldly at Liao Yan, mockingly curling the corner of her mouth, ¡°I¡¯m just doing what my husband requested. If you have any complaints about my actions, you can take it up with him directly.¡±


    Liao Yan had been with Song Sinian for so long, she knew all too well that he never cared about such trivial matters. Even if she spoke up, it would be ignored.


    She had heard from Xiao Jinglan that Lu Zhaozhao was just a marriage partner, and they had gotten the certificate after meeting just once. Song Sinian probably didn¡¯t have much affection for her.


    She had wanted to intimidate this young girl so that she would be submissive in the future, but she didn¡¯t expect her to be so ungrateful.


    Liao Yan clenched her fists, her already wrinkled face filled with resentment, ¡°I¡¯m sent by Mrs. Lu to take care of the young master. What you are doing¡ªAh!¡±


    Before she could finish speaking, her face was struck hard again by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s slap.


    It was bad enough not to mention Xiao Jinglan, but the moment she did, Lu Zhaozhao could no longer contain her anger.


    She had just been suspecting whether Liao Yan was colluding with Xiao Jinglan, and now it was confirmed!


    She had definitely been influenced by Xiao Jinglan.


    That woman allowed everyone to bully her, insult her, and yet she alone put on a facade of kindness and saintliness in front of her.


    All for the purpose of controlling her, hurting Song Sinian...


    With that in mind, Lu Zhaozhao stopped holding back, grabbed Liao Yan, and delivered a flurry of slaps to her face.


    ¡°You! Ah!¡± ¡°Slap!¡±


    ¡°Slut! Ah!¡± ¡°Slap!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Slap!¡±


    The other servants were shocked by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ferocity, and those who had wanted to intervene were left frozen in place.


    They watched as Liao Yan¡¯s face turned into a pig¡¯s head.


    After a moment, Lu Zhaozhao stopped and sat back on the couch, her gaze sweeping over the servants present, ¡°I am now the lady of the Song Family. Even if you don¡¯t like it, you¡¯ll have to hold it in, and you¡¯d better not let me find out, otherwise, she will be your fate!¡±


    The other servants who had been in cahoots with Liao Yan exchanged glances furtively.


    ¡°Miss Lu, it¡¯s your first day in the Song Family and you¡¯re already so overbearing; I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t last long in the Song Family!¡±


    ¡°We cannot accept someone like Miss Lu, I¡¯m afraid. We will not serve a woman who is both violent and malicious!¡±


    ¡°If what Miss Lu has done today gets back to the young master, I¡¯m afraid Mrs. Lu¡¯s position won¡¯t be very secure!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Clap, clap, clap!¡±


    Listening to the servants in front of her, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but applaud, ¡°Well said. Since you are all so principled, I¡¯ll grant your wish. As of today, you are all fired.¡±


    Her tone was light and airy, yet it stunned all the servants present.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have the right!¡± Liao Yan was the first to growl, but the pain from her swollen, reddened face made her instantly bare her teeth in a grimace.


    Lu Zhaozhao sneered coldly, her icy gaze swept over her, ¡°Whether you acknowledge it or not, I am Song Sinian¡¯s legal wife, and I certainly have the power to dismiss a few servants.¡±


    Having said that, Lu Zhaozhao waved her hand as if shooing away an annoying fly, ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve heard me clear enough, now scram!¡±


    The other servants panicked immediately, working for the Song Family was easy with high pay, and more importantly, the masters never interfered with their affairs.


    Liao Yan bit her teeth in dissatisfaction, ¡°You will regret it! Arriving at the Song Family and driving out all the servants on the first day, what do you think people outside will say about you, the new bride?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips suddenly curled into a smile, yet there was no trace of warmth in her eyes, ¡°Do you think I care? With the wealth of the Song Family, do you think we lack servants?¡±


    She slowly stood up, looking down at Liao Yan with an air of superiority, ¡°On the other hand, you servants being cast out with your loose tongues, who would want to hire you?¡±


    The servants present were absolutely struck by lightning.


    They had sided with Liao Yan due to her seniority and the fact that Xiao Jinglan valued her, and collectively bullied the new mistress of the household.


    But they had all forgotten, no matter how senior Liao Yan was, or how valued, she was nothing more than a servant.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at them trembling like quails, their necks shrunk, not daring to meet her gaze, and snorted lightly before returning to her room.


    She had originally thought it was because of her background that the servants of the Song Family looked down on her...


    She had never expected Xiao Jinglan¡¯s involvement.


    It was only after two years of knowing Song Sinian in her previous life did she find out that she was not actually born into the Lu Family, and that the Lu Family already knew, that¡¯s why they didn¡¯t care about Song Sinian¡¯s bad reputation and allowed her to be engaged to him.


    Even after the real Lu Family daughter returned two years later, because of her poor relationship with Song Sinian, they insisted she, the counterfeit heiress, fulfill the marriage contract.


    The Lu Family revealed her adopted status the day after her marriage registration with Song Sinian, paving the way for their real daughter.


    Because of her false identity, she was mocked mercilessly in the Song Family.


    Yet the Lu Family did not care about her wellbeing at all, they simply traded her to Song Sinian for a contract.


    Now that she had been reborn, she would no longer be manipulated like in her previous life!


    To take control, she first needed to have bargaining chips.


    After closing her room door, Lu Zhaozhao immediately went to the sofa in her room and picked up her laptop.


    If she remembered correctly, there was an auction coming up that would rock the entire country.


    Because at this auction, priceless masterpieces were sold.


    Yet her focus was not on these paintings, but on a work named ¡°Remembrance,¡± which at that time only sold for one hundred thousand yuan.


    But shortly after, the artist passed away.


    And ¡°Remembrance,¡± as the artist¡¯s last masterwork, saw its price skyrocket tenfold.


    She learned about all of this from the casual conversations of other wealthy ladies while she was at the Song Family.


    If she could secure that painting at the auction, she would have her startup capital.


    Now the issue was how to get a ticket to the auction...


    Lu Zhaozhao nestled with her laptop on the sofa, her hand still slightly swollen from slapping Liao Yan, she looked at her somewhat swollen palm and then at the silent, empty room.


    She couldn¡¯t help but let out a light sigh; it felt good to hit her, but staying in his room without Song Sinian¡¯s approval, she wondered what he would say when he came back in the evening.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly; it looked like she would have to resort to that method...

 Chapter 4 - 4 How should she take the initiative?

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4 How should she take the initiative?


    When Sinian returned to the villa, the sky had already turned completely dark.


    Unlike most days, there wasn¡¯t a single servant in sight.


    He changed his shoes and walked upstairs, only slowing his pace when he saw a faint light at the bedroom door.


    Pushing open the door, the scene in front of him was somewhat beyond his expectations.


    Under the dim light, Zhaozhao was curled up asleep on the sofa.


    Her hair, spread out beside her, was still damp with moisture, and if he moved closer, he could smell the sweet scent of oranges on her.


    And... the smell of alcohol.


    Sinian¡¯s gaze swept around and landed on three empty beer cans near the leg of the table.


    He slightly raised his eyebrows. From the information Zhao Xi gave, he hadn¡¯t noticed that she was fond of drinking.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, wake up,¡± Sinian gently called.


    ¡°...¡±


    The person nestled on the sofa showed no reaction.


    Sinian¡¯s eyes drooped under the dim light, reflecting a cold light from his gold-rimmed glasses.


    It was the late autumn. Although the temperature during the day was still pleasant, the chill in the room grew noticeable after nightfall.


    If she continued sleeping like this, she would surely catch a cold.


    Sinian gently tapped her shoulder and raised his voice slightly, ¡°Zhaozhao...¡±


    ¡°Umm...¡±


    Finally, the tiny figure on the sofa showed some response.


    Zhaozhao slowly opened her eyes, her gaze dazed for a moment when she saw him, and her eyes instantly reddened.


    Her small hand reached out to Sinian, hooking his neck, the coolness of her fingertips on the back of his neck made Sinian shiver slightly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t die, please¡± her sobbing voice wasn¡¯t loud, but each word pierced his heart like a slender needle.


    Sharp, yet heavily suffocating.


    This was the second time he had seen her cry.


    ¡°It seems every time I see you, I see your tears. What can I do to stop you from crying?¡±


    His tone was gentle, his demeanor indifferent, only when the light hit his eyes could the clarity and restraint be seen.


    Zhaozhao¡¯s reddening eyes blinked slightly, her eyelashes wet, tinting the corners of her eyes red, ¡°You...¡±


    She sniffled timidly, ¡°Kiss me.¡±


    If it was an illusion, she could ask for even the most fanciful of wishes, right?


    The shadow in front of her fell, blocking her view, but the warm touch sharpened all her senses.


    A closeness she never had in her previous life entangled her already hazy thoughts into a knot.


    Her arms tightly embraced his neck, responding to him with all her might.


    Their breaths mingled in the narrow space, the faint sweet citrus scent numbing his heart¡¯s tip slightly.


    How could he describe what he felt now?


    His heart seemed to be completely filled with an indescribable emotion, a satisfaction he had never felt before.


    ¡°Thump, thump...¡±


    The strong heartbeat seemed inconsequential amidst the deepening breaths.


    He wanted more...


    Whether it was the soft waistline in his palm or the fair skin that marked easily under slight pressure.


    Each aspect ignited a destructive desire within him.


    Originally, he didn¡¯t want her to cry, but now he wanted to make her cry himself...


    ¡°Umm... it hurts...¡±


    Suddenly, a sound emerged in the quiet room.


    The figure sprawled on the sofa stiffened suddenly, and he glanced at the small hand interlocked with his.


    Only then did he notice that the bandage on the back of her hand had been wet all along.


    Had she not noticed while bathing?


    Sinian sat up and took her small hand, unwrapping the gauze.


    Indeed, the edges of the original wound had turned white from soaking, but the center had become even redder.


    It must have become inflamed.


    ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t run around.¡± After he said this, he stood up and went to the next room.


    Zhaozhao blankly got up from the sofa, her thoughts foggy from the alcohol, even duller than usual.


    She touched her lips, which had been forcefully kissed by Sinian, feeling like she had forgotten something very important.


    Suddenly, her hand stopped on her lips.


    The stinging sensation on the back of her hand brought her some semblance of reality.


    She ... she had just!!!


    Zhaozhao belatedly covered her mouth; she had actually initiated a kiss with Sinian?!


    And succeeded?


    Thinking of this, Zhaozhao instantly blushed from head to toe.


    The alcohol she had just consumed was now mostly sobering.


    She had intended to drink some beer, pretend to be drunk, and discuss the dismissal of the maids with Sinian, perhaps even shamelessly play the sympathy card.


    But... she kissed him before she could even mention the maids.


    How was she supposed to face Sinian later?


    Should she pretend to be asleep now?


    But it would definitely hurt when the medicine was applied later; she absolutely couldn¡¯t keep that up!


    As Zhaozhao was thinking this, Sinian came over with a medical kit.


    He grabbed Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand and started disinfecting and applying medicine without explanation.


    Maybe because the wound on her hand was so painful, Zhaozhao bravely spoke up, ¡°Mr. Song, about ... I dismissed all the housemaids...¡±


    ¡°Um.¡±


    Sinian didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids, meticulously applying medicine to her hand.


    He didn¡¯t even ask why.


    Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows in perplexity, wondering if she hadn¡¯t expressed herself clearly.


    Other people were one thing, but Liao Yan had been sent by Xiao Jinglan, surely Sinian would show some consideration for her?


    Her gaze was fixed on him for a long while, and he still seemed not about to speak.


    Just as Zhaozhao was about to give up,


    Sinian had just finished applying the ointment.


    He shifted his gaze to Zhaozhao, ¡°Are you worried about the house being a mess without any maids?¡±


    ¡°Uh ... ¡± That was part of it.


    But what she really cared about was how Sinian viewed this matter.


    Sinian¡¯s eyes gently swept over her small face, and his soft voice echoed in the room again, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this; Zhao Xi will arrange new maids tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Uh ... ¡±


    That¡¯s it? Is that all?


    He isn¡¯t angry?


    Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze toward Sinian carried a mix of complexities.


    ¡°Are you not satisfied?¡± Sinian slightly tilted his head, pulling at his loosened tie.


    The cold-colored shirt, opened by two buttons, gained a touch of allure under the warm light.


    Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t understand how someone could look so abstinent, yet... so desirous.


    She pursed her little mouth, her head bowed slightly, ¡°I ... I am not unsatisfied. I know that discharging maids needs to be approved by the owner, that¡¯s a rule I...¡±


    ¡°You are my wife now, and your actions at home are the rules of this house.¡±


    Sinian¡¯s casual words made Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes light up.


    She suddenly raised her face to look at him, utterly unprepared for the discussion about firing the maids to go so smoothly.


    She suddenly felt excited, thinking of discussing with Sinian the prospect of sharing a room... what approach should she take to initiate that conversation?

 Chapter 5: The death you mentioned, should it be in a physical sense?

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The death you mentioned, should it be in a physical sense?


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, ¡°Um... can I sleep on this sofa tonight?¡±


    She remembered in her last life, until her death, she and Song Sinian had never slept in the same room, let alone had any physical closeness.


    When she first arrived, Liao Yan told her that Song Sinian had asked her to stay in the guest room¡ªit seemed if she wasn¡¯t proactive, she would be living a lonely life again this lifetime!


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows raised imperceptibly, his gaze briefly sweeping across Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face, ¡°The sofa... is uncomfortable.¡±


    His tone was even, showing no particular emotion, yet Lu Zhaozhao faintly felt a hint of displeasure when he spoke.


    Did he still not want to stay in the same room with her?


    He had just kissed her! Why couldn¡¯t they sleep in the same room?!


    How could she get any closer to him this way?


    Although Lu Zhaozhao had heard Xiao Jinglan say before her death that Song Sinian had fallen in love with her, she had no clue when exactly that had happened.


    In her last life, the time spent together with Song Sinian was minimal.


    Thus, this lifetime, she had to make the most of her time and get him to fall in love with her sooner!


    Lu Zhaozhao clenched her fists, wrapped herself in the blanket she had prepared earlier, and stubbornly lay down on the sofa, ¡°No worries! I find this sofa big and soft, and I¡¯m not very big, so it¡¯s quite fitting for me!¡±


    The blanket that initially covered her wasn¡¯t long, and with her aggressive wrapping, it became even shorter.


    Her fair, small legs were fully exposed, dangling off the edge of the sofa.


    Under the dim yellow light, her rounded toes curled slightly.


    Song Sinian sat next to Lu Zhaozhao, his gaze silently dropping down.


    Suddenly, he gently grasped her danging ankle with his fingers.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart tightened, the touched ankle tingling, her instep stiffened, and her heart was raised to her throat, thumping wildly.


    Thankfully, Song Sinian only held it briefly before quickly letting go.


    He slowly stood up, ¡°This blanket is too thin, let¡¯s get a quilt.¡±


    His light tone fell to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ear, almost making her leap up like a carp.


    He had agreed!


    Her eyes instantly curved into a beautiful arc, looking at Song Sinian with a beaming smile, nodding repeatedly, ¡°Mm-hmm! Thank you, Mr. Song!¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian paused slightly, gave Lu Zhaozhao a deep look, and turned to walk to the bathroom.


    It wasn¡¯t until he closed the bathroom door that he leaned against it, annoyed.


    What was he thinking just now? Was he actually hoping she would agree to sleep in the same bed with him?


    He had intended to approach her slowly for fear of scaring her away, wanting to encircle her with marriage.


    But she had taken the initiative to marry him first.


    His plans, disrupted by this young woman repeatedly, had originally been just to keep her firmly by his side ¡ª that would have been enough.


    But now, he had changed his mind.


    He wanted to be a bit greedier, to want just a little bit more.


    He wanted her...


    Song Sinian thought about her dazed kiss just now, his expression sorrowful, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.


    The real reason she married him, could it be because the man she liked had died?


    He pondered for a moment, then picked up his phone and sent Zhao Xi a message, ¡°Investigate the people my wife has dated before, especially those who have died.¡±


    After editing the message, he looked at the screen and added, ¡°Those about to die count too.¡±


    He watched as the message bubble on his phone showed Zhao Xi typing then disappearing, then typing again.


    After a long while, a message came through, ¡°Sir, by dead, you mean physically dead right?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, and he casually replied, ¡°What else?¡±


    Zhao Xi responded quickly this time, ¡°Okay, sir, I will handle it as soon as possible.¡±


    Song Sinian lightly tapped his phone screen and added, ¡°Arrange for new servants at the villa, pick a sensible butler, and tell them to give my wife whatever she wants, no limits.¡±


    The typing indicator on his phone started blinking again, Song Sinian glanced at it, then tossed the phone aside.


    He now needed to take a good shower to calm down. Ever since he saw Lu Zhaozhao in the bedroom, his heart had been inexplicably agitated.


    Was it a side effect of the new medication? It had never happened before.


    It looked like he needed a thorough medical check-up again.


    Song Sinian turned on the faucet, the cool water fell into his palm, he suddenly paused, thinking about the ankle he had just held in his hand...


    ¡°Indeed, everything about her is petite...¡±


    Outside, the night deepened.


    The Song Mansion was brightly lit.


    ¡°Madam, everything I¡¯ve said is true, that wretched girl is relying on her marriage to the young master to throw her weight around in the house!¡± Liao Yan, with her swollen cheek, sat on the sofa, exaggerating Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s conduct.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes narrowed, still digesting the news she had just received.


    That woman named Lu Zhaozhao was quite capable, making Song Sinian willingly go register their marriage the very first day they met.


    The next day, she moved into his place. It seemed Song Sinian was quite pleased with her.


    If the two of them had a child, wouldn¡¯t all her previous plans be in vain?


    She had planned for so long...


    She had hoped that once the outside world knew Song Sinian was a monster, no woman would be willing to marry him, yet there was still someone unafraid of death.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyelids slightly lifted as she looked at Old Master Song sitting beside her, saying nonchalantly, ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t blame Sinian for this. He rarely interacts with women, and might have married impulsively after meeting someone he liked, without thinking too much...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Old Master Song didn¡¯t say anything, just quietly picked up a cup of tea and sipped it delicately.


    His unyielding demeanor made Xiao Jinglan somewhat anxious.


    ¡°However, if this woman really has ill intentions, I, as a mother, am truly worried...¡± she paused deliberately while saying this, giving Liao Yan a meaningful look.


    Seeing this, Liao Yan nodded repeatedly, continuing with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s narrative, ¡°Madam is right, that Lu Zhaozhao surely has nefarious plans, dismissing all the servants on her first day in the house, who knows what awful things she might do to the young master!¡±


    Truth be told, she didn¡¯t care whether Lu Zhaozhao had harmful intentions towards Song Sinian or not, as long as Xiao Jinglan supported her, she could use this pretense as much and as often as needed!


    Old Master Song placed his tea cup on the table, looked up to Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Sinian has been under your watch since he was a child, you know his personality best. Go to his place tomorrow morning to check, and if she really has sinister motives, help him deal with her...¡±

 Chapter 6 - 6 Her Image is Completely Gone!

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Her Image is Completely Gone!


    ¡°Okay, Dad, rest assured, I will definitely help Sinian be careful about everything,¡± Xiao Jinglan said as she refilled Mr. Song¡¯s tea.


    Although the Lu Family couldn¡¯t compare to the Song Family, the couple still held a respectable status in their circle.


    However, their daughter Lu Zhaozhao barely made any appearance in the social circles.


    Some said it was because they loved her too much to expose her to the public, but if they truly loved her, why would they marry her off to Sinian, whose reputation was so unbearable, just to secure a contract with the Song Family?


    Perhaps Lu Zhaozhao was just a puppet after all.


    If she could just obey, she would be taken into their fold.


    And if not...


    Xiao Jinglan laughed at the thought.


    She¡¯s just a freshman in college; Xiao Jinglan had plenty of ways to make her comply!


    She couldn¡¯t believe she would escape from her grasp, could she?


    The next morning,


    When Lu Zhaozhao woke up, Sinian wasn¡¯t in the room.


    She slowly got up from the sofa, grabbed her phone, and realized it was already 9 AM.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up at the large bed across from her, frowned slightly, and leapt from the sofa, rushing towards the bed in a few strides.


    She tightly clung to the blanket and rolled around the bed a few times.


    The sheets and pillows all carried Sinian¡¯s scent, the traces of his existence.


    He was still alive, how wonderful.


    ¡°Is the bed comfortable?¡± Suddenly, a faint voice echoed in the room.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s rolling figure suddenly froze, stuck in place.


    Sinian hadn¡¯t left?!


    It was all over; her image was completely destroyed!


    Thinking that Sinian had seen her act like a hooligan just now, she felt so embarrassed she could have dug a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor with her toes.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and mustered her courage, peeking half of her small face out from under the blanket, ¡°Mr. Song, why didn¡¯t you go to work?¡±


    Sinian, lightly drying his wet hair with a towel, gazed at her face and enunciated, ¡°Zhao Xi said that husbands should go to work late on the second day of marriage.¡±


    He added that it was generally what newlywed husbands did.


    As he spoke, Sinian sat on the edge of the bed.


    He didn¡¯t understand why it was necessary, but if that¡¯s what a husband should do, then Lu Zhaozhao should have it too.


    ¡°He...¡± Lu Zhaozhao got stuck mid-sentence.


    What Zhao Xi said was correct, but in her and Sinian¡¯s situation, it was utterly impossible!


    She understood, but did he?!


    The more Lu Zhaozhao thought about it, the more her head ached.


    Last night, she had researched a lot of information about depression.


    Among them, the symptoms that resembled Sinian¡¯s the most were emotional bluntness, simply put, he couldn¡¯t perceive and articulate his own or others¡¯ emotions.


    Because of the lack of emotions, those with emotional bluntness focus primarily on factual information about the external world, which makes them seem cold-hearted.


    In her past life, she always thought Sinian was cold to her because he didn¡¯t like her; she never thought he was ill.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes dampened, filled with sympathy.


    Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly lifted as he scanned her from head to toe.


    Just now, she was happily rolling on the bed, but ever since he appeared, she seemed hardly able to move.


    Did she not like him being here?


    Sinian pondered for a moment and then slowly stood up, ¡°I¡¯m going to work now, you can sleep some more.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Zhaozhao hugged the quilt and mumbled a response, then all was quiet.


    Song Sinian naturally went to the adjacent dressing room to change his clothes.


    Just after he closed the door, he heard rustling sounds coming from the bed.


    He gently turned the doorknob and, through the slightly opened door, saw Lu Zhaozhao tumbling on the bed with the quilt again.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, then he closed the door again.


    It seemed she really didn¡¯t like him being here.


    Song Sinian sat on the sofa in the dressing room, pondered for a moment, then picked up his phone and drafted a message to send.


    ¡°Advance all the work-related trips that are scheduled soon.¡±


    Since she wasn¡¯t used to seeing him, he decided to leave for a few days.


    Lu Zhaozhao had originally planned to wait in bed for Song Sinian to leave before getting up.


    But she had gone to bed very late last night and, moreover, sleeping on the sofa was uncomfortable.


    So, by the time Song Sinian dressed and came out of the dressing room, she was already asleep in bed.


    Song Sinian approached, his gaze falling on the docilely sleeping Lu Zhaozhao, and a flicker of starlight passed through his dark pupils.


    He leaned over, his silhouette backlit, casting a shadow that enveloped her.


    He raised his hand to gently caress her cheek. The person in her sleep suddenly moved, causing Song Sinian¡¯s breath to catch and he froze on the spot.


    But the next second, the sleeping person rubbed her little face against his warm palm...


    ¡°...¡±


    Her character hadn¡¯t changed much; whenever he reached out to her, she never pushed him away.


    Even in her sleep...


    When Lu Zhaozhao woke up again, it was nearly noon.


    She changed into light clothing and went downstairs.


    ¡°Madam, would you like to eat now?¡±


    Just as she reached the first-floor staircase, she heard a gentle voice.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao look over, the person bowed respectfully, ¡°I am the new butler, Qian Hong. Madam, please feel free to instruct me at any time.¡±


    Qian Hong? The new butler was her?


    She and Liao Yan were both veterans of the Song family, but she was from the side of Song Sinian¡¯s mother, so she had always disliked Xiao Jinglan.


    She was also one of the few who took extra care of her.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly at Qian Hong, ¡°I¡¯ll be relying on Butler Qian from now on.¡±


    Qian Hong was momentarily startled; she had heard before coming that Lu Zhaozhao had dismissed all the servants upon entering the home.


    She had thought this new madam was difficult to get along with, but her temper didn¡¯t seem as bad as she had imagined.


    Was it all an act?


    Qian Hong was wary, which Lu Zhaozhao naturally noticed.


    Her concern for Song Sinian was sincere, so it was natural for her to be cautious.


    It seemed that winning her over and having her on the same side would take some time.


    Lu Zhaozhao hooked her lips into a smile, looking at Qian Hong, ¡°I¡¯m a bit hungry, let¡¯s have a meal first.¡±


    ¡°Of course, madam.¡±


    Just as Qian Hong was about to leave, she saw a servant running over in a panic, ¡°Butler Qian, Lady Xiao is here; she¡¯s already in the parking lot.¡±


    Hearing the servant¡¯s words, Qian Hong¡¯s expression slightly changed, ¡°Take her to the reception room first, say madam accidentally dirtied her clothes while eating and is washing up.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Watching the servant hurry off, Qian Hong then looked seriously at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°I apologize, madam, for making a decision without consulting you first; I hope you can understand. Lady Xiao, she...¡±

 Chapter 7 - 7 Defeat Magic with Magic

    Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Defeat Magic with Magic


    Qian Hong was wary of Lu Zhaozhao, but when she heard that Xiao Jinglan was coming over, she instinctively chose to protect her.


    Because Song Sinian cared a lot about this wife.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, just do as you said. What do I need to do?¡± Despite Qian Hong¡¯s troubled look, Lu Zhaozhao still smiled warmly at her.


    Qian Hong opened her mouth, but the explanation she was about to give got stuck in her throat.


    She looked into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, full of unspeakable confusion.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand and gently patted her shoulder, ¡°You were handpicked by Mr. Song to be the housekeeper, I trust you just as I trust Mr. Song.¡±


    Qian Hong breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Madam, please come with me to change clothes. Lady Xiao cares a lot about... etiquette. You need to dress more formally to meet her.¡±


    Otherwise, it was too easy for Xiao Jinglan to find fault.


    Even though Qian Hong spoke in a veiled manner, Lu Zhaozhao immediately grasped what she meant.


    In her past life, she had been played for a fool by Xiao Jinglan; how could she not understand?


    After fifteen minutes, Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the reception room.


    The moment she saw Xiao Jinglan, Lu Zhaozhao wished she could immediately pounce on her and tear this malicious woman¡¯s face to shreds.


    But she couldn¡¯t do that yet.


    Xiao Jinglan had schemed for many years after marrying into the Song Family, and Sinian was not someone Lu Zhaozhao could bring down with just a sentence or two. She had to play the long game, to destroy her step by step.


    The moment she stepped through the door, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s scrutinizing gaze fell on her, completely missing the flash of hostility that passed through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes.


    A glacier blue long-sleeve shirt paired with a high-waisted black skirt, vintage yet elegant.


    She certainly knew how to dress.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s gaze swept around before finally settling on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face.


    A beautiful face with delicate features, especially those bright and clear eyes, untainted by the mundane.


    No wonder Sinian had married her at first sight.


    The Beijing Circle was full of women with great taste in clothing and numerous others with exceptional demeanor, but beauties like her, with peak beauty, excellent temperament, and fashion sense, were indeed rare.


    ¡°Auntie, you¡¯ve had a long journey, it must have been hard,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said with an apologetic face as soon as she entered the room, ¡°As the younger generation, I should have visited you first.¡±


    She and Song Si had registered their marriage without discussing it with the family, surely Xiao Jinglan would seize this chance to scold her for her lack of respect.


    By speaking first, Lu Zhaozhao effectively prevented Xiao Jinglan from opening her mouth.


    Her established persona at the Song Family was akin to a pure white lotus. If Xiao Jinglan pressed the issue, she would just seem overly harsh.


    Xiao Jinglan arched an eyebrow, the words she had been ready to pick faults with, caught in her throat.


    She waved her hand, ¡°You just met Sinian yesterday and registered your marriage. It¡¯s normal not to have much time. I¡¯m here today because of the maid dismissal situation yesterday.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao put on a shocked expression and immediately covered her mouth, ¡°My goodness! Is that what they said?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    The reaction from Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat unexpected for Xiao Jinglan. She thought Lu Zhaozhao would argue, shift blame, or even lose her temper, but she hadn¡¯t expected such a reaction.


    This personality was entirely different from what she had heard from Liao Yan the day before.


    Perhaps there was something she didn¡¯t know about.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she gently patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, asking reassuringly, ¡°About yesterday¡¯s situation, I am not very clear, could you explain it to me again?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suppressed the disgust in her heart and looked up at Xiao Jinglan, her small hands seemed to be fearfully gripping the sleeves on her arms.


    She hung her head low and didn¡¯t look up at Xiao Jinglan again, her eyelids even reddening slightly, ¡°They, they made me sleep in the guest room, saying I wasn¡¯t qualified to be the lady of the house here, and they threw away my luggage and tore up my clothes...¡±


    A flicker of astonishment crossed Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face, ¡°How, how could they dare?¡±


    She really hadn¡¯t expected Liao Yan to be so bold.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head drooped even lower, her whole body trembling slightly, ¡°That, that housekeeper said she was sent by the lady of the house, telling me to behave in front of them and not to cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°?!?!!!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mind exploded in the moment, she was about to explain when suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao took hold of her hands.


    ¡°But, as soon as I saw Aunt, I knew they were all lying! Aunt looks so kind, how could she instruct them to bully me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes shone with a faint light as she looked at her, causing Xiao Jinglan to feel a thump in her heart.


    She broke into a sweat, but still nodded repeatedly, ¡°These servants are really too audacious, using me as a shield!¡±


    However, she quickly came to her senses, ¡°But... why did Housekeeper Liao say it was you who dismissed them all?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, also looking bewildered, ¡°When I said I would tell Mr. Song, she threatened that I would regret it, and then I didn¡¯t know anything after that.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression darkened. If Lu Zhaozhao had explained in detail, she might have suspected her of having ulterior motives, of deliberately setting a trap for Liao Yan.


    But now, seeing her utterly clueless demeanor, she seemed like someone who had been sold without knowing where they had been taken.


    In this light, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s story seemed more credible.


    First, Liao Yan provoked Lu Zhaozhao, afraid Mr. Song would find out, then threatened Lu Zhaozhao afterward, otherwise, Mr. Song wouldn¡¯t have given her a new housekeeper.


    What a fool Liao Yan was, did she think by dragging her into this she could turn the tables?


    Xiao Jinglan had known Liao Yan was foolish, but didn¡¯t expect her to be this foolish!


    Xiao Jinglan gritted her teeth slightly, but on the surface, she still forced a smile, gently patting Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about this matter, I will definitely investigate thoroughly and clear your name.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then thank you, Aunt!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao also reciprocated with a forced smile.


    Even if she went back to investigate it didn¡¯t matter.


    Liao Yan would certainly insist she was lying and would find other servants to corroborate her story. The more these people agreed with each other, the less Xiao Jinglan would believe them.


    She¡¯d just think Liao Yan was wielding power she didn¡¯t have.


    Moreover, with the half-truths Lu Zhaozhao had just shared with Xiao Jinglan, it would only make her more suspicious of Liao Yan.


    After all, who wouldn¡¯t choose to believe a ¡°victim¡± who came across as innocent and harmless over someone hysterical?


    Xiao Jinglan exhaled softly, ¡°You¡¯ve just arrived at the Song Family and encountered such a situation; you¡¯ve been wronged.¡±


    She waved over the assistant who was with her and then saw the assistant carrying several bags over.


    She laid out the gift boxes from the bags onto the tea table in the living room, filling two rows.


    Among them were some precious gemstones and jade jewelry, but the most eye-catching item was a pair of diamond rings placed in the first row.


    It was evident that Xiao Jinglan had put a lot of thought into it.


    Her finger deliberately tapped on the edge of the ring box, ¡°These pieces of jewelry, I picked them out for Sinian to give to you; you know how cold he can be, he might not think of these...¡±

 Chapter 8 - 8 These Guys Really Kicked the Iron Plate

    Chapter 8: Chapter 8 These Guys Really Kicked the Iron Plate


    ¡°...¡±


    Heh! She all but outright said that Sinian wouldn¡¯t even buy a ring to marry her.


    Whether in her past life or now, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s methods were the same: pretending to casually demean others to elevate herself.


    She used to care about Sinian¡¯s attitude, but now she knew, Sinian¡¯s cold demeanor wasn¡¯t because of her actions.


    So now, even if Xiao Jinglan spoke flowers, she no longer believed her.


    Lu Zhaozhao feigned innocence and nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Auntie. I won¡¯t take it to heart. I know that Sinian and I are in an arranged marriage and I¡¯m just a nominal wife. It¡¯s already a blessing that Mr. Song is willing to marry me. I will definitely listen to Mr. Song and not provoke him to anger.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao using the strategy to PUA herself left Xiao Jinglan completely unable to deal with her.


    She thought that by marrying Sinian, Zhaozhao wanted either money or status.


    What is this tactic?


    Not desiring anything? A salted-fish-style marriage?


    Xiao Jinglan felt slightly agitated and pinched her brow, trying to flip this ¡°salted fish¡± over, ¡°You... you¡¯re at the age where you should be yearning for love, and Sinian has a decent appearance. Haven¡¯t you thought about making him fall in love with you?¡±


    ¡°I also think Mr. Song looks good,¡± Lu Zhaozhao shrugged and turned the blame to Mr. and Mrs. Lu, ¡°but my mom said that there¡¯s no love in business marriages and told me not to harbor any delusions.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan felt somewhat suffocated and forced a smile, asking again, ¡°Have you ever thought about having Sinian help develop the Lu Family¡¯s business?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao innocently smiled at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°My dad said girls don¡¯t have the right to inquire about family business, and told me that it¡¯s enough to marry over and obediently listen to my husband.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Even with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s good pretense, at this moment, she wanted to curse.


    She guessed that Mr. and Mrs. Lu didn¡¯t value Zhaozhao much, but from these words, it wasn¡¯t as simple as not valuing her.


    They were outright ignoring Zhaozhao¡¯s existence, raising her to be a pretty wastrel!


    All her calculated methods now faced her with absolutely no room to maneuver!


    Xiao Jinglan sighed powerlessly, it looked like she could only make long-term plans.


    She slowly stood up, ¡°I have some matters to attend to and must leave now. In a couple of days, you and Sinian come to the house for a visit, to meet the old master.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Auntie, if Mr. Song takes me, I will definitely be obedient.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Xiao Jinglan stumbled and almost twisted her ankle.


    Her mood worsened!


    Watching Xiao Jinglan leaving like a defeated rooster, Zhaozhao was already inwardly jubilant.


    Her act of playing the lady had firmly stood its ground against Xiao Jinglan, and she doubted she would be bothered by her anytime soon.


    She needed to hurry and take advantage while Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t focusing on her, and pull her trump cards out one by one!


    She must protect Sinian this time!


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was that not only did her act convince Xiao Jinglan, but even the butler Qian Hong believed it.


    She even went so far as to exaggerate the situation to Zhao Xi out of sympathy for Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±¡±Ding¡ª¡±


    ...


    A series of notification sounds started going off in a quiet office.


    Zhao Xi initially didn¡¯t want to bother, but the frequency of the messages was too high.


    He couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit anxious.


    Not many knew this number, and those linked to it were all connected to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Zhao Xi glanced at the sender of the message, his eyes nearly popping out¡ªwas it actually Qian Hong?


    Could something have happened to Lu Zhaozhao?


    Qian Hong was an old servant from the side of the deceased lady, composed and steady, he could hardly imagine what would make her send messages frantically.


    Song Sinian noticed Zhao Xi¡¯s unusual behavior as well.


    His deep voice slowly rose in the quiet office, ¡°What has happened?¡±


    Zhao Xi shifted his gaze away from his phone, summarizing briefly, ¡°Uh... Lady Xiao went to see the lady and asked why she dismissed the servants. She said the servants bullied her and even gave her quite a lot of jewelry to comfort her.¡±


    Song Sinian caught the main point immediately, ¡°She was bullied by the servants?¡±


    He had only heard her mention driving the servants away yesterday and assumed she simply disliked those people, so he hadn¡¯t asked further.


    He thought if she didn¡¯t like them, then they should all be replaced.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that the servants would actually bully her.


    The atmosphere in the office abruptly dropped, becoming coldly sinister, condensing in the air.


    Zhao Xi coughed lightly, steeling himself before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s said they made her sleep in the guest room, threw away her luggage, and tore up her clothes...¡±


    It had to be said that these people really dared to do anything.


    Zhao Xi sighed softly, figuring these servants must have taken advantage of their master¡¯s usual disregard for household matters to become so audacious.


    ¡°Sir, I think...¡±


    Just as he began to speak, he heard Song Sinian¡¯s voice rise again in the office, ¡°Since they as servants have not fulfilled their duties, there¡¯s no need to keep those hands and feet of theirs, right?¡±


    His tone was chilling, carrying a stifling ruthlessness.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids dropped as he added another comment, ¡°Don¡¯t let any of them appear before my wife again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Zhao Xi had expected his master to be furious, but hadn¡¯t anticipated it would be this severe.


    These fellows really had kicked an iron plate this time.


    He sighed lightly, remembering another message he had just seen, hesitated for a moment, but then spoke up again.


    ¡°Sir, the message you asked me to investigate yesterday, I now have some leads.¡± As Zhao Xi spoke, he placed the document in Song Sinian¡¯s hand.


    ¡°From childhood, the lady never associated romantically with anyone, though many have pursued her. Among the men who have been associated with her, here are the names of those who are deceased or nearing death.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing the list of names before him, Song Sinian fell into deep thought.


    She had never been involved with anyone?


    Then why did she cry so fiercely?


    Could that person have been someone she secretly loved?


    Seeing that Song Sinian had not responded, Zhao Xi handed him another document, ¡°Sir, this is a personal investigation of the lady¡ªemmm, it seems she is not as favored as the outside world believes.¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at the hesitant Zhao Xi and opened the file.


    ¡°There are also messages from Qian Hong that I think it¡¯s necessary for you to know.¡± Zhao Xi placed the mobile phone in front of him.


    The messages on the phone contained the latter half of a conversation between Xiao Jinglan and Lu Zhaozhao.


    He had always thought that Lu Zhaozhao was a spoiled young miss; now, it seemed she was just a pitiful soul PUAed by her parents since childhood.


    No wonder even the servants dared to bully her.


    Zhao Xi quietly looked at Song Sinian, thinking that with Lu Zhaozhao being subjected to chronic emotional abuse by Mr. and Mrs. Lu, she needed a more considerate husband, yet their master...

 Chapter 9: No Need to Search Hard, It Comes without Effort

    Chapter 9: Chapter 9: No Need to Search Hard, It Comes without Effort


    It didn¡¯t seem quite right.


    Song Sinian tapped his fingertips gently on the document, ¡°Please arrange a meeting with Doctor Tian for me today.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Zhao Xi was shocked. Had their master actually taken the initiative to see a doctor?


    Usually, they would drag their feet until it was absolutely necessary before seeing a doctor.


    Perhaps... Lu Zhaozhao really could help their master!


    For several days, Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t seen Song Sinian again.


    She had wanted to improve their relationship before school started, but now she couldn¡¯t even see him. How could she increase her favorability?


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed and leaned against the arm of the single sofa in the living room with a pillow in her arms.


    ¡°Madam, this is a new dessert developed by the head chef, perfect for afternoon tea,¡± Qian Hong said, placing the dessert brought by the servant on the table and pouring a cup of black tea for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Since Xiao Jinglan came to the Song Family, Lu Zhaozhao had noticed Qian Hong being much kinder to her.


    To be precise, the look in her eyes often carried a motherly affection.


    Was it because of what she had said to Xiao Jinglan?


    Lu Zhaozhao picked up a spoon and poked at the cake, feeling somewhat guilty.


    Although what she had said was true, none of it could hurt her anymore since she had learned the truth.


    She was not the biological daughter of the Lu Family; it was understandable they didn¡¯t love her, and she could let it go.


    But, them scheming against her, that was a debt she definitely had to settle!


    Lu Zhaozhao took another bite of the dessert before looking up at Qian Hong and said, ¡°Aunt Qian, this dessert is really delicious¡ªthank the head chef for me.¡±


    ¡°Good, the head chef will be very happy to hear that. It¡¯s rare for the master of the house to praise his cooking skills.¡± Qian Hong smiled with satisfaction.


    The previous heads of the Song Family weren¡¯t particular about food; it was rare to have a madam who liked sweets and had a pleasant temperament, so the chefs were all very motivated.


    ¡°Aunt Qian, did Mr. Song say when he will be back?¡± Lu Zhaozhao put down her fork, picked up the teacup on the table, and casually asked.


    Qian Hong thought for a moment, then carefully replied, ¡°The master had to go on a sudden business trip, and the exact date of his return is not yet decided.¡±


    With them being newly married and Song Sinian having to travel for work, it was indeed a significant blow for Lu Zhaozhao, who had grown up in an unloving family.


    Seeing the clearly disappointed Lu Zhaozhao, Qian Hong suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly brought over a stack of invitations.


    ¡°Madam, these invitations are for both the master and madam. Since the master is away on business and does not have time, madam can choose the events she wishes to attend.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blankly accepted the dozen or so invitations.


    This was something she had never encountered in her past life.


    In her previous life at the Song Mansion, Xiao Jinglan monopolized everything, and even though she lived with Song Sinian, she was also tormented by Liao Yan.


    Reflecting on it, although she was Mrs. Song in her previous life, she had never truly possessed the rights of Mrs. Song.


    Lu Zhaozhao briefly flipped through the invitations, then her gaze suddenly paused.


    This was an invitation to a nationally sensational auction!


    The difficult search was over without any effort.


    Naturally, Qian Hong noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze and asked softly, ¡°Madam, would you like to attend this art auction?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao snapped out of it and nodded. She handed the invitation in her hand to Qian Hong, ¡°Aunt Qian, could you help me arrange this?¡±


    Qian Hong smiled broadly, ¡°Of course, madam. If there are any items you like, you can bid in the name of the Song Family, and someone will settle the payment afterwards.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao waved her hands repeatedly, ¡°No need, no need, I actually just want to go and take a look...¡±


    Qian Hong immediately understood that Lu Zhaozhao probably did not want to attract too much attention.


    After all, she had not previously attended many social gatherings in the Beijing Circle.


    Qian Hong nodded, ¡°Then everything will be according to madam¡¯s wish.¡±


    ¡°Um, thank you, Aunt Qian.¡±


    ...


    As evening fell and the lights began to glow.


    Song Mansion.


    Old Master Song was sitting on the living room sofa, his white-flecked eyebrows tightly knitted as he stared at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Last time I asked you to go check on Sinian, why did he go on a business trip right after your visit? And stayed away for so long?¡±


    ...


    Xiao Jinglan was at a loss for words.


    Her last visit to Sinian¡¯s house had been a complete disaster.


    This old coot never bothered to visit himself and, after sending her, he still wanted her to take the blame.


    Was he not clear about what kind of person Sinian was?


    Xiao Jinglan wanted to curse Old Master Song hundreds of times in her heart, but she maintained a warm and gentle smile on her face.


    ¡°Father, Sinian might just have been busy...¡±


    ¡°Busy with what? Don¡¯t I know the situation at the company?¡± Old Master Song¡¯s cane thudded heavily on the ground as he spoke.


    ¡°A mere butler previously dared to complain to the master at the Song Mansion, how are you running this household? Can¡¯t you even manage a few servants?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s delicate nails clenched tightly in her palm as she lowered her head and said, ¡°Sorry, father, I didn¡¯t know the butler was so audacious. She hid her intentions too well...¡±


    Old Master Song clearly was not buying that excuse, he snorted, ¡°Humph! Hid it well? Do you realize my daughter-in-law almost slipped through our fingers?!¡±


    If it wasn¡¯t for Qian Hong reporting Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s situation, he would have never known that a mere butler dared to have the owner sleep in the guest bedroom!


    Given Sinian¡¯s condition, he definitely would not inquire; rounded up, he¡¯s almost missed the chance to hold a great-grandchild!


    ...


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mouth twitched, her head bowed even lower.


    Who was it that immediately wanted to get rid of Lu Zhaozhao upon hearing she had ill intentions?


    Now that he knew the butler was meddling, he suddenly referred to her as ¡°daughter-in-law.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan felt her anger rising the more she thought about it.


    She knew Old Master Song cared most about Sinian; even though she had served him faithfully for so many years, his favor had never shifted from Sinian to her.


    Xiao Jinglan took a deep breath, ¡°Father, don¡¯t be mad. Sinian¡¯s wife is so clever, maybe in a few days he will bring her back to the old mansion.¡±


    Although she said this, she knew the likelihood was almost zero.


    Sinian never visited the mansion on his own initiative. Even when he did, it was just awkward, and Old Master Song had no idea how to communicate with him.


    On this thought, if it weren¡¯t for Sinian¡¯s illness, she, the second wife, would have been driven out soon after her son¡¯s death.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes narrowed, remembering the completely different attitudes Old Master Song had towards her and Lu Zhaozhao, a fierce gleam flashed in her eyes.


    ¡°Father, I heard Sinian will attend a banquet in Nanjing tomorrow. How about I arrange for Zhaozhao to go there, so the young couple can meet? It would also be a good opportunity for her to establish her presence in the circle as Mrs. Song, what do you think?¡±

 Chapter 10 - 10 She Really Has to Wait and See...

    Chapter 10: Chapter 10 She Really Has to Wait and See...


    Xiao Jinglan was unclear why Song Sinian had left on a business trip just after their wedding.


    But she knew all too well how terrifying it could be to interrupt him while he was working.


    This kind of banquet was no different from work to him, and one could imagine what would happen if she sent someone over without any greeting.


    However, Old Master Song was obviously aware of this, so Xiao Jinglan continued, ¡°I will have someone notify Sinian in advance. Perhaps after a short time apart, there might even be some good news.¡±


    Upon hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, Old Master Song¡¯s face looked a bit better, ¡°Mhm, that¡¯s the way to go.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go make the arrangements,¡± Xiao Jinglan said as she stood up and left the living room.


    She had just told Old Master Song to his face that she would notify Song Sinian in advance, but if someone ¡°accidentally¡± forgot in the process of passing along the message...


    Well, then she could hardly be blamed.


    A wife, neglected by her husband just after their wedding, dressed up for a banquet only to be ignored by him... tsk tsk...


    Just thinking about it made one feel sorry for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Would she still be able to stay so indifferent then?


    She was really looking forward to seeing what would happen...


    The next day at noon, Lu Zhaozhao, still groggy with sleep, was picked up by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s people.


    As if they didn¡¯t want her to have any contact with the outside world, they even took her phone when she arrived at the beauty salon.


    Lu Zhaozhao had thought that playing dumb in front of Xiao Jinglan last time would grant her some peace for a while.


    Now, with the whole salon likely filled with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s people, she figured it was best to be cautious.


    ¡°Mrs. Song, you look so beautiful, Mr. Song will be beside himself when he sees you,¡± the makeup artist praised lavishly while applying her makeup.


    Feigning shyness, Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth and tentatively asked, ¡°What mainly happens at the banquet later? The people from my aunt-in-law didn¡¯t explain much when they sent me over...¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Song, you jest. It must be because Mr. Song misses you that he sent someone to bring you over, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mrs. Song, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just a charity dinner. Beyond dressing up beautifully and taking Mr. Song¡¯s arm, there¡¯s nothing else you need to do.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Song won¡¯t know how happy he will be when he sees Mrs. Song later...¡±


    ...


    Inside the dressing room, several women chattered non-stop, but the two points they repeatedly emphasized were these:


    One, that it was Song Sinian himself who had wanted her to come.


    The other, that Song Sinian would surely be overjoyed at her arrival.


    If it weren¡¯t for needing to play along with these people, Lu Zhaozhao would have burst into laughter.


    In her past life, Xiao Jinglan always liked doing this sort of thing, suppressing first to elevate later.


    Letting her fill with anticipation for seeing Song Sinian only to have her expectations cruelly dashed.


    Time and again, her passion and hope were worn down, turning her into a puppet manipulated by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s whim.


    But now, looking back, it all seemed so ludicrous.


    They had taken her phone so she couldn¡¯t confirm the truth of the information in her idle time.


    It seemed that even now, Song Sinian had no idea she had arrived.


    Should she inform him first?


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, but then she suddenly remembered that in the past life, no matter what situation she faced before him, he never seemed to take his anger out on her.


    At the time, she was so preoccupied with her own heartache, she didn¡¯t notice this detail.


    ¡°Mrs. Song, what do you think of this dress? This is a Ralph custom dress that top actresses and supermodel celebrities all love. It looks absolutely stunning on you!¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Song¡¯s figure is simply too perfect. Mr. Song is so lucky!¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Song will surely dazzle the entire charity gala later, and many people are bound to be envious of Mr. Song~¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao snapped back to reality, glanced at her reflection in the mirror, and her eyes slightly flickered with light.


    The backless bright yarn evening gown, with its splendid floral hem and raindrop-like crystal drops at the edge, was indeed indescribably beautiful.


    She had to admit, Xiao Jinglan had really spared no expense in dressing her up.


    This Ralph custom dress alone was worth at least eight figures, and the person who had done her makeup was a top-notch makeup artist known throughout the entertainment industry.


    Aside from being a bit noisy around the ears, everything else was quite good.


    Since she was all dressed up, she naturally had to cooperate with them.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, and there was indescribable anticipation in her gaze, ¡°When can I meet Mr. Song? I wonder if he will be too busy...¡±


    Upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, several people looked at each other as if they had received a signal.


    Eventually, the makeup artist from earlier spoke up, ¡°How could that be? Mr. Song is surely eager to see you, Mrs. Song. Rest assured, we will arrange for you to go to the banquet hall right now.¡±


    ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll have to trouble you all.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded at her, yet her gaze seriously swept across the faces of the group.


    Her abrupt action made the makeup artist inexplicably nervous.


    With an awkward twist of her mouth, she asked tentatively, ¡°Mrs. Song, is there something you¡¯re dissatisfied with?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, lightly laughed, and said, ¡°Not at all, I just want to remember everyone¡¯s faces clearly, so I can tell Mr. Song later. After all, everyone has been so fantastic, haven¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s remarks sounded like compliments, for some reason, they left everyone feeling a chill down their backs.


    Maybe they were just overthinking it...


    The makeup salon wasn¡¯t far from the venue of the banquet, so in less than fifteen minutes, Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the banquet hall.


    Sure enough, as she expected, Song Sinian hadn¡¯t arrived yet.


    Although the charity gala had already drawn quite a number of attendees, for someone like Song Sinian who typically disliked social events, he certainly wouldn¡¯t arrive a minute early.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed, and made her way straight to a bench beside the food service area.


    If it were her previous life, she would have already been anxiously searching for Song Sinian.


    Without a cellphone, and without an invitation, she would surely be taken away for identity verification. But with Xiao Jinglan, this bug, they would detain her until Song Sinian showed up.


    She was Song Sinian¡¯s newlywed wife, unrecognized by anyone; they could easily use this as an excuse.


    This wretched bunch, that¡¯s how they played with a naive young girl like her¡ªit was truly despicable!


    But she would never do such a stupid thing again.


    Lu Zhaozhao picked up a plate of petit fours, jabbed a fork into one, and was about to pop it into her mouth.


    The sweet and glutinous taste instantly improved her mood.


    Thinking about meeting Song Sinian, who had been away on a business trip for several days, her appetite improved considerably as well.


    ¡°Excuse me for interrupting, beautiful lady, are you also here alone for the charity gala?¡±


    Suddenly, a familiar voice reached her ears.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes trembled slightly, and she instinctively turned toward the source of the sound.


    Was it him?


    How could he be here?

 Chapter 11 - 11 Song Sinian, Are You Avoiding Me?

    Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Song Sinian, Are You Avoiding Me?


    The man who had killed her together with Xiao Jinglan! Xiao Mo!


    She had anticipated encountering him in this life, just not in the present circumstances.


    Xiao Mo was Xiao Jinglan¡¯s nephew, and it was said that he often visited the Song Mansion to play when he was a child, and thus, the two of them could be considered childhood acquaintances.


    That was what she had believed too, until she was killed by Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo.


    Xiao Mo noticed Lu Zhaozhao staring at him and didn¡¯t speak. He felt somewhat embarrassed and tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Do we... know each other?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao snapped back to reality and gently shook her head, ¡°No, I just thought you looked somewhat familiar.¡±


    She suppressed the urge to stab the fork in her hand into his face and did her best to even out her tone.


    Hearing this, Xiao Mo chuckled softly, ¡°I never imagined I¡¯d be recognized by such a beautiful lady. I¡¯m truly fortunate across three lifetimes.¡±


    Ever since he entered the charity banquet, he had noticed Lu Zhaozhao sitting on the lounge bench from afar.


    Not only was she beautiful, but her aura was also ethereal; even sitting there enjoying some pastries, the curve of her eyes and brows was enchanting.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to find such a stunning beauty in a place like Nanjing.


    Lu Zhaozhao had no desire to engage with Xiao Mo, so she merely nodded at him and continued to eat her cake on her own.


    After surveying Lu Zhaozhao up and down, Xiao Mo finally spoke slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived in Nanjing and am not very familiar with this place. Could this beautiful lady perhaps guide me?¡±


    He was in Nanjing all because of Sinian¡¯s sudden business trip¡ªwhich Xiao Jinglan insisted he investigate.


    But investigation after investigation turned out to be simple tasks, many of which didn¡¯t require Song Sinian¡¯s personal involvement at all.


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing a just right curve, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not a local either. If you need a tour guide, you should ask the organizers.¡±


    The impenetrable way she presented herself only heightened Xiao Mo¡¯s interest.


    He propped his chin and looked at Lu Zhaozhao, saying with an air of regret, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, how about we get to know each other? My name is Xiao Mo, a department manager of the Qin Group.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s self-satisfied demeanor, Lu Zhaozhao really wanted to tell him directly that she was his boss¡¯s wife.


    ¡°Miss...¡±


    Just as Xiao Mo was about to speak again, sudden clamor came from the entrance of the charity banquet.


    Almost everyone turned to look in that direction.


    Naturally, Lu Zhaozhao was no exception.


    The person entering was Song Sinian, and almost instantly upon his arrival, he was surrounded by people.


    Even if Lu Zhaozhao wanted to go over, she guessed she would be squeezed back.


    As she was thinking of how to attract Song Sinian¡¯s attention, the entire banquet hall eerily quieted down again.


    She looked questioningly towards the previously noisy direction, but her gaze inadvertently met Song Sinian¡¯s.


    She slowly stood up, intending to walk over, when Song Sinian turned away his gaze and left outright.


    ¡°???¡±


    Had she just been ignored by Song Sinian?


    Was it that he hadn¡¯t recognized her, or was it deliberate?


    Xiao Mo seemed to notice Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s confusion and chuckled lightly, ¡°If you¡¯re interested in that man, I¡¯d advise you to give up¡ªhe isn¡¯t interested in any woman.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xiao Mo and gave him a smile that was more a grimace than genuine, ¡°I¡¯m only interested in him right now, excuse me.¡±


    With that said, she took a glass of red wine from the table and walked away.


    Xiao Mo watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s retreating figure with no hint of anger.


    It was normal for Song Sinian, a good-looking man, to be popular with women.


    Moreover, he was the president of the Qin Group¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t be tempted by him?


    He liked these ambitious women; they hit a wall with Song Sinian, which actually made them easier prey for him.


    He raised the stem glass in his hand, with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s silhouette reflected in the amber-colored liquid, as if he had her in his grasp.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s lips curled up smugly, tonight didn¡¯t seem like it would be boring after all.


    Meanwhile, the people beside Song Sinian had also been mostly sent away by Zhao Xi.


    Only one or two were left, and they, too, were hovering around Zhao Xi.


    From a distance, Lu Zhaozhao watched Song Sinian head toward the balcony and, lifting her head, downed the red wine in her hand in one go.


    She headed straight for the balcony.


    Zhao Xi was about to step forward to stop her, but as soon as he recognized who it was, he froze.


    Why was Lu Zhaozhao here?


    No wonder their master had seemed off the moment he walked in; it turned out he had seen his wife.


    However, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arrival was quite strange. It would be better to inquire about it with the butler.


    As for now...


    He¡¯d better keep watch for their master.


    At this moment, Lu Zhaozhao, having entered the balcony, closed the door behind her and stood before Song Sinian.


    She had braced herself mentally upon arrival; if she angered Song Sinian later, she would just claim she had drunk too much and couldn¡¯t remember a thing.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and walked straight forward a few steps.


    Under the moonlight, Song Sinian stood by the balcony edge, his deep eyes hadn¡¯t moved away from her since she entered.


    He hadn¡¯t known she would be attending the charity dinner, and even less had he expected her to dress so beautifully.


    Song Sinian, thinking about the man who just now had been sitting close to Lu Zhaozhao and getting along with her quite intimately, felt his gaze darken considerably.


    There was a dull feeling in his chest, making his breathing uncomfortable.


    He lifted a hand to loosen the tie around his neck; his slender fingers on the dark tie made his skin seem like jade.


    ¡°Song Sinian, have you been avoiding me?¡± Lu Zhaozhao asked, just as a night breeze began to blow.


    The tendrils of hair by her cheeks brushed across them, looking stunning in the moonlight.


    Song Sinian, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, who was so close, slightly lowered his gaze and reached out to brush her stray hair behind her ear, giving her a despairing answer in a calm voice, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been avoiding you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t understand: why were his actions towards her so tender, yet his spoken words so painful?


    Feeling agitated, her nose couldn¡¯t help but turn red.


    She wanted to cry.


    Thinking about the grievances she¡¯d suffered in her previous life, she couldn¡¯t help but want to cry.


    But she couldn¡¯t cry; she needed to confront Song Sinian and ask why he was avoiding her.


    Just as she was about to speak, Song Sinian suddenly reached out to grasp the back of her neck, and his warm lips landed on hers.


    Lu Zhaozhao shivered, but the large hand at the small of her back held her even tighter.


    He didn¡¯t give her any space to retreat; his breath, somewhat disordered, rushed onto her face.


    His barely concealed urgency successfully soothed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s flustered heart.


    She softly wrapped her arms around the man she had been longing for these past few days, responding to him as tenderly as she could.


    ¡°Thump, thump...¡±


    In the quiet balcony, their hearts beat slowly and heavily.


    A strange feeling spread from the tip of the heart, gradually seeping into his bloodstream.


    Suddenly, Song Sinian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly...

 Chapter 12 - 12 Now shes completely stuck

    Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Now she¡¯s completely stuck


    He slowly released Lu Zhaozhao, his eyes showing confusion, ¡°You... drank?¡±


    It seemed she would always cry after drinking.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded dumbly, the corners of her eyes red and still wet, ¡°Mhm, I did.¡±


    Her voice carried a nasal tone, sounding pitiful.


    Song Sinian pinched her chin, looking down at her, observing the smeared lipstick on her lips, his fingertips gently grazed across it.


    Mmm, even more smudged.


    The bright red mark on her pale little face was especially striking, yet inexplicably it made him feel at ease.


    The irritability that had colored Song Sinian¡¯s brows instantly faded away.


    His eyelids drooped, meeting her gaze with an unruffled black stare and muttered, ¡°The taste of red wine is pretty good.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head was foggy, and just as she tried to say something, Song Sinian pulled her in again.


    He casually wrapped one arm around her waist, slightly bending over, kissing her more forcefully than before.


    After a long while, the two parted again.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s legs went weak and she nearly fell backward, but Song Sinian was quick to catch her.


    He scanned the area and, seeing a sofa placed on the balcony, finally carried her over to it.


    Her outfit had been prepared by a makeup salon, and while her shoes were attractive, they were not comfortable.


    It was fine when she was sitting on the bench earlier, but now that she had been standing for a while, her heels felt raw as if they were blistered.


    ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll have Zhao Xi take you back in a bit,¡± said Song Sinian before turning to leave.


    Lu Zhaozhao instantly panicked, reaching out to grab Song Sinian¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare go!¡±


    The atmosphere between the two of them had been so good just a moment ago; how could this bastard think of leaving just like that?


    Moreover, she had a belly full of questions to ask him, and even if he turned his face away now, she absolutely couldn¡¯t let him walk away!


    Song Sinian stood there, glancing at Lu Zhaozhao, who tightly clutched his sleeve, then turned around and came back.


    ¡°???¡±


    Is he really that obedient?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian with a puzzled face, and seeing that he had no intention of speaking, she became even more baffled.


    Doesn¡¯t he wonder why she wants him to stay?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind was a mess, her heart increasingly troubled.


    But then she thought, compared to her previous life, these things hardly seemed to matter.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and stared at him intensely, word by word she demanded, ¡°Why are you avoiding me?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s calm gaze flickered slightly, ¡°Because you are very uncomfortable when you¡¯re with me.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was dumbfounded on the spot; out of a hundred possible reasons Song Sinian might have given, she hadn¡¯t considered this one.


    Her mouth opened in disbelief, ¡°When did I ever say that?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he methodically replied, ¡°When I¡¯m around you, you don¡¯t do the things you usually do, and even when I¡¯m in the room, you won¡¯t even come near the bed.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, finding herself at a loss for words.


    She had previously thought Song Sinian was emotionally blocked, so he wouldn¡¯t get emotional over small issues.


    In fact, he really didn¡¯t get emotional, he would just pile these little things up and rationalize them logically.


    Lu Zhaozhao pressed her temples, feeling a bit of a headache, and waved at Song Sinian, ¡°Come here, sit next to me.¡±


    She had been devastated earlier upon hearing Song Sinian say that he had been deliberately avoiding her.


    Now it seemed that it was all just due to differing logics, which led to different approaches to problems.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t say much, continuing to do as she said, just like earlier.


    Lu Zhaozhao clenched her little hands tightly, took a deep breath, and looked at him with utmost seriousness as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve never felt uncomfortable around you; I¡¯m just a little shy.¡±


    Although it was a simple explanation, admitting her shyness somehow felt incredibly difficult to say.


    As she said this, she involuntarily averted her gaze, unable to maintain eye contact with Song Sinian.


    ¡°Are you feeling shy now too?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice slowly resonated on the quiet balcony.


    The dim light filtered through the glass doors of the balcony, casting a glow at their feet.


    This gave the already tranquil atmosphere an inexplicably intimate touch.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew that, having spoken to this extent, denial was pointless.


    She nodded and murmured softly in agreement, ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes shimmered with a faint light in the night, his interest piqued more by her reaction than by what she was saying.


    He reached out, gently tucked the stray hair behind her shoulder, and whispered into her ear with his deep voice, ¡°So when you¡¯re shy, the tips of your ears turn red.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was clearly startled by his words.


    She raised her eyes to look at Song Sinian again, only to meet his undisturbed dark gaze.


    Now, she was thoroughly at a loss for words.


    Because Song Sinian was simply stating a fact, his words, spoken in a deep voice, inexplicably took on a flirtatious tone.


    She cleared her throat and pursed her small lips, ¡°In the future, don¡¯t avoid me anymore, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Song Sinian nodded, still sparing with his words.


    ¡°...¡±


    The balcony fell silent all of a sudden.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian just stared at each other, neither intending to speak first.


    ¡°Err... shall we, go back to the banquet hall?¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, standing up, only to feel a sharp pain in her heel.


    Instinctively, she sat back down.


    Song Sinian noticed the strange expression on her face and raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted the hem of her dress, revealing the small feet she had in her shoes.


    Now, her heels were a bloody, mangled mess, no wonder they hurt so much.


    Song Sinian reached out and unbuckled the strap of her shoe, his large hand holding her foot, ¡°You can¡¯t continue wearing shoes on this foot.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao wanted to deny it, but her current situation indeed didn¡¯t look too good.


    She bit her lip, hesitating, ¡°Maybe you could...¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Song Sinian scooped her up in his arms and held her close.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you back.¡±


    His calm voice lingered above her head, still without any emotional fluctuation, but to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ears, it steadied her previously anxious heart.


    She hadn¡¯t wanted to trouble him, but now, she might as well stay silent and listen to everything Song Sinian said.


    With this thought, Lu Zhaozhao naturally wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled obediently into his embrace.


    Song Sinian glanced down at Lu Zhaozhao, carrying her towards the balcony door.


    Just then, the balcony door was opened from the inside¡ª

 Chapter 13 - 13 For a salted fish, no amount of salt matters!

    Chapter 13: Chapter 13 For a salted fish, no amount of salt matters!


    The person standing inside the balcony was clearly startled.


    Especially when their gaze fell on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pretty little face, their complexion involuntarily changed.


    ¡°President Song, seems like you¡¯re in quite high spirits today?¡± Xiao Mo forced a smile, looking at Song Sinian in front of him.


    He had just been in the banquet hall, intending to wait for the little beauty who had just been snubbed to go pick up the pieces.


    But to his surprise, he had waited to no avail.


    Annoyed, he had no choice but to come out and check on the situation, only to find the little beauty he thought would be snubbed nestled in Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    What irritated him even more was that this little beauty¡¯s lipstick was completely smudged, clearly having just been ravaged.


    Her eyes were shimmering, and there were still traces of moisture on the tips of her eyelashes, making anyone who saw her unable to resist the urge to pinch her fair little face.


    Song Sinian glanced coldly at Xiao Mo, his tone indifferent, ¡°Move aside.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s foot injury was not too serious, but leaving it unattended could become a problem.


    When she was cut by a dinner knife before, it took several days to heal; she was extremely delicate.


    Her feet still needed to be treated as soon as possible.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face suddenly darkened, he coldly stepped aside to clear the path from the balcony, but as Song Sinian walked out, he followed.


    ¡°President Song, leave this young lady to me, I think the other executives have matters to discuss with you...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s steps halted, and he stood in place.


    Now, nearly everyone¡¯s eyes in the banquet hall turned towards him.


    ¡°She is my wife, no need for your help,¡± Song Sinian said, his thin lips parting indifferently to release a few words.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Not to mention Xiao Mo, even the others present were stunned.


    Song Sinian was married?


    And to such a great beauty?!


    Lu Zhaozhao nestled in Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, her small feet peeking out and gently shaking; it was as if she suddenly remembered something, and stealthily tugged at Song Sinian¡¯s clothes.


    Seeing this, he instinctively looked down, only to hear Lu Zhaozhao whisper, ¡°My shoes are still on the balcony. They are from the makeup salon; I need to return them.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze flickered slightly, paused for a moment, but still ordered Zhao Xi, who was beside him, ¡°Pick up the shoes on the balcony.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s response, Song Sinian left the banquet hall without looking back.


    Lu Zhaozhao had just thought about the sensation it would cause for Song Sinian to be seen carrying her from the balcony.


    But she was not worried at all; in fact, she was somewhat looking forward to it.


    After all, the news about her and Song Sinian would soon reach Xiao Jinglan; she wondered how it would feel to have the stage she painstakingly set being used for another¡¯s performance.


    No sooner had Song Sinian left the banquet hall than Xiao Mo¡¯s call went through to Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°When did Song Sinian get married?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan just answered the call when she heard Xiao Mo¡¯s voice, furious and uncontrollable, coming from the other end of the line.


    She furrowed her brows slightly and replied offhandedly, ¡°Just a few days ago, what¡¯s wrong? Did you see her?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan then remembered she had asked Xiao Mo to follow Song Sinian¡¯s schedule.


    It seemed he had also gone to the charity gala.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s brows almost knotted in frustration, ¡°Who exactly is this woman? Where did she spring from?¡±


    The more Xiao Jinglan heard, the stranger she found it, but she still followed up on Xiao Mo¡¯s words, ¡°Recently, the Lu Family was struggling with cash flow and wanted to marry into the Song Family to secure a contract, so they arranged for their daughter, Lu Zhaozhao, to have a blind date with Song Sinian. Who would have thought, on the day they met, Song Sinian married her on the spot.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo gritted his teeth; even thinking about her pitiful little face made him want to marry her right then and there.


    Xiao Jinglan, noticing the silence on the other end of the phone, couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows in curiosity, ¡°What exactly happened? Did Lu Zhaozhao cause some trouble?¡±


    She had laid the groundwork for so long, just to have Lu Zhaozhao embarrass herself in the Nanjing social circle, so she could ¡°save¡± the poor girl in the guise of a kind elder.


    Unexpectedly, the person on the other end of the phone chuckled lightly, ¡°Trouble? It¡¯s a pretty big mess indeed; now the entire Nanjing social circle knows that Song Sinian got married and even to a great beauty! His public image has improved significantly!¡±


    Even through the phone, Xiao Jinglan could hear Xiao Mo¡¯s grinding teeth.


    Xiao Jinglan, who was in the middle of her skincare routine, suddenly sat bolt upright from the beauty chair, ¡°What did you say?!¡±


    She ripped off the facial mask from her face and waved for the people around her to leave.


    After everyone had gone, Xiao Jinglan asked with a deep frown, ¡°What exactly happened in Nanjing? I had prepared for everything...¡±


    ¡°Prepared for everything?¡± Xiao Mo scoffed, ¡°What have you done?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan paused for a moment, ¡°I deliberately had someone take her phone and told her that Song Sinian was waiting for her in the banquet hall, of course, without Song Sinian knowing.¡±


    A girl who had never been to Nanjing would definitely be lost without her phone, searching for Song Sinian.


    Next, she would soon be led to a lounge for not having an invitation, and Xiao Jinglan had even arranged people to be there in advance!


    After hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s full explanation, Xiao Mo scratched his head in frustration, ¡°You¡¯ve arranged so much, but did you ever consider that she¡¯d just sit quietly on a chair from the moment she entered, waiting for Song Sinian?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was at a loss for words.


    Indeed, she had not considered that.


    When she had seen Lu Zhaozhao at Song Sinian¡¯s house, she thought she was too apathetic, so she deliberately had makeup artists overpraise Lu Zhaozhao.


    She never expected that no amount of flattery would make a difference to a salted fish!


    Xiao Jinglan rubbed her temples in frustration, ¡°Ah, I overestimated Lu Zhaozhao too much; she¡¯s unnaturally obedient.¡±


    Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes and suddenly chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s good she is obedient. Once she sees Song Sinian¡¯s true face, she¡¯ll know who¡¯s better for her!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face changed abruptly, ¡°You¡¯re not planning on making a move on Lu Zhaozhao, are you?¡±


    Xiao Mo replied nonchalantly, ¡°Making a move? She was supposed to be mine in the first place.¡±


    Everything belonging to the Song Family would eventually be his, including Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xiao Jinglan knew Xiao Mo¡¯s character well; he would always find a way to get what he wanted.


    Even if it was a woman who once fancied Song Sinian, he would snatch her away.


    Let alone Lu Zhaozhao, who was now Song Sinian¡¯s wife.


    She sighed lightly, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao has been spoiled by her family, she¡¯s timid and lacks ambition; seducing her doesn¡¯t seem realistic...¡±


    If Lu Zhaozhao had even a hint of ambition, her plan wouldn¡¯t have ended in such a dismal failure!


    Xiao Mo clearly didn¡¯t believe Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words; his mind was entirely filled with the image of Lu Zhaozhao being held softly in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, hardly in a mood to listen to anything else.

 Chapter 14: Tell me, what exactly happened?

    Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Tell me, what exactly happened?


    ¡°He¡¯s never been loved, so naturally, he doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good. I¡¯ll make her understand who¡¯s better!¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s voice came through on the other end of the phone.


    This gave Xiao Jinglan a headache.


    It seemed that he wasn¡¯t planning to give up anytime soon.


    She sighed softly, ¡°Fine, how you wish to contact Lu Zhaozhao is your business, but you must never let Mr. Song find out!¡±


    She certainly didn¡¯t hope that Xiao Mo would ruin his bright future for the sake of a woman.


    Xiao Mo, of course, understood this as well, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a plan.¡±


    Having said that, Xiao Mo finally hung up the phone.


    He gazed through the second-story window at the street below adorned with glimmering lights, his lips slowly curling into a smile.


    Lu Zhaozhao, is it? I¡¯m looking forward to our next meeting...


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao, who had left with Song Sinian, was now placed in the backseat of the car.


    As soon as she got into the car, Lu Zhaozhao moved all the fabric of her dress away from the direction of Song Sinian.


    The evening gown wasn¡¯t cumbersome when she was wearing it, but once in the car, she found it took up far too much space.


    The temperature dropped dramatically on this autumn night. She felt fine being held by Song Sinian moments ago, but now sitting alone abruptly, she felt her entire back chilling.


    She instinctively leaned toward Song Sinian, while mumbling, ¡°This skirt is such a hassle, I can¡¯t even lay it out properly.¡±


    No sooner had her voice faded than she found herself suddenly lifted into the air.


    Song Sinian held her in his arms again and even helped to adjust her skirt for her.


    ¡°Now you can lay it out.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Song Sinian, at his serious yet entirely unemotional handsome face, and silently sighed.


    She nodded in agreement with what he had said and wrapped her small hands around Song Sinian¡¯s waist, ¡°I¡¯ve got nowhere to hold, just a temporary hug, you wouldn¡¯t mind, right?¡±


    She tried to keep her expression free from any personal feelings.


    Sure enough, Song Sinian nodded, casually circling her waist with his arm, and said indifferently, ¡°Hold tight.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Not just Lu Zhaozhao, but even Zhao Xi was helpless at this point.


    Even though both parties started with different intentions, they somehow managed to reach a consensus at the end.


    Zhao Xi started the car and, while turning the steering wheel, casually mentioned, ¡°Next time the lady attends such a banquet, if you come early you can call me in advance, so I can arrange a VIP lounge for you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was originally thinking about how to complain to Song Sinian, but Zhao Xi¡¯d just given her an opening.


    She laughed lightly, ¡°I wanted to call, but my phone was taken by someone at the makeup salon and hasn¡¯t been returned to me yet.¡±


    ¡°It was taken?¡± Zhao Xi¡¯s eyebrows furrowed instantly.


    His gaze swept over Lu Zhaozhao via the rear-view mirror, full of confusion.


    Lu Zhaozhao naturally noticed Zhao Xi¡¯s gaze and shrugged slightly, ¡°Maybe they forgot...¡±


    Forgot?


    The outfit Lu Zhaozhao wore looked worth a sum in the eight figures; the salon capable of lending such a gown was certainly no small workshop.


    They couldn¡¯t possibly claim a customer¡¯s belongings as their own, let alone forget to return items to a customer.


    The only possibility was that someone did it on purpose to keep Lu Zhaozhao from contacting Song Sinian.


    He had already contacted the butler earlier, but had not received a reply yet, guessing that he would only learn the truth of the matter later.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Zhao Xi¡¯s reaction with satisfaction, and with a push of her small hands, she stretched in a yawn.


    She snuggled into Song Sinian¡¯s arms again and couldn¡¯t help but rub her neck against his, ¡°I was brought here before I even woke up from my nap today. Those makeup artists were just too enthusiastic, I was too embarrassed to say I hadn¡¯t eaten.¡±


    ¡°Are you hungry now?¡± Song Sinian immediately caught the key point in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded obediently, ¡°A little bit, but I just had some pastries in the banquet hall, and I feel much better. I really want to go home and have the head chef¡¯s sweet soup~¡±


    Her eyes narrowed into a smile, radiant and beautiful.


    With these words, everyone should now know that she didn¡¯t come to Nanjing on her own; she was brought here against her will.


    Song Sinian looked deeply at Lu Zhaozhao, his tone gentle, ¡°Alright, you¡¯ll have it when we get home.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected the matter to be resolved so smoothly. In high spirits, she lay in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, even fiddling with the cufflinks on his suit occasionally.


    The car was quiet again, except for the occasional sound of the engine.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to see a doctor tomorrow,¡± suddenly, Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice broke the silence in the car.


    Lu Zhaozhao paused, looking down at her little feet propped on the seat, ¡°Uh... that¡¯s not necessary, right?¡±


    Her foot had merely scraped the skin.


    It could be resolved just with some iodophor.


    There was no need for such a fuss.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze lifted slightly, just about to say more, but then she saw Song Sinian staring intently at her.


    Although he said nothing in rebuttal, Lu Zhaozhao unexpectedly felt his dissatisfaction.


    ¡°Uh...¡± She hesitated for two seconds, then changed her tune, ¡°Sure, we could go for a check-up.¡±


    As soon as her words fell, Song Sinian immediately responded, ¡°I¡¯ll take you tomorrow morning; no need to wake up early.¡±


    ¡°Uh... okay.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Xi was driving in front, listening to the conversation between Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian, and couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips.


    Their master clearly wanted to take Lu Zhaozhao to see a psychiatrist, but she mistook it for a check-up for her foot.


    He wondered what expression Doctor Tian would have when he sees the lady tomorrow...


    It was 8 in the evening by the time Song Sinian and the others returned home.


    By that time, Lu Zhaozhao had already fallen asleep in the car.


    After Song Sinian brought her back to the bedroom, he went to the study with the butler and Zhao Xi.


    ¡°Tell me, what exactly happened?¡± As soon as Song Sinian sat down, his gaze was fiercely fixed on Qian Hong.


    Lu Zhaozhao had gone to the charity banquet without informing him, and that was one thing, but they had actually left her alone at the event, and they hadn¡¯t even given her a cell phone.


    Qian Hong¡¯s head dipped slightly, ¡°It was people from Lady Xiao¡¯s side who came to pick up the lady; they said they had already communicated with the master, which is why the lady went over.¡±


    She should have been more careful.


    If Lu Zhaozhao had been contacted immediately after she left, perhaps the lady might not have found herself alone.


    Zhao Xi sighed softly, ¡°We didn¡¯t receive any messages before the lady left. If it was an accident, that would be fine, but I¡¯m afraid some people did this on purpose.¡±


    Both he and Qian Hong knew exactly who it was.


    Xiao Jinglan always seemed kind and motherly, but she had done numerous underhand deals behind the scenes.


    However, she was smart; she never acted overtly.


    Just take Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s incident this time; she genuinely spared no expense in dressing her up. Even if something else happened, she could completely disassociate herself from it...

 Chapter 15: Want to snatch food from the jaws of this tiger? Still too green!

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Want to snatch food from the jaws of this tiger? Still too green!


    After all, she had dressed her up with ¡°sincere intentions¡±; how could she possibly deliberately conceal the news about Lu Zhaozhao?


    Zhao Xi and Qian Hong exchanged glances¡ªit was precisely because of her tactics that Mr. Song was often kept in the dark.


    As for their master, he had never cared about such trivial matters; it was feared that this incident with Lu Zhaozhao would end up unresolved...


    Song Sinian pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting around Qian Hong and Zhao Xi, ¡°What do you two think should be done about this matter?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Qian Hong and Zhao Xi were both thoroughly stunned by Song Sinian¡¯s sudden question.


    Usually, they would wait for Song Sinian to give instructions; they never expected that one day, their master would actively ask for a solution!


    Song Sinian observed the expressions on the faces of Qian Hong and Zhao Xi for quite some time, a slight frown forming, ¡°Do you have no solutions?¡±


    Qian Hong was the first to recover, ¡°No, no, it¡¯s not that, it¡¯s just that we were caught off guard by the master¡¯s sudden request for suggestions.¡±


    It was more than being caught off guard; they were ecstatic.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes drooped, ¡°She cries too easily, too delicate by far. My methods work for business, but as for her affairs...¡±


    For the first time, he felt uncertain.


    He had always thought that if she didn¡¯t like something, he wouldn¡¯t do it, and that should be sufficient for their relationship.


    But when he did behave that way, she would end up crying non-stop.


    As Song Sinian thought of her reddened eyes, something inexplicably sank in his chest.


    He had thought about making her cry before, but he didn¡¯t want her to cry over these small, inconsequential matters.


    Zhao Xi and Qian Hong, hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, became excited.


    It seemed their master really cared about the mistress!


    Qian Hong promptly suggested, ¡°I also think the mistress is indeed too delicate. It would be best for the master to arrange a bodyguard responsible for the mistress¡¯s personal safety.¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded vehemently, ¡°Right, right, right. If possible, it would be best if the master didn¡¯t let Lady Xiao meddle in the mistress¡¯s affairs.¡±


    ¡°Also, those who bullied the mistress must be taught a lesson! Whether it was intentional or not, we must deter them altogether!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! The mistress doesn¡¯t normally attend social events. If she has to attend an event alone, it would be best if the master accompanied her.¡±


    ...


    The two babbled on exhaustively until they realized that Song Sinian had been silent for quite some time.


    Qian Hong and Zhao Xi instantly fell quiet.


    They looked at Song Sinian nervously, fearing they would be thrown out the door the next second.


    But to their surprise, when Song Sinian heard the noise around him cease, he put down his pen and looked at them, ¡°Is that all?¡±


    Qian Hong and Zhao Xi glanced at each other and weakly nodded.


    After all, their master had only just begun listening; if he accepted one or two of their suggestions, it would be wiser for them to stop while they were ahead.


    Song Sinian looked at the notes on the paper, his fingertip gently tapping on it, and said in a deep voice, ¡°Handle the matter according to your suggestions. As for Xiao Jinglan¡¯s matter, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    He accepted all their suggestions?


    Song Sinian, seeing them standing there dumbfounded, raised an eyebrow, ¡°What? Do you think it is inappropriate to do so?¡±


    The two shook their heads almost in unison, ¡°No! Not at all!¡±


    Song Sinian leaned back in his chair, ¡°Then go handle it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, master!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Old Master Song was playing chess with the butler when he received a message personally sent by Song Sinian.


    ¡°Old master, the young master has sent you a message.¡±


    Old Master Song, focused on the chessboard, barely registered the assistant¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Mhm, got it.¡±


    He held the chess piece he had just captured, his eyes wrinkled with concentration.


    The butler on the other side had heard the assistant¡¯s words from the start.


    A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, and he coughed softly, reminding, ¡°Old master, it¡¯s from the young master.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I know it¡¯s the young master...¡± he was about to pick up another chess piece when his hand suddenly paused, and he abruptly looked up at the butler, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    The butler pointed to the assistant, ¡°The young master has sent a message.¡±


    The people in the Song Family knew that Song Sinian was Old Master Song¡¯s pride and joy.


    But Song Sinian was not close with Old Master Song¡ªmore accurately, they were like familiar strangers.


    Old Master Song gestured for the assistant to come over, put on the reading glasses hanging around his neck, and took the mobile phone.


    After reading the message, Old Master Song slammed his fist down hard on the chessboard, ¡°Call Xiao Jinglan over for me!¡±


    The butler, seeing Old Master Song¡¯s face suddenly darken, immediately gave the assistant a look, and soon the servants left the room promptly.


    Less than five minutes later, Xiao Jinglan rushed over.


    As soon as she entered, she looked uneasily at Old Master Song and tried to smile, ¡°Dad, did you call for me?¡±


    Old Master Song stared at Xiao Jinglan with a gloomy face, ¡°What have you done today?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was just as puzzled; she knew that the only thing that could make Old Master Song so angry must be related to Song Sinian.


    But after thinking for a while, she couldn¡¯t figure out anything related to Song Sinian.


    Could it be about the matter in Nanjing?


    With Song Sinian¡¯s character, even if he took Lu Zhaozhao away, he would not inquire about the details.


    Did Lu Zhaozhao lodge a complaint?


    Xiao Jinglan frowned, but that seemed unlikely; even if Lu Zhaozhao did complain, it shouldn¡¯t involve her.


    Her fist clenched as she tentatively said, ¡°Dad, today... aside from having someone dress up Lu Zhaozhao to be sent to Nanjing, I didn¡¯t do anything else.¡±


    ¡°You did nothing else?¡± Old Master Song¡¯s eyebrows immediately knotted, scoffing, ¡°Did nothing, and yet Sinian says that from now on you are not to meddle in his affairs? Did nothing, and he¡¯s told you to stay away from his wife?!¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Xiao Jinglan seemed not to have expected Song Sinian to speak like that and was completely dumbfounded.


    Normally, Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t care about other people¡¯s affairs, and yet he had sought Old Master Song over Lu Zhaozhao?


    It seemed she had underestimated her!


    She thought she was a useless fish, but it turned out she was a silent, man-eating fish!


    Trying to steal from her jaws? She was still too naive!


    After all, she had been a part of the Song Family for years, was a little girl supposed to overtake her now?


    Xiao Jinglan clenched her fists, suppressing the anger in her heart and forcing a smile, ¡°Dad, I think there must be a misunderstanding on Sinian¡¯s part. I¡¯ll talk to him tomorrow, or maybe I¡¯ll talk to Zhaozhao. Maybe the misunderstanding will be cleared up, I...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need!¡± Before Xiao Jinglan could finish speaking, Old Master Song interjected, ¡°From now on, don¡¯t interfere with Sinian¡¯s matters, and don¡¯t see his wife again without his permission!¡±

 Chapter 16: Am I a bit late?

    Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Am I a bit late?


    Mr. Song¡¯s words struck her like a thunderbolt, exploding in her head.


    She could hardly believe her ears, had all her years of hard work at the Song Family been completely ruined by a little girl who had just entered the door a few days ago?


    Xiao Jinglan struggled to keep her expression from looking too ugly, ¡°Dad, I think...¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Mr. Song interrupted her before she could finish, ¡°I won¡¯t hold this against you for now. Remember to stay away from Sinian¡¯s wife in the future, and also stop meddling in those affairs.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was now utterly speechless, knowing that once Mr. Song had made up his mind, there was no room for discussion.


    Mr. Song forbade her from interacting with Lu Zhaozhao, so she could only start from the Lu Family¡¯s side.


    She was determined to find out exactly where the problem lay!


    She glanced at Mr. Song, and seeing that he had no intention of speaking again, she said, ¡°Dad, then you go ahead with your work; I¡¯ll head back now.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Mr. Song nodded, his gaze returning to the chessboard on the table.


    The old butler, seeing Xiao Jinglan leave, finally spoke slowly, ¡°The young master seems to treat his wife a bit differently.¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s grizzled eyebrows rose slightly, ¡°You¡¯ve noticed too?¡±


    The butler nodded, ¡°The young master never cares about anything beyond work and would never trouble Mr. Song over trivial matters. His willingness to step in shows that he really values this wife.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± Mr. Song narrowed his eyes, ¡°no wonder the boy went and registered the marriage after just meeting the girl.¡±


    The butler pondered for a moment, ¡°Mr. Song, do you think if you had a good relationship with the young madam, it might bring you closer to the young master?¡±


    Mr. Song narrowed his eyes, ¡°That might be a good idea, but I don¡¯t know if this young lady is easy to get along with...¡±


    ¡°If the young master likes her... she probably won¡¯t be hard to get along with.¡±


    They were well aware of what Sinian was like.


    When it came to being difficult, who could be more so than Song Si?


    Mr. Song and the old butler exchanged glances, both sighing silently at the same time.


    It seemed Mr. Song would have to visit his granddaughter-in-law himself...


    The next day, when Lu Zhaozhao woke up, the sky was already bright.


    Just yesterday, she had declared she would come back to drink sweet soup, but she fell asleep on the way back home.


    And she even slept until dawn.


    Lu Zhaozhao rubbed her head and sat up, only then did she realize she had slept on the bed last night!


    Had Song Si also slept here yesterday?


    The thought of Song Si suddenly made her scramble out of bed.


    It was over, over, over!


    She remembered Song Si saying he would take her to see the physician this morning.


    Had she gotten up late?


    Lu Zhaozhao scrambled out of bed in a panic, quickly washed up, and rushed downstairs.


    To her surprise, Song Si was not there; instead, he was leisurely sitting in the living room, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao enter, Song Si¡¯s calm eyes lifted slightly and he said indifferently, ¡°Are you up? Do you want something to eat?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded blankly and then sat down next to Song Si.


    Her unconscious behavior made Song Sinian¡¯s eyes flash slightly.


    ¡°Am I a little late?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian with a bit of trepidation, a worry in her eyes that she couldn¡¯t quite express.


    Song Sinian gently shook his head as his gaze fell on her somewhat disheveled hair. He subconsciously reached out, but stopped as he met her puzzled gaze.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes uncertainly and nudged her little face toward his hand, asking, ¡°Is there something on my face?¡±


    Song Sinian looked down, his eyes deeply fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, his fingertips lightly caressing her unsuspecting little face.


    He neither denied her words nor confirmed them, only gently brushing her cheek with the pad of his finger.


    After a moment, Song Sinian withdrew his hand and started talking at a leisurely pace, ¡°Take your time eating breakfast. There¡¯s plenty of time. I told you yesterday to wait until you had slept enough before leaving.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao swallowed, having taken his words yesterday as mere politeness, never expecting Song Sinian to actually mean it.


    She stole a glance at him. Song Sinian¡¯s expressionless face was still inscrutable.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips. Thinking back to when she woke up in the morning and noticed that the wound on her heel was already scabbing, she tentatively asked, ¡°Do I... have to see the doctor today?¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± was Song Sinian¡¯s succinct reply.


    ¡°...¡±


    Alright then, since he had already made arrangements, she would just go.


    Qian Hong set breakfast in front of Lu Zhaozhao, which, to her delight, included the sweet soup she had wanted the day before.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart surged with joy, and she nodded her thanks to Qian Hong before happily starting to eat.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over her radiant little face, and his eyebrows lifted slightly.


    It seemed she really enjoyed eating.


    Whenever she ate something she liked, she always squinted her eyes habitually...


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the dining room door, and Zhao Xi entered, carrying a stack of things.


    He nodded at Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao before setting the items on the dining table.


    ¡°Here is Madame¡¯s phone that was taken away yesterday, and these are the profiles of the bodyguards arranged for Madame.¡±


    Song Sinian casually placed the mobile phone beside Lu Zhaozhao and then slowly began, ¡°Later, pick a bodyguard that you find suitable. Have him follow you when you go out, and if you encounter anything strange, leave it to him to handle.¡±


    ¡°Uh... alright,¡± Lu Zhaozhao obediently nodded.


    She didn¡¯t need to think too hard to know what those ¡°strange things¡± referred to.


    As Zhao Xi stood by, seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s well-behaved demeanor, he couldn¡¯t help but add, looking at Song Sinian¡¯s businesslike manner, ¡°Sir is worried about Madame. The person who bullied Madame yesterday has already been dealt with. Please rest assured, Madame.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded lightly, still a bit slow to react.


    They came back yesterday, and Song Sinian had already dealt with the person?


    She had spoken up yesterday partly to let Song Sinian and the others know she was forced to go and partly to make Song Sinian wary of Xiao Jinglan.


    Lu Zhaozhao had thought that Song Sinian and Xiao Jinglan were on good terms, and he would give her some face. She had never imagined he would deal with the person directly.


    In her past life, Xiao Jinglan seemed to understand Song Sinian well, which led her to believe there was a good relationship between them.


    Now it seemed, for Song Sinian, there wasn¡¯t really a question of relationships being good or bad, was there?


    So what could she do to make Song Sinian take her side?


    As Lu Zhaozhao was deep in thought, she was suddenly pinched on the cheek and forced to turn to the side¡ª

 Chapter 17 - 17 Isnt This What You Told Me?

    Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Isn¡¯t This What You Told Me?


    ¡°You¡¯re not happy?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s indifferent voice echoed in the dining room.


    His gaze meticulously scrutinized her small face, seemingly trying to draw some conclusion through observation.


    Lu Zhaozhao, with her little mouth pinched, resolutely shook her head, ¡°I was just thinking about what you all were discussing, I¡¯m not unhappy.¡±


    After speaking, she did not forget to flash Sinian a sweet smile.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Sinian then slowly released his hand.


    Qian Hong and Zhao Xi, who were standing by, nearly ran into a wall when they saw how Sinian had handled the situation.


    They had indeed suggested yesterday that Sinian pay more attention to Lu Zhaozhao, to occasionally ask her if she was feeling displeased.


    But... Was that really asking just now?


    Reaching out and pinching the cheek of a pretty young girl, asking her if she is unhappy?


    With his indifferent expression and his flat tone, if someone said it was an interrogation, probably no one would deny it, right?


    Well, at least their Mr. Song was willing to listen, and that was a good thing!


    The rest of the work could be left up to them, the assisters!


    They would guard the couple that Mr. Song and Mrs. Song made!


    Qian Hong and Zhao Xi quickly exchanged a glance.


    ¡°Cough cough... Mr. Song, you seem to have forgotten to mention something to Mrs. Song.¡± Qian Hong winked at Sinian, but upon seeing him looking utterly clueless, she felt instantly disheartened.


    Fortunately, Zhao Xi gave a timely reminder, ¡°Mr. Song, the banquet.¡±


    Sinian¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly, and he turned to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°If you wish to attend any banquets in the future, you can let Zhao Xi know in advance, and I can accompany you.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Zhaozhao could hardly believe her ears, she subconsciously covered her mouth, her eyes looking bright and extremely attractive.


    She didn¡¯t expect that Xiao Jinglan¡¯s trick on her yesterday would actually result in an unexpected gain.


    Sinian nodded, but his gaze fell on her slightly reddened ear tips.


    Embarrassed? Could she be embarrassed by such a thing?


    Although he couldn¡¯t quite understand the complex expressions on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face, he found the redness of her ears rather pleasing.


    Sinian pushed a dessert closer to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid when you see the doctor later, just clearly explain your situation to her, ok?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded with the spoon in her mouth, but internally she couldn¡¯t help feeling anxious.


    Was the doctor she was about to see very scary?


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed at the thought of the fully-healed cut on the back of her heel.


    Even if the doctor wasn¡¯t scary, going for a medical visit with such an ¡°injury¡± would surely lead to a scolding.


    She decided not to think too much about it, ¡°come what may¡± as the saying goes.


    What took Lu Zhaozhao by surprise, however, was that the doctor who took her in seemed quite gentle.


    She had originally thought that Sinian would accompany her to see the doctor.


    In fact, Zhao Xi and Sinian left after bringing her to the consultation room.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat on the couch in the consultation room, looking at the doctor with gentle eyes and brows, feeling somewhat embarrassed.


    ¡°Mrs. Song, don¡¯t be nervous. My name is Tian Xiangjun, you can also call me Doctor Tian,¡± Tian Xiangjun said with a soothing tone.


    Her voice was as pleasant as her name, which relaxed Lu Zhaozhao, who was a bit tense.


    ¡°Okay, Doctor Tian.¡±


    Tian Xiangjun extended her hand and placed a cup of brewed red tea in front of her, then seemingly casually said, ¡°Mr. Song has already told me about your situation. If Mrs. Song doesn¡¯t mind, I hope you can come for regular consultations.¡±


    Sinian had rarely shown such concern for a person, and she naturally hoped that through psychological intervention, she could help heal the psychological wounds of this young girl.


    Moreover, given her obedient and clever appearance, she might be very suitable for Song Sinian.


    ¡°Uh... do I need to have regular check-ups?¡± Lu Zhaozhao unconsciously glanced at her own heel.


    It¡¯s already scabbed over, and she still needs to come regularly?


    For what? Post-traumatic cosmetic treatment?


    Can doctors these days be so ¡°responsible¡± just for money?


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a bit awkward as she tugged at the corners of her mouth, ¡°I feel like my situation doesn¡¯t really call for regular follow-up appointments, right?¡±


    Doctor Tian sighed lightly, ¡°Some injuries look minor, even as if they¡¯re nothing at all, but over time they can turn into big hidden problems.¡±


    When she said this, her gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao even carried a hint of pity.


    Previously, Song Sinian¡¯s assistant had mentioned to her that Lu Zhaozhao had been emotionally abused by the Lu Family from a young age and had grown accustomed to the unfairness of life.


    She might not even notice that she¡¯s been injured.


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao was even more confused; she blinked her watery eyes and suddenly didn¡¯t know what to say.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that this person was recommended by Song Sinian, she would have thought she was a scammer!


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, and just as she was about to speak, she choked on her own saliva.


    A violent cough immediately filled the room. Doctor Tian was startled and quickly went over to pat her back.


    At this moment, Song Sinian, who had heard the commotion, pushed the door open and came in.


    He caught sight of Lu Zhaozhao with reddened eyes still gasping for breath.


    His brows furrowed, and he walked straight toward her.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I was just...¡±


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish explaining, Song Sinian leaned in, cradled her small face, and pressed his lips directly onto hers.


    This sudden action left Lu Zhaozhao completely frozen in place.


    She didn¡¯t dislike Song Sinian¡¯s closeness, but... there was someone else with them now!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato, and she was so stiff she didn¡¯t know whether to push Song Sinian away or just let him have his way.


    Fortunately, Song Sinian wasn¡¯t too overbearing; he just kissed her briefly before quickly releasing her.


    But for Doctor Tian, who witnessed this scene, it was as if she had been struck by lightning.


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao felt even more embarrassed.


    With her head lowered, she whispered in an embarrassed tone, ¡°Mr. Song, why did you... why did you...¡±


    The last few words, she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to say out loud.


    Song Sinian furrowed his brows slightly, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you told me?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian in bewilderment.


    She had told him?


    That was slander! She didn¡¯t! She hadn¡¯t!


    Seeing that she seemed not to understand, Song Sinian added, ¡°Every time just doing that, you stop crying.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao finally understood why Song Sinian had kissed her on the balcony the day before.


    She had thought it was simply because the moment felt right, never did she imagine it was because she had cried...


    Lu Zhaozhao truly wanted to find a hole to crawl into; it was a social death of its kind.


    As she was thinking about how to explain to Doctor Tian, she met her eyes which shone as if she had discovered some kind of ultimate treasure.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt a chill, as if she had been marked by some strange person...

 Chapter 18 - 18 Are You Not Happy?

    Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Are You Not Happy?


    ¡°Ahem... Mr. Song, just now Mrs. Song merely choked on water accidentally; you don¡¯t need to be so anxious,¡± Doctor Tian¡¯s gentle words made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face turn red again.


    She couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of her mouth upward and continued to speak to Song Sinian, ¡°I know you and your wife are very close, but I think she might need some personal time to have a chat with me as a psychologist.¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao heard the words ¡°psychologist,¡± she suddenly lifted her head, ¡°You¡¯re a psychologist?¡±


    Doctor Tian was taken aback, ¡°Uh... didn¡¯t he tell you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, then shifted her gaze toward Song Sinian.


    He only said he was taking her to see a doctor; he never mentioned a psychologist!


    No wonder Doctor Tian kept saying that she needed regular check-ups.


    Perhaps Qian Hong told Song Sinian about her and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s conversation?


    In her previous life, unaware of the truth, she had indeed suffered greatly and certainly needed psychological guidance, but now that she understood the experiences at the Lu Family were not her fault, the pain from the past would only fuel her revenge!


    Song Sinian pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose and slowly began to explain, ¡°Doctor Tian is a friend of my mother and also my psychologist; she¡¯s very experienced, and you can trust her.¡±


    Upon hearing the word ¡°mother,¡± Lu Zhaozhao seemed to have a sudden reaction and instinctively became alert.


    Doctor Tian noticed this and quickly added, ¡°I am a friend of his birth mother, sort of like a half-elder to him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Lu Zhaozhao visibly relaxed.


    She had thought Doctor Tian was also Xiao Jinglan¡¯s person; thankfully, she was not.


    Watching the expressions changing on her little face, Song Sinian slightly furrowed his brows and pinched her small face to turn it toward him, seriously asking, ¡°Are you unhappy?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, recalling Song Sinian¡¯s similar action at the dinner table previously, couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears.


    She awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°No, I¡¯m not unhappy.¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian finally let go of her face and slowly stood up, turning to Doctor Tian to say, ¡°Then I entrust my wife to you.¡±


    With those words, he left the room again.


    For a moment, the whole consultation room was eerily quiet.


    Doctor Tian stared at her without speaking a word.


    She coughed gently, trying to break the silence in the room, ¡°Ahem... Doctor Tian, what did you want to talk about just now?¡±


    Doctor Tian suddenly snapped back to reality, chuckling lightly, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about your childhood... treat it like casually telling a story, just say whatever you want to say.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat surprised at how quickly Doctor Tian slipped into her role, but she wasn¡¯t ready to start what was dubbed ¡®psychological treatment.¡¯


    ¡°Doctor Tian, may I ask you some questions?¡± Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment before slowly speaking up.


    Doctor Tian nodded, ¡°As long as it¡¯s within my ability, I can tell you.¡±


    Her tone was still very gentle, sounding inexplicably soothing.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, looking seriously at Doctor Tian, ¡°I want to know, how to communicate with someone who has emotional expression disorder.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Her question clearly took Doctor Tian aback, a complex expression passing briefly through her eyes.


    But that emotion quickly dissipated.


    She still smiled gently, speaking softly, ¡°People with alexithymia may not be able to express their emotions, but that doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re unwilling to communicate.¡±


    The profound statement from Tian Xiangjun made Lu Zhaozhao involuntarily frown, ¡°But... because emotions are not shared, there could be many misunderstandings.¡±


    Every time she thought about her recent interactions with Song Sinian, it seemed he always misunderstood her actions, even just a moment ago...


    Thankfully, Song Sinian had mentioned that if it had been another public setting, he would have acted the same way...


    At that thought, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment again.


    Her hands uncontrollably clasped her own cheeks, feeling utterly ashamed!


    Tian Xiangjun, observing her reaction, couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips upward, ¡°Actually, communicating with someone who has alexithymia is simple: just say what you need to say, ask for what you need, and they should do the same. This can avoid a lot of misunderstandings.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered and found it made sense.


    Song Sinian was just bad at expressing emotions, but it seemed he rarely rejected her requests.


    Thinking about it, it appeared that in their past life... he had never turned her down.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao seemed to understand, Tian Xiangjun added another line, ¡°Actually, physical contact is also very helpful for people with alexithymia; those with the condition often feel profound loneliness, and physical contact can help alleviate their anxiety.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly and immediately started furiously typing notes into her phone¡¯s memo app.


    ¡°I still have a few questions...¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ¡°psychological treatment¡± lasted for an hour and a half before concluding.


    As soon as she stepped out of the clinic, Tian Xiangjun kept Song Sinian behind.


    Seeing him seated on the couch, Tian Xiangjun chuckled lightly and asked as usual, ¡°Nothing you want to talk about today either?¡±


    Song Sinian took a medicine bottle out of his pocket and placed it on the table, ¡°The medicine prescribed this time seems problematic; after taking it, my heart rate accelerates, and I keep experiencing some strange sensations.¡±


    Although some sensations felt good, others were simply unbearable.


    Tian Xiangjun¡¯s eyes scanned the medicine bottle briefly before returning to Song Sinian, ¡°You¡¯ve been taking this medicine for a while now; when did these strange symptoms start?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Was it before or after you married Lu Zhaozhao?¡± Tian Xiangjun, observing Song Sinian¡¯s silent demeanor, added another question.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow furrowed instantly, ¡°Are you suggesting that my symptoms have nothing to do with the medicine, and are because of Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Tian Xiangjun nodded slowly, then suddenly smiled radiantly, ¡°Such a good wife, don¡¯t you want to know how to make her inseparable from you?¡±


    Song Sinian remained silent for a few seconds, then looked up at Tian Xiangjun and slowly asked, ¡°What should I do?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Tian Xiangjun hadn¡¯t expected Song Sinian to agree so readily.


    She had initially thought Song Sinian felt somewhat special about Lu Zhaozhao, but it seemed she mattered far more than Tian Xiangjun had imagined.


    She had always wanted to help him with his treatment, but he only accepted simple hypnosis when he couldn¡¯t sleep after taking his medicine; at other times, aside from picking up his medication, he hardly communicated with her.


    Even as a Divine Doctor, she was powerless.


    She had feared that Song Sinian would completely lose his desires and motivations, continuing in this way... everything around him would become meaningless...


    But now, with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s appearance, this young lady might just be the key to turning things around!


    At least, she had made Song Sinian want to become a normal person again, and that was enough!

 Chapter 19 - 19 What is this situation?

    Chapter 19: Chapter 19 What is this situation?


    Tian Xiangjun¡¯s gentle eyes suddenly narrowed, ¡°Let¡¯s work together to keep your lovely wife then!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had originally planned to try out Tian Xiangjun¡¯s method when she returned home that evening, but Song Sinian had urgent work to handle last minute and went straight to the study upon arriving home.


    She was left to ¡°guard the empty room¡± once again.


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was that Song Sinian went to the study to practice the ¡°homework¡± assigned by Tian Xiangjun.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Her phone suddenly vibrated, displaying an unknown number.


    [Zhaozhao, this is Xiao Jinglan. This is my number, you can contact me through this number if you need anything.]


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows slightly, a bit surprised that Xiao Jinglan would contact her in this manner.


    Was it because she seemed too worthless to be utilized, so she was changing her approach now?


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was thinking about how to reply to Xiao Jinglan, another message came through.


    [I asked someone to send you some things, they should be arriving soon. If you like them, you can keep them, these are just a little token of appreciation from Auntie.]


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows instantly knotted; after hesitating for a moment, she typed out, ¡°Thank you, Aunt.¡±


    ¡°Thud thud thud!¡±


    Just as she put away her phone, the bedroom door was knocked on.


    Soon after, Qian Hong came in holding a parcel-like object, ¡°Madam, someone from the Song Mansion sent this over, insisting it be delivered directly into your hands.¡±


    Remembering what Xiao Jinglan had just mentioned, Lu Zhaozhao reached out to take the parcel and began to unwrap it on the table.


    What met her eyes was a box of DELI¡¯s cubilose, a high-end nourishment she had also received from Xiao Jinglan in her previous life.


    Back then, when she was in a poor emotional state, Xiao Jinglan would often send her this brand of cubilose.


    Her brow furrowed, wondering if it was psychological, but she found herself disliking anything associated with Xiao Jinglan.


    Just as she was about to wave Qian Hong to take it away, she suddenly remembered something.


    In her previous life, even when she was constantly in a bad mood, her physically well-trained body was always in good shape.


    But from some point on, her body grew weaker, and even climbing stairs left her sweating.


    She once thought it was psychological wear and tear affecting her body, but now looking at the item in front of her... could it be related?


    With that thought, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly bent, and she plucked a can from the inside before saying to Qian Hong, ¡°Aunt Qian, please put the rest in the kitchen. We must take good care of this, it¡¯s from Lady Xiao.¡±


    Upon hearing ¡°Lady Xiao,¡± Qian Hong¡¯s brow furrowed.


    She hesitated for a moment, ¡°Madam, you don¡¯t have to pay much attention to Lady Xiao. The master has already spoken with the Song Mansion, and from now on, they won¡¯t need to intervene in the affairs here.¡±


    ¡°Ah... okay.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded lightly, sensing Qian Hong¡¯s reluctance to speak further, which intrigued her more.


    She always felt that since returning from Nanjing, Song Sinian had been acting a bit oddly.


    It seemed she would need to have a good talk with him when time allowed.


    The early autumn weather was already cool, and by morning, a light rain began to drizzle.


    To protect the items, the auction house even turned on the air conditioning.


    Lu Zhaozhao pulled the shawl on her shoulders closer into her embrace, admiring Qian Hong¡¯s foresight.


    She had never attended this auction before, but from the catalog, it seemed it was almost her turn.


    Quickly, a new item was wheeled in behind the host.


    ¡°Next, we are going to auction off a piece by the emerging artist abyss.¡±


    The host briefly introduced the artist¡¯s background before announcing the starting price, ¡°The bidding for this painting starts at 60,000. Each increment must be at least 10,000. Let us start the bidding now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t even think before raising her paddle, ¡°80,000.¡±


    She knew that the painting would be sold for 100,000 eventually, so her bidding that amount should be fine, right?


    At most, she would compete with the person buying the painting.


    But what Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected was that no one else bid!


    What was going on?


    Soon, the host¡¯s voice rang out again, ¡°Any more bids? Last call...¡±


    ¡°90,000.¡± Suddenly, a clear and forceful voice came from the crowd.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze shifted, and she realized that the person was not far from her, close enough to see his features clearly.


    His eyes were slender, the typical phoenix eyes, which looked exceptionally attractive on his well-defined face.


    Noticing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze, the man nodded at her, and she nodded back politely.


    She had just worried that no one would bid against her, but now seeing her competition, she suddenly worried whether she could still take it home.


    Thinking thus, Lu Zhaozhao raised her paddle again, ¡°100,000.¡±


    To her surprise, this time even the man who had bid against her didn¡¯t follow up.


    Thus, she successfully secured the painting for 100,000.


    Things went smoother than she had expected.


    ¡°The next item is also by a newcomer, an ear cuff, designed by Mis.¡±


    Feeling good, Lu Zhaozhao immediately noticed the image of the ear cuff displayed on the large screen.


    It was a delicate, leaf-shaped metal piece, which caught her eye instantly.


    She irrationally felt that this ear cuff would perfectly match Song Sinian¡¯s ethereal and chill demeanor.


    Without thinking much, she raised her paddle.


    This ear cuff, too, was easily auctioned to her without any suspense.


    The host chuckled and brought down the hammer, ¡°It seems this lady really likes the works of these two new designers. Thank you for your support!¡±


    He nodded at Lu Zhaozhao, then quickly moved on to auction other items.


    Having secured what she wanted, Lu Zhaozhao relaxed significantly.


    She flipped through the auction catalog casually, when suddenly, as if realizing something, she went through the entire list again.


    It was only then she noticed something odd.


    Most of the items at the auction were works by renowned artists, with the starting bid generally around 500,000.


    Yet, amidst these famous names, there were two unknown new designers and artists, which explained the lack of interest during their auction.


    People who came to this auction were all after famous names; who would care about two newcomers?


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned, growing even more puzzled. Since both individuals were newcomers with no reputation to speak of, why were they included in this auction?


    And that new artist...apparently, he was only 23. So young to have died early, it uncomfortably reminded her of herself in a past life, always an unsettling thought...

 Chapter 20 - 20 Why Buy That Painting?

    Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Why Buy That Painting?


    She gently patted her chest and quietly stood up from the chair, walking out through the corridor to her side.


    Moving along the long corridor, raindrops from the eaves, blown by the wind, fell onto her exposed arms.


    The cold sensation made her shiver uncontrollably.


    Suddenly, warmth fell upon her shoulder, and a coat was draped over her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, caught off guard by the foreign scent, subconsciously shrugged it off.


    It wasn¡¯t until she turned her head that she saw the man who had been bidding against her.


    ¡°Sorry, I just noticed you looked a little cold and wanted to offer you my coat. If I was presumptuous, I am willing to apologize, miss,¡± the man said as he crouched down to pick up his black suit jacket, dusting it off and nodding apologetically at her.


    Seeing the obvious water stain on the man¡¯s jacket made Lu Zhaozhao involuntarily frown.


    Feeling somewhat awkward, she tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°I was just startled, it wasn¡¯t intentional to dirty your suit jacket.¡±


    The man didn¡¯t seem to mind much but rather narrowed his handsome phoenix eyes, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I was too abrupt earlier.¡±


    He was about to say something more when a man standing behind him tugged gently at his arm.


    The man glanced behind him and then spoke, ¡°My name is Xia Wenjue, and this is my younger brother, Xia Wenmo; he...¡±


    ¡°Why do you want to buy that painting?¡± Xia Wenmo cut in before Xia Wenjue could finish.


    Only then did Lu Zhaozhao finally get a clear look at him. He was alarmingly thin, dressed in a white shirt which seemed to frame his body awkwardly.


    With large black-framed glasses and clearly defined features, he appeared soulless.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows, thinking that Xia Wenjue hadn¡¯t bid against her. Could it be that he intended to buy the painting from her privately?


    She pursed her lips, meeting both their gazes and said lightly, ¡°Of course I bought it because I like it. You¡¯re not planning to compete with me for it, are you?¡±


    Her uncertain gaze measured up the two men. Although her martial arts skills were rusty, she was confident she could take down the man in front of her using her skills.


    As for the seemingly frail young man beside him, he probably posed no threat.


    Sensing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s wary gaze, Xia Wenmo quickly waved his hands, ¡°We mean no harm; I just want to know if you truly like that painting?¡±


    As he spoke, his gaze remained intently fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, as though trying to discern something from her small face.


    Though Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t understand his intent, she nodded earnestly and said with certainty, ¡°I do like it. Although the artist is a newcomer, I believe he will improve greatly in the future. If you want to buy his paintings, you could wait for the next piece, though, of course... it might be much more expensive...¡±


    The next time they saw a painting by this artist, it would cost ten times as much.


    She felt pity for the young artist, but life is unpredictable, and perhaps his fate was not hers to change.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s unfocused black eyes suddenly trembled, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    His voice was nearly inaudible, and Lu Zhaozhao almost didn¡¯t catch it.


    She arched her brows and, with a polite smile, nodded and left.


    It was better to keep her distance from such strange people.


    ¡°Big brother, I agree to the surgery, I want to get better,¡± Xia Wenmo said, watching Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s retreating figure.


    Xia Wenjue was visibly stunned, as if he couldn¡¯t believe his ears.


    Xia Wenmo had a tumor in his brain, but its location was problematic, and there was a fifty percent chance of losing his sight after the removal surgery.


    He was exceptionally addicted to designing and painting, and because of this, he consistently refused treatment.


    This time, after a prolonged standoff with his family, he finally compromised.


    If someone truly admired his art and bought it, he would undergo surgery; for the sake of those who liked his work, he would struggle on. If not, he would completely give up on treatment.


    Xiao Wenjue initially thought that Xia Wenmo had come to terms with something, until he saw this auction filled with renowned artists¡¯ works; he realized then that Xia Wenmo came with a resolve to die.


    For this reason, he even hired someone to bid on Xia Wenmo¡¯s painting, only to have it bought by a young girl unexpectedly.


    He sighed softly and patted Xia Wenmo, ¡°What, taken a fancy to this young girl?¡±


    Xia Wenmo smiled relaxedly for once, ¡°Perhaps, she resembles what mother looked like when she was young.¡±


    ...


    His words left Xiao Wenjue frozen on the spot.


    Like mother?


    No wonder he had felt that the girl seemed so familiar.


    He wasn¡¯t usually one to act so impulsively, and now, thinking of how he had taken off his coat for her, even he was surprised by his own actions.


    Moreover, there was something the Xia family didn¡¯t know¡ªtheir current younger sister, Xia Wenjin, was not their biological sister.


    He had only found out recently when blood tests were done for her school enrollment.


    Their parents were both type O, but Xia Wenjin was AB.


    His gaze turned toward the direction in which Lu Zhaozhao had disappeared; it seemed he needed to conduct a thorough investigation into this young girl.


    Because there wasn¡¯t much left of interest after the auction, Lu Zhaozhao left early.


    In addition to the auction, she had something even more important to do.


    She had previously sent a jar of cubilose given to her by Xiao Jinglan to be tested, and the results were truly an eye-opener.


    Not only did it contain contraceptives, but it also contained substances that were harmless in the short term but could be fatal if consumed over a long period.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought back on how foolishly she had eaten that for so long in her previous life, unaware that she was being harmed.


    She had wished to tell Song Sinian directly, but Xiao Jinglan had deep roots in the Song family, and she figured that trying to use this as an excuse to pull her down wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    So, she decided to take a different approach...


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao entered, Qian Hong wrapped her with a blanket, ¡°Madam, please sit in the living room for a while. The kitchen has prepared sweet soup and cubilose. Have something to warm up your body, and later I¡¯ll have someone prepare a hot foot bath for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded obediently and sat in the living room, wrapping the blanket around her.


    Waited until Qian Hong brought both the sweet soup and cubilose then Lu Zhaozhao proceeded to eat almost half a bowl of the sweet soup.


    Then she turned to the cubilose.


    As she watched Lu Zhaozhao eat adorably, Qian Hong couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°The chef really put in a lot of effort for this cubilose, it¡¯s perfect for madam to nourish herself. If madam likes it, we can ask the chef to prepare a portion every day...¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Lu Zhaozhao hummed as she ate the cubilose and nodded.


    She actually felt a bit reluctant to look at Qian Hong because while she was wholeheartedly dedicated to her madam, Zhaozhao had something to hide from her.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and sighed silently in her heart. Suddenly, her hand froze, and half a bowl of cubilose was knocked onto the table.


    ¡°Ow... my stomach hurts so much...¡±

 Chapter 21 - 21 Communication, Communication, Direct Communication!

    Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Communication, Communication, Direct Communication!


    Lu Zhaozhao spoke while simultaneously curling up on the sofa, clutching her stomach. To make her symptoms appear more convincing, she had even harshly pinched her own thigh.


    Qian Hong was also startled by her sudden ailments and quickly summoned the family doctor.


    As for the food on the table, it was immediately sealed and sent directly to the laboratory for testing.


    Seeing things move in the direction she had envisioned, Lu Zhaozhao finally allowed herself to relax.


    After the doctor drew her blood and conducted a quick physical examination, he gave her an injection.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already feeling slightly fatigued from running around all day, and after the injection, she became a bit drowsy.


    ¡°Aunt Qian,¡± she whispered, gripping Qian Hong¡¯s hand with her small one, her voice soft, ¡°don¡¯t tell Mr. Song about this...¡± Her small hand grabbed Qian Hong, a soft voice asserting, ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡±


    Qian Hong¡¯s eyebrows almost knotted together in worry, because while Lu Zhaozhao was receiving treatment, news had already arrived from the lab.


    The cubilose that Lu Zhaozhao ate was problematic, containing more than one type of harmful substance.


    Qian Hong herself felt guilty for not having carefully inspected the food that was brought in, and now with Lu Zhaozhao saying such things, her guilt deepened.


    Her hand gently patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, ¡°Madam, you don¡¯t need to worry about this matter, I will handle it.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, observing the sudden determination in Qian Hong¡¯s eyes, knew she had achieved her goal.


    If her previous meeting with Xiao Jinglan had been successful in stopping her from interfering with her relationship with Song Sinian, then this incident would be enough to make Song Sinian cautious about anything related to Xiao Jinglan.


    That was enough.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought to herself and gradually fell into deep sleep.


    When she woke up, Song Sinian was sitting by the bed, which took Lu Zhaozhao by surprise.


    ¡°You¡¯re back, Mr. Song?¡± Lu Zhaozhao murmured, rubbing her bleary eyes, and stared at him in a daze.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept her petite face several times before he took out a delicate box from his pocket and placed it in front of her, ¡°This is what you bought at the auction today; the other painting is in the study. Once you¡¯re feeling better, you can choose where to hang it.¡±


    The fact that the items were with Song Sinian surprised Lu Zhaozhao. She pursed her lips and took the brocaded box from his hand, but then felt too embarrassed to open it.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes lingered on her small face. Seeing her not making any move, he then asked indifferently, ¡°Do you need me to open it for you?¡±


    He remembered Tian Xiangjun mentioning that girls like considerate men, so he was advised to be more attentive to what he could do for the other person and to inquire about their preference before proceeding.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s clear eyes blinked and, after glancing at Song Sinian, then at the brocaded box in her hand, she hesitated, ¡°Uh... no, no need, I can open it myself.¡±


    As she spoke, she opened the brocaded box. On the black satin fabric inside, an exquisite ear cuff stood out strikingly.


    ¡°Do you need me to... uh, help you with anything?¡± Song Sinian spoke slowly, changing his words at a pivotal moment.


    He originally intended to offer to help Lu Zhaozhao put on the ear cuff.


    But as a piece of jewelry, he didn¡¯t even know where it was supposed to be worn, so he had to alter his offer.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze turned towards Song Sinian, her eyebrows knitting slightly. The man before her was too different from the Song Sinian she remembered.


    Was it because she had changed that Song Sinian was behaving this way, or was it always like this in her previous life and she just missed it?


    With that question in her mind, Lu Zhaozhao seemed to gather great courage, reaching out her small hand to grasp Song Sinian¡¯s larger one firmly, ¡°Mr. Song, I want to talk to you.¡±


    Her resolute eyes caused Song Sinian¡¯s heart to sink inexplicably.


    Had she discerned his intentions?


    Had he been too obvious?


    If she wanted to set clear boundaries between them...


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand, held by Lu Zhaozhao, tightened involuntarily, but he still nodded, his expression as unfathomable as ever.


    ¡°Um...¡± Seeing that Song Sinian agreed, Lu Zhaozhao became even more nervous, ¡°I want to know why you don¡¯t want to share a bed with me. Is it because you¡¯re used to sleeping alone?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As soon as she asked the question, Song Sinian was taken aback.


    His dark eyes slightly downcast, he suddenly recalled hearing from Qian Hong about Liao Yan arranging a guest room for Lu Zhaozhao.


    It seemed there were many things that had not been made clear between them.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze fell on her pale little hands, and he gently grasped her wrist, articulating each word: ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want to sleep in the same bed with me, so I insisted on sleeping on the sofa.¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao remembered that on her first night at the Song family¡¯s, she indeed had firmly said she was going to sleep on the sofa.


    It seemed Song Sinian had never actually said he wanted to kick her out.


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, she pouted, ¡°So... does that mean I can always share a bed with you from now on?¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡± Song Sinian didn¡¯t quite know what to say at that moment.


    He subconsciously twirled Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fingertips, somehow feeling very pleased by her recent words.


    His brows lifted slightly, gazing into her beautiful watery eyes, ¡°Is there anything else you want to ask?¡±


    ¡°Um...¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed again.


    She actually had quite a few questions she wanted to ask, but she felt they were a bit strange.


    Communication, communication, straightforward communication!


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, psyching herself up for a long time before speaking again: ¡°Why do you always pinch my face, asking if I¡¯m unhappy?¡±


    As soon as she said it, she quietly looked at Song Sinian.


    Even she felt this question was kind of absurd.


    But she was really too curious.


    Song Sinian¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change much, but he patiently explained: ¡°Zhao Xi and Qian Hong told me to pay more attention to you, to check from time to time whether you¡¯re unhappy.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded gravely, ¡°So that¡¯s why.¡±


    No wonder Song Sinian had these odd behaviors.


    But what Zhao Xi and Qian Hong meant to convey and what Song Sinian did seemed to be two completely different interpretations, right?


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought about this, she couldn¡¯t help but start to laugh.


    She lightly dabbed away the teardrop from the corner of her eye. Just as she was about to say something, someone grasped her wrist.


    The next second, Song Sinian¡¯s lips pressed against hers.


    His soft lips were unlike his consistent expression, always carrying a tenderness and fondness when they met hers that was hard to describe.


    Lu Zhaozhao would often get inadvertently immersed, completely following his lead.


    One of her small hands was held, while the other, not knowing where to rest, ended up clutching his shirt.


    Perhaps knowing that Song Sinian¡¯s attitude towards her was different from what she had imagined, Lu Zhaozhao was bolder than usual.


    She tentatively bit his lower lip, gently at first, then with more pressure, clumsily but doing her utmost to respond to the man before her.


    The warming breaths enveloped a sweet fragrance, spreading throughout the entire bedroom...

 Chapter 22 - 22 Does she not fear being discovered?

    Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Does she not fear being discovered?


    In the quiet bedroom, there was only the sound of each other¡¯s breathing and the increasingly loud beating of hearts...


    A strange sensation took root deep within her, as if she had been struck by electricity, coursing through her blood to reach every limb and bone.


    After a while, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand trembled slightly as it failed to grasp Song Sinian¡¯s lapel and fell.


    He caught it in his embrace at just the right moment.


    Looking at her flushed little face, Song Sinian gently kissed the corner of her eye before slowly letting her go.


    He picked up a pillow from the bed and gently placed it behind her lower back before sitting down beside her again.


    Though he very much wanted to continue what they had started, seeing her look so tender and delicate, Song Sinian could only restrain himself.


    Moreover, she had just been through something distressing.


    He reached out and pinched the palm of her hand, ¡°If you feel tired, you can rest a little longer. If there¡¯s anything else you want to ask later, you can ask me anytime.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head was spinning, but hearing Song Sinian¡¯s voice, she barely managed to regain her senses.


    Ah! She had almost forgotten about that.


    Song Sinian always used that method to comfort her when she cried.


    She was about to bring it up but reconsidered when she thought that their closeness was due to this misunderstanding, and so she swallowed her words.


    Lu Zhaozhao had never thought that she would have such a shameless moment when, in order to get close to Song Sinian, she would actually take advantage of his illness.


    Did that make her no different from everyone else?


    She hesitated for a moment then slowly began, ¡°Mr. Song, actually when I cry, there are other ways to comfort me. You don¡¯t have to always do that...¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao said this, her little head drooped, and then she continued, ¡°For example, you could hug me or pat my shoulder.¡±


    Hugs? Pats on the shoulder?


    Song Sinian quickly took note of these two points.


    He pondered briefly, ¡°Will a hug or a pat on the shoulder be as effective for you as what we did just now?¡±


    ¡°Uh... they¡¯re, kind of the same,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, forcing a smile and steeling herself as she replied to Song Sinian.


    For him, this question was as mundane as discussing the weather, but for her, it was utterly embarrassing.


    She was so socially awkward at this moment that she wished she could dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the ground with her toes.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°If they¡¯re about the same, then next time, can I choose one of these three methods to comfort you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded.


    There shouldn¡¯t be any problem with that, right?


    ¡°Okay, I got it,¡± Song Sinian agreed very straightforwardly this time.


    Since it was a choice of three, continuing with the previous method shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?


    Song Sinian returned to his study half an hour later.


    Qian Hong, who had been waiting in the study, was full of trepidation when she saw him enter.


    She had been with the Song Family for so long but had never seen Song Sinian lose his temper like that.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Zhao Xi¡¯s intervention, none of the household¡¯s cooks would have been spared.


    ¡°Sir, the doctor has already said that madam didn¡¯t eat much, and it won¡¯t cause any harm to her body, so please rest assured,¡± Zhao Xi cautiously opened his mouth.


    He and Song Sinian were originally still at the company when they heard the news of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s food poisoning.


    By the time they arrived, Lu Zhaozhao had already fallen asleep.


    Song Sinian had been accompanying her in the bedroom ever since.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t seem to have any issues, otherwise Song Sinian would have definitely been devastated.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over Zhao Xi, then glanced at Qian Hong before sitting down on the sofa in the study, ¡°What exactly happened? How could she get food poisoning at home?¡±


    His voice was faint, but his tone was surprisingly icy.


    Qian Hong, with a face full of apology, looked at Song Sinian, ¡°Madam was poisoned because she ate the cubilose sent by Xiao Jinglan.¡±


    Zhao Xi furrowed his brows, full of doubts about Qian Hong¡¯s choice of words.


    Poisoned?


    Not food poisoning?


    Song Sinian, of course, noticed the particular choice of words just like Zhao Xi, ¡°Zhaozhao was poisoned?¡±


    Qian Hong nodded very affirmatively, ¡°Right after madam had the problem, I had the food sealed and sent to the laboratory. Just before you returned, sir, the lab had already delivered the results.¡±


    Speaking, she took out a document and placed it in front of Song Sinian.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I sent all of the cubilose Xiao Jinglan gave to madam to the laboratory, and the result...¡± Qian Hong said, taking a deep breath, ¡°the harmful substances found were all the same.¡±


    Hearing this conclusion, Zhao Xi¡¯s jaw almost dropped in shock, especially after he saw the ¡°contraceptive¡± ingredients marked on the drugs inside. He couldn¡¯t take it in.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Jinglan to dare to take such blatant action against Lu Zhaozhao.


    Didn¡¯t she fear being discovered?


    Qian Hong clearly saw Zhao Xi¡¯s thoughts and explained, ¡°The doctor said the substances were added very cautiously, and it would be difficult for most people to notice. Madam probably had a special physical condition and was intolerant to the substances, so she felt ill after only a little bit...¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t finish her sentence, everyone present understood.


    If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s particular condition, she might have continued to consume these tainted supplements.


    The consequences were unthinkable.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°No wonder Xiao Jinglan dared to send such things so blatantly. She must have believed that no one would check what she sent.¡±


    Indeed, that was the case.


    They knew Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t on the same page as Song Sinian, but they never thought this woman would dare to be so blatant.


    Qian Hong also nodded in agreement, ¡°It was my oversight. When the person who sent the items said that Xiao Jinglan was also consuming them and wanted to share some with madam, I thought she was trying to butter up madam because she had taken a hit last time.¡±


    She was too naive to have let Lu Zhaozhao suffer.


    Song Sinian¡¯s face turned exceedingly grim, ¡°If she dares to use such underhanded tactics, she must pay the price. The Song Family has no need to keep her around.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sir, just based on this incident, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t just expel her from the Song Family.¡±


    Although Old Master Song might send Xiao Jinglan away with just a word from Song Sinian, the people behind her wouldn¡¯t be so easy to deal with.


    Xiao Jinglan had been in the Song Family for so many years, and had ingratiated herself with many in the Song Group. They definitely wouldn¡¯t convict her just on account of a few cans of cubilose.


    They might even portray Xiao Jinglan as a victim. If by any chance they alarmed her and caused a scare, the one who might get hurt could still be Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Sir, before madam fainted... she told me not to tell you about her being poisoned by the cubilose...¡± Qian Hong, enduring the chilling pressure from Song Sinian, shivered as she relayed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s original words.


    Seeing this, Zhao Xi quickly chimed in to help, ¡°Madam must also be worried about troubling sir, that¡¯s why she said that. Sir... even for madam¡¯s sake, we mustn¡¯t act rashly on this matter!¡±

 Chapter 23 - 23 Was it for Gentlemen?

    Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Was it for Gentlemen?


    Song Sinian¡¯s expression had turned even uglier than before.


    He remained silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the study suddenly became oppressively tense.


    After a while, his eyes lifted slightly as he looked at Qian Hong, ¡°Does Xiao Jinglan plan to keep sending cubilose to Zhaozhao?¡±


    Qian Hong nodded honestly, ¡°The person who delivered the cubilose said that once the madam has finished it, they will continue to send more.¡±


    Sure enough, as soon as Qian Hong had finished speaking, she felt a chill running down her spine.


    ¡°Good, very good,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s gaze grew darker, ¡°Since Xiao Jinglan said she eats the same as Zhaozhao, she needs to keep her word. You all should know what to do, right?¡±


    Zhao Xi and Qian Hong immediately nodded.


    They understood the principle of returning like for like.


    Since Xiao Jinglan dared to poison their madam, she should be prepared for the consequences.


    The Song Mansion still had plenty of their informants, and swapping Xiao Jinglan¡¯s cubilose for a poisoned version would be effortless.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips tapped lightly on the arm of the sofa, then as if remembering something, he turned to Zhao Xi and said, ¡°Compile a list of people within the Song Group who support Xiao Jinglan for me.¡±


    If there were people behind her preventing her removal from the Song Family directly, then their focus would shift to pulling these supporters out one by one!


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°I will compile a list as soon as possible.¡±


    It seemed their master was truly angry this time.


    Zhao Xi sighed softly, as if suddenly remembering something, ¡°Sir, the madam¡¯s school term is about to start. Should we prepare a back-to-school gift for her? Hadn¡¯t the madam also given you a gift before?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Song Sinian raised his eyes to Zhao Xi, ¡°What did she give me?¡±


    Could it have been that painting?


    Zhao Xi¡¯s mouth opened, suddenly regretting his impulsiveness, but seeing Song Sinian¡¯s stare fixed on him, he had to press on, ¡°That... isn¡¯t the ear cuff for men? I thought the madam bought it as a gift for you.¡±


    If not, it would be quite awkward.


    ¡°Ear cuff?¡± The image of the delicate accessory flashed through Song Sinian¡¯s mind.


    Was it meant for men?


    He had thought the item was a girl¡¯s accessory, so he had sent it to Lu Zhaozhao without a second thought.


    Song Sinian pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Qian Hong and Zhao Xi, ¡°Can I get it back now, or is it too late?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    For several consecutive days, Xiao Jinglan had been idling at the Song Family home without any particular duties.


    It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t willing to do anything, but ever since Song Sinian had told her to stay out of his and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s affairs, Old Master Song had her copying scriptures at the Song Mansion, claiming it would help her settle her mind.


    Fortunately, Old Master Song went out to play chess with a friend today, giving her a moment to breathe.


    Previously, Lu Zhaozhao had received her marriage certificate with Song Sinian on the very day they had their blind date, so Mr. and Mrs. Lu, who had originally planned to stay longer, had also returned.


    Xiao Jinglan was naturally the first person to receive the news.


    She knew that the pretext of Mr. and Mrs. Lu¡¯s ¡°trip¡± was merely for show; in reality, they just wanted to create more opportunities for Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao to be alone together.


    They certainly never dreamed that Lu Zhaozhao would be so capable, bringing Song Sinian to his knees just like that.


    So, they must be rushing back nonstop now, right?


    After Xiao Jinglan revealed her identity, she was quickly led by a servant to the drawing room.


    Mr. and Mrs. Lu seemed to have not anticipated Xiao Jinglan¡¯s visit and hurriedly welcomed her.


    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xiao Jinglan cut straight to the point, ¡°The two of you must already know about Sinian and Zhaozhao getting their marriage certificate, right?¡±


    Lu Dagui nodded, not saying much.


    On the other hand, Cao Mei wore a sighing expression and said, ¡°Our Zhaozhao has been spoiled by me, I never thought she would be so wilful. Her dad and I were also taken aback, so we hurried back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t usually associate much with boys. It¡¯s understandable that she would fall for President Song all of a sudden, given how outstanding he is.¡± Lu Dagui chimed in with Cao Mei¡¯s words, taking the opportunity to compliment Song Sinian as well.


    Although they said so, they couldn¡¯t suppress the corners of their lips from quivering upward; anyone could see that they were about to burst with happiness.


    Over the years, countless people had tried to send women Song Sinian¡¯s way, but only the Lu Family had succeeded.


    They¡¯d be strange not to be thrilled!


    Xiao Jinglan tugged at the corners of her mouth stiffly, ¡°Zhaozhao is indeed a good girl, but I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t have the chance to chat with her properly in my capacity as an elder. From now on, I¡¯ll have to rely on both of you to handle Sinian¡¯s side of things.¡±


    Upon hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, both Lu Dagui and Cao Mei appeared puzzled.


    ¡°What does Lady Xiao mean? Did Zhaozhao do something wrong at the Song Family?¡± Cao Mei, a shrewd person, caught the hint in Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words at once.


    Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t beat around the bush, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m not clear myself, I only know that the housekeeper was changed as soon as she moved to Sinian¡¯s. I was just going to check on her when Mr. Song warned me not to meddle in their affairs anymore, I really don¡¯t know what happened...¡±


    Though she appeared not to speak ill of Lu Zhaozhao, her every word and phrase carried a hidden meaning.


    Cao Mei glanced at Xiao Jinglan and tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°We¡¯ve just come back and are not clear about the specifics. Tomorrow morning, when Zhaozhao returns, I¡¯ll ask her in detail. If she offended Lady Xiao, I will definitely make her apologize to you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how could I accept that? Sinian cherishes her now, and she might even become the head of the Song Family in the future. I wouldn¡¯t dare to demand an apology from her.¡± Xiao Jinglan wore a smile, but in reality, she was knitting a thorn into the sides of Lu Dagui and Cao Mei.


    Her implication was clear; now Lu Zhaozhao was so favored in the Song Family that even she, a member of the Song Family, dared not speak out, let alone them.


    Lu Zhaozhao had grown up under their control; how could they allow a mere girl to slip from their grasp?


    As expected, after she spoke these words, the expressions on the faces of Lu Dagui and Cao Mei changed significantly.


    Xiao Jinglan was quite satisfied with their reactions and then sighed lightly, ¡°I just came today to pass on a simple message. From now on, we¡¯ll be counting on both of you to take care of Sinian...¡±


    With that, she slowly stood up and continued, ¡°You both just got back not long ago. You should rest up, so I¡¯ll not disturb you any further.¡±


    ¡°Okay, take care, Lady Xiao.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After seeing off Xiao Jinglan, Cao Mei raised her hand and swept all the items from the tabletop onto the floor in a rage, ¡°What does she mean? She can¡¯t control Lu Zhaozhao herself, so she comes to us to show off? She¡¯s just a minor wife! She¡¯s really getting above herself!¡±


    Zhao Da Gui glanced at Cao Mei, his face not looking any better, ¡°Setting aside whether what Xiao Jinglan said is true or false, if it¡¯s really as she said, and Song Sinian dotes on Lu Zhaozhao that much, then we must hold onto this card no matter what!¡±

 Chapter 24 - 24 What do I need to do?

    Chapter 24: Chapter 24 What do I need to do?


    Cao Mei nodded, ¡°That makes sense, I¡¯ll call Lu Zhaozhao right now and ask her to come back tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ...


    Upon receiving the call from Cao Mei, Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat surprised.


    After all, in her last life, they had stayed abroad for an entire month before returning to the country.


    She didn¡¯t expect to return so much earlier this time, probably because they knew she had married Song Sinian, so they rushed back without stopping.


    From Cao Mei¡¯s tone, she didn¡¯t detect anything unusual, but their insistence on her returning tomorrow indeed made her uncomfortable.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Suddenly, a figure emerged from the bathroom, his tall silhouette blocking the light in front of her.


    His wet hair continued to drip water droplets, and as he shook the ends of his hair with his large hand, a droplet landed precisely on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Uh... Lu...¡± She almost blurted out ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Lu.¡±


    But remembering that they hadn¡¯t cut ties with her yet, Lu Zhaozhao changed her words, ¡°My parents want me to come home tomorrow for a talk.¡±


    ¡°Going back to the Lu Family?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s gaze darkened, looking at Lu Zhaozhao sitting on the bed, hugging her knees, he sat down beside her.


    The mattress dipped toward Song Sinian, and as Lu Zhaozhao hugged her knees, she leaned off-balance directly onto his arm.


    Song Sinian turned his head to look at her and instinctively stretched his arm to scoop her onto his lap, supporting her lower back with his arm, ¡°This is more comfortable than just now.¡±


    ¡°Uh... yeah, it is quite comfortable.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao offered an awkward but polite smile, completely at a loss on how to explain that she had merely lost her balance accidentally.


    But since she was already sitting... she decided not to explain.


    Besides, Doctor Tian had told her before that people with emotional barriers needed appropriate physical contact.


    Right, appropriate.


    She looked up at Song Sinian¡¯s wet hair and reached out to gently fuss with his locks, flinging droplets again onto her cheek.


    Song Sinian caught her mischievous wrist, not forgetting the main issue, ¡°You just said you were going back to the Lu Family, do you need me to accompany you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand paused, her gaze meeting Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes, his deep expression revealing no emotions, yet it made her feel extraordinarily at ease.


    She chuckled lightly, ¡°I can go by myself.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t respond, but his slightly lowered eyelids seemed somewhat unhappy.


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment then tentatively added, ¡°However, I do need your help with something...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, ¡°What do you need me to do?¡±


    Though it was only a subtle change in expression, Lu Zhaozhao caught it successfully.


    It seemed he really cared about her.


    They had only met not long ago, yet he was so gentle with her¡ªapparently, beneath Song Sinian¡¯s aloof handsome face hid a warm and kind heart...


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head slightly and deliberately leaned against his chest, ¡°I hope you won¡¯t help the Lu Family, don¡¯t give them orders, don¡¯t give them opportunities, and certainly don¡¯t invest in them.¡±


    In her last life, Mr. and Mrs. Lu had sold her to Song Sinian, reaping many benefits, but then they turned around to pave the way for their biological daughter.


    Even going as far as doing that...


    Lu Zhaozhao shuddered uncontrollably at the thought of what had happened in her previous life.


    Song Sinian gently patted Lu Zhaozhao and pulled a blanket from the bed to wrap her up before slowly speaking, ¡°Are you worried about other people gossiping?¡±


    The Lu Family had arranged for Lu Zhaozhao to meet him for a reason, and he was well aware of their intentions.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and simply buried her head in Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, her voice muffled, ¡°If I say I hate the Lu Family and don¡¯t want you to help them, would you believe me?¡±


    ¡°I believe you.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t hesitate for even a fraction of a second.


    Previously, Zhao Xi had investigated Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s past with the Lu Family, and he had thought that she, being under the control of Mr. and Mrs. Lu for many years, would be more biased towards the Lu Family.


    But she trusted him more.


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand was placed on her little feet that were exposed outside the blanket, the cold sensation in his palm made his brows involuntarily furrow.


    He wrapped her up in his embrace again.


    ¡°Take the bodyguard with you when you go back to the Lu Family tomorrow. If the Lu Family has any objections, just blame it on me.¡±


    His eyes and brows didn¡¯t seem to change much, yet somehow made Lu Zhaozhao feel much warmer.


    ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded, then once again snuggled contentedly in his embrace.


    With Song Sinian¡¯s support, she felt that even if she were asked to battle mutant monsters now, she would arrogantly demand to fight ten of them!


    The next morning, Lu Zhaozhao went straight back to the Lu Family.


    Not just the bodyguard, but also a car full of high-end gifts accompanied her as she returned.


    However, the mood of Lu Dagui and Cao Mei was far from pleasant.


    They had originally wanted Lu Zhaozhao to make contact with Song Sinian first and then find an opportune moment to discuss the contract with the Song Family.


    After all, Song Sinian had a notorious reputation, and amongst those willing to curry favor with the Song Family, their daughter was definitely the best option.


    But they hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to move so quickly, winning over Song Sinian after just one meeting.


    They hadn¡¯t even had a chance to talk about the contract!


    Lu Dagui¡¯s brows furrowed as his gaze shifted towards Lu Zhaozhao, who was sitting on the sofa directly opposite them, and then he glanced at the upright bodyguard standing behind her.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, do you need to bring a bodyguard back home with you? What could possibly happen at home?¡± Lu Dagui forced a smile, attempting to look like a caring father.


    He had heard that Song Sinian was cunning and ruthless in his endeavors. Lu Zhaozhao bringing a bodyguard home must also be his doing, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a light laugh, feigning innocence as she said, ¡°Mr. Song thinks that since we haven¡¯t been married long, he wants to protect me well, so he insists I bring a bodyguard with me wherever I go. You think Mr. Song is a considerate person too, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Considerate my ass!


    This was nothing but surveillance!


    Lu Dagui almost cursed out loud on the spot, only a fool like Lu Zhaozhao would fail to see Song Sinian¡¯s real intentions!


    Thinking of this, he suddenly felt an intense headache coming on.


    With Lu Zhaozhao being so foolish, if Song Sinian lost interest, his plan would collapse, and he had to seize the current opportunity!


    But with the bodyguard present, all he could do was continue to feign the role of a loving father, ¡°Zhaozhao, how about you let this bodyguard gentleman wait in the car first, and have him follow you when you go back later?¡±


    If the bodyguard wasn¡¯t sent away now, how could he talk to Lu Zhaozhao about the contract?


    If she really had Song Sinian as smitten as Xiao Jinglan said, then perhaps all she needed to do was to whisper in his ear, and signing the contract with the Song Family would be a piece of cake!


    With these thoughts in mind, Lu Dagui¡¯s smile became even more radiant...

 Chapter 25 - 25 Are you not listening to me anymore?

    Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Are you not listening to me anymore?


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately saw through Lu Dagui¡¯s intentions and pretended to hesitate slightly, pursing her small lips, ¡°But Mr. Song said...¡±


    ¡°Big Gui, it¡¯s very normal for Mr. Song to be so concerned about Zhaozhao since she¡¯s just married into the family,¡± said Cao Mei as she patted Lu Dagui on the back. Then she turned to look at Lu Zhaozhao and continued, ¡°Zhaozhao, when Mom came back, she bought you some dresses. Do you want to come upstairs with me and try them on?¡±


    Her words immediately eased Lu Dagui¡¯s tensions.


    He really admired his wife. With just a few simple words, she not only managed to dismiss the bodyguard but also got to talk to Lu Zhaozhao alone.


    After exchanging a glance with Cao Mei, Lu Dagui chimed in, ¡°Right, when your mom was outside these days, she constantly thought of you and bought you quite a lot. Hurry and go upstairs to take a look.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded gently, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Saying this, she stood up, ready to follow Cao Mei upstairs.


    Unexpectedly, the bodyguard who had been following Lu Zhaozhao also started to move.


    ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, my daughter is going to try on clothes with Mrs. Lu. You should stay on the first floor,¡± Lu Dagui was the first to speak up, but the bodyguard completely ignored him, as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word.


    Noticing the situation, Cao Mei frowned unhappily at the bodyguard. ¡°The second floor is all bedrooms. Do you, a bodyguard, really plan to go up there?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The bodyguard still ignored Cao Mei and firmly stayed by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side.


    Now, Cao Mei was becoming somewhat anxious. She looked at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Uh... Zhaozhao, you¡¯re not planning to keep this bodyguard with you while you change clothes, are you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head and turned to the bodyguard, ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to change clothes. You wait here for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mrs. Lu.¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, the bodyguard promptly and obediently returned to the living room.


    Lu Dagui¡¯s expression turned even darker.


    Song Sinian was indeed more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.


    If that was the case, they had to resort to some special measures.


    Lu Dagui tugged at the corner of his mouth, his gaze toward the second floor becoming increasingly sinister.


    At the same time, Lu Zhaozhao had reached the bedroom on the second floor with Cao Mei.


    Different from the loving mother figure downstairs, there wasn¡¯t a hint of a smile in Cao Mei¡¯s eyes as she looked at her.


    ¡°Here are the clothes I bought for you, go in and change.¡± Saying this, she stuffed several bags into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arms and pushed her into the bedroom.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already accustomed to her attitude.


    In her past life, before she knew that Cao Mei was her adoptive mother, she always tried to please her, seeking to receive maternal love.


    So no matter what, she was always obedient. But even until her death, she never felt anything resembling ¡®maternal love¡¯ from Cao Mei.


    She dumped the contents of the bags onto the bed in the bedroom, glanced at them only once, and then scoffed inside her heart.


    These were the clothes that Cao Mei had ¡°carefully selected¡± for her?


    If it weren¡¯t for Lu Dagui mentioning downstairs that Cao Mei had personally bought them, she would have really thought they were ¡°work clothes¡± left behind from some inappropriate film set.


    Thinking this way, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly seemed to realize something.


    She pretended to look up nonchalantly and swept her gaze toward the dressing table that was directly across from her bed.


    She walked straight over, pretended to look in the mirror, then took out her cellphone and started pretending to take selfies.


    Sure enough, she immediately spotted the glaring micro camera in the photos she took from her phone.


    In her previous life, not long after the real daughter of the Lu Family returned, scandalous photos of her went viral on the internet.


    She had seen those photos; they were all taken in her bedroom, which meant that her foster parents were the ones who had orchestrated this.


    Up until just now, she had thought they targeted her because the real daughter of the Lu Family had come back.


    Now it seemed that even if the real daughter of the Lu Family hadn¡¯t appeared, they would still have treated her ruthlessly.


    Lu Zhaozhao took out her lipstick from her purse, touched up her makeup in front of the vanity mirror, and then headed straight for the door to leave.


    Cao Mei looked at Lu Zhaozhao with some surprise, raising her eyebrows, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you change your clothes?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, her face the picture of innocence as she said, ¡°I looked at the clothes, and I don¡¯t like the style.¡±


    As she spoke, she was about to leave the bedroom.


    Cao Mei reached out and grabbed her wrist firmly, ¡°No, you need to go back in there and change into the clothes right now! These are the ones I personally picked out for you!¡±


    She emphasized the fact that she had personally chosen them, her gaze intense as she stared at Lu Zhaozhao, word by word she said, ¡°You¡¯re not listening to me now? Do you want to make me angry, Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes drooped down, glancing at her wrist being tightly gripped by Cao Mei.


    Cao Mei¡¯s grip was so strong that it seemed she wanted to dig her fingernails into her flesh.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but give a bitter smile; how blind was she in her previous life not to realize how much Cao Mei hated her?


    Cao Mei must have known for a very long time that she was not her daughter, which is why, over all these years, Cao Mei had done nothing but neglect her and emotionally abuse her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze suddenly turned cold as she quietly pulled her wrist out of Cao Mei¡¯s grasp, ¡°I already said before, I don¡¯t like the clothes. Mrs. Lu, if you like that kind of clothes, you can keep them for yourself.¡±


    Cao Mei stared at Lu Zhaozhao in astonishment, speechless for quite a while.


    Usually, as long as she showed anger, Lu Zhaozhao would agree to anything, but now she dared to talk back to her?!


    What had she just called her? Mrs. Lu?


    Cao Mei suddenly felt nervous; could it be that Lu Zhaozhao had discovered that she was not their biological daughter?


    Cao Mei looked a bit guiltily at Lu Zhaozhao and quickly changed her tone, ¡°Zhaozhao, I didn¡¯t mean to get angry at you just now. You¡¯re young, and you got married early; there¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t understand, so that¡¯s why I bought you those clothes...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao remained silent, as if seriously considering her words.


    She knew Cao Mei well; the more someone showed weakness, the more domineering her attitude, but when someone else stood firm, she would not dare to overstep.


    Put simply, she bullied the weak and feared the strong.


    She had deliberately called Cao Mei ¡°Mrs. Lu¡± just now to simply and effectively jab at her nerves.


    Cao Mei and Lu Dagui had always thought they had concealed everything well over the years, believing she could never know the truth, so hearing the title ¡°Mrs. Lu¡± would make them panic even more.


    Only by creating such disarray could she fish in troubled waters.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao remained silent, Cao Mei extended her hand and gently held her small hand, saying, ¡°Zhaozhao, you should know that your marriage to Song Sinian is a business arrangement, right? You could marry him because you are a member of the Lu Family. If you want to establish a strong position in the Song Family, you will need to rely on your natal family. The more powerful your natal family is, the less likely you¡¯ll be looked down upon by your husband¡¯s family, do you understand?¡±


    As she spoke these words, her eyes remained fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, seemingly observing her reaction stealthily.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes slightly drooped, and only after Cao Mei had finished speaking, her gaze slowly lifted again¡ª

 Chapter 26 - 26 Mr. Song, why arent you asking me anymore?

    Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Mr. Song, why aren¡¯t you asking me anymore?


    Her lips pursed, clearly hesitating, ¡°But... Mr. Song has been very nice to me...¡±


    She wavered.


    Cao Mei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then continued, ¡°You silly girl, Sinian¡¯s interest in you is just a whim, who knows when he will get tired of it? In the end, all you can rely on is your own family, understand?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pretended to be obedient and nodded, ¡°Then... what should I do?¡±


    A triumphant smile crossed Cao Mei¡¯s eyes, and she lifted her hand to pat Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, ¡°I have already thought it through for you, you just need to convince Sinian to cooperate with our Lu Family.¡±


    Cooperation?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, if she remembered correctly, in her previous life at this time, both the Lu Family and the Song Family were bidding for several jade mines in Country M.


    But the Lu Family, having tied up most of their funds in overseas orders, couldn¡¯t afford to bid for the jade mines with their working capital.


    Thus they had proposed to collaborate with the Song Family on that batch of overseas orders, which was essentially getting the Song Family to invest in the Lu Family to share the risks.


    At that time, since Sinian had agreed to the collaboration, Lu Dagui had specifically taken her to the jade mine auction.


    There were eight jade mines being auctioned, among which Mine No.1 and Mine No.3 were the most hotly contested, reaching sky-high prices.


    That year, Lu Dagui, failing to acquire those two mines, had thrown a huge fit upon returning to the Lu Family.


    However, no one expected that the two jade mines that the Song Group bought would both turn out to be disastrous investments, while the overlooked Mine No.8 yielded Emperor Purple Jade, causing a sensation.


    Thinking about this, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    Cao Mei, thinking Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know how to persuade Sinian, continued to incite, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re newlyweds. Just put on the dress I¡¯ve prepared for you, act a bit coquettish, and he might just agree.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth, Cao Mei truly saw Sinian as a lust-driven ghost.


    In her previous life, she indeed convinced Sinian to invest in the Lu Family, but that batch of overseas orders encountered a typhoon, resulting in heavy losses.


    Because of the Song Family¡¯s investment, the Lu Family only bore half the loss, thus still had some breathing space.


    However, because the continuous losses related to the Lu Family, rumors spread outside, claiming she was a jinx reincarnated.


    As a result, she was also deeply alienated by the Song Family.


    This life, she would not let such things happen to her again!


    Her eyes narrowed slightly, and when she looked at Cao Mei again, her expression had turned into a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll ask him tonight and will definitely do my best to get Mr. Song to help.¡±


    At those words, Cao Mei¡¯s face brightened with a smile, repeatedly praising, ¡°You are truly my good daughter, then I¡¯ll wait for your good news!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao returned to the Song Family¡¯s residence, it was already afternoon.


    To her surprise, Sinian was actually at home.


    Seeing her enter, Sinian waved at the others, and Qian Hong and the rest astutely left.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at him in slight astonishment, ¡°Why did you come back so early today?¡±


    She sat down next to Sinian on the sofa, her eyes filled with curiosity.


    Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked, ¡°I was waiting for you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows rose, her gaze sweeping across Sinian¡¯s perpetually handsome face.


    Was he worried about her?


    Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao without speaking, then slowly said, ¡°Do you need a hug, a pat, or a kiss?¡±


    He looked at her with all seriousness, his expression as simple as if he were waiting for her to place an order.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly found this side of Song Sinian a bit cute.


    He indeed couldn¡¯t accurately express his emotions, but he was always trying in his own way.


    She suddenly smiled, her eyes curving, and her small hands reached out directly towards Song Sinian, saying, ¡°I think I need a hug right now.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t ask why, he just did as she said and hugged her.


    The fragrant, soft person in his arms gave him a sense of steadiness.


    He couldn¡¯t understand the emotions on her face and couldn¡¯t empathize, so all he could do now was give her what she wanted.


    Whatever she asked for, he was willing to satisfy her.


    Lu Zhaozhao wriggled in Song Sinian¡¯s embrace and, tilting her little head, suddenly asked him, ¡°Mr. Song, why don¡¯t you ask me why?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s brows slightly raised, seemingly unclear about what Lu Zhaozhao meant.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sparkling eyes blinked, and her small hand lifted to pinch Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, asking with a look of deep grievance, ¡°Are you upset?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    With Lu Zhaozhao pinching his cheek, his usually expressionless handsome face took on a cuter appearance.


    She now suddenly understood why Song Sinian loved pinching her face so much.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands freely pinched his face for a while before Song Sinian slowly opened his mouth, ¡°Are you upset?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°I am indeed a bit upset.¡±


    ¡°What can I do to help you?¡± Song Sinian looked at her with calm eyes, his tone the same as usual, showing no emotion.


    If it had been her previous life, Lu Zhaozhao might not have dared to say a word.


    But now things were different.


    She knew his placid emotion was filled with indulgence towards her.


    Her small hand slowly released Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind, I hope you can provide some money to help the Lu Family.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao spoke, Song Sinian agreed.


    He didn¡¯t even hesitate.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment, tilting her little head as she looked at Song Sinian, and said word by word, ¡°Won¡¯t you ask me why I want to help the Lu Family?¡±


    Song Sinian reached out to gently smooth her hair, ¡°If you want to tell me, I¡¯d love to listen.¡±


    His voice was gentle, yet the tone made one feel warm.


    ¡°...¡±


    Indeed, no matter if it was her previous life or this one, Song Sinian had always helped her unconditionally.


    Her small hands slowly circled Song Sinian¡¯s waist, ¡°I went back to the Lu Family today, and they hope I can convince you to invest in the Lu Family. That way, they can use the liquid funds to bid for this jade mine.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s hand gently caressed her little head, quietly listening to her account of what happened at the Lu Family.


    The room was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of wind and their breathing.


    Rarely did Lu Zhaozhao willingly bring up the Lu Family¡¯s matters, and he was happy to listen quietly by her side.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, speaking very solemnly, ¡°So I hope you can agree to two things...¡±

 Chapter 27 - 27 Is It Her Illusion?

    Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Is It Her Illusion?


    ¡°Okay, I promise you.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s promise was so straightforward that it left Lu Zhaozhao at a loss for words.


    If anyone else had replied so casually, she would have thought they were playing with her, but he wouldn¡¯t.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao not speaking again, Song Sinian gently rubbed the back of his index finger against her cheek and asked, ¡°So what is it that you want me to do?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao stared at Song Sinian, dazed, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t invest in the Lu Family, but lend them money instead.¡±


    If the overseas orders were going to be a loss, then she didn¡¯t want Song Sinian to be involved.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Hmm, I will have Zhao Xi take care of this matter in a bit.¡±


    ¡°And about the currently popular jade mine, don¡¯t bid for it...¡±


    Actually, by saying this, Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat worried that Song Sinian would ask her why he shouldn¡¯t bid.


    Yet to her surprise, not only did Song Sinian not ask her for a reason, but he also asked another question, ¡°So which jade mine are you interested in?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth hung open, but she couldn¡¯t utter a single word.


    After a long pause, she finally started to speak slowly, ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly have a ¡®Mind Reading Technique,¡¯ could you?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertip gently grazed her small face, ¡°It¡¯s a basic logic problem. If you don¡¯t want me to bid for the popular mines, you obviously want me to bid for another. As for those two popular jade mines, you probably want to leave them for the Lu Family, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart suddenly sank.


    From Song Sinian¡¯s perspective, whether it was lending money to the Lu Family or refraining from bidding for the popular jade mines, it was all for the Lu Family¡¯s sake.


    Even lending money to the Lu Family might be intended to prevent the Song Family from taking extra money from the Lu Family.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought of the misunderstanding between her and Song Sinian in her past life, and suddenly felt a surge of nervousness, ¡°Mr. Song, I don¡¯t want to help the Lu Family, I...¡±


    She tried to explain, but as soon as she began to speak, she realized that her explanation would be in vain.


    She couldn¡¯t tell Song Sinian that she had been reborn, nor could she explain how she knew that purchasing those two popular jade mines would result in a complete loss.


    ¡°I... I would never harm you, really.¡± In the end, she could only say those soft words before falling silent.


    Song Sinian gently lifted her small face and said indifferently, ¡°I have no suspicion towards you. Just tell me whatever you want or what you wish to do. As for the reason, if you are willing to tell me, do so; if not, I can wait.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Yes, it was because their Mr. Song was always so good, that made it so hard for her to let go.


    Lu Zhaozhao gripped around Song Sinian¡¯s waist even tighter.


    She rubbed her small face against his chest, her eyes silently reddening.


    Damp vapour fell onto Song Sinian¡¯s shirt. Feeling something, he looked down at the person buried in his arms and gently patted her back.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body shuddered, and half of her small face subtly peeked out.


    Tears clung to her eyelashes, and with a slight twitch of her eyes and eyebrows, they followed the lashes to the reddened corners of her eyes.


    Song Sinian raised his hand, his fingertip gently stroking her eyelid. Watching her obediently close one eye, allowing him to fiddle, his Adam¡¯s apple unconsciously bobbed up and down.


    Indeed, whether it was taking a photo or a hug, he always felt something was missing. It wasn¡¯t enough.


    His gaze slowly drifted downward, finally resting on her rosy little mouth.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertip traced her cheek, gently playing with the wispy hair by her ear. He leaned down close to her ear and whispered faintly, ¡°Do you feel better now?¡±


    His voice was deep, his tone husky, as if he were holding back.


    He had just followed her past instructions, with a hug, a pat...


    Would she be upset if he wanted to do something more?


    As Song Sinian spoke, the tip of his nose gently brushed against her cheek.


    Lu Zhaozhao made no attempt to dodge; instead, the tickling sensation instinctively made her wrap her arms around his neck and pull him down.


    ¡°It¡¯s so ticklish, Mr. Song...¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s muffled voice resonated on her shoulder, and the next second, his strong and firm hand clasped her lower back and pressed her hard against him.


    The space between them was instantly compressed, and taken by surprise, Lu Zhaozhao let out a soft gasp and found herself firmly against his chest.


    The warm touch ironed into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fair skin through the thin layer of fabric.


    ¡°Is this okay?¡± His deep voice carried an inexplicable urgency, mingling with warm breath near her ear.


    Held tightly in his embrace, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t see his expression, but she could clearly feel the furious beating of his heart against the chest she was pressed up to.


    ¡°Thump, thump,¡± each beat louder than the last, matching hers.


    Was Song Sinian being coquettish?


    She didn¡¯t answer Song Sinian, yet her somewhat disordered breathing slowly started to move in the direction he desired.


    She was so soft and fragrant; each time he held her, the sweet scent made it hard for him to let go.


    He wanted more...


    He wanted to possess her, to lock her in a cage where he alone could touch her.


    But if he really did that, would she still treat him with the same unguarded manner as now?


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t imagine her looking at him with eyes filled with caution.


    Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated.


    His warm breath gradually moved downward, and his gaze couldn¡¯t help but sweep over her fair neck.


    Suddenly, as if possessed, he lowered his head and nipped at it.


    Almost instantly, a distinct red mark appeared before his eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s skin was already pale, making the red mark stand out even more prominently.


    Song Sinian slowly raised his head, seemingly very satisfied with his recent handiwork.


    His fingertips gently caressed the red mark. Would this let others know she belonged to him?


    Clearly still dazed from the recent events, Lu Zhaozhao lay motionless in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, her mind preoccupied with the memory of his initiating the kiss.


    Was it her imagination?


    She always felt like she could faintly sense his subtle emotional fluctuations.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡±


    Suddenly, someone called her name softly in her ear. Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses and saw Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes intently staring at her.


    She looked up to meet his gaze but remained silent.


    Uncertain, he watched her, ¡°Are you... upset?¡±


    As he asked, his eyes briefly flicked to the red mark on her neck before shifting away.


    Having done this without her consent, she must be angry, right?


    ¡°I...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips parted to speak, but before she could finish, she saw Song Sinian unfastening the top two buttons of his shirt.


    His half-open collar revealed much of his neck.


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao with particular seriousness and said, word by word, ¡°If you¡¯re upset, you can bite me back...¡±

 Chapter 28 - 28 Refreshed Their Understanding of Mrs. Song!

    Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Refreshed Their Understanding of Mrs. Song!


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian, her eyes instantly curving into a joyous smile.


    Why hadn¡¯t she noticed this adorable side of him before?


    Her small hand lifted, and the tip of her index finger slowly traced down along his jawline, making her acutely aware of the delicate pulse quivering beneath his neck.


    Feigning contemplation, she murmured, ¡°Then I should choose a conspicuous spot to bite.¡±


    The afternoon breeze was gentle, and a warm wave enveloped the entire living room.


    Three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Song Group¡¯s conference room.


    The shareholders, all with unsightly expressions, looked at the plan in their hands but none dared to utter a word.


    For a moment, the meeting room was eerily silent.


    Zhao Xi stood beside Song Sinian, casting a glance at their master¡¯s neck. That touch of bright red was quite difficult to overlook.


    He couldn¡¯t help but feel that Song Sinian seemed much calmer than usual, perhaps because of this.


    It seemed as if since marrying Lu Zhaozhao, their master had softened a bit, even appearing somewhat humane.


    ¡°Ahem... Directors, this is the company¡¯s main investment direction in the recent period. If you have any comments, please speak now,¡± Zhao Xi¡¯s voice slowly rose in the meeting room.


    If he didn¡¯t speak up, these directors probably wouldn¡¯t dare say a word.


    After all, who would dare be presumptuous in front of their master?


    Song Sinian always followed his own logic in handling matters, never with personal emotions.


    Even Old Master Song would not receive any special favors, hence the seasoned directors felt apprehensive around Song Sinian.


    Chairman Guo, sitting in the middle, furrowed his brows and slowly spoke, ¡°I have no objections to the other items, but... regarding the auction of the Jade Mine, why aren¡¯t we bidding for the two hottest jade mines currently?¡±


    The jade rough stones found near these two mines weren¡¯t bad; acquiring these mines would likely yield substantial profits.


    Given the capabilities of the Song Group, they were most likely to win the bid for these two popular jade mines.


    If Song Group opted out, it would be akin to handing over these lucrative mines to others.


    Why would they ever let their money go unchecked?


    Zhao Xi glanced at the director and simply explained, ¡°Everyone knows mining veins inherently involves gambling. Bidding for popular veins requires a cost several times higher than other mines, but the return on investment isn¡¯t necessarily higher than purchasing other mines.¡±


    Chairman Guo, upon hearing this, looked at Zhao Xi disapprovingly and said, ¡°We all know you¡¯ve married the Lu Family¡¯s heiress, but now... outright sending money to the Lu Family seems inappropriate, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Chairman Guo! You...¡±


    Just as Zhao Xi was about to respond, he was interrupted by Song Sinian.


    His gaze swept around the meeting room, then he spoke deliberately, ¡°If you have anything to say, speak frankly today. I won¡¯t hold it against anyone because of today¡¯s discussion.¡±


    The directors exchanged glances, communicating silently with their eyes¡ªas such openness was rare, now was their chance to speak, or they might never have another.


    So, after a moment, the directors began to speak one by one.


    ¡°Lending money to the Lu Group instead of investing directly feels quite childish. Everyone knows the Lu Group has been doing well with overseas orders, and investing now could yield substantial dividends.¡±


    ¡°The number 8 mine is too mediocre; even if mined, it won¡¯t make much money. It would be a pity not to bid for mines 1 and 3.¡±


    ¡°Not bidding for 1 and 3 and still lending money to the Lu Group¡ªis it possible we are lending them the money to bid on these two popular mines?¡±


    Zhao Xi stood to one side, listening to the board members speak, and he couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    Actually, he also found Song Sinian¡¯s decision very peculiar.


    From the perspective of the board members, Song Sinian indeed seemed inclined toward using his public position for private gain.


    With the evidence of being ¡°bribed¡± hanging around his neck, today¡¯s meeting was probably not going to be easy.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingers intertwined, and he slowly rested his chin on them, ¡°I understand your concerns. My decisions regarding bidding on Mine No. 8 and loaning to the Lu Family Group won¡¯t change. Since you disagree with the Song Group financing it, both will be funded through my personal assets. You should have no objections to that, right?¡±


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Song Sinian was wealthy and influential, what objections could they have?


    Chairman Guo hurriedly asked, ¡°What about Mine No. 1 and Mine No. 3?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s expression unchanged, ¡°Those of you who agree with bidding on these two mines can collaborate to bid for them.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, the boardroom once again erupted into chaos.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t the Song Group finance the bidding?¡±


    ¡°Exactly! We are directors, and we all agreed on this matter. Can¡¯t the company make the bid?¡±


    Song Sinian shrugged, ¡°The reason is simple, I disagree. If you still want to bid, there are two ways you could proceed.¡±


    His voice was indifferent, and the fierceness in his eyes and brows made those present shudder.


    Still, someone plucked up their courage and asked, ¡°Wha... what are the methods?¡±


    Song Sinian gave that person a cold look, his tone even colder than before, ¡°One is, you can purchase Mines No. 1 and No. 3 under the company¡¯s name, but you must sign a risk-sharing agreement.¡±


    This meant, profits would be shared, but if there were losses, these directors would have to compensate the company.


    The previously noisy directors instantly fell silent. They indeed wanted to make money, but mining involved betting on luck, so no one dared to make a rash move.


    Song Sinian sneered softly, ¡°It seems you are all unsatisfied with this method, so let me mention the second one, impeach me as the president, and let the new president buy Mines No. 1 and No. 3 for you.¡±


    ...


    ...


    ...


    The conference room fell even quieter.


    They were aware of why the Song Group was currently developing so rapidly.


    To drive away their ¡®God of Wealth¡¯ for the sake of two small jade mines was not something they were foolish enough to do.


    Seeing that they were no longer speaking, Song Sinian surveyed the room once more before slowly standing up, ¡°Since you all seem to have no further objections, let¡¯s end the meeting here.¡±


    With these words, Song Sinian promptly left.


    Song Sinian¡¯s series of decisions truly created an uproar within the Song Group.


    Especially, it refreshed their perception of Mrs. Song!


    Everyone became extremely curious about this previously unknown Lu Zhaozhao.


    What kind of woman could make the cold-hearted president obey her so readily?


    If they could get on good terms with Lu Zhaozhao, could they also receive numerous benefits from Song Sinian like the Lu Family did?

 Chapter 29 - 29 He seemed a little too friendly to her

    Chapter 29: Chapter 29 He seemed a little too friendly to her


    Because Song Sinian still had a lot of work to handle, the cheque was personally delivered to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hands by Zhao Xi.


    Originally, Song Sinian had planned to give it to her himself, but he worried that he might not be able to express himself clearly at the time and might make Lu Zhaozhao uncomfortable, so he had to entrust the task to Zhao Xi.


    ¡°Madam, this cheque is from Sir for me to pass on to you. He said whatever amount is required, just fill it in,¡± Zhao Xi sat on the sofa in the living room and set the other documents aside.


    ¡°Here is the draft contract. Do you see any parts that need to be amended?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the cheque in her hand and the contract on the table with a bit of astonishment.


    She had to admit that Song Sinian¡¯s efficiency was indeed high.


    The things she told him at noon, he had already taken care of them by evening.


    Lu Zhaozhao carefully reviewed the contract in her hands and finally paused at the borrower section.


    Her eyebrows slightly furrowed, ¡°Is this money personally coming from Mr. Song?¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°Because of this matter, Sir almost resigned as the president of the Song Family.¡±


    Although his statement was somewhat exaggerated, parts of it were indeed true.


    Song Sinian had indeed offered to resign as the president of the Song Group, but those old foxes were not fools; how could they possibly let him resign?


    Without Song Sinian, the Song Group would be like cutting off its head and bleeding out, a path to certain doom.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly grew tense, ¡°How is Mr. Song now? He...¡±


    ¡°Madam, Madam, don¡¯t get agitated. I said he almost did, which means he didn¡¯t resign,¡± Zhao Xi saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s urgency and hurriedly added a few words.


    But it was clear that his words did not comfort Lu Zhaozhao.


    Zhao XI had no choice but to tell her about the situation in the boardroom so she finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    She glanced at the cheque in her hand and hesitated for a long time, completely afraid to start writing.


    ¡°Madam, you don¡¯t need to worry. The capital requested by the Lu Family is but a drop in the bucket for Sir, please write confidently,¡± Zhao Xi saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hesitation and couldn¡¯t help but try to console her.


    When he had come, Song Sinian had already instructed that even if Lu Zhaozhao had any additional conditions, he was to agree to them all.


    Besides Lu Zhaozhao, he had never seen their family¡¯s Sir care so much about anyone.


    It seemed that their family¡¯s Sir truly had a fondness for this Madam.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s gaze swept over Lu Zhaozhao and suddenly, as if he had an idea, he said, ¡°Madam, if you really feel uncomfortable, you could actually give Sir a small gift or something.¡±


    ¡°A small gift?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s clear eyes blinked, the hand holding the pen paused slightly, ¡°What kind of small gift?¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes curved with a smile as he said, ¡°Well... something like the item Madam previously got at the auction would be nice.¡±


    Like the ear cuff for men.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, ¡°You mean that painting?¡±


    Zhao Xi decisively shook his head, ¡°No, not that.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, somewhat uncertain, raised an eyebrow, ¡°You mean the ear cuff?¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded vigorously. Last time, their family¡¯s Sir had been quite downhearted because he hadn¡¯t gotten the ear cuff.


    Now would be a perfect opportunity, and he could also help their family¡¯s Sir get a chance to win back the ear cuff!


    A complex emotion rippled through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s clearly defined eyes, ¡°That item, he wouldn¡¯t like it, would he?¡±


    Although she thought the ear cuff would suit Song Sinian well, he had never worn any accessories, let alone something as niche as this.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t taking the bait, Zhao Xi had no choice but to resort to blatant lies.


    He sighed, feigning a wistful tone, ¡°Actually, no one has ever gifted Mr. Song these little trinkets. He heard that his wife had won the ear cuff at the auction and was really looking forward to it...¡±


    This caused Lu Zhaozhao to waver somewhat.


    ¡°Are you sure? If Mr. Song doesn¡¯t like it when he receives it, I¡¯ll be throwing the blame onto Assistant Zhao...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi immediately became animated, patting his chest, ¡°Mrs. You can rest assured, if Mr. Song doesn¡¯t like it, feel free to throw all the blame on me!¡±


    After all, there was nothing bought by Lu Zhaozhao that their Mr. Song didn¡¯t like.


    ¡°...¡±


    After handling the tasks entrusted to him by Song Sinian, Zhao Xi left posthaste.


    Lu Zhaozhao had wanted to wait for Song Sinian to return before giving him the ear cuff, but after thinking it over for a long time, she still felt that giving only this item seemed somewhat inappropriate.


    After much deliberation, she went back to her room to gather herself and headed out.


    The thought that Song Sinian had never received such small gestures weighed on her chest like a needle prick, causing a dull ache.


    Therefore, she simply couldn¡¯t bring herself to give him just this one thoughtless trinket; she wanted to pick another small piece of jewelry for him in person!


    Inside the Herm store, Lu Zhaozhao was carefully selecting from the men¡¯s jewelry section.


    Suddenly, a deep voice slowly resonated, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to encounter Miss here, it looks like we really are fated.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was startled and looked at the man with a guarded expression, only to realize it was the same man she had encountered at the auction.


    The bodyguard who had been following Lu Zhaozhao promptly picked up on her discomposure and immediately stood in front of Xia Wenjue, creating a barrier between him and Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Sir, you startled our Mrs., please step back,¡± he said.


    Xia Wenjue nodded apologetically to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to scare you, I just wanted to say hi.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao could tell that Xia Wenjue hadn¡¯t meant it, yet there was something consistently odd about him.


    But she couldn¡¯t put her finger on what exactly it was.


    He seemed a bit too friendly toward her.


    In her previous life, she had never met this person, so she was unclear if he was good or bad, which made Lu Zhaozhao instinctively more guarded against Xia Wenjue.


    She waved her hand at him, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I wasn¡¯t paying attention just now either, it¡¯s not all your fault.¡±


    Xia Wenjue pulled a gentle smile, ¡°Then, may I please... uh...¡±


    He hesitated when mentioning Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even though he already knew her name was Lu Zhaozhao, she had not left her name when they last met, and he feared that addressing her directly might startle her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, and she chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m Lu Zhaozhao. Does Mr. Xia need my help?¡±


    She observed Xia Wenjue subtly, wanting to see what his intentions were.


    This man¡¯s attire and mannerisms were anything but ordinary, yet he didn¡¯t seem like someone from the business circles because she had practically recognized all the top business figures in the country in her previous life.


    Thus, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t quite grasp what he was up to.


    When Xia Wenjue heard Lu Zhaozhao introduce herself, his eyes gleamed with pleasure, ¡°Miss Lu, I want to pick out a gift for my younger brother, the teenager who attended the auction with me. Could you perhaps help me consider a few options?¡±

 Chapter 30 - 30 Just Like Her?

    Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Just Like Her?


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her water-like eyes in confusion, ¡°Is it a birthday present?¡±


    Xia Wenjue gently shook his head, ¡°No... his health isn¡¯t good, I want to buy him a gift to cheer him up.¡±


    Hearing his words, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly remembered seeing Xia Wenmo before, his frame slender and lacking energy.


    He indeed looked sickly, and seeing Xia Wenjue a bit downcast, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s wariness slightly eased.


    ¡°Such an important gift, would it be inappropriate for me to help choose?¡± Lu Zhaozhao hesitantly spoke up.


    After all, she and they were at most strangers who had met once, right?


    Xia Wenjue, hearing this, shook his head vigorously, ¡°Not at all, absolutely not!¡±


    Perhaps feeling that his attitude just now was a bit odd, Xia Wenjue hurriedly explained, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s because he never likes what I buy, and just as I was in a dilemma earlier, I saw Miss Lu, so I hoped you could help...¡±


    His words were very sincere, and Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t really delay further.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll do my best,¡± she said, her gaze landing on the men¡¯s accessories she had been about to select.


    That young man called Xia Wenmo seemed especially frail, his entire being felt as if it had lost its sparkle.


    She vaguely remembered him wearing earrings before.


    He probably wouldn¡¯t dislike something like a necklace.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out and pointed to an enamel necklace in the cabinet, ¡°What do you think about this piece?¡±


    The fine blue and green hues played across the pendant, sprinkled with specks of yellow, resembling a planet surrounded by a halo of light.


    Xia Wenjue glanced at the tag on the jewelry that read Stella, his eyebrows slightly raising as he looked towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Stella comes from Latin, meaning ¡®stars in the night sky¡¯; stars represent the hope of life, just like the stars in the night sky that guide the way,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes smiled tenderly, ¡°I hope this gift can convey this meaning to him.¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s mouth hung open for a while, eventually leaving only the words ¡°thank you.¡±


    She truly was their sister; even though it was a person she had met only once, she could still treat them with such tenderness and kindness.


    ¡°Miss Lu, I don¡¯t know how else to thank you,¡± Xia Wenjue said as he took out an invitation from his pocket and handed it to her, ¡°This is a ticket for next month¡¯s Luna art exhibition, I hope you can accept it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao initially wanted to refuse, but hearing the name ¡°Luna,¡± she couldn¡¯t resist accepting it.


    This artist was her idol, one of the few female painters in the art world, yet standing strong due to her unique style.


    Her paintings always brought a warm feeling, they were one of the few comforts during her difficult days in a past life.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the art exhibition ticket in her hand, feeling a bit awkward as she tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Did I accept it too quickly?¡±


    Her dumbfounded appearance made Xia Wenjue unable to hold back a laugh, ¡°No, I was just worried that Miss Lu wouldn¡¯t like this token of appreciation.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly waved her hands, her face clearly anxious, ¡°How could that be? How could anyone not like Luna?¡±


    Xia Wenjue seemed to notice this as well, watching her tenderly and smiled, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you liked Luna so much, it really is a special connection.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, not understanding the deep meaning in his words, and could only laugh awkwardly in response.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao quickly picked out the items for Song Sinian and left soon after.


    It wasn¡¯t until Lu Zhaozhao had walked a considerable distance that Xia Wenjue tapped the button directly above his suit, ¡°Did you hear everything just now?¡±


    Only then did Xia Wenmo¡¯s voice slowly transmit through the hidden earpiece, ¡°Bring the things Zhaozhao picked for me later.¡±


    In the video just now, he heard her words loud and clear.


    Stars guiding the way in the night sky?


    Just like her?


    Xia Wenjue sighed lightly, ¡°You ungrateful little brother, couldn¡¯t you see who traveled all this way specifically to ¡®accidentally¡¯ meet Zhaozhao for you!¡±


    However, Xia Wenmo on the other end of the video was absolutely unappreciative, ¡°It¡¯s obvious you want to see Zhaozhao too; you¡¯re just using me as a cover.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    His words struck right at Xia Wenjue¡¯s heart, leaving him speechless for a long while.


    But soon, Xia Wenmo spoke again, ¡°Big brother, when do you plan to tell everyone else that Zhaozhao is our sister?¡±


    Sitting on the hospital bed, Xia Wenmo glanced at the stack of documents on the bedside table.


    All about Lu Zhaozhao.


    Since returning from the auction, Xia Wenjue had been secretly investigating Lu Zhaozhao and, had it not been for his accidental discovery, his big brother might have even kept it from him.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°I want to wait a bit longer; I haven¡¯t figured out how to deal with Wen Jin yet.¡±


    Although she wasn¡¯t their biological sister, after so many years together, he couldn¡¯t just kick her out because she wasn¡¯t related by blood.


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenmo¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Given Wen Jin¡¯s personality, if Zhaozhao comes to our house, she will definitely be bullied by her. We really need to think about how to handle Wen Jin.¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily, reminding him that out of his three brothers, apart from Lao Si; Xia Wenyan, who got along somewhat better with Wen Jin, the other two were almost always at odds with her.


    Xia Wenmo being the most severe.


    Xia Wenjue massaged his temples with slight headache, ¡°Alright, you just focus on getting ready for the surgery; leave the rest to me. As for what happens with Wen Jin, don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    Xia Wenmo snorted coldly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Zhaozhao, I wouldn¡¯t bother with Wen Jin¡¯s affairs at all. It¡¯s just like how Heavenly Eye couldn¡¯t see clearly, sending such a disaster to our Xia family; it turns out it was a mistake.¡±


    Xia Wenjue couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply, remarking sarcastically, ¡°For twenty-plus years, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve realized you can be as articulate as your second brother, you know?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Just stay quietly in the hospital for me; I¡¯m bringing the items over now.¡± Xia Wenjue glanced at the time, and upon hearing Xia Wenmo¡¯s response from the earpiece, he then hung up the call.


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenmo slowly got up from the hospital bed.


    He was about to store the documents from the bedside table away when he heard the nurse¡¯s voice at the door of the ward, ¡°Third Young Master, it¡¯s time for your MRI now.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Xia Wenmo looked at the documents on the table, casually placed them into the drawer.


    After finishing this, he headed straight out of the ward.


    But what he didn¡¯t know was that just after he left the ward, a figure appeared at his ward door...

 Chapter 31: He Who Strikes First Gains the Advantage

    Chapter 31: Chapter 31: He Who Strikes First Gains the Advantage


    Seeing Xia Wenmo walk away, the figure finally entered the hospital room.


    She took out her phone, tapped on the message box, and walked straight to the bedside table, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve arrived at the hospital. Call Xia Wenmo later and tell him I¡¯ve left the stuff in the drawer.¡±


    Xia Wenjin said this with a bellyful of impatience.


    Her relationship with Xia Wenmo had never been good. She had thought he was stubborn and would rather die than have surgery.


    But unexpectedly, he had a change of heart and actually wanted to come to a major hospital for surgery.


    The Xia Family didn¡¯t have much money to begin with, and now they had to prepare the money for his surgery.


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the angrier she became.


    A sickly person still needing to read books in the hospital, what a pretense!


    Fuming, she pulled open the bedside table drawer and was about to throw the book in when she saw the documents inside.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao?¡± Her eyebrows raised as she immediately recognized the photo on the documents.


    She looked so much like her mother!


    No, more precisely like Mother Xia.


    She had suspected something when she had her blood tested at school registration.


    It was just a pity she didn¡¯t have the ability to investigate her own biological parents, yet Xia Wenmo seemed capable enough!


    She picked up the documents and scrutinized them closely, her gaze landing on the section detailing information about her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, aged 20, heiress to the Lu Group. Enrolled at Yuqing University, Sculpture Department...


    As Xia Wenjin read about Lu Zhaozhao, her hands shook uncontrollably.


    Heiress to the Lu Group?!


    So her parents were wealthy!


    She had heard about this Lu Group before, but she never imagined she was actually the true heiress of the Lu Family!


    And this damned Lu Zhaozhao had been taking her place, enjoying the good fortune for so many years, while she had to live in poverty with the Xia Family!


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin searched through the documents and finally found the contact details for Mr. and Mrs. Lu, as well as... their home address.


    She was going back to her own biological parents!


    Let Lu Zhaozhao keep the Xia Family¡¯s mess!


    After photographing the address from the documents, Xia Wenjin quickly left the hospital.


    As the evening approached, the sky gradually darkened.


    A light rain drizzled throughout the night until it stopped the next morning.


    Therefore, Lu Zhaozhao, who was originally planning to go to the Lu Family early the next day, had to postpone her visit.


    When she arrived at the Lu Family¡¯s, it was almost 10 in the morning.


    She was shocked as soon as she entered.


    Because at that moment, Cao Mei was hugging Xia Wenjin and crying her heart out, while Lu Dagui sat opposite them with an iron-green face.


    She frowned slightly, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the three of them.


    Why was Xia Wenjin at the Lu Family now?


    In her previous life, hadn¡¯t she come back after two years?


    Or was it that she had come back this early in her last life too, and she simply hadn¡¯t noticed?


    As Lu Zhaozhao was pondering, she saw Cao Mei wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes and gently pat Xia Wenjue. Only then did she look at her and say, ¡°Zhaozhao, this is your distant cousin. She¡¯ll be staying with our family for a while...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Distant cousin?


    Huh! Lu Zhaozhao let out a snort in her heart, thinking Cao Mei really was quite the actress.


    She must feel she hadn¡¯t yet achieved her goal, which is why she wasn¡¯t planning to burn bridges with her just yet, right?


    However, this incident instead made Lu Zhaozhao realize something¡ªXia Wenjue had indeed shown up early.


    Given Cao Mei¡¯s personality, once she found her biological daughter, she would not let her suffer hardships.


    She would certainly arrange to keep her close at hand, just like now.


    Lu Zhaozhao pretended to casually glance at Xia Wenjin and gently nodded at her, curling her lips slightly, ¡°My cousin here looks unfamiliar, but observing her, she indeed resembles a Lu Family member¡ªthey have very similar eyes and brows.¡±


    Lu Dagui and Cao Mei both tensed up at once.


    If Lu Zhaozhao knew she wasn¡¯t their biological child, she certainly wouldn¡¯t help them wholeheartedly.


    Cao Mei forced a smile and hurriedly said, ¡°Many cousins look alike, just like you resemble your uncle more...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, watching Cao Mei blather obvious lies, really wasn¡¯t in the mood to keep beating around the bush.


    Now that Xia Wenjin had come to the Lu Family, they would probably be even more ruthless.


    Instead of that, she might as well take initiative.


    Lu Zhaozhao forced a smile and said, ¡°Then my cousin is truly a blessing for the Lu Family. Just as she joined the family, I received some good news here.¡±


    As she spoke, she placed the contract and the check on the table.


    Lu Dagui, upon seeing this, grabbed the contract to read it.


    He could hardly believe his eyes, ¡°President Song actually agreed to only lend money? Without investing?¡±


    Everyone out there knew that the Lu Family¡¯s overseas orders were doing well, and it was for this reason that he had the confidence to propose an investment deal with the Song Group.


    But since an investment would definitely involve sharing some profits, he didn¡¯t expect that Song Sinian would be willing to forego this piece of the pie and simply lend money to the Lu Group.


    It was truly shocking.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, stealthily glancing at Lu Dagui. She feigned ignorance and asked, ¡°That¡¯s what Mr. Song said yesterday, isn¡¯t it good for the Lu Family? Should I go and ask Mr. Song again?¡±


    ¡°No need! No need!¡± Lu Dagui immediately stopped Lu Zhaozhao.


    Such favorable terms¡ªif he refused them, he¡¯d be an idiot!


    Thinking this, he immediately pulled out a pen from his pocket and signed his name on the contract.


    After Lu Zhaozhao saw him keep the check, she continued with a smile, ¡°Mr. Song also asked me a question earlier, but I wasn¡¯t clear on the matter, so I didn¡¯t respond.¡±


    Lu Dagui¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°What did President Song ask?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, pretending to be thoughtful as she said, ¡°He asked me whether the Lu Family was interested in bidding for something like no. 1 or no. 3, I didn¡¯t quite catch the details...¡±


    Lu Dagui¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat.


    Could Song Sinian have figured out his intentions?


    Was lending Lu Zhaozhao this money a way to warn him?


    His complexion turned serious instantly. With the funds he had on hand, he indeed couldn¡¯t compete with the vast Song Group.


    If the Song Group was set on acquiring the no. 1 and no. 3 Jade Mines, the money he had would be completely insufficient.


    Seeing the perfect timing, Lu Zhaozhao then laid out the bait, ¡°Mr. Song also said that if the Lu Family is interested, he wouldn¡¯t bid on those two lots. He told me to let you know when I got home¡ªhe said you would understand...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lu Dagui¡¯s brows knotted and he didn¡¯t respond for a long time.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Lu Dagui and pretended to look uneasy, ¡°That¡¯s what Mr. Song said. I really don¡¯t know what no. 1 or no. 3 are... Should I go and refuse him?¡±

 Chapter 32 - 32 Its just a drop in the ocean!

    Chapter 32: Chapter 32 It¡¯s just a drop in the ocean!


    Lu Dagui became anxious immediately, ¡°Reject what rejection?¡±


    He glared at Lu Zhaozhao with displeasure, ¡°Since when is it your turn to butt in on company matters? President Song has already said so, why do you have to add your two cents?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes in her heart.


    Ha! Now she¡¯s being accused of talking too much?


    She didn¡¯t know who had asked her to seek investment from Song Sinian for Lu Group before. How shameless!


    But she still couldn¡¯t skimp on the pretense she had to maintain on the surface.


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, pretended to feel wronged, lowered her eyes, and then stopped speaking.


    Seeing this, Cao Mei hurriedly spoke to soothe, ¡°Zhaozhao, your dad is just anxious, he didn¡¯t mean to scold you on purpose.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t worried about Lu Zhaozhao, but rather about Song Sinian backing her.


    The last time Lu Zhaozhao came home, he¡¯d even assigned a bodyguard to stick close to her at all times.


    Now that she had effortlessly secured such favorable terms for the Lu Family, Cao Mei had to reassess Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s standing with Song Sinian.


    It seemed Xiao Jinglan was right; she¡¯d have to hold on to Lu Zhaozhao more firmly and make good use of her from now on!


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, nodded obediently, and said, ¡°Mm, I know.¡±


    She picked up the signed contract from the table, put it in her bag, and then slowly stood up, ¡°Mr. Song wants me back for lunch, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    Lu Dagui, having just taken such a great advantage, was feeling very smug and said with a smiling face as he saw Lu Zhaozhao going, ¡°Alright, go back early, you must listen to what President Song says, and not upset him.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Watching Lu Zhaozhao leave the house, Xia Wenjin gently dabbed the corners of her eyes with a tissue, and carefully said, ¡°It¡¯s obvious you treat Zhaozhao so well, Mom. When I was with the Xia Family...¡±


    She trailed off, tears rimming her eyes, garnering Cao Mei¡¯s sympathy.


    Though she didn¡¯t finish her sentence, in Cao Mei¡¯s ears, Xia Wenjin had definitely been mistreated by the Xia Family!


    She gently patted Xia Wenjin, saying, ¡°Jin, don¡¯t be scared. From now on, your mom and dad will be your strongest support. I will make it up to you for everything, and there¡¯s no need for you to go back to that pathetic Xia Family.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenjin immediately flung herself into Cao Mei¡¯s arms, ¡°Mom, wuu...¡±


    In fact, over the years, her life in the Xia Family wasn¡¯t as unbearable as Cao Mei imagined.


    She had lived abroad as a young girl and had only recently moved back to China with the Xia Family.


    The Xia couple hardly worked; they lived on their painting, with the eldest, Xia Wenjue, being a regular employee, the second, Xia Wenqing, a junior lawyer, the third, Xia Wenmo, always unwell, and only the youngest, Xia Wenyan, relying on his good looks to become an entertainer-in-training.


    Being the youngest in the Xia Family, although she wore no-brand clothes and led a simple life, she still received a monthly allowance of ten thousand yuan.


    But compared to the Lu Family¡¯s daughter, all this was but a drop in the bucket!


    Right when Lu Zhaozhao had walked in, she saw that her clothes and shoes were worth at least 200k, not to mention the bag she was carrying¡ªit was an AMD limited edition, easily worth 300k.


    And all of this should have belonged to her!


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but clench her teeth angrily and whispered while hugging Cao Mei, ¡°Mom, I overheard you say that Zhaozhao also goes to Yuqing University, we even seem to be in the same department. If I hadn¡¯t found out by chance that you were my parents, I wouldn¡¯t believe that such a rich heiress could be my sister...¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s face immediately turned ugly when she heard this.


    She grabbed Xia Wenjin¡¯s little hand and said, ¡°Jin, remember, you are the true daughter of the Lu Family. If it weren¡¯t for that wretched girl who captivated Song Sinian, we would have driven her out of the house long ago!¡±


    Beside her, Lu Dagui nodded, ¡°Jin, rest assured, your mom and dad have only ever loved you. Ever since your mom and I found out we took the wrong child, there hasn¡¯t been a day when we haven¡¯t been searching for you...¡±


    ¡°Yes, Jin, once we get a hold of that wretched girl¡¯s weakness, we will disclose your identity publicly. All you need to do now is to stay peacefully by mom¡¯s side,¡± Cao Mei said, looking at Xia Wenjin with a face full of sorrow.


    Suddenly, as if she thought of something, she took out a supplementary card from her wallet nearby, ¡°This card is mom¡¯s supplementary card, buy whatever you like with it, school is starting soon, and I want you to go to school happily.¡±


    Xia Wenjin looked at the card in her hand and was overjoyed.


    She immediately threw herself again into Cao Mei¡¯s arms and sweetly called out, ¡°Thank you, Mom!¡±


    After she got Cao Mei¡¯s phone number yesterday, she had contacted them.


    She originally thought that it would take quite an effort to persuade them, but Cao Mei had almost no hesitation upon seeing her and took her for a DNA test.


    Now that the results were out, Cao Mei and Lu Dagui were even more affectionate toward her.


    In fact, Xia Wenjin had long learned from Cao Mei that they were not close to Lu Zhaozhao at all because they realized that Lu Zhaozhao was not their biological child when she was very young.


    So, they never really treated her as their own daughter.


    If Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t pretty, they would not have bothered to raise her.


    To Xia Wenjin, Lu Zhaozhao posed no competition at all.


    But just thinking about how Lu Zhaozhao had lived so many years under her identity filled Xia Wenjin with indescribable hostility...


    After leaving the Lu Family, Lu Zhaozhao returned to the Song Family.


    She and Song Sinian indeed had made a lunch appointment, but it was she who took the initiative to invite him.


    Last night, Lu Zhaozhao originally planned to give Song Sinian the bracelet and ear cuff she bought, but he arrived home and went straight to his study for a video conference.


    As a result, she waited and waited until she fell asleep...


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat annoyed, so she asked Song Sinian out for lunch.


    Fortunately, he agreed.


    She opened her bag and glanced at the contract signed by Lu Dagui, her eyes involuntarily drooping.


    After the Jade Vein auction is over, the Lu Family would have successfully traded her, and by then, they would probably announce to the public the truth about the real Lu Family¡¯s daughter.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes, it seemed the news of her being an impostor would soon spread in the circle.


    ¡°Madam, we¡¯re here.¡±


    Suddenly, a voice sounded inside the car.


    Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses and realized that they had already returned to the Song Family.


    She slowly got out of the car and then took the contract towards the villa¡¯s front door.


    Just as she entered, she saw Song Sinian standing in the hallway, one foot in a slipper, while the other was shod in a leather shoe.


    It looked as if he was about to leave.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze briefly rested on his shoes, then looked up at Song Sinian and asked, ¡°Mr. Song, are you going out?¡±


    She was already a bit weary from coming back from the Lu Family, and now, with the stress of Xia Wenjin returning to the Lu Family ahead of time, her mood sank even lower seeing Song Sinian was heading out...

 Chapter 33 - 33 She... is a Fake

    Chapter 33: Chapter 33 She... is a Fake


    Song Sinian stood in the same spot, watching Lu Zhaozhao and silently withdrew his foot from his shoe, stepping back onto his slippers.


    He reached out to pinch her small face, intently inspecting it twice before slowly asking, ¡°Are you unhappy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a little.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao made no attempt to hide it, blinking her watery eyes, her brows and eyes slightly weary as she looked at Song Sinian.


    Though she was unhappy, she didn¡¯t want to be a hindrance to Song Sinian.


    She forced a smile, ¡°If you have things to do, you should go ahead.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her small face, then suddenly pulled her close, bending his upper body near her and spoke word by word, ¡°What should I do when you¡¯re unhappy? If I kiss you like before, would that make you feel better?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face instantly flushed red, her ears and neck also turning a deep shade of red.


    Song Sinian, baffled, raised his eyebrows, looking at her blushing earlobes. His finger gently traced down her cheek to her earlobe, ¡°Are you shy again now?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was now entirely red like a shrimp ball.


    Why does this man, clearly just stating the facts, make someone¡¯s heart race like this!


    The pads of Song Sinian¡¯s fingers gently caressed her increasingly red earlobes, his gaze lingering on her petite face as his Adam¡¯s apple slightly bobbed.


    He slightly tilted his head and pressed his lips against hers.


    Gently, like a dragonfly skimming the water, and quickly breaking away.


    He watched her stunned expression, suddenly widening her cute eyes as if she had discovered a new continent.


    His large hand cradled her cheek, leaning down to kiss her eye.


    Lu Zhaozhao did not dodge, obediently closing the eye he kissed.


    She was just too well-behaved, too darling, always stirring up a desire to hold her tight and tease her endlessly.


    Song Sinian fought the urge to continue, gently kissing her forehead, then looked into her eyes and asked, ¡°Did I do well?¡±


    ¡°Er...¡±


    His simple question caught Lu Zhaozhao off guard.


    Her mouth opened slightly, and thinking of Song Sinian¡¯s rare initiative, she really couldn¡¯t bear to dampen his enthusiasm.


    She pondered briefly, then weakly nodded her head.


    Song Sinian slowly retracted his hand, his gaze still lingering on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face, ¡°So, will I get a reward?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze was particularly serious, showing he wasn¡¯t joking.


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated briefly, then stepped forward, tiptoeing to plant a kiss on his cheek.


    Her eyes sparkling slightly, ¡°Does this count?¡±


    Song Sinian instinctively raised his hand to touch the spot Lu Zhaozhao had kissed.


    Was this the first time she had kissed him while fully conscious?


    His chest felt like it had been fiercely struck, the tumultuous waves surging.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils flickered slightly, his gaze slowly settling on her small face, ¡°I will also keep doing well in the future. Will you reward me then?¡±


    His deep eyes, through the lenses, watched her as the lingering twilight sparkled in their depths.


    Lu Zhaozhao gazed at his handsome face as if enchanted, nodding.


    Suddenly, she seemed to realize what significant matter she had agreed to, snapping back to reality abruptly.


    ¡°I... I...¡±


    Song Sinian watched the stammering Lu Zhaozhao and stretched out his hand to lead her in, ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch first, or the food will get cold.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao followed behind him, still wanting to say something, but seeing the ease in Song Sinian¡¯s strides, she eventually swallowed the words that reached her lips.


    Because of what had transpired at the Lu Family, Lu Zhaozhao had little appetite at lunchtime.


    Therefore, she didn¡¯t eat much and soon put down her chopsticks.


    Although Song Sinian couldn¡¯t understand most of the expressions on her face, due to their recent time together, he could sense a significant change in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s usual demeanor.


    He slowly put down his chopsticks and signaled the servants to clear the meal, leaving only two servings of dessert soup on the table.


    Song Sinian pushed one of the dessert soup bowls towards her and slowly said, ¡°This is the dessert soup you like to drink. Would you like to have some?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised as she dully responded and picked up the spoon from the bowl.


    Her small hand paused, hesitated for a moment, then she slowly began, ¡°Mr. Song, I... might not be the biological daughter of the Lu family.¡±


    She said this without looking up at Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know how to face Song Sinian.


    He had signed a contract with the Lu Family to marry their daughter, but she... was an imposter.


    Song Sinian seemed to suddenly understand the reason behind Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s unhappiness.


    His gaze remained calm, showing little fluctuation, ¡°Do you need my help to find your biological parents?¡±


    Mr. and Mrs. Lu were not very kind to Lu Zhaozhao, to put it precisely, they had been mentally tormenting her.


    If finding her biological parents would make her happy, then it wasn¡¯t an unreasonable consideration.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly looked up at Song Sinian, a notion she had never even contemplated before.


    Because in her previous life, her parents had never appeared.


    If her adoptive parents were Xia Wenjin¡¯s biological parents, could it be that Xia Wenjin¡¯s adoptive parents were her real parents?


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, her eyes drooped again.


    In her previous life, when Xia Wenjin returned to the Lu Family, the Xia Family must have known she was their daughter.


    Lu Zhaozhao, thinking of her own dishonored self from her past life, seemed to understand why the Xia Family had not acknowledged her.


    Although she was Song Sinian¡¯s wife, she bore a notorious reputation, and they probably did not want to be affected by her infamy.


    This thought led Lu Zhaozhao to feel less intense about meeting her biological parents...


    She sighed softly, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this matter later.¡±


    After saying this, as if she suddenly remembered something, she took out two brocade boxes from her bag.


    ¡°By the way, Mr. Song, these are gifts I wanted to give you.¡±


    Saying that, she placed the two brocade boxes in front of Song Sinian and opened each one.


    One contained a men¡¯s ear cuff, and the other, a small calfskin braided bracelet with a beautiful OT buckle at the junction.


    Truthfully, Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t sure if Song Sinian would like these things.


    So from the moment she opened the two brocade boxes, she anxiously stared at Song Sinian.


    But to her surprise, seeing the two items, Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes briefly trembled and he instinctively asked, ¡°Would you help me put them on?¡±


    ¡°Uh... Are you sure?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze shifted back and forth on the ear cuff, slightly hesitant.


    The bracelet was one thing, but the ear cuff... was he really willing to wear it?


    Song Sinian nodded, showing no hint of hesitation.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, and she finally helped him put it on.


    However, as she put the bracelet on Song Sinian¡¯s wrist, her gaze fell on a colorful braid hair tie on his wrist...

 Chapter 34 - 34 Mr. Song from their family is really exceptionally good at handling money

    Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Mr. Song from their family is really exceptionally good at handling money


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand suddenly paused, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as if something suddenly blocked her chest.


    Hair ties, originally meant for tying hair and nothing more, had somehow evolved into a little prop for asserting dominance.


    She had always believed that Song Sinian, like in her previous life, was a workaholic with no women by his side.


    But now she wondered... maybe she simply didn¡¯t know.


    Song Sinian only seemed cold on the outside, but in reality, he was gentle and considerate, truly a cool-faced angel.


    What woman wouldn¡¯t like that?


    She gently put the bracelet on Song Sinian, but couldn¡¯t help glancing again at the hair tie.


    Suddenly, her mind flashed with a fragment related to the hair tie before her.


    Just as she tried to see it clearly, the hair tie transformed into a gruesome face, and Lu Zhaozhao felt her whole head was about to split open.


    Painfully, she held her head, not knowing why she felt she had forgotten something very important...


    Lu Zhaozhao only knew that when she was five, she had fallen down the stairs and almost lost her life, but when she woke up, she remembered nothing.


    She couldn¡¯t help but doubt, was it really just an accident that she fell down the stairs?


    Song Sinian seemed to notice her discomfort, he reached out to hold her hand, his brows slightly raising, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao managed a weak smile, ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m probably just too tired today.¡±


    She had experienced too many things different from her previous life recently, many of which she hadn¡¯t had time to process.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to rub her head, ¡°Then go back to your room and rest for a while, school starts in a few days, and you need to be well-rested.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao obediently nodded her head, stood up, and left the dining room.


    Not long after she left, Zhao Xi came into the dining room with documents.


    Seeing the ear cuff on Song Sinian¡¯s ear, his eyes lit up, ¡°Sir, did the madam give you a gift?¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Song Sinian responded indifferently, taking the documents from Zhao Xi and beginning to read them, his mood seeming not very high.


    Zhao Xi looked at Song Sinian curiously for a long time, completely unable to find a reason for his unhappiness.


    The ear cuff Mr. Song had been longing for was finally in his possession; though there was not much emotional fluctuation, there should have been some change in his demeanor.


    But why did he feel like the atmosphere was even worse than during a meeting at the Song Group?


    After hesitating for a while, Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sir, has the madam encountered something unpleasant?¡±


    The only person their family cared about now was their madam.


    Early that morning, Lu Zhaozhao had gone to the Lu Family to deliver a check, Mr. and Mrs. Lu couldn¡¯t possibly be unhappy or provoke Lu Zhaozhao, so what was the actual problem?


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand that was flipping through the documents paused, and he turned his head towards Zhao Xi, ¡°You also think she is unhappy?¡±


    Zhao Xi was slightly startled, seeing Song Sinian¡¯s reaction, he knew he had hit the mark.


    He chuckled lightly, ¡°I heard it from the madam¡¯s bodyguard, it seems like her mood has been quite down since returning from the Song Family.¡±


    Song Sinian thought about what Lu Zhaozhao had said just now, his eyes slightly darkened, ¡°She said she might not be the biological daughter of the Lu Family, go check on the recent activities of the Lu Family, see who they have been in contact with.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t say these things without a reason.


    Certainly, she must have seen something at the Lu Family that made her say that.


    Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, a hint of surprise flickered across Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao is not the Lu Family¡¯s biological daughter?


    This really did seem rather far-fetched, yet when combined with the information previously investigated, it wasn¡¯t hard to explain why Mr. and Mrs. Lu had psychologically abused Lu Zhaozhao.


    Because she wasn¡¯t their biological child.


    Zhao Xi thought this and suddenly, as if something occurred to him, he began slowly, ¡°Sir, the man that madam encountered yesterday outside, I¡¯ve gathered some information about him, but it is not very comprehensive. It seems... like someone deliberately tampered with it.¡±


    He said this and pushed the investigation report in front of Song Sinian, ¡°This man is named Xia Wenjue, lives in the Eastern District on Changle Street, and has a family of seven. From what the data shows, this man is merely an ordinary office worker with no noticeable peculiarities.¡±


    But that was exactly what made it suspect.


    An ordinary office worker, living in a regular neighborhood, yet he could afford the most expensive VIP hospital room in the Beijing Circle.


    Even the doctor scheduled for the surgery was top-notch.


    This Xia Wenjue probably had a significant background, at least not as ordinary as he appeared on the surface.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze fell on the document before him and he said indifferently, ¡°Keep a close eye on him, and if he dares to target Zhaozhao, just handle it directly.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    He didn¡¯t like seeing too many complex and uncomfortable expressions on her little face.


    Still, her eyes curved beautifully, a radiant smile better suited her.


    Song Sinian tapped his finger on the documents in his hand and suddenly, his fingertip paused, ¡°Is the thing I asked you to prepare earlier ready?¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded repeatedly, ¡°It¡¯s all ready, just waiting for the lady to start school!¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    He lifted his hand to gently stroke the multicolored hair tie on his wrist, his fingertips inadvertently touched the new leather braided bracelet that Lu Zhaozhao had given him, and his eyes suddenly deepened...


    On the opening day of the school, Lu Zhaozhao sat in the back seat of the car, looking at her get-up with a bit of speechlessness.


    Yesterday, Qian Hong had mysteriously told her that Song Sinian had prepared a gift for her.


    The result was, as soon as she woke up this morning, she saw her high set school ensemble by Pra.


    Even the bags and shoes were custom-made to match.


    Everything she wore was designed exclusively by Pra¡¯s top designer; buying the same model was simply out of the question.


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit that Mr. Song of their family really excelled in spending ability.


    Anyone with a discerning eye at Yuqing University could see the value of her attire.


    In two words... wealthy!


    The kind that others absolutely couldn¡¯t afford.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed with a mix of resignation, looking at the school gate she had arrived at, then got out of the car.


    But she had just walked a few steps when she saw, from afar, a person she really didn¡¯t want to encounter¡ªXia Wenjin.


    Just as she thought to pretend not to see him and leave, Xia Wenjin unexpectedly stepped ahead and blocked her way.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, long time no see!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenjin¡¯s arrogant gaze and slightly raised her eyebrows, making eye contact with his malevolent look.


    It appeared that she was not planning to get along well with her ¡°cousin¡±; thus, she saw no need to continue pretending.


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted her eyes to him, her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes carried a hint of indescribable coldness...

 Chapter 35 - 35 Can We Really Meet This Time?

    Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Can We Really Meet This Time?


    ¡°Just a few days and you already miss me this much,¡± Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but mock, her tone dripping with contempt.


    Zhaozhao was naturally beautiful, and the clothes, tailor-made for her, only served to accentuate her figure magnificently.


    As Wen Jin¡¯s gaze raked over her, the flames of jealousy nearly spilled from the depths of her eyes.


    The corners of her mouth curled up as she raised a scornful laugh, ¡°Zhaozhao, what¡¯s there for you to be proud of? Everything you eat, wear, and use belongs to the Lu Family. You¡¯re nothing but a named imposter, while I am the true Lu Family heiress!¡±


    As she spoke, Wen Jin¡¯s smug eyes remained fixed on Zhaozhao, hoping to see a look of panic on her face.


    To her disappointment, Zhaozhao seemed utterly unmoved.


    Her eyebrows knitted together slightly in irritation, ¡°You don¡¯t think I¡¯m joking with you, do you?¡±


    Zhaozhao shook her head gently, ¡°No, I certainly believe what you say, but it really doesn¡¯t matter to me whether the Lu Family is my birth family or not.¡±


    ¡°Sure, who are you fooling?¡± Wen Jin sneered disdainfully at Zhaozhao, seemingly struck by a sudden thought.


    She had heard from Cao Mei that Zhaozhao had now married the president of the Song Group, and, somehow exceedingly favored, she seemed not to care.


    Is that why she¡¯s so indifferent? Wen Jin thought, her mocking smile returning, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t think that by using the identity of the Lu Family heiress to marry into the Song Family, you can relax and be a wealthy lady. If they find out you¡¯re not the true Lu heiress, and your maternal family is powerless, do you think you could stay in the Song Family?¡±


    Her tone grew more triumphant, her voice rising several decibels.


    Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows ticked up slightly. If this were her past life, she might have been fooled by Wen Jin, but now, she didn¡¯t care at all.


    Because, with her current understanding of Sinian, he would not throw her out of the Song Family over such a trivial matter.


    What she was more concerned about was the ¡°powerless maternal family¡± Wen Jin mentioned.


    Was it because they were too poor in their past life that they paid her no attention?


    Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes shifted subtly as she glanced at Wen Jin, ¡°Whether I can stay in the Song Family is none of your concern. You might want to figure out how to reclaim your position as the Lu heiress, dear ¡®cousin¡¯!¡±


    Lu Dagui still had use for her, so for now, he wouldn¡¯t remove her from the Lu Family.


    Meaning Wen Jin had some time to wait before she could reassume the title of Lu Family heiress.


    How could Wen Jin not know this?


    She glared angrily at Zhaozhao, as if venting her frustration, and bellowed, ¡°Zhaozhao, you don¡¯t know yet, do you? Your parents are a pair of paupers, and apart from two workaholics at home, there¡¯s also a dying sickling and a madman who dreams of stardom every day!¡±


    Wen Jin couldn¡¯t stand Zhaozhao¡¯s appearance of a pampered heiress. Although Zhaozhao was an imposter, she seemed to carry more grace than Wen Jin, the real deal.


    It was thoroughly irritating.


    People like her should be thrown into the ¡°mud¡± to see if they could maintain their unworldly demeanor!


    Listening to Wen Jin¡¯s description of the Xia Family, Zhaozhao frowned slightly, ¡°Have they ever hurt you?¡±


    Her words took Wen Jin aback. The Xia Family, Mr. and Mrs. Xia, had always been very affectionate towards her, fulfilling her demands whenever possible.


    Aside from those annoying brothers, the family was tolerable.


    But what use was that when their poverty was the original sin?


    They couldn¡¯t provide her the life she desired.


    Wen Jin rolled her eyes, ¡°So what if they¡¯ve been good to me? In the end, they¡¯re not my birth parents. I should have been living in luxury within the Lu Family, but instead, I endured hardship with the Xia Family. Isn¡¯t that harm enough?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao simply couldn¡¯t understand the reasoning of this ingrate.


    But thinking about Xia Wenjin¡¯s personality, she was indeed very much like the Lu Family couple.


    She sighed softly, ¡°Since you dislike them so much, just give me the Xia Family¡¯s address, I will take care of my own parents myself.¡±


    Hearing this, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh, ¡°What if I don¡¯t give it to you? If you want it, beg me!¡±


    The more Lu Zhaozhao wanted to do something, the less Xia Wenjin wanted to accommodate her.


    She had heard from Cao Mei that Lu Zhaozhao had a submissive personality, easy to manipulate as one pleased.


    So, she wanted to force Lu Zhaozhao to bow down, to let her understand who was the cloud and who was the mud!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly, and she couldn¡¯t help but snort lightly, ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t give it to me?¡±


    Her unexpected attitude immediately put Xia Wenjin on guard, ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Nothing, I just wanted to remind you that the later I know the Xia Family¡¯s address, the later I will leave the Lu Family, I don¡¯t mind... but I wonder if you, my dear cousin, care?¡±


    She deliberately emphasized the words ¡°dear cousin.¡±


    As expected, Xia Wenjin¡¯s face darkened immediately.


    She angrily took out paper and pen, wrote down the Xia Family¡¯s address and threw it at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word and leave the Lu Family as soon as possible!¡±


    After saying this, Xia Wenjin glared at Lu Zhaozhao with indignation before leaving.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the address in her hand, folded it, and then carefully tucked it into her pocket.


    Can she really see them this time?


    Her biological parents who appeared after two lifetimes apart...


    Lu Zhaozhao thought to herself as she walked toward the school.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that Xia Wenjue had appeared nearby while she was meeting with Xia Wenjin.


    He heard every word of their conversation, crystal clear.


    Xia Wenjue had been worried about Xia Wenjin because she hadn¡¯t answered her phone for several days and had disappeared; he even thought she might have been kidnapped.


    He had sent all his people to look for her, only to find that she had appeared at the Lu Family¡¯s residence.


    Xia Wenjue originally came to the school to confront her about what had happened, but he ended up witnessing the scene that had just unfolded.


    Xia Wenjue used to think Xia Wenjin¡¯s unpleasant personality was due to her youth, but now he realized he had been mistaken.


    She was much more ruthless than he had imagined.


    He had been concerned that the Xia Family¡¯s acknowledging Lu Zhaozhao might hurt Xia Wenjin, but now it seemed she had already made her choice.


    Xia Wenjue watched from afar as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s figure disappeared into the campus, then took out his phone and made a call, ¡°Third Brother, gather everyone at noon, I have something to say.¡±


    On the other end of the phone, Xia Wenmo¡¯s tone was cool, ¡°What, gathering everyone all of a sudden, have you decided to clean house?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjue on this end of the phone didn¡¯t respond, which stunned Xia Wenmo, ¡°You... you are my elder brother Xia Wenjue, right?¡±


    He almost couldn¡¯t believe it as he checked the phone number again and again.


    There was a noticeable silence on the line before the voice slowly began, ¡°This noon, I plan to clarify Zhaozhao¡¯s situation to the family...¡±

 Chapter 36 - 36 Is it related to this matter?

    Chapter 36: Chapter 36 Is it related to this matter?


    Xia Wenmo didn¡¯t know why Xia Wenjue was touched by something and wanted to make Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s matter public.


    However, that wasn¡¯t important. What mattered was that his precious little sister was coming back to the Xia Family.


    ¡°Okay, I got it. I¡¯ll take care of things at home.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ...


    At noon, inside the hospital room.


    Xia Wenjue arrived belatedly, his gaze swept over the people in the room before he entered.


    ¡°Lao Si is at the training base for trainees, and I guess his phone must have been confiscated, so he hasn¡¯t come yet,¡± Xia Wenmo said slowly as he glanced at Xia Wenjue who had just walked in.


    Normally, Mr. and Mrs. Xia, Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie, would often go out to paint and were hardly ever at home. The eldest, Xia Wenjue, and the second, Xia Wenqing, were both typical workaholics, the third was obsessed with creation and rarely made public appearances, and the youngest, Xia Wenyan, was busy being a trainee, with little time to come home.


    Each of them had their own lives, but since Xia Wenmo was diagnosed with a brain tumor, apart from Xia Wenjin, other Xia Family members started focusing a portion of their attention on Xia Wenmo.


    So, apart from him, no one else had the capability to gather the Xia Family members together.


    ¡°Elder brother, the third brother mentioned you asked him to call us all to the hospital. Is there something important you need to discuss?¡± Wen Qingyu looked nervously at Xia Wenjue, her hand tightly gripping Xia Nie¡¯s sitting beside her.


    Xia Wenmo, who had always been reluctant to seek medical treatment, was a source of great worry for his mother.


    After much difficulty, they had finally heard that he was willing to have surgery, and it had not been many days since then when they were summoned to the hospital. Could it be that this brat wanted to go back on his word?


    Xia Wenmo seemed to have realized what his mother was thinking and gently patted Wen Qingyu¡¯s shoulder, saying, ¡°Mom, rest assured, it has nothing to do with my illness.¡±


    Relieved by these words, Wen Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief, but then Xia Wenjue¡¯s next words made her heart clench once again.


    ¡°I¡¯ve called everyone here today to talk about Xia Wenjin.¡±


    As he spoke, he handed the documents in his hand to the people in front of him, then continued, ¡°Xia Wenjin is not our child from the Xia Family; she is the child of the Lu Family. And the child now with the Lu Family is our real younger sister.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Nie, Wen Qingyu, and Xia Wenqing were all completely stunned, while Xia Wenmo, who already knew the truth, looked indifferent.


    It took a while for Wen Qingyu to come to her senses. Her mouth opened, and after a long pause, she finally spoke, ¡°Then... can those two children accept this fact? The idea of biological parents becoming foster parents is too much of a shock for children...¡±


    Compared to acknowledging the truth, she was more worried about the two children being hurt.


    One of them she had raised, the other was her own flesh and blood.


    No matter which child, she hoped neither of them would be hurt.


    As she said these words, her eyes and brows were filled with concern.


    Xia Nie gently patted Wen Qingyu¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Let¡¯s take it slowly, see how the two children are coping first. Wenjin and that child both need time to adjust.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenmo let one hand rest under his head, ¡°Some people don¡¯t need any time to adjust at all...¡±


    His remark immediately drew Xia Wenqing¡¯s attention.


    Xia Wenqing narrowed his eyes, ¡°Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance these past few days, is it related to this?¡±


    Xia Wenqing remembered that recently Xia Wenjue had dispatched all his people to find Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenmo nodded, a rare smile appearing on his face, ¡°You¡¯re quick-witted as always, second brother.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The entire ward fell silent.


    Xia Wenjue took a deep breath and pulled out his cell phone from his pocket, opening a video he had recorded at school earlier.


    ¡°This is the attitude of Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    He lifted his hand to play the video, and instantly, Xia Wenjin¡¯s shrill voice echoed throughout the ward.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, what have you got to be proud of? Everything you eat, wear, and use is provided by our Lu Family. You¡¯re nothing but a nominal fake, while I am the true heiress of the Lu Family!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think I¡¯m joking with you, do you?¡±


    ¡°No, of course I believe what you¡¯re saying, it¡¯s just that to me, whether Mr. and Mrs. Lu are my biological parents is not important.¡±


    ...


    The video ended after a while.


    The sound stopped abruptly, and the atmosphere in the ward plunged into an eerie silence.


    Suddenly, Xia Wenmo, who was sitting on the hospital bed, was the first to speak, ¡°I thought Lao Si had a good relationship with her, that it¡¯d be different. Turns out, I¡¯m still better off; after all, ¡®sickly¡¯ sounds much better than ¡®crazy¡¯.¡±


    A faint, particularly indifferent smile appeared on his lips.


    Xia Wenjin always clashed with him, selfish and self-serving by nature. The family had kept the true situation from her, fearing that she, being young and naive, would be deceived by others.


    They wanted her to live as an ordinary girl abroad.


    But the Xia Family had never neglected her food, clothing, housing, and transportation.


    Even the things she wanted were provided as much as possible.


    Who would have thought that, as soon as she returned to the country and heard that her biological parents were wealthier, she¡¯d play disappearing acts and go to the Lu Family to become the pampered lady?


    Xia Wenmo was especially curious now ¨C what would Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression be if she knew that the Lu Family¡¯s wealth was insignificant compared to that of the Xia Family?


    What he could think of, everyone else could too.


    But what everyone was more concerned about at the moment was another matter.


    Lu Zhaozhao had gotten the family address from Xia Wenjin; when would she come to the Xia Family?


    Wen Qingyu frowned slightly, looking uneasily at the others, murmuring, ¡°Do you think Lu Zhaozhao would also disdain us for being poor and not acknowledge us as family?¡±


    Their daughter, raised for so many years, abandoning them without a backward glance because she disdained their poverty ¨C Wen Qingyu could not help but feel chilled.


    Xia Wenjue let out a soft sigh and slowly said, ¡°Mom, Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t do that, she¡¯s a good girl.¡±


    Although they hadn¡¯t met many times, with the number of people he had encountered in the business world, he was confident in his judgement.


    Xia Wenmo also nodded repeatedly, ¡°Big brother is right. Once you meet Zhaozhao, you¡¯ll know. She is both beautiful and adorable.¡±


    As he spoke of Lu Zhaozhao, a hint of light that had been absent for a long time appeared in his eyes.


    This surprised the other members of the Xia Family.


    Seeing their reaction, Xia Wenjue cleared his throat and explained, ¡°Ahem... The person who bought Lao San¡¯s painting at the auction was Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao even picked out a necklace for me~¡± Xia Wenmo eagerly took out the necklace around his neck and showed it off. ¡°She said that stars represent the hope of life, like the stars in the night sky that guide the way.¡±


    As he spoke, a gentle smile played at the corners of his eyes, nothing of the ¡®sickly¡¯ gloominess to be seen.


    ¡°`

 Chapter 37 - 37 Can I Hug You?

    Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Can I Hug You?


    Clearly, Xia Wenmo¡¯s series of actions had maximally piqued the curiosity of the other Xia Family members about Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Nie had even returned to the Xia Family home early with Wen Qingyu, preparing a rich table of food and waiting for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s visit.


    But they waited until 8 PM, and still, Lu Zhaozhao did not appear.


    A sense of disappointment hung in the air of the Xia Family¡¯s dining room.


    The second son, Xia Wenqing, coughed lightly, ¡°Dad, Mom, although Zhaozhao now knows the truth, she still needs some time to adjust, right?¡±


    Although his eldest brother, Xia Wenjue, and the youngest, Xia Wenmo, both insisted that Lu Zhaozhao was a good kid, but...


    Xia Wenqing furrowed his brow, considering that for a 20-year-old girl to just find out that her biological parents were someone else, and that they came from far wealthier circumstances than her foster parents, she indeed needed some time.


    Would Lu Zhaozhao react the same as Xia Wenjin if she knew their family¡¯s condition was even better than that of the Lu Family?


    Xia Wenqing felt somewhat complicated.


    He, much like Xia Wenmo, didn¡¯t particularly like the profit-minded Xia Wenjin, so he didn¡¯t have much expectation for this sister who was about to become part of the family.


    After all, how could they expect to become close with a sister they had not met in 20 years...


    Xia Wenjue chimed in to smooth things over, ¡°Right, Dad and Mom, let¡¯s eat first. It¡¯s already very late; maybe Zhaozhao will come in a few days.¡±


    Xia Nie and Wen Qingyu exchanged looks before silently picking up their chopsticks to eat.


    But nobody really had an appetite.


    So the family hastily ate a few bites before clearing away the untouched dishes.


    Just as Xia Wenjue picked up the trash and was about to head out, the doorbell echoed in the empty house.


    ¡°Ding dong¡ª¡±


    Xia Wenjue approached the peephole, peered through, and immediately ran back with the trash.


    Xia Wenqing, Xia Nie, and Wen Qingyu looked bewilderedly at him, confused and disgusted by his panic with the garbage.


    ¡°What is this...¡±


    ¡°Zhao! Zhaozhao is here!¡± Before the other three could speak, Xia Wenjue stammered out his announcement.


    Now the other three were thrown into a panic too.


    Xia Wenjue quickly grabbed Xia Wenqing¡¯s hand and hid in the bedroom closest to the living room.


    ¡°Ding dong¡ªding dong¡ª¡±


    Seeing the doorbell still ringing, Xia Wenjue peeked out and saw that Xia Nie and Wen Qingyu were still standing there, stunned.


    He immediately lowered his voice and shouted at them, ¡°Dad! Mom! Snap out of it! Go and answer the door!¡±


    Only then did Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie come to their senses and hurried to the door together.


    As soon as they opened it, Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie were also taken aback.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s appearance was almost 70% like Wen Qingyu, and the remaining 30% resembled Xia Nie.


    ¡°Uh... Mr. Xia, Mrs. Xia, hello, my name is Lu Zhaozhao. I¡¯ve come today because there¡¯s something I need to discuss with you both. Do you have a moment?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tried to muster a not-too-awkward smile as she looked at the two people before her.


    She knew that what she was saying right now might sound strange as she had never interacted with Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie before, so she didn¡¯t know how to start the conversation.


    Wen Qingyu could tell at a glance that she was feeling awkward and quickly made way, saying, ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s go in and talk.¡±


    Her tone was gentle, and her smile was soft, which relaxed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tense heart quite a bit.


    She nodded at Xia Nie and then followed Wen Qingyu into the living room.


    The decor inside was simple, yet evidently crafted with care, rustic yet elegant.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze swept over the living room corridor where several oil paintings hung. Though they were unsigned, they exuded a particularly warm feeling.


    Just like Luna.


    Perhaps the person who painted these paintings had a warm heart as well?


    She sat obediently in the living room, looking at Xia Nie and Wen Qingyu sitting opposite her and took a deep breath before starting the conversation.


    ¡°Mr. Xia, Mrs. Xia, what I¡¯m about to say may sound a bit far-fetched, but please allow me some time to explain,¡± Lu Zhaozhao, one small hand holding the other, looked very constrained.


    Wen Qingyu chuckled softly, her eyes curving into a smile as she reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have the patience; you take your time.¡±


    Beside her, Xia Nie nodded as well, ¡°Mhm, no rush, we happen to have some free time on our hands.¡±


    Their gentle and soft tones gave Lu Zhaozhao much-needed courage.


    She took out some documents from her bag and placed them in front of the couple, ¡°This is my personal information. I might be your biological daughter, so... if it¡¯s convenient for you, I was hoping we could do a paternity test.¡±


    Wen Qingyu blinked in surprise, not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to be so direct, and for a moment, she was slightly dazed.


    Xia Nie, on the other hand, had picked up the documentation that Lu Zhaozhao had placed on the table and began to examine it carefully.


    Both of them were silent, which made Lu Zhaozhao somewhat nervous.


    Her small hands clenched into fists as she continued, ¡°I know this is quite astonishing and may be too sudden for you both, so if you don¡¯t agree, I won¡¯t insist...¡±


    ¡°I want to try,¡± Wen Qingyu reached out and grasped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tightly clenched hands, her eyes gently bending with warmth, ¡°Actually, when I first saw you just now, I was a bit shocked, you look very much like I did when I was young.¡±


    Xia Nie slowly set down the documents in his hands, his gaze fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, he sighed softly, ¡°If you truly are our daughter, we are the ones who are sorry for not realizing this sooner and making you come to us yourself.¡±


    A flicker of light danced in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes. She had prepared herself to be turned away, but she hadn¡¯t expected Mr. and Mrs. Xia to be so gentle.


    Especially the way the two of them looked at her, with genuine regret and affection from the bottom of their hearts¡ªemotions she had never experienced in the Lu Family.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes drooped slightly, just in time to meet Wen Qingyu¡¯s now red-rimmed eyes.


    ¡°Child, can I hug you?¡±


    Her voice was soft, with a pleading tone. It was truly difficult for Lu Zhaozhao to refuse.


    ¡°Uh... okay.¡± She slowly stood up, and as she approached Wen Qingyu, she crouched down a bit.


    Her height was just right for Wen Qingyu to wrap her entire arms around, the scent fragrant, like lavender.


    Wen Qingyu held her, patting her back gently a few times, ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot, child. Thank you for growing up well.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Her gentle tone and soft voice made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart sink bit by bit.


    In her previous life, the missing piece of familial affection in her heart seemed to be filled at this moment.


    Could real relatives be this warm?


    Her eyes fell slightly, and she returned the embrace gently, but suddenly, as if she remembered something, she quickly let go.


    Just as Wen Qingyu was wondering why, she saw Lu Zhaozhao rummaging through her bag and pulling something out¡ª

 Chapter 38 - 38 Unforgivable to Bully a Sister!

    Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Unforgivable to Bully a Sister!


    ¡°This is my card, it doesn¡¯t have a lot of money, but it can be used for medical expenses.¡±


    After saying this, Lu Zhaozhao took out a business card from her pocket and stuffed it into Wen Qingyu¡¯s hand, ¡°This is the business card of the director of Shangjing Central Hospital. I have already asked him in advance. As long as you bring the patient to the hospital and look for him, he will arrange everything else.¡±


    Wen Qingyu looked at the two cards in her hands with a dazed expression, her heart suddenly filled with mixed feelings.


    They had been worried that Lu Zhaozhao would shy away from visiting because their family was poor, but not only did she come, she also...


    Seeing that the two of them didn¡¯t speak, Lu Zhaozhao began to explain, ¡°Actually, I wanted to come earlier today, but the director is so busy, it¡¯s not easy to make an appointment with him, so I came a little late. But don¡¯t worry, he will definitely find the most authoritative doctors to help you.¡±


    For this matter, she had specifically sought out Song Sinian¡¯s help, or else she would not have been able to make an appointment with the director at all.


    Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she simply hugged Lu Zhaozhao again.


    She was truly grateful to the heavens for letting their daughter grow up healthy and become a kind-hearted girl, even without her parents by her side.


    Since it was already very late, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t stay at the Xia Family¡¯s home for too long before leaving.


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao left, Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing came out of the room.


    Looking at the card in Wen Qingyu¡¯s hand, Xia Wenqing also felt a wave of emotions.


    Both are sisters, so how come Lu Zhaozhao, this little sister, is so lovable?


    One left for her biological parents¡¯ home, not looking back because of her family¡¯s poverty and her own illnesses.


    The other not only offered money but also helped find a doctor.


    The disparity was not just a little bit.


    Wen Qingyu sat in the living room with a tissue, her tears falling nonstop, ¡°I, I didn¡¯t expect Zhaozhao to be so sensible...¡±


    Beside her, Xia Nie looked at Wen Qingyu, both laughing and crying, while handing her tissues, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good thing for a child to be sensible? Just cherish her well from now on.¡±


    Wen Qingyu nodded her head repeatedly. She wiped her nose with the tissue, then looked up at Xia Wenjue and asked, ¡°Zhaozhao has been raised so well, should we thank the Lu Family?¡±


    Although the children had been swapped at birth, they indeed raised Zhaozhao quite well...


    But as soon as her words were out, Xia Wenjue¡¯s face turned extremely unsightly.


    The shift in his expression was noticed by everyone present.


    ¡°Big brother, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°You¡¯re not hiding something from us again, are you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now Xia Wenjue was even more silent.


    At that moment, all eyes were on him.


    Feeling the intense gaze on him, Xia Wenjue could only grit his teeth and slowly began to speak, ¡°Actually, Zhaozhao didn¡¯t have such a good time in the Lu Family...¡±


    He then went on to detail everything he had investigated.


    Especially about how the Lu Family mentally abused Lu Zhaozhao and even used her as a bargaining chip to marry her off to the Song Family.


    As soon as he finished speaking, the others could no longer contain their anger and began to shake.


    A murderous light flashed in Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes, ¡°The people in the Lu Family probably realized very early on that Zhaozhao was not their own, so they mistreated her, right?¡±


    That pair of despicable spouses in the Lu Family! He would definitely make them pay for everything they had done!


    ¡°Zhaozhao suffered so much grievance in the Lu Family, yet she could still be so kind; it really breaks one¡¯s heart...¡± Wen Qingyu covered her lips that trembled with sobs, leaning into Xia Nie¡¯s embrace.


    Just thinking about her child being abused for nearly 20 years made her feel as if her heart was being pricked with needles.


    Xia Nie¡¯s complexion didn¡¯t look any better either, his brows slightly furrowed, ¡°When someone from the Xia Family is bullied, naturally it must be the Xia Family who seeks retribution.¡±


    His gaze lifted slightly and looked towards Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing, the warmth in his eyes was no longer there, ¡°As her brothers, you should know what to do, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s brows tightened slightly, ¡°Of course.¡±


    If their sister was bullied, it was an affront to the Xia Family.


    This sort of scum who bullied their sister would definitely not be forgiven!


    At this moment, Lu Zhaozhao, who had no idea she was being treated like a prized protected animal, cheerfully returned to the Song Family.


    When she got home it was already past 9 p.m., yet Song Sinian was still working in his study.


    So she took the hot milk prepared by Qian Hong on tiptoes to the study.


    ¡°Mr. Song?¡± Her small head peeked in from the doorway, gently calling out to him.


    Song Sinian looked up towards the door, just in time to meet her sparkling eyes.


    He waved at her, signaling her to come in.


    Lu Zhaozhao placed the hot milk beside his desk and then sat down obediently next to him.


    Song Sinian flipped through the documents in his hand, glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, and seeing that she didn¡¯t speak, pretended to ask casually, ¡°Is everything taken care of?¡±


    In the afternoon, Lu Zhaozhao had called him, asking him to recommend a doctor for her, so he had sent Zhao Xi to handle it.


    He naturally also learned about her visit to her biological parents in the afternoon.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, her small hands twining together, ¡°I... met my biological parents; they... are a very loving couple, with kind personalities.¡±


    Thinking of the time she spent with Mr. and Mrs. Xia made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart feel warm.


    Her eyes curved into a smile, and she casually took the mug of milk from the table and handed it to Song Sinian.Update by n0vgo. co


    The latter looked down at the milk in his hand then at Lu Zhaozhao and still took a sip of the milk.


    He set the mug down slowly, his tone flat, ¡°Do you like them?¡±


    His voice was as indifferent as always, without much fluctuation.


    So Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t pay too much attention.


    Her eyes still smiling, she nodded, ¡°Yes, I like them. After all, no one would refuse the company of someone with a kind heart.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes darkened, a complex expression crossing his face.


    When Lu Zhaozhao left the Lu Family before, aside from him, there was no one else, so she depended on him.


    But now that she had real family members, would she still stay with him?


    He knew clearly that compared to warm family members, he, a cold person, stood no chance at all.


    He even found it hard to guess what her facial expressions meant.


    The thought of someone else being by her side when she was upset made his heart feel as if it had been suddenly crushed, aching so much that he found it hard to breathe.


    ¡°Mr. Song, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Zhaozhao, noticing his unusual demeanor, immediately grew anxious.


    She nervously cradled Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, looking from left to right, ¡°Are you feeling unwell? Or did you get hurt somewhere?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s touch calmed Song Sinian¡¯s emotions significantly, his larger hand covered her smaller ones, while his other arm wrapped around her lower back, pulling her closer to him...

 Chapter 39: Is She Overthinking It?

    Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Is She Overthinking It?


    Song Sinian buried his head in her bosom and thought about what Lu Zhaozhao had done for him before. He subconsciously nuzzled into her embrace and muttered in a muffled voice, ¡°I feel a little uncomfortable.¡±


    His voice was low, and since Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t see his face, her heart couldn¡¯t help but grow more worried.


    In his previous life, Song Sinian had suffered from severe depression, which she had completely overlooked.


    Now that she was aware of it in this life, she couldn¡¯t let Song Sinian continue to struggle alone.


    She hugged Song Sinian with her arms and gently stroked his head, ¡°Does this make you feel a bit better?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice was soft yet filled with tenderness.


    She knew that for Song Sinian, the emotional logic of normal people simply didn¡¯t make sense, but by reversing his behavior, it was quite understandable.


    His recognition of actions like kisses, hugs, and pats was limited to when she felt bad emotionally.


    So when he sought a hug voluntarily, it indicated that his discomfort was emotional.


    Song Sinian slowly looked up at Lu Zhaozhao, hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently.


    The suffocating pain in his chest did indeed alleviate greatly after hugging Lu Zhaozhao.


    But the subsequent irksome heaviness persisted, lingering in his chest, inescapable.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao leaned down and her rosy lips tenderly kissed his forehead.


    Song Sinian was stunned, his deep gaze met her eyes, which held a light smile, ¡°Is this a reward?¡±


    Except for the last reward, Lu Zhaozhao had never kissed him when she was sober.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao paused, ¡°This isn¡¯t a reward, it¡¯s... it¡¯s... consolation!¡±


    That explanation should be okay, right?


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t speak, just stared at Lu Zhaozhao with great seriousness, as if pondering her words.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a bit uneasy under his gaze, almost as if she had just conned him.


    She pursed her lips and eventually couldn¡¯t help but explain further, ¡°Actually, kisses can express many things, like consolation, rewards, happiness, or even sadness. It¡¯s quite normal between husband and wife.¡±


    ¡°Quite normal between husband and wife...¡± Song Sinian repeated this phrase to himself, his eyes flickering slightly, ¡°Then, can I do the same to you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Yes, of course you can, whenever you want.¡±


    After saying this, as if suddenly remembering something, she quickly added, ¡°But, matters between husband and wife are private, so, it should only be done when we¡¯re alone.¡±


    Thinking back to when Song Sinian had kissed her in front of Doctor Tian made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s toes curl in embarrassment.


    Song Sinian seemed to understand and nodded, then buried his head back in her embrace.


    He took a deep breath, the orange-scented fragrance belonging to Lu Zhaozhao entering his lungs through his nose, causing him to tighten his arms inadvertently.


    Being enveloped in her scent always gave him an indescribable feeling, as if... completely secure.


    He really wanted to keep holding her like this.


    She wouldn¡¯t refuse, would she?


    As Song Sinian thought this, his black eyes narrowed slightly, she... seemed to have always complied.


    No matter whether he kissed or hugged her, she had never rejected him. So could he... be a bit more presumptuous?


    Song Sinian lifted his chin slightly and looked at Lu Zhaozhao patting his back, his voice low and a bit hoarse, ¡°Zhaozhao, kiss me again.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Whether out of shyness or not, after saying this, Song Sinian involuntarily looked away, not continuing the eye contact.


    Good heavens, was he unconsciously acting spoiled towards her?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart leapt wildly.


    However, on the surface, she pretended to be completely at ease, cradling Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face in her small hands, looking at him with a smile, ¡°If I kiss you, would you feel better?¡±


    This was a question that Song Sinian had previously asked her, although at that time he genuinely just wanted to know how she felt, it still made her blush with embarrassment.


    So now, when she used the same question on him, it was a kind of small ¡°retaliatory attack.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes lowered slightly, giving Lu Zhaozhao a glance, ¡°I... am not too clear.¡±


    He just desired it.


    Every time she kissed him, he could feel his heart rate quicken noticeably and a fulfilling sensation at the bottom of his heart.


    He had initially thought it was a side effect of the new medicine, and after visiting Doctor Tian, she explained it was due to heightened emotions.


    Later, once she knew it involved Lu Zhaozhao, she told him to just let his heart race more often.


    Although he didn¡¯t understand why he should do it more often, he wanted to... even if Doctor Tian hadn¡¯t mentioned it.


    But why?


    Is this emotion what liking someone feels like?


    Hearing his response, a trace of guilt flashed across Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes.


    She lowered her head, caressed his face, and kissed him on the forehead, followed by the eyes, the bridge of the nose, the lips, the chin...


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re not sure how you feel,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved, her smile extra radiant, ¡°We can take it slow, and you can give me feedback from your other senses, for instance...¡±


    At this, she lifted a small hand and intertwined her fingers with Song Sinian¡¯s.


    ¡°Look, compared to me, the palm of your hand is warmer, and your hands are so much bigger.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze fell upon her small hand, and his large hand gently grasped hers back, ¡°Your skin is very white, very soft, it feels as though a gentle grip would leave a clear mark...¡±


    As he spoke these words and raised his eyes to look at Lu Zhaozhao, he asked, ¡°Does this... count as feedback?¡±


    ¡°Eh... of course, of course it does.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her hand, instinctively replying.


    The words he spoke seemed fine, but why did she feel something odd about them?


    Was she overthinking it?


    Song Sinian¡¯s long arm embraced Lu Zhaozhao tightly in his arms, ¡°You are also soft, fragrant, very pleasant to the touch.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Eh?!


    As Lu Zhaozhao saw Song Sinian¡¯s words charging towards an 18+ direction, she hurriedly cradled his face, looking to halt him in his tracks.


    ¡°That... uh, that, this should mean you like things that are soft and fragrant, Mr. Song likes soft and fragrant things...¡±


    Song Sinian paused to reflect for a moment. Soft things? Fragrant things?


    Did he like them?


    He almost immediately denied it; he didn¡¯t particularly like soft or fragrant things.


    It was just that these qualities were characteristics exhibited by Lu Zhaozhao, and so he found them pleasing.


    And she had just made overly forward suggestions, yet she had not refused him.


    She had also mentioned that kissing is a common behavior between husband and wife.


    So getting married could not only keep her tied to his side but also allow for such intimacy...


    Song Sinian¡¯s nose nuzzled gently in her embrace, his voice carrying a pleasurable lilt, ¡°Zhaozhao, I want more...¡±

 Chapter 40 - 40 It Seems She Worried Too Much

    Chapter 40: Chapter 40 It Seems She Worried Too Much


    ¡°`


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao obediently lowered her head to move closer again, but his lips met hers instead.


    She was startled and froze on the spot.


    Song Sinian, however, only brushed his lips against hers before moving away.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked dumbfoundedly, completely unaware that she had opened the door to a whole new world.


    Because Xia Wenjin had rushed to the Lu Family in a hurry before, many things she needed were left at the Xia Family home.


    Some things could be solved with money, but others could not.


    After confirming that Lu Zhaozhao had indeed gone to the Xia Family, she took the opportunity on the weekend to inform the Lu Family and went to the Xia Family with bags big and small.


    Xia Wenjin was not bringing these things to curry favor with the people of the Xia Family but rather to flaunt how favored she was in the Lu Family.


    As soon as she got out of the driver¡¯s car, she saw from a distance someone standing at the Xia Family¡¯s gate, nodding and bowing to Xia Wenjue, looking extremely respectful.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed, and she dove back into the car.


    She tapped the driver¡¯s shoulder and asked, ¡°Hey, look at the person at the gate. Is that President Zhang who came to my house the other day?¡±


    The business of the Lu Family was mostly overseas, and this President Zhang was the overseas executive whom Lu Dagui was willing to spend a lot of money to deliberately curry favor with.


    The Lu Family had many orders negotiated with his company.


    The driver stared at the person Xia Wenjin pointed out for a long while before nodding repeatedly, ¡°Miss, that person is indeed President Zhang, but he¡¯s usually very arrogant, not even nice to the master...¡±


    Now he was bowing and scraping like a grandson.


    ¡°It seems that the young man opposite him is someone with quite a background.¡±


    At these words, Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned significantly uglier.


    Because the young man opposite President Zhang was none other than her once-elder brother, Xia Wenjue.


    She seldom paid attention to what the Xia Family members were doing, only knowing that Xia Wenjue was very busy with work and often not at home.


    Although he came home more often since moving back to the country, their shabby little neighborhood didn¡¯t look at all like it belonged to a wealthy family.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows were nearly twisted into a knot, could it be that Xia Wenjue had been promoted at his company overseas?


    His workaholic nature made a promotion not an impossibility...


    If he could make President Zhang bow and scrape, then Lu Dagui wouldn¡¯t seem like much in his eyes, would he?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes swiveled shrewdly, it seemed she couldn¡¯t leave the Xia Family for the time being.


    What if Xia Wenjue truly made it big, wouldn¡¯t that benefit Lu Zhaozhao?


    Hmph! It seemed Heaven was on her side after all! Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have just happened to witness this scene.


    So what if Lu Zhaozhao went to the Xia Family?


    The Lu Family had raised Lu Zhaozhao for 20 years, but when she appeared, didn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao still have to give way to her?


    As for the Xia Family, she knew them too well, the couple was soft-hearted to a fault, and with just a few tears from her, she could win everything.


    After raising her for 20 years, how could they bear to see her sad?


    Lu Zhaozhao oh, Lu Zhaozhao, whether it¡¯s the Lu Family or the Xia Family, you can¡¯t have either in the end!


    Xia Wenjin waited on the roadside until President Zhang¡¯s car had left for about half an hour before heading to the Xia Family.


    When she, carrying bags big and small, stood at the door and saw Mr. and Mrs. Xia, she immediately dropped her things and ran over.


    ¡°Dad! Mom! Wuuu...¡±


    She threw herself straight into Wen Qingyu¡¯s arms, crying with tears streaming like rain.


    ¡°`


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie witnessing the video of her arguing with Lu Zhaozhao, they would¡¯ve hardly imagined that the daughter they¡¯d raised for over 20 years could be such an ingrate.¡±


    Wen Qingyu sighed lightly and patted her hand, ¡°What¡¯s the matter now?¡±


    She didn¡¯t confront her about going to the Lu Family right away but wanted to hear what she had to say.


    Seated in the living room, Xia Wenjue glanced at Xia Wenjin and silently started brewing the flower tea on the table.


    Ever since he learned the Lu Family was treating Lu Zhaozhao poorly, he¡¯d utilized his resources to give the Lu Family some trouble.


    Unlike before, there was no need to hide things, so the traffic of people from the Xia Family might have given the Lu Family a hint of something.


    So, it wasn¡¯t unlikely that they asked Xia Wenjin to probe the Xia Family.


    Xia Wenjin sat next to the sofa and immediately started stammering, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve wanted to come home these last few days, but... but...¡±


    Her words were followed by sobs.


    Wen Qingyu took a tissue from the table and handed it to her, speaking indifferently, ¡°Didn¡¯t your brother say you were staying on campus these days? Are you not comfortable at school?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was taken aback. Could it be they hadn¡¯t discovered she returned to the Lu Family?


    She thought that after Lu Zhaozhao came to the Xia Family, she would have tattled on her!


    Tsk, tsk...


    Seems she worried needlessly.


    No wonder Cao Mei said Lu Zhaozhao was submissive by nature. It seems she just came to the Xia Family to recognize her relatives and didn¡¯t mention her issues.


    Moreover, even if she did, the people of the Xia Family probably wouldn¡¯t believe her, right?


    Xia Wenjin pretended to wipe her eyes with the tissue before continuing, ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I¡¯ve actually been staying at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s house these past couple of days. They wouldn¡¯t let me leave. Lu Zhaozhao said I¡¯m a child of the Lu Family and told me not to come back until she and you had recognized each other.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Her few words succeeded in rendering the three people of the Xia Family speechless.


    Even when Lu Zhaozhao had come to the Xia Family, she hadn¡¯t said a bad word about Xia Wenjin.


    Yet here she was playing the victim, clearing herself of any blame and throwing Lu Zhaozhao under the bus.


    Xia Wenjue picked up a cup of flower tea, suppressing the anger in his heart, and looked at Xia Wenjin with a forced smile, ¡°Our family is so poor it rings hollow, we can¡¯t compare with the Lu Family at all. Why would Lu Zhaozhao do such a thing?¡±


    Xia Wenjin sniffled, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe because she has been with the Lu Family for a long time, she knows more people. She knows your job is extraordinary, brother. Maybe she wanted to curry favor with you...¡±


    As she spoke, her gaze turned toward Xia Wenjue and asked directly, ¡°Brother, did you get a promotion?¡±


    At the corners of his mouth twitched, Xia Wenjue took a sip of the flower tea before casually responding, ¡°It¡¯s not that I got a promotion. My boss got one. I suppose it¡¯s a promotion by association.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression subtly changed.


    She thought Xia Wenjue was on his way to soaring heights; it turned out to be just his boss¡¯s promotion, and he was just along for the ride?


    Even though they couldn¡¯t compare with the Lu Family, the Xia Family¡¯s situation must be quite improved from before.


    And given that President Zhang was very polite to Xia Wenjue, he might be able to help Lu Dagui make some connections.


    Looks like her older brother is of some use after all.


    As she thought this, she hugged Wen Qingyu and said, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t really want that Lu Zhaozhao to come to our home, do you?¡±


    Wen Qingyu gave Xia Wenjin a sidelong glance. Her patience with her had already worn thin.


    She withdrew her hand nonchalantly and spoke softly¡ª

 Chapter 41 - 41 Before You Start, Check If You Have the Capability

    Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Before You Start, Check If You Have the Capability


    ¡°These are our adult concerns, you¡¯re still young, so don¡¯t worry about it unnecessarily.¡±


    Her tone sounded level, seemingly without much emotional fluctuation.


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t quite grasp Wen Qingyu¡¯s thoughts, so she didn¡¯t continue the conversation.


    Her eyes darted around, and then she spoke with a face full of grievance, ¡°Then... if Lu Zhaozhao comes to stay at our house, do I need to stay at school for a few days? I¡¯m afraid she would feel uncomfortable seeing me...¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyes nearly rolled to the heavens.


    Stay at school for a few days? She simply wanted to continue living with the Lu Family, still playing the victim here.


    Xia Wenjue looked at Xia Wenjin with a smirk that was not quite a smile and said, ¡°Zhaozhao is already married, she won¡¯t stay at the house, so rest assured and stay home.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to see Xia Wenjin either, but seeing her belittle Lu Zhaozhao while whitewashing herself made him feel annoyed, and he wanted to aggravate her.


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin did not expect Xia Wenjue to say that, clearly taken aback.


    Her hands clenched tightly, and a distinct flash of irritation crossed her brows.


    Although she had only stayed with the Lu Family for a few days, she had already grown fond of the feeling of being a spendthrift rich girl.


    If she continued to live with the Xia Family, they would certainly ask her where the money she spent came from; worse, she might have to contribute money to the family.


    Xia Wenjue might earn quite a bit, but with Xia Wenmo being a bottomless pit, she couldn¡¯t take the risk...


    Should she simply leave the Xia Family?


    While Xia Wenjin was still hesitating, Xia Wenjue suddenly spoke up, ¡°If you¡¯re still worried about the Lu Family troubling you, I can personally go to the Lu Family and ask Mr. and Mrs. Lu not to bother you anymore.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Xia Wenjin stood up from the sofa in a flash. ¡°Why can Lu Zhaozhao come to the Xia Family to find you, but I can¡¯t go to the Lu Family?¡±


    Xia Wenjue looked at Xia Wenjin coldly and said indifferently, ¡°It was you who just said the Lu Family won¡¯t let you go home, and you have been saying you want to come back. Did I misunderstand something?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows instantly knotted, she wouldn¡¯t have given them face just now if it weren¡¯t for her concern that Xia Wenjue might be somewhat capable and affect the Lu Family¡¯s affairs.


    ¡°I, I just wanted to see my biological parents, wuwuwu...¡± Xia Wenjin suddenly started crying pitifully again, trying to gain sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Xia.


    But to her surprise, Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie just watched her cry quietly, with no intention of comforting her.


    After a few dry sobs, she stopped when she saw the indifferent Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie, and then sniffled before asking, ¡°Dad, Mom, actually, when I went to the Lu Family, it was because I wanted you to have a better life...¡±


    As she spoke, she picked up the gifts she had brought, ¡°These are all from Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu, they are really kind. They knew our family isn¡¯t wealthy, so they sent quite a few gifts with me.¡±


    Xia Nie glanced at the gifts on the table, most of which he had seen in TV ads, indeed costing a fair amount of money.


    He withdrew his gaze towards Xia Wenjin and slowly said, ¡°Wenjin, you¡¯re not young anymore, you can be responsible for your own decisions. From now on, it¡¯s up to you to decide what to do with your life.¡±


    Since she had already chosen the Lu Family, she no longer had much to do with their Xia Family.


    In fact, when Xia Wenjin suddenly came back, he harbored some hope, thinking that although she verbally deprecated their poverty, she might have some feelings for them.


    But from her behavior just now, it was clear that she had no feelings for them at all.


    Why should they force themselves?


    ¡°Really? Thank you, Dad!¡± Xia Wenjin completely failed to pick up on Xia Nie¡¯s insinuations and was overjoyed at the thought of being able to return to the Lu Family.


    Before noon, Xia Wenjin had left the Xia Family.


    She was in such high spirits that she went to the mall, and just after swiping her card for a new handbag, she caught sight of Lu Zhaozhao from afar.


    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Xia Wenjin charged out to block her path, ¡°Long time no see, Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes at Xia Wenjin, feeling somewhat speechless.


    Different from their first school encounter, she was dressed in a limited edition outfit, and the handbag she carried looked like it was worth upwards of 300,000.


    It wasn¡¯t that Lu Zhaozhao had meant to notice, but Xia Wenjin had deliberately raised her arm, almost as if she wanted to smash the bag into her face.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, feeling annoyed, ¡°Xia Wenjin, if you don¡¯t have anything important, don¡¯t block the way; I¡¯m in a hurry.¡±


    She had a lunch appointment with the Xia Family members for the weekend, so she had been busy picking out gifts for her four brothers that she hadn¡¯t met.


    Since she didn¡¯t know her brothers well, she had no idea what kind of gifts would be appropriate, which inadvertently led to a lot of time being wasted.


    Now that it was almost noon, she started to feel the urgency.


    With a snort, Xia Wenjin raised her hand to poke Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, but her quick reflexes allowed her to catch and hold Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand firmly.


    She applied force swiftly, causing Xia Wenjin to shriek in pain, ¡°Ouch! It hurts!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao retorted coldly, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t mess with me if you¡¯ve got no business! Just because the Lu Family is polite to you, doesn¡¯t mean I have to be.¡±


    Xia Wenjin, with her fingers twisted by Lu Zhaozhao, bit her teeth in anger, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, don¡¯t be so arrogant. Just wait until I tell my mom; do you think you can still play the pampered daughter of the Lu Family?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao flung her hand away, ¡°If you think you can, go ahead and try, see if they listen to you.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Xia Wenjin, having suffered a setback, glared at Lu Zhaozhao, wanting to retaliate.


    But she was halted by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s stern gaze, standing still.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her, scoffing lightly, ¡°Xia Wenjin, before you think about getting physical, make sure you¡¯re actually capable.¡±


    As she said this, she deliberately moved closer to Xia Wenjin and enunciated each word, ¡°Of course, if you¡¯re asking for a slap, I can deliver one for free.¡±


    Xia Wenjin visibly flinched, took a step back subconsciously, and then stiffly retorted, ¡°What are you being so arrogant about? Let me tell you...¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Before Xia Wenjin could finish, Lu Zhaozhao grabbed her face.


    Her piercing gaze bore into Xia Wenjin as she stated icily, ¡°Let me tell you, I don¡¯t give a damn about being the Lu daughter. If you want it, it¡¯s yours, but don¡¯t bother me!¡±


    In the last life, although one was the true daughter of the Lu Family and the other an impostor, the ridiculous thing was that there was little overlap between the two.


    And Xia Wenjin, using the name of the true Lu daughter, always walked a flowery path.


    The last news Lu Zhaozhao had heard about Xia Wenjin was that she had married as a leading star, becoming the wife of the new president of the international conglomerate XJ Group.


    Looking Xia Wenjin up and down, Lu Zhaozhao genuinely could not see any such incredible potential in her...

 Chapter 42: Never Expected to Start Off on the Wrong Foot

    Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Never Expected to Start Off on the Wrong Foot


    However, if the XJ Group was eyeing the Lu Family¡¯s domestic influence, that would make sense.


    However... this time, the Lu Family wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    She slowly released Xia Wenjin¡¯s face, which she had been gripping tightly, and glanced at her face that had long since turned pale with fright, and said coolly, ¡°Take this opportunity to practice being a rich heiress. Perhaps, you don¡¯t have many days left...¡±


    After saying this, Lu Zhaozhao left without looking back.


    Xia Wenjin stood there in a daze for a long while before she snapped back to reality. Just as she was about to curse, someone suddenly patted her shoulder...


    Xia Wenjin turned around and saw Xia Wenyan wearing a mask and hat.


    ¡°Who was that woman just now? Your classmate?¡±


    Xia Wenyan had just come out of the trainee base. He had missed a call from Xia Wenmo and was intending to buy him a book at the bookstore to apologize.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to see someone who looked almost like his sister as soon as he got to the mall.


    He had not had the chance to come over when he saw Xia Wenjin arguing with someone.


    By the time he took the elevator up from the ground floor, the two had already parted ways.


    Thinking of what Lu Zhaozhao had just said, Xia Wenjin was burning with anger, but seeing the concerned look on Xia Wenyan¡¯s face, she suddenly had an idea.


    ¡°Fourth brother, that person just now... she bullied me...¡± Xia Wenjin started speaking and raised her hand to press the corner of her eye.


    Xia Wenyan gave Xia Wenjin a look and suddenly laughed, ¡°Someone actually dared to bully you? I thought it was already good enough if you didn¡¯t bully others~¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenyan¡¯s words. Xia Wenjin¡¯s anger flared even more, but thinking of her plan, she could only grit her teeth and suppress the rage in her heart.


    ¡°Fourth brother... you¡¯ve been at the trainee base, so you don¡¯t know, but that person just now will be your sister from now on, I... I, wu wu wu...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows lifted, and he fixed his gaze snugly on Xia Wenjin, ¡°What does that mean? What do you mean that person will be my sister?¡±


    Prior, he only knew that Xia Wenmo had asked them to go to the hospital, thinking it was because of the surgery that he wanted them there, especially since he had just agreed to undergo surgery a few days ago.


    Now it seemed, the events of the past few days were probably not so simple.


    Seeing that Xia Wenyan had taken the bait, Xia Wenjin spoke pitifully, ¡°That person just now is named Lu Zhaozhao, she¡¯s the heiress of the Lu Family...¡±


    She then exaggeratedly relayed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s story about being switched at birth and retold her cover story from the Xia Family to Xia Wenyan.


    Unlike the other members of the Xia Family, Xia Wenyan was not aware of Xia Wenjin¡¯s actions, so upon hearing about how Xia Wenjin was bullied by Lu Zhaozhao, he almost immediately believed it.


    Xia Wenjin pressed the corner of her eye again and continued to sob pathetically, ¡°Fourth brother, I don¡¯t know what Lu Zhaozhao said to our parents this time, but they¡¯ve been very cold to me, and it seems like all my brothers are starting to hate me...¡±


    Xia Wenyan slightly raised one eyebrow and pondered for a moment before patting her shoulder and comforting her, ¡°Even before Lu Zhaozhao arrived, second brother and third brother didn¡¯t like you either, so don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s not much difference.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenyan¡¯s blunt remark, Xia Wenjin wished she could kick him twice.


    If it weren¡¯t for his popularity in the trainee group, which might lead to success in the entertainment industry in the future, she wouldn¡¯t be bothering with such an emotionally unintelligent straight male.


    She took a deep breath and tried to craft a smile that looked reasonably genuine, ¡°Fourth brother, are you going to distance yourself from me because of this new sister?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s charming peach-like eyes instantly curved into a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t.¡±


    Upon hearing Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyelids drooped, ¡°You say that now, but once we¡¯re home, you might change your mind, even mom and dad were deceived by her...¡±


    ¡°Maybe mom and dad were just a bit shocked and haven¡¯t had time to come to terms with it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go home today and test the waters for you.¡± Saying this, he winked at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Trust your fourth brother.¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll wait for your good news~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    When Xia Wenyan returned to the Xia Family¡¯s home, it just happened to be noon.


    As soon as he entered, he dove straight into the dining room.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m back!¡± He had just taken off his mask and was standing at the entrance of the dining room when he saw that it was packed full inside.


    Not only were his oldest brother Xia Wenjue, who seldom stayed at home, and his second brother Xia Wenqing there, but even Xia Wenmo, who lived at the hospital, was unexpectedly present.


    He was stunned for a moment, his gaze finally resting on the girl closest to Wen Qingyu.


    Her features were about seventy percent similar to his mother¡¯s, though her appearance was more exquisite.


    This must be Lu Zhaozhao, the new sister Xia Wenjin had mentioned at the mall earlier.Upd@te by novg0 .co


    Had he not heard from Xia Wenjin about her, he might also have taken a liking to her.


    But remembering Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, his brows furrowed as he took a seat directly opposite Lu Zhaozhao.


    Feigning ignorance, he stared at her and asked loudly, ¡°Who is she? Why is she in our house?¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked at Xia Wenjue in shock after receiving a swift hit to the head, ¡°Big brother, why did you hit me?¡±


    Xia Wenjue glanced at him coldly, ¡°I hit you because you were disrespectful to your sister. Even if she were a guest, you shouldn¡¯t have spoken with that tone. Apologize now!¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth twitched. He never expected to falter like this.


    He pursed his lips sullenly, hoping to play it down, but swiftly he found himself on the receiving end of sharp glares from all directions.


    It was almost like if he didn¡¯t apologize right then, they were about to lay into him.


    With a muffled pout, he muttered, ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked at his second brother Xia Wenqing, his expression now even more aggrieved, ¡°Second brother, why did you hit me?¡±


    Xia Wenqing gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°Apologize sincerely. Have all your manners gone to the dogs?¡±


    Xia Wenyan silently gave Xia Wenqing a look, then his gaze met with Xia Wenmo, who sat beside Lu Zhaozhao, attempting to send a plea for help.


    Aside from Xia Wenjin, Xia Wenmo was the one he got along with best. He should help him, right?


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenmo looked back at Xia Wenyan with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, saying lightly, ¡°You should be grateful I¡¯m not sitting next to you, or else I¡¯d definitely knock that blockhead of yours right off.¡±


    Even though Xia Wenmo¡¯s face bore a smile, Xia Wenyan could feel that with each word, Xia Wenmo seemed like he wanted to bite off his back teeth.


    He really wanted to knock off Xia Wenyan¡¯s head.


    All this catastrophe was because of Lu Zhaozhao!


    He had thought Xia Wenjin was being alarmist, but now it seemed the situation at home was even more severe than he imagined.


    He couldn¡¯t fathom what spell Lu Zhaozhao had cast over everyone, to have them all take her side like this, humph!


    All he could do was seethe silently, not even noticing that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze towards him was filled with astonishment¡ª

 Chapter 43: Is that...really okay?

    Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Is that...really okay?


    Because in her previous life, Lu Zhaozhao had indeed seen Xia Wenyan.


    But not in real life, but... in the news.


    The incident of a popular top-tier celebrity suddenly dying from a drug overdose had dominated the entertainment news that year.


    There were many conspiracy theories about Xia Wenyan, but in the end, all came to nothing.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the bright-eyed youth in front of her, finding it impossible to associate him with the words ¡°drugs.¡±


    Wen Qingyu saw that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze kept falling on Xia Wenyan and explained to her with a light laugh, ¡°Zhaozhao, this is your fourth brother, Xia Wenyan. He is currently...¡±


    She paused slightly, ¡°Um, unemployed.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Xia Wenyan exploded as soon as he heard Wen Qingyu¡¯s explanation, ¡°I¡¯m a trainee, about to debut soon, and I¡¯m already quite popular now, okay?¡±


    Xia Nie glanced at Xia Wenyan and said dismissively, ¡°We¡¯ll talk when you actually debut. If your mom says you¡¯re unemployed now, then you are.¡±


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°...¡±


    Pleased with Xia Wenyan falling silent, Xia Nie then put a chicken wing in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bowl, ¡°Zhaozhao, eat up, don¡¯t mind him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded her head obediently, sitting quietly and eating her meal.


    She had been a bit nervous about meeting the Xia Family¡¯s four brothers, but after meeting them, her mind was even more in chaos.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenmo to be the two people she¡¯d seen at the auction that day.


    And she¡¯d never imagined that her fourth brother would be someone who could make headlines in both social and entertainment news in the future.


    Her gaze inadvertently swept over Xia Nie and Wen Qingyu. If something were really to happen to Xia Wenyan, they would surely be heartbroken, wouldn¡¯t they?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought so, frowning inadvertently, surprised that Xia Wenyan, so young, had chosen the wrong path upon entering the industry.


    Seeing his defiant attitude from earlier, it was no wonder he made such a stir in the entertainment world.


    ¡°How long have I been away from home? You¡¯ve added a sister without a second thought for Wen Jin¡¯s feelings. She... uh...¡±


    Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t finished speaking when his mouth was suddenly covered by Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing, both at once.


    Xia Wenjue narrowed his eyes and forced a smile as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Lao Si just got back from the training base; his head isn¡¯t very clear. I¡¯ll take him back to his room to rest properly.¡±


    ¡°Yes, how could our future star trainee eat so many carbs? He needs to train properly!¡± Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but add with a noticeably ¡°kind¡± look in his eyes.


    ¡°I¡ª!¡± Xia Wenyan wanted to struggle, but was quickly subdued by the two again.


    Then, Lu Zhaozhao watched as Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing stood up together and dragged Xia Wenyan away.


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat bewildered watching the actions of the eldest and second Xia brothers.


    She had never had siblings in her previous life and didn¡¯t know how to interact with them.


    So she felt somewhat panicked in these circumstances.


    Xia Wenmo seated beside her gently patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand and smiled reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lao Si is tough; he¡¯s always been a handful since he was little, and he never knows when to shut up. Getting scolded is nothing new for him.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    She felt Xia Wenmo¡¯s attempt at consolation did nothing to soothe her!


    Lu Zhaozhao silently turned to Wen Qingyu beside her and asked tentatively, ¡°Is that... really okay?¡±


    Wen Qingyu nodded slightly, forcing a smile that was less skin-deep than heartfelt, ¡°Yeah, nothing¡¯s wrong, just beating up Lao Si on a rainy day, since there¡¯s nothing better to do.¡±


    It seemed Wen Qingyu was also quite angry.


    At the same time.


    Xia Wenyan, who had been dragged into the room by Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing, looked visibly displeased.


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into all of you? Even if you dislike Wen Jin, the change in attitude shouldn¡¯t be this abrupt, should it?¡±


    As he spoke, he looked up at Xia Wenjue, ¡°It¡¯s one thing for the second and third brothers, but why aren¡¯t you, big brother, standing up for Wen Jin?¡±


    Xia Wenjue let out a soft sigh, patiently attempting to explain, ¡°You weren¡¯t here earlier, there are some things you¡¯re not aware of, Xia Wenjin...¡±


    ¡°I know! Wen Jin already told me, she and Lu Zhaozhao were switched at birth, so our family has recognized Lu Zhaozhao.¡± Xia Wenyan blurted out before Xia Wenjue could finish.


    Xia Wenjue shot Xia Wenyan a look, a foreboding feeling creeping in.


    No wonder Xia Wenyan had come in with such hostility towards Lu Zhaozhao, whom he had never met ¡ª it was because of Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenjue suddenly remembered the incident over the weekend, when Xia Wenjin came home and tried to smear Lu Zhaozhao. Likely, she hadn¡¯t spared any details with Xia Wenyan either.


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Xia Wenyan and spoke coldly, ¡°Since you know that Zhaozhao is our sister, you should treat her well and drop the young master act in front of her.¡±


    Xia Wenyan raised an eyebrow, his disbelief apparent as he looked at Xia Wenqing, ¡°Second brother, am I hearing you right? You¡¯re telling me to treat Lu Zhaozhao nicely?¡±


    Back in the States, his second brother was a law mogul who dealt with both black and white, seeming well-mannered and mild on the surface but actually indifferent to others¡¯ woes.


    Utterly aloof.


    He would normally ignore Xia Wenjin just because he found her bothersome.


    Let alone looking out for someone else.


    Now that he thought about it, his typically sharp-tongued third brother had, earlier, seemed almost too gentle toward Lu Zhaozhao.


    This Lu Zhaozhao must be toxic, right?


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze swept indifferently over Xia Wenyan¡¯s face, already guessing what was going through his vacant head.


    He sighed out of helplessness, ¡°You¡¯d better not believe Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, or you¡¯ll surely regret it later.¡±


    Of all their siblings, Xia Wenyan was the most nai?ve.


    It was bad enough that he was always taking the rap for Xia Wenjin, being strung along and deceived by her.


    Previously, since he had thought Xia Wenjin was his sister, he had let them have their way, smoothing things over behind the scenes as long as the problems weren¡¯t too severe.


    But now... since she¡¯s not his sister, he no longer had the obligation to clean up after her.


    Xia Wenjue, meanwhile, patted Xia Wenyan on the shoulder and said, ¡°When Xia Wenjin found out that the Lu Family was her birth parents, she didn¡¯t even look back before heading to the Lu Family. If you don¡¯t believe me, I have a video here you can watch.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Xia Wenyan refused outright, ¡°Wen Jin has already told me about this, she didn¡¯t go to the Lu Family by choice, plus Lu Zhaozhao has been bullying her!¡±


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing exchanged a look, both almost immediately giving Xia Wenyan a look that said they thought he was a fool.


    They really shouldn¡¯t have protected this brat too well; now he was sold out and even helped the seller count the money!


    ¡°You...¡± Xia Wenjue wanted to say something more but was stopped by Xia Wenqing raising his hand to silence him...

 Chapter 44 - 44 It Doesnt Matter If Youre One Short

    Chapter 44: Chapter 44 It Doesn¡¯t Matter If You¡¯re One Short


    He shook his head at Xia Wenjue, ¡°Forget it, big brother, it¡¯s no use saying anything now; he won¡¯t listen. Let him figure it out for himself.¡±


    Xia Wenjue hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded. He patted Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder and slowly said, ¡°Since you don¡¯t believe what we¡¯re telling you, go investigate it yourself, and don¡¯t live to regret it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows remained furrowed; he couldn¡¯t understand how his high-ranking brother could be duped by someone.


    Just what was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s deal?


    It seemed he would have to meet her himself!


    Not long after lunch was finished, Lu Zhaozhao gave her prepared gifts to the people of the Xia family.


    Since Xia Wenyan had stayed in his room the whole time, Lu Zhaozhao had no choice but to visit his room.


    She stood in front of Xia Wenyan¡¯s room door, holding the gift bag in her hand, hesitating for a moment, contemplating whether to give it or not.


    She could clearly sense Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t like her and probably wouldn¡¯t even want her gift, and she equally didn¡¯t have a good impression of a drug abuser.


    As Lu Zhaozhao was hesitating, Xia Wenyan¡¯s door suddenly opened.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    The two stared at each other in a stalemate until Xia Wenyan broke the silence, ¡°You... is this for me?¡±


    His gaze landed on the small gift bag Lu Zhaozhao was holding.


    He had been Xia Wenjin¡¯s brother for many years and realized... he had never received a gift.


    So was this the method Lu Zhaozhao used to capture the hearts of his brothers?


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan eyed the item she was holding warily, as if facing a great enemy.


    ¡°Um... this gift is indeed for you,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, though she didn¡¯t hand over the small bag.


    His extremely resistant demeanor was hard to ignore.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re giving it to me with sincerity, I might as well accept it.¡±


    ¡°If you feel too reluctant to accept it, then forget it.¡±


    Both spoke at the same time, their completely opposite words instantly making the atmosphere awkward.


    The air grew so silent it was suffocating.


    Lu Zhaozhao really couldn¡¯t stand the tension and awkwardly nodded at Xia Wenyan before turning to leave.


    But she had barely taken two steps when she felt her hand sink.


    Looking down, she saw Xia Wenyan gripping the gift bag tightly.


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve given it, there¡¯s no taking it back.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows slightly arched as she noticed his neck flushing.


    Feeling Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze, Xia Wenyan awkwardly touched his neck, ¡°I just thought it wouldn¡¯t be right if the other three accepted and I didn¡¯t.¡±


    Even as he said this, his hand showed no sign of letting go of the gift bag.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but smirk; so her fourth brother was actually a tsundere.


    And he didn¡¯t seem as bad as she had imagined.


    She chuckled softly and handed him the item, ¡°I thought you hated me and wouldn¡¯t want anything I bought.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brow instantly furrowed, ¡°I don¡¯t hate you. I¡¯m just annoyed that others have been treating Wen Jin badly ever since you came to the Xia family.¡±


    He glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and took a very elegant black headscarf hairband from the gift bag.


    ¡°`


    His chestnut hair color matched him well.


    His eyebrows rose slightly as he added another sentence, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the issue between you and Wen Jin before. As long as you don¡¯t bully Wen Jin anymore, I don¡¯t mind being your brother.¡±


    ¡°I do mind.¡± Lu Zhaozhao stretched out her hand and yanked back the handkerchief headband and the gift bag from Xia Wenyan¡¯s hands.


    She raised her hand and tossed the handkerchief headband back into the gift bag, ¡°I won¡¯t be giving the gift anymore.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao said, turned around, and was about to leave but was directly blocked by Xia Wenyan.


    He looked at her with a puzzled face, completely unaware of which sentence had just offended her, ¡°Why suddenly not give it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xia Wenyan and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of snatching brothers from others, nor do I need to force someone to be my brother, so let¡¯s just forget it.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s character was still under her evaluation, and now that he was wholeheartedly believing in Xia Wenjin, there was no need for her to actively seek discomfort.


    She actually didn¡¯t expect much from the Xia brothers¡¯ treatment of her, after all, Wen Jin was their sister who had lived with them for 20 years.


    At best, she was just an outsider.


    Yet Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo treated her the same as the Xia Family¡¯s parents, giving her a warmth of family affection she had never felt before.


    This was already enough.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s doubtful gaze stared at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to explain the issue between you and Wen Jin?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly let out a light laugh, her bright eyes meeting Xia Wenyan¡¯s, and she retorted with a question instead of an answer, ¡°Even if I explained and told you I didn¡¯t bully her, would you believe me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan was instantly at a loss for words.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao was right, even if she explained, he would choose to believe Xia Wenjin.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged knowingly, ¡°So there¡¯s no need to explain or not to explain. Plus, I already have three brothers, missing one of you won¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenyan suddenly felt a heaviness sink into his chest, an indefinable emotion swirling in his heart, making him exceedingly oppressed.


    His gaze followed the gradually distancing Lu Zhaozhao, feeling as if he had lost something important.


    Xia Wenyan stood still, recalling the pair of eyes Lu Zhaozhao had used to quietly watch him, his heart trembled slightly, had he done something wrong?


    As evening approached, the sky gradually darkened.


    Lu Zhaozhao lay on the bedroom sofa with her laptop, occasionally tapping into the search engine for information related to illegal drugs.


    Although she hadn¡¯t spent much time with Xia Wenyan, she always felt that his appearance was far removed from the term ¡°drugged up.¡±


    If Xia Wenyan truly was innocent, then his death was probably not as simple as an accident, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao was deep in thought and completely unaware of Song Sinian entering the room.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± His low voice resonated in the room, making Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes light up suddenly.


    She looked up at the entering Song Sinian, her eyes instantly smiling with warmth, ¡°You¡¯re back, Mr. Song!¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Song Sinian walked straight over and kissed her on the lips.


    This had become a habit of Song Sinian¡¯s in the past few days, each time he came home he would take the initiative to kiss her, to hug her.


    It was probably because she mentioned that this behavior was quite common between spouses, so Song Sinian had directly quantified it following ¡°regular etiquette¡±?


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t think much of it and quickly adapted.


    She put aside her laptop and stretched out her arms, waiting for Song Sinian¡¯s hug.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s overly cooperative demeanor made a flicker of emotion cross Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, which was then immediately submerged in his gaze...


    ¡°`

 Chapter 45 - 45 Is He... Afraid?

    Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Is He... Afraid?


    Song Sinian stretched out his hand to lift Lu Zhaozhao up and sat her directly on the sofa.


    He raised his eyes to glance at the computer beside him, a slight arch forming on his brows, as his gaze landed on what she had been searching.


    [How to tell if someone around you is on drugs?]


    [How to identify drug users around you?]


    [Physical symptoms after taking drugs.]


    Song Sinian pinched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face, looking it over from left to right, then carefully examined her little hands up and down.


    After ensuring there were no injuries on her body, he slowly spoke, ¡°Someone around you is taking drugs?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t search for this kind of thing for no reason, it seemed he needed to add a few more bodyguards to her protection.


    Lu Zhaozhao clung to Song Sinian¡¯s neck, her clear black and white eyes blinking slightly, ¡°I only suspect it, I¡¯m not sure yet...¡±


    She pursed her lips, thinking about all the symptoms she had just come across, none of which matched Xia Wenyan.


    Could it be because it hadn¡¯t been long since he started?


    Song Sinian watched as her little face scrunched up again, he extended his hand to pinch her cheek, speaking faintly, ¡°Do you want me to do something about it?¡±


    He remembered that at noon she had gone to the Xia Family¡¯s, did she encounter it at the Xia Family¡¯s home?


    He didn¡¯t have any particular fondness for the Xia Family, because their presence meant he couldn¡¯t monopolize Lu Zhaozhao all to himself.


    Now that he was finally alone with her, their matters were still taking up his time.


    Should he just deal with them all quietly?


    A shadow of darkness flashed across Song Sinian¡¯s eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao, resting her head on his shoulder, completely missed the subtle emotion in his eyes.


    She sighed lightly, ¡°Is there any way to find out whether someone is on drugs?¡±


    This kind of thing was usually quite secretive, and couldn¡¯t be asked directly.


    Plus, the methods of detecting drug use that were relatively accurate were only through urine and blood, and it was almost impossible for her to get that from Xia Wenyan.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire little face couldn¡¯t help but fall. Song Sinian, no matter how capable, probably had no way to handle this kind of issue, right?


    Song Sinian raised his hand to gently straighten her stray hairs, his gaze slowly meeting her beautiful watery eyes as he asked, ¡°What does the person you want to investigate do for work?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, resigning herself, ¡°He¡¯s a trainee, doesn¡¯t come home much, mostly spends his time participating in activities or shows and the like.¡±


    Moreover, Xia Wenyan was probably about to join that future star-making idol group survival show ¡°A+ Top Grade Trainee¡± soon.


    They would all be living together, and she had no chance to act. Even if she asked Song Sinian for help, it was unlikely they could single out Xia Wenyan, right?


    ¡°A trainee, eh? That¡¯s very simple.¡± Song Sinian lightly twirled a strand of her hair, offhandedly saying, ¡°Just report it to the police station, and if trainees live together, they¡¯d all be sent for urine tests, no one would escape.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked as if she had an epiphany, and she couldn¡¯t help but excitedly hug Song Sinian, planting kiss after kiss on his cheek.


    In the end, she also ¡°smacked¡± a kiss on his lips.


    ¡°My goodness! Mr. Song, you¡¯re really so smart!¡±


    Song Sinian was bewildered by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sudden move, his hand reached subconsciously to touch his lips.


    So helping to solve problems also came with a reward.


    This feeling wasn¡¯t too bad.


    His dark eyes shifted slightly, ¡°Is there anything else you need resolved?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was still caught up in the excitement of having just found a solution. Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s question, she blurted out, ¡°emmm... I¡¯ve encountered someone who dislikes me, what should I do?¡±


    ¡°Then make him disappear.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t even think before blurting out.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment, staring at his pair of incredibly indifferent eyes; her eyebrows instantly knotted together, ¡°Mr. Song, you... you were joking just now, right?¡±


    How could their little angel possibly say something so terrifying?!


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t realize there was anything wrong with what he had said.


    He opened his mouth, about to say something, but, noticing that Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t compliment him like before, instinctively felt this might not be a good answer.


    So he followed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words and gave a light ¡°hmm.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao finally breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped her small hands tightly around his neck.


    Song Sinian¡¯s black eyes suddenly widened, and he intended to raise his arm to embrace her but ended up freezing in place.


    It was early autumn, and although the outdoor temperature wasn¡¯t high, it was still quite warm inside.


    Lu Zhaozhao was even more casual in the bedroom, wearing a thin base shirt + a shawl.


    She suddenly hugged his neck, with her tiny frame almost entirely nestled in his arms. Their mere layers of clothing clinging together tightly, the softness of her touch was warm against him.


    Song Sinian slightly bent his body but was pulled in even tighter by her.


    His hand trembled slightly, not knowing where to place it, and finally just hung by her side, silently letting her hold him like this.


    She truly was a little thing that didn¡¯t understand defenses.


    Whether in the past or now.


    She... wouldn¡¯t do this with anyone else, would she?


    The tips of Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows moved involuntarily, a hint of discomfort sweeping through his heart.


    He lowered his head, nuzzling her cheek lightly with his nose in a low, husky voice, like it was shrouded in fog, ¡°Zhaozhao, kiss me, will you?¡±


    ¡°Uh... you... mmm...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s worried words hadn¡¯t yet been spoken when, in the next second, Song Sinian¡¯s lips pressed against hers.


    Unlike before, he seemed a bit eager, with a sense of urgency as if desperately trying to prove something.


    Without giving her a chance to speak.


    Song Sinian knew what he was doing was despicable, but now he didn¡¯t want to hear any words of rejection from her little mouth.


    She had always been good, so obedient, never rejecting his advances.


    So he grew greedier with each encounter.


    He used to think having her by his side was enough, but now he wanted her love, even just the slightest bit.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand that hung by his side slowly clenched into a fist, bracing himself, restraining the desire for more.


    To give her room to back away...


    But the cries from the depths of his heart were frenzied.


    Zhaozhao, don¡¯t hide.


    Don¡¯t reject me.


    Her breath grazed his nose, and breathing the air that intermingled with her breath, Song Sinian felt he was truly going mad.


    Lu Zhaozhao was caught off guard by his sudden kiss, nearly breathless, instinctively wanting to pull back, her hands that hung on his neck fell to his arms.


    His slight trembling transmitted through his taut arms, instead making Lu Zhaozhao stop.


    Was he... afraid?


    Why?


    Her eyes blinked, staring unblinkingly at Song Sinian, the atmosphere between them instantly turning silent; the air grew so quiet it was suffocating...

 Chapter 46: How to be more clingy?

    Chapter 46: Chapter 46: How to be more clingy?


    Song Sinian slowly raised his hand and touched her delicate face.


    But he didn¡¯t dare to ask the question, ¡°Are you in a bad mood?¡±


    Song Sinian knew that if Lu Zhaozhao nodded in response to this question, it would definitely be his fault.


    It was him acting recklessly, not considering her feelings.


    She would hate him.


    ¡°Mr. Song.¡± Lu Zhaozhao reached out and grabbed the hand he had raised, pulling it down.


    Song Sinian¡¯s heart sank immediately; she must be angry, right?


    His eyelids drooped slightly, still meeting her clear eyes.


    What was she going to say next?


    To ask him not to touch her ever again?


    To say she hated him, or... that she didn¡¯t want to see him anymore?


    His heart felt as if it had been suddenly pricked by a needle, pain stabbing him repeatedly.


    He didn¡¯t like this feeling of being out of control; did he really need to chain her up to keep her from running away?


    Suddenly, the palm of his hand warmed. Song Sinian looked up instinctively, just in time to see Lu Zhaozhao pressing his hand against her lower back.


    ¡°When you want to be close, you have to hold me tight,¡± she said, pulling his other hand to rest it there as well.


    Having done this, Lu Zhaozhao smiled at him and blinked, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian stared at Lu Zhaozhao for a few seconds, then rested his forehead on her shoulder, his voice muffled as it came from the nape of her neck, ¡°Ha... you...¡±


    The breath from his nose gently brushed against her neck, the foul mood that had upset him completely vanishing.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hands crossed over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lower back, his large hands gently pinching her waist. Her petite figure seemed so fragile as if it would break with just a bit more force.


    Yet it was this petite person who could stir the stagnant waters of his life.


    What should he do?


    What should he do with her...


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    The tranquility of the room was suddenly pierced by the ring of a cell phone.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked as she glanced at Song Sinian, who was leaning on her shoulder, then at the cellphone by her hand.


    She stealthily reached for it, glanced at the screen, and saw the message.


    It was from the Lu Family.


    Her eyebrows lifted slightly in puzzlement before she unlocked her phone.


    The Lu Family had already obtained tremendous benefits from Song Sinian and were too busy being happy lately; why would they bother with her?


    But when she opened the message, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    [Zhaozhao, you haven¡¯t stayed home since marrying President Song, and Mom really misses you. Why not come stay with us for a few days?]


    A few days?


    Lu Zhaozhao silently curled her lips in a mocking sneer. They saw her as too valuable to be used just once, so they probably wanted to take advantage of her return to gain some leverage over her.


    The Lu Family was shameless; she knew that but didn¡¯t expect them to stoop to this level.


    Lu Zhaozhao tapped her phone a few times and sent a decisive message back.


    ¡°[Husband too clingy, no time.]¡±


    She didn¡¯t know that, just when she sent this message, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze had happened to catch it.


    His eyebrows slightly lifted, and it was the first time he thought ¡°clingy¡± was a good word.


    But how could he be even more clingy?


    Meanwhile, at the Lu Family.


    Seeing the message Lu Zhaozhao had replied with on her phone, Cao Mei almost threw her phone out.


    But since there were other people at home, she could only sit on the sofa, forcing her expression to remain calm.


    ¡°How is it? Is Zhaozhao coming back?¡± Xiao Jinglan picked up the cup of tea on the table and took a light sip before setting down the teacup.


    Her slim eyebrows slightly fell, bringing a hint of a smile as she looked at Cao Mei.


    From her expression, it was evident that Lu Zhaozhao had nothing good to say, and it seemed she wouldn¡¯t be returning to the Lu Family.


    The last time she had been at the Lu Family, she had subtly suggested that they keep some leverage in their hands.


    First, it was to please Mr. and Mrs. Lu, and second, it was to control Lu Zhaozhao in the future.


    It wasn¡¯t easy to control someone who could speak frankly with Song Sinian.


    She had never succeeded in all these years, so she held some expectations for Lu Zhaozhao.


    But looking at Mr. and Mrs. Lu, she knew their plans had not succeeded either.


    Cao Mei tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Zhaozhao said President Song is clinging to her too much, not letting her come back, saying they¡¯ll talk after their honeymoon period is over...¡±


    Although she was reluctant, instead of forcibly making Lu Zhaozhao come back and raising Song Sinian¡¯s suspicions, it was better to wait.


    Xiao Jinglan chuckled lightly, seemingly unconcerned as she put down her teacup, ¡°Mrs. Lu, I won¡¯t beat around the bush, I¡¯m here to discuss a cooperation with you today.¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyebrows slightly lifted as she outright refused, ¡°The business matters are all decided by Old Lu, discussing them with me is pointless.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan, hearing this, was not angry.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mrs. Lu, just listen for fun, I¡¯m just casually chatting.¡±


    Her eyes always carried a smile, making it hard for Cao Mei to keep refusing.


    So, all she could do was nod faintly, complying, ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll just chat casually.¡±


    Whatever Xiao Jinglan would say later, she would let it in one ear and out the other.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, seeming to have anticipated Cao Mei¡¯s actions.


    But she wasn¡¯t panicked, instead, she slowly started speaking, ¡°My visit this time is mainly for the auction of the Jade Vein, I heard that Lu Family is keen on acquiring Veins no. 1 and no. 3.¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s polite smile instantly tightened, as she watched Xiao Jinglan with caution, but said nothing.


    Previously, Song Sinian had clearly let Lu Zhaozhao tell them that Song Group would not participate in the auction for Veins no. 1 and no. 3. Could it be that Xiao Jinglan was here to renege on their agreement?


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, sizing her up with her gaze before slowly speaking, ¡°President Song personally promised this, why? Has Lady Xiao come to break the agreement?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan waved her hands repeatedly, ¡°No, no, no, as I said, it¡¯s a cooperation.¡±


    Now Cao Mei¡¯s confusion deepened, ¡°A cooperation? With Song Group?¡±


    She did not understand what Xiao Jinglan was up to, remaining vigilant.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so defensive, Mrs. Lu, I¡¯m not here on behalf of Song Group, but personally... more precisely, a few internal shareholders of Song Family who want to collaborate with Mrs. Lu.¡±


    Veins no. 1 and no. 3 were hot properties, and Song Sinian, for a smile from his lady, had readily let them go.


    He even threatened all the board members with resigning as the CEO, so the board members eager for those veins had to seek her help.


    She had been worrying about ways to win them over, but Song Sinian had personally delivered them into her hands.


    Once she had nailed the deal with the Lu Family regarding Veins no. 1 and no. 3, wouldn¡¯t those board members readily stand by her side?

 Chapter 47: Its Just Childs Play

    Chapter 47: Chapter 47: It¡¯s Just Child¡¯s Play


    Cao Mei snorted lightly and leaned back on the sofa behind her, ¡°President Song has already promised not to compete with the Lu Family for the No. 1 and No. 3 veins, and no one else has the ability to compete, so why should we cooperate with you?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she said indifferently, ¡°The reason is... Lu Zhaozhao is not the Lu family¡¯s child. What if her current parents knew how valuable their daughter is, do you think they would come and claim her?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s face instantly turned pale, but she still tried to maintain her composure, clenching her fists without saying a word.


    Xiao Jinglan was satisfied with her small reaction and added another sentence, ¡°Oh, right, Zhaozhao is such a well-behaved child, always listening to her parents, isn¡¯t she? Do you think her biological parents are curious about how their daughter lived before?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Jinglan, don¡¯t go too far!¡± Cao Mei stood up abruptly, glaring at her angrily.


    She dared to use Lu Zhaozhao to threaten her?!


    Ever since this girl was little, she knew she was not her own. It was all because of her that her precious daughter wasn¡¯t by her side!


    Why should she be kind to her?


    Cao Mei ground her molars fiercely, never imagining these matters would become a handle for others to grasp against the Lu Family. How could she be willing to let that happen?


    It was all this damn Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fault!


    Seeing Cao Mei lose her temper, Xiao Jinglan hurriedly spoke in a soothing tone, ¡°Mrs. Lu, don¡¯t be angry, didn¡¯t I just say? I¡¯m here to talk about cooperation; I won¡¯t let the Lu Family suffer.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Cao Mei stared at Xiao Jinglan, showing no sign of belief in her words.


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan had no choice but to take out a contract from her bag and placed it on the table.


    ¡°This is the will of several directors behind me; you can take a look first, there¡¯s no harm in considering it.¡±


    Saying this, she pushed the contract on the table forward.


    Although Cao Mei was displeased with Xiao Jinglan, she still picked up the contract from the table.


    ¡°We only want a 20% ownership of the No. 1 and No. 3 veins. If the Lu Family wants other kinds of cooperation with the Song Family, we can discuss that.¡±


    As long as the deal for the No. 1 and No. 3 veins was set, the directors would stand by her side. Wouldn¡¯t everything else be as easy as flipping a hand in the future?


    Cao Mei listened to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words while looking at the contract.


    Actually, if they only wanted 20% ownership, it might not be unacceptable ¡ª after all, the Song Group was a juicy target, and future cooperation could bring profits well beyond 20%.


    She understood the principle of casting a long line to catch a big fish.


    However, Cao Mei wasn¡¯t in a hurry to sign the contract. Instead, she slowly put down the contract in her hand and said, ¡°I have to discuss this with Mr. Lu in our household, please give Lady Xiao a few days¡¯ wait.¡±


    Naturally, Xiao Jinglan took this as her cue to leave things be for now and chuckled, nodding her head, ¡°No rush, there¡¯s still some time before the vein auction, you can consider it slowly.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After finishing her words, she suddenly shifted the conversation, ¡°Recently, you must have noticed how special Zhaozhao is to Song Sinian, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Being able to persuade him to lend money to the Lu Family in his name, and to give up two hotly contested veins so easily, anyone with a bit of ambition could cover the sky with one hand.


    She didn¡¯t believe Cao Mei wasn¡¯t tempted.


    ¡°President Song¡¯s fondness for Zhaozhao is naturally something we, as elders, are happy about,¡± Cao Mei replied, without giving Xiao Jinglan any room to interject.


    To concession 20% of the vein resources was already a big step for her. If Xiao Jinglan wanted to play any other games, it was a pipe dream!


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing that she was not being swayed, Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t continue.


    However, unbeknownst to them, as they negotiated, Xia Wenjin had been eavesdropping at the top of the stairs on the second floor the whole time.


    Actually, ever since the last time Lu Zhaozhao visited the Lu Family, Xiao Jinglan had been extremely curious about what kind of man she had married.


    Although she hadn¡¯t had much contact with people in the domestic business circles while at the Xia Family, she had heard rumors about Song Sinian.


    It was said that he was the president of the Song Group, but he had never accepted any interviews.


    The word around town described him as perverse, ruthless, and heartless; such a man probably wasn¡¯t much to look at.


    He might even be an old codger.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help feeling a little smug.


    She recalled how Lu Zhaozhao mocked her in the shopping mall before, and this time, she was determined to make her pay!


    She slowly left the top of the staircase on the second floor and silently returned to her own room.


    The next morning, as soon as Lu Zhaozhao went to the dining room for breakfast, she saw Qian Hong looking at her with a face full of concern.


    She rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat at the dining table, ¡°Aunt Qian, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    After hesitating for a long time, Qian Hong finally spoke up slowly, ¡°Madam, perhaps you should take a few days off and rest at home?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, holding a cup of milk, paused, growing even more puzzled.


    Her brows furrowed, ¡°Is there something wrong with Mr. Song?¡±


    Her classes this morning were scheduled later, so she had slept in a bit.


    He must¡¯ve gotten up earlier than her; he should be at the company by now, right?


    Qian Hong shook her head, hesitated for a moment, and then handed her phone to Lu Zhaozhao.


    First thing in the morning, she had received a message from Zhao Xi: someone had anonymously posted defamatory information about Lu Zhaozhao at Yuqing University yesterday.


    Claiming she was an impostor heiress of the Lu Family, and for the sake of money, she had married an old and ugly man.


    The informer made it sound credible, and a bunch of people joined in the speculation, almost swarming the forums.


    Zhao Xi had already discussed the matter with the school, and although the original post had been deleted, the more it was hidden, the more people believed it to be true.


    The already tumultuous comments grew even more vicious.


    Lu Zhaozhao skimmed through the phone that Qian Hong handed her, getting the gist of the situation.


    She shrugged her shoulders and handed the phone back to Qian Hong, ¡°Aunt Qian, don¡¯t worry about this. These are just rumors, and no one will talk about them after a while.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± Qian Hong¡¯s brows remained tightly furrowed, her eyes full of worry as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    She was just a child, yet she had to endure such vicious attacks; Qian Hong found it unbearable.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked unbothered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If anyone dares to talk nonsense in front of me, I¡¯ll knock all their teeth out!¡±


    Compared to what she experienced in her previous life, such rumors were child¡¯s play.


    Plus, from the informant¡¯s revealed contents, she could guess who the person was almost without thinking.


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing how Lu Zhaozhao was handling the situation, Qian Hong silently sighed and decisively sent a message to Zhao Xi.


    Madam refuses to stay at home and insists on going to school; ask Mr. Song if he can come to the university at noon to have lunch with Madam?¡±


    After all, the best way to counter rumors is to confront them with the truth.


    As long as Song Sinian showed up at the school, clearing his wife¡¯s name would be a piece of cake.


    Now, it¡¯s up to their Mr. Song to decide whether he¡¯s willing...

 Chapter 48: A Very Authoritative VIP

    Chapter 48: Chapter 48: A Very Authoritative VIP


    Zhao Xi received this message, and his whole person wasn¡¯t quite well.


    He had followed Song Sinian for so many years but had never seen him take the initiative to publicly reveal his identity.


    Even when attending events, he just briskly went through the motions.


    It could be said that many people in the business world were familiar with Song Sinian¡¯s face, but almost none had really conversed with him.


    The Song Family¡¯s financial strength and resources were sufficient for him to ignore all partners.


    The outside world had always been full of gossip and scandal about Song Sinian; he had never bothered about it. As for the little trouble Lu Zhaozhao was experiencing at school, he probably wouldn¡¯t go in person, would he?


    Zhao Xi glanced at the message and then at Song Sinian. After hesitating for a long time, he still didn¡¯t dare to speak up.


    While he was pondering how to reply to Qian Hong, Song Sinian spoke up first, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Since Zhao Xi¡¯s phone had sounded off, Song Sinian seemed as if he were sitting on a chair full of thorns, restless for quite some time.


    Zhao Xi had been working under him for a long time; there weren¡¯t many things that could make him this uneasy.


    Either it was an extremely thorny issue or it had to do with Lu Zhaozhao.


    After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Xi slowly opened his mouth, ¡°There¡¯s a rumor at school targeting your wife. Someone slandered that your wife married an old and ugly man for money, branding her a false heiress and a true gold-digger.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes blinked faintly, his gaze calm and unperturbed, ¡°Leave this matter to the PR department.¡±


    ¡°Uh... this is a school matter; the PR department might not be... quite suitable to handle this,¡± Zhao Xi briefly explained the situation to Song Sinian, then looked at him nervously again.


    Song Sinian gave a faint ¡°Hmm,¡± and then there was no more movement.


    ¡°...¡±


    At this point, Zhao Xi was completely helpless; indeed, their Mr. Song didn¡¯t take rumors and gossip to heart at all.


    It seemed even less likely that he would go to the school.


    Sighing with resignation, Zhao Xi picked up his phone and typed out a line, ¡°I¡¯ve done my best, but it seems Mr. Song isn¡¯t really on board...¡±


    Just as he was about to press the send button, a faint voice rang out in the office.


    ¡°Would she be upset about this?¡±


    Zhao Xi firmly pressed and held the delete key, then raised his head to assure Song Sinian word by word, ¡°Yes! Your wife might be bullied and isolated at school. She¡¯s naturally quite well-behaved, what to do in the future...¡±


    He deliberately exaggerated a tiny bit to make Song Sinian realize that rumors could turn into tangible harm to Lu Zhaozhao.


    In fact, even if Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t a true heiress of the Lu Family, it wouldn¡¯t matter.


    After all, she was the Song Family¡¯s wife, and if anyone dared to bully her at school, the Song Family¡¯s bodyguards would knock their heads off in no time.


    As for being ostracized, anyone who was aware of the Song Family¡¯s status would not dare to.


    Song Sinian¡¯s expression obviously changed as he raised his eyes to look at Zhao Xi, ¡°What classes does Zhaozhao have this morning?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Zhao Xi was so excited he almost dropped his phone. He quickly took out Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s schedule and placed it on the table, ¡°Here is your wife¡¯s entire schedule for today. She happens to have an art seminar at school this morning, and there is a long break at noon.¡±


    He actively hinted on the side, almost suggesting that Song Sinian show up at the school at noon to flaunt and whiten his wife¡¯s reputation.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips gently tapped on the schedule, his dark eyes slowly narrowing.


    An art lecture?


    Indeed, it¡¯s a good idea.


    Because of the school¡¯s rumors and gossip, Lu Zhaozhao caused quite a stir whenever she arrived at school.


    However, due to her current identity, others did not dare to do anything to her.


    She carried her bag and went straight to the back row of the lecture hall.


    There weren¡¯t many people here, which spared her from listening to idle chitchat, and besides, it was an art lecture that wasn¡¯t of much use.


    Moreover, she had already attended it in her previous life, so there were no surprises.


    ¡°Oh my god, Zhaozhao, you actually came to class? I thought you were so heartbroken by the rumors that you¡¯d stayed at home and wouldn¡¯t come out...¡±


    An irritating voice rose not far away. Without guessing, Lu Zhaozhao knew who was speaking.


    She spread rumors just to mock her, and now that the entire art department was attending the lecture, how could Xia Wenjin miss this opportunity to taunt her?


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, her eyebrows and eyes slightly moving, she said indifferently, ¡°You just said they¡¯re rumors, why should I care?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face ¡°swooshed¡± and turned sour, but since so many people were around, she immediately pretended to be pitiful and looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I know it made you unhappy that mom and dad acknowledged me, but after all, I am the true daughter of the Lu Family. I hope you won¡¯t be mad at them, okay?¡±


    Sure enough, after Xia Wenjin finished her sentence, the people around started to discuss in a buzz.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin is the Lu Family¡¯s heiress, so is Lu Zhaozhao really a fake heiress? Then is what¡¯s posted on the forum actually true?¡±


    ¡°What a shame, a fine head of cabbage has been dug up by a hog, tsk tsk...¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe the new goddess is actually a gold-digger, and she¡¯s even married to an old man.¡±


    ...


    The rising and falling discussions pleased Xia Wenjin immensely, for she had always disliked Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s haughty demeanor.


    Now that the school knew she was a fake heiress, and that she¡¯d married an ugly and perverse old man, Xia Wenjin was eager to see how Lu Zhaozhao could still be so arrogant.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, and with a cool glance, she said, ¡°My husband is the president of the Song Group, even if I¡¯m not the daughter of the Lu Family, that won¡¯t change. What¡¯s there to be unhappy about?¡±


    If the Lu Family were to cut ties with her now, she would be more than happy.


    But the Lu Family saw her as too useful to let go, and it was probably because Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know this that she was so impatient, right?


    She propped her chin, looking leisurely at Xia Wenjin, and said coolly, ¡°On the other hand, you haven¡¯t even been formally recognized by the Lu Family, yet you start proclaiming everywhere that you¡¯re the Lu Family heiress. Isn¡¯t that a bit too hasty? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not interested in your things.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to be unashamed and even to mock her in return.


    Her face could not maintain its composure, and just as she was about to confront Lu Zhaozhao, the bell outside the classroom suddenly rang.


    The host stood at the podium of the lecture hall and reminded, ¡°Everyone, please quiet down. Today¡¯s art lecture features a highly authoritative figure. Everyone should cherish this opportunity!¡±


    Suddenly, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the words ¡°highly authoritative figure.¡±


    Yuqing University was already the top university in the Beijing Circle, filled with talent, and the teachers were leading figures in their fields.


    To be described by the host as ¡°a highly authoritative figure¡± must be something extraordinary!


    So one by one, they all looked with anticipation towards the entrance of the lecture hall¡ª

 Chapter 49 - 49 She Wants to Take Back Everything That Belongs to Her!

    Chapter 49: Chapter 49 She Wants to Take Back Everything That Belongs to Her!


    ¡°`


    Besides the lecturer of this lecture, there was also an extremely eye-catching young man by his side.


    He wore a sharp suit, had a tall and slender figure, and bore a cold yet handsome appearance, with an innate elegance and nobility.


    Just one glance was enough to make him unforgettable.


    ¡°Oh my god, that¡¯s the big shot! He¡¯s way too handsome! Even celebrities in the entertainment industry can¡¯t compare!¡±


    ¡°Ah!!! I can handle it! This kind of big shot is truly mesmerizing!¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m in love! I wonder if this big shot¡¯s sexuality could be a little more flexible.¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao listened speechlessly to the messy comments around her, feeling a throbbing in her temples.


    If only she had thought more about Aunt Qian¡¯s sunny glance when she sent her away, she wouldn¡¯t have been so greatly shocked.


    Song Sinian must have come because of the rumors on the school forum, right?


    His appearance at the school could indeed clear her reputation, but... she remembered that in her previous life, he never attended such lectures.


    Wasn¡¯t it a bit too forced?


    As she was worrying, her gaze accidentally met his.


    Dead, she was dead; they made eye contact!


    However, luckily for her, after Song Sinian looked at her, he turned towards the host and began to speak.


    ¡°Hey, hey, did that big shot just look at me?¡±


    ¡°Look at you? He was probably looking at the window.¡±


    ¡°You think? Don¡¯t flatter yourself! With the many admirers around such a big shot, why would he take a fancy to the likes of us?¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao quietly breathed a sigh of relief, just about to bury her head and pretend to be an anonymous person when the people beside her got excited again.


    ¡°Ah!!! The big shot is coming this way!¡±


    ¡°My goodness! What does the big shot want to do?¡±


    ¡°Should we prepare to get an autograph?!¡±


    ...


    As Lu Zhaozhao listened to the commotion, she blankly raised her head to look towards the podium of the lecture hall, only to have her view blocked by a silhouette.


    Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and she silently lifted her face.


    ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable lying on the desk?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s hand touched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head as he spoke in a gentle tone.


    Lu Zhaozhao could almost hear everyone around her gasp.


    She silently sighed and shook her head lightly, ¡°I¡¯m not uncomfortable; I just felt like lying down.¡±


    Song Sinian casually pinched her cheek, ¡°Then listen to the lecture properly, okay?¡±


    Hearing the inflection in his voice, Lu Zhaozhao clearly felt she was being flirted with.


    She instinctively turned her eyes away, not daring to look at him, but her burning ears betrayed her thoughts to some extent.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, ¡°You are... Um.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when Lu Zhaozhao quickly covered his mouth.


    She stared at Song Sinian nervously, her eyes shimmering with a bright light, and said in a fierce whisper, ¡°You can¡¯t say it!¡±


    Song Sinian found her behavior amusing; not only were her ear tips red, but now her earlobes were too.


    His gaze fell on her small hand covering his mouth, he hummed softly, and then Lu Zhaozhao let go of her hand.


    After this series of actions, the surrounding gazes felt like they were drilling a hole through her.


    ¡°`


    Lu Zhaozhao gently tugged at Song Sinian¡¯s sleeve, whispering, ¡°The lecture is about to start...¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at the podium in the amphitheater-style classroom and then back at Lu Zhaozhao.


    He ruffled her small head with his large hand, ¡°Mmm, pay attention in class. I¡¯ll pick you up after school and take you home.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Throughout the lecture, Lu Zhaozhao had no mind to listen, not only because Song Sinian¡¯s words had just stirred her up.


    It was more the fervent gazes from others that bothered her.


    Before, due to the forum posts, everyone was merely curious about her, but now that Song Sinian¡¯s identity had been revealed, their looks had grown significantly more complex.


    And in the amphitheater-style classroom, Xia Wenjin found her emotions hardest to calm.


    She could never have dreamed that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s husband would be so handsome, nor could she have imagined his tenderness toward her...


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s jealousy grew even more pronounced.


    All of these were supposed to be hers!


    It was Lu Zhaozhao who had taken her place as the Lu Family¡¯s precious daughter, thus acquiring everything she now had!


    She couldn¡¯t stand to wait another moment! She wanted her identity back!


    She wanted to reclaim everything that belonged to her!


    That included Song Sinian!


    As soon as school was out, Xia Wenjin rushed out of the school nonstop.


    She needed to go straight to the Lu Family and talk to Cao Mei about the marriage arrangement with the Song Family.


    Just as she reached the school gates, suddenly someone stepped in her path.


    Xia Wenjin was about to explode in anger when the figure suddenly spoke, ¡°Wen Jin, it¡¯s me, your fourth brother.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was taken aback for a moment, her eyebrows lifting instantly, her eyes filled with confusion.


    Wasn¡¯t Xia Wenyan supposed to be attending a variety show? Why was he available now?


    Surely he hadn¡¯t been eliminated from the contest before it even started?


    Nowadays, to advance, the trainees had to have backing. Although Xia Wenyan was a bit popular now, most of it was due to his looks.


    If his backing company didn¡¯t promote him, there was no chance of him debuting.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze towards Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but take on shades of impatience.


    Xia Wenyan saw Xia Wenjin staring at him without uttering a word, so he asked, ¡°I saw you hurrying out of school just now¡ªdid something happen?¡±


    Xia Wenjin shrugged her shoulders, ¡°Nothing much.¡±


    Even if she told him, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help her anyway.


    She sighed quietly to herself and asked offhand, ¡°What brings you to school? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be on a variety show?¡±


    Xia Wenyan crossed his arms and let out a resigned sigh, ¡°That was the plan, but last night, where we were staying got raided all of a sudden. Out of a hundred trainees, seven or eight got caught using drugs. Now the show¡¯s been postponed, and the company is launching a full-scale internal investigation.¡±


    The company was conducting an internal check, so he happened to have time to come out.


    The time when Lu Zhaozhao had come to the Xia Family, each brother had given her a gift, only his had been returned and ended up being worn by their family¡¯s pet dog.


    It wasn¡¯t true if he said he wasn¡¯t upset.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyelids drooped as he looked at Xia Wenjin with a smile and said, ¡°Wen Jin, your fourth brother is about to compete on a variety show. Aren¡¯t you going to cheer me on and show some support?¡±


    Xia Wenjin immediately became wary. Although she usually got along with Xia Wenyan alright, he hadn¡¯t sought her out this frequently before.


    Could it be because he knew she had been to the Lu Family and now had some money, so he wanted to get some from her?


    Hesitating for a moment, she pretended to be distressed and said, ¡°Fourth brother, you know, a girl¡¯s expenses are quite high, and I really don¡¯t have extra money to give you. Maybe I should ask Mom?¡±


    Her words immediately shattered Xia Wenyan¡¯s hopes for a gift, and he lost his enthusiasm in an instant.


    Suddenly, he looked up and just happened to see Lu Zhaozhao walking by in the distance...

 Chapter 50 - 50 Do you think you are worthy?!

    Chapter 50: Chapter 50 Do you think you are worthy?!


    She seemed to have an exceedingly close male companion by her side.


    Was that man her boyfriend?


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as he realized he didn¡¯t really understand Lu Zhaozhao.


    He only knew that she and Xia Wenjin had been swapped at birth, that she was the daughter of the Lu family, but as for anything else, he had learned it through Xia Wenjin.


    The Xia family¡¯s company had always been overseas; it was only recently that they had expanded into the domestic market.


    Business was mainly handled by his eldest brother, so the rest of them were free to pursue their interests.


    When they were abroad, they had never paid attention to the business affairs, and even less so after coming to the domestic market.


    Thus, he was very ignorant about the domestic business circles, let alone the Lu Family...


    Xia Wenjin caught Xia Wenyan¡¯s gaze and also happened to see Lu Zhaozhao.


    Especially when she saw Song Si¡¯s gaze persistently fixed on her, Xia Wenjin¡¯s jealousy almost drove her insane.


    Her venomous stare fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, and suddenly, as if remembering something, she reached out and tugged at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Fourth brother... Did you see the man beside Lu Zhaozhao? He is actually my fiance?.¡±


    She said this with her head downturned, looking extremely aggrieved as if she had been bullied.


    Xia Wenyan stood there, stunned, for a long time before he could snap out of it.


    Fiance??


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fiance? was Xia Wenjin¡¯s?


    Why did he feel like his brain couldn¡¯t keep up?


    Xia Wenjin, seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s dazed expression, felt a wave of disgust and reluctantly explained, ¡°I heard from Mrs. Lu that the marriage arrangement was between the Song Family and the Lu Family. Lu Zhaozhao found out at some point that she wasn¡¯t the daughter of the Lu Family, and fearing being thrown out by Mrs. Lu, she clung to Song Si and they went and got their marriage certificate...¡±


    ¡°Marriage certificate? Lu Zhaozhao got married?¡± Xia Wenyan was utterly shocked.


    The daughter of the Xia family had gotten married without a fuss?


    Xia Wenjin, hearing Xia Wenyan seize on the wrong point, raised her hand to shake him, ¡°Fourth brother, the person she married is my fiance?, do you understand that? They only have a marriage certificate, there¡¯s no love involved. Plus, Lu Zhaozhao married him just to disgrace me...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The more Xia Wenyan heard, the worse he felt. It was outrageous enough that Lu Zhaozhao had married quietly, but now she was doing it out of spite towards Xia Wenjin?


    Seeing that Xia Wenyan¡¯s expression grew increasingly ugly, Xia Wenjin seized the opportunity to stoke the fire, ¡°Fourth brother, Lu Zhaozhao is very hostile towards me now, she won¡¯t listen to me. Maybe... you could try persuading her, please?¡±


    Xia Wenyan hesitated for a moment but then nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go find her now.¡±


    Getting married on a whim, just to spite someone? Really?


    That guy looked respectable enough, but whether his family background was solid, that hadn¡¯t been investigated¡ªa definite no-go!


    She might not consider acknowledging him as her brother, but biologically speaking, they were indeed siblings.


    Besides, his parents and the other three brothers all placed great importance on Lu Zhaozhao, so it would be best if he stopped her before she made any serious mistakes.


    Thinking this way, Xia Wenyan strode off towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    As for Xia Wenjin, she naturally slipped away quietly.


    She still needed to find Cao Mei and Lu Dagui as soon as possible to discuss the engagement¡ªshe didn¡¯t have time to waste here with Xia Wenyan.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    Suddenly, a voice called her name from behind.


    Lu Zhaozhao instinctively turned around, just in time to see Xia Wenyan approaching from not far away.


    Her eyebrows involuntarily raised, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of panic.


    Had he found out about her anonymous report regarding the place they were staying for the variety show competition just yesterday?


    Lu Zhaozhao, feeling somewhat guilty, took a step back but instinctively positioned herself in front of Song Sinian.


    She had heard that these drug addicts had no humanity.


    If he suddenly went mad, she had to prevent Song Sinian from getting hurt.


    Song Sinian saw her subtle movements, but he didn¡¯t understand why she was doing it.


    Was she protecting him?


    Because of the man in front of them?


    Song Sinian thought for a moment and then his gaze landed on Xia Wenyan.


    He seemed older than Lu Zhaozhao and looked to be in good health. Was he the man she knew before who was close to death?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenyan with a hint of wariness but still put on a composed face and asked, ¡°Do you need something from me?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, then he glanced at Song Sinian and back at Lu Zhaozhao, lowering his voice to ask, ¡°Can I talk to you alone?¡±


    His expression and behavior seemed very normal, and there was no hint of anger in his speech.


    Could she have been mistaken?


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. She turned to Song Sinian and said, ¡°Mr. Song, please go wait for me in the car, I¡¯ll come find you after I¡¯ve finished talking to him.¡±


    Song Sinian gave Lu Zhaozhao a deep look, nodded slightly, and then left.


    For a while, it was just Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan.


    She slightly lifted her eyes and said indifferently, ¡°Can we talk now?¡±


    Xia Wenyan coughed softly, ¡°I heard... that your engagement to the man just now was arranged by the Lu Family?¡±


    Hearing Xia Wenyan mention the ¡°engagement,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows suddenly furrowed.


    This was probably Xia Wenjin¡¯s doing, wasn¡¯t it?


    Although her engagement to Song Sinian was a union between the Song and Lu Families, it was entirely the Lu Family treating her as a commodity to be sold to the Song Family.


    Xia Wenjin was probably jealous after seeing how handsome and gentle Song Sinian was, right?


    She sighed lightly, saw Xia Wenyan hesitating to speak, and coldly said, ¡°You mean to say that I¡¯ve stolen Xia Wenjin¡¯s engagement?¡±


    Xia Wenyan shook his head, ¡°No, no, no, I just think you should consider more carefully before getting married? After all, you¡¯re still young, and that man obviously looks older than you. You don¡¯t need to agree so readily just because you¡¯re upset with Wen Jin.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenyan¡¯s explanation, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze towards him turned colder.


    She scoffed, ¡°So that¡¯s what you think of me? Should I thank you for not deeming me as someone who¡¯s marrying him just for the Song Family¡¯s wealth and status?¡±


    Although Xia Wenyan wasn¡¯t usually adept at reading people¡¯s expressions, he could still tell from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s obvious retort.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I¡¯m doing this for your own good. If you weren¡¯t my sister, I wouldn¡¯t even bother! You¡¯d better listen and divorce that man immediately!¡± Xia Wenyan said irritably, frowning.


    According to domestic standards, daughters of the Xia Family were from esteemed and wealthy backgrounds; how could she marry someone so casually?


    A cold light flashed in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, ¡°For my own good, you think you can disregard my wishes and tell me to divorce as you please? How can you even call yourself someone¡¯s brother? Who gave you the courage? Do you think you¡¯re worthy?!¡±

 Chapter 51 - 51 Did I appease you like this?

    Chapter 51: Chapter 51 Did I appease you like this?


    Xia Wenyan was stunned by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s rebuttal, mouth agape and unable to react for a long while.


    To be exact, he had never imagined that the soft and tender-looking Lu Zhaozhao could be so fierce.


    ¡°I, I, you...¡± Xia Wenyan stammered for quite some time before he could utter a complete sentence, ¡°Why are you being so fierce? I was just kindly reminding you that after all, you are now a child of the Xia family, our family situation, you...¡±


    ¡°Stop right there!¡± Before Xia Wenyan could finish his sentence, Lu Zhaozhao made a halting gesture at him.


    She took a deep breath, staring at Xia Wenyan and said word by word, ¡°I understand the Xia family¡¯s situation very well, I will take good care of mom and dad, I¡¯ll cover the medical expenses for third brother, and as for you! You better focus on being a big star, and if you dare to break the law, I will break your legs!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan had a bunch of excuses ready to go, but Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sudden burst of assertiveness left him speechless.


    What confused him even more was the content of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s just-stated remarks.


    He could understand the responsibility of taking care of parents, but why should she be the one to pay for third brother¡¯s medical expenses?


    And did he really look like the sort of person to break laws?


    When Lu Zhaozhao saw he wasn¡¯t responding, she raised her eyebrows, intentionally bellowed at him with fierceness, ¡°Xia Wenyan, did you get that?!¡±


    ¡°I, I got it.¡± Xia Wenyan looked at Lu Zhaozhao slightly meekly, as if someone had suddenly grabbed him by the back of the neck.


    Could this be what they call bloodline suppression?


    But isn¡¯t she his little sister?


    Seeing his reaction, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue any further, she sighed and waved at him, ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s call it a day.¡±


    Saying this, she turned and left.


    Xia Wenyan stood in place, watching Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s retreating figure, still out of sorts for a long time.


    Meanwhile, seated in the car, Song Sinian was propping his chin with one hand, watching the distant silhouettes with a faint gaze.


    ¡°Sir, should we investigate the man who tried to approach the madam?¡± Zhao Xi glanced through the rearview mirror at the silent Song Sinian, and tentatively asked a question.


    Just after marrying Lu Zhaozhao, Mr. Song had been nearly eager to investigate every male around her.


    He wouldn¡¯t even spare the dead ones.


    Now that the man had actually approached them, he surely wouldn¡¯t let it slide, right?


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Hmm, investigate him.¡±


    He laid his arm, which had been supporting his chin, flat and gently tapped on the car window before raising his eyes toward Zhao Xi, seated in the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°Do you know... how to be clingy?¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Zhao Xi thought he must be hallucinating for a moment.


    He twisted around, staring dead at Song Sinian, ¡°Sir, I didn¡¯t quite catch that just now, did you just ask me about being clingy with the madam?¡±


    Song Sinian swept his eyes over him with an indifferent look and simply repeated, ¡°I¡¯m asking you how to be clingy.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Oh my God!


    Is their Mr. Song learning how to be clingy?


    Lord in heaven, what kind of fantastical plot is this.


    He gripped the back of the seat tightly and cautiously said, ¡°Being clingy isn¡¯t something I can explain in a word or two, and from a professional standpoint, I think maybe we should consult Doctor Tian?¡±


    After all, he¡¯s been single since birth, and even if Mr. Song dared to believe him, he didn¡¯t dare teach!


    It wasn¡¯t easy for Mr. Song to finally have a wife; if it were spoiled by his reckless blather, his grave would probably be overgrown with weeds by next year.


    Song Sinian thought for a moment, nodded, and seemed to think his suggestion wasn¡¯t too bad.


    Just as Zhao Xi was about to say something more, the car door was suddenly opened from the outside.


    Lu Zhaozhao stormed in, her expression seeming... somewhat angry.


    Zhao Xi silently gave her a glance, gestured towards his own face to mimic a puffed-up angry look, then pointed at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrow slightly raised, utterly failing to ¡°get¡± Zhao Xi¡¯s hint.


    Zhao Xi let out a helpless sigh.


    Forget it, he could only wish their Mr. Song the best of luck.


    He quietly started the car, and the sedan began to speed smoothly down the highway.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over Lu Zhaozhao for quite some time but still couldn¡¯t discern anything.


    However, the hint Zhao Xi had given was definitely related to Lu Zhaozhao.


    After a moment, he raised his hand, pinched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face, and asked, ¡°Was that person just now the reason for your unhappiness?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s originally puffed-up little face relaxed under Song Sinian¡¯s pinch, and upon hearing his concerned tone, her irritation quickly dissipated by more than half.


    Her little mouth moved, and she nodded at Song Sinian, ¡°Yeah, I really am very angry.¡±


    ¡°Angry...¡± Song Sinian mulled over the word carefully.


    This emotion didn¡¯t seem to be within the range Lu Zhaozhao had taught him.


    He looked towards Lu Zhaozhao, his dark eyes stirring slightly, ¡°Then...¡±


    He looked at his own hand, then at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face, and his gaze finally landed on her rosy little lips.


    His mind ran back and forth between kisses, hugs, and pats.


    Obviously, this problem was beyond his understanding.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Song Sinian and easily saw through his thoughts.


    Her anger had not been his doing, but here he was, trying hard to soothe her mood. Where would her anger be?


    Watching Song Sinian¡¯s demeanor, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly couldn¡¯t resist wanting to tease him.


    She purposefully puffed up again, looking at Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, at a time like this, you¡¯re supposed to comfort me...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sparkling eyes shone, but laughter tinged her brows and eyes.


    Comfort?


    That was another knowledge gap.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, ¡°How should I comfort you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shiny eyes quickly shifted, and she reached out her little hand, ¡°Mr. Song, lean your face in, then place it on my hand.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t understand what Lu Zhaozhao was up to but followed her instructions anyway.


    And so, right after Lu Zhaozhao had spoken, Zhao Xi caught sight in the rearview mirror of their normally standoffish Mr. Song obediently resting his chin in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand.


    His eyes widened in shock, roughly akin to witnessing his family¡¯s ancestral tomb being blown up on the spot.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly, gazing at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s now beaming face, and he couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Does this comfort you?¡±


    At this moment, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart nearly melted because of Song Sinian. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, excitedly nuzzling him, ¡°Yes! Yes! Yes! I feel like I¡¯ve been healed in an instant!¡±


    Their Mr. Song really must be an embodiment of an angel, huh!


    How can he be so adorable!


    Song Sinian was suddenly embraced by Lu Zhaozhao, her soft, glutinous little face rubbing against his, causing him to stiffen slightly, but soon his hand gently wrapped around her lower back.


    She had said before, when wanting to be close, to hold her tight.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slowly, the scent of her like fizzy orange soda lingering at the tip of his nose, making his Adam¡¯s apple bob slightly...

 Chapter 52 - 52 Whats Going On Now?

    Chapter 52: Chapter 52 What¡¯s Going On Now?


    He wanted... to get closer once more.


    Song Sinian¡¯s nose gently brushed her small face, and his lips slowly moved downward...


    ¡°Mr. Song.¡±


    A delicate and soft voice suddenly sounded inside the car, instantly making Song Sinian¡¯s movements halt.


    His dark eyes sank slightly as he remembered that Lu Zhaozhao had mentioned they could only be intimate when the two of them were alone.


    So had he just crossed a line?


    Was she... unhappy?


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao and hesitated only for two seconds before he decisively reached for her small hand and rested his chin on it.


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°...¡±


    She watched his actions, dumbfounded, and then heard Song Sinian ask very seriously, ¡°Is it the hand that¡¯s wrong?¡±


    After that, he took her other hand and did the same.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart was already on the verge of dropping to her knees and furiously beating the wall. Oh dear God... who could withstand this?


    She pinched Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face with her small hands, then cheerily said, ¡°I¡¯m not angry anymore, I have something to tell you... about my identity.¡±


    When she said ¡°identity,¡± she clearly forced a bitter smile.


    But she quickly bounced back.


    When Song Sinian heard that Lu Zhaozhao was not angry anymore, his mood steadied quite a bit, ¡°Does it have to do with the man just now?¡±


    Recently, there had been quite a few men around Lu Zhaozhao, all connected to the Xia Family. He had also sent Zhao Xi to investigate the Xia Family¡¯s circumstances; the information hadn¡¯t been received yet, so he knew very little about the Xia Family.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, her little hands nervously twining together, ¡°That person just now was Lao Si from the Xia Family, Xia Wenyan. He just came to see me, wanting me to give up on our marriage contract.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s expression visibly darkened.


    He had already lost a lot of time with Lu Zhaozhao because of her so-called biological parents, and now someone was asking Lu Zhaozhao to leave him?


    Would there still be time to flatten their entire family and throw them out of the country?


    While Song Sinian was contemplating how to deal with this ¡°major crisis,¡± Lu Zhaozhao spoke again.


    ¡°This marriage contract was originally between the Song Family and the Lu Family, and I am no longer a daughter of the Lu Family...¡±


    Song Sinian grasped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand with urgency, staring at her intently, and said word by word, ¡°The one I¡¯ve always wanted to marry has only been you.¡±


    It had nothing to do with the marriage contract.


    He had spent so much time finding her again, he would not simply hand her over to someone else!


    It was the first time Lu Zhaozhao had heard Song Sinian say such words to her, diminishing almost all the anxiety in her heart.


    Her eyes curved, her brows and eyes filled with warmth, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect our Mr. Song to have such a sweet mouth~¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao deliberately drew out her tone, tilting her head cutely to look at him.


    Just as she was feeling smug, she was suddenly pulled over by Song Sinian, who grasped the back of her neck.


    And then his lips pressed against hers.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s hand trembled and hit the volume control, filling the car with the melodious English song in an instant.


    Startled, Zhao Xi shivered and quickly tried to press back.


    The boss and the lady boss getting cozy and here he was, unwittingly adding background music?


    But clearly, Song Sinian¡¯s attention was not on the music inside the car at all, his heart and eyes were filled with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian slowly released Lu Zhaozhao and, seeing her dazed look as a result of his actions, his mood instantly improved a great deal.


    Lu Zhaozhao touched her lips in disbelief, ¡°Mr. Song, did you just...¡±


    Song Sinian raised his hand and gently rubbed the smeared lipstick at the corner of her mouth, explaining in a methodical manner, ¡°I was just tasting the flavor.¡±


    ...


    His expression was so serious that if she hadn¡¯t been the one he kissed, she¡¯d doubt whether the initiator was Song Sinian at all.


    It was over, she might have led their family¡¯s Mr. Song astray!


    If he kept flirting like this, her heart was bound to need bypass surgery sooner or later...


    The afternoon autumn sun was still scorching hot.


    Xia Wenyan, after having an unpleasant interaction with Lu Zhaozhao, was feeling utterly deflated.


    He returned to the Xia Family home irritated, yanking off his mask and hat and tossing them aside.


    Xia Wenqing, who was sitting in the living room dealing with documents, glanced at him and asked casually, ¡°Causing trouble outside again?¡±


    Before, Xia Wenyan had said he¡¯d be busy these few days, attending training and competitions; Wenqing didn¡¯t expect him to be back home so soon.


    Xia Wenyan frowned in annoyance, ¡°Me, causing trouble? The entertainment companies are undergoing self-inspections these days, so they gave us a break.¡±


    Xia Wenqing, holding the document in his hands, seemed to suddenly remember something, ¡°The place they¡¯re inspecting this time isn¡¯t where your competition is being held, is it?¡±


    He had heard that someone anonymously reported drug use at a gathering, which led many entertainment companies to scramble into action.


    Besides frantically denying the allegations, the companies started internal inspections of their own artists, fearing getting entangled in this scandal.


    Xia Wenyan shrugged noncommittally.


    Xia Wenqing looked at him suspiciously, eyes measuring him up and down.


    If it had been any other time, Xia Wenyan would¡¯ve been hopping mad about having to return home, seeing as singing and dancing were his life.


    What about now? Suddenly lost his drive for life?


    Wenqing¡¯s eyes drooped slightly, and upon seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s conflicted expression, his lips curved into a slight smirk, and he decided to stay quiet.


    Lao Si was the most restless by nature. The more Wenqing would press him for answers, the less likely he was to tell the truth.


    So by maintaining silence, he¡¯d make himself open up first.


    And as expected, the living room remained quiet for no more than five seconds before Xia Wenyan sighed deeply.


    ¡°Big Bro, do you think Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brain isn¡¯t quite right?¡± Xia Wenyan mentioned Lu Zhaozhao and couldn¡¯t help but start fuming, ¡°I was obviously trying to look out for her, and she ended up getting angry at me!¡±


    Hearing the name ¡°Lu Zhaozhao¡±, Xia Wenqing¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, and his eyes sharply fixed on Xia Wenyan.


    ¡°Did you go to see Zhaozhao today?¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded, ¡°Yes, I just wanted to tell her not to marry someone out of spite, and she snapped at me!¡±


    Wenyan then recounted the entire incident with Lu Zhaozhao at school to Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°Big Bro, don¡¯t you think she went too far?!¡± After finishing his story, Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t forget to seek solidarity from Xia Wenqing.


    By this point, Xia Wenqing¡¯s face had already darkened significantly because of what Wenyan had just said.


    He turned and called out towards the corridor, ¡°Kaka! Come here!¡±


    Soon after, a mynah dog bounded over from the end of the corridor, the black bandana tied around its neck standing out sharply.


    Xia Wenyan immediately recognized it as the one Lu Zhaozhao had intended to give to him.


    He frowned in dissatisfaction and muttered, ¡°Big Bro, I¡¯m talking to you about Zhaozhao and me; why did you call Kaka over?¡±


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Xia Wenyan with disdain, picking up Kaka, ¡°Isn¡¯t my attitude obvious enough?¡±

 Chapter 53: He Doesnt Study Medicine, But His Artistic Anatomy is Perfect

    Chapter 53: Chapter 53: He Doesn¡¯t Study Medicine, But His Artistic Anatomy is Perfect


    He pointed to the bandana tied around Kaka¡¯s neck, ¡°From now on, it¡¯s our Lao Si, you can go wherever you please.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t believe his own ears.


    Was he being kicked out of the house?!


    ¡°Lao Er, aren¡¯t you being a bit too ridiculous with what you¡¯re saying?¡± Xia Wenyan crossed his arms and his face was filled with dissatisfaction. ¡°If Mom and Dad knew about this, they definitely wouldn¡¯t agree.¡±


    Xia Wenqing, holding Kaka in his arms and rubbing its head, spoke in a leisurely tone, ¡°Haven¡¯t you wondered why Zhaozhao said she would take care of the medical expenses for Lao San?¡±


    His words instantly grabbed Xia Wenyan¡¯s attention.


    He raised his eyebrow slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me Lu Zhaozhao has no clue about our family¡¯s real situation.¡±


    Their family had always worried that Xia Wen Jin, being young and naive, might be swindled by someone with ulterior motives, so they tried their best to hide the family¡¯s true circumstances.


    Their daily life was managed by professionals, making it appear as though they were just an ordinary middle-class family.


    But their parents were worried that Wen Jin would be mistreated, so they gave her ten thousand yuan as pocket money every month.


    If you just looked at the surface, indeed, the depth of their family¡¯s situation was not evident.


    Wenqing nodded, ¡°The first time Zhaozhao came over, she handed over her bank card to Mom and Dad, saying it was for Lao San¡¯s medical treatment, and she even helped us get in touch with the dean of Shangjing Central Hospital.¡±


    He looked at Wenyan with a somewhat mischievous gaze and continued, ¡°Before Da Ge found out about Zhaozhao¡¯s identity, she didn¡¯t know she was a child of the Xia Family. Can you guess from whom Zhaozhao learned about our family situation?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing Wenqing¡¯s slightly malicious expression, Wenyan didn¡¯t dare to guess.


    He had this faint feeling that he might have caused some trouble.


    If Lu Zhaozhao really was unaware of the true financial status of the Xia Family, then her actions were truly different from Wen Jin¡¯s.


    But soon, Wenyan came up with a reasonable excuse, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao grew up in the Lu Family and saw plenty of business dealings from a young age; it¡¯s normal for her to be shrewd.¡±


    Wenqing¡¯s face instantly clouded over when he heard Wenyan mention the Lu Family.


    He lifted his eyes to look at Wenyan and said word by word, ¡°Lao Si, sometimes, certain things shouldn¡¯t be taken for granted. Since you don¡¯t trust others¡¯ words, you should investigate it yourself and avoid doing anything you might regret.¡±


    Wenqing¡¯s words were so earnest that it left Wenyan at a loss for how to respond.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Suddenly, Wenqing seemed to remember something and cautioned, ¡°Those bad things you said about Zhaozhao earlier, don¡¯t mention them to Lao San.¡±


    Wenyan raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you worried that San Ge will think poorly of Lu Zhaozhao for being so fierce?¡±


    Wenqing gave Wenyan a glance as if looking at an idiot and uttered slowly, ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid that your San Ge might use a crafting knife to slice your tendons because, although he doesn¡¯t study medicine, he got full marks in art anatomy.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    At noon, Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian finished their lunch, tidied up a bit, and headed back to school.


    Song Sinian went to the company to deal with the work he had postponed that morning.


    His fingertips were flying rapidly over the keyboard, but then they paused and he looked up at Zhao Xi to ask, ¡°The investigation you did on the Xia Family, have you found anything?¡±


    Zhao Xi quickly stood up and handed the prepared documents to Song Sinian, ¡°The information isn¡¯t completely comprehensive, but the overall situation should be mostly accurate.¡±


    This so-called corporate employee, Xia Wenjue, was none other than the renowned CEO of the famous international XJ Group.


    Xia Wenqing was a legal magnate in the M Country.


    Xia Wenmo was a genius painter in the M Country¡¯s art circle.


    Xia Wenyan, or Lao Si, was a top student at a world-class music academy in the M Country.


    As for the two members of the Xia Family, they were also well-known painters abroad.


    Only Xia Wenjin was quite ordinary, having just graduated from high school and come to the domestic scene; she was arranged to attend Yuqing University.


    It was unclear whether it was intentional or not, but the Xia Family always kept a low profile. If not for their complex network of relationships within the country, their true information would have been impossible to uncover.


    Song Sinian looked at the results of Zhao Xi¡¯s investigation, his dark eyes narrowing slightly, ¡°I remember Zhaozhao went to see the director of Shangjing Central Hospital...¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded repeatedly, ¡°Right, Xia Wenmo has a tumor in his brain, and he had already been admitted to Shangjing Central Hospital before Mrs. Song helped out, except Mrs. Song didn¡¯t know it.¡±


    He hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Sir, should we inform Mrs. Song about the true wealth of the Xia Family?¡±


    They really didn¡¯t need the help of Mrs. Song, let alone any financial assistance.


    Song Siyi gently shook his head, ¡°This is a matter between the Xia Family and Zhaozhao; there¡¯s no need for me to get involved.¡±


    They had behaved this way back when they were in the M Country, so it probably wasn¡¯t an intentional concealment from Lu Zhaozhao.


    As for when they would be frank with her, that was the Xia Family¡¯s business.


    Although he detested the people from the Xia Family, Lu Zhaozhao liked them now, so he couldn¡¯t touch them.


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°Also, Mrs. Song... seems to have reported the variety show that Xia Wenyan is on. I don¡¯t know if his visit to Mrs. Song today has anything to do with this incident.¡±


    Song Sinian thoughtfully narrowed his eyes, ¡°So it¡¯s him.¡±


    He picked out Xia Wenyan¡¯s information from the documents and instructed separately, ¡°Find someone clever to follow him. If he dares to get involved with something he shouldn¡¯t, break his legs.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    After thinking for a moment about the results of his previous investigations, Zhao Xi added, ¡°If there are people around Xia Wenyan involved with such things, should they be dealt with, too?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, ¡°That kind of person... shouldn¡¯t even exist.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Xi felt a chill in his heart, remembering that the people protected by Mrs. Song, their master could still treat them with a bit of gentleness.


    Lu Zhaozhao getting married into the Song Family was definitely a blessing from the heavens!


    In the future, he must cling to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s coattails!


    Meanwhile, at the Lu Family¡¯s home, Xia Wenjin just received a message from Xia Wenyan.


    [Wen Jin, I think my second brother might have gone crazy, he actually wants to kick me out of the house!]


    Reading the message from Xia Wenyan, Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow knitted tightly together.


    She put away her phone, tossed it aside, and then looked pitifully at Cao Mei, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t know how Lu Zhaozhao bullied me today, using Mrs. Song¡¯s status! She doesn¡¯t take me seriously at all, waaaah...¡±


    Cao Mei gently patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s shoulder, comforting her, ¡°Jin, don¡¯t cry. Rest assured, Mom will definitely avenge you! That little wench was just using your identity before, but as soon as she¡¯s useless, your dad and I will kick her out immediately!¡±


    How could Xia Wenjin be content with just a few words from Cao Mei?


    She immediately asked, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m already back, so why not reveal her identity yet?¡±

 Chapter 54: How Much Longer Can You Be Proud!

    Chapter 54: Chapter 54: How Much Longer Can You Be Proud!


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao remains a daughter of the Lu Family, her status, her man will never belong to her. How could Xia Wenjin be content with this?


    Cao Mei sighed lightly and patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s back, ¡°Your father is going to bid for a mining vein soon, and he needs the support of the Song Family, so we can¡¯t touch her right now.¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t know how that shameless wretch had sweet-talked Song Sinian, she did admit the girl still had her uses.


    ¡°But I can do it too!¡± Xia Wenjin blurted out without thinking, ¡°And wasn¡¯t that marriage arrangement originally mine?¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyes widened in shock, disbelief painted on her face, ¡°Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? Someone like Song Sinian, I would never want my precious daughter to marry him!¡±


    Hearing Cao Mei¡¯s words, Xia Wenjin looked incredulous. Song Sinian was clearly so handsome, kind, and rich!


    Cao Mei, seeing that Xia Wenjin was unhappy, hurriedly explained, ¡°Your father has been in the business world for so many years, he has heard plenty about the Song Family. It¡¯s said that he¡¯s ruthless in his actions, leaving no room for others, with a perverse nature and devoid of humanity.¡±


    What was even more important was that they had heard Song Sinian had problems with his brain, a genuine monster.


    How could she wish for her precious daughter to marry such a person?


    Xia Wenjin immediately refuted Cao Mei¡¯s words, ¡°I saw him at a lecture today, and he is nothing like what you¡¯ve described! You must have been deceived!¡±


    She then recounted her encounter with Song Sinian at the lecture to Cao Mei in full detail.


    Cao Mei then fell silent.


    Could it really be that they had been deceived?


    What benefit could there be for someone spreading such news?


    Suddenly, as if a thought had struck her, Cao Mei¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    If this matter had anything to do with Xiao Jinglan, then everything would make sense.


    She might have not expected, with all these rumors, that someone would still marry Song Sinian.


    This also made Cao Mei understand why Lu Zhaozhao, such an unremarkable woman, was so favored by Sinian¡¯s side.


    Because no woman ever got close to him, that must be why he treated Lu Zhaozhao so well.


    ¡°Mom~~~¡± Xia Wenjin, seeing that Cao Mei remained silent, shook her arm to get her attention.


    Cao Mei came back to her senses and looked at Xia Wenjin with a smile in her eyes, ¡°Jin, do you really like Song Sinian that much?¡±


    Xia Wenjin, no longer playing coy, nodded immediately, ¡°Yes! I like him!¡±


    Such a handsome, considerate, and wealthy man, how many women wouldn¡¯t like him?


    Seeing Xia Wenjin¡¯s ecstatic expression when mentioning Song Sinian, Cao Mei couldn¡¯t help but sigh lightly, ¡°Since you like him so much, then there¡¯s no helping it. Mom will definitely help you snatch Song Sinian back.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly in response, ¡°Mom, can¡¯t we just make Lu Zhaozhao initiate a divorce with Song Sinian? Wasn¡¯t this marriage supposed to be between the Lu Family and the Song Family in the first place?¡±


    If Lu Zhaozhao isn¡¯t from the Lu Family anymore, then the marriage is even less hers.


    Cao Mei also felt somewhat frustrated; if she had known earlier that everything she¡¯d heard about Sinian was just a rumor, she would have postponed things no matter what.


    Now that Lu Zhaozhao had married Song Sinian and was so favored, she definitely wouldn¡¯t give up the status of Mrs. Song easily.


    She had originally planned to install a camera in her bedroom after she had made contact with Sinian, to capture some leverage to control her.


    But to her complete surprise, the brazen girl went ahead and got married, leaving her unprepared.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao would never initiate a divorce unless she had something incriminating hanging over her head,¡± Cao Mei said through gritted teeth.


    Xia Wenjin suddenly remembered the conversation she had overheard between Xiao Jinglan and the Lu Family.


    She vaguely felt that Cao Mei must have some way to get a grip on Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lifting her eyes, she cautiously asked, ¡°Mom, can¡¯t we think of something?¡±


    Cao Mei hesitated for a moment but still spoke her mind, ¡°There¡¯s a way, but the premise is we have to get Lu Zhaozhao to stay with us for a few days.¡±


    Cao Mei did not tell Xia Wenjin what to do next.


    How could she let her precious daughter know about such dirty matters?


    All her precious daughter needed was to have the best things!


    When Xia Wenjin heard this, her eyes suddenly brightened, ¡°So, as long as we get Lu Zhaozhao to come back and stay a few days, that will be enough?¡±


    Cao Mei nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it!¡± Xia Wenjin took Cao Mei¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I also want to help share the burden with mom.¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s face beamed with satisfaction, ¡°Good, good, good, truly my obedient daughter, always caring for your mother.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you¡¯re my mom~¡±


    Xia Wenjin leaned into Cao Mei¡¯s embrace with a smile plastered across her face, yet she couldn¡¯t help feeling anticipation rising within her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, let¡¯s see how long you can stay smug!


    The next day at Yuqing University.


    Because Song Sinian had participated in a lecture at the school the previous day, the rumors about Lu Zhaozhao marrying for money fell apart on their own.


    The school¡¯s forum instead filled with many of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s beauty fans.


    Everything related to her was filled with adoration and praise for her beauty.


    Her popularity at school reached unprecedented heights.


    She would even receive gifts from fans who would approach her directly on the street.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt somewhat unaccustomed, sighing helplessly as she looked at the fresh flowers and dolls she received.


    In her previous life, she followed the words of Xiao Jinglan and Cao Mei, always acting obedient and hiding her sharp edges¡ªit was incredibly stifling.


    Song Sinian¡¯s appearance yesterday was one of the few highlights for her.


    This life, thanks to the blessings of Mr. Song from their family, she no longer had to constrain herself.


    Once the Lu Family collapsed, her target would be Xiao Jinglan. She planned to thoroughly pull her down from the Song Family!


    As she thought about this, her way was blocked by someone.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up and saw Xia Wenjin standing in front of her.


    Just seeing her, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s good mood decreased by half.


    She decided to ignore Xia Wenjin and tried to sidestep her to leave.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin grabbed at her sleeve, ¡°Zhaozhao, let¡¯s make up!¡±


    Her abrupt statement immediately made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows shoot up in alert.


    She instinctively shook off the gripping hand and looked coldly at Xia Wenjin, ¡°What tricks are you trying to play now?¡±


    She did not understand Xia Wenjin¡¯s character very well, but she definitely was not the type to recognize her faults and change, let alone to admit them proactively.


    Xia Wenjin, holding the hand that Lu Zhaozhao had shaken off, looked at her with a face full of grievance, ¡°Zhaozhao, I didn¡¯t mean to play any tricks. I was just upset before because I felt you took my place, so that¡¯s why I got angry with you. But mom already explained everything to me, so I want to get along with you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ha! Xia Wenjin really knows how to come up with a variety of schemes!


    Even searching for excuses, shouldn¡¯t she at least find something that sounds reasonable?


    Did the Lu Family not have the slightest clue about Cao Mei¡¯s attitude toward her?


    Did she actually expect Xia Wenjin to speak fondly of her?

 Chapter 55 - 55 What Do You Count For?

    Chapter 55: Chapter 55 What Do You Count For?


    The likelihood of that is even lower than getting struck by lightning on a rainy day.


    Zhaozhao looked Xia Wenjin up and down, observing her straining every nerve to act, and she suddenly became curious about what kind of plan she was so eagerly pursuing.


    She feigned contemplation for a few seconds before slowly beginning to speak, ¡°So, how do you plan to ¡®get along well¡¯ with me?¡±


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t expected Zhaozhao to be so amenable; a trace of smugness gleamed in her eyes.


    She hurried over, pretending to be affectionate as she tried to hug Zhaozhao¡¯s arm but was subtly avoided.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s arm awkwardly hung in midair, yet the smile never left her face.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you know I¡¯ve only just returned to the country, there¡¯s a lot I don¡¯t really understand, so... could you stay at the Lu Family for a few days? We could really get to know each other, what do you think?¡±


    Zhaozhao then realized Xia Wenjin¡¯s elaborate efforts were all about getting her to stay at the Lu Family for a few days.


    As to what would happen once she was there, she couldn¡¯t be clearer.


    Zhaozhao scoffed coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was taken aback, her brows furrowed in confusion as she looked at Zhaozhao. Why was this different from what she had expected?


    She stared at Zhaozhao with a bizarre expression, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to reassure Mom and Dad? If we get along, Mom will be happy too...¡±


    Zhaozhao¡¯s lips curled into a scornful smirk, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to get along with you. Right now, I am known as both the Lu Family¡¯s heiress and Mrs. Song, so what are you?¡±


    She knew exactly where Xia Wenjin¡¯s vulnerabilities were, so Zhaozhao deliberately pressed on them.


    Sure enough, Xia Wenjin¡¯s complexion instantly darkened as much as the bottom of a pot.


    She glared at Zhaozhao viciously, ¡°What are you worth! Your current status is all mine! And you still have the nerve to show off?!¡±


    Zhaozhao shrugged indifferently, ¡°So what? Even if I¡¯m a fake, no one dares to touch my room in the Lu Family home, and the clothes in my closet are still too extravagant for you to wear!¡±


    She deliberately stepped forward and poked Xia Wenjin¡¯s shoulder hard with her finger, ¡°Even if you can¡¯t stand me, what can you do about it? The Lu Family is begging me to stay, let alone you, a cousin with no status at all...¡±


    She emphasized the words ¡°no status¡± to thoroughly infuriate Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°You shameless woman, I... Ah!¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    Xia Wenjin raised her hand to hit Zhaozhao but had her hand caught and received a slap in return.


    Zhaozhao watched Xia Wenjin coldly, ¡°I told you before, don¡¯t mess with someone you can¡¯t afford to provoke. If you don¡¯t learn, I¡¯ll beat you until you do.¡±


    As she spoke, she raised her hand again, frightening Xia Wenjin into immediately covering her face.


    But Zhaozhao simply clapped her hands instead.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin¡¯s craven demeanor, Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, ¡°Now that you understand, get out of my sight quickly!¡±


    Xia Wenjin kept a resentful gaze on Zhaozhao but ultimately could only leave angrily.


    Watching her slowly disappearing figure, Zhaozhao began to devise other plans.


    With those words she just said, the aggrieved Xia Wenjin would surely return to the Lu Family and trash her room. If Zhaozhao could get her hands on that video footage, it might become a valuable bargaining chip in the future.


    But how could she get it?


    If she were to go straight back to the Lu Family, she would assuredly be discovered.


    I guess I¡¯ll have to seek hacker¡¯s help...


    She remembered that in her previous life, when her reputation was in ruins, a hacker had once helped her, and she had always wanted to repay him, but later on, that person suddenly lost contact.


    Now that they had no connection, would it be inappropriate to contact him out of the blue?


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, but still took out her phone and logged onto a professional hacker platform.


    As expected, when she saw hacker J listed there, she decisively sent a private message.


    [I have a personal task, would you be interested?]


    After sending the message, Lu Zhaozhao put away her phone.


    In fact, she was also not sure whether the other party would take the job...


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenjin, who had stormed off in a huff, left the school and went straight home.


    She even skipped her classes.


    All she could think about was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mocking words, and in a frenzy, she returned to the Lu Family, charging straight into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s second-floor room.


    As soon as she entered, she started smashing things in the room.


    ¡°Shameless thing! Stealing my identity and now my man!¡±


    ¡°Dirty slut! What do you have to be so proud of?! Just a stinking girl from a poor family, and you dare to act wild over me!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it just for that face you use to seduce men? I¡¯ll scratch your damn face one day!¡±


    ...


    The clattering noise startled Cao Mei, who was resting on the first floor.


    When she entered the room and saw the mess, her eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Jin, what has gotten into you?¡± Cao Mei saw her holding a pair of scissors, frantically cutting clothes from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s wardrobe, her eyes filled with madness.


    She couldn¡¯t help frowning and hurriedly stepped forward to pull Xia Wenjin away, fearing she might do herself harm in her impulsive state.


    Xia Wenjin almost gnashed her teeth as she said, ¡°That bitch Lu Zhaozhao, she¡¯s taken my identity, alright, but still looks down on me. She¡¯s just relying on that face to marry into the Song Family, what¡¯s there to be proud of?!¡±


    Cao Mei thought about how Xia Wenjin had left for school, saying she would help, and now she probably got snubbed by Lu Zhaozhao.


    Seeing how infuriated Xia Wenjin was, Cao Mei knew that Lu Zhaozhao must have said some nasty things.


    She really hadn¡¯t expected this little bitch to act so well at home, and now, having married into the Song Family, showed her true colors.


    Xia Wenjin, seeing that Cao Mei didn¡¯t speak, immediately threw down the scissors and started crying to her, ¡°Mom, that bitch also said that the Lu Family is now begging her, she clearly doesn¡¯t regard you and dad at all, maybe in the future, she¡¯ll cause trouble at the Song Family, then what will our family do, wuwu...¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°That bitch really thinks she¡¯s turned from a sparrow to a phoenix, it seems that if we don¡¯t teach her a lesson, she really won¡¯t know her place!¡±


    Xia Wenjin, seeing Cao Mei swayed by her words, quickly said, ¡°Mom, since we¡¯re going to teach her a lesson, we have to make sure it lands, otherwise, it¡¯s likely that she¡¯ll bite us back at the Song Family.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t important to Cao Mei if they failed, what she was mainly worried about was her image being tarnished in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, we really need to be more thorough...¡± Cao Mei¡¯s eyes narrowed, clearly she had some plans in her mind.


    Xia Wenjin grabbed Cao Mei and reminded her again, ¡°To make a bitch like Lu Zhaozhao obedient, we need to crush what she¡¯s most proud of!¡±


    Cao Mei, hearing this, thoughtfully nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, if she carelessly gets into trouble with some ruffians and is tarnished... then the only shelter she could find will be our Lu Family...¡±

 Chapter 56: Mr. Song from their family really is a little angel, isnt he?

    Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Mr. Song from their family really is a little angel, isn¡¯t he?


    ¡°Yes, when the time comes, it won¡¯t be anything other than what you, mom, want her to do that she will have to do!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s mouth maliciously curved, and all the rage she had felt towards Lu Zhaozhao was released in this moment.


    As long as Cao Mei destroyed Lu Zhaozhao, she would lose everything she currently had.


    Then everything would return to its rightful track!


    In the evening, when Lu Zhaozhao got home, she immediately sensed a depressing atmosphere in the living room.


    Upon seeing her, Zhao Xi and Qian Hong acted as if they had seen a savior, rushing over immediately.


    Qian Hong took the bag from her hands with a smile brimming in her eyes, ¡°Madam, you¡¯re back. Are you hungry now? I¡¯ll make sure dinner is served in the dining room right away.¡±


    ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve worked hard, let me take the bags!¡± Zhao Xi, overly eager to please, took the bag from Qian Hong and followed right behind Lu Zhaozhao.


    The overly enthusiastic expressions of the two sharply contrasted with the oppressive mood of the home.


    Lu Zhaozhao, wearing slippers, walked into the living room and glanced at the empty sofa. She couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°Mr. Song...¡±


    ¡°Mr. Song is currently in the study, but he¡¯s in a bad mood.¡± No sooner had Lu Zhaozhao spoken than Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t hold back.


    He began to spill everything like beans out of a bamboo tube, chattering away.


    ¡°If you have a moment, Madam, could you please make a trip to the study? After all, it¡¯s almost time for dinner...¡±


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a face full of anticipation, as if he were afraid she might refuse.


    Since the afternoon when their household¡¯s Mr. Song received a call from the Song Mansion, Song Sinian¡¯s mood had been off.


    It wasn¡¯t that his facial expression showed much, but rather the low pressure around him was suffocating.


    Since Song Sinian had married Lu Zhaozhao, he had been like a sunflower that sees the sun every day ¨C bright and sunny.


    Zhao Xi had almost forgotten this choking sensation, as if being throttled at any moment.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t rush to get up but instead looked at Zhao Xi and inquired in detail, ¡°What¡¯s upsetting Mr. Song? Is it something to do with work?¡±


    In her last life, Song Sinian¡¯s emotions had barely fluctuated, so she had no idea what could upset him so visibly.


    Zhao Xi hesitated, glancing at Lu Zhaozhao, unsure how to explain.


    In the end, he could only resort to a pleading look towards Qian Hong.


    ¡°Cough, cough... Madam, actually... next Monday is Old Master Song¡¯s 80th birthday. Mr. Song needs to make a trip back to the Song Mansion,¡± Qian Hong kindly helped explain.


    Old Master Song¡¯s 80th birthday.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pupils nearly quivered on the spot.


    She had almost forgotten this important event!


    She remembered that in her last life, Old Master Song didn¡¯t celebrate his 80th birthday because the day before, he had fallen while climbing a mountain for exercise and had not received timely assistance, resulting in a month-long coma.


    Although he eventually woke up, his legs were left immobile.


    In her past life, she didn¡¯t interact much with Old Master Song, but he had been rather decent to her, one of the few who truly treated her as a member of the Song Family.


    Unfortunately, at the time, Old Master Song¡¯s health was in decline, so a lot of the Song Family¡¯s affairs were left in Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hands.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed; that was one of the opportunities Xiao Jinglan took to act against Song Sinian.


    Zhao Xi and Qian Hong saw that Lu Zhaozhao had been silent, so they exchanged glances with each other, and in the end it was Qian Hong who began to speak.


    ¡°Madam?¡±


    She softly called out, successfully snapping Lu Zhaozhao back to reality.


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted her eyes to glance at Qian Hong, then at Zhao Xi, before slowly getting up from the sofa, ¡°I¡¯ll go see Mr. Song, and as for dinner... uh...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Madam, I will arrange it for later!¡± Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish her words, Zhao Xi excitedly grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s purse and looked at her with anticipation.


    ¡°Uh... okay.¡±


    Although Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t understand why Zhao Xi was so excited, she had too much on her mind at the moment to pay it much mind.


    This weekend, she was going to visit the mountain where Old Master Song often went to exercise.


    Fortunately, the place was not too remote nor was the altitude high, but now the most pressing issue was finding an appropriate excuse.


    Lu Zhaozhao was pondering this when she unconsciously arrived at Song Sinian¡¯s study door.


    She raised her hand to knock, but there was no response from the study.


    She gently pushed the door open, poking half her head inside, and cautiously asked into the room, ¡°Mr. Song? Are you busy?¡±


    The study was dark, the glowing computer screen casting half of his handsome face into shadow.


    ¡°Not busy.¡± As soon as her words fell, a faint voice came from inside the study.


    When Lu Zhaozhao entered, she flipped on the office¡¯s overhead light, and the dim room suddenly brightened, causing Song Sinian to squint reflexively.


    He casually took off the glasses perched on his nose and pinched the bridge of his nose with a semblance of fatigue.


    ¡°Ah, sorry, I forgot to remind you to close your eyes first.¡± She hurried over, reaching around from behind him to shade his profound eyes with her small hand.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently massaged for a moment before lifting one hand to ask, ¡°Is that better?¡±


    Song Sinian reached up to grasp her slender wrist, then let it go, not forgetting to respond to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Yes, much better.¡±


    Looking at his endearing appearance, Lu Zhaozhao simply stood behind him, letting him hold her wrist.


    She remembered what Qian Hong and Zhao Xi had said downstairs and ventured a question, ¡°Mr. Song, are you feeling unwell today?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s wrist suddenly stiffened, then he gently moved her hand aside just enough to gap and blinked at her.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly realized that he might not be able to answer her question.


    She quickly rephrased, teasingly blinking at Song Sinian, ¡°I was asking if you need a kiss, a hug, or to be lifted up high?¡±


    This time, Song Sinian visibly reacted. He pinched her wrist gently, and after hesitating, spoke very seriously, ¡°I am too heavy for you, you can¡¯t lift me up high; you would get hurt.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was almost at a loss for words, trying to lighten the mood, but it had turned awkward.


    Just as she was about to explain, she heard Song Sinian continue in his calm manner, ¡°But if you want, I am always available.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Okay, their Mr. Song must really be a little angel!


    Lu Zhaozhao felt her heart flutter instantly and couldn¡¯t help but cup Song Sinian¡¯s cheeks with her hands, leaning down to plant a kiss on his head.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly and he pulled her into his embrace, his voice tightening, ¡°Zhaozhao, kiss me...¡±

 Chapter 57 - 57 Can You Really Trick Me?

    Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Can You Really Trick Me?


    Lu Zhaozhao bowed her head and slowly leaned in towards him, the breath from her nose drawing ever closer, lightly brushing against her lips.


    Watching Song Sinian become more and more willing to express himself to her, her chest became exceptionally tender, as if it would shatter with a mere touch.


    She moved closer to him slowly, like a dragonfly skimming the water¡¯s surface, she kissed him once and was about to pull away when her neck was suddenly caught by a large hand.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t give her a chance to escape, he pressed her down with one hand, while the other effortlessly wrapped around her waist.


    Their warm breaths intermingled, and Lu Zhaozhao could clearly feel Song Sinian¡¯s breath growing heavier and deeper.


    Mixed with his refreshing, subtle scent, it enveloped her completely.


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently caressed the delicate vulnerability of her neck, beneath his fine touch was a pulsing, throbbing pulse.


    One by one, it beat, ¡°thump-thump¡± against the pads of his fingers.


    This feeling of having everything under control made something swell slightly within him, and Song Sinian¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but press down a bit harder.


    ¡°Mmm...¡± Her soft whimper fell into his ear, like a milk cat drenched by the fine rain on a rainy night.


    It struck straight to the heart, inciting a tender fondness.


    Lu Zhaozhao, clearly holding the advantageous position, was almost overwhelmed by Song Sinian¡¯s aggressive approach.


    Her head spun, her legs went weak, and she fell into his embrace.


    In the midst of her panic, she instinctively clasped his neck tighter, and although she successfully separated from him, she gasped for air in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, looking utterly petrified.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips gently brushed her somewhat moist eye corners, the hint of redness at the edges of her eyes quickened his heartbeat even more.


    His dark eyes slightly lowered, he glanced at his fingertip, ¡°I always feel that it would be lovely to listen to you cry.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Huh? What kind of ruthless words were those?


    Before Lu Zhaozhao had time to ponder whether Song Sinian¡¯s recent words carried any ambiguity, his lips gently landed on the corner of her eye.


    ¡°Sometimes, when your eyes are red they look very lovely,¡± Song Sinian said, and kissed her other eye.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked in confusion, why did it seem like Mr. Song¡¯s remarks were becoming increasingly dangerous?


    Was there something wrong with the way she taught him to express himself?


    While Lu Zhaozhao was still self-examining, Song Sinian took hold of her small hand.


    He gently kissed her wrist, looked at her seriously, and asked word by word, ¡°Did I do a good job?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ah!!! She was going to die! This was definitely a critical hit!


    And utterly merciless!


    Although his words sounded strange, from Song Sinian¡¯s perspective, they probably weren¡¯t a problem!


    Well, probably...


    She decisively nodded her head, against her better judgment, ¡°You did a great job!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s cheek rubbed against her palm, ¡°Then, can I ask for a reward again?¡±


    His gaze was so earnest, it made it difficult for Lu Zhaozhao to refuse.


    So she had no choice but to nod stiffly, without daring to meet Song Sinian¡¯s eyes.


    Suddenly, her chin was lifted, Song Sinian¡¯s burning gaze fixed on her, ¡°This time, can I choose my own reward, is that okay?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Oh, God, she was about to be flirted into cardiac bypass surgery!!!


    Looking at Song Sinian, who was still awaiting her response, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fingertips trembled ever so slightly.


    She nodded gently, and immediately, Song Sinian¡¯s lips were upon hers again.


    This time, he seemed to have shed some of his restraint, purposely pushing her to the brink as if to watch her looking pitiful, with watery eyes nestled in his embrace.


    Lu Zhaozhao leaned into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, the rise and fall of his chest brought her a significant amount of calm.


    The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was off. She furrowed her brows slightly and fixed her gaze on Song Sinian, ¡°Hmph! I have reason to suspect you¡¯re trying to steal kisses on purpose...¡±


    The light in Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils flickered, and he countered with his own question instead of answering, ¡°So, you¡¯re saying kisses can be stolen?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± Lu Zhaozhao immediately rejected the notion without a second thought.


    It seemed like teaching Song Sinian how to express his emotions had opened the door to a strange new world.


    If he learned how to steal kisses, wouldn¡¯t that be the end of it?


    With Song Sinian¡¯s intelligence, he could crush her in minutes, leaving no trace behind!


    After all, he was not expressive, not foolish.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian nervously, wanting to divert his thoughts from this matter, so she decisively changed the subject.


    ¡°I... I heard you¡¯re going to the Song Mansion recently?¡±


    Upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Song Sinian suddenly became still.


    The Song Mansion was not a pleasant place for him, so he avoided going back unless it was necessary.


    He was even more reluctant to take Lu Zhaozhao back with him.


    Besides, that place also housed Xiao Jinglan.


    Just the thought of her darkened Song Sinian¡¯s expression.


    Lu Zhaozhao noticed the change in Song Sinian¡¯s face and tilted her head to look at him, ¡°You don¡¯t want to go back?¡±


    If it had been in her past life, she definitely would have thought that Song Sinian¡¯s silence meant he did not want to take her to the Song Mansion, thinking perhaps that her status was not presentable enough.


    But in this life, she would never think along those lines.


    Although she didn¡¯t fully understand Song Sinian yet, she wouldn¡¯t misunderstand him as she had before.


    Song Sinian rested his forehead on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, murmuring in a low voice, ¡°I just don¡¯t want to be apart from you for so long.¡±


    Going to the Song Mansion for Old Master Song¡¯s birthday meant that he would have to stay there overnight.


    The thought of not being able to hold Lu Zhaozhao in his sleep made him feel quite unsettled.


    Very, very irritable.


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had considered many reasons but never thought Mr. Song¡¯s reason would be this.


    She couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly, about to say she could accompany Song Sinian to the Song Mansion.


    But then it occurred to her, could it be that he hadn¡¯t thought to take her? Certainly not. She guessed Song Sinian was still bothered by the last incident involving Xiao Jinglan¡¯s poisoning.


    She gently embraced Song Sinian and patted his back, ¡°Then... how about I make it up to you when you get back?¡±


    Clearly, Song Sinian was intrigued by the suggestion.


    His eyes moved slightly, staring intently at Lu Zhaozhao, and he asked very seriously, ¡°How would you make it up?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head thoughtfully, ¡°Mmm... like, maybe I could stick to you all day long? Wherever you go, I¡¯ll follow? How about following you to work and back?¡±


    Although the likelihood was low, considering Old Master Song might have an accident and end up hospitalized before his 80th birthday.


    Even if she intervened, she might not be able to prevent it.


    But she couldn¡¯t tell Song Sinian that, especially since she wasn¡¯t sure whether Old Master Song would make the same choices in this life as he did in the previous one.


    After all, many things had changed significantly in this life because of her choices.


    So, she could only suggest conditions that he would accept.


    Song Sinian¡¯s palm rested on the cool small of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back, the soft touch clinging to his hand, and listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words made his heart tremble slightly...

 Chapter 58 - 58 Yes! This is a good idea!

    Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Yes! This is a good idea!


    She said she wanted to stick with him all day, wherever he went, she would follow, accompanying him to and from work.


    Was it possible that enduring a little was rewarded with such a hefty reward?


    This was something he hadn¡¯t thought of before.


    As long as he agreed, this would be the most profitable deal he had ever made.


    He was about to agree when he heard Lu Zhaozhao add another sentence, ¡°If you think that¡¯s still not enough, how about I give you a gift later?¡±


    Song Sinian was slightly stunned, then nodded gently.


    For a second, he felt somewhat glad that he had been slow to respond; that way, he could get an extra gift from Zhaozhao.


    But just a moment ago, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit scared, truly worried that if he took too long to consider, she might change her mind.


    Thank goodness...


    Things were moving in a good direction.


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly noticed that Song Sinian¡¯s mood had lightened considerably since earlier, so she took the opportunity to make her own request.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I would like to go to Beishan this weekend to draw inspiration. I¡¯ve heard that the maple leaves on the mountains are beautiful, and I would like to paint a few pictures there,¡± she said, striving to maintain a calm voice, her tone light.


    However, this didn¡¯t change the frown that abruptly creased Song Sinian¡¯s brow when he heard her words.


    It was even more severe than before she had walked in.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a chill in her heart, seeing Song Sinian¡¯s expression, it seemed unlikely he would agree.


    However, to her surprise, after Song Sinian pondered for a moment, as if making a major decision, he looked at her, ¡°Beishan¡¯s environment is very complex, if you want to go, you must bring a bodyguard.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    He actually agreed?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked, and once she came back to her senses, she immediately nodded with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Song, I will definitely take good care of the bodyguard!¡±


    ¡°Take two,¡± Song Sinian added.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t hesitate, and nodded again, ¡°Mm-hmm! Two bodyguards.¡±


    If it meant she could go, she wouldn¡¯t mind even if it meant bringing seven or eight bodyguards.


    She intended to ¡°accidentally¡± run into Old Master Song on the mountain, and perhaps these bodyguards could come in handy.


    Song Sinian held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand tightly, seemingly still worried about her going out to hike.


    In his memory, she had always been so delicate that even the knife used for eating and the shoes she wore could hurt her.


    He truly couldn¡¯t imagine what Lu Zhaozhao would be like in that kind of complex wilderness.


    His gaze lingered on her slender wrist, his thumb involuntarily stroking it, ¡°When they go up the mountain, have them bring a medical kit as well.¡±


    Listening to Song Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, tilting her body, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just say to send a medical team to the top of the mountain for me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Right! That¡¯s a great idea!


    Seeing that Song Sinian didn¡¯t speak, Lu Zhaozhao thought he had given up on the idea of bringing a medical kit for her, completely unaware that Song Sinian was already planning the medical team for her...


    That evening, after dinner, Lu Zhaozhao returned to the bedroom first.


    She had just reached the bedroom door when she received a message from hacker J.


    [hacker J: What do you need to do? Just to clarify, I don¡¯t take jobs that are illegal or disorderly.]


    Lu Zhaozhao saw the message and couldn¡¯t help but smile, quickly typing a line in response.


    ¡°`


    [Newbie ZZ: It¡¯s not illegal; I just want to see what the camera in my room has captured, simply to protect my privacy.]


    This time, the response from the other side came much quicker than before.


    [hacker J: If it¡¯s the camera in your room, why do you need someone else¡¯s help?]


    [Newbie ZZ: Because I didn¡¯t install it; someone secretly placed it in my room.]


    Lu Zhaozhao had no idea that right after she sent that message, the person on the other side of the computer became quite agitated.


    His brows were nearly twisted into a knot as he sat by the hospital bed, his complexion terrifyingly somber.


    Xia Wenmo put the book he was holding next to him and, with a suspicious lift of his eyebrows, looked at the person sitting by the bed, clutching the laptop, and asked, ¡°Big brother, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Xia Wenjue was usually unexpressive about his emotions, especially towards his family, generally maintaining a good temper. Seeing him with such an ugly expression was a first for Xia Wenmo.


    So, Xia Wenmo was somewhat curious.


    Xia Wenjue turned his laptop toward Xia Wenmo, showing him the conversation between the two.


    His eyebrows lifted, ¡°Someone¡¯s been secretly filmed, and you¡¯ve started doing charity work now? You¡¯re meddling in such trivial matters?¡±


    Before taking over the Xia Family business, his big brother was a computer whiz, but afterwards, it became just a hobby.


    Usually, even the tasks he took on seemed to be quite challenging.


    Therefore, Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t see anything worthwhile about the task at hand.


    Xia Wenjue turned his head somberly, nearly gritting his teeth as he articulated every word, ¡°This ID, I checked it this morning, it¡¯s Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Xia Wenmo nearly jumped off the hospital bed, roaring uncontrollably, ¡°Check it! Now! Don¡¯t let the little bastard who installed the camera get away with anything!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This was a perfect example of a double standard, as Xia Wenmo was now fully exhibiting.


    Xia Wenjue sighed quietly and immediately sent over a series of characters.


    [Send me the IP address.]


    Although they now knew that Lu Zhaozhao was living at the Song Family¡¯s place, they still had to pretend ignorance.


    What Xia Wenjue definitely didn¡¯t expect was that the IP address Lu Zhaozhao sent over was actually from the Lu Family!


    Whatever was involved behind the scenes of this matter, it was not theirs to guess, but whatever it was, it was chilling enough.


    The parents who raised Lu Zhaozhao had actually installed a camera in her bedroom.


    This was far worse than could be described with just the word ¡°appalling.¡±


    [They probably haven¡¯t installed it for long, so I¡¯m also not sure what exactly it captured, but I hope J can help.]


    While Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenmo were staring blankly at the IP address, another message from Lu Zhaozhao came in.


    ¡°The Lu Family wouldn¡¯t be thinking of controlling Zhaozhao after seeing her married into the Song Family and harder to manipulate, right?¡± Xia Wenmo said with an indifferent look on his face.


    He had already been furious upon hearing that Lu Zhaozhao was mentally abused by Mr. and Mrs. Lu.


    Now, hearing such ¡°explosive¡± news was enough to make him want to explode on the spot.


    Xia Wenjue did not speak, but his hands began to frantically operate on the computer.


    If it was as Xia Wenmo had said, then he couldn¡¯t afford to waste another second.


    If the Lu Family truly had something on Lu Zhaozhao, in the end, it would be their dear sister who would be hurt.


    For him, hacking into an IP address and stealing indoor surveillance footage was child¡¯s play.


    Soon, several folders marked with dates appeared on his computer.


    Xia Wenjue casually opened a video with the most recent date, and the figures of Xia Wenjin and Cao Mei abruptly appeared before them...


    ¡°`

 Chapter 59: The Fragile Lady of Their Family

    Chapter 59: Chapter 59: The Fragile Lady of Their Family


    ¡°To get a bitch like Lu Zhaozhao to obey, you have to crush what she prides herself on most!¡±


    ¡°That makes sense, if she accidentally offends some riffraff outside and gets defiled... then the only shelter she¡¯d be able to find would be our Lu Family...¡±


    ¡°Exactly, then isn¡¯t it just whatever Mom wants her to do that she¡¯ll have to do?¡±


    ...


    The voices transmitted in the video echoed in the spacious hospital room.


    The two men present, already silent, now exhibited a clear rise of malice in their eyes.


    ¡°Before, I only thought Xia Wenjin was scheming, but now, isn¡¯t her malevolence a whole lot more?¡± Xia Wenmo¡¯s lips curled coldly as he hummed.


    She had just returned to the Lu Family and was already scheming against Lu Zhaozhao with her biological mother?


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s sharp gaze was fixed on the two people on the screen, and after a long moment, he spoke coldly, ¡°For the people of the Lu Family to be so uniformly wicked, that¡¯s really rare.¡±


    He almost ground his back teeth as he spoke.


    They hadn¡¯t even settled scores with the Lu Family yet, and they were already harboring other intentions towards Lu Zhaozhao?


    Especially this Xia Wenjin, he truly viewed her in a new light!


    Xia Wenmo glanced at Xia Wenjue, ¡°Big Brother, I remember you recently investigated the Lu Family¡¯s situation domestically, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjue nodded, his eyes and brows still tinged with an indescribable coldness, ¡°The Lu Family¡¯s main orders are for overseas projects, and they seem to be planning to bid on the Jade Vein recently.¡±


    The coldness in Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyes flitted, ¡°Overseas projects, eh? Our Xia Family just happens to match.¡±


    His implication could not have been more obvious: with the Xia Family¡¯s capability, stealing the Lu Family¡¯s orders wouldn¡¯t be hard.


    ¡°The specifics, I¡¯ve already sent a specialist to handle,¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s dark eyes deepened, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be so ruthless originally, but since the Lu Family doesn¡¯t appreciate favors, it¡¯s time they felt what it¡¯s like to have someone tighten the noose around their necks.¡±


    Xia Wenmo raised his eyebrows, not forgetting to emphasize, ¡°And that Jade Vein auction, don¡¯t leave even a single root of hair for the Lu Family!¡±


    ¡°Alright, leave it to me,¡± Xia Wenjue said, while he started packing up the documents in front of him.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s gaze swept over Xia Wenjue, unable to resist asking, ¡°You aren¡¯t planning to send her all these videos, are you?¡±


    He was a bit worried about whether Lu Zhaozhao could withstand this blow.


    Xia Wenjue understood Xia Wenmo¡¯s meaning too, and he sighed lightly, ¡°If we don¡¯t let Zhaozhao know, her situation could be even more dangerous.¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t deny this fact; after all, the woman was the foster mother who had raised her for so many years. If she didn¡¯t see the truth herself, she probably wouldn¡¯t believe it.


    Thinking this, his heart began to ache for Lu Zhaozhao again.


    Once he recovered from the surgery, he would definitely protect his precious little sister properly!


    The next day, bright and early, Lu Zhaozhao arrived at Beishan with her easel, accompanied by two bodyguards and... a whole medical team.


    Stepping out of the car, Lu Zhaozhao glimpsed at the medical team behind her and couldn¡¯t help but sigh heavily.


    She had said that Song Sinian agreed too easily not to let her bring a medical kit; it turned out he was waiting here for her...


    If they could save Old Master Song on the mountain later, this medical team would truly be a godsend.


    What if Mr. Song changed his plans because of the butterfly effect, then would her climb to the mountaintop for a sketching trip be considered social suicide?


    ¡°Madam, the medical team will head up the mountain first, we can take our time going up, the master said safety first.¡± Qian Shiyi, holding the equipment Lu Zhaozhao used for sketching, briefly explained while standing nearby.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, pressed down the visor on her forehead, and then joined Qian Shiyi and the others in their ascent.


    For the sake of convenience, she had specially changed into casual wear.


    However, she had hardly worn this style of clothing before, so the casual shirt she was wearing was secretly taken from Song Sinian¡¯s wardrobe.


    His clothes were mostly in cool tones, which made them extra easy to match.


    Since Beishan wasn¡¯t very high, they quickly made it to mid-mountain.


    Qian Shiyi looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a bit of concern and asked quietly, ¡°Madam, there¡¯s a resting platform up ahead with a nice environment, do you want to rest for a bit?¡±


    When he arrived, Qian Hong and Zhao Xi almost grabbed his ears and repeatedly instructed him to take good care of Lu Zhaozhao.


    They insisted that he must not let her get tired or injured.


    So, all along the way, Qian Shiyi was highly vigilant and kept a close watch on Lu Zhaozhao.


    To his surprise, Lu Zhaozhao was cheerful the whole way, and even followed closely behind the medical team.


    You must know, the medical personnel sent by their master were experts trained in outdoor survival.


    It was hard for ordinary people to keep up, let alone their delicate madam...


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, ¡°Uh... I think I¡¯m okay, I don¡¯t need to rest for now.¡±


    In truth, whether in her past life or this one, she had kept a secret from everyone; she had fought in underground boxing rings after reaching adulthood.


    The Lu Family did not want her to enjoy the privileges of being their daughter; apart from emotionally abusing her, they virtually ignored her, so she had plenty of time to box.


    If not for the fact that in her previous life, she had eaten the poisoned cubilose given by Xiao Jinglan and harbored frustrations in her heart, her physical condition would not have deteriorated so badly.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked around and asked nonchalantly, ¡°Is this the only path up and down Beishan? Are there any particularly dangerous spots?¡±


    Having hiked halfway up, she hadn¡¯t even seen Mr. Song or anyone else; could it be that everything was fine?


    Qian Shiyi looked up at the path continuing up the mountain, pointed towards a distant spot, and said, ¡°Past the resting platform ahead, there is a section where the steps are a bit steep, but it¡¯s not much of a challenge for most people.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded and then continued climbing up.


    Just when she thought today¡¯s journey was almost perfectly complete, she saw a familiar figure.


    Mr. Song was standing on the steps not far away, drinking water; he appeared to have just finished climbing and was about to head down.


    Looking at his condition, he didn¡¯t seem to be someone who had any health issues.


    Lu Zhaozhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to pretend she didn¡¯t recognize him and just walk past, when she suddenly saw Mr. Song stagger a few steps.


    With a quick reaction, she rushed forward and grabbed hold of Mr. Song, but his body had already lost balance, causing him to crash into Lu Zhaozhao, and they both fell down the steps together.


    ¡°Madam!¡± Qian Shiyi panicked instantly.


    He had only looked away for a moment, and their madam was already in danger!


    Supporting herself up, Lu Zhaozhao looked at Mr. Song who had fallen on top of her, endured the discomfort in her back, and yelled at Qian Shiyi, ¡°Call, call the medical team over!¡±


    Mr. Song had just collapsed; there might still be time to treat him!

 Chapter 60 - 60 Mr. Song, Im in pain...

    Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Mr. Song, I¡¯m in pain...


    Qian Shiyi was sending signals to the medical team while helping Lu Zhaozhao up.


    As for Old Master Song, no one dared to move him recklessly; they just placed him on a spacious platform to wait for the rescue.


    Fortunately, the rescue team was not far away and soon arrived to treat Old Master Song promptly.


    ¡°How is he? Does he have any life-threatening conditions?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows were deeply furrowed, and she looked worriedly at Old Master Song lying on the ground.


    In the last life, it was because he had been found too late that the accident happened. Even though the speed of the treatment had been the fastest this time, Lu Zhaozhao still feared that the outcome might not change.


    After performing simple first aid on Old Master Song, the rescue team¡¯s doctor explained to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Madam, don¡¯t worry. The old gentleman only fainted due to low blood sugar. Fortunately, he did not injure his head when he fell, so there is no life-threatening condition.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao breathed a sigh of relief, but then she immediately had other doubts.


    Old Master Song¡¯s blood sugar did indeed have problems, but he often exercised like this and was well aware of his physical condition; how could he suddenly faint due to low blood sugar?


    Suddenly, as if remembering something, she recalled that Old Master Song had drunk a bottle of water just before.


    She scanned the underbrush and quickly spotted the unfinished bottle of water.


    She bent down, picked up the bottle, and directly stuffed it into her backpack. It seemed an investigation into whether this incident involving Old Master Song was an accident was indeed necessary.


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was that, from afar behind the trees, a figure had watched everything, captured it on their phone, and then silently hid behind the trees again.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Jinglan, who was having her nails done at a salon, soon received the photo.


    Her brows furrowed, seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face in the photo made her want to throw her phone.


    Again, it was this Lu Zhaozhao!


    Every time she appeared, she disrupted Xiao Jinglan¡¯s plans!


    Xiao Jinglan narrowed her eyes and sent the photo directly to Xiao Mo, then dialed his number.


    The phone was quickly answered.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice transmitted anxiously, ¡°Did you see the photo on the phone?¡±


    They had been planning this scheme for a long time, taking advantage of Old Master Song¡¯s habits and medical condition.


    Normally, there aren¡¯t many people coming to Beishan, and with some tricks they had used, if someone found Old Master Song, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t be able to carry him down the mountain.


    They would have to wait for the rescue team, and the time it took would be enough for Old Master Song to be beyond help.


    Even if he was lucky to be saved, his brain might be damaged, allowing some of the Song Family¡¯s powers to fall into her hands.


    But she never expected... that Lu Zhaozhao would bring a medical team up the mountain!


    Was she insane?


    Xiao Mo, on the other end of the phone, seemed surprised that the plan had failed, and after taking the call, he was silent for a few seconds.


    This made Xiao Jinglan even more anxious, ¡°What do we do now? If the Old Master really starts an investigation, it might lead back to me...¡±


    It would be a lie to say she wasn¡¯t scared.


    Xiao Mo frowned slightly, ¡°Why panic? As long as the Old Master isn¡¯t seriously injured, this matter won¡¯t be delved into deeply.¡±


    His tone carried a hint of displeasure, but he still patiently reassured, ¡°Start preparing to take care of the Old Master now. You might even get back your previous authority.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± Clearly, Xiao Jinglan was still not entirely reassured.


    Could this really not be traced back to her?


    Xiao Mo could hear Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hesitation; he comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle the follow-up, and it absolutely won¡¯t lead back to you.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan sighed with relief upon hearing this.


    The two hung up the phone, and Xiao Mo enlarged the photo in his hand, his eyebrows lifting uncontrollably at the sight of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s beautiful profile.


    Since returning from the charity event in Nanjing, he hadn¡¯t had a chance to get close to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Now, taking this opportunity, he could legitimately make contact with her...


    By noon, Lu Zhaozhao had returned home.


    As soon as she entered, she quietly explained to Qian Hong and then went upstairs to take a shower.


    It was only when she undressed in the bathroom that she saw the distinct bruises on her back.


    She had fallen and hit the steps when Mr. Song had bumped into her, and at that moment, she was only concerned about Mr. Song and completely forgot about her own injuries.


    Now that everything else was handled, her back hurt so much she could barely straighten up.


    Fortunately, after visiting the hospital and getting an X-ray, they confirmed the bones weren¡¯t damaged, and she returned home with the ointment the doctor had prescribed.


    When she had gone upstairs earlier, she had informed Qian Hong beforehand, asking her to help apply the ointment after she finished showering.


    She thought it would be quick, but because her back really hurt, she spent a long time struggling in the bathroom before finally emerging weakly and collapsing directly onto the bed.


    Suddenly, she heard the sound of the bedroom door opening.


    With her head buried, she mumbled, ¡°Aunt Qian, could you help me apply the ointment? It¡¯s on the nightstand, and I¡¯m in too much pain to move.¡±


    ...


    Though the person who entered didn¡¯t speak, Lu Zhaozhao could hear them moving toward the nightstand.


    Shortly after, she felt the mattress sink slightly, and her sleep shirt was lifted.


    ¡°Hisss...¡±


    The cool ointment touched her back, and Lu Zhaozhao sharply inhaled, her entire back tensing, which only caused more pain.


    Burying her head, her small hands clutched the blanket tightly, as she didn¡¯t forget to instruct, ¡°Aunt Qian, just go ahead, I can bear it.¡±


    Unexpectedly, however, the hands on her back were warm and soft, not as painful as she had anticipated.


    Whether it was the medicine warming in her palm or not, her back suddenly felt less painful.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head tilted slightly, about to express her thanks, when she inadvertently met Song Sinian¡¯s cold gaze.


    It was over...


    Mr. Song from her household knew.


    To prevent him from finding out about her injury, she had gone to the hospital by herself and even enlisted Aunt Qian.


    But she had never anticipated that he would come home early.


    Lu Zhaozhao awkwardly tugged the corner of her mouth, ¡°Mr. Song, why are you back?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids flickered, giving her a decidedly frosty look, ¡°I just got off work.¡±


    His tone was even colder than his expression.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew Song Sinian must be angry, although his emotions were hard to read, but she could feel the sudden drop in the surrounding atmosphere.


    She reached out her small hand to tug at his sleeve, cooing, ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m in pain...¡±


    ¡°You just said you could handle it directly, that you could bear it,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s eyes shifted slightly, his tone remaining calm but with an undertone of indifference.


    But only Lu Zhaozhao knew, the hand he rested on her back had become lighter, softer...

 Chapter 61 - 61 This Stubborn Man!

    Chapter 61: Chapter 61 This Stubborn Man!


    Lu Zhaozhao knew he was holding back his anger, probably because he was distressed that she got hurt without telling him.


    He had clearly sent a medical team, but she still got hurt. It was understandable that Song Sinian was unhappy.


    But there really was no need for the two of them to get upset over this.


    So, without a second thought, Lu Zhaozhao pitifully admitted her mistake, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you about the injury because I was afraid you¡¯d get mad, Mr. Song. Please don¡¯t be mad at me now that I¡¯ve already been punished, okay~¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand paused slightly, his eyes landing on the bruise on her back, his gaze filled with complexity.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t punishment, it¡¯s my failure to protect you.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Even without seeing his face, Lu Zhaozhao could hear the low spirits in his voice.


    She was instantly at a loss.


    She truly knew she was in the wrong.


    Now, how should she coax their Mr. Song to make him feel better?


    Help...


    He might as well have just gotten angry with her.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°Mr. Song, I won¡¯t run around anymore.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of myself when I go out.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°I really, really know I was wrong...¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Listening to Song Sinian¡¯s nonchalant responses, Lu Zhaozhao felt numb.


    Her back was already in severe pain, and now with Song Sinian angry at her, her lips quivered as she buried her head in the pillow.


    After Song Sinian finished applying the ointment, he realized that she hadn¡¯t spoken for quite some time.


    Moreover, her shoulders seemed to tremble slightly as she lay there.


    His brows furrowed slightly, and he reached out to touch her little face, the dampness shocking his fingertips.


    ¡°You...¡±


    Song Sinian sighed softly and lay down beside her, gently encircling her with his arm, patting her shoulder with care.


    Lu Zhaozhao, feeling his tender movements, looked up at Song Sinian, her eyes red and watery like a pitiful little rabbit, tugging at one¡¯s heartstrings.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you¡¯ve changed, you don¡¯t even kiss me now...¡± Lu Zhaozhao complained with a pout, looking accusingly at Song Sinian.


    Whenever she cried before, he would kiss her without a second thought.


    Now that he was angry, the way he consoled her seemed downgraded.


    Song Sinian raised his hand, his thumb gently rubbing her cheek, wiping away the tears streaking down her face, patiently explaining, ¡°Just now you were in so much pain, you grimaced with every move.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not in pain!¡± she said, reaching out to grab Song Sinian¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Hiss...¡±


    Before she could touch his wrist, Lu Zhaozhao winced in pain.


    Song Sinian reached out to hold her little hand, keeping her from moving, and even his gaze softened.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, be good, don¡¯t cry.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, he bent down and gently kissed the corner of her mouth.


    Her pitiful appearance was irresistibly itch-inducing, and he had already been trying his utmost to resist the urge to crush her in his embrace and do as he pleased.


    Yet this little one always managed to shake his resolve time after time.


    Lu Zhaozhao sniffled weakly, blinked her eyes brimming with moisture as she looked at him, ¡°You said before that my crying sounded nice, liar...¡±


    For the first time, Song Sinian truly understood the meaning of ¡°being at a loss whether to laugh or cry.¡±


    His large hand landed on her pale neck, gently kneading it before he finally leaned down. His lips descended repeatedly, exceptionally tender.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to respond to him, she suddenly realized that Song Sinian had taken a firm hold on the back of her neck, making her unable to move in the slightest.


    Hah... this stubborn man!


    She was kissed carefully and cautiously by Song Sinian, who then gradually loosened his grip.


    ¡°Lie still and don¡¯t move,¡± his voice was slightly hoarse, gentle and steady, tickling one¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Zhaozhao pouted but obediently heeded his words, honestly lying still on the bed.


    Song Sinian sighed lightly at the sight of her and pinched her little face, ¡°The person you saved today was my grandfather, and he¡¯s alright now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Lu Zhaozhao felt much relieved.


    Although the medical team had mentioned it was just a case of low blood sugar that caused the unconsciousness, she had still been a bit worried.


    Now that Song Sinian had said so, naturally, Lu Zhaozhao breathed a sigh of relief too.


    It was good that she hadn¡¯t suffered in vain.


    ¡°It¡¯s not good,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes were fixed intently on Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Do you know what could have happened if the two of you had fallen at the same time? It¡¯s too terrible to imagine.¡±


    He was chilled to the bone when Qian Shiyi reported that Lu Zhaozhao had been injured.


    Normally, even the slightest scratch on her body took a long time to heal, and now, she had nearly rolled down the mountain steps!


    His hands were shaking as he drove back.


    It wasn¡¯t until he saw her, the instant he touched her, that he felt the real sense of her still being with him all along.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes blinked as she muttered softly, ¡°I...I didn¡¯t think that much at that time...¡±


    A trace of darkness swept across the depths of Song Sinian¡¯s eyes. He reached out to pinch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face, his lips once again pressing against hers.


    Unlike before, his breath was tinged with a hint of fierceness, his teeth deliberately nibbling with a bit more force on her lips.


    Lu Zhaozhao moaned softly, her little hands making a symbolic struggle before Song Sinian immediately relaxed his pressure, slowly releasing her lips.


    His slightly heavy breathing descended downwards and suddenly, he firmly sucked on her neck, leaving a reddish mark with ease on her fair skin.


    The soft touch made Lu Zhaozhao shiver, a strange tingling sensation drifting through her heart like an electric current, surging through her blood into her heart.


    It sent tingles through her chest.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze lowered, fixated on the red mark, and after a moment, he raised his hand to stroke it, ¡°From now on, no other marks are allowed on your body except the ones I leave.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth, but all of her words stalled at her lips.


    It was rare for Song Sinian to express his feelings so openly, especially in such a domineering manner.


    It took a good while for her brain to reboot on the spot, and by the time she regained her senses and thought to speak, Song Sinian had already gently kissed the corner of her eye, ¡°Zhaozhao, can you be good for me?¡±


    All the words she had accumulated ultimately turned into a feeble ¡°Okay¡± under his gaze.


    Okay, okay, okay! She just couldn¡¯t withstand being coaxed by Song Sinian.


    When he turned on his charm, she would¡¯ve plucked the stars from the sky if he asked, let alone agreeing to such a small request.


    Song Sinian seemed very satisfied with her answer, kissing her other eye as well, ¡°Stay at home obediently tomorrow, I...I¡¯ll stay with you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao agreed without a second thought, completely unaware that Song Sinian had breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her response...

 Chapter 62: Isnt Calling Anyone the Same?

    Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Isn¡¯t Calling Anyone the Same?


    Thankfully, she needed him too.


    He gently touched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, and the soft sensation made his mood lighten up slightly, ¡°I¡¯ll go deal with some things on my end, wait for me to come back.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Zhaozhao lay on the bed, immediately giving Song Sinian feedback.


    Only then did he stand up and leave the bedroom.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out for the mobile phone on the bedside table, lying on the pillow and struggling to send out a message.


    [Mom Xia, I¡¯ve got something urgent this Sunday and can¡¯t make it over, I¡¯m sorry.]


    Soon, she received a reply from the other side of the computer.


    [Take care of whatever you need to, Mom¡¯s always here waiting for you to come back home.]


    Looking at the warm words on the screen, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly narrowed into crescents, and then she sent another message.


    [Thank you, Mom Xia.]


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    The short message tone rang out in the room, and Wen Qingyu immediately picked up her mobile phone; upon seeing the message, she couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mom?¡± Xia Wenjue, who was picking dishes, saw that Wen Qingyu¡¯s face didn¡¯t look too good and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    The only thing that could possibly concern his mom this much was probably Lu Zhaozhao. Could it be that something had happened to her?


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly. Had Cao Mei and the others moved so quickly?


    If that were the case, the bodyguard he had assigned to protect Lu Zhaozhao would have reported to him by now.


    While he was thinking, his phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated, and Xia Wenjue¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°Zhaozhao says she won¡¯t be coming over for dinner on Sunday; I don¡¯t know if something happened.¡± Wen Qingyu sighed lightly, suddenly losing her appetite for lunch.


    Xia Wenqing sneakily glanced at Xia Wenjue and, seeing that the latter¡¯s face wasn¡¯t looking right, gently nudged him with his arm and whispered, ¡°Big brother, is everything okay on your end?¡±


    Wei Wenjue had informed him of the incident involving Lu Zhaozhao being secretly photographed yesterday, so upon hearing Wen Qingyu say Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t make it, he too was a bit worried.


    Xia Wenjue didn¡¯t say anything but took out his phone from his pocket and saw the message about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s injury from climbing.


    He frowned and sent a message back, then leaned slightly toward Xia Wenqing, saying, ¡°She had an accident while climbing and got injured.¡±


    As for whether it was really an accident, that would have to wait for the results of a further investigation.


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look any better.


    Seeing the atmosphere at the dining table turn somber in an instant because of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s message, Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows immediately knotted.


    ¡°If you guys are free this weekend, I can call Wen Jin over; she¡¯s a sister too, does it matter who we invite?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now the entire dining room fell silent.


    Xia Wenyan looked straight at the three of them, blinking cluelessly, ¡°Did I, did I say something wrong?¡±


    Wen Qingyu glanced at Xia Wenyan, took his bowl, and called out to Kaka who was lying on one side, ¡°Lao Si, come, let Mom add a chicken leg for you.¡±


    With that, she picked up a chicken leg and placed it in the bowl in front of Kaka.


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°???¡±


    ¡°Wen Qingyu continued, ¡°Lao Si, when your sister arrives, don¡¯t be like some ungrateful wretch, okay? Get along with your sister, you hear?¡± As he spoke, he even patted Kaka¡¯s head.


    The corners of Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth twitched, and his gaze shifted toward his oldest and second brothers sitting opposite him.


    Yet he saw them each hand a chicken wing with their chopsticks, stuffing two more into Kaka¡¯s bowl.


    ¡°Come on, Lao Si, eat up.¡±


    ¡°Lao Si, have another chicken wing.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Xia Wenyan watched the childish trio in front of him, so infuriated he almost had to pinch himself to calm down.


    Suddenly, his phone on the dining table vibrated.


    Xia Wenyan glanced at it and discovered it was a text message from the principal of Yuqing University.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin skipped school on Friday without taking leave. I hope nothing¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s frown deepened, and he immediately dialed Xia Wenjin.


    At the time Xia Wenjin was admitted to the university, he had specially asked the principal to look out for her and even left an emergency contact for convenience.


    His mom wasn¡¯t adept at handling these matters, his dad was often traveling with his mom, his oldest brother was too busy, his second and third brothers didn¡¯t like Xia Wenjin, so all the responsibilities fell on his shoulders.


    ¡°Doo doo doo...¡±


    The phone rang for ages before Xia Wenjin finally picked up.


    ¡°Hello? Wen Jin, where did you go last Friday? Why didn¡¯t you go to class? Did something happen?¡±


    There was a brief pause on the other end of the phone, then came a voice full of grievance, ¡°Did Lu Zhaozhao tell you? Didn¡¯t she tell you how she bullied me that day?¡±


    An eerie silence fell over the dining table, Xia Wenjin¡¯s voice ringing clear in everyone¡¯s ears.


    The atmosphere in the dining room visibly dropped.


    Xia Wenyan hurriedly explained, ¡°It wasn¡¯t her. The principal saw you skipped class and sent me a message. Did something happen to you?¡±


    By now, everyone in their family was cherishing Lu Zhaozhao, and Xia Wenjin¡¯s words didn¡¯t help her case. At this rate, he couldn¡¯t hold them back much longer.


    But Xia Wenjin completely missed Xia Wenyan¡¯s hint and continued to sling mud at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°What else could happen to me except being bullied by Lu Zhaozhao? Mrs. Lu was kind enough to suggest we get along, to let her stay at the Lu residence for a few days, but she not only declined but also insulted me!¡±


    ¡°Uh... That does seem a bit much,¡± said Xia Wenyan, and as soon as the words came out, two sharp gazes fixed on him.


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing both knew that Lu Zhaozhao refrained from returning to the Lu Family for fear of her privacy being invaded. Xia Wenjin, fully aware of the truth, had deliberately tried to lure Lu Zhaozhao back, which was downright malicious!


    When Xia Wenjin heard Xia Wenyan seem to take her side, she quickly added, ¡°Fourth brother, can¡¯t you persuade Lu Zhaozhao to stay at the Lu residence for a few days? I really do want to get along with her...¡±


    ¡°This...¡± Xia Wenyan clearly hesitated.


    As far as his relationship with Lu Zhaozhao went, far from persuading her, he wouldn¡¯t have exchanged a word with her if she hadn¡¯t come over for dinner on weekends.


    Seeing that he was slow to agree, Xia Wenjin complained, ¡°I heard Lu Zhaozhao goes to our house every week. She must have bad-mouthed me a lot, even mom and big brother have been colder to me. If even you, fourth brother, believe her, then there¡¯s no one to help me...¡±


    Xia Wenyan, remembering the times Lu Zhaozhao had visited their home, pursed his lips and couldn¡¯t help defending her, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao does come every weekend, but she has never bad-mouthed you.¡±


    ¡°I knew it, fourth brother, you¡¯ve changed too! You¡¯re siding with Lu Zhaozhao! I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore!¡± Having said that, Xia Wenjin hung up the phone.


    Leaving Xia Wenyan completely baffled.


    The phone call to Xia Wenjin was not meant to be about Lu Zhaozhao, was it?


    As he was still bemused, Xia Wenjue came over, patted his shoulder with a significant gesture, and solemnly began¡ª

 Chapter 63: 63 Hes Just Lucky Thats All

    Chapter 63: Chapter 63 He¡¯s Just Lucky That¡¯s All


    ¡°Xia Wenyan, in some time we¡¯re going to make Zhaozhao¡¯s identity public, and if you maintain this attitude by then, just go ahead and change your surname to Lu along with Xia Wenjin!¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked at his eldest brother in utter disbelief, ¡°No way, are you serious?¡±


    Although he wasn¡¯t exactly the family favorite back home, at least his older brothers were always protective of him. Sure, the third brother had a bit of a sharp tongue sometimes, but they still cared for him deeply.


    Such harsh words were almost unheard of for him.


    But now, seeing Xia Wenjue¡¯s stern expression, there seemed to be not a trace of jesting.


    He pursed his lips, and the protest that had come to his mouth was forcefully swallowed back down.


    He turned to Xia Wenqing somewhat timidly, just in time to hear him sigh helplessly and say, ¡°Lao Si, we told you to investigate before and you were reluctant. Now I can only say... Zhaozhao has never been treated well by the Lu Family, think about the rest on your own.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Upon hearing this, Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes incredulously widened.


    Wasn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao the precious daughter of the Lu Family?


    What did they mean by never being treated well?


    He wanted to ask more, but Xia Wenqing had already left.


    Xia Wenjue and Wen Qingyu naturally couldn¡¯t be bothered to pay him any more attention, and even the dishes on the table were collected away.


    Not a single leaf of greens was left for him.


    Xia Wenyan looked at Kaka, who was still eating at the dining table, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Seriously, less than a dog...¡±


    Tuesday at noon, the sky was overcast, but it never rained.


    The air was cooler than usual.


    After hurting her back from a fall while hiking, Lu Zhaozhao had laid in the villa for a full three days. After her incessant assurances and multiple examinations by the doctor, she finally had the chance to return to school.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t particularly like school, nor was she averse to spending time with Song Sinian.


    It was just... spending the whole day lying down was really... too exhausting!


    There weren¡¯t many classes in the morning, and she intended to use the lunch break to buy a bubble tea outside school. However, she ended up running into an unwelcome figure right at the school gates.


    ¡°Hey! Beautiful Miss!¡± From a distance, Xiao Mo greeted Lu Zhaozhao.


    He was dressed smartly, resembling his past self.


    She suddenly wondered, why hadn¡¯t she noticed he was such a scumbag in her previous life?


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded towards him and turned to leave when Xiao Mo reached out and stopped her, ¡°Miss Lu, I trust you¡¯ve been well, I¡¯ve come to see you on purpose this time.¡±


    The corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly, and she looked at Xiao Mo, feigning confusion, word by word, ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re very familiar with each other.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face stiffened, but he quickly recovered, ¡°I¡¯ve come on behalf of our old master, the elderly gentleman that Miss Lu saved on Beishan, I¡¯m specifically here to thank you.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Their old master?


    Since when did Mr. Song become Xiao Mo¡¯s family member?


    Quite the relationship to claim.


    However, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t expose him. Instead, she tugged at the corner of her mouth, giving a polite smile, ¡°It was just a little help at that time, the medical team was arranged by my husband, you should thank him if you¡¯re grateful.¡±


    Hearing this, a clear flicker of panic crossed Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes, ¡°I never expected President Song to be such a considerate person...¡±


    The medical team was arranged by Song Sinian?


    Could it be that he¡¯d discovered their plan?


    He had been puzzled as to why Lu Zhaozhao brought a medical team to Beishan and had wanted to take the opportunity to talk to her to probe for information.


    Looking at the situation now, it seemed worse than he had imagined.


    Miss Lu didn¡¯t miss the complex emotion in his eyes, which suggested that Mr. Song¡¯s recent ¡°accident¡± might not be as straightforward as it appeared.


    She needed to have someone investigate thoroughly, but before that... she had to get Xiao Mo to let his guard down.


    She laughed lightly, casually explaining, ¡°The last time I went to a charity dinner in Nanjing, I blistered my feet. Since then, every time I go out for an event, he either has someone bring a medical kit or accompanies me with a medical team. It really is too much.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo was momentarily at a loss for words.


    He had always thought that Song Sinian was indifferent to women and didn¡¯t know how to please them.


    But it now seemed that he was quite adept at this sort of thing.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze swept over Miss Lu, and he happened to spot the red mark on her neck.


    In an instant, a flame of jealousy was ignited in his heart.


    He clenched his fist, almost grinding his molars as he said, ¡°President Song is experienced and knowledgeable. He must be able to take care of everything.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Miss Lu couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly; Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan truly were birds of a feather, using the same tactics to discredit others.


    She feigned ignorance and smiled at Xiao Mo, ¡°Right, I also think my husband is amazing.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo had originally wanted to sow discord and make Miss Lu realize that Song Sinian¡¯s attentiveness was because he played around with many women.


    But she hadn¡¯t considered anything else at all and had simply followed along with what he had said.


    Xiao Mo awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Miss Lu, perhaps we should talk about when we can have dinner together instead?¡±


    ¡°Oh~~~ Dinner, right? I might need to go home and consult with Mr. Song. If he agrees, I can get back to you immediately.¡± Miss Lu forced a smile, trying her best not to look so antagonistic.


    Otherwise, she really couldn¡¯t restrain herself from wanting to twist off this scumbag¡¯s head!


    Xiao Mo¡¯s smile nearly froze on his face; he managed to move his mouth corner reluctantly, ¡°Surely you don¡¯t need to discuss such a trivial matter with President Song, do you? After all, this is your own affair.¡±


    Miss Lu waved her hands repeatedly, ¡°No, no, my mother said that after getting married, I must listen to my husband honestly. That¡¯s what makes a good wife.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo raised his hand to lightly press his temple, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel suffocated living with Mr. Song like this? Having everything controlled by someone else.¡±


    Miss Lu shook her head with an innocent look, ¡°Not at all. Whatever Mr. Song tells me to do, I do; whatever he tells me not to do, I don¡¯t do. I don¡¯t need to worry about anything!¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± This time, Xiao Mo was completely speechless.


    He finally understood what Xiao Jinglan meant when she said, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao has been spoiled by the Lu Family; she¡¯s timid and lacks ambition.¡±


    This wasn¡¯t just a lack of ambition; this was outright having no desires at all.


    Yet the more Miss Lu was like this, the more Xiao Mo found his heart itching.


    The way she could be so easily influenced by her husband only intensified his impulse to completely snatch her away.


    How could such a beautiful, cute, and obedient little woman belong to Song Sinian?


    He was just lucky.


    He just happened to be the heir to the Song Family and happened to marry a woman from the Lu Family.


    Miss Lu was only so well-behaved because the man was Song Sinian.


    If her husband were changed to him, she would look at him just as wholeheartedly with those starry eyes...

 Chapter 64: 64: Does He Not Plan to Let Her Come Back?

    Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Does He Not Plan to Let Her Come Back?


    Xiao Mo thought to himself, suddenly feeling an even stronger desire to possess the petite woman before him.


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing Xiao Mo fall silent, nodded at him, ¡°Then wait for news from my husband.¡±


    After saying that, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t look back and walked straight away.


    Xiao Mo watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s delicate and tiny figure getting further and further away, and a smile involuntarily curled up at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Do you have a thing for Lu Zhaozhao?¡± Suddenly, a voice came through.


    Xiao Mo turned around, and just in time saw a beautiful woman standing in front of him.


    His eyebrows rose slightly, not particularly surprised.


    With his status and looks, he had been hit on more than a few times.


    Xiao Mo smiled gently as a gentleman, ¡°Is this classmate a friend of Zhaozhao?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face forced a smile, ¡°She and I are just classmates, not really friends, but if you¡¯re after her status as the Lu Family¡¯s heiress, I¡¯d advise you to save it, she¡¯s a fake.¡±


    She had just passed by and seen Lu Zhaozhao chatting with a man, who, judging by his clothes and the car he drove, seemed to be of considerable wealth.


    Seeing these high-quality men all circling around Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenjin felt annoyed.


    After all, wasn¡¯t it all due to the Lu Family¡¯s resources?


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, and a clear look of surprise flashed in his eyes, ¡°Fake?¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao is a child mistakenly taken by the Lu Family, and her identity will be announced publicly in a while. Befriending her now won¡¯t get you any benefits.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao isn¡¯t the Lu Family¡¯s heiress?


    Did that mean that as soon as the Lu Family went public with her identity, he could use that reason to get her out of the Song Family!


    Once she lost the protection of the Song and Lu families, getting Lu Zhaozhao would be a piece of cake.


    Xia Wenjin saw Xiao Mo¡¯s expression change and continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can investigate it yourself. I won¡¯t say anymore, you¡¯re on your own.¡±


    After saying that, she did not dare stay any longer.


    Xiao Mo stood there thinking for a moment, then decisively sent a message to Xiao Jinglan.


    [Meet me tonight, I have something important to discuss with you.]


    Xiao Jinglan at the other end of the phone glanced at it, her eyebrows involuntarily furrowed, she replied with a simple message, and immediately put away the phone.


    ¡°Cough cough...¡±


    In the quiet hospital ward, the light coughing of Old Master Song was particularly distinct.


    Xiao Jinglan immediately stood up, poured a glass of water for Old Master Song, and handed it to him, ¡°Dad, drink some water.¡±


    Old Master Song leaned on the hospital bed, took the water glass, drank a sip, and then his gaze fell on Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°Have you found the person who saved me on the mountain?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°There were many people on the mountain, it¡¯s not so easy to find at once, it might take some more time...¡±


    Her eyes nervously looked at Old Master Song, feeling somewhat guilty.


    Old Master Song placed the water glass on the table, gave a faint ¡°hmm,¡± and his gaze turned toward the window, as if he suddenly remembered something and then turned back again.


    ¡°Go and buy me Da Ji¡¯s dumplings, I haven¡¯t had them in a long time.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the indifferent look on Old Master Song¡¯s face, she didn¡¯t dare say anything and just nodded and left the hospital room.


    Standing at the entrance of the hospital room, the assistant glanced outside before approaching Mr. Song, ¡°Sir, do you have any instructions?¡±


    ¡°Discharge from the hospital right now, I want to see my precious granddaughter-in-law!¡± Mr. Song lifted the blanket with a quick flick of his hand, surprisingly agile.


    The assistant was stunned for a moment, ¡°But the doctor said you needed to stay in the hospital for a few more days of observation.¡±


    Mr. Song waved his hand impatiently, ¡°Go see my precious granddaughter-in-law first, then it won¡¯t be too late to come back and stay in the hospital. Get the car ready now!¡±


    Although the assistant still wanted to persuade Mr. Song, seeing his resolute demeanor, he chose to keep quiet.


    Mr. Song was just putting on his coat from the hanger when he suddenly turned to the assistant and said, ¡°Find a way to trip up Xiao Jinglan, don¡¯t let her interfere with my plans!¡±


    ¡°Uh, yes, sir.¡±


    The roundtrip from the hospital to Da Ji¡¯s dumpling shop took an hour, and the dumplings there were mostly made to order, which also took more than half an hour.


    Now that Mr. Song still wanted to trip up Xiao Jinglan, uh... does he not plan to let her come back at all?


    After leaving the hospital, Mr. Song headed straight for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s school.


    He had always wanted to meet Lu Zhaozhao ever since he knew that Song Sinian saw her in a different light.


    Unfortunately, that rascal was hiding her so well that he never had the chance.


    Now, taking the opportunity that Lu Zhaozhao saved him, it was the perfect time to meet her.


    ¡°Sir, should we go to the school and call Madam out?¡± the assistant, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, asked as he watched Mr. Song¡¯s gaze fixed unwaveringly on the school gate.


    Unexpectedly, he received a glare from Mr. Song, ¡°Call her for what? Didn¡¯t the bodyguards say Zhaozhao left the school grounds? What harm is there in waiting?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ever since Mr. Song woke up in the hospital, he knew that the person who saved him was Lu Zhaozhao.


    So, during his two-day stay in the hospital, Mr. Song had already had him thoroughly investigate Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s background and specially assigned someone to monitor her movements.


    It seems that he¡¯s taken her to heart.


    The assistant couldn¡¯t help but sigh to himself. Just as he was ready to help keep an eye out through the car window, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.


    ¡°Sir... eh?¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Mr. Song had already disappeared from view.


    When he looked towards Lu Zhaozhao again, he realized that Mr. Song was already next to her.


    ¡°Zhaozhao!¡±


    An elderly voice suddenly sounded behind her, and Lu Zhaozhao turned around to see Mr. Song approaching.


    In her past life, when Lu Zhaozhao had met Old Master Song, he was always lying in bed or sitting in a wheelchair, his spirit very weak.


    This was the first time she saw him lively and vigorous like now.


    However, compared to this, she was more puzzled as to why Old Master Song would come to the school to find her.


    Old Master Song, seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s puzzled expression, thought she didn¡¯t recognize him and quickly explained, ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m Song Sinian¡¯s grandfather, which makes me your grandfather as well.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses and laughed lightly, ¡°Grandfather, why have you come to school? Is there something you need from me?¡±


    Old Master Song sighed deeply, and his face immediately fell, ¡°That rascal Sinian got married and didn¡¯t bother bringing you home to show me, even keeping you so hidden. It¡¯s not easy for an old man like me to come see you.¡±


    Old Master Song spoke pitifully, as though he was about to pour out all his grievances to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Old Master Song with a bittersweet smile, about to speak, when a mocking voice chimed in¡ª

 Chapter 65: 65 This Difficult Task is Entrusted to You!

    Chapter 65: Chapter 65 This Difficult Task is Entrusted to You!


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, you¡¯re quite something,¡± she snorted sarcastically. ¡°No sooner had the young one left than you hooked up with an older one, seamlessly! Tsk, tsk... Sinian is really unlucky, having a woman like you who¡¯s so fickle in love.¡±


    Hearing that voice, Lu Zhaozhao knew right away who it was.


    Apart from Xia Wenjin, there was no one else in this school who had so much idle time to keep picking on her.


    She was just about to turn around and battle with her when she saw Old Master Song take a quick step forward and stand in front of her, shouting loudly, ¡°Young lady, can you take responsibility for what you just said?¡±


    Xia Wenjin, disgusted, glanced at Old Master Song and sneered, ¡°What? You want to sue me?¡±


    The old man in front of her was dressed so casually, not a single thing he wore was valuable. She couldn¡¯t figure out where Lu Zhaozhao had met such a person.


    He could very well be one of the poor relatives from the Xia Family domestically.


    Old Master Song looked at Xia Wenjin with a smirk not reaching his eyes and shook his head, ¡°Why would I? Legal standards are too low to deal with trash like you.¡±


    ¡°You, you¡¯re calling me trash?¡± Xia Wenjin stared at Old Master Song in disbelief. If it weren¡¯t for the swearing in his words, she might have thought he was just making casual conversation, given his calm demeanor.


    Old Master Song snorted coldly, ¡°Calling you trash would actually be an insult to trash. The things you blurt out should put you more in the category of a trash can. You should have some self-awareness; don¡¯t be clueless every day.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was clearly infuriated by Old Master Song¡¯s words and raised her hand to point at his nose and curse.


    But as soon as she lifted her arm, Old Master Song immediately clutched his chest, ¡°Oh, oh, my newly operated-on heart... If you touch me, it¡¯ll be a starting fee of at least 500,000...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was taken aback and reached out to support Old Master Song, only to see his wrinkled eyes blink at her.


    She immediately understood, Old Master Song was faking it.


    In her last life, she always saw an enfeebled Old Master Song; she never knew that he not only could curse people but also pretend to be injured...


    Xia Wenjin had never seen such a scene before and retreated several steps, ¡°You, don¡¯t you try to blame me! I think you poor devils are just crazy for money!¡±


    Watching Xia Wenjin¡¯s frantic behavior, Lu Zhaozhao almost burst into laughter, but thankfully Old Master Song was a masterful actor.


    With trembling hands, he acted as if he was about to faint any moment, facing Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°You... be careful! I will certainly make you regret this!¡± Xia Wenjin threw down those harsh words and ran away in a panic.


    Seeing her reaction, Old Master Song made a face of disdain, ¡°Really, every Tom, Dick, and Harry thinks they¡¯re something.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªhahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and burst out laughing.


    Old Master Song looked at her bright smiling face and felt much better in a moment, ¡°Ah, Zhaozhao, considering Grandpa just helped you out, how about you and Sinian come over for a meal in a few days?¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough, cough...¡± Lu Zhaozhao choked a bit when she heard him, coughing lightly.


    She took a while to recover. ¡°Grandpa, I need to discuss this with Mr. Song.¡±


    He had seemed reluctant to return to the Song Mansion before. If she agreed impulsively and upset Sinian, it wouldn¡¯t be good.


    ¡°Ah... Grandpa is old, even missed celebrating his own birthday because of a hospital stay,¡± Old Master Song¡¯s wrinkled face sagged again, turning pitiful.


    He almost started cleaning his face with tears in front of Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment.


    Then she heard Old Master Song saying, ¡°Sinian has always been a man who does as he pleases, but if you mention it to him, he will definitely be willing, so Grandpa can only count on you now!¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°That settles it! You¡¯ll come home for dinner this weekend. If Sinian is unwilling, just act coquettishly towards him. Grandpa will be waiting for you at home!¡± Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish her sentence, Old Master Song made the decision amidst the confusion.


    ¡°Grandpa, I...¡±


    ¡°This challenging task is entrusted to you! If it¡¯s accomplished, Grandpa will have a generous reward for you!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenjin, having left, dashed back home the first chance she got to complain to Cao Mei.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin¡¯s tear-streaked face, Cao Mei¡¯s expression grew extremely dark.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao is simply outrageous! If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the jade vein hasn¡¯t been secured yet, I would have certainly taken care of that little vixen!¡±


    Xia Wenjin clearly understood Cao Mei¡¯s intentions. She sniffed her nose and embraced her arm, saying, ¡°Mom, you said before that you would find a way for me to marry into the Song Family. When can we proceed?¡±


    Cao Mei patted her arm soothingly and said, ¡°You can¡¯t rush this. If you want to marry into the Song Family, we might need to collaborate with Xiao Jinglan.¡±


    Thinking thus, she narrowed her eyes. They had just signed a contract recently, so bringing up some additional conditions now shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?


    Cao Mei glanced at Xia Wenjin, whose hopeful gaze was fixed steadily on her, causing her to sigh softly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call Xiao Jinglan right now; you just wait patiently.¡±


    Saying this, she dialed Xiao Jinglan¡¯s number.


    Soon, the call was answered.


    Xiao Jinglan seemed surprised to receive a call from Cao Mei. ¡°Hello? Mrs. Lu?¡±


    Before she could finish speaking, Cao Mei¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Lady Xiao, I have a plan I¡¯d like to discuss with you concerning a marriage between the Song Family and the Lu Family.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan frowned slightly, repeating subconsciously, ¡°A marriage between the Song Family and the Lu Family?¡±


    Hadn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao already married Song Sinian? What was there left to discuss?


    Cao Mei, fully aware of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s thoughts, cut straight to the point, ¡°I want Wenjin to marry Song Sinian, since she is the true precious daughter of our family.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was visibly shocked. She was about to refuse when Xiao Mo, sitting opposite her, suddenly covered the receiver.


    He hurriedly wrote a line on a napkin, ¡°Don¡¯t refuse.¡±


    Though slightly surprised, Xiao Jinglan continued along the lines Cao Mei had laid out, ¡°So what are your plans?¡±


    ¡°I think Lady Xiao, having been with President Song for so long and knowing him well, surely could help our Wenjin, right? After all, we¡¯re going to be close partners in the future...¡± Cao Mei purposely used the contract to press her point, attempting to manipulate Xiao Jinglan.


    Hearing this, Xiao Jinglan rolled her eyes internally.


    When asking for a favor, one should at least show the attitude of seeking help. Where does the Lu Family get their sense of superiority from, huh!


    Just as she was about to speak, she saw Xiao Mo writing again on the napkin¡ª

 Chapter 66: 66 Mr. Song, Please Forgive Me~

    Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Mr. Song, Please Forgive Me~


    ¡°Agree to her request.¡±


    Seeing the words on the tissue, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyebrows twisted together.


    She pursed her lips and finally conceded, ¡°Let me think about this matter, I¡¯ll notify you later.¡±


    Cao Mei obviously did not notice her unusual reaction, ¡°Lady Xiao, please don¡¯t make me wait too long.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows were almost knotted with concern.


    She looked at Xiao Mo, bewildered, and demanded, ¡°What exactly do you want to do? Why would you agree to such an unreasonable request from Cao Mei?¡±


    Xiao Mo folded the tissue he had just written on and chuckled lightly at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Don¡¯t you think that Xia Wenjin, compared to Lu Zhaozhao, would be easier to control?¡±


    After he left Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s school, he had conducted a simple investigation on the so-called real heiress, Xia Wenjin.


    Ambitious, yet with capabilities and scheming that completely mismatched her ambitions.


    Xiao Jinglan naturally knew of Xia Wenjin and understood that she indeed would be easier to control, but...


    Her eyes narrowed, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t have ulterior motives for Lu Zhaozhao, making you want Xia Wenjin to marry into the Song Family instead of her?¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his lips curling slightly, ¡°Having Xia Wenjin marry into the Song Family gives us an extra pawn to control, and it will also corner Lu Zhaozhao into a desperate situation where she willingly throws herself at me.¡±


    He saw no problem with killing two birds with one stone.


    Xiao Jinglan sighed softly, ¡°Neither in looks nor in temperament does Xia Wenjin match up to Lu Zhaozhao. Even if we try, Song Sinian has to agree, right?¡±


    ¡°Ha! Song Sinian?¡± Xiao Mo scoffed, ¡°There¡¯s no need for his agreement. It will be enough if we make Lu Zhaozhao realize she has no place in the Song Family.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan raised her eyebrows, unsure of Xiao Mo¡¯s intentions, continuing to frown deeply at him.


    Xiao Mo looked slightly disdainful, ¡°You¡¯ve been with the Song Family for so long and yet you haven¡¯t figured out Song Sinian¡¯s character? Is he the type of man who likes trouble?¡±


    He had no interest in marriage, and the marriage deal was something they had pushed forward from behind the scenes, not expecting that Song Sinian would be the one to benefit.


    If either Old Master Song or the Song Group pressured Lu Zhaozhao, with her timid, fish-out-of-water nature, she would surely be unable to bear it and leave Sinian.


    A man like Song Sinian, emotionless and monstrous, wouldn¡¯t know how to woo a woman and would feel it troublesome, which meant things would likely go smoothly.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s explanation relaxed Xiao Jinglan, she picked up the coffee on the table and gently stirred it, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then the best plan now is to have Xia Wenjin curry favor with Old Master Song. When he finds out that Lu Zhaozhao is a fake heiress, Xia Wenjin¡¯s issue might just resolve itself.¡±


    Ever since Song Sinian was diagnosed with depression in his childhood, Old Master Song had been extremely protective of his precious grandson. Anyone who might affect Song Sinian negatively, he would help deal with.


    So as long as Old Master Song feels that Xia Wenjin is more suitable for Sinian than Lu Zhaozhao, that would be enough!


    Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan looked at each other and smiled, this was simpler than they had imagined...


    In the evening, as soon as Song Sinian arrived home, he saw Lu Zhaozhao sitting on the foyer steps.


    Her hands were supporting her chin, her little face tightly scrunched up.


    Song Sinian squatted down, cupped her little face in one hand and kissed her, asking lightly, ¡°What¡¯s made you upset?¡±


    Though complex emotions were still hard for him to discern, based on her current expression, with all her features squeezed together, he guessed from past experience that she was likely unhappy.


    ¡°Just...¡± Lu Zhaozhao pursed her small mouth, at a loss for how to begin.


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t speak, Song Sinian stood up and changed his shoes, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the living room.¡±


    His words had barely escaped his lips when Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand directly came to hug him, firmly clinging to his thigh.


    ¡°Mr. Song, please forgive me first, I really didn¡¯t do it on purpose this time!!!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s heart suddenly sank, and the moment he looked towards Lu Zhaozhao, his eyes and brows immediately tensed up.


    He stood still, his voice deep, ¡°You¡¯re injured?¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Lu Zhaozhao was puzzled by his question, her little head tilted up, looking at Song Sinian with a face full of confusion.


    Only then did she suddenly realize, and she quickly shook her head, ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not injured, it¡¯s something else.¡±


    Her voice trailed off to a whisper towards the end.


    Song Sinian, on the other hand, was relieved and raised his hand to rub her little head, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re not injured, we can talk about other things later.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t do, we have to talk about it now!¡± Lu Zhaozhao insisted, still tightly holding onto Song Sinian¡¯s thigh with no intention of letting go.


    Her little face was pressed against the seam of his trousers, her entire upper body squeezed against his leg¡ªany slight movement from him would brush against the softest part of her body.


    It was impossible to avoid.


    Song Sinian had no choice but to stand still.


    He raised his hand and gently rubbed his brow, his tone still light, ¡°Go on then, what happened?¡±


    ¡°Well... then you have to promise not to get angry with me...¡± Lu Zhaozhao said this without daring to look at Song Sinian, her head hung low as she mumbled.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow raised slightly, ¡°So, what are you proposing in exchange for me not getting angry?¡±


    Although he had yet to grasp the concept of being angry himself, if Lu Zhaozhao said he would be, then perhaps it was likely.


    He was, after all, a businessman, adept at bargaining under favorable conditions for higher value.


    However, he had never applied this tactic with Lu Zhaozhao before.


    But she had previously mentioned the concept of ¡°compensation,¡± so perhaps ¡°exchange¡± would be acceptable as well?


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected Song Sinian to be so calm and even negotiate with her.


    Maybe... this could work.


    Thinking so, she lifted her small head and weakly spoke, ¡°As long as you¡¯re not angry, you can set any condition.¡±


    Their family¡¯s Mr. Song, an angel like him, would surely not make things difficult for her, therefore, Lu Zhaozhao boldly gave a ¡°blank cheque.¡±


    The eyes behind Song Sinian¡¯s gold-rimmed glasses narrowed, a trace of darkness flickering within.


    Any condition, huh... Well, that¡¯s nice.


    ¡°Do you still remember that last week you said you would go to the Song Mansion to celebrate grandfather¡¯s birthday?¡± Lu Zhaozhao murmured as she hugged Song Sinian¡¯s thigh.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Mhm, I remember.¡±


    ¡°But then grandfather was hospitalized, and we couldn¡¯t celebrate,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words paused slightly, ¡°So... could we go together this weekend to have a meal with grandfather?¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian did not answer Lu Zhaozhao, which made her somewhat anxious.


    Although she said any condition could be mentioned, if it were something that touched Song Sinian¡¯s sore spot, not to mention setting conditions, it would be lucky if she wasn¡¯t kicked out.


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted her gaze and stole a glance at Song Sinian, and seeing that he still had not responded, she gently shook him¡ª

 Chapter 67: 67: Mr. Song, Who Takes an Inch and Wants a Mile

    Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Mr. Song, Who Takes an Inch and Wants a Mile


    ¡°Mr. Song?¡±


    Her soft voice gently called out to him.


    As a result, his clear voice slowly resonated in the room, ¡°Are there no other conditions attached?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s tone was the same as usual, so flat that it was hard to detect any fluctuations.


    Thus, she couldn¡¯t really tell whether Song Sinian was happy or not.


    She could only try to probe further by adding, ¡°Uh... for example... bringing a happy me to have dinner at the Song Mansion?¡±


    Song Sinian reached out and pinched her cheek, ¡°Quite good at adding prefixes.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Was this... a yes?


    She looked at Song Sinian somewhat nervously, still considering other possibilities.


    But after thinking it over, she straightforwardly spoke softly, ¡°So, Mr. Song, does this mean you agree?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Yes, I agree.¡±


    ¡°Phew...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had just breathed a sigh of relief and let go of Song Sinian¡¯s thigh which she had been tightly holding.


    But the next second, Song Sinian¡¯s hands reached out towards her.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought Song Sinian was going to pull her up, but instead, his hands went straight for her armpits and with a little effort, he lifted her up.


    Her feet dangled, and her sense of security instantly dropped a level.


    What was Mr. Song of their family trying to do?


    As Lu Zhaozhao was pondering, Song Sinian placed her on the white storage cabinet at the entrance.


    Since the cabinet was designed narrowly just for temporarily placing items like keys, it was quite narrow.


    Sitting on it, Lu Zhaozhao could barely avoid falling unless she pressed closely against the wall.


    Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Song Sinian¡¯s neck, and her dangling feet coiled around his waist.


    ¡°Now, it¡¯s my turn to set conditions, right?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s hands braced on either side of the cabinet, his competent dark eyes looking down at the person in his arms from above.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart beat wildly, ¡°thump, thump,¡± as she listened to Song Sinian¡¯s words by her ear, her hands tightly holding his neck, subconsciously uttering a soft ¡°mm.¡±


    Setting conditions by picking her up, what was this about?


    Surely Song Sinian wasn¡¯t expecting her to perform a gecko walk on this narrow cabinet?


    As her little brain scrambled with thoughts, Song Sinian¡¯s cool voice landed by her ear, ¡°I want the right to kiss you anytime, the kind where... I want and you must satisfy me anytime.¡±


    ¡°Ha?¡±


    Satisfy?


    Why did this word sound so predatory here?


    ¡°Zhaozhao.¡± Song Sinian softly called her, his thin lips descending onto her earlobe.


    Lu Zhaozhao instinctively shivered, causing all the pores on her body to burst open in an instant.


    A tingling sensation swept directly from her back over her entire scalp.


    Kissing her ear!


    This... this action, isn¡¯t it a foul!


    ¡°You just said you¡¯d agree to any condition, can¡¯t this one work?¡± He raised his hand to tuck the stray hair by her ear behind it, caressing her now flushed earlobe gently with his fingertip.


    Her earlobe felt ticklish from his touch, her whole being turning red because of his words just recently.


    He gently kissed her forehead, lowering his head to ask again, ¡°Can it?¡±


    By now, Lu Zhaozhao had been completely dazed by his full ¡°combination punch.¡±


    Where could she possibly resist?


    ¡°Should, should be able to... I, um...¡±


    Before she could finish her words, her lips were suddenly sealed by someone else¡¯s.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fiery breath was like a sudden tsunami, sweeping across, leaving no room for her to breathe, engulfing her entirely.


    That sense of weightlessness submerged under the sea only made her cling tightly to Song Sinian, as if he were the only lifeline in the ocean depths.


    The more she did so, the harder Song Sinian kissed her, until all her strength seemed to be drained, and she fell limply into his arms before he finally stopped.


    Her nose was red, the corners of her eyes red too, and her curly eyelashes still bore traces of moisture, all presenting a look of being aggrieved after bullying.


    It was because she looked so tearful every time, he always couldn¡¯t help wanting to tease her like this.


    His Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly, his gaze lingering on her pitiful little face, still unsatisfied.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrunk her little head and spoke with a nasal tone drifting in the air, ¡°Mr. Song, could you carry me inside? I... I feel like I can¡¯t walk.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian felt as if a soft cat¡¯s paw had punched him in the chest, an odd sensation overflowing in his heart.


    Without thinking, he lifted Lu Zhaozhao horizontally.


    Having walked only a few steps toward the living room, Song Sinian seemed to remember something and said, ¡°You said earlier that after I went to the Song Mansion, you would accompany me. Does that still stand?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Wasn¡¯t that a suggestion she made because he didn¡¯t want to go to the Song Mansion alone?


    Now that the two of them were going together, why was he still...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s puzzled gaze met Song Sinian¡¯s slightly hopeful dark eyes; she opened her mouth, the words ready on her lips took another turn.


    ¡°It stands, how could it not?¡±


    After saying this, Lu Zhaozhao was utterly speechless with herself.


    She had no more boundaries left with Song Sinian.


    Every time she saw even a slight emotion from him, she agreed to everything.


    No! She needed to keep her boundaries!


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go for dinner on Friday night,¡± Song Sinian pondered slightly, his dark eyes gleaming as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°and on Saturday and Sunday, just like you said, stick with me all day. Wherever I go, you go, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao agreed without even thinking.


    Her little hand helplessly touched her face.


    It was over, she was beyond saving.


    She took a deep breath, her hand rubbing her brow, ¡°Um... Mr. Song, I had previously arranged with Grandpa to meet this weekend. Wouldn¡¯t it be bad to change the schedule last minute?¡±


    ¡°Not really, compared to not going, he would probably prefer us to go earlier,¡± Song Sinian replied nonchalantly.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was momentarily at a loss for words.


    She sighed lightly, deciding to just let things go; she had tried her best with Song Sinian, and as for Grandpa... it was up to him now.


    Song Sinian took Lu Zhaozhao back to the bedroom, then directly went to the study.


    As soon as he closed the door to the study, he rushed to the desk and turned on the computer.


    Logging into his communication account, he immediately dialed a familiar number.


    ¡°Beep beep beep...¡±


    As the sound of the video call echoed, Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed tighter, his fist slowly clenched, filled with inexplicable irritation.


    Fortunately, it didn¡¯t take long for someone on the other end of the computer to pick up¡ª

 Chapter 68: 68: What happened to Zhaozhao?

    Chapter 68: Chapter 68: What happened to Zhaozhao?


    Tian Xiangjun touched the reading glasses by her side and placed them on her nose bridge before hurrying to the computer.


    Song Sinian had never taken the initiative to seek her out before, this was the first time.


    She was so panicked, ¡°Sinian, did something happen over there? Or is it Zhaozhao...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s condition had been stable for many years, although there had been no improvements, it could be considered stable.


    His only emotional fluctuation was always centered around Lu Zhaozhao, so compared to Song Sinian, she was more worried about Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian shook his head, ¡°She¡¯s fine, she went to the bedroom to rest.¡±


    Tian Xiangjun then patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief, ¡°You scared me to death, I really can¡¯t take this at my age.¡±


    While saying this, she picked up the glass of milk from the table and began to drink.


    ¡°I want to ask you how to be clingy?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Tian Xiangjun spat out the milk she hadn¡¯t finished drinking all over her computer.


    While coughing, she frantically wiped her computer screen with tissues.


    ¡°Cough cough cough... What the heck? Be clingy?¡±


    She had been practicing medicine for so many years, and now she was finally going mad, starting to have auditory hallucinations.


    Song Sinian said he wanted to learn how to be clingy!


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly on the other end of the screen, his face still calm as he said, ¡°How does one act clingy? How can one be clingy without annoying others?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Tian Xiangjun glanced at the glass of milk on the table, then looked at Song Sinian, and decisively put it further away from herself.


    She thought for a few seconds and looked at Song Sinian on the screen, asking very seriously, ¡°When you say being clingy, do you mean you want to cling to Zhaozhao?¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Song Sinian answered particularly straightforwardly.


    ¡°...¡±


    At times like this, Tian Xiangjun felt quite impressed with Song Sinian; he never hesitated with such questions that were embarrassing to speak of.


    ¡°Okay, being clingy,¡± she narrowed her eyes, not knowing how to explain this behavior to Song Sinian for a moment.


    He was different from most people; if she just talked about simple actions or behaviors, he might misunderstand, and no one knew what might happen then.


    Tian Xiangjun hesitated for a long time, then suddenly as if she had thought of something, she said, ¡°You should know that pets are generally very clingy, right?¡±


    Without any doubt, Song Sinian nodded and responded again with an ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ¡°In that case, if you buy Zhaozhao a pet,¡± Tian Xiangjun glanced at the computer screen and slowly said, ¡°then it would be easier for you to observe how she likes pets to cling to her, and you could learn from that, don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    This could also be considered a method of observation and learning, the safest for Song Sinian.


    She thought there was no way Song Sinian would refuse.


    But what she didn¡¯t expect was that Song Sinian only fell silent for a moment before he directly refused, ¡°Is there another way?¡±


    Tian Xiangjun was taken aback, ¡°Are you afraid that Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t like pets? Cats and dogs and the like are very cute; Zhaozhao would probably like them, right?¡±


    Hearing that, the corners of Song Sinian¡¯s brow traced an imperceptible trace of irritation.


    His dark eyes blinked slightly, and he said in a cold tone, ¡°Those pets are not safe; Zhaozhao can easily get hurt.¡±


    ¡°What about finding some non-aggressive pets? Or regularly taking them to the vet for nail trimming or something? And...¡± Tian Xiangjun¡¯s words trailed off as she clearly sensed that Song Sinian¡¯s mood was quite different from usual.


    Even though she was separated by a computer screen, she accurately grasped the subtle difference.


    It seemed that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s influence on Song Sinian was indeed significant.


    Tian Xiangjun thought of this and seemed to suddenly realize something. She quickly added another sentence, ¡°Ah, I forgot, Zhaozhao has to attend school, so it wouldn¡¯t be suitable for her to keep a pet long term. For observation purposes, you could occasionally borrow one from a pet store or a cat cafe? and then return it afterward.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll... think about it.¡±


    Sure enough, the emotions coming from Song Sinian¡¯s side weren¡¯t as resistant as before.


    It looked like Song Sinian was worried that Lu Zhaozhao liking pets would threaten his position.


    For the first time, Tian Xiangjun felt Song Sinian actually had a cute side.


    For many years, the Song Sinian she knew could look at anything with the most objective and calm perspective, so cold he hardly seemed human.


    But now... with Lu Zhaozhao, he has also started to pick up a bit of her warmth.


    That¡¯s good.


    It looked like she should find some time to have a proper chat with Lu Zhaozhao, the ¡°Beast Taming Master¡±...


    As night fell, the evening breeze grew cooler.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat on the sofa in her bedroom, pulling her shawl tighter over her shoulders, and hesitated for a moment before she sent a message to Xia Wenqing on her laptop.


    ¡°Second Brother, do you know anyone in the component verification department?¡±


    At that time, Xia Wenqing, who was in the Xia Family¡¯s living room dealing with legal documents, became anxious upon receiving the message from Lu Zhaozhao.


    He gave Xia Wenjue a look, then immediately replied, ¡°Yes, what do you need to have tested?¡±


    Thinking about how Lu Zhaozhao had asked Xia Wenjue to hack into surveillance before, he couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    Soon, a message came back from Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I want to test a sample of water for its components, to see if there are any drugs in it.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Could someone have targeted Lu Zhaozhao?


    He looked up at Xia Wenjue and saw him shake his head.


    Other than the accident Lu Zhaozhao had on the mountain, there hadn¡¯t been any other incidents lately.


    ¡°Did someone drug you?¡± In a moment of impulse, Xia Wenqing sent a message. ¡°If someone bullies you, you have to tell Second Brother; I can protect you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her eyes in front of the computer, the light from the floor lamp making the computer screen glow, reflecting in her slightly shining eyes.


    Seeing the message from Xia Wenqing, the corners of Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth curved up. The feeling of being cared for by a loved one was even better than she had imagined.


    She had been worried that Xia Wenqing would ask her where the item came from, but to her surprise, his first concern was her safety.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and chose to tell Xia Wenqing the truth.


    ¡°Last weekend, Song Sinian¡¯s grandfather fainted in the mountains, and I found the water he had been drinking. I want to help rule out the cause of his fainting.¡±


    In ordinary families, this sort of thing wouldn¡¯t be much of an issue, but for the Song Family, such a powerful clan, any small matter could be blown out of proportion.


    So it wasn¡¯t wrong for Lu Zhaozhao to choose to proceed discreetly.


    Compared to all this, what delighted Xia Wenqing more was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s trust in him.


    The fact that she thought of him, her Second Brother, first made Xia Wenqing feel a little proud.


    On the other hand, Xia Wenjue was feeling quite jealous, ¡°This matter could have been handled by me too...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be done, I¡¯m a lawyer, and dealing with these types of tests is naturally most suited for me,¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes narrowed with happiness.


    Xia Wenyan, who had been sitting across from them, looked at the two with a confused face, ¡°Did something happen to Zhaozhao?¡±

 Chapter 69: 69 Go Home and Cry to Your Mom!

    Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Go Home and Cry to Your Mom!


    Usually, his older brother and second brother maintained a calm and indifferent demeanor, only showing this strange reaction when Lu Zhaozhao was mentioned.


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing glanced at Xia Wenyan, paused for a few seconds, and then, as if nothing had happened, they completely ignored his question.


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°...¡±


    It was always like this.


    Normally, everything was the same, but as soon as it involved Lu Zhaozhao, they kept their lips sealed around him.


    Xia Wenyan felt helpless. In fact, ever since he heard from his second brother that Lu Zhaozhao had never been treated kindly by the Lu Family, he had gone to investigate it for himself.


    ...


    The situation was more shocking than he had anticipated.


    To say he didn¡¯t feel distressed would be a lie.


    Therefore, he could understand why Lu Zhaozhao would feel hostile towards Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenyan sighed softly. Since they wouldn¡¯t tell him, it would be better for him to visit Wenjin at the school tomorrow and maybe see Zhaozhao as well...


    Since their production team was still conducting a self-investigation, he wouldn¡¯t be able to return anytime soon, so why not take this opportunity to help reconcile Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin?


    Yes, that was the plan!


    Early the next morning, Xia Wenyan hurried to Yuqing University.


    This time, he dressed up specially, not wearing a mask, a hat, or sunglasses. For this purpose, he even borrowed a subdued luxury car from Xia Wenjue.


    After all, he had to make a dazzling entrance when bumping into his two sisters, to let them feel the popularity he now enjoyed.


    His car stopped at the entrance of the school, during the morning rush of students. As soon as he opened the car door, he immediately became the focus of everyone¡¯s attention.


    Suddenly, a familiar figure flashed by his sight¡ªit was Lu Zhaozhao!


    Just as Xia Wenyan was about to open the door, he heard a piercing voice cry out, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! Stop right there!¡±


    Now it wasn¡¯t just Xia Wenyan, but also the students entering the school who couldn¡¯t help but turn their heads toward the source of the voice.


    He had never expected that the person stopping Lu Zhaozhao would be Xia Wenjin.


    What surprised him even more was that Xia Wenjin rushed forward and threw something from her pocket at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Luckily, Lu Zhaozhao was quick to react. She turned her head slightly, and the object aimed at her scattered on the ground beside her.


    Looking closely, Xia Wenyan realized they were all ten-dollar bills.


    ¡°This is the living allowance Mrs. Lu gave you. You are no longer a part of the Lu Family, this is your last living allowance,¡± Xia Wenjin said haughtily, looking down on Lu Zhaozhao with disdain in her eyes and brows.


    She deliberately chose to embarrass Lu Zhaozhao during school hours. Now, with so many people around, she didn¡¯t dare to do anything to her.


    Lu Zhaozhao brushed off the bills that had fallen on her clothes and gave Xia Wenjin a cold look, sneering lightly, ¡°The Lu Family¡¯s allowance, you cherish it, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Her tone was indifferent, carrying an ethereal coolness.


    She was the one being insulted, yet completely unaffected.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face darkened. How could she possibly let her off so easily?


    She smirked coldly and said to Lu Zhaozhao triumphantly, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, what¡¯s there for you to be proud of? Your foster parents despise you, and your own brother doesn¡¯t like you. Everything you have now is because of the Lu Family. Don¡¯t you think you are a complete joke?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly, her expression almost unchanged, ¡°You come looking for trouble every time with the same old excuse, aren¡¯t you sick of it? Other than bragging that you¡¯re the Lu Family¡¯s biological child, what else do you have?¡±


    She had always thought that Xia Wenjin¡¯s previous life achievements of becoming a movie queen and marrying the new president of XJ Group must have stemmed from some real talent, but now it seemed... her brain might as well have been undeveloped.


    Xia Wenjin was caught off guard by Lu Zhaozhao and stuttered on the spot, but she quickly regained her composure, ¡°What? Does my bragging make you jealous? You think by going back to your biological parents, you can win their affection? Let me tell you, you¡¯re dreaming!¡±


    Sneering, she looked at Lu Zhaozhao and slowly walked closer before continuing, ¡°When you have nothing left, the Xia Family will realize you¡¯re nothing, and in the end, they¡¯ll find out that the person they love is still me!¡±


    In the end, you won¡¯t receive anything!


    The subtext in Xia Wenjin¡¯s words was particularly obvious; she didn¡¯t believe Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hear it.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Xia Wenjin¡¯s smug face, the corners of her mouth curling up suddenly with an especially radiant smile, ¡°Would you like them to love you a little more?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, I¡ª Ah!¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Before Xia Wenjin could finish her sentence, Lu Zhaozhao slapped her face hard.


    The force was substantial, and Xia Wenjin¡¯s face swelled up immediately.


    The pain brought tears to her eyes.


    ¡°Take this slap back to them; I guarantee you¡¯ll be even more favored,¡± Lu Zhaozhao scoffed disdainfully, pressing in on the stunned Xia Wenjin, ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t dare to hit you because there are others around? Want to moral bind me? You¡¯re really naive~¡±


    In her previous life, she had been betrayed by the Lu Family, her reputation had plummeted, and she had become so immune to insults.


    A little incident like this, she simply didn¡¯t care!


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s tears fell to the ground, pitter-patter, yet she couldn¡¯t bring herself to retaliate.


    Now that she was the Lu Family¡¯s legitimate daughter and had to mingle in high society later, fighting with Lu Zhaozhao would be disadvantageous and might even become a stain on her reputation.


    How could Lu Zhaozhao not see through her?


    Her mouth curved sarcastically as she taunted, ¡°If you¡¯re not planning to continue, then I might just leave?¡±


    Xia Wenjin glared at Lu Zhaozhao with fury, wanting nothing more than to tear her apart, but she was very clear about her own standing.


    So, she simply pretended to be pitiable, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I was just telling the truth, and for that, you¡¯re this petty? Hitting me over such a triviality?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head indifferently, ¡°Yeah, I am petty, so what?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s mouth hung open for ages, finding no chance to retort.


    ¡°Alright, enough with the charade. Pick up the trash on the floor and scram home to cry to your mom!¡± Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her disdainfully and turned to leave.


    Yet unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin, clutching her face, yelled out from behind, ¡°Why should I listen to you?! Just because you tell me to pick things up, I have to do it?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head back, giving Xia Wenjin a cool glance, ¡°Whether you pick it up or not is up to you.¡±


    Stuffing her hands into her pockets, she continued, ¡°There¡¯s quite the crowd around, and a good number of them are filming. You tossing coins in the street, if it gets shared around, it might not be illegal, but a detention for three to five days is certainly possible.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin had only meant to slap Lu Zhaozhao; she had no idea it would be this serious, and her whole body froze...

 Chapter 70: 70 Thats It if Shes Happy

    Chapter 70: Chapter 70 That¡¯s It if She¡¯s Happy


    She faced a dilemma, whether to pick up the money or not.


    Lu Zhaozhao deliberately flashed two ok signs at her, teasing, ¡°Three to five days, oh~, Miss Lu~¡±


    ¡°... ...¡±


    Xia Wenjin bit her teeth in frustration, but in the end, she squatted down to gather the scattered cash.


    Seeing her look both angry and aggrieved, Lu Zhaozhao almost laughed out loud on the spot.


    The two thousand yuan, if it were just hundred-yuan bills, would have been only twenty notes, but Xia Wenjin had inconveniently changed them into ten-yuan notes.


    ...


    Tsk, tsk... That¡¯ll keep her busy for a while.


    Actually, if Xia Wenjin had just a bit more wit, she could have just given the scattered money away and not be squatting there foolishly picking it up herself.


    But then again... what did that have to do with her?


    She was satisfied, and that was all that mattered.


    Lu Zhaozhao entered the school feeling refreshed and entirely missed the sight of Xia Wenyan, who had turned completely to stone inside the car at the school gate.


    He had always believed in Xia Wenjin, thinking that Lu Zhaozhao was the one bullying her each time.


    But now, faced with the reality before his eyes, Xia Wenyan realized how ridiculously wrong he had been.


    He remembered how he had once promised vehemently to Lu Zhaozhao that she shouldn¡¯t bully Xia Wenjin, and how he had deliberately been hostile to her at home...


    What had he done?!


    Xia Wenyan suddenly remembered the same phrase Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing had told him, ¡°Investigate for yourself; don¡¯t do anything you¡¯ll regret later.¡±


    He was finally beginning to understand what they meant.


    Seeing the retreating figure at the school entrance getting smaller, Xia Wenyan felt green with regret.


    He gripped the steering wheel tightly, then suddenly remembered Xia Wenjue saying he had a video...


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t care less about making a flashy entrance now, he started the car and floored it towards the Xia Family home.


    As soon as he arrived at the front door, he saw Xia Wenjue, dressed in a suit jacket, about to leave. Xia Wenyan caught him and said anxiously, ¡°Big brother, I need to see that video!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xia Wenjue raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you now?¡±


    Xia Wenyan held onto his arm tightly, ¡°Big brother, I was wrong, I misunderstood Zhaozhao, and now I want to see that video you all talked about!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjue took a long look at Xia Wenyan, saw the urgent look on his face, sighed, and finally turned back.


    He placed the laptop with the video on the table, opened the video file, and said, ¡°Here it is, this is what I stumbled upon at school that day.¡±


    Xia Wenyan clicked on the video, and Xia Wenjin¡¯s shrill voice immediately began to play.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, what do you have to be proud of? What you eat and wear now...¡±


    The Xia Wenyan in the video was just like what he had seen today, haughty and aggressive.


    His fingertips unconsciously tightened on the mouse, his knuckles turning white from the strain.


    Xia Wenjue noticed something off in his expression and put a hand on his shoulder, asking, ¡°What happened today?¡±


    Xia Wenyan was never one to keep things hidden; something must have happened to spark such a drastic change in him.


    Listening to the barrage of comments mocking Lu Zhaozhao in the video, Xia Wenyan¡¯s mood plummeted, ¡°I went to Zhaozhao¡¯s school today, hoping to make her reconcile with Xia Wenjin, but just when I arrived, I saw Xia Wenjin provoking Zhaozhao...¡±


    He didn¡¯t need to explain further for Xia Wenjue to understand what happened.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s entire face fell, looking as if the sky had collapsed, ¡°What should I do? I¡¯ve misunderstood Zhaozhao and treated her so poorly, and she even said she didn¡¯t care about having me as a brother, what should I do, big brother... I¡¯ve really created a huge mess this time.¡±


    A colossal disaster, indeed.


    ¡°What mess?¡± Xia Wenqing, holding a briefcase, was coming down from the second floor and heard Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, his eyebrows lifting slightly in response.


    ¡°I...¡±


    His words had not yet finished when his phone suddenly vibrated into life.


    Xia Wenyan glanced at the caller ID and answered, ¡°Hello? Principal?¡±


    ¡°Yan, your sister was hit by a student named Lu Zhaozhao at school, but it seems it¡¯s not your parents who came to the school. How do you plan to handle this?¡±


    Hearing the three words ¡°Lu Zhaozhao,¡± the Three Xia Brothers almost said in unison, ¡°Of course, she must be dealt with severely!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    There was a noticeable silence on the other end of the phone.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenqing hurriedly added, ¡°Principal, don¡¯t worry, we will send a professional lawyer over. It won¡¯t cause you too much trouble.¡±


    ¡°Uh... okay.¡±


    The call was quickly disconnected.


    Xia Wenqing narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze immediately fixed on Xia Wenyan, ¡°Now tell me what sort of trouble you¡¯ve really gotten into?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    It was ten in the morning.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat in the principal¡¯s office, quietly watching Xia Wenjin cry her eyes out.


    Beside her, Cao Mei looked as if she wanted to murder her on the spot with nothing but her glare.


    ¡°Principal, just look at our Jin¡¯s face, it¡¯s been battered like this! How can you allow someone who hits others like this to remain in the school and harm others?¡±


    Cao Mei spoke with righteous indignation, as though Lu Zhaozhao was her sworn enemy.


    Even though they had lived under the same roof for 20 years.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a mix of emotions internally, but this fleeting sentiment did not cause any stir in her.


    Because all her feelings had already been ground to dust in her previous life.


    The Cao Mei before her was nothing more than an enemy.


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly lifted her head, her gaze toward Cao Mei turning sharper.


    Having never seen such an expression on Lu Zhaozhao, Cao Mei was suddenly at a loss for words in mid-accusation.


    But she quickly regained her composure and started berating Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Don¡¯t know whose child this is, so venomous. Aren¡¯t they afraid of retribution?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a scoff, nearly laughing at Cao Mei¡¯s absurdity.


    Who was the venomous one, really?


    Some people truly lack self-awareness.


    ¡°Yeah, those who do evil and don¡¯t go to hell tend to offend both gods and people~¡± Lu Zhaozhao mocked, her disdainful gaze fastened on Cao Mei.


    Where was the usual docile and compliant attitude now?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words instantly ignited Cao Mei¡¯s fury.


    Cao Mei forcefully stood up from her chair, charging at Lu Zhaozhao, hands raised to strike her. Had it not been for the school security holding her back, she would have already pounced and been tearing at Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Enough! Ms. Cao, calm down, this is a school, not a vegetable market!¡± The principal¡¯s authoritative voice came through, promptly making Cao Mei behave.


    But after glancing at Lu Zhaozhao, she still persistently said, ¡°I hope the principal can ensure justice for our Jin.¡±


    The principal, rubbing his temples with a hint of a headache, asked Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°When will your parents get here, Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lip, ¡°They¡¯re busy, don¡¯t have time.¡±


    The Xia Family was kind, no need for them to face humiliation by the Lu Family on her account, and as for their Mr. Song, she didn¡¯t need him to step in just yet.


    Cao Mei immediately sneered, ¡°Ha! That sounds nice, but it¡¯s truly because your poor dad and mom simply can¡¯t show their faces, right?¡±

 Chapter 71: 71 I Advise You to Be Sensible

    Chapter 71: Chapter 71 I Advise You to Be Sensible


    Her triumphant expression was the spitting image of Xia Wenjin¡¯s.


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Cao Mei an indifferent glance and said icily, ¡°Being rich or poor can¡¯t be oversimplified, right? After all, some people who think they are very wealthy even sell off their foster daughters for money, don¡¯t they, Ms. Cao?¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s face darkened instantly, ¡°What¡¯s the use of speaking up for that family? Do they care whether you live or die?¡±


    Listening to Cao Mei¡¯s aggressive words, the principal¡¯s eyebrows knotted in consternation, ¡°Ms. Cao, please watch your emotions.¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin was the injured party, the results of her investigation pointed to Xia Wenjin as the instigator against Lu Zhaozhao.


    The thought of the Xia Family sending a lawyer over made him feel a bit sympathetic towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    ...


    He hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, ¡°Both parties are at fault in this matter, why not have Lu Zhaozhao apologize and consider the issue resolved?¡±


    If the issue could be resolved before the Xia Family¡¯s lawyer arrived, perhaps it might save Lu Zhaozhao.


    The child had good grades and was very talented in the arts, a promising young prospect indeed.


    ¡°No way, our Jin suffered so much, and you think an apology can resolve it? Dream on!¡± Cao Mei was the first to become indignant.


    ¡°Unless she leaves school! Otherwise, there¡¯s no discussion! We don¡¯t mind escalating this issue, and at that time, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t look good for the school either!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s threatening words made the principal¡¯s frown deepen; this mother and daughter were more difficult to deal with than each other!


    ¡°Principal, our side does not agree to settle the matter so lightly either.¡± Suddenly, a man dressed in a suit and leather shoes walked in.


    He nodded at the principal and handed over a business card, ¡°I am Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attorney, Fang Zheng. My boss should have mentioned me to you before.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    The principal was somewhat stunned.


    A lawyer sent by the Xia Family?


    Wasn¡¯t the Xia Family¡¯s daughter Xia Wenjin? Why was it Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lawyer?


    Could there have been a mistake?


    But he clearly said he was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lawyer.


    The principal, feeling a headache coming on, pressed his temples and said, ¡°Alright, discuss it amongst yourselves.¡±


    As long as the issue could be resolved, that was all that mattered.


    Fang Zheng nodded lightly, then turned his gaze to Xia Wenjin and Cao Mei, ¡°I heard Ms. Cao insulting, demeaning, and threatening my client when I was entering the door, I have recorded the whole thing and will be sending you a lawyer¡¯s letter later.¡±


    ¡°Are you sick?¡± Cao Mei blurted out almost involuntarily.


    But as soon as she spoke, she wished she could bite off her own tongue.


    The other party was a lawyer, definitely well-prepared; she had miscalculated.


    It seemed Fang Zheng read her mind, giving a light chuckle, ¡°Ms. Cao, rest assured, I will not take offense at your personal attacks. However, as for your daughter¡¯s assault on my client, we need to have a serious discussion.¡±


    ¡°What? My daughter assaulted her?¡± Cao Mei pulled Xia Wenjin over immediately, pointing to the swollen half of her face, ¡°If you¡¯re not blind, you should be able to see, right? My daughter is the one who¡¯s injured!¡±


    Fang Zheng, as if actually blind, turned to Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Miss Zhaozhao, could you please raise your hand that was injured by her face?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Zhaozhao was entirely confused.


    She didn¡¯t notify anyone at all. Where did this lawyer appear from?


    Could it be the bodyguard sent by Song Sinian before who informed him?


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could react, Fang Zheng immediately added another comment, ¡°Good, Miss Zhaozhao, you did a great job. Since your hand is too injured to lift, you should rest for now.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Is that even allowed?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Fang Zheng in disbelief, having to admit that lawyers these days are really going wild, huh?


    Cao Mei, standing aside, was also infuriated by his remarks. If it weren¡¯t because he¡¯s a lawyer, she would have definitely scratched his face!


    ¡°Do you think you can turn right into wrong with just your mouth?¡± Cao Mei sneered, ¡°You probably don¡¯t know who I am, do you? Offend our Lu Family, and you¡¯ll have to watch your rice bowl!¡±


    Fang Zheng¡¯s face retained a light smile, ¡°Of course I¡¯m aware of the Lu Group. Recently they are quite prominent domestically, and I hear that they plan to go public soon.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Good that you know. I advise you to be sensible, otherwise...¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s mocking words were unfinished when Fang Zheng interrupted her, ¡°Ms. Cao, if during the company¡¯s IPO it¡¯s leaked out that the Lu Family¡¯s daughter has been bullying classmates at school, and the victim is the wife of the president of the Song Group, that IPO might not go so well.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    For Cao Mei, the first wasn¡¯t a problem at all; after all, it was Lu Zhaozhao who started the physical altercation, but involving the Song Group made things quite tricky.


    ¡°By the way, on my way here, a kind soul provided me with a video from the scene, Ms. Cao could have a look...¡±


    As Fang Zheng spoke, he played the video, and soon Xia Wenjin¡¯s aggressive voice came through.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! You stop right there!¡±


    Then followed the footage of her throwing money at Lu Zhaozhao, and Xia Wenjin provocatively confronting Lu Zhaozhao.


    Cao Mei¡¯s face grew darker and darker the more she watched because with just this video, Xia Wenjin could be shredded to pieces by the internet.


    If someone used it to steer public opinion, their Lu Family would indeed be affected.


    Fang Zheng aptly put away his phone, continuing to look at Cao Mei with that same smirk, ¡°Ms. Cao, we don¡¯t want to make a big fuss out of this either. As long as you and your daughter apologize to Miss Zhaozhao, we¡¯ll consider the matter closed. As for medical expenses, we¡¯ll send you the bill after Miss Zhaozhao has fully recovered.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Cao Mei, rendered speechless by anger and shaking all over, couldn¡¯t utter a single word.


    Compared to the issue being blown out of proportion and the Lu Family being maligned by the public opinion, affecting Lu Group¡¯s IPO, apologizing now was indeed the better solution.


    Fang Zheng, seeing Cao Mei¡¯s silence, knew the matter was more or less settled.


    He turned back to look at Lu Zhaozhao, who was sitting on the couch, his expression notably softer, ¡°Miss Zhaozhao, are you satisfied with how I¡¯ve handled this?¡±


    ¡°Uh, satisfied,¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded, internally marveling at Fang Zheng¡¯s skills in handling Cao Mei. That was truly MAX.


    His focus wasn¡¯t even on their altercation, but on the Lu Group¡¯s IPO.


    He had calculated that Cao Mei wouldn¡¯t jeopardize the greater good over something minor and had caught them off guard.


    Xia Wenjin had also caught on to the situation by now. Displeased, she jostled Cao Mei, ¡°Mom, it was that bitch who hit me, why should we apologize?!¡±


    Fang Zheng still offered that polite smile, ¡°If you do not wish to apologize, we won¡¯t force you. The legal notice is already drafted.¡±


    He spoke and took out his phone, showing it briefly to Cao Mei and Xia Wenjin, ¡°You both can reject our settlement proposal at any time and we can meet directly in court. As for the video just now, I¡¯ll blur it out...¡±

 Chapter 72: 72: Is there a possibility that you helped the wrong person?

    Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Is there a possibility that you helped the wrong person?


    Cao Mei¡¯s face was twisted with anger.


    Fang Zheng said he wanted reconciliation, but in reality, he was threatening them.


    If they didn¡¯t apologize now, he would immediately send out a lawyer¡¯s letter, and they would be the ones to suffer.


    Cao Mei gritted her teeth, pulled Xia Wenjin aside, and whispered, ¡°Jin, be good and apologize first. Whatever she owes you, Mom will get it back for you!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face was filled with disbelief.


    The Lu Family was so wealthy, yet they were afraid of little Lu Zhaozhao.


    ...


    Could it be because she was now Mrs. Song?


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists tightly. If that was the case, she would definitely take back that position!


    She would make Lu Zhaozhao kneel and beg for her mercy!


    She took a deep breath and said reluctantly to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised, ¡°Hmm, I forgive you. In the future, try not to provoke others with that face of yours. No matter how thick your face is, it¡¯s not meant for that, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, unable to bear Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s aggressive manner any longer, and ran out crying with her face covered.


    Cao Mei glared fiercely at Lu Zhaozhao, but ultimately, she said nothing and chased after her daughter.


    The principal had never expected the issue to be resolved just like that. The turnaround seemed almost fantastical.


    Perhaps it was because he was getting older, but he couldn¡¯t understand the dynamics of these young people at all.


    He waved his hands, ¡°Alright, since the matter is resolved, go back to class.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao naturally nodded and left with Fang Zheng.


    Once they were out of the principal¡¯s office, she approached him and asked, ¡°Lawyer Fang, I wonder who your boss is...¡±


    Fang Zheng chuckled lightly, ¡°I was asked by Xia Wenqing; he said his sister was being bullied at school, and since he couldn¡¯t leave his place, he sent me to help.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was even more surprised to hear it was Xia Wenqing.


    How did he know about her conflict with Xia Wenjin?


    Noticing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s puzzled look, Fang Zheng paused before adding, ¡°When Xia Wenjin transferred schools, Xia Wenyan was the emergency contact, so after the conflict arose, the principal called him.¡±


    Hearing the name ¡®Xia Wenyan,¡¯ Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s steps faltered, ¡°Um... Lawyer Fang, is there a possibility that you might have helped the wrong person?¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Fang Zheng was clearly amused by them, ¡°No, I¡¯m quite sure the sister I¡¯m supposed to help is you, as you are indeed the Xia Family¡¯s real daughter.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The real daughter?


    Lu Zhaozhao bit her lip slightly, somewhat caring about what Xia Wenjin had said earlier.


    Could an outsider really compare to a daughter raised for 20 years?


    Although there were people like Cao Mei out there, the Xia couple didn¡¯t seem like such people.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s worried look, Fang Zheng couldn¡¯t help but reassure her, ¡°Your brothers really like you; sometimes, you could stand to be more confident in yourself.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged noncommittally, ¡°Thank you, Lawyer Fang.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Meanwhile, the furious Cao Mei and Xia Wenjin had already reached the parking lot.


    Sitting in the car and watching Xia Wenjin crying ¡°whimperingly,¡± Cao Mei¡¯s eyebrows knotted deeply.


    She was becoming increasingly angry because of Zhaozhao¡¯s defiance just now.


    ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, the ringtone sounded inside the car.


    Cao Mei glanced at the phone number and directly reached out to press the car¡¯s call button.


    The next second, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice came through the car¡¯s speaker, ¡°Mrs. Lu, is Wenjin available this Friday?¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, and she quickly agreed, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, Lady Xiao, what do you have in mind?¡±


    Previously, when she had suggested to Xiao Jinglan that Wenjin should replace Zhaozhao, Xiao Jinglan had agreed, but her attitude was not very enthusiastic.


    She didn¡¯t expect such a quick response.


    ¡°Our family¡¯s Old Master Song¡¯s birthday was last weekend, but he couldn¡¯t celebrate it because he was in the hospital, so this Friday we plan to have a make-up dinner at home. I¡¯d like Wenjin to come early and make a good impression in front of Old Master Song.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan briefly explained the situation.


    Although the dinner was just a meal among the Song Family, previous guests in the house probably wouldn¡¯t bother Old Master Song.


    Moreover, with Sinian returning home for dinner, Old Master Song was in high spirits, and maybe this was an opportunity to earn a lot of goodwill.


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Wenjin stopped crying when she heard this.


    She raised her hand to wipe her face, looking excitedly at Cao Mei, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, then listened as she continued to ask, ¡°Does Old Master Song have any dietary restrictions or preferences? It would be good for Jin to be aware.¡±


    Upon hearing Cao Mei¡¯s eager response, Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t hold back, ¡°As for preferences, Old Master Song likes girls who dress simply and look dignified. Regarding taboos, it¡¯s best not to be picky with food and not to drink alcohol during the meal.¡±


    While speaking, Cao Mei took notes, ¡°Alright, I will let Jin know.¡±


    ¡°Good, then we¡¯ll see you on Friday.¡±


    After Xiao Jinglan hung up, a triumphant smile curled the corners of her mouth; having been with the Song Family for many years, she knew Old Master Song¡¯s preferences quite well.


    If she wanted Old Master Song to like someone, it was easy; to make him dislike someone, of course, was a matter of no difficulty.


    Humph! This time, she would see how to push Zhaozhao out of the Song Family!


    Around 10 am, it started to get windy.


    The temperature, which had been somewhat hot, suddenly became much cooler.


    But the temperature in the Song Mansion¡¯s living room was frighteningly cold at this moment.


    Because just then, both parties had simultaneously received the results of the handling of Zhaozhao¡¯s school fight.


    Old Master Song¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed as he stared at Sinian and said word by word, ¡°Zhaozhao is still being bullied at school, and you, as her husband, don¡¯t manage this?¡±


    Sinian shot Old Master Song a glance, his eyes and expression utterly still, ¡°So this is your reason for having her followed?¡±


    Previously, he had been worried about Zhaozhao¡¯s safety and had hired bodyguards to protect her from a distance.


    He hadn¡¯t minded when he heard that Old Master Song was investigating Zhaozhao.


    As long as Old Master Song did not provoke Zhaozhao, it was fine.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that just a few days later, not only had Old Master Song personally sought out Zhaozhao, but he had also had someone follow her.


    This crossed his bottom line.


    So Sinian had directly gone to the Song Mansion, wanting to have a proper talk with him about this.


    Old Master Song, showing clear displeasure, replied, ¡°Am I stalking? I am having someone protect her! I have only one beloved granddaughter-in-law; can¡¯t I, an old man, protect her?¡±


    Sinian¡¯s dark pupils flickered slightly as he retorted firmly, ¡°No, she is mine.¡±


    Old Master Song¡¯s lips twitched, unsure whether to be happy or to lose his temper...

 Chapter 73: 73 Does this brat have a bit too strong of a possessive desire?!

    Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Does this brat have a bit too strong of a possessive desire?!


    Song Sinian cared so much for Lu Zhaozhao, which naturally made him happy.


    But... was this brat¡¯s possessiveness a bit too strong?!


    Didn¡¯t he, as a grandfather, even have the right to dote on his granddaughter-in-law?


    Old Master Song felt a headache coming on and pressed his temples. ¡°You are my grandson, she is my granddaughter-in-law, and it¡¯s only right for me to take care of her.¡±


    ¡°I might not be.¡± Song Sinian coolly retorted, almost making Old Master Song burst in anger.


    He gripped his cane tightly, suddenly wondering how Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t been driven away by this brat?


    ...


    Thinking about Lu Zhaozhao, that good girl, his frown deepened even more.


    He absolutely could not let go of such a good granddaughter-in-law!


    Old Master Song took a deep breath, trying to negotiate with Song Sinian again, ¡°You know Zhaozhao¡¯s situation now, she needs comfort around her, so having more people is also good for her.¡±


    A faint irritation crossed Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes as he indifferently said, ¡°There are already enough people around her.¡±


    A whole Xia Family, and now his grandfather also wanted to interfere.


    Why were there always so many people trying to snatch Zhaozhao from him?


    Even thinking about it was annoying.


    Old Master Song watched his beloved grandson in silence, nearly choking with frustration.


    He took a deep breath, changing the subject. ¡°So, how are you planning to handle this situation with Zhaozhao?¡±


    He heard from someone that the matter had already been resolved at school.


    He didn¡¯t know whether his beloved granddaughter-in-law had been disadvantaged. That Xia Wenjin girl seemed to have met him before.


    He had been too soft on her last time.


    Song Sinian glanced at Old Master Song lightly, remaining tight-lipped. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this.¡±


    Those who wanted to mess with Lu Zhaozhao, he would naturally not let them off.


    But he needed to handle it secretly, without letting her know.


    Her heart was too soft.


    Old Master Song almost turned to stone on the spot. ¡°Alright, alright, you children handle your affairs, I won¡¯t interfere, but as for adult matters, I will handle them. The Lu Family indulges their own daughter to bully people from Song Family. Giving them a lesson won¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±


    Song Sinian pondered for a moment. ¡°No problem, but Lu Family¡¯s business must not be touched.¡±


    Though he didn¡¯t know what Lu Zhaozhao had planned, whether it was lending money to the Lu Family to buy ore veins or not funding overseas orders, it all showed that Lu Zhaozhao cared about the Lu Family¡¯s business.


    Since she cared, it must not be touched.


    ¡°What?¡± Old Master Song¡¯s already wrinkled face scrunched up further, his facial expressions remarkably vivid.


    He almost roared in frustration, ¡°If not their business, then what? Their people? Shall we disable them one by one?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This sudden smoothness gave Old Master Song the feeling of wobbling in a horse stance, and then slipping into a sudden split.


    It was shocking, unexpected, and rather painful.


    He recovered, looking at Song Sinian and rephrased. ¡°You mean, it¡¯s okay for me to have people disable the Lu Family¡¯s people, but not touch the Lu Family¡¯s business?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Song Sinian nodded, answering concisely.


    Now, Old Master Song¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡°Why can¡¯t we touch the Lu Family¡¯s business?¡±


    Song Sinian calmly responded, ¡°Because Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying if we cripple their legs, she will like that?¡± Old Master Song was about to explode in rage.


    But he heard Song Sinian say leisurely, ¡°She never said she didn¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Fine, instead of asking his grandson, he might as well use his own brain.


    In the evening, as soon as Lu Zhaozhao entered the door, Qian Hong looked at her with an aunt-like smile.


    This gave her an ominous premonition.


    She pursed her lips and pretended to be calm as she asked, ¡°Aunt Qian, has Mr. Song returned?¡±


    Qian Hong nodded, ¡°Sir is in the living room, he said to come see him after you get back.¡±


    After saying this, she glanced around to make sure no one was around and then whispered a reminder, ¡°Sir has prepared a surprise for you, don¡¯t get scared later~¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Surprise?


    Lu Zhaozhao felt somewhat uncomfortable with that word.


    Based on her understanding of Song Sinian, he probably wouldn¡¯t prepare a surprise himself; it must have been someone¡¯s suggestion.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded at Qian Hong, walking and thinking about who might give Song Sinian such advice.


    Qian Hong? Zhao Xi or Doctor Tian?


    Apart from them, she couldn¡¯t think of anyone else suitable for a moment.


    But the advice they offered was probably for Song Sinian, so... it shouldn¡¯t be problematic, right?


    Emmm, perhaps.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao reached the door of the guest room, gently knocked, and then pushed the door open.


    ¡°Mr. Song...¡±


    As soon as she spoke, she saw Song Sinian sitting on the sofa and... staring at two large dogs eye to eye.


    Is this the surprise Qian Hong mentioned?


    Lu Zhaozhao walked over with a puzzled look, just in time to hear Song Sinian¡¯s faint voice filling the room, ¡°These two dogs will be staying at home temporarily. If you don¡¯t like them, I...¡±


    ¡°Like, I like!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but reach out and pat the head of the Samoyed sitting on the right.


    The little guy, upon seeing this, immediately snuggled up against Lu Zhaozhao. She simply squatted down and hugged it, gently rubbing its head.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow slightly raised as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao and the dog in her arms, then glanced at the indifferent Doberman beside him.


    He had rented these two large dogs from a pet store, specifically choosing two with completely opposite personalities.


    One overly enthusiastic, the other extremely aloof.


    According to the pet store owner, these two dogs were a pair; he had no idea how they ended up liking each other.


    ¡°Mr. Song, do they have names?¡± Lu Zhaozhao held the Samoyed and rubbed it again, her smile becoming even more radiant.


    Song Sinian almost looked at the Doberman with a gaze reserved for trash, then withdrew his gaze to Lu Zhaozhao, replying, ¡°The white one is named Rou Si, and the black one is named Jack.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was busy rubbing Rou Si¡¯s head and didn¡¯t notice Song Sinian¡¯s actions.


    But, hearing Song Sinian mention the dogs¡¯ names, she couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing, ¡°Hahaha... Did the person who named them set them up for an arranged marriage?¡±


    Saying so, she waved at Jack and asked with a beaming smile, ¡°Dear Jack, may I touch your handsome little head?¡±


    As if understanding Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, the Doberman got up and walked straight towards her, then nuzzled his head against her knee.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows slightly raised, watching the Doberman nuzzle into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arms and then roll its eyes at him¡ª

 Chapter 74: 74: Mr. Song, are you alright?

    Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Mr. Song, are you alright?


    Song Sinian was beginning to understand what the word ¡°dislike¡± might almost take physical form as.


    For example, this dog.


    He wasn¡¯t sure if he had been staring at ¡°Jack¡± for too long or if the look in his eyes was a bit too clear.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly noticed his odd behavior.


    ¡°Mr. Song, would you like to pet Jack too?¡± she asked with a beaming smile, her eyes shimmering as if with starlight.


    He found it difficult to refuse her suggestion, so he just nodded in acquiescence.


    ...


    But when he raised his hand, he distinctly felt the Doberman¡¯s immediate intention to resist.


    A flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes as he stared intently at it, seemingly ready to punish the dog at the slightest attempt to dodge.


    The Doberman dog shivered decisively and lay flat, allowing Song Sinian to manhandle it.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao reached out to rub the Doberman¡¯s belly and said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Song, it seems like he likes you a lot!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Fortunately, the kitchen finished preparing dinner soon after, and Song Sinian took the opportunity to hand off the dogs to the servants and went to have dinner with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Every time, the family chef cooked according to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s taste, so she always enjoyed her meals quite a bit.


    But did Song Sinian like these dishes?


    Lu Zhaozhao, with half a bowl of sweet soup in hand, took a few sips and her gaze lingered on Song Sinian.


    Ever since they started living together, she had been observing Song Sinian more.


    She gradually realized that no matter what the chef¡¯s cooking leaned toward in flavor, Song Sinian¡¯s portions seemed to remain the same.


    Neither more nor less.


    Lu Zhaozhao, resting her chin in her hand, couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly; it seemed there was a long journey ahead to discover Mr. Song¡¯s own tastes.


    Song Sinian seemed to have noticed her gaze, and turned his head to look at Lu Zhaozhao, his tone indifferent, ¡°Is there something you want to say to me?¡±


    Snapping back to reality, Lu Zhaozhao laughed softly and made up an excuse, ¡°Uh... I¡¯m considering what to buy as a gift for Grandpa¡¯s house for the meal on Friday. Do you have any suggestions, Mr. Song?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes lowered slightly, a flicker of subtle emotion crossing his gaze, ¡°You don¡¯t need to go out of your way to buy him anything special; let Zhao Xi pick something suitable, and you can just bring that.¡±


    ¡°How can that be alright? It¡¯s my first time visiting the Song Mansion, and I should definitely prepare the gift properly,¡± Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, not agreeing with Song Sinian¡¯s suggestion.


    In her previous life, Old Master Song hardly went out and didn¡¯t have any particular hobbies, so the intelligence from her past life wasn¡¯t useful now.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head and looked at Song Sinian, then asked, ¡°Do you know Grandpa¡¯s preferences? Like, is there anything he likes to collect?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly, ¡°His tastes are broad; he likes almost all collectibles, anything will do.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows, feeling that Song Sinian seemed to have answered her, yet not quite fully.


    Her brow furrowed slightly, contemplating whether to ask Zhao Xi, when Song Sinian spoke slowly, ¡°How was your day at school today?¡±


    Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s lackluster voice, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed.


    Although she wasn¡¯t entirely sure, she had a vague sense that Song Sinian seemed to be in a mood with her.


    Lu Zhaozhao carefully reviewed everything that had happened since just now and couldn¡¯t see any issues.


    Could it be that Song Sinian knew about something from her school?


    With that thought, Lu Zhaozhao set down her bowl of sweet soup and covered her eyes, saying in a crying tone, ¡°Today, someone bullied me at school, wuu wuu...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows suddenly furrowed as he watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s unexpected behavior, and he too was a bit stunned.


    ¡°You... don¡¯t cry.¡±


    As soon as he began to speak, he saw Lu Zhaozhao remove the small hand that was covering her eyes, propping it under her chin, ¡°So, Mr. Song, won¡¯t you kiss me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked as he looked at her, her eyebrows and eyes smiling at him, the corners of her mouth hooking up in a way that inexplicably itched his heart.


    His face felt a little hot.


    This feeling was strange, but it didn¡¯t seem to be uncomfortable anywhere else.


    Seeing the complexity in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, Lu Zhaozhao thought that her teasing might have made him uncomfortable.


    She quickly reached out to tug on Song Sinian¡¯s sleeve and shook it, ¡°Mr. Song, are you alright?¡±


    Song Sinian turned to look at Lu Zhaozhao, hesitated for a moment, then slowly spoke, ¡°I feel like my face is a bit hot.¡±


    ¡°Hot?¡± Lu Zhaozhao quickly stood up from her chair, ¡°You¡¯re not running a fever, are you?¡±


    Lately, she had been living too comfortably and utterly forgot about Song Sinian still being a patient.


    She extended her small hand to his forehead and then frowned, pressing her little head against it.


    The temperature isn¡¯t high, is it?


    Lu Zhaozhao was a bit worried, ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?¡±


    Song Sinian blinked, ¡°It seems... even hotter now.¡±


    His heart was also ¡°thumping¡± non-stop.


    ¡°Even hotter?¡± Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows skeptically, but her gaze slowly fell on the back of his neck.


    The originally pale neck was now a patch of rosy red.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to instantly understand, ¡°I, I think I know.¡±


    Her small hand lifted slightly, her fingertips lightly tracing along his neck under the collar.


    The cool touch of her fingers made Song Sinian¡¯s back shiver, feeling all his body hair stand on end.


    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly, and his voice was audibly more hoarse, ¡°What exactly is going on?¡±


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao, his eyes clearly showing a hint of longing flushed with red.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°I can make you even hotter.¡±


    With that, she leaned down and kissed his earlobe gently.


    As expected, his already flushed neck... darkened a few more shades.


    Almost as soon as he felt her approaching breath, a layer of darkness surged in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes.


    He swept away the tableware in front of him with one hand, stood up, and scooped Lu Zhaozhao onto the table across from him.


    His powerful arms framed her on both sides, his whole body looming over her.


    His voice, tinged with a threat, slowly fell, ¡°Are you going to tell me or not?¡±


    ¡°I... mmm...¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Song Sinian¡¯s lips pressed against hers.


    His heavy breath, mixed with a unique, cold fragrance, fell chaotically on her cheeks, inexplicably making her breathing hurried.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands were between them, and Song Sinian, as if on purpose, leaned his body and pressed down on her.


    His body was heavier than she had imagined.


    His stature was already tall, and the sudden increase in pressure clearly made her body lose balance...

 Chapter 75: 75 Mr. Song, You Lack Martial Integrity!

    Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Mr. Song, You Lack Martial Integrity!


    Lu Zhaozhao frantically grabbed his lapels, but suddenly ripped open the buttons at his collar.


    Her entire body tensed with nerves.


    At the right moment, Song Sinian¡¯s large hand passed through her cascading black hair and secured her small head, offering her enough support to finally free space to whisper by her ear, ¡°I¡¯m here, don¡¯t be afraid.¡±


    His voice was low and raspy, as if he was bewitching her.


    Surprisingly, her tensed body completely relaxed, but the next second, when his breath covered her again, her heart intensely hung in suspense.


    Song Sinian completely dominated her, leaving her unable to do anything but respond to him.


    ...


    He seemed to relish this feeling, turning and twisting at will, dominating yet tender.


    Overwhelmed by his pursuit, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands hastily patted his shoulders, ¡°Mm, I, I was wrong, I say...ah...¡±


    Her soft pleas fell on his ear, causing Song Sinian to slowly let her go, but as his gaze fell on those tearful eyes post-bullying, the rational chord in him almost snapped on the spot.


    He forcefully suppressed the agitation in his heart, kissed her eyes again, and with a voice heavy with desire murmured in her ear, ¡°Then tell me...¡±


    He took a deep breath, wishing he could completely devour her sweet, orange-like scent.


    He must be crazy.


    Lu Zhaozhao, with a red nose and held in his arms, said with a bit of grievance, ¡°You, just now, that was actually shyness.¡±


    ¡°Shyness?¡± Song Sinian raised his brow slightly, familiar with the term.


    But shyness, applied to him, seemed puzzling.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, seriously nodding, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s you who were shy.¡±


    Thinking of her own moments of shyness and what Song Sinian had done to her then, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart began to stir.


    Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at Song Sinian, mimicking his tone, word by word, ¡°So it turns out that when you¡¯re shy, your neck goes red~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian, looking at her expression, felt an inexplicable itch in his heart.


    He wanted to continue kissing her, until she was so soft and limp that she could only lean on him, until she looked tearfully like someone bullied.


    It was still not enough; he wanted more...


    His heart heated, yearning to put everything into action.


    But he was worried that Lu Zhaozhao might be unhappy...


    Suddenly, like he thought of something, Song Sinian gently nuzzled his head into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck crease, resembling the Doberman from before.


    Lu Zhaozhao was startled, somewhat caught off guard by Song Sinian¡¯s sudden displays of affection.


    But her body reacted quicker than her mind, instinctively reaching out to rub his head.


    Encouraged like Song Sinian, he raised his head and gently kissed her pale neck.


    Very good, no rejections.


    He slowly moved up, kissing her chin.


    She continued to look at him with smiling eyes, utterly unguarded, until... he precisely found the spot he had previously indulged in and again swooped in...


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°???¡±


    Mr. Song, you play dirty!


    Friday came in the blink of an eye.


    To prevent Lu Zhaozhao from gaining Old Master Song¡¯s favor, Xia Wenjin had someone pick her up right after school in the afternoon.


    She wore a simple, elegant pink and white dress, her hair specially styled up, looking very graceful and generous.


    Old Master Song was advanced in age, old-fashioned, and stubborn, thus very particular about attire.


    ¡°Aunt Xiao, do I look alright?¡± Xia Wenjin asked, turning to face Xiao Jinglan with pink cheeks.


    It was her first visit to the Song Family, and she had to leave a good impression on Old Master Song.


    Then, it would be effortless to push Lu Zhaozhao out of the Song Family.


    Such a fake should definitely be thrown out!


    Xiao Jinglan nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your outfit is tailored to the old master¡¯s taste.¡±


    Her clothes were almost the same color scheme as hers; with her many years of experience in the Song Family, how could she fail?


    Thinking this, Xiao Jinglan pulled Xia Wenjin through the main entrance, ¡°Be smart and sweet-talk a little; the old master will definitely be pleased.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Aunt Xiao.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face was filled with a radiant smile until she saw Old Master Song in person.


    The smile on her face instantly stiffened.


    ¡°Father, this is the young lady of the Lu Family, Xia Wenjin. We happened to meet while shopping, so I invited her over,¡± Xiao Jinglan reeled off smoothly, not noticing Xia Wenjin sweating beside her.


    She had never dreamt that the old man she saw at school was Old Master Song!


    Xia Wenjin glanced nervously at Old Master Song, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat.


    He... he probably didn¡¯t recognize her, did he?


    Even if he did, he probably wouldn¡¯t hold it against her anymore, especially since he had both scolded and falsely accused her back then; they were even.


    Perhaps he found that day¡¯s incident embarrassing and pretended not to recognize her.


    After mentally preparing herself, Xia Wenjin forced a smile and addressed Old Master Song, ¡°Hello, grandfather. It¡¯s nice to meet you; please look after me.¡±


    Old Master Song snorted lightly, ¡°The young lady of the Lu Family, with such a large family and business, how dare I, an old man, ¡®look after¡¯ you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows furrowed immediately, not expecting Old Master Song to be so harsh right from the start.


    She quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°The Lu Family is indeed on the rise, quite significant indeed...¡±


    She paused, then quickly added, ¡°Recently, our Song Family has had some business dealings with the Lu Family, though it seems the board isn¡¯t too happy about it.¡±


    Old Master Song glanced at Xiao Jinglan, his tone still filled with displeasure, ¡°What are those fellows unhappy about?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan took the opportunity to complain about Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Previously, Lu Family wished to have the Song Family invest under the conditions of an overseas order, but Sinian, after spending a night at home, rejected the plan, instead lending money directly to the Lu Family.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Old Master Song didn¡¯t say much, seemingly mulling over her words.


    Xiao Jinglan continued while she had the chance, ¡°Also, I heard after the Lu Group decided to bid for the highly sought-after Jade Vein number three and four, he gave up on those and chose the unremarkable number eight instead. It makes me wonder if Sinian was influenced by someone.¡±


    She sighed softly, looking extremely worried, almost outright saying that Sinian was bewitched by Lu Zhaozhao, thus going to all lengths to help the Lu Family.


    But Xiao Jinglan knew, Old Master Song would definitely think this way!

 Chapter 76: 76 Mr. Song, please switch seats with me

    Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Mr. Song, please switch seats with me


    Mr. Song¡¯s shrewd eyes squinted before he finally looked at Xiao Jinglan and asked, ¡°How did you know about the company and the directors¡¯ matters?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t expected that this would be the first thing Mr. Song noticed.


    However, she had long been fully prepared, so she quickly found an appropriate excuse and said, ¡°I¡¯m actually not very clear myself, I only found out by chatting with the other directors¡¯ wives...¡±


    ¡°Now the directors¡¯ wives are casually discussing the company¡¯s secrets, it seems the board members are all very idle!¡± Mr. Song¡¯s face immediately darkened.


    The suddenly icy atmosphere made Xiao Jinglan shudder involuntarily.


    Just as she was about to start explaining, she heard Mr. Song continue, ¡°Later, give me a list of the directors¡¯ wives who told you these things, it¡¯s time to properly deal with these pests!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Uh, Dad, it was just casual chat, they probably didn¡¯t know it was confidential or anything...¡± Xiao Jinglan panicked, frantically trying to find an excuse to blur over it.


    She thought about making up a few names of directors¡¯ wives to gloss over the matter, but if they were not very close to her, the excuse probably wouldn¡¯t hold.


    But those directors¡¯ wives she was on good terms with were relationships she had painstakingly built up over many years.


    Breaking up over just a couple of words would be too unwise.


    Mr. Song glanced at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Alright, I know it¡¯s difficult for you, since you don¡¯t want to say, I will handle it by observing those ladies you are intimate with.¡±


    ¡°Dad...¡±


    ¡°Enough, let¡¯s leave it at that, don¡¯t talk about it anymore!¡± Before Xiao Jinglan could speak to stop him, Mr. Song had already interrupted her.


    These people dared to scheme against his precious daughter-in-law, they must pay the price!


    While Sinian was still unaware, he wanted to show his authority, also to save his precious daughter-in-law some face.


    Xiao Jinglan was completely speechless now; she couldn¡¯t understand why Mr. Song was so irritable today.


    Frowning, she immediately had an unpleasant hunch.


    ¡°Dad, isn¡¯t Sinian coming home for dinner today?¡± Xiao Jinglan asked subconsciously.


    Only Sinian could touch such a nerve in him, making him this agitated.


    At her words, Mr. Song¡¯s expression turned even uglier.


    He was really looking forward to this Friday¡¯s dinner, especially since, apart from Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao was supposed to come too.


    If Sinian didn¡¯t come, it meant Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t come either.


    Of course, his mood was foul.


    Mr. Song¡¯s brows were tightly knotted together, just about to tell Xiao Jinglan to shut her crow¡¯s mouth, when the butler hurriedly ran in.


    ¡°Master, the young master and young mistress have arrived.¡± The butler¡¯s face was visibly excited as he spoke.


    After all, this was the first time Lu Zhaozhao had come to the Song Mansion since marrying Sinian.


    Hearing Mr. Song say she was a rare good daughter-in-law, the butler was also quite thrilled.


    At this, Xiao Jinglan raised her eyebrows, wondering, wasn¡¯t it supposed to be just Sinian coming?


    Why did Lu Zhaozhao come too?


    Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t had the chance to boost Xia Wenjin¡¯s likability in front of Mr. Song before Lu Zhaozhao showed up, which meant she had to trip her up a bit.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao was disliked by Mr. Song, even if Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t gained much favor, she would still be much better off than Lu Zhaozhao.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Lu Zhaozhao walked in, arm in arm with Song Sinian.


    Xiao Jinglan spotted Lu Zhaozhao immediately. She was wearing a vintage, bright red long dress and her black hair was styled in large waves.


    Not to mention men, even she, a woman, found her stunningly attractive.


    However, it was a pity that their Old Master Song didn¡¯t like it.


    Particularly, dresses that were slightly revealing like this strap-bearing one were an absolute no for Old Master Song!


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan whispered to Old Master Song, ¡°Dad, look how nice Zhaozhao¡¯s dress is. It¡¯s a new model from AMS. Zhaozhao has such good taste. This brand always focuses on bright colors but... it¡¯s a bit revealing.¡±


    She almost pointed out everything Old Master Song disliked, just waiting for him to explode in anger.


    Thinking this, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but squint her eyes in anticipation.


    Unexpectedly, Old Master Song glanced at her and suddenly snapped, ¡°If you can¡¯t speak properly, shut your mouth. You won¡¯t be mistaken for a mute if you stay quiet.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes almost popped out of their sockets.


    Wasn¡¯t he supposed to attack Lu Zhaozhao at this time? Why scold her instead?


    While Xiao Jinglan was puzzled, Lu Zhaozhao came over with a small gift box and handed it to Old Master Song, ¡°Grandfather, this is a gift I picked for you. I hope you like it.¡±


    ¡°Like it, like it. Whatever my granddaughter-in-law gives me, I like,¡± Old Master Song said after glancing at the box, which contained a very delicate purple clay teacup, indicating Lu Zhaozhao put in some effort in choosing the gift.


    Satisfied, he narrowed his shrewd eyes and didn¡¯t forget to take a jab at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Unlike some people, who come to someone¡¯s house empty-handed!¡±


    Old Master Song¡¯s pointed words instantly made Xia Wenjin blush, yet she sat next to Xiao Jinglan without daring to say a word.


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly surprised to see Xia Wenjin here, but recalling the way she had looked at Song Sinian earlier, she probably had no good intentions.


    Xiao Jinglan, feeling a bit awkward, tugged at the corner of her mouth. Seeing that she hadn¡¯t successfully sabotaged Lu Zhaozhao, she quickly suggested, ¡°Dad, since Zhaozhao and Sinian are here, should we have the kitchen arrange dinner? They might be hungry.¡±


    Mr. Song nodded without saying anything more and slowly rose to his feet.


    The Song Mansion was designed in a Chinese style, and the dining area next to the main hall was reached by walking through a long corridor and passing through a hanging flower gate.


    Because Xia Wenjin had been brought by Xiao Jinglan, she followed the Song family to the restaurant.


    Everyone took their seats, and Xia Wenjin naturally sat next to Xiao Jinglan, just a decent distance from Song Sinian.


    Her eyes unconsciously rested on him, watching his slender fingers holding the chopsticks, and couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart race.


    Such a good-looking and wealthy man should belong to her.


    ¡°Mr. Song, please swap seats with me,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice suddenly rang out over the dining table.


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao and, without even asking why, did as she requested.


    In contrast, Old Master Song, Xiao Jinglan, and Xia Wenjin all stared at Lu Zhaozhao in confusion.


    Then, they listened to her seriously spout nonsense, ¡°Our Mr. Song is shy. I¡¯m worried he won¡¯t be able to eat if he sits next to Xia Wenjin...¡±

 Chapter 77: 77: This Stupid Woman Actually Self-Destructed

    Chapter 77: Chapter 77: This Stupid Woman Actually Self-Destructed


    She deliberately gave Xia Wenjin a ¡°brilliant¡± but insincere smile as she spoke.


    Lu Zhaozhao was actually worried that Mr. Song of the Lu Family would lose his appetite from being fixated on by Xia Wenjin.


    Of course, another reason was that she was irked to see another woman eyeing her man right under her nose.


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists in frustration and almost bit her back teeth as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Sister, you really have a sense of humor. President Song and I aren¡¯t exactly strangers, right? After all, President Song personally assisted our Lu Family. He has indeed been a benefactor to us.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was downright dismissive, ¡°You might be mistaken. Currently, Mr. Song and the Lu Family just have a simple borrower-lender relationship; it¡¯s better to minimize claiming other associations.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ...


    With Old Master Song present, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t outright pick a fight with Lu Zhaozhao.


    She could only purse her lips in grievance, ¡°Sister, you really don¡¯t need to be so confrontational with me. I just want to get to know President Song better, especially since there is a marriage union between the Song and Lu families.¡±


    Watching her put on a facade of an innocent white lotus, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips quirked, ¡°That¡¯s uncertain since I¡¯m not actually a daughter of the Lu Family.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The words Xia Wenjin intended to say suddenly got stuck in her throat. Her initial plan was to make Lu Zhaozhao realize her own pretense, continually emphasizing the relationship between the Song and Lu families.


    Unexpectedly, this foolish woman exposed herself.


    This would give Old Master Song the perfect chance to see her true nature.


    Xiao Jinglan never anticipated that the situation would suddenly shift in their favor.


    While she was feeling smug about it, she then heard Old Master Song say, ¡°Zhaozhao, this chicken wing is really tasty, you should try it.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan: ¡°???¡±


    Xia Wenjin: ¡°???¡±


    Did Old Master Song not hear?


    Lu Zhaozhao exposed herself, yet Old Master Song showed no reaction?


    Xia Wenjin and Xiao Jinglan exchanged glances, neither daring to provoke Old Master Song¡¯s displeasure, so they could only silently continue eating.


    It might have been because Old Master Song was overly enthusiastic during the meal, serving Lu Zhaozhao quite a bit of food.


    Lu Zhaozhao just smiled and ate quietly, but still pushed the food she disliked to the side.


    Xiao Jinglan and Xia Wenjin, closely observing Lu Zhaozhao, couldn¡¯t miss her subtle gestures.


    But how could they discreetly inform Old Master Song?


    As Xiao Jinglan was pondering this, Xia Wenjin was the first to speak up, ¡°Sister is still the same as before. I heard from Mrs. Lu that you¡¯ve always disliked spinach, and it seems you still don¡¯t like it now.¡±


    She had heard from Xiao Jinglan that Old Master Song really disliked people who were picky eaters, and she didn¡¯t believe Lu Zhaozhao could escape this so easily!


    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Old Master Song¡¯s eyebrows instantly furrowed.


    Xiao Jinglan shot Xia Wenjin a ¡°well done¡± look as they sat back and quietly watched.


    Song Sinian sat beside them, raising his eyebrows slightly before turning to look at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You don¡¯t like spinach?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips slightly and nodded softly.


    Although spinach was a leafy green, she had always felt it tasted strangely sweet and cloying, so she didn¡¯t like it much.


    Song Sinian lifted his chopsticks straight from her plate and ate it himself.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like something, leave it on my plate.¡±


    His indifferent voice echoed in the silent dining room, causing Old Master Song to frown even harder.


    Hmm, let this cheeky kid show off!


    Old Master Song cleared his throat before speaking, ¡°Grandpa wasn¡¯t aware of your dislikes. Next time you come, I won¡¯t have them prepare it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Even Xia Wenjin, let alone Xiao Jinglan, began to doubt life itself.


    Had Lu Zhaozhao bewitched Old Master Song?


    After dinner, Song Sinian gently held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand under the table.


    Her soft, boneless fingertips felt very comfortable in his palm.


    ¡°Sinian, why don¡¯t you show Zhaozhao around the Song Mansion? After all, it¡¯s her first visit,¡± Old Master Song nudged his chin up slightly, decisively giving them a chance to be alone.


    Song Sinian pondered for a moment and asked Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Do you want to see it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao actually wasn¡¯t very interested.


    In her previous life, when she hadn¡¯t lived in the villa, she had always been at the Song Mansion.


    However, at that time, she had no interest in exploring the mansion, so there were indeed many places she didn¡¯t know.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao nodded and said with a curved smile, ¡°Then please, Mr. Song, show me around.¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, Xia Wenjin also stood up, ¡°Sister, since we¡¯re going for a tour, can you take me along too?¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin was speaking to Lu Zhaozhao, her gaze was fixed on Song Sinian.


    Her intention was too obvious, especially when Song Sinian looked at her, she immediately spoke again, ¡°President Song, you wouldn¡¯t mind, would you?¡±


    ¡°I do mind.¡± Right after Xia Wenjin finished speaking, Song Sinian¡¯s response came.


    He didn¡¯t give her any face at all.


    Xia Wenjin stood there feeling a bit embarrassed, clenching her fists tightly.


    Old Master Song glanced at her, displeased by her lack of tact, and ordered, ¡°Butler, arrange for someone to take this daughter of the Lu Family around later.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    Old Master Song got up and left the dining room, followed naturally by Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao.


    Watching Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian leave the dining room, Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes darkened.


    That damned Lu Zhaozhao must have said bad things about her in front of Song Sinian, which explained his harsh attitude toward her.


    Xiao Jinglan glanced at Xia Wenjin, noting her eyes filled with resentment toward Lu Zhaozhao. She snorted silently, but her expression remained extremely amiable.


    ¡°Jin, Sinian is just like that, even towards Old Master Song and me, so don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    Xia Wenjin narrowed her eyes. He was like that even towards Old Master Song and Xiao Jinglan?


    So, it was only special between him and Lu Zhaozhao?


    Hmph!


    Lu Zhaozhao must have seduced Song Sinian!


    That shameless woman!


    She would eventually drive her away from Song Sinian¡¯s side!


    ¡°Achoo!¡± Lu Zhaozhao, walking in the yard, suddenly sneezed.


    Seeing this, Song Sinian immediately took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Zhaozhao.


    Her physique was already petite, so his jacket almost covered most of her.


    Song Sinian frowned slightly, ¡°Wearing so little outside can make you sick.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was always excessively delicate, even the slightest carelessness could hurt her.


    What if she caught a cold?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian, as if suddenly remembering something, and immediately grabbed his hand, leading him towards the garden...

 Chapter 78: 78: Heaven Really Knows How to Push Her to the Limit

    Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Heaven Really Knows How to Push Her to the Limit


    Although Song Sinian was puzzled, he still followed Lu Zhaozhao over.


    ¡°Mr. Song, sit here.¡± Lu Zhaozhao walked to the bench in the garden, extended her hand, and pressed Song Sinian down onto it.


    Then, she sat down next to Song Sinian.


    ¡°Look, this place is the best for moon-watching at night,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, reaching out and pointing to the sky.


    Because it was close to the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon was much rounder than usual.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils lowered slightly, as if he found her remark a bit odd.


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao had never been to the Song Mansion before, so how could she know that this was the best spot for moon-watching at night?


    Song Sinian raised his eyes, his gaze unconsciously scanning over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face.


    Her expression did not resemble that of a liar.


    It seemed his lovely wife still had many secrets she hadn¡¯t told him.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao leaned gently against his side, murmuring to herself, ¡°I never thought I¡¯d have a day where I could sit so leisurely in the garden and watch the moon.¡±


    Song Sinian gently wrapped his arm around Lu Zhaozhao, his large hand casually brushing the stray hairs behind her ear, ¡°With me here, no matter when, you can always sit leisurely in the garden and watch the moon.¡±


    His tone was low, yet filled with an indescribable affection.


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted her little head, her eyes meeting his.


    Yes, as long as Song Sinian was here, she could sit leisurely in the garden and watch the moon.


    Even in her last life, with so many misunderstandings about him, Song Sinian had been wholeheartedly devoted to her.


    Even in his death, he had left everything to her.


    How could she not love such a man?


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her little head, her eyes flicking toward Song Sinian¡¯s suddenly blinked gently, ¡°Besides watching the moon, can we do something else?¡±


    Although she was asking him, the eager look on her face made it clear she already had plans in mind.


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently pinched her little face, his eyes soft as he said, ¡°You can do anything you want to do.¡±


    His voice sounded unemotive, but every word he spoke was laced with full indulgence and pampering.


    ¡°Then...¡± Lu Zhaozhao turned around, her small hands suddenly grasping Song Sinian¡¯s wrists. Then, standing up, she pressed his whole body against the back of the chair.


    ¡°From now on, I¡¯m going to do whatever I want with you, hmph!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips twitched slightly, and for some reason, even though he knew her little hands were too weak to hold on to him, let alone push him down in the chair to have her way with him, he just felt... at the bottom of his heart... somehow, um, very comfortable.


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly leaned in toward Song Sinian, but when she was still some distance away, he, on the contrary, slightly raised his chin and offered his thin lips.


    Her eyes suddenly curved into a smile, staring at Song Sinian she touched his nose with hers and asked, ¡°Mr. Song, how do you feel right now?¡±


    Song Sinian hesitated momentarily, his eyes gazing into hers, which shimmered faintly, ¡°I... can smell the sweet scent on your body. Every time my arms are full of this scent, it feels as if my heart is filled, and it feels very comfortable...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, her small mouth gently kissing the tip of his nose, ¡°That feeling just now, that¡¯s called happiness, and it makes you feel comfortable and happy.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s response was better than she had hoped, which made Lu Zhaozhao very reassured.


    As she was thinking about how to continue to lead him on, her small hands were suddenly caught by Song Sinian¡¯s large ones.


    He suddenly pulled her towards him, and the distance between them tightened abruptly, with Lu Zhaozhao almost sitting entirely on Song Sinian¡¯s lap.


    ¡°Every time I smell your scent, I feel happy, do you feel the same?¡± Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao, his eyes seemingly extra serious.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes, ¡°Uh... happiness is just a state, not caused by any specific action. Can you think of anything else that might give you this feeling?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently squeezed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand and really started to think, as she had said.


    After a moment, when his dark eyes turned back to her, he said word by word, ¡°Apart from just now, the thought of you taking on my scent also makes me happy.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Ah!!! What kind of outrageous statement is that!


    Good heavens truly excel in challenging my limits.


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her little mouth, wanting to try to explain, but thinking that it might just make things worse, she decided to just go for broke.


    With that thought, Lu Zhaozhao directly lowered her head and ¡°smack¡± kissed Song Sinian¡¯s face, ¡°Better yet, let you get more used to the scent on me.¡±


    She continued to say this and started pecking Song Sinian¡¯s face like a chick pecking at grains of rice.


    Lu Zhaozhao being proactive was already rare, let alone behaving so ¡°wildly¡±¡ªhe had never seen such behavior before.


    He froze on the spot, letting Lu Zhaozhao do as she pleased, just like she had said.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! What are you doing!¡±


    Suddenly, a piercing voice carried over from afar.


    Under the dim light, Lu Zhaozhao slowly looked up towards the garden entrance and just happened to see Xia Wenjin charging over with a furious demeanor.


    And right behind her were the servants of the Song Mansion.


    Seeing his panicked expression, it seemed he had tried to stop Xia Wenjin but was ignored.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows slightly, glanced at Xia Wenjin, then turned her head and ¡°smack¡± kissed Song Sinian¡¯s face again.


    Only then did she slowly begin to speak, ¡°I¡¯m kissing my husband, can you see clearly now?¡±


    ¡°You, you have no shame!¡± Xia Wenjin pointed at Lu Zhaozhao and started shouting angrily, ¡°You don¡¯t see that President Song is unwilling, yet you¡¯re still forcing him here!¡±


    She had been looking for Song Si the whole time when she was ¡°touring¡± the Song Mansion, hoping to ¡°bump into¡± him by chance.


    But when she found them, she saw Lu Zhaozhao pressing Song Si¡¯s hand, forcing him on the chair.


    The corner of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched as she looked at Xia Wenjin coldly, ¡°With which eye did you see me forcing him?¡±


    As she said this, her little hand directly grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s chin and asked, ¡°Did I force you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Song Sinian replied concisely, without any hesitation.


    But how could Xia Wenjin listen?


    She angrily shouted at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You, you are forcing him!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was already too lazy to care about Xia Wenjin¡¯s foolish behavior. She crossed her arms and looked down at her with feigned arrogance, ¡°Even if I were forcing him, what¡¯s it to you?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Throw her out, and from now on, she¡¯s banned from entering the Song Family¡¯s gates!¡± Before Xia Wenjin could finish speaking, Song Sinian spoke up first.


    To think she dared interrupt the closeness between him and his wife? Such a person is truly not worthy of sympathy!

 Chapter 79: 79: Why Did She Insist on Teaching Him the Word Shy?

    Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Why Did She Insist on Teaching Him the Word ¡®Shy¡¯?


    ¡°President Song, I... mmm mmm mmm...¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, the maid who had just arrived dragged her away.


    Once Sinian had spoken, Zhaozhao had no objections.


    She had always disliked Xia Wenjin. Now that her ears were finally clear, she could enjoy looking at the moon with Mr. Song from their family.


    Perhaps the noise caused by Xia Wenjin earlier had been too much, and Xiao Jinglan just happened to arrive.


    She looked at Xia Wenjin being dragged out by the maid, her eyebrows twisted in a frown, ¡°What is going on here? Is this how you treat the Song Family¡¯s guests?¡±


    ...


    The maid hurriedly explained, ¡°This young miss has angered the young master and the young madam, and the young master asked me to throw her out.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    In the Song Mansion, aside from Old Master Song, the person whose words held the most weight was Sinian.


    To be precise, his words were even more powerful than those of Old Master Song.


    Xiao Jinglan, naturally, did not dare to go against Sinian¡¯s decision.


    She sighed lightly and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to drag her. I¡¯ll take her out myself.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The maid nodded and tactfully left.


    As soon as Xia Wenjin was released, she immediately threw herself at Xiao Jinglan and started crying, ¡°Aunt Xiao, boo hoo hoo...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan already had a headache from today¡¯s events, and seeing Xia Wenjin crying made her even more irritated.


    However, on the surface, she couldn¡¯t lash out at Xia Wenjin.


    After all, she might still have much use for her in the future.


    She sighed and raised her hand to pat Xia Wenjin, saying, ¡°Alright, stop crying. Let¡¯s talk while we walk.¡±


    Xia Wenjin sniffed and nodded, following Xiao Jinglan.


    Just as they were about to reach the door, Xia Wenjin timidly said, ¡°Actually, I met Old Master Song at the school gate before, but I didn¡¯t recognize him at the time and said some things that offended him.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan stopped in her tracks, ¡°What did you say? You met him? At the school gate?¡±


    She suddenly became nervous, her hands tightly gripping Xia Wenjin¡¯s shoulders.


    Her nails almost dug into her flesh.


    Xia Wenjin, in pain, quickly said, ¡°Yes, Lu Zhaozhao was there too.¡±


    Hearing this, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression grew even more dismal.


    So, Old Master Song and Lu Zhaozhao knew each other already?


    Or did the old master already know that Lu Zhaozhao was the one who saved him?


    The more Xiao Jinglan thought about it, the worse her expression became. If that was the case, could the things she said about not finding anything when there were many people have been exposed?


    However, the old man¡¯s attitude towards her hadn¡¯t changed much these past few days. Could she be overthinking it?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brow furrowed lightly, and she turned to Xia Wenjin, ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll have the driver take you back first. Let me inquire with the old master and then we¡¯ll see what to do next.¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin was very reluctant to be thrown out, recalling the cold look Sinian had given her sent a chill through her heart.


    It seemed that winning over Old Master Song would have to be a long-term plan.


    As for Lu Zhaozhao, she needed to get Cao Mei to deal with her as soon as possible!


    Early on the weekend morning.


    Lu Zhaozhao got up even earlier than she usually did for school.


    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to sleep in, but she had promised Sinian that after dinner at the Song Mansion on Friday, she would stick close to him all day on Saturday and Sunday.


    And she intended to keep her word!


    Lu Zhaozhao sat in the dining room eating breakfast when Zhao Xi entered.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao there as well, he was a little surprised, ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you going out?¡±


    As he spoke, he stole a glance at Song Sinian.


    To his surprise, before Lu Zhaozhao could respond, Song Sinian spoke first, ¡°She¡¯s going to the company with me today.¡±


    ¡°?!?!!¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s pupils shook on the spot.


    Lu Zhaozhao was going to the company with Song Sinian?!


    My God, what kind of divine privilege was this!


    Normally, when Song Sinian worked, he was incredibly efficient, decisive, and almost ruthlessly crazy.


    In short, only the best of the best could survive under Song Sinian.


    But even the best people needed a boss with a tiny bit of humanity.


    Thanks to Lu Zhaozhao, their Mr. had recently been noticeably less crazy at work.


    If Lu Zhaozhao were to go to the company with Song Sinian, would their good days be far behind?


    Just thinking about it made Zhao Xi excited!


    ¡°Sir, rest assured, I will do my utmost to take care of everything for the lady at the company!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a bit awkward and tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°That¡¯s a bit of an exaggeration; just make sure it doesn¡¯t affect your work.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t affect, absolutely won¡¯t affect,¡± Zhao Xi, suppressing the urge to burst into loud laughter, quickly reassured.


    With Lu Zhaozhao there, their Mr. might be much gentler at work.


    Thinking this, Zhao Xi immediately ran off to make arrangements.


    Lu Zhaozhao, puzzled, raised an eyebrow as she observed Zhao Xi¡¯s completely different demeanor and cautiously asked: ¡°Mr. Song... It¡¯s really okay for me to go to the company with you?¡±


    Song Sinian picked up his coffee from the table and took a sip before counter-questioning, ¡°Do you think there is a problem?¡±


    If there was a problem, they would solve it now, so it wouldn¡¯t be a problem anymore.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao choked, ¡°Could it possibly affect your work?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows lifted slightly as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°How do you plan to affect my work?¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for his serious tone, Lu Zhaozhao would really think this man was flirting with her!


    But considering the man before her was Song Sinian, his question was just a question.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and turned her face away, ¡°I don¡¯t intend to affect your work.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Song Sinian suddenly reached out to pinch her cheek, his eyes on her cheek as he spoke lightly, ¡°So which sentence just now made you blush again?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ear tips turned even redder.


    Why did she ever teach him the word ¡°blush¡±?


    Was it too late to regret it now?


    Song Sinian seemed to see through her thoughts, leaned in, and kissed her forehead, ¡°I really like it when you blush, and I like it when your ears turn red.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    My God, their Mr. Song was the epitome of the saying, ¡®When enlightened, he could charm the life out of someone,¡¯ right?


    Lu Zhaozhao really couldn¡¯t handle it and could only keep her head down and eat her breakfast honestly.


    After all, once at the company, Song Sinian¡¯s focus would be all on work, and there probably wouldn¡¯t be another chance for this kind of ¡°flirting.¡±


    All she had to do was quietly be a human accessory by Song Sinian¡¯s side.


    Of course, that was just what Lu Zhaozhao thought.


    She never imagined that after a day in Song Sinian¡¯s office, she would soon become a legend inside the Song Group¡ª

 Chapter 80: 80 He Understood, But Not Much

    Chapter 80: Chapter 80 He Understood, But Not Much


    Before 7:30 a.m., Lu Zhaozhao went to the company with Song Sinian.


    What she didn¡¯t expect was the things Zhao Xi had prepared for her; they were incredibly comprehensive.


    Her little desk was right next to Song Sinian¡¯s¡ªnot only was there food and drinks, but also books to read, and notebooks and pens for drawing.


    Even more outrageous was that her desk and chair were all pink!


    There was even an extremely girly pink cloud-shaped cushion on her chair.


    Lu Zhaozhao touched the sketchbook on the desk and glanced at Song Sinian uneasily, ¡°Uh... sitting here like this, won¡¯t I really interfere with your work?¡±


    ...


    She hadn¡¯t thought it would be an issue at first, but seeing all these things now, she wasn¡¯t so sure anymore.


    The blatantly mismatched colors in Song Sinian¡¯s minimalist black, white, and grey office were really striking.


    Song Sinian gave Lu Zhaozhao a look and completely missed her anxiety, nodding lightly, ¡°I think it¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Alright then, if he says it¡¯s fine, it must be fine.


    For most of the morning, Lu Zhaozhao sat next to Song Sinian feeling rather nervous.


    She was afraid his subordinates would stare at her with strange looks.


    But besides the office being busier than usual, things were almost normal.


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was that Zhao Xi¡¯s work chat had exploded completely.


    ¡°God really opened his eyes! He sent such a beautiful wife to the boss!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, if God hadn¡¯t been so kind, our days wouldn¡¯t be this good!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, just now with the lady present, the boss only said ¡®redo it,¡¯ without even saying ¡®get out!''¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t help it! I need to finish this document by working overtime, I want to go and see the lady!¡±


    ¡°Me too!¡±


    ¡°Me too +1!¡±


    ...


    Seeing the sudden surge in morale in the work chat, Zhao Xi¡¯s mouth twitched. He had never expected Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s presence at the company could actually boost work efficiency.


    ¡°Mr., there¡¯s a new product development meeting later; do we need to go to the conference room now?¡± Zhao Xi briefly reminded.


    If they went now, Lu Zhaozhao would have to stay in the office.


    There were no extra seats in the conference room after all.


    And it wouldn¡¯t really make sense for her to go.


    But... those employees attending the meeting might suffer, being forced to ¡®live apart¡¯ from their ¡®wife¡¯ could make their boss very irritable.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°Isn¡¯t the sales department supposed to have a seminar? Let them have the conference room, while others can have the meeting here.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mr.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s decision was somewhat unexpected, yet reasonable, so Zhao Xi wasn¡¯t too surprised.


    But for everyone else, it couldn¡¯t be said the same.


    Especially for those attending the meeting.


    They were so nervous about having the meeting in the CEO¡¯s office that they sat at the long table almost breathlessly.


    Feeling somewhat sympathetic towards them, Zhao Xi decisively placed some chocolates from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s desk in front of her.


    Then he arranged a pile of snacks in front of her.


    ¡°Madam, would you like some snacks? This meeting might take a while...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded and casually took the snacks from Zhao Xi.


    ¡°Crunch, crunch...¡±


    In the silent office, a crisp sound echoed.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth suddenly paused.


    Although the sound of eating wasn¡¯t loud, in a completely silent environment, it was indeed a bit inappropriate.


    Thinking so, Lu Zhaozhao silently put down the chocolate she was holding, wanting to grab something else to eat to alleviate the awkwardness.


    But when she saw clearly the snacks on the desk, she was numbed.


    Other than the chocolate, the remaining snacks on the desk were rice crisps, potato chips, twisted dough sticks, and crunchy corners.


    Each one would make a louder sound than the chocolate.


    Almost everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, so she simply decided to go all out and grabbed a few rice crisps and started ¡°crunch, crunching¡± away.


    Now, the gazes that had been staring at Lu Zhaozhao quietly shifted towards Song Sinian.


    It looked like a thunderous fury was inevitable.


    But to everyone¡¯s surprise, Song Sinian just looked at Lu Zhaozhao and gently rubbed the corner of her mouth with his hand.


    After wiping the crumbs off her lips, he slowly said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start the meeting.¡±


    Unexpectedly, the atmosphere in the office softened considerably.


    The office workers glanced at each other and silently withdrew their gazes.


    It was said that Song Sinian doted on his wife a lot, and it didn¡¯t seem to be an unfounded rumor.


    It looked like they needed to be more sensible when they saw the lady in the future.


    As the meeting began, the sound of Lu Zhaozhao eating became less noticeable.


    She secretly heaved a sigh of relief and excitedly wrote on a piece of paper next to Zhao Xi, ¡°Really... our Mr. Song is just like a little angel!¡±


    Zhao Xi glanced at the words Lu Zhaozhao wrote and gave her a rather diplomatic smile.


    If ¡°angel¡± could describe their boss, then devils simply didn¡¯t exist.


    If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s presence, he could make mincemeat out of everyone present in a minute.


    Zhao Xi silently added some milk to her cup on the desk and then wrote on the piece of paper next to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Will madam also come to the office on weekends?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged and spread her hands out to both sides.


    She wasn¡¯t sure.


    But what Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t realize was that she was sitting too close to Song Sinian. Her movement was too big and wasn¡¯t controlled, hitting Song Sinian right on the shoulder.


    At that moment, an employee was reporting the basics, so everyone¡¯s attention was on the employee.


    Lu Zhaozhao herself was startled and froze on the spot.


    Song Sinian was even more clueless about why Lu Zhaozhao suddenly called him, but when he saw her outstretched little hand, he seemed to understand a bit.


    But not much.


    Without thinking, he lowered his head and placed it on her little hand.


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao was even more panicked.


    That¡¯s not what she meant, hey!


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to explain, the previously continuous chatter in the office suddenly stopped.


    She couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva, and surely enough, all eyes on her and Song Sinian shifted from shock to utter shock.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew this time she couldn¡¯t clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River, so she could only pretend to be calm, withdrew her hand, and patted his head saying, ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong, let¡¯s continue the meeting.¡±


    She tried to make her voice sound calm, pretending that she didn¡¯t care about it at all.


    But after retracting her hand, she shielded her face with a book, firmly covering it.


    Ah! If she had to undergo this kind of thrill a few more times, she really would have a heart attack!

 Chapter 81: 81: No, absolutely not!

    Chapter 81: Chapter 81: No, absolutely not!


    Yet some people seemed completely oblivious to the oddity of the situation just now and continued the meeting with their usual nonchalance.


    Zhao Xi secretly captured the moment everyone¡¯s jaws dropped, full of satisfaction.


    Seeing their expressions, as if they had been struck by lightning, brought instant balance to his heart.


    Indeed, this ¡°sin¡± shouldn¡¯t be borne by him alone.


    It would only be fair if everyone shared the burden of ¡°eating dog food.¡±


    Fortunately, the staff of Song Group were quick to adapt, and it didn¡¯t take long before they refocused on the meeting.


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao was on the side, munching on snacks and half-listening, when suddenly her cellphone vibrated.


    She glanced at the caller ID, nodded slightly to Song Sinian and Zhao Xi, and quietly left the office.


    She exited the meeting room and dashed to the farthest fire escape to answer the call.


    This was the president¡¯s floor, and generally quite deserted.


    ¡°Hello, second brother?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s soft voice came through and took Xia Wenqing by surprise.


    This was the first time he had heard her use that term since she returned to the Lu Family.


    When Xia Wenjin was home, she would only stiffly say ¡°second brother¡± when she needed his help; normally, she couldn¡¯t care less to exchange a single word with him.


    Not to mention hearing the tender address of ¡°second brother.¡±


    Xia Wenqing squinted slightly, his facial expression softened noticeably, ¡°Zhaozhao, the water sample you sent has been tested, and indeed it contains medicinal components.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tensed up upon hearing this, ¡°Is it poison?¡±


    She had merely suspected that Mr. Song¡¯s accident might have been deliberate, never imagining that someone would daringly drug him.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t be nervous, the drugs found in the water are oral hypoglycemic drugs,¡± Xia Wenqing immediately soothed her upon hearing her urgency.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, ¡°Could it be someone just put the medicine in the water for convenience?¡±


    If that was the case, the incident would simply be an accident.


    But Xia Wenqing quickly dashed her hopes, ¡°No one would put a three-day dosage into the water for that purpose.¡±


    The implication was clear.


    The water that Old Master Song drank had definitely been tampered with.


    After saying this, Xia Wenqing added, ¡°This matter is not simple, be very careful about your safety before we can ascertain who drugged Mr. Song, and don¡¯t tell anyone.¡±


    Whoever dared to harm Mr. Song must hold a significant position within the Song Family; if such a person targeted Lu Zhaozhao, she would be in danger.


    Naturally, Lu Zhaozhao understood this. She pursed her lips and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, second brother, I won¡¯t be impulsive.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you can contact me any time if anything happens, I know many people here who can help,¡± Xia Wenqing was still a bit worried and didn¡¯t forget to remind her again before hanging up.


    ¡°Mm, I know, thanks, second brother.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hung up the phone and couldn¡¯t help but sigh lightly as she stood by the window.


    She had suspected something earlier and had the water that Old Master Song drank tested.


    Now that the results were out, she wasn¡¯t sure what to do next.


    Should she tell Song Sinian directly?


    With her current capabilities, she couldn¡¯t meddle in the affairs of the Song Mansion, but if she told Song Sinian, how could she explain why she had sent the bottle for testing without telling him?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought for a moment, sighed deeply again, and decided to admire the view outside the window, leaning against its side.


    After a while, a deep voice came from behind her, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    The corridor was empty, his voice echoing in the long hallway.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes drooped, unsure of what to say, and chose silence instead.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows lifted slightly, and he cupped her chin in his hand, planting a kiss on her lips, ¡°So, are you planning to wait until after I¡¯ve kissed you before you tell me, or will you say it now?¡±


    As he spoke, the pad of his thumb gently brushed her rosy lips, his deft touch reminding her of the time Song Sinian ¡°consulted¡± her about why her face was hot.


    Lu Zhaozhao swallowed hard, her gaze involuntarily moving to the corridor¡¯s security camera.


    No, absolutely not!


    ¡°I... I, I¡¯ll say!¡± Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, ready to spill everything.


    She pulled Song Sinian into a surveillance blind spot and then whispered, ¡°I... After I saved grandpa in the mountains, I had the water he drank tested...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words halted there, her gaze involuntarily seeking Song Sinian¡¯s, as if bracing for his reproach.


    But Song Sinian simply looked back at her, urging her to continue, showing no signs of blaming her.


    Lu Zhaozhao was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on, ¡°Grandpa¡¯s water contained a large amount of hypoglycemic drugs, I suspect the accident last time might have been intentional.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, and he took hold of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, asking very seriously, ¡°Apart from you, who else knows about this?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao thought Song Sinian was worried about the Song Family¡¯s affairs being leaked and quickly explained, ¡°I only asked my second brother for help; he wouldn¡¯t reveal it.¡±


    After all, Xia Wenqing was a lawyer and had a basic level of professional integrity.


    She might not be his client, but his concern seemed genuine as a brother.


    Song Sinian squeezed her small hand, ¡°If this matter is intentional, everyone in the Song Family, including anyone who could have approached the old man, is a suspect, so you mustn¡¯t get involved anymore, understand?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth opened, but before she could finish, Song Sinian¡¯s lips were on hers, and then as if punishing her, he bit her lip.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her eyes in confusion, looking at him as he said in a deep voice, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you are thinking, but your safety always comes first with me.¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao was visibly stunned by his words.


    Before she could recover, Song Sinian spoke again, ¡°You can do anything you want, but it must be on the condition that you ensure your safety, understand? As long as you are safe, even if you bring down the sky, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands almost covered her mouth in surprise.


    If she didn¡¯t know Song Sinian had a communication disorder, she would have truly believed he was a master of romance; his sweet nothings were so touching and heartfelt.


    Every word touched her heart.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face inevitably flushed, and she silently took Song Sinian¡¯s larger hand, nodding gently...

 Chapter 82: 82: Goodness, can this even be compared?

    Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Goodness, can this even be compared?


    Maybe she could try to trust Song Sinian a little more in the future.


    The last life had conditioned her to instinctively think of the worst every time she encountered a problem.


    It seemed this needed to be improved.


    ¡°Sir?¡± Suddenly, from afar, a voice called out.


    Lu Zhaozhao emerged from a blind spot in the surveillance and looked out, just catching sight of Zhao Xi standing not far away.


    Zhao Xi, upon seeing Lu Zhaozhao, secretly heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed that he hadn¡¯t disturbed their sir¡¯s good deeds just now.


    ...


    He walked forward and then slowly said, ¡°Sir, there are important guests in the reception room who might need your personal attention.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows pressed down slightly, somewhat puzzled by this ¡°important guest.¡±


    However, since Zhao Xi didn¡¯t specify a name, he naturally had his reasons.


    Song Sinian raised his hand and touched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°You go back to the office first; I¡¯ll come to find you in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded obediently and left.


    As he watched Lu Zhaozhao enter the office door, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze turned to Zhao Xi, ¡°Who went to the reception room?¡±


    Zhao Xi immediately responded, ¡°It was the old master who had shown up, probably because he heard that the madam had come to the company.¡±


    Since Song Sinian had taken the position of president of the Song Group, Old Master Song had almost entirely delegated authority.


    Not to mention visiting the company.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelid slightly lifted, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the reception room.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    The two men arrived one after another in the reception room, where they saw Old Master Song leisurely sipping tea. Song Sinian¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he sat opposite Old Master Song.


    However, seeing Song Sinian got Old Master Song¡¯s face to wrinkle even deeper, ¡°Why are you here? Where is Zhaozhao?¡±


    He had heard that Lu Zhaozhao was visiting and specifically came to the company to see her, hoping to take her out while Song Sinian was working. He hadn¡¯t expected this brat!


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips curved slightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you come to the company to see me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Old Master Song suddenly found himself at a loss for words.


    Indeed, he had come with the pretense of visiting Song Sinian.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°This time, I...¡±


    ¡°Have everyone leave; I want to have a serious talk with you.¡± Before Old Master Song could finish his sentence, Song Sinian sternly fixed his gaze on him.


    His unexpectedly cold expression took Old Master Song by surprise.


    It wasn¡¯t that serious, was it?


    Was it necessary to make such a big fuss just to see his granddaughter-in-law?


    Old Master Song coughed lightly and glanced at his assistant beside him, tilting his chin, ¡°Alright, you can go out first. I need to talk with this brat.¡±


    The assistant nodded and promptly left.


    For a moment, only Song Sinian, Old Master Song, and Zhao Xi remained in the office.


    Zhao Xi had originally intended to leave too, but since Song Sinian had not indicated he should go, he had to stay where he was.


    To make his presence felt, he took the initiative to pour tea for both Old Master Song and Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian glanced at Zhao Xi, then quickly turned his eyes back to Old Master Song, ¡°Have you found out why you fainted last time?¡±


    Old Master Song was taken aback, his eyes flashing with surprise, seemingly unaccustomed to Song Sinian¡¯s sudden concern.


    During his time in the hospital, this kid had glanced over him briefly, explained a few things, and then left.


    Now that he was discharged, the kid was showing concern?


    Old Master Song¡¯s eyes, full of wrinkles, squinted slightly¡ªwas this all thanks to Lu Zhaozhao?


    Thinking this, Old Master Song felt considerably happier.


    ¡°My health is fine; you don¡¯t need to worry about me. Just take good care of Zhaozhao.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes grew colder, ¡°Do you know that your drink was tampered with?¡±


    Old Master Song¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, the wrinkles around them seeming to smooth out.


    He stared incredulously at Song Sinian, ¡°What did you say?!¡±


    He had been diagnosed with low blood sugar at the hospital, so he hadn¡¯t paid it much mind.


    After all, it¡¯s not uncommon for people with diabetes to experience low blood sugar.


    He had thought it was just a severe case.


    He had assumed it was an accident.


    Since he no longer involved himself in the Song Group¡¯s internal affairs, there seemed no reason for anyone to target him.


    So, he hadn¡¯t considered this possibility.


    Now that Song Sinian had mentioned it, he was utterly shocked.


    Song Sinian watched as Old Master Song¡¯s face turned from pale to flushed, and he frowned slightly, tapping Zhao Xi beside him, ¡°What¡¯s his expression now?¡±


    Zhao Xi: ¡°...¡±


    Suddenly, he wished he were under a car rather than here.


    He had thought that Song Sinian had kept him here out of complete trust, but now it seemed he just wanted a living, emotionless tool for analyzing expressions.


    Zhao Xi reluctantly glanced at Old Master Song and then at Song Sinian, having no choice but to biting the bullet and say, ¡°The old master must be very shocked.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded lightly, ¡°Let¡¯s put the shock aside for now; you better clean up the staff at the Song Mansion first. If stuff you put in your mouth can be tampered with, is it really because you¡¯re getting older?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Old Master Song¡¯s face instantly turned gloomy, staring irritably at Song Sinian, ¡°You brat! You¡¯ve grown up and your wings have grown hard, huh?!¡±


    Zhao Xi timidly approached Song Sinian, whispering, ¡°The old master is angry. Look, even his eyebrows are standing up.¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Can¡¯t I hear it?!¡± Old Master Song was nearly driven to explode on the spot by these two brats.


    He slammed his hand on the table hard, his expression almost becoming fierce.


    Song Sinian stared at Old Master Song¡¯s face for a while before disdainfully retorting, ¡°Is that what an angry expression looks like? Zhaozhao looks much better when she¡¯s angry.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seriously? Was that even comparable?


    Zhao Xi was utterly speechless.


    Why did he feel that their sir¡¯s thought process had deviated somewhat recently?


    Shouldn¡¯t the situation call for pacifying Old Master Song at this point?


    That comment just now seemed rather like adding fuel to the fire.


    Old Master Song was obviously stunned by Song Sinian¡¯s behavior as well, but hearing the name ¡°Lu Zhaozhao¡± visibly softened his mood.


    At least the brat knew enough to ask about his feelings; that was some progress.


    Don¡¯t get angry! Don¡¯t get angry! Don¡¯t get angry!


    The grandson is his own flesh and blood, but the life is his own!


    Don¡¯t get angry, don¡¯t get upset; getting sick pleases no one!


    If my anger kills me, who would it satisfy¡ªmoreover, it wastes energy and wears on the spirit!

 Chapter 83: 83 What if its unavoidable?

    Chapter 83: Chapter 83 What if it¡¯s unavoidable?


    Mr. Song had to mentally prepare himself before he could slightly tug at the corners of his mouth and ask, ¡°How did you know someone tampered with my water? Do you suspect anyone?¡±


    Sinian usually didn¡¯t bother with such trivial messes, unless...


    ¡°If you can handle this matter, don¡¯t trouble my wife with it. If you can¡¯t, I can take care of it for you.¡± Before Mr. Song could clarify things, Sinian responded ruthlessly.


    Mr. Song¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°I don¡¯t need you, you little brat, to teach me how to handle such petty issues!¡±


    He had thought retirement would bring peace, but he had not expected his home to become infested with vermin.


    It was indeed time for a thorough clean-up.


    ...


    However, the affair couldn¡¯t be dealt with ostentatiously, as it was still unclear how many vermin were in the house, and more importantly, Zhaozhao could very likely get hurt if things were handled too harshly.


    Sinian must have been aware of these concerns to confront him directly, right?


    Ah, the little brat had finally seen the light...


    Because he had spent the weekend with Sinian at the office, Zhaozhao, right after finishing her first two classes on Monday morning, went to the hospital during her free period.


    She heard from Xia Wenjue that Xia Wenmo was scheduled for surgery soon and hoped everything would go smoothly.


    When she reached the door of the ward, she saw Xia Wenmo painting on his drawing board. Curiously, she stood at the doorway, watching him, careful not to interrupt.


    In the quiet hospital room, he painted with intense concentration, using colors that were bold and distinctive.


    It looked somewhat familiar...


    Such a distinctive painting, she would definitely remember if she had seen it before.


    While Zhaozhao was searching her mind, Xia Wenmo just finished his painting and turned around to see the person at the door.


    ¡°Zhaozhao? You¡¯re here?¡± Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyes immediately curved in a smile, waving at her, ¡°Come and see how my new painting looks?¡±


    Zhaozhao nodded and walked in. As she stood before the oil painting, the sense of familiarity intensified.


    She frowned, ¡°This style... It¡¯s a bit like...¡±


    ¡°Like the one you bought at the auction?¡± Before Zhaozhao could finish her sentence, Xia Wenmo blurted out.


    Zhaozhao immediately nodded, ¡°Yes, yes, this style...¡±


    Her words were abruptly cut off.


    Her eyes widened in shock, and she stared at Xia Wenmo in disbelief, ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly be that painter abyss, could you?¡±


    Although Zhaozhao had concluded, deep down, she was frantically hoping Xia Wenmo would deny it.


    But to her disappointment, Xia Wenmo slightly nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, I am the painter abyss. I never expected that the first painting I sold in China would be bought by my own sister~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    At that moment, Zhaozhao¡¯s mind was completely in disarray.


    If painter abyss was Xia Wenmo, that meant he... was dying.


    Previously, she had lamented the untimely death of this painter.


    At the time, she didn¡¯t know the painter and simply felt it was a case of a bright life cut short.


    But now, this living person was right in front of her, her own brother!


    Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know what to do.


    What exactly had caused Xia Wenmo¡¯s death in the previous life?


    Was it because the surgery failed?


    Then if she had helped find a doctor, could this tragedy have been avoided?


    But what if it couldn¡¯t be avoided?


    Once Lu Zhaozhao thought of this, she could no longer control her tears as they began falling from her eyes.


    Xia Wenmo was about to ask Lu Zhaozhao to praise him when he turned and saw her tears falling non-stop like broken beads.


    He immediately felt helpless, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t cry? I¡ªI didn¡¯t mean to keep it from you. If you¡¯re upset about the money spent on the painting, I¡ªI can give it all to you, okay?¡±


    ¡°Not okay!¡± While wiping her tears, Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenmo and said, ¡°Unless you promise to undergo the surgery safely, you must be safe, okay?¡±


    She knew it was unreasonable to demand a patient to be completely safe, but she just couldn¡¯t help it.


    Every time she thought about what happened in her previous life, she couldn¡¯t help but feel terrified.


    She would rather give up the tenfold profit from the painting.


    She wanted to keep this brother who was so gentle with her.


    Xia Wenmo, completely flustered by Lu Zhaozhao crying, agreed to everything she said, ¡°Okay, okay, I promise everything, be good, don¡¯t cry now...¡±


    As he spoke, he squatted halfway down, carefully wiping Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tears with the sleeve of his garment.


    However, this scene was clearly seen by Xia Wenjue as he entered the room.


    ¡°How did you make Zhaozhao cry?¡± Holding two bags of groceries and seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s teary eyes, then looking at Xia Wenmo¡¯s apologetic face, his brows immediately furrowed.


    He unhappily set down the groceries and strode towards them.


    Without thinking, Lu Zhaozhao stretched out her hands to shield Xia Wenmo, ¡°Big brother, it¡¯s not Triplet Brother¡¯s fault, I was just thinking too much.¡±


    As she spoke, tears once again uncontrollably fell.


    Now Xia Wenjue was also panicked, ¡°What were you thinking about? Did someone bully you? Tell big brother and I will stand up for you!¡±


    ¡°Yes! Triplet Brother will stand up for you too!¡± Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t help but join in.


    ...


    But this made Lu Zhaozhao cry even harder.


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenmo had to consider whether Lu Zhaozhao was being bullied in the Song Family.


    The two exchanged glances, and Xia Wenjue tentatively spoke, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you want to stay with the Xia Family for a few days? Mom has really missed you, too.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao shook her head without even thinking about it, ¡°No need, big brother.¡±


    She sniffled and wiped her face again, then after a moment, she looked at Xia Wenjue, ¡°Big brother, I have something I want to ask you privately...¡±


    Xia Wenjue nodded, glanced at Xia Wenmo, who also nodded, then took Lu Zhaozhao to a partition in the hospital room.


    This room, completely separated from the next hospital room, was specially arranged for Xia Wenmo¡¯s convenience.


    It even had hidden surveillance installed.


    So Xia Wenmo could hear everything Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjue were saying.


    As soon as the door closed, Lu Zhaozhao hurriedly grabbed Xia Wenjue¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Big brother, how experienced is the doctor performing the surgery on Triplet Brother? If he¡¯s not good enough, can we wait a little longer? Find someone more capable, can we?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Xia Wenjue was clearly stunned, ¡°The thing you just worried about, wasn¡¯t it about Triplet Brother¡¯s surgery?¡±


    Because Lu Zhaozhao had previously given a water sample to Xia Wenqing, he had thought she was being bullied in the Song Family...

 Chapter 84: 84 Uh... That was an accident

    Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Uh... That was an accident


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded gently, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that all surgeries carry risk, and experienced doctors can minimize surgical risks to a greater extent...¡±


    Of course, she had just made that up on the spot; her main worry was that Xia Wenmo could pass away at a young age just like in her previous life.


    So, perhaps a more professional touch could save her third brother¡¯s life.


    Xia Wenjue raised his eyebrows, ¡°If you¡¯re talking about this, then rest assured, the neurosurgeon operating on the third brother is currently the most authoritative in the country.¡±


    Although Xia Wenmo had a tumor in his brain, proper surgery wouldn¡¯t pose any significant danger.


    It was just that there might be problems with his vision, which was why Xia Wenmo gave up on himself and wanted to refuse treatment.


    ...


    If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Xia Wenmo might really have been in grave danger...


    Lu Zhaozhao pressed her lips together, looking uncertainly at Xia Wenjue, ¡°Is what you¡¯re saying true?¡±


    Her voice trembled noticeably because she had just been crying.


    Xia Wenjue nodded, patted Lu Zhaozhao on the shoulder, and said, ¡°I promise you, this doctor is absolutely the best. As long as the third brother is willing to have the surgery, his life is definitely safe.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help murmuring softly, ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡±


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao was still somewhat anxious, Xia Wenjue thought for a moment and added, ¡°Actually, at the auction, if it wasn¡¯t for you buying his painting, he might not have agreed to the surgery.¡±


    A puzzled frown crept across Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows, ¡°Didn¡¯t you think about knocking him out and taking him to the operating room?¡±


    Xia Wenjue couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°With the third brother¡¯s temperament, even if I knocked him out and took him to the operating room, he would definitely not cooperate with the treatment after the surgery, and he might well die young.¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°die young,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tears started falling pitter-patter again.


    Xia Wenjue hurriedly amended his words, ¡°I was just joking, don¡¯t take it seriously. See, he has agreed to the surgery, right? Don¡¯t be scared, let¡¯s not cry now...¡±


    Xia Wenjue quickly pulled out a handkerchief from his suit pocket to wipe away Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tears.


    Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he felt so regretful he could have hit himself over the head.


    Everything had been going fine until he said that one extra thing.


    Lu Zhaozhao sniffed, rubbing her nose with the handkerchief, and asked softly with teary eyes, ¡°Before the surgery, can I come to see third brother often?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± As soon as Lu Zhaozhao finished speaking, Xia Wenjue eagerly agreed, ¡°If you¡¯re worried, I¡¯ll set up a monitor for you, we can keep an eye on him 24 hours a day. I¡¯ll go find a doctor to get him a 24-hour cardiac monitor to keep track of his data all the time.¡±


    ¡°Clatter!¡±


    A noise came from next door, something hitting the floor, startling Lu Zhaozhao. She immediately pushed open the partition door and ran out.


    She saw Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan sitting by the bed, holding a tablet that had shattered from the fall.


    ¡°Uh... that was an accident,¡± Xia Wenmo tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to maintain a calm smile for Lu Zhaozhao.


    He had never imagined that Lu Zhaozhao would be so worried about his illness, and he felt a wave of warmth in his heart.


    Although he was somewhat resistant to the idea of being under 24-hour cardiac monitoring as proposed by his elder brother, he couldn¡¯t stand seeing his sister looking so pitiful.


    Forget 24-hour cardiac monitoring; he¡¯d agree to 24-hour personal care!


    Lu Zhaozhao, still not completely reassured, walked over to Xia Wenmo¡¯s side and thoroughly checked him over before finally relaxing.


    ¡°Third brother, you¡¯re going to have surgery in a few days, you must be careful.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll listen to you,¡± Xia Wenmo raised his hand to ruffle Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair, and seeing her red little nose, he couldn¡¯t help but gently graze her nose bridge.


    Xia Wenyan, who was holding a chipped tablet, glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and timidly raised his hand in greeting, ¡°Hi, Zhaozhao.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao merely nodded at him without saying much.


    At that, Xia Wenyan felt an even deeper twinge in his heart.


    When he had entered, he saw Xia Wenmo holding a tablet, listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tearful worries about his third brother.


    She was softly calling them both brother, but when it came to him, all he got was a nod.


    Xia Wenyan felt disheartened, yet he dared not say much more.


    After all, he hadn¡¯t been nice to Lu Zhaozhao in the past, had misunderstood her, even dissed her, so the fact that she wasn¡¯t cursing him out was something to be thankful for.


    Therefore, during the time Lu Zhaozhao stayed in the hospital room afterward, he wanted to try to gain her favor.


    Unfortunately... Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attention was all on Xia Wenmo, occasionally chatting with Xia Wenjue, while he was almost completely in a nodding acquaintance state.


    Seeing the time was almost for afternoon classes, Lu Zhaozhao looked at her phone, then deeply at Xia Wenmo.


    ¡°Third Brother, I¡¯ll come see you again tomorrow when I have time.¡± She picked up her bag, not forgetting to admonish, ¡°Eat well tonight, and don¡¯t wander around.¡±


    Xia Wenmo laughed at being admonished like a child.


    He nodded continuously, ¡°Okay, okay, Third Brother will eat well and won¡¯t wander, just waiting for you to come see me, alright?¡±


    ¡°Mmhm.¡±


    Only then did Lu Zhaozhao nod gently.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenjue reached into his pocket for his car keys and said, ¡°I¡¯ll send...¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Xia Wenyan immediately rushed over, pressing his hand on Xia Wenjue¡¯s.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it, I¡¯ll do it, I¡¯ll take Zhaozhao back to school; I¡¯ve got nothing else to do anyway.¡±


    Although Xia Wenjue didn¡¯t want to give up this opportunity to Xia Wenyan, seeing his pleading face, Xia Wenjue couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    He could only toss the keys to Xia Wenyan, finally saying, ¡°Zhaozhao, why don¡¯t you let him take you?¡±


    As he said this, he was also carefully watching Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reaction.


    After all, they were all clear about the ¡°good deeds¡± Xia Wenyan had done before, so if Lu Zhaozhao showed any displeasure, Xia Wenjue was ready to cut off the possibility from the root.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao did not resist, simply nodding her head, she accepted, ¡°Alright then.¡±


    She actually had no hostility towards Xia Wenyan.


    But neither did she have much fondness.


    After all, she was always doubtful about the character of someone who would end up in a bad way because of drug use.


    Furthermore, he had always stood by Xia Wenjin, so she didn¡¯t want much to do with Xia Wenyan.


    But he was, after all, a part of the Xia Family, so completely ignoring him wasn¡¯t a viable option. So, what she could do now was just to keep it cordial on the surface.


    She and Xia Wenyan walked one after the other, barely getting in the car, Xia Wenyan spoke up, ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m sorry about before, I misunderstood you without proper investigation...¡±


    ...


    After Xia Wenyan finished speaking, the car fell into a silence as still as death.


    He swallowed nervously and, lifting his eyes towards the rearview mirror, he looked tentatively at Lu Zhaozhao¡ª

 Chapter 85: 85 How is he going to comfort her?

    Chapter 85: Chapter 85 How is he going to comfort her?


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, not expecting Xia Wenyan to apologize to her directly, and she didn¡¯t react for a moment.


    Seemingly noticing his discomfort, Lu Zhaozhao awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°You actually didn¡¯t need to apologize to me, everyone has different tastes. There¡¯s no need to force it.¡±


    To Xia Wenyan, she definitely followed the principle of ¡°respect others¡¯ destinies, give up the urge to help¡±¡ªas long as he didn¡¯t destroy himself in the entertainment industry.


    Whether he was her brother or not didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s head shook like a rattle drum; he turned back and stared at Lu Zhaozhao eagerly, ¡°Not forcing it, not forcing it. I really know I was wrong, Zhaozhao, can you give me another chance to be your brother?¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked, and decisively replied, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Xia Wenyan probably hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to respond so bluntly; the words he was about to say got stuck in his throat.


    He opened his mouth, and it took quite a while before he managed to speak, ¡°Zhaozhao, I know it will take some time for you to accept me as your brother, but I will definitely try harder in the future to become a brother worthy of you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenyan, who was swearing his promises, and felt a bit of a headache.


    She really hadn¡¯t expected him to try too hard; she would be grateful as long as he didn¡¯t become a scandal-involved celebrity in the entertainment world.


    However, Lu Zhaozhao reconsidered; after her recent report, the police did catch a few drug users, but Xia Wenyan was uninvolved, which meant he hadn¡¯t touched those substances yet.


    Maybe... keeping a tighter watch might prevent him from taking the wrong path?


    Thinking so, Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Xia Wenyan, ¡°I¡¯ll carefully consider what you just said, but whether it¡¯ll work or not is another matter. After all, my requirements for a brother are strict, and the baseline is absolutely no bad habits.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes immediately sparkled, and he almost wanted to pat his chest loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I am a fully-developed ¡®five-good youth¡¯ in morals, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor! To become a qualified good brother, I will definitely try harder!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, she had tried her best.


    As for whether Xia Wenyan would end up like he did in the last life, that was up to him now.


    Lu Zhaozhao went to school in a peace of mind in the afternoon but didn¡¯t know that her meeting with Xia Wenyan had already been reported to Song Sinian.


    ¡°Sir, this is the latest news related to Xia Wenyan.¡± Zhao Xi placed the tablet in front of Song Sinian.


    Ever since Lu Zhaozhao started paying attention to Xia Wenyan before, Song Sinian¡¯s men had been regularly sending news and photos related to him.


    To prevent him from coming into contact with shady people.


    Song Sinian glanced at the man on the tablet, his tone indifferent, ¡°If it¡¯s the same as usual, there¡¯s no need to report.¡±


    Xia Wenyan had been relatively honest recently; ever since the company¡¯s self-examination, he had been moving between just his home and the hospital.


    Zhao Xi hesitated for a moment while standing beside, ¡°Uh... the lady also went to the hospital at noon, so...¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Song Sinian had already grabbed the tablet.


    He opened the photo album and quickly found the picture where Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan were together.


    Yet this single look mattered greatly; he almost immediately noticed that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eye color was different from usual.


    His fingers lightly spread across the photo, magnifying it several times.


    Indeed, she had cried.


    These Xia family folks take up her time, and they dared to make her cry?


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze darkened as he stared at the photo in his hand, the chill around him almost freezing the entire office.


    Zhao Xi, standing to the side, couldn¡¯t bear it either.


    After all, it had been a long time since he had seen Song Sinian in this state.


    Since Lu Zhaozhao had married into the family, Song Sinian had been consistently in a nice state, completely forgetting his previous devilish demeanor.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s mind spun rapidly, and he soon whispered a reminder, ¡°Mr. Song, it seems that Madam only has one class this afternoon.¡±


    Once their Mr. Song finished his work at hand, he should be able to return home quickly.


    This way, their Mr. Song shouldn¡¯t be so irritable, right?


    Just as Zhao Xi finished speaking, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze shifted toward him.


    His eyes darkened slightly, and he said in a cold voice, ¡°What work is there still to do?¡±


    Zhao Xi quickly flipped through the schedule on hand and then said, ¡°Besides the documents on the desk, there¡¯s just one meeting left. As long as this meeting is over...¡±


    He had barely finished speaking when he distinctly felt the chill emanating from Song Sinian.


    Without a second thought, Zhao Xi blurted out, ¡°The meeting can be switched to a video conference without affecting the outcome.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, and the coldness in his demeanor halved, ¡°Then notify them, the meeting is delayed by half an hour and changed to a video conference.¡±


    He stood up, walked to the coat rack to grab his suit jacket, and then left the office directly.


    Zhao Xi silently watched Song Sinian¡¯s departing figure, quietly heaving a sigh of relief¡ªthose young whelps in the meeting had just saved their skins...


    When Song Sinian got home, Lu Zhaozhao was sitting at the desk in the study, wiping the painting she had previously acquired.


    Her gaze was vacant, as if she was looking at the painting, yet also as if she was looking through the painting at something else.


    Song Sinian stood at the doorway of the study, watching Lu Zhaozhao for a moment before gently knocking on the open door.


    Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses, holding the painting as she looked over and saw that it was Song Sinian, a flash of surprise visibly sparkling in her eyes.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you¡¯ve come home quite early today!¡± Almost instantly, her eyes and brows curved into a smile.


    As if nothing had happened just moments ago.


    Song Sinian walked into the room, observing the sudden changes in her small face, realizing she wasn¡¯t planning on telling him about today¡¯s events.


    Was it because she still didn¡¯t trust him enough?


    Or because she felt that issues concerning the Xia family weren¡¯t appropriate to mention before him?


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes imperceptibly deepened, and he calmly said, ¡°Today... the situation was a bit special.¡±


    As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently swept across her small face.


    Her expression seemed normal.


    Even if he asked her if she was unhappy, she would likely deny it.


    So how was he supposed to comfort her?


    Simple daily acts of affection seemed insufficient to console her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted, and she placed the painting on the desk.


    For some reason, she always felt that Song Sinian had been acting strange since he entered.


    Usually, he would have embraced and kissed her upon seeing her, but now he was standing across from her without any move.


    What was going on?


    Had something happened during work?


    Or was there an issue concerning Old Master Song?


    As Lu Zhaozhao was brimming with confusion, Song Sinian finally slowly began to speak¡ª

 Chapter 86: 86: Song Sinian seems to be clingier than before…

    Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Song Sinian seems to be clingier than before...


    ¡°Zhaozhao, hug me.¡±


    Song Sinian slowly extended his hand and looked at her, his eyes downcast and filled with a hint of pity.


    Without a second thought, Lu Zhaozhao shifted forward from her desk and reached out to hug Song Sinian standing beside her.


    Due to the height of the desk, Song Sinian had to bend down to embrace her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, with her neck tilted up resting on his shoulder, gently patted Song Sinian¡¯s back, ¡°Did something upsetting happen?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t respond because he couldn¡¯t think of a suitable reason right away.


    He just felt that by saying this, Lu Zhaozhao would hold him; he wanted to comfort her, so even if he initiated, it could still comfort her, right?


    Holding that thought, Song Sinian nuzzled his nose into the nape of her neck, then held her even tighter.


    Lu Zhaozhao, who was initially curious about why Song Sinian suddenly asked for a hug¡ªusually, he would answer whenever she asked.


    Now that he wasn¡¯t speaking, it seemed the situation was more serious than she had imagined...


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed softly, murmuring in consolation, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to talk about it now. You can tell me when you feel like it later.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s body suddenly stiffened as he held Lu Zhaozhao, then he propped himself up to look at her and asked, ¡°Would you do the same?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked slightly bewildered at Song Sinian, instinctively nodding, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Song Sinian stared deeply at Lu Zhaozhao, then continued, ¡°When you feel better, you¡¯ll tell me then?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, looking into Song Sinian¡¯s very serious eyes, feeling somewhat guilty.


    She instinctively shrunk her neck, ¡°I guess...¡±


    Hearing her response, Song Sinian stared at her intently again, then once more held her tightly.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± his deep voice murmured into her ear, nuzzling again into her neck.


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao held Song Sinian, instinctively patting him.


    Was it her imagination?


    She felt like Song Sinian had become even clingier than before...


    While Lu Zhaozhao pondered this, Song Sinian started speaking again, ¡°I have a meeting soon, will you join me?¡±


    ¡°Um... Maybe I should just wait for you to finish your meeting,¡± Lu Zhaozhao tentatively replied.


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian burrowed further into her embrace, ¡°No good, I don¡¯t want to be apart from you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Did he have separation anxiety now?


    Lu Zhaozhao was unsure whether Song Sinian clinging to her was a good or bad thing.


    It seemed she needed to consult Doctor Tian soon¡ªif this was a symptom of worsening depression, that would be troublesome.


    For now... it was better to just go along with him.


    ¡°Well, okay then, I¡¯ll join you in the meeting,¡± Lu Zhaozhao forced a smile, trying to keep her emotions fairly calm.


    Since Lu Zhaozhao had previously spent two days in Song Sinian¡¯s office, before the meeting, he directly instructed Qian Hong to prepare a pile of snacks for her as before in the office.


    Unlike Zhao Xi, the snacks Qian Hong prepared were almost all freshly made in the kitchen.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the Bingtang Xue Li, mini cakes, doughnuts, and pastries in front of her, then at Song Sinian who was already working on his computer, and silently sighed.


    She was only there to accompany him to the meeting, not to do a mukbang.


    Fortunately, the camera didn¡¯t capture her, but she still felt somewhat uneasy.


    So, she ate with extra caution, fearing that any little sound might be heard by the people on the other side of the computer.


    She had already made quite the impression in the office of the president of Song Group; she couldn¡¯t afford to cause any more trouble.


    The more carefully Lu Zhaozhao ate, the more Song Sinian felt that something was off.


    He slightly turned his face and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.


    While listening to the meeting presentation coming from the computer, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on Lu Zhaozhao.


    Was there something wrong with the food?


    The other employees sitting in the conference room felt somewhat anxious. Although it was a video conference, the oppressive aura displayed by their boss was utterly unchanged.


    Fortunately, Zhao Xi, who was sitting beside the camera, silently held up a white paper with a line clearly written in black marker: ¡°Don¡¯t be scared today; the wife is beside him.¡±


    Almost instantly, everyone, originally on edge, relaxed, all wishing they could dine and wine Lu Zhaozhao like a goddess.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao, utterly unaware that she had been revered as a deity among the Song Group employees, was wholly focused on the small cake in her hands.


    Because there was a jar of cherry jam on top, including a whole candied cherry, and she only had a fork, she worried that poking it might cause the cherry to fall off.


    As she hesitated, Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face suddenly leaned in and stole the cherry off her cake with his mouth.


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°???¡±


    She raised an eyebrow suspiciously, about to quietly ask Song Sinian why he took her cherry, but when her gaze landed on his face, she immediately panicked.


    Because he had eaten the cherry jam without using anything else, a bright red smear was clearly visible on his lips, resembling her lipstick.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately gestured to her own mouth, signaling to Song Sinian that there was something on his lips.


    But Song Sinian¡¯s attention was half on the meeting; seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gesture, he instinctively leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned.


    ¡°I was saying there was cherry jam on your lip, not asking you to kiss me...¡±


    Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to be heard by the people on the other side.


    She could almost clearly hear a sharp intake of breath from across the side.


    It was over!


    She was originally trying to prevent Song Sinian¡¯s employees from getting the wrong idea, which was why she wanted him to wipe off the cherry jam.


    Now they wouldn¡¯t misunderstand about the cherry jam because... Song Sinian had just confirmed their suspicions with that act.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt utterly flustered now.


    Could she still ¡°clarify¡± the situation in time?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pleading gaze turned towards Song Sinian, only to see him lightly rubbing the bright red smear on his lip with his fingertip, which only made it more conspicuous against his pale, elegant fingers.


    His aloof and restrained demeanor made people¡¯s imaginations run wild!


    Well, now even if she jumped into the Yellow River, she couldn¡¯t clear herself of this.


    Lu Zhaozhao decided to give in to fate and began eating the cake voraciously.


    This time, she didn¡¯t care if the noise disturbed Song Sinian¡¯s meeting; she might as well do a mukbang right beside him, as the meeting attendees probably wouldn¡¯t get stirred up anymore.


    After all, what could be more sensational than what had just happened?


    But apparently, Lu Zhaozhao still underestimated Song Sinian...

 Chapter 87: 87 Is this little guy punishing him?

    Chapter 87: Chapter 87 Is this little guy punishing him?


    He turned his head and glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, then reached out and scooped her up, holding her horizontally on his lap.


    ¡°This plan will be implemented according to the third set proposed earlier, next agenda item.¡±


    While saying this, Song Sinian gently patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back and lowered his head to whisper a comforting word near her ear, ¡°Be good, the meeting is still going on. Let¡¯s just make do with this hug for a while, don¡¯t fuss.¡±


    Even though Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back was to the camera, she could definitely feel the heat radiating from the back of her head.


    What had she done to make Song Sinian mistakenly think she wanted a hug?


    Now Lu Zhaozhao was in a dilemma, unable to decide whether to get off his lap or stay put.


    ...


    After hesitating for a moment, she finally mustered up the courage, wrapped one hand around Song Sinian¡¯s neck, took the cake in her other hand, and continued eating with her back to the video.


    Lu Zhaozhao now wholly embraced the mindset that as long as she wasn¡¯t embarrassed, the embarrassment belonged to everyone else. Yet, the feeling of shame still made her cheeks and ears turn red.


    Song Sinian¡¯s attention from the video call unconsciously wandered to Lu Zhaozhao in his arms.


    His eyebrows lifted slightly. ¡°Your ears are... huh!¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Lu Zhaozhao impulsively covered his mouth with hers.


    But when she belatedly realized and remembered that Song Sinian was still in a video meeting...


    Ah!!!


    Had she just made Mr. Song contribute his ¡°screen debut kiss¡± in front of his employees?


    Just moments before, she was holding a piece of cake in one hand and a fork in the other, and when she saw Song Sinian staring at her cheeks saying something about ears, she instantly knew what he was about to say.


    So without thinking, she covered his mouth with hers.


    Lu Zhaozhao parted her lips and her entire face flushed deeply.


    If one could describe it, she was as red as a freshly cooked shrimp.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head drooped instantly, resting on Song Sinian¡¯s shoulder, too embarrassed to face anyone.


    Song Sinian blinked slowly, looking at Lu Zhaozhao and sensing her unusual state, then turned his head and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Just wanting to leave Earth now.


    Lu Zhaozhao leaned sullenly against Song Sinian¡¯s shoulder and muttered, ¡°Mr. Song, you should continue the meeting. Don¡¯t mind me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows knitted even deeper. Although he didn¡¯t know what was wrong with Lu Zhaozhao, he felt that doing nothing at the moment seemed inappropriate.


    His dark eyes narrowed, shifting immediately to the people in the meeting room.


    Almost instantaneously, the people staying in the meeting room began to sweat.


    They had just witnessed their CEO and the CEO¡¯s wife exchanging hugs and kisses. Were they about to be silenced by their boss?


    The group¡¯s eyes collectively turned to Zhao Xi, filled with a pleading look, as if afraid he wouldn¡¯t notice, they stared intently at him.


    Zhao Xi: ¡°...¡±


    What was he to do?


    It was his first time witnessing such an explosive scene.


    But as the CEO¡¯s chief secretary, how could he possibly do nothing?


    Zhao Xi pondered for a moment, then silently picked up a marker pen and wrote a line on an A4 sheet before lifting it towards the camera.


    Song Sinian looked at the line of text, his brows furrowed slightly, and he still reached out his long arm and started operating the mouse on the computer.


    The next second, their video feed turned into a blue icon.


    Song Sinian gently patted Lu Zhaozhao and murmured into her ear, ¡°I turned off the camera.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s suspicious eyes blinked slightly; she stealthily turned her head a bit, and once she saw that blue avatar, she finally let out a sigh of relief.


    At least the other side couldn¡¯t see her, and she didn¡¯t have to embarrass herself frequently.


    Song Sinian distinctly felt the person in his arms relax completely.


    She leaned softly against him, her adorable eyes and brows making his heart itch.


    Song Sinian lowered his head and gently nuzzled her flushed earlobe with his nose tip, his warm breath lightly tickling her ear, ¡°Does eating in front of many people make you shy?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched. Was it really shyness from eating in front of people?


    Clearly, it was... because of those messy things he did to her!


    They had agreed that intimate actions could only be done when they were alone together.


    But upon reflection, during the video conference, it was indeed just the two of them in the study; it seemed there was nothing wrong with his actions when thought about that way.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a bit speechless and pursed her lips. Why could Mr. Song always find loopholes?


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her little face, her eyes staring at him indignantly.


    Earlier, when the video was on, she felt very timid, but now that it was off, she felt brave enough!


    Thinking this, her sparkling eyes slowly narrowed, and she suddenly smiled mysteriously at Song Sinian.


    ¡°Mr. Song, could you get me the cake and a fork?¡± she whispered near him, her voice light and soft.


    Song Sinian, not quite understanding, did as Lu Zhaozhao asked and picked them up.


    He took the cake in one hand and the fork in the other and was about to speak when he heard Lu Zhaozhao whisper in his ear again, ¡°Make sure you hold them steady, don¡¯t drop them~¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at the cake and fork in his hands. These items weren¡¯t difficult to handle; how could they possibly fall?


    The next second, Lu Zhaozhao, freeing her hands, cupped his cheeks. Before Song Sinian could react, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips fiercely pressed against his.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips instinctively tightened around the items he was holding, and he found himself pinned against the chair back.


    With both hands occupied, one of which was holding a cake that could fall at any moment, he could only brace his arms on the armrests, allowing Lu Zhaozhao to have her way with him.


    Her movements were fiercer than usual, her sharp little canines tormenting repeatedly between his lips, the slight sting like an electric shock racing down his spine, all the way to his tingling toes.


    She moved even closer in her seated position, the soft pressure gradually increasing. Sensing almost all of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s weight on him, the breaths from Song Sinian¡¯s nose grew heavier.


    ¡°Thud, thud,¡± heartbeats echoing against each other, sending his heart into a panic.


    Even the hand holding the cake trembled slightly due to his tense arm.


    Was this little one punishing him?


    Otherwise, why would she tell him to hold the cake and fork and not drop them?


    Despite their closeness, he was rendered entirely without control.


    He was desperate to the point of madness.


    He wanted to hug her, to tightly grasp her waist with his large hands, to wildly feel the warmth of every inch of her skin with his palms...

 Chapter 88: 88 Is this a bit too hasty?

    Chapter 88: Chapter 88 Is this a bit too hasty?


    The evening breeze stirred the thin curtains, but it couldn¡¯t lower the temperature around the two of them.


    Lu Zhaozhao had intended to be brave and ¡°bully¡± Song Sinian a bit before letting go.


    But he was just too well-behaved; even though he really wanted to hold her, he still obediently abided by her previous words.


    Her heart was instantly filled to the brim, and she wanted to show him with her actions, over and over, how happy she was, how much she liked him.


    ¡°Ahem... Mr. Song?¡±


    Suddenly, Zhao Xi¡¯s voice came from the video conference, and Lu Zhaozhao jerked, stopping instantly.


    ...


    She blinked her somewhat panicked eyes, listening to Zhao Xi¡¯s voice coming from the computer again, ¡°That concludes all the schemes for the topic just now, already fully reported.¡±


    ¡°Repeat the advantages of the second scheme,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice slowly rose in the quiet study.


    His obviously husky voice was hard not to notice.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but snicker a bit; now Mr. Song from their family would share her embarrassment.


    Thinking this, her playful eyes turned to Song Sinian, and she was slightly dazed when she met his dark eyes filled with desire.


    ¡°May I put the things down now?¡± Song Sinian lowered his voice, the sound was scratchy.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Of course, you can.¡±


    Her gaze dropped to his lips, which were smeared with her lipstick, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile with a curve in her brows and eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a wet wipe from the side and gently rubbed his lips, the arc of her mouth rising even higher.


    From the side, the project schemes once again began over the video conference.


    Lu Zhaozhao was only half-listening as she was wiping Song Sinian¡¯s lips when suddenly, her hand was grasped.


    Song Sinian¡¯s profound gaze was especially serious as he looked at her, his voice still hoarse, ¡°I just did a good job following your instructions, so can I get my reward now?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking into Song Sinian¡¯s earnest eyes, felt a vaguely ominous premonition.


    She swallowed, ¡°Um... there will definitely be a reward, but you¡¯re still in a meeting right now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt somewhat relieved that Song Sinian was still in a meeting; otherwise, she really didn¡¯t know how Mr. Song from their family would seek his reward.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze lingered on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, nodding quite seriously.


    Then his voice filled the study, ¡°Zhao Xi, send me all the schemes for this subject in document form. I need some time to deal with this issue; that¡¯s all for today.¡±


    Having said that, Song Sinian immediately ended the video conference.


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°???¡±


    She could hardly believe her ears; wasn¡¯t this a bit too hasty?


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s suspicious gaze turned towards Song Sinian, he scooped her up and pressed his lips down hard.


    This time... Lu Zhaozhao had no control to speak of, not even a chance to open her mouth...


    Because Lu Zhaozhao had been visiting Xia Wenmo at the hospital during her time off from classes, the hoodlums hired by Cao Mei had never succeeded.


    Xia Wenjin, tired of waiting anxiously, took it upon herself to follow Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s schedule.


    Only then did she figure out her fixed routine for the past few days.


    ¡°I never realized Lu Zhaozhao cared so deeply for that sickling, huh!¡± Xia Wenjin stealthily followed her from a distance on the path.


    Because the hospital where Xia Wenmo was staying was located in the city center and covered a large area, one would generally be stuck for a long time at the main entrance.


    So, Lu Zhaozhao always chose to enter through the single-person passageway at the side door.


    Because vehicles couldn¡¯t enter through the side door and it was far from the clinic building where patients were seen, there was a small grove of trees near the closest spot to the side door.


    It was said to be planned for a new inpatient building, so it looked desolate, hence few people took this path.


    Xia Wenjin curled the corner of her mouth in satisfaction, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, who wasn¡¯t too far away, with anticipation indescribable.


    In a moment, the hoodlums arranged by Cao Mei would drag her into the nearby grove.


    By then, there wouldn¡¯t be many people here; wouldn¡¯t they do whatever they pleased?


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin watched from a distance as a group of rough-looking people headed in their direction.


    She immediately took out her phone and opened the recording function.


    She wouldn¡¯t want to miss any moment of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s misfortune.


    She hoped to see her later, scared out of her wits.


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    Suddenly, the group of thugs stood still and yelled at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted an eyebrow suspiciously, glanced at the thugs, then instinctively looked back.


    With just that look, she locked eyes with Xia Wenjin, who had been stealthily following her.


    She almost subconsciously hid her face with her phone, as if by doing so, Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t be able to see her.


    The corner of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, slightly speechless.


    In fact, two days earlier, she had vaguely felt someone following her, so she quickly realized it was Xia Wenjin.


    Initially, Lu Zhaozhao thought that Xia Wenjin, remembering her sibling bond with Xia Wenmo, was secretly following her to visit him.


    But... Xia Wenjin was merely stalking her.


    Lu Zhaozhao had been puzzled about why she followed her until she saw these few thugs, at which point, she understood.


    It seemed that after being chased out from the Song Family by Song Sinian, Xia Wenjin held a grudge against her and wanted to have someone deal with her, right?


    But she had indeed provoked the wrong person.


    Back when she was fighting in the underground ring, she was a genuine hotshot champion. Could these few petty thugs even think about taking her on?


    The corner of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth curved slightly in disdain as she looked towards the thugs opposite her.


    She wondered if they had just had a confrontation with others; their faces were clearly marked with injuries.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Were the small-time thugs nowadays so busy?


    Having just had a conflict, they took on Xia Wenjin¡¯s job immediately¡ªare they on a tight schedule?


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly lifted her head to address the group of thugs, ¡°Do you have business with me?¡±


    ¡°Are you Lu Zhaozhao?¡± the lead thug asked in a gruff voice, calling out aggressively.


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could speak, one of the thugs at his side immediately pulled him back, speaking with a troubled look, ¡°Big brother... let¡¯s not be so hot-headed, she¡¯s just a little girl... Don¡¯t forget, the girl...¡±


    He obviously stressed the words ¡°little girl¡± heavier and gave him a frantic wink.


    Seemingly recalling something, the complexion of the lead thug visibly changed, ¡°You... your name is Lu Zhaozhao... Lu Zhaozhao, right?¡±


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao, trying hard to adjust his expression, even his voice was much more cautious than before.


    ¡°Uh... I am Lu Zhaozhao, so what do you want with me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao stared puzzledly at the group of thugs in front of her, seemingly not understanding the sudden change in their attitude...

 Chapter 89: 89: Not a Bit of Sympathy to Be Given!

    Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Not a Bit of Sympathy to Be Given!


    ¡°That¡¯s for sure! We¡¯re here to make you suffer today!¡± the leader of the thugs became aggressive once again.


    The thug next to him tugged at his clothes, ¡°Boss, boss...¡±


    Xia Wenjin, who had been filming with her phone from a distance, watched with schadenfreude, feeling triumphant as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao in the video, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, oh, Lu Zhaozhao, you¡¯re going to be in big trouble!¡±


    Xia Wenjin watched as the lead thug pushed away the one pulling at his clothes and charged straight towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    She thought that in the next second, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face would be slapped, especially since she had made a point of telling Cao Mei to ensure these guys would ruin Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face.


    Hmph! Just because she couldn¡¯t beat Lu Zhaozhao, didn¡¯t mean these thugs couldn¡¯t!


    ...


    Once she got a photo of Lu Zhaozhao with a battered face, she would post it directly on the school forum.


    She would let everyone know what a bitch Lu Zhaozhao really looked like!


    If it weren¡¯t for fear of breaking the law, she would have loved to post the pictures of Lu Zhaozhao being humiliated directly to the school forum.


    After that, Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t be able to stay with the Song Family, let alone at school!


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the more excited she became, thinking that maybe it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to find someone to post it anonymously.


    Her mind was filled with thoughts of how to deal with Lu Zhaozhao, completely unaware that the thug who had charged at Lu Zhaozhao had gone straight through and was now approaching her.


    By the time Xia Wenjin noticed, the people in the video had already blocked the entire screen.


    ¡°Are you with that Lu Zhaozhao? Do you dare to record stuff with your phone here? You looking for evidence or what?!¡±


    The leader of the thugs glared viciously at Xia Wenjin, which made her legs nearly give way.


    Especially since the group of thugs had completely surrounded her, each one tall and muscular, she was like a mouse encircled by hyenas.


    Completely without any wiggle room.


    Xia Wenjin was terrified, but remembering that they were people Cao Mei had hired, she immediately stiffened her neck and said, ¡°I¡¯m not with Lu Zhaozhao! I wasn¡¯t planning to keep any evidence, I...¡±


    Just as she was about to turn off the recording on her phone, it was snatched away by the thugs, ¡°You little bitch, you think you can fool us! Don¡¯t think we don¡¯t know! You¡¯re all in the same gang!¡±


    Xia Wenjin became frantic, ¡°How could I possibly be in cahoots with that bitch Lu Zhaozhao?! You guys are the ones my mom paid to trash Lu Zhaozhao! Don¡¯t believe me, call her!¡±


    Her words were overheard by Lu Zhaozhao, who wasn¡¯t far away.


    Initially, Lu Zhaozhao was hesitant about whether to deal with Xia Wenjin¡¯s situation or not, after all, even though she wasn¡¯t the Xia Family¡¯s biological daughter, they had raised her for 20 years.


    But after hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words just now, she scorned herself for even considering it.


    She had only thought Xia Wenjin was a spoiled young girl, maybe deceived by Cao Mei into luring her back to the Lu Family last time.


    But now, she realized it wasn¡¯t that Xia Wenjin had been deceived, she was just plain bad.


    Such a person didn¡¯t deserve an ounce of sympathy!


    After all, she was cut from the same cloth as Cao Mei.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at them and turned to walk towards the inpatient department.


    Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream from Xia Wenjin pierced the air from behind her, ¡°Ah!!! ¡ª¡±


    This was quickly followed by the disgruntled thugs saying, ¡°Thought you could con us? No chance! Today you¡¯ll learn what happens when you try to scam us!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t! You¡¯re supposed to be going after Lu Zhaozhao, she¡¯s getting away... Ah!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t finished speaking when her face received a hard slap once again.


    The punks acted as if they had a personal vendetta against her, each one of them really throwing deadly punches.


    Her words were as if unheard, as they allowed Lu Zhaozhao to disappear into the distance...


    By the time Lu Zhaozhao found out Xia Wenjin¡¯s situation, the school forum was awash with controversy.


    ¡°Have you heard? Lu Zhaozhao, because she isn¡¯t the Lu Family¡¯s heiress, hired thugs to take her anger out on Xia Wenjin!¡±


    ¡°I heard she hired over a hundred punks! My God, how vicious! Even the Song Family isn¡¯t afraid of someone like that, tsk tsk...¡±


    ¡°They say she broke all her bones, comminuted fractures! And now she¡¯s still in the ICU fighting for her life!¡±


    ...


    Sitting in the classroom, Lu Zhaozhao listened to the endless discussions around her with a sense of speechlessness.


    Leaving aside that the group of punks was hired by Xia Wenjin and Cao Mei, wasn¡¯t it a bit exaggerated to talk about over a hundred punks?


    She wasn¡¯t some mob boss, nor was she trying to take over territory.


    Besides, wouldn¡¯t such a large-scale operation get her caught by the police?


    Lu Zhaozhao rubbed her temples, which ached faintly, and the thought of Xia Wenjin being beaten to the point of comminuted fractures and staying in the ICU made her feel numb.


    If it was that serious, would Cao Mei have let her off?


    Wouldn¡¯t she have called the police and had her arrested already, instead of letting her stay here?


    Sigh!


    Unable to help it, Lu Zhaozhao sighed, propped her chin and simply looked out the window.


    Suddenly, a somewhat rigid voice rang in her ears.


    ¡°As far as I know, from yesterday to today¡¯s legal news and various headlines, there hasn¡¯t been any report of such an incident. Can you take responsibility for what you¡¯re saying?¡±


    The entire classroom¡¯s discussion stopped abruptly, and all eyes, including Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s, turned to a girl wearing black-framed glasses.


    Lu Zhaozhao was immediately startled, Xu Zhenzhen! Xu the top student!


    In her past life, she had also, just like now, unconditionally taken her side in school.


    The only difference was that in her previous life Xu Zhenzhen had transferred to their class later in the semester, so why did she arrive so early this time?


    Was it because she had been reborn, thus causing some sort of butterfly effect?


    While Lu Zhaozhao was excited, Xu Zhenzhen pushed her black glasses up on the bridge of her nose and continued to speak, ¡°For the person who just claimed someone suffered comminuted fractures, do you have any medical knowledge? Clinically, there¡¯s no such term as ¡®comminuted fractures.¡¯ Fractures are mainly categorized into simple fractures, fissured fractures, and comminuted fractures. Please spread the word, okay?¡±


    After saying this, she took a seat next to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s empty chair.


    Because of the rampant rumors about her, nobody was sitting nearby, and even the rows in front and behind were mostly empty.


    Her isolation was especially apparent.


    ¡°Who are you? You¡¯re not from our class, are you? Running around aimlessly?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you know nothing and you¡¯re just arguing?¡±


    ¡°Who knows if she¡¯s just Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lapdog? She¡¯s not the Lu Family¡¯s young miss anymore, and probably can¡¯t become Mrs. Song anymore because of this!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen slammed the stack of books in her hand down on the table, among which was a very thick ¡°Criminal Law.¡±


    She stared at the group across fiercely, word by word, ¡°I¡¯m Xu Zhenzhen, the new transfer student. I can¡¯t stand injustice, and also...¡±

 Chapter 90: 90 Ive Never Been So Speechless in My Life

    Chapter 90: Chapter 90 I¡¯ve Never Been So Speechless in My Life


    She surveyed the classroom with a feigned smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, before continuing in a sinister voice, ¡°And to let some people who deliberately spread rumors feel the true power of knowledge.¡±


    When Xu Zhenzhen said this, her fingertips gently caressed the thickest ¡°Criminal Law¡± book on the desk, as if to say that if anyone dared to make slanderous remarks again, she would use it to show them the weight of knowledge.


    Whether it was her oppressive presence or not, the previously chattering crowd instantly fell silent.


    But Xu Zhenzhen had no intention of letting them off the hook. Instead, she spoke slowly and deliberately, ¡°If what you were saying had actually happened, the police would have been involved by now. Whether it¡¯s hiring thugs to beat someone up or a mob of over a hundred ruffians attacking someone, the fact that this student can attend class as usual proves that all those are mere rumors. However...¡±


    She paused mid-sentence and pulled out a voice recorder from her pocket.


    ¡°Have you heard? Lu Zhaozhao, not being the true heiress of the Lu Family, out of spite, hired people to attack Xia Wenjin!¡±


    ...


    ¡°They say she hired over a hundred hoodlums! Oh my goodness, how vicious! And the Song Family isn¡¯t afraid of such a person, tsk tsk...¡±


    ¡°I heard every bone in her body was broken, pulverized fractures! She¡¯s still in the ICU being resuscitated!¡±


    ...


    Xu Zhenzhen pressed the recorder gently and continued, ¡°All those voices that have just been recorded, each one of you now has a chance to be a defendant~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The classroom fell utterly silent.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s typically explosive entrance and couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about the times they¡¯d spent together in the past.


    Would they have a chance to become friends this time?


    In her previous life, after graduation, she had joined the lawyer team of XJ Group and got involved in the assassination case of the foreign lawyer Weinberger, ultimately disappearing.


    She heard that Weinberger got involved with the mistress of a mob boss, and after the mobster found out, Weinberger was critically stabbed and disfigured.


    Lu Zhaozhao had always regretted not meeting her one last time before Xu Zhenzhen left the country.


    To meet again now was perhaps a favor from heaven.


    While Lu Zhaozhao was lost in thought, a ¡°Criminal Law¡± book was pushed in front of her, ¡°Classmate, would you like to learn about Criminal Law?¡±


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen change from her intimidating presence to a socially awkward demeanor, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh.


    Only in the Sculpture department would you find someone pushing the study of law.


    She had never understood why Xu Zhenzhen, who loved law so much, came to the Sculpture department, and had asked her about it.


    She later heard it was because Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s patron had a great love for artists and promised a substantial scholarship if she transferred to the Sculpture department.


    Probably the same this lifetime too, right?


    After all, her skill in sculpture was really no better than a third-grade elementary student.


    But her patron¡¯s favor was irresistible.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen and, through her black-framed glasses, clearly saw her bright, clear eyes.


    She reached out to take the law book from her hands, her eyes full of mirth as she said, ¡°I do need to study up on the law indeed. With the heft of this knowledge, no one can resist...¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªhahaha...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t hold her laughter, tilting her head to glance at her with what seemed like satisfaction at her response.


    She raised her hand to gently dab away a tear at the corner of her eye, ¡°Lu classmate, you¡¯re very interesting. I¡¯ll be looking forward to more interactions with you~¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Before they had a chance to continue to warm up to each other, the bell signaling the start of class rang out promptly.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly slipped into listening mode, completely unaware that Xu Zhenzhen next to her had taken out her phone and sent out a message.


    ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied with the person; I¡¯ll take the task, and the bonus doesn¡¯t need to be doubled.¡±


    Soon, this message was immediately delivered to the other party¡¯s phone.


    Sitting in the office, Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow at the message on her phone.


    True to form of their lady, huh? Just after one meeting, she managed to win over the pickiest of their mister¡¯s subordinates?


    She had been a bit worried before.


    After all, most of the people they had on hand were burly men, and even the women didn¡¯t quite match in age.


    After careful selection, only Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s image was somewhat fitting.


    But this woman¡¯s temperament was notoriously quirky, astonishing in how she completed every task given to her... but she had two conditions for accepting a task.


    One was that the pay had to be high, and the second was that the job needed to interest her.


    One or the other.


    Zhao Xi had been ready to use an astronomical sum of money to smash through her demands, as their mister had set no limit on what he was willing to invest in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s care.


    She never expected that Xu Zhenzhen would actually hit it off so well with their lady, tsk tsk, that¡¯s a huge saving right there.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze lifted slightly as he saw the uncontrollable smile on Zhao Xi¡¯s face come in spasms, his eyebrows ticking up slightly.


    ¡°How¡¯s the situation at the school being handled?¡±


    His tone was indifferent, but his voice was exceptionally grim.


    Ever since Lu Zhaozhao became the subject of rumors on the school forum, Song Sinian had instructed him to take care of it.


    Beyond that, he had specially assigned a female bodyguard to protect Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s personal safety on campus.


    Zhao Xi, who had been feeling quite uncertain up until now, suddenly felt very confident with the latest news from the school.


    ¡°Mister, rest assured, with Xu Zhenzhen on the case, you don¡¯t need to worry about the lady¡¯s physical safety, let alone her psychological health.¡±


    With her mouth, she could rebuff a hundred college students without an issue.


    If other bodyguards rely on physical defense and offense,


    Then Xu Zhenzhen is all about magical attacks and physical attacks, dual-output.


    As long as she is willing to protect Lu Zhaozhao, not a single person can get past her verbal assaults unscathed.


    Hearing this, Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, ¡°Have you thoroughly investigated the situation at the Lu family? If Xia Wenjin is not dead, make her get out of the Lu family.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Zhao Xi tugged at the corner of his mouth awkwardly, ¡°She¡¯s definitely not dead, according to the previous surveillance footage; she was just beaten up by a gang to the point of breaking an arm.¡±


    After all, that gang had been dealt with by Sinian¡¯s men before they even set sights on Lu Zhaozhao.


    So they didn¡¯t dare to touch a finger on Lu Zhaozhao.


    But he also did not expect that people from the Xia family and Old Master Song had also hired someone to protect Lu Zhaozhao.


    This led to the gang that had been roughed up by Sinian¡¯s people being thrashed again by the Xia family¡¯s and Old Master Song¡¯s men.


    These thugs probably never felt so speechless in their lives; they¡¯d been beaten up three times just for taking on one job!


    And they didn¡¯t dare to offend any of these three groups, so all their anger was directed at the instigator, Xia Wenjin.


    Getting their faces swollen and an arm broken by these punks was already let off lightly...

 Chapter 91: 91: Each One is Ruthless in Their Actions

    Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Each One is Ruthless in Their Actions


    Zhao Xi lightly coughed and simply explained, ¡°Uh, it seems the elder from the Lu Family got a step ahead of us. People from the Xia Family have already started setting the tone on the school forum.¡±


    Although the thugs who followed Lu Zhaozhao were rounded up by three groups of people at the same time, their focuses were clearly not the same.


    Song Sinian raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at Zhao Xi, ¡°Then keep a closer eye on them. If their actions are not efficient...¡±


    ¡°I understand, sir.¡±


    Their family¡¯s sir was worried that the Xia Family and Old Master Song were being too lenient, which might benefit the people from the Lu Family.


    However, their family¡¯s sir was definitely overthinking this time; although these people targeted different areas, their actions were exceptionally ruthless.


    ...


    As for Old Master Song, well, as the former head of the Song Group, his harsh methods were no small matter.


    He never went easy on people he disliked.


    But at the Xia Family¡¯s end, he never expected that they hadn¡¯t left any leeway for Xia Wenjin.


    Just moments ago, he saw that a third-perspective surveillance footage from the roadside was publicly released on the school¡¯s forum, including the ¡°self-exposure¡± video previously recorded by Xia Wenjin on her phone.


    Currently, not many people had seen it on the forum, but once the issue escalates, it would probably turn into a bloodbath.


    Those who previously ridiculed Lu Zhaozhao would probably have their faces slapped in return.


    Zhao Xi narrowed his eyes, suddenly seeming to think of something, ¡°Sir, there are still many people on the forum blatantly lying and trying to mislead the public. I suspect they are paid internet trolls from the Lu Family¡¯s side. Should we show them some color? Like... revealing their real information?¡±


    Song Sinian tapped his fingertips on the tabletop and said indifferently, ¡°Teaching them a lesson once and for all wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    In the early afternoon, the sky turned gloomy.


    The light drizzle and the dim indoor lighting made it oppressively dreary.


    Xia Wenjin, who had been cooped up at home all day, sat in the living room glaring at the one-sided comments in the forum, grinding her teeth in anger.


    She pulled out her phone and furiously replied to several messages.


    ¡°That bitch Lu Zhaozhao, usurping what doesn¡¯t belong to her, deserves to be beaten!¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin is the legitimate daughter, everything of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s belongs to her!¡±


    ¡°Had Lu Zhaozhao offered any help, or called the police, would Xia Wenjin have been hurt so badly? She¡¯s just a selfish person!¡±


    Her posts were quickly rebutted by others.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao usurping? She was also mistakenly taken by someone! According to your logic, doesn¡¯t Xia Wenjin also usurp in the Xia Family?¡±


    ¡°Everything belongs to Xia Wenjin because she looks better and has a better temper? Does Xia Wenjin also want to snatch these? In my opinion, have some sense, get some face!¡±


    ¡°Wow, these days, the ones who hire thugs can also play the victim, tsk tsk tsk... That¡¯s just Lu Zhaozhao for you. If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t just watch; I¡¯d even take a photo with her!¡±


    ...


    Seeing all the comments unanimously scolding her, Xia Wenjin felt like smashing her phone on the spot!


    But this phone was a new one bought by Cao Mei for a hefty price, and she couldn¡¯t bear to break it.


    Her phone had been stolen when she was attacked by the street gang.


    Her hands clenched into fists in anger, and the pain from her arm, which was in a cast, made her break out into a sweat.


    ¡°Jin, are you okay?¡± Cao Mei had just come downstairs and saw Xia Wenjin, covered in cold sweat, in the living room.


    Upon seeing this, Xia Wenjin immediately stood up and threw herself into her arms, ¡°Mom, everyone on the forum is cursing me, sob, sob, sob...¡±


    As she spoke, she wiped the corner of her eyes with her unbroken left hand, looking extremely pitiful.


    Cao Mei raised her hand to gently pat Xia Wenjin, trying to calm her down, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already paid someone to manipulate the forum discussions, and I¡¯ve asked your dad to put pressure on the school. The posts will be deleted soon, so just relax.¡±


    Hearing Cao Mei¡¯s words, Xia Wenjin finally breathed a sigh of relief, but thinking of Lu Zhaozhao ignited her anger uncontrollably.


    ¡°Mom, Lu Zhaozhao is using this incident to gain sympathy at school, and now everyone thinks I¡¯m the bad one, and that she¡¯s incredibly good... sob, sob, sob...¡± Xia Wenjin said this while deliberately bringing up Lu Zhaozhao.


    Sure enough, upon hearing that name, Cao Mei¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    Her mouth corners grimly twitched, ¡°That bitch was lucky this time, she won¡¯t be so lucky next time!¡±


    Cao Mei had also seen the video on the forum, and contrary to her plan, the gang mistook Xia Wenjin for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s accomplice and let her escape.


    It was a case of bungling more than actually accomplishing.


    She had originally planned to settle scores with the gang afterward, but they had all been arrested due to the video.


    If they revealed who was behind the scene, she might be in trouble as well.


    Luckily, she had anticipated Lu Zhaozhao might call the police or use Song Sinian¡¯s influence to investigate, so she had already destroyed all the evidence.


    Even if they used Xia Wenjin¡¯s video as evidence, they could claim they were forced, and it wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Xia Wenjin, laying in Cao Mei¡¯s arms, seemed unsatisfied with her previous response.


    She had thought Cao Mei would immediately find a way to turn things around, at least to make Lu Zhaozhao suffer.


    She bit her teeth and then said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao provoking those thugs intentionally, they wouldn¡¯t have targeted me directly, and when I was captured, she just ran away... She... She wanted to see me dead... sob, sob, sob...¡±


    Sure enough, Cao Mei¡¯s expression grew even grimmer.


    ¡°She...¡±


    ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz...¡±


    Before Cao Mei could speak, her phone suddenly vibrated.


    She frowned and picked up the call immediately, but upon hearing the news from the other side, she abruptly stood up from the sofa.


    ¡°What did you say? How serious is it? Is there any danger to his life?¡±


    Xia Wenjin observed Cao Mei¡¯s face turning pale and couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    She rarely saw such a panicked expression on Cao Mei¡¯s face, so she leaned closer to catch what was being said over the phone.


    ¡°President Lu¡¯s legs are fractured and need immediate surgery, the hospital is arranging it now, but the necessary implants haven¡¯t arrived yet, so we can¡¯t administer anesthetic; we can only wait in the ward.¡±


    Cao Mei anxiously pressed her temples, ¡°Can¡¯t we use another method? Can¡¯t you give him a painkiller shot for now?¡±


    ¡°This... the doctor does not recommend it; it¡¯s not conducive to wound healing...¡± the assistant on the phone sounded very hesitant.


    After all, he was just repeating what the doctor said, and whether it was right or not, he wasn¡¯t sure, but following the doctor¡¯s advice probably wouldn¡¯t be wrong...

 Chapter 92: 92: Does Mr. Song from their family always reply to messages this quickly?

    Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Does Mr. Song from their family always reply to messages this quickly?


    ¡°If there¡¯s a problem, it¡¯ll be the doctor¡¯s fault.¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s brows were now thoroughly knotted, ¡°Alright, you take good care of him there, I¡¯ll be over in a bit.¡±


    She hung up the phone after finishing her sentence.


    Xia Wenjin looked at Cao Mei, puzzled, and hugged her arm, asking with concern, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s happened?¡±


    She only heard something about President Lu and surgery.


    Cao Mei sighed, ¡°Your dad had a car accident on the way back from a business trip, and he¡¯s broken his leg. Right now, he¡¯s in the hospital preparing for surgery.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Oh my God!¡± Xia Wenjin immediately covered her mouth, ¡°Dad had an accident? It couldn¡¯t be that Lu Zhaozhao did something to Dad to get back at me, could it?¡±


    But she soon shook her head repeatedly, ¡°Impossible, impossible. Dad has raised her for 20 years after all, no matter what, they¡¯re family, she shouldn¡¯t do that...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s words sounded like she was defending Lu Zhaozhao, but in reality, she was fervently hinting to Cao Mei that it had something to do with Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°That heartless wretch could totally do something like that!¡± Cao Mei gnashed her teeth furiously, ¡°After your dad¡¯s surgery is over, I will settle the scores with her, detail by detail!¡±


    Xia Wenjin curled her lips imperceptibly, as long as Cao Mei continued to resent Lu Zhaozhao, she would never have the chance to return to the Lu Family and compete with her!


    At 3:30 in the afternoon, Lu Zhaozhao finished a class and went to the hospital.


    Xia Wenmo had long been informed by Xia Wenjue of the scheming and rumors concocted against Lu Zhaozhao by Xia Wenjin.


    So, when Lu Zhaozhao was at the hospital, Xia Wenmo always looked at her with indescribable heartache.


    He held his drawing board in his hand, hesitating several times to speak.


    ¡°Third Brother, do you have something you want to tell me?¡± Lu Zhaozhao suddenly looked up at Xia Wenmo with a tilted head and couldn¡¯t help asking.


    Although she wasn¡¯t sure if Xia Wenmo wanted to ask about her and Xia Wenjin, the issue had been causing a stir on the school forum.


    And since Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t going to school, maybe she had already told them about it.


    She pouted slightly, now she could only hope that Xia Wenmo and the others were willing to believe her.


    Xia Wenmo reached out and held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, gently patted it, ¡°I heard about what happened to you at school, you must have been scared, huh?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth lightly, ¡°No, just a bit unaccustomed. The thing with Xia Wenjin, I...¡±


    ¡°You had better be careful of Xia Wenjin in the future, she doesn¡¯t have a single good intention! Even when she was with the Xia Family, that was her character.¡± Xia Wenmo didn¡¯t let Lu Zhaozhao finish explaining and started earnestly advising her.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    His words actually took Lu Zhaozhao by surprise.


    She thought Xia Wenmo would at least say a word or two on Xia Wenjin¡¯s behalf or pretend to do so and then advise her not to mind it.


    So when Xia Wenmo completely stood by her side and believed her, she was at a loss for words.


    Thinking that Lu Zhaozhao was still hesitant, Xia Wenmo furrowed his brow fiercely and continued, ¡°You must take my words seriously! Xia Wenjin is no good, she dares to get thugs to deal with you now, and it will only get worse in the future. You have to be careful, understand?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded gently, ¡°Yes, I understand, Third Brother.¡±


    Hearing her response, Xia Wenmo finally relaxed a lot and lifted his paintbrush to resume his fluid work on the canvas.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the painting on Xia Wenmo¡¯s drawing board, her eyebrows slightly raised, and shifted her gaze slowly towards him, murmuring, ¡°I thought at least you¡¯d ask about what happened to me before making a judgment...¡±


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s brush paused, and he suddenly turned his head with a puzzled look, ¡°Why would you think that?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes drooped, ¡°After all, Xia Wenjin has lived with you for 20 years, and although I am blood-related to you, I am still a...¡±


    Stranger.


    Zhaozhao didn¡¯t say the word aloud, but the meaning she wanted to convey was clear enough.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenmo broke into laughter upon hearing this, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I have been with Xia Wenjin for 20 years that I know what kind of person she is.¡±


    He raised his hand and ruffled Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair, unable to hold back his emotions, ¡°You don¡¯t know, before this, my brother and I were always puzzled¡ªhow could our family, who are all so decent, have produced someone like Xia Wenjin, who is selfish, greedy, and full of malice? I thought our family must have sinned greatly in a past life...¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao burst into laughter, ¡°How can someone speak this way about their sister whom they¡¯ve lived with for so many years?¡±


    ¡°Sister?¡± Xia Wenmo curled his lips and revealed his wrist, ¡°What Xia Wenjin did as a child disqualifies her from being my sister. At least, I¡¯ve never seen any sister who, just to save her own face, would want to ruin her brother¡¯s future with her own hands.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao distinctly saw a very noticeable scar on Xia Wenmo¡¯s wrist.


    Xia Wenmo gently stroked the scar on his wrist, ¡°When we were young, each of my brothers had their talent, but it happened that my talent was the same as Xia Wenjin¡¯s: painting. Just over a school competition ranking, I nearly lost a hand.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes widened significantly.


    She had never expected Xia Wenjin to lay hands on her own family.


    Xia Wenmo glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and chuckled lightly, ¡°So don¡¯t worry. We couldn¡¯t be clearer about what kind of person Xia Wenjin is. Even if you really had done something to her, it would have been her own fault. Rest assured, we will all support you!¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly teared up.


    Thinking back to how the Lu Family had raised her for 20 years yet seemed intent on plotting her demise, it was these newly acknowledged family members who made her feel so warmly welcomed instead.


    Thinking over this, it felt like the missing pieces from all these years were slowly being filled in.


    She tugged at the corner of her mouth and couldn¡¯t help nodding repeatedly, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll remember this from now on...¡±


    ¡°Ding-dong¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone chimed.


    She glanced down and saw the message that Song Sinian had sent her.


    ¡°Where are you? Are you done with school? Do you need me to pick you up?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, about to decline, but then she looked outside at the raining weather and paused.


    She would have to take a taxi home anyway; if Song Sinian was free, it wouldn¡¯t be bad to go back together.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao immediately replied to Song Sinian, ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital. If it¡¯s convenient for you later, you can come pick me up.¡±


    After sending the message, Lu Zhaozhao was about to put her phone away.


    But the very next second, her phone chimed again.


    Does Mr. Song from their family reply to messages this fast?


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyebrows in suspicion, but when she saw the message on her phone, she jumped up from the bedside¡ª

 Chapter 93: 93 He Seems Even More Fierce

    Chapter 93: Chapter 93 He Seems Even More Fierce


    What is this all about?


    Xia Wenmo was also startled by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reaction and looked at her with some surprise, asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Zhaozhao?¡±


    ¡°Um...¡± Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°I, I might need to go home first.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyebrows slightly knitted together, his gaze filled with worry as he watched Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Is it because the Song Family cares about the rumors at school?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s marriage to Song Sinian was actually quite a concern for them.


    After all, having barely warmed up to the news that their newly recognized sister had been ¡®swooped up¡¯ by a man, any brother would feel annoyed.


    ...


    But it seemed that Lu Zhaozhao quite liked that fellow Song Sinian, so they had no choice but to bear with it.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his gaze involuntarily deepened, but if the Song Family dared to harm Lu Zhaozhao over the school incident, they would definitely not go easy on them!


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head repeatedly, ¡°You misunderstood, Third Brother. Mr. Song just happened to pass by the hospital after work and is going to take me back.¡±


    It¡¯s highly likely that he knew about the school incident as well and didn¡¯t feel comfortable leaving her alone.


    She felt embarrassed to discuss such matters with Xia Wenmo.


    Although Xia Wenmo was half-doubtful, he still let Lu Zhaozhao go home.


    The light rain outside kept drizzling, and Lu Zhaozhao, who was not dressed very warmly, shivered as she was hit by the wind right outside the hospital entrance.


    She glanced at the message she had just received on her phone, and her eyebrows involuntarily furrowed.


    It was a message from Zhao Xi.


    ¡°Madam, Sir knows about the bullying you suffered at school; he seems quite unhappy, please accommodate him more.¡±


    That¡¯s why she became anxious when Song Sinian said he was close to the hospital.


    Lately, Lu Zhaozhao had been worried about Xia Wenmo¡¯s surgery, so she had somewhat neglected Song Sinian.


    She had not had the chance to consult Doctor Tian about his increased clinginess, so holding her phone tightly, she grew even more anxious.


    Since she had just come downstairs, she had not received any messages from Song Sinian.


    Luckily, there was only one large parking lot at the hospital, so if Song Sinian came to the hospital, he would definitely be here.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but rub her arms; she was thoroughly chilled.


    Had she known she would be outside this long, she should have borrowed a coat from Xia Wenmo.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly worried if she can still wait until Song Sinian arrives?


    Just as she considered whether to call Song Sinian again, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace.


    Lu Zhaozhao, already frozen stiff, shivered; the warmth mixed with the familiar cold scent nearly made her dizzy.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you¡¯re here.¡±


    She sniffled and instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow furrowed noticeably; he didn¡¯t speak but slightly bent down and picked Lu Zhaozhao up horizontally.


    He shouldn¡¯t have told her earlier, then Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t have been in the cold wind for so long.


    The temperature of her body pressed against him was shockingly low; he dared not think what would have happened if he had been any later.


    Thinking this, Song Sinian quickened his steps.


    He actually knew quite early that Lu Zhaozhao had come to the hospital; recently, every time she visited the hospital, she would be upset for a long time and often have red eyes.


    However, all this information came from the bodyguard following Lu Zhaozhao.


    Every time Lu Zhaozhao saw him at home, she would deliberately maintain a cheerful demeanor.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t know why she was doing this, but he had been waiting, waiting for a time when she was in good spirits, to tell him everything as she had said she would.


    But he had waited for days, and though her eyes had reddened again and again, she had still not told him why things were this way.


    Song Sinian felt that if this continued, he might go crazy.


    That¡¯s why he had gone straight to the hospital.


    As he had expected, when Lu Zhaozhao saw the people from the Xia Family, her eyes reddened again.


    He thought it was a good time, but he had overlooked the weather issue.


    Song Sinian just felt unusually irritable, with an inexplicable discomfort tormenting him.


    Luckily, the place where he had parked wasn¡¯t far from where Lu Zhaozhao had just been, so he quickly brought her to the car.


    After opening the rear car door and stuffing her in, Song Sinian also sat down in the back seat.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you... huh?¡± Before she could finish her sentence, she was suddenly hugged onto Song Sinian¡¯s lap.


    She looked at him in surprise, and before she could speak, the next second, his large hand clasped the back of her head, pressing his warm lips against hers.


    Lu Zhaozhao was taken aback, yet clearly felt his lips, carrying a hint of anger, ravaging hers.


    ¡°Ouch, that hurts,¡± Lu Zhaozhao whimpered in pain.


    She had thought that Song Sinian would stop or at least be gentler, but to her surprise, he became even more aggressive.


    This truly frightened Lu Zhaozhao.


    He domineeringly clutched her head, leaving her no space to retreat, while his other arm tightly encircled her waist, his eager lips desperately searching for something.


    This uncontrollable Song Sinian was something Lu Zhaozhao was seeing for the first time.


    Her small hands tightly gripped Song Sinian¡¯s shoulders, trembling slightly.


    Suddenly, a warm drop of water fell on Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, and his whole body stiffened, all his movements halting instantly.


    When he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, he saw her tears falling like beads off a broken string, raining down incessantly.


    Even if Song Sinian couldn¡¯t understand, he knew this wasn¡¯t a good sign.


    He hastily grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tears, but... Lu Zhaozhao was crying so badly, he simply couldn¡¯t keep up.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao like this, Song Sinian felt as if his blood had turned ice-cold.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Song Sinian raised his hand to touch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, the moist vapor gathering on his fingertips. Though it was merely warm, it tore at Song Sinian¡¯s heart.


    His heart raced wildly within his chest, each throb more painful than the last.


    In this situation, even an apology wouldn¡¯t be forgiven, would it?


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over her tear-stained face, and the obvious traces of blood on her lips made his eyes widen even more.


    He almost instinctively touched her lips.


    Just now, thinking about his relationship with Lu Zhaozhao, he felt terribly suffocated.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao had married him voluntarily, it was all for the sake of the Lu Family¡¯s business.


    She hardly ever hid her emotions in front of him, and the only person she could rely on was him, so he thought he could wait for her to fall in love with him.


    But now... he wasn¡¯t sure anymore.


    She had loving family members, and compared to someone like him, he was dispensable.


    He was tormented by bizarre emotions to the point of madness.


    He clearly knew that Lu Zhaozhao would be better off without him, but he simply couldn¡¯t let go...

 Chapter 94: 94 He is Stating the Facts...

    Chapter 94: Chapter 94 He is Stating the Facts...


    ¡°Hiss...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao winced in pain, her body instinctively leaning backward and hitting the seat in front of her.


    Her tears fell even more fiercely now.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand hovered midair, his gloomy eyes dimmed further; he eventually withdrew it.


    He suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and spoke slowly, ¡°Do you need me to leave now?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, her hands cupping her head, pursed her lips, her eyes red as she looked at Song Sinian and nearly snarled through clenched teeth, ¡°If you dare to leave now, I won¡¯t let you kiss, hug or lift me up high ever again!¡±


    ...


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian was instantly frozen in place.


    He even doubted he had heard her correctly.


    Lu Zhaozhao took the handkerchief from his hand and wiped her tears, yet they still fell uncontrollably.


    She sniffled, reached out her small hand, and hung it around Song Sinian¡¯s neck, ¡°Let me hug you for a bit to feel better, my head really hurts from the bump.¡±


    Song Sinian sat rigidly in his seat, feeling her tender body pressing against him, and the heart that had been hanging seemed to settle back in place.


    Suddenly coming to his senses, he frowned and said firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital for a check-up. In case you... Mm.¡±


    ¡°Hiss...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her face and covered Song Sinian¡¯s mouth, but the wound on her lips made her stop after a brief moment, forcing her to switch to using her hand instead.


    ¡°Song Sinian, you¡¯d better listen carefully to what I¡¯m saying now.¡± As she covered his lips, she spoke word by word, ¡°First, I don¡¯t need to go to the hospital, second, I am very angry right now!¡±


    Because her mouth hurt, and her head also hurt.


    What frustrated her more was that she had no idea if Song Sinian¡¯s loss of control was due to his depression getting worse.


    All these things piled up, and she was almost on the verge of collapsing.


    Suddenly, Song Sinian reached up to pull her hand away from his mouth, then tentatively placed his chin there.


    His nervous and uncertain demeanor was completely at the mercy of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expressions.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, who had been half losing her composure, suddenly gathered her thoughts again.


    While she was sorting out her thoughts, Song Sinian decisively grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s other hand and switched hands.


    The last time Lu Zhaozhao had been angry, this seemed to work.


    He wasn¡¯t sure if it would work this time, but... there should be no problem listening to his wife.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand suddenly tightened, grabbing Song Sinian¡¯s chin, her small face tilting slightly, ¡°Mr. Song, I think we need to have a serious talk.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s reply was still concise, his tone so even that it was nearly impossible to discern any emotion.


    But seeing that Lu Zhaozhao did not refuse contact with him, he clearly felt more at ease.


    Taking a deep breath, Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian and then began to speak, ¡°For fairness, each of us can ask one question, and if we don¡¯t want to answer, we can choose to refuse, okay?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded and said nothing more.


    In fact, he had no idea what Lu Zhaozhao wanted to discuss, and as for the questions he wanted to ask, she probably wouldn¡¯t want to answer, would she?


    Lu Zhaozhao sat up straight, her gaze fixed on Song Sinian, ¡°Were you in a bad mood today? Like, feeling uneasy inside...¡±


    She tried to use emotional terms that Song Sinian would understand.


    Song Sinian nodded, his eyes and brows carrying a hint of weariness, ¡°Yes, quite bad.¡±


    It was downright dreadful!


    These past few days, he felt as if he were on the verge of madness at any moment!


    ¡°So why have you been in a bad mood?¡± Lu Zhaozhao tilted her little head, completely unaware that she had blurted out the second question.


    Her gaze was full of confusion, her luminous eyes blinked with uncertainty.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t remind Lu Zhaozhao, simply speaking the truth in response to her question, ¡°Because every time you return from the hospital, you¡¯re in a bad mood, and you even sneak away to cry when I don¡¯t know.¡±


    He slowly grasped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand and placed it over his heart, ¡°Every time you do this, it hurts right here.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face immediately flushed red.


    They were just having a nice conversation, so how did Song Sinian suddenly start flirting?


    Okay, okay, he wasn¡¯t flirting on purpose, he was stating facts...


    But... how did he know she had been secretly crying?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, wanting to ask, yet not knowing how to begin.


    And with what had just been said, she no longer dared to glance at Song Sinian¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I think... hmm.¡±


    Before Song Sinian could finish speaking, Lu Zhaozhao once again covered his lips with her small hand.


    Perhaps because his words were unfinished, his warm lips happened to press against her palm, the moisture of his breath causing her to shudder violently.


    A tingling sensation spread instantly from her palm up her arm.


    Startled, she quickly released her hand, ¡°I, I¡¯m just too worried about my third brother.¡±


    Amidst her panic, Lu Zhaozhao ended up blurting out the whole truth, ¡°I always feel like he could die at any moment, and every time I see him, I can¡¯t help but feel overwhelmingly sad. I know the person performing his surgery is the best in their field, but...¡±


    But she was still worried.


    Because in her past life, she didn¡¯t know much about Xia Wenmo, knowing only about the painting that appreciated tenfold and the news of his death.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words took Song Sinian by surprise; he hadn¡¯t expected the answer he was so anxiously waiting for to really come when she was feeling better, just as she said it would.


    Although it seemed her mood was not very good right now.


    Song Sinian lifted his hand to brush the soggy strands of hair on her cheek behind her ear, speaking slowly and deliberately, ¡°If that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about, I can solve it for you.¡±


    The greatest risks of brain surgery lay not only during the operation but also in preoperative safety and postoperative care.


    As long as these were well managed, there wouldn¡¯t be any problems.


    Zhao Xi had reported Xia Wenmo¡¯s situation to him early on.


    He had a brain tumor, but it was not malignant; it just needed to be removed.


    The only complexity lay in the need for both a neurosurgeon and an ophthalmologist to work together.


    As long as his life was not at risk, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s worry would be the biggest issue.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s doubtful gaze fell on Song Sinian, her mouth hesitating as she opened it, ¡°You... can solve it?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh, I can guarantee his safety,¡± Song Sinian nodded, without a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    At this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes lit up; for some reason, she felt particularly persuaded when these words came from Song Sinian¡¯s mouth.


    Lu Zhaozhao extended her small hands and hugged Song Sinian¡¯s neck tightly, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Song!¡±


    The matter that had been worrying her for so long now felt like a stone dropping to the ground.


    But what Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was the extent of the changes that her words just now would bring about for Xia Wenmo¡¯s situation...

 Chapter 95: 95: Hopefully Its Nothing Out of Line......

    Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Hopefully It¡¯s Nothing Out of Line......


    Because the next day was Wednesday, Lu Zhaozhao had a whole day of classes and thus no time to visit the hospital.


    Naturally, she didn¡¯t know what Song Sinian had arranged for Xia Wenmo.


    With Lu Zhaozhao not coming to the hospital, the task of taking care of Xia Wenmo naturally fell on Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulders.


    When he arrived at the hospital room and saw two doctors and three nurses sitting there all lined up, he was somewhat flabbergasted.


    Xia Wenyan had just approached the door when he was instantly stopped by a nurse, and before he could even speak, a mask was put on his face and a pair of gloves were stuffed into his hands.


    ¡°Sir, for the patient¡¯s safety, please put on the protective suit and gloves.¡±


    ...


    ¡°No, I¡¯m perfectly healthy, and has my third brother¡¯s condition really worsened to such an exaggerated extent?¡± Xia Wenyan, holding the protective suit and gloves, stared incredulously at Xia Wenmo from a distance of less than three meters.


    He clearly heard his eldest brother say that his third brother only needed a surgery, and now that the surgery was about to take place, how did it suddenly become so terrifying?


    Xia Wenmo looked at Xia Wenyan with disdain, ¡°Pah, pah, pah! You wretched kid, stop jinxing me! I¡¯m in fine fettle!¡±


    Hearing this, Xia Wenyan¡¯s face grew even more puzzled, ¡°Then why...¡±


    His gaze swept over the three nurses, two doctors, and the cardiac monitor he was wearing.


    Anyone would think it was a setup to send him to the ICU!


    Xia Wenmo let out a resigned sigh, ¡°Can¡¯t help it, the heavy love from sister is not something everyone can experience.¡±


    ...


    His words hit Xia Wenyan right in the feels.


    Because of his past conduct, he was now the only brother without an ¡°assignment.¡±


    Even the family dog had more pull than him.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth twitched. He thought he had grown accustomed to his siblings¡¯ venomous tongues, but he had never imagined they could be even more toxic.


    ¡°After your surgery this week, I¡¯m going to compete, and by then I must earn Zhaozhao¡¯s admiration as a good brother, hmph!¡±


    Although he said so, he still obediently donned the protective suit and gloves properly.


    Xia Wenmo glanced at the approaching Xia Wenyan, as if recalling something, and asked, ¡°Did you find out anything about the incident where your show was reported?¡±


    Xia Wenyan shrugged, ¡°We found something, but not everything.¡±


    It was confirmed that the program they participated in was maliciously reported, but the person behind it was never caught.


    Every time they got a slight lead, it was swiftly erased by someone.


    Xia Wenmo narrowed his eyes, ¡°I heard that they really did find a few drug users on that show, so it wasn¡¯t entirely a malicious report. It¡¯s just unclear what the true intention of the person who reported it was. As long as it wasn¡¯t a targeted attack against specific individuals, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    His gaze swept over Xia Wenyan and then receded.


    The Xia family had always been low-key, even abroad their identities were rarely exposed.


    In their own country, they were even more incognito.


    But you can¡¯t stop people from digging into the true circumstances of the Xia family. Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing he wasn¡¯t worried about; it was Xia Wenyan who concerned him.


    This kid was too straightforward and lacked cunning; the entertainment industry was complicated. If he were targeted, he feared he wouldn¡¯t be able to dodge it.


    Xia Wenyan curled his lip, ¡°Third brother, I¡¯m an adult now; can you let go of my past already, please? I¡¯m a mature adult already; soon, I¡¯ll be a mature and charismatic brother!¡±


    At the mention of ¡°brother,¡± Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t resist mocking, ¡°Right, right, you¡¯re the big shot who hosts your own show and stars in it. If you don¡¯t place in the competition, you planning to play dirty?¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenmo could always precisely hit his sore spot.


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes, ¡°Please, I¡¯m also a hardworking idol, you know? Do I look like the kind of person who resorts to underhanded tactics when I can¡¯t get a ranking? I¡¯m also very popular, okay?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenmo didn¡¯t deny that point.


    In fact, Xia Wenmo always had a very good eye for investment in the entertainment industry, whether it was investing in shows or in filming movies and dramas.


    He was just too lazy to deal with these trivial matters, instead, he was particularly addicted to being an idol.


    So aside from major company strategy decisions, Xia Wenyan was basically given free rein.


    Surprisingly, the young man¡¯s company was flourishing, making quite a name for itself in the entertainment industry.


    He sighed lightly, his gaze shifting to Xia Wenyan as he spoke again with a cool tone, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get to the real reason you came to the hospital today. I¡¯m not very patient right now.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Xia Wenyan was just about to speak when the words got stuck in his throat.


    Was he that obvious just now?


    Discovered so quickly?


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and then honestly confessed, ¡°Third brother, the day after your surgery, Zhaozhao will definitely come to the hospital to see you. Could you maybe ask her to watch the show I¡¯m in with you?¡±


    Xia Wenmo looked at Xia Wenyan with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°Why should I sacrifice my time with Zhaozhao for your sake?¡±


    ¡°Bro! Third brother! I beg you~~~ big brother~~~¡± Xia Wenyan said as he hugged Xia Wenmo¡¯s thigh.


    But just as he did so, he received a kick from him, ¡°Get lost!!!¡±


    ¡°Wuwuwu...¡±


    Xia Wenmo rubbed his temples with a somewhat headache, looking at Xia Wenyan sitting on the ground in a dejected manner, the disdain in his eyes growing clearer.


    ¡°Xia Wenyan, knock off the crocodile tears. Do you think I don¡¯t know you? A big man like you wouldn¡¯t cry even if you broke your arm. Crying over a kick? You really do think highly of me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As expected, Xia Wenyan looked up at him with a woeful expression, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to come and be stubborn with you, but isn¡¯t it because among our brothers, Zhaozhao cares about you the most? Pleading with big brother and second brother is useless...¡±


    Clearly, what Xia Wenyan just said had hit Xia Wenmo where it hurt.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°Okay, this matter is not out of the question, but what exactly are you planning to do? It better not be anything outrageous...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s absolutely not!¡± Xia Wenyan sprang up from the ground, ¡°Third brother, you have to trust me!¡±


    As long as Xia Wenmo agreed to let Lu Zhaozhao watch the show with him, he would be able to convince Lu Zhaozhao that he really wanted to be a good brother!


    He was absolutely not being insincere!


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan immediately hugged Xia Wenmo¡¯s thigh again, ¡°Bro, third brother! My life is in your hands! You have to help me!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenmo looked at Xia Wenyan¡¯s shining eyes, feeling vaguely as if... he had just agreed to something terrible...


    There shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?


    There should be... right?


    ¡°`

 Chapter 96: 96: Does Mr. Song Have Separation Anxiety Disorder?

    Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Does Mr. Song Have Separation Anxiety Disorder?


    ¡°Xia Wenyan.¡±


    Suddenly, Xia Wenmo slowly started speaking, looking at him with unusual seriousness.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s heart suddenly tightened, and feeling somewhat uneasy, he took a step back. ¡°Third brother, you¡¯re not thinking about reneging on what you just agreed to, are you?¡±


    If Xia Wenmo were to backtrack now, all his subsequent plans would fall apart.


    The corners of Xia Wenmo¡¯s mouth twitched, and he glanced at Xia Wenyan with a bit of disdain. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I always keep my promises, but... I want to remind you of something.¡±


    Xia Wenyan let out a sigh of relief internally. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not about reneging on that thing just now, you can bring up anything you like.¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenmo looked at his cowardly demeanor, sighed deeply, and thought to himself, why bother doing this in the first place.


    But considering Xia Wenyan¡¯s personality, it was an unavoidable issue.


    However... he would not allow anyone to use his younger brother to harm Zhaozhao again.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze toward Xia Wenyan carried a sharpness, ¡°Are you still in contact with Xia Wenjin?¡±


    Xia Wenyan shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t contacted her for several days. Besides, I¡¯ve been so busy investigating Zhaozhao¡¯s issue lately that I haven¡¯t had time to talk to her.¡±


    ¡°You remember, no matter what Xia Wenjin asks you to do, don¡¯t agree to it, and don¡¯t help her no matter how pitiful she makes her story sound,¡± Xia Wenmo earnestly cautioned Xia Wenyan.


    He had heard from Xia Wenjue that Xia Wenyan had asked him for the video, so he was largely in the know about the situation with Lu Zhaozhao.


    However, he wasn¡¯t sure if Xia Wenyan might go soft on Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with doubt as he looked at Xia Wenmo, ¡°Third brother, is there something you haven¡¯t told me?¡±


    In the past few days, his eldest brother and second brother seemed to be very busy. Besides visiting the hospital every day to maintain a presence with Lu Zhaozhao, he was just practicing singing and dancing at home.


    But he vaguely sensed that something was different.


    Xia Wenmo let out a light sigh. ¡°Take a look at Zhaozhao¡¯s school forum. Maybe you can spot something.¡±


    He understood Xia Wenjue¡¯s and Xia Wenqing¡¯s desire to protect Xia Wenyan, but sometimes, he felt it was better to let him know the truth.


    Otherwise, for Lu Zhaozhao, her fourth brother would become a ticking time bomb.


    Xia Wenyan, puzzled, pulled out his phone. When he saw the expose? on the forum, his hand holding the phone began to tremble.


    He gritted his teeth, and his face suddenly darkened. ¡°So, eldest brother and second brother have been dealing with this recently?¡±


    Xia Wenmo nodded. ¡°Yes, earlier, eldest brother he...¡±


    He stopped mid-sentence.


    If he was to recount the details, he would have to mention Lu Zhaozhao hiring a hacker to investigate the cameras installed at the Lu Family¡¯s house.


    He pursed his lips, uncertain whether Xia Wenyan would be able to handle this.


    When he had learned about it himself, he had almost charged over to the Lu Family, bound them all up, and thrown them into Africa to mine!


    Seeing Xia Wenmo hold back, Xia Wenyan clenched his fist. ¡°Third brother, tell me everything I don¡¯t know. I promise I won¡¯t act rashly.¡±


    Xia Wenmo fell silent for a moment but eventually laid it all out.


    Almost the instant he finished, the hospital room was filled with Xia Wenyan¡¯s harsh swearing¡ª


    ¡°Those sons of bitches at the Lu Family, they actually installed cameras in her room?! Cao Mei, that old ****! She really is a mother****ing...¡±


    ¡°And Xia Wenjin, I used to think she was just young, but now it seems, I was ****ing blind! Because of her damn ****, I almost lost my sister, dammit, ****...¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenmo felt his ears were going to develop calluses.


    He couldn¡¯t understand how he had failed to realize Xia Wenyan¡¯s talent for swearing in the streets before.


    He felt a bit of a headache coming on and pressed his temples, glancing sideways at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Who just said they absolutely wouldn¡¯t act impulsively? And I didn¡¯t tell you all that just so you could go cause trouble for the Lu Family. I simply don¡¯t want you to hurt Zhaozhao again because of Xia Wenjin. Otherwise, I really couldn¡¯t be bothered with you.¡±


    Xia Wenyan patted his chest earnestly, ¡°Third brother, don¡¯t worry. Even if Zhaozhao were to bash Xia Wenjin¡¯s face in front of me, I¡¯d still stand by Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    In the evening, as soon as Lu Zhaozhao finished school, she was picked up and brought home.


    To her surprise, Song Sinian had not yet returned.


    Lu Zhaozhao remembered that she hadn¡¯t had the chance to consult Doctor Tian about Song Sinian¡¯s condition, so she took the opportunity to head straight back to her bedroom.


    To understand Song Sinian¡¯s depression, she had taken notes specifically related to his condition.


    Many of the details and solutions had come from information provided by Tian Xiangjun.


    Clutching her notebook and pen, fully prepared, she finally called Tian Xiangjun.


    ¡°Doo-doo-doo....¡±


    After a while, someone on the other end of the line picked up.


    ¡°Hello? Zhaozhao?¡± Tian Xiangjun seemed a little surprised to receive a call from Lu Zhaozhao.


    Especially after advising how to ¡°stick¡± to Song Sinian, Tian Xiangjun had been feeling a bit apprehensive.


    She wasn¡¯t sure how well Song Sinian had taken to practice.


    So when Lu Zhaozhao called, Tian Xiangjun felt somewhat guilty.


    Lu Zhaozhao twiddled the corner of her notebook and took a deep breath before saying, ¡°Doctor Tian, I would like to ask you a few questions about Mr. Song.¡±


    Listening to the somewhat different voice on the other end of the phone, Tian Xiangjun frowned and quickly asked, ¡°Has Sinian had an accident recently?¡±


    ¡°Uh... I¡¯m not really certain, but he¡¯s been acting differently lately and I¡¯m worried if his condition has worsened.¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tone was clearly filled with concern.


    Especially after Song Sinian had pinned her in the car and lost control of his emotions, her worry had grown.


    Tian Xiangjun also became anxious, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t worry, take your time and tell me, what exactly is happening?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s usual treatment with her was just a formality, mostly just taking some medication to treat his condition.


    Now that they finally had someone who could truly assist in Song Sinian¡¯s treatment, she was willing to help out where possible.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve noticed that Mr. Song seems to be developing separation anxiety when it comes to me. Does this indicate that his depression is getting worse?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Separation anxiety.


    That condition is most commonly seen in preschool-aged children as an emotional disorder, and if there were any other cases... that would be pets towards their owners... Uh.


    Tian Xiangjun rubbed her face with slight resignation, grateful that she was on a call with Lu Zhaozhao and not face-to-face, otherwise, Lu Zhaozhao would definitely have seen her features twisted in distress.


    She had indeed suggested that Song Sinian observe pets, but she never intended for him to develop separation anxiety.


    However... was that kid really experiencing separation anxiety? Or...


    ¡°`

 Chapter 97: 97: He is finding various ways to cling to his daughter-in-law!

    Chapter 97: Chapter 97: He is finding various ways to cling to his daughter-in-law!


    She remembered that someone even avoided having pets to prevent the pets from competing for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s affection.


    He was emotionally restrained and possessive towards Lu Zhaozhao, which wasn¡¯t typical of someone with separation anxiety.


    Dr. Tian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, after pondering for a moment, she asked, ¡°Regarding his separation anxiety, does he show any obvious stereotypical behavior? Such as, getting angry when he can¡¯t be with you.¡±


    Although Song Sinian didn¡¯t get angry, his moodiness was even more frightening than his anger.


    That suffocating feeling, as if someone was choking her throat, she never wanted to experience it again in her life!


    ¡°No.¡± Lu Zhaozhao almost thoughtlessly denied it.


    ...


    Song Sinian getting angry at her...


    Neither in his past life nor in this one had that ever happened.


    If there was any loss of control, it was only that he once bit her lips in the car, and nothing more.


    Thus, Lu Zhaozhao briefly explained the recent events concerning Song Sinian to Dr. Tian, and the doctor was thoroughly convinced.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t have separation anxiety, he just liked sticking to his wife in various ways!


    Dr. Tian also felt like she had seen something new.


    It was truly one of those once-in-a-lifetime series.


    She cleared her throat lightly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry too much about Sinian, he...¡±


    He¡¯s just a straight man acting coquettishly.


    Though Dr. Tian wanted to say that, she couldn¡¯t.


    Rarely had Song Sinian shown willingness to open up for Lu Zhaozhao, how could she play the villain?


    Of course... she shipped a couple that must have a happy ending.


    Dr. Tian cleared her throat again, then slowly spoke, ¡°Sinian¡¯s condition hasn¡¯t worsened, on the contrary, being more dependent on you indicates that he¡¯s willing to open up to others, which is quite helpful for his condition, so you shouldn¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    From the moment Song Sinian started caring about Lu Zhaozhao more than anything else, his condition had noticeably improved.


    So as long as Lu Zhaozhao was doing well, Song Sinian¡¯s condition wouldn¡¯t be a big problem.


    After hearing Dr. Tian¡¯s words, the heavy stone in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart finally fell to the ground, ¡°Is there any way to alleviate his anxiety symptoms? Would something like desensitization treatment work? Or maybe having him try to interact with other people...¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Dr. Tian blurted out without even thinking.


    Lu Zhaozhao was also startled by her suddenly intensified tone, ¡°Is it very dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± It would be very dangerous for others.


    At least for those who would ¡°try to get along¡± with Song Sinian, their lives might be at risk.


    Dr. Tian tried to calm her emotions, then slowly said, ¡°For this type of separation anxiety, just appropriate physical contact and verbal reassurance can solve it.¡±


    To make Lu Zhaozhao give up on the idea of ¡°sending out¡± Song Sinian, she continued, ¡°You can guide him to talk about the things that cause him anxiety or behaviors that make him anxious, and if that doesn¡¯t work, you can come to me again.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you, Doctor Tian.¡±


    While talking on the phone, Lu Zhaozhao also used her pen to jot down notes in her notebook, completely unaware of a tall figure slowly approaching.


    By the time Lu Zhaozhao hung up the phone, Song Sinian was already standing in front of her.


    His tall figure blocked the light above her head, and his elongated shadow fell on her notebook, making her jump.


    She looked up at Song Sinian, and as if suddenly thinking of something, she immediately covered her notebook with her hand.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, he took a step back, his tone light, ¡°What were you just doing?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged awkwardly at the corner of her mouth, ¡°I, I was chatting with Doctor Tian.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded and didn¡¯t continue to ask.


    Actually, when he had walked over just now, he had seen the words written on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s notebook.


    ¡°Separation Anxiety,¡± ¡°Appropriate Physical Touch,¡± ¡°Talk about Anxiety-Inducing Actions or Thoughts¡±


    His eyes darkened, did Lu Zhaozhao have separation anxiety?


    He really wanted to call Tian Xiangjun immediately to ask, but would she tell him about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition?


    She had mentioned before that Lu Zhaozhao had suffered psychological trauma from a young age, having been mentally abused for so long, making her emotions more sensitive than most.


    Recently, because of the Xia Family issues, her emotions had been quite strange and indeed needed some counseling from Tian Xiangjun.


    Song Sinian saw Lu Zhaozhao put away her notebook and then sat beside her, lowering his head to kiss her lips.


    There was still noticeable scabbing from where he had bitten her last time.


    Although medicine had been applied, it had not yet healed.


    He must have been crazy at the time to have bitten Lu Zhaozhao so hard.


    Song Sinian reached out to touch her small face but dared not touch her lips anymore.


    ¡°Ding¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone vibrated in her pocket.


    She took it out and glanced at it, just in time to see a message from Xia Wenjue.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, your third brother, is having surgery this Friday afternoon, will you come?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows slightly at the message, seeming a bit hesitant.


    Song Sinian pinched her serious little face and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there a problem with the Xia Family?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s my third brother, he¡¯s having surgery this Friday, I... am a bit nervous.¡±


    She looked into Song Sinian¡¯s deep, steady black eyes, and the truth slipped out of her mouth.


    Afterward, she simply straddled his legs, wrapping her arms around Song Sinian.


    She was not very tall to begin with, and nestled against Song Sinian¡¯s large body, she seemed even smaller.


    He simply extended his arms to hold her, enveloping her entirely in his embrace.


    ¡°If you want to go, I can come with you on Friday,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently patted her back, his face full of patience.


    Because of the illness of the third son of the Xia Family, Lu Zhaozhao had been focusing on that lately.


    Her emotions had also turned strange.


    Just yesterday, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mood had finally improved a bit, and he didn¡¯t want her going to the hospital again to upset her.


    Lu Zhaozhao herself was still undecided about going to the hospital, after all, brain surgery is complicated and lengthy, and she was afraid she might cry uncontrollably because of the worry.


    If Song Sinian were willing to go with her, perhaps her emotions would stabilize!


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to agree when suddenly, as if she had thought of something, her brows furrowed again.


    She straightened her back abruptly, looking solemnly at Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, if you come with me on Friday, you have to promise me one condition first!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s deep eyes narrowed slightly, still he nodded, ¡°Alright, what condition do you want me to agree to?¡±


    Each time Lu Zhaozhao stipulated a condition, he was always able to receive a reward, so he held no disdain towards her making conditions.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at his slightly expectant eyes, raised her brows a bit¡ªhad she seen wrong just now?

 Chapter 98: 98 Song Sinian Actually Took a Day Off?!

    Chapter 98: Chapter 98 Song Sinian Actually Took a Day Off?!


    She paused slightly, her gaze repeatedly shifting across Song Sinian¡¯s figure. His expression seemed to have returned to its usual state.


    Was it just her imagination just now?


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, then finally spoke slowly, ¡°On Friday at the hospital, you¡¯re not allowed to kiss, hug, or pick me up in front of my brothers.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes sank slightly; he instantly wanted to pretend he hadn¡¯t heard her.


    Why couldn¡¯t he kiss, hug, or pick her up in front of the Xia Family people?


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t hear a response from Song Sinian, so she reached out and tugged at the hem of his clothes, ¡°Mr. Song?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at her, then rested his head on her shoulder without saying a word.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently rubbed his head, guessing from his demeanor that he must be unhappy.


    Before, Lu Zhaozhao had been worried that Song Sinian¡¯s depression was getting worse.


    After her conversation with Tian Xiangjun, she felt significantly more at ease.


    Now, upon reflection, Song Sinian indeed seemed more willing to express his emotions than before.


    Although... he could hardly express much.


    However, she could still tell the difference in his behavior from usual.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand continued to stroke his hair and spoke in a calm tone again, ¡°Mr. Song? You must have heard what I just said, right?¡±


    This time, Song Sinian turned around, clasped her slender waist with his hand, then buried his head in the crook of her neck, his voice muffled, ¡°If I agree, will there be a reward later?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was almost amused by his childish behavior.


    Her hand traveled from the top of Song Sinian¡¯s head to his ear, gently caressed it, and then she continued, ¡°Of course, when it¡¯s just you and me together, you can claim your reward whenever you want.¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Song Sinian sat up abruptly, seemingly uncertain, and he asked her again, ¡°Really?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved into a smile as she nodded, ¡°Yes, but not in front of my brothers, okay?¡±


    Song Sinian immediately buried his head in the crook of her neck again and rubbed against it, ¡°Mmhmm, I got it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao subconsciously rubbed Song Sinian¡¯s head, feeling strangely like he was similar to the large Dobermann they used to have.


    It must be an illusion.


    On Friday early morning, Lu Zhaozhao went to the hospital with Song Sinian.


    As for the company affairs, Song Sinian had handed them over to Zhao Xi.


    Song Sinian was actually taking a day off?!


    For Song Group, this was undoubtedly explosive news.


    Xiao Jinglan naturally got hold of this news at the first instance.


    Looking at Old Master Song, who was sitting in the courtyard enjoying breakfast, Xiao Jinglan slowly sat down beside him.


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve heard recently that Zhaozhao seems to be having some trouble at school.¡±


    She casually mentioned it while having her breakfast, pretending it wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    Lately, she was worried that if Old Master Song found out that she had kept Zhaozhao¡¯s rescue a secret, he would cause trouble for her.


    But these past days, everything with Mr. Song was business as usual, without a hint of anything amiss, so she had begun to let down her guard.


    Mr. Song glanced at Xiao Jinglan and furrowed his brows in feigned ignorance, ¡°What happened to her at school? Who would dare to cause trouble for the Song Family?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan let out a light laugh, ¡°It¡¯s not really a big deal. Some people found out Zhaozhao isn¡¯t the natural-born daughter of the Lu Family and thought the Song Family wouldn¡¯t acknowledge Zhaozhao and Sinian¡¯s marriage.¡±


    With a loud ¡°Bang!¡± Mr. Song slammed his hand on the table. ¡°Do we need outsiders to poke their noses into the Song Family¡¯s affairs?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was clearly startled by Mr. Song¡¯s outburst.


    However, seeing that his anger wasn¡¯t directed at Lu Zhaozhao, she continued to fan the flames along the lines of what Mr. Song had said.


    ¡°Actually, there¡¯s a reason why people are talking like this outside. I heard that Zhaozhao took Sinian out today, and it seems he even took leave from the company...¡±


    She sighed softly, ¡°Sinian has never done such a thing for work before.¡±


    A flash of evident disgust crossed Mr. Song¡¯s eyes, but it quickly vanished.


    Before, because Sinian was sick, he¡¯d always felt that having a woman in the house would be good for the child¡¯s upbringing.


    So, over the years, he had turned a blind eye to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s occasional mischief, as after all, she was facilitating communication on matters relating to Sinian.


    But ever since Lu Zhaozhao married Song Sinian, he had clearly noticed Xiao Jinglan¡¯s high hostility towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    She would always pretend to passively stir up trouble for Lu Zhaozhao.


    She even deliberately brought Xia Wenjin to the Song Mansion, so it was no wonder that before, Song Sinian had asked Xiao Jinglan to keep her distance from Lu Zhaozhao.


    Mr. Song narrowed his eyes and responded coolly, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Like she was suddenly invigorated, Xiao Jinglan continued, ¡°Yes, quite a few directors and people in the company are talking about Zhaozhao. They¡¯re saying Sinian is very much under her influence, and there are quite a few who are planning to take advantage of Zhaozhao!¡±


    Mr. Song scooped a spoonful of millet porridge and began to sip it slowly, ¡°Besides this, have you heard anything else?¡±


    His gaze swept over Xiao Jinglan casually, as he thought back to the conversation with Song Sinian about his drink being drugged.


    He had the head butler investigate all the servants in the Song Mansion.


    Indeed, without investigation, nothing would be found; but upon looking into it, it was a shock.


    About half of the people in the Song Mansion turned out to be spies planted by others.


    As for Xiao Jinglan, whether she was involved was still not investigated.


    He had consulted with doctors, and if the low blood sugar condition had not been treated in time, it could have led to very serious consequences, such as potentially causing damage to brain neurons and leading to a stroke or cerebral palsy.


    But if something had happened to him, the indirect person to benefit the most would be Xiao Jinglan, so he couldn¡¯t help but suspect her.


    Xiao Jinglan completely failed to notice the quick changes in Mr. Song¡¯s expression and thought her words had caught his attention, making her all the more eager.


    ¡°I heard that there are a lot of things in the company that haven¡¯t been dealt with in time because Sinian often delays work to accompany Zhaozhao.¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s spoon suddenly stopped, and he threw the spoon back into the bowl of millet porridge, then picked up a napkin from the table to wipe his mouth, his lips curling into a chilling smile.


    ¡°It seems that the people I dealt with last time weren¡¯t quite right, to still have so many people fond of wagging their tongues about the Song Family.¡±


    Just as Xiao Jinglan was about to continue speaking, she was choked off by Mr. Song¡¯s words.


    After the last round of reassignments, Mr. Song had either sidelined or sent to far-flung areas those directors who were close to her. Xiao Mo had been furious with her because of it, and if Mr. Song were to take action against other directors this time...


    Xiao Jinglan could hardly imagine. Her mind was racing, and she quickly changed the subject, saying¡ª

 Chapter 99: 99 I Allowed It...

    Chapter 99: Chapter 99 I Allowed It...


    ¡°Dad, Keren is coming back soon. How about we all have a nice dinner together to welcome her back?¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s silver eyebrows furrowed slightly as he thought it over carefully.


    Recently, because of the Xia Family¡¯s hospitalization, Zhaozhao had been running around busily, and he hadn¡¯t had the chance to meet her.


    Using Keren¡¯s return as a pretext to invite Zhaozhao over wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    Thinking this, Mr. Song nodded, ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s do as you suggest.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed she would need to find another way to involve Zhaozhao next time...


    ...


    Meanwhile, Zhaozhao was sitting nervously in the VIP lounge of the hospital.


    From here, she could clearly see all of Xia Wenmo¡¯s vital data as well as observe his surgical procedure.


    Originally, this room was intended for medical students to watch surgeries.


    But because Zhaozhao was always worried about Xia Wenmo¡¯s condition, Sinian had directly approached the dean to allocate this room for them.


    He had thought that once Zhaozhao watched Xia Wenmo¡¯s surgery, she might not be as nervous.


    Yet, only 20 minutes into the surgery, Zhaozhao sitting in the VIP lounge began to uncontrollably tremble.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, it¡¯s okay. Look, all those readings are very normal right now,¡± Xia Wenjue said, sitting to Zhaozhao¡¯s left, gently patting her arm and back.


    And Xia Wenqing, sitting on her right, also held her arm, his voice extremely gentle, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zhaozhao, the equipment here is state-of-the-art, and the two doctors inside are very skilled...¡±


    As for the not-yet-brother Xia Wenyan, he squatted down lightly patting her hand, ¡°Zhaozhao, the third brother¡¯s indicators were all healthy before the surgery, there won¡¯t be any problems. Don¡¯t worry!¡±


    At this moment, all of Zhaozhao¡¯s attention was on Xia Wenmo, completely unaware of the ¡°opportunist brother¡± by her feet.


    She nodded subconsciously, her emotions still intensely fluctuating.


    Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t bring herself to tell them that in her past life, Xia Wenmo had indeed died.


    The fear prevented her from relaxing completely.


    She had even been worried that Xia Wenmo wouldn¡¯t survive long enough to undergo surgery.


    Fortunately, the surgery was now proceeding smoothly. If it was successful, Xia Wenmo¡¯s fate might really change!


    Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes were tensely fixed on the display screen in the room, completely oblivious to Sinian seated not far away who was about to explode.


    Apart from that dog called Jack from before, he now had people he disliked.


    Three of them.


    Sinian clenched his fists tightly as he watched three grown men in front of him holding his wife, his feelings of displeasure reaching a peak.


    Had these three men not been Zhaozhao¡¯s relatives by blood, he would have already planned where to bury them.


    Sinian took a deep breath, counted to 30 silently while sitting, and then finally stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take her out for a walk,¡± Sinian said, reaching out to Zhaozhao and turning her chin towards him, ¡°Zhaozhao, come take a walk with me.¡±


    Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, slightly red, blinked. When she looked at Sinian, she seemed not to fully comprehend what he had just said.


    Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped as he patiently repeated, ¡°Come out for a walk with me, take a breath of fresh air, then we can come back.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao finally came back to her senses, nodded slightly, and glanced worriedly at the monitor again.


    Xia Wenjue commented, ¡°The surgery will still take about an hour to finish, you might as well go out for a walk now.¡±


    Although he wanted to keep holding his soft and cuddly sister, seeing her with red-rimmed eyes and a face full of concern, he thought it would be better for her to walk around.


    Xia Wenqing felt the same way.


    As for Xia Wenyan, he seemed totally clueless about the situation. He immediately stood up, hands on his hips, and said, ¡°I want to go for a walk with you too.¡±


    Almost instantly, Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing each grabbed one side of Xia Wenyan and pressed him back down, while covering his mouth, ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡±


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°???¡±


    As they watched Lu Zhaozhao follow Song Sinian out of the VIP rest room, they finally let go of Xia Wenyan.


    ¡°Why? You guys don¡¯t accompany Zhaozhao, but why can¡¯t I go?¡± Xia Wenyan asked, looking dissatisfied and indignant at Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenjue gave him a look and rubbed his temples with a bit of a headache, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you might get buried by your brother-in-law later, and I won¡¯t even be able to find your grave.¡±


    Xia Wenqing also shook his head continuously, ¡°I really don¡¯t know where your sense of awareness has gone.¡±


    Just now, they were all so nervous with Song Sinian¡¯s stare that their backs went cold, and this guy didn¡¯t feel it at all?


    After confirming that Lu Zhaozhao was their sister, he and his older brother had also investigated Song Sinian.


    His reputation in business was almost uniformly described as ruthless, lacking humanity.


    They even thought about rescuing Lu Zhaozhao from Song Sinian¡¯s grip.


    But later they found out that Song Sinian wasn¡¯t as devoid of human warmth as the rumors said, at least... he gave all his kindness and gentleness to Lu Zhaozhao.


    And moreover, Lu Zhaozhao really liked Song Sinian.


    That was ultimately why they didn¡¯t meddle in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s relationship with Song Sinian.


    Xia Wenyan reluctantly shrank his neck, his double chin almost squeezing out, ¡°I just want to spend more time with Zhaozhao... why is that so hard...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    In the hospital corridor, Lu Zhaozhao followed Song Sinian, walking one after the other towards the elevator.


    Suddenly, Song Sinian fiercely grabbed her small hand, and in one swift motion, pulled her into the nearby fire escape.


    The floor was already emptied for Xia Wenmo¡¯s surgery, so there was no one around.


    Even less so in the fire escape.


    Behind the door of the fire escape, Song Sinian¡¯s large hands were propped on either side of Lu Zhaozhao, enclosing her in the small space.


    In the silent and empty fire escape, their closely adjacent breathing was especially clear.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I want to hold you...¡± Song Sinian¡¯s low tone moved closer to her ear, his heavy breath carried a slight dampness.


    His entire form enveloped her, and with just a slight movement of his fingers, he could have done it, yet humbly, he waited for her permission.


    Not sure if it was because he was scared by her crying in the car earlier, Song Sinian didn¡¯t dare to take liberties now.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked, her small hands directly hooked around his neck, and she whispered in his ear, ¡°I allow it...¡±


    Her lips slowly moved downward, almost imperceptibly brushing against the skin of his neck, ticklish, stirring desires deep within¡ª

 Chapter 100: 100 Mr. Song, Didnt We Agree to Go for a Walk?

    Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Mr. Song, Didn¡¯t We Agree to Go for a Walk?


    Her body suddenly soared into the air, fiercely pinned against a solid chest.


    The intense pressure made her let out a low cry, like a small milk cat in the rain whimpering after being drenched.


    The pitiable sound carried the tone of a baby.


    Taking a deep breath, Song Sinian¡¯s nose filled with her scent, sweet enough to make one want to swallow it all at once.


    His heart thumped wildly with urgency; although he was hugging her tightly, he felt it was still not enough.


    His nose rested against Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, his head buried in the nape of her neck.


    ...


    His handsome face tilted slightly, rubbing his thin lips against her neck before gazing into her clear, water-like eyes, murmuring softly, ¡°May I?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s chin lifted slightly, brushing his nose cutely against hers.


    The string in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head snapped in an instant; she had no clue what Song Sinian wanted to do, but given his actions, what more did she need?


    Just agree and it¡¯s done.


    She nodded slightly, and before she could utter another word, Song Sinian¡¯s lips pressed against hers.


    Different from his earlier eagerness, he didn¡¯t pounce fiercely but instead lingered tenderly between her lips and teeth.


    Again and again, his teasing made her anxious.


    She suddenly hugged Song Sinian¡¯s neck, returning his advance with a fierce momentum.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao had been close with Song Sinian before, she hadn¡¯t improved much ¡°technically¡± and still kissed messily.


    Yet her bravery easily inflamed Song Sinian, sending his blood boiling.


    His large hands gripped her waist, kissing with much greater intensity than before.


    Lu Zhaozhao gradually struggled, her feet weakened as she slid down from Song Sinian¡¯s neck, her little face flushed, her soft body leaning on the strong hands clenching at her waist, hanging limply against him.


    Her breath grew heavier, and amidst the silence, only the sound of their kisses echoed through the empty corridor.


    ¡°Ah...¡± Lu Zhaozhao could hardly take it anymore, lightly tapping Song Sinian, seeking a moment to breathe.


    Thankfully, this time Song Sinian obediently paused.


    Lu Zhaozhao hung in his embrace, gasping heavily.


    Just now, her mind had been blank, filled with nothing but Song Sinian.


    Now having calmed down, Lu Zhaozhao remembered they were at the hospital, and Xia Wenmo was still undergoing surgery.


    She glanced up at Song Sinian, his eyes, flushed with emotion, shimmering like sunlight on water.


    She stared, dazed for a while, before finally snapping back to her senses, ¡°Mr. Song, didn¡¯t we agree to go for a walk?¡±


    And they must have been out for a while now, right?


    She had no idea about the status of Xia Wenmo¡¯s surgery.


    The hospital was still so quiet; nothing must have gone wrong, right?


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes slightly lowered, the desire in them not dissipating from their earlier contact but seemingly growing more intense.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know how much restraint he needed to stop himself under the current circumstances.


    He swallowed slightly, his gaze shifting to the windowsill, trying not to continue that train of thought.


    ¡°I took you for a walk only to distract you. Given the situation... the goal is more or less achieved. There¡¯s no need to dwell on the process,¡± he said.


    He wouldn¡¯t admit that he pulled her away because everyone from the Xia Family got a hug but not him, causing him to feel upset.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°Then shall we head back now? I think it¡¯s about time, and about my third brother... mmm...¡±


    She hadn¡¯t finished her words when Song Sinian grabbed her neck again.


    She didn¡¯t even have room to breathe before she was forced into blending breaths with him once more.


    Song Sinian seemed to handle each time more skillfully than the last, leaving Lu Zhaozhao powerless to defend herself.


    After a few repeats of this, by the time Song Sinian finally let her go, Lu Zhaozhao was completely drained of strength.


    Her whole body just softened and leaned into his embrace.


    Song Sinian scooped her up with one hand, startling Lu Zhaozhao, who instinctively wrapped her arms around his head.


    She had always known Song Sinian was strong, but this single-handed princess carry was a bit shameful for her.


    ¡°Mr... Mr. Song?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll carry you downstairs for a walk. Be good and don¡¯t move around,¡± said Song Sinian, his large hand gently patting her, with the center of his palm conveniently resting on the small of her back, soft and tender.


    Lu Zhaozhao, not understanding but still compliant, laid her head on his shoulder without fidgeting.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say the result would be the same, so why go for a walk downstairs?¡±


    Her voice was soft, with a nasal tone of someone who had been bullied.


    Song Sinian¡¯s steps suddenly paused as he descended the stairs; the traces of her breathing gently swept across the back of his neck, inexplicably rousing a heat within him.


    The fire escape was already somewhat cool, yet it did nothing to lower his temperature.


    Song Sinian took a deep breath and spoke calmly, ¡°I was just worried that later on, if the Xia Family asks where you went, you would have trouble answering, so I¡¯m taking you out for a walk.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was suddenly at a loss.


    If she really was questioned by the Xia brothers, couldn¡¯t she just lie?


    Her eyebrows lifted slightly as she suddenly thought of their Song Sinian, who never lied.


    Alright, alright.


    His concern wasn¡¯t unwarranted.


    It was quite possible that if the Xia brothers asked, Song Sinian might just honestly answer for her.


    Better to go for another walk downstairs than face social death.


    Thinking so, Lu Zhaozhao simply found a comfortable position to lean on his shoulder.


    The weather hadn¡¯t been cold recently, so Lu Zhaozhao wore only a pair of capris when she came that morning.


    Being held by Song Sinian in such a way, her pants were hiked up quite a bit, revealing her beautifully slender calves.


    Her small feet dangled, and the shoes that were originally hung upon her feet were visibly loose.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to ask Song Sinian to stop, she suddenly felt her foot become light, and her shoe was actually slipped off by him.


    ¡°Is it cold?¡± His soft voice echoed in the vacant stairwell.


    The deep tones, with their reverberations, were even more magnetic.


    Lu Zhaozhao was momentarily stunned, until a scalding warmth on her foot snapped her back to reality.


    She looked at him weakly, ¡°I, I¡¯m not cold.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s palms were burning hot, one large hand completely enveloping her small feet.


    This action, so full of boyfriend energy, inexplicably made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face flush red; why could he stir her so easily with just a casual gesture!


    Forget being cold, her face was now as red as a boiled shrimp!


    Her whole being was in a state of feverish excitement!

 Chapter 101: 101 I Just Want to Be Close to You

    Chapter 101: Chapter 101 I Just Want to Be Close to You


    Lu Zhaozhao hastily lowered her little head and pressed it against Song Sinian¡¯s neck, afraid he would speak some ferocious words again.


    Song Sinian had just been concentrating on her little feet and hadn¡¯t noticed that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face was already flushed red.


    Her sudden proximity made Song Sinian¡¯s brows lift slightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you weren¡¯t cold?¡±


    ¡°Mmm, I just want to be close to you,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s soft, sweet voice whispered into his ear, causing the corners of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth to curve slightly.


    He didn¡¯t say anything else and just held her as they continued walking downstairs...


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s surgery went very well, but because of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s excessive concern, he remained under close observation after the surgery.


    ...


    ¡°Third brother, do you want to drink some water?¡± Lu Zhaozhao sat next to Xia Wenmo, staring at him with eyes that still showed traces of swelling.


    Xia Wenmo chuckled softly, tilting his head to look at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, you don¡¯t need to be nervous about me anymore. The doctors said the surgery was very successful, and my eyes weren¡¯t affected at all. You, you are my lucky star. With you by my side, even bad things can turn into good ones.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed softly, unable to resist pouting, ¡°Even if you compliment me now, it can¡¯t change the fact that you have to stay in the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, as long as you don¡¯t cry like yesterday, I¡¯m willing to do anything you want,¡± Xia Wenmo said as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    His gaze swept over her little face, filled with tenderness.


    Yesterday, when his surgery was declared a success, Lu Zhaozhao cried her eyes out by his bed. If he hadn¡¯t heard the news of the successful surgery himself, he would have doubted whether he would make it.


    Ah, what an adorable little sister.


    It felt like no matter how much he doted on her, it was never too much.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenmo suddenly seemed to remember something and slowly began to speak, ¡°Zhaozhao, open the drawer next to you. Inside, you¡¯ll find a gift I prepared for you.¡±


    ¡°A gift?¡± Lu Zhaozhao opened the drawer skeptically and took out a brocade box.


    When she opened it, her eyes suddenly widened.


    Inside was a necklace entirely adorned with emeralds and diamonds, evidently very expensive at a glance.


    More importantly, she had seen this emerald and diamond necklace before.


    It was at the Song Mansion, around Song Keren¡¯s neck.


    She distinctly remembered Song Keren bragging that the necklace was worth 20 million.


    It couldn¡¯t possibly be the same one, could it?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes dropped, glancing again at the emerald necklace. It probably couldn¡¯t be the same one because she remembered that when Song Keren wore it, it was part of a complete set.


    There was also a tiara, a brooch, and earrings, all lavished with emeralds and diamonds.


    Each piece was worth tens of millions, and all together, they totaled up to a billion.


    So, it was probably just a coincidence that they looked similar, right?


    Besides, weren¡¯t the Xia Family¡¯s circumstances not very good?


    How could they possibly have a piece of jewelry worth tens of millions?


    As she was deep in thought, Xia Wenmo¡¯s voice suddenly came through, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly shook her head, ¡°No, I just think it¡¯s too valuable...¡±


    Xia Wenmo was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly explained, ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel pressured. This piece of jewelry is a family heirloom of ours. Every member of the Xia Family has one. It¡¯s specifically meant to be given to our younger sister when she gets married. I just wanted to be the first to give it to you.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao clearly hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenmo to give that response. Her watery eyes blinked, and she glanced once more inside the jewelry box.


    A thought she had never considered before flashed through her mind.


    She took a deep breath and looked at Xia Wenmo, asking, ¡°Then... the gifts from the other brothers aren¡¯t also emerald and jade ornaments, are they?¡±


    Xia Wenmo chuckled lightly, patiently explaining, ¡°Of course, the items we four brothers have are a matching set. What I have here is a necklace, the eldest has a crown, the second brother has a brooch, and Lao Si has earrings.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind suddenly exploded.


    If she hadn¡¯t guessed wrong, in her past life, not only had the Xia family sought her out, but they had also given her something.


    But at that time, she was almost completely controlled by Xiao Jinglan at the Song Mansion, so she received none of it.


    Xiao Jinglan was then wholly focused on controlling her to use against Song Sinian and would certainly not allow her to have contact with anyone else.


    That damned Xiao Jinglan, because of her, she really missed out on a lot.


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly closed the box, and instantly let go of the fact that the Xia family hadn¡¯t sought her out in her previous life.


    She had previously thought it was because the Xia family was too poor to have the chance to meet her, or that they were living so hard that they couldn¡¯t find her.


    But now it seemed that was not the case; whether it was in her previous life or this one, they had gone to look for her.


    Lu Zhaozhao clenched her fist, it appeared the details she had overlooked in her last life were not trivial.


    Especially matters related to Xiao Jinglan, she needed to investigate thoroughly.


    In her last life, she had used her advantages within the Song family to do so much harm, this life she was determined to have her reap what she had sown!


    Xia Wenmo watched Lu Zhaozhao remain silent, tilted his head to look at her, and then slowly said, ¡°If the eldest brother, second brother, and Lao Si give you gifts, you must pretend it¡¯s the first time you know about them, got it?¡±


    While speaking, he even winked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao came to her senses, her eyebrows and eyes carrying a smile, as she lightly nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, third brother, I definitely won¡¯t give you away~¡±


    The corners of Xia Wenmo¡¯s mouth curved up, looking at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mischievous smile, his heart also turned especially tender.


    So this is what it felt like to have an adorable and cute younger sister.


    He sighed softly, thinking of how his eldest brother had investigated the hardships Lu Zhaozhao faced as a child in the Lu family, and his hatred towards the Lu family deepened.


    Once he recovered, he would definitely not make it easy for the Lu family!


    Of course, this also included Xia Wenjin.


    Suddenly, the sound of the television reached his ears, and only then did Xia Wenmo remember the task Xia Wenyan had given him.


    He glanced at the television and cleared his throat, ¡°Um... Zhaozhao, do you know that Lao Si recently joined a trainee competition?¡±


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could respond, Xia Wenmo pointed at the television and said, ¡°It¡¯s this show. I hear he¡¯s putting in a lot of effort to get some good results.¡±


    When it came to the Xia brothers¡¯ looks, they were on par, but each had a different aura, so it¡¯s impossible to generalize.


    Xia Wenjue was mature, Xia Wenqing was refined, Xia Wenmo was frail, and as for Xia Wenyan, he was ruggedly handsome.


    To be fair, no matter which one, singled out, could outshine a crowd of people.


    Lu Zhaozhao followed Xia Wenmo¡¯s gaze towards the television and just happened to see Xia Wenyan¡¯s figure on the screen.


    As she recognized his outfit, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes visibly widened¡ª

 Chapter 102: 102 This Kid is Truly Fierce

    Chapter 102: Chapter 102 This Kid is Truly Fierce


    What kind of outfit is that, Xia Wenyan?


    She couldn¡¯t help but rub her eyes and double-checked before she clearly saw that the square headband on Xia Wenyan¡¯s head was the one she had bought before.


    But wasn¡¯t that headband given to Kaka?


    At that time, she felt Xia Wenyan unconditionally sided with Xia Wenjin, so in her anger, she had given it to the Xia family¡¯s dog.


    Lu Zhaozhao admitted that at that moment, she had indeed been a bit impulsive.


    But she never expected Xia Wenyan to actually compete with a dog for things.


    ...


    Her eyebrows slightly raised as she heard Xia Wenyan start his self-introduction on TV.


    ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Wenzel, Xia Wenyan. I¡¯m here to secure a debut spot and to promise the world that I will definitely be a super cool big brother!¡±


    The host, unable to resist commenting on Xia Wenyan¡¯s unique introduction, asked, ¡°So, Wenyan wants to be the fans¡¯ big brother?¡±


    Xia Wenyan decisively shook his head, ¡°No, I just want to be a good big brother and hope my little sister is happy.¡±


    The host could barely contain his smile, ¡°It seems Wenyan really loves his little sister.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s natural. My little sister is the best little sister in the world, and she bought this headband for me.¡±


    Xia Wenyan smiled brightly, pointing at the headband on his head, shining brightly in front of the camera.


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit that Xia Wenyan was pretty straightforward in his approach, even if she was that certain someone who absolutely did not want to be his sister, she had to acknowledge that Xia Wenyan was really suited for the idol business.


    She guessed that by the end of today¡¯s program, Xia Wenyan¡¯s ¡°sister complex¡± would become a hot search topic.


    Xia Wenmo glanced at Xia Wenyan on the TV, then at Lu Zhaozhao sitting beside him, and quietly sighed in relief.


    It seemed that Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t disgusted enough with Xia Wenyan to avoid even looking at him.


    But Xia Wenyan was really bold, slapping his own face so hard, completely fearless of getting swollen...


    The show ¡°A+ Top Trainees¡± exploded onto the entertainment scene with its fiery opening.


    Especially Xia Wenyan, who almost broke the scale of popularity, landing at number one on the popularity chart on the very first day.


    Four related trending searches emerged in just one day.


    [The Day I Wish To Transmigrate To Be Yan Bao¡¯s Little Sister]


    [The Country Owes Me a Big Brother]


    [Look, Someone Else¡¯s Big Brother]


    [Xia Wenyan¡¯s Signature Square Headband]


    Online, there was a massive support for Xia Wenyan, and naturally, it was even more explosive at the school.


    Because some people knew Xia Wenyan was Xia Wenjin¡¯s older brother, many in Yuqing University thought the little sister Xia Wenyan talked about was Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Wenjin, you are so lucky, your brother is so handsome and he loves you so much.¡±


    A girl sitting next to Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help expressing her feelings, her eyes full of envy.


    Other girls chimed in, echoing the sentiment:


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯ve really hit the jackpot lately, not only returning to the Lu family and becoming a wealthy miss, but also having such a popular brother.¡±


    ¡°The most important thing is, your brother spoils you so much!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin twitched her mouth corners, very satisfied with the praises from the people around her.


    She knew Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t get along, he had even complained about her over the phone before, so the sister Xia Wenyan mentioned definitely couldn¡¯t be Lu Zhaozhao.


    As for whether it was her or not, that didn¡¯t matter.


    She knew that it was common in the entertainment industry to craft a certain public image, so if Xia Wenyan¡¯s company required it, it was quite normal too.


    When the time comes, to solidify his public image, he will definitely bring her into the entertainment industry. With Xia Wenyan¡¯s current popularity, she might even be able to establish a firm foothold there.


    Thinking about this, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help feeling smug.


    After all, whether she was with the Xia Family or back with the Lu Family, all these goodies were hers, and Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t snatch them away!


    She smirked slightly, her tone full of arrogance as she cooed, ¡°I can¡¯t help it, my brother has always doted on me since we were kids. Even though he¡¯s a star now and can¡¯t meet me, he still calls me every day~¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, you really know how to ride on someone¡¯s coattails,¡± suddenly, a voice filled with disdain sounded in the classroom, Xu Zhenzhen, while walking, deliberately raised her voice to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, you know, spreading rumors is against the law these days~¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao almost burst out laughing at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s antics.


    She really was audacious.


    And she never coddled anyone.


    Even if she were against hundreds, her sharp tongue could verbally annihilate anyone.


    Dealing with a newbie like Xia Wenjin was really no challenge at all.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned dark instantly, she glared at Xu Zhenzhen dissatisfiedly, ¡°What do you mean?!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged her shoulders, ¡°Nothing much, I was just talking about the law I learned recently. Spreading rumors, huh? What¡¯s the matter? Not hiring people to beat others up anymore? Started spreading rumors instead?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was instantly taken aback.


    Due to the uproar on the school forum the last time, the forum was shut down, and the matter finally quieted down.


    Many people in the school, knowing she was the real heiress of the Lu Family, dared not mention the incident in front of her.


    Moreover, now that Xia Wenyan had become popular online, many wanted to use her to get closer to celebrities and wouldn¡¯t speak recklessly in front of her.


    Only Xu Zhenzhen, who shared the same fierce dislike towards Lu Zhaozhao, was truly annoying!


    She had Cao Mei inquire about this annoying girl before and heard that she was sponsored by someone else to attend Yuqing University.


    She was just a pauper, yet she dared to be so arrogant in front of her?!


    Her eyes filled with anger, she glared at her, ¡°What are you babbling about? Watch out before I sue you for defamation!¡±


    Others around Xia Wenjin chimed in as well.


    ¡°Yeah, really, the issue is already over. Why are you still pursuing it?¡±


    ¡°The person involved isn¡¯t you. Why are you sticking your nose in?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly! Curiosity killed the cat!¡±


    ...


    Xu Zhenzhen sneered lightly, glanced at the people defending Xia Wenjin and retorted sharply, ¡°Yo, yo, yo, who just spoke? Curiosity killed the cat? Did I mention you? Licking so enthusiastically, it¡¯s a pity not to be a dog.¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°You what? You can speak ill of others, but others can¡¯t talk when you do something? Double standards dog!¡± Before the other party could respond, Xu Zhenzhen fired back again.


    ¡°I...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, ¡°I what? If you want to bark, scram outside, there¡¯s no room for you in the cage!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing the people in front of her quiet down one by one, Xu Zhenzhen then turned around and slung her arm over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, her face beaming as she completely switched gears.


    ¡°Zhaozhao darling, I heard there¡¯s a painting competition next month at our school. Are you interested in participating?¡±

 Chapter 103: 103: He Actually Replied Instantly!

    Chapter 103: Chapter 103: He Actually Replied Instantly!


    Even Xia Wenjin had to shake herself out of her reverie, let alone Lu Zhaozhao.


    She propped up her chin and muttered, ¡°Go ahead and participate, after all, it¡¯s the taking part that counts...¡±


    In her previous life, she had been in poor health and emotionally unstable, and because Xiao Jinglan always brought her into the spotlight, embarrassing the Song Family, she missed out on many school events.


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but let out a scornful laugh upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    She had thought she was going to say something grand and noble, but this was it?


    ...


    But then again, it did make sense considering in the past, although Lu Zhaozhao was always with the Lu Family, they never nurtured her talent in painting.


    It was different for her.


    She had been painting since childhood alongside Xia Wenmo, showing talent early on, so the Xia Family had even hired a tutor to teach her.


    She was very confident in her ability to outdo Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at her smug appearance, snorted coldly, and didn¡¯t forget to roll her eyes, ¡°Does Miss Xia have a problem?¡±


    Xia Wenjin flicked her hair dismissively and retorted, ¡°The saying about ¡®taking part¡¯ is just an excuse for the incapable. If you really had the skills, why would you only want to participate?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face darkened in an instant, she was about to unleash a tirade when Lu Zhaozhao reached out a hand to stop her.


    Xu Zhenzhen thought Lu Zhaozhao was backing down and was about to get annoyed, but then she heard her say in a cool tone, ¡°I don¡¯t know whether I have the ability or not, but my hand isn¡¯t injured, so I can¡¯t blame my results on that if I lose~¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face soured immediately.


    Before she could say a word, Xu Zhenzhen added, ¡°How could that be? The true heir to the Lu Family! She only injured her left hand; surely she wouldn¡¯t resort to such a shameless excuse if she doesn¡¯t win, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjin clenched her teeth viciously, used to losing to Lu Zhaozhao.


    But now, being challenged in her own domain, she was determined to crush her completely!


    She glared at Xu Zhenzhen venomously, ¡°Quit your yapping. If you¡¯re so capable, let¡¯s compete and see who¡¯s better!¡±


    Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t clear on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s level yet, but she had someone investigate Xu Zhenzhen as soon as she got home and found her clueless about their major.


    How she ever thought to switch to their major was a mystery to her.


    Her painting skills were not just mediocre; they were non-existent.


    Just as Xia Wenjin was about to mock Xu Zhenzhen, she heard her say in her own sweet time, ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t dare compete with you, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯d anonymously bash me on forums.¡±


    She shrugged her shoulders with a helpless look.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words hit Xia Wenjin where it hurt.


    A few days ago, someone on the school forum suddenly disabled the anonymity feature and exposed the real identities behind all the accounts that had been attacking Lu Zhaozhao.


    Among them, the most notorious was an incident where a forum participant decided to fight with other users and was suddenly unmasked.


    At that time, many people on the forum teased Xia Wenjin, and it was quite a spectacle.


    Now that the forum was closed, naturally, nobody was mocking Xia Wenjin anymore, and she didn¡¯t have to worry about feeling embarrassed.


    After all, her current identity was as the true heir to the Lu Family.


    But Xu Zhenzhen had to bring up the very thing she hated most ¨C it was incredibly annoying!


    Almost biting her molars, Xia Wenjin said to Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your level is too low for me to bother.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged, ¡°Who knows?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was so furious that she jumped up from her seat, but before she could say anything, she was held back by the people around her.


    ¡°Jin, why stoop to her level? You¡¯re the true Young Mistress of the Lu Family now, and you¡¯ve got such an awesome brother...¡±


    The people who had been buttering up Xia Wenjin all along were now starting to sing her praises again.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Jin, just imagine when you win the competition, and your brother shows up to support you. It¡¯ll be clear who the real winner in life is, and they¡¯ll be green with envy!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes instantly sparkled. It was indeed a great way to slap Lu Zhaozhao in the face.


    Moreover, Xia Wenyan currently had a reputation as a ¡°sister complex.¡± Having him show up at school would be a win-win for both of them.


    Thinking this, she immediately began to strategize.


    However, Xia Wenjin still put on a troubled expression and sighed lightly, ¡°My brother¡¯s been practicing in the dance room every day; he¡¯s really busy. I don¡¯t even know if he has the time...¡±


    The people surrounding Xia Wenjin immediately became excited.


    ¡°How could he not have time? He dotes on you so much. Wouldn¡¯t it be as easy as you saying the word?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, the whole world knows how much he spoils you!¡±


    ¡°How could a brother like that ever refuse your request?¡±


    As Xia Wenjin was lavished with flattery, she took out her phone, chuckled, and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll send him a message first, considering how busy he is right now...¡±


    Saying this, she sent Xia Wenyan a message in all seriousness.


    ¡°Are you free anytime soon?¡±


    Her message had barely gone out when her phone vibrated.


    Xia Wenjin curled her lips smugly, but upon seeing the words ¡°I¡¯m busy¡± on the message, her smile froze instantly.


    The people beside her didn¡¯t notice the expression on Xia Wenjin¡¯s face and continued to fawn over her.


    ¡°Oh my god, he replied instantly! He really sets the standard for doting on one¡¯s sister!¡±


    ¡°With just a word from Jin, such a handsome brother will come running. I¡¯m so jealous, envious, and resentful!¡±


    ¡°I wish I had a brother who¡¯s both so good-looking and amazing...¡±


    Xia Wenjin awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, forced to stiffly send another message to Xia Wenyan.


    She didn¡¯t understand; if he was busy, why respond in a second?


    What Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know was that right before she received the message, Xia Wenyan had just shared a photo from his training session with Lu Zhaozhao.


    He had just finished reporting his schedule to Lu Zhaozhao when Xia Wenjin¡¯s message came in.


    So he replied offhandedly.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s phone suddenly vibrated, and upon seeing the message, his brows furrowed.


    ¡°Will you come to the school to watch the contest next month? We have a painting competition.¡±


    A painting competition next month at Yuqing University?


    He was just about to decline, but it was as if something suddenly crossed his mind, and he sent another message.


    ¡°Does the entire school participate?¡±


    Soon, he received another message from Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°The painting competition is open to all students with a foundation in art, but the entire school will go to the stadium to watch the contest.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s attention was clearly caught by the words ¡°the entire school¡±...

 Chapter 104: 104: The Important Thing Is to Be on the Front Line of Eating Melons!

    Chapter 104: Chapter 104: The Important Thing Is to Be on the Front Line of Eating Melons!


    If everyone¡¯s going to be there, then Lu Zhaozhao must be there too!


    He decided to go to the school and give her a surprise!


    Thinking like this, Xia Wenyan immediately replied with a message, ¡°Send me the time and address of the competition.¡±


    At this moment, blissfully unaware Xia Wenjin¡¯s lips curled upwards in a smug smile upon reading the message.


    So what if Lu Zhaozhao returned to the Xia family?


    Wasn¡¯t she still the most accomplished person in the Xia family who was liked, not Lu Zhaozhao?


    ...


    But if Xia Wenyan did show up on the day of the competition, Lu Zhaozhao might try to leech off his popularity and steal her identity.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin narrowed her eyes and let out a sigh with a look of grievance on her face, ¡°My brother does indeed love me, but that was in the past. Now that everyone knows I am the daughter of the Lu family, when my brother comes, many will probably think Lu Zhaozhao is his sister...¡±


    Her voice was not loud, just enough for the few people around to hear.


    How could the people who were already buttering up Xia Wenjin miss such a golden opportunity?


    ¡°Jin, you don¡¯t need to worry about this, I heard the school is going to have someone recording the competition. As long as you let them know, when it¡¯s broadcasted, everyone will understand.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, the school will also live stream it, and a friend of mine is responsible for that part. I can talk to him too!¡±


    ¡°On the day of the school competition, our school will do a pre-show on the live stream. There will definitely be a lot of people watching. Oh my god, Jin, if you become famous, please don¡¯t forget to bring us along!¡±


    Praised left and right, Xia Wenjin felt like she was floating on air, ¡°Oh, what are you saying? I just simply hope my brother will come to watch me compete. There¡¯s no question of becoming famous or not.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, who had been quietly observing everything from the shadows, twitched the corners of her mouth, ¡°Zhao...¡±


    She was just about to turn around and comment on Xia Wenjin when she caught a glimpse of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone screen.


    The message on it clearly caught her eye.


    ¡°Baby Zhaozhao, see how hard I worked in my dance practice today!¡±


    Below it were two selfies of Xia Wenyan.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her phone and replied with an indifferent three words, ¡°I know.¡±


    Then, she turned to look at Xu Zhenzhen, and upon seeing her stunned expression, she slightly raised her eyebrows and asked, ¡°Zhenzhen, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen gently shook her head, ¡°Nothing. I was just wondering if I should also enter the competition.¡±


    The corners of her mouth slowly curved into a peculiar smile.


    One couldn¡¯t always witness such exciting scenes from the audience seats.


    The embarrassment of a poor painting didn¡¯t matter; what was important was being on the front line of the melon-eating crowd!


    Lu Zhaozhao was obviously a bit surprised by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s decision, but if she wanted to participate in the competition, it wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    After all, competitions were all about participation.


    ¡°Why not? Shall we sign up?¡± Lu Zhaozhao asked, looking at Xu Zhenzhen with confusion but showing support.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed at this, ¡°Of course I¡¯m signing up. I¡¯m actually starting to look forward to the painting competition now~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Soon enough, the news about Lu Zhaozhao at school reached Song Sinian.


    Zhao Xi looked at the message from Xu Zhenzhen on his phone, his brows creasing involuntarily.


    ¡°Sir, the madam seems to have a painting competition next month. Xu Zhenzhen mentioned that Xia Wenyan will be going to the school during the competition.¡±


    Song Sinian slightly raised his eyes, ¡°He isn¡¯t focused on participating in the competition and still has time to go to school?¡±


    His tone was even, yet his voice carried a distinct chill.


    You could tell their master was a bit annoyed.


    Zhao Xi cleared his throat, ¡°If the master doesn¡¯t want him to go to school, just applying a little pressure on his entertainment company will do.¡±


    ¡°Heh!¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t speak but just snorted coldly, making Zhao Xi instantly tense up.


    Did he say something wrong?


    He looked at Song Sinian uneasily and then heard him speak coolly, ¡°If he really were at the mercy of the company, how could he get top-level resources as soon as he debuted? Have you thought about that?¡±


    Zhao Xi was also stunned for a moment.


    When he had investigated Xia Wenyan before, he did find it a bit odd, but after he discovered that Xia Wenjue was the CEO of XJ Group, it didn¡¯t seem strange anymore.


    After all, the entertainment circle is all about who has more money, so it didn¡¯t seem unreasonable that Xia Wenyan had good resources.


    But Song Sinian¡¯s recent remarks made Zhao Xi think again ¨C without domestic film and television resources, all the money in the world wouldn¡¯t make a difference.


    Furthermore, Xia Wenyan was currently participating in this hugely popular talent variety show.


    It looked like stopping Xia Wenyan from going to school was not going to happen, so...


    His gaze shifted back to Song Sinian, and he tentatively asked, ¡°Master, do you want to go watch the madam compete that day?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Xi had thought that Song Sinian would agree without a second thought, but surprisingly, Song Sinian fell silent.


    What was going on?


    Could it be that their master was worried about Lu Zhaozhao attracting too much attention at school?


    Or did he feel like he didn¡¯t want to be seen with Xia Wenyan? Afraid that it would draw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ire?


    As Zhao Xi racked his brain thinking of all possibilities, Song Sinian finally spoke slowly.


    ¡°What do you think I should wear that day?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, it turned out the joke was on him.


    He pulled at the corner of his mouth, trying to make his expression look natural, ¡°I think the master should ask the madam personally, after all, what the madam likes is best.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, that makes sense.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Indeed, playing the madam card was almost always right.


    Zhao Xi took a deep breath before continuing, ¡°Master, this is the latest investigative report. Recently, the directors behind Xiao Jinglan seem to have quietly transferred part of their assets together, as if they¡¯re gearing up for some big move.¡±


    Previously, because of the poisoning incident Xiao Jinglan was involved in against Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian had ordered him to sift out everyone related to Xiao Jinglan from Song Group.


    There was a noticeable movement in these people¡¯s assets lately, indicating they might be up to something behind the scenes.


    Song Sinian flipped through the contract in his hand, his gaze still indifferent, ¡°Besides this, is there any other news?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Jinglan has been in frequent contact with the Lu Family recently, and Lu Dagui was hospitalized. She even visited him at the hospital.¡±


    Zhao Xi briefly reported the situation at hand, then seemed to remember something, ¡°Master, could they be intending to bid directly for the two highly sought-after mining veins?¡±


    These shareholders, although insignificant individually, could be a force when banded together.


    Song Sinian flipped through the documents in hand, his tone still unemotional, ¡°The funds they¡¯ve gathered aren¡¯t even enough to bid for half of a mining vein.¡±


    While the amount of money was substantial, it was a drop in the bucket compared to bidding for these two popular mining veins. Surely they wouldn¡¯t be so foolish...

 Chapter 105: 105 You Shut Up

    Chapter 105: Chapter 105 You Shut Up


    Song Sinian gently tapped his fingers on the table and, after a moment of contemplation, asked, ¡°After Xiao Jinglan made contact with the Lu Family, who did she meet with most frequently?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Xiao Mo. But it¡¯s not that frequent.¡±


    After all, Xiao Mo was a distant relative of Xiao Jinglan, so meeting was quite normal.


    Song Sinian slowly closed the document he was holding, ¡°If it were you, wanting to get the mining resources but without enough funds, what would you do?¡±


    ¡°Joint venture with someone else?¡± Zhao Xi furrowed his brows, ¡°With the person most likely to get the mining vein?¡±


    As he spoke, he seemed to suddenly realize something, ¡°Are they going to collaborate with the Lu Group? But Lu Dagui has already secured your personal funds, why would he be willing to let others have a bite of such a fat piece?¡±


    ...


    Actually, when Song Sinian had agreed not to compete for mine veins No. 3 and No. 4 with Zhaozhao, he was like the others inside the Song Group.


    He thought Song Sinian had given up a great opportunity.


    But compared to making money, he cared more about the overall state of Song Sinian.


    The serenity he exhibited now was priceless.


    Moreover, since Zhaozhao had joined the company, the efficiency of the employees had significantly improved. This too was a sort of compensation.


    Song Sinian lightly twisted the document in his hand and narrowed his eyes, ¡°Probably Xiao Jinglan offered the Lu Family an irresistible condition, and the part the Lu Family would split wouldn¡¯t be too much.¡±


    The Mr. and Mrs. Lu were certainly not philanthropic in nature.


    Thinking this, Song Sinian further instructed, ¡°Keep a close eye on the bidding for the mining veins lately, see if there¡¯s anything unusual.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Since Xia Wenmo¡¯s surgery went very smoothly, and with the excessive care from Zhaozhao, his recovery was going very well.


    Xia Wenmo, looking at Zhaozhao who was cutting an apple for him at the bedside, couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, ¡°I will be discharged in a couple of days. Zhaozhao, will you still come to visit me often at home?¡±


    His tone sounded pitiful, his hands propping his chin as he tilted his head to look at her.


    Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, placed the sliced apple on a plate in Xia Wenmo¡¯s hands, then said, ¡°Of course, I will visit you. Haven¡¯t I told you before? I will often come home.¡±


    She truly wanted to cherish this family that loved her in two lifetimes, although she was unaware of it in the previous life.


    So, in this life, she wanted to treat them well.


    Xia Wenmo bit into the apple. A sweet taste spread in his mouth; he didn¡¯t really like apples.


    But since his sister had cut it, it was an exception.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, do you have any plans for this weekend?¡± Xia Wenmo asked as he ate the apple.


    If she was coming home for a meal this weekend, he could think about what he might prepare.


    Zhaozhao also bit into an apple and chewed, ¡°There¡¯s an art exhibition this weekend, I made plans to go with Mom.¡±


    The mouthful of apple Xia Wenmo was eating suddenly paused.


    ¡°Art exhibition?¡± He raised his eyebrows, staring motionlessly at Zhaozhao.


    Could it be the exhibition he was thinking about?


    Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly curved into a smile, ¡°Yes, the one Big Brother gave me the invitation to. Mom said she wanted to go too, so we decided to go together.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Xia Wenmo didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    His mom really, asking her own daughter for tickets to her own exhibition.


    ¡°`


    However, thinking back, Xia Wenjue was a bit worried that Lu Zhaozhao would not accept them at once, so he wanted to create opportunities for more interactions.


    Zhaozhao, upon learning the truth, simply ¡°fell into the trap¡± herself.


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing Xia Wenmo hesitate to speak, furrowed her brows slightly, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°Third brother, I told my eldest brother that I wanted to go with mom, and he told me not to worry about the invitation, but I asked around, and it seems that the invitation is hard to get...¡±


    Apart from some prominent figures, the rest found it quite difficult to obtain an invitation.


    Unless they were acquainted with the core staff at Luna¡¯s or were friends or relatives of Luna.


    The core staff at Luna¡¯s had limited invitations, and as for Luna¡¯s friends, they were mostly big names in the art world.


    Relatives and so forth... for a reclusive artist, this was as hard as ascending to heaven.


    Xia Wenmo sighed lightly, raised his hand to gently pat Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, and consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my elder brother has a good relationship with Luna¡¯s side. Getting an invitation is quite easy.¡±


    As he said this, his gaze swept over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s delicate face, and he then asked, ¡°You like Luna so much, do you want a painting by her?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, and she nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes, yes, yes! I really do!¡±


    But then on second thought, she pursed her lips, ¡°I heard that Luna might be retiring, so many places have stopped selling her work.¡±


    Luna¡¯s paintings were already hard to come by, not to mention she was close to retiring, which made them even harder to obtain.


    Xia Wenmo looked at her faltering little face and almost spilled the beans right there.


    He rubbed his temples slightly, his tone gentle and consoling, ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s not certain, maybe for Luna, if she meets someone with destiny, she might gift a painting.¡±


    Zhaozhao did not catch the deeper meaning in his words, but instead followed along, blinking at Xia Wenmo, ¡°Then I¡¯ll work hard to be someone with destiny.¡±


    Seeing his beloved sister act so humbly online, Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t hold back.


    He took out his phone and started bombarding the group chat of the four siblings.


    [Xia Wenmo: Zhaozhao wants a painting by mom. You guys better come up with ideas!]


    [Xia Wenjue: I¡¯ll arrange to send all the inventory from home to Zhaozhao.]


    [Xia Wenmo: You can¡¯t directly send it, or our cover will be blown!]


    [Xia Wenqing: Otherwise, should I buy one at the art exhibition for Zhaozhao?]


    [Xia Wenmo: You can¡¯t buy, remember you¡¯re an ¡°impoverished lawyer,¡± stick to your persona!]


    [Xia Wenyan: Why not just have mom paint one for her at home?]


    [Xia Wenmo: Boot out Lao Si.]


    [Xia Wenyan: ...]


    Xia Wenmo rattled on in the group chat for quite a while until the brothers came up with a suitable and inconspicuous plan.


    [Xia Wenmo: That¡¯s settled, then. Eldest brother, you¡¯re in charge of letting mom handle the guest issue, second brother, you take charge of managing the exhibition activities.]


    [Xia Wenyan: What about me? What about me?]


    [Xia Wenmo: You¡¯re in charge of keeping quiet.]


    [Xia Wenyan: Third brother, you¡¯re abusing your power for personal gain!]


    [Xia Wenmo: After all, I haven¡¯t claimed to be the best brother in the world.]


    [Xia Wenyan: I was wrong.]


    [Xia Wenjue: ...]


    [Xia Wenqing: ...]


    ¡°`

 Chapter 106: 106: How Did It Become The Only One?

    Chapter 106: Chapter 106: How Did It Become The Only One?


    Usually, Xia Wenmo looked like a carefree and artistic young man, but he was never soft on the things he was persistent about.


    This time, Xia Wenyan publicly revealed that he had a sister, which made many people start to dig into his sister¡¯s identity.


    Thinking about how Lu Zhaozhao might be harassed by Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans irritated him, and scolding him was putting it mildly.


    This darn kid never thought things through, and he now somewhat regretted previously helping him.


    ¡°Third brother, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gentle voice rang in his ear.


    Xia Wenmo was slightly stunned, turned his head to look at her, and gently shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I was just wondering if that little rascal Xia Wenyan hasn¡¯t been causing you any trouble?¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao was also slightly startled, not expecting Xia Wenmo to suddenly bring up Xia Wenyan.


    She opened her mouth, ¡°Uh... he¡¯s been okay.¡±


    Apart from posting some daily schedules and photos, Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t harass her without limits.


    And looking at his photos and schedule, he was genuinely trying hard and not playing any tricks.


    So, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s impression of Xia Wenyan was still quite good.


    At least he was now fitting the image of a qualified idol.


    Aside from the crazy bragging about his sister, there was nothing else amiss.


    Xia Wenmo raised his hand to rub Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°If Lao Si bothers you, just tell me, I will definitely teach that little rascal a lesson!¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll definitely come and complain~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Early on Saturday morning, Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu went to the art exhibition.


    As soon as they entered, the receptionist eagerly handed them a nameplate, ¡°Today is the first time Luna¡¯s paintings are exhibited domestically. Our gallery has a special event, where all visitors at the exhibition can paint a piece for a random draw at the opening.¡±


    ¡°At the exhibition, paint?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at the nameplate in her hand, clearly hesitant.


    Isn¡¯t this akin to parading one¡¯s skill in front of an expert?


    She wondered why their gallery wanted to have such an event?


    The receptionist chuckled, then continued, ¡°The prize is an original painting by Luna herself, if not...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± Before the receptionist could finish, Lu Zhaozhao immediately agreed.


    The receptionist was clearly taken aback, quickly saying, ¡°Miss, there¡¯s no need to rush, everyone participating is eligible for the draw, and even if not selected, your painting will be displayed alongside Luna¡¯s.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was even more excited now.


    Whether it was displaying her painting with Luna¡¯s or getting a painting by Luna, both were rare opportunities for her.


    Lu Zhaozhao tightly held Wen Qingyu¡¯s hand, pacing excitedly on the spot, ¡°Mom, mom, I¡¯m going to be displayed in the same frame as my idol¡¯s painting!¡±


    Wen Qingyu was amused by her appearance, gently patting her hand and saying, ¡°Look at how excited you are. What if you really meet Luna, are you going to faint from excitement?¡±


    Previously, Wen Qingyu always felt these superficial honors were trivial, but seeing the admiration on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, she suddenly found it quite satisfying.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes gleamed with joy and curved into a smile, ¡°If I really meet Luna, I think I could brag about it for a lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you...¡± Wen Qingyu sighed helplessly, her eyes filled with affection as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the mix-up when they were babies, this child would have been much happier, right?


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyelids drooped, and she suddenly seemed to remember something as she said, ¡°Mom¡¯s few old friends will also come to the art exhibition later. I¡¯ll introduce you to them then.¡±


    ¡°Okay~¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire mind was on the prospect of getting a picture with her idol¡¯s paintings; she completely failed to realize one issue.


    That was, how had Wen Qingyu¡¯s friends come to the art exhibition?


    Because this event was quite rare, many people who came to the exhibition also painted in the studio.


    Lu Zhaozhao had just painted a simple landscape oil painting and was waiting for the paint to dry when a middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes walked over and carefully examined it.


    ¡°A gentle breeze and a misty rain, a willow pond. The mood is somewhat similar to Luna¡¯s, but the style is more gentle and delicate...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled a bit embarrassingly, ¡°It¡¯s merely a novice¡¯s attempt.¡±


    Back when she was with the Lu Family, Mr. and Mrs. Lu never allowed her to touch anything related to painting.


    But she really liked it, so she would paint whenever she had free time.


    Unlike fighting in the underground market, this was more like a spiritual solace.


    Especially after she fell in love with Luna, she liked painting even more.


    ¡°The little lady is quite modest, but this guy is usually very stingy with praise. If he compliments someone, they must be talented.¡±


    Another slightly plumper middle-aged man came over with a smile, put his hand on the shoulder of the blond-haired, blue-eyed man, and it seemed the two were good friends.


    Lu Zhaozhao just smiled at the two, and as she was about to continue working on her painting, she saw Wen Qingyu walking over with a tall, blond-haired woman.


    The two seemed very close, and it appeared this woman was indeed one of her mother¡¯s friends she had mentioned.


    She was just about to speak when she heard Wen Qingyu ask with a light laugh, ¡°Have you all met Zhaozhao?¡±


    Speaking, she walked over to Lu Zhaozhao, looping her arm through hers, ¡°This is my daughter, Zhaozhao.¡±


    Not just Lu Zhaozhao, but also the two men who had come over earlier were taken aback.


    The blond-haired, blue-eyed man¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°You¡¯re saying this beautiful girl is your daughter?¡±


    They clearly had a different impression of the daughter.


    Wen Qingyu seemed to realize something as well, pulling Lu Zhaozhao into an embrace and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t have the chance to tell you before, but Zhaozhao is my biological daughter, and my only daughter now.¡±


    Everyone was slightly taken aback, clearly even more confused.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled softly, patting Wen Qingyu¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to the event area to get a guidebook. You chat with the uncles and aunts first.¡±


    In this situation, it was better for her to step aside, as certain things would be more complicated to explain while she was there.


    Wen Qingyu naturally understood her intention and nodded at her before letting go.


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao left, the three people immediately crowded around, ¡°Luna, what is all this about?¡±


    ¡°What happened to your other daughter?¡±


    ¡°Why is she the only one now?¡±


    Wen Qingyu shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s just as you see...¡±


    She briefly shared how she met and recognized her daughter after coming to China, and naturally mentioned how Xia Wenjin, due to her family being ¡°poor,¡± had left home to find her biological parents.


    These were her best friends from her circle abroad, so it was alright to discuss these matters.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is? I heard that Yuqing University, where Xia Wenjin studied, was organizing a painting competition. Wanting to see you, I agreed to be a judge there recently...¡±

 Chapter 107: 107 His dangerous remarks were just too impactful for her...

    Chapter 107: Chapter 107 His dangerous remarks were just too impactful for her...


    The blonde beauty closest to Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but let out a long sigh.


    She had wanted to surprise her, but now it seemed there would be no surprise.


    Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, raising her hand to pat her, ¡°Teresa, you really are too cute, but my Zhaozhao is also at that school, so you didn¡¯t make the trip for nothing.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of painting, Zhaozhao has certainly inherited your talent in this area,¡± the blonde man Chris beside her said, pointing at a painting Lu Zhaozhao had just finished, and he slowly continued,


    ¡°To have such skill at her age could be considered genius.¡±


    Another middle-aged man, Wendan, nodded too, ¡°That¡¯s right, her painting hung next to yours, and it¡¯s really hard to tell which is superior.¡±


    ...


    Hearing this, Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes and brows were filled with pride, ¡°Well, of course, didn¡¯t you see whose daughter she is?¡±


    Teresa raised an eyebrow, ¡°When you asked me to teach Xia Wenjin, I was wondering who the child took after. Her talent for painting wasn¡¯t high, but her ambition was definitely there, and she almost ruined the kid Xia Wenmo.¡±


    At that time, they could only blame it on the child¡¯s youth, but now they realized that the child¡¯s nature could be glimpsed from the paintings she made.


    Xia Wenjin liked to show off her skills, but the core of her paintings lacked soul.


    The warmth the artist wanted to convey could be clearly felt in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s paintings, however.


    Teresa had to admit that Lu Zhaozhao was indeed a rare painting prodigy.


    Several people were engrossed in their discussion around Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting, completely unaware that someone had quietly taken a snapshot...


    At 2 o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Lu Zhaozhao returned home.


    She had thought she would only be framed alongside Luna¡¯s painting, but to her surprise, she had been lucky enough to be selected.


    Carrying the painting home, she was still floating on air.


    Thinking about the paintings that used to be in the study, she decided to hang Luna¡¯s painting in the bedroom so she could see it every day.


    Because she had rushed back, she hadn¡¯t even had time to put on slippers.


    But to her surprise, Song Sinian was there.


    Wasn¡¯t he usually at the office at this time?


    Being home was strange enough, let alone being in the bedroom?


    Was it because he was feeling unwell?


    Lu Zhaozhao placed the painting she was holding at the bedroom door and tiptoed inside.


    Seeing Song Sinian sitting on the sofa, eyes closed in rest, she slowly circled behind him and gently embraced him from the back.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes opened almost instantly, but as his nose picked up the familiar scent, his tense body finally relaxed.


    ¡°Back already?¡± his soft voice echoed in the bedroom.


    His tone was light, sounding a bit lazy and comfortable.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face pressed against his cheek from behind, ¡°Mhm, I¡¯m back~¡±


    Her tone was filled with a pleasant lilt, seeming quite happy.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t see Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, but judging by her overly proactive physical contact, her mood seemed quite good.


    He was about to speak when he heard Lu Zhaozhao eagerly saying, ¡°I was super lucky today! Not only was my painting framed alongside Luna¡¯s at the exhibition, but I also won the grand prize! They gave me one of Luna¡¯s paintings! I¡¯m just so happy~¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao continued, rubbing her head against Song Sinian¡¯s like a content little cat, clingingly affectionate.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to gently pat her arm, his gaze inadvertently drifting towards the doorway.


    There was the Luna painting, strikingly catching his eye.


    Lu Zhaozhao had mentioned Luna before, so he had asked Zhao Xi to look into it.


    The artist¡¯s identity was very mysterious, yet the paintings were first-rate.


    However, it was rumored that she was going to stop painting; hence, the prices of her works soared.


    It wasn¡¯t likely that the paintings would be given away casually.


    This was probably another move by the Xia Family.


    Song Sinian withdrew his gaze and looked at Lu Zhaozhao, whose eyes were curved in a smile; he immediately had a bold idea.


    Why didn¡¯t he just go and bid for a few of Luna¡¯s paintings as well?


    Or perhaps he should dig deep abroad to find out who this Luna really was?


    But then he thought that by doing so, wouldn¡¯t it mean Lu Zhaozhao would have one more person to like?


    His mood suddenly soured.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow furrowed, and his deep eyes met Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s as he spoke indifferently, ¡°Do you like Luna that much?¡±


    His voice might have sounded similar to before, but Lu Zhaozhao distinctly felt a hint of sour jealousy.


    Her eyes smiled even more, and she leaned in to plant a kiss on Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, saying, ¡°Idols are idols, but of course, the one I love most is still Mr. Song~¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao said these words, she did not forget to give Song Sinian a wink.


    Almost the moment she spoke, a faint blush spread across Song Sinian¡¯s fair neck.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked in surprise and, with a bit of mischief, lowered her head and gently nipped at his neck.


    Song Sinian felt as if an electric current had struck his entire back, a tingling sensation shooting up to his scalp.


    ¡°Ha...¡± Song Sinian sighed softly, grabbed Lu Zhaozhao with one hand, and gently pulled her over from behind the sofa into his embrace.


    His fingers held the back of her hand, and he brought it to his lips for a gentle kiss, his tone deep, ¡°So naughty, hm?¡±


    Nestled in his arms, Lu Zhaozhao could see his back-lit profile through her little hand, the shadows casting an alluringly oppressive air over him.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao staring at her blankly, Song Sinian lowered his head and gently bit her wrist as if to protest her distraction.


    ¡°Ouch...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao involuntarily inhaled sharply.


    She pursed her lips unhappily, ¡°Mr. Song, is this your retaliation?¡±


    She had indeed sneakily bitten his neck just before, but did he need to respond so straightforwardly?


    Hmph! What a petty man.


    Song Sinian calmly kissed the spot where he had left his mark and said, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you know? Male animals often leave their scent to maintain their territory, to declare their sovereignty.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was flabbergasted by his seemingly nonsensical words.


    What was he getting at?


    What did this have to do with him biting her?


    While Lu Zhaozhao was puzzling over this, Song Sinian drew close to her ear, his voice husky, ¡°I also want you to be infused with my scent, let everyone know you are mine...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ah!!! Not this again!!!


    Such direct statements, whenever they came from Song Sinian¡¯s mouth, sounded almost predatory!


    He clearly didn¡¯t mean it that way, but it was always so easy to take it the wrong way!


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, feeling his proximity, her heart pounding as if it needed emergency bypass surgery.


    She couldn¡¯t help swallowing, her fingertips trembling slightly as he held them; she had to admit the impact of Song Sinian¡¯s face combined with his dangerous remarks was simply too overwhelming...

 Chapter 108: 108: Not Afraid of God-like Opponents, But Afraid of Pig-like Teammates

    Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Not Afraid of God-like Opponents, But Afraid of Pig-like Teammates


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head had been short-circuiting for quite a while before she finally stammered out a response, ¡°You, that¡ªwhat does that have to do with you biting me?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face buried itself deeper, taking a deep breath against her neck before he muttered, ¡°I wanted to mark you...¡±


    There were simply too many people around Lu Zhaozhao, each one trying to snatch her away from him.


    These people were an eyesore, yet he could not just get rid of them all.


    Listening to Song Sinian¡¯s muffled voice, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips unexpectedly curved into a smile. She hadn¡¯t realized Mr. Song¡¯s possessiveness was quite strong!


    Her small hand stroked Song Sinian¡¯s head, and just as she was about to say something, she heard someone knocking on the bedroom door.


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao jumped in fright, nearly falling out of Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    Fortunately, Song Sinian held her tight; otherwise, she would be sitting on the floor by now.


    ¡°Uh... come in, please come in,¡± Lu Zhaozhao replied with a scared soul, trying to climb out of Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    But the next second, she was pressed back down.


    So when Qian Hong entered, she saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face flush red as Song Sinian held her like a koala.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Qian Hong clearly felt the low pressure in the room and awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am, Lady Xiao is here, saying there¡¯s something important to discuss.¡±


    Previously, because Song Sinian and Old Master Song had agreed not to let Xiao Jinglan meddle in their affairs, Xiao Jinglan hardly dared come over.


    Now, having come at this time, she likely guessed that Mr. Song was not around and came to see Lu Zhaozhao alone.


    Sure enough, upon hearing the name ¡°Xiao Jinglan,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s expression darkened a few shades, ¡°If it¡¯s something important, let her call Zhao Xi.¡±


    He thought about how this woman tried to poison Lu Zhaozhao and wished he could just end her now.


    How dare she choose this time to come?


    ¡°Uh...¡± Qian Hong clearly felt a bit troubled since Xiao Jinglan was already in the downstairs living room.


    Thus, she could only look at Lu Zhaozhao helplessly.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao immediately noticed this and quickly hugged Song Sinian¡¯s neck and shook it, ¡°Mr. Song, since she is here, let¡¯s go meet her. Don¡¯t let her wait too long.¡±


    Previously, she had only been worried about Xia Wenmo and hadn¡¯t had the chance to deal with Xiao Jinglan.


    Moreover, she had only recently found out about how Xiao Jinglan cut off her contact with the Xia Family in the last life, and with new grudges adding to old ones, she had to show some color to Xiao Jinglan.


    With her current understanding of Xiao Jinglan, she knew she was someone who wouldn¡¯t visit without a good reason¡ªwonder what mischief she was up to this time!


    Song Sinian stared at Lu Zhaozhao for a few seconds, then finally nodded, ¡°Alright, if you aren¡¯t happy, just send her away, don¡¯t force yourself.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, with Mr. Song backing me, I won¡¯t be afraid of her,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, playfully blinking at him.


    Only then did Song Sinian release her so they could go downstairs.


    Xiao Jinglan seemingly hadn¡¯t anticipated Song Sinian being at home, so she was visibly shocked when she saw the two of them coming down together.


    However, she quickly regained her composure, immediately putting on a mild smile, ¡°Sinian is here too?¡±


    Song Sinian did not respond, simply giving her a glance before sitting down on the sofa directly opposite her.


    Xiao Jinglan was used to Song Sinian¡¯s attitude, so her smile remained unchanged.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded at Xiao Jinglan, then moved past Song Sinian, planning to sit beside him.


    But before she could sit down, Song Sinian grabbed her arm, causing Lu Zhaozhao to stumble and end up sitting directly on Song Sinian¡¯s lap.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian in shock, trying to use her eyes to signal him to let her stand up.


    But Song Sinian acted as if he didn¡¯t understand at all, holding her in his arms and even pinning her head directly onto his shoulder, not letting her see Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°Mr. Song...¡± With no other choice, Lu Zhaozhao had to gently pat Song Sinian on the shoulder.


    As a result, she heard Song Sinian¡¯s indifferent voice addressing Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Just say what you came here for quickly. I don¡¯t like Zhaozhao spending too much time with other people.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao froze upon hearing these words.


    With that statement from their Mr. Song, she could just be a decoration for the rest of the time.


    Xiao Jinglan: ¡°???¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s words had rendered Xiao Jinglan completely stunned.


    The previous time she had come to see Lu Zhaozhao alone, she was utterly shocked by her utterly listless demeanor.


    However, after Old Master Song told her not to meddle in this matter, she thought she had been outplayed by Lu Zhaozhao.


    It wasn¡¯t until Xiao Mo met Lu Zhaozhao last time, wishing to invite her for a meal, but was told he needed Song Sinian¡¯s permission to agree, that she began to doubt Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s true character.


    Xiao Jinglan sighed silently in her heart as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao who was motionless in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, not even daring to turn her head.


    It looked like Lu Zhaozhao had truly wasted her move here.


    As for Xia Wenjin, he never caught Song Sinian¡¯s attention, which was indeed a headache...


    But on the surface, Xiao Jinglan still mustered her spirits and managed a forced smile, ¡°I came here today to talk about Keren coming back to the country. The old master wants to hold a welcome banquet for Keren, and he hopes you both can attend...¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time,¡± Song Sinian replied bluntly, without giving any face.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s smile froze instantly on her face.


    She had actually planned to discuss this with Lu Zhaozhao when Song Sinian wasn¡¯t around.


    Given Song Sinian¡¯s fondness for Lu Zhaozhao, perhaps she could have persuaded him.


    But now, seeing that Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t even let her speak, she didn¡¯t know where to find a breakthrough.


    From beside her, Lu Zhaozhao, lying in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, slightly raised her eyebrows upon hearing the name ¡°Song Keren¡± and her eyes slowly narrowed.


    Song Keren had actually come back to the country?


    She remembered that in the last lifetime, Song Keren had returned a year after her and Song Sinian¡¯s matchmaking session. She didn¡¯t expect her to come back early this time...


    Song Keren was the child Xiao Jinglan had with another man and was surnamed ¡°Song¡± after her mother remarried to Song Sinian¡¯s father.


    Though she was called Song Keren, not many of the well-known ladies in the circle acknowledged her.


    Thus, Song Keren¡¯s malice towards her, Mrs. Song, was particularly evident.


    Song Keren had inherited Xiao Jinglan¡¯s appearance but not her mother¡¯s intelligence; she always acted impulsively without considering the consequences.


    If Song Keren had come back early, she could be a useful tool against Xiao Jinglan!


    As the saying goes, fear not the god-like opponent but the pig-like teammate.


    Now was a good time to examine Xiao Jinglan¡¯s pig-like teammate as an option.


    Thinking thus, Lu Zhaozhao, hidden behind Song Sinian, gently tugged at the hem of his clothing from behind¡ª

 Chapter 109: 109 Cant I say this?

    Chapter 109: Chapter 109 Can¡¯t I say this?


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids casually swept over Lu Zhaozhao in his arms, but he did not speak.


    At this moment, Xiao Jinglan began her second round of persuasion, ¡°Sinian, you have spent time with Keren, but Zhaozhao hasn¡¯t, and after all, she¡¯s also part of the Song family. It¡¯s only reasonable for Zhaozhao to meet her, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao tugged at Song Sinian¡¯s clothes again.


    This made Song Sinian understand what Lu Zhaozhao meant.


    But he didn¡¯t immediately agree; instead, he quietly looked at Xiao Jinglan, waiting for her next words.


    ¡°Uh... Remember how happy Zhaozhao was at the Song Mansion last time?¡± Xiao Jinglan racked her brains, trying to think of any excuse to get Lu Zhaozhao to go.


    ...


    After all, only if she went, would Song Sinian follow her back.


    And only then would Mr. Song agree to hold a welcome party for Song Keren.


    When Song Keren left the country, she did so quietly; this time on her return, they had to make sure she was welcomed with pomp and splendor.


    Song Sinian glanced at Xiao Jinglan indifferently, ¡°She does indeed love the garden at the Song Mansion.¡±


    Seizing on this, Xiao Jinglan quickly said, ¡°The Old Master specially hired a new gardener to plant lots of roses in the garden, and they¡¯re blooming beautifully right now. Zhaozhao will definitely like them. Next to the pavilion we had before, someone even installed a swing...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly turned her head toward Xiao Jinglan, then looked at Song Sinian with a face full of expectation, ¡°Mr. Song, there¡¯s a swing!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze met Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face, then turned back to Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Tell Old Master Song to set it for Friday. As for the date, you all can decide that yourselves.¡±


    At those words, Xiao Jinglan nodded repeatedly, ¡°Alright, alright, leave it to me.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t expected things might still turn around; now she didn¡¯t know whether she should be thankful for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s docile nature.


    If it weren¡¯t for her willingness to comply, Song Sinian probably wouldn¡¯t have changed his attitude.


    But that didn¡¯t matter; what was important was that she had received Song Sinian¡¯s definitive answer, and that was enough.


    She slowly stood up, laughing softly, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t take up any more of you lovebirds¡¯ time.¡±


    With that, Xiao Jinglan left directly.


    Suddenly, only Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian were left in the living room.


    Song Sinian stretched out his hand to pinch her little face, examining her, still a bit worried, he asked again, ¡°If you¡¯re not happy, you don¡¯t have to force yourself to go to the Song Mansion, alright?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t feel forced. I¡¯m just thinking about what clothes would be appropriate to wear to Song Keren¡¯s welcome party. That¡¯s really what¡¯s troubling me.¡±


    ¡°I can arrange something about the clothes,¡± Song Sinian replied without even thinking.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao was happy, these were trivial matters.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes fixated on Song Sinian for a moment, then she squinted, ¡°Mr. Song, you seem very eager~¡±


    Song Sinian looked back at Lu Zhaozhao, with the sunlight by the window falling just right on his dark eyes, sparkling and captivating.


    His voice low and deep, he asked, ¡°Is that not good? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, smiling lightly, ¡°Like it? How could I not?¡±


    She said, stretching out her little hand to wrap around Song Sinian¡¯s neck, affectionately nuzzling her nose against his.


    This Song Sinian was simply too cute; she almost loved him to death.


    Song Sinian savored her closeness, his voice slightly hoarse as he asked, ¡°Then, will you reward me?¡±


    The shine in his dark eyes was irresistible, making it tough to look away.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded with unusual earnestness, ¡°Of course there will be a reward, but... when do you plan to claim your reward?¡±


    She stretched out her little hand to cup Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, clearly implying she might reward him right then and there.


    But Song Sinian actually tilted his face away slightly as if to refuse...


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows in suspicion. What was this about?


    Hadn¡¯t Mr. Song from their family been cuddling and hugging her, lifting her high up in the air upstairs just a moment ago? And now that they were downstairs, was his love gone?


    Her brows furrowed as she stared at Song Sinian, puzzled, then it seemed she remembered something.


    Earlier, when Song Sinian mentioned the reward, he almost always claimed it on the spot with her, but if she remembered correctly, the reward he had earned at the hospital last time had not been claimed yet.


    She had always assumed Song Sinian had forgotten, but now it appeared that things weren¡¯t as simple as she thought.


    Lu Zhaozhao propped her chin with one hand and leaned against the back of the nearby sofa, her aqueous eyes fixed on the uneasy Song Sinian. She asked word by word, ¡°Mr. Song, I remember you still have an unclaimed reward from last time, so when do you plan on claiming it?¡±


    Song Sinian, as if knowing he could no longer avoid this matter, coughed lightly and responded with a faint, ¡°Well, save it up a bit.¡±


    His neck turned faintly red as he spoke these words.


    Now Lu Zhaozhao was even more curious.


    She wrapped her arm around Song Sinian¡¯s neck and leaned in very close, ¡°pressuring¡± him, ¡°So, Mr. Song... how much are you planning to save up before you cash it in?¡±


    Her little face was so close to his that he could clearly see her distinct eyelashes and the sweet scent of orange soda from her body.


    He had always found it hard to resist her approaching him, especially her initiating the closeness.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped, he took a deep breath, and the sweetness in the air grew stronger.


    His large hand gripped her waist, his fingertips gently caressed it as if talking to himself, ¡°Saving up enough to kiss you all day wouldn¡¯t be bad...¡±


    ¡°?!?!¡±


    What was this dangerous statement?


    Lu Zhaozhao somewhat regretted asking in such detail. Could she take her words back now?


    Song Sinian, as if he hadn¡¯t noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts, slightly raised his brow, looking at her tiny mouth, his gaze slowly falling, ¡°Or... from head to toe, I wouldn¡¯t mind kissing every part... mmm.¡±


    Before he could finish, Lu Zhaozhao urgently covered his mouth with her little hand.


    Ah!!! Good Lord!!! Have mercy on her!!!


    She had done nothing all day but be overwhelmed with shock.


    Her entire little face turned beet red as she looked at Song Sinian and stuttered, ¡°Can, can you just say that sort of thing?¡±


    Song Sinian, puzzled, looked at Lu Zhaozhao with questioning black eyes.


    He slowly pulled down her little hand, ¡°Can I not say this?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth, but facing his too innocent eyes, she could only stubbornly mutter, ¡°It¡¯s not that you can¡¯t say it, it¡¯s just... it¡¯s just...¡±


    Song Sinian watched her face and the tips of her ears turn a deep red, the color in the depths of his eyes growing darker.


    He raised his hand, gently pinching her earlobe, his voice gruff, ¡°It¡¯s just that it makes you shy, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had no rebuttal and could only resign herself to nodding in agreement.


    Suddenly, the corners of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth curved up, ¡°Seeing you like this, I feel like I¡¯m about to explode...¡±

 Chapter 110: 110: Preparation for the Melon Must Be in Place!

    Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Preparation for the Melon Must Be in Place!


    ¡°What the hell is going to explode?¡±


    Is this even broadcastable?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pupils trembled slightly due to shock.


    Just then, Song Sinian grabbed her small hand and pressed it against his chest.


    At this moment, Lu Zhaozhao felt like she was splitting apart.


    Well, it turns out she was the clown.


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao now had no idea how to face Song Sinian.


    ¡°Cough, cough...¡±


    Suddenly, a coughing sound came from the position of the living room door.


    Qian Hong and Zhao Xi stood awkwardly to the side, ¡°Sorry for interrupting your beautiful moment, but there¡¯s an urgent matter at the company that needs to be addressed.¡±


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have come in at this time.


    Upon seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao immediately jumped off Song Sinian, feigning calmness, ¡°Mr. Song, you go ahead, I need to go back to my room and pack up...¡±


    Saying this, she dashed toward the stairs without looking back, leaving no chance for Song Sinian to detain her.


    With Lu Zhaozhao gone, the living room suddenly became quiet, making it even more awkward for Qian Hong and the assistant.


    They quietly stood there, both not daring to speak.


    Eventually, it was Song Sinian¡¯s chilly voice that resounded in the living room, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say there was something important at the company? What is it?¡±


    His gaze swept lightly over Zhao Xi, clearly implying that if he couldn¡¯t state anything significant, he might face consequences today.


    Zhao Xi swallowed nervously, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.


    With a smile uglier than crying, he said, ¡°Sir, you previously asked me to investigate the recent news about the mines, there¡¯s something indeed urgent.¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian¡¯s intimidating aura visibly eased a bit.


    Zhao Xi quietly sighed in relief and stepped forward handing over a document, ¡°These are the most active bidders for the mining resources, among which this company... is the most suspicious.¡±


    Song Sinian briefly flipped through it and immediately understood what Zhao Xi meant by ¡°suspicious¡±.


    Although this was a domestic company, it practically functioned as a shell with no significant provenance or even competition capability against other companies.


    Yet, oddly enough, it now had ample funds, mainly sourced from abroad.


    What¡¯s more important, from XJ Group.


    Then it was clear who was controlling this company behind the scenes.


    ¡°The Xia Family wants to bid for Jade Veins No. 3 and No. 4?¡± Song Sinian raised his eyebrows slightly, asking indifferently.


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°I had someone contact the head of this company before. According to them, they are determined to secure these two veins at all costs.¡±


    For XJ Group, these two veins are just a drop in the bucket.


    Presumably, the Xia Family knew about the Lu Family¡¯s actions towards Lu Zhaozhao and wanted to retaliate on her behalf, right?


    Song Sinian tossed the documents aside, ¡°Set up a meeting with Xia Wenjue, I want to meet him.¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s heart lurched, ¡°Sir, are you planning to stop the Xia Family?¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head slightly, ¡°No, I plan to join them.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Xi was stunned, wanted to say something more, but thinking about his family¡¯s Mr. Song¡¯s characteristic of meaning what he said, he decisively chose to keep his mouth shut.


    ¡°Sir, here is another set of investigation materials for the Song Mansion,¡± said Zhao Xi, delivering another document to Song Sinian¡¯s hands.


    Although Old Master Song had said he would handle the people at the Song Mansion himself, to be on the safe side in case there were any oversights, they had also conducted their investigations.


    Song Sinian glanced at the investigation report and snorted softly, ¡°Old Master is indeed getting old. The house has almost been emptied without his notice.¡±


    Qian Hong and Zhao Xi exchanged a glance, both uneasy about the investigation report.


    Had it not been for Lu Zhaozhao discovering something wrong with the water Old Master Song drank, how would they have investigated the people who had been with the Song Family for so many years?


    Who could have known that half of those people were no longer loyal to the Song Family...


    Qian Hong pursed her lips, ¡°Sir, there are quite a few at the Song Mansion who are relatives of the previous Housekeeper Liao...¡±


    Liao Yan was very close to Xiao Jinglan, and she was a bit worried that Lu Zhaozhao might be schemed against when she went to the Song Mansion in the future.


    She had previously thought they wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to Lu Zhaozhao under Old Master Song¡¯s watch, but now half of the people at the Song Mansion had already lost control.


    Their lady was so delicate; she could get hurt at any time.


    Thus, these cancers must be dealt with as soon as possible.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes slightly drooped as he scanned the document in his hands, he looked up at Zhao Xi and asked, ¡°Has the Old Master not started taking action yet?¡±


    ¡°According to the people under Old Master, everything is ready; they are just waiting for the right moment,¡± Zhao Xi briefly reported the situation to Song Sinian.


    Old Master Song, after all, had been in business for so many years; such a minor issue was still manageable for him.


    It was just a matter of when to take action.


    Leaning his head on his hand, Song Sinian pondered for a moment and then slowly said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s do it on the day of the welcome banquet. Xiao Jinglan wants a lively event, right? It will definitely be lively then.¡±


    ¡°Uh, alright.¡±


    Indeed, their Mr. Song understood how to ¡°create surprises.¡±


    The autumn days were getting colder day by day, and soon it was the day of the competition at Yuqing University.


    Xu Zhenzhen, carrying an easel followed Lu Zhaozhao, one after the other, into the resting room of the competition venue.


    From afar, Xu Zhenzhen spotted Xia Wenjin standing not too far away.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, stand over here to avoid people bumping into you later,¡± Xu Zhenzhen pulled Lu Zhaozhao behind her, trying to keep her away from Xia Wenjin.


    She was here today for the sake of enjoying the drama; preparation was essential!


    Lu Zhaozhao almost laughed out loud at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s defensive demeanor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it; didn¡¯t you see they¡¯re busily chatting about something over there? They definitely won¡¯t have time to bother with us.¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t like her, and she didn¡¯t like Xia Wenjin either. If they could avoid mixing with each other during the competition, that would be even better.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly as she glanced at Xia Wenjin and her group from a distance, seeming to recall something.


    Suddenly, she leaned towards Lu Zhaozhao with a secretive air, whispering, ¡°By the way, Zhaozhao, do you know about a big scandal recently in the art circle?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°What scandal?¡±


    She had been so busy lately, she had no time to pay attention to these trivial gossips.


    Xu Zhenzhen took out her phone from her pocket, quickly opened a message marked with the word ¡°explosive¡± and handed it to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Here, this was captured at the Luna Art Exhibition a few days ago. A lot of big names suddenly took interest in a newcomer¡¯s painting, and it¡¯s said that the painting has been bid up to two million now...¡±

 Chapter 111: 111 The person who has been guided by a master!

    Chapter 111: Chapter 111 The person who has been guided by a master!


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows in confusion. She had clearly attended the Luna art exhibition too, so why hadn¡¯t she heard of such an incident?


    All the big shots went?


    She hadn¡¯t seen any big shots though.


    But after some thought, she was just Luna¡¯s sole superfan and didn¡¯t pay attention to the art world, so how could she possibly know the other big shots?


    When she saw the photo Xu Zhenzhen handed her, her eyes almost popped out.


    She might not recognize the big shots, but the painting they were all admiring was very familiar to her.


    ...


    Because that was her own work!


    And those people who were called big shots were just a few of her mother¡¯s friends.


    Lu Zhaozhao stared at the photo for a while, clearly seeing that each person had their name tagged on their back.


    Theresa, Chris, Wendian...


    In short, not a single familiar face.


    ¡°Erm... is it possible that these big shots were mistaken for someone else?¡± Lu Zhaozhao asked Xu Zhenzhen again, still not quite sure.


    To her, many foreign handsome men and beauties looked alike, could they have been mistaken?


    Xu Zhenzhen curled her lip, ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯d be mistaken. Many of them are big shots from the international art world, on a similar level to Luna. Oh, and the judge for this competition is that blonde beauty Theresa.¡±


    ¡°Theresa?¡± Lu Zhaozhao murmured the name to herself.


    This was the real deal now because her mother did call the blonde beauty Theresa by that name.


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment before asking again, ¡°Is this Theresa really impressive?¡±


    As a judge invited by Yuqing University, she should be quite capable, but Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know the extent of her actual skills.


    ¡°I heard that Theresa has won many international painting awards, and look...¡± Xu Zhenzhen was saying while showing Lu Zhaozhao information on her phone.


    Just a moment ago, Lu Zhaozhao was still hoping it was just a coincidence of names, but after seeing the award-laden Theresa, she had to admit, her mother¡¯s friends were indeed big shots!


    And there wasn¡¯t just one of them.


    Then... how did her mother become friends with these big shots?


    Could it be that they knew each other since childhood?


    While Lu Zhaozhao was still pondering, she heard Xia Wenjin suddenly say loudly, ¡°I had the honor of meeting Teacher Theresa several years ago, and seeing her again now still feels so warm and familiar.¡±


    Her voice was loud, making it hard for others to ignore, as if she meant for Lu Zhaozhao and the others to hear it.


    Xu Zhenzhen obviously rolled her eyes, ¡°Tsk tsk, some people, they really know how to latch onto any trend.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao forced a smile but said nothing.


    Because at this moment, her mind was full of doubts!


    If Teresa was indeed a friend of her mother¡¯s, then Xia Wenjin should have seen her often since childhood, right?


    Why did it sound from what she had just said that they weren¡¯t actually close?


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes at Xia Wenjin.


    What she saw was the group of people who used to flatter Xia Wenjin starting to chatter excitedly.


    ¡°Oh my god, Jin, you¡¯ve actually met a big shot from the world of painting?¡±


    ¡°What kind of fairy-tale fate is this?!¡±


    ¡°True to Jin¡¯s nature, you¡¯re so well-informed.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was flattered by their compliments and waved her hands modestly, ¡°When I was little and first learning to paint, we had Teacher Teresa come to our home. She was somewhat famous back then and taught my family for a while.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s ¡®for a while¡¯ was actually quite an exaggeration. To be exact, it was only a few short days.


    However, this didn¡¯t affect the statement she had just made, after all, no one would go asking Teresa exactly how long she taught at her home.


    ¡°Jin, why did the goddess Teresa leave then?¡±


    Before Xia Wenjin could answer, others around chimed in to assist, ¡°It must be because she saw Jin¡¯s talent! People with great talent just need enlightenment and that¡¯s enough!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, that makes sense!¡±


    Standing not far away, Xu Zhenzhen listened to the people around Xia Wenjin trying to outdo each other in praising her and couldn¡¯t help but be amazed.


    ¡°I never realized that being a lickspittle these days requires some technical skills.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand rested on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You, to some extent, really have a knack for ¡®flattery¡¯.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen tilted her chin downward, immediately revealing a ¡°you get me¡± smile.


    It was unclear whether Xia Wenjin saw the interaction between Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen or heard their conversation.


    The derisive comments from Xia Wenjin came immediately from the side, ¡°Some people have been pampered all these years to no effect, without any abilities to speak of, let alone being guided by a great master like Teresa...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows, her gaze shifting to Xia Wenjin, and caught Xia Wenjin¡¯s challenging look.


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve been guided by a great master, winning first place should be a piece of cake, right?¡± Lu Zhaozhao feigned an innocent shrug, ¡°That¡¯s what everyone must be thinking, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, what about the person who was mentored by the great master!¡±


    ¡°Then first place should be no problem, and considering Xia Wenjin is Teresa¡¯s disciple too, right?¡±


    ¡°Teresa has taught Xia Wenjin before, so with such a favorable impression, maybe she will be biased towards her!¡±


    ...


    The discussions rose and fell, instantly diverting everyone¡¯s attention in the room.


    Yet Xu Zhenzhen was getting a bit anxious.


    She reached out and gently tugged at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, ¡°Zhaozhao, if that Teresa really knows Xia Wenjin, she won¡¯t actually be biased, will she?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao patted Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, painting competitions value skill. If Xia Wenjin is truly talented, she wouldn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s bias.¡±


    Actually, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know much about Xia Wenjin¡¯s real abilities.


    She had indeed seen Xia Wenjin¡¯s paintings, but that was after she entered the entertainment industry.


    Her fans might have hyped her up a lot, but her painting always seemed superficial and showy, with little at its core that touched the heart.


    So it was mostly her fans hyping her up.


    But what about the Xia Wenjin now? Was she the same as in the last life, or had she improved?


    After all, she hadn¡¯t yet entered the entertainment industry¡¯s world of fame and fortune, and the different mindset in her artwork was unpredictable.


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Xu Zhenzhen still frowned tightly, ¡°Look at how she¡¯s dressed, so flashy and confident as if she¡¯s certain to win first place. Then look at you...¡±


    She abruptly stopped talking there.


    Xu Zhenzhen had been too focused on gossiping with Lu Zhaozhao to notice that her attire and appearance today were quite different from usual.


    ¡°You this...¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze made another round over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s form, ¡°Is this a change of style?¡±

 Chapter 112: 112: Its Literally the Fate of a Female Protagonist

    Chapter 112: Chapter 112: It¡¯s Literally the Fate of a Female Protagonist


    She seemed to be decked out in new things from head to toe.


    And they were all items she hadn¡¯t worn before.


    Even the portfolio bag strapped to her back was brand new!


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged lightly at the corner of her mouth and said tentatively, ¡°Uh... I have a competition today, maybe my parents think new things bring new luck?¡±


    She would never admit that her mother had gifted her a new easel, so her brothers and Mr. Song from their household just couldn¡¯t sit still anymore.


    As a result, her eldest brother bought her clothes, her second brother gave her shoes, her third brother presented a hair clip, and her fourth brother gave her a wristband that matched the scarf headband they had bought previously.


    ...


    As for Mr. Song from their family, he got her a whole set of custom-made painting tools.


    Her current situation was somewhat like that of a poor-performing student¡ªrich in ¡°stationery.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows lifted as she said, ¡°This isn¡¯t about new things bringing new luck for you. This is...¡±


    Clearly, it¡¯s about being rich and showing off.


    Normally, apart from having an interest in the law, Xu Zhenzhen was also passionate about various luxury goods.


    The things on Lu Zhaozhao may not have looked branded, but from head to toe, everything was made of luxury custom designs.


    No one would probably object if we said that Lu Zhaozhao herself was a moving display of luxury goods.


    Unfortunately, these people had long since pegged Lu Zhaozhao as a fake rich girl and believed she wouldn¡¯t have good days for long, so they never thought of her as particularly precious.


    Lu Zhaozhao listened to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s half-finished sentence and blinked in bewilderment, asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Xu Zhenzhen suddenly burst into laughter, patted her on the shoulder as she leaned in and said, ¡°How come you didn¡¯t wear makeup today?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked somewhat disdainfully at Xu Zhenzhen and said, ¡°Today is the painting competition, who knows if I¡¯ll get paint on my face later? Why bother with makeup just to ruin it?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips and pointed in Xia Wenjin¡¯s direction with a pout, ¡°Look, she¡¯s not worried at all.¡±


    With her fluttering eyelashes, one could tell that the makeup on her face was done with care, ready to look good on camera.


    Tsk tsk, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly regretted being so engrossed in the spectacle that she completely forgot to remind Lu Zhaozhao about this.


    She tilted her head slightly and whispered, ¡°Do you know that there¡¯s going to be a livestream of our competition?¡±


    ¡°So what?¡± Lu Zhaozhao asked, puzzled, raising her eyebrows.


    The painting competition at Yuqing University, with such esteemed figures from the art world invited, seemed pretty normal to be livestreamed, right?


    Besides, Yuqing University is one of the best universities in the country.


    Every move they make also sets a benchmark within the industry.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s completely bewildered expression, sighed helplessly, and patting her shoulder said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, fools have their own kind of fortune. Our main appeal is sincerity!¡±


    ¡°Ha???¡±


    What the heck?


    Lu Zhaozhao was left confused by Xu Zhenzhen, but seeing that she didn¡¯t seem inclined to continue, she simply didn¡¯t ask further.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the judges for the competition took their seats on the stage, and the host naturally began to conduct the event.


    ¡°Students, as you all know, for this competition we¡¯ve specially invited teachers from the art community. Let¡¯s welcome them with a warm round of applause...¡±


    No sooner had these words been spoken than a wave of enthusiastic applause erupted throughout the gymnasium.


    Because they were competitors, Lu Zhaozhao and the others were quite close to the judges, only separated by a stage.


    ¡°Jin, look, is Teresa looking for you?¡±


    Suddenly, a person closer to Xia Wenjin muttered something quietly on the side.


    Although the voice wasn¡¯t loud, most of the people around could hear a bit of it.


    Xia Wenjin looked up and just happened to see Teresa seemingly searching for someone among the group of contestants.


    When the others heard this, they also looked up toward the judges¡¯ bench, including Lu Zhaozhao, who was one person away from Xia Wenjin.


    As she raised her head, she caught Teresa¡¯s gaze and unexpectedly, her clear eyes curved into a smile.


    This set the surrounding people abuzz.


    ¡°Oh my God, she must be looking at Xia Wenjin, right?¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin was telling the truth, she really knows Teacher Teresa!¡±


    ¡°It seems that those with talent are indeed incredible...¡±


    ...


    Xu Zhenzhen, who sat between Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin, saw things more clearly than either of them.


    Although Teresa was looking in this direction, she was clearly looking at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, who nodded slightly, confirming that they indeed knew each other.


    Xu Zhenzhen then turned to look at Xia Wenjin, who was flamboyantly waving her hand at Teresa. The latter only gave Xia Wenjin a glance and then didn¡¯t respond further.


    But this didn¡¯t stop others from continuing to praise Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Jin, Teacher Teresa couldn¡¯t have come to our school just for you, could she?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we can all bask in Jin¡¯s glory! We¡¯ll be friends of a celebrity student, too!¡±


    ¡°Jin, could you get us an autograph later?¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded proudly, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s a trivial matter.¡±


    No sooner had she finished speaking than the people beside her grew even more excited, ¡°Getting Teacher Teresa¡¯s autograph today and seeing our idol in person, I could die happy!¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly. I¡¯m so envious of Jin, it¡¯s like she¡¯s living the life of a legendary protagonist!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, our Jin is the favorite of the group!¡±


    Sitting beside them, Xu Zhenzhen unconsciously touched her pocket, feeling its emptiness, as if missing some sunflower seeds.


    She casually fiddled with the brushes in the pen holder, suddenly looking forward to when Xia Wenyan would arrive.


    After all, she wondered if Xia Wenyan would save some face for Xia Wenjin considering his personality?


    After all, he had been Xia Wenjin¡¯s brother for 20 years...


    ¡°Alright, students, now for a surprise, we have specially invited a guest to the site, he is¡ª¡¯A+ Top Level Trainee¡¯s Wenzel, Xia Wenyan!!!¡±


    Almost as soon as the host finished speaking, the entire sports arena went wild, with screams rising one after another, a testament to Xia Wenyan¡¯s popularity.


    And the camera that had begun filming right from the start, after shooting Xia Wenyan¡¯s entrance, quickly turned to film Xia Wenjin in the audience.


    The people nearby excitedly tugged at Xia Wenjin¡¯s clothes saying, ¡°Jin, your brother really came! He spoils you so much!¡±


    ¡°Ah!!! Xia Wenyan looks even more handsome in person than on TV!¡±


    ¡°I unilaterally declare, I¡¯m Xia Wenyan¡¯s sister now too!¡±


    Xia Wenjin, hearing the envious voices around her, lifted her chin slightly, ¡°Of course, who else would his sister be? If I ask him to come, of course, he will no matter how busy he is~¡±


    Indeed, as someone who had entered the entertainment industry, she knew how to leverage her persona for popularity. Her company had probably prepared the trending searches too, right?


    All she had to do was sit there prettily as everyone¡¯s beloved little sister...

 Chapter 113: 113: Feeling Uncomfortable?

    Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Feeling Uncomfortable?


    The host, hearing the roaring noise inside the venue, couldn¡¯t help but pass the microphone to Xia Wenyan, ¡°I heard that Wenyan¡¯s sister is at our school, so did you come to school today to see your sister?¡±


    Xia Wenyan glanced across the audience, and upon seeing Lu Zhaozhao indeed among the contestants, he chuckled and said, ¡°I came here today specifically to cheer for my sister. I didn¡¯t intend to make such a big deal about it, so please help me keep it a secret from the public~¡±


    As he spoke, he didn¡¯t forget to wink at the crowd below, and instantly the screams resumed.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, this is being live-streamed, and he¡¯s talking about keeping secrets!


    Ah!


    Is this the legendary case of trading beauty for brains?


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed softly, laying out her tools, only to hear a din from below.


    She raised her eyebrows, puzzled, just as she saw Xia Wenyan running down from the stage.


    Seeing him approach, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly had a bad feeling.


    She almost instinctively hid behind the easel, trying not to be noticed by Xia Wenyan.


    Though she guessed he might also be looking for Xia Wenjin, just in case, it was better to hide first.


    On the contrary, Xia Wenjin had already stood up, seemingly worried that Xia Wenyan wouldn¡¯t find her after coming off the stage.


    Just as she raised her hand, Xia Wenyan headed straight for Lu Zhaozhao, who was hiding behind the easel.


    ¡°With such strong sunlight, didn¡¯t you think to bring a sun hat?¡± Xia Wenyan frowned slightly and promptly placed the hat he was wearing on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head.


    He knelt on one knee beside Lu Zhaozhao on the grass, a radiant smile illuminating his side face.


    Lu Zhaozhao, feeling resigned, tugged at the corner of her mouth and silently pressed down the hat¡¯s brim.


    How could he handle such eye-catching actions so naturally?


    She silently sat on the stool, planning to wait for Xia Wenyan to leave of his own accord.


    But what she didn¡¯t expect was for Xia Wenjin to dash over from the side, looking discontentedly at them, ¡°Brother, are you standing in the wrong place?¡±


    She managed to muster a seemingly amicable smile, if not for the camera, she would have cursed out loud.


    Doesn¡¯t Xia Wenyan have a brain?


    Doesn¡¯t he know how much Lu Zhaozhao despises his mother?


    They had clearly had such a stiff conflict before, and now for the sake of his image, he was interacting with Lu Zhaozhao?


    Was Xia Wenyan¡¯s brain kicked by a donkey?


    It would be fine under normal circumstances, but now with so many people around, and having just boasted in front of others, if this turns into a disaster, she would definitely be the laughing stock later!


    Xia Wenyan, focused entirely on Lu Zhaozhao, suddenly heard Xia Wenjin¡¯s voice, then remembered that she was also present.


    His brow furrowed slightly, the look of disdain almost written on his face, ¡°Don¡¯t I know my own sister well? What¡¯s there to misunderstand?¡±


    His words immediately turned Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression sour.


    Biting her teeth, she muttered resentfully, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you came to school to watch my competition?¡±


    Xia Wenyan raised an eyebrow, ¡°I only asked when your school had the competition, I never said I wanted to come watch you compete.¡±


    Before, she never seemed so eager about him, it was only because he was popular now that she remembered he was her brother.


    Xia Wenyan thought about the times he had treated Xia Wenjin as a sister, only to be used by him, and it made him furious.


    As he saw the camera pushing towards them, Xia Wenjin immediately put on a face as if she were bullied and about to cry, and said, ¡°Brother, do you really have to do this? You clearly hate Lu Zhaozhao, is it because I returned to the Lu Family that you¡¯re deliberately using her to upset me?¡±


    Not just Xia Wenyan, even the usually silent Lu Zhaozhao was clearly displeased.


    Although Xia Wenyan¡¯s relationship with her hadn¡¯t been good, from an outsider¡¯s perspective, he could still be considered a good brother.


    Before fully understanding the situation, he completely stood by his sister¡¯s side, united against others, which wasn¡¯t really a problem.


    It was just because Xia Wenyan stood on her opposing side that Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t truly hate him.


    Now, Xia Wenyan was indeed trying to be a good brother, as he had said.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao was still keeping him under observation, it did not mean Xia Wenjin could malign Xia Wenyan right in front of her.


    Especially in front of a camera.


    For celebrities, even a trivial matter could ruin them.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin, I don¡¯t like the way you said that. It was you who said the Xia Family was poor, and told me to handle my crazy older brother. How come today you¡¯re rushing to acknowledge him as your brother?¡±


    Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to speak up for him, his eyes suddenly sparkling, looking flattered and surprised.


    Even a blind person could see which sister Xia Wenyan truly liked.


    Xia Wenjin was already furious because Xia Wenyan had sought out Lu Zhaozhao, and seeing Lu Zhaozhao daring to stand up for herself only infuriated her more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, Xia Wenyan is just coordinating with the company to hype up the character, so he chose you as a sister. What do you think you count as?¡±


    Since Xia Wenyan wasn¡¯t cooperating with her, she couldn¡¯t blame her!


    Xia Wenjin tilted her chin up, looking down at Lu Zhaozhao with arrogance.


    She didn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhaozhao would dare to lay a hand on her in front of the camera, and even if she did, it didn¡¯t matter, this time both Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan were finished!


    Witnessing Xia Wenjin¡¯s demeanor, Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyebrows instantly knitted together, ¡°Do you think everyone is like you? Self-serving. My sister...¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenyan.¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao spoke up, startling him, and he immediately fell silent.


    She turned to glance at him, ¡°Get back to being your VIP guest right now.¡±


    Xia Wenyan swallowed, wanting to say something, but seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expressionless face, he quickly put on an ingratiating smile and replied, ¡°Okay~¡±


    Then obediently ran back to the podium.


    Seeing Xia Wenyan leave, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze then turned back to Xia Wenjin, ¡°Weren¡¯t you desperately trying to return to the Lu Family to be the Lu family¡¯s daughter? Why are you upset seeing Xia Wenyan popular now?¡±


    Xia Wenjin felt the sting, ¡°What¡¯s there for me to be upset about? Even if he is popular now, it¡¯s just temporary. Besides, he isn¡¯t sincere to you either, what¡¯s there for you to be proud of?¡±


    ¡°Whether Xia Wenyan is sincere or not has nothing to do with you, does it?¡± Lu Zhaozhao scoffed lightly, ¡°After all, he doesn¡¯t even want to pretend with you now.¡±


    On the side, Xu Zhenzhen was enjoying the drama while not forgetting to support Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Tsk tsk, I think instead of desperately trying to save face here, some people should think about how they¡¯re going to explain this to their followers, especially since getting an autograph won¡¯t be easy...¡±

 Chapter 114: 114: Wont You Let Her Strut to Death?

    Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Won¡¯t You Let Her Strut to Death?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s complexion now looked even worse.


    She glared at Xu Zhenzhen fiercely, ¡°What¡¯s there for you to be so smug about? You¡¯re just Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lackey!¡±


    The frown on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face deepened, and she was about to step forward to confront Xia Wenjin when Xu Zhenzhen suddenly grabbed her arm, ¡°So what if I¡¯m Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lackey? I freaking love being a lackey, and this lackey doesn¡¯t even want an autograph~¡±


    ¡°You... ¡±


    ¡°What about me? Got the guts to call over your little lackeys?¡± Xu Zhenzhen said boisterously as she waved at Xia Wenjin, ready to battle her at any moment.


    Her voice wasn¡¯t small, and those who had just been buttering up Xia Wenjin naturally heard her.


    ...


    But no one wanted to be labeled a lackey, and Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t just point out who her lackeys were right there and then.


    All she could do was glower at Xu Zhenzhen resentfully, ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to argue with someone like you!¡±


    With that, Xia Wenjin turned and sat back down in her seat.


    Xu Zhenzhen smirked, patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get ready for the competition, too. I have a feeling that my results are secure this time!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows skeptically, ¡°Feeling that confident, huh?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded affirmatively, ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no way I could be sure about first place, but for last place, I¡¯m totally winning it lying down.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was clearly amused by Xu Zhenzhen, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye, ¡°You sure have lofty ambitions.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, for me, it¡¯s all about participating, and participating enthusiastically at that!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although the art competition started with a bit of chaos, once it began, everyone quickly got into the swing of things.


    What they didn¡¯t know was that due to Xia Wenyan¡¯s involvement, the live streaming room, which hadn¡¯t had many people before, suddenly exploded in popularity.


    The news reached Song Sinian almost immediately.


    ¡°Sir, it seems your wife is trending again,¡± someone reported.


    Even though their lady wasn¡¯t part of the entertainment industry, her special identity, coupled with her marriage to the most prominent Song Family in the Shangjing Circle, made staying out of the spotlight difficult.


    Song Sinian leaned on the car window with one hand, looking at Zhao Xi as if asking what had happened.


    Zhao Xi pursed his lips, ¡°The internet is going crazy over whether the lady is the real or fake little sister, but the current public opinion still leans toward the lady, and all the trending topics are positive ones.¡±


    As he spoke, Zhao Xi handed his smartphone over to Song Sinian.


    He took it casually and scanned the headline.


    [Little Sister So Cool; Little Sister So Sharp]


    [Yuqing University Painting Competition: The Tale of True vs. Fake Heiresses]


    [The Beautiful Brother¡¯s Sister is a Beauty Too]


    ...


    Song Sinian just clicked on a headline at random, and inside, every picture of Lu Zhaozhao was casually taken, but each one was beautiful.


    No wonder so many people were eating melon seeds while crazily admiring Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s looks.


    Her appearance was indeed attractive; it was difficult for people not to like her.


    But the thought of her admirers increasing only led to more people coveting her.


    Indeed, it became even more vexing.


    He rubbed his temples irritably, wanting Zhao Xi to pull down the trending search. But Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s trending search was exploding; if they suppressed it directly now, God knows what kind of rumors would wait for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian sighed, ¡°Forget it, keep an eye on it, and if there¡¯s any negative sentiment, let public relations steer the direction.¡±


    ¡°Understood, sir.¡±


    Zhao Xi silently retracted his phone and scrolled further down. In fact, apart from Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan, Xia Wenjin also made it onto the trending searches.


    Unlike Lu Zhaozhao, her trending searches were almost all about mocking her.


    Mostly because Xia Wenjin had been slapped in the face for volunteering to play the younger sister role and then, in a fit of embarrassed anger, satirically labeling Xia Wenyan¡¯s ¡°sister complex¡± as a persona, which infuriated Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans.


    Now, they didn¡¯t need to make a move; Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans had already shredded Xia Wenjin back and forth.


    Indeed... these intensely combative fans are a terrifying entity.


    ¡°Park the car at the small gate near the school¡¯s dormitory later, and pick up Zhaozhao from there,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s indifferent voice drifted through the car.


    Zhao Xi looked back at Song Sinian, his aura of displeasure nearly tangible.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao would be back after the competition soon.


    Otherwise, it would be really difficult for him to endure this oppressive atmosphere in the car.


    Zhao Xi stole a glance in the rearview mirror and softly reminded, ¡°Sir, do you want to let the missus know we¡¯ve arrived in advance? In case she doesn¡¯t know and leaves through the school¡¯s front gate, wouldn¡¯t our trip be in vain?¡±


    And looking at the sky, it seemed like it was going to rain soon.


    When they had arrived, it has been bright and sunny, but now it started to look a bit gloomy.


    Song Sinian was silent for a moment, eventually taking out his phone from his pocket and sending a message to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Inside the school¡¯s sports field, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pocket vibrated.


    She had just finished her last stroke, putting down the paintbrush in her hand, and casually picked up the phone from her pocket.


    It was a message from Song Sinian.


    She was slightly surprised, but still opened the message.


    ¡°Come to the small gate at the back of the school dormitory after the competition; I¡¯m waiting for you here.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips curved slightly, subconsciously rubbing her cheek with her hand, inadvertently smearing the red from her hand onto her little face.


    The bright red stood out starkly against her fair little face, instantly giving her beautiful visage an innocent yet desirous allure.


    Next to her, Xu Zhenzhen spotted her little face, reaching out to help wipe it when the announcer began, ¡°Okay, the competition time has ended. Please put down your paintbrushes, and our professional staff will collect the paintings.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao quickly put away her phone and began to tidy up her painting tools.


    Mr. Song of their family had actually come to school to pick her up, so of course, she couldn¡¯t let him wait too long.


    The number of competitors wasn¡¯t large to begin with, and since the judges had just reviewed every painting during the process on the big screen, it didn¡¯t take long to determine the winners.


    Xu Zhenzhen watched as the announcer took the list and rested a hand on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, muttering softly, ¡°Zhaozhao, baby, what place do you think that bitch Xia Wenjin will get?¡±


    She had heard her lackeys boast about how Xia Wenjin was a student taught by Teresa and heard she was quite good at painting. If Xia Wenjin really took first place now, wouldn¡¯t she be unbearably smug?


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°Well... there¡¯s no standard for painting, it mainly depends on the judges, right?¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Xu Zhenzhen felt her heart cool in an instant, ¡°I heard that the master Teresa taught Xia Wenjin before. She wouldn¡¯t be partial, would she?¡±


    After all, they were old acquaintances.


    Although Xu Zhenzhen was certain Teresa had been watching Lu Zhaozhao just now, what if...

 Chapter 115: 115: It Must Be a Mistake!

    Chapter 115: Chapter 115: It Must Be a Mistake!


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the improbable, just the off-chance.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted her arm and gently prodded her, ¡°What are you thinking about? With so many connoisseurs watching on the big screen, how could there be any favoritism?¡±


    This was, after all, a painting competition held at Yuqing University, where art students and teachers were certainly not mere decorations.


    Although opinions on art could vary greatly, in most cases, there was consensus.


    Unless... the work was excessively unique.


    Clearly, Xia Wenjin¡¯s work didn¡¯t belong to that category, so Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t worried.


    ...


    ¡°Thank you for your patience, everyone. Now, I will announce the list of winners!¡± the host¡¯s voice timely rose within the gymnasium.


    Xu Zhenzhen immediately became nervous, clutching Lu Zhaozhao and saying, ¡°It¡¯s starting, it¡¯s starting.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at her, barely suppressing a chuckle.


    She leaned in close to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were planning to win by lying low till the last place?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shot Lu Zhaozhao a glare, ¡°I¡¯m sure to win if I¡¯m last, but I¡¯m worried that little bitch Xia Wenjin will overshadow you with her flair.¡±


    The painting competition had only ten winning spots, and naturally, everyone was bent on clinching a prize, after all, it was a chance to get noticed by someone as eminent as Teresa.


    Even though she felt Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t need it, she would be really upset if someone like Xia Wenjin got on stage by pulling strings.


    ¡°Alright, now only the last three places are left! Are you all even more excited?¡±


    The host¡¯s voice slowly filled the stage.


    Then, the top three paintings were all displayed.


    Xu Zhenzhen immediately spotted the paintings by Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin.


    This made her even more nervous.


    And at this moment, Xia Wenjin¡¯s lackeys were stirring with excitement.


    ¡°Jin, your painting is there! My God! You are truly a genius!¡±


    ¡°Teacher Teresa will definitely recognize her own student¡¯s painting at a glance!¡±


    ¡°Jin is undoubtedly outstanding as everyone knows! So different from certain impostors!¡±


    ...


    Xu Zhenzhen, hearing their somewhat targeted words at Lu Zhao, suddenly grew cold in her gaze and eyes, ¡°There are three spots in the top three, yet it¡¯s still uncertain who will rank where!¡±


    Perhaps it was seeing Xia Wenjin among the top three that the sycophants seemed much more aggressive than before.


    ¡°Hmph! Just take a closer look at the paintings on stage, isn¡¯t Jin¡¯s first place a foregone conclusion?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, and who is Jin¡¯s mentor anyway?¡±


    ¡°Jin is definitely first! If she¡¯s not, I¡¯ll livestream standing on my hands and washing my hair!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s lips twitched and she glanced at the three paintings on the stage.


    Honestly, she had always had little understanding or appreciation for paintings and thus found them incomprehensible.


    Especially for this art competition, which required artists to paint hands.


    She had no idea why hands were worth painting, but!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting somehow exuded an indescribable warmth from the hands within it.


    It was on a completely different level from Xia Wenjin¡¯s painting!


    Her painting was indeed meticulous with solid fundamentals, but Xu Zhenzhen just felt Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s was better.


    Of course, she might be viewing Lu Zhaozhao through rose-colored glasses, which is why she was now anxious about the upcoming rankings.


    Just then, the host¡¯s voice rang out again, ¡°Alright, since we¡¯ve announced the third place, let¡¯s move on to reveal the scores for first and second place!¡±


    As he spoke, he handed the microphone to Teresa.


    Immediately after, Teresa¡¯s clear authoritative voice echoed in the gym, ¡°I and several other teachers have taken a careful look at these two students¡¯ works, and one of them has made it very difficult for us to decide.¡±


    As she said this, she took out Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting, ¡°This is the one.¡±


    When Xia Wenjin saw Teresa single out Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting, she snorted disdainfully, ¡°A work so perplexing even teachers can¡¯t make a call, must be quite something indeed!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xia Wenjin, ¡°You really need to fix that habit of listening to only half of what¡¯s said, or else you might find it rather painful in a moment.¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Before Xia Wenjin could finish her sentence, the voice from the stage continued, ¡°We all believe this child has a bright future, one that cannot be summarized by just a sentence or two. If possible... I truly wish she could become my apprentice.¡±


    With that, the entire venue exploded once again!


    Teresa actually wanted to take Lu Zhaozhao as her apprentice?!


    And she said she had a promising future?!


    Impossible! It must be a mistake! It must!


    Maybe Teresa meant to talk about her but got her painting mixed up with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s, which is why she said that!


    She had to correct this error!


    Xia Wenjin sprang up from her seat, grinding her teeth in anger, and shouted toward the stage, ¡°Teacher Teresa, I am Xia Wenjin. Please give some comments on my piece as well.¡±


    As she said this, she purposely flashed a radiant smile and added, ¡°It¡¯s the painting right beside you.¡±


    Teresa seemed surprised that Xia Wenjin would interrupt her like this and her brows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure crossing her gaze.


    She had once given painting instructions to Xia Wenjin, so she was particularly familiar with her painting skills and style; how could she not recognize it?


    Back when she was teaching her painting, Xia Wenjin nearly wrecked Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand over a school painting competition.


    Although the situation now was different from that time, Xia Wenjin¡¯s nature remained just as unpleasant as ever.


    Her beautiful blue eyes swept over Xia Wenjin, the tone of her voice noticeably colder than before, ¡°We teachers have also discussed this student¡¯s painting thoroughly, and, to tell the truth, we hesitated over giving her the second place since it was so close to the third place in various aspects.¡±


    Teresa paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°However, in the end, because this student¡¯s technique was a bit more refined, we gave her the second place. Congratulations.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned utterly dark after that ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    The lackeys beside her had also fallen silent.


    Although second place was not bad, Teresa¡¯s words had just equated her with third place.


    Now things were even more embarrassing.


    ¡°Tsk tsk... Someone was saying something about washing their hair upside down just now, remind me during the live stream,¡± Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t resist taunting, obviously enjoying the spectacle.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing the other person¡¯s frustrated expression gave her immense satisfaction.


    She had thought that Teresa, being acquainted with Xia Wenjin, might show favoritism, but she never anticipated such a drastic turnaround at the last moment.


    Not only did Teresa not help Xia Wenjin, but she also dealt a stunning blow right there, tsk tsk... She wondered if the replay of the livestream would capture that moment.


    She had to record it!!! Zoom in eight times! Watch it at 0.8x speed and relish the highlight!!!

 Chapter 116: 116: Is He Angry?

    Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Is He Angry?


    Xia Wenjin, although she wished she could leave right now, knew that with so many people around, if she really walked away, she feared the kinds of rumors that would spread outside.


    She took a deep breath and had no choice but to stay put.


    A cool breeze suddenly started blowing at the spot, bringing a few drops of rain with it.


    At that moment, the host¡¯s voice rang out again on stage, ¡°Next, our esteemed teachers will personally present the awards to the winning students! Please come forward to receive your awards.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen raised her hand and patted Lu Zhaozhao, purposefully raising her voice as she said, ¡°First place, go on! Take a photo of the first-place trophy for me!¡±


    Although her words were directed at Lu Zhaozhao, her eyes were fixated on Xia Wenjin from beginning to end.


    ...


    Anyone could see that Xu Zhenzhen was purposely targeting Xia Wenjin.


    Already in a bad mood, Xia Wenjin glared at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao won the award, what are you so happy about? It¡¯s not like you won it.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy. Who am I? I am our Zhaozhao¡¯s fawning admirer. If not now, when should I be happy?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin was completely at a loss for words.


    Her face was not as thick-skinned as Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s, nor could she put down her pride to argue with her, so she could only go to the awards podium with a scowl.


    By then, the rain, which had started as a drizzle, had grown much heavier.


    Since the sports venue was semi-open-air, almost all the competitors got a bit wet from the rain.


    As Lu Zhaozhao was concerned about Xu Zhenzhen, she placed her sun hat on her before going up to the podium, braving the rain.


    The host, very timely, spoke up to hurry along, ¡°The students who didn¡¯t win can go to the stands to take shelter from the rain, safety first.¡±


    After saying this, he turned to look at the awards podium, ¡°Now, for the awards...¡± But,


    he nearly ended his career as a host with that turn.


    Because of the host¡¯s bizarre tone, nearly everyone¡¯s gaze turned to the big screen.


    Even the cameraman was shaking.


    And so, through the trembling lens, everyone saw the award-winning competitors soaked by the rain.


    Most had their hair wetted by the rain, looking a bit disheveled, but two standing in the front looked especially distinct.


    One was Lu Zhaozhao, and naturally, the other was Xia Wenjin.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire small face was wet, not a bit of dishevelment showed; rather, she looked like a delicately weak emerging lotus, stirring pity.


    Turning to see Xia Wenjin standing just a step away from her, she was a world apart.


    The makeup on her forehead seemed to have been smudged by the rain, turning blotchy and black, ruining her entire face.


    The host struggled to turn his face away from Xia Wenjin, but his whole body was trembling uncontrollably.


    He managed to persevere, twisting his leg with his hand and continuing the process, ¡°Alright... please, let the guests proceed with awarding...¡±


    Teresa originally did not want any interaction with Xia Wenjin, but seeing her in that state, she handed the trophy to Xia Wenjin and quietly warned, ¡°Your makeup is smeared.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows lifted, her gaze towards Teresa clearly wary.


    Thinking of how she had intentionally downplayed her work earlier, she felt furious, so she didn¡¯t care about her ¡°kindness.¡±


    What was a little smeared makeup?


    Her outfit today was perfect, styled by a makeup team Cao Mei had specifically arranged for her; a little smeared makeup wouldn¡¯t affect anything.


    Although she wasn¡¯t first place, second place was enough for the Shangjing Circle.


    Enough to prove her excellence.


    Xia Wenjin forced a grimace of a smile, ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Teresa, but I think I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Teresa pursed her lips wordlessly, eventually choosing to say no more.


    After all, she had done all she could.


    The painting competition ended early due to the rain. Xia Wenyan originally wanted to go back with Lu Zhaozhao, but due to the fans who stormed the school during the live broadcast, the school was completely surrounded.


    Not to mention going back together, he wasn¡¯t even sure if he could get out himself.


    So, Xia Wenyan could only watch helplessly as Lu Zhaozhao left right under his nose.


    Fortunately, everyone¡¯s attention was on Xia Wenyan, each trying to find a way into the school.


    So, they completely failed to notice Lu Zhaozhao sneak out of the school¡¯s side gate in disguise.


    ¡°Mr. Song!¡± Lu Zhaozhao plunged into the car, her eyes brimming with laughter as she looked at Song Sinian.


    She lifted the trophy in her hand towards him, ¡°Look! I got first place!¡±


    Because Lu Zhaozhao had rushed out in a hurry, she wore only a mask and sunglasses to cover her face, and her clothes were soon soaked by the rain.


    She was wearing very little to begin and her light-colored clothes clung to her skin once wet.


    Yet, she hadn¡¯t even noticed.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, and he took off his coat to wrap around Lu Zhaozhao.


    Her small frame was already petite; now, wrapped in Song Sinian¡¯s coat, only her head was visible.


    Lu Zhaozhao moved, trying to struggle out, ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m not cold.¡±


    She was about to say more when Song Sinian scooped her up with one arm and seated her in his lap.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao wanted to say more but realized that since the very beginning, Song Sinian hadn¡¯t said a word.


    She subconsciously turned her head to look at Zhao Xi in the driver¡¯s seat, trying to pick up some useful information from him.


    Yet she didn¡¯t even manage to meet Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes before Song Sinian twisted her face back toward him.


    His large hand pinched her chin, forcing her to turn her face back.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes blinked, staring at Song Sinian for a long while, but he didn¡¯t utter a word.


    Was he angry?


    Well, at least he was displeased.


    Lu Zhaozhao was uncertain if Song Sinian was upset because of her or because of something work-related.


    But one thing was clear.


    Even if he was angry, Song Sinian showed no sign of rejecting her.


    With her hands wrapped inside his coat and unable to reach out, Lu Zhaozhao leaned her face close to him and softly asked, ¡°Mr. Song, are you upset?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped, his gaze falling on her pretty little face.


    Her fair cheeks still had traces of oil paint.


    He raised his hand to rub it off, eventually nodding lightly.


    He felt a tightness in his chest, stifling, making it hard for him to breathe.


    This must be the unhappiness that Lu Zhaozhao was talking about.


    Yet it felt somewhat different.


    His gaze swept over her face once more. Thinking that Lu Zhaozhao might hug or kiss him because he was unhappy, though he was willing to accept it, he still felt as though something was missing...

 Chapter 117: 117 My Awards, Half to the Family

    Chapter 117: Chapter 117 My Awards, Half to the Family


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes slowly lifted to meet Sinian¡¯s.


    Unexpectedly, he actually averted his gaze.


    Hmm, there¡¯s a problem, a big problem.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, pretending as if nothing had happened, and she nuzzled her head in Sinian¡¯s chest, ¡°Mr. Song, your hand...¡±


    Her little mouth puckered, motioning for Sinian to stretch out his hand.


    Sinian obviously hesitated for a moment, but still did as Lu Zhaozhao said and stretched out his hand.


    ...


    The next second, Lu Zhaozhao imitated what Sinian had done earlier, placing her chin in the palm of his hand.


    She smiled radiantly with her eyes curving beautifully.


    Sinian¡¯s heart trembled slightly as his eyes visibly widened while looking at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s.


    Seeing his stunned expression, the smile in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes deepened, ¡°Mr. Song, the other hand.¡±


    Sinian subconsciously did as she said.


    Just then, both hands cradled her small face.


    ¡°Ding ding ding~ your Mrs. Song has bloomed~¡± Lu Zhaozhao playfully blinked and winked at Sinian.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao took advantage of Sinian¡¯s delayed reaction, slipping her small hands out of her clothes and around his neck.


    ¡°Hum hum hum...¡±


    Zhao Xi very perceptively raised the partition of the car¡¯s back seat.


    Lu Zhaozhao really wanted to explain, but with the situation heightened to this point, she guessed she couldn¡¯t control what happened next.


    Sinian looked down at Lu Zhaozhao in his arms, and actually, when she said, ¡°your Mrs. Song,¡± the stifling feeling in his chest had dissipated quite a bit.


    Yes, she was now his.


    His wife alone.


    Sinian suddenly felt fortunate that Lu Zhaozhao had taken him to register their marriage on the very first day they met.


    If she hadn¡¯t taken the initiative back then, and now with the love and attention from the Xia Family, he might not have been able to have her at all.


    This fear made his emotions exceptionally sensitive; even with Lu Zhaozhao in front of him, he felt like he could lose her at any moment.


    Sinian took a deep breath and reached around her waist, pulling Lu Zhaozhao tightly into his embrace.


    She was already petite, and now, held tightly in Sinian¡¯s arms, she was almost completely engulfed by him.


    Her damp, rain-soaked clothes rubbed against his shirt, also dampening it with moisture.


    Sinian could even clearly feel her slightly cool body temperature.


    ¡°Congratulations on winning first place.¡±


    In the quiet car, Sinian¡¯s deep voice finally sounded.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t see Sinian¡¯s face, hearing his congratulations unexpectedly filled her with joy.


    Her little head rubbed against his neck, and she said in a soft, sweet voice, ¡°My prize, half for my family.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sinian remained silent, but Lu Zhaozhao clearly felt his body relax in response.


    From the moment she had said those words, there had been a subtle shift in Sinian, and she had tentatively pushed in that direction¡ªit had indeed worked.


    Sinian had previously shown clear signs of separation anxiety, so she had made an educated guess.


    Doctor Tian had said that appropriate physical contact could alleviate this condition, so her task now was to stick close to Sinian!


    ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m a bit sleepy, could you hold me while I sleep for a while?¡± Her delicate voice resonated in Song Sinian¡¯s ears.


    Song Sinian slowly let go of Lu Zhaozhao, his suspicious eyebrows slightly raised. Before he could think much about it, the person in his arms began acting coquettishly, ¡°Could we, could we please~¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, okay.¡±


    Song Sinian simply couldn¡¯t refuse Lu Zhaozhao, let alone resist her coquettish behavior.


    He lowered his head, kissed her forehead, and sighed somewhat helplessly, ¡°Go to sleep, I¡¯ll hold you until we get home.¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Actually, Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t sleepy at all; she just wanted an excuse to linger in Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    But once she closed her eyes in his embrace, the comfortably warm temperature, combined with the gentle swaying of the car, made her genuinely fall asleep while pretending...


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenjin who had left the stage saw her ¡°slightly ruined¡± makeup in the restroom.


    ¡°Ah!!!¡ª¡±


    Screams erupted from the restroom, clearly terrifying the people who had just entered.


    Xia Wenjin looked at the nearly fully blackened face in the mirror and almost split apart right there.


    Was she really looking like this in front of the cameras just now?!


    Xia Wenjin hurriedly washed her face with water, but the foundation along her hairline and the setting spray on her face had mingled, making it impossible to wash off with just water.


    At this point, Xia Wenjin completely broke down, rushing into a restroom stall and starting to sob uncontrollably.


    ¡°Bzzz bzzz...¡±


    Suddenly, Xia Wenjin¡¯s phone vibrated.


    She took it out from her pocket and saw Cao Mei¡¯s number.


    She had just answered the call but couldn¡¯t utter a word because she had cried too hard.


    ¡°Jin, where are you now? Mom will come to pick you up!¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s clearly worried tone on the other end made Xia Wenjin cry even harder.


    Her plaintive, piercing cry came through the phone, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu... Mom, I¡¯m in the restroom on the third floor of Teaching Block A at school, wuu wuu wuu...¡±


    Cao Mei, frowning even more deeply upon hearing her cries, said, ¡°Jin, don¡¯t panic, the driver will be there soon, tidy yourself up a bit, and the driver will come inside to pick you up.¡±


    ¡°Wuu wuu wuu...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Finally hearing a response from the other end of the phone, Cao Mei slowly hung up, but her face was still filled with worry for Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Mrs. Lu shouldn¡¯t worry too much, Jin is still just a child, it¡¯s normal for her to have limited emotional resilience,¡± Xiao Jinglan said with a light laugh as she sat directly across from Cao Mei.


    She had rushed to the Lu Family as soon as she saw the trending online posts about Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin.


    She hadn¡¯t expected the online situation to escalate so much, but it provided her with a very good opportunity.


    Cao Mei¡¯s face, looking very upset, glared at Xiao Jinglan and coldly said, ¡°If you¡¯re here to make fun of us, you better leave.¡±


    Although they were technically in a cooperative relationship now, Cao Mei wasn¡¯t in the mood to bicker with Xiao Jinglan over Xia Wenjin¡¯s issue.


    If Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t insisted on marrying Song Sinian before, Cao Mei wouldn¡¯t have wanted to deal with Xiao Jinglan too much.


    This woman was too cunning, always scheming, and her visiting the Lu Family was definitely plotting something now.


    Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t annoyed, only chuckled lightly watching Cao Mei and responded, ¡°Mrs. Lu, don¡¯t be upset. You¡¯re too involved to see clearly. If you think about it, this incident might not be entirely bad for Jin.¡±


    Cao Mei scoffed, ¡°Not entirely bad? What would it take to actually be bad?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to mock Jin, I just think this could potentially be a good opportunity for her, depending on how she handles it...¡±

 Chapter 118: 118: What on earth is packed into that tiny little head of yours?

    Chapter 118: Chapter 118: What on earth is packed into that tiny little head of yours?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s smile remained unchanged on her face, making it impossible for Cao Mei to detect any clues.


    But the more this was the case, the more she felt that this woman was suspicious.


    How could Xiao Jinglan not see the hostility in Cao Mei?


    She sneered inwardly, but still maintained a kind smile on her face, ¡°Mrs. Lu, Jin¡¯s reputation and popularity among ordinary people have both been poor lately. If you want her to join the Song Family, she needs to establish a good name in the Shangjing Circle...¡±


    ¡°Such a trending topic can be smoothed over with some money. I don¡¯t need Lady Xiao to teach me how to handle it.¡± Cao Mei frowned, her eyes still wary.


    Xiao Jinglan shrugged, ¡°Since Jin returned to the Lu Family, she has been constantly plagued by negative comments. If this continues, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be easy to get past Old Master Song.¡±


    ...


    ...


    Cao Mei fell noticeably silent.


    What Xiao Jinglan said was indeed true.


    Ever since Xia Wenjin arrived at the Lu Family, the negative comments about her had only increased.


    Thinking this, Cao Mei¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed; all this was because of Lu Zhaozhao!


    This wretched girl had stolen her daughter¡¯s identity, which was bad enough, but now because of her, Xia Wenjin was burdened with a bad reputation!


    Perhaps it was really that wretched girl who had been scheming behind the scenes!


    Seeing that Cao Mei remained silent, Xiao Jinglan continued, ¡°If Jin can seize on this wave of popularity and directly follow the path of an artist, with the protection and support of both the Lu and Song Families, her future in the spotlight will definitely be smooth, and these scandals can later be blamed on the agency.¡±


    ...


    Cao Mei pursed her lips, having to admit that it indeed seemed like a good strategy.


    No matter how many negative comments Xia Wenjin currently had, as long as they were later attributed to the agency¡¯s strategy of designing a controversial path to fame, for use in publicity, then cleaning up Xia Wenjin¡¯s image would be effortless.


    Cao Mei narrowed her eyes, ¡°So what¡¯s your real purpose for coming here? I can¡¯t believe that you came especially for Jin¡¯s sake.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan chuckled lightly, ¡°Mrs. Lu, saying that makes me feel like an outsider. I really like Jin as a child, and given our partnership, I¡¯m on the same side as you, so there¡¯s no need for you to be so guarded against me.¡±


    ...


    Seeing Cao Mei silent again, Xiao Jinglan continued, ¡°Think about it. What benefit would I get from scheming against the Lu Family? To the Song Family, I¡¯m just an outsider, so I¡¯m only looking to join forces with someone suitable.¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, seemingly giving some credit to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s candidness this time.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you approach Lu Zhaozhao? Wouldn¡¯t it be more convenient if she married into the Song Family?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan shrugged, ¡°Do I need to explain what kind of person Lu Zhaozhao is?¡±


    They themselves from the Lu Family didn¡¯t plan on relying on her, so what could she possibly expect?


    To hope to collaborate with a salted fish?


    She might as well give up more quickly.


    Actually, from the current online discussion surrounding Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin, Lu Zhaozhao definitely had more advantages than Xia Wenjin.


    But Old Master Song would absolutely not allow her to get involved in matters related to Lu Zhaozhao, and considering her previous visit to the Song Mansion to see Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian¡¯s possessiveness was terrifying, not even allowing others to speak.


    Remembering all this, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but feel a headache.


    She didn¡¯t want to risk snatching someone from Song Sinian¡¯s hands just yet...


    Cao Mei looked at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Since we¡¯re going to cooperate, we need to show sincerity. You also know that Jin is my lifeline; I wouldn¡¯t put her at risk.¡±


    Hearing Cao Mei loosen up, the smile on Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face deepened, ¡°I understand what you mean. My daughter is also coming back to the country soon and will enter the entertainment industry. As long as Jin gets close to her, it will be more convenient to frequent the Song Mansion. As for what else to do, I shouldn¡¯t need to spell it out, right?¡±


    Cao Mei naturally understood, wanting to forge a connection with the Song Family, the security at the Song Mansion was the biggest problem.


    With a reason to visit the Song Family, everything else would naturally fall into place.


    Seeing the sincerity in Xiao Jinglan this time, Cao Mei¡¯s expression visibly improved, ¡°Once Jin comes back, I¡¯ll have a chat with her about this.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the public opinion, Mrs. Lu, our side has already started to guide the direction of the narrative. Once we align our two families¡¯ strategies, we should be able to control it soon. The main thing is to get Jin acclimated.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan chuckled lightly, then continued, ¡°After all, someone who is going to be the CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group shouldn¡¯t be troubled by a little wave like this, right, dear mother-in-law?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Late at night, in the Song Family¡¯s bedroom.


    Under the dim light, Lu Zhaozhao lay alone in bed, sound asleep, her cheeks flushed, looking quite uncomfortable.


    ¡°Sir, you should rest,¡± Qian Hong glanced at Song Sinian, who was sitting beside the bed with a grim face. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the lady.¡±


    Since Lu Zhaozhao had returned, she had been in a stupor, Song Sinian didn¡¯t want to disturb her, and without even changing clothes, had tucked her into bed.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that from early evening, Lu Zhaozhao had started to develop a fever.


    If it weren¡¯t for Qian Hong calling on Lu Zhaozhao to have dinner, he wouldn¡¯t have even known she was sick.


    He had been negligent.


    When he had just brought her back, he noticed she was wet from the rain, he should have been more careful.


    Seeing that Song Sinian wasn¡¯t speaking, Qian Hong grew concerned, ¡°Sir, the lady has taken fever medicine, and the doctor said it¡¯s just a common cold, so you need not worry too much.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked, looking at Lu Zhaozhao lying on the bed, and only after a moment did he speak slowly, ¡°Ask the kitchen to prepare some light rice porridge, keep it warm on the stove, ready for when she wakes up.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡±


    Seeing that Song Sinian had no intention of leaving Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bedside, Qian Hong could only sigh and added, ¡°If the lady wakes up and wants to eat something, you can call for me anytime.¡±


    Once Song Sinian nodded, Qian Hong then left the bedroom.


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao lying in the bed, still not sleeping peacefully, and a vague emotion stirred within him.


    He reached out to touch her small face.


    Perhaps because of her fever, Lu Zhaozhao instinctively pressed her face against his cool hand, making Song Sinian, already full of guilt, feel even heavier at heart.


    He was about to withdraw his hand, but Lu Zhaozhao pressed down on it with her face, ¡°Hmm... that¡¯s cool...¡±


    She murmured softly, her small hands embracing his larger one and rubbing against it.


    Looking at her flushed face from the fever, Song Sinian heaved a sigh, ¡°You, why are you so delicate?¡±


    Just a moment of inattention, and she had fallen ill.


    The doctor who had just examined Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body said that she fell sick because of long-term mental tension and recent fatigue, so she caught a cold because of the rain.


    Thinking of this, Song Sinian gently pinched her reddened cheek and muttered, ¡°What are you worrying about? What exactly is stuffed inside that little head of yours?¡±

 Chapter 119: 119 You are Mr. Song, Song Sinian, you are my husband

    Chapter 119: Chapter 119 You are Mr. Song, Song Sinian, you are my husband


    Song Sinian had never felt such an urgent need to know everything about Lu Zhaozhao as he did now.


    He could allow her to do anything, but only if those things didn¡¯t harm her.


    But now... it was clear that the things she was hiding had already hurt her, and he couldn¡¯t stand by idly anymore.


    Not knowing if he had pressed her cheek too hard, Lu Zhaozhao had woken up faintly.


    ¡°Um... Mr. Song...¡±


    Her voice was soft and nasal, sounding pitiful.


    ...


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as he stared at her, and just as he was about to speak, her tears started falling ¡°plop, plop¡± from her eyes.


    ¡°Why are you crying now? Does it hurt a lot?¡± Song Sinian stretched out his hand to cradle her small face, gently wiping her tears.


    Although he had seen Lu Zhaozhao cry hard before, no matter how many times, he couldn¡¯t get used to it.


    With a blink, her tears fell again, and she grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s hand tightly, sniffled, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t leave, okay?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Song Sinian raised his eyebrows. Had he mentioned leaving?


    Seeing Song Sinian not responding, Lu Zhaozhao hugged his arm forcefully, ¡°Song Sinian, don¡¯t leave... I was wrong before, I¡¯ll be good to you from now on, please don¡¯t leave, okay?¡±


    Her voice was filled with unspeakable urgency, as if speaking any slower would make him disappear.


    Was it him that had kept her on edge recently?


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t understand, but still gently picked up Lu Zhaozhao, soothing her, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, I¡¯m right here with you, be good.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, staring at Song Sinian for a long time, as if seriously considering what he had just said.


    After a moment, she weakly spoke, ¡°Can you lie beside me?¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Song Sinian responded without any hesitation, succinctly.


    Then, he lay down beside Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Is there anything else you want me to do?¡± Song Sinian lightly brushed her forehead hair with his hand, his eyes gently fixing on her.


    Lu Zhaozhao extended her hand toward Song Sinian¡¯s waist, snuggling her tiny body in.


    Because she had taken fever medicine not long ago, her body was still a bit hot.


    Clutching him tightly, her little hand soon started to fidget inside, tugging at his shirt.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly; he grasped her chin, looking at her a bit uncertainly.


    Was this little one delirious?


    Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice came from above her head, ¡°Zhaozhao, what are you doing?¡±


    With her chin pinched, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face all scrunched up; her eyes slightly red as she blinked, ¡°I... I want to touch you...¡±


    Her head was dizzy, and she couldn¡¯t tell if the recent events were real or just her imagination.


    Song Sinian sighed helplessly, completely baffled by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thought process. However, seeing her looking all dazed and tearful, he was of course completely cooperative.


    It wasn¡¯t just touching; anything was okay at this point.


    ¡°Where do you want to touch?¡± He lay on his side facing Lu Zhaozhao, unbuttoning his shirt one by one with his hand.


    From the collar to the hem, leaving only one loosely hanging.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but swallow, no longer crying.


    Her little hand poked at his abs, and then she suddenly laughed, ¡°Mr. Song, you have a really nice body...¡±


    As she spoke, her hand followed the lines of his abs downwards, and just when she was about to continue, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils drooped, his desirous emotions in his eyes were already overwhelming.


    ¡°Behave, you can¡¯t be naughty anymore.¡± His voice was husky, especially noticeable in the quiet night.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian and then at the hem of his clothes, ¡°Can I make another request?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked, trying to calm down the turbulent heat in his heart.


    Lu Zhaozhao shifted closer to him, nestled against his chest, and muttered softly, ¡°Can you never leave me alone again?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian was clearly surprised by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s request.


    After they got married, although they had communication issues at the start which led him to take a few business trips.


    But to say ¡°left behind¡± seemed a bit extreme, right?


    And hadn¡¯t he explained the situation clearly before?


    Could it be that Lu Zhaozhao had always been concerned about this? Or maybe...


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed and he raised his hand to pinch her small face, asking word by word, ¡°Zhaozhao, who am I?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head in puzzle, ¡°You are Mr. Song, Song Sinian, my husband.¡±


    Her dazed expression and highly accurate response relieved Song Sinian, but deep down his confusion intensified.


    If Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t mistaken about who she was requesting this of, what exactly was making her so insecure?


    Song Sinian pondered for a moment and then asked, ¡°Are you very worried that I will leave you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded.


    Song Sinian asked again, ¡°Have I ever left you behind?¡±


    At this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes reddened, and tears nearly fell in an instant.


    ¡°...¡±


    It seemed this was the crux of the matter.


    Song Sinian frowned slightly, reminded of Tian Xiangjun¡¯s words that Lu Zhaozhao had suffered emotional trauma from a young age, making her more sensitive than most.


    He was also someone who struggled to perceive other people¡¯s emotional states.


    Maybe Lu Zhaozhao had been hurt at some point, and he was oblivious.


    Song Sinian sighed softly, reached out to embrace Lu Zhaozhao, and gently patted her back as he held her close, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to leave you before, and I won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡± Lu Zhaozhao nestled further in his arms, ¡°From now on, without my permission, you are not allowed to die!¡±


    As she said this, she lifted her small head up, looking resolutely at Song Sinian, ¡°Will you promise me?¡±


    Song Sinian was slightly taken aback, looking at her serious little face, and though he opened his mouth, no words came out.


    He gently nodded, agreeing to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s request.


    Yet a strange thought lingered in his mind.


    Lu Zhaozhao had cried the first time they met, and she often cried when she was drunk.


    She always paid extra attention to someone¡¯s life and death, as if... if she didn¡¯t watch carefully, that person could die at any moment.


    Previously it was Xia Wenyan, then Xia Wenmo, and now it had turned to him.


    It was as if... she knew they would die.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes slowly dropped, gazing at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s misty eyes and her particularly pained face.


    The bizarre idea in his mind became clearer.


    Had they once died in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s world?

 Chapter 120: 120: Zhaozhao is Sick

    Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Zhaozhao is Sick


    He once thought that Lu Zhaozhao might have had a deep love who possibly had died, so she had no choice but to marry him.


    Yet the materials investigated by Zhao Xi showed no trace or clue.


    Eventually, it all faded away.


    If... everything was as he thought, then it all made sense.


    He had once ¡°died¡± in her world, which is why she worried about him and indulged him repeatedly.


    But could these things be possible?


    ...


    Song Sinian gently caressed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, sinking into deep contemplation.


    Lu Zhaozhao tossed and turned for a while before she fell into a drowsy sleep.


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao and was about to send a message when his phone started vibrating.


    He glanced at the phone number and picked it up.


    ¡°Sir, Xia Wenjue wants to meet with you today, his car has already arrived at the door.¡±


    Zhao Xi, after dropping off Lu Zhaozhao, was supposed to return after finishing the work, but unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao fell ill in the evening.


    He had unfinished business to report, so he had to stay.


    Most importantly, he was somewhat concerned about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition.


    After all, as Mrs. Song was Song Sinian¡¯s lifeline, if something happened to Lu Zhaozhao, he probably couldn¡¯t continue as an assistant.


    Song Sinian visibly paused, glanced at the sleeping Lu Zhaozhao on the bed, and responded in a low tone, ¡°Tell him to wait in the study for a while, I¡¯ll be right there, and also, have Qian Hong come to the bedroom.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t leave the room without someone to watch over Lu Zhaozhao.


    She was feverish and groggy, who knew what she might do when she woke up.


    And... he still had many things to figure out.


    ¡°Okay, sir, I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian hung up the phone, reached out to touch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face again, and kissed her forehead, ¡°Just how many secrets do you have, my Mrs. Song...¡±


    He sighed softly, slowly stood up, and didn¡¯t leave the bedroom until Qian Hong arrived.


    By the time he reached the study, Xia Wenjue had been waiting there for a long time, with Zhao Xi, who had never left, keeping him company.


    As soon as Song Sinian entered, he saw him rise from the sofa in the study.


    ¡°I heard Zhaozhao is sick,¡± Xia Wenjue said, looking at Song Sinian with a hint of anxiety in his eyes.


    It seemed he had come directly to the Song Family upon receiving the news.


    He wasn¡¯t discreet about letting him know that they had placed spies around the Song Family.


    But he had also planted many spies in the Xia Family, so this situation was somewhat balanced.


    Song Sinian walked to the sofa in the study and sat down leisurely, saying, ¡°The doctor has already seen her, she¡¯s quite weak now but has taken her medicine and is sleeping.¡±


    Xia Wenjue realized that Song Sinian didn¡¯t intend to let him see Lu Zhaozhao, so he naturally sat down opposite him.


    From the first time he met Song Sinian, he noticed that to this man, besides Lu Zhaozhao, everyone else seemed like a mere prop.


    Moreover, this man¡¯s possessiveness towards her even made him, her brother, feel terrified.


    Could he really bring Zhaozhao happiness?


    He had been wanting to talk to Song Sinian alone for a while, but he did not anticipate that he would contact Zhao Xi to reach out to him, expressing a desire to chat.


    Lately, he had been constantly busy, but just when he got a moment of reprieve, he saw Xia Wenyan, with Lu Zhaozhao by his side, blow up the trending searches.


    This damn kid was giving him a headache.


    He could tolerate his antics, but involving Lu Zhaozhao in a trending search was something he could not ignore!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s identity was already sensitive, having caused a stir on the school¡¯s forum.


    And now, Xia Wenyan had pulled this stunt.


    ¡°The trending issue regarding Zhaozhao has been taken care of by my people. She¡¯s become quite popular now and probably won¡¯t have convenient outings, so you might need to give her more attention,¡± Xia Wenjue opened slowly, breaking the silence in the room.


    Song Sinian lifted his hand to drink from the teacup on the table, his fingertips gently caressed the rim before he spoke, ¡°I don¡¯t want a repeat of these kind of ambushes from Xia Wenyan.¡±


    His tone was mild, yet carried a clear threat.


    He seemed upset about Xia Wenyan¡¯s actions.


    Xia Wenjue, although agreeing that Xia Wenyan was at fault, still sided with his brother when facing outsiders.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°Wen Yan wanted to surprise Zhaozhao, but indeed he made a mistake. I will remind him.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes lowered, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle this matter, I will deal with it my way.¡±


    His voice was impassive, leaving no room for negotiation.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s face visibly darkened; he slightly curled his lips into a not-so-friendly smile, ¡°Oh? Mr. Song, do you think the Xia Family members are weak and easily bullied?¡±


    Song Sinian coldly scanned Xia Wenjue, ¡°I don¡¯t think members of the XJ Corporation are easily bullied, but crossing the line... I absolutely will not allow it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s words made Xia Wenjue freeze, seemingly caught off-guard by Song Sinian openly challenging his identity.


    What worried him more was whether Song Sinian knowing meant that Lu Zhaozhao knew as well.


    When... when did he find out?


    Song Sinian subtly raised his eyebrows, observing Xia Wenjue¡¯s wary expression, and spoke lightly, ¡°Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t know anything right now, and I don¡¯t plan on letting her find out.¡±


    This made Xia Wenjue look even more upset, ¡°You don¡¯t plan to let her return to the Xia Family? She is our only little princess!¡±


    ¡°The only one? I¡¯m not so sure,¡± Song Sinian retorted, clearly hitting a sore spot for Xia Wenjue.


    His eyebrows furrowed deeply, his whole jaw tensed with irritation.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyes blinked minutely, then fixedly stared at Song Sinian, ¡°Regardless, Zhaozhao is a member of our Xia Family, and sooner or later she will...¡±


    ¡°She is mine.¡± Before Xia Wenjue could finish, Song Sinian¡¯s cold voice filled the study.


    He already disliked the Xia Family members associating with Lu Zhaozhao; had Lu Zhaozhao not cared about these so-called relatives, he would have resolved this long ago.


    And now, they even dared to assert ownership in front of him?


    They clearly did not take him seriously.


    Xia Wenjue also looked equally displeased.


    With Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s good nature and beauty, why must she marry Song Sinian, this madman?


    Who in the domestic business circle didn¡¯t know that Song Sinian was ruthless and spared no feelings?


    He thought Song Sinian being good to Lu Zhaozhao was enough, but now seeing his paranoid disposition, he somewhat worried about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s situation.


    If her feelings changed in the future and she no longer liked this man, how could he possibly let her go?


    Xia Wenjue narrowed his eyes, ¡°Since you know I am with the XJ Corporation, you should realize that our family has the capability to compete with you.¡±

 Chapter 121: 121: She must have burned it!

    Chapter 121: Chapter 121: She must have burned it!


    Song Sinian, upon hearing Xia Wenjue¡¯s words, calmly sat up straight, his gaze met with Xia Wenjue¡¯s, and he slightly moved his lips, ¡°XJ Group indeed has substantial strength, but that¡¯s only overseas. In the domestic market, your foundations aren¡¯t as solid as mine, your connections aren¡¯t as numerous. Can you really compete with me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Xia Wenjue was very annoyed, he had to admit what was said was true.


    Even if XJ Group had far-reaching influence overseas, in the domestic market, they indeed fell short.


    If Song Sinian were to take serious action domestically, they really couldn¡¯t outdo him.


    For a moment, the pressure in the study dropped to a frightening level, and Zhao Xi, caught between the two tycoons, felt somewhat suffocated.


    ...


    ¡°Cough cough... Why don¡¯t the two of you have some tea to cool down,¡± Zhao Xi coughed lightly, pouring a cup of flower tea for each of them.


    He noticed that neither of them seemed inclined to touch their cups, so he continued, ¡°I know both of you care deeply for our lady, but have you considered that if the two of you really become adversaries, the one who will be upset is still the lady.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Almost instantaneously, the hostile atmosphere in the room dispersed.


    Zhao Xi silently let out a sigh of relief. Indeed, both business magnates were afraid of upsetting their lady...


    That would make things easier!


    ¡°Since both of you want what¡¯s best for the lady, then why not discuss things together in advance? There shouldn¡¯t be any problem with that, right?¡± Zhao Xi tentatively maintained a smile as he looked at Xia Wenjue and Song Sinian.


    In fact, Zhao Xi himself was quite nervous when he said this.


    Even though both men harbored special feelings for Lu Zhaozhao, this condition was almost like asking them to share information.


    Both were business moguls who reigned supreme in their respective companies, making each other yield... it seemed highly unlikely.


    Just as Zhao Xi was considering a backup plan, he saw both men simultaneously nod their heads.


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Truly, none could hold a candle to their lady!


    Inside, Zhao Xi felt like breaking out into an impromptu dance!


    But externally, he maintained his placid expression, then said, ¡°Perhaps the two of you would like to talk?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Clearly, neither side had any intention of having a cordial conversation.


    A bit awkwardly, Zhao Xi pursed his lips, and reminded in a low voice, ¡°Cough cough... Mr. Song, the mine...¡±


    Suddenly, Song Sinian remembered his previous request for Zhao Xi to arrange a private meeting with Xia Wenjue, his eyes and eyebrows subtly moved, as he said to Xia Wenjue, ¡°I do indeed have some matters to discuss with you in detail...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The next day, when Lu Zhaozhao woke up, it was already 10 o¡¯clock in the morning.


    But the weather was still gloomy, without much brightness.


    Therefore, Lu Zhaozhao, upon waking up, did not know the current time.


    ¡°Awake?¡±


    Suddenly, a gentle voice rang in her ear.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head and saw Song Sinian entering the room with a tray of food.


    Lu Zhaozhao rubbed her bleary eyes and laughed lightly, ¡°Mr. Song, how did you know I was awake?¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t say much, just put the porridge beside her and gently pinched her cheek, ¡°Eat your meal now that you¡¯re awake, you had a pretty high fever yesterday.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao touched her forehead, incredulous, ¡°Really?¡±


    She seemed a bit unsure, even doubting that she was the one who had the fever yesterday.


    Because after getting up in the morning, she only felt a bit exhausted, with no other issues.


    She thought it was because she had slept too much the day before, right up until now.


    Song Sinian saw her, eyes curved in a smile as she watched him, apparently without any recollection of yesterday¡¯s events.


    He casually picked up the porridge from the table and scooped some with a spoon, offering it to her mouth, ¡°Come on, eat first.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao paused for a moment, ¡°I, I can do it myself.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian dodged, ¡°Let me do it, we ate like this yesterday...¡±


    As he said this, his gaze deliberately swept across Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face.


    Indeed, he had fed Lu Zhaozhao yesterday, but she had been half-asleep, so it was normal for her not to remember.


    He just wanted to confirm whether Lu Zhaozhao had any memories of yesterday¡¯s events.


    Shock etched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face as she looked at Song Sinian and then at the spoon in her hand, pulling the corners of her mouth in slight embarrassment, ¡°Did I ask for it? Then I... must have been really delirious from the fever yesterday...¡±


    Song Sinian did not deny or confirm it, he just quietly watched Lu Zhaozhao, before bringing the porridge to her lips again.


    It looked like she truly didn¡¯t remember.


    After taking a few sips of porridge, Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Song Sinian with a bit of guilt, ¡°What else did I do yesterday, besides asking you to feed me?¡±


    Song Sinian thought seriously for a moment, ¡°Well, you also tried to undress me...¡±


    ¡°I, I probably thought you were hot.¡± Lu Zhaozhao cut him off before he could finish, hastily finding a suitable excuse for herself.


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian followed up with, ¡°So when you said you were feeling my abs, was that to cool me down as well?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Huh? Feeling up his abs?


    Was she feverish yesterday? She must have been completely burnt out!


    How could she have even done something like feeling abs?


    Even with a fever, she shouldn¡¯t have lost all sense of decency!!!


    Lu Zhaozhao looked guiltily at Song Sinian, her ears turning so red they seemed about to bleed.


    She decided to just go for broke, timidly starting, ¡°What, what else did I do yesterday? Tell me all of it, so I can... prepare...¡±


    Seeing her guilty demeanor, Song Sinian gently kissed her forehead, ¡°That¡¯s it, after feeling the abs, you slept obediently.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Obediently slept, just slept, why stress the part about feeling the abs!!!


    Lu Zhaozhao was internally roaring.


    It was one thing getting handsy after drinking, but to act this way with a fever?


    Could it be because she was sick that her moral standards were also compromised?


    Lu Zhaozhao felt so awkward she wished she could dig a hole to hide in, so she pursed her lips and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Mr. Song, when, when are you going to work?¡±


    Song Sinian shrugged lightly, ¡°You clung to me all day yesterday, not letting me leave, so I¡¯m working from home today.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Damn it, she shouldn¡¯t have asked!


    Lu Zhaozhao was fed a few more spoonfuls of millet porridge by Song Sinian before she pushed the bowl slightly away, ¡°Mr. Song, I, I¡¯m done eating.¡±


    As she said this, she attempted to crawl out of bed, but just as she was about to get off, she found herself suddenly lifted into the air.


    Lu Zhaozhao instinctively clung to Song Sinian, looking at him with a blank face, ¡°Mr. Song, what are you doing?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows raised slightly as he answered coolly, ¡°Of course holding you, where do you want to go? I¡¯ll carry you there...¡±

 Chapter 122: 122 I Can Take a Bath by Myself!

    Chapter 122: Chapter 122 I Can Take a Bath by Myself!


    ¡°Huh?¡± Was this also what she had demanded yesterday?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about her evil deeds from yesterday and involuntarily placed her small hands on her little face.


    Lu Zhaozhao, be a human being!


    How could she take such liberties when she was sick?


    The most crucial thing was that she didn¡¯t remember any of it!!!


    Ah!!!


    ...


    Such a waste of natural talent!


    Seeing her dazed look, Song Sinian raised his hand and gently patted her back, ¡°Do you want me to carry you to the living room?¡±


    He actually just wanted to be close to her by holding her, but seeing her sweet and silly look, he didn¡¯t feel like explaining.


    Since she misunderstood, well... let¡¯s just let the misunderstanding continue for a bit.


    Lu Zhaozhao pressed her head into Song Sinian¡¯s chest and said, ¡°I, I want to take a shower.¡±


    She came back drenched from the rain yesterday and sweated a lot because of her fever; she was feeling very uncomfortable.


    But as soon as she spoke up, she worried that Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t let her shower because of her fever.


    To her surprise, Song Sinian didn¡¯t say a word of dispute; instead, he carried her to the bathroom and set her down on the washbasin counter.


    ¡°Do you need my help...¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Lu Zhaozhao immediately covered his mouth before Song Sinian could finish speaking, ¡°I can! I can shower by myself!¡±


    Song Sinian looked at her flushed little face, gently caressed her cheek with his hand, and then pulled down her hand to say, ¡°I just wanted to ask if you want me to get your slippers for you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was now embarrassed.


    She thought Song Sinian was going to say something lewd, so she rejected him without a thought.


    Now it was even more awkward.


    Fortunately, Song Sinian didn¡¯t mind what she had just said and casually picked up a pair of slippers, squatting down to help Lu Zhaozhao put them on one by one.


    ¡°If you need anything, you can call Aunt Qian, I¡¯ll be in the study, got it?¡± Song Sinian stood up slowly and didn¡¯t forget to give instructions before leaving.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly, ¡°I know, you go ahead with your work.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After closing the bathroom door, Lu Zhaozhao finally took a long breath of relief.


    She really hadn¡¯t imagined that she would be so bold after running a fever.


    She quietly put on the slippers and took a quick shower.


    Just as she was about to change clothes, she realized she hadn¡¯t brought any clean clothes with her!


    Fortunately, Song Sinian had already left, so as long as she left the bedroom, she would be able to find clothes to change into.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the room.


    Right as she was about to head to the wardrobe, she heard her phone ringing on the bedside table.


    Lu Zhaozhao rushed over in a few steps and saw the call was from Xu Zhenzhen.


    She frowned in confusion but still picked up the phone.


    ¡°Hello? Zhenzhen?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice came through from the other end, ¡°Zhaozhao, I heard you caught a cold and even had a fever, so you took leave from school. Feeling any better today?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a bit embarrassed and tugged at the corner of her mouth. She really hadn¡¯t expected that her fever would be known even by Xu Zhenzhen.


    She rubbed her temples, a bit headache-stricken, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m much better now, just a bit of a cold. I¡¯ll be fine after some rest.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen obviously sighed with relief on the other end, ¡°With you not at school, I don¡¯t even know who to gossip and complain to. You don¡¯t know, our school was on fire yesterday, and today the school gate was nearly trampled flat by those chasing celebrity check-ins, tsk tsk...¡±


    Listening to her tone of regret, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°The school gate was nearly trampled flat and you¡¯re still happy about it?¡±


    ¡°Of course, my sister became famous, of course I¡¯m happy too,¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheerful voice came over the phone.


    Suddenly, her voice lowered a lot and said, ¡°You don¡¯t know, the photos from our school competition yesterday were printed and hung outside the school. Today, someone swapped Xia Wenjin¡¯s photo with another head, hahaha... It killed me laughing.¡±


    As she spoke, she immediately flipped through her phone, ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll send you the picture.¡±


    Soon enough, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone vibrated again, and she saw the photo sent from Xu Zhenzhen.


    On the banner outside the school, there was a group photo of them with the judges.


    Xia Wenjin stood out because her photo was superimposed differently from the others, clearly distinguishable by color.


    Although the photo had been retouched, it was so out of place that it made one even more curious about what the original photo looked like.


    Thinking back to how dark Xia Wenjin¡¯s face was that day, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing, ¡°She might as well have someone directly Photoshop the banner picture, hahaha...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen on the other end of the phone was also laughing so hard she was nearly in tears.


    ¡°By the way, I also heard that Xia Wenjin seems to have signed with a talent agency. Those little sycophants around her are blowing it out of proportion. Really, even if you don¡¯t want to know, it¡¯s hard not to, tsk tsk...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen seemed to be rather contemptuous on the other end of the phone.


    But upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows furrowed.


    Xia Wenjin had eventually chosen the path of an entertainer, just much earlier than in her previous life.


    After all, she had returned to the Lu Family earlier, so it made sense that becoming an entertainer happened earlier too.


    In her previous life, Xia Wenjin¡¯s acting had always been a hot topic in the entertainment industry.


    Her resources were almost always top-notch, and with the Lu Family¡¯s support, she finally won the crown of Best Actress, only to be ridiculed as the worst-acting Best Actress in history.


    Without the Lu Family in this life, could she still land top-tier film and television resources?


    Lu Zhaozhao had always been puzzled, the Lu Family had some money sure, but their resources were in business.


    Each industry has its barriers; it¡¯s not possible to get all resources just because you have money.


    What¡¯s most important in the entertainment industry are connections, yet she couldn¡¯t recall the Lu Family having such resources, so how did Xia Wenjin get hold of top resources?


    While she was deep in thought, Xu Zhenzhen on the phone suddenly said in a secretive tone, ¡°By the way, Zhaozhao, there¡¯s another interesting bit of news. Paparazzi caught Xia Wenyan being punished to kneel at home, and his fan circle has exploded over it.¡±


    ¡°Uh... his fans aren¡¯t going to attack the Xia Family members, right?¡± Lu Zhaozhao thought of Xia Wenyan¡¯s crazy fans and couldn¡¯t help a throbbing temple.


    Unexpectedly, Xu Zhenzhen started laughing heartily, ¡°How could they? A bunch of people joined in to ridicule him, saying he¡¯s a bully at home, and they¡¯re outright reveling in his misfortune, wildly speculating that it¡¯s because of his sister¡¯s issues that he was punished to kneel.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    For a moment, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t quite know what to say.


    Indeed, this generation of fans does have something sensational about them.


    ¡°By the way, Zhaozhao, remember to remind your fourth brother, absolutely do not agree to let Xia Wenjin leech off his popularity!¡± Xu Zhenzhen said earnestly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to just start stanning an idol, only to drop him because of his personal life...¡±

 Chapter 123: 123: Didnt You Just Wash This Morning?

    Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Didn¡¯t You Just Wash This Morning?


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    She couldn¡¯t manage Xia Wenyan¡¯s affairs.


    Although she had no idea why Xia Wenyan suddenly broke off with Xia Wenjin yesterday, their relationship didn¡¯t seem to have much to do with her.


    As long as Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t get involved with anything shady in the industry, that was enough.


    As for anything else, she couldn¡¯t care less and didn¡¯t want to.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, will you enter the entertainment industry in the future?¡± Suddenly, Xu Zhenzhen posed a question through the phone, ¡°Now, because of Teresa¡¯s high praise of you, you¡¯ve already become an internet-celebrated beauty artist. It really would be a pity not to debut.¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lips, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about future matters in the future.¡±


    In her last life, her existence was so bleak that she never imagined any other possibilities.


    This time around, she wanted to truly live her life. As to what she would eventually do, she didn¡¯t have any concrete plans, but if possible, she hoped life could be a bit more brilliant.


    But she wasn¡¯t ready yet, her great vengeance unavenged, and there were still many things left undone...


    Listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s somewhat somber tone, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows slightly lifted, but she quickly replied, ¡°If you decide to join the entertainment circle, I¡¯ll definitely be your number one fan!¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed silently, exchanged a few more words with Xu Zhenzhen, and then hung up the phone.


    Just as she stood up, she saw Song Sinian, who had been standing at the bedroom door for some time.


    Lu Zhaozhao was startled and froze in place, ¡°Mr. Song, when did you get here?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze briefly lingered on the short bathrobe she was wearing and he indifferently said, ¡°When you were talking about Xia Wenjin signing with the talent agency.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    So, he had been there from the very beginning?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about how she had just been gossiping with Xu Zhenzhen while lying on the bed and wanted to dig a hole and bury herself right there.


    ¡°I, I¡¯m going to change!¡± said Lu Zhaozhao, and clutching a towel, she ran toward the walk-in closet.


    But she was barefoot, and the floor was still wet, so without paying attention, she slipped and fell.


    Fortunately, Song Sinian was quick to react and caught her.


    But because her movements were so abrupt, the bath towel came undone.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately yelled anxiously, ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t move!¡±


    Though she was facing away from Song Sinian, she felt flushed from head to toe.


    Song Sinian stood silently in his place, his arm hooked around Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s slender waist. The intimate contact of skin against skin made him stiffen as well.


    He had only been concerned about whether Lu Zhaozhao might fall and hadn¡¯t anticipated her towel coming undone.


    Now that Lu Zhaozhao told him not to move, he naturally stood still without a twitch.


    But after waiting for a long while, Lu Zhaozhao was still standing rigidly in place, seemingly unsure of what to do.


    Sighing lightly, Song Sinian used his arm to lift Lu Zhaozhao up like a basket.


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    Though Lu Zhaozhao wanted to struggle, this was the action least likely to expose her, so after uttering a single ¡°eh,¡± she stayed silent.


    Song Sinian quickly walked to the walk-in closet.


    He grabbed a coat and wrapped it around Lu Zhaozhao before gently setting her down on the carpet of the walk-in closet.


    Almost instantaneously, the bath towel dropped conspicuously to the foot of Lu Zhaozhao.


    For a moment, the entire walk-in closet fell into silence.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked, her little hands tightly clutching the coat wrapped around her, and suddenly felt even more nervous.


    This was practically going into battle au naturel, right?


    And the key point was that she was facing Mr. Song of their house.


    ¡°Zhaozhao.¡±


    Suddenly, amid the silence of the dressing room, Song Sinian¡¯s voice arose. His large hand adjusted her overcoat, then he slowly spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid of me, okay?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    She wasn¡¯t really afraid, she just felt so embarrassed!


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to speak, Song Sinian¡¯s thin lips pressed against hers.


    Her body stiffened, and she heard Song Sinian¡¯s low, husky voice by her ear, ¡°Be good, I won¡¯t do anything you¡¯re not willing to. Hurry up and change, don¡¯t catch a cold again.¡±


    After saying this, Song Sinian gently patted her shoulder and turned to leave.


    Before leaving, he didn¡¯t forget to close the door of the dressing room behind him.


    Now it was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s turn to be stunned.


    She... she wasn¡¯t unwilling!


    It was just that the situation just now was too awkward. Was it still timely if she ran after him now to say she was willing?


    She stood there, hesitating time and again, ultimately not finding the courage.


    In her past life, they had been together for so many years, but not only had they not crossed the final barrier, they hadn¡¯t even shared a proper kiss.


    She had always thought she was just an ornament Song Sinian brought home, so their current pattern of interaction had already satisfied her. She never considered the possibility of going any further.


    But now they were husband and wife, so those... emmm, that¡¯s pretty normal, right?


    The thought made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire face blush fiercely.


    However, upon reflection, she remembered... it seemed many patients with depression had difficulties in this aspect. What if Song Sinian, he... couldn¡¯t.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes slightly. Maybe she should ask Doctor Tian indirectly?


    She thought it over carefully and silently made up her mind.


    But for now, she should quickly change clothes and then go find Song Sinian...


    Meanwhile, Song Sinian, who had left the room, was walking down the corridor.


    ¡°Mr. Song, downstairs...¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not important, call me later,¡± Song Sinian said as he strode towards the guest room.


    Although Zhao Xi found it strange, he quickly said, ¡°Mr. Song, Xiao Mo has come. He says he¡¯s here to see Madame.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s steps halted abruptly.


    His brow furrowed in displeasure. Just thinking about the way Xiao Mo had ogled Lu Zhaozhao, he felt extremely annoyed.


    He even found him more loathsome than that dog named ¡°Jack¡± that had previously clung to Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Tell him to wait in the study, and there¡¯s no need to inform Zhaozhao,¡± said Song Sinian, then continued towards the guest room.


    ¡°Eh...¡± Zhao Xi followed a few steps, ¡°So, Mr. Song, are you going to rest for a while?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s reply was cold, ¡°No, going to take a shower.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Hadn¡¯t he just showered in the morning?


    His gaze involuntarily swept over Song Sinian, not finding any dirt on him.


    There was no sweat on his forehead either...


    Why then?


    While Zhao Xi pondered, Song Sinian had already left his line of sight.


    Now Zhao Xi was even more baffled.


    He sighed and decided to go arrange things for Xiao Mo. After all, Mr. Song had given instructions not to inform Lu Zhaozhao.


    It would be problematic if by chance Madame came downstairs later and ran into him...

 Chapter 124: 124: His Mind Never Changes!

    Chapter 124: Chapter 124: His Mind Never Changes!


    Zhao Xi hurriedly ran to the living room and saw Xiao Mo sipping tea. She then chuckled lightly and said, ¡°Mr. Xiao, could you please head to the study? The master will join you after he finishes his current affairs.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s hand, which was holding the teacup, suddenly paused.


    He had heard that Lu Zhaozhao had fallen ill and taken leave, so he had chosen this time to visit, not expecting that Song Sinian had not yet left.


    ¡°Uh, I came today to see Miss Lu,¡± Xiao Mo started, ¡°Lady Xiao asked me to deliver the dress...¡±


    ¡°Mr. Xiao,¡± Zhao Xi cut him off before he could finish, looking at him with a very professional smile, ¡°I am just conveying our master¡¯s wishes. As for other matters, it¡¯s not appropriate for me to inquire.¡±


    He needed to get Xiao Mo to the study as soon as possible; there was no time to dawdle with him.


    ...


    Xiao Mo¡¯s brow furrowed noticeably, ¡°Since it¡¯s President Song¡¯s request, then naturally I shall comply, but how should I handle this dress? After all, it¡¯s a task entrusted to me by Lady Xiao.¡±


    Zhao Xi looked at Xiao Mo with a smile that was more grimace than grin, and continued, ¡°Naturally, you should bring everything directly to the study.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Xiao Mo said, slowly rising to his feet. His gaze swept in the direction of the second floor before he asked, ¡°I heard from Lady Xiao that Miss Lu is still sick. I wonder if it would be convenient for me to visit her.¡±


    At this point, Zhao Xi¡¯s last bit of patience was completely worn away, ¡°Firstly, this is the master¡¯s home, and as a guest, you should at least know to follow the host¡¯s convenience. Secondly, the Miss Lu you mentioned has married the master; she is now Mrs. Song, so please mind your title.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo was choked by Zhao Xi¡¯s words, his face grew dark, and in the end, he said nothing more.


    Seeing this, Zhao Xi gestured for him to proceed, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the study and wait, so as not to waste the master¡¯s time.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After Zhao Xi had settled Xiao Mo in the room, he left.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao, completely oblivious, had changed her clothes and gone straight to the study.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao pushed open the door, Xiao Mo was seated on the sofa in the study.


    Since she was at home, Lu Zhaozhao wore a beige slip dress and had thrown on a khaki-colored, thin knitted cardigan before heading out.


    Upon seeing Xiao Mo in the study, her eyebrows furrowed sharply, and she almost instinctively took a step back.


    ¡°Miss Lu!¡± Xiao Mo stood up and called out to her right away, ¡°I came here specifically to see you!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, and after a brief pause, she stepped back into the study instead of leaving.


    Xiao Mo had come to the Song Family at this time to find her; he surely had some plan up his sleeve.


    Now, with Song Sinian not yet arrived, she might be able to get something out of him.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth slightly, ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware you were in my husband¡¯s study. If you have important matters to discuss, I better leave.¡±


    Xiao Mo shook his head vigorously, ¡°No, no, no, Miss Lu, I came here specifically to deliver an evening gown to you. But Assistant Zhao said you were sick and it wasn¡¯t convenient for you to come out, so I was directed to the study.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Having said that, Lu Zhaozhao walked over to the sofa.


    Xiao Mo immediately placed the dress he had brought on the table between the two sofas, ¡°This is from Lady Xiao. She sent it over for Miss Song¡¯s welcome back banquet, hoping you would take a look and see if it suits you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze fell upon the dress in front of her, her eyes slightly downcast.


    From the very start, he had been calling her Miss Lu, not Mrs. Song, his intention couldn¡¯t be more obvious.


    Lu Zhaozhao sneered softly in her heart and didn¡¯t hurry to open the box containing the dress.


    Xiao Jinglan actually took the initiative to select a dress for the banquet for her?


    Her eyes narrowed as she suddenly recalled that this seemed to have happened in her past life too.


    At that time Xiao Jinglan had prepared almost identical dresses for her and Song Keren, except hers was a knockoff.


    Since Xiao Jinglan had someone create a 1:1 high-quality imitation, it was impossible to tell there was anything wrong with it.


    She had made a fool of herself at the welcome banquet.


    As for her evening gown, afterwards, Xiao Jinglan blamed it on the servants of the Song Family.


    Song Keren even used the incident to promote the idea that she was more cherished in the Song Family than Mrs. Song herself, the epitome of a true young lady and socialite.


    Her dazzling appearance at the welcome banquet, along with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s promotion, nearly elevated Song Keren to the status of the top socialite of the Shangjing Circle.


    With this comparison, the outside world¡¯s view of Lu Zhaozhao as Mrs. Song became even more disdainful.


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly opened the gift box in front of her, the familiar dress making the corners of her mouth involuntarily twitch.


    Indeed, whether it was her past life or this one, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s intentions always seemed to be unchanged!


    This time, her plans to use her as a stepping stone probably wouldn¡¯t work...


    ¡°What a beautiful dress, Lady Xiao has really good taste~¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s delicate hand gently caressed the evening dress in front of her, her eyes hiding a hard-to-detect complexity.


    Xiao Mo, of course, didn¡¯t notice the change in her emotions, his gaze simply wandering over her pretty face.


    Perhaps it was because she had just recovered from illness, her face still bore a hint of sickly pallor, making her appear especially frail and heartbreaking.


    ¡°Miss Lu is naturally beautiful, surely anything you wear will look good.¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s voice slowly filled the study, ¡°This dress is specially custom-made by Lady Xiao from a high-end luxury brand. Would you like to try it on? If the size isn¡¯t right, I can also help to convey that...¡±


    His voice sounded very gentle, a perfectly cultured demeanor.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at him and felt a wave of nausea, ¡°No need, Lady Xiao is so meticulous, there certainly won¡¯t be any mistakes with such things.¡±


    She certainly didn¡¯t want to play dress-up for Xiao Mo, nor did she want to endure ¡°baptism¡± from his gaze.


    Otherwise, she might just throw up right there.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao was indifferent, Xiao Mo then said, ¡°Does Miss Lu feel unwell? I heard you were sick yesterday, is your health alright now?¡±


    As he said this, he stood up and naturally sat down next to Lu Zhaozhao, looking very concerned.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression stiffened slightly, and she subconsciously moved to the side, ¡°Thank you for your concern, I am much better now.¡±


    If he could stay further away from her, she would be even better!


    Xiao Mo noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s slight movement, it seemed she was only used to being around Song Sinian, hence she wasn¡¯t quite accustomed to the proximity of men, appearing quite shy.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he said with a light chuckle, ¡°Every time I see Miss Lu, I feel it¡¯s such a pity we didn¡¯t meet sooner. If we had, perhaps our relationship would be different now...¡±

 Chapter 125: 125 Full of Bad Intentions

    Chapter 125: Chapter 125 Full of Bad Intentions


    While he was speaking, he gradually leaned closer and closer to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fists slowly clenched, ready to punch the bastard hard.


    Just as she was about to make her move, a cold voice rang out from the doorway of the study, ¡°How do you want to change your relationship?¡±


    Xiao Mo had completely forgotten that this was Song Sinian¡¯s house.


    He was clearly startled by the voice, jerking in response, and immediately took a seat at the very edge of the sofa.


    Seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s cowardly behavior, a look of disgust flickered across Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, but she still maintained a sweet and clever demeanor, sitting still.


    ...


    Song Sinian slowly stepped inside, his tall figure casting a silent shadow that brought an invisible sense of oppression with it.


    Xiao Mo swallowed hard, clearly feeling uneasy as he looked at Song Sinian.


    Although he had never witnessed firsthand how Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao got along, he had heard about the two of them.


    Especially about Song Sinian¡¯s possessiveness over Lu Zhaozhao, something he¡¯d heard quite a bit about.


    ¡°Move away,¡± commanded Song Sinian, his gaze fixed on him, cold and predatory in a way that sent chills down the spine.


    Xiao Mo, not wanting to lose face in front of Lu Zhaozhao, but feeling the pressure from Song Sinian, reluctantly moved to sit across from them.


    Immediately after, Song Sinian took the opportunity to sit on the same sofa as Lu Zhaozhao.


    He glanced at her, said nothing, then turned his attention back to Xiao Mo, ¡°Just now you mentioned wanting a different relationship with her? What kind of relationship were you hoping for?¡±


    Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t expected Song Sinian to pursue the topic so doggedly, and he awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°I feel that between Miss Lu and I...¡±


    ¡°She is my wife.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s trailing words got cut off as Song Sinian bluntly corrected his speech, ¡°She¡¯s married. You should call her Mrs. Song or the CEO¡¯s wife.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo was clearly taken aback, his face turning even stiffer.


    He opened his mouth and after a long pause finally found his voice, ¡°I... I think if the CEO¡¯s wife and I had met earlier, we might have become good friends, that¡¯s all I meant.¡±


    His fist clenched tightly as he struggled to maintain a normal appearance on his face.


    But his expression might deceive Song Sinian, it didn¡¯t fool Lu Zhaozhao.


    Seeing him deflated, Lu Zhaozhao immediately felt a sense of relief wash over her. She quickly wrapped her arms around Song Sinian¡¯s arm and said seriously to Xiao Mo, ¡°Mr. Xiao, even if we had known each other earlier, it wouldn¡¯t be possible for us to become friends. My mother says a girl should respect herself and not associate with boys casually.¡±


    After saying this, Lu Zhaozhao blinked at Song Sinian right in front of Xiao Mo and said, ¡°Mr. Song, I did well, right? The only man I¡¯m close to is you~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Mrs. Lu, your family education really is strict.¡±


    At this point, Xiao Mo¡¯s inner thoughts were cursing Mr. and Mrs. Lu, wishing they had left him some dignity in educating Lu Zhaozhao; he wouldn¡¯t be so embarrassed otherwise!


    But it seemed the couple had long decided to marry off Lu Zhaozhao to someone as a wife, probably brainwashing her since childhood just for that reason?


    So that no matter who she married, she would always be obedient.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes narrowed as he increasingly felt that Song Sinian was extremely lucky to have married Lu Zhaozhao, such a charming and obedient beauty.


    Hmph! What a waste of heavenly gifts!


    Song Sinian raised his hand and rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, but his gaze turned to Xiao Mo opposite him, ¡°If you have something to say, say it quickly, I don¡¯t have so much free time to deal with you.¡±


    His obviously indifferent tone resonated in the study, instantly making the atmosphere in the room oppressive.


    This kind of suffocating feeling, as if one was grasping someone else¡¯s throat, was tough for Xiao Mo to handle.


    ¡°I, I came today mainly to deliver a gown to the CEO¡¯s wife, as well as a list of guests and information for the welcome banquet. Lady Xiao is worried that she might feel uncomfortable for not recognizing these guests.¡±


    When Xiao Mo said this, relying on Song Sinian¡¯s insensitivity to other people¡¯s expressions, he still did not forget to give Lu Zhaozhao a comforting smile.


    But he saw Song Sinian¡¯s large hand directly pinch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, twisting her little face over, and he dominantly said, ¡°You are only allowed to look at me; don¡¯t look at anyone else.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was naturally very accommodating, hugging Song Sinian and cheerfully responding, ¡°Alright, alright, only looking at our Mr. Song.¡±


    After that, she truly did not give Xiao Mo another glance.


    This made Xiao Mo even more annoyed.


    His chin imperceptibly pressed down, and the veins on his neck stood out due to the tension.


    Song Sinian could not make sense of Xiao Mo¡¯s expression and couldn¡¯t be bothered to care, he raised his hand and threw the materials back on the table, coldly saying, ¡°The esteemed CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group needs to go and recognize each face? That¡¯s really giving them too much credit.¡±


    Xiao Mo, with a forced smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, looked at Song Sinian, ¡°President Song, basic etiquette must still be followed, right?¡±


    ¡°If they can¡¯t even take the initiative to introduce themselves when they meet, then there¡¯s no need to cooperate with the Song Family,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s tone was chilly, his eyes held a pride that could disregard everything.


    He was the sole heir of the Song Group; his words could completely represent the Song Group¡ªwho would dare not to listen?


    Such confidence in orchestrating strategies was irritating to behold!


    Xiao Mo bit his lip but still spoke in a calm and polite tone, ¡°Since President Song has said so, then I¡¯ll take these materials back.¡±


    As for the matter of the gown, he did not dare to bring it up.


    He was worried that with Song Sinian¡¯s temper, he might just throw the gown out too, and then their plan would fall through.


    Thinking like this, Xiao Mo slowly stood up, ¡°Since I have completed the tasks assigned by Lady Xiao, I shall take my leave now.¡±


    He said this while his gaze involuntarily landed on Lu Zhaozhao, hoping to attract her attention with his departure.


    So he could remind Lu Zhaozhao once again about the gown.


    But to his disappointment, until he reached the doorway of the study, Lu Zhaozhao did not look at him again.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face nearly contorted, and in the end, he could only grit his teeth and leave.


    For a moment, only Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian were left in the room.


    The study fell into sheer silence, with only the occasional rustling of the curtains.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes dropped for a moment to look at Lu Zhaozhao, who was still leaning on his shoulder, and he slowly spoke, ¡°Do you like interacting with people like Xiao Mo?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows shot up, looking up at Song Sinian, not understanding at all how he had deduced that she liked interacting with people like Xiao Mo.


    She pouted, her face full of disdain, ¡°No, I don¡¯t like people like him at all, with an air of decency but full of malice inside!¡±

 Chapter 126: 126: He Couldnt Really Be Saving Up for Something Big...

    Chapter 126: Chapter 126: He Couldn¡¯t Really Be Saving Up for Something Big...


    Song Sinian reached out and pinched her chin, scrutinizing her facial expression as if confirming something.


    Actually, from the moment he had entered, he had seen the two sitting very close together, which nearly made a surge of displeasure instantly well up from within him.


    To be precise, it was an emotion even more intense than displeasure.


    He even felt an urge to tear Xiao Mo to pieces right then and there.


    However, now that Lu Zhaozhao had personally said she didn¡¯t like Xiao Mo, it surprisingly soothed that intense emotion at the bottom of his heart quite a bit.


    Song Sinian¡¯s thumb gently swept across Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s soft little cheeks, and with drooping eyebrows and eyes, he asked, ¡°What were you guys talking about just now?¡±


    ...


    He wanted to know.


    He wanted to know what kind of words could make Xiao Mo say he wanted to get to know Lu Zhaozhao earlier.


    He had never considered this before.


    If Lu Zhaozhao really had someone she liked before him, would she still choose to marry him?


    Song Sinian was unsure.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes blinked, and she stretched out her little hand, pressing Song Sinian¡¯s large hand against her cheek, ¡°Just now he said he came to deliver a gown on behalf of Xiao Jinglan, saying that I have natural beauty and look good in anything.¡±


    She didn¡¯t hide a thing and spilled everything Xiao Mo had said to her to Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t worried that Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t be angry; rather, she was concerned that Song Sinian wasn¡¯t cautious of Xiao Mo.


    After all, in the previous life, he was Xiao Jinglan¡¯s accomplice.


    Now, the two of them must have already been colluding, so she absolutely couldn¡¯t let Song Sinian trust this annoying guy!


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed considerably, his gaze sizing up Lu Zhaozhao from top to bottom. With a slight loosening of his large hand, he gripped her neck the next second, pulling her entire body into his embrace.


    ¡°He was clearly praising your beauty, but I find it very uncomfortable,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice sounded muffled against Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder.


    Lu Zhaozhao was visibly startled.


    She had been blunt only with the intention of making Song Sinian dislike Xiao Mo, yet could there be an unexpected gain?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand slipped through his waist and slowly climbed up his back, gently patting it, ¡°Mr. Song, are you very upset, er, very uncomfortable because you saw him getting too close to me?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Song Sinian almost instantaneously responded affirmatively.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her little mouth, patiently explaining to him, ¡°This feeling, it¡¯s called jealousy.¡±


    ¡°Jealousy?¡± Song Sinian muttered the word to himself.


    He could vividly remember the meanings of terms related to emotions, yet he recalled that jealousy was supposed to be a synonym for envy, wasn¡¯t it?


    Was he jealous of Xiao Mo?


    Jealous of his closeness to Lu Zhaozhao?


    Just thinking of the word ¡°closeness¡± made him feel even more irritable.


    Seeing Song Sinian staying silent for a long time, Lu Zhaozhao just about tried to poke her head out from his embrace when he pressed her back in again.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you... Eh?¡±


    She attempted to struggle, but was pushed back yet again.


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao was a bit stunned and couldn¡¯t figure out what Song Sinian was thinking.


    Her eyes darting around, she immediately said softly, ¡°Mr. Song, it¡¯s painful for me like this, can you let go of me first?¡±


    Almost the next second, Song Sinian let her go, but... his large hand directly covered her eyes.


    ¡°Song...¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Song Sinian once again embraced her from behind.


    This time he buried his head directly into the nape of her neck, completely avoiding Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s line of sight.


    Lu Zhaozhao: ?????


    What¡¯s going on?


    ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t look at me,¡± Song Sinian murmured, sensing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s discomfort.


    But his words seemed to have no effect on Lu Zhaozhao at all.


    With a puzzled lift of her eyebrow, she asked in utter confusion, ¡°Why can¡¯t I look at you?¡±


    ¡°I heard before that jealousy makes one¡¯s face ugly...¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªhahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.


    She never would have thought that their very own Mr. Song was also a hidden comedian.


    Why did his serious-looking statement sound so funny!


    Clearly, Song Sinian was also confused by her laughter.


    He looked at her somewhat dazedly until she wiped the tear from the corner of her eye and turned halfway to embrace his face.


    ¡°Aiyo, how can my Mr. Song be so cute?¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, and didn¡¯t forget to plant a kiss on his cheek.


    Seeing his completely bewildered face, Lu Zhaozhao almost burst out laughing again.


    She took a deep breath and finally managed to suppress the urge to continue laughing, then explained to him, ¡°That phrase just means that jealousy can make a person irrational. Ugly doesn¡¯t mean you actually become ugly; you don¡¯t have to worry, okay?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao said this while again uncontrollably ruffling Song Sinian¡¯s hair.


    Thinking about how adorable his thoughts were made her heart nearly melt, ¡°Our Mr. Song is the most handsome in my eyes, no matter what you look like, I like you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian felt much better after Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s grooming and tended to her neck with a gentle kiss, then nestled beside her again.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    She gently stroked Song Sinian¡¯s hair, her gaze inadvertently falling on the evening gown on the table.


    ¡°By the way, Mr. Song, I need your help with something.¡±


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao spoke out, Song Sinian immediately sprang up from her neck as if shot with adrenaline.


    ¡°What do you need my help with?¡± His deep eyes nearly twinkled with excitement as he looked at her, making Lu Zhaozhao swallow back the words that had reached her lips.


    If she remembered correctly, Sinian had... had missed out on several rewards already, hadn¡¯t he?


    He couldn¡¯t really be saving up for something big... emmm.


    Just the thought of Song Sinian¡¯s dangerous words that day made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart skip a beat.


    She opened her mouth, suddenly unsure whether to ask Song Sinian for help.


    But then she thought, she¡¯s not losing out¡ªafter all, he¡¯s her husband!


    With that thought, Lu Zhaozhao reached out her hand to pull the evening gown from the table and said, ¡°This is the dress Lady Xiao sent over...¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to wear it, just cast it aside; I¡¯ve already prepared another outfit for you to wear to the welcoming party.¡± Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t finished speaking, but Song Sinian decisively offered an alternative.


    He might not know what kind of haute couture Lu Zhaozhao liked, but the best there is can¡¯t be too far wrong.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment, ¡°This dress was personally delivered by Lady Xiao, and it might not be appropriate if she sees me not wearing the dress she sent.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about her being unhappy seeing that, then she just won¡¯t need to attend this welcoming party.¡±

 Chapter 127: 127 How Did You Know?

    Chapter 127: Chapter 127 How Did You Know?


    Song Sinian still swiftly came up with the best solution.


    ¡°...¡±


    What a guy! No wonder he¡¯s Mr. Song, with such brutally effective methods.


    But this time, she intended for Xiao Jinglan to reap what she sowed¡ªhow could she let such an important ¡°guest¡± leave the scene?


    Lu Zhaozhao wrapped her arms around Song Sinian¡¯s neck and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such trouble, I need your help with something else...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan wanted her to lose face?


    ...


    She¡¯d just repay her in her own coin!


    Her eyes twinkled, ¡°I¡¯d like Mr. Song to help me prepare gowns for Lady Xiao and Song Keren that match the grade of this dress.¡±


    There were many ways to change Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren¡¯s evening gowns, but the fastest and most convenient way was to go directly to Song Sinian.


    Not knowing whether he¡¯d ask her about the specifics, she frowned slightly, pondering how to explain to him when she heard a crisp ¡°Okay¡± by her ear.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze landed on the evening gown on the table, and his dark eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°So, are you still wearing this evening gown?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Yes, but I want to wear the real thing~¡±


    Of course, the counterfeit should be worn by that counterfeit heiress!


    She wants to be the top socialite of the Shangjing Circle?


    Then let¡¯s solidify her as the number one fake socialite of Shangjing!


    At that time, Xiao Mo had already driven away from the villa, calling Xiao Jinglan while speeding on the road.


    ¡°Dudu dudu...¡± The faint vibration of the car phone echoed inside the car.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression could only be described as ¡°ferocious.¡±


    Just at Song Sinian¡¯s house, he couldn¡¯t lose his temper openly, so after leaving the villa, he almost ground his back teeth to pieces.


    Soon, the phone was picked up, and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Hello? Xiao Mo? Has the evening gown arrived?¡±


    Xiao Mo snorted lightly, ¡°Of course it has, but whether Lu Zhaozhao will wear it is another matter.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinglan suddenly became anxious, ¡°What, Lu Zhaozhao refused?¡±


    With her lackadaisical attitude, she shouldn¡¯t have refused, especially after she was told that the dress was picked out by her elder¡ªshe couldn¡¯t possibly refuse.


    Xiao Mo scoffed, ¡°She liked it herself, but some people didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Some people?¡± Xiao Jinglan paused for a moment as if realizing something, ¡°You mean Song Sinian won¡¯t let Lu Zhaozhao wear it?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t thought of that.


    She had seen Lu Zhaozhao a few times before, and her clothes were always from her own closet, so she thought Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t bother with such trifles...


    Xiao Jinglan grew a bit anxious, ¡°Then, what do we do? If she doesn¡¯t wear this gown, won¡¯t all our preparation be wasted?¡±


    For this, she even had the trending searches ready.


    Just waiting for Lu Zhaozhao to slip up so that Song Keren could step over her.


    Previously, she always felt Lu Zhaozhao was utterly useless.


    But with her current popularity and having her paintings appreciated by an art circle bigwig like Teresa, as long as she steps over her, Song Keren¡¯s status in the Shangjing Circle would be secure!


    Xiao Jinglan had finally crafted her plan with great difficulty and absolutely could not afford any problems with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xiao Mo sighed lightly, ¡°Ha! Isn¡¯t it all because of Song Sinian? He can¡¯t stand other men getting close to Lu Zhaozhao, so it¡¯s inevitable he¡¯d reject anything I bring over.¡±


    But precisely because of this, he became even more certain that he was on the right path!


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao spent more time with him, she would start to compare, and naturally, she would start to dislike Song Sinian and eventually come to his embrace.


    At this welcoming party, if Lu Zhaozhao made a mistake, she would definitely be blamed by Song Sinian. At that moment, all he needed to do was pretend to care for her casually, which would be enough for her to change her mind.


    Unfortunately, Song Sinian had shown up just when he was delivering the evening dress, which was truly annoying!


    Upon hearing Xiao Mo¡¯s words, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows instantly knotted, ¡°I told you before that Song Sinian¡¯s possessiveness over Lu Zhaozhao is oddly strong. You wouldn¡¯t listen and insisted on delivering the evening dress personally. Now the plan has hit a snag. What do you suggest we do?¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression darkened as he retorted sharply, ¡°Even if it wasn¡¯t me who personally delivered the evening dress, with Song Sinian¡¯s domineering and unreasonable character, do you think Lu Zhaozhao would be able to wear the dress we prepared?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    In truth, Xiao Jinglan was also unsure, which was why she had sent Xiao Mo personally.


    Just as Xiao Jinglan hesitated whether to cancel the upcoming trending search plan, she suddenly received a message.


    It was from Lu Zhaozhao!


    ¡°Lady Xiao, I have received the evening dress. It¡¯s very beautiful. I wonder if I can add a beautiful bow accessory to it?¡±


    Seeing this message, Xiao Jinglan almost jumped up in excitement.


    She quickly spoke to Xiao Mo on the phone, ¡°It¡¯s settled! It¡¯s settled! She¡¯s wearing it! She¡¯s confirmed she¡¯ll be wearing that evening dress! Everything stays the same!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s excited voice came through the phone somewhat jumbled.


    Xiao Mo furrowed his brow, asking perplexedly, ¡°How do you know?¡±


    While replying to the message on her phone, Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t forget to explain, ¡°It¡¯s from Lu Zhaozhao thanking me and casually asking if she could add a pretty bow to the dress.¡±


    ¡°Ha... A bow? Lu Zhaozhao really is interesting.¡±


    Xiao Mo chuckled, picturing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lovely little face adorned with a bow, which indeed seemed perfect.


    But then again, she was now focused on marrying Song Sinian, which annoyed him even more.


    Thinking this, Xiao Mo added, ¡°Advance the timing of the trending search. Start it as soon as Lu Zhaozhao and Song Keren both appear at the welcoming party.¡±


    He had no intention of giving Lu Zhaozhao any leeway to return to Song Sinian¡¯s side.


    Though she was currently favored by Song Sinian, it was all superficial.


    As soon as she caused embarrassment for the Song Family, and Old Master Song¡¯s dignity was compromised, he would definitely pressure Song Sinian.


    When Song Sinian eventually blamed everything on Lu Zhaozhao, he could perfectly execute his gentle strategy.


    Thinking of Lu Zhaozhao, Xiao Mo¡¯s lips unconsciously curled up.


    Indeed, such a delicate woman should be by his side!


    Hearing Xiao Mo¡¯s plan, Xiao Jinglan clearly grew nervous, ¡°Going on the trending search so soon... Could we be discovered by the old master?¡±


    If Old Master Song found out it was them attacking Lu Zhaozhao, she would also be in deep trouble...

 Chapter 128: 128: Do You Want Me to Stay with You?

    Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Do You Want Me to Stay with You?


    ¡°Relax, the old man won¡¯t care about what¡¯s happening online. You just need to do your part well.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s indifferent voice transmitted through the phone.


    He wasn¡¯t paying attention to this matter at all.


    Besides, he had prepared for this early in the morning.


    He had contacted several ¡®water army¡¯ companies of various sizes; the Song Family would be more concerned about the impact of this matter on the Song Group. Who would think to trace the source of public opinion first?


    ¡°But...¡±


    ...


    It was obvious that Xiao Jinglan was still anxious; after all, this matter was crucial for Song Keren to establish a solid footing in the Shangjing Circle.


    As long as they firmly suppressed Lu Zhaozhao this time, everything else would follow naturally.


    So she had to be extra careful!


    Xiao Mo, annoyed by the tone of her voice, snapped, ¡°But what? Make sure Song Keren is prepared. Don¡¯t come to blame me for being ruthless if she¡¯s the only thing not ready in the end!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I get it.¡± Xiao Jinglan, hearing Xiao Mo¡¯s outburst, naturally swallowed any questions she had.


    Now, it looked like she should focus on managing Song Keren¡¯s situation.


    Especially since she had just persuaded Cao Mei to agree on promoting the ¡®besties¡¯ concept with Xia Wenjin and Song Keren, this couldn¡¯t go wrong no matter what!


    The welcome dinner was set for Friday evening as per Song Sinian¡¯s request. Since it was hosted by the Song Family, many people attended.


    ¡°Mom, does this look good?¡± Song Keren stood in the dressing room, looking at herself, styled by the makeup team since the afternoon, exceptionally pleased.


    Her white evening gown was the latest season¡¯s design from XNER, typically only available for top celebrities to borrow.


    For this dress, her mother had really splurged and bought it outright.


    The figure-hugging white mermaid dress made her look like a Greek Muse.


    Compared to the knockoff Lu Zhaozhao would be wearing, the difference in class would be obvious.


    Thinking this, Song Keren couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips into a smile.


    She had always been abroad and never dreamed that Song Sinian, whom she had long been thinking of, was already married!


    And to a fake heiress?!


    Once the dinner began, Song Sinian would see that Lu Zhaozhao was not on the same level as her.


    Maybe then, he might change his mind...


    Xiao Jinglan observed Song Keren¡¯s affectionate gaze and frowned, unable to help but remind, ¡°Keren, you don¡¯t still harbor old feelings for Song Sinian, do you?¡±


    That was the reason she was sent abroad in the first place.


    She thought that after a few years overseas, this would blow over, but just looking at Song Keren¡¯s expression now made Xiao Jinglan frown.


    Song Keren was never very cunning and allowing emotions to drive her decisions now could likely affect Xiao Mo¡¯s plans in the future.


    ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong with me?¡± Song Keren frowned, ¡°I just wanted you to check out my outfit today. Why bring up irrelevant issues?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t relax much, ¡°Now that you¡¯re back in the country, you should listen to your brother carefully. That way, your path to stardom will be smooth, you know?¡±


    ¡°I know, I know.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Fortunately, the guests for the welcome dinner arrived quite early, so it wasn¡¯t long before Song Keren, with extra confidence in her step, walked out.


    She walked down the stairs from the second floor, immediately drawing many people¡¯s gazes.


    Among them were the young masters of the Shangjing Circle.


    ¡°Keren~¡± Suddenly, a tender voice called out from the side.


    By the time Song Keren regained her composure, Xia Wenjin had already approached and grabbed her hand, ¡°Keren, you look so beautiful today!¡±


    Song Keren was taken aback for a moment, then she remembered that the woman in front of her was Xia Wenjin, the girl her mother had previously mentioned who would join her in marketing a friendship persona.


    But when she saw the gold sequined deep-V evening gown Wenjin wore, a rigid smile instantly formed on her lips.


    Was this person who obviously came to play a supporting role trying to steal her thunder with such a cheap trick?


    Xia Wenjin knew she was wearing a pure desire style evening gown, and she dared to wear one that was the exact opposite in style¡ªclearly bright and sexy.


    Truly a schemer.


    Yet, she couldn¡¯t call her out directly, so she could only smile lightly, maintaining her persona, ¡°Jin, you¡¯re looking quite lovely yourself!¡±


    After mutually praising each other, they heard a commotion at the entrance.


    Everyone instinctively looked towards the doorway.


    They saw Song Sinian, dressed in a black suit, walking in with Lu Zhaozhao on his arm.


    Song Keren was about to feel smug when her gaze fell on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dress.


    Though it was the same as her own, it had a completely different aura.


    Her straps had clearly been altered, turned into beautiful off-the-shoulder pearls.


    And the butterfly knot she had mentioned wanting to add was made with nearly transparent tulle, loosely pinned at the waist, looking like a pair of wings.


    Her skin was naturally pale, and wearing this white fishtail gown made her entire appearance radiant, making it difficult for anyone to ignore her presence.


    Plus, with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s inherently high beauty quotient, the dress simply magnified all her best features.


    Almost as soon as Lu Zhaozhao stepped through the door, all eyes were captivated by her.


    Everyone had completely forgotten who the real guest of honor at the welcome banquet was.


    Each one flocked to Zhaozhao, introducing themselves.


    Zhaozhao just smiled lightly and elegantly, so composed that even Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t find any fault with her.


    Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she watched Zhaozhao from a distance, thankful that she had prepared a knockoff gown for her. If it had been the real deal... Song Keren would have been completely overshadowed.


    Thinking this, Jinglan¡¯s gaze inadvertently shifted to Song Keren not far away.


    At that moment, her gaze was fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, her expression terribly unsightly. Of course, Xia Wenjin beside her didn¡¯t look any better either.


    Luckily for Keren, with Jin present, even if her own face showed discontent, she could later claim solidarity with her best friend.


    While Jinglan was thinking this, she took Song Keren by the hand and walked over to Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to arrive so early. Since Zhaozhao and Keren are about the same age, why not let the young ladies chat?¡±


    She kept her eyes on Song Si as she spoke, seemingly waiting for him to agree.


    However, Song Sinian turned towards Lu Zhaozhao, as if asking for her opinion, ¡°Do you want me to stay with you?¡±


    The indifferent tone of his question left Song Keren, who had never seen Song Sinian concede, utterly astonished.


    He, Song Sinian, the sole heir to the Song Group.


    A man who normally wouldn¡¯t consider the feelings of others, was actually asking the woman beside him for her preference?

 Chapter 129: 129: Is This Still the Song Sinian She Knew?

    Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Is This Still the Song Sinian She Knew?


    Is this really the Song Sinian she knew?


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly and patted Song Sinian¡¯s large hand, ¡°No need, Mr. Song.¡±


    As she spoke, she tiptoed to whisper into his ear with an ultra-soft voice, ¡°If I miss you, I will come to find you, don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils drooped slightly, staring at her for three seconds before he raised his hand to gently pinch her cheek.


    Before they had arrived at the welcoming feast, Lu Zhaozhao had mentioned she might need to act alone, so he could only comply.


    ...


    After all, only that way would he have a reward when he returned.


    But the thought of parting with Lu Zhaozhao did nothing to lessen the irritation at the bottom of his heart.


    Song Sinian¡¯s sharp gaze swept past Song Keren in front of him and then landed on Xiao Jinglan, his voice coldly saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Faced with such a compliant Song Sinian, Xiao Jinglan found herself somewhat unaccustomed to it for a moment.


    She was stunned for a second, then quickly recovered, ¡°Then, let¡¯s go find Old Master Song first.¡±


    Song Sinian did not respond but walked towards the direction where Old Master Song was.


    As soon as she saw Song Sinian walking away, Xia Wenjin came straight over.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d dare to attend Keren¡¯s welcoming party, not even knowing your own weight, heh!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s sneering tone slowly rang in her ear.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her, chuckled lightly, ¡°If someone with a reputation as bad as yours can attend, why can¡¯t I?¡±


    Her words trailed off, turning to look at Song Keren, ¡°After all, no matter what, I am your sister-in-law, right, Keren?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao said this, deliberately giving Song Keren an exceptionally bright false smile.


    Song Keren opened her mouth, despite being displeased with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, in front of so many people, she had to put on a brave face and pretend to get along.


    After all, her current public persona was aimed at becoming the number one lady of the Shangjing Circle.


    The more she appeared to be tolerant of Lu Zhaozhao, the more topics she would have to talk about later.


    She clenched her fists slightly, ¡°You, marrying Song Sinian, naturally makes you my sister-in-law, no doubt...¡±


    Xia Wenjin, on the other hand, was discontent, holding onto Song Keren¡¯s arm, ¡°Keren, let me tell you, don¡¯t be fooled by this woman¡¯s appearance, she married President Song solely relying on our Lu Family¡¯s status! The original marriage agreement was between our Lu Family and the Song Family!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted her eyes to look at Xia Wenjin, upon hearing her words, she didn¡¯t know whether to feel sympathy for Song Keren or for Xia Wenjin.


    Her just-stated words seemed to explain that her current status as Mrs. Song was a sham, but in reality, it was just boasting about herself.


    A way to say that she was supposed to be Mrs. Song Sinian.


    But what Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know was that Song Keren¡¯s feelings for Song Sinian were not simply those of siblings.


    Xiao Jinglan was her mother from another man, and she had no relation to the Song family whatsoever.


    Having grown up with a handsome and wealthy man like Song Sinian, it was hard for Song Keren to not be attracted.


    So in her past life, Song Keren hated her for marrying Song Sinian and thus maltreated her in every possible way.


    She had endured Song Keren time and again because she was Xiao Jinglan¡¯s daughter, but Song Keren showed no sign of restraint.


    Now, with Xia Wenjin emphasizing this point in front of her, just on this basis, Song Keren could not genuinely stand on the same line with her.


    Indeed, Song Keren¡¯s lips twitched imperceptibly.


    She was clearly forcing herself to suppress her disgust towards Xia Wenjin and said with a strained smile, ¡°Jin, no matter what, she¡¯s my sister-in-law now...¡±


    Although Song Keren really disliked Lu Zhaozhao, that did not mean she wanted to show it in front of so many people.


    As for what was going on between Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao, she didn¡¯t need to worry at all.


    The two of them had already caused quite a stir online because of the ¡°True vs. False Heiress¡± incident, and netizens were well aware they were in a state of conflict.


    So even if Xia Wenjin was rude to Lu Zhaozhao, any criticism would be directed towards Xia Wenjin, definitely not falling on her.


    How could Lu Zhaozhao fail to see through her thoughts?


    ¡°Keren, I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯d better stay away from Xia Wenjin. She smeared her forehead with makeup to gain popularity before. If she tries some trick on you next time, it could be troublesome. You must be careful.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao said this with a face full of concern, as if she was truly worried for Song Keren.


    By her side, Xia Wenjin, upon seeing this, glared angrily at Lu Zhaozhao and immediately explained to Song Keren, ¡°No, Keren, that¡¯s not it, I was... I was set up...¡±


    Her words faltered, as if emphasizing that Lu Zhaozhao was the mastermind behind it all.


    In reality, the specifics of the situation did not matter to Song Keren.


    But the feeling of having both of them vying for her attention made her suddenly experience a surge of superiority.


    What could the young miss of the Lu Family do? Wasn¡¯t she still obliged to participate in hype at her behest?


    What about being Mrs. Song Si? Didn¡¯t she also have to curry favor with her graciously?


    And soon, both of them would become stepping stones under her feet!


    Thinking this, Song Keren¡¯s mood instantly improved.


    Compared to Xia Wenjin, who wore her ambition plainly on her face, she preferred someone like Lu Zhaozhao, who was quiet and unassuming.


    Plus, she had heard from Xiao Jinglan before about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ¡®salted fish¡¯ tendencies, so she found herself disliking Xia Wenjin even more.


    Song Keren forced a smile and casually appeased Xia Wenjin with a few words, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not quibble right now. This is my welcome party, after all. Jin, could you please give me some face here, okay?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing Song Keren¡¯s words, which clearly showed partiality, her face fell instantly.


    If it weren¡¯t for Cao Mei telling her before that Song Keren was useful, she wouldn¡¯t bother coming here to play at best friends with her!


    Now she had to listen to her talk nonsense, please!


    Lu Zhaozhao saw the mutual disdain between Song Keren and Xia Wenjin and couldn¡¯t help but smirk; it wasn¡¯t a waste of her time after all.


    As long as these two truly disliked each other, dealing with them both would be much easier.


    Now that the stage was set, she just waited for Xiao Jinglan and the others to start the show!


    Lu Zhaozhao was immersed in her thoughts when she suddenly heard a loud noise coming from not too far away¡ª


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Almost everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards the source of the noise.


    Lu Zhaozhao was no exception.


    Since the sound came from very close to Song Si, Lu Zhaozhao almost instinctively ran over in her evening gown.


    It was not until she saw Song Si standing unharmed that she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Suddenly, she felt a tight grip around her waist, and the next thing she knew, Song Si had pulled her over and held her in his embrace.


    He gently patted her back and asked with a soothing voice, ¡°Did the noise just now startle you?¡±

 Chapter 130: 130 The Show is About to Start

    Chapter 130: Chapter 130 The Show is About to Start


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t exactly scared, she had just been a bit worried about Song Sinian.


    Now that she saw he was okay, she naturally let out a sigh of relief.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently shook her head and looked up at Song Sinian, ¡°It¡¯s fine. What just happened?¡±


    Song Sinian bowed slightly and leaned closer to her ear to whisper, ¡°The show is about to start.¡±


    After that, he stood up straight again and gently patted her, turning his gaze toward Mr. Song.


    ...


    When Lu Zhaozhao saw Song Sinian handling the situation with such ease, she immediately felt much calmer.


    It seemed that the matter was under Mr. Song¡¯s control.


    So, her gaze also turned toward Mr. Song.


    She saw him glaring furiously at a middle-aged man in front of him, seemingly very angry.


    ¡°Is this the red wine you prepared? Do you really think I¡¯m so senile that I can¡¯t distinguish good from bad?¡±


    As he spoke, Mr. Song picked up a bottle of red wine and smashed it on the ground.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The pieces of the red wine bottle scattered everywhere, and Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed, as he pulled Lu Zhaozhao closer to him.


    Apparently, he was afraid she was too close and might get hurt by the shards of the bottle.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Jinglan, who hadn¡¯t expected Mr. Song to lose his temper so severely, hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over.


    After all, this reception was prepared for Song Keren, and they couldn¡¯t let a small issue ruin it.


    Xiao Jinglan forced a smile, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you so angry? Don¡¯t get upset over insignificant people and harm your health.¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s brows immediately furrowed even more, and with an unhappy look towards Xiao Jinglan, he continued, ¡°Insignificant people? Take a look for yourself at this welcome banquet you¡¯ve prepared! See for yourself what he has done!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was also a bit stunned. She had come to mediate, but how did it end up involving her too?


    She glanced nervously at Mr. Song, then looked in the direction he was referring to.


    There were various drinks prepared on the table.


    All of them appeared to be fine, high-end liquor.


    But soon, Xiao Jinglan noticed something amiss.


    Because those high-end drinks were only a facade, and inside all the red wine bottles were brands she had never heard of...


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face immediately turned ugly, ¡°Dad, this, this wasn¡¯t my doing!¡±


    Mr. Song looked at her panicked expression, and his voice instantly became colder, ¡°I would have thought you didn¡¯t have the gall.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan then secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    But Mr. Song¡¯s next words made her heart fall to the bottom.


    ¡°If you can¡¯t even handle this simple task, you don¡¯t need to bother with affairs at the Song Mansion anymore.¡± Mr. Song glanced at the old butler beside him and instructed, ¡°You handle this. Find out exactly how much they have embezzled, and make sure you investigate thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t expected the situation to become so serious. She hurriedly forced a smile and stepped forward, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s true that I neglected my supervisory duties, but I can...¡±


    ¡°If you know it¡¯s your fault, that¡¯s enough, you don¡¯t need to involve yourself any further.¡± Without waiting for Xiao Jinglan to finish, Mr. Song abruptly cut her off.


    These past years, it was entirely for the sake of Song Sinian¡¯s face that he had delegated power and let Xiao Jinglan handle some internal matters of the Song Mansion.


    But her reach had been too long, and she even started to scheme against him, an old man ¨C he could not ignore that.


    ¡°But Dad...¡± Xiao Jinglan clearly wanted to struggle a bit more.


    ¡°`


    After all, stripping her of her authority in front of so many people was no different from slapping her in the face.


    How could she mix with the society ladies after this?


    Xiao Jinglan bit back her protest as she looked at Mr. Song and said, ¡°Dad, I will handle this matter well, please give me another chance!¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s grizzled eyebrows furrowed slightly. ¡°If you¡¯re so worried, could it be that you instructed him to embezzle?¡±


    ¡°No, absolutely not!¡± Xiao Jinglan shook her head fervently. ¡°I have food and drink in the Song Family, why would I do such a despicable thing?¡±


    Yet, the problem was, the person in question was truly one of her most trusted.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why he would do this¡ªif the people working under Mr. Song investigated him and he wasn¡¯t careful with his words, she was sure to be the one in trouble!


    That¡¯s why she wanted to take this matter into her own hands.


    Mr. Song glanced at her and said, ¡°Since you¡¯re not involved, you don¡¯t need to handle it.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    Since more and more people were gathering around, Xiao Jinglan had no choice but to give up.


    If Mr. Song was steadfast in his decision, there was certainly no room for her to maneuver.


    She would wait for Xiao Mo to arrive later and then discuss a counterstrategy.


    Xiao Jinglan glanced at the wine bottle at her feet and then at the person kneeling on the ground, unable to do anything but watch as Mr. Song¡¯s personnel dragged him away.


    The situation developed so unexpectedly that Xiao Jinglan was somewhat caught off guard, but fortunately, the arrangements she had made in advance remained unaffected.


    She needed to start her countermeasures immediately, while everyone¡¯s attention was focused here.


    Xiao Jinglan looked around at the crowd and caught the eye of one of them, signaling with a glance.


    Soon, the person who had been moving through the crowd walked straight over to Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Oh my gosh, Mrs. Song, your dress is gorgeous, where did you have it custom-made?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Song looks stunning today!¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Song, could you introduce me to the designer of your evening gown?¡±


    A few women considerably older than Lu Zhaozhao came over and began to socialize eagerly with her.


    Their approach was particularly irritating to Song Sinian.


    He almost instinctively tightened his embrace around Lu Zhaozhao, as if ready to confront anyone who dared to come closer.


    The moment his actions checked the approaching few, their words got stuck in their throats.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Song Sinian, almost amused by his childish behavior.


    His ruffled lion-like demeanor suggested not just ¡®no strangers allowed,¡¯ but rather a ¡®speak and you¡¯re dead¡¯ sort of warning.


    Her small hand gently patted Song Sinian, and she blinked sweetly at him, ¡°Mr. Song, I can handle this, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Despite his reluctance to let go, Song Sinian loosened his tight grip on the slender waist when he saw the smiling face of Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Don¡¯t stray too far from me.¡±


    His voice was low, clearly laced with displeasure.


    ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Lu Zhaozhao gently laughed and reached up to ruffle Song Sinian¡¯s hair.


    His overly compliant demeanor surprised the people standing beside Lu Zhaozhao.


    The president of Song Group?


    The icy Mr. Song Sinian?


    He was actually listening to a woman so attentively?


    Could it be that they...


    Before they could cast flirtatious glances at Song Sinian, his sharp gaze swept over them, his tone ice-cold, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you introduce yourselves to my wife before speaking to her?¡±


    ¡°`

 Chapter 131: 131 What is this brat up to?

    Chapter 131: Chapter 131 What is this brat up to?


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    ¡°This...¡±


    ¡°Er...¡±


    ...


    Several people were instantly suffocated by the low pressure emanating from Song Sinian¡¯s whole being.


    Help! This man was truly terrifying!


    ...


    They suddenly found themselves admiring how Lu Zhaozhao managed to stand her ground in front of such a capricious man, and even tamed him to be so docile and obedient?


    But the more pressing matter at hand was that they absolutely could not provoke Lu Zhaozhao under Song Sinian¡¯s watchful eye, else they were as good as dead!


    Had they not already been paid, they would have never come here to provoke Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ire.


    ¡°Mrs. Lu, I am from Zhao Group...¡±


    ¡°I am a designer...¡±


    ¡°I am...¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian watched with satisfaction as they obediently stated their affiliations, then turned and walked towards Old Master Song.


    It was only then that the group breathed a sigh of relief and continued to cozy up to Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen this haute couture piece at XNER before, it¡¯s a limited edition, not something the average person can get their hands on!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen this one too, and I can¡¯t believe Mrs. Song would wear the same dress as the Song Family¡¯s young miss. It seems your family relationship is really harmonious.¡±


    ¡°Yes, President Song also seems to be very fond of Mrs. Song!¡±


    The people harmonized in their flattery while Lu Zhaozhao skillfully responded with a few simple words.


    She was just waiting for them to play their trump card.


    Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out from within the crowd, ¡°Oh my God, Mrs. Song, your dress looks like a counterfeit!¡±


    The few who were just chattering beside Lu Zhaozhao immediately began to stir the atmosphere.


    ¡°How could that be possible? Mrs. Song¡¯s evening gown is so pretty!¡±


    ¡°How could such a beautiful dress be counterfeit?¡±


    ¡°Eh? It¡¯s not necessarily so, maybe Mrs. Song has been deceived...¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly raised her brows and watched the person approaching her without speaking.


    This person was Li Feite, the designer who had exposed her fake dress in front of numerous guests in her past life.


    She was one of the designers at XNER, but not the designer of this particular evening gown.


    Before coming to the banquet, she had Zhao Xi investigate Li Feite. Xiao Jinglan had promised to hire her as the designated designer for the Song Group and would spend a lot of money to build her personal brand. That¡¯s why she was doing all this.


    She truly had talent in design, but using others as a stepping stone for the sake of personal gain was utterly despicable!


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Li Feite with a cold eye and spoke indifferently, ¡°Miss, can you stand by what you said?¡±


    Li Feite snorted, ¡°Of course, I am the chief designer at XNER. How could I not recognize the evening gown designed by our company?¡±


    ¡°To be able to tell from so far away, you must have excellent vision,¡± came Old Master Song¡¯s imposing voice, though he appeared calm.


    He slowly walked over to Lu Zhaozhao, looked up at Song Sinian next to him, and saw that he had no intention of speaking, his eyebrows clearly furrowed.


    ¡°What the hell is this kid doing?¡±


    ¡°His wife is being bullied, and he¡¯s just staying silent?¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s face grew stern, visibly displeased that someone was bullying his precious granddaughter-in-law right before his eyes!


    Lu Zhaozhao turned to Mr. Song with a sweet smile and softly called out, ¡°Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°Mm, Zhaozhao, don¡¯t be afraid. With Grandpa here, no one can do anything to you,¡± Mr. Song said, beckoning Lu Zhaozhao with a wave of his hand to stand beside him.


    Li Feite was immediately taken aback, apparently not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to hold such a high status within the Song Family.


    Now that she had offended Lu Zhaozhao, could she still make it in the Song Group in the future?


    As Li Feite was hesitating about whether to proceed with the next part of her plan, she happened to catch sight of Xiao Jinglan in the crowd.


    She tilted her chin up a bit, signaling her to continue with the planned scheme.


    Li Feite swallowed, taking a moment to think.


    Now, with Mr. Song acting this way, perhaps it was just a show of wealthy people maintaining a facade, considering Xiao Jinglan had already promised her that as long as she made Lu Zhaozhao embarrass herself at the welcome party, her position as the designer-in-waiting at the Song Group was secure.


    Thinking this, Li Feite suddenly regained her confidence.


    Although Song Keren was supposed to be the main attraction of the welcome party, because of the commotion Mr. Song was making, almost everyone¡¯s attention had shifted his way for the moment.


    Mr. Song¡¯s sharp eyes blinked slightly and turned to Li Feite, asking, ¡°You just said the clothes Zhaozhao is wearing are fake. Can you stand by your words?¡±


    Li Feite nodded very affirmatively, ¡°Of course I can stand by them. This dress is from our company, and indeed two were purchased by Lady Xiao, but the one Mrs. Song is wearing is definitely not authentic.¡±


    Because Xiao Jinglan had never sent the genuine article to Lu Zhaozhao, how could she be wearing the real thing?


    Mr. Song swept his gaze over Li Feite, then turned to look at Song Sinian, his expression filled with a degree of incomprehension.


    It was as if he was saying, your wife is being treated this way, and you have no idea how to help?


    Song Sinian let out a silent sigh and stepped forward. ¡°To make a big deal out of clothes in public is really quite tedious.¡±


    His tone was indifferent, betraying no particular emotion.


    However, to Liszt, it seemed as if Song Sinian and the others believed that Lu Zhaozhao was wearing a counterfeit, but it simply wasn¡¯t appropriate to say so outright.


    ¡°President Song, for our brand, design is life. If someone plagiarizes our work, it is an insult to us as designers!¡± Liszt spoke fervently, as if ready to sacrifice himself for his design at any moment.


    The several people who had been standing by Lu Zhaozhao now joined in the chatter.


    ¡°Exactly, for the ladies of the Shangjing Circle, clothes are a matter of face. If the dress is fake, how can one show their face?¡±


    ¡°The Song Family is one of the top households in the Shangjing Circle. If the dress is a fake, once that gets out...¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t even tell the difference between a real and fake dress and just wears it? Tsk tsk, I heard Mrs. Song is the fake rich daughter from the Lu Family. Seems like no matter how rich you are raised, you can¡¯t change what¡¯s in your bones...¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao listened to these words obviously targeting her and the Song Family, realizing Xiao Jinglan had prepared quite thoroughly.


    Even putting together a more formidable array than in her previous life.


    But this time, she miscalculated.


    The corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth curled up slightly. ¡°Designer Li, since design is so important to you, then you shouldn¡¯t trivialize the works others have designed.¡±


    Her tone was soft, and she spoke deliberately, not showing any signs of disarray from Li Feite¡¯s attack.


    Li Feite let out a soft sneer, ¡°If knockoffs are also called design, then that¡¯s really an insult to design!¡±

 Chapter 132: 132: Does She Have an Ace Up Her Sleeve?

    Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Does She Have an Ace Up Her Sleeve?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at her haughty demeanor, with a faint smile still playing at the corners of her mouth.


    ¡°I hope, Designer Li, you¡¯ll still be as certain shortly.¡±


    Li Feite looked at Lu Zhaozhao puzzled, a clear wariness in her eyes.


    Does she have some sort of trump card?


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s calm and composed appearance, she began to feel somewhat uneasy.


    ¡°Although it¡¯s not very nice to do so, the designer of my dress is also here at the welcoming banquet today...¡±


    ...


    Li Feite¡¯s complexion changed slightly¡ªhad she bribed the designer of this gown?


    That¡¯s not right, other designers might be bought, but Alice, the designer of this dress, with her rigid personality, would definitely not admit to a design that wasn¡¯t hers just for money.


    This one-to-one counterfeit gown was made by her own hands, so outsiders couldn¡¯t tell the real from the fake¡ªI don¡¯t believe Lu Zhaozhao could spot it.


    Even if Alice, the dress¡¯s designer, came, it wouldn¡¯t affect the outcome.


    With this thought, Li Feite completely relaxed again.


    Soon, designer Alice, who had been on the periphery, came over.


    Seeing everyone gathered here, she raised her delicate eyebrows, her face full of confusion.


    ¡°Alice, this designer claimed my dress is a counterfeit, so I had no choice but to ask for your help...¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± As soon as Lu Zhaozhao finished speaking, Alice¡¯s expression immediately darkened.


    She turned her head following Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze and saw Li Feite¡¯s face.


    Almost instantly, she gave Li Feite a displeased glare, ¡°Li Feite, how dare you slander my design in front of so many people? Do you have a complaint against me?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Li Feite was startled and quickly waved her hands, ¡°I didn¡¯t say the dress you designed was a counterfeit, I said the one Mrs. Song is wearing is a counterfeit!¡±


    Alice¡¯s lips twitched, her words almost forcibly squeezed out between clenched teeth: ¡°That dress was personally tailored and modified for Mrs. Song by me!¡±


    She treated her design work as her life¡ªhow could she allow anyone to trample her reputation in front of her?


    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Li Feite furrowed her brows, looking incredulously at the dress on Lu Zhaozhao.


    It was at this moment that Song Sinian spoke up slowly, ¡°Zhaozhao¡¯s dresses are all personally selected by me, including this evening gown. However, she didn¡¯t want to hurt the feelings of the person who gifted her the original dress, so I had the original designer create a similar version with modifications.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    For Li Feite, Xiao Jinglan, and Song Keren, this was like a bolt out of the blue!


    All the arrangements they had made were to bring Lu Zhaozhao down at this event.


    They never expected to lose because of Song Sinian¡¯s possessiveness!


    Old Master Song, seeing Li Feite¡¯s shocked look, also began to understand the implications.


    Clearly, this person was deliberately sent to cause trouble, targeting Lu Zhaozhao.


    A shadow crossed Old Master Song¡¯s face as he looked coldly at Li Feite, ¡°Designer Li, you just insisted Zhaozhao¡¯s gown was fake without even a thorough examination. Don¡¯t you think you owe the Song Family a reasonable explanation? Otherwise... I guarantee on behalf of the Song Group that you won¡¯t live a peaceful life ever again!¡±


    ¡°¡±¡±


    ...¡±


    Li Feite noticeably shrank back.


    Looking at the current situation, she realized the possibility of working for Song Group was gone.


    If she didn¡¯t tell the truth now, she might even lose her life.


    She pursed her lips, ¡°Yes, Someone paid me to say these things on purpose...¡±


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan immediately became anxious.


    Could this woman be about to spill everything, including involving her?


    ¡°Dad! There must be someone jealous of our Song Family, probably trying to find fault with us. We absolutely can¡¯t let them have their way!¡± Xiao Jinglan said, then to the bodyguards nearby, ¡°What are you standing there for? Get her out of here now!¡±


    Mr. Song naturally sensed Xiao Jinglan¡¯s urgency and glanced at her, about to speak out to stop her, when he was held back by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand on his arm.


    ¡°Grandpa, let Lady Xiao handle this kind of thing.¡±


    She smiled slightly and gently patted Mr. Song, successfully causing him to give up on pursuing the matter further.


    Although Mr. Song didn¡¯t understand why Lu Zhaozhao wanted to do this, he was willing to go along with his beloved granddaughter-in-law.


    He sighed softly, ¡°You, you should investigate a bit. What if there¡¯s a mastermind behind this?¡±


    When Mr. Song said this, he intentionally spoke loudly, causing Xiao Jinglan to feel even more panicked, afraid that the next statement might cast suspicion on her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved in a smile, ¡°My evening gown was delivered by Lady Xiao, so the first one to be cleared of suspicion is definitely Lady Xiao. She would never let anyone tamper with my gown.¡±


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao actually speaking up for her at this moment, Xiao Jinglan hastily nodded in agreement.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, Zhaozhao is the treasure of our Song Family, how could I possibly tamper with her evening gown?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan had never thought that one day she would be so grateful for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s folly.


    If someone else had said it, Mr. Song might not listen, but when Lu Zhaozhao said it, it was different.


    Because Sinian now listened to everything Zhaozhao said, and Mr. Song indulged Sinian without limits, so it looked like this issue might just be brushed under the carpet without further mention.


    Xiao Jinglan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Lu Zhaozhao speak again, ¡°It is obvious that this person targeted the brand¡¯s designer, so it¡¯s very likely that the real piece was switched out with a fake during delivery.¡±


    As she said this, she immediately turned her head to Alice, ¡°Could you please help check Lady Xiao¡¯s and Keren¡¯s gowns, too? Just in case they were also duped...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hesitant expression was filled with visible concern, truly moving everyone present.


    It had not been long since the incident of wearing a counterfeit had happened to her, and without making a scene, she was actually worried about others.


    Designer Alice, deeply touched, nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Song, I can definitely help with such a small matter.¡±


    Song Keren, who was already upset that Lu Zhaozhao had not been humiliated, exploded when her dress was suspected to be a fake.


    ¡°The gown I¡¯m wearing was custom-made especially for me by my mother. It cannot possibly be a fake, and there¡¯s no need to check!¡± Song Keren frowned unhappily, speaking out without a filter.


    Standing next to her, Xia Wenjin naturally echoed her sentiment, ¡°Exactly, Keren is the daughter of the Song Family. It would be a laughing stock for her to wear a fake.¡±


    While saying so, she pretended to affectionately adjust the strap on Keren¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Rip¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡±¡±

 Chapter 133: 133: How could this happen?!

    Chapter 133: Chapter 133: How could this happen?!


    Everyone heard a sudden ripping sound of fabric.


    The banquet, previously a bit noisy, went quiet in an instant.


    Nearly everyone¡¯s gaze fixed on Song Keren right there.


    Now, there was no need for anyone else¡¯s judgement; everyone could tell that the evening dress Song Keren was wearing was a fake.


    Xia Wenjin was clearly scared by the scene as well.


    She was supposed to stand by Song Keren¡¯s side and back her up, but that very move had backfired spectacularly.


    ...


    Alice¡¯s brow furrowed, as she added insult to injury, ¡°This dress does look very much like something I designed, but I would never use such poor-quality fabric.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The banquet hall fell even quieter after that.


    Alice seemed completely oblivious to everyone else¡¯s mood and carried on, ¡°Besides the fabric, the neckline is different from my design, and Lady Xiao, the dress you¡¯re wearing must also be a counterfeit¡ªI never use frog button closures.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan felt even more suffocated.


    How could this be happening?!


    ¡°An utter disgrace!¡± Old Master Song glared at Xiao Jinglan. ¡°Is this how you run a household? You can¡¯t even distinguish a counterfeit dress?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mouth fell open, and she tried to explain, ¡°I didn¡¯t¡ªI...¡±


    ¡°Enough. Go change with Keren and stop embarrassing yourself here!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    That was it; Xiao Jinglan was completely done for.


    She hadn¡¯t expected all her meticulous planning to end up benefiting others, while she herself faced such an outcome.


    Luckily, the commotion at the banquet soon passed.


    Everyone had come to foster relations with the Song Family, naturally, they wouldn¡¯t gossip.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched as Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren left in disgrace, feeling quite thrilled.


    They definitely hadn¡¯t anticipated her shrewd maneuvers would backfire so spectacularly.


    Lu Zhaozhao picked up a glass of red wine from the table and swirled it lightly, occasionally nodding at the enthusiastic people nearby as a response.


    Suddenly, her view was blocked by a shadow.


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could look back, a warm suit jacket was draped over her shoulders.


    The familiar scent made her eyes narrow slightly, ¡°Mr. Song?¡±


    The people around them, recognizing the situation, smartly walked away, leaving just the two of them by the table.


    Song Sinian wrapped his arms around her from behind, enveloping her completely.


    His head buried in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck, he muttered, ¡°These banquets are so annoying, with so many people crowding around you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao wanted to lift her hand to rub his head to comfort him, but Song Sinian¡¯s hold pressed down on both of her arms, leaving her unable to move.


    So she tilted her head and rested her cheek on his, her voice soft, ¡°How about I stay with you after the banquet, would that be good?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t reply to her suggestion.


    But his stillness seemed to indicate he was wrestling with the idea.


    Lu Zhaozhao noticed his adorable demeanor and couldn¡¯t help but sneak a smile.


    Song Sinian felt her shudder clearly, and his head that was buried revealed itself.


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s radiant little face and, after hesitating for a while, still asked, ¡°So, if I agree, will there be a reward?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Was his reluctance all because he was worried about that?


    Lu Zhaozhao suppressed the urge to burst into laughter and nodded, ¡°Yes, there will be.¡±


    Although she was afraid he might save up for a big one to redeem, he deserved what was due to him, not one less.


    Even though Song Sinian didn¡¯t speak, he obviously snuggled into her embrace, looking quite happy.


    The longer Lu Zhaozhao spent time with Song Sinian, the more she could sense his emotional changes.


    And she was getting more and more skilled at it.


    ¡°By the way, Mr. Song... there won¡¯t be any problems with grandfather, right?¡± Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, suddenly worrying about Mr. Song.


    His thorough manner just now didn¡¯t seem feigned, but if they relied solely on this incident to unearth all the people Xiao Jinglan and her party had planted in the Song Mansion, wouldn¡¯t it arouse their suspicion?


    Song Sinian rested his chin on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder and murmured, ¡°Despite everything, Old Master Song was once the president of the Song Group. He has far more tricks up his sleeve than you could imagine, something this trivial, he can handle.¡±


    Right after he finished discussing the matter with Old Master Song, his people had already got to the bottom of everyone in the Song Mansion.


    When the results came out, the old man set traps for a few who were suspected to be in key positions within the mansion.


    Just waiting for them to fall into them.


    The reason why the wines at the banquet turned out the way they did was probably Old Master Song¡¯s handiwork too.


    Of course, those who were roped in were far more than just the few names on the list.


    Old Master Song took advantage of this situation not only to clear out all the moles others had planted but also to defuse some potential time bombs who had shaky loyalties.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes drooped slightly as he glanced at the person in his arms and couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of admiration in his heart.


    His wife was still too naive.


    Old Master Song did indeed seem leisurely at times, but when it came to cleaning up rubbish, he was known for being ruthlessly efficient.


    Thinking this, Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes suddenly narrowed. Should he let Lu Zhaozhao know?


    Perhaps if he told her, she would stay away from the old man out of fear. But what if she thought the same of him?


    Song Sinian was still hesitating when the handbag Lu Zhaozhao was casually holding suddenly vibrated.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently patted Song Sinian¡¯s hand and whispered, ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m going to take a call on the balcony.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Song Sinian then slowly released his arm from around Lu Zhaozhao and let her go to the balcony.


    Meanwhile, he stood quietly next to the balcony pillar, waiting for her.


    Unbeknownst to them, their interactions had already been unwittingly captured by someone.


    On the balcony.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the phone number and a slight frown crossed her brow before she answered.


    ¡°Hello? Zhenzhen?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen usually contacted her with messages, so why was she suddenly calling her now?


    ¡°Zhaozhao, baby! Are you being bullied?¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice was filled with urgency on the other end of the phone, which made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips uncontrollably curve into a smile.


    She had always been worried whether her relationship with Xu Zhenzhen could be as good as in her previous life, but it seemed her concerns were for naught.


    Xu Zhenzhen... was still as kind as ever.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed in relief, ¡°Rest assured, nobody is bullying me.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s agitated voice came through, ¡°How is that possible? The trending searches are blowing up with news about you wearing a counterfeit dress. How could Song Sinian ever let you wear a fake?¡±

 Chapter 134: 134: This Kind of Tasteless Hot Search!

    Chapter 134: Chapter 134: This Kind of Tasteless Hot Search!


    He had gone to great lengths to hire a special bodyguard just to prevent his wife from being bullied. How could he possibly set up his own wife at such an important event?


    Lu Zhaozhao listened to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s anxious words before explaining, ¡°My evening gown is absolutely real, but someone wished it was fake and threw a spanner in the works. As for what¡¯s on the internet, it should be cleared up soon.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Your life really is full of wolves in front and tigers behind. Even attending a welcome banquet can get you dragged down.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had barely attended the welcome banquet when she was already set up with a hot search about wearing a fake evening gown.


    Following that, other hot searches related to the welcome banquet simultaneously hit the entertainment news.


    Although they were all about the content of the welcome banquet, most of them were subtly promoting Song Keren.


    ...


    Especially under the hot search about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fake gown, it almost became a one-woman show for Song Keren.


    The ubiquity of controlled comments were saying that she and Lu Zhaozhao wore the same model evening gown, one heaven and one earth apart.


    Thinking about the content posted by those accounts, Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help rolling her eyes.


    Anyone with eyes could see that the evening gown Lu Zhaozhao wore was more exquisite. How could they praise blindly like that?


    Even if the photos they posted were blurry shots of Lu Zhaozhao, she looked better than Song Keren¡¯s heavily edited photos, wouldn¡¯t even paid posters feel a pang of guilt?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°I can¡¯t help it. Who makes me so sparkly and lovable if not jealousy, it¡¯s something I can¡¯t control.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t jealousy; it¡¯s clear some people are up to no good, planning against you from the start. You need to be more careful in the future.¡± Although Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t name names, both understood the situation perfectly.


    When Xiao Jinglan initially delivered the evening gown to Lu Zhaozhao, Xu Zhenzhen was also aware, so it went without saying who ¡°some people¡± referred to.


    Lu Zhaozhao repeatedly acknowledged, ¡°Okay, okay, I got it all. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    She had no interest in suffering the same losses as she did in her past life. This time around, she certainly needed to be more cautious.


    ¡°By the way, Zhaozhao darling, there¡¯s something else I almost forgot,¡± Xu Zhenzhen spoke and sent a few pictures to Lu Zhaozhao before continuing, ¡°The school forum has a new post about electing the campus belle and beau, released by the student union. It¡¯s said to be for shooting this year¡¯s university promotional video and guess what, you¡¯re on the list~¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the images on her phone and couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corners of her mouth. Why was she being dragged into this kind of thing?


    But with so many handsome men and beautiful women at the university, one more or less wouldn¡¯t make a difference. As long as no one campaigned for her, her ranking wouldn¡¯t climb.


    That shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Lu Zhaozhao briefly chatted with Xu Zhenzhen and then hung up the phone, returning to the banquet hall.


    To her surprise, Song Sinian was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Madam,¡± Zhao Xi saw Lu Zhaozhao seemed to be looking for someone and quickly stepped forward, ¡°Mr. Song is dealing with some tricky matters, but if madam needs anything, please instruct me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly startled, ¡°Um... isn¡¯t it a bit improper for Mr. Song to be so busy and leave you here?¡±


    Zhao Xi awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°The matter Mr. Song is handling is not really something I can intervene in.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly didn¡¯t quite understand, but since Zhao Xi said he couldn¡¯t get involved, it would be better not to interfere with Song Sinian¡¯s business.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that Song Sinian had left because of the Xia Family...


    In the quiet room, a deep voice suddenly emanated from the phone.


    ¡°All right, can we talk about it now? What exactly is going on with Zhaozhao¡¯s hot search?¡± The impatience was evident in Xia Wenjue¡¯s voice on the other end of the line.


    The Song Family supposedly just hosted a welcome banquet, so how did Lu Zhaozhao end up on the hot search?


    And it was this kind of tasteless trending search!


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked softly as he slowly said, ¡°Someone intentionally schemed against Zhaozhao, hoping to have her attend the welcome party in a fake gown. However, the issue has been resolved. The evening dress she wore was genuine, and we had people arranged in advance for the trending searches. The public opinion will soon shift.¡±


    Xia Wenjue was clearly dissatisfied with Song Sinian¡¯s explanation, ¡°Since you knew someone intentionally schemed against Zhaozhao, why didn¡¯t you prevent such trending searches beforehand?¡±


    With Song Sinian¡¯s capabilities, he didn¡¯t believe that it couldn¡¯t have been done.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze rested quietly on his phone screen, still without a flicker of emotion.


    He replied indifferently, ¡°Because Zhaozhao wanted it this way.¡±


    ¡°She wanted it this way?¡± Xia Wenjue was stunned on the spot.


    Did this mean that Lu Zhaozhao had instructed Song Sinian to do this?


    Xia Wenjue fell silent all of a sudden, his dark eyes narrowing as he meticulously replayed the events.


    Upon learning that Lu Zhaozhao was blacklisted on the trending searches, he exploded in anger.


    In Song Sinian¡¯s territory, under his own watch, how could Lu Zhaozhao be bullied by someone else?


    So, in a burst of anger, he had called to confront Song Sinian.


    Thinking about it now, he admitted he had been a bit impulsive.


    Seeing Xia Wenjue calm down, Song Sinian¡¯s eyes lifted slightly, ¡°Do you want to take revenge for Zhaozhao?¡±


    His voice remained indifferent, betraying no emotion.


    But his words successfully captured Xia Wenjue¡¯s attention, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±


    Had Song Sinian not said those words, Xia Wenjue almost forgot they were on the same side.


    Those who targeted Lu Zhaozhao would naturally not escape Song Sinian¡¯s grip. This man was known for his ruthlessness and severity towards outsiders, so... he was more than willing to help!


    ¡°It¡¯s simple, fight fire with fire,¡± Song Sinian said with an unchanged expression, his tone indifferent, ¡°Though, I find actual fans, with their personal emotions, more suitable than paid trolls.¡±


    Xia Wenjue almost instantly understood Song Sinian¡¯s intent.


    Lu Zhaozhao had recently become quite popular online because of Xia Wenyan, gaining a number of fans who were enamored with this beautiful and talented younger sister.


    However, since Lu Zhaozhao was not in the industry and had no intentions of being promoted, her fanbase was quite scattered.


    Xia Wenyan was different.


    His participation in an idol-development variety show had gained momentum, with a large and active fanbase.


    Leaving this matter in Xia Wenyan¡¯s hands was definitely all gain and no loss.


    But... the other party was almost legally Song Sinian¡¯s sister...


    Xia Wenjue hesitated slightly, ¡°Song Keren is from your Song Family, are you really planning to be this ruthless?¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at Xia Wenjue, his voice cold, ¡°She merely shares the Song surname, she has nothing to do with me or the Song Family.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Man, could it really be said that it¡¯s so typical of Song Sinian?


    Absolutely the ruthless tycoon of the business world that¡¯s notorious for not acknowledging kin.


    ¡°Alright then, since you¡¯ve put it that way...¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s mouth curled into a sinister smile, ¡°I won¡¯t hold back!¡±

 Chapter 135: 135 This is Unreasonable!

    Chapter 135: Chapter 135 This is Unreasonable!


    He was determined to grind the pride and joy of Song Keren and her daughter into the dirt!


    By the time the welcome party was drawing to a close, the direction of public opinion had completely reversed.


    Especially after Xia Wenyan posted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s beautiful photos on Weibo and tagged XNER¡¯s designer Alice.


    Online sentiment was overwhelmingly sympathetic towards the younger sister.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans even blasted several super-topics related to Song Keren, and they went so far as to dig up and expose several accounts that had awkwardly criticized Lu Zhaozhao and blindly praised Song Keren.


    Soon, the trending search term ¡°Song Keren Tries to Stomp Lu Zhaozhao on Her Way to Becoming a Phoenix¡± climbed to the top three.


    ...


    This was followed closely by ¡°Song Keren Wears a Knockoff Evening Gown¡± and ¡°Song Keren, Please Spare Your Sister.¡±


    Nearly every topic related to Song Keren was overrun by Xia Wenyan¡¯s and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fans.


    The paid trolls couldn¡¯t even manage to control the comments.


    For a while, all the topics were flooded with unflattering photos and candid shots of Song Keren.


    When Song Keren saw the trending searches on her phone, she was so furious that she hurled the phone away.


    ¡°These people are targeting me! Where am I worse off than that fake heiress Lu Zhaozhao?!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan hurriedly tugged at Song Keren and whispered, ¡°Lower your voice! If someone hears us...¡±


    She instinctively looked around to make sure no one was there, then pulled her aside into a nearby lounge and said, ¡°Keren, I know you¡¯re feeling wronged, but the guests here for the welcome party haven¡¯t left yet. You have to hold it in, you know?¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s reputation was already bad; she couldn¡¯t afford to give people more ammunition.


    ¡°Hold it in? Why should I keep holding back? That woman is already trampling on me!¡± Song Keren mentioned Lu Zhaozhao and ground her teeth with hatred.


    Surely it should be Lu Zhaozhao who was being condemned by everyone¡ªso why was it her?


    She furrowed her brows deeply, looking up at Xiao Jinglan and asked, ¡°Mom, do you think Lu Zhaozhao pulled some strings behind the scenes? Is that why both our dresses turned out to be fakes?¡±


    It was their dress that they had given to Lu Zhaozhao that was supposed to be the knockoff; how had it ended up on them?


    It made no sense!


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brow creased at the thought¡ªit was indeed very strange.


    The evening gowns they were wearing were definitely genuine articles she bought from XNER. How did they turn into fakes?


    As Xiao Jinglan was pondering this, someone suddenly knocked on the door of the lounge.


    Soon, a figure walked in¡ªit was Xiao Mo.


    Song Keren, who had just calmed down a bit, instantly exploded again.


    She glared at Xiao Mo and stood up from the chair, surging forward to push him, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! What kind of rotten idea was that, posting the news about Lu Zhaozhao wearing fakes before it even started? Now everyone is scolding me! It¡¯s all because of you!¡±


    As she spoke, she lashed out at Xiao Mo like she was going mad.


    Xiao Mo was already annoyed by the failed plan, and now being picked on by Song Keren, he could barely contain his anger.


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    Xiao Mo violently slapped Song Keren across the face, ¡°Had enough?!¡±


    Song Keren was stunned by Xiao Mo¡¯s slap, completely disbelieving as she sat on the ground.


    Clutching her swollen cheek, she burst into tears when she came to her senses, ¡°Mom! Look at Xiao Mo! He hit me! Ah!!! I can¡¯t live like this!!!¡±


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan hurried over to help Song Keren, ¡°Keep your voice down, the guests outside haven¡¯t left yet. If they see you like this, do you still care about your reputation?¡±


    Her eyebrows furrowed, she looked at Song Keren with a face full of helplessness.


    ¡°It was Xiao Mo who hit me first, why are you taking his side?!¡± Keren suddenly got up from the ground and violently shook off Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hand.


    ¡°All you do is favor him! I hate you both!¡±


    With those words, she covered her face and rushed out of the resting room.


    Xiao Jinglan initially wanted to chase after Keren but was held back by Xiao Mo, ¡°Leave her be, she¡¯s grown so big yet she still can¡¯t see the bigger picture!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan watched Keren leave, only able to sigh deeply.


    Although she wanted to follow her, there were more important issues to resolve at the moment.


    Because of the incident at the welcome banquet, it seemed that she had completely lost Mr. Song¡¯s trust.


    If Mr. Song found out anything related to her, not only would she be unable to secure her place in the Song Family, but she would likely also be driven out directly.


    Thinking this, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression immediately tensed, ¡°Xiao Mo, Mr. Song said he wants to investigate the people of the Song Mansion, what should we do? If he finds out...¡±


    Before she could finish, she saw Xiao Mo¡¯s sinister gaze and immediately fell silent.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth was tightly set, his frown deeply displeased, ¡°You can¡¯t even handle small matters properly, and now you¡¯ve fallen into chaos at the first sign of trouble. Even if they don¡¯t find anything related to you, with the way you¡¯re acting, it¡¯s hard not to arouse suspicion!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyelids drooped; she didn¡¯t dare say another word.


    Seeing Xiao Jinglan fall silent, Xiao Mo then said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the affair of the Song Mansion. It¡¯s because the people under you were too greedy, they already took extra money and yet didn¡¯t know when to stop, aiming for other things belonging to the Song Family; it¡¯s no wonder they got dealt with.¡±


    Hearing Xiao Mo¡¯s tone, it seemed he had already understood the situation with Old Master Song, and Xiao Jinglan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    However, thinking of what Keren had said just moments ago, Xiao Jinglan spoke up cautiously, ¡°Xiao Mo, Keren mentioned something suspicious about the evening gown... could it have been Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    She had pretended to accept the evening gown, but behind the scenes, she made a new one for Song Sinian and then waited to see them make fools of themselves; it wasn¡¯t impossible.


    Xiao Mo scoffed lightly upon hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t heard how it all went down? It was entirely because of Song Sinian that Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t wear the evening gown you sent.¡±


    Now that Keren¡¯s gown has been revealed as a knock-off, does she intend to drag Lu Zhaozhao into this?


    Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Mo to have such trust in Lu Zhaozhao. Frowning, she added another reminder, ¡°But Keren¡¯s and my gowns were switched for counterfeits, isn¡¯t that suspicious?¡±


    These two matters seemed closely related.


    Usually, Xiao Mo was the most suspicious, so why was he so dismissive when it came to Lu Zhaozhao?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s confusion was plainly visible to Xiao Mo, who took out a stack of documents from his pocket and threw them in front of Xiao Jinglan, ¡°If you think that I trust Lu Zhaozhao too much, why don¡¯t you take a look at these documents?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s suspicion grew deeper, but she still picked up the documents and began to read closely, only for her eyes to widen in disbelief¡ª

 Chapter 136: 136: Youre Asking Such a Provocative Question Right Off the Bat?

    Chapter 136: Chapter 136: You¡¯re Asking Such a Provocative Question Right Off the Bat?


    ¡°What... what is this?¡±


    Xiao Mo glanced coldly at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°This is the trusted aide you so believed in. Her son racked up a mountain of debt, so she made knock-offs of your and Keren¡¯s evening dresses and sold the real ones.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now, Xiao Jinglan finally understood why Xiao Mo was so certain that what Lu Zhaozhao said was true.


    He didn¡¯t trust Lu Zhaozhao, but he knew the exact facts.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows were almost knotted in anger, she had thought she had been kind enough to these people, yet they betrayed her!


    ...


    It was because of them that she and Keren lost face today at the welcoming party!


    Probably they hadn¡¯t expected the designer from XNER to attend in person; after all, no one would pick faults with the host at a party.


    Anger contorted Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face into an especially fearsome expression.


    Xiao Mo curled his lip, feeling even more infuriated than Xiao Jinglan at the moment.


    His carefully laid plans had been almost entirely disrupted.


    Not only did Song Keren fail to climb over Lu Zhaozhao to the top, but she was also thoroughly lambasted and even had her dark history dug up for all to see.


    Allegations of academic fraud, overseas cosmetic surgery, and countless other claims.


    And Lu Zhaozhao, who should have been the target of defamation, had instead become the darling of the internet, gaining millions of followers in a single day.


    And Sinian, because he¡¯d been seen constantly sticking close to Lu Zhaozhao at the welcoming party, had his photos somehow leaked, leading to rampant shipping by the public.


    This even created a devoted husband image for Sinian!


    His long-term schemes had all gone to waste!


    ¡°Start looking for a suitable candidate recently to marry Song Keren off as soon as possible,¡± Xiao Mo squinted his eyes and turned to instruct Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°This...¡± Xiao Jinglan sneaked a glance at Xiao Mo, seemingly hesitant.


    Song Keren had previously set her sights on Sinian, and marrying her off to someone else would certainly not be of the same caliber in comparison.


    Song Keren would never agree to it; if there was a commotion, it wouldn¡¯t look good either.


    Naturally, Xiao Mo saw through Xiao Jinglan¡¯s thoughts with a glance, and looking at her, he said coldly, ¡°Soon the regional vice president of XJ Group will come to collaborate with the Song Family. You take Song Keren to meet him then.¡±


    Hearing this, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s anxiety settled, ¡°Alright, alright, when I get back, I¡¯ll definitely have a good talk with Keren.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan knew very well the status of XJ Group.


    The position of a regional vice president wouldn¡¯t be too bad for Song Keren.


    But little did Xiao Jinglan know that as she eagerly planned to share this good news with Song Keren, she was completely unaware that Song Keren was laying a massive trap for her...


    The next day was the weekend, and it happened to be the day Sinian went to see a psychologist.


    Previously, out of concern for Zhaozhao¡¯s emotional state, he had taken her to see a psychologist, and now the same day each month had become a joint therapy day for the two.


    Lu Zhaozhao had originally wanted to find time to meet Tian Xiangjun secretly, but to her surprise, Sinian brought her along to the therapy room.


    Just like the first time, Sinian merely greeted Tian Xiangjun and then went outside to wait.


    Compared to the first visit, Lu Zhaozhao felt much more at ease this time.


    ¡°Are you getting along with Sinian alright?¡± Tian Xiangjun poured a cup of jasmine tea for Lu Zhaozhao.


    The fresh scent of jasmine instantly filled the therapy room.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes gently curved as she nodded, ¡°Mm-hmm, I¡¯ve been quite well lately.¡±


    Song Sinian had become more willing to express his emotions to her than before, and she now understood him better and felt more sympathy for him.


    Tian Xiangjun slowly sipped her floral tea, ¡°So, do we talk about your matters today, or should we discuss something else?¡±


    Since her last communication with Lu Zhaozhao, Tian Xiangjun had found that although Lu Zhaozhao carried emotional wounds, her situation wasn¡¯t too severe.


    Moreover, because she was with Song Sinian, her focus was all on him, which had actually smoothed over some of her pain.


    There seemed to be a sense of mutual salvation between her and Song Sinian.


    Feeling a little embarrassed by Tian Xiangjun¡¯s gaze, Lu Zhaozhao lightly scratched her head, ¡°Actually, I still have some things I¡¯d like to consult about today.¡±


    Tian Xiangjun leaned back in her chair, her fingers gently caressing the teacup in her hand, her manner exceptionally relaxed.


    ¡°Alright, I will withhold no words and spare no detail.¡±


    As she spoke, she slowly brought the floral teacup to her lips again.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao immediately took out a notebook from her bag and earnestly stared at Tian Xiangjun, asking, ¡°Do the antidepressants Mr. Song is taking affect his sexual desire?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªCough cough cough...¡±


    Tian Xiangjun couldn¡¯t hold it in and sprayed out all the tea.


    My goodness, are we diving into such a stimulating topic right off the bat?


    Even though she was a psychologist, she wasn¡¯t quite prepared for the directness of Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian as a couple.


    For matters that required a bit of delicacy, they both preferred to cut straight to the point.


    ¡°Uh... is my question very tough?¡± Lu Zhaozhao pulled at the corner of her mouth awkwardly and silently passed a couple of tissues to Tian Xiangjun from the table.


    She had assumed that since Tian Xiangjun was a psychologist, she would be relatively well-informed about antidepressant medications.


    Moreover, since she was Song Sinian¡¯s primary doctor, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t think too much and blurted out the question directly.


    Tian Xiangjun, accepting the tissue and wiping her mouth, then stretched a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not tough; I just didn¡¯t expect it to be your first question.¡±


    Compared to her identity as a psychologist, she tended more towards the role of an elder to the young couple.


    So when she suddenly heard this question, Tian Xiangjun couldn¡¯t resist.


    She coughed lightly to clear her throat, then spoke slowly, ¡°Sinian he...¡±


    Is that not going well?


    It was difficult to verbalize what was on the tip of her tongue.


    Tian Xiangjun pinched the bridge of her nose and took a moment before she continued, ¡°Antidepressant medications typically have little adverse effect on sexual function, but long-term use can still lead to sexual dysfunctions, including loss of libido and sexual apathy, among other issues.¡±


    ¡°So the medication can indeed cause a problem with sexual indifference...¡± Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment and immediately started taking notes in her notebook.


    Tian Xiangjun, listening on the side, felt her heart race; seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ¡°eager-to-learn¡± demeanor, it seemed that Song Sinian was indeed having trouble.


    Tian Xiangjun had been surprised when she learned of Song Sinian¡¯s marriage because he never seemed to rely emotionally on anyone.


    Plus, with his severe emotional barriers, she once thought that Song Sinian was completely averse to love, let alone being deeply affectionate with a wife.


    Now, it seemed she was a bit slap-in-the-face wrong.


    Song Sinian had finally found someone he liked, and most importantly, this girl was indeed nice, truly worth his affection.


    They absolutely couldn¡¯t split over such a trivial issue!


    The couple she shipped mustn¡¯t end up in a bad ending!

 Chapter 137: 137: Do You Find It Exhausting?

    Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Do You Find It Exhausting?


    Tian Xiangjun remembered that the antidepressant she had prescribed to Song Sinian had relatively minor effects on sexual dysfunction and a lower probability of occurrence.


    But the specific situation still needed detailed analysis...


    In case there really was a problem, she needed to warn Song Sinian earlier.


    Thinking this, Tian Xiangjun lightly coughed and said, ¡°If this is caused by the medication, you don¡¯t have to worry too much. I can switch him to another drug. You two are still young; take it slow...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, even more convinced that Song Sinian really couldn¡¯t perform.


    In her previous life, Song Sinian had very little physical contact with her; in this life, although the two of them would occasionally kiss and cuddle and lift each other up, there had never been any sexual progression.


    ...


    She had thought it was because Song Sinian was cold and abstinent, but it turned out that Mr. Song wasn¡¯t abstinent at all¡ªhe was simply without desire.


    Every day she would be teased until her blood boiled, and Mr. Song remained indifferent... emmmm.


    Was he planning to accumulate a large reward to really kiss her all day?


    Good Lord, thinking of this situation made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.


    Okay, she had to admit that even if they did nothing, she would be head over heels just for Song Sinian¡¯s face.


    Not to mention that he could flirt and kiss and cuddle and lift her high...


    The two in the consultation room had talked at cross purposes for quite a while, completely unaware that they had both severely misunderstood each other.


    And the person who was completely misunderstood was even more clueless.


    It was only after Lu Zhaozhao finished the consultation that Song Sinian walked back in.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯ll wait for you outside,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said as she stretched out her arms to hug him, and then she left the consultation room.


    Seeing the couple¡¯s relationship so harmonious, Tian Xiangjun felt very comforted.


    She watched the petite figure disappear at the door and silently shouted in her heart¡ªthis was the CP she shipped; she would guard it! UP! UP!


    So when Song Sinian sat across from her, Tian Xiangjun was utterly fired up, and her enthusiasm was boiling over.


    Although Song Sinian was somewhat slow to catch on to emotions, he could still sense a bit of the abnormality.


    He frowned slightly, ¡°Zhaozhao is okay, right?¡±


    Even though he was with Lu Zhaozhao every day, he always worried that his problems would hurt her emotionally.


    Tian Xiangjun waved her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zhaozhao is doing fine; the problem is with you.¡±


    She paused with her words, ¡°Just... have you gone for a comprehensive full-body check-up recently...¡±


    Tian Xiangjun tried to hint to Song Sinian that if there really was such an issue, it would definitely be better to treat it sooner rather than later.


    But if it was simply a lack of sexual desire, then adjusting the dosage would be sufficient.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly, ¡°I have regular full-body checks, and there¡¯s no problem.¡±


    His reply was concise and did not grasp Tian Xiangjun¡¯s point.


    Tian Xiangjun pursed her lips; perhaps she had been too subtle just now.


    She cleared her throat, ¡°About the interaction between you and your wife, do you find it burdensome?¡±


    Song Sinian, upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, seemingly contemplating the question she had just raised.


    ¡°I think this is a matter between the two of us. I can¡¯t answer it alone.¡± His calm voice slowly spread throughout the consultation room.


    As for his interactions with Lu Zhaozhao, he did not find it burdensome, because no matter when, Lu Zhaozhao was always willing to come close to him, to accept him.


    But whether Lu Zhaozhao was struggling, he was not too sure.


    He was still not quite clear about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotional feelings; although he had already learned quite a bit lately, he always felt there was more to learn.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hesitation was all seen by Tian Xiangjun, who couldn¡¯t help but sigh and pat his shoulder, saying, ¡°It¡¯s okay, take it slow with this kind of thing. Pay more attention to exercising and keeping a happy mind and body, you know?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow raised quite a bit, not understanding what marital relations had to do with exercise.


    But he still nodded, as he had followed Doctor Tian¡¯s advice by renting two dogs from the pet store, after all, he had indeed learned how to cling to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Since Doctor Tian said exercise was helpful, it must be.


    Seeing Song Sinian act so ¡°obediently,¡± Tian Xiangjun¡¯s eyes widened a bit.


    Sure enough... Worthy of being Lu ¡¤ Beast Tamer ¡¤ Zhaozhao, her skills were truly great, able to bring Song Sinian to consult obediently and to follow the doctor¡¯s advice.


    Tian Xiangjun sighed in her heart and looked up at Song Sinian, reminding him again, ¡°Sometimes, as a man, you need to be more proactive, you know? You can¡¯t always wait for girls to take the initiative...¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, she had done her best; the rest was up to Song Sinian¡¯s actual actions!


    This time, because of the issues Lu Zhaozhao brought up, Tian Xiangjun specifically switched the category of medication Song Sinian was taking.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat in the car, looking at the new medication in her hand, staring at the instruction manual for a long time.


    Song Sinian leaned one hand on the car window, peering over at her.


    His large hand twirled a small tuft of her hair, watching her serious demeanor, Song Sinian felt an unusual sentiment sweep through his heart.


    It was a bit warm, and a bit... happy?


    Was this the feeling Lu Zhaozhao had talked to him about before?


    Her heart and eyes were full of him, and she was extra careful with matters concerning him.


    It always made him feel as though she belonged to him alone.


    Song Sinian thought this and directly stuck his head into the gap of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hands holding the manual.


    Then he rested his head on her shoulder, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t look at this anymore; leave the professional stuff to the professionals. You just need to look at me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Good heavens, had Song Sinian¡¯s skill in sweet-talking been maxed out?!


    Lu Zhaozhao patted Song Sinian¡¯s back gently with her small hands, while she herself took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.


    It was just that at a slight moment of inattention, she could be swept off her feet by someone.


    She put away the instruction manual in her hand, turned her head to look at Song Sinian, and asked, ¡°Besides prescribing you medication, did Doctor Tian say anything else to you?¡±


    Given Tian Xiangjun¡¯s concern for Song Sinian, she must have urged him about certain things, right?


    Song Sinian turned his head slightly, rubbing against her neck, ¡°Doctor Tian told me to exercise more often and keep a happy mood.¡±


    Although he didn¡¯t know why Doctor Tian wanted him to do that, Lu Zhaozhao would probably understand, right?


    Thinking this, his gaze inadvertently shifted to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face.


    She looked at him with an expression of sudden realization, seriously turning her head and poking his cheek with her small hand, ¡°So, you must do as Doctor Tian says, understand?¡±

 Chapter 138: 138: I Spoil You Like a Daughter

    Chapter 138: Chapter 138: I Spoil You Like a Daughter


    Although a lack of intimacy wasn¡¯t a significant issue, as Doctor Tian had said, health always came first.


    ¡°Uh-huh, I know.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s head rubbed against Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder again, and then it seemed like he suddenly remembered something, ¡°The auction for the Jade Vein starts next week, are you going to attend?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she quickly nodded her head repeatedly, ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡±


    This was the day she had been waiting for!


    She wanted to witness the Lu Group bidding and taking back those highly sought-after Jade Veins!


    By then, they would surely feel that matters with the Song Family were settled, and they would mercilessly expel her from the Lu Family, which was when the real drama would begin!


    ...


    Song Sinian clearly noticed the change in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotions. He sat up straight, studying her small face for a long time, making sure she wasn¡¯t unhappy, which slightly relieved his heart.


    ¡°The Lu family might bring Xia Wenjin to the auction to make an appearance,¡± he said casually, but his eyes never left Lu Zhaozhao.


    His overly obvious gaze, however, made it quite difficult to ignore.


    Lu Zhaozhao cocked her little head, looked at Song Sinian, and suddenly squinted her eyes, smiling lightly, ¡°Mr. Song, are you worried that I might be upset?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded his head extra honestly, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m worried.¡±


    What the Lu Family wanted to do was irrelevant to him, but if their actions hurt Lu Zhaozhao, it would be absolutely unacceptable.


    ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t worry. As long as you are here, the Lu Family means nothing to me.¡± She stretched out her small hand and grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s.


    ¡°They never treated me as their biological daughter, I¡¯ve known this for a while, so no matter how much they pamper Xia Wenjin, it doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡±


    Thinking back, she even chided herself for wondering if she had done something wrong, which now seemed ridiculous.


    Song Sinian noticed that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyelids seemed a bit unhappy, and he immediately clasped her hand back, ¡°I will pamper you like a daughter.¡±


    Moreover, definitely better than how Mr. and Mrs. Lu treated Xia Wenjin.


    His tone and look were overly solemn, making Lu Zhaozhao burst into laughter.


    How could someone make such a promise to his wife?


    But considering this person was Song Sinian, it somehow didn¡¯t seem so strange.


    He must have sensed that she was upset, right?


    So he said these words to comfort her?


    Their Mr. Song was indeed getting better at comforting people.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll let you pamper me.¡± Lu Zhaozhao extended her small hand and wrapped it around Song Sinian¡¯s waist, snuggling into his embrace.


    She took a deep breath, her nose filled with the faint, refreshing scent of Song Sinian.


    Being wrapped in his warm embrace gave her a sense of security she had never felt in her previous life.


    Her small face pressed against Song Sinian¡¯s chest, she murmured softly, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Song.¡±


    Listening to his strong and powerful heartbeat, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes involuntarily curved.


    Song Sinian raised his hand and gently stroked her small head, ¡°Since we¡¯ve decided to go to the auction, then... should we buy a few more dresses?¡±


    He remembered how every time Lu Zhaozhao attended a dinner or similar events, she always bought beautiful dresses.


    This time should be no exception, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to refuse, but then she met Song Sinian¡¯s expectant black eyes.


    ¡°Maybe not...¡± Her words at the tip of her tongue suddenly turned, ¡°Maybe not... let¡¯s figure out how many to buy!¡±


    Well, she was just that unprincipled!


    Though the welcome party at the Song Family had concluded, the frenzy of trending searches it ignited hadn¡¯t ceased at all.


    Among the unluckiest apart from the instigator Song Keren was Xia Wenjin, who got dragged into the mess as a ¡°buy one, get one free¡± deal.


    [Song Keren and Xia Wenjin: Bullied Sister Act]


    [Song Keren¡¯s Dark Past VS Xia Wenjin¡¯s Anecdotes]


    [Sisters Song Xia Entering the Entertainment Circle Doomed to Fail]


    ...


    Watching the original swarm of netizens who criticized Song Keren, as soon as they saw Xia Wenjin standing with her at the welcome party, they immediately redirected their spears and pulled her in too.


    As long as it related to Song Keren, she would get cyberbullied as well.


    Xia Wenjin felt like a monkey on Emei Mountain!


    Always the target of trampling!


    Previously, it was Lu Zhaozhao, now it was Song Keren!


    ¡°Are these netizens sick?! I just went to a welcome party, how can they dump this on my head?!¡± Xia Wenjin clenched her teeth in anger, wishing she could battle it out with these netizens online for three hundred rounds.


    But alas, she was alone and powerless, utterly unable to outmatch them.


    The more she fought back, the more people came to spray her.


    She furiously threw her phone aside, stomping her feet in anger.


    Seeing this, Cao Mei brought over a glass of juice to Xia Wenjin, ¡°Jin, don¡¯t look at your phone these next few days. You don¡¯t need to listen to those online rumors.¡±


    Previously, when Xiao Jinglan came, she had declared with confidence, planning to establish a best friend persona for both Song Keren and Xia Wenjin, hoping to achieve an effect greater than the sum of 1+1.


    She even expected Xiao Jinglan to have some great moves to deal with Lu Zhaozhao.


    But she didn¡¯t anticipate that instead of a great move, it had brought a swarm of trouble to Xia Wenjin.


    Now, all over the outside were venomous criticisms of Xia Wenjin.


    More severe than before.


    Had she known it would turn out like this, she would have never agreed to let Xia Wenjin attend that welcome party.


    Now it was too late, even denying the best friend relationship with Song Keren couldn¡¯t salvage her reputation.


    Cao Mei thought to herself, sympathetically stroking Xia Wenjin¡¯s head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jin, your mother will definitely make up for the injustice you¡¯ve suffered.¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenjin remained silent.


    She was already very troubled, feeling discontent every day since she had come to the Lu Family.


    That Lu Zhaozhao, obviously no longer the Lu family¡¯s darling, still kept using the Lu Family¡¯s name!


    Yet she, the true darling, was being constantly bullied!


    It seemed Cao Mei could sense her thoughts and quickly tried to comfort her, ¡°Jin, once the auction of the Jade Vein is over, your father and I will announce your identity, and then we will also disown Lu Zhaozhao from our family.¡±


    Xia Wenjin felt like she had heard this promise so often that her ears could develop calluses.


    She pursed her lips and muttered, ¡°When will that be?¡±


    Cao Mei smiled gently, ¡°The auction is next week. How about you get a few dresses made, and accompany your father to the auction?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes sparkled with a change.


    ¡°Next week?!¡±


    So, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s good days are coming to an end?!


    Cao Mei nodded, ¡°Yes, after we reveal your identity, you can invite your classmates and friends to a party just for you. I will book the venue at SJJ Hotel. How does coming back to the Lu Family as the young lady in style sound?¡±

 Chapter 139: 139: What a Coincidence!

    Chapter 139: Chapter 139: What a Coincidence!


    ¡°Mom~ I just knew you were the best to me!¡± Xia Wenjin was all excited.


    As long as she returned to the Lu Family with dignity, she couldn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhaozhao would still be able to show off in front of her!


    Cao Mei saw that Xia Wenjin¡¯s mood had improved a lot and felt happy too, ¡°Baby, there¡¯s still something I need to tell you that might also be good news for you.¡±


    Xia Wenjin looked up at Cao Mei, wondering if there could be anything as good as returning to the Lu Family.


    Cao Mei said, handing over a stack of documents to Xia Wenjin, ¡°The Regional Vice President of the international XJ Group is coming to Shangjing. I heard he¡¯s here to discuss a collaboration with the Song Family. Your father has recommended that you guide him tomorrow. Here¡¯s his information.¡±


    ¡°Be a guide?¡± Xia Wenjin felt annoyed inside.


    ...


    Why should she be any sort of guide?


    But considering that Cao Mei had always been very attentive to her, her biological daughter, Wenjin guessed it wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed on the surface, and so she looked through the documents with patience.


    When she saw the information, she couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows ¨C the Vice President looked quite young?


    And he was pretty handsome too, a blond with blue eyes.


    Seeing that Xia Wenjin seemed satisfied, Cao Mei continued, ¡°Song Sinian is now head over heels for Lu Zhaozhao, and it¡¯s unlikely he¡¯ll divorce her anytime soon, so Mom thought that this Justin isn¡¯t too bad either if he plans to develop his career here in the future...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin frowned noticeably ¨C after all, there was a clear difference between a Regional Vice President of XJ and the President of Song Group.


    Besides, Song Sinian was much better-looking than Justin by more than just a little, so Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help feeling unwilling.


    Why should Lu Zhaozhao have the best while she had to settle for second best?


    Cao Mei saw that Xia Wenjin was silent and comforted her further, ¡°Mom is just saying, if you don¡¯t like him, then I will think of another plan for you later. I heard from your father that this Justin is a candidate to be the next CEO of XJ Group, so I thought it would be good for you to meet him...¡±


    The next CEO candidate?


    Suddenly, Xia Wenjin was spirited again.


    If Justin might indeed become a CEO in the future, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad deal. After all, she had long heard of XJ Group.


    Their status abroad was almost the same as Song Group¡¯s status domestically.


    If she really married Justin, it wouldn¡¯t be considered a loss to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenjin squinted her eyes and then slowly said, ¡°Mom, I know everything you do is for my good. I will surely follow your arrangements. It¡¯s just that I felt it was too sudden just now and didn¡¯t react.¡±


    Cao Mei nodded with relief, ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s meet at a coffee shop early tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡±


    But what Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t expect was that the next day she was all dressed up and waiting for Justin at the cafe?, and she was stood up for half an hour!


    She immediately had a poor impression of this so-called Regional Vice President of XJ Group.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Xia, there was an issue with the hotel I am staying at, so I¡¯m late...¡± Justin immediately apologized when they met, and his attitude was quite sincere.


    Xia Wenjin forced a smile and still pretended to be amicable, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Next time something like this happens, you can give me a call. Maybe I can help you.¡±


    Justin kept waving his hands, ¡°How could I get a beautiful lady to help with such sundries? To make amends, how about I take Miss Xia for a visit to XJ Group¡¯s couture shop here? I hope Miss Xia can pick out something as my apology gift. Surely, a lady as beautiful as Miss Xia wouldn¡¯t refuse me, right?¡±


    Now that he had said so much, if Xia Wenjin continued to harp on this issue, it would only make her look petty.


    ¡°Mr. Justin, there¡¯s no need to worry so much ¨C I¡¯m here to guide, and it¡¯s okay if I had to wait a bit.¡± She exerted herself to speak in an especially gentle tone as she replied to him.


    Justin chuckled lightly, ¡°Then would the beautiful miss please accompany me for a stroll?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    At the same time, to prepare for the outfit she would wear on the day of the auction, Lu Zhaozhao also arrived at one of the most prosperous buildings in the Shangjing Circle.


    The clothes here were mostly from high-end luxury brands, even the niche ones had good reputations within the circle.


    Song Sinian was originally going to accompany Lu Zhaozhao, but due to last-minute company matters, he had to let her shop for clothes by herself.


    He was always worried, insisting on having these haute couture brands deliver the clothes to their home for selection. Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips were almost worn out before she persuaded Song Sinian to cancel such grand arrangements.


    But in place of that, he arranged for someone from the Xia Family to accompany her to buy clothes.


    Lu Zhaozhao, holding her milk tea in her hands, strolled through the streets leisurely sipping her drink.


    In fact, she wasn¡¯t clear on who from the Xia Family was coming to accompany her shopping. Song Sinian only mentioned someone from the Xia Family and didn¡¯t specify who, so all she could do was browse the stores and wait.


    ¡°Who would have thought I¡¯d bump into you here? What a coincidence!¡±


    Suddenly, a mocking voice reached her ears, and Lu Zhaozhao instinctively looked in the direction of the sound, catching sight of Xia Wenjin instantly.


    Her mouth twitched. It truly was a case of enemies on a narrow road.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to pretend she didn¡¯t see her and leave, Xia Wenjin blocked her path, ¡°Why are you running?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched again, she wasn¡¯t running; she just didn¡¯t want to talk to an idiot.


    Besides, she came here today to happily shop for clothes, not to look for a headache.


    ¡°Get out of the way, good dogs don¡¯t block the path.¡± Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her and started to walk away.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin sidestepped directly towards Lu Zhaozhao, stumbling her way.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao reacted swiftly, dodging aside just in time, watching as Xia Wenjin fell to the ground right before her eyes.


    ¡°Miss Xia!¡±


    Suddenly, an anxious voice called out, and Lu Zhaozhao looked up, her brows immediately furrowing.


    Because she had seen this man before.


    Specifically, she had seen him in the news.


    He was the future CEO of XJ Group, Justin.


    She didn¡¯t expect Xia Wenjin to know him so early.


    Was it possible that even without the Lu Family¡¯s backing, she would still marry this man?


    As Lu Zhaozhao was deep in thought, she was suddenly pushed forcefully, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, woman? Why are you bullying Miss Xia?¡±


    Justin¡¯s voice reached her ears as she staggered backward.


    Just as she was about to fall, a figure suddenly flashed over, catching her in his arms, saving Lu Zhaozhao from hitting the ground.


    ¡°Thank...¡± She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when she froze.


    Because the person who caught her was her older brother¡ªXia Wenjue.


    His face an ashen hue, he glared at the two people before him, his tone dark and sinister, ¡°Who gave you the guts to touch her?¡±

 Chapter 140: 140: How was he going to explain it to Lu Zhaozhao?

    Chapter 140: Chapter 140: How was he going to explain it to Lu Zhaozhao?


    ¡°Big Brother?¡±


    ¡°Big Brother?¡±


    Xia Wenjin and Justin almost simultaneously looked at Xia Wenjue.


    Hearing the person beside her also calling ¡°Big Brother,¡± Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but turn her head toward Justin.


    The latter naturally realized he had been too agitated and quickly corrected himself, ¡°I, I mean this big brother, you should clarify the situation first; she was the one who pushed Miss Xia down.¡±


    When he had arrived, he had seen Xia Wenjin fall straight down, and the only person standing beside her was Lu Zhaozhao.


    ...


    Who else could it be?


    Xia Wenjue looked coldly at the two people in front of him and said in a cold voice, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Xia Wenjin herself know better why she fell?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s complexion immediately darkened. Now that Justin was here, she absolutely couldn¡¯t afford to mess this up!


    She immediately put on a pitiful look and said, ¡°Big brother, even if I¡¯m no longer a part of the Xia family, you don¡¯t need to target me like this, right?¡±


    Her words left Xia Wenjue speechless.


    He had seen the video of her and Lu Zhaozhao quarreling before. Now, experiencing it in person was... truly nauseating.


    Thinking her words had taken effect when Xia Wenjue didn¡¯t speak, Xia Wenjin pressed on, ¡°I know I¡¯m not as important to you now as Lu Zhaozhao, but I used to be your sister; can¡¯t you show me some mercy?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s maneuver truly made Lu Zhaozhao secretly applaud her in her heart. With that acting skill, why didn¡¯t she focus on acting properly in her previous life?


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been ridiculed as the actress with the worst acting skills.


    With her ¡®damsel in distress¡¯ act, it seemed unlikely that Xia Wenjue would handle her; in critical moments, she would still have to rely on herself...


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to speak when she heard an exceptionally cold voice ring out.


    ¡°It seems I¡¯ve been too lenient with you in the past, which is why you repeatedly think I¡¯m easy to talk to.¡±


    Xia Wenjue sinisterly tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°How you really fell just now, and how you falsely accused Zhaozhao, do you think I have no evidence? This is a mall! Look up, and there are surveillance cameras; do you think this is a place where you can just make a scene and cover it up?¡±


    ¡°?!!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin almost reflexively looked around. On looking up, she actually found two surveillance cameras!


    She immediately panicked; if they really checked the footage, they would know she had deliberately framed Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenjin hurriedly sought help, turning to the nearby Justin with a pitiful plea, ¡°Mr. Justin, will you just stand by and watch as someone bullies a frail lady in front of you?¡±


    Justin awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth. Just as he was about to speak, he caught Xia Wenjue¡¯s glaring look, and the words he wanted to say to smooth things over were choked back.


    He could only pat Xia Wenjin on the shoulder and say, ¡°These matters between you girls, it doesn¡¯t seem quite right for us gentlemen to get involved. Besides, neither of you is injured, so... maybe just let it go?¡±


    He didn¡¯t know why Xia Wenjue had appeared here, but seeing his irritated demeanor, if he dared to say one more word, he was sure to regret it.


    Usually, XJ Corporation¡¯s external affairs were handled by him and a few vice-presidents of the company. The Xia brothers never showed their faces.


    Moreover, XJ Corporation had a confidentiality rule. Even if one met a member of the Xia family outside, their identity must absolutely not be revealed.


    Otherwise... otherwise suffering consequences was the least of one¡¯s worries.


    Despite his relation to the Xia Family, he did not dare overstep on such matters.


    Lu Zhaozhao had not expected the future CEO of XJ Corporation to be so agreeable. Upon reflection, ever since he took the helm, the XJ Corporation seemed to have lost some of its former glory, which was indeed a pity.


    But even a dying camel is still bigger than a horse, right?


    ¡°Just like that? You say it so lightly?¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s dark pupils narrowed, and his sharp gaze swept over Justin. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t arrived just now, my sister could have been injured!¡±


    Xia Wenjin, seeing Xia Wenjue hold on tenaciously, couldn¡¯t help feeling irritable, completely unaware of Justin¡¯s changing expressions.


    ¡°What exactly do you want?¡±


    ¡°An apology, of course!¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s dark eyes met Xia Wenjin¡¯s. ¡°If you do something wrong, you should act like it! Do you have a problem with that?¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Xia Wenjin wanted to say something more, but Justin immediately reached out and grabbed her wrist, chuckled lightly, and pulled her over.


    He then bowed slightly to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was too hasty earlier and pushed this lady without verifying the situation first. I apologize. If this lady was injured, I¡¯m willing to cover all the expenses. Please forgive me.¡±


    Justin¡¯s apology came so swiftly that even the one being apologized to, Lu Zhaozhao, was a bit stunned.


    Yet she quickly realized something was amiss.


    Though Justin¡¯s apology was directed at her, she had the feeling that he was watching Xia Wenjue¡¯s reaction.


    She suddenly recalled the expression on Justin¡¯s face when Xia Wenjue had arrived... as if he recognized him.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°I accept your apology, but this gentleman should be more careful next time.¡±


    After saying this, she pulled Xia Wenjue away to leave.


    She really didn¡¯t want to waste any more time on Xia Wenjin; there were more important things for her to ascertain.


    Xia Wenjue initially wanted to continue his battle with Xia Wenjin for several more rounds, but seeing Lu Zhaozhao pulling him away, he naturally had to behave like a good big brother.


    The two of them went up two floors until Xia Wenjin and Justin were out of sight; then, Lu Zhaozhao tentatively started, ¡°Big brother, do you know that Justin?¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s body noticeably stiffened, and he awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Ah? Which Justin?¡±


    His acting was so poor that Lu Zhaozhao saw right through it.


    She sighed softly, slowly releasing the arm she had hooked through Xia Wenjue¡¯s, ¡°Big brother, I¡¯m not a child anymore. I can understand obvious things.¡±


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao speak like this, Xia Wenjue found it hard to continue concealing the truth and could only stutter, ¡°That... Justin is actually our relative. If you count it, you should call him your cousin...¡±


    ¡°Cousin?!¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes widened instantly.


    The future CEO of XJ Corporation was her cousin?!


    Did that mean her family was also related to the XJ Corporation?


    Her complexion turned unsightly in an instant.


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated, then looking at Xia Wenjue, she asked another question, ¡°So... does our family have a close relationship with the family of XJ Corporation¡¯s CEO? Are we on good terms?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Her question left Xia Wenjue at a loss for words.


    How was he to explain to Lu Zhaozhao?

 Chapter 141: 141: Song Sinian is so favored by Lu Zhaozhao, he must have a way, right?

    Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Song Sinian is so favored by Lu Zhaozhao, he must have a way, right?


    Is he the CEO of XJ Group?


    If that¡¯s the case, how is the issue of treating Xia Wenmo supposed to be explained?


    If it were someone else, he wouldn¡¯t worry.


    After all, with the status of the XJ Group, even if people are dissatisfied, they would yield to his position and continue to associate with him.


    But Lu Zhaozhao is different.


    She simply doesn¡¯t care about such status.


    ...


    She¡¯s now Song Sinian¡¯s wife and has as much as the XJ Group could offer.


    They finally have such a caring sister; if her mistake led to a direct loss, it would be more than unfortunate.


    Xia Wenjue considered carefully, ¡°I know him quite well. Do you need anything from him?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips parted, but the words halted at her lips.


    The CEO of XJ Group would later be involved in a severe car accident, and many said the accident was suspicious.


    Later, it was said that a legal mogul known as the second-in-command of XJ Group took over, but not long after, he got involved in a scandal with a Mafia boss¡¯s mistress, was shot, and was severely disfigured.


    Thus, XJ Group ended up in the hands of Justin.


    It could be said that everyone linked to the upper echelon of XJ Group was involved in that battle, and she didn¡¯t want the Xia family to get hurt, but she couldn¡¯t explain it clearly.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a bit stuck.


    She took a moment, ¡°I, I heard there¡¯s quite some turmoil within XJ Group, and I¡¯m a bit worried... after all, it¡¯s hard to predict people in such a big family.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Internal turmoil?


    Xia Wenjue slightly raised his eyebrows upon hearing this; their company situation wasn¡¯t bad enough to use that term, was it?


    There were indeed issues internally...


    But then he thought, the news Lu Zhaozhao knew might mainly come from Song Sinian; was it possible that Song Sinian had discovered something he had not noticed?


    It seemed he needed to have a good talk with Song Sinian, especially about how to naturally make Lu Zhaozhao accept their family situation.


    Song Sinian was so favored by Lu Zhaozhao; he must know a way, right?


    But would that kid help him?


    Xia Wenjue pondered this, his dark eyes slowly narrowing...


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenjin was brooding over Justin¡¯s initiative to apologize.


    Didn¡¯t her mother say he was a regional vice president of XJ Group?


    Why did he have to consider Xia Wenjue¡¯s feelings?


    Why did he apologize to Lu Zhaozhao?!


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the angrier she got and walked briskly.


    Seeing this, Justin reached out and grabbed her, ¡°Miss Xia?¡±


    Xia Wenjin came to her senses and looked at Justin, annoyance evident as she withdrew her hand, ¡°Mr. Justin, what is it?¡±


    Her displeasure was too obvious, making it hard for others not to notice.


    Justin chuckled lightly, seemingly unconcerned, ¡°I just saw that Miss Xia was very upset about what just happened, so I wanted to offer some comfort.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    His direct words made Xia Wenjin¡¯s anger dissipate by half.


    She pouted, tentatively muttering, ¡°Then why did you apologize to her just now? Are you, a regional vice president of XJ Group, afraid of them?¡±


    ¡°`


    ¡°...¡±


    He was certainly scared! That was his direct superior!


    Yet, Justin reassured him on the surface, ¡°If a simple apology could resolve the matter, there would be no need to waste so much time, especially since they aren¡¯t worth my time.¡±


    He had been a player in the love game for so long, handling such minor scenes was second nature to him.


    Justin¡¯s gaze swept across Xia Wenjin¡¯s face, and he asked seemingly nonchalantly, ¡°I saw you talking to that girl just now, like you knew each other. You¡¯ve met before, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    He had heard about the Xia Family¡¯s daughter when he was abroad, but he had never seen her in the social circles ever since she was young.


    The Xia Family had kept her especially sheltered, even people within the XJ Group had rarely seen her.


    He hadn¡¯t expected her to be such a beauty.


    If it weren¡¯t for his rush earlier, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have pushed her.


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, ¡°More than know her, she¡¯s the one who stole my identity. I am the real heiress of the Lu Family, but my parents have raised her for twenty years for nothing.¡±


    Justin¡¯s eyes widened significantly, his blue eyes fixed intently on her, ¡°Are you saying... your identities were swapped?¡±


    Is Xia Wenjin the one that the Xia Family has cherished for 20 years?


    But the way he saw Xia Wenjue acting earlier didn¡¯t seem like it at all!


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for her, I wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much at the Xia Family. Instead, she has been living it up in the Lu Family, playing the pampered heiress...¡± Xia Wenjin grew more aggrieved as she spoke, and eventually, she started choking up with red-rimmed eyes.


    She was so focused on her performance in front of Justin that she completely missed his shocked expression.


    Could Xia Wenjin actually think the Xia Family is poor?


    Looks like there¡¯s a lot about Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s relationships with the Xia Family that he didn¡¯t know.


    Justin¡¯s blue eyes narrowed slightly, and he gently patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Then you really have suffered a lot...¡±


    His pat seemed perfunctory, his mind already plotting.


    Since Xia Wenjin is still unaware of the Xia Family¡¯s situation, Lu Zhaozhao probably doesn¡¯t know either.


    Does he have a chance to win over this cousin?


    Although he¡¯s technically Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cousin, he was adopted, with no blood relation to the Xia Family.


    This relationship provided just the right opportunity to get close to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Seeing how Xia Wenjue doted on her, she could be a valuable pawn.


    If he could control Lu Zhaozhao, taking over XJ Group could be much easier.


    After all, women are easily swayed by emotions. As long as he claimed to love her, she would do whatever he wanted, just like the other women he had manipulated before.


    A smirk formed on Justin¡¯s lips, watching as the woman conveniently collapsed into his embrace, he softly coaxed her again, ¡°A nice girl like you deserves a decent man to protect her...¡±


    True to his expectation, Xia Wenjin¡¯s head pressed heavier against his chest.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    A sudden vibration from the phone interrupted the intimate atmosphere between them.


    Xia Wenjin hastily moved away from Justin¡¯s embrace, and he then picked up the phone, seeing her blushing furiously, Justin couldn¡¯t help but smirk smugly.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Justin, the female guest in your room has taken a set of your clothes when she left. Would you like us to investigate?¡±


    Justin chuckled lightly, ¡°No need. It¡¯s just a piece of clothing.¡±


    He had gone to a bar last night after arriving in Shangjing and unexpectedly met a rather appealing woman.


    She wore a white mermaid gown evening dress, yet was crying pitifully, one might have thought she just came from some high-class banquet.


    He had drunk a bit too much last night, and they had a wild time together until very late, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have almost stood Xia Wenjin up this morning...


    ¡°`

 Chapter 142: 142: How Did She Get Easily Deceived by Song Sinian?

    Chapter 142: Chapter 142: How Did She Get Easily Deceived by Song Sinian?


    After hanging up the phone with the hotel¡¯s assistant, Justin looked back toward Xia Wenjin with a pair of blue eyes once again filled with laughter, ¡°Dear Miss Xia, let¡¯s go choose an evening dress first. Let¡¯s not allow unimportant people to ruin our wonderful time, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ...


    As the evening set in and the sky grew dark, Lu Zhaozhao finally returned to the Song Family home.


    The moment she pushed open the door, she could distinctly feel an oppressive atmosphere rushing toward her.


    Qian Hong saw the door open and rushed toward Lu Zhaozhao as if she had seen her savior.


    ...


    ¡°Madam, have you had dinner?¡±


    As she spoke, she took the things Lu Zhaozhao was carrying.


    Then she leaned in close to Lu Zhaozhao and whispered, ¡°Mr. Song came back early in the afternoon and still hasn¡¯t eaten...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately understood what she meant. She stole a glance at Song Sinian, who was sitting in the living room working on documents, and coughed lightly, ¡°Ahem... I didn¡¯t eat much for dinner and would like something more. Is there any dessert soup left in the kitchen?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Madam, please sit on the sofa for a while, and I¡¯ll arrange it right away,¡± Qian Hong said as she left the living room with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s belongings.


    Lu Zhaozhao changed into slippers and then pretended to notice nothing as she walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian shot Lu Zhaozhao a glance but did not speak, instead, he continued to flip through the documents in his hand.


    He had indeed left Lu Zhaozhao with Xia Wenjue earlier, but the whole day without seeing her made him unexplainably irritated.


    Even though Xia Wenjue reported Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s schedule to him, it did nothing to calm his restless heart.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m back,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, tilting her head and looking at Song Sinian with a smile in her eyes, ¡°Are you very busy right now?¡±


    Song Sinian looked up at Lu Zhaozhao and still did not speak.


    He knew he should respond to Lu Zhaozhao, but his lips moved, and he oddly found himself unable to open his mouth.


    Lu Zhaozhao obviously noticed Song Sinian¡¯s abnormality but pretended not to have seen it, standing up directly, ¡°If Mr. Song is busy, I¡¯ll go to my room first, I...¡±


    Before she could step away, her wrist was suddenly seized.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡±


    His voice was low and husky, with a touch of pleading.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head to look at Song Sinian, who was tightly clutching her wrist, and said with a smile, ¡°Since our Mr. Song has said so, I must stay.¡±


    As she spoke, she attempted to sit back down on the sofa.


    But before she could realize what was happening, Song Sinian suddenly pulled her into his embrace.


    His large hand rested on her back, holding her tightly to him, as if afraid she would run away.


    He buried his head in her shoulder and mumbled dully, ¡°I don¡¯t like it when you¡¯re away from me for so long, it makes me uncomfortable.¡±


    Listening to him express his feelings so directly, the corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, and her small hands swiftly embraced Song Sinian¡¯s waist tightly, ¡°I don¡¯t like being away from you for so long either. I really enjoy being with Mr. Song.¡±


    Words that would have once made her blush just naturally slipped out.


    Lu Zhaozhao could clearly feel that after hearing her words, Song Sinian¡¯s tension eased considerably.


    Encouraged to continue as if, Lu Zhaozhao added another line, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about Mr. Song all day while I was outside, so... were you thinking of me too?¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Song Sinian responded almost reflexively.


    He slowly released Lu Zhaozhao, who he had been holding tight, and then lowered his head to her lips.


    His unsteady breath fell on the tip of her nose, light then heavy, the familiar cold fragrance nearly enveloping her in an instant.


    Kissed by Song Sinian, her lips tingled slightly, sending a subtle shudder through her entire heart.


    Linking with her nerves, it penetrated her limbs and bones.


    His large hand kneaded her slender waist every now and then, sapping all her strength and making her fall into his arms, limp and boneless.


    Lu Zhaozhao was really struggling to cope¡ªthis was the living room after all, and if Qian Hong came back from the kitchen and saw them like this, she would die of embarrassment.


    Her small hands pushed on Song Sinian, the soft and powerless gesture like she was coyly inviting and resisting at once.


    With a light squeeze from Song Sinian¡¯s hand, he grabbed her wrist, flipped it around, and pressed her against the couch.


    He looked down at her from above, his eyes already tainted with a touch of crimson from his desire.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡± His voice was hoarse, a whisper that made her tremble uncontrollably.


    She answered him in a daze, and soon felt the cool touch of his lips again, one kiss after another, gentle and lingering.


    The more he did this, the more her chest fluttered, stirring a mix of tingling and itching sensations.


    Lu Zhaozhao was driven to desperation; she gritted her teeth, reached out to grab Song Sinian¡¯s collar, and pulled him down, taking a few fierce bites.


    Just as Song Sinian was stunned, she did a carp flip, pressing him down and straddling his waist.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Doctor Tian saying that Song Sinian¡¯s condition needed to progress slowly, she would have taken care of him right there and then!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hands rested on Song Sinian¡¯s chest as her eyes followed up his slightly open collar.


    He had been at the house for some time now, so he had removed his tie, and the buttoned-up shirt collar had just been violently torn open by her, revealing his long and fair neck...


    Her hands couldn¡¯t help but slowly move up, caressing everything she could see, right up to the most prominent part of his neck.


    As soon as she touched that sharp point, Song Sinian immediately grasped her wrist.


    He pressed her small hand against his chest, simply staring at her, the desire in his eyes swirling, a spark in dry grass, ready to ignite at any moment.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I think...¡±


    I want to take care of you right now!


    ¡°Madam, the sweet soup...¡±


    Qian Hong, who had just brought in the sweet soup, saw the two people moving up and down on the couch and stopped abruptly.


    She then quickly changed her words, ¡°The sweet soup isn¡¯t hot enough, I¡¯ll go heat it up!!¡±


    Saying this, she was ready to hurry away with the serving plate, but it was just too heavy.


    Worried about causing a mess, she had no choice but to return the way she had come, reluctantly.


    ¡°Aunt Qian!¡± Lu Zhaozhao called out to her in a panic. ¡°Um... I think Mr. Song is hungry too, just leave the meal here.¡±


    She climbed down from Song Sinian, a bit embarrassed, and spoke up.


    Luckily, she hadn¡¯t lost her mind just now and actually done something to Song Sinian, otherwise, the scene Qian Hong would have walked in on...


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, sat down on the sofa with a serious expression, and silently scorned her own lust-blinded self.


    How could she have been so easily bewitched by Song Sinian?


    As she thought this, her gaze involuntarily moved to Song Sinian, who was still lying on the couch without getting up...

 Chapter 143: 143: Mr. Song, Are You So Jealous?

    Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Mr. Song, Are You So Jealous?


    His neckline slightly open, the attractive lines of his collarbone faintly visible.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze shifted back to Song Sinian¡¯s refined yet abstinent face, and she couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    Alright, she admitted that even if it happened again, she would still fall into it.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose, trying to calm down the emotions she just had, then forced a smile and looked at Song Sinian. ¡°Mr. Song, let¡¯s have something to eat.¡±


    Saying this, she extended her small hand towards Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze fell on her small hand, his brow and eyes faintly moved, and he took it.


    ...


    But he didn¡¯t show any hint of getting up, as if he was in a mood.


    Seeing this, Qian Hong immediately put down the tray she was holding, ¡°Sir, ma¡¯am, there¡¯s still a lot left to handle in the kitchen. Take your time with your meal. I guess it will take me a very long time to come back...¡±


    She said this, nodded to both of them, and quickly left.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, she could understand being busy with kitchen duties, but what was that ¡°very long time to come back¡± about?


    She sighed helplessly and turned her head to look at Song Sinian again, her patience wearing thin as she asked again, ¡°Mr. Song, would you like to try the sweet soup?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s voice slightly lifted as he replied softly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


    We could eat together.


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to speak when she saw Song Sinian curiously playing with her small hand, his long fingers slightly stretched and then clasping hers.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao froze, staring blankly at Song Sinian.


    ¡°Did you have fun going out today?¡± Song Sinian seemed not to notice Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little expression, he slowly sat up but still did not let go of her tightly clasped fingers.


    His voice was soft, carrying a rare gentleness.


    Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses and thought for a bit, ¡°It was alright today...¡±


    Thinking of seeing Justin during the day, her brow slightly furrowed.


    In her previous life, the affairs of XJ Group were as inconsequential to her as entertainment gossip.


    But ever since she found out Xia Wenjue was closely acquainted with the CEO of XJ, she started to worry that the Xia Family might get dragged into the internal strife of XJ Group.


    Lu Zhaozhao, holding the spoon in the sweet soup, suddenly paused, her eyes fixing on Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, could you help me investigate the matter of XJ Group?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow faintly lifted, she knew?


    ¡°I ran into Xia Wenjin and a regional vice president of XJ Group while shopping with big brother today. He said, that regional vice president of XJ Group is my cousin...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly recounted what happened during the day, but when she thought about the reason to ask Song Sinian to investigate XJ Group, she got stuck again.


    She couldn¡¯t just say she wants to investigate the XJ Group because it will have internal turmoil in the future, could she?


    Lu Zhaozhao subconsciously bit her lip, thinking, when suddenly her chin was caught by someone.


    ¡°Stop biting.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice was cool, ¡°Just tell me what you want to investigate.¡±


    His thumb gently pried open her small mouth, his fingertip lightly rubbing against the edge of her lips.


    His adorable wife always had her little secrets, still a bunch that she wouldn¡¯t share with others.


    What could he do?


    Song Sinian¡¯s indulgence made her tiny heart tremble slightly.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°I want to know the current situation inside XJ, is it too much trouble?¡±


    Song Sinian pulled her into his arms, his eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°It¡¯s not troublesome, the XJ Group and Song Group are looking to cooperate, and mutual understanding between partners is within reasonable limits.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao secretly sighed with relief, then casually said, ¡°My elder brother mentioned that he seems to have a good relationship with the current president of XJ... Hmm?¡±


    Her words were cut off as Song Sinian¡¯s lips pressed against hers.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows in surprise, fixing her gaze on Song Sinian, ¡°Song... Hmm!¡±


    His lips pressed harder than before, and he only slowly let her go when he saw she wouldn¡¯t speak further.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about other men from you now,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s black eyes drooped, his voice growing lower.


    Lu Zhaozhao paused, then couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, ¡°Mr. Song, are you that jealous?¡±


    Her eyes and brows were smiling as she looked into the depths of his eyes, twinkling like stars.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips gently pinched her wrist, his voice low, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking into his burning black eyes, felt her heart tremble and involuntarily swallowed, ¡°Like, I like...¡±


    He turned her wrist over, pressing it against his cheek, ¡°Then don¡¯t mention others, just focus on me, alright?¡±


    Her palm rested against his cheek, the warm touch making her heart thud wildly.


    Even though she had taught him everything, his adept use of those teachings clearly overwhelmed her.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, her other hand pressing her chest, ¡°It¡¯s quite nice, but it¡¯s a bit tough on the heart...¡±


    ...


    The day of the Jade Vein auction arrived just like in her previous life, and heavy rain poured down.


    Lu Zhaozhao stood in the long corridor of the auction, looking at the gloomy sky outside, feeling a mix of emotions.


    Suddenly, she felt warmth on her shoulder as a familiar cold fragrance enveloped her with a cozy suit jacket.


    ¡°You¡¯re dressed so lightly, it¡¯s easy to catch a cold.¡±


    Song Sinian, recalling the last time she caught a cold and fever from the rain, unconsciously furrowed his brow.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her watery eyes obediently and responded, ¡°Understood, Mr. Song.¡±


    As she was about to pull Song Sinian towards the auction hall, she noticed Xia Wenjue standing not far away.


    He was awkwardly holding his own coat, seemingly having just taken it off.


    ¡°Big brother?¡± Lu Zhaozhao was slightly surprised, ¡°What brings you here today?¡±


    Xia Wenjue awkwardly pulled at the corner of his mouth, then put his coat back on, ¡°I just happened to be attending the auction today, just here for the excitement.¡±


    He touched his nose unconsciously as he spoke.


    ¡°I see,¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded thoughtfully.


    In her past life, the Xia Family hadn¡¯t recognized her for various reasons, so she wasn¡¯t sure if Xia Wenjue had attended this auction.


    If he was just here for the excitement, there probably wouldn¡¯t be any changes, right?


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao followed Song Sinian and Xia Wenjue towards the auction hall.


    Since everyone attending the auction was a prominent figure in Shangjing, aside from bidding for the Jade Vein, the rest naturally involved networking and discussing collaborations.


    Thus, as soon as Song Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao, and Xia Wenjue entered the hall, they immediately caught the attention of everyone.


    Among these, there were glares filled with distinct resentment constantly fixed on their group...

 Chapter 144 03-25 - 144 You Will Achieve What You Desire

    Chapter 144: Chapter 144 You Will Achieve What You Desire


    Lu Zhaozhao subconsciously looked over, just in time to see Xia Wenjin, who had come with Lu Dagui to participate in the jade vein auction.


    The tips of her brows lifted slightly, seemingly not surprised at all to see her there.


    In her previous life, at this time, Xia Wenjin had not yet returned to the Lu Family, which is why she had not participated in the vein auction.


    In this life, she had returned early, and the Lu Family, to allow her to gain exposure in the Shangjing Circle, would also let her attend these various occasions.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, come sit over here, don¡¯t mind those irrelevant people.¡± Xia Wenjue gently patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, worried that seeing the affectionate display between Lu Dagui and his daughter might affect her mood.


    Lu Zhaozhao withdrew her gaze, smiled faintly, and took her seat next to Song Sinian.


    ...


    Xia Wenjue also sat down in his spot, not far from them, but his seat was separated by a row from theirs, so even if they wanted to talk, there was no opportunity.


    Soon enough, the auction began.


    The host warmed up the crowd briefly before beginning the auction¡¯s standard procedures.


    ¡°First, we will auction the currently highly sought-after Number One jade vein, covering 1.3478 square kilometers, with a leasing period of three years, starting price of 140 million, and increments of 100,000 per bid. The mining rights will go to the highest bidder, and the bidding starts now!¡±


    ¡°142 million!¡±


    ¡°143 million!¡±


    ¡°145 million!¡±


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï


    ...


    Since it was a highly sought-after vein, the auction price quickly rose to 160 million.


    Just as the speed of the bidding slowed down, suddenly someone loudly said, ¡°170 million!¡±


    Almost everyone turned their gaze toward the person who had just raised the bid by 10 million in one go¡ªLu Dagui.


    Seeing him sitting in a wheelchair, an expression of determination to win at all costs, other bidders began to hesitate.


    They had heard quite a lot of rumors even before coming to the auction.


    There were previously rumors that the Song Group intended to give up the two hottest veins, not participating in the bidding, which is why others were so eager to participate.


    But unexpectedly, although the Song Family did not join the bidding, the Lu Family, which had ties with the Song Family, seemed to have a monopoly on the situation.


    People even suspected that the Song Family had instructed the Lu Family to bid on these hot veins, which caused everyone to start hesitating.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze fixated on the large amount displayed on the screen above; her eyes narrowed slightly¡ªif she remembered correctly, in her last life, the final amount auctioned was 178 million.


    Probably after a few more rounds, it would be over.


    ¡°180 million!¡±


    Suddenly, a cold voice broke the silence of the crowd.


    For a moment, everyone¡¯s gaze shifted toward the back rows, including Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s.


    But when she saw the person holding up the bidding sign, her eyes instantly widened.


    Xia Wenjue?


    Why was he participating in the auction?!


    And he even raised the bid by 10 million in one go!


    Lu Zhaozhao clenched her fist nervously, her brow furrowing unconsciously.


    Song Sinian clearly felt Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s anxiety; he reached out, took her small hand, and gently patted it as if to comfort her.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, leaned closer to Song Sinian, and whispered, ¡°Why is my brother participating in the bidding? Did his company ask him to do this?¡±


    Song Sinian hesitated for a moment before replying softly, ¡°XJ Group has instructed him to do so, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    His overly indifferent tone caused Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows to slightly raise, ¡°You¡¯ve known about his involvement in the auction for a while, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian did not answer, but his silence was a fully different kind of response.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately became anxious as the bidding sounds echoed in her ears again.


    ¡°One hundred and ninety million!¡±


    ¡°Two hundred million!¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze fixed on Song Sinian and a foreboding sense suddenly surged in her heart, ¡°Did you take part in this, Mr. Song?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I was involved.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s reply was concise, with no beating around the bush.


    Lu Zhaozhao was utterly frustrated at this point.


    She quickly shook Song Sinian¡¯s arm and lowered her voice as much as possible, ¡°Please, convince my brother to stop bidding!¡±


    She knew that the Xia Group was financially powerful, but if the jade vein ended up being a disastrous investment, Xia Wenjue would also be affected.


    Most importantly, if the two popular jade veins were auctioned off to Xia Group, meant to entrap the Lu Family, then what was the purpose?


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pale face, Song Sinian gently patted her back to comfort her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything will be alright. Trust me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt like crying at this moment, ¡°This isn¡¯t about trust, it¡¯s about...¡±


    She wanted to continue, but Song Sinian abruptly placed his index finger on her lips, ¡°Everything you hope for will come true.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    As she watched the price of the first jade vein soar from two hundred million to over three hundred million, Lu Zhaozhao felt her heart jump into her throat.


    ¡°Three hundred and sixty million!¡±


    As Lu Dagui gritted his teeth and called out that price, Xia Wenjue gripped and then released his bidding card, finally giving up the bid.


    ¡°Three hundred and sixty million! Once!¡±


    ¡°Three hundred and sixty million! Twice!¡±


    ¡°Three hundred and sixty million! Three times! Sold! The mining rights for Jade Vein No. 1 ultimately belongs to the Lu Group! Alright! Let¡¯s move on to the auction of Jade Vein No. 2...¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao sat quietly in her seat, until the similarly thrilling acquisition of Jade Vein No. 3 by the Lu Group, and then she understood the meaning behind Song Sinian¡¯s earlier words.


    Jade Veins No. 1 and No. 3 were indeed auctioned by the Lu Family, but the prices for both veins reached double the price of the previous world!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hands were still slightly trembling as she clenched her fists tight and glanced at Song Sinian, it took her a long time before she finally spoke, ¡°Song Sinian, come outside with me!¡±


    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was enough for Song Sinian to detect a tone different from her usual.


    ¡°Zhao Xi, handle the rest of the auction, Zhaozhao and I will step out for a bit.¡± He said as he handed over the bidding paddle to him and then led Lu Zhaozhao through a side aisle away from their seats.


    Song Sinian was pulled by Lu Zhaozhao all the way to the parking lot, obediently following her instructions to open the car door, and then sat in the back seat.


    ¡°Are... are you angry?¡±


    Sitting in the back seat, Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao, unsurely asking.


    He had never seen such an expression on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face before; it seemed similar to anger, yet not quite.


    Just as Song Sinian was analyzing how to handle the current situation, he felt a sudden weight on his neck, and the next second, his tie was pulled off by Lu Zhaozhao.


    Followed by that, his hands were swiftly tied with the tie.


    Lu Zhaozhao, holding the other end of the tie, glared at him furiously, ¡°From this moment, you better honestly explain everything to me!¡±

 Chapter 145 03-25 - 145 I advise you to give up the pointless struggle...

    Chapter 145: Chapter 145 I advise you to give up the pointless struggle...


    Song Sinian looked into her eyes, which had darkened slightly, and his gaze scanned over the bound wrists. ¡°Binding them like this is utterly useless,¡± he said lightly, ¡°It¡¯s very easy for someone to break free. You should have tied them behind the back.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to burst with fury right on the spot.


    Despite her aggressive display, Song Sinian could still calmly discuss with her whether to bind in front or behind?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows twitched involuntarily as she felt a headache coming on. She tapped at her forehead and said, impatiently, ¡°Fine, fine, fine, I¡¯ll tie them behind your back right now!¡±


    As she spoke with resentment, her little hands unconsciously applied more force and bound Song Sinian tightly behind his back.


    ...


    Then she straddled his legs directly, sitting atop him, and stared down at him from above. ¡°Now, tell me immediately, what kind of plotting have you and Xia Wenjue been up to?!¡±


    She had just been scared half to death, fearing that Song Sinian, with his wealth and arrogance, would partner with XJ Group and the first thing they would do is snap up mine veins No. 1 and No. 3.


    But judging by her elder brother¡¯s actions, it was likely that he and Song Sinian had made arrangements beforehand.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes were a calm abyss, without the slightest ripple. ¡°Previously, you told me to let the Lu Family have mine veins No. 1 and No. 3, so I specifically instructed Zhao Xi to keep an eye on those interested in these popular veins...¡±


    ¡°So, you discovered that XJ Group wanted to bid, and hence you struck a deal with them on the spot and devised this plan?¡± Lu Zhaozhao interrupted before Song Sinian could finish speaking, unable to restrain her inquiry.


    She had only just learned that Xia Wenjue was well-acquainted with the president of XJ Group, yet she had never imagined her elder brother would use XJ Group to bid on mine resources.


    Song Sinian shook his head, immediately distancing himself from Xia Wenjue. ¡°He indeed intended to bid on those popular veins. I merely went to stop him and incidentally offered some effective suggestions.¡±


    Source: , updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï


    Incidentally offered some effective suggestions?


    Why did she find that so hard to believe?


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer to Song Sinian, her body pressing down. ¡°Mr. Song, do you know what ¡®leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist¡¯ means? I advise you to give up any futile struggle...¡±


    Her voice, soft and gentle, fell into his ears, her warm breath teasing his earlobe strand by strand.


    Song Sinian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly, and when he looked into her watery eyes, his deep voice was lost in the noise of the rain outside the car.


    ¡°Drip, drip...¡±


    Large raindrops pattered against the car window, emitting a muffled sound, and the car interior fell into a tranquil silence.


    Seeing that Song Sinian was no longer speaking, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she bit down on his neck.


    Her bite wasn¡¯t too light or too heavy, just enough to leave a row of faint teeth marks.


    Song Sinian shuddered, his breathing nearly stopped abruptly.


    The sharpness of her canine teeth grazed over the thin veins, bringing an unusual tingling sensation that caused him to tense up suddenly.


    He wanted to reach out and grasp her, but his bound wrists conveniently restrained his actions.


    Ha! This truly turned into torment, sweet torment...


    Song Sinian shifted his body slightly, ¡°Zhaozhao, you have to believe me, everything I just told you is true.¡±


    His voice was husky, even carrying a nasal quality.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted involuntarily, and her gaze fell on Song Sinian.


    If what he said just now was the truth, then where exactly did things go wrong?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Since you knew I wanted the Lu Family to win the bid, why did you still compete with them at the auction?¡±


    The key point was that it was so nerve-wracking!


    Just now, she almost thought Xia Wenjue was determined to have it!


    Song Sinian clearly paused for a moment, turned his face away, and seemed somewhat reluctant to answer the question.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out and pinched Song Sinian¡¯s chin, twisting his handsome face to look directly at her, ¡°Are you going to confess obediently, or...¡±


    While saying this, she tilted her head and grazed his neck with her small canine tooth, arching an eyebrow as if threatening him.


    Song Sinian had no choice but to sigh softly, ¡°I knew you wanted the Lu Family to win. All that mattered was that the Lu Group ended up with the number 1 and 3 jade veins, right?¡±


    She pursed her lips slightly, ¡°Uh... that¡¯s correct...¡±


    At that time, she had only hoped that Song Sinian would give up on those two pitfalls and incidentally use them to trap the Lu Group, so she hadn¡¯t thought too much about it.


    Seeing that her mood was not as agitated as before, Song Sinian continued, ¡°Xia Wenjue and I just drove up the purchase price. The outcome remained the same.¡±


    Xia Wenjue had indeed intended to directly secure the number 1 and 3 jade veins¡ªmuch sought-after assets. Had Zhao Xi not been keenly watching these two veins at the time, today¡¯s auction would have truly become a life-and-death struggle between Xia Wenjue and Lu Dagui.


    Lu Zhaozhao pinched Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that the Lu Family will find the price too high and simply give up on bidding?¡±


    No matter how she thought about it, Song Sinian¡¯s actions seemed too rash to her.


    ¡°The likelihood of that is low,¡± Song Sinian replied to Lu Zhaozhao with brevity and certainty in his tone.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised as she stared intently at Song Sinian, her eyes gradually darkening, ¡°So, what else are you hiding from me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The two stared at each other for a long while until Song Sinian finally admitted defeat.


    ¡°Some of the directors within the Song Group have secretly contacted the Lu Family, likely reaching some form of collaboration. There has been substantial and frequent capital flow between the two recently.¡±


    Lu Dagui was already basking in glory because the Song Group did not participate in the auction for the number 1 and 3 jade veins. With the financial boost from some directors within the Lu Group, he was quite fearless.


    So even if the bidding price increased, it wouldn¡¯t pressure him as it did before.


    He and Xia Wenjue had already investigated the current financial status of the Lu Group, which is why they dared to bid confidently against them.


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t anticipated all these complications and frowned, ¡°If you had this planned already, why didn¡¯t you tell me beforehand?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes flickered, ¡°I thought the result would be the same, and it wouldn¡¯t affect you.¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t affect me? I was nearly scared to death by you all!¡± Lu Zhaozhao let out a long sigh, ¡°What if you really had won the bid?¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, and he started sizing up Lu Zhaozhao.


    For the Song Group or XJ Group, this amount of money was nothing; even if it was all spent, it wouldn¡¯t really affect them.


    But for the Lu Group, it was different; their company didn¡¯t have much liquid assets. If they ended up making a loss on the jade veins they had acquired... it would be fatal.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao then slowly and distinctly said, ¡°Even if we had won the bid, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered, but... how are you so sure that these two popular jade veins would definitely lose money?¡±

 Chapter 146 03-25 - 146: This isnt compensation, its practically torture!

    Chapter 146: Chapter 146: This isn¡¯t compensation, it¡¯s practically torture!


    ¡°I...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth, but the words reached her lips and she swallowed them back.


    However, soon she found another topic to deflect the conversation, ¡°I was just worried because you and the Lu Family had already signed an agreement to give up those two ore veins. What if you got caught on camera, wouldn¡¯t that be a breach of contract?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t make a sound, just quietly watching Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Pitter-patter, pitter-patter...¡±


    ...


    Raindrops drummed against the car window, mirroring the unease of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Thump-thump, thump-thump¡± it pounded nonstop.


    Song Sinian silently heaved a sigh and buried his head into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, ¡°So... now that the Lu Family has purchased those two ore veins at such a heart-wrenching price, are you happy?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly taken aback, but still nodded, ¡°Mhm, happy.¡±


    It was only then that Song Sinian raised his head to look at Lu Zhaozhao, asking in a deep voice, ¡°Do I get a reward?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian, the word ¡°yes¡± almost slipping out.


    She suddenly came back to her senses, frowned unhappily, and mumbled, ¡°You almost ruined a deal that was set in stone by sticking your nose in, making me so anxious, and now you have the nerve to ask for a reward, huh!¡±


    Source: , updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï


    Lu Zhaozhao forced herself to toughen up, staring fiercely at Song Sinian.


    She did so lest she get attacked by his devastatingly handsome face without guarding against it.


    Clearly, Song Sinian didn¡¯t like what he heard at all.


    Once again, he buried his face in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, not looking at her anymore.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost chuckled at his sulky behavior.


    Luckily, since Song Sinian was looking down, he couldn¡¯t see her expression and she managed to hide it well.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced down at Song Sinian, eyeing his slender nape and her little hand couldn¡¯t help but pinch and knead it a bit.


    Mmm, it felt quite nice.


    Since the Lu Group had secured the two highly sought-after ore veins, Lu Zhaozhao also relaxed a lot.


    Her little hand lightly tapped on the back of his neck, then she murmured, ¡°Mr. Song, you should still remember what Doctor Tian said about you needing to exercise, right? Do you have a plan?¡±


    The moment he heard this, Song Sinian seemed even more displeased.


    He took a deep breath and exhaled heavily; his breath felt warm and a bit humid against her neck.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged it, even found a trainer,¡± Song Sinian said, his voice very low, as if he was reluctant.


    In her previous life, Lu Zhaozhao was never clear about Song Sinian¡¯s health, nor did she hear of him having any fitness trainers or the like.


    Thinking of this, her eyebrows suddenly furrowed, somewhat uncertain, ¡°Is this fitness trainer reliable?¡±


    Not another Xiao Mo?


    Song Sinian replied with a muffled voice, ¡°Hmm, reliable, kind of... a strategic partner.¡±


    He considered for a moment before defining the other person¡¯s role.


    ¡°When do you start training?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand was pinching Song Sinian¡¯s nape as if she was playing with a big dog.


    But this time Song Sinian didn¡¯t respond to her, he just rubbed his face against her neck and then went quiet.


    The corner of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth curved slightly, it seemed like the timing of the training was even harder for Song Sinian to accept.


    She turned her head and gently kissed his ear, ¡°Will the training take a long time?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Song Sinian finally reacted, nodding his head, ¡°Every Saturday afternoon, I won¡¯t be able to be with you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, her little hands cradling Song Sinian¡¯s head, and she planted a kiss on his cheek, ¡°Is that a bit of compensation?¡±


    Her eyes curved with a smile as she looked at him, amusement sparkling in her gaze.


    Mr. Song from their family was really too adorable; she simply couldn¡¯t get enough of him!


    Song Sinian was startled by her kiss, his dark pupils flickered, ¡°I feel it¡¯s not quite enough...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Tsk tsk, had their little angel learned to bargain?


    ¡°Then... is this enough for you~¡± Lu Zhaozhao winked at Song Sinian, as her little hands encircled his neck.


    She was already at an advantage, and now she found it all too easy to tease the always-obedient Mr. Song before her eyes.


    She lowered her head and gently kissed his forehead, then his nose bridge, followed by his eyes...


    One kiss after another trailed down to the tips of his ears, which were starting to redden slightly, down to his pale and slender neck, and slowly downwards.


    Her soft, warm lips nibbled teasingly across his collarbone.


    In a brief time, his collarbone beneath his neck was covered in splotchy red marks.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed quite pleased with her masterpiece, paying no attention to the fact that the tie that previously bound one¡¯s wrists had silently come loose...


    She had been afraid of hurting Song Sinian, so she didn¡¯t tie it very tight, plus her recent mischief made it difficult, even for the restrained Sinian, to keep his long arms from tensing behind his back.


    Thus... the tie quickly became loose due to the friction.


    Song Sinian naturally realized this right away.


    He almost instinctively grasped the tie around his wrist, but it was to no avail.


    He could only silently clutch his other wrist, pretending he was still tied up.


    But she... was really too vexing.


    How was this compensation? It felt like an outright sentence!


    Unable to move, he could only passively accept everything she wanted to give, which was indeed a bit tough on him.


    Song Sinian watched her slightly mischievous eyes, tilting his head up to press his lips against hers.


    He gently rubbed against her lips, affectionately enticing her to accept him, to draw close, watching her step by step being led by him, sinking into the whirlpool.


    The breathing in their ears grew heavier, the air between them alight with an intensifying warmth, her whole body overheating with the urge to seek solace.


    The car was already dim from the rainy weather; at that moment, all senses converged sharply, with a subtle longing becoming especially clear at heart.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡±


    The deep, low call by her ear acted as a catalyst, causing her heart to melt completely, as if something had exploded deep within.


    Desires hidden in the deepest part of her heart surged forth like a tempest.


    Her small hand hooked around his neck, her breath entwining, intertwining, the epitome of tenderness.


    Song Sinian too was moved by her emotions, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly, struggling to suppress his yearning for her.


    Just as she wanted him.


    Ever since he and Lu Zhaozhao got married, he had wanted to claim her all for himself at every moment, to brand her inside and out with marks that belonged to him alone.


    His longing for her had always been forcefully restrained, afraid that his crazed possessiveness would frighten her.


    But now, she recklessly dashed around in his world, making it too hard for him to keep his destructive desires at bay...


    He wanted to see her covered in his marks...

 Chapter 147 03-25 - 147: Could you trouble you to get out of here right now?

    Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Could you trouble you to get out of here right now?


    He yearned to hear her broken, unrecognizable cries, yearned to hear her sob his name as she wept.


    His blood raced through his veins, wildly urging him to press her against the back seat of the car and do what he had always wanted to do.


    ¡°Um...¡±


    ¡°Click¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a bright light flashed by the window, startling Lu Zhaozhao and sending a shiver through her. Then a thunderous roar followed immediately.


    Lu Zhaozhao was visibly startled, instinctively hugging Song Sinian¡¯s head.


    ...


    He, on the other hand, gently patted her, trying to soothe her emotions.


    The car fell silent once more.


    Lu Zhaozhao lay quietly in Song Sinian¡¯s arms; then suddenly, she remembered something and instantly sat up from on top of him.


    Song Sinian was also taken aback. Thinking of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words just a moment ago, he silently moved his hand that had shifted forward back a little discretely.


    He really didn¡¯t want to let go, but her reaction just now seemed genuinely petrified.


    He really couldn¡¯t stand by and do nothing.


    What Song Sinian didn¡¯t know at that moment was that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t noticed his hand loosening.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.??


    Her mind was entirely consumed by the thought of what she had just been about to do right there in the car with Song Sinian!


    Good heavens!


    This was the parking lot of an auction event!!!


    If the two really did that something, it would indeed become quite a spectacle soon!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire face instantly flushed crimson, ignited as if she was on fire.


    ¡°I, that something, Mr. Song, I, I need to go to the restroom!¡± Lu Zhaozhao stammered, flusteredly clambering up from Song Sinian and clumsily pushing open the car door to run out.


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao dash through the rain, heaving a helpless sigh, slowly lifting his wrist and gently rotating it.


    This little one, in such a frantic state, didn¡¯t even think to take an umbrella.


    Fortunately, the auction venue¡¯s corridor wasn¡¯t far from the parking lot; otherwise, she would be soaked again.


    As Song Sinian thought this, he was about to follow her, but he silently looked down at the awkward place and heaved a long sigh, deciding to sit in the back seat a bit longer to calm his emotions.


    After all... there was no place here to take a cold shower.


    Lu Zhaozhao sprinted all the way to the restroom, where she turned on the tap and soaked her hands, finally calming herself slightly.


    The situation just now was too stimulating; recollecting it now made her feel like she could have a nosebleed at any moment.


    That man, Song Sinian, was truly too provocative, unbearable, simply unbearable.


    All she had intended to do was clarify the details of the auction, not expecting things to turn out this way.


    Thinking thus, Lu Zhaozhao reached out to the automatic faucet once more.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The sound of running water began around the quiet sink, and Lu Zhaozhao immediately froze.


    This is bad, Song Sinian¡¯s hands seemed... still bound by her.


    Could he untie them?


    Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows, withdrew her hand, and was about to head back when she was stopped right at the entrance.


    ¡°It really is a small world where enemies are bound to meet,¡± Lu Zhaozhao remarked, forcing a smile as she looked at Xia Wenjin standing at the door.


    She couldn¡¯t fathom why she was so unlucky, even a trip to the bathroom could result in an encounter with such an unpleasant person.


    Xia Wenjin huffed coldly, looking Lu Zhaozhao up and down with contempt, ¡°You shameless woman! You¡¯ve probably seduced Song Sinian plenty of times using the method you just employed, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    The method just now?


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly remembered what had happened with Song Sinian in the car, and her gaze towards Xia Wenjin immediately grew colder.


    Had she been spying on them just now?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched slightly, she had thought Xia Wenjin had just happened to come to the restroom, which was why they ran into each other.


    Now it seemed quite likely that Xia Wenjin had followed them after they had left, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t know what happened between her and Song Sinian in the car.


    It was even less likely that she would follow her all the way to the bathroom.


    Her eyes narrowed slightly, she glanced at Xia Wenjin, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have such peculiar tastes, enjoying watching such things?¡±


    Mimicking Xia Wenjin¡¯s manner, she deliberately scanned her with disdain, then let out several ¡°tsks¡± of mock contemplation.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned bright red with anger, glaring at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You, you¡¯re the shameless one, don¡¯t assume everyone else is like you!¡±


    ¡°Tsk! Song Sinian and I are legally married, it¡¯s all legal behavior. In contrast, you¡¯re the peeping Tom...¡± Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t finish her sentence, deliberately leaving things hanging while she looked at her.


    This made Xia Wenjin even more irritable. Just as she was about to fire back at Lu Zhaozhao, she suddenly stopped short.


    Why should she let herself be led by the nose by her?


    Cao Mei had said that as soon as the auction ended, it would be announced that she was the Lu Family¡¯s daughter and at the same time, the mother-daughter relationship with Lu Zhaozhao would be disowned.


    By then, Lu Zhaozhao would be nothing! Without the status of the Lu Family¡¯s daughter, how could she possibly continue to mix in the Beijing Circle?


    There was absolutely no need for her to get angry because of such a person!


    Because everything Lu Zhaozhao thought she owned would soon no longer belong to her!


    Xia Wenjin lifted her chin proudly, sneering, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, your good days are over! Now that my dad has secured the mining resources he wanted, you¡¯re completely useless to the Lu Family. Starting today, you¡¯re no longer the daughter of the Lu Family!¡±


    ¡°Clap, clap, clap!¡± Lu Zhaozhao immediately applauded, ¡°Well, I really must congratulate myself on escaping the bitter sea~¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows knitted together.


    That wasn¡¯t right. Wasn¡¯t she supposed to look at her with a pitiable face, or feel bitter resentment about everything being taken from her?


    She looked at Lu Zhaozhao with confusion and added another line, ¡°From now on, I¡¯m the only daughter of the Lu Family.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh, and then what?¡± Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head, completely indifferent.


    So what if Xia Wenjin was the daughter of the Lu Family?


    She couldn¡¯t care less!


    From the moment Mr. and Mrs. Lu had betrayed her in her previous life, using her as a stepping stone for Xia Wenjin, she had felt no more affection for them.


    Therefore, Xia Wenjin¡¯s words had no impact on her.


    ¡°You, you have nothing to say? From now on, you have no relation to the Lu Family whatsoever!¡± Xia Wenjin stared intently at Lu Zhaozhao, seeming unable to believe her lack of reaction.


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lips, ¡°Since I have nothing to do with the Lu Family anymore, can you please, right now... scram? Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao!¡± Xia Wenjin gritted her teeth, glowering at her, her hands clenched tight.


    It seemed she was ready to slap Lu Zhaozhao at any moment to vent her frustration.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes drooped slowly, her mouth twisted into a cold smile, ¡°Xia Wenjin, just a kind reminder, you can¡¯t beat me. If you want to ¡®save face¡¯ at the auction, I can arrange that right away. I¡¯ll make sure even your mother won¡¯t recognize you, how about that?¡±

 Chapter 148 03-25 - 148 Zhaozhao Hopes I Can Exercise

    Chapter 148: Chapter 148 Zhaozhao Hopes I Can Exercise


    As she spoke, she took a light step forward, closing in on Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin had previously suffered a loss at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hands, so when she spoke like that, he immediately retreated several steps back.


    Just in time to push open the door that was blocking the way.


    Lu Zhaozhao took the opportunity to step out, tilted her head with a trace of mockery toward Xia Wenjin, and hooked her lip corner, ¡°Goodbye, Lu Family¡¯s only daughter!¡±


    ¡°Lu! Zhao! Zhao!¡±


    ...


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, listening to the powerless fury behind her, rolled her eyes in silence.


    Clearly lacking any real skills, but still flaunting in front of her.


    Flaunting back and forth, it¡¯s always the same old phrases, even a scammer has more novelty than her.


    It¡¯s truly boring...


    The auction was basically without suspense, apart from the three veins that both Song Group and Lu Group competed for, the remaining veins were all split among other companies.


    The outside world had always rumored that Song Sinian was very fond of his wife, Lu Zhaozhao. Now that they saw Lu Family winning the bids for the two popular veins,


    Source: , updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    their belief in this rumor was only strengthened.


    It seemed that if one wished to obtain favors from Song Sinian, the effort had to be made through Lu Zhaozhao!


    SJJ Building¡¯s top floor.


    Two tall figures were sparring on the PK platform, their movements and techniques both fast, looking like two dark shadows constantly making contact and bouncing apart.


    Making it hard to tell who had the upper hand.


    After a long time, the two entangled figures finally separated.


    Xia Wenjue, barely keeping his balance, leaned on the PK platform¡¯s railing and protested discontentedly, ¡°Song Sinian, are you even human anymore? Didn¡¯t we agree it was just for training? Are you sure what you just did was ¡®training¡¯ and not settling personal scores?¡±


    His gaze shifted to Song Sinian, who appeared serene. With his scholarly demeanor, who could tell he was a master?


    When Song Sinian had proposed for him to be a fitness coach, Xia Wenjue had agreed without a second thought.


    He had hoped that if he got on better terms with Song Sinian, it might be possible for him to think of a way to make Lu Zhaozhao accept the Xia Family¡¯s current situation.


    But after only a short while of sparring, Xia Wenjue felt like he had been tricked.


    This kid ¨C whether it was Sanda or boxing, he didn¡¯t struggle at all!


    And if he was even slightly careless, he¡¯d get hit!


    What kind of coach was this?


    Clearly, it was sparring! And a sparring session where he was the punching bag!


    The more Xia Wenjue thought about it, the more he felt disheartened, so he walked forward two steps and simply lay down on the PK platform.


    He was exhausted to the point of death, yet Song Sinian had barely broken a sweat.


    Life truly wasn¡¯t fair!


    Song Sinian glanced at him and said with a cool tone, ¡°You really should train properly; as you age, your body does tend to become stiffer.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The descriptions ¡°aging¡± and ¡°body stiffening¡± clearly hurt Xia Wenjue.


    His martial arts skills might not be top of the class, but they were by no means mediocre.


    He just wasn¡¯t a freak like Song Sinian.


    Him, a CEO with such good skills, and then suddenly wanting to spar ¡ª why?


    Xia Wenjue pondered for a moment and then turned to look at Song Sinian, ¡°Is it because of Zhaozhao that you want to have a good relationship with me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    An awkward silence instantly made Xia Wenjue realize he had overthought it.


    He sighed quietly, thinking about it, aside from his special feelings for Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian had no ¡°feelings¡± to speak of towards others.


    Why would he suddenly want to get along better?


    His actions were definitely related to Lu Zhaozhao. As to why, he¡¯d have to wait for him to be explicit about it.


    Song Sinian picked up the water bottle beside him, took a sip, and then spoke leisurely, ¡°Zhaozhao hopes I can get in shape.¡±


    His words were brief and to the point, with no attempt to hide anything.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, ¡°Then why are you looking for me? If it¡¯s just physical training, anyone else would do, right?¡±


    Holding the water bottle in his hand, Song Sinian squeezed it slightly, ¡°Zhaozhao trusts you, and besides, the only one who can spar with me and would count as training is you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    So it all comes down to me being able to take a beating, huh?


    Xia Wenjue couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes, looking at Song Sinian with a speechless expression.


    He had lived for so long, but it was the first time he had been so blatantly used as a tool.


    Xia Wenjue lifted his hand to wipe the sweat off with the towel around his neck, and his gaze towards Song Sinian involuntarily narrowed.


    Since he had already been used as a tool,


    it really wouldn¡¯t be right not to scrape some ¡°kickback¡± for his status as the CEO of Xia Group.


    ¡°Brother-in-law... Zhaozhao still doesn¡¯t know the real situation of the Xia Family, could you... perhaps help out?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    As soon as Xia Wenjue¡¯s request left his mouth, Song Sinian very discourteously refused.


    Xia Wenjue immediately climbed up from the sparring stage, ¡°Come on, now Xia Wenjin is lording it over everyone with the Lu Family¡¯s status, Zhaozhao can¡¯t be wronged on this side too!¡±


    Song Sinian gave Xia Wenjue a look, ¡°I don¡¯t think the title of Mrs. Song is inferior to that of Lu Family¡¯s daughter.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Good lord, he had rendered him speechless with that comeback.


    Xia Wenjue had to admit Song Sinian was right, and after the auction incident, the name Lu Zhaozhao had indeed made a splash in the Shangjing Circle.


    But... he also wanted to legitimately announce the daughter and heiress of Xia Group!


    Xia Wenjue pouted his lips and stared at Song Sinian again for a long time before slowly speaking again, ¡°I heard the Lu Family booked an event at SJJ Hotel for Xia Wenjin¡¯s identity announcement...¡±


    A flicker of expression finally crossed Song Sinian¡¯s face.


    He raised an eyebrow slightly and took out his phone to dial a number.


    The call was quickly answered, ¡°Zhao Xi, has the Lu Family booked a private room at SJJ Hotel?¡±


    The person on the other end, Zhao Xi, seemed quite surprised that Song Sinian would take interest in such a trivial matter.


    But since he had asked, as his assistant, he had to answer truthfully.


    ¡°Yes, sir, the Lu Family just booked a VIP room at SJJ Hotel for her...¡±


    ¡°Cancel it, and from now on, cancel any and all bookings from Lu Group,¡± Song Sinian blurted out without waiting for Zhao Xi to finish.


    He wouldn¡¯t allow his wife to be embarrassed under the hospitality of Song Group.


    ¡°Uh... yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°And from now on, all hotels under Song Group are not open to anyone from the Lu Family, including Xia Wenjin.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Boy, his boss really played tough.


    Just after the Lu Family announced that the only daughter of the Lu Family was Xia Wenjin, almost indirectly declaring their severance with Lu Zhaozhao to the outside world,


    their boss immediately drew a clear line.


    It seemed like the Lu Family wouldn¡¯t be hopping around for much longer.


    After receiving the response, Song Sinian hung up the call, and his gaze turned to Xia Wenjue, as if asking, any other issues?


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjue now wanted to give him a round of applause on the spot.


    What a show! Truly magnificent!


    It was mean for sure, but the effect was undeniable.


    Xia Wenjue had to admire Song Sinian; he never hesitated when it came to matters concerning Lu Zhaozhao.


    Whatever benefited Lu Zhaozhao, he would do.


    Aside from being somewhat difficult to communicate with, as a brother-in-law, he really couldn¡¯t be faulted.


    Suddenly, as if a thought had struck him, his black eyes narrowed sharply¡ª

 Chapter 149 03-25 - 149: Song Sinian is not a meddlesome person

    Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Song Sinian is not a meddlesome person


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want Zhaozhao to be outshone by Wen Jin, right? Then we could join forces like before, how about that?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t respond, just quietly watched Xia Wenjue.


    ¡°For Zhaozhao¡¯s sake! You wouldn¡¯t want her to suddenly be told about the Xia Family¡¯s identity and be upset, would you?¡± Xia Wenjue blinked slightly smugly.


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, indeed unable to deny it.


    ...


    He remained silent for a moment, finally nodding slowly.


    Xia Wenjue pouted, ¡°You know, if you were a king, you¡¯d probably lose your kingdom.¡±


    Song Sinian looked at him somberly, ¡°The same goes for you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The two of them were pretty much in the same boat.


    Xia Wenjue shrugged noncommittally. He sat up, reached for a water bottle nearby, took a sip, and murmured, ¡°Speaking of which, I have to thank you.¡±


    He twisted the cap back on and continued, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t heard about the internal turmoil in our group from Zhaozhao, I would never have thought to conduct an internal investigation.¡±


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã?


    Someone used a diversion to deceive the public, creating issues through domestic shell companies.


    The issues found this time weren¡¯t major, but if it grew, it could become extremely troublesome.


    Fortunately, it was caught early.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows pressed down slightly, and he asked unintentionally, ¡°Did Zhaozhao tell you?¡±


    Xia Wenjue nodded, ¡°Yeah, I know you investigated the Xia Family out of concern for Zhaozhao, but indeed, I have to thank you for this.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked, saying nothing.


    He was no longer surprised by what Lu Zhaozhao might do.


    Whether it was previously worrying about Xia Wenyan doing drugs, or worrying that Xia Wenmo might die.


    Or preventing him from acquiring a highly sought-after mineral resource, or merely lending money without participating in the Lu Group¡¯s overseas orders.


    All of this made Song Sinian feel something was off, as if she had experienced it all herself.


    Now that Lu Zhaozhao could mention the internal turmoil of the XJ Group that even Xia Wenjue was unaware of, it seemed the situation with the Xia Family was more complicated than he had imagined.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Xia Wenjue, ¡°Is there a possibility that Xia Wenyan is using drugs?¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows shot up, replying instinctively, ¡°Anyone might do drugs, but not that boy. His personality is straightforward, and he doesn¡¯t hide things. He¡ª¡±


    He stopped abruptly in mid-sentence.


    Xia Wenjue seemed to realize something, staring intensely at Song Sinian, ¡°Have you discovered something I don¡¯t know about?¡±


    Song Sinian was not someone who meddled in other people¡¯s affairs.


    If he suddenly brought up Xia Wenyan, there must be an issue!


    Thinking of the incident where the program Xia Wenyan was on was reported, forcing a drug test, he found it quite strange.


    He only thought it might be someone maliciously delaying the start time of the program.


    It was malignant competition within the entertainment industry.


    Now thinking about it, he never caught the person who made the report...


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyes narrowed, If Song Sinian was behind this, then it made sense.


    He certainly had the capabilities.


    Song Sinian no longer looked at Xia Wenjue, simply replying lightly, ¡°Pay more attention to the personal safety of the Xia Family members, including yourself.¡±


    If the matter of Xia Wenyan wasn¡¯t an isolated incident but targeted at the Xia Family, then Xia Wenyan was just the beginning.


    It wouldn¡¯t hurt for Xia Wenjue to be more cautious.


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjue was shocked¡ªhe hadn¡¯t expected Song Sinian¡¯s response to be like this.


    His expression visibly darkened, it seemed he had underestimated the situation.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao had not yet publicly revealed her identity as the Xia Family¡¯s daughter.


    If it was as Song Sinian had said, Lu Zhaozhao might also be in danger!


    He would have to thoroughly eliminate this trash before Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s identity was disclosed!


    Monday, morning.


    When Lu Zhaozhao returned to school, she always felt that the looks from the people around her were somewhat odd.


    Did everyone already know that she had severed ties with the Lu Family?


    ¡°Zhaozhao, what are you thinking about?¡± Xu Zhenzhen gently tapped her forehead.


    Seeing her soulless appearance upon arriving at school, Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help worrying.


    Recently, there were too many rumors about Lu Zhaozhao, especially regarding her issues with the Lu Family, which were causing quite a stir.


    She was a bit worried that Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t be able to cope.


    Lu Zhaozhao rubbed her forehead and chuckled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just feel that people¡¯s gazes are a bit strange...¡±


    ¡°Strange?¡± Xu Zhenzhen looked around and pouted, ¡°That... Is it not normal?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, ¡°Normal? Is it because of the Lu Family?¡±


    It was the first time she realized the Lu Family had such influence, enough to disturb the students at her school.


    Although their school had its share of celebutantes and young masters from the Shangjing Circle, this seemed a bit much...


    Xu Zhenzhen shook her head, ¡°You really pay no attention to the basic dynamics of our school¡¯s forum...¡±


    As she spoke, she took out her phone, opened the interface, and handed it to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Here, the recent ranking of school beauties and bachelors, you¡¯re ranked first. The school promotional film is probably a done deal.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face scrunched up.


    Her? School beauty? First? Promotional film?


    What was this nonsense?


    ¡°Those people you think are weird might actually be Xia Wenjin¡¯s fans,¡± Xu Zhenzhen said, lowering her voice deliberately, ¡°I heard she has always wanted to vie for this promotional film and even had her dad donate a hefty sum to our school.¡±


    As she spoke, she scrolled further down the forum, ¡°Here, look, quite a few posts say your photo doesn¡¯t match the real you, some even intentionally posted blurred photos, but a lot of people took your pictures and uploaded them to debunk the claims, the results were hilarious...¡±


    As Xu Zhenzhen spoke, it seemed as if something suddenly occurred to her.


    She immediately turned on the camera on her phone and snapped a few shots of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face.


    ¡°Tsk tsk... Just now someone said the distant and close-up views are different, I¡¯m going to send a high-definition picture to swell her face up!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen with a bit of a laugh and cry, ¡°Can¡¯t you act a bit more dignified? Is it worth fussing over such things?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen replied as she shook her head, ¡°You don¡¯t understand the feeling of using evidence to grind someone down, one word, satisfying~¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Xu Zhenzhen helplessly and was just about to speak when the light beside her was suddenly blocked by someone.


    She turned her head and just saw Xia Wenjin walking toward her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows tightened slightly, her eyes full of resistance.


    At the auction before, Xia Wenjin had picked a quarrel with her, and now she was here again?


    Didn¡¯t she ever get tired of it?


    With that time, wouldn¡¯t it be better to seduce the future CEO of XJ Group?


    Seeing Xia Wenjin approaching, Lu Zhaozhao silently sighed, looked up at her and the two lackeys behind her, ¡°What is it this time?¡±

 Chapter 150: This Door Doesnt Even Exist in Dreams!

    Chapter 150: Chapter 150: This Door Doesn¡¯t Even Exist in Dreams!


    Xia Wenjin, with a cold sneer on her face, said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my mom telling you to go back and pack up your things to take with you, I wouldn¡¯t bother with you!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, supporting her chin with one hand, slightly lifted her gaze and looked at her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that everything of the Lu Family¡¯s is yours? What do I have to pack?¡±


    The clothes she had previously left in the Lu Family¡¯s wardrobe had been almost completely torn apart during Xia Wenjin¡¯s previous fit of madness.


    As for jewelry and such, the Lu Family would never give any to her, so Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know why Cao Mei wanted her to go back to the Lu Family¡¯s place.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s cold gaze swept over Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°My mom says you should go back, so just go back. Why all the fuss? Although you¡¯re no longer the daughter of the Lu Family now, they have raised you for so many years; you should understand basic manners, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, wow, now you¡¯re preaching about manners!¡± Xu Zhenzhen, sitting next to Lu Zhaozhao, spoke sarcastically, ¡°Blah blah blah, ¡®your mom¡¯ this, ¡®your mom¡¯ that, is your mom that awesome? Why doesn¡¯t your mom ascend to the heavens then?¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°What ¡®you¡¯? You said it yourself, Zhaozhao is no longer the Lu Family¡¯s daughter. No matter how awesome your mom is, it has nothing to do with her now. Why should she listen to her?¡± Xu Zhenzhen rolled her eyes and launched into a tirade directly at Xia Wenjin.


    She just couldn¡¯t stand her smug look.


    The Lu Family had just announced that she was their daughter, and she couldn¡¯t wait to bully their Zhaozhao?


    In her dreams!


    Not even in her dreams would that happen!


    Xia Wenjin opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t think of anything to say to Xu Zhenzhen.


    She gritted her teeth and glared at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Suit yourself, go or not, but don¡¯t come crying later!¡±


    After saying that, Xia Wenjin turned around and left.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Xia Wenjin¡¯s retreating figure and, on the contrary, fell into thought.


    Her easy surrender was somewhat unexpected.


    Perhaps it was really just an offhand comment by Cao Mei...


    But soon, Lu Zhaozhao dismissed this thought.


    Because not long after Xia Wenjin left, Cao Mei sent her a message personally, insisting she go back to the Lu Family¡¯s home and take all her things.


    Her tone was even warmer than usual.


    When something is off, there is something evil afoot.


    Especially when it comes to Cao Mei.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Zhaozhao?¡± Xu Zhenzhen, noticing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression was off, asked nosily.


    Lu Zhaozhao handed her phone over directly, and Xu Zhenzhen exploded on the spot, ¡°Her mom and daughter are playing a double act here? Calling you back at this time, who knows what mischief they¡¯re up to!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged her shoulders noncommittally, ¡°What mischief they¡¯re up to isn¡¯t just a matter of one or two days.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen raised her eyebrows, ¡°Should we tell Song Sinian about this? Have him accompany you to the Lu Family?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Lu Zhaozhao shook her head firmly, ¡°If Mr. Song went with me, they definitely wouldn¡¯t dare to cause trouble today, but... it¡¯s hard to say about the future...¡±


    Dragging things out to deal with later was not her style.


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, seemingly agreeing with her view.


    But since it concerned Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s safety, after pondering for a moment, Xu Zhenzhen decisively reported the situation to Song Sinian.


    Leave the headaches to the men to handle.


    After all, on one hand, they must protect Lu Zhaozhao, and on the other, they couldn¡¯t let Lu Zhaozhao find out that he was already aware.


    Song Sinian was in for quite a challenge this time...


    Close to the end of school, Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment but still decided to tell Song Sinian that she was going to the Lu Family¡¯s home.


    However, she didn¡¯t mention the friction with Xia Wenjin or the message from Cao Mei.


    Song Sinian responded with just one line, ¡°Come back early,¡± and then all went quiet.


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a sigh of relief, quietly waiting for school to dismiss.


    But to her surprise, just as she reached the school gate, she encountered Xia Wenqing, who had already been waiting outside.


    ¡°Surprise or not, expected or not?¡± Xia Wenqing winked at Lu Zhaozhao. ¡°I just happened to be free and passing by the school today. Would you like me to give you a ride home?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was taken aback for a moment, then let out a light laugh. ¡°I need to pick up something from the Lu Family, so I won¡¯t be going back to the Song Family for now.¡±


    Xia Wenqing nodded solemnly. ¡°In that case, I will take you to the Song Family, and after you¡¯ve picked up your stuff, let¡¯s go have dinner together. How does that sound?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated, unsure whether to agree.


    It seemed okay to go to the Lu Family with Xia Wenqing...


    As she was pondering, Xia Wenqing opened the passenger-side door and said, ¡°Get in first, then think about it. We¡¯ve got plenty of time before getting to the Lu Family, okay?¡±


    ¡°Uh, okay.¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded, then sat in the passenger seat.


    Xia Wenqing rounded the car, casually sending Song Sinian a message.


    Almost as soon as the phone pinged, Song Sinian picked it up.


    ¡°Have picked up the person.¡±


    Song Sinian looked at the message on the screen, his brow creasing slightly.


    He had previously thought that there was little need to join forces with the Xia Family, but now it seemed that the people from the Xia Family could be quite useful at times.


    Although he still didn¡¯t like them.


    Zhao Xi, seeing Song Sinian¡¯s mood ease considerably, let out a quiet sigh of relief and placed a stack of documents in front of him.


    ¡°Sir, this is the latest situation with the Lu Family.¡±


    The Lu Family had recently acquired the highly popular No. 1 and No. 3 mining veins, causing many in the Shangjing Circle to begin deliberately courting the Lu Family.


    Their business was booming with overseas orders, and now they had secured two hot mining veins, making a fortune.


    The Lu Family¡¯s ¡°ascension¡± to higher status seemed imminent.


    While many were envious of the Lu Family, even more were eager to form connections.


    No wonder Mr. and Mrs. Lu were so full of themselves.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze skimmed over the documents, and he asked coldly, ¡°What do you think is the reason Mr. and Mrs. Lu asked Zhaozhao to come back today?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    This posed a bit of a quandary for him.


    After a moment of silence, Zhao Xi immediately began flipping through the stack of documents.


    Shortly, he said succinctly, ¡°Considering the Lu Family¡¯s current situation, it¡¯s either to capitalize on the popularity of Madam, or they want her to give up the school promotional film shoot, or... it could be about the SJJ Hotel matter?¡±


    Beyond these three options, Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t come up with any other explanations.


    But regardless of which it was, Xia Wenjin was inevitably involved.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, but he became less concerned.


    If it had something to do with Xia Wenjin, then there was no need to worry.


    With Xia Wenqing around, they would yield ¡°not an inch¡± ¨C otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t live up to his reputation as a legal giant.


    Song Sinian pushed the documents he was holding aside. ¡°Has there been any new developments at the Song Mansion lately?¡±


    Zhao Xi frowned slightly, thought carefully, ¡°The servants at the Song Mansion have almost completely changed. Xiao Jinglan won¡¯t be able to make trouble for the time being, but she seems... to be planning something with Song Keren.¡±


    ¡°Song Keren?¡± Song Sinian raised an eyebrow, as if to say, what schemes could shepossibly be involved in?


    Zhao Xi blinked. ¡°Well... according to what I heard, Xiao Jinglan is planning to take her to attend next week¡¯s dinner party, matchmaking her with Justin...¡±

 Chapter 151 - 151 This time, of course, will be no exception...

    Chapter 151: Chapter 151 This time, of course, will be no exception...


    Justin was the regional vice president of XJ Group, and indeed, a good marriage prospect for Song Keren.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes slightly drooped, ¡°Had Justin associated with Xia Wenjin before?¡±


    He remembered that once, when Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjue went out to buy clothes, they seemed to have run into Justin.


    At that time, although Xia Wenjue didn¡¯t go into details, he was quite sure Xia Wenjin was also present.


    Zhao Xi was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, when Justin first arrived in the country, many were vying for the chance to connect with him. At that time, Lu Group had the upper hand in a partnership with Song Group, so this opportunity was snatched by Lu Dagui.¡±


    As far as he knew, Xia Wenjin served as Justin¡¯s guide, but Xia Wenjin had also only just arrived in the country not long ago...


    The Lu Family probably felt that the chances of marrying Xia Wenjin into the Song Family were slim, so they settled for the next best thing, right?


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils narrowed, ¡°The cooperation between the Lu Family and Xiao Jinglan seemed quite good a few days ago. If they knew that both parties have the same goal now, I wonder if they would be even happier?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes instantly brightened.


    What a great idea!


    Both the Lu Family and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s side wanted to win over Justin.


    Such a big piece of the pie; neither wanted to let go. It¡¯d be interesting to see who was more ruthless in the end.


    With Justin drawing their attention away, they wouldn¡¯t keep their focus on Lu Zhaozhao.


    Tsk tsk, deserving of their Mr.. He grasped the crux of the matter so quickly!


    It looked like there would be a good show to watch in the future...


    At the same time, Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenqing had already arrived at the Lu Family.


    At that moment, Xia Wenjin was also just picked up by the driver and returned to the Lu Family.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenqing together, her eyebrows immediately knitted in displeasure.


    She let out a cold snort, ¡°Someone who¡¯s barely seen at work brings you here. Lu Zhaozhao, you really do have quite the prestige!¡±


    Without thinking, Xia Wenqing blurted out, ¡°Because our Zhaozhao deserves to be treated well by us brothers, unlike some ingrates whose kindness is a waste!¡±


    Who he referred to as the ingrate, they all knew too well.


    Xia Wenjin was about to retort when the door opened.


    Cao Mei glanced at the few people at the door, and her brows instantly furrowed.


    Her gaze circled around, finally landing on Xia Wenqing, ¡°And you are?¡±


    Xia Wenjin immediately walked over and grabbed Cao Mei¡¯s arm, ¡°Mom, he is Xia Wenqing, the second son of the Xia Family, and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s current brother.¡±


    With one statement, she disassociated herself from Xia Wenqing.


    She was now a daughter of the Lu Family, nothing to do with the Xia Family!


    Upon hearing this, Cao Mei¡¯s brows shot up, casting a cold glance at Xia Wenqing.


    Since Xia Wenjin had spoken of suffering a lot in the Xia Family, she had no good feelings toward this member of the Xia Family.


    Not to mention the ever-troublesome Lu Zhaozhao.


    Cao Mei glanced at the two, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t stand at the door. If you have something to say, come inside.¡±


    ¡°`


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she still had business with Lu Zhaozhao, she wouldn¡¯t have wanted these two from the Xia Family to step foot in the door.


    Xia Wenqing could also feel the fire in his belly watching Cao Mei¡¯s attitude towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    He had already known that the Lu Family wasn¡¯t kind to Lu Zhaozhao; now, seeing it with his own eyes, his anger was rising rapidly.


    He wished he could dismantle the Lu Family¡¯s gates on the spot, but with Lu Zhaozhao by his side, he had to press down his fiery temper for the time being.


    The group followed Cao Mei into the living room, and just as they sat down, Cao Mei slowly began, ¡°Zhaozhao, you¡¯ve been with our family for 20 years, and in those 20 years, your father and I have provided for your food and drink...¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Lu, let¡¯s skip the trip down memory lane, shall we? If there¡¯s something you need to say, just get to the point.¡± Lu Zhaozhao, hearing Cao Mei preparing to launch into a lengthy discourse, decisively steered the conversation to the main topic.


    She really didn¡¯t have the time to listen to her ramble on.


    Cao Mei, interrupted by Lu Zhaozhao, immediately displayed dissatisfaction on her face, ¡°You¡¯ve been at the Song Family for such a short time, and now you¡¯re so arrogant? You can¡¯t even let me finish speaking?¡±


    Beside her, Xia Wenjin gave Lu Zhaozhao a disdainful glance, chiming in to cover for Cao Mei: ¡°Now that she¡¯s Mrs. Song, second to none and above the rest, how could she not feel proud?¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s face instantly darkened, and a sinister smile crept onto his lips, ¡°Mrs. Lu carries quite the official air, doesn¡¯t she? Zhaozhao is here because you insisted she come, not because we wanted to¡ª whom are you trying to fool with your cynical remarks?¡±


    Bully his sister right under his nose?


    That¡¯s a joke!


    If he let them succeed, where would he, a legal sector big shot, put his face?


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Cao Mei¡¯s eyes were locked tightly on Xia Wenqing, ¡°As an elder correcting her misguided views, what¡¯s the problem? She shows no respect for her elders at such a young age, how generous of the Xia Family people!¡±


    Her sarcasm was particularly biting on the word ¡°generous,¡± as if she wanted to ¡°heh¡± sarcastically right in Xia Wenqing¡¯s face.


    Xia Wenqing looked at Cao Mei with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°I don¡¯t know about the Xia Family being generous or not, but we certainly don¡¯t disrespect our elders like Mrs. Lu does.¡±


    For her, to have the nerve to call herself Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s elder?


    What a shameless claim!


    His tone was as light as if he were commenting on fine weather, which infuriated Cao Mei in an instant.


    ¡°You!¡± She was about to say something more, but Xia Wenjin yanked her abruptly.


    Cao Mei came to her senses, and only then did she remember the reason she had asked Lu Zhaozhao to come today.


    Suppressing the anger in her heart, she shot a glare at Xia Wenqing, ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to stoop to your level!¡±


    She took a deep breath, turned her gaze to Lu Zhaozhao, and said, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to listen to my rambling, let¡¯s be straightforward then. I want you to publicly clarify and rectify the misunderstanding with Jin, restore her innocence, and as for the promotional video for the school, you probably don¡¯t want to participate, right? It¡¯s better to clear the air sooner.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, her gaze steady on Cao Mei, at a loss for words to describe how she felt at the moment.


    The incident between her and Xia Wenjin could be considered a misunderstanding?


    Did Cao Mei think she was stupid, or that the netizens online were stupid?


    As for the school promotional video, she indeed had no plans to participate, but... now that Cao Mei had said it like that, just to spite her, she was determined to take part!


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t spoken, Cao Mei thought her previous words were practically set in stone, so she continued, ¡°You must know about the Lu Family¡¯s reservation at the SJJ Hotel being canceled, right? Even if all the hotels under the Song Group refuse the Lu Family¡¯s business, Jin¡¯s status as the Lu Family¡¯s beloved daughter won¡¯t change. Let¡¯s not be so immature about it.¡±


    Although other hotels could host parties for Xia Wenjin, doing so at SJJ, a high-end hotel would signify a higher level of regard and highlight their esteem for Wen Jin.


    Naturally, if they could snag such an opportunity, they would fight for it, especially since Lu Zhaozhao had always been easy to speak with¡ªthis time would surely be no exception...


    ¡°`

 Chapter 152: Start the Fight and Its All Over!

    Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Start the Fight and It¡¯s All Over!


    She thought so, and then added, ¡°By the way, I heard that Song Group has a partnership with XJ Group. The regional vice president must have some contacts with Song Sinian, right? Just get him to arrange a meeting between Jin and Justin...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    At this point, not just Lu Zhaozhao, even Xia Wenqing was rendered speechless.


    He had been in the legal field for so many years, weathered through many storms, but this was the first time he had encountered someone so shameless.


    The fact that Cao Mei could blatantly ignore all the conditions Lu Zhaozhao posed showed how she must have treated her at home!


    Xia Wenqing looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a concerned gaze and gently took her small hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother¡¯s here, don¡¯t be afraid.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt the warmth in her palm, and her heart warmed up quite a bit too.


    She had long lost hope in Cao Mei, and now, she could only feel speechless at what was being said.


    Ever since she was little, Cao Mei had been exceptionally harsh on her, often gaslighting her. Now that she was no longer a part of the Lu Family, Cao Mei still wanted to use the same tactics?


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled softly and looked Cao Mei in the eyes, ¡°How about this, when I get back, I¡¯ll have Mr. Song sell half of the Song Group¡¯s shares to the Lu Family at a low price, then he can also collaborate with Justin at a low price, as long as he¡¯s willing to marry Xia Wenjin. How does that sound?¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°You, you¡¯re not joking with me, are you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth in a mockingly cheerful tone, ¡°Isn¡¯t it you who started the joke? Long time no see, and I didn¡¯t expect Mrs. Lu to have become so humorous.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyebrows shot up, looking at Lu Zhaozhao with disbelief in her eyes.


    What does she mean?


    Is she rejecting her in a roundabout way?


    Cao Mei gritted her teeth and glared at Lu Zhaozhao venomously, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, don¡¯t refuse the wine only to be forced to drink a forfeit. While I am still nicely talking to you, just do as told! Otherwise...¡±


    ¡°Otherwise what?¡± Xia Wenqing looked coldly at Cao Mei, ¡°Zhaozhao has nothing to do with the Lu Family anymore, and even if she did before, threatening her like this, I can still send you a lawyer¡¯s letter!¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao first spoke, he actually thought she was going to agree to what Cao Mei said, which made him quite anxious.


    Fortunately, he was overthinking it.


    Now that Lu Zhaozhao had outright refused Cao Mei, his actions were going to be much more convenient!


    Time to fight back!


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s hand slammed hard on the armrest beside her, shooting Xia Wenqing a glare, ¡°This is between me and Zhaozhao, what¡¯s it got to do with you?¡±


    Xia Wenqing scoffed coldly, ¡°Zhaozhao is now the treasure of the Xia Family; you tell me what it has to do with me?¡±


    ¡°She...¡±


    ¡°And one more thing! Xia Wenjin¡¯s household registration is still with the Xia Family. Have you ever thought about how, if you keep giving Zhaozhao such a hard time, we might just return the favor?¡±


    Before Cao Mei could finish her sentence, Xia Wenqing had already interrupted her.


    Cao Mei immediately shut her mouth.


    She indeed had not considered this point.


    After Lu Zhaozhao married Song Sinian, all the materials had been taken away by the Song Family.


    It could be said that she had nothing in her hands that could threaten Lu Zhaozhao.


    At the time, she had wanted to deceive Lu Zhaozhao into returning home and take some private photos of her, but this damned girl had been defying her ever since she got married.


    She hadn¡¯t been able to succeed until now.


    She had thought that with her past experiences, she could suppress Lu Zhaozhao and make her agree to her demands, but she had not expected this damned girl to be so tough!


    Cao Mei narrowed her eyes and stared hard at Lu Zhaozhao, threatening, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, think carefully. You married into the Song Family solely because of your status as the Lu Family¡¯s daughter. Now, without that identity, you are nothing, and with the burden of the Xia Family, how long do you think the Song Family will tolerate you? If you obediently comply, I don¡¯t mind acknowledging you as my goddaughter, but now, I want to see your performance...¡±


    Her condescending attitude truly made Lu Zhaozhao feel nauseous.


    Just where did she get her confidence?


    Did she think that because she had made Song Sinian give up the lucrative mining veins and had later lent money to the Lu Family alone, things would go as smoothly this time and she would agree?


    Lu Zhaozhao sneered inwardly and looked at Cao Mei with an indescribable contempt.


    She slowly stood up, ¡°Mrs. Lu needn¡¯t trouble herself over my affairs. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m l to lift the Song Group¡¯s ban on all the hotels affiliated with the Lu Family, I might consider letting this slide.¡± Cao Mei was especially smug as she said this, as if she had a chokehold on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s life.


    She didn¡¯t believe Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t care about her reputation in the Song Family!


    Xia Wenqing quickly pulled Lu Zhaozhao over and stood protectively in front of him, ¡°Mrs. Lu really opened up a nice new way of thinking for me; to just casually speak after 20 years of cohabitation is really convenient.¡±


    His expression suddenly darkened, ¡°I wonder if the six mouths of our Xia Family, having spent 20 years with Xia Wenjin, can outtalk the two mouths of the Lu Family?¡±


    Xia Wenjin, who had been watching the battle from the side, immediately got anxious upon hearing this.


    ¡°Xia Wenqing! Aren¡¯t you being too much! To defend Lu Zhaozhao, you¡¯d actually ruin me!¡± She glared at Xia Wenqing, her eyes filled with disbelief.


    Xia Wenqing responded to Xia Wenjin with a smile that wasn¡¯t really a smile, ¡°This is also thanks to the Lu Family. I wouldn¡¯t have thought of such a sinister trick otherwise.¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Her brows almost twisted into knots, and she quickly tugged at Cao Mei beside her, ¡°Mom, look at him!¡±


    Cao Mei also found this headache-inducing; all her planned tricks had been to deal with Lu Zhaozhao, and she hadn¡¯t anticipated the Xia Family getting involved.


    If she indeed went through with it, the Xia Family would surely do the same. They not only outnumbered them, but Xia Family¡¯s Lao Si was also at the height of his popularity...


    In a real fight, it would be a pyrrhic victory at best, utterly not worth it.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao stepped forward¡ª

 Chapter 153: How is he here?

    Chapter 153: Chapter 153: How is he here?


    ¡°You¡¯re going to agree today, whether you want to or not! Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off easy!¡±


    The shrill voice came through the cell phone that Lu Zhaozhao was holding.


    ¡°Everyone outside must also be curious about the private life of Mrs. Song the Internet celebrity, right? If I wish, I can say whatever I please to the public. Do you think they would believe the words of someone who raised you for 20 years?¡±


    At this point, not just Cao Mei, but even Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned green.


    Was Lu Zhaozhao actually recording?!


    Xia Wenjin instinctively reached out to grab it, but Xia Wenqing directly blocked her and pushed her back.


    Impressive, his little sister¡¯s move was smooth!


    Xia Wenqing inwardly itched to sing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s praises to the skies.


    ¡°Mrs. Lu, if you don¡¯t want what you just said spreading, you¡¯d better accumulate some virtues,¡± Lu Zhaozhao suggested, then nodded at Cao Mei. ¡°Since we have nothing to discuss, I must take my leave.¡±


    After that, she left the Lu Family¡¯s residence under Xia Wenqing¡¯s protection.


    Cao Mei watched the two walking away, her eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.


    She had actually been outmaneuvered by Lu Zhaozhao!


    ¡°Mom, what should we do, she has our recording!¡± Xia Wenjin shook Cao Mei¡¯s arm, ¡°If she lets it out...¡±


    Her voice trailed off as she neared tears.


    She thought Cao Mei could handle Lu Zhaozhao, but the tables had turned disastrously.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0


    Cao Mei¡¯s brows were knotted tight, ¡°It¡¯s impossible for Lu Zhaozhao to be this scheming on her own, someone must be coaching her from behind. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have acted like this!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had been under her care since she was a child and had never once talked back to her, let alone defy her.


    But things had changed since she married into the Song Family.


    Xia Wenjin uneasily looked at Cao Mei and pursed her lips, ¡°Are you saying that Song Sinian told her to do this?¡±


    Cao Mei had previously claimed that Lu Zhaozhao was easy to manipulate, just a few harsh words and she¡¯d relent, but the Lu Zhaozhao she knew didn¡¯t fit that profile.


    Was she mistaken?


    Cao Mei glanced at Xia Wenjin, ¡°It¡¯s very likely. Song Sinian is ruthless in the business world, and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s current tactics are not unlike his.¡±


    She had raised Lu Zhaozhao, advising her to obey her husband, so that later, when Lu Zhaozhao was ¡®sold¡¯, there¡¯d be less trouble.


    Now, it was the most vexing issue.


    She used to listen obediently in the Lu Family; now, she only heeded Song Sinian¡¯s words...


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°It seems we need to take some steps sooner than planned! Since she is unwilling to give up the school promotional video, she can¡¯t blame us for what happens!¡±


    She planned to crush Lu Zhaozhao into the mire!


    To make her understand the consequences of not listening to her!


    The wind picked up in the evening, and the temperature had noticeably dropped.


    Xia Wenqing, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, conveniently turned on the car¡¯s heater and tested the airflow before adjusting the vent for Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°My second brother will take you to a specialty restaurant; their cake is excellent, do you want to give it a try?¡± Xia Wenqing was clearly gauging Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reaction as he spoke.


    He was angry just listening to what Cao Mei had said, let alone about someone they had known for 20 years.


    Back when Xia Wenjin had been so heartless, even upon her return to the Xia Family, they hadn¡¯t exchanged harsh words.


    Thinking of all the quiet suffering Lu Zhaozhao must have endured, Xia Wenqing grew even more upset.


    It looked like they needed to reveal Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s identity soon, and when the time came, they¡¯d thoroughly slap the faces of those people from the Lu Family!


    Lu Zhaozhao was sitting in the passenger seat, observing Xia Wenqing¡¯s anxious demeanor, and she knew what he was thinking.


    She wanted to say she was fine, but at a time like this, if she really said that, Xia Wenqing would probably think she was just putting on a brave face, right?


    Miss Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, then simply chuckled lightly, ¡°Mm, thank you, second brother.¡±


    Xia Wenqing saw that Lu Zhaozhao did not refuse and finally let out a secret sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, the restaurant wasn¡¯t far from where the Lu Family lived; after a fifteen-minute drive, they arrived.


    It was indeed as Xia Wenqing had described, a specialty restaurant.


    The entire restaurant¡¯s decor was exceptionally unique, with a heavy industrial style.


    This made Lu Zhaozhao even more curious; how tasty could the desserts be from a place decorated in such a rugged style?


    ¡°Eh? Miss Zhaozhao?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had not yet entered the door when she heard a somewhat stiff greeting.


    She instinctively turned her head toward the source of the voice, her eyebrows furrowing.


    It was Justin.


    Why was he here?


    Lu Zhaozhao politely nodded at him, with no intention to strike up a conversation.


    But to her surprise, Justin seemed encouraged by the interaction.


    He walked right over, acting as though they were very familiar with each other, and said with a smile, ¡°Miss Zhaozhao, are you also here to eat? Are you alone? I¡¯m alone too, how about we dine together?¡±


    Of course, Justin couldn¡¯t possibly be alone, but upon running into Lu Zhaozhao, whoever hadn¡¯t arrived yet could be easily brushed off.


    ¡°I...¡±


    She isn¡¯t here alone. She¡¯s with me.¡± Before Lu Zhaozhao could speak up, Xia Wenqing, who had gone to park the car, hurried over.


    He had seen someone standing next to Lu Zhaozhao from a distance and had rushed over.


    When he recognized who it was, his expression immediately darkened.


    He had heard from Xia Wenjue before that Justin and Xia Wenjin had similar nasty tastes and that he had once made a move on Lu Zhaozhao.


    So, seeing Justin for the first time, he couldn¡¯t help but glared at him. ¡°What? Are you thinking of bullying Zhaozhao again?¡±


    Justin waved his hands frantically, ¡°No, no, no, I just wanted to have a meal with Zhaozhao, nothing more.¡±


    He awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, clearly intimidated by Xia Wenqing¡¯s overtly hostile attitude.


    One Xia Wenjue had already been enough to handle, and now there was Xia Wenqing.


    Among the four Xia brothers, aside from Xia Wenyan, the other three were tough nuts to crack.


    Especially Xia Wenqing, not only was he sharp-tongued, but he also had a discerning eye.


    Every time he saw Xia Wenqing, he felt intimidated.


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Justin and spoke with a sneer that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°As far as I know, Zhaozhao isn¡¯t familiar with you at all.¡±


    Justin was sweating profusely, but to maintain his image in front of Lu Zhaozhao, he still tried to explain, ¡°There was indeed a misunderstanding last time, and I¡¯ve already clarified it with Zhaozhao, right?¡±


    As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily sought out Lu Zhaozhao, as if seeking her support.


    But Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t give him the chance, standing directly in front of Lu Zhaozhao and shielding her completely.


    ¡°Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t need to answer to you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Justin was even more embarrassed now.


    He grimaced, cleared his throat lightly, ¡°How about I treat Zhaozhao to a meal, as an apology?¡±


    Xia Wenqing curled his lips in contempt, ¡°With me here, do we need you? And... Zhaozhao is not a name you can just casually call. Address her properly as Miss Lu!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Justin was visibly reluctant, but after being glared at by Xia Wenqing, he could only change his tune on the spot, ¡°Fine, then may I apologize to Miss Lu?¡±

 Chapter 154: Mr. Song, You Handled This Beautifully!

    Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Mr. Song, You Handled This Beautifully!


    He tried his best to look at Xia Wenqing with sincere eyes, seeking an opportunity.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze measured him for a moment before moving aside just a little, ¡°Fine, then.¡±


    If Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s identity were to become public in the future, she would inevitably have to deal with people from the XJ Group, so getting to know them in advance couldn¡¯t hurt.


    Seeing this, Justin¡¯s blue eyes suddenly narrowed, and he looked at Lu Zhaozhao with an exceptionally enthusiastic smile, ¡°Miss Lu, I sincerely apologize for my actions before. I hope you can forgive me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth, ¡°I accept your apology.¡±


    In fact, she didn¡¯t want anything to do with Justin at all, nor did she understand why he was so enthusiastic towards her.


    What Lu Zhaozhao was actually more curious about was why Justin seemed to be quite afraid of Xia Wenqing?


    The last time Xia Wenjue showed up, Justin¡¯s expression was very strange, and this time... it was even more outrageous.


    As Lu Zhaozhao was deep in thought, Justin spoke again, ¡°There¡¯s a dinner next weekend, I was wondering if Miss Lu would be my companion for the evening? I¡¯ve just come back to the country and don¡¯t have many acquaintances...¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you quite familiar with Xia Wenjin?¡± Before Justin could finish, Xia Wenqing immediately interrupted him, ¡°If you want to go, go with her. Our Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t have time.¡±


    Saying this, he immediately took Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, go enjoy your meal.¡±


    Xia Wenqing gave him a look that said ¡°I¡¯d better not see you again.¡±


    Although Justin was reluctant, he nodded at the two of them and wisely left.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenqing then told Lu Zhaozhao as they walked away, ¡°Zhaozhao, in the future, when you see Justin, stay away from him. He is not a good person.¡±


    He had been quite a playboy abroad, surrounded by many women, yet none became permanent.


    He certainly did not want such a person around his sister.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow in confusion, ¡°Didn¡¯t Big Brother say that person was my cousin before?¡±


    ¡°What cousin, he is from the Xia Family¡¯s branch, but he¡¯s actually adopted, with not a single blood relation to the Xia Family.¡± Xia Wenqing said with a sneer, ¡°His personal life is a mess, and he does not have a shred of moral sense. Who knows what schemes he¡¯s up to. Trust your Second Brother, stay away from him and you won¡¯t be wrong!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, clearly sensing Xia Wenqing¡¯s disdain for Justin.


    She pondered for a moment, ¡°Second Brother, I remember Justin is the regional vice-president of XJ, yet he seems to be really afraid of you and Big Brother...¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenqing became nervous all of a sudden. He had only been concerned with protecting Lu Zhaozhao and had completely forgotten about that.


    Not daring to look at Lu Zhaozhao, he quickly made an excuse, ¡°In the Xia Family, there¡¯s great respect for the elders, so it¡¯s normal for him to be afraid of me and Big Brother...¡±


    Normal?


    Lu Zhaozhao suspiciously arched an eyebrow but, after thinking it over, that seemed to be the only reasonable explanation.


    Was it like in certain countries where younger generations must respect their elders, so was it the same with the Xia Family?


    Arriving at that thought, Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, ¡°Then... should I be polite to Justin in the future, too?¡±


    ¡°You must be joking, not at all!¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s mind spun quickly, then he added, ¡°In our Xia Family, girls are the treasures of the household. You can completely ignore the kind of situation from before. You definitely don¡¯t need to be polite to that guy! Understand?¡±


    ¡°Alright, got it...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    It was after 8 p.m. when Lu Zhaozhao finally returned to the Song Family home.


    By then, the sky had turned completely dark.


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat apprehensive as she entered the house, fearing that, like before, Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t be happy.


    But to her surprise, Song Sinian wasn¡¯t in the living room?


    She quickly changed her shoes and went back to the bedroom, where she saw Song Sinian sitting on the sofa, engrossed in a book.


    The warm light fell on his profile, making his entire appearance seem soft.


    Lu Zhaozhao tiptoed over, slid into the sofa, and collapsed onto Song Sinian¡¯s legs.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m back!¡± she said, while pushing her petite body upwards, wriggling into the embrace of his book-holding arms.


    She met his deep eyes with her uplifted smiling face.


    Song Sinian nodded slightly and effortlessly pressed his lips to her forehead.


    He kissed her gently, then moved to plant a kiss on the bridge of her nose.


    He was aware of everything that had happened to her at the Lu Family and felt sorry for her, but he couldn¡¯t openly display his concern.


    Setting aside the book in his hand, Song Sinian wrapped her tightly in his arms and gently patted her.


    His touch was neither heavy nor light, as tender as if soothing a child, frighteningly gentle.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Song Sinian with some surprise, thinking he would ask her what she had done at the Lu Family.


    Or where she went after leaving the Lu Family.


    Song Sinian said nothing, and she found herself feeling unaccustomed to it.


    Burying her head into Song Sinian¡¯s chest, Lu Zhaozhao mumbled, ¡°Mr. Song, I heard today that you canceled the reservation the Lu Family had at the SJJ Hotel?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, I did that.¡±


    ¡°Did you also instruct all the hotels under Song Group not to accept any reservations from the Lu Family?¡± Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head to meet Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes.


    He didn¡¯t shy away, answering seriously, ¡°That¡¯s correct, it was also my doing.¡±


    His large hand gently pinched her somewhat astonished cheek, eyes slightly drooping, ¡°Do these two things upset you?¡±


    ¡°How could that be!¡± blurted out Lu Zhaozhao without hesitation, ¡°Mr. Song, you did a beautiful job!¡±


    As she spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but flash Song Sinian a couple of thumbs-up gestures.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow arched slightly, not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to react this way, and a faint pleasure crossed his eyes.


    If he had known it would make her so happy, he could¡¯ve done more, even cutting off the Lu Family¡¯s livelihood altogether.


    But would that be going too far?


    He didn¡¯t have much experience after all.


    His thumb gently caressed her cheek, ¡°I thought these two actions would make you unhappy if you faced mistreatment at the Lu Family.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head rapidly, her eyes curved in mirth, ¡°The people at the Lu Family are indeed quite angry, but seeing their annoyed faces is just so funny! You should¡¯ve seen how green Cao Mei¡¯s face was...¡±


    As she talked, she animated her story to Song Sinian, her demeanor exceedingly lively.


    Watching Lu Zhaozhao like this, Song Sinian suddenly felt very good.


    It seems Doctor Tian was right; sometimes, he really needed to be more proactive.


    If he took the initiative, Lu Zhaozhao would be happy.


    But as for how to be more proactive, he still needed to educate himself further.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed thoughtfully; maybe he should ask Doctor Tian again if there were any basic approaches he could use?

 Chapter 155: Has Mr. Song from their family gone somewhere to become a master of sweet talk?

    Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Has Mr. Song from their family gone somewhere to become a master of sweet talk?


    ¡°Mr. Song,¡± Lu Zhaozhao suddenly called out softly.


    Song Sinian snapped back to reality and looked at her, tilting his head slightly as if to ask what was wrong.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going with regards to the XJ Group?¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and didn¡¯t directly answer her question; instead, he asked, ¡°Regarding the XJ Group, which aspect of the news do you want to know about?¡±


    ¡°Emmm...¡±


    His question plunged Lu Zhaozhao into thought.


    She had just heard that Xia Wenjue was very familiar with XJ Group¡¯s president and was a bit nervous about it.


    That¡¯s why she had asked Song Sinian to investigate the XJ Group. Now that he suddenly asked her which aspect of the news she wanted to know, Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat bewildered.


    Looking at her puzzled little face, Song Sinian sighed helplessly and lifted his hand to pinch her cheek, ¡°If it¡¯s about the finances, you can be completely at ease. The XJ Group¡¯s internal financial situation is good, and there is no possibility of bankruptcy recently.¡±


    ¡°What abouething.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows lifted slightly in surprise, but her question was also within his contemplation.


    Ever since he had met Xia Wenjue, he had been aware of this kind of issue.


    ¡°Internally, it¡¯s not particularly united, but the various factions are still stable. The president of XJ Group has absolute control unless...¡± his dark eyes darkened slightly, ¡°unless the president of XJ Group has an accident, his position could be taken over by someone else. Otherwise, there¡¯s no such possibility.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips slightly.


    In her previous life, XJ Group¡¯s president had a car accident...


    Thinking about the internal situation of XJ Group now, there were frequent accidents, probably orchestrated by someone, right?


    After a moment of thought, Lu Zhaozhao asked, ¡°Mr. Song, from your investigation, will the Xia Family be affected if something happens to XJ Group¡¯s president?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    That question was definitely on the mark.


    If something happened to XJ Group¡¯s president, it meant something happened to Xia Wenjue, which would be like pulling out a pillar of the Xia Family.


    It was no longer merely a matter of being affected.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped, then he looked up at Lu Zhaozhao after a moment and spoke slowly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll try my best not to let this matter affect the Xia Family.¡±


    He had already warned Xia Wenjue last time; if he couldn¡¯t avoid this kind of issue, then he would have to take matters into his own hands.


    Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao instantly felt much more at ease, but... wasn¡¯t her request too much?


    Song Sinian had always been responsive to her requests, but she...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Mr. Song, this matter isn¡¯t your obligation, you...¡±


    Before shehere really is the kind of problem you mentioned, it¡¯s better to prevent it beforehand. It¡¯s also a good thing for Song Group.¡±


    With just a few words, Song Sinian turned a personal matter into a business one.


    Although the internal situation of XJ Group did indeed affect the cooperation with Song Group, it shouldn¡¯t be to the extent that it must be meddled in, right?


    Thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao still felt a bit conflicted.


    Suddenly, Song Sinian stretched out his hand and directly embraced Lu Zhaozhao in his arms, gently patting her as he spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve said before that I want to spoil you like a daughter, so your matters are my matters. You don¡¯t need to be so concerned; just being happy every day is enough.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao laughed when she heard his earnest words.


    Has their Mr. Song gone somewhere to max out his sweet talk?


    She looked up at him, ¡°Spoil me like a daughter? What¡¯s the standard for that?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrow lifted slightly, ¡°Just... fatherly love as strong as a mountain?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Thankfully Song Sinian didn¡¯t surf much, otherwise his fatherly love would be like a landslide...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s laughter brought tears to her eyes.


    Looking at Sonn more uncontrollably in his arms.


    How could their Mr. Song be so adorable?


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, a ringtone rang out in the bedroom.


    Lu Zhaozhao fumbled in her arms and took out her phone; it was Old Master Song calling?


    What could he be calling her for at this hour?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought this while answering the phone.


    ¡°Hello? Grandpa?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s soft voice came through, and immediately after, Old Master Song¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Hey hey hey! Zhaozhao, do you have time right now?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Song Sinian, who had remained silent, and responded indifferently, ¡°Grandpa, just tell me what you need.¡±


    Ever since she had seen Old Master Song at the welcome banquet last time, she hadn¡¯t seen much of him.


    So, Lu Zhaozhao was a bit puzzled about the purpose of Old Master Song¡¯s call.


    Old Master Song coughed lightly, ¡°Zhaozhao, if you have time tomorrow, come to the old house and join this old man for a meal, how about that?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was thrown for a loop.


    She silently looked at Song Sinian. Last time, because she had agreed to Old Master Song ahead of time, she had ended up having to compensate Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze turned to Song Sinian as if silently seeking his opinion.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, grandpa is just asking. I don¡¯t mean to trouble you, I just want to have a meal...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao listened to Old Master Song¡¯s triple hit, she couldn¡¯t help but waver in her heart.


    Again, her gaze turned to Song Sinian, and she took a deep breath, bracing herself as she spoke, ¡°Then, I¡¯ll ask Mr. Song if he¡¯s available.¡±


    No sooner had Lu Zhaozhao uttered these words than she heard Song Sinian¡¯s dissatisfied retort, ¡°Not available.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The corner of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Grandpa, hold on, the signal was bad just now.¡±


    Saying this,wn, planting a kiss on his face, ¡°Are you available? Mr. Song?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t respond, but neither did he directly refuse as he had before.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew there was still room for negotiation.


    She puckered her lips again, posing as if she was initiating a kiss.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes softened, and he leaned down to meet her lips.


    But quickly, they parted again.


    Lu Zhaozhao asked once more, ¡°Are you available? Mr. Song?¡±


    Song Sinian blinked his dark eyes, and finally replied faintly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Seeing this, Song says he¡¯s available.¡±


    ¡°Great, great, I...¡±


    ¡°Beep beep beep...¡±


    Before Old Master Song could finish his words on the other end, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone call was hung up.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian approaching her and swallowed instinctively...

 Chapter 156: 156: You Have a Sweet Mouth

    Chapter 156: Chapter 156: You Have a Sweet Mouth


    For some reason, she always felt that Song Sinian¡¯s gaze was a bit dangerous now.


    Had her recent act of coquetry failed to fool him?


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, wondering if she could find another way through, ¡°Song...¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± Song Sinian suddenly pressed his index finger to her lips, his tone low, ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the compensation plan, Mrs. Song...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The next day, Lu Zhaozhao, utterly exhausted, slumped over her desk in class.


    Xu Zhenzhen, seeing her state, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle teasingly, ¡°What did you do last night? You look like a spirit drained of its essence...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Xu Zhenzhen a despairing look and sighed, ¡°If there really was a spirit, it must have been as handsome as our Mr. Song from the Lu Family. Otherwise, how could he drain me just by his looks?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gossip flame burned even brighter.


    She raised an eyebrow and leaned close to Lu Zhaozhao, whispering, ¡°So, last night you guys...¡±


    ¡°Stop, clean out all that yellow waste you¡¯re imagining in your head!¡± Lu Zhaozhao pressed a small hand to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face without a second thought.


    With a look of despair, she said, ¡°I was ¡®exercised¡¯ by Mr. Song in the study for the whole night, literally exercised, aerobic exercise.¡±


    Though she was explosive in strength, this type of long-duration stamina exercise was definitely her weak point.


    Because she had caught a cold from the rain before, Song Sinian demanded that she exercise at home 2-3 times a week, and even set up a small gym next to the study for her.


    Lu Zhaozhao truly felt like fainting in the bathroom yesterday.


    As an explosive athlete, she figured she might die from aerobic exercise.


    Listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s complaints, Xu Zhenzhen nearly fell off her chair laughing.


    ¡°Good Lord, do you two really want to kill someone with laughter? Isn¡¯t that time of night supposed to be all romantic and sweet? I bet if the conditions near your place allowed, Song Sinian would want to take you out for a 20-kilometer march.¡±


    ¡°No need at all!¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to die young.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed deeply and slumped down on the table once again.


    Xu Zhenzhen casually took a strand of her hair and started braiding it, asking, ¡°Did you see Xia Wenjin¡¯s Weibo?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Zhaozhao turned her little head around, her eyebrows slightly raised, completely missing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s point.


    Why should she check Xia Wenjin¡¯s Weibo?


    Xu Zhenzhen shook her head helplessly, ¡°You really don¡¯t worry about anything. Xia Wenjin is practically trying to emulate you in every way, and here you are, not caring at all...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed instantly, and she hugged Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s arm, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what I have you for, to keep tabs so I don¡¯t have to worry?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen pinched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, ¡°Sweet talker.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you fall for it every time~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips and pulled an invitation from her desk, placing it in front of Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Here, this is Xia Wenjin¡¯s invitation, saying it¡¯s to celebrate her return to the Lu Family, specially inviting the whole class.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked, not seeing any issue.


    She knew when she was called to the Lu Family previously that they were planning a grand celebration for Xia Wenjin, to publicly declare her status and show their appreciation.


    Thanks to Song Sinian¡¯s intervention, however, all the hotels under the Song Group were off-limits to the Lu Family.


    So the Lu Family could only settle for another hotel.


    Knowing Cao Mei well, she would surely make it up to Xia Wenjin elsewhere.


    Either it¡¯s clothes or jewelry and the like.


    Xu Zhenzhen noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lack of reaction and frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t you find this invitation familiar?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced at Lu Zhaozhao again and decisively pulled out her phone, scrolling through it before handing it over, ¡°Take a look for yourself.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao skeptically furrowed her brows and looked at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s phone. That glance surprisingly widened her eyes considerably.


    ¡°Did Xia Wenjin prepare an invitation for me too?¡±


    The screen Xu Zhenzhen had opened was Xia Wenjin¡¯s Weibo.


    She had posted several people¡¯s invitations there, and one of them had the name ¡°Lu Zhaozhao¡± in big letters.


    Xu Zhenzhen snorted lightly, ¡°I was wondering how Xia Wenjin had the nerve to send you an invitation, she was clearly plotting something sinister!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had not expected Xia Wenjin to pull such tricks even at a banquet.


    But upon thinking it over, Lu Zhaozhao quickly realized.


    Xia Wenjin had just signed with a talent agency and was aiming to break into the entertainment industry; naturally, she needed to stay relevant.


    The best way now was to keep stirring the pot on previous controversies.


    Although a large part of it was criticisms, being infamous was still a form of fame.


    For celebrities, it didn¡¯t matter whether it was bad fame or good fame, as long as there was buzz, it would suffice.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows also frowned, ¡°Zhaozhao, what do you plan to do now?¡±


    What Xia Wenjin and her group were doing was simply to disgust Lu Zhaozhao.


    Claiming to have invited Lu Zhaozhao outwardly, but in actuality, they hadn¡¯t sent her an invitation at all.


    On the day of the banquet, they would surely make a big deal about Lu Zhaozhao not attending.


    The more Xu Zhenzhen thought about it, the more upset she became. This bunch of trash was clearly trying to exploit Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even though the comments under the Weibo post were overwhelmingly negative, there were still people defending Xia Wenjin.


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, her gaze moving towards Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s invitation, her bright eyes narrowing, ¡°Since they¡¯ve invited me, wouldn¡¯t it be bad if I didn¡¯t go?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen looked perplexedly at Lu Zhaozhao, her eyebrows arching, ¡°Are you sure you want to go?¡±


    Actually, Xia Wenjin inviting the whole class to attend the banquet was something Xu Zhenzhen initially planned to ignore.


    But now that Lu Zhaozhao was going, she would have to be there no matter what.


    She definitely couldn¡¯t let Xia Wenjin¡¯s little bitch succeed!


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°I am definitely going, but I need to pick the right time to make an appearance. Xia Wenjin has set such a big stage for me, wouldn¡¯t it be a waste if I don¡¯t go and put on a show for her?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen immediately understood Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s intention.


    Her eyes also narrowed, her lips curling slightly, ¡°Do you need me to coordinate with you from the inside and out?¡±


    How could she miss out on watching Xia Wenjin make a fool of herself?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, ¡°Of course, if you¡¯re willing, let¡¯s go to the banquet and leave them with nothing!¡±

 Chapter 157: 157: Hasnt she made it obvious enough?

    Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Hasn¡¯t she made it obvious enough?


    Xu Zhenzhen immediately got excited, ¡°Willing, willing! I wholeheartedly agree!¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s plan it out well in a bit...¡±


    ...


    Because Sinian had previously promised Mr. Song to return to the Song Mansion for dinner, he did not go home after work but went straight to the mansion.


    He had wanted to personally pick up Zhaozhao, but this task was taken over by Mr. Song.


    ¡°Just sit here with me, this old man, and wait for Zhaozhao to arrive,¡± Mr. Song said as he sat in the living room, staring at the empty chessboard and then casting a deep look at Sinian.


    It was just short of ¡°play chess with me¡± written on his face.


    Sinian glanced at him, stood up, and said, ¡°I have some matters to take care of, you and the butler play chess first.¡±


    The corner of Mr. Song¡¯s mouth twitched with disappointment as he watched Sinian stand up and walk farther and farther away.


    Suddenly, a figure flashed by.


    Sinian could not dodge in time and his coat got drenched with water.


    He furrowed his brows, looked at his wet clothes, and then turned to Song Keren, who was running over in a fluster.


    ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m so sorry, Brother Sinian. It wasn¡¯t on purpose. Shall I wash it for you?¡± Song Keren asked, attempting to help Sinian take off his coat.


    But as she reached out, Sinian immediately pulled away.


    He looked at Song Keren with disgust and said coldly, ¡°No need.¡±


    ¡°No, I must!¡± Song Keren said as she grabbed ahold of the hem of Sinian¡¯s clothes.


    She had the look of someone who wouldn¡¯t let go unless he gave in.


    Sinian¡¯s face turned immediately dark, ¡°Let go, or you might regret keeping those hands.¡±


    ...


    His icy voice carried a chilling high pressure that could crush anything in an instant.


    Even if Song Keren wanted to persist, she couldn¡¯t withstand such tremendous intimidation.


    She reluctantly loosened her grip and bravely explained, ¡°I just wanted to take responsibility for what I did. Brother Sinian, there¡¯s no need for such anger.¡±


    Song Keren spoke, her lips pursing in a grievous pout that threatened to break into tears at any moment.


    Sinian¡¯s expression remained unfazed, his voice detached, ¡°If you know you made a mistake, you should at least apologize first. And another thing... I am the only child in the family; I do not have a sister.¡±


    Song Keren looked at Sinian¡¯s unfriendly demeanor, stammering, ¡°Brother Sinian, I know I¡¯m not Uncle Song¡¯s biological child, but I¡¯ve changed my surname and came to the Song family with my mother. I am a part of the Song family, I...¡±


    She trailed off, choking up, looking as though she could begin crying at any moment.


    She heard from others that Lu Zhaozhao had captivated him by being teary-eyed during their first meeting.


    If he liked fragile delicate women, then she could act the part!


    Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed instantly, ¡°You¡¯re very noisy.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Song Keren was clearly startled by Sinian¡¯s blunt words.


    Shouldn¡¯t he be more compassionate and chivalrous?


    Sinian glanced at Song Keren with revulsion, his voice even colder than before, ¡°Whether you change your surname or not is your business; whether I have a sister or not is mine¡ªthere¡¯s no conflict. Also, from now on, address me as President Song.¡±


    Obviously having done something wrong, not only did she not apologize, she also sobbed and whined¡ªso annoying.


    Even more so than that dog the family borrowed.


    ¡°Young master, please go to the guest room and wait. I¡¯ll have the servants bring over a new blazer,¡± the butler said, seeing the situation and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.


    Song Sinian glanced at her, gave a nonchalant ¡°Mhmm,¡± and then walked straight out of the living room.


    Only Song Keren was left standing awkwardly in place, uncertain whether to leave or stay.


    Mr. Song sighed softly, ¡°That¡¯s just the way Sinian is, don¡¯t bother him if it¡¯s nothing important.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Song Keren¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly as she nodded at Mr. Song and then left the living room in dejection.


    She had deliberately bumped into Song Sinian with the water earlier, but it wasn¡¯t just for that single purpose.


    She had been closely following the matter between Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao since she returned from abroad, and had also inquired about their affairs from the household staff.


    Although she didn¡¯t know how Lu Zhaozhao had managed to charm Old Master Song, she was crystal clear about how Lu Zhaozhao had seduced Song Sinian.


    Now, if she could just get Lu Zhaozhao driven out of the Song Family, and then use the same tactics, perhaps she could even take Mrs. Song¡¯s place.


    Sinian had dodged her just now, but he hadn¡¯t been as cold and dismissive as before; perhaps her tearful appearance earlier had softened his heart.


    Song Keren quickened her pace, thinking this.


    She needed to move fast with her plan before Lu Zhaozhao came.


    If Lu Zhaozhao arrived early, her plan would be ruined.


    Soon, the sky grew darker.


    When Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the Song Mansion, the lights in the corridor were already lit.


    Just before she reached the door, she had sent a message to Song Sinian, not knowing if he had arrived yet.


    Lu Zhaozhao was pondering when she ran into Song Keren head-on.


    She was wearing a men¡¯s suit jacket that looked very familiar.


    Song Keren caught one look at Lu Zhaozhao and, as if guilty of something, hastily tugged at the suit jacket in her hands, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m wearing Brother Sinian¡¯s jacket because my clothes got wet, we really have nothing going on.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    That sounded truly grating.


    Claiming there was nothing while her eyes kept darting around.


    Were it not knowing that she and Xiao Jinglan were no good, and knowing Mr. Song¡¯s temperament, Lu Zhaozhao might have actually been fooled for three seconds.


    Pity though, Song Keren¡¯s acting talents were wasted on her.


    Not even a single punctuation mark of what she said was believable to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Song Keren a glance and said with a mock smile, ¡°No worries, if you like that jacket, I¡¯ll give it to you. Our Mr. Song has plenty of clothes.¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s face darkened, and her eyebrows furrowed immediately.


    Lu Zhaozhao not angry?


    Or was she very angry and pretending not to be?


    She probably knew about her and Song Sinian not being real siblings; Keren didn¡¯t believe she would be indifferent.


    Song Keren¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, was her performance not obvious enough?


    Her eyes darted quickly, and she immediately revealed a generous amount of neckline, the clothes underneath were cool enough to fuel fantasies at a glance.


    Seeing her perform so eagerly, Lu Zhaozhao curled her lips in disdain and chose to ignore her.


    ¡°Miss Song, if you¡¯re feeling uncomfortable, you should see a doctor. I¡¯ll take my leave first, my grandfather is waiting for me to have dinner.¡±


    With that, she walked past Song Keren.


    Clearly, Song Keren didn¡¯t want to let Lu Zhaozhao go that easily.


    She had just reached out to grab Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm and was about to speak when she saw a tall figure in the distance.


    A plan hatched in Song Keren¡¯s mind instantly, and with a sudden stumble backward, she fell to the ground in the opposite direction from Lu Zhaozhao¡ª

 Chapter 158: 158: She Never Expected Such Shameless Favoritism

    Chapter 158: Chapter 158: She Never Expected Such Shameless Favoritism


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I know you don¡¯t like me, but you can¡¯t treat me this way just because I wore Brother Sinian¡¯s clothes, right?¡±


    Her miserable appearance, looking up at Lu Zhaozhao, portrayed herself as a victim of bullying.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed in an instant. What act was she putting on now?


    While she was still puzzled, that tall figure had already approached them.


    ¡°Mr. Song? Why did you come out?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian in confusion, suddenly realizing what Keren¡¯s recent flurry was about.


    She must have seen Song Sinian coming out early on, so she deliberately staged this act, right?


    As soon as Keren saw Song Sinian approach, she immediately crawled towards him.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids slightly lifted, and he instinctively stepped back, standing beside Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Sinian Brother, I know Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t like me, but... but just now...¡± Keren stammered out, looking as pitiful as could be with tears like pear blossoms.


    If Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t the person involved, she might have believed Keren was the victim.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao turned her gaze to Song Sinian, suddenly worried whether he might believe Keren¡¯s words.


    After all, from the direction he had just looked, there could be a visual misunderstanding, just in case...


    ¡°You know she doesn¡¯t like you, so don¡¯t loiter around her. I wouldn¡¯t blame her for pushing you, and even if she hit you, you would deserve it.¡± Song Sinian spoke without hesitation, completely dispelling any worry Lu Zhaozhao had.


    She had anticipated Song Sinian¡¯s biased protection, but such shameless favoritism was beyond her expectations.


    Keren also didn¡¯t expect Song Sinian¡¯s words to be so harsh; she was so shocked that she froze mid-cry.


    ¡°Sin, Brother Sinian... what I just said...¡±


    ¡°I already told you, I don¡¯t have a sister, call me President Song. If you don¡¯t understand, you¡¯d better not speak at all.¡± Song Sinian looked at Keren coldly, his tone chilling.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows slightly twitched, and she quietly glanced at Song Sinian, clearly feeling the pressure in the air drop significantly.


    It seemed that Mr. Song truly disliked Keren.


    Keren was so frightened by Song Sinian¡¯s aura that she couldn¡¯t even muster an explanation; her legs weakened, and she stammered, ¡°I, I...¡±


    She nervously clutched the blazer she wore, her knuckles turning visibly white.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly seemed to recall something and leaned in to whisper to Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, is the clothing she¡¯s wearing yours?¡±


    Keren had been using the clothing as a point of contention to provoke her, so she was curious if it was true.


    Song Sinian glanced at Keren before turning to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°That clothing is indeed mine, but it got wet, so I changed in my room and had the butler throw it away.¡±


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao understood completely.


    Keren deliberately wore Song Sinian¡¯s clothes to try to drive a wedge between them, right?


    However, this tactic might work on others, but not on Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian was too pragmatic and never spared face for others.


    So Keren¡¯s actions just now were nothing short of suicidal.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Keren, curling her lip coldly, ¡°The trash bins at the Song Mansion are quite special.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian reached out to pinch her cheeks, ¡°You must be hungry, right? Let¡¯s go inside to eat.¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Lu Zhaozhao immediately hugged Song Sinian¡¯s arm, her eyes smiling brightly, ¡°Let¡¯s go in quickly, don¡¯t keep grandfather waiting.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    The two left without paying any further attention to Keren.


    Watching the two disappear, Song Keren gritted her teeth, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I won¡¯t let you off so easily!¡±


    Her eyes narrowed, and she soon had another idea in mind.


    Having come to the Song Mansion already, how could she let Lu Zhaozhao have such an easy time? Hmph!


    Old Master Song, in anticipation of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arrival, had the meals prepared early. Now with everyone here, dinner was naturally about to begin.


    ¡°Here, Zhaozhao, have a chicken leg.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Grandpa.¡±


    Old Master Song, with a smile, served Lu Zhaozhao some food, delighted by her polite demeanor as she ate. The more he watched her, the more pleasing she became to his eyes.


    Since Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian got married, his exchanges with Song Sinian almost matched the total number of exchanges they had had in the past years.


    Not to mention having a proper meal at the same table.


    Every time, this brat would eat silently at the Song Mansion and leave right after¡ªeach family banquet to him was nothing but a chore.


    If it weren¡¯t for Zhao Xi livening up the atmosphere every time, the dinners he shared with Song Sinian would be suffocating.


    Now, wasn¡¯t it more comfortable to eat and even feed his precious granddaughter-in-law?


    ¡°Here, Zhaozhao, have some spinach.¡±


    As he said this, he placed some spinach on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s plate, but Song Sinian quickly intercepted it.


    He glanced coolly at Old Master Song and said icily, ¡°She doesn¡¯t like spinach, she mentioned it last time.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Old Master Song paused, frowning slightly as he suddenly recalled such a moment.


    He had even vowed then not to let the kitchen prepare it anymore...


    Old Master Song awkwardly curled his lips, ¡°Zhaozhao, Grandpa didn¡¯t do it on purpose...¡±


    Song Sinian coolly replied, ¡°Indeed, it wasn¡¯t on purpose, just a bit senile.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Old Master Song raised his eyebrows but didn¡¯t get angry.


    Was this brat starting to ¡°proactively¡± talk to him?


    Indeed, it was their family Zhaozhao who had a way with taming her husband!


    Xiao Jinglan watched Lu Zhaozhao, who was managing her interactions at the dining table adeptly, and gave Song Keren a look, signaling her to perform a bit as well.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already favored enough in the Song Family; they couldn¡¯t let her keep overshadowing everyone else.


    Song Keren had just come back to the country not long ago and still needed the support of the Song Family, especially Old Master Song.


    Before, she had embedded quite a few people in the Song Mansion, but now most of them had been cleared out. Even if a few could still serve her purposes, they were outsiders and ineffective.


    She had lost control of the Song Mansion during Song Keren¡¯s welcoming banquet, so now they needed to let Song Keren gain some favor from Old Master Song.


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be as comfortable in the Song Mansion in the future.


    Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan exchanged glances, and Song Keren placed a chicken wing on Old Master Song¡¯s plate, ¡°Grandpa, you should also have some vegetables, this chicken wing is really tasty.¡±


    Old Master Song nodded but still didn¡¯t show much interest in Song Keren, instead, he served another piece of chicken wing to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Here, Zhaozhao, a chicken wing¡ªit¡¯s a favorite among you young folks.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at her plate, now heaped with food, feeling somewhat overwhelmed.


    But, given the warmth of the occasion, she could only nod, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa, I¡¯ll make sure to eat well.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s docile nature made Old Master Song even more pleased.


    He turned to look at Lu Zhaozhao and casually mentioned, ¡°We¡¯ve got a new batch of fine red wine at home recently, Zhaozhao, would you like to try some?¡±

 Chapter 159 - 159 No, You Dont Want To

    Chapter 159: Chapter 159 No, You Don¡¯t Want To


    ¡°I...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was considering whether to agree when Song Sinian¡¯s indifferent voice resonated in the dining room, ¡°No, you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    He casually popped the peeled shrimp into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth and added, ¡°No drinking.¡±


    In Song Sinian¡¯s memory, Lu Zhaozhao always cried when she got drunk.


    It wasn¡¯t a problem when he was by her side, but Lu Zhaozhao had said that they could only be intimate in private, so drinking at the Song Mansion meant he could only watch helplessly, unable to kiss her or lift her high in his arms.


    The mere thought of it irked Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao, of course, didn¡¯t consider all this; however, she could somewhat guess why Song Sinian wasn¡¯t letting her drink.


    But the unspoken understanding between the two, in the eyes of Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren, took on a different interpretation.


    Was Song Sinian preventing Lu Zhaozhao from drinking because something happened when she drank?


    The two exchanged glances and immediately took this matter to heart.


    Perhaps it could be useful in the future!


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Suddenly, the dining room door was knocked on.


    The butler entered and whispered, ¡°Master, a guest has arrived; she says she¡¯s a friend of Miss Song Keren.¡±


    As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily swept towards Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s direction, seeming a bit hesitant.


    Mr. Song and the butler had been in sync for many years and naturally understood the implication.


    He was about to refuse when he saw Song Keren stand up abruptly, ¡°Is it Jin arriving? Let her in quickly!¡±


    ...


    ...


    ...


    The atmosphere at the dining table suddenly fell quiet, eerily tense.


    Xiao Jinglan hastily smoothed things over, ¡°Since she¡¯s already here, let her in, Butler. After all, a visitor is a guest, right?¡±


    Mr. Song gave Xiao Jinglan a deep look and glanced at Song Keren.


    It seemed these two were intent on causing trouble today.


    Fine then, he was prepared to show these youngsters what he was capable of!


    Mr. Song signaled the butler with his eyes, ¡°Let her in.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    After Mr. Song spoke, his gaze quietly shifted towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    He saw Song Sinian leaning close to her ear, whispering something¡ªalthough he wasn¡¯t far, he still couldn¡¯t hear.


    But given Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s smiling and laughing appearance, it seemed there was no problem.


    Shortly after, the butler brought Xia Wenjin into the dining room.


    The moment she saw Mr. Song, she placed what she was holding onto the dining table.


    ¡°Grandpa, Aunt Xiao, this is the tonic my parents asked me to bring. It¡¯s said to be highly effective; you both might want to give it a try.¡±


    She smiled at Mr. Song, and seeing his indifferent expression, her gaze then shifted to Xiao Jinglan.


    Xia Wenjin was their ally, so naturally, Xiao Jinglan had her back.


    Thus, she casually took the tonic that Xia Wenjin had prepared for her and began to praise it, ¡°Oh, Jin, such a thoughtful child. This looks like a foreign brand, not easy to buy, right? You¡¯re so considerate...¡±


    Xia Wenjin chuckled lightly, ¡°Of course, I put extra thought into the gifts for Grandpa and Aunt Xiao.¡±


    Mr. Song forced a smile and pulled at the corner of his mouth, ¡°It seems that your newly acknowledged parents are quite willing to spend money on you, even bringing such expensive gifts when meeting a friend.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    His words instantly stumped the three people across from him.


    In the entire Song Mansion, Mr. Song¡¯s words were law, and being disliked by him was truly troublesome.


    Xiao Jinglan hurriedly smoothed things over, ¡°Jin, since you¡¯re here, sit down and join us for the meal. Here, sit next to Keren.¡±


    Xia Wenjin gave an awkward smile but still forced the spirit, saying, ¡°No need, Aunt, I¡¯ve already eaten. I¡¯m just here to have a word with Keren.¡±


    Mr. Song timely added another jab, ¡°If it¡¯s just to talk, call her. There¡¯s no need to pick the time when others are eating to come over.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now Xia Wenjin¡¯s face was completely unable to hide her embarrassment. She turned to look at Mr. Song, a very aggrieved expression on her face, ¡°Grandpa Song, I¡¯m sorry for interrupting your meal, I just...¡±


    ¡°If you know you¡¯re interrupting people¡¯s meals, don¡¯t just sit here. Go back home,¡± Mr. Song looked at Xia Wenjin¡¯s face, unswayed, ¡°Whatever you want to say, you can call Song Keren later. It won¡¯t be a bother.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin was utterly stuck now.


    She had been called over by Song Keren, who said that Lu Zhaozhao was here and wanted to work together to properly deal with Lu Zhaozhao.


    But she had just arrived and already Mr. Song had issued a dismissal order, how could she work together with Song Keren?


    Of course, Song Keren also realized this issue and she spoke up, ¡°Grandpa, Jin is my friend. It doesn¡¯t seem right to send her back so directly.¡±


    Mr. Song nodded his head, ¡°Right, then... take everything she brought back with her.¡±


    His words had barely ended before the expressions on the three faces opposite turned unsightly.


    Xiao Jinglan quickly spoke up, ¡°Dad, Jin is after all Keren¡¯s friend, and it¡¯s normal for them to meet and dine together from time to time. Kids are like this, not always punctual, Zhaozhao must be the same, right?¡±


    Seeing that Xia Wenjin was about to be sent away, she had no choice but to drag Lu Zhaozhao into it.


    After all, Mr. Song currently cared a lot about Lu Zhaozhao. As long as she was tied into this matter, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t send Xia Wenjin away.


    Sure enough, Mr. Song hesitated, his gaze unconsciously shifting toward Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Zhaozhao never behaves like this, nor would she have friends who lack such basic awareness,¡± Song Sinian, while feeding shelled shrimp into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth, coldly retorted Xiao Jinglan.


    Lu Zhaozhao chewed on the shrimp in her mouth, watching Mr. Song and Song Sinian next to her creating a protective barrier akin to a copper wall and iron fence, she really couldn¡¯t get a word in.


    Just now upon hearing Mr. Song letting Xia Wenjin in, she thought she would be dining with her. She hadn¡¯t expected him to invite her in only to send her away.


    Before Xia Wenjin had thoroughly offended Mr. Song at the school gate, did she still think she could clear her name?


    It was extremely difficult.


    Especially considering her recent ¡®wild maneuvers¡¯ after returning to the Lu Family, Mr. Song must also be aware of quite a bit, right?


    With Mr. Song¡¯s level of protectiveness, by acting this way, she was undoubtedly tarnishing the Song Family¡¯s name; Mr. Song would definitely be even less accommodating of her.


    Lu Zhaozhao completely didn¡¯t understand why she still came to the Song Mansion to present herself to them.


    Xia Wenjin, stricken by the cold and harsh double-edged words from Mr. Song and Song Sinian, immediately couldn¡¯t sit still.


    She stood up, nodded towards Mr. Song and Xiao Jinglan, and turned to run away.


    Mr. Song glanced at her and did not forget to instruct the butler, ¡°Later, have someone send back everything Xia Wenjin brought. Our Song Family hasn¡¯t fallen to the point of accepting gifts from just anyone. Also...¡±

 Chapter 160: If the Sky Falls, I Will Hold It Up for You

    Chapter 160: Chapter 160: If the Sky Falls, I Will Hold It Up for You


    He paused, his gaze fixing on Song Keren.


    Instantly, Song Keren also grew tense.


    Could the old man have realized that she had intentionally chosen this time to arrange for Xia Wenjin to visit?


    Thinking this, Song Keren took the initiative to speak first, ¡°Grandpa, I really don¡¯t know why Xia Wenjin chose this time to visit me... You know we¡¯re friends, and it¡¯s normal for friends to visit each other¡¯s homes...¡±


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan also started to help, ¡°Right, right, right, Jin probably felt that since Keren just returned to the country, she wanted to get closer.¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s strategically shrewd eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°What you said is not wrong, it¡¯s normal for young people to frequently visit each other¡¯s homes...¡±


    His words instantly relieved Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren.


    But then Mr. Song changed the subject, ¡°I¡¯m old and can¡¯t stand the noise, so in the future when meeting friends, you should meet outside.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan furrowed her brows at this, ¡°But Dad, if they invite Keren to their home and we reciprocate rudely, wouldn¡¯t that be inappropriate?¡±


    If outsiders were to know that people couldn¡¯t meet Song Keren at the Song Mansion, her status within the Song Family would definitely be questioned.


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t allow this to happen!


    Mr. Song noncommittally nodded, ¡°There¡¯s sense in that, so, the west district mansion will be for Song Keren to live in then, to avoid not having a place to meet with friends.¡±


    ¡°Uh, Dad...¡± Xiao Jinglan immediately became anxious, she awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°But, Keren is still young, I¡¯m not comfortable with her living outside alone, you see...¡±


    Mr. Song slightly raised his eyebrows, going along with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s suggestion, ¡°That¡¯s also true, you are after all her mother, it¡¯s normal to worry, then move together.¡±


    ¡°?!?!¡±


    Mr. Song and Xiao Jinglan exchanged these few words and directly banished them mother and daughter from the Song Mansion.


    And it was done so naturally that even Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t realized what had just happened!


    Weren¡¯t they just discussing not inviting friends over to the house?


    How did it turn into this?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face nearly fell, she tried to find a remedy, ¡°Dad, then let¡¯s not allow Keren to bring people home, she...¡±


    ¡°Hmm, after you move to the west district, you can handle it yourselves, I am old and can¡¯t manage you anymore,¡± Mr. Song waved his hand, showing an air of helplessness, effectively ending the conversation.


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was completely speechless.


    She had watched, eyes wide open, as Song Keren had caused this mess for themselves.


    It was now impossible to get Mr. Song to take back his words; she could only think of other ways later.


    Just after dinner Xiao Jinglan took Song Keren and left the Song Mansion.


    With the mess of people gone, Lu Zhaozhao relaxed considerably.


    Song Sinian held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Would you like to go to the garden to see the moon?¡±


    He remembered Lu Zhaozhao previously mentioning how much she enjoyed the moon at the Song Mansion.


    Before with Xiao Jinglan around, Song Sinian had never felt comfortable having Lu Zhaozhao over, but now that they were gone, letting her enjoy her favorite view seemed right.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled softly and gently nodded to Song Sinian¡¯s invitation, following him to the garden of the Song Mansion.


    More than watching the moon, she liked watching the moon with Song Sinian.


    The two sat on a bench inside the garden, Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Song Sinian sitting beside her and slowly said, ¡°Mr. Song, the Lu Family is hosting a banquet for Xia Wenjin, and I want to go.¡±


    Song Sinian turned his head to look at her, his gaze flickering slightly, ¡°What do you need me to do?¡±


    While waiting for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s response over those few seconds, Song Sinian had already considered whether to ¡°crash the party¡± or ¡°find someone to crash the party¡± in his mind.


    He could also directly deal with Xia Wenqing afterward on legal matters.


    If the Lu Family dared to use public sentiment to cyberbully Lu Zhaozhao, he would join hands with the Xia Family to cyberbully the Lu Family.


    Xia Wenyan was in the entertainment industry; his shady tactics probably weren¡¯t fewer than the Lu Family¡¯s, right?


    His men just needed to follow the model and give the Lu Family a double retaliation.


    Lu Zhaozhao, unaware of Song Sinian¡¯s thoughts, hastily waved her hands and said, ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean, I just wanted to inform you, I¡¯m afraid you would be shocked when the time comes.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed immediately.


    He had thought Lu Zhaozhao had some good idea to handle the Lu Family, was that all?


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes drooped slightly, ¡°Do you have any plans? Are you just planning to go directly to the banquet?¡±


    The relationship between Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao was clear to the outside world; the Lu Family¡¯s invitation to Lu Zhaozhao for the banquet was definitely not pure.


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted slightly, ¡°Actually, I haven¡¯t received an invitation from the Lu Family, but Xia Wenjin¡¯s public Weibo has an invitation with my name on it...¡±


    Song Sinian instantly realized that Xia Wenjin and her group wanted to wage a public opinion war.


    If Lu Zhaozhao did not attend the banquet, the Lu Family would definitely hype it up, and who knows what kind of press releases they would issue.


    But if Lu Zhaozhao went... would she be bullied?


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly grasped Song Sinian¡¯s hand, looking at him with a smile, ¡°Mr. Song, you don¡¯t have to worry, leave this matter to me, just back me up, with your support, I¡¯m not afraid of anything.¡±


    ¡°Okay, go ahead to the Lu Family¡¯s banquet without worries, even if the sky falls, I¡¯ll support you,¡± Song Sinian said as he gently hugged Lu Zhaozhao, resting his chin on her head.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao had told him not to worry, how could he not be completely concerned?


    His dark eyes narrowed slightly; it seemed he still needed Zhao Xi to be fully prepared.


    Song Sinian was thinking this when his phone timely vibrated.


    He slowly let go of Lu Zhaozhao, took out his phone and glanced at it, then pinched her cheek, saying, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a call, wait here for me nicely. If you feel cold, go back to the room first, okay?¡±


    ¡°I understand, Mr. Song.¡±


    Song Sinian took one last deep look at Lu Zhaozhao before answering the phone, walking towards the side corridor.


    ¡°Hello? Sir, sorry to contact you at this hour, but I have an important matter to report,¡± Zhao Xi on the other end of the line seemed very nervous.


    Song Sinian likewise raised his eyebrows in puzzlement; Zhao Xi had been working under him for so long, it was rare for him to be so anxious.


    His dark eyes flickered slightly as he asked calmly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°The Madame is going to attend the Lu Family¡¯s banquet! And she¡¯s planning to crash the party with Xu Zhenzhen!¡± When Zhao Xi received this message, he was completely stunned.


    Especially when he heard from Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s side, who seemed so fired up, as if she wanted to completely flatten the Lu Family¡¯s banquet, it was just too much for him...

 Chapter 161: Why Stop?

    Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Why Stop?


    Song Sinian, upon hearing this, slightly raised his eyebrows, and the emotions at the bottom of his eyes softened a great deal.


    ¡°What¡¯s their plan for sabotaging the feast? Do they have any specific plans?¡±


    ¡°They...¡± Zhao Xi was at a loss for words in response to Song Sinian¡¯s question.


    Shouldn¡¯t their Mr. Song be as worried as he was?


    That was the Lu Family¡¯s home turf, and with Xu Zhenzhen and Lu Zhaozhao going by themselves, they were bound to be at a disadvantage!


    Zhao Xi had no idea how to express his concerns to Song Sinian.


    ¡°The ladies plan to go after the banquet at Xia Wenjin¡¯s side has started; essentially, they intend to go straight there and wreck the place...¡±


    As for the details, Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t elaborate, so he¡¯d been very anxious.


    They had previously sent Xu Zhenzhen to protect Lu Zhaozhao to prevent her from being bullied at school while also aiming to know more accurately what Zhaozhao might encounter to strategize accordingly.


    But lo and behold, Xu Zhenzhen had been turned by their lady!


    Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but sigh, thinking that if Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t have a bit of a conscience and knew that if the matter blew up, Song Sinian would definitely find out, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have spoken up, right?


    Song Sinian pondered for a moment, ¡°You go first and investigate what specific arrangements the Lu Family has in place, and then we will make a corresponding plan.¡±


    ¡°A corresponding plan?¡± Zhao Xi paused, and asked subconsciously, ¡°Does Mr. Song plan to stop the lady?¡±


    Song Sinian lifted an eyebrow in puzzlement, ¡°Why would I stop her?¡±


    ¡°Then... then Mr. Song, do you plan to...¡±


    Before Zhao Xi could finish speaking, he heard Song Sinian¡¯s cool voice on the phone, ¡°Of course, see how to help her sabotage the feast more effectively.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    All right, he was just needlessly worried.


    Their household had always offered unconditional support for whatever Lu Zhaozhao wanted to do; they were known to be fiercely protective to the extreme.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in the garden.


    Song Sinian had just walked in from the direction of the corridor. Seeing Lu Zhaozhao and Mr. Song sitting side by side, he raised his brow slightly, his gaze landing on Mr. Song.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly and hugged Mr. Song¡¯s arm, saying, ¡°I was just chatting with Grandpa, and he has something he wants to tell you.¡±


    As she spoke, she shook Mr. Song gently and whispered, ¡°Grandpa, go ahead, whatever it is, just say it.¡±


    With no psychological preparation, Mr. Song, his arm now hugged by Lu Zhaozhao, became muddled and blurted out the question he¡¯d been holding back.


    ¡°Why are you unwilling to play chess with me?¡±


    There was silence.


    As soon as he spoke, Mr. Song felt the question was somewhat redundant.


    He was sure the answer would be either Sinian didn¡¯t enjoy it or didn¡¯t like spending time with him, an old man. What other reason could there be?


    ¡°I am not unwilling.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly, his expression unrippled.


    Mr. Song¡¯s eyes nearly popped out, ¡°Then why did you just leave when I began playing chess?¡±


    Song Sinian replied in a measured tone, ¡°Because you usually only play chess with the butler, and you don¡¯t like it to be too noisy while playing.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    For the first time, Mr. Song felt communication with Song Sinian was so effortless!


    Now it seemed that even if they went to the Lu Family¡¯s banquet and beat them up, their Mr. Song would still join in the fray.


    Zhao Xi, feeling a bit of a headache, rubbed his temples, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go investigate the Lu Family banquet process and report back to Mr. Song as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    While Song Sinian was on the phone with Zhao Xi, Old Master Song meandered from the dining room to the backyard.


    He originally wanted to sneak a peek at how Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian got along.


    But when he arrived at the garden, he found only Lu Zhaozhao there alone.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, where¡¯s that boy Sinian? Why isn¡¯t he here keeping you company?¡± Old Master Song said as he walked over and sat down beside Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled, her eyes bending into crescents, ¡°Mr. Song has some business to take care of on the phone.¡±


    Besides work emergencies, Song Sinian rarely left her side.


    So naturally, Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t bothered by it.


    Old Master Song looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s relaxed demeanor, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly started to ask, ¡°Zhaozhao, when you¡¯re with that kid Sinian, do you ever... uh, find it hard to communicate with him?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked decisively, and she shook her head, ¡°Not at all. Mr. Song is very reasonable.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing the phrase ¡°very reasonable,¡± Old Master Song couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of his mouth.


    There was no one more difficult to talk to than Song Sinian in the world; every time he, the old man, talked to him, he was either bluntly rebuffed or met with a lengthy silence.


    The rest of the family had to rely on each other to keep the atmosphere lively.


    The thought alone gave Mr. Song a headache.


    His gaze silently fell on Lu Zhaozhao, and thinking of how she interacted with Song Sinian, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Do you have any methods for communicating with Sinian? You know that I and that damn kid... we don¡¯t get along temperament-wise.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking at the awkward smile on Mr. Song¡¯s face, suddenly felt a bit dazed.


    There was a time when she too had found it difficult to communicate with Song Sinian, and even misunderstood his intentions to the extent that it led to all sorts of misunderstandings between them.


    Her eyes blinked as she looked at Mr. Song, suddenly confronted with a new question.


    Could it be possible... that Mr. Song also misunderstood Song Sinian?


    With this thought, Lu Zhaozhao immediately said, ¡°Grandpa, why don¡¯t you try communicating with Mr. Song?¡±


    Mr. Song curled his lips, ¡°I¡¯ve tried talking to that brat, but he simply doesn¡¯t care about this old man.¡±


    He had considered it before; he thought that Song Sinian didn¡¯t feel close to him as a grandfather, which was why he had asked Xiao Jinglan to take care of him.


    As Song Sinian grew older, he felt further and further away from him, which was hard for him to accept as a grandfather.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, ¡°Actually, Mr. Song is pretty easy to communicate with. As long as you tell him directly what you want to say, the more straightforward the better.¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°That¡¯s all it takes?¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°If you think there¡¯s a problem between you and Mr. Song and want to know, just ask him directly. It¡¯s the best way, believe me!¡±


    Her assured demeanor was so strong, she was practically metaphorically thumping her chest at Mr. Song.


    But Mr. Song hesitated.


    After all these years of being together, he had always approached Sinian from a protector¡¯s standpoint, always beating around the bush and never as direct as Lu Zhaozhao was suggesting.


    Mr. Song couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Was this kind of communication really okay?


    But why was his answer so different from what he had expected?

 Chapter 162: 162: Zhaozhao Belongs to Me Alone

    Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Zhaozhao Belongs to Me Alone


    Mr. Song¡¯s eyebrows knitted into a knot in an instant, and his puzzled gaze turned to Song Sinian, ¡°So, when you come over to the Shen Family Mansion for meals and leave right after, is it because you don¡¯t like this old man?¡±


    Song Sinian lifted his eyes slightly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it your primary physician who said you need to rest early every day?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Mr. Song and Song Sinian stared each other down in an instant.


    He now fully understood what Lu Zhaozhao meant by ¡°direct communication.¡±


    Mr. Song pondered for a moment and then tentatively pushed his luck further, ¡°Then... wouldn¡¯t it be fine for you and Zhaozhao to come home once a week to keep this old man company for a meal?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    That¡¯s possible!!!


    Mr. Song became excited all over.


    He had hoped for so many years to find someone who could bring him closer to Song Sinian, and now he realized it might have been redundant.


    His grandson wasn¡¯t as heartless as he had imagined; it was just that his previous way of expressing himself had been too subtle, and that¡¯s why they had missed out on communicating for so many years.


    A hint of sentimentality arose in Mr. Song¡¯s heart.


    He wished he had known earlier, but... it wasn¡¯t too late now, fortunately, with Lu Zhaozhao around, he could have his wish fulfilled before closing his eyes.


    Thinking this, Mr. Song¡¯s gaze turned to Lu Zhaozhao, and in a kindly tone, he said, ¡°Zhaozhao, would you and Sinian consider moving to the old mansion to live with...¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Song Sinian, right in front of him, scooped up Lu Zhaozhao and wrapped her in his arms.


    ¡°She¡¯s mine,¡± Song Sinian said, protectively eyeing Mr. Song, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s brow twitched, ¡°What I mean is, both you and Zhaozhao could move into the old mansion, now that it¡¯s empty.¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head again, ¡°No need. Zhaozhao is mine alone. If you¡¯re lonely, you can ask Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren to come back.¡±


    ¡°You brat! You...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s late already, and I¡¯m taking Zhaozhao home now. Get some rest early, as the doctor advised.¡± Saying this, Song Sinian strode away from the garden, still carrying Lu Zhaozhao.


    Watching the retreating figures of Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao, Mr. Song suddenly burst into laughter.


    ¡°That brat, he knows how good his wife is, now he¡¯s learned to ¡®guard his food¡¯...¡±


    ...


    It was getting dark.


    Xia Wenjin, who had left the Song Mansion, had also returned to the Lu Family at this time.


    The moment she entered, Cao Mei saw her eyes swollen red from crying.


    Her eyebrows furrowed deeply, ¡°Jin, what happened to you? Did someone bully you?¡±


    Xia Wenjin threw herself into Cao Mei¡¯s arms, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu, Mom, Song, Song Family... wuu wuu wuu...¡±


    Cao Mei quickly patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s back, comforting her, ¡°Take your time, no rush, tell me what¡¯s wrong, your parents are here to support you.¡±


    Beside her, Lu Dagui also nodded repeatedly, ¡°That¡¯s right, even if it¡¯s the Song Family, we don¡¯t need to fear them!¡±


    The Lu Family now had the two hottest mining veins, along with their own international trade orders. As long as these two veins started producing, they would no longer have to depend on anyone.


    Even the Song Family couldn¡¯t pose much of a threat to them.


    Xia Wenjin wiped away her tears, her voice choking as she spoke, ¡°Today, Song Keren called me to the Song Mansion, but Old Master Song, for some reason, really doesn¡¯t like me. He¡¯s always picking on me, wu wu...¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s brows furrowed instantly, ¡°Didn¡¯t Xiao Jinglan help you?¡±


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, ¡°She did, and even Song Keren did too, but it was no use. On the way just now, I heard Song Keren say that she and Xiao Jinglan were also driven out.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This left Cao Mei and Lu Dagui speechless.


    Xiao Jinglan was also driven out?


    After so many years in the Song Family, she was just cast out like that?


    Seeing that Cao Mei and Lu Dagui remained silent, Xia Wenjin began to sob again, ¡°It must be that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s doing. Now, both Song Sinian and Mr. Song are so enchanted by her, they won¡¯t listen to anyone else...¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°She¡¯s only left with the Song Family backing her, so it¡¯s normal that she wants to cling on to them tightly. However... she has been indeed too presumptuous recently.¡±


    After all, it¡¯s Xia Wenjin who is the true heiress of the Lu Family, yet in the eyes of the public, the reputations of the two are as different as heaven and earth.


    How could she just stand by and watch her own daughter be inferior to someone else?


    Especially that wretch, Lu Zhaozhao!


    Lu Dagui raised a hand to pat Xia Wenjin, comforting her, ¡°Jin, don¡¯t worry, our family has allocated a generous budget for the banquet this time. You just need to show up looking beautiful; your mom and I have arranged everything else.¡±


    Cao Mei took out a tissue and wiped Xia Wenjin¡¯s tears, also comforting her, ¡°That¡¯s right, Jin. For this banquet, your dad and I have specifically invited quite a few mainstream media outlets from Shangjing, and your dad even specially bought the front page headline for the second day¡¯s news, along with several hot search spots. Just rest assured.¡±


    Hearing this, Xia Wenjin instantly stopped crying.


    Mainstream media + front page headline + hot search, these were enough to launch a PR battle for her and stomp Lu Zhaozhao under her feet!


    But then again, Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed at the thought, ¡°What if, Lu Zhaozhao shows up on the day of the banquet?¡±


    Although she had shown off the invitation, in reality, it had been torn up and thrown in the trash by her.


    How could she possibly give Lu Zhaozhao the chance to ruin her own significant banquet?


    The lavish banquet specially prepared for her by Cao Mei and Lu Dagui was, naturally, where she would be the sole protagonist!


    Seeing her worried expression, Cao Mei hugged Xia Wenjin into her arms, patting her gently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. At the entrance of the banquet hall, I will arrange two bodyguards in advance. Even if Lu Zhaozhao shows up, she will definitely not be allowed in.¡±


    They had originally planned to use Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s absence from the banquet to hype Xia Wenjin and trample her in passing.


    How could they possibly give her the chance to make an appearance?


    Not to mention that Lu Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t know about it now, but even if she did, without an invitation, would she have the face to come?


    Knowing Lu Zhaozhao as she did, even if she were lent a hundred guts, she wouldn¡¯t dare to show up at the banquet.


    And even if, against all odds, she did come, she wouldn¡¯t be getting in.


    At that, Xia Wenjin was completely reassured. She wrapped her arms around Cao Mei and nuzzled her, ¡°I knew Mom was the best to me!¡±


    If it hadn¡¯t been for that little wench, Lu Zhaozhao, occupying her place for so long, with the Lu Family¡¯s resources, she would have been flourishing in the Shangjing Circle already!


    Would she have to be shunned like she is now?


    The reason she is so unlucky now is all thanks to Lu Zhaozhao, how could she not hate her?


    But that¡¯s okay, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s good days are over!


    Now she¡¯s just lost the identity of the Lu Family, but later, when she tramples her underfoot, the Song Family will abandon her too!

 Chapter 163: 163: How about... you... learn?

    Chapter 163: Chapter 163: How about... you... learn?


    The Xia Family will end up regretting being so nice to Lu Zhaozhao now!


    Humph! They¡¯re cozying up to the wrong person!


    Once Lu Zhaozhao falls from grace, she can¡¯t wait to see how those Xia Family people will come begging to her...


    As night fell, the temperature outside dropped significantly.


    After taking a bath, Song Sinian sat in front of the computer in his study, wearing a set of casual clothes.


    His hair was still wet, occasionally dripping with water droplets.


    Lu Zhaozhao had class the next day, so she went to bed early.


    He took this time to consult with Doctor Tian.


    He had been too busy with company matters to find time these past few days.


    At this time, Tian Xiangjun probably hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet.


    Thinking this, he made a video call to Tian Xiangjun, and soon there was a response from the computer.


    Seemingly accustomed to Song Sinian¡¯s recent initiative in reaching out to her, Tian Xiangjun answered the video call with a beaming smile.


    ¡°What¡¯s up? Encountered any difficulties recently?¡± Tian Xiangjun thought back to Song Sinian¡¯s previous consultations and silently pushed the milk cup aside.


    Better safe than sorry, better to wait until he¡¯s finished asking before drinking.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Last time during the psychological consultation, you told me to take more initiative. I tried it, and the results were good.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Tian Xiangjun got so excited she might as well have been on a caffeine high.


    Tsk tsk, Song Sinian, this kid, has really got it now, even knows to take the initiative.


    Looks like it won¡¯t be long before Old Master Song can hold a little baby Song.


    Thinking so, she unknowingly relaxed.


    Tian Xiangjun almost reflexively picked up the milk cup, and just as she was about to put it to her lips, Song Sinian¡¯s voice rang out again.


    ¡°So, I was wondering if there¡¯s anything more I could learn in terms of taking initiative?¡±


    ¡°Cough cough cough cough...¡± Tian Xiangjun¡¯s hand trembled as she held the milk cup.


    She hadn¡¯t even taken a sip, but she choked on her saliva.


    She decisively put down the cup and coughed for quite a while before she got her breath back, ¡°What else could be learned...¡±


    Do I really need to spell it out that clearly?


    Tian Xiangjun pressed her slightly swollen temples, suddenly feeling sentimental. Why did Song Sinian¡¯s biological mother have to die so early? Now she, a psychologist, had to give a biology lesson.


    With a furrowed brow, she hesitantly suggested, ¡°How about... you watch some ¡®videos¡¯? Learn from them?¡±


    ¡°Videos?¡± Song Sinian paused noticeably, ¡°You mean like video tutorials?¡±


    Tian Xiangjun nodded with difficulty, ¡°Um, you could say that.¡±


    This should... well, count as a tutorial, right?


    Song Sinian jotted down notes with a pen onto a notebook on the desk, then after a moment, he asked another question, ¡°Should I watch domestic or foreign ones?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Oh, my God!!!


    Is she really stuck in this impossible situation?


    Tian Xiangjun gave up entirely, ¡°Maybe go for the domestic ones, the language barrier is less of an issue. Plus, there are regional differences, the cultural gap is also quite big, though referencing them occasionally is fine...¡±


    Song Sinian took notes again, and at this point, Tian Xiangjun felt completely numb.


    She felt that no matter what Song Sinian asked in the future, she wouldn¡¯t be startled anymore!


    Tian Xiangjun took a deep breath, just as she was about to say something, when suddenly, as if remembering something important, she warned, ¡°This matter is quite private, you should watch it in a private place, alright?¡±


    Song Sinian raised his eyebrows, although he didn¡¯t know why he needed a private place to watch the video, he still thought it would be better to listen to what Tian Xiangjun said.


    He nodded, ¡°Alright, anything else I need to pay attention to?¡±


    ¡°Make sure to wear headphones.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Watch it at night.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    A few days later, the Lu Family¡¯s banquet arrived quickly.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen got up early in the morning to get their styling done at the salon under the Song Group.


    Naturally, their gowns were prepared by someone arranged by Song Sinian.


    If they were to overpower Xia Wenjin in terms of presence, their battle dresses were certainly indispensable.


    To scout the venue for Lu Zhaozhao in advance, Xu Zhenzhen went to the banquet hall first.


    She grabbed a glass of champagne and stood in a corner of the banquet hall on her own.


    Xu Zhenzhen pressed the Bluetooth earpiece on her ear and spoke in a lowered voice, ¡°The Lu Family is really going all out, splurging money everywhere if they can¡¯t book a hotel from the Song Group.¡±


    Looking around, whether it was the food or the drinks, almost everything was top-notch.


    She glanced from a distance at Xia Wenjin under the flashing lights, dressed in a white evening gown, truly radiant.


    Indeed, that dress was custom-made by DIA. She had seen Wen Jin posting pictures on Weibo before, saying it took over a thousand hours to complete.


    Even the diamond tiara on her head seemed to be worth quite a bit.


    One could say, from head to toe, Xia Wenjin was the epitome of luxury.


    Now looking at these familiar faces of the entertainment reporters, the Lu Family really put a lot of effort into this.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a sip of champagne and quietly asked, ¡°The banquet is about to start, are you ready?¡±


    At that moment, Lu Zhaozhao had just stepped down from the car on the other end of the phone.


    Before she could say a word, the voices of two men came through.


    ¡°Miss, we are hosting a private banquet here, please present your invitation.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t have an invitation, entry is prohibited. If you insist on crashing the event, we¡¯ll have to be inhospitable.¡±


    On the other end of the phone, Xu Zhenzhen became anxious, ¡°Damn! That¡¯s my oversight! I knew I should have taken the invitation to make a copy for you. Wait there, I¡¯m coming right now...¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Before Xu Zhenzhen could finish her words, Lu Zhaozhao spoke up on the other end, ¡°I¡¯m already inside.¡±


    ¡°Huh? How did you get in?¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice conveyed disbelief from the other end of the phone, ¡°Didn¡¯t someone just stop you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lips, ¡°Indeed, there were two, but just now a few people dragged them away saying they were security guards taking over the shift, and those two were new and didn¡¯t know the rules.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Dragged away?


    Newcomers? Didn¡¯t know the rules...


    Tsk, Song Sinian was becoming more adept at playing the game.


    She had previously heard from Zhao Xi who told her to confidently help Lu Zhaozhao, thinking that Song Sinian wasn¡¯t planning to do anything.


    Who would have thought, he was the one who had the moves.


    It seemed like Lu Zhaozhao just had to appear at the Lu Family banquet looking stunning, and the rest, he would definitely smooth out for her.


    He wouldn¡¯t even leave any small obstacle that could trip her up!


    With that thought, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt a lot more at ease.


    It looked like not only was she about to witness a good show today, but she could also make a scene with Lu Zhaozhao!


    Thinking so, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes slowly narrowed. She was becoming more and more eager to see Xia Wenjin¡¯s face after Lu Zhaozhao made her appearance...

 Chapter 164: 164 Completely Not the Same Level

    Chapter 164: Chapter 164 Completely Not the Same Level


    Lu Dagui checked the time and realized it was about right, picked up a glass of champagne, and stood on the center stage. ¡°Thank you all for attending my daughter¡¯s party. I take this opportunity to officially announce that Xia Wenjin is the only heiress of the Lu Group and to clear up some misunderstandings about her that have been circulating.¡±


    Suddenly, the entire banquet hall stirred.


    Several entertainment reporters even stood upfront, microphones aimed at him.


    ¡°Were the rumors that Miss Xia Wenjin and Miss Lu Zhaozhao do not get along true?¡±


    ¡°On such an important day for Miss Xia Wenjin, you sent an invitation to Miss Lu Zhaozhao, but she did not attend. What do you think about that?¡±


    ¡°Is it true that Miss Lu Zhaozhao has not been in contact much with the Lu Family since she got married?¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao, hearing these reporters¡¯ questions, knew they must have been bought by Lu Dagui.


    Even though the questions sounded tricky, they were all aimed at Lu Zhaozhao, merely scratching the surface for Xia Wenjin.


    Lu Dagui cleared his throat softly, cleared his throat, and said, ¡°Zhaozhao was indeed a bit spoiled at home previously, so it¡¯s understandable that she felt emotional when Jin returned. However, deliberately slandering her was unnecessary. I know she¡¯s a good child too, but what she did was too much.¡±


    His words instantly twisted the truth, and Xu Zhenzhen really rolled her eyes at this.


    This Lu Dagui really could spout nonsense without batting an eyelid.


    Clearly, it was Xia Wenjin who was jealous of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s affluent life, feeling wronged and repeatedly causing trouble.


    Now, she had turned into the victim.


    Following that, Lu Dagui continued, ¡°As for whether Zhaozhao wants to attend Jin¡¯s party, I, as a father, can¡¯t force her, right? As for whether she keeps in touch with her family after getting married, that¡¯s... I¡¯d rather not say...¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there not to say?¡±


    The moment Lu Dagui finished speaking, Lu Zhaozhao made a high-profile appearance in her high heels.


    She wore a black evening dress adorned with dazzling gold sequins, gently waved by the wind, glittering magnificently.


    Her entire outfit, from head to toe, was a testament to Song Sinian¡¯s financial power.


    Compared to Song Sinian, the Lu Family¡¯s financial resources were simply pitiful.


    Also custom-made, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dress was personally crafted by DIA¡¯s chief designer specifically for her.


    It wasn¡¯t even on the same level as mere high fashion.


    In terms of beauty and attire, Xia Wenjin was no match and was almost instantly reduced to a backdrop.


    Lu Dagui, seeing Lu Zhaozhao approach, instantly grew irritated, ¡°Why did you come?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who sent me the invitation? Although I didn¡¯t see the paper version, didn¡¯t Xia Wenjin share the electronic one on Weibo?¡±


    Her words held so much information, instantly letting the other entertainment reporters present smell the scent of a headline news!


    Recently, the real and fake heiresses of the Lu Group had occupied much of the Shangjing Circle¡¯s bandwidth.


    Xia Wenjin even successfully broke into the circle because of this popularity.


    They thought they were just attending the banquet to show face; they didn¡¯t expect such a juicy story waiting for them, their eyes all lit up.


    How could Lu Dagui allow Lu Zhaozhao to disrupt the banquet prepared for Xia Wenjin?


    He immediately gave a signal to the nearby bodyguards, gesturing for them to go and take Lu Zhaozhao away immediately.


    Thus, several burly men immediately moved towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    Yet, before they could reach her, a few other similarly dressed bodyguards appeared and dragged the initial bodyguards away.


    Xu Zhenzhen, standing in the corner and already swiftly walking towards Lu Zhaozhao, was also utterly flabbergasted.


    She had thought Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s comment in her earpiece about the bodyguards being dragged away downstairs was a bit exaggerated.


    Now, it didn¡¯t seem exaggerated at all!


    Song Sinian was a capable man indeed¡ªhe really stepped up when needed.


    Being able to drag away someone else¡¯s bodyguards at their home ground surely maxed out the security for Lu Zhaozhao.


    As Xu Zhenzhen thought this, she casually walked over to Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Smooth entrance, sister~¡±


    ¡°Likewise, likewise~¡± Lu Zhaozhao playfully winked at Xu Zhenzhen and then turned her gaze back to Lu Dagui.


    Seeing his own bodyguard being dragged away, Lu Dagui immediately became furious enough to explode on the spot.


    What the hell was going on with these people?


    At this moment, the entertainment reporters also surrounded Lu Zhaozhao.


    The few reporters who had just been questioning Lu Dagui immediately started pressuring Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Miss Lu Zhaozhao, coming to the banquet so brazenly, are you trying to show off your power?¡±


    ¡°Heard Miss Lu Zhaozhao has the Song Family backing her, so she acts so recklessly, is that true?¡±


    ¡°President of Lu Group just clarified that your past incident with Xia Wenjin was a misunderstanding; are you showing up so hastily because you¡¯re afraid the Lu Family might leak some damaging information about you?¡±


    ...


    Listening to these questions, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Can you guys be any more obvious with the ¡®I¡¯ve been paid¡¯ sign? Anyone who¡¯s been following recent news knows what happened; how can you lie with your eyes wide open without fearing your peers spitting on you?¡±


    These reporters had seen big scenes too and had taken bribes more than once or twice, so they were hardly concerned by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s retort.


    ¡°What, you do things but can¡¯t handle being talked about?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Don¡¯t think we wouldn¡¯t dare to write just because you have the Song Family¡¯s support!¡±


    ¡°Even if it were the emperor himself, we¡¯d still expose the truth without hesitation!¡±


    ...


    Right when Lu Zhaozhao was about to speak, she saw the same men in black who had dragged away the bodyguard walking towards the crowd of reporters.


    Then, two men carried one reporter each and began carrying away those reporters who were provoking Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Let me go! I was invited here by your boss! Let go!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving, and someone else will have to write about your Lu Family, I¡¯m telling you, if this continues, I¡¯ll have to charge more!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s someone else you should be taking, not us! We are here paid by your boss! Don¡¯t you unde... hmm...¡±


    ...


    The reporters tried to say something more but were muzzled by the bodyguards, almost as if it were purposefully done to make them expose themselves.


    Seeing that the situation was beyond his control, Lu Dagui couldn¡¯t save his face any longer.


    His face turned livid as he stared at Lu Zhaozhao, demanding, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, what exactly are you trying to do?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t intend to do anything, I just want to know, why is my name flaunted on Xia Wenjin¡¯s Weibo even though I wasn¡¯t sent an invite?¡±


    Lu Dagui¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Perhaps the person delivering the invite lost it accidentally...¡±


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, I guess there¡¯s no problem with me being here at this banquet?¡± Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, her eyes curving into smiles as she continued, ¡°Since all the journalists are here, I also have something I¡¯d like to announce...¡±

 Chapter 165: 165 Wow, thats a lot of information!

    Chapter 165: Chapter 165 Wow, that¡¯s a lot of information!


    Lu Dagui immediately became nervous.


    Thinking about the announcement he had just made, he was a bit worried Lu Zhaozhao might divulge some damaging news about Xia Wenjin.


    He tried to step forward to stop her, but he was blocked by several entertainment reporters.


    The more he tried to push forward, the more he was squeezed back.


    Lu Zhaozhao hooked her lips in a slight smirk, ¡°I¡¯d like to say that the discord between Xia Wenjin and me is true. As for the reasons, they¡¯re just what you all have seen before. There¡¯s nothing to whitewash.¡±


    Xia Wenjin, seeing Lu Zhaozhao stealing her thunder and even dropping bombshells, was instantly furious and charged at Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying! You¡¯re just jealous that I¡¯m a daughter of the Lu Family and deliberately framing me!¡± Xia Wenjin thought only of saving face in front of the media, paying no mind to anything else.


    ¡°That position of Mrs. Song was mine too! It was all mine! You stole it from me!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed as she blurted out, ¡°Have some shame! Song Sinian fell in love with Lu Zhaozhao at first sight; it had nothing to do with your Lu Family status!¡±


    Xia Wenjin, not willing to give up, yelled back at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Would Song Sinian have married Lu Zhaozhao if she weren¡¯t a daughter of the Lu Family? Impossible!¡±


    ¡°If Song Sinian cared only for the title of marrying a daughter of the Lu Family, he would have changed his mind long ago when she wasn¡¯t known as one. Besides, how much is the Lu Family worth? Do you think the Song Family cares?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen continued, pulling Lu Zhaozhao over, and went on, ¡°Look at her face, her figure, her personality. How is she not better than you in every way?¡±


    Onlookers from the entertainment press started whispering among themselves as well.


    ¡°Indeed, the one thing the Song Family is not short of is money.¡±


    ¡°With Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s looks, even in the entertainment industry, she¡¯d be top class. It¡¯s understandable that Song Sinian likes her.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting is highly appreciated by the big names in the art world. That hotly discussed debut painting from before is said to be hers.¡±


    ...


    Listening to the crowd¡¯s praises for Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenjin became frantic, ¡°She, she, you, how can you prove that Song Sinian didn¡¯t marry Lu Zhaozhao for the Lu Family?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s easy. If that were true, he would have married you a long time ago. The fact that he doesn¡¯t even glance at you now isn¡¯t proof enough?¡± Xu Zhenzhen almost spat out the words, leaving no face for Xia Wenjin.


    She came here today to make a scene; how could she possibly leave Xia Wenjin any dignity?


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    Suddenly, a voice rang out from a distance.


    Aunt Cao had been at the party all along, but because her clothes had accidentally gotten wet, she had gone to change.


    She had not expected to return and find Lu Zhaozhao here, surrounded by so many people!


    Seeing the scene, Xia Wenjin immediately ran over in tears, ¡°Mom, woo... they¡¯re bullying me...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen watched Xia Wenjin somewhat speechlessly. Was this the proverbial situation where a crying child gets the milk?


    Aunt Cao stared intently at Lu Zhaozhao, her eyes fierce as if trying to bore holes in her, ¡°How did you get in here? I don¡¯t remember inviting you!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Aunt Cao, ¡°I walked in proudly and upright, of course.¡±


    The reporters nearby started chattering amongst themselves.


    ¡°Just now, what Lu Dagui implied was that Lu Zhaozhao was not invited, so what¡¯s the deal with Xia Wenjin¡¯s Weibo post?¡±


    ¡°What else could it be? Xia Wenjin lied, using someone else¡¯s fame, deliberately showing off an invitation that would never be sent out.¡±


    ¡°I never would have guessed that Xia Wenjin, despite being new to the entertainment industry, had mastered so many tricks.¡±


    Upon hearing the comments about Xia Wenjin from those around her, Cao Mei immediately changed her tune, ¡°Jin didn¡¯t lie, it was me who was too anxious just now and misspoke.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly responded to her words, ¡°Aunt Cao, are you saying that I am here now because I was invited?¡±


    Although Cao Mei was reluctant, she stiffened up and nodded her head.


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a satisfied chuckle, ¡°Since you¡¯ve sincerely invited me, naturally I had to come. However, this will be the last time. I am here to make my stance clear too, from today onwards, I will have absolutely no ties to the Lu Family, please find someone else to target from now on when you wish to slander.¡±


    After saying this, she nodded at Xia Wenjin and Cao Mei, then turned to leave, pulling Xu Zhenzhen along with her.


    But how could the entertainment reporters miss such a good opportunity?


    One after another, they chased after her, desperately wielding their microphones and bombarding her with questions: ¡°Miss Lu Zhaozhao, why are you leaving the Lu Family so decisively? Is there an inside story?¡±


    ¡°Is it true, as the rumors say, that you left because of Xia Wenjin¡¯s arrival to the Lu Family and Mrs. Lu forcing you out?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that the only reason Miss Lu married into the Song Family was because the Lu Family wanted to secure a deal with the Song Family. Can you confirm if this is true?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was surrounded by the crowd, and the most anxious were undoubtedly the Lu Family.


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could speak up, Cao Mei urgently shouted to the bodyguards, ¡°What are you standing around for? Can¡¯t you see the banquet is in chaos?! Get things under control!¡±


    The bodyguards glanced at Cao Mei but remained indifferent.


    Instead, Lu Zhaozhao looked at the reporters with a light chuckle and replied, ¡°Mr. Song has always been very kind to me. I like him a lot, and he likes me too. As for everything else, what does it matter if it¡¯s true? Everyone here, enjoy your food and have a good time; I will take my leave now...¡±


    With those words, she quickly disappeared from the banquet hall with Xu Zhenzhen.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao had only spoken about her relationship with Song Sinian, it was as if she had answered all the questions they wanted to know!


    So what if it¡¯s true?


    All! Is! True!


    Well, this is some hefty piece of information!


    It means that the Lu Family had sold Lu Zhaozhao to the Song Family to secure an order, and after reclaiming their biological daughter, they kicked Lu Zhaozhao to the curb.


    No, they even went so far as to constantly drag Lu Zhaozhao through the mud with their biological daughter. Tsk, tsk... such inhumanity!


    Without needing Lu Zhaozhao to say a word, the reporters used their vivid imaginations to fill in the story for her.


    Thus, there was no need to wait for the next day¡ªby then, the Shangjing Circle¡¯s entertainment headlines were once again dominated by the Lu Family.


    The trendings bought by the Lu Family for Xia Wenjin paled in comparison to these naturally-trending topics.


    Overnight, beneath the hot searches for Xia Wenjin, there was nothing but mockery.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin¡¯s actions are just too dumb, knowing full well that Weibo is a public platform, she dared to flaunt Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s invitation right there.¡±


    Lying in her villa in the western district, Song Keren flipped through Xia Wenjin¡¯s gossip and couldn¡¯t help but criticize.


    If it wasn¡¯t for Xiao Jinglan telling her to maintain a good relationship with Xia Wenjin, she really wouldn¡¯t want to pretend to be best friends with someone as clueless as her.


    She disgustedly flipped through her phone¡¯s messages, scrolling over her trending photos, when suddenly she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure¡ª

 Chapter 166: 166: Times Have Changed

    Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Times Have Changed


    Is it him?


    The man from the bar that day!


    Song Keren¡¯s brows furrowed instantly.


    Xiao Jinglan sat next to the sofa, and when she noticed Song Keren¡¯s voice suddenly stopped, she couldn¡¯t help but look up at her, catching sight of the photo she was viewing.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this man quite handsome?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Keren slightly furrowed her brows, ¡°Well, he¡¯s alright...¡±


    She tried her best to appear as though she wasn¡¯t familiar with Justin at all, replying nonchalantly, fearful that Xiao Jinglan might notice something amiss.


    ¡°Keren, take a closer look; he has blonde hair and blue eyes, a very handsome appearance, and he¡¯s quite accomplished for his age, also serving as the regional vice president of XJ Group.¡± Xiao Jinglan seized the opportunity to introduce Justin to Song Keren.


    After all, she was thinking about how to bring him up to Song Keren since they were bound to meet, and surprisingly, she saw him in the photos from Xia Wenjin¡¯s party.


    It really was like finding what one seeks without even searching.


    Song Keren also seemed surprised by Justin¡¯s identity, her eyes widened in astonishment as she looked again at the photo, ¡°Are you saying this man is the regional vice president of XJ Group?¡±


    Regarding XJ Group, she knew they almost rivaled Song Group internationally.


    Her eyes blinked, and though he was only a regional vice president, he was still hundreds of times better than those unknown small company presidents in the country.


    After the fiasco at her welcome party last time, she knew Xiao Mo was looking to marry her off.


    As long as it helped him, he didn¡¯t care whom she married.


    Her mother wanted to stop it, but in the end, she would surely listen to Xiao Mo¡¯s decision.


    This Justin probably was one of the people Xiao Mo wanted to connect with.


    He was handsome and the regional vice president of XJ Group, so if she truly couldn¡¯t marry Song Sinian, marrying him wouldn¡¯t be a bad choice.


    Seeing Song Keren taking an interest in Justin, Xiao Jinglan nodded repeatedly, ¡°Right, in a few days he¡¯ll be attending a dinner, and Xiao Mo will take you there. You can meet Justin and see if you like him. Then, maybe your mother can give you a little push from behind?¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s lips curved slightly, ¡°I think he looks quite good.¡±


    After all, he was the man she had spent the night with, and she still had the clothes she took from the hotel last time; he¡¯d surely be surprised when they met again?


    As they had felt quite good about each other before, perhaps this marriage could be settled soon.


    With the status of being the wife of the regional vice president of XJ Group, she wouldn¡¯t have to fear being troubled by Xiao Mo anymore.


    It would also be easier to establish herself in the entertainment industry, not too bad...


    The next day, in the cool breeze of the early morning.


    Because it had rained a little last night, the sky remained overcast till the morning.


    Zhao Xi gently knocked on the office door and entered, ¡°Sir, Lu Dagui has arrived.¡±


    Yesterday, Lu Zhaozhao attended the party prepared by Lu Family for Xia Wenjin, which caused an uproar.


    Since last night, the whole trending search had exploded.


    Although Lu Family tried hard to pull down the trending search, with Song Family and Xia Family joining forces, they couldn¡¯t make a dent.


    Xia Wenjin, who had been so proud on Weibo before the party, was now being criticized severely.


    Lu Dagui was clearly unable to stay put, so was that why he came directly to the Song Group to discuss matters with their Mister?


    ¡°Let him in.¡±


    Song Sinian replied indifferently and then gestured to Zhao Xi to let the person in.


    Soon, Lu Dagui was wheeled in.


    His leg had healed considerably, but just yesterday, he had forced himself to stand for a while at Xia Wenjin¡¯s banquet, without using a wheelchair or crutches.


    Unexpectedly, once Lu Zhaozhao arrived, the entire banquet hall went into chaos, and in his haste, he fell and exacerbated his injury.


    Therefore, he had no choice but to use the wheelchair again.


    He was pushed into the office by his accompanying assistant, his face grim.


    Zhao Xi glanced at Lu Dagui and couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes.


    Initially shamelessly trampling on their lady, and now facing backlash, he still had the gall to be angry, pah!


    If not for professional ethics and the face of their Mister, he¡¯d have loved to spit on his face.


    Seeing Lu Dagui¡¯s face still grim, Zhao Xi coughed lightly, ¡°President Lu, our Mister¡¯s time is precious, if you don¡¯t have anything important...¡±


    ¡°I, of course, have something important.¡± Lu Dagui said, taking a check from his pocket and handing it to his assistant.


    The assistant quickly handed the check to Zhao Xi.


    Seeing the amount on it, Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows. It was the money their Mister had previously loaned to the Lu Family.


    He had even returned it with interest.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s eyelids drooped, and he took the check and placed it on Song Sinian¡¯s desk.


    Lu Dagui crossed his hands and looked at Song Sinian, uttering each word deliberately, ¡°President Song, this is the money the Lu Family owed you. I have now repaid it in full, and from now on, the Lu Family no longer owes the Song Family anything.¡±


    His tone was very impolite when he said this, showing none of the submissiveness he had when he previously approached the Song Group for a loan.


    Song Sinian glanced at the check and then looked at Lu Dagui, his voice cold, ¡°So what?¡±


    ¡°So, apart from business interactions, the Lu Family has no further ties with the Song Family. Mr. Song, there¡¯s no need to hold a grudge against the Lu Family because of some people.¡± Lu Dagui stared at Song Sinian, his attitude noticeably more arrogant.


    He had borrowed money from Song Sinian because the Song Group was the only company that could lend them such a large sum.


    Moreover, at that time they were competing for mining resources, and others who could lend him money were competitors of the Lu Group, so they would definitely not help him.


    But now it was completely different; times had changed.


    He had secured two highly sought-after mining resources, and everyone in the Shangjing Circle knew he was going to prosper¨Cthey were too late to curry favor with him.


    So, he casually spoke to those previous individuals, and they immediately came forward to willingly lend him money.


    They simply wanted a share of the profits from the mining resources he controlled.


    While he wouldn¡¯t divide the mining resources themselves, he still had control over to whom he¡¯d sell the mined jade material first.


    Even if Song Sinian wanted to strike at him, there was no stopping his financial avenues, which was why Lu Dagui was so rude to him.


    Song Sinian glanced at Lu Dagui, ¡°I have never been interested in your Lu Family. If you had not attacked my woman, none of this would have happened.¡±


    His implication was clear: it was they who first attacked Lu Zhaozhao, prompting his retaliation.


    This made Lu Dagui even more irritated. He sneered at Song Sinian, his voice cold, ¡°All for that bitch Lu Zhaozhao, President Song wasted so much resources. It¡¯s really just to see a beauty smile, throwing caution¡ªand money¡ªto the wind!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s face immediately darkened, and he abruptly stood up from his office chair, rushing forward in a few strides and grabbed Lu Dagui by the throat¡ª

 Chapter 167: 167: Shamelessness Should At Least Have a Limit

    Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Shamelessness Should At Least Have a Limit


    ¡°Lu Dagui, have I been too generous with you? Who do you think you have to thank for the fact that the Lu Group is still alive?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes were filled with menace as they bore into Lu Dagui, his large hand gripping Lu¡¯s throat like an iron band.


    His face instantly turned a deep red, yet he couldn¡¯t utter a word.


    Lu Dagui felt the blood in his head come to a standstill, and he desperately tried to pry Song Sinian¡¯s hand away, but it was utterly futile.


    Watching his hands go limp and droop, Zhao Xi was truly terrified.


    While pulling on Song Sinian, he shouted from the side, ¡°Sir, this could easily frighten your wife!¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian slowly released his grip, but his bloodthirsty gaze remained fixed on Lu Dagui.


    ¡°You should be grateful my wife has a kind heart; otherwise, your entire Lu Family wouldn¡¯t even know how you died. One must be aware of one¡¯s limitations, and if you lack shame, at least know your bounds.¡±


    Lu Dagui was gasping for breath, shaking like a leaf.


    As soon as he entered the house, he shouted at Cao Mei, ¡°Where¡¯s Jin? Is Jin at home?¡±


    Cao Mei was startled by his sudden shout and quickly responded, ¡°Yes, yes, what¡¯s the rush for finding Jin?¡±


    As she spoke, she gave a maid a look, signaling her to call Xia Wenjin down.


    Lu Dagui was frowning deeply and looked very irritable, as if he had suffered a great grievance.


    Cao Mei remembered that Lu Dagui had gone to the Song Group early in the morning; could it be that he had been snubbed by Song Si?


    Impossible.


    Even though their Lu Family had cooperation with the Song Group, now with these two mining veins, those small businesses were basically optional.


    Plus, quite a few shareholders of the Song Group had followed them to invest in mining the veins, so future projects with the Song Family wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    So there was no way Lu Dagui could have been snubbed...


    ¡°Master, what¡¯s wrong? Who made you angry?¡± Cao Mei said while sitting next to Lu Dagui, rubbing his chest to help him relax.


    Lu Dagui gritted his teeth, ¡°Who else could it be if not Song Si?¡±


    ¡°Song Si? He...¡± Cao Mei was puzzled.


    Song Sinian did have a bit of a bad reputation in the business world, but he had been fairly friendly toward their Lu Family.


    But ever since they announced Xia Wenjin as the only heiress of the Lu Family, the Song Family had started causing all sorts of troubles.


    At first, she thought it was Lu Zhaozhao who was jealous of Xia Wenjin and deliberately sought Song Sinian¡¯s help.


    Could it be that it was Song Sinian who took the initiative?


    Lu Dagui bit his teeth fiercely, ¡°I just said a few unpleasant words about that wretched girl, and he wanted to kill me. That man is simply a madman!¡±


    As he said this, he subconsciously touched his own neck.


    It felt as though the sensation of suffocation was still lingering on his neck.


    For a woman worthless in his eyes, he had treated him like that; he would definitely make him regret it!


    Upon hearing this, Cao Mei¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at the bruise on Lu Dagui¡¯s neck, ¡°Song Si laid a hand on you?¡±


    The bruise on his neck was evident; the person who did it had clearly been ruthless.


    Song Sinian glanced at him with contempt, his voice even colder than before, ¡°My wife¡¯s kindness doesn¡¯t mean I am the same. You¡¯ve crossed the wrong person. If I hear another bad word about my wife from your mouth, I¡¯ll rip out your tongue!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Dagui was so intimidated that he couldn¡¯t even muster a single word in rebuttal.


    He had thought that as long as his finances had no entanglements with the Song Group, he could sit at the same level as Song Sinian.


    At the very least, he would not be suppressed too miserably.


    But reality dealt him a harsh blow.


    Forget about being on equal footing; he couldn¡¯t even speak a complete sentence!


    Zhao Xi watched Lu Dagui¡¯s cowardly appearance with disdain.


    He cleared his throat slightly, ¡°President Lu, if you have no other business here, President Song has work to attend to.¡±


    He tugged the corner of his mouth into a standard professional smile for Lu Dagui.


    ¡°I... I¡¯m fine now.¡± It took a while for Lu Dagui to recover, and when he heard Zhao Xi¡¯s hint to leave, he actually felt a sense of relief.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s expression remained unchanged, ¡°In that case, let me escort President Lu to the door.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    Lu Dagui waved his hand at Zhao Xi, signaling his assistant to wheel him away.


    Watching Lu Dagui¡¯s distant figure, Zhao Xi then approached Song Sinian and laid the investigation file, he had compiled, in front of him.


    ¡°Sir, this is the investigation about the Lu Family. Lu Dagui just met with several CEOs from the Shangjing Circle yesterday, and surprisingly, he showed up here today.¡±


    Zhao Xi had only received part of the file yesterday, and with some parts still under investigation, it came as a surprise when Lu Dagui arrived at the Song Group early this morning.


    Song Sinian flipped through the documents in front of him, his eyebrows betraying a nonchalant reaction to the situation.


    Seeing this, Zhao Xi continued, ¡°Recently, the Lu Group has caused quite a stir in the Shangjing Circle over a mining vein, many want to cozy up to them, and Lu Dagui has started to put on airs, offending quite a few people in a short time.¡±


    The Lu Group¡¯s strength may have been considered decent before, but it didn¡¯t count for much in the Shangjing Circle.


    However, the situation changed after he acquired those two popular mining veins.


    As long as the rough stones mined from those veins sell at a high price, it¡¯s practically pure profit.


    Although other companies also bid on mining resources, currently, the best quality rough stones seem to be in the hands of the Lu Family.


    No wonder Lu Dagui got cocky.


    Seeing that Song Sinian remained silent, Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but frown and asked, ¡°Sir, what should we do now?¡±


    Song Sinian raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°What do you mean, ¡®what should we do¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Uh... it¡¯s just that the Lu Group has paid back the money...¡± Zhao Xi didn¡¯t quite know how to express himself at the moment.


    The Lu Group had always had to rely on the Song Group.


    Ever since Lu Zhaozhao married into the family, the Lu Family had taken quite a few advantages from the Song Family using Lu Zhaozhao.


    Now, if the Lu Family¡¯s vein was to be mined, they were likely to rise up in the jewelry industry, and he was somewhat concerned that the Song Group¡¯s jewelry business might get affected.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes slightly dropped, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good thing that the Lu Family is paying back the money?¡±


    But he didn¡¯t know what Zhaozhao would say about it.


    Song Sinian pondered for a moment, then looked up at Zhao Xi and continued, ¡°Go and write down the names of all the companies that Lu Dagui has offended.¡±


    Zhao Xi asked with some confusion, ¡°Sir, what do you need the list for?¡±


    Song Sinian spoke in a light tone, ¡°The enemy of my enemy is my friend.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Wow, Lu Dagui had already been categorized as ¡°the enemy¡±; tsk tsk, the future days for the Lu Group probably wouldn¡¯t be too easy.


    Meanwhile, Lu Dagui had already left the Song Group in a hurry and rushed back home.


    Lu Dagui nodded, ¡°Song Sinian has gone mad, we absolutely cannot let Jin marry him. I think that Justin isn¡¯t bad, and recently I want Jin to seize the opportunity!¡±

 Chapter 168: Does He Simply Want to Act Spoiled with Her?

    Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Does He Simply Want to Act Spoiled with Her?


    ¡°Dad, what happened?¡± Xia Wenjin just happened to hear Lu Dagui¡¯s words as she descended the stairs.


    She walked down with a puzzled face, just in time to see Lu Dagui frowning deeply and Cao Mei looking utterly tense.


    Lu Dagui looked up at Xia Wenjin and quickly said, ¡°Jin, what do you think of Justin?¡±


    The last time, he had deliberately arranged for Xia Wenjin to meet Justin, hoping to give her a chance to get to know him.


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips slightly, ¡°He¡¯s pretty decent.¡±


    He was a gentleman and generous with his spending; at least the first impression was favorable.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t as handsome as Song Sinian, at least he had eyes for her.


    Cao Mei and Lu Dagui exchanged glances and then, reassured, patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s shoulder, saying, ¡°Jin, if you think Justin is decent, Mom and Dad will try their best to matchmake for you.¡±


    XJ Corporation¡¯s status abroad was comparable to the Song Group¡¯s. If they could establish a connection with XJ Corporation¡¯s high-level executives, they wouldn¡¯t have to fear Song Sinian¡¯s retaliation.


    They could just move all business dealings abroad if need be.


    Xia Wenjin pondered briefly and then nodded, ¡°Then, let¡¯s follow Mom and Dad¡¯s wishes.¡±


    With the title of Lu Family¡¯s daughter, if she could add to it the title of CEO¡¯s wife for a regional director of XJ Corporation, that seemed quite appealing...


    In the evening, dusk beamed to settle.


    Song Sinian returned to his villa early, and seeing Lu Zhaozhao, who almost entered the door at the same time, lifted his spirits considerably.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you came back early today.¡± Lu Zhaozhao blinked at Song Sinian and then ran over to hug him.


    With her face lifted, she gazed up at him, her eyes smilingly curved.


    Because she had caused a scene at the Lu Family¡¯s banquet recently, journalists were hot on her trail, so as soon as school was out, Lu Zhaozhao rushed straight home.


    With Song Sinian¡¯s protection, those journalists didn¡¯t dare to brazenly come to the Song Family residence to harass her.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to gently pinch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face, ¡°Let¡¯s head home first.¡±


    ¡°Okay~¡±


    The two entered the living room one after the other, and as soon as they sat down, Song Sinian took out the check that Lu Dagui had delivered that day.


    Lu Zhaozhao was startled, ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Today, Lu Dagui brought this check to repay the principal and interest of the money he previously borrowed,¡± Song Sinian recounted in an unhurried tone, his gaze inadvertently scanning Lu Zhaozhao up and down.


    He wasn¡¯t sure if this was within Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s plans, so he was somewhat cautious.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, but she slowly curved her lips, ¡°The Lu Family actually repaid the debt early. I was planning to have Zhao Xi push for it, but now there¡¯s no need for the hassle.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook the check in her hand towards Song Sinian and said, ¡°Mr. Song, cash this check as soon as possible, just in case they have regrets later.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Song Sinian nodded gently and took the check from her hand.


    The Lu Family was on the rise in the Shangjing Circle, especially after acquiring those two mine veins, making getting money almost effortless for him.


    So the possibility of Lu Dagui regretting the transaction was almost nil, but if Lu Zhaozhao said so, there must be a reason.


    Just like how she insisted on Lu Family securing those two popular mine veins back then...


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingers gently caressed the check, his eyes slowly dropping, ¡°Zhaozhao, there¡¯s a banquet this week... Do you want to attend? There will be a collaborative banquet between Song Group and XJ Corporation, and your cousin will be there too.¡±


    ¡°Justin?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly.


    She remembered that the last time she saw Justin, he mentioned this banquet and even invited her to be his date.


    Thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao felt a wave of discomfort.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Yes, as the regional vice president of XJ Corporation, of course, he¡¯ll be attending.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian saw that Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t speak, hesitated for a bit, and then said indifferently, ¡°Shall we go take a look? There might be some unexpected surprises...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head slightly, looking at Song Sinian, her eyebrows rising slightly in confusion.


    Before, Song Sinian would never take the initiative to invite her to any social events, so what was this about now? Did he want her to be his date?


    Or was he simply trying to act coy with her?


    Wanting her to accompany him?


    Whichever it was, she was quite willing to agree.


    Lu Zhaozhao paused for a moment and then nodded, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll attend the banquet with Mr. Song, but this time, my evening dress must be more low-key.¡±


    Standing next to Song Sinian, she was already a focal point.


    She didn¡¯t want to become the eye of the storm again.


    Song Sinian¡¯s faint voice rose slowly, ¡°Ok, everything according to your preference.¡±


    In addition to Justin, Song Keren and Xia Wenjin would both be attending the event.


    Their goals were also perfectly aligned, which was to secure Justin and become his wife.


    But neither party knew of each other¡¯s intentions, so there was sure to be quite a spectacle at the banquet.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze slowly fell upon Lu Zhaozhao as his deep voice sounded again, ¡°Zhaozhao, whom do you dislike more, Xia Wenjin or Song Keren?¡±


    His sudden question caused Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows to involuntarily rise, seemingly not understanding why Song Sinian would ask such a question.


    Gently brushing a strand of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair, Song Sinian explained at his own pace, ¡°Whomever you dislike, I¡¯ll keep them further away from you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly realized, ¡°I dislike them both!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian suddenly fell silent.


    He had wanted to find out whom Lu Zhaozhao disliked more so he could plan with Xia Wenjue to have Justin marry that person. Then he would send Justin and his wife off to another country to get them out of sight.


    But now that Lu Zhaozhao said she disliked them both... well, bigamy is illegal in our country, and it seems to be so in Justin¡¯s country as well.


    It looked like he would have to discuss with Xia Wenjue about finding a way for Justin to change his nationality...


    The banquet was set for Friday evening.


    To meet Justin as soon as possible, Song Keren came to the event venue especially early.


    She had dressed up specially, after all, she was to be the future wife of the regional deputy CEO of XJ Group.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to be outdone at the banquet.


    What Song Keren didn¡¯t expect was that, not long after she arrived, she saw Xia Wenjin.


    Her outfit was quite eye-catching, similar to how she had dressed for the Lu Family event before, which was all top designer custom pieces with jewelry to match.


    Song Keren¡¯s brows furrowed sharply, feeling somewhat displeased.


    Although her dress was also a designer evening gown, it clearly paled in comparison to Xia Wenjin¡¯s.


    Having powerful and influential parents really did have its advantages.


    If her mother was currently in charge of the Song Family, she wouldn¡¯t be without some decent, valuable jewelry.


    The jewelry she wore at her last welcoming party was all borrowed from designer brands.


    As soon as Song Keren thought of the welcoming party, her brows furrowed even more deeply, but thinking that Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t much better off than her, she suddenly felt a sense of relief.


    Song Keren walked leisurely towards Xia Wenjin, but before she could speak, she saw her heading straight for a man¡ª

 Chapter 169: Utter Nonsense in All Seriousness

    Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Utter Nonsense in All Seriousness


    ¡°Justin~¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s tender voice rang out.


    Song Keren couldn¡¯t believe her eyes as she watched her running towards that man, her brow immediately furrowing.


    ¡°Keren?¡± Xiao Jinglan had just entered and came to Song Keren¡¯s side only to see her staring blankly in place.


    She raised her hand and patted Song Keren, and was about to say something when Song Keren angrily turned around, ¡°Mom, look at Xia Wenjin!¡±


    She said, pointing with her finger toward Justin, who was not far away standing together with Xia Wenjin.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression changed instantly, ¡°Why is she with Justin? Did they arrange to meet up?¡±


    Song Keren immediately denied her mother¡¯s assumption, ¡°How could that be? I clearly saw her intentionally cozying up to him!¡±


    She had just had that kind of incident with Justin; he couldn¡¯t possibly be interested in another woman, it must be Xia Wenjin being shameless!


    Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinglan breathed a slight sigh of relief, ¡°As long as they didn¡¯t come together, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. After all, Justin is the regional vice president of XJ Corporation; it¡¯s normal for him to be popular. It¡¯s just that the Lu Family is really going too far.¡±


    They had set their sights on Justin and hadn¡¯t even communicated with them, it seems they wanted to monopolize him.


    Did the Lu Family even look at their own status, daring to compete with the Song Family for people?


    If it weren¡¯t because XJ Corporation wanted to collaborate with the Song Family, the Lu Family wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to meet Justin.


    They dare to blatantly poach?


    How shameless!


    Song Keren, watching Justin and Xia Wenjin chatting and laughing, tugged at Xiao Jinglan¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Mom, what should I do now?¡±


    What if Justin was seduced away by Xia Wenjin, that vixen?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes flickered, and she immediately hooked her arm through Song Keren¡¯s, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, you¡¯re Song Sinian¡¯s sister, far more noble than that newly returned Lu Family heiress, Xia Wenjin!¡±


    With that, she pulled Song Keren directly towards Justin.


    ¡°Mr. Justin, hello, this is my daughter Song Keren, also Sinian¡¯s sister.¡± As soon as she reached Justin, Xiao Jinglan went straight to the point.


    Justin politely nodded at Song Keren, but when he saw her face, his eyes immediately widened a bit.


    His blue eyes filled with surprise.


    He hadn¡¯t expected the one-night stand from the bar to be Song Sinian¡¯s sister!


    Before, he thought the Lu Family¡¯s offer wasn¡¯t bad, so getting along with Xia Wenjin seemed fine.


    But Sinian¡¯s sister... that¡¯s a different story.


    If he could get the support of the Song Family, his position in XJ Corporation could soar.


    Song Keren noticed the change in Justin¡¯s gaze and realized he had recognized her.


    She feigned ease and winked at Justin, then reached out her hand, ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Justin.¡±


    Seeing Song Keren¡¯s forwardness, Justin naturally also showed a gentlemanly smile and took her hand, ¡°I¡¯m very glad to see you again, Miss Song Keren.¡±


    When he retracted his hand, he lightly scratched the palm of her hand.


    Now, Song Keren was even more certain Justin was interested in her.


    Beside them, Xia Wenjin watched the two exchanging looks and her brows knotted in frustration.


    She gave Justin an annoyed glance and almost demanded in her voice, ¡°Have you met before?¡±


    ¡°We...¡±


    Before Justin could speak, Song Keren immediately stepped forward, latched onto his arm, and took over the conversation. ¡°Of course we¡¯ve met before, my exchange with Mr. Justin was extremely, very, delightful!¡±


    She deliberately stressed the last four words heavily as if to purposely provoke Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t expected Song Keren to beat her to the punch and was so infuriated that she clenched her fists tightly but couldn¡¯t utter a single word.


    Xiao Jinglan also hadn¡¯t expected Song Keren to win over Justin so quickly and couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat proud.


    ¡°Keren, you talk to Mr. Justin for a bit; I have other matters to attend to and must excuse myself now.¡±


    As she left, she didn¡¯t forget to give Song Keren a confirming look.


    Truly her daughter, she definitely had the skills!


    Xiao Jinglan hurried off, completely unaware that in a distant corner, Lu Zhaozhao was watching the drama unfold with great interest.


    Suddenly, a figure appeared beside her, his tone casual, ¡°Interesting, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Song Sinian said, handing her a plate of snacks and then draped his coat over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulders.


    After the sun had set, the temperature had dropped, and the room, which hadn¡¯t been very warm to begin with, felt even colder.


    The gentlemen, dressed in suits, were fine.


    The ladies, all in thin evening dresses, naturally couldn¡¯t retain much warmth.


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao eat her melon seeds with relish, guessing she had long forgotten about the cold.


    Lu Zhaozhao stuffed a piece of the snack into her mouth, looked up at Song Sinian, and asked quietly, ¡°Mr. Song, how did you know there¡¯d be such a spectacle here?¡±


    She had always thought that aside from work, Song Sinian was all about work, who knew he had a penchant for gossip?


    Song Sinian gently pushed a stray hair behind her ear to make it easier for her to eat and then said lightly, ¡°I heard from Zhao Xi that Lu Dagui and Xiao Jinglan have been secretly investigating Justin; Lu Dagui had even deliberately arranged for Xia Wenjin to be Justin¡¯s tour guide, while Xiao Jinglan made sure Zhao Xi secured an invitation for Song Keren...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded; from these points, it was clear the Lu Family and Xiao Jinglan were trying to match Justin with someone¡ªan impressive display of Mr. Song¡¯s logical prowess.


    However, in her previous life, Justin had married Xia Wenjin and barely had any interaction with Song Keren, though now it seemed that Song Keren had a higher chance than Xia Wenjin.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Mr. Song, who do you think between Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren has a better chance with Justin?¡±


    Song Sinian looked in the direction Lu Zhaozhao was looking and blinked, ¡°Either of them could.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Either?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as she turned to look at Song Sinian, ¡°Isn¡¯t polygamy illegal?¡±


    Song Sinian gave Lu Zhaozhao a deadpan look and began to spout nonsense with a straight face, ¡°The country under his nationality permits polygamy.¡±


    Though it was the nationality of the future.


    He had already discussed this issue with Xia Wenjue, and there were no major issues on his side.


    Thus, changing Justin¡¯s nationality was just a matter of time.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked as if she had just realized this, indicating she was perhaps uninformed.


    She grabbed another piece of the snack and chewed thoughtfully, then furrowed her brows, ¡°Mr. Song... emmm, could you perhaps get me something to drink?¡±


    Her watery eyes pleaded with Song Sinian, who sighed helplessly, ruffled her head, and then walked away again.


    Lu Zhaozhao then resumed her snack eating, looked up in the direction of the drama, but unexpectedly met Justin¡¯s gaze¡ª

 Chapter 170: Simply Arabian Nights!

    Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Simply Arabian Nights!


    It¡¯s over.


    Was she caught watching the drama?


    Lu Zhaozhao hurriedly turned her gaze elsewhere, pretending she hadn¡¯t seen anything.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao turned her head again, she discovered that the person she had just seen was already standing in front of her.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I thought you weren¡¯t coming,¡± Justin said with a smile, his blue eyes brimming with amusement.


    He had regretted not inviting Lu Zhaozhao earlier but didn¡¯t expect her to show up on her own.


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged awkwardly at the corner of her mouth, about to make an excuse to leave when she saw Xia Wenjue and Song Keren rushing over.


    They all stared at her with extra caution, rendering Lu Zhaozhao somewhat speechless.


    She already had Song Sinian, and she certainly wasn¡¯t interested in Justin!


    ¡°Justin, you know her?¡± Song Keren raised her eyebrows, her displeased gaze sizing up Lu Zhaozhao.


    Her outfit for the evening wasn¡¯t as striking as before, but her pretty face seemed to attract attention no matter how simply she dressed.


    Song Keren couldn¡¯t help but feel wary of Lu Zhaozhao; moreover, the way Justin looked at her clearly carried a full interest, even more so than for herself and Xia Wen Jin.


    Justin chuckled lightly, ¡°Zhaozhao and I have met a few times, right, Zhaozhao?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Listening to Justin¡¯s constant use of ¡°Zhaozhao,¡± one might think they were very familiar with each other.


    She tugged awkwardly at the corner of her mouth, ¡°We have met a few times indeed, but I don¡¯t think our relationship is close enough to call each other by nicknames, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s utterly dismissive attitude didn¡¯t affect Justin¡¯s mood in the slightest.


    He was used to women throwing themselves at him; a woman like Lu Zhaozhao, who completely disregarded his charms, seemed very different to him.


    Xia Wen Jin was already annoyed by Song Keren and Justin being too close, and now with Lu Zhaozhao added to the mix, she was even more irritated.


    Why does everything have to do with her?


    Does she have to vie for everything she wants?


    Xia Wen Jin snorted coldly, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, don¡¯t be ungrateful. Even if you are Song Sinian¡¯s wife, you should still show some courtesy to Mr. Justin.¡±


    She purposely mentioned Song Sinian¡¯s name to let Justin know that Lu Zhaozhao was married.


    This way, she was at a complete disadvantage from the start!


    Seeing this, Song Keren, who was originally on opposite sides with Xia Wen Jin, also joined in supporting her, ¡°Exactly, do you think my brother would let you off easily if he knew how disrespectful you were to a potential future partner of the Song Group?¡±


    She was competing with Xia Wen Jin and shouldn¡¯t have supported her, but since their opponent was Lu Zhaozhao, a temporary alliance was harmless.


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly raised her eyebrows, glancing at Song Keren and Xia Wen Jin, and spoke coolly, ¡°Listening to you two, one would think you are both Justin¡¯s wives. The person concerned hasn¡¯t spoken yet, but you two seem rather eager.¡±


    The faces of Xia Wen Jin and Song Keren instantly changed.


    Beside them, Justin timely distanced himself from them, ¡°Zhao... uh, Miss Lu, you misunderstand. These two ladies are my friends. Perhaps because I am quite popular with women, both ladies are quite affectionate towards me.¡±


    ¡°Affectionate?¡± Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, her gaze teasing as she looked at Justin.


    His excuse was indeed tactful, offending neither party while maintaining distance.


    Tsk tsk... It seems her elder brother was right, Justin truly was a seasoned player.


    When Justin saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s complex expression, his blue eyes curved even more in a smile, ¡°I find domestic girls much more approachable than those abroad, Miss Lu also seems very approachable to me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Justin, her expression growing colder.


    He should have already learned from Xia Wenjin and Song Keren that she was Song Sinian¡¯s wife, yet he still acted so warmly; Lu Zhaozhao felt even more disgusted with Justin.


    She stared at Justin, her smile not reaching her eyes, ¡°That must be your misconception. I¡¯ve always been unapproachable, these two ladies beside you know it best, right?¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao spoke, she gave Xia Wenjin and Song Keren a provocative look.


    If she didn¡¯t irritate these two and catch Justin¡¯s attention, she reckoned she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave today.


    Xia Wenjin glared at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°At least you¡¯re aware! Be careful not to mess up the collaboration with the XJ Group; when Song Sinian comes after you, without your family backing you, you might end up on the streets!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! My brother never spares anyone¡¯s feelings!¡± Song Keren chimed in with an attack.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°I...¡±


    Her words were about to spill out when a dark figure obscured most of her view.


    Lu Zhaozhao instinctively turned back and saw Song Sinian approaching with a glass of juice.


    Song Sinian handed the juice to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s delicate hand, gently advising, ¡°Try the orange flavor. If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll get you another.¡±


    After he finished, his gaze shifted to Song Keren, his tone instantly turning cold, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, I am the only son in my family, I have no sisters, and I¡¯m not your brother. If I hear it again, you can get out of Shangjing.¡±


    His words didn¡¯t spare Song Keren any dignity, much to Xia Wenjin¡¯s delight.


    Song Keren¡¯s only competition with her was leveraging the Song Family¡¯s influence. Now that Song Sinian had publicly denied her, how could she compete in the future?


    It was simply a fantasy!


    As she reveled in her triumph, Song Sinian¡¯s icy voice rang out again, ¡°The Lu Family has the nerve to say this in front of my wife? If you think the Lu Family has developed too quickly, I wouldn¡¯t mind cooling it off right now.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s remarks disparaged the Lu Family completely, leaving neither Xia Wenjin nor Song Keren with any advantage against him.


    They were even intimidated by his sinister aura, unable to utter a word.


    However, Justin¡¯s eyes nearly lit up instantly.


    Since coming to the country, he had specifically learned about the Song Group, especially its CEO, Song Sinian.


    Rumors said he was incredibly cold-blooded, lacking empathy, and ruthless; none who crossed him had ever escaped unscathed.


    Yet such a man was doting on a woman. What charms did she possess to make a man like Song Sinian submit to her?


    Justin¡¯s eyes narrowed, his desire for Lu Zhaozhao grew more intense.


    To snatch Lu Zhaozhao from the hands of a man like Song Sinian...


    That would grant him a sense of conquest far surpassing any of his previous escapades with women.


    As Justin thought this, his greedy eyes locked onto Lu Zhaozhao again.


    But the next second, his view was blocked by a tall figure...

 Chapter 171: 171: His Double Standards Are a Bit Too Outrageous!

    Chapter 171: Chapter 171: His Double Standards Are a Bit Too Outrageous!


    Justin was taken aback and looked up to meet Song Sinian¡¯s indifferent dark eyes.


    Could it be that his overly explicit gaze had been noticed just now?


    He feigned composure, tugging at the corner of his mouth, ¡°President Song, I¡¯m Justin, the regional vice president of XJ Group in charge of this collaboration with Song Group. Mrs. Song has a very interesting personality, and I don¡¯t mind...¡±


    Song Sinian cast him a fleeting glance, ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Justin was stunned, awkwardly looking at Song Sinian as if he couldn¡¯t believe his own ears.


    ¡°President Song, you were joking with me just now, right?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s icy gaze fell upon Justin, and he stated word by word, ¡°I never joke. XJ Group¡¯s collaboration with Song Group doesn¡¯t depend on you, the vice president. If I wish, replacing you is not out of the question.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Justin swallowed hard, momentarily speechless from Song Sinian¡¯s blunt words.


    He was right; the XJ Group¡¯s collaboration with Song Group was a decision made by higher-ups, and he was just the one who fought for the opportunity to liaise with Song Group.


    If Song Sinian disagreed, he could be replaced at any time.


    He clenched his fists indignantly. What was there for Song Sinian to be proud of?


    The only reason XJ Group insisted on collaborating with Song Group was because Song Sinian was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s husband, right?


    Xia Wenjue must have discussed some conditions with Song Sinian, hence pushing this matter so resolutely.


    Justin took a deep breath and spoke in a forcibly calm manner, ¡°President Song, we at XJ Group are very sincere. We can take our time getting to know each other...¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at him without a response, turning instead to Lu Zhaozhao, and asked indifferently, ¡°Did he upset you?¡±


    As he spoke, he naturally took the half-finished glass of juice from Lu Zhaozhao, and then passed her the plate of desserts, astonishing Song Keren and Xia Wen Jin who stood by.


    Despite several people standing together, why was Lu Zhaozhao receiving special treatment from Song Sinian?


    His double standards were a bit too much!


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her clear eyes, looking at Justin and pursed her lips slightly.


    This Justin was indeed a bit annoying, but seeing Xia Wen Jin and Song Keren fight over him made Lu Zhaozhao think that keeping him around might divert the two women¡¯s attention.


    It was not a bad idea indeed.


    Especially considering that in the last life, Xia Wen Jin easily married Justin. This life, with Song Keren interfering, it was uncertain if this scumbag duo could still end up together.


    Justin watched Lu Zhaozhao in silence, and he was almost sweating.


    Should this lady express even slight displeasure, he estimated he would be immediately transferred by Xia Wenjue.


    The hard-won opportunity he had fought for was to find a suitable backer in the country, to improve his position in the XJ Group.


    If he were sent back now...


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao anxiously, trying to speak in an even tone, ¡°Miss Lu, I apologize if I offended you earlier, but I truly meant no harm...¡±


    Although Justin wanted to steal Lu Zhaozhao away from Song Sinian, that was under the premise he could stay in the country.


    What could he use to steal away if he were to be transferred?


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Justin, and though slightly surprised by his nervousness, she slowly said, ¡°He didn¡¯t upset me; I simply don¡¯t like anyone outside my family calling me by my nickname.¡±


    Seeing this, Justin immediately responded, ¡°Sorry, sorry, I definitely won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    Apologizing now was much better than being directly replaced. Though a bit embarrassing, it was better than losing his job!


    Miss Lu understood her intentions as soon as Song Sinian heard her words.


    He raised his hand and lightly brushed aside the wisps of hair by her ear, saying, ¡°There are delicious little cakes in the dessert area, do you want to go check them out?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yeah, yeah, let¡¯s go!¡±


    And so, Song Sinian took Lu Zhaozhao by the hand and left directly in front of everyone.


    Justin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Song Sinian leave.


    He took in everything, his expression did not escape Wen Jin¡¯s notice, ¡°Justin, isn¡¯t XJ Group in partnership with Song Group? Why does it seem like XJ Group is trying to ingratiate itself with Song Group?¡±


    After all, she had clearly heard from Cao Mei that XJ Group was on par with Song Group internationally.


    Could the information be wrong?


    Justin sighed deeply, ¡°It¡¯s not that XJ Group wants to ingratiate itself with Song Group but rather because the people at the top... have a private agreement with Song Sinian, the partnership between XJ Group and Song Group is absolutely essential. Should there be any issues, it could implicate us personally.¡±


    ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, Song Sinian is deliberately exploiting this loophole to get at you?¡± Song Keren immediately got Justin¡¯s point.


    Justin nodded, ¡°As long as the contract for this partnership is signed, I won¡¯t be subject to Song Sinian¡¯s control anymore.¡±


    Wen Jin and Song Keren understood immediately upon hearing this.


    In the domestic market, not being under Song Sinian¡¯s control is certainly the ultimate commendation.


    This convinced Wen Jin and Song Keren even more firmly in their resolve to marry Justin...


    The banquet continued until 9 pm before concluding.


    Because Song Sinian was there, Lu Zhaozhao did nothing but eat and drink and enjoy herself on the sidelines; she was having a great time.


    Thus, when she got home, she sprawled on the couch, motionless.


    Meanwhile, Song Sinian went to the bathroom to shower.


    ¡°Bzz, bzz, bzz...¡±


    Lying on the couch, Lu Zhao suddenly felt a vibration. She reached out casually to touch her handbag on the table and pulled out her phone from inside.


    ¡°Hello? Zhenzhen?¡±


    As soon as the call connected, Lu Zhaozhao heard a pitiful voice from the other end, ¡°Zhaozhao, save me, I¡¯m doomed...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s happened to you?¡±


    Zhenzhen, who feared nothing under the heavens, was crying out for help?


    ¡°I have a sculpture class next Monday where we have to make a figure sculpture, and I¡¯ve been racking my brain but have absolutely no inspiration!¡±


    Even over the phone, Lu Zhaozhao could feel Zhenzhen¡¯s desperation.


    It wasn¡¯t that she lacked inspiration; it was... basically incompetence.


    Zhenzhen had initially switched from another major, with a very weak foundation in drawing, and um... practically negligible.


    As for sculpture, that was even more... beyond words.


    Whatever she could manage wouldn¡¯t catch the teacher¡¯s eye, and whatever the teacher could appreciate, she just couldn¡¯t produce.


    Lu Zhaozhao rubbed her temples, feeling a bit worried herself, ¡°Why don¡¯t you try a portrait bust?¡±


    ¡°Would that work? I can¡¯t even draw the features properly...¡± Zhenzhen sounded even more distraught on the phone, ¡°Sculpture is totally out of the question.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao laughed lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as you get the basic features right, that will be enough. If the teacher doesn¡¯t think it looks like the person, just say it¡¯s abstract art...¡±


    After all, art has different forms of expression, and the teacher would likely accept this rationale, given that sculpture doesn¡¯t necessarily have to be executed with a realistic technique.


    ¡°Yeah! You¡¯re so clever!¡± Zhenzhen got excited all at once and couldn¡¯t resist gossiping, ¡°So, what do you plan to sculpt?¡±

 Chapter 172: 172 Hush, Close Your Eyes

    Chapter 172: Chapter 172 Hush, Close Your Eyes


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly furrowed her brows, not having given it much thought before.


    ¡°I was thinking...¡±


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was contemplating, the bathroom door swung open.


    Song Sinian had just come out wrapped in a towel.


    It was the first time Lu Zhaozhao saw Song Sinian dressed only in a towel around his lower half.


    His attractive Adonis belt was just exposed, and his abs made Lu Zhaozhao involuntarily gulp down her saliva.


    Those lines were just too perfect!


    Song Sinian¡¯s wet hair still had droplets hanging from it, which he casually flicked, adding a touch of wild beauty to his usually restrained demeanor.


    ¡°I suddenly have an idea; I want to do a close-up shot...¡±


    The puzzled voice of Xu Zhenzhen immediately came through the phone, ¡°A close-up? Of what part?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not telling you now; I¡¯m off to prepare materials!¡± As soon as Lu Zhaozhao finished speaking, she hung up the phone.


    Leaving Xu Zhenzhen confused, staring at her phone.


    Isn¡¯t this project supposed to start tomorrow?


    Lu Zhaozhao is preparing materials this early? Tsk, tsk, what a good student...


    Meanwhile, this good student was already eagerly eyeing Song Sinian.


    She tucked her little feet up onto the couch and patted the spot next to her, signaling for Song Sinian to come over and sit.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze briefly dropped before he sat down next to Lu Zhaozhao.


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was that since coming out of the bathroom, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze had inadvertently swept over her from time to time.


    He had recently intended to follow Doctor Tian¡¯s advice and watch some videos, but he was unsure what type of videos he should look at under these circumstances.


    So... he anonymously sought help online and got recommended numerous TV dramas.


    The top-liked comment crazily endorsed each drama¡¯s most heart-fluttering scenes, and many people agreed fiercely.


    They even said the male lead in them was their ideal type.


    Thus, Song Sinian decided to give it a try.


    Although he didn¡¯t understand why their ideal type would walk out of the bathroom wearing only a half-towel.


    But... seeing that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t turned weird, he decided to wait and see.


    Song Sinian was thinking this when Lu Zhaozhao suddenly pinned him down on the couch.


    Her water-like eyes blinked, shimmering slightly, ¡°Mr. Song... I have a sculpture project tomorrow, could you help me?¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao spoke, her gaze couldn¡¯t help but drift toward his abs.


    Song Sinian, of course, noticed her little movements. His large hand gently caressed her face as he tilted his head slightly, ¡°How would you like me to help you?¡±


    His gaze slowly moved up, just catching her reddening ear tips.


    Was she shy again?


    Although Song Sinian didn¡¯t know what made her shy this time, it was a good sign for him.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, glanced at Song Sinian, but her gaze suddenly shifted awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯d like you to pose for me as a model, if you¡¯d be available?¡±


    Song Sinian quietly looked at Lu Zhaozhao from where he lay on the couch, ¡°A model for a sculpture?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm!¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly.


    Song Sinian¡¯s abdominal muscles and Adonis belt were simply stunning. The first time she saw him come out of the bathroom, she decided she had to capture them!


    Song Sinian slightly pondered for a moment, and faintly replied with an ¡°okay.¡±


    Then, he reached out to undo the belt of his bathrobe.


    Lu Zhaozhao froze for a moment and immediately pressed down on his large hand, ¡°Mr., Mr. Song, what are you doing?!¡±


    Compared to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s panic, Song Sinian was rather calm, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want me to model? Isn¡¯t it necessary to take it all off?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh and looked at Song Sinian, ¡°Who says that models have to take everything off? I just want to do a close-up of a body part...¡±


    Song Sinian looked at the large hand Lu Zhaozhao was pressing down, as if he understood, he nodded, ¡°Then, which part do you want?¡±


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, which was already flushed red, and felt quite pleased.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and slowly moved her small hand upwards, resting it on his abdominal muscles, gently caressing them, ¡°I want to try here, is that okay?¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s restless small hand, his eyes darkened, but his expression remained calm as he hummed, ¡°Mm.¡±


    But soon, Song Sinian began to regret it.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s soft hand, tracing along the lines of his abs downward, stirred all the blood in his body to boil.


    ¡°Ha...¡± Song Sinian exhaled softly, raising his hand to cover his eyes.


    He liked Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s closeness; every touch from her tickled his heart.


    But now... he felt his reason crumbling under her small hands.


    He had just taken a shower and hadn¡¯t had the chance to wear other clothes. If this continued, he...


    Song Sinian tried to distract himself by thinking of other things, but it was hardly effective.


    ¡°Mr. Song...¡± Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth, about to say she could stop, but seeing Song Sinian covering his eyes, clearly struck a chord in her.


    She couldn¡¯t help but caress his abs again, a bit of mischief creeping into her mind...


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t know if it was the ticklish feeling or something else, but whenever her small hand gently moved downward, his body would shiver slightly.


    Thinking this... she acted on it again.


    When her small hand moved downward again, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He grabbed her wrist, flipped over, and pinned her beneath him.


    ¡°Mr. Song?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian somewhat dazedly.


    His physique was already lean and tall. Now, as he pinned her on the couch, he enveloped her completely.


    Song Sinian looked down at her, slowly pressing his forehead against hers, ¡°Since you want to do your work well, just now wasn¡¯t enough, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but swallow, feeling somewhat guilty inside, wondering if he had noticed her intentional mischief.


    ¡°I, I think it was probably enough.¡±


    Song Sinian gently shook his head, ¡°Shh, close your eyes.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, though confused, did as Song Sinian instructed.


    The next second, something covered her eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached up to feel it, but Song Sinian held her back, ¡°This is my tie. Don¡¯t be afraid. Now that you can¡¯t see, just use your hands to feel...¡±


    Saying so, he grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands and placed them on his waist and abdomen again.


    Devoid of visual distractions, all of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s senses focused on her palms.


    She distinctly felt the skin she was touching burning up. Was his skin temperature this hot just a moment ago?

 Chapter 173: 173 Important!!! Very Important!!!

    Chapter 173: Chapter 173 Important!!! Very Important!!!


    The solid lines and the sensation he¡¯d seen with his eyes were entirely different.


    She had indeed studied it for a bit earlier, but most of it was through visual perception, she had almost ignored the impact of touch.


    Now with her eyes blindfolded, all her attention focused on her hands, and that impact instantly brought to mind the abdominal muscles and Adonis belt she¡¯d just seen...


    The feeling was even more thrilling.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids slowly fell, and his gaze landed on her little face, eyes covered.


    Her utterly unguarded appearance made his heart involuntarily begin to ¡°thump, thump¡± in a wild beat.


    Since earlier, her small hands had been tormenting him, making him wish he could just consume her whole.


    But he was afraid such an act would frighten her.


    Song Sinian reached out to lightly brush her cheek, leaned his head close to her ear, and in a low and husky voice, slowly said, ¡°Mrs. Song, are you satisfied with your model?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shivered slightly, responding weakly, ¡°Satisfied.¡±


    The corners of Song Sinian¡¯s lips slightly curled, gently pinching her chin, his nose rubbing against her cheek, ¡°Then since Mrs. Song is satisfied, I should take some interest, that wouldn¡¯t be too much, would it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, not understanding, raised her eyebrows, ¡°Interest? You... Mmm.¡±


    Before she could finish her question, Song Sinian¡¯s lips sealed hers.


    The cool touch, with a hint of moisture and the scent of lavender from the shower gel.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hands instinctively gathered, stroking upward on Song Sinian, but were caught by his hands, pressed firmly to her sides.


    His body slowly pressed down, pinning her and the sofa together tightly, leaving her completely immobile.


    With her vision completely blocked, Lu Zhaozhao could feel her other senses magnified several times over.


    The solid weight on her chest, rubbing against the thin fabric of her collar, she could even distinctly feel the heat of his skin...


    ¡°Mr. Song...¡± Lu Zhaozhao squirmed uneasily.


    She knew Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t do anything to her, but being blindfolded unnerved her without reason.


    Song Sinian lowered his head to gently kiss her cheek, ¡°Be good, don¡¯t be afraid.¡±


    As he spoke, his thin lips slowly moved downwards, kissing her nose, then her chin, followed by her neck...


    His large hand gently kneaded her waist, while his lips delicately traced her tender neck, carefully leaving marks belonging to him...


    She was his, and could only be his.


    But how could he make Lu Zhaozhao belong solely to him?


    Before, he thought marriage would be enough, but now... it was far from sufficient.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡± Song Sinian¡¯s muffled voice resonated deeply by her ear. ¡°Dote on me some more.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Though Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t see Song Sinian¡¯s expression, she was utterly struck by what he had just said.


    She sighed softly, her tone indulgent as she acquiesced, ¡°Alright.¡±


    The moment Song Sinian released her hands, Lu Zhaozhao immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, she abruptly pulled down, but suddenly felt her body lose balance.


    And so... the next second, the two of them tumbled to the ground together.


    Song Sinian was quick to react, fearing Lu Zhaozhao might get hurt, he immediately wrapped his arms around her head, then embraced her as they fell onto the carpet.


    The position from the sofa wasn¡¯t too high, so neither of them was injured.


    For Lu Zhaozhao, who was completely blind to the situation, the impact was more than a trifling matter.


    She reached out and pulled the necktie from her eyes and immediately sat up on Song Sinian¡¯s body.


    ¡°Mr. Song, did you hurt yourself anywhere?¡± Lu Zhaozhao wrapped her arms around Song Sinian, checking him with concern, completely oblivious to the fact that her whole body was pressed against his waist.


    If she moved just a little bit lower, she would clearly feel Song Sinian¡¯s ¡°difference.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hurt, don¡¯t be so nervous,¡± Song Sinian lifted his hand to hold her slim waist, preventing her from moving any further.


    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed gently, but he maintained a calm expression, ¡°I¡¯ve been exercising seriously lately, so a fall like that just now wouldn¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    What Song Sinian said was not a lie, training with Xia Wenjue had been many times more intense than falling off a sofa.


    Still not entirely convinced, Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian hesitantly and with a bit of unease said, ¡°My, my foot feels a bit sore, could we maybe have a doctor come take a look at both of us?¡±


    She worried that she wouldn¡¯t be able to convince Song Sinian, so she decided to use her own condition as a pretext.


    Lu Zhaozhao was well aware that she was not at all injured, having fallen directly into Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    It was only when her foot hit the ground that she had accidentally knocked it, causing it to turn a slight red.


    Seeing this, Song Sinian hurriedly sat up and picked up Lu Zhaozhao in his arms, his face filled with concern, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the family doctor right now, does it hurt a lot? Should we go straight to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°If Mr. Song will join me for the check-up, then I¡¯ll go to the hospital...¡±


    No sooner had Lu Zhaozhao uttered these probing words than Song Sinian agreed.


    He scooped her up in his arms before she could even put on her shoes.


    ¡°Mr. Song, your clothes! You haven¡¯t put on your clothes!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not important.¡±


    ¡°Important!!! It¡¯s very important!!!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As night fell, in the Lu Family villa, Xia Wenjin¡¯s phone screen suddenly lit up.


    She glanced at the phone and saw the message that Song Keren had sent.


    ¡°Although you and I are competitors, our common enemy right now is Lu Zhaozhao. With her around, Mr. Justin won¡¯t be interested in either of us.¡±


    Clutching her phone tightly, Xia Wenjin¡¯s grip tightened.


    She had thought that by exposing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s married status in front of Justin, he would lose interest in her.


    But to Xia Wenjin¡¯s surprise, Justin seemed completely unaffected.


    What sort of poison does this woman, Lu Zhaozhao, possess?


    Why are these men so keen on liking her?


    And there¡¯s Song Keren, who doesn¡¯t even know who her real father is, yet parades around as a miss of the Song Family.


    If it was just Song Keren she was competing with, Xia Wenjin wouldn¡¯t care in the slightest.


    But now that Lu Zhaozhao had entered the picture, she had no choice but to ally with Song Keren.


    Xia Wenjin frowned slightly and hesitated before replying to the message, ¡°How do you propose we join forces? If you just want to use me as your pawn, I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have the time for that.¡±


    Her message had hardly been sent when Song Keren immediately responded, ¡°Like you, I just want Lu Zhaozhao out of the picture. As for the other men, that can wait until later.¡±


    She had already shared a night of passion with Justin, and at the banquet, Justin¡¯s attitude towards her was clearly much warmer than towards Xia Wenjin, leading Song Keren to believe that she had a much better chance of prevailing over Xia Wenjin.


    But with Lu Zhaozhao in the picture, that was no longer certain...

 Chapter 174: 174: Now You Actually Know How to Coax People?

    Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Now You Actually Know How to Coax People?


    That woman could send a man like Song Sinian, who was indifferent to women, into a whirl, and a playboy like Justin would certainly find it even harder to escape her clutches.


    Seeing Song Keren¡¯s reply, Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes instantly narrowed with joy, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, I have a good plan. Our school is going to shoot a promotional film soon, Lu Zhaozhao...¡±


    In the darkness of the night, the glow of her phone screen shimmered, and a dangerous aura billowed throughout the night...


    Yuqing University¡¯s collection for the promotional film shoot, although it came from internal school forums, was virtually public due to Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin being on the list.


    Xia Wenjin wanted to pull some strings, but there was no helping it¡ªthe fans of Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan were too strong, breaking Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s first-place vote count.


    Lu Zhaozhao became the deserved selection for the shoot, but the Lu Family had sponsored the school with a lot of money for the filming slots, and the school had no choice but to expand the two spots for the promotional film to four.


    So, early in the morning, Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin were sent to Shangjing¡¯s film and television city for makeup with two other male students from the school.


    ¡°I heard that there are quite a few crews filming here; I wonder if we¡¯ll get to see any celebrities later.¡±


    It was too quiet in the makeup room, and the first to break the silence was Zhang Tao, who had come to the film city with them.


    They all went to the same school and naturally knew that Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin did not get along.


    Now, under these circumstances, they could only try to liven up the mood.


    Lin Xing, who was nearby, smiled and joked, ¡°Speaking of celebrities, we have one in our school. I heard Xia Wenjin has already signed with an entertainment company. She¡¯ll be a big star soon, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t feel like engaging with the two boys in front of her, but thinking of the plan later on, she narrowed her eyes and said with a fake smile, ¡°I¡¯m just lucky, that¡¯s all.¡±


    His sentence left them both at a loss for words.


    Lin Xing and Zhang Tao exchanged glances, unsure whether to continue speaking.


    They glanced at Lu Zhaozhao next to them, thinking that she was previously the precious daughter of the Lu Family and now so popular, she must be even more aloof, right?


    Zhang Tao braced himself and said, ¡°Lu, I heard your brother is a big star; does he know this film base well? We¡¯re probably going to be filming here all day, having someone familiar to introduce...¡±


    Zhang Tao¡¯s voice got quieter and quieter, eventually fading out altogether.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly; though a bit puzzled, she still replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s familiar, but I can send a message to ask him.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhang Tao seemed surprised that Lu Zhaozhao was so approachable, his face lighting up with joy.


    Lin Xing also looked excitedly at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Then, then can I get an autographed photo? I really like Xia Wenyan!¡±


    ¡°He...¡± Lu Zhaozhao was about to speak when Xia Wenjin interjected, ¡°Xia Wenyan¡¯s schedule is so tight, he wouldn¡¯t waste his time for a sister he¡¯s only recently gotten to know, you¡¯ve all been seeing just a persona, deliberately crafted for outsiders.¡±


    Xia Wenjin said this while pointedly provoking Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Do you dare to call Xia Wenyan in front of everyone right now?¡±


    She didn¡¯t believe that a man like Xia Wenjin, who took entering the entertainment industry so seriously, would drop his schedule just to come and find Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced disdainfully at Xia Wenjin, ¡°I have no need to prove anything to you.¡±


    But Xia Wenjin was relentless, ¡°Is it that you don¡¯t need to prove it, or that you simply can¡¯t?¡±


    Seeing the tension between Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin flare up, Lin Xing and Zhang Tao quickly stepped in to smooth things over.


    ¡°We, we were just asking casually, it doesn¡¯t matter whether he comes or not...¡±


    ¡°Right, right, we¡¯re here to shoot, that¡¯s what¡¯s important, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The more anxious the two became, the more delighted Xia Wenjin looked at Lu Zhaozhao, as if she had achieved some sort of victory.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Xia Wenjin¡¯s triumphant expression with complete disbelief at her attempt to provoke her.


    Previously, Xia Wenqing had chatted with her about Xia Wenjin¡¯s relationship with her brothers within the Xia Family.


    Even with Xia Wenyan, who had the best relationship with her, there wasn¡¯t much closeness, so Xia Wenjin¡¯s sudden, passionate pampering of her, an outsider, was automatically categorized as ¡°public persona.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t initially planned to contact Xia Wenyan, but seeing her smug look, she instantly changed her mind.


    ¡°After thinking about it, I do indeed want to ask if there¡¯s a place nearby that sells milk tea...¡± Thus, Lu Zhaozhao took out her phone, in front of several people, and dialed Xia Wenyan¡¯s number.


    ¡°Doo-doo-doo...¡±


    The phone had barely rung once before it was quickly picked up, ¡°Hello? Zhaozhao?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice on the other end was clearly tinged with a surprise inflection.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xia Wenjin and said indifferently, ¡°Our school is shooting a promotional video at the film and television base...¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right over!¡± Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish, Xia Wenyan immediately blurted out.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao hurriedly interrupted, ¡°No, no, I just wanted to ask if there¡¯s any fun place here, or if there¡¯s any good milk tea shop or something?¡±


    Xia Wenyan on the phone clearly fell silent for a moment, then pleaded pitifully after a while, ¡°There are, but do you really not need me to come? I promise to be good and quiet, and not disturb your filming~¡±


    Now, not only Lin Xing and Zhang Tao were doubting their own lives, but even Xia Wenjin was starting to question things.


    Was that the arrogant Xia Wenyan?


    He usually speaks without thinking, and now he knows how to cajole people?


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment at Xia Wenyan¡¯s pitiful tone, ¡°There are other students from our school here, too...¡±


    ¡°I promise not to disturb them, let me come, please~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Please let me come, please, good Zhaozhao~~please, please~~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched; anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think she was being asked to do something monumental.


    She was about to speak when she saw Lin Xing and Zhang Tao looking at her with eager eyes, their looks of envy and admiration nearly setting Lu Zhaozhao on fire.


    They hadn¡¯t seen less of Xia Wenyan¡¯s posts about spoiling his sister online; now they truly felt what it meant to be a sister-obsessed + pampering maniac.


    It was clear that Xia Wenyan was holding back a lot on the outside, but when it came to Lu Zhaozhao, he was even using coquetry.


    Xia Wenjin was also clearly impacted; she had just provoked Lu Zhaozhao, simply wanting to make her look bad.


    After all, how could a straight guy like Xia Wenyan possibly know how to woo someone? But, against all odds...


    She bit her lip in frustration, thinking of the plan for later, her brows knotted into a knot.


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t let Xia Wenyan show up, otherwise her and Song Keren¡¯s plan might go down the drain!

 Chapter 175: 175: None of your damn business, mind your own!

    Chapter 175: Chapter 175: None of your damn business, mind your own!


    ¡°Heh! A grown man acting coquettish with a woman, doesn¡¯t even feel ashamed!¡±


    Xia Wenjin raised her voice on purpose and shouted that out.


    She knew Xia Wenyan was prideful¡ªIf he found out that Lu Zhaozhao deliberately allowed her voice to carry externally, he would probably be infuriated with embarrassment.


    As expected, Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice immediately became irritable. ¡°Zhaozhao, did you just say one of the classmates who will be filming together is Xia Wenjin?¡±


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to speak, Xia Wenjin immediately took over, intentionally fanning the flames, ¡°What? Now you realize how embarrassing you were just now?¡±


    Xia Wenyan let out a disdainful snort. ¡°I act spoilt with my sister, what¡¯s it to you? Mind your own business!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Such obvious double standards instantaneously made everyone present fall silent.


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit that the relationship between Xia Wenjin and her several brothers from the Xia Family was indeed not great.


    And after the various things Xia Wenjin had done to her previously, the Xia Family had already lost all patience with her, their once sister.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched the two people who were ready to start arguing even through the phone call, promptly turned off the speaker, and picked up the phone, ¡°We¡¯re about to start filming, let¡¯s not talk now.¡±


    After saying this, Lu Zhaozhao directly hung up the call, not giving Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjin any chance to speak.


    Silence once again enveloped the makeup room.


    At this moment, Xia Wenyan found himself in a dilemma¡ªso... should he go or not?


    If it were any other time... if Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want him to go, he would have obediently complied.


    But... he had just heard Xia Wenjin¡¯s voice over the phone.


    His brows furrowed slightly. For some reason, he felt a deep unease. He always felt that Xia Wenjin would quietly do something to their family¡¯s Zhaozhao.


    Thinking so, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t sit still anymore.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t say he should come, but she didn¡¯t say he shouldn¡¯t either, so there would be no problem if he just watched from a distance, right?


    The film base was the place of shooting, and was generally managed strictly, not allowing easy access to outsiders.


    However, the quality of the extras on location varied greatly, and combined with the many hidden nooks in the film base, accidents were not uncommon.


    Xia Wenjin had her eye on these two factors and planned to collude with Song Keren to bring someone over to the film base to harshly deal with Lu Zhaozhao.


    By then, even if she cried out for help, it would be dismissed as part of filming, with no one interrupting.


    Taking advantage of a break in shooting, she pretended to feel unwell and let Lin Xing and Zhang Tao escort her to the resting room.


    Meanwhile, Song Keren, who had been waiting at the film base early on, led the ¡°special extras¡± they had recruited directly towards the filming location.


    They encircled Lu Zhaozhao as soon as they arrived at the spot.


    As for the rest, they stood next to the camera and lighting equipment, some even started the camera.


    From the outside, no matter what they did to Lu Zhaozhao, others would assume it was part of a scene.


    Lu Zhaozhao naturally saw through their intentions at a glance, but she remained unflustered and spoke lightly, ¡°Who sent you?¡±


    The leader of the men leered at Lu Zhaozhao. ¡°Of course, some rich person asked us to come, to give you, missy, some ¡®special treatment.''¡±


    He deliberately stressed the words ¡°special treatment,¡± wearing a disgusting smile.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°I can offer double the price, shall we talk?¡±


    Unexpectedly, the man shook his head, ¡°If it were someone else, we could talk, but with you looking like that, even without money, I¡¯d love to give it a try, hahaha...¡±


    As soon as he spoke, the others around him also started laughing.


    It seemed they were mocking Lu Zhaozhao for her overconfidence.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched slightly but then she just slowly stood up.


    With no hurry, she took a hair tie from her pocket, tied up her hair, and said in a nonchalant manner, ¡°So, does that mean there¡¯s no room for discussion?¡±


    The seemingly indifferent demeanor of Lu Zhaozhao gave the leader of the group an obvious feeling of unease, and a slow sense of disquiet began to emerge.


    Could this woman have some kind of backup plan?


    Or perhaps she¡¯s carrying a bodyguard or something of that nature?


    Such thoughts crossed the man¡¯s mind as he subconsciously scanned the surroundings for anything out of the ordinary.


    Seeing nothing amiss, he quickly dismissed the idea.


    She must be bluffing, trying to intimidate them into backing down.


    Tsk tsk, she¡¯s quite the clever woman.


    ¡°If you want to talk, big brother can take you to a more private place. We can talk all night, just the two of us,¡± the man said, extending his sleazy hand toward Lu Zhaozhao.


    In almost an instant, Lu Zhaozhao swiftly dodged the man¡¯s reaching hand and threw a punch right at his face.


    Before the others could react, the man who had just been talking hit the ground with a thud.


    The rest, seeing their leader knocked down by a single punch from Lu Zhaozhao, were all stunned.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at them indifferently and crooked her finger at them, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t just stand there.¡±


    The remaining men, although taken aback at first, charged at Lu Zhaozhao one after another, egged on by their bruised egos.


    When Xia Wenyan arrived at the film studio with his assistant, this was the scene that greeted him.


    He could not, for the life of him, associate what he saw with the promotional videos of any school.


    Especially since he knew that Xia Wenjin and the rest were not around, he didn¡¯t think twice and rushed forward.


    After kicking away two men, a powerful gust of wind grazed by his ear.


    Xia Wenyan, caught off guard and expecting to be struck the next second, was surprised to find Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fist stopping just shy of his face.


    She came nearly a hair¡¯s breadth from giving him a thrashing.


    Fortunately, she stopped her fist just in time.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lu Zhaozhao asked, looking at Xia Wenyan in confusion while dusting off her clothes and rolling up her sleeves.


    Xia Wenyan opened his mouth to say something, but then his gaze fell on the group of men on the ground, grimacing and writhing in pain.


    His eyebrows furrowed sharply as he gave Lu Zhaozhao a quick once-over, ¡°Did you get hurt just now?¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao insist ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but turn her around several times, checking her over and over again.


    He sighed softly, ¡°I was planning to buy you a cup of milk tea and then head back, but as soon as I got here, I saw you being ganged up on. Where did these people come from?¡±


    All these people ganging up on his sister! Scum!


    Xia Wenyan thought angrily and didn¡¯t forget to fiercely kick a few of the ones closer to him.


    Screams scattered the sky once again in a flurry of chaos.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°I¡¯m not sure myself, I was planning to ask after the fight.¡±


    Her gaze silently swept over the few who had passed out, and she couldn¡¯t help but sigh¡ªthe chance for questioning was lost for now...

 Chapter 176: 176: Lets Have a Happy Chat, Scumbags!

    Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Let¡¯s Have a ¡®Happy¡¯ Chat, Scumbags!


    Seeing the situation, Xia Wenyan quickly patted his chest, ¡°Leave this matter to me, and you just focus on filming your promotional video. I promise everything will be taken care of without any leaks!¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly raised her eyebrows, somewhat skeptical of Xia Wenyan¡¯s words.


    It seemed that ever since she had known her fourth brother, the phrase ¡°unreliable¡± had never left him.


    She hesitated for a moment, as if suddenly thinking of something, and then turned to Xia Wenyan, ¡°Can you keep what just happened a secret?¡±


    ¡°Keep a secret?¡± Xia Wenyan looked at Lu Zhaozhao, puzzled.


    Could it be that she wanted to let those who hurt her off the hook?


    However, Xia Wenyan soon understood and nodded, ¡°Okay, I promise to keep it a secret.¡±


    As Xia Wenyan said this, he cheekily winked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°A secret just between the two of us~¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled softly, speaking in a gentle tone, ¡°Thank you for keeping it a secret for me. If you have any conditions, I can agree to them as well.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenyan shrugged indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s a small thing. I can keep many more secrets for you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenyan, surprised, ¡°I thought you would take this chance to make me call you ¡®big brother.''¡±


    Unexpectedly, he didn¡¯t ask for anything.


    Xia Wenyan sighed lightly and gently rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head, ¡°Silly girl, I sincerely want to be a good brother. How could I use such low methods on my own sister?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Not being moved by this would indeed be fake.


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth, wanting to call him ¡°big brother,¡± but the words still stuck in her throat and didn¡¯t come out.


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t notice Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s abnormality. Instead, he waved at the assistant and handed her a milk tea, ¡°First have some milk tea to calm your nerves. Xiao Li will take you to my private resting room at the film base later. Leave everything here to me.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded and then followed Xia Wenyan¡¯s assistant away.


    When there was no one else around, Xia Wenyan slowly walked over to a machine, turned off the camera, and then took the memory card out and slipped it into his pocket.


    Looking at the few hooligans slowly regaining consciousness on the ground, Xia Wenyan flexed his wrist and spoke in a cold voice, ¡°Let¡¯s have a ¡®pleasant¡¯ chat, you scumbags!¡±


    ...


    By the time filming was supposed to start in the afternoon, Xia Wenjin, Lin Xing, and Zhang Tao had all arrived at the set.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Could Lu have gotten lost?¡± Lin Xing couldn¡¯t help but worry. When they had left at noon, only Lu Zhaozhao was here.


    She might not be familiar with the place, perhaps she got lost.


    Zhang Tao¡¯s brow also furrowed, ¡°The film base is so big, it¡¯s not easy to find her. We were busy filming in the morning and didn¡¯t exchange contact information. Now we can only wait for the director...¡±


    Xia Wenjin was originally worried because she hadn¡¯t been able to contact Song Keren at noon, thinking something had gone wrong with the plan, but now with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s absence, she was somewhat excited.


    It seemed that the people they had brought in must have succeeded, otherwise why would Lu Zhaozhao disappear?


    ¡°Does anyone here know Lu Zhaozhao well? Call her! She¡¯s not replying to texts or answering calls, what¡¯s going on? Are we still filming or not?¡± The director came over in a rage, blurting out.


    Usually, it was the actors who waited for him, not the other way around.


    Let alone a temporary actress like Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenjin chuckled softly, ¡°Director, don¡¯t be angry. Maybe Zhaozhao ran into some trouble and couldn¡¯t make it, that might be why.¡±


    She spoke gently, soothing the director, and deliberately spoke up for Lu Zhaozhao, surprising the two men present.


    Is this still Xia Wenjin who used to stand off against Lu Zhaozhao?


    Could she have taken the wrong medication?


    Suddenly, a piercing scream came from afar.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin!!!¡±


    Almost everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards the distance.


    A woman, ragged and disheveled, fiercely lunged at Xia Wenjin, clawing at her viciously.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s hair was grabbed, and only then did she see clearly that the woman attacking her was Song Keren.


    Her brows furrowed instantly, ¡°Song Keren, what are you doing? Let go of me now!¡±


    Why would Song Keren listen?


    She had just been humiliated and photographed in that state!


    Now, she wished she could kill Xia Wenjin and die along with her.


    ¡°Let you go? In your dreams! I want you dead today!!!¡±


    As she spoke, she began to lash out crazily at Xia Wenjin once again.


    Those nearby were shocked, but they soon intervened and attempted to pull them apart.


    Fortunately, both being women, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to separate them.


    But by then, Xia Wenjin¡¯s clothes had been torn, a good amount of her hair had been pulled out, and her face was scratched with several bloody marks by the frantic Song Keren.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for her protecting her own face, she would probably have been disfigured by now.


    ¡°Is there a new scene being shot?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s calm voice suddenly pierced through the noisy filming location. ¡°I went to lunch with my brother and brought back some milk tea for everyone.¡±


    Almost in unison, everyone turned to look towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Keren seemed like she had been triggered by something, suddenly struggling fiercely again, trying to lunge at Lu Zhaozhao.


    But those restraining her were too strong, so she didn¡¯t get the chance to break free.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! It¡¯s all your fault! If it weren¡¯t for you... mmm mmm mmm!¡± She wanted to say more, but Xia Wenjin quickly covered her mouth.


    ¡°Keren, even if you don¡¯t like Zhaozhao, that¡¯s no way to talk...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This only made everyone on the scene even more puzzled.


    Lu Zhaozhao had thought it would take Xia Wenyan some time to find the mastermind behind this.


    Looking at Song Keren now, her Fourth Brother was quite capable, having found the manipulator in such a short time.


    And had made her reap what she sowed.


    A chill flickered through her eyes as she glanced at the two of them.


    However, it seemed that the mastermind behind all this was not just one person.


    She feigned confusion as she looked at Xia Wenjin and Song Keren and said, ¡°What happened to you two? Did you encounter some trouble? I see Song Keren looks unwell, is she alright?¡±


    Xia Wenjin shook her head repeatedly, ¡°No, nothing¡¯s... ah!¡±


    Before she could finish speaking, Song Keren had bitten her fiercely on the hand.


    Freed from restraint, Song Keren shouted directly at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Why are you so lucky, you bitch?! Why didn¡¯t they find you?! Why was it me! Do you know what they did to me?!¡±

 Chapter 177: Treating Others with Their Own Methods Is Indeed Not Bad

    Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Treating Others with Their Own Methods Is Indeed Not Bad


    Listening to Song Keren¡¯s heart-wrenching and illogical shriek, Lu Zhaozhao pretended to be terrified and covered her little mouth, ¡°Oh my God! You must have encountered something terrible, right? Shouldn¡¯t we call the police?¡±


    The others nearby started discussing.


    ¡°Look at her clothes, they¡¯re torn to shreds; it¡¯s obvious she was violated by someone. We should really call the police.¡±


    ¡°The staff at the filming base is a mixed bag; if we¡¯re slow, the perpetrator might escape.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, call the police quickly.¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenjin listened to the cacophony of voices around her, and her nerves immediately shot up to her throat.


    ¡°No way!¡±


    She rejected the idea without a thought.


    As soon as she spoke, Xia Wenjin regretted it.


    Saying such a thing in front of so many people, she would definitely be suspected.


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips and hurriedly explained, ¡°Keren is an artist right now. If people found out about this, her career would be over. Please give her some time; she¡¯s emotionally unstable, so I¡¯ll take her away now.¡±


    While speaking, she started dragging Song Keren away.


    Song Keren struggled a few times, but then Xia Wenjin whispered something in her ear, and she immediately followed Xia Wenjin obediently.


    Now the people at the filming site were in an uproar.


    The director, who had been in the entertainment industry for some time, almost immediately understood what was going on.


    So for the remaining half-day of filming, he didn¡¯t mention Xia Wenjin again and just focused on getting enough footage of the other three.


    Lu Zhaozhao and the others stayed in the filming base, completely unaware that someone had captured the scene of her and Xia Wenyan fighting with hooligans and posted it online.


    However, the person who recorded it mistook it for part of the shooting, so they simply sent it out as a behind-the-scenes clip.


    Instantly, Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans were in an uproar.


    From initially boycotting sasaeng fans and unofficial photography, when the fans unearthed that Xia Wenyan had no such schedule, they dug deeper, eventually speculating that Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan were attacked at the filming base.


    Just as the incident started brewing, Song Sinian received the news immediately.


    ¡°Sir, the madam encountered some trouble at the filming base today,¡± Zhao Xi summarized the video news on the Internet and the reports from the bodyguards for Song Sinian.


    In fact, when Lu Zhaozhao went to the filming base, their people had been secretly protecting her all along.


    However, because they hadn¡¯t planted any insiders within the filming base itself, such an incident occurred.


    Zhao Xi anxiously looked at the information in his hands, his brows entwined together.


    Thankfully Lu Zhaozhao was unharmed, otherwise, they¡¯d all be in serious trouble.


    Song Sinian flipped through the tablet in his hands. The footage of Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan fighting wasn¡¯t very clear, but their figures were still recognizable.


    His eyebrows suddenly knitted, a trace of chill flashing in his eyes, ¡°Who did it?¡±


    Zhao Xi glanced at Song Sinian and honestly reported, ¡°The person was brought by Song Keren, but Xia Wenjin seems to have been involved as well.¡±


    A sinister look flickered through Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, ¡°These two women again.¡±


    He had thought that now Song Keren was driven out, she would keep her head down, but it seemed he was mistaken.


    And Xia Wenjin, always so detestable no matter when!


    Song Sinian was almost visibly shrouded in a cloud of irritability, his presence emanating a dreadfully oppressive atmosphere.


    She was just short of saying ¡°Kill them right now.¡±


    Zhao Xi sighed silently in his heart, thankful for the rule of law in society, otherwise, Xia Wenjin and Song Keren would not know how many times they might have been ¡°taken care of.¡±


    ¡°Ahem... Sir, this matter has already been dealt with by Xia Wenyan, do we need to do anything else on our end?¡±


    He asked cautiously, fearing that Song Sinian¡¯s unvented anger might come crashing down like a storm.


    However, surprisingly, though the air pressure around Song Sinian was low, his emotions were relatively stable.


    His cold voice slowly rose in the study, ¡°Treating them with their own methods is indeed not bad, but for those two, it¡¯s still too lenient...¡±


    ¡°Then...¡±


    Just as Zhao Xi was about to say something, Song Sinian picked up the mobile phone on the desk and initiated a video call to Xia Wenjue.


    Soon, the call was answered on the other end of the video.


    What surprised Song Sinian was that it wasn¡¯t just Xia Wenjue on the other end of the video.


    ¡°Have you received the news too?¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s voice suddenly came from the phone.


    His expression unchanged, he glanced at Xia Wenyan, who was kneeling in the center of the living room, holding Kaka as a form of punishment.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows slightly raised, and he uttered an ¡°Mm¡± in response.


    Xia Wenjue had anticipated that Song Sinian would contact him, but he didn¡¯t expect it so soon.


    He sighed silently, ¡°If you¡¯re asking about Xia Wenyan...¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Song Sinian didn¡¯t even think before interrupting him, ¡°It¡¯s time to gradually reveal the Xia family¡¯s identity to Zhaozhao. Have you decided who will go first?¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s hand, holding the phone, stiffened slightly, and his gaze shifted to several family members at home.


    After Song Sinian had brought up the matter last time, they had held a family meeting to discuss it.


    The final decision was to let Wen Qingyu drop hints as a test.


    After all, Luna was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s idol¡ªif even this identity would infuriate her, then they had no chance...


    The Xia family had great wealth, but Lu Zhaozhao simply didn¡¯t care about these things.


    Xia Wenjue sighed softly, and briefly explained the situation to Song Sinian.


    ¡°Are you sure doing this will really be okay with Zhaozhao?¡±


    His eyebrows creased slightly, clearly skeptical about Song Sinian¡¯s proposed plan.


    Song Sinian glanced at him indifferently and countered with a question, ¡°Do you have a better idea?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Truth be told, whatever way they chose to reveal their identities to Lu Zhaozhao, in the end, they would all need Song Sinian¡¯s help to soothe Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotions.


    Informing Lu Zhaozhao of some of their identities first was the result of their consultation.


    Xia Wenjue hadn¡¯t expected Song Sinian to actively push forward so eagerly, to the point where he was caught off guard.


    Could it be related to what happened today?


    As Xia Wenjue pondered, Song Sinian¡¯s cool voice once again flowed slowly, ¡°Today, Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t injured, thanks to Xia Wenyan. Although I don¡¯t like having too many people around Zhaozhao, this time I owe the Xia family because of what I promised you before, I will keep my word.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s statement astonished the people of the Xia family; indeed, when it came to anything related to Lu Zhaozhao, he would yield.


    Just now, they were still criticizing Xia Wenyan for resolving the danger Lu Zhaozhao faced without uttering a word. Now it seemed that Xia Wenyan became a hero instead...


    Xia Wenjue sighed lightly, ¡°No matter what happens, our common goal is to protect Zhaozhao, isn¡¯t it?¡±

 Chapter 178 - 178 Whats there to fear?

    Chapter 178: Chapter 178 What¡¯s there to fear?


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t deny it; for him, nothing was more important than Lu Zhaozhao.


    As long as she wanted, he was willing to do anything for her.


    He raised his voice slightly, ¡°Is everything settled with Justin?¡±


    Xia Wenjue nodded, ¡°It¡¯s quite convenient to get citizenship from a small country.¡±


    As long as there was money, matters became much easier to handle.


    Previously, he had turned a blind eye to Justin because he was a relative of the Xia Family, even if a distant one, and had let many things slide.


    But since Song Sinian had alerted him, he had carried out a detailed internal company investigation.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that the places he hadn¡¯t paid attention to before were all full of hidden dangers and that there were people trying to climb up the ladder using these hidden dangers.


    Among them, Justin was the most conspicuous.


    He acted all respectful in front of all the brothers, and it was one thing to take away quite a few resources, but now he even dared to make a move on XJ Group internally.


    He blamed himself for being too lenient with them in the past.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over Xia Wenjue on the video, and he said coolly, ¡°If Justin wants to climb up, he wouldn¡¯t miss the resources of the Lu Family. As for Song Keren, someone will naturally present him with a sweet deal.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan intended to market Song Keren out, so she would certainly spare no expense, and the Lu Family would do the same.


    All they had to do was set the stage for them, and then just wait and watch the drama unfold.


    ¡°Alright, I will cooperate well from my side too.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Meanwhile, Song Keren had already been sent back to the Song Mansion by the Lu Family¡¯s driver.


    As soon as she entered, Song Keren threw herself into Xiao Jinglan¡¯s arms, crying her heart out.


    Xiao Mo, who had just arrived, looked at Song Keren¡¯s appearance, frowned, and stared at her with displeasure, ¡°Cry, cry, cry, what¡¯s there to cry about? What happened, speak clearly!¡±


    Song Keren was startled by Xiao Mo¡¯s voice, choked up a few times, and then stuttered, ¡°Today, I and... and Xia Wenjin planned to give Lu Zhaozhao a lesson, but... but we didn¡¯t expect... those people failed against Lu Zhaozhao, and then they turned on me... on me... wuwuwu...¡±


    She didn¡¯t continue her words, but everyone roughly understood what had happened.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face immediately darkened quite a bit, ¡°Who allowed you to mess with Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Song Keren was already feeling wronged, and to top it off, Xiao Mo didn¡¯t stand up for her right away; instead, he scolded her for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sake?


    ¡°Why can¡¯t she be touched? Because of her, do you know how much humiliation I¡¯ve suffered?!¡± Song Keren couldn¡¯t help but yell at Xiao Mo, and had Xiao Jinglan not pulled her back, she would have gone up to tear into Xiao Mo.


    ¡°You know exactly why you are suffering!¡± Xiao Mo glared at Song Keren, ¡°Don¡¯t you have any idea how important Lu Zhaozhao is to Song Sinian right now? If he finds out it was you who made a move on Lu Zhaozhao, do you think he will let you live?!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s mouth opened for a long time, but she couldn¡¯t utter a single word.


    She had been tempted by Xia Wenjin and hadn¡¯t considered this issue at all.


    She just wanted to teach Lu Zhaozhao a lesson and then get some leverage in her own hands, making it easy to control Lu Zhaozhao.


    But... but she had utterly failed to think of the point Xiao Mo had mentioned.


    She was not unaware of how ruthless Song Sinian could be towards his enemies.


    Song Keren shivered, her whole body jolting with panic.


    Beside her, Xiao Jinglan saw that Xiao Mo was truly angry and hurriedly changed the subject, ¡°Keren is too naive, she was obviously used by others. You are her brother, you have to help her.¡±


    Keren also realized the problem, ¡°Right, it was Xia Wenjin who tricked me. Although she said she would collaborate with me, she let me connect with hoodlums, that must be her intention! She wants Sinian to deal with me, and then she¡¯ll be able to marry Justin!¡±


    Upon hearing the words ¡°Justin,¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s reason regained some ground.


    He scoffed coldly, ¡°The Lu Family has been showing off recently in Shangjing! Their daughter, too, follows suit, equally arrogant!¡±


    These past few days, Xiao Mo had wanted to talk to Lu Dagui about the ore deal, but each attempt ended with the door slammed in his face.


    He had inquired and found out that there were quite a few people who had experienced the same thing recently.


    Lu Dagui was wielding the power he held with the ore vein resources, utterly disregarding everyone else.


    Before he bought the mine, he negotiated well with them when he took their money. Now, he¡¯s stalling and making excuses, ha!


    Xiao Jinglan asked cautiously, ¡°What should we do then? If Sinian really finds out, we definitely won¡¯t be faring well...¡±


    Xiao Mo sneered lightly, ¡°What¡¯s to fear? Just make it so that he¡¯s completely unable to concern himself with this matter, right?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan fell silent when she heard this.


    The person Sinian cared about most was Lu Zhaozhao. To make him unconcerned seemed a bit difficult, right?


    Xiao Mo saw through Xiao Jinglan¡¯s thoughts in an instant, and with raised eyebrows he said, ¡°If Lu Zhaozhao was involved with someone else, do you think Sinian would still care about anything else?¡±


    ¡°But Lu Zhaozhao has Sinian, how would she be willing to consider someone else...¡±


    She stopped in mid-sentence as she saw Xiao Mo¡¯s expression change and immediately fell silent.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face turned colder, ¡°Sinian is just relying on the fact that he¡¯s the president of the Song Group. What else does he have?¡±


    ¡°Right, right, right,¡± Xiao Jinglan dared not say anything more.


    Xiao Mo looked at her and continued, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao may be unworldly now, but once she¡¯s accustomed to seeing handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment industry, she won¡¯t just want to stick with Sinian.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan nodded, ¡°Right, that¡¯s true. Lu Zhaozhao was previously spoiled by the Lu Family, and lacking experience, it¡¯s only natural for her to only favor Sinian.¡±


    ¡°Heh, even if Lu Zhaozhao really wasn¡¯t willing, when the time comes, just drug her, and she¡¯ll be obedient...¡±


    When that time comes and Lu Zhaozhao is abandoned by Sinian, won¡¯t he still be able to manipulate her any way he pleases?


    In the evening, as soon as Lu Zhaozhao finished school, she rushed back to the Song Mansion.


    When Sinian came home, he saw Lu Zhaozhao sitting at the study desk, delicately wiping a picture frame with a handkerchief.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sinian had just entered when he embraced Lu Zhaozhao from behind.


    His chin gently rested on her shoulder while his eyes dropped to glance at the painting in her hands.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bright eyes were smiling, and she turned to look at Sinian, ¡°There¡¯s an art appreciation lecture at our school tomorrow, the teacher asked us to bring a painting we like.¡±


    ¡°So you plan to take Luna¡¯s painting there?¡± Sinian noticed the painting she was carefully wiping, his eyebrows raising slightly, a complex look flashing in his eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the painting in her hand, then up at Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, is there something you want to tell me?¡±


    She gently placed the painting down, turned around, and draped her arms around Sinian¡¯s neck, affectionately nuzzling him.


    Sinian¡¯s large hand pinched her cheek as he said word by word, ¡°Luna¡¯s autographed paintings are scarce in the Shangjing Circle, taking this painting there will make quite a few people jealous. Just to be safe, would you consider installing a pinhole camera in this painting?¡±

 Chapter 179: Questions He Shouldnt Ask

    Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Questions He Shouldn¡¯t Ask


    In fact, no matter how precious the painting was, Lu Zhaozhao could always afford to buy it if she wanted.


    Moreover, since the painting was created by Wen Qingyu, it wasn¡¯t difficult for Lu Zhaozhao to obtain it.


    But... when Lu Zhaozhao received the painting, the uncontainable joy on her little face was something money couldn¡¯t buy.


    Song Sinian thought it over and couldn¡¯t resist reminding her.


    Lu Zhaozhao was initially stunned, but she quickly understood what Song Sinian meant.


    She was only concerned about having the opportunity to appreciate her idol¡¯s painting and had entirely overlooked this aspect of the problem.


    She pursed her little lips, ¡°For safety¡¯s sake, we indeed need to install one.¡±


    ¡°Mm, later hand the painting to Zhao Xi, and let him take care of the rest,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s calm tone gave Lu Zhaozhao an added sense of security.


    Song Sinian had this kind of magic; it seemed as long as she entrusted things to him, she could be at ease.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked, and she watched him quietly, hesitating for a moment before she finally spoke up, ¡°Mr. Song, isn¡¯t there anything you want to ask me?¡±


    She had returned home immediately after finishing the promotion video shoot, and if it weren¡¯t for Xu Zhenzhen messaging her, she wouldn¡¯t have known that the film set incident involving her and Xia Wenyan had been captured as behind-the-scenes footage.


    Online discussions dissected the matter thoroughly, and it was difficult to dismiss simply as ¡°filming.¡±


    If Song Sinian knew about it, a brief inquiry on the set would reveal the truth.


    But from the moment he entered until now, he hadn¡¯t asked, so Lu Zhaozhao found it odd.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes slightly dropped as he deeply looked at her, ¡°Can I ask about anything?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao paused for a moment, then decided to bring it up proactively, ¡°What I mean is, you already know about the incident on the set, right?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°I know.¡±


    He was aware of it from the moment the public speculation began.


    And with Xia Wenyan personally dealing with the matter, he couldn¡¯t be clearer about the ins and outs.


    The reason he didn¡¯t ask was because he worried Lu Zhaozhao might think he was overstepping.


    He feared she would dislike him.


    And he feared even more that he would pressure her.


    Seeing Song Sinian¡¯s silence, Lu Zhaozhao knew that he had already investigated the details of the incident.


    Yet his reluctance to speak up indeed struck her as strange.


    Lu Zhaozhao cocked her head, feigning discontent as she mumbled, ¡°I was bullied on the set, and Mr. Song doesn¡¯t care about me, didn¡¯t even ask if I was hurt... Ah, it seems I¡¯ll fall out of favor before long...¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Song Sinian panicked immediately, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Zhaozhao, I... I¡¯m just worried you¡¯ll feel uncomfortable. I...¡±


    He gripped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand tightly, at a loss for words.


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing his distressed expression, wrapped her arms tightly around Song Sinian¡¯s waist and comforted him with a pat, ¡°Mr. Song, I was just teasing you with what I said earlier, don¡¯t take it seriously.¡±


    She had intended to lighten the mood just now but hadn¡¯t expected Song Sinian to react so strongly.


    Lately, she had been having such a pleasant time with Song Sinian that she almost forgot about his depression.


    Lu Zhaozhao regretfully patted Song Sinian, and thinking of the flash of fear that had just passed through his eyes, her heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle.


    Song Sinian slowly let go of Lu Zhaozhao, his eyes earnestly gazing at her, ¡°Zhaozhao, I don¡¯t want to pressure you. As I said before, you just need to tell me what you want; to me, nothing else matters.¡±


    If she¡¯s willing to speak, he would listen; if she¡¯s unwilling, he would wait.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened as she pursed her lips and looked towards Song Sinian, ¡°Why are you so nice?¡±


    Song Sinian bowed his head and gently kissed her lips, his mouth corners slightly curled, ¡°I¡¯m only nice to you.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    In both her past and present lives, Song Sinian was always only good to her.


    But in her past life, she had completely missed out...


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a sourness in her nose and took a deep breath, ¡°Mr. Song, ask me anything, I will answer you earnestly.¡±


    Her overly serious expression caused a slight stir in Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes, but he didn¡¯t speak right away.


    His gaze swept back and forth across her face for a moment before his subdued voice slowly rose, ¡°Did I... die in your world?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly widened, and she stared intently at Song Sinian. Memories related to him from her past life flashed through her mind like a movie.


    Her tears fell uncontrollably, ¡°drip, drip,¡± unstoppable.


    Song Sinian almost immediately understood.


    His outrageous guess had been correct.


    Although Song Sinian wanted to ask for more details, seeing Lu Zhaozhao like this, he truly couldn¡¯t continue to inquire.


    He reached out to pinch her chin, gently kissing the tears on her cheeks.


    One drop, two drops, three drops...


    Finally, his lips pressed against her slightly parted mouth.


    His tender and cautious movements seemed to light a fire in the depths of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart.


    Her little hands clung to his neck tightly, tilting her little head to entangle with him as if she would never have the chance again, with a sense of hesitation, panic, and almost despair.


    Song Sinian did not like this feeling.


    His long arms gently encircled her, one large hand cradling the back of her neck, while the other tenderly stroked and patted her.


    From beginning to end, Song Sinian let her be wild, until she unconsciously began to tear at his shirt, and then he reached out to hold her small hands.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, look up at me,¡± Song Sinian furrowed his brows slightly, looking into her eyes that were completely red from crying, and felt an ache in his heart.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up blankly, her eyes pitifully gazing at him.


    Song Sinian let out a helpless sigh, and with a lift of his hand, he gently held her close to his chest.


    He shouldn¡¯t have asked.


    He hadn¡¯t expected her reaction to be so strong.


    Song Sinian looked at the still silent Lu Zhaozhao and sighed softly, kissed her forehead, and murmured his apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zhaozhao, I¡¯m so sorry...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, listening to his deep voice, felt her eyes redden again, but this time she desperately held back the tears that threatened to fall.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who should apologize, it¡¯s all my fault, if not for me, you wouldn¡¯t have...¡±


    Wouldn¡¯t have died.


    Lu Zhaozhao choked up, the rest of the words unsaid, but how could Song Sinian not understand?


    He bowed his head gently and kissed her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m still alright now, aren¡¯t I? All the things you were worried about before didn¡¯t happen, and they won¡¯t in the future.¡±


    As he spoke, Song Sinian gently cradled Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face, enunciating carefully, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, everything will go as you wish, so... in the future, whatever you want to do or have, just tell me. I will make it happen for you. Don¡¯t feel any burden, you can freely exercise your rights as Mrs. Song, alright?¡±

 Chapter 180: Ill Stay with You, Not Going Anywhere

    Chapter 180: Chapter 180: I¡¯ll Stay with You, Not Going Anywhere


    Lu Zhaozhao struggled to suppress the urge to cry, but the tears were completely uncontrollable.


    She hiccupped and nodded, the effort she put into holding back her tears only made Song Sinian feel worse.


    He let out a soft sigh and pulled her back into his embrace, gently patting her back, ¡°If you want to cry, cry it out. I¡¯m here with you, and I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao could no longer contain her emotions and burst into loud crying.


    It was as if she were venting all the grievances of her previous life, crying until the world went dark.


    If Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t eventually fallen asleep in his arms, crying, Song Sinian would have genuinely worried that she would become dehydrated from all the tears.


    Watching the person in his arms who had fully succumbed to sleep, still occasionally furrowing her brow, Song Sinian¡¯s heart sank.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s treatment at the Lu family was already terrible, and unfortunately, this kind of life was probably not her first encounter with such hardships.


    Her current decisiveness towards the Lu family and wariness towards Xiao Jinglan were probably stress reactions from being hurt before, right?


    The more Song Sinian thought about it, the more his heart ached.


    If he had died in her world... and the people of the Xia family had not been spared either, then who could protect her?


    Song Sinian¡¯s expression now darkened even further...


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t expect that not only was Song Sinian¡¯s logical thinking strong, but his imagination was also vast.


    The thing she had hesitated to bring up, he had spoken of first.


    She intended to reveal everything, but due to the accumulation of emotions from her previous life and the recent stress erupting at the same time, she cried until she collapsed and then fell into a deep sleep.


    The next morning when she woke up, Song Sinian had already gone to work.


    But he had left a note explaining his departure at the bedside, as if he was worried she might overthink. He also instructed Qian Hong again.


    Lu Zhaozhao held that note, her small hand gently caressing it, filled with longing for Song Sinian.


    Although she would miss him normally, she had never felt such an urgent desire to see him as she did now.


    Perhaps it was because Song Sinian had proactively punctured that layer of window paper, the tenseness she carried on her had completely relaxed.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, what are you holding in your hand?¡± Xu Zhenzhen looked at Lu Zhaozhao, who had been absent-minded from morning till now, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.


    When she came over in the morning, her eyes were still swollen, a clear sign she had been crying a long time the night before.


    Xu Zhenzhen frowned slightly, recalling when she inquired about news from Zhao Xi yesterday, he explicitly said that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t been hurt nor had the plans against her succeeded...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes gently curved as she turned to look at Xu Zhenzhen, her face beaming with a smile, ¡°This is love from our Mr. Song from home~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mouth twitched. She had worried needlessly.


    With the formidable Song Sinian around, how could Lu Zhaozhao possibly suffer any loss?


    She propped her chin up and looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°The art appreciation class is starting soon, and I heard there¡¯s a mystery guest today. Shall we go early to grab a good spot?¡±


    ¡°Sounds great~¡± Lu Zhaozhao was in a good mood, so she didn¡¯t hesitate to follow Xu Zhenzhen to the fifth-floor studio.


    But just as they reached the door, they heard a tumult of noises inside.


    As Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen entered, they discovered that someone had forced the studio door from the outside, leaving the place in disarray.


    This studio was specifically reserved for storing paintings for this session of art appreciation class, and yet someone had deliberately vandalized it?


    Lu Zhaozhao watched as many paintings were splashed with scarlet paint.


    The sharp smell of paint stung her nostrils.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart sank immediately, and she rushed into the art studio to search for the painting she had left there before.


    But when she found the painting she had brought, it too was smeared with paint.


    Unlike the others that had been splattered, the painting in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hands looked as if it had been dunked into a bucket of paint.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡± Xu Zhenzhen knew that the painting Lu Zhaozhao had brought was her favorite.


    She had planned to use it to attract a wave of fans for Luna during the art appreciation class, but she hadn¡¯t expected such a disaster to occur.


    Although it appeared as if the paint had ¡°favored all equally,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting seemed to have been targeted with resentment, receiving an overly ¡°precise strike.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly stood up, glanced around, and caught sight of someone sneaking a video.


    She immediately recognized the person taking the video with their phone as Lin Lin, who had been close with Xia Wenjin lately.


    Since the Lu Family had struck two lucrative ore veins, many who couldn¡¯t find a way to approach Lu Dagui sought opportunities through Xia Wenjin.


    And it seemed Lin Lin was currently Xia Wenjin¡¯s most capable lackey.


    This matter definitely could not be separated from them!


    Lu Zhaozhao strode over with swift steps, grabbed Lin Lin by the collar, and demanded, ¡°What are you filming?¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao took action, Xu Zhenzhen opportunistically snatched the phone from Lin Lin¡¯s hands and thoroughly inspected it.


    ¡°She¡¯s filming you¡ªit¡¯s probably meant for Xia Wenjin,¡± Xu Zhenzhen said, frowning at Xia Wenjin¡¯s name in the conversation, and feeling somewhat unwilling to accept what had happened.


    All previous message records with Xia Wenjin had been deleted¡ªif there was any evidence, it was inaccessible to her now.


    Xia Wenjin sure had a variety of tricks; just yesterday, she had caused trouble on set, and now she was doing the same at school.


    Every time, she managed to find different ¡°partners in crime¡±¡ªtruly impressive.


    Lin Lin, realizing her video recording had been discovered, immediately began to struggle, ¡°Give me back my phone! I just can¡¯t stand you and wanted to capture your pathetic look, what about it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Lin Lin with cold eyes, ¡°What about it? You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    She usually didn¡¯t want to bother Song Sinian with school issues and preferred to deal with things herself whenever possible.


    But today... she didn¡¯t want to do that anymore.


    Song Sinian had said just yesterday that she should freely exercise Mrs. Song¡¯s rights, so she wouldn¡¯t hold back.


    Lin Lin looked at her warily, her voice betraying her nervousness, ¡°What, are you going to hit me just because I filmed a video of you?¡±


    She had heard from Xia Wenjin that Lu Zhaozhao was not someone to be messed with, readily resorting to physical confrontation.


    So when Lin Lin was caught, she thought she was going to get hit.


    Lu Zhaozhao sneered, ¡°You¡¯re not worth it.¡±


    With a single sentence, Lin Lin let out a sigh of relief, and couldn¡¯t help feeling smug.


    Lu Zhaozhao was no longer the daughter of the Lu Family; she only had the title of CEO¡¯s wife because of her former status as the Lu Family¡¯s daughter.


    Now stripped of that identity, her life in the Song Family was bound to be fraught with difficulty¡ªhow could she dare to throw the Song Family¡¯s weight around?


    Besides, it was just a small matter of secret filming.


    Thinking this, Lin Lin grew bolder, ¡°I just recorded a video, that¡¯s all. Besides, I just happened to capture you in it¡ªdo you have to be so sensitive? Do you think the whole world revolves around you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the whole world does revolve around me,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, pulling out her phone and dialing a number to call Zhao Xi¡ª

 Chapter 181: I Have the Capital to Do Whatever I Want!

    Chapter 181: Chapter 181: I Have the Capital to Do Whatever I Want!


    ¡°Dudu dudu...¡±


    The call was quickly picked up on the other end.


    Zhao Xi seemed surprised that Lu Zhaozhao would take the initiative to call him and tentatively asked, ¡°Does the madam have any instructions?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze fixed on Lin Lin. She spoke word by word, ¡°I remember that the Lin Group has business dealings with the Song Family.¡±


    ¡°Yes, madam.¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s response was exceptionally brief, waiting for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s next command.


    There was a slight pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a calm voice, ¡°The Lin Group¡¯s daughter has offended me. You should know what to do, right?¡±


    The excitement in Zhao Xi¡¯s voice was as if he had been given some thrilling directive, ¡°Rest assured, madam, I will arrange it now!¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao promptly hung up the phone.


    Lin Lin looked suspiciously at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s actions and suddenly sneered, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, who are you trying to fool here? Do you think you¡¯re still the Lu Family¡¯s daughter?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. The identity of Mrs. Song held far more clout than the title of the Lu Family¡¯s daughter.


    It¡¯s just that Lu Zhaozhao was usually so low-key and never relied on Song Sinian¡¯s intervention, which is probably why these people dared to be so lawless, right?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze swept over Lin Lin, carrying a bit of schadenfreude.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Lin Lin, silently watching her and not responding to her words.


    Just when Lin Lin thought Lu Zhaozhao was merely playing with her, her own phone suddenly rang.


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced at the caller ID and tossed the phone to Lin Lin, ¡°Here, your daddy¡¯s calling.¡±


    The disdain in Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice was so intense that it made Lin Lin mistakenly think that the comment was an insult.


    Just as she was about to retort, she saw the words ¡°Daddy¡± displayed on the phone screen.


    It really was her father. She casually answered the phone, only to hear an anxious male voice from the other end, ¡°Lin Lin, what have you done?! How could you have offended the CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group?!¡±


    He was at the company working when he was notified that all collaborations with the Song Group had been terminated.


    This was practically his death knell!


    He had spent so much time getting a foothold with the Song Group, and now it was all gone?


    Only after begging left and right did he find out that his precious daughter had offended the wife of Song Sinian.


    ¡°I, I didn¡¯t do anything. I just took a video with my phone. I accidentally captured her in it, and I didn¡¯t expect her to be so petty...¡± Lin Lin looked at Lu Zhaozhao, clearly still defiant.


    But Mr. Lin on the other end of the phone was already panicking, ¡°You! Hurry up and apologize to Mrs. Song! Beg her forgiveness! Otherwise, our family is finished! Do you want your father to go bankrupt?!¡±


    Lin Lin did not expect things to be so serious. She asked softly, covering the phone, ¡°Daddy, is the Song Group making such a fuss over a woman...¡±


    ¡°A woman?! She is the CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group!! Apologize to her right now and beg for her forgiveness, even if you have to kneel and bow your head! If she doesn¡¯t relent on this matter today, our Lin Family might as well prepare for bankruptcy!¡±


    Upon hearing her father¡¯s utterly undignified words, Lin Lin¡¯s legs went weak, and she knelt to the ground.


    It was over.


    She had intended to curry favor with Xia Wenjin, hoping to climb up the ranks with the Lu Group, which is why she targeted Lu Zhaozhao, considering the rumors that she was just a nominal wife.


    Although Song Sinian had come to the school once because of her, she was generally non-contentious and low-profile.


    She certainly didn¡¯t seem like the wife of a financial tycoon.


    That¡¯s why she made her move on Lu Zhaozhao, but she hadn¡¯t expected...


    Lin Lin didn¡¯t know what to do for a moment.


    ¡°Oh my, Lin Lin, what happened to you? Did someone bully you?¡± Suddenly, an annoying voice came from outside the studio.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen frowned almost at the same time.


    The mastermind behind the scenes had personally appeared.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin, Lin Lin crawled over as if she had seen a lifesaver, ¡°Jin, you have to save me, Lu Zhaozhao is going to bankrupt my family...¡±


    Now, if she couldn¡¯t get Lu Zhaozhao to forgive her, perhaps clinging to Xia Wenjin could salvage their family¡¯s losses.


    At least they wouldn¡¯t go bankrupt...


    Upon hearing Lin Lin¡¯s plea, Xia Wenjin immediately pretended to be shocked, covering her mouth, ¡°Oh my goodness, Zhaozhao, how could you become like this?¡±


    Others around Xia Wenjin also joined in the commotion, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, do you think you can do whatever you want just because you¡¯re the CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group?¡±


    ¡°Pfft! The usurper is always vicious.¡±


    ...


    Listening to the noisy voices around her, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s already bad mood became even worse in an instant.


    She took out her phone and pointed it at the few people in front of her, clicking away with a ¡°click, click.¡±


    The other party was stupefied by her actions.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, what are you doing? Who are you trying to scare with those pictures?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Careful or we¡¯ll sue you for infringing our portrait rights!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao sneered softly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that I did whatever I wanted? I have the means to do whatever I want! Today¡¯s your unlucky day, each and every one of you, wait for your beloved fathers to go bankrupt.¡±


    The Song Group¡¯s orders were something people outside almost broke their heads fighting over, so even if they replaced a few small collaborators, it wouldn¡¯t make any difference.


    But it was different for them.


    The Lu Family was indeed on the rise in Shangjing, and it was normal to take in a few collaborators with good relationships.


    But how could Mr. and Mrs. Lu, with their snobbish attitudes, look up to these small companies that were eager to curry favor with them?


    Almost in an instant, those who were previously arrogant towards Lu Zhaozhao were terrified.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, we are classmates... you, you wouldn¡¯t go that far, would you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we... we were just joking.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, let¡¯s not make such a big deal out of things that happened at school, alright?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Pfft¡ªHahahahaha...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, who was on the side, couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into laughter, ¡°Just now, each and every one of you was barking louder than the other, and now that you¡¯re hearing about your families going bankrupt, all the barking stopped?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen crossed her arms and provocatively looked at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Xia Wenjin, after your father made it big, these new lackeys you¡¯ve picked up don¡¯t seem too competent in combat, do they~¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned ugly in an instant, and if Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t threatened them with the orders from the Song Group, they wouldn¡¯t have been so scared.


    She clenched her fists and directly ignored Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s comment, ¡°I just came over because I heard there was a problem in the studio here, and that many people¡¯s paintings were messed up...¡±


    When Xia Wenjin said this, her gaze intentionally swept over the painting beside Lu Zhaozhao that was clearly covered in red paint, and the corner of her mouth quietly curled into a triumphant smile.


    Just by casually inciting a few words, she had people falling over each other to squeeze Lu Zhaozhao for her, an absolutely thrilling feeling.


    She wanted to see what Lu Zhaozhao could do now!

 Chapter 182: Unbearable!

    Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Unbearable!


    She had heard that this was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s favorite painting¡ªtch tch...rumor had it that it was even by the famous overseas artist, Luna.


    Could there be anything that would make her happier than to destroy Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s beloved, to upset her?


    The smugness in her eyes was clearly visible to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Had it been any other painting, she would have merely threatened them and let it be, but this was a Luna painting, one she had finally managed to acquire!


    And now, they had ruined it...


    Her patience with Xia Wenjin instantly vanished.


    ¡°Indeed, many paintings have been destroyed, but the culprit should be caught quite soon,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said with a cold look in her eyes, clearly showing her animosity towards Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenjin shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Although I can understand how you¡¯re feeling right now, this is the old teaching building with hardly any surveillance...¡±


    ¡°Surveillance, huh? I have some,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said as she lifted the paint-smeared painting and wiped a handkerchief over the location of the pinhole camera. ¡°Here, the damages to the entire art studio should be enough to get the perpetrator a ten to eight-year sentence, right?¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao said this, her gaze swept around Xia Wenjin, causing Lin Lin, who was nearby, to go weak at the knees and collapse to the ground.


    ¡°How, how could this be? Jin, didn¡¯t you say earlier...umph...¡±


    Before she could finish, someone by Xia Wenjin¡¯s side quick as a flash covered her mouth.


    Now, all the smart people present had already figured out the situation.


    It seemed Lin Lin had been goaded by Xia Wenjin...


    Seeing the change in the way others were looking at her, Xia Wenjin hurriedly spoke up, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, you actually installed a pinhole camera on a painting and placed it in such a hidden spot in the art studio; you couldn¡¯t have foreseen this, could you?¡±


    Her remark immediately sparked a flurry of gossip.


    ¡°It kind of makes sense. If it¡¯s not foresight... could it be for some other purpose?¡±


    ¡°Oh my god, someone in our school secretly installed cameras, that¡¯s terrifying...¡±


    ¡°Could this all be staged?¡±


    ...


    Xu Zhenzhen listened to Xia Wenjin¡¯s ploy to deflect blame and the surrounding students getting carried away by the narrative¡ªshe could¡¯ve rolled her eyes to the sky.


    How could someone be so shameless?


    To throw mud at others during a time like this?


    Lu Zhaozhao scoffed. ¡°Why would I install a pinhole camera on my painting? Because my painting is valuable¡ªa signed original by Luna. What do you all think?¡±


    ¡°My God, a signed original by Luna? I¡¯ve heard there are no more than three to this date.¡±


    ¡°The unsigned ones are worth several millions; if it¡¯s signed...¡±


    ¡°Indeed, with such value, it wouldn¡¯t be odd to have surveillance, not to mention a personal bodyguard.¡±


    ...


    Watching the public opinion sway back towards Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenjin gritted her teeth. ¡°You claim to have a signed painting by Luna, how do we know that¡¯s true? For all we know, you might be behind all this, trying to extort the school!¡±


    Her cronies caught on to Xia Wenjin¡¯s intent and started to pitch in.


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes! How can you prove that your painting is authentic?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, probably there isn¡¯t even a purchase record!¡±


    ¡°Show us the evidence! Then we¡¯ll believe you!¡±


    Now, with paint all over the painting, Lu Zhaozhao would have to produce Luna herself to prove its authenticity.


    And everyone knew Luna was like an elusive deity, never revealing her true face to the public¡ªSong Sinian would struggle to assist Lu Zhaozhao even if he wanted to.


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the prouder she felt. The corners of her mouth curled up, and she feigned consolation, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I advise you to let this matter go. Otherwise, making a big fuss out of it will only bring shame to the Song Family, don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Jin really is a kind person, still thinking of others at a time like this.¡±


    ¡°Jin, you just can¡¯t indulge these kind of people, she wasn¡¯t so friendly to you before, so just make her produce the evidence!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Show us the evidence that this painting is genuine, then we¡¯ll believe you!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brow furrowed tightly in an instant.


    How Lu Zhaozhao got this painting, she had heard from Zhao Xi before, that it was exchanged at Luna¡¯s art exhibition for a painting made by Lu Zhaozhao herself.


    So there was simply no possibility of a purchase record, let alone authenticating the painting from this pile of paint.


    Now, everyone¡¯s attention was on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting, and no one was paying attention to who had splashed the paint in the studio.


    After all, the paintings brought by the others weren¡¯t considered valuable, and to these people, even if there was a loss, it wouldn¡¯t be worth much money.


    As for the more expensive paintings, Xia Wenjin and her group had clearly avoided them.


    Everything in front of them was clearly a trap Xia Wenjin and her group had set for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xu Zhenzhen grew more and more angry the more she thought about it, almost wanting to go up and give Xia Wenjin a few big slaps.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao saw Xu Zhenzhen getting all flustered, she immediately reached out to stop her.


    She was just about to speak when she suddenly heard a familiar voice at the entrance of the studio.


    ¡°I can prove that this painting is authentic.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, surprised, looked towards the entrance and saw Wen Qingyu standing there.


    Xia Wenjin, upon seeing the newcomer, started to grumble with an irritated look on her face, ¡°You¡¯re Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s biological mother, of course, you would side with her.¡±


    Her lackeys, upon hearing that the newcomer was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s biological mother, became arrogant again.


    ¡°The apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree; no wonder the daughter assumes other people¡¯s identities, steals their fiance?s.¡±


    ¡°Like daughter, like mother, thick-skinned, tch... Ah!¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Before the second person¡¯s unpleasant words could leave their mouth, Wen Qingyu slapped them across the face.


    Lu Zhaozhao was internally shocked; who would have thought that her mother, who appeared so gentle and refined, could have such a fiery temper?


    The others, seeing this, went to step forward, but Lu Zhaozhao instinctively blocked in front of Wen Qingyu and kicked the girl who lunged at them away.


    Xia Wenjin was utterly stunned, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, have you, you guys gone crazy?! You... Ah!¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Wen Qingyu slapped her across the face with a grim look.


    ¡°I¡¯ve put up with you for a long time!¡± ¡°Smack!¡±


    She had raised Xia Wenjin for 20 years and, upon reflection, had never mistreated her, yet after finding her biological parents, she made life difficult for Lu Zhaozhao in every way.


    She had even done so many heinous things, she was... unbearable, to say the least!


    ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Smack!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Smack!¡±


    ...


    Xu Zhenzhen, watching Wen Qingyu lay into them, couldn¡¯t help but say to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, your mom¡¯s fighting strength is impressive~ Just look at how she has Xia Wenjin wailing, tsk tsk... I¡¯m her fan from now on!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of her mouth, silently watching Wen Qingyu.


    Seeing her mother¡¯s fierce moves, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly understood where her own explosive temper came from...

 Chapter 183: 183: Can anyone prove that you are the son of the Celestial King?

    Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Can anyone prove that you are the son of the Celestial King?


    By the time the principal and Teresa arrived, Xia Wenjin¡¯s face had already been swollen from a beating.


    Looking at the chaotic mess of the art studio, both the principal and Teresa¡¯s jaws nearly dropped.


    When Xia Wenjin saw the principal, she immediately cried out hysterically toward him, ¡°Principal, you have to stand up for me, wahhhh... this crazy woman hit me! She...¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s brows knitted together upon hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, ready to charge at her again.


    If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s firm grip, Xia Wenjin¡¯s face would surely have received another slap mark.


    The principal looked around blankly, pressing his temples due to the headache, ¡°Can someone please tell me what¡¯s going on here?¡±


    ¡°They attacked people for no reason and planted hidden cameras in the studio!¡±


    ¡°The mess in the studio must have been their own doing!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Spreading rumors is all about talking nonsense, but debunking them takes so much effort.¡±


    She pointed to a painting nearby and said, ¡°The pinhole camera is still there, Principal. You should take a look at the actual situation.¡±


    The principal nodded, then instructed his assistant, ¡°Handle the situation with the students here. Those involved in this incident, follow me to the principal¡¯s office.¡±


    Xia Wenjin had already suffered a loss, so she had someone call Mr. and Mrs. Lu right after she was beaten.


    Before they had time to clearly explain the ins and outs in the principal¡¯s office after watching the video, Lu Dagui and Cao Mei had already stormed in.


    Seeing them, Xia Wenjin immediately threw herself at them, crying loudly. But because her cheeks were swollen, and she was crying too hard, her whole face hurt even more.


    Cao Mei, holding Xia Wenjin, yelled furiously at Lu Zhaozhao and her daughter, ¡°You cursed lot! I will make sure you pay for this! Wait for a legal notice from my lawyer!¡±


    Wen Qingyu had calmed down a bit after hitting Xia Wenjin, but now seeing Cao Mei¡¯s face reignited her anger instantly.


    Seeing Wen Qingyu about to explode again, Teresa was frightened and rushed over to hug her, ¡°Luna, don¡¯t get agitated! This is a country governed by the rule of law! Rule of law! Rule of law!¡±


    Teresa emphasized it three times, fearing that Wen Qingyu would go straight up and beat Cao Mei half to death, which would complicate matters even further.


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking at Teresa comforting Wen Qingyu, appeared perplexed for a second. Had she just heard Teresa call her mom ¡®Luna¡¯?


    Was it an illusion?


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could ponder further, Wen Qingyu also shouted at Cao Mei, ¡°Bring on the legal notice! Who¡¯s afraid? Doesn¡¯t every family have a lawyer?!¡±


    Call our second son over, sue them till they¡¯re bankrupt!!!


    If this were abroad, her husband¡¯s underlings would bury them in a hole in minutes!


    Why should her treasure have to endure this nonsense?


    Cao Mei, listening to Wen Qingyu¡¯s tirade, gnashed her teeth in rage, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can do whatever you want just because you¡¯re backed by the Song Group! Offend the Lu Family, and you¡¯ll regret it. If anything happens to my daughter...¡±


    ¡°If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll burn paper money for her!¡± Wen Qingyu said, taking out a few red banknotes from her bag and throwing them straight in Cao Mei¡¯s face, ¡°Is that enough for buying paper money? If it¡¯s not enough, I can burn some more for your whole family!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen and Lu Zhaozhao were taken aback as they watched Wen Qingyu in her relentless state.


    If it weren¡¯t for Teresa holding on to Wen Qingyu, she would have dared to take off her shoe and throw it in the faces of Cao Mei¡¯s whole family.


    It seemed she was truly furious.


    The principal, bombarded by the yelling of the two women, raised his hand in a silencing gesture, ¡°Both parents, please calm down. This is a school, could you please refrain from this behavior. Whether it¡¯s a legal notice or burning paper money, let¡¯s discuss it after you go back home.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen almost laughed out loud when she heard what the principal had to say. How could their principal keep such a straight face while saying something so funny?


    The principal furrowed his brows and glanced at everyone present before speaking, ¡°I think I have a clear understanding of what happened now. The destruction in the art studio was your doing, wasn¡¯t it, Lin Lin?¡±


    Although Lin Lin really wanted to argue, the video evidence was crystal clear, and she had no choice but to admit it.


    ¡°I... I just couldn¡¯t stand how she bullied Jin before, so I got hot-headed...¡±


    ¡°That hot-headedness of yours didn¡¯t really matter, did it? A few tens of millions down the drain, and your dad should be thanking you, his dutiful daughter.¡± Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but mock her, which immediately reduced Lin Lin to tears.


    ¡°I... I...¡± She instinctively turned to Xia Wenjin and tugged at her clothing, ¡°Jin, save me...¡±


    It was Xia Wenjin who had egged her on to do it. If she really had to pay tens of millions, she would definitely be beaten to death when she got home!


    Although Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t want to deal with Lin Lin, if she started dragging her into it, that was another matter entirely.


    Besides, she had just claimed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting was a fake, and she had no way to prove otherwise.


    She had inquired about this earlier, and that painting had been given away as a raffle prize by the gallery during Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s last participation in the Luna art exhibition; there was no purchase record at all.


    So, as long as they insisted that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting was a fake, she had no way out!


    ¡°Principal, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s painting isn¡¯t an authentic Luna piece at all. She¡¯s just using this incident to try to extort money,¡± Xia Wenjin said, her gaze drifting between Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen while taunting, ¡°You keep talking about tens of millions. Be careful, or someone might sue you for extortion and blackmail!¡±


    Lin Lin perked up immediately upon hearing this, ¡°Right! You don¡¯t have any evidence to prove that painting is by Luna, and a signed painting? Please! You¡¯re just scammers!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The principal, Teresa, and Wen Qingyu were nearly speechless with three faces filled with disbelief.


    They were really quite confident, daring to tell the owner to her face that the painting she gave her daughter was a forgery. Tsk tsk...


    Lu Zhaozhao was just about to speak when Wen Qingyu stopped her, ¡°That painting couldn¡¯t be fake because I personally painted it.¡±


    As soon as Wen Qingyu said this, Cao Mei burst out laughing mockingly, ¡°You painted it yourself, and you have the guts to say that? Do you think you¡¯re Luna?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± Wen Qingyu looked at the few people in front of her, expression unchanged.


    Cao Mei was taken aback for a moment before laughing derisively again, ¡°Who are you kidding? If you¡¯re Luna, then I¡¯m the Jade Emperor himself!¡±


    Teresa looked at Cao Mei¡¯s arrogant demeanor and twitched the corner of her mouth, ¡°She really is Luna, I can confirm it. But who can vouch for you being the Jade Emperor?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Now, not just the Lu Family, but even Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen were stunned.


    Her own mother suddenly turned out to be her idol; it was like winning the jackpot.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt as though her entire crown chakra had been lifted off, leaving her in a daze.


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenjin¡¯s face twisted completely upon learning the truth.


    Wen Qingyu was the highly esteemed Luna from the world of art?


    That was an utter farce!

 Chapter 184: 184 Shes Too Excited!

    Chapter 184: Chapter 184 She¡¯s Too Excited!


    The craziest part was that it was the first time she had learned about it after spending 20 years in the Xia Family!


    Xia Wenjin really wanted to deny this possibility, but Teresa had no reason to lie. After all, her status in the art world was such that she didn¡¯t need to lie for someone unrelated.


    Her fists clenched, she suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh.


    Indeed, even if Teresa weren¡¯t a bigshot in the art world back then, she had already gained some fame abroad.


    If it weren¡¯t for her identity as Luna, how could she have condescended to be a drawing teacher for their ordinary little family?


    The principal coughed lightly as the two sides stopped speaking, ¡°Alright, now that things are clear, do you want to settle this privately, or call the police right now?¡±


    ¡°Settle privately.¡±


    ¡°Call the police.¡±


    Both sides spoke almost at the same time, but their answers were totally different.


    The Lu Family wanted to settle privately, simply because they didn¡¯t want this incident to involve Xia Wenjin further.


    After all, the rumors about Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao were one-sided outside.


    Even if they called the police, other than some compensation, they wouldn¡¯t gain anything else.


    Settling privately was different; couldn¡¯t their Lu Family handle a small family like the Xia Family?


    Xia Wenjin wanted to settle privately because she was afraid that, if they called the police, Lin Lin would buckle under pressure, and if Lin Lin implicated her later, it would be troublesome.


    Cao Mei glared at Wen Qingyu, ¡°How dare you even think about calling the police? If you do, you¡¯ll be the first one arrested! You just hit our Jin, and I haven¡¯t even settled that score with you!¡±


    Wen Qingyu sneered and curled her lip, ¡°Settling the score with me? There¡¯s still time for that!¡±


    As she spoke, she lunged at Cao Mei.


    ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°Ahh!¡±


    A crisp sound instantly rang out in the principal¡¯s office.


    Teresa pretended she couldn¡¯t hold Wen Qingyu back, and in the chaos of trying to break up the fight, she hurriedly bumped the unresponsive Lu Dagui to the side.


    Seeing her chance, Wen Qingyu, with hands flying, landed several slaps on Cao Mei.


    ¡°Slap,¡± ¡°Ahh!¡±


    ¡°You! Ahh!¡± ¡°Slap! Slap!¡±


    ...


    As the fight escalated, the principal coughed again, but Wen Qingyu¡¯s slaps were so loud, he had to clear his throat once more.


    ¡°Enough! Stop fighting!¡±


    The principal raised his voice and shouted again, and with a ¡°whoosh,¡± Teresa, like she was picking up a child, ¡°plucked¡± Wen Qingyu off of Cao Mei.


    Teresa was tall to begin with, but who knew she was also so strong.


    Xu Zhenzhen whispered softly, ¡°It seems that this big shot Teresa is also an ally. She deliberately didn¡¯t stop it just now, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, it was more than just deliberately not stopping it; it was blatantly taking sides.


    Cao Mei, who had suffered a big loss, scrambled up from the ground, disheveled, and started cursing at Wen Qingyu, ¡°You crazy woman! You... you...¡±


    ¡°You, you, you, what are you going to do about it? If you have the guts, call the police and arrest me!¡± Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t give Cao Mei any face and roared back.


    Her ferocious demeanor was like a mother hen protecting her chicks, leaving Lu Zhaozhao stunned.


    However, Teresa seemed to take it all in stride, and even the nearby principal looked helplessly at Wen Qingyu.


    He massaged his temples, his head aching. ¡°Alright, everyone calm down. After our school reviews the matter, we will provide an explanation to both parties¡¯ families. For now, please go back.¡±


    Continuing the discussion wouldn¡¯t lead to any progress, and there was even the risk of Wen Qingyu beating up Lu Dagui later on.


    That would only complicate things further.


    Before the trouble escalated, it was safer to send them all away first.


    The Lu Family, though very reluctant, eventually left with Xia Wenjin.


    As soon as Wen Qingyu saw the Lu Family members had left, she immediately went to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side and looked her over, then sighed with relief, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re not hurt.¡±


    Her voice was soft and gentle, returning to her usual mild demeanor.


    It was as if the explosive temper she had just shown wasn¡¯t hers at all.


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth but was too shocked to utter a word.


    She was too excited!


    Luna is her mom!


    This was just freaking awesome!


    Wen Qingyu thought that Lu Zhaozhao was scared by the recent events and quickly consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared about what just happened. Even if it really escalated to the police station, you still have your second brother, he¡¯s... he¡¯s a lawyer!¡±


    Wen Qingyu was so focused on explaining to Lu Zhaozhao that she almost spilled the beans about Xia Wenqing.


    Teresa chimed in to support her, ¡°Yes, yes, in that kind of situation, even if it went to the police station, at worst it would just be mutual assault, not a big problem.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched as she thought about how well Teresa and her mother had coordinated just now¡ªshe knew this wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened.


    It seemed the image of her mother in her mind was nothing like the real person.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded lightly, ¡°Yeah, I understand.¡±


    Because of the incident at the school, the appraisal class was suddenly changed to a study period.


    Naturally, Lu Zhaozhao was escorted home by Teresa and Wen Qingyu.


    During the ride, Lu Zhaozhao was still in shock that her mother had turned out to be her idol and had no idea what to say to Wen Qingyu.


    Wen Qingyu, thinking Lu Zhaozhao was unhappy about knowing her identity, didn¡¯t dare to say much either.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over. Zhaozhao didn¡¯t say a single word to me the whole way home, wuwuwu... Husband, what should we do?¡± Wen Qingyu sat on the sofa at home, hugging Xia Nie, crying with tears streaming down her face.


    Xia Nie patted his wife, who was in his arms, feeling helpless and at a loss of how to comfort her.


    He glanced at Xia Wenjue, gesturing for him to quickly think of a way to console his wife.


    Although this had been planned by their family and Song Sinian, nobody told him it would end up making his wife cry!


    Xia Wenjue was clearly overwhelmed. Wen Qingyu was the one in their family who had the best relationship with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even her real identity as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s idol Luna hadn¡¯t won her over.


    If they revealed their identities, Lu Zhaozhao might cut ties with them in a minute, right?


    Just the thought of it gave Xia Wenjue a headache.


    He massaged his temples, irritated. ¡°Mom, stop crying first, tell us what happened during the day in detail.¡±


    Wen Qingyu sniffled and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes with Xia Nie¡¯s shirt before saying, ¡°Everything was normal when Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know my identity, but after she found out in the principal¡¯s office, she hasn¡¯t spoken a word.¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Besides that, you didn¡¯t do anything else, right?¡±


    His question instantly drew the attention of the Xia Family towards Wen Qingyu.


    Although their mother was an artist, how could a mere artist become the wife of a big shot in M-country?


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s dominant older sister persona had actually calmed down after she had a younger sister, intending to be a gentle mother in front of her sister...

 Chapter 185: 185 Hehe, the clown turns out to be her?!

    Chapter 185: Chapter 185 Hehe, the clown turns out to be her?!


    Upon hearing Xia Wenjue¡¯s words, Wen Qingyu felt a bit guilty and averted her eyes, ¡°I... I just slightly taught Cao Mei and Xia Wenjin a lesson, really just a tiny bit...¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, perhaps ¡®a tiny bit¡¯ was an understatement?


    Ever since Wen Qingyu found out about Cao Mei mistreating Lu Zhaozhao, she was furious.


    Had they not been trying so hard to stop her, Cao Mei would already have been stuffed into a sack and thrown into a manure pit.


    With a light sigh, Xia Wenjue said, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll contact Song Sinian and see if he can properly coax Zhaozhao...¡±


    Song Sinian was reading Xiao Wenjue¡¯s message in his study when Lu Zhaozhao was animatedly telling him about the events that had taken place at school.


    ¡°Mr. Song, can you believe it? My mom is actually Luna!!! My mom is actually my idol!¡±


    And she¡¯s super incredible, isn¡¯t she?


    Her bright eyes sparkled, and when mentioning Wen Qingyu, they shone even brighter.


    Song Sinian glanced at the message from Xia Wenjue, tapped the screen, and the phone screen dimmed once again.


    His eyebrows slightly raised, his gaze circled around Lu Zhaozhao, filled with complexity.


    He and the Xia family had anticipated various reactions from Lu Zhaozhao upon learning the truth, but they never expected her to be as excited as if she were on a chicken-blood high.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, and he waved Lu Zhaozhao over, gesturing for her to sit beside him.


    Lu Zhaozhao, not understanding why, walked over and was about to sit down when she was scooped into Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    His large hand gently pinched her chin, his tone light, ¡°You like Luna that much? Hmm?¡±


    His voice was low, yet entirely void of discernible emotion.


    Lu Zhaozhao had already been uncontrollably excited during the revelation that Luna was her mother.


    However, Song Sinian¡¯s abrupt question made her snap back to reality.


    She had been too focused on her happiness, perhaps neglecting Mr. Song a bit.


    Lu Zhaozhao uneasily looked at Song Sinian, unable to help swallowing nervously, ¡°Well, she is my mom, after all, so I just got a little bit excited.¡±


    Song Sinian slowly released his hand, his eyelids drooped slightly, then pulled her tight into his embrace.


    His forehead resting on her shoulder, he said in a muffled voice, ¡°No, you can only like me the most.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Was Song Sinian being whiny with her?


    Despite his tone not changing much, why did it feel like Mr. Song was somehow cute?


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao extended her hand to cup Song Sinian¡¯s face, and that¡¯s when she noticed the tips of his ears had turned red.


    It seemed he was shy even uttering those words himself.


    Seeing Song Sinian like this made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart itch even more.


    Her eyes smiled as she playfully tilted her head looking at Song Sinian, ¡°I promise the person I like the most is Mr. Song. No one can replace your place in my heart, after all, who could make our Mr. Song kind-hearted, cute, and well-behaved?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Kind-hearted?


    Cute?


    Well-behaved?


    Listening to these words that didn¡¯t match him at all, Song Sinian¡¯s brows twitched slightly.


    His gaze swept over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s delicate face, his expression indifferent. Was this really how he appeared in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind?


    It seemed like it had nothing to do with him at all...


    But if Lu Zhaozhao liked this version of him, he would be this Song Sinian in front of her for his entire life.


    Thinking this, he reached out and lightly brushed aside a lock of hair behind Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ear, ¡°You¡¯re not upset with Wen Qingyu for keeping the truth from you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Her being Luna isn¡¯t really a secret, after all, Luna is inherently mysterious. Besides, the idea of an idol turning out to be your mom is just too bizarre...¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re not angry?¡± Song Sinian asked again, looking directly at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head firmly, ¡°Not angry, since to the Xia Family, I¡¯m pretty much a newcomer. There is still so much we don¡¯t know about each other; it¡¯s normal there are things being kept hidden.¡±


    And furthermore, Wen Qingyu revealed her identity just for her sake, which moved her quite a bit.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze lingered on Lu Zhaozhao for a moment. Remembering what Xia Wenjue told him earlier, he hesitated and then asked, ¡°So, if the Xia Family is keeping other things from you, you won¡¯t be angry when you find out?¡±


    When he said this, he was actually preparing Lu Zhaozhao for something that might come later.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s situation might be excused because of her idol status, but the identities of other members of the Xia Family might not be the same.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly in confusion, feeling like there was more to Song Sinian¡¯s words.


    After thinking for a bit, she seriously replied, ¡°If it¡¯s a well-intentioned lie, I can understand, but I can¡¯t necessarily accept it. I think it depends on the specific circumstances.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt her response to the recent question was unproblematic.


    Whatever issue Song Sinian threw at her, she could be both defensive and proactive.


    Yet, she was deeply concerned about Song Sinian suddenly bringing up the Xia Family.


    She wondered if his previous words hinted at something else, or if it was simply an extension of the issue with Wen Qingyu.


    Lu Zhaozhao was pondering when Song Sinian suddenly spoke slowly, ¡°Remember you asked me to investigate XJ Corporation? I have some findings now. Do you want to hear them?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, looking at Song Sinian puzzled, not following how his line of thought had jumped so swiftly.


    Weren¡¯t they just talking about the Xia Family?


    How did it suddenly leap to XJ Corporation?


    Still, after contemplating for two seconds, she nodded immediately, ¡°I want to hear it!¡±


    Ever since she learned that her cousin was going to be the new CEO of XJ Corporation and that her elder brother was on good terms with the current CEO, she¡¯d been anxious.


    Now, if she could get clarity on XJ Corporation¡¯s issues, nothing could be better.


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s serious expression, opened the drawer in front of him, and handed her a stack of documents.


    ¡°Here, these are all the details about the current power-holders of XJ Corporation. Take a look, and you¡¯ll understand.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao took the documents and glanced at Song Sinian, puzzled. She quickly began to flip through them.


    Only a few pages in, her eyes widened in shock.


    She frantically turned several pages in disbelief, instantly upset.


    Her elder brother, Xia Wenjue, was actually the current CEO of XJ Corporation?!


    The very CEO of XJ Corporation who was destined to be in a car accident and become comatose?


    And her second elder brother, Xia Wenqing, was the internationally renowned legal tycoon, who after taking over XJ Corporation, would be disfigured and critically injured by the underworld?


    Lu Zhaozhao was instantly overwhelmed.


    She¡¯d thought that as long as she stayed away from XJ Corporation, she could avoid getting tangled in their family battles.


    Now... haha, the joke was on her, wasn¡¯t it?


    XJ Corporation belonged to the Xia Family, how could she possibly avoid it?

 Chapter 186 - 186 Just Feel a Bit Sudden...

    Chapter 186: Chapter 186 Just Feel a Bit Sudden...


    Song Sinian could visibly see Lu Zhaozhao falling silent.


    Previously, Lu Zhaozhao had mentioned internal turmoil within the XJ Group, even though she had absolutely no idea that Xia Wenjue was the president of XJ Group.


    This implies that the so-called turmoil in XJ Group was of ¡°earthquake¡± magnitude; otherwise, how could someone who didn¡¯t understand XJ Group at all be aware of it?


    The only possibility for this would be a high-level reshuffle within XJ Group...


    With her current demeanor, she must be worried about Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing again, right?


    Song Sinian reached out and rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, soothingly said, ¡°Is it the affair of the Xia Family that¡¯s upsetting you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gave a bitter smile and tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°No, I, I just feel it¡¯s a bit sudden...¡±


    Song Sinian cut straight to the point, ¡°Did the people from the Xia Family also encounter problems in your world?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s figure stiffened noticeably.


    Even without a sound, the answer was clear.


    She hesitated for a moment, then still nodded her head and told Song Sinian the truth, ¡°The president of XJ Group was in a car accident and fell into a coma. The new president who took over XJ Group got disfigured after getting entangled with a gangster¡¯s mistress...¡±


    When she watched the news before, she only felt the lives of the wealthy were too complicated.


    But after getting to know the Xia Family for a while, Lu Zhaozhao felt there was something fishy about these events.


    Especially Xia Wenyan, according to Song Sinian¡¯s investigation, he was already a big shot.


    Even the company he was currently with was invested in by himself, and many in the circle envied the big pie he had his hands on.


    Would such a person take drugs over getting replaced in a role?


    And there was Xia Wenqing... He didn¡¯t seem like the kind of person who would force himself on someone known to have a lover.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, thinking of how she was calculated against in her previous life, her brows suddenly furrowed.


    If the Xia Family... had been set up by someone, then everything would make sense.


    Song Sinian raised his hand and gently patted her shoulder, comforting, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this won¡¯t happen again. I¡¯m here now, I¡¯ll protect you well.¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡± Lu Zhaozhao also extended her little hands and tightly hugged Song Sinian, ¡°I¡¯ll protect you well too, Mr. Song.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian listened to her words, his dark pupils blinked slightly, but he didn¡¯t speak again.


    He wanted to ask about matters related to himself, but seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s current exhausted appearance, he really couldn¡¯t bear to trouble her further.


    Thinking about everything since they got their marriage certificate, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s seemingly inexplicable actions had actually been invisibly changing the dynamics within the Song Family.


    Whether it was Xiao Jinglan sending poisoned cubilose or the close call with danger faced by Old Master Song.


    Details he had never paid attention to could have easily led to his and Old Master Song¡¯s deaths.


    Song Sinian, thinking of how Lu Zhaozhao had been silently enduring all this alone, felt a dull ache in his heart.


    He couldn¡¯t help but hold Lu Zhaozhao even tighter...


    The bright sunshine of the morning, by noon, had been obscured by the thick clouds.


    Xia Wenjin and Cao Mei were sitting in the living room, with bags of ice cubes pressed against their faces.


    Thinking about everything that had happened in the principal¡¯s office, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but grind her teeth in anger, ¡°20 years, Wen Qingyu actually kept me in the dark for 20 years! The Xia Family never treated me as their own flesh and blood!¡±


    After she returned to the Lu Family, she specifically looked up the prices of Luna¡¯s paintings, and the prices in the millions left her dumbfounded.


    One could say that Luna wasn¡¯t exactly a tycoon, but with the prices her paintings fetched, the Xia Family didn¡¯t need to live so frugally at all!


    No need to even think twice about buying brand name bags worth hundreds of thousands; there was absolutely no need for her to save her pocket money each month to buy a bag!


    The other members of the Xia Family had to be aware of Luna¡¯s identity, yet they deliberately kept only her in the dark!


    Xia Wenjin grew angrier the more she thought about it, and even her hand holding the ice began to ¡°creak¡±.


    Cao Mei¡¯s frown was equally enraged as she said, ¡°I won¡¯t spare a single one of that Xia family! Especially that woman called Luna!¡±


    She had the audacity to slap her in front of so many people!


    Lu Dagui, standing by, watched the mother and daughter who had been hit, his brows also immediately knitting together, ¡°Just a small-time artist daring to be so arrogant, not teaching her a lesson and letting her see some color, she really thinks the Lu Family is easy to bully.¡±


    Ever since he had a couple of popular mines in his possession, people from the Beijing Circle had been nothing but respectful towards him.


    Although he couldn¡¯t reach the status of the Song Family, he could now develop independently without relying on the Song Family.


    If Xia Wenjin could climb up to Justin, with the support of the XJ Group behind her, he could walk sideways in Shangjing!


    Do the Xia Family really think that by having Lu Zhaozhao marry Song Sinian, they could reach the same status as the Song Family?


    Humph! What fools!


    Hearing Lu Dagui speak like this, Xia Wenjin immediately asked eagerly, ¡°Dad, what are you planning to do?¡±


    Lu Dagui raised his hand and patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s head as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I absolutely won¡¯t let the people who bullied you and your mom get away with it, Song Sinian may have sent bodyguards to protect Lu Zhaozhao, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s willing to protect the Xia Family...¡±


    Just a small-time artist, with a flick of his finger, he could end her!


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes widened considerably, looking at Lu Dagui with excitement, ¡°Dad, are you going to get someone to deal with Wen Qingyu? But now she is Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mother, as well as the artist Luna...¡±


    She had fans, and a bit of backing.


    Messing with her might even provoke Song Sinian.


    Lu Dagui scoffed lightly, ¡°Humph, money makes the world go round, so what if she¡¯s Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mother? So what if she¡¯s the artist Luna? Could a mere artist¡¯s fans really turn the sky upside down?¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded, ¡°Exactly, I¡¯ll listen to Dad!¡±


    Now that she was no longer part of the Xia Family, Wen Qingyu being Luna couldn¡¯t bring her any benefits.


    In that case, there was no way she¡¯d allow Lu Zhaozhao to benefit from it!


    She wanted all the people to know just how despicable this artist called Luna was!


    Not only did she strike her mother in school, but she also hit her, the once-daughter!


    So what if Lu Zhaozhao found out her own mother was Luna? She wanted to ruin them!


    Upon having this thought, Xia Wenjin immediately took a picture of her swollen face and the ice bag and quickly uploaded it to her own Weibo.


    [@Luna@LunaStudio#Not everyone deserves to be called ¡®mother¡¯, wounds on the body can scab over, but those on the heart...]


    Because Luna originally had a lot of fans, plus the recent popularity of Xia Wenjin, it immediately exploded on the trending searches.


    [TeamWinter: What the heck? Is Luna Xia Wenjin¡¯s mother? Isn¡¯t she the precious daughter of the Lu Family? Mrs. Lu is Luna?]


    [Brother Ke Tai: It¡¯s clear that she was hit, tsk tsk... Mrs. Lu is committing domestic violence on her newly introduced daughter?]


    [Little D: Xia Wenjin has a face that¡¯s asking to be slapped, getting hit is light for her, and she still has the face to @ our Luna, shameless!]

 Chapter 187 - 187 Yes! Makes Sense!

    Chapter 187: Chapter 187 Yes! Makes Sense!


    Xia Wenjin had posted on Weibo originally to smear Wen Qingyu, but unexpectedly, the foolish netizens turned their criticism towards her and the Lu Family.


    Frustrated, Xia Wenjin posted another message on Weibo.


    [¡°My current mother is very kind to me! Please don¡¯t randomly sling mud at her! And she is not Luna!¡±]


    Not long after she posted this message, the comments section under her Weibo went crazy again.


    [Start a name never started before: Did you settle the money at home? Forgiving so quickly?]


    [Qianye Kirra: I knew this little bitch wanted to ride on my Luna¡¯s popularity!]


    [JJ008: The whole world is wronging you, Xia Wenjin, why is your face so big?]


    ...


    The overwhelmingly one-sided comments made Xia Wenjin so angry that she spat blood and simply turned off the comment feature.


    What she did not know was that ever since Wen Qingyu had beaten her and Cao Mei, the Xia Family had taken comprehensive action.


    Controlling comments was a piece of cake for Xia Wenyan.


    Therefore, seeing Xia Wenjin being bashed to the point of trending, Lu Zhaozhao was not surprised at all.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Song Sinian, sitting beside the dining table, watched Lu Zhaozhao eat and daydream. He reached out and rubbed her little head.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°Mr. Song, do you remember when I asked if there was a way to find out if someone was on drugs?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, because Lu Zhaozhao had asked about this, he specifically had Zhao Xi look into it.


    The person Lu Zhaozhao was referring to was Xia Wenyan.


    Both before and now, they hadn¡¯t found any tendencies of that sort in him.


    So, this incident might have occurred in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s world.


    ¡°That person is Xia Wenyan,¡± Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and continued, ¡°Before, I didn¡¯t know that the Xia Family were the people from XJ Corporation, so I thought Xia Wenyan¡¯s situation was an isolated case...¡±


    But once it was connected to the matters of XJ Corporation, other than Xia Wenmo who had already died due to illness, all the people from the Xia Family had met with accidents.


    It made her think more.


    Song Sinian cooled the porridge on the table, pushed it towards Lu Zhaozhao, and took the bowl in front of her before saying, ¡°Xia Wenyan indeed doesn¡¯t seem like someone who would do drugs.¡±


    The family values of the Xia Family were not bad, except for naturally bad seeds like Xia Wenjin.


    Song Sinian gently scooped a spoonful of porridge, and asked faintly, ¡°Are you thinking of investigating the reasons behind their accidents?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t have any leads.¡±


    After all, in her previous life, all the news about the Xia Family she knew came from the media.


    She had no idea that the Xia Family were her relatives and couldn¡¯t possibly have noticed more.


    Her anxiety was clear to Song Sinian, and he picked up his chopsticks to clip a chicken wing for Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Take it slow with such matters, there¡¯s no rush. The Xia Family isn¡¯t ordinary. They can¡¯t be easily manipulated. Usually, if someone is forced into a desperate situation, it¡¯s mostly because of a mole within.¡±


    ¡°A mole...¡± Song Sinian¡¯s words plunged Lu Zhaozhao into deep thought.


    Although Song Sinian did not have memories of experiencing those events, he was more rational than her and quickly grasped the essence of the situation.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Song Sinian responded softly, ¡°You might want to think about what has changed with the Xia Family now, what hasn¡¯t, perhaps there might be clues.¡±


    Even if Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t think of any clues, he would join hands with the Xia Family and ensure that the incidents from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s world wouldn¡¯t occur.


    He couldn¡¯t let go of her now, and he wouldn¡¯t let her face all this alone.


    Whatever she wanted, whatever she wanted to protect, he would help her achieve it.


    Lu Zhaozhao stared at the spoon in her hand as she stirred it in the porridge.


    In her previous life, Justin had become the new president of XJ Group, making him the prime suspect.


    But that alone wasn¡¯t enough to confirm him as the mastermind behind the scenes.


    After all, it was puzzling that someone capable of vying for the presidency of XJ Group would run the company into the ground.


    The more Lu Zhaozhao thought about it, the more she felt a headache coming on; resting her chin on her hand, she muttered, ¡°Could Justin, someone from the Xia Family¡¯s branch with so little ability, really become president of XJ Group?¡±


    Song Sinian raised an eyebrow, and although reluctant, he spoke up, ¡°If he became the Xia Family¡¯s son-in-law, given the conditions of succeeding based on seniority, it¡¯s not impossible.¡±


    Like a channel had suddenly been cleared in her, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Right! That makes sense!¡±


    In her previous life, she hadn¡¯t acknowledged her ties with the Xia Family. Although Xia Wenjin had returned to the Lu Family, her connection with the Xia Family must have remained intact!


    She had always thought that Xia Wenjin¡¯s thriving presence in the Shangjing Circle was due to her identity as the Lu Family¡¯s fortune.


    Now thinking about it, Xia Wenjin¡¯s plethora of resources in the entertainment industry might very well be because of the Xia Family!


    The more Lu Zhaozhao thought this way, the colder her heart felt.


    If everything was as she suspected, then... Xia Wenjin¡¯s actions were truly disheartening!


    The Xia Family had given her everything, yet she personally destroyed it.


    As Lu Zhaozhao pondered, she suddenly felt pain on her cheek, ¡°Hiss...¡±


    She furrowed her brows slightly and looked up only to meet Song Sinian¡¯s displeased dark eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s right? What makes sense? You are my wife now. You shouldn¡¯t be thinking of other men this way.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s voice was low and carried a chill different from usual as he spoke.


    Lu Zhaozhao, somewhat confused, looked at Song Sinian and suddenly recalling her earlier words, realized what he meant.


    Her small hand touched Song Sinian¡¯s large hand, and she explained with a light laugh, ¡°Mr. Song, you misunderstood. I wasn¡¯t talking about me; I was talking about Xia Wenjin...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao paused briefly before adding, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t acknowledged my ties with the Xia Family, even if Xia Wenjin was reinstated by the Lu Family, the Xia Family¡¯s nature wouldn¡¯t likely drive her out, would they?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Song Sinian finally slowly removed his hand from grasping Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek.


    He nodded, ¡°Indeed.¡±


    If so, letting Xia Wenjin act against the Xia Family could indeed catch them off guard.


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment; in this life, she had reconnected with the Xia Family, and Xia Wenjin had also broken ties with the Xia Family.


    It wouldn¡¯t be so easy for her to act against Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing anymore.


    But what about Xia Wenyan?


    Thinking along these lines, she frowned and asked, ¡°Mr. Song, have you heard any news from Xia Wenjin¡¯s side recently? Like her schedule or something?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes slightly drooped, fully aware of her intentions.


    His calm voice slowly filled the dining room, ¡°Her agency has pushed her to be a guest on a variety show, and in that show, Xia Wenyan has just been chosen as a regular guest.¡±


    The director valued the current popularity surrounding Xia Wenjin.


    Her presence, and her conflict with Xia Wenyan, would also become a major highlight of the show, hence the director was very likely to finalize Xia Wenjin¡¯s participation...

 Chapter 188 - 188 Mr. Song, when do you plan to claim your prize?

    Chapter 188: Chapter 188 Mr. Song, when do you plan to claim your prize?


    ¡°I guess even Xia Wenyan doesn¡¯t know about this.¡±


    ¡°Do I need to remind Xia Wenyan?¡± Song Sinian said quietly when he noticed Lu Zhaozhao lost in thought.


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°No need.¡±


    If in the previous life, everything truly was orchestrated by Xia Wenjin, then she would definitely make a move.


    It was Xia Wenyan who first encountered trouble among their several brothers.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought for a moment, then raised her eyes slightly, looked at Song Sinian, and said, ¡°Mr. Song, I also want to participate in this variety show.¡±


    Xia Wenyan is too straightforward. Judging by his previous defense of Xia Wenjin, she was worried that he would be calculated by Xia Wenjin.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips lightly tapped on the table and said indifferently, ¡°There¡¯s really no problem in joining the show...¡±


    But the thought of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s time, which was originally all his, being divided again, made him inexplicably annoyed.


    During the time Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian had been together, she had clearly understood his way of thinking.


    She immediately moved closer to Song Sinian and gave him a peck on the cheek, ¡°This is a bonus, and there will be a big reward after the success.¡±


    As she spoke, Lu Zhaozhao also playfully winked at Song Sinian.


    She had always been worried that Song Sinian, who had been accumulating rewards, would pull a big move on her.


    So every time she asked Song Sinian for a favor, she was on tenterhooks.


    But ever since she told Song Sinian about the things she had been suppressing in her heart, Lu Zhaozhao had just given up on worrying.


    Song Sinian had already accumulated quite a few rewards; another one or two wouldn¡¯t make a difference.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words were obviously very effective with Song Sinian; his dark eyes narrowed and he decisively nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Mr. Song, when do you plan to claim your reward?¡± As Lu Zhaozhao spoke, she leaned on the chair next to him and stretched out her small hand to gently tug at the tie on his collar.


    Song Sinian was pulled forward slightly by her small hand, bringing him much closer to her.


    His dark eyes gleamed faintly, his gaze falling on her mischievous little hands, ¡°I think... I¡¯ll redeem after this task is completed.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, which was tugging at Song Sinian¡¯s tie, stiffened, her eyebrows lifting slightly, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Song Sinian gently pulled his tie back, his lips lightly landing a kiss on the back of her hand, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m very sure.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand suddenly trembled; the thing she had been anxious about was going to happen so soon, and she actually felt a bit nervous.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and then clenched her little fist seriously, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Song, I¡¯ll do my best!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The Xia Family found out the next day that Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t upset about their status.


    They originally wanted to invite Lu Zhaozhao to the Xia Family to have a good talk but were refused by Song Sinian.


    The Xia Family felt that it was with Song Sinian¡¯s help that they were able to stabilize Lu Zhaozhao, so they didn¡¯t dare to make too much fuss.


    In the end, they could only choose a representative to interact with Lu Zhaozhao and explain the whole story.


    As Lu Zhaozhao looked at Wen Qingyu sitting in the cafe?¡¯s private room waiting for her, she suddenly became nervous.


    Even more nervous than the first time she visited the Xia Family.


    When Wen Qingyu saw Lu Zhaozhao standing at the door, she waved at her and said, ¡°Zhaozhao, come sit down. I¡¯ve ordered your favorite little cakes, would you like to try some?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao sat across from Wen Qingyu, looking at the table filled with desserts, and tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Isn¡¯t this, isn¡¯t this a bit too much?¡±


    Wen Qingyu gently shook her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, smiling warmly, ¡°Not at all, not at all, we might chat for a very long time.¡±


    They had always been worried about telling Lu Zhaozhao the truth, fearing that their daughter might disappear completely, so she had also been very uneasy.


    Now that Lu Zhaozhao knew everything, she felt much more relaxed.


    Only...


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s gaze traveled over Lu Zhaozhao in front of her, clearly noticing her restraint.


    Indeed... Zhaozhao must still hold some resentment in her heart...


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s lips pressed together, and just as she thought about how to start the conversation, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice reached her first.


    ¡°Um, Mom, I¡¯m really sorry, but the painting you gave me last time got ruined when I took it to school.¡±


    She had been puzzled at the time as to why she was so lucky to get a Luna painting, only to find out it was a gift from her own mother.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao was surprised, she still found the gesture warm.


    But... the painting was now destroyed.


    She had only thought that someone might tamper with it, not that they would outright destroy her painting.


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, she felt very self-reproachful.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes suddenly widened a lot.


    She had just assumed that Lu Zhaozhao was uneasy because she had yet to adapt to the identity of the Xia family, but it turned out to be because of this.


    Wen Qingyu suddenly let out a light laugh, resting her chin in her hands and tenderly looking at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°It¡¯s just a painting. If there¡¯s nothing else, our house has plenty of paintings. If you don¡¯t like the previous ones, Mom can paint for you every day.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao waved her hands repeatedly, smiled shyly, and said, ¡°No need, no need, just... maybe you could sign another one for me in the future?¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course, whatever our Zhaozhao says goes,¡± Wen Qingyu replied, reaching out a gentle hand to ruffle Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair.


    She had missed her daughter¡¯s childhood and wasn¡¯t there for her when she needed maternal love the most, so the more sensible Lu Zhaozhao was, the more it pained her.


    Wen Qingyu looked at Lu Zhaozhao with affection, her tone even softer than before, ¡°Zhaozhao, you can also try to act spoiled with Mom; you don¡¯t have to be so sensible, being a bit capricious is fine too.¡±


    Something seemed to poke Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart, and a warm feeling immediately rose within her.


    In her previous life, she was surrounded by insincere people; she never expected that one day she would feel the affection of her family.


    Lu Zhaozhao lowered her eyes slightly, revealing a graceful smile, ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll try to be a bit more capricious in the future, hopefully I won¡¯t scare you and Dad away...¡±


    Wen Qingyu laughed at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, and just as she was about to say something more, the door to the private room was suddenly flung open violently.


    ¡°Yo, there¡¯s quite a feast here!¡± A sarcastic voice rang out in the room.


    Five or six ruffian-looking men barged in, surrounding Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu.


    The person closest to the door then closed it again from the inside.


    Their ill-intended gaze swept over the two individuals in the room, and their smiles grew even sleazier.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s expression instantly darkened as she said sharply, ¡°You¡¯ve walked into the wrong room, haven¡¯t you? Please leave now!¡±


    The bald leader rubbed his head, laughing lecherously, ¡°Hahahaha... I haven¡¯t got the wrong room, I was looking for you! Didn¡¯t expect to find a big one and get a little bonus, what a pleasant surprise!¡±


    As he spoke, he directly pulled something out of his chest and slammed it onto the table¡ª

 Chapter 189 - 189 189 Do I Need to Tell You How to Handle It

    ?Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Do I Need to Tell You How to Handle It? Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Do I Need to Tell You How to Handle It? There were a few photos on the table, apparently taken from a distance, yet the person in them was clearly Wen Qingyu.


    It seemed that the mastermind behind this had been following her for a long time.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows instantly furrowed.


    Wen Qingyu had only recently arrived in the country; it was unlikely she had any enemies. Additionally, having just offended the Lu Family, it was quite obvious who had sent these people.


    The Lu Family was indeed audacious, and it seemed they were not afraid of being exposed as the masterminds.


    As Lu Zhaozhao was contemplating how to prevent Wen Qingyu from getting hurt, a chilling voice rang in her ears.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid if you can¡¯t touch the big ones, you can¡¯t even touch the small ones.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao instinctively looked over and saw Wen Qingyu¡¯s hand gently resting on the bald man¡¯s hand.


    The bald man¡¯s face lit up with joy, ¡°They say women in their thirties are like wolves, forties like tigers, you this lady... ah!!!¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when his fingers were twisted, accompanied by his screams.


    Lu Zhaozhao herself was startled by Wen Qingyu¡¯s action.


    In her memory, Wen Qingyu was always gentle and excessively kind.


    Wen Qingyu disdainfully glanced at the screaming bald man, then turned her gaze to Lu Zhaozhao and put on a bright smile.


    She winked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Today is our mother-daughter truth session, let me show you something different.¡±


    Saying that, she picked up a fork from the table and used it to pin up her long hair.


    Immediately after, she beat up several thugs in front of her as swift as lightning.


    Wen Qingyu moved gracefully and fiercely, nothing like her usual gentle demeanor.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shocked eyes blinked, and her mouth opened, but she found herself at a loss for words.


    Realizing it belatedly, Wen Qingyu became anxious. She immediately embraced Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, did these people scare you? Don¡¯t be afraid, mommy will take care of them right away!¡±


    With that, she snapped her fingers twice towards the room, and almost instantly, several men in black appeared at the doorway.


    ¡°Take them all out, no need for further instructions, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, madam.¡±


    Almost as their voices faded, the men who had just entered were all dragged away.


    Their swift actions almost made Lu Zhaozhao question if everything that had just happened was her imagination.


    Lu Zhaozhao paused for a moment, then slowly began, ¡°Those people just now were...¡±


    ¡°They are your father¡¯s men, usually they stay close to me and only appear when I¡¯m in danger or when I call them,¡±


    On hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao felt puzzled.


    If they were there to protect Wen Qingyu, why didn¡¯t they stop the ruffians when they came in?


    The confusion in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes was clear to Wen Qingyu. She chuckled sheepishly, ¡°It¡¯s not often I get to exercise like this; they didn¡¯t want to spoil my fun...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao never expected such a reason; even she was a bit shocked.


    But on second thought, as the wife of the chairman of XJ Group, it really would be hard to maintain her position without some skills.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t spoken, Wen Qingyu pursed her lips, worriedly watching her, ¡°Zhaozhao, are you feeling unwell? Do you want mommy to take you to the doctor now?¡±


    She originally just didn¡¯t want to keep hiding things from Lu Zhaozhao, but she hadn¡¯t expected to go a bit too far.


    Lu Zhaozhao lightly shook her head and said with amusement, ¡°No, I¡¯m just a bit surprised. I didn¡¯t expect my mom to be so incredible.¡±


    ...


    This made Wen Qingyu feel a bit embarrassed.


    Lu Zhaozhao, propping up her chin, continued, ¡°The mastermind behind this is likely the Lu Family. If it weren¡¯t for me, this wouldn¡¯t have...¡±


    ¡°Child,¡± before Lu Zhaozhao could finish, Wen Qingyu immediately tightly grasped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand.


    ¡°The bad people in the Lu Family have nothing to do with you. Even if you did nothing, they would still be bad. Do you understand?¡±


    Wen Qingyu thought about the hardships Lu Zhaozhao faced growing up in the Lu Family and how hard she had struggled to finally escape that misery, only to still suffer emotional torment.


    She absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow it.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s brow slightly raised, a coldness swiftly swept through her eyes, ¡°If you¡¯re willing, the Lu Family could disappear right now.¡±


    Her tone was very firm, without a hint of hesitation.


    Although they were overseas with XJ Group, they had Song Sinian in the domestic scene. If Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t mind, couldn¡¯t their Xia Family and Song Sinian join hands to destroy the Lu Group?


    Lu Zhaozhao decisively shook her head, ¡°No need.¡±


    As Wen Qingyu worried, she heard Lu Zhaozhao say word by word, ¡°I want them to pay the price for their actions! Disappearing too easily would let them off too lightly.¡±


    This immediately invigorated Wen Qingyu, ¡°Good! I¡¯ll follow your lead. Is there anything I can help with right now?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, as if suddenly thinking of something, ¡°Actually, there is one thing the Xia Family could help with...¡±


    Saying this, she briefly shared her plan with Wen Qingyu.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you sure this is okay? If news of the mine spreads, wouldn¡¯t the Lu Family become even more arrogant?¡± Wen Qingyu¡¯s brows raised questioningly.


    Lu Zhaozhao intended for the Xia Family to help spread the word about the Lu Group¡¯s mine producing purple jade rough stones.


    If the outside world knew, the Lu Family¡¯s arrogance would surely surge.


    Lu Zhaozhao understood what Wen Qingyu was worried about.


    She lightly chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s the point. I want them to be so arrogant that they ignore everyone else. That¡¯s when it will be effective.¡±


    Seeing Wen Qingyu¡¯s expression grow more solemn, Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand to pat her back, reassuringly said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. The Lu Family¡¯s mine absolutely cannot produce any purple jade rough stones, they can barely extract any decent rough stones at all.¡±


    In the last life, those two highly-sought-after mines were just like that, and this life was naturally no exception.


    The resources of the Lu Group¡¯s double-purchased mine couldn¡¯t even make back a fraction of their cost, let alone be believed by anyone out loud, right?


    Listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s confident tone, Wen Qingyu suddenly realized something, ¡°This... could it be the results from Song Sinian¡¯s investigation?¡±


    If those two popular mines could not even produce a few batches of decent rough stones, the more they promote it now, the worse the Lu Family would crash later.


    It was indeed a good idea.


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly tugged at the corner of her mouth, tacitly agreeing.


    After all, she couldn¡¯t reveal the matters of her past life to Wen Qingyu.


    Song Sinian, who knew the most now and always stayed aligned with her, would take the blame no matter what was pushed onto him.


    Thus, Lu Zhaozhao naturally didn¡¯t explain further.


    According to the timeline of her previous life, the Lu Group had been mining for a while now; they should have noticed something was wrong by now.


    The good days for the Lu Family had come to an end...

 Chapter 190 - 190 190 You Debuted on the Basis of Your Good

    ?Chapter 190: Chapter 190: You Debuted on the Basis of Your Good Looks! Chapter 190: Chapter 190: You Debuted on the Basis of Your Good Looks! Thanks to the Song Family¡¯s blessings, the Lu Group¡¯s Jade Vein had unearthed rough stones of purple jade that became a hot topic.


    Many who cooperated with the Lu Group wanted to get their hands on these rough stones first, but Lu Dagui simply couldn¡¯t deliver them.


    The more he tried to explain to the partners, the more they thought he wanted to hold out for a higher price. After three consecutive days, Lu Dagui had already seen seven partnerships fall through.


    He simply stayed at home, pretending to be sick and refusing to go out.


    Cao Mei had never seen Lu Dagui look so terrible; even when the company was facing financial issues, he hadn¡¯t looked so worried and distressed.


    Sitting beside Lu Dagui, she asked, ¡°Master, has something happened to the company recently?¡±


    Lu Dagui sighed lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t know who spread the rumors that our company¡¯s vein had unearthed purple jade rough stones. Now those partners come to me every day demanding the stones...¡±


    Thinking of this, Lu Dagui¡¯s brows furrowed.


    To say nothing of purple jade rough stones, the mining so far had only turned up inconspicuous pebbles; almost no significant rough stones had been found.


    That was the state of the mine excavation up to this point.


    Though he still held out hope for the rest of the Jade Vein, he couldn¡¯t put together enough rough stones for trading right now.


    Clenching her teeth, Cao Mei angrily said, ¡°It¡¯s all because of that shameless wretch Lu Zhaozhao. If it wasn¡¯t for her brother participating in the bidding, our family wouldn¡¯t have had to pay such a high price for those two veins.¡±


    At the time, Lu Dagui, having successfully acquired the two veins, had entirely put that matter out of mind.


    Now that he thought about it, it was indeed Xia Wenjue who had been constantly competing against him.


    Lu Dagui¡¯s ancient and calculating eyes narrowed, ¡°It seems that the lesson taught to their mother was too light...¡±


    ¡°Ding-dong¡ªDing-dong¡ª¡±


    While he was speaking, the villa¡¯s doorbell suddenly rang.


    Lu Dagui was already irritable; then he heard the scream of a servant at the door.


    Lu Dagui and Cao Mei immediately stood up and walked toward the villa¡¯s entrance, only to be shocked by the scene that greeted them.


    The ruffians Lu Dagui had paid for were thrown at their doorstep, twisted into grotesque angles, with all their limbs bending perversely.


    Most menacing of all, the top one had a stark white sign around his neck.


    Bloodied lettering on it clearly read¡ªYou¡¯re next.


    Cao Mei, who had never seen such a terrifying sight, collapsed to the ground with her legs giving out.


    ¡°Should we, should we call the police?¡±


    She shivered for a long time before managing to utter a complete sentence.


    As soon as she spoke, Lu Dagui sharply replied, ¡°Call the police? Have you lost your mind?!¡±


    These were the men they had hired to deal with Wen Qingyu. Not only had they been crippled, but they were also dumped right at their doorstep.


    It was clear provocation.


    They were so brazen because they were confident that the Lu Family wouldn¡¯t dare call the police or even if they did, couldn¡¯t touch them.


    It could even backfire terribly.


    Thinking this, Lu Dagui promptly had someone deal with the men at the door and pulled Cao Mei back into the living room.


    His expression serious, he said, ¡°It looks like I need to have a good talk with Mr. Justin about Jin¡¯s situation as soon as possible.¡±


    Since the Lu Family¡¯s reputation was currently strong, marrying Xia Wenjin to Justin would ensure that even if the Lu Family really faced troubles, Justin wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch.


    Cao Mei didn¡¯t know Lu Dagui¡¯s plan; she just thought he was worried about Xia Wenjin¡¯s safety, so he made this decision.


    She naturally nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, yes, you absolutely can¡¯t let Song Keren get there first.¡±


    Currently, the Lu Family had a good reputation; it wouldn¡¯t be hard for them to secure Justin, but if Song Keren took advantage of the Song Family¡¯s help, that would be a different story.


    They had to strike first!


    Lu Dagui glanced at Cao Mei, seemingly in agreement, and nodded, ¡°What¡¯s Jin¡¯s schedule lately?¡±


    It was then that Cao Mei seemed to have an epiphany, ¡°Tomorrow, Jin is going to participate in a live broadcast variety show, I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s a very popular slow living variety show. To prepare for this program, I went shopping with Jin a few days ago to buy several outfits.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lu Dagui nodded thoughtfully.


    The title of a popular artist would definitely add points to Xia Wenjin.


    That would give him another bargaining chip when he negotiated with Justin...


    His biological daughter, she ought to be worth more than Lu Zhaozhao, the adopted girl, right?


    The next day, at the ¡°Come and Eat¡± live broadcast variety show filming site.


    As permanent guests, Xia Wenyan, Pei Huai, and Du Miao¡¯er arrived early at the temporary villa used for filming.


    The villa had two floors; the second floor had eight guest rooms, while the first floor was mainly used for filming.


    From the start of the live broadcast, Xia Wenyan¡¯s expression was noticeably grim.


    He participated in the ¡°Come and Eat¡± live broadcast variety show only to fill an empty slot in his schedule.


    He didn¡¯t expect the director to secretly bring in Xia Wenjin as a special guest without telling him.


    Before she even appeared last night, he had been completely unaware!


    So now, seeing Xia Wenjin dragging her luggage and pretending it was her first day, his expression couldn¡¯t merely be described as ¡°sour.¡±


    [Crescent Beibei: Is Xia Wenyan trying to kill us with laughter? When he heard that the special guest was Xia Wenjin, his face was just too real, right?]


    [Xia Wenyan¡¯s Official Girlfriend: Is baby Yanyan trying to become a comedian? Baby!!! Have you forgotten? You debuted on your looks!!!]


    [T Someone: Xia Wenyan is just too ungallant, after all, she was once your sister, is this necessary?]


    [Soy Milk: To the one saying ¡°Is this necessary,¡± don¡¯t run away! If your biological sister was bullied by your foster sister, even plotting to take indecent photos, could you tolerate it?]


    [ure Azure: Don¡¯t preach benevolence to others without tasting their hardships.]


    ...


    For a moment, the entire live broadcast room became lively because of Xia Wenjin¡¯s appearance and Xia Wenyan¡¯s stern face.


    Although the director was a bit worried that Xia Wenyan might walk out, seeing the live room¡¯s heat surpass the usual levels, he became excited.


    He cleared his throat and said simply, ¡°Today our Dining House welcomes three new guests, and accordingly, some of our previous rules will be changed.¡±


    Film Emperor Pei Huai quickly caught the key point, ¡°Three guests today? Who¡¯s the last one then?¡±


    He glanced at Xia Wenjin with her luggage and Yin Zhuhai standing next to her, his eyebrows slightly raised.


    During normal live broadcasts, it was always a pattern of 3+2 guests, but today there was an extra one?


    The director nodded repeatedly, ¡°That¡¯s right, we have a mystery guest today. The Dining House will be divided into three teams, with pairs completing tasks together, and it must be one male and one female. Everyone can now choose whom they want to team up with, and the one left will team up with the mystery guest.¡±


    Xia Wenyan felt a headache just glancing at Xia Wenjin, let alone teaming up with her.


    As for the mystery guest who was yet to appear, even though he now guessed it would be a girl, he wasn¡¯t sure who it might be, so Xia Wenyan was a bit hesitant.


    On the other hand, Pei Huai quickly made up his mind...

 Chapter 191 - 191 191 Is This Jealousy

    ?Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Is This Jealousy? Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Is This Jealousy? He cleared his throat lightly, ¡°Since she¡¯s a guest, we can¡¯t let her be alone. As one of the hosts of the Dining House, I naturally have to take good care of this guest.¡±


    His implication was obvious¡ªhe wanted to team up with the mystery guest.


    Upon seeing this, Xia Wenyan immediately raised his hand to signal, ¡°I want to team up with Miao¡¯er!¡±


    He already disliked Xia Wenjin, so his targets for forming a team were only Du Miao¡¯er and the mystery guest. Now that Pei Huai had chosen the mystery guest, his only option left was Du Miao¡¯er.


    If he didn¡¯t choose now, considering the director¡¯s nature, there was a good chance he would be paired with Xia Wenjin.


    He might as well die!


    Sure enough, as soon as he spoke out, the director¡¯s eyebrows furrowed.


    The purpose of teaming up was to intensify conflicts. He had just been considering how to make Xia Wenjin and Xia Wenyan team up when Pei Huai beat him to the punch.


    The timing was perfect, but Xia Wenyan had spoken up first.


    Just as he was about to add a new rule, he heard Pei Huai speak again, ¡°Sorry, our Yanyan is just worried about Miao¡¯er being shy, as she is the youngest sister in the Dining House. Plus, the two guests came together and must be familiar with each other by now, which makes teaming up more convenient.¡±


    The ¡°bullet screen¡± comments exploded because of Pei Huai¡¯s words.


    [Huating Seeking Yanyan: Oh my god!! Mama! The CP (Couple Pairing) I ship is real! No matter how our Yanyan phrased it, Mr. Pei always has his back, hahaha, it¡¯s true love, no doubts...]


    [Tan Duo Fish Fish: Tsk tsk, Mr. Pei. Just spoil him!]


    [Leave White 10 Percent: You in front, shipping everything will only hurt you.]


    [Tan Duo Fish Fish: Shipping everything keeps my nutrition balanced!]


    ...


    Watching the live stream room heat up again, the director had to temporarily abandon the idea of announcing a new rule.


    He cleared his throat lightly, ¡°The new guest will arrive at the Dining House at noon, so everyone can go ahead and receive your tasks.¡±


    The director had just finished speaking when he heard the assistant director run over, ¡°Director, the mystery guest has already arrived.¡±


    The director was also surprised, but thinking about the potential for a massive brawl in their live stream room after the appearance of the mystery guest, the thought excited him.


    After watching all the guest teams draw their Task Cards, the director continued, ¡°We¡¯ve just been informed that our mystery guest has arrived. Everyone can guess her identity¡ªshe¡¯s familiar with two of the guests present.¡±


    The whole live stream room also started to guess.


    [Familiar with two guests present, that¡¯s such a broad range, where do we even start guessing?]


    [Could it be Mr. Pei¡¯s friend? No, my CP must not have a Bad End!]


    [Aside from Mr. Pei, everyone on this show is low-profile. Maybe someone else who¡¯s familiar is low-profile too?]


    [Our Xia Wenjin is not low-profile! She¡¯s a hot young star!]


    [To the one before, you might want to get checked for delusions. Du Miao¡¯er has starred as the leading actress in three dramas and her fans don¡¯t dare call her a hot young star, yet an internet celebrity with a scandal-ridden reputation dares to claim she¡¯s hot?]


    ...


    Seeing the intense discussion in the live stream room, the director added another clue, ¡°This person also blew up recently but is still a non-celebrity...¡±


    Once he said this, the people in the live stream room immediately understood.


    [It¡¯s the National Sister! Wuli Yanyan¡¯s Lu Zhaozhao!]


    [Can¡¯t be, right? If it¡¯s really the sister, wouldn¡¯t Yanyan know?]


    [Looking at the expression of that moron, it¡¯s impossible, impossible...]


    [Above, looking at that moron¡¯s expression, it¡¯s not impossible.]


    [...]


    Just as the discussion in the live stream room was especially heated, the popularity of the broadcast had already broken through 3 million.


    This made the director excited.


    Their live-streaming show had been small-budget from the start, and when Pei Huai joined last time, he felt like he had hit the jackpot.


    Later, Lu Zhaozhao took the initiative to appear as a mystery guest and even added investment, making the director dizzy with happiness.


    Now, watching the hot topic climb, he felt like the sponsors were waving at him!


    Since they didn¡¯t know who the newcomer was, all the guests present casually guessed a name.


    Seeing the effect he wanted was fully achieved, the director immediately opened the door and let Lu Zhaozhao in.


    For a moment, the expressions of the guests present varied, with Xia Wenyan immediately running over and hugging her, ¡°Zhaozhao, how come you¡¯re here?¡±


    Following that, as if he had thought of something, he immediately said to Pei Huai, ¡°Pei Huai, I want to switch teams with you, I want to be on the same team as my sister!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was hugged by Xia Wenyan so tightly she couldn¡¯t move, and she looked at her excessively excited fourth brother with a bit of a cry and a laugh.


    She had appeared as a mystery guest precisely because she was worried Xia Wenyan would be too impulsive.


    She had thought that he might restrain himself a little in front of the cameras, but now it seemed she had thought too much.


    Pei Huai gently pressed his temples and walked over to ¡°pluck¡± Xia Wenyan away from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side.


    His voice was gentle, ¡°Yanyan, if you scare the mystery guest away, who¡¯ll be on my team?¡±


    Then, he held Xia Wenyan in his arms and smiled at Lu Zhaozhao, nodding, ¡°Hello, Zhao Mei, welcome to the Dining House. I¡¯m Pei Huai.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao also nodded, but her gaze at Pei Huai clearly held a trace of surprise.


    Pei Huai...


    The popular movie star.


    In her previous life, she had heard this name, not because she cared about the entertainment industry that much.


    Aside from the scandal of her brother, the popular idol Xia Wenyan, suddenly dying from drug overdose, another shocking news that rocked the Shangjing Circle was the serial murder case involving movie star Pei Huai.


    She remembered that just over a month after Xia Wenyan¡¯s death, this news broke, and many said the entertainment industry was finished.


    So, the impression was very deep for her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed, and when she looked at Pei Huai again, her eyes were somewhat complicated.


    She really couldn¡¯t tell that this gentle and elegant man before her was a murderer.


    At that time, her attention was elsewhere, and she didn¡¯t pay much attention to the details of the case.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips silently and sighed. When did such a dangerous person appear by her fourth brother¡¯s side?


    [Wow, is Mr. Pei getting jealous?]


    [Ah!!! Sibling CP for the win!]


    [Did no one on scene notice Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression? Her face is as black as the bottom of a pot!]


    [Director, you¡¯re so good, are you trying to stir things up?! Ahahaha, I love it!]


    [Let¡¯s get it started, let¡¯s get it started~~~]


    Seeing the audience in the live stream room grow another wave in number, the director¡¯s eyes practically shone.


    ¡°Alright, now that everyone has arrived, let¡¯s follow the usual routine and start with a simple self-introduction.¡±


    No sooner had the director finished speaking than the live broadcast camera focused on the several people present.


    Normally, they would start with new guests according to the order of arrival, so the live broadcast camera first turned to Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Hello, everyone, I¡¯m Xia Wenjin, the recently popular beauty of Yuqing University, and currently...¡±

 Chapter 192 - 192 192 Absorbing the Aura of Europe

    ?Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Absorbing the Aura of Europe Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Absorbing the Aura of Europe ¡°Hahaha...¡±


    Before Xia Wenjin could finish, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but be the first to laugh, showing no mercy.


    Though their show was a slow-pace variety, they would occasionally use teleprompters.


    That last bit of dialogue was supposed to be used during the director¡¯s introduction; unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin had actually read it aloud.


    Xia Wenjin had obviously realized this mistake as well, and his face turned sour on the spot.


    Fortunately, Yin Zhuhai saw Xia Wenjin¡¯s embarrassment and immediately took over, ¡°Hello everyone, I am Yin Zhuhai, not so hot but wanting to blow up, from Country M.¡±


    The atmosphere on set lightened considerably because of Yin Zhuhai¡¯s self-deprecating humor.


    Next up was Lu Zhaozhao who chuckled lightly, ¡°I am a student from Yuqing University, Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    Xia Wenyan, unsatisfied, muttered, ¡°Everyone else thickens their face to introduce themselves as the campus belle, and you don¡¯t know to add a few more lines?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pulled a smile, yet secretly pinched Xia Wenyan¡¯s waist.


    She approached Xia Wenyan with a forced smile and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s your turn to introduce yourself.¡±


    Xia Wenyan immediately looked like a wronged puppy, pitifully saying, ¡°Hello, everyone, I am Zhaozhao¡¯s brother.¡±


    Pei Huai, sitting beside him, tilted his head, glanced at Xia Wenyan, and spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°Hello everyone, I am Zhaozhao¡¯s brother in this house.¡±


    Du Miao¡¯er followed suit, ¡°Hello everyone, I am Zhaozhao¡¯s brother¡¯s sister in this house.¡±


    [Well, folks, for the sake of getting a sister, they¡¯ve all lost their names.]


    [Yanyan baby, you¡¯re killing me with laughter, are you sure you¡¯re not on your way to becoming a comedian?]


    [Mr. Pei, aren¡¯t you going to take care of your Yanyan?!]


    [Another day dreaming of soul-swapping into a sister~]


    ...


    Seeing the heat rising, the director immediately let everyone start on their tasks.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai were responsible for going out to catch fish.


    Xia Wenjin and Yin Zhuhai were in charge of taking care of the animals in the cottage.


    Xia Wenyan and Du Miao¡¯er were tasked with gathering mushrooms on the mountain.


    Upon hearing that Lu Zhaozhao was going to catch fish, Xia Wenyan became unsettled, ¡°How can my sister and Brother Pei catch any fish? One is delicate, and the other is frail; they are both powerless!¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help twitching the corner of her mouth.


    Xia Wenyan had indeed applied a rather thick filter on her and Pei Huai.


    Leaving her aside, how could someone capable of a serial murder be powerless?


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze unconsciously swept over Pei Huai.


    Perhaps her stare was too obvious, for Pei Huai suddenly turned to her and locked eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a chill and instinctively looked away.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyelids drooped, noticing her strange look, his eyes showing noticeable complexity.


    But this emotion lasted only a moment and was quickly hidden.


    He chuckled lightly, looking at Xia Wenyan, his eyes and brows once again reflecting his usual gentle demeanor.


    ¡°Since Yanyan has said so, why don¡¯t you and Miao¡¯er come with us to the fish pond? Once we catch enough fish, we can all go mushroom picking together.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes lit up, he immediately grabbed Pei Huai¡¯s neck, all smiles, ¡°That settles it! More hands make light work!¡±


    He went on to wink at Du Miao¡¯er, ¡°Miao¡¯er, later just stay cool under the tree with Zhaozhao, and leave the fishing to us brothers!¡±


    ¡°Okay~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned as she watched Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai getting along so intimately.


    She couldn¡¯t determine if Pei Huai was a friend or foe, so she couldn¡¯t afford to make assumptions anymore.


    Because she thought that in the previous life, Xia Wenyan died due to drug abuse and he protected Xia Wenjin, she had automatically categorized him as a bad guy.


    She had not considered if there was anything suspicious about his death in the previous life.


    Since she intended to protect the Xia Family, she had to stay calm, especially since Pei Huai¡¯s murder incident was still a long way off.


    Lu Zhaozhao went to the fish pond with Du Miao¡¯er, Xia Wenyan, and Pei Huai.


    Xia Wenyan valiantly got into the water to catch fish, but unfortunately, it was as if the fishes in the pond had conspired against him, not a single one took pity on him.


    Despite his long struggle in the water, he failed to catch a single fish.


    Xia Wenyan had wanted to show off in front of Lu Zhaozhao, but he didn¡¯t expect such an embarrassing failure.


    And Pei Huai, who was only responsible for assisting Xia Wenyan, ended up with an empty basket after half an hour of toil.


    [Hahaha... Is Yanyan really seriously fishing?]


    [Yanyan is really ¡®swimming¡¯! Literally swimming!]


    [With Yan Bao¡¯s skill, they probably won¡¯t catch any fish even by nightfall.]


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao noticed Xia Wenyan¡¯s predicament and silently sighed, glancing at the fishing spears near her feet.


    ¡°Should we give them different fishing tools?¡±


    Du Miao¡¯er, with her chin propped in her hands, watched the two men in the pond and nodded seriously, ¡°Then I¡¯ll call our two brothers back.¡±


    ¡°No need, no need,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s deliver it to them.¡±


    Du Miao¡¯er nodded and then followed Lu Zhaozhao, carrying the fishing spears to the edge of the pond.


    Their actions were soon noticed by Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai.


    ¡°Brother Pei! Brother Xia! Dodge, we¡¯re bringing you fishing spears!¡±


    Suddenly, Du Miao¡¯er¡¯s voice rang out.


    Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan exchanged glances and silently moved aside.


    The next second, Lu Zhaozhao picked up two fishing spears and ¡°whoosh,¡± threw them into the pond.


    Since the water level in the fishing pond wasn¡¯t high, both spears stuck into the muddy bottom, slanting upright.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenyan immediately went over to the spears and pulled one out.


    But as he lifted it, he felt the weight on the spear.


    While he was confused, he saw that the lifted spear had impaled a lively fish.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai were both taken aback.


    However, Xia Wenyan quickly reacted, ¡°It¡¯s no loss having a sister like mine; even a random throw can spear a fish.¡±


    He immediately removed the fish and placed it in the basket, only to see Pei Huai pull out the other spear, upon which were impaled two fish.


    Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai exchanged incredulous looks, then silently stared at the fish-laden spears.


    This accuracy could only be explained as ¡°arcane.¡±


    [Hahaha, oh my gosh, when did Dining House become a comedy variety show?]


    [Yan Bao is going to retreat inwardly, struggling for half an hour, yet not as quick as a flick of his sister¡¯s wrist.]


    [Sister¡¯s luck is unbelievable!!!! I¡¯m going to share this sister¡¯s luck.]


    The barrage of comments overlaid on the original screen, and no one noticed that Pei Huai¡¯s expression had subtly changed as he looked towards Lu Zhaozhao...

 Chapter 193 - 193 193 What Does It Mean That She Shouldnt Be

    ?Chapter 193: Chapter 193: What Does It Mean That She Shouldn¡¯t Be Here? Chapter 193: Chapter 193: What Does It Mean That She Shouldn¡¯t Be Here? Because Lu Zhaozhao had thrown two spear-like fish forks, the fishing task was easily completed, so the group handed over the fish to the filming crew and then went up the mountain together.


    Since filming would only start when they reached the destination, the group had some free time.


    Xia Wenyan took the lead and picked up the bamboo basket, and hurried over to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side with the basket on his back.


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a grin and whispered, ¡°Zhaozhao, if you feel tired later, just let Brother Four know, and I¡¯ll cover for you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Although climbing was physically demanding, it wasn¡¯t much of a pressure for her.


    She glanced at Pei Huai not far away and casually asked, ¡°Are you and Pei Huai close friends?¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao mention Pei Huai right off the bat, Xia Wenyan suddenly became nervous, ¡°Zhaozhao, you¡¯re not falling for Pei Huai, are you? Although he doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend, it seems like you¡¯re not single...¡±


    He stopped mid-sentence, seemingly pondering something seriously.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in Pei Huai, I just noticed you seemed close, so I asked.¡±


    Relieved, Xia Wenyan said, ¡°Oh, I see. I thought you were falling for...¡±


    He cut off his words there and, seeing the sharp look in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, he awkwardly chuckled.


    Then he changed his words, ¡°I wasn¡¯t familiar with Mr. Pei before, but we became friends after coming to ¡®Come and Eat House.''¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, glanced at Pei Huai again, but their eyes met.


    Unlike before, Lu Zhaozhao distinctly felt a coldness in his gaze.


    She immediately looked away, realizing Pei Huai was indeed a dangerous person.


    It was best not to provoke him now.


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t expect was that Pei Huai didn¡¯t give her a chance to avoid him and approached her actively after sending Xia Wenyan away.


    When Pei Huai appeared, Lu Zhaozhao was crouching under a tree, pinching a mushroom and recalling details from her past life.


    She didn¡¯t even notice the shadow that appeared over her.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here.¡±


    Suddenly, a chilly voice rang out.


    Lu Zhaozhao was clearly stunned for a moment and looked up at the tall man before her.


    His scholarly and gentle expression had almost completely withdrawn in an instant, leaving only his dark eyes staring intently at her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows noticeably furrowed, puzzled by his words.


    What did he mean she shouldn¡¯t be here?


    ¡°Am I bothering Mr. Pei by being here?¡± Lu Zhaozhao responded indifferently, though she still maintained a polite smile on her face.


    Pei Huai was popular and had resources; he really didn¡¯t need to participate in such a trivial variety show.


    Compared to her, a relatively unknown actress, Pei Huai seemed even more out of place here.


    Wondering whether it was because of his soon-to-become a serial killer, Lu Zhaozhao looked at Pei Huai with a hint of caution in her eyes.


    Pei Huai looked her over, slowly squatting down and picked up the mushroom from the ground, and said quietly, ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡±


    As he spoke, he tugged at the corner of his mouth, giving Lu Zhaozhao a professional smile.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up, her gaze towards Pei Huai carrying a bit of confusion.


    She, too, pulled at the corner of her mouth, revealing a standard insincere smile, ¡°Why would I be? You are the gentle and refined Mr. Pei.¡±


    Pei Huai continued watching Lu Zhaozhao for a while, then suddenly returned to his warm demeanor, ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re Yanyan¡¯s sister, always as lovely in speech.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was utterly puzzled by Pei Huai¡¯s sudden 180-degree change, her face full of question marks.


    Is he schizophrenic?


    So is this why the future will be so crazy?


    While Lu Zhaozhao was wondering, she heard Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice coming, ¡°Zhaozhao, would you like some water? I brought the passionfruit lime tea that you used to love at home!¡±


    Pei Huai, with a smile in his eyes, looked at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Is there any for me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course, how could I forget Brother Pei~¡±


    As he spoke, Xia Wenyan handed him a bottle of water.


    Pei Huai¡¯s double standards left Lu Zhaozhao wide-eyed in amazement.


    If he were just a minor celebrity, she might have suspected that he knew Xia Wenyan¡¯s true identity.


    But clearly, Pei Huai had no need for that.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes and silently took the passionfruit lime tea that Xia Wenyan opened for her.


    If Pei Huai truly considered Xia Wenyan a friend, wouldn¡¯t he also be kinder to her, seeing her as a sister by association?


    But he didn¡¯t act that way...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s doubtful gaze fixed on Pei Huai, and suddenly she felt she couldn¡¯t understand him.


    Meanwhile, at ¡°Dining House,¡± Xia Wenjin and Yin Zhuhai had also finished shooting and returned to their rooms to rest.


    As soon as Xia Wenjin entered her room, she called Cao Mei.


    Soon, the call was answered.


    Almost in tears, Xia Wenjin said, ¡°Mom! You need to have dad ask the production team what¡¯s going on, they actually invited Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    She had planned to use her and Xia Wenyan¡¯s conversation to stir up some buzz and increase popularity.


    After all, in front of the cameras, Xia Wenyan might restrain himself a bit and treat her well.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao came to the show just like her and even appeared as a mystery guest.


    She completely stole her thunder!


    Just thinking about this, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but become irritable.


    On the other end of the call, Cao Mei also hadn¡¯t anticipated Lu Zhaozhao participating in a variety show.


    Her brow furrowed instantly, ¡°Baby, did that bitch bully you on the show?¡±


    Xia Wenjin opened her mouth, remembering Xia Wenyan¡¯s double standards on the show, and her face turned even uglier.


    ¡°She¡¯s really good at pretending in front of the cameras, to the point that now everyone else is isolating me, wuwuwu...¡±


    Hearing Xia Wenjin crying, Cao Mei¡¯s fists clenched, and suddenly it seemed she had remembered something.


    ¡°Jin, isn¡¯t the artist who went with you from the same agency?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was taken aback, then recalled that Yin Zhuhai indeed was from the same entertainment company as her.


    She hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, ¡°Yes, there¡¯s someone named Yin Zhuhai...¡±


    But he wasn¡¯t a big star, she didn¡¯t understand why Cao Mei was bringing him up now.


    Could she really expect this artist to trouble Lu Zhaozhao?


    With Xia Wenyan around, that was impossible.


    It could backfire horribly and tarnish their company¡¯s reputation, resulting in a loss not worth the risk.


    Hearing her, Cao Mei quickly said, ¡°That Yin Zhuhai, I remember he looks quite good...¡±


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re not suggesting I form a couple with him for publicity, are you?¡± As soon as Xia Wenjin heard this, her brow furrowed.


    Her popularity was much higher than Yin Zhuhai¡¯s; pairing up with him for publicity would definitely be a downgrade for her!

 Chapter 194 - 194 194 Someone is Coveting Your Cabbage

    ?Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Someone is Coveting Your Cabbage! Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Someone is Coveting Your Cabbage! Cao Mei chuckled, ¡°Silly child, how could I let you do such a thing? I just think that the artist¡¯s appearance is not bad, if we could make him exert some pressure on Lu Zhaozhao...¡±


    Xia Wenjin rubbed her temples with her hand, ¡°Mom, what are you thinking? With a man like Song Sinian by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side, how could she possibly take a liking to Yin Zhuhai?¡±


    Even she wouldn¡¯t.


    After all, Song Sinian and Yin Zhuhai were not in the same league.


    Cao Mei¡¯s laughter came over from the other end of the phone, ¡°The crux of the matter isn¡¯t to make Lu Zhaozhao fall for that artist, but to make Song Sinian believe that those two are involved with each other, as for whether it¡¯s true or false, does that really matter?¡±


    Xia Wenjin immediately understood Cao Mei¡¯s meaning.


    As long as Song Sinian believed Lu Zhaozhao was cheating, it no longer mattered whether she really was or not!


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of admiration at the bottom of her heart, indeed, the old ginger is hotter than the new!


    After the live broadcast ended that morning, all the guests returned to the Dining House.


    Because of Pei Huai¡¯s confusing behavior earlier, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want to get too involved with him, so she tried her best to avoid spending time alone with him when not broadcasting.


    As soon as she got back to the Dining House, Lu Zhaozhao immediately ran to the second-floor rest area.


    But as soon as she turned to the second-floor corner, she ran into Yin Zhuhai, a guest who had come to join the show.


    He was holding a stack of things in his hands, which seemed like props that were to be used for the live broadcast.


    Lu Zhaozhao asked subconsciously, ¡°Do you need help?¡±


    Yin Zhuhai politely chuckled at her, then spoke with a bit of embarrassment, ¡°Although it¡¯s not very gentlemanly to have a lady help carry heavy objects, I really do need Miss Lu¡¯s assistance.¡±


    His candid manner didn¡¯t cause any displeasure.


    Lu Zhaozhao casually replied, ¡°Since you¡¯ve asked so sincerely, I definitely should help.¡±


    She naturally took over the things he was holding and together, they headed towards the direction of the storage room.


    The two chatted casually as they walked.


    Suddenly, Yin Zhuhai said somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Miss Lu, when we reorganize teams for the live broadcast tomorrow, could you pick me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows skeptically, looking puzzledly at Yin Zhuhai.


    He was currently part of a team with Xia Wenjin, if she picked him tomorrow, she guessed it would likely stir up the news again, right?


    Yin Zhuhai, as if seeing through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts, quickly explained, ¡°I¡¯m not intending to have Xia Wenjin step on you, and we¡¯re not really close, we¡¯re just colleagues from the same company.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly, ¡°Do you have any reason for asking to change team members?¡±


    Yin Zhuhai gave a wry smile, ¡°Xia Wenjin and I are from the same company, and almost all of the company¡¯s resources are piled on her alone. This variety show is one of the few good opportunities I have, and if I don¡¯t shine in the upcoming live broadcast, I might never make a name for myself...¡±


    When he said this, the light in his eyes clearly dimmed.


    Filming the show with Xia Wenjin, he indeed couldn¡¯t shine.


    Even if he did, he¡¯d probably have his thunder stolen by Xia Wenjin, right?


    After all, Xia Wenjin was very good at doing so.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed, looking at Yin Zhuhai and asked, ¡°Then why me?¡±


    Yin Zhuhai did not hide it, ¡°Because you have popularity, but you don¡¯t want to be famous, and in addition... during the live broadcast just now, whether intentionally or unintentionally, you tried to avoid Mr. Pei. I was thinking that maybe being teamed up with him made you uncomfortable...¡±


    He said this, glancing at Lu Zhaozhao, then quickly added another sentence, ¡°Of course, the last part is just my speculation, and I apologize if it offends you.¡±


    He looked incredibly sincere, and what he said seemed logical and well-founded.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know what excuse to use to refuse him in that moment.


    After hesitating for a bit, she continued, ¡°Although I really want to help you, I also don¡¯t want to stir up trouble. You should know that my relationship with Xia Wenjin isn¡¯t good to begin with.¡±


    Yin Zhuhai was indeed pitiable, but he wasn¡¯t the only one in the entertainment industry.


    Besides, there were plenty of pitiable people in the world, and she wasn¡¯t a saint; she couldn¡¯t help them all.


    Yin Zhuhai pursed his lips, ¡°If I can find a way to deal with this tricky problem, then could you pick me for your team tomorrow?¡±


    His pathetic gaze at Lu Zhaozhao, his appearance of weakness, reminded her of Song Sinian for a fleeting moment.


    She wondered what he was doing now and if he missed her...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s silence led Yin Zhuhai to assume she agreed.


    He immediately said with a smile in his eyes, ¡°Thank you! Miss Lu! I¡¯ll solve the rest very soon! Just wait for my action!¡±


    With that, he happily left embracing his things.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes widened suddenly, and only after Yin Zhuhai had left did she come to her senses.


    She scratched her head in annoyance, feeling like she had just invited big trouble for herself.


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know at the moment was that Yin Zhuhai, who had just run off, was now standing around the corner of the corridor.


    Only when the footsteps in the hallway faded away did he reveal a smug smile.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t understand what Yin Zhuhai meant by his last remark before leaving.


    It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon livestream started that she realized what his ¡°action¡± was.


    Xia Wenyan was already sticking to her closely during the livestream, nearly assisting her with everything.


    If his help wasn¡¯t needed, he would be doing something else beside her.


    What was supposed to be a 1V1 had now turned into a 1V2.


    Lu Zhaozhao was doing everything with not just Xia Wenyan but also Yin Zhuhai close by her side.


    This gave her a massive headache.


    Xia Wenyan, of course, was not pleased to have someone else vying for his sister¡¯s attention besides him.


    He looked at the man beside him with crossed arms and annoyance, ¡°Yin Zhuhai, don¡¯t you have any other work to do?¡±


    Yin Zhuhai¡¯s face was smiling warmly, his demeanor gentle, ¡°I¡¯ve finished everything else, the only thing I want to do right now is to watch my sister.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth twitched, disdainfully glancing at Yin Zhuhai, ¡°Zhaozhao is my sister. I¡¯m here, you¡¯re not needed.¡±


    His annoyed gaze all but had ¡®don¡¯t look¡¯ written across his face.


    Yin Zhuhai, pretending not to understand, propped his chin with his hands, and swiftly changed the topic, ¡°I rarely see someone who can make an apron look this good...¡±


    Xia Wenyan paused, instinctively looking towards Lu Zhaozhao, then instantly boasted with pride, ¡°That¡¯s right, did you see who¡¯s sister she is~¡±


    [Hahaha, I¡¯m going to die laughing at Yan Bao. One second you¡¯re the protective brother, and the next you¡¯ve been tricked? What¡¯s happening?!]


    [Sister¡¯s really got divine beauty, can¡¯t blame Yanyan and Zhuhai for being infatuated, hahaha, I¡¯d watch too if I were there!]


    [Mr. Pei, save her, your little wife has been brainwashed, hahaha...]


    [Has Yin Zhuhai taken a fancy to sister? Tsk tsk, Yanyan, someone¡¯s after your cabbage!]

 Chapter 195 - 195 195 How Can You Be So Foolish

    ?Chapter 195: Chapter 195: How Can You Be So Foolish? Chapter 195: Chapter 195: How Can You Be So Foolish? ¡°Yin Zhuhai Hugging Cabbages¡± quickly became a trending topic.


    Zhuhai¡¯s candid behavior on the variety show had won over a lot of people.


    With the Lu Family¡¯s people further stirring the pot, there were three trending topics in a row about Yin Zhuhai and Lu Zhaozhao within one day.


    Even many netizens had already started shipping the two as a couple like crazy.


    Dining House was trending hot, and even Zhao Xi, who usually didn¡¯t watch variety shows, knew about it.


    Not to mention, this incident was closely related to Lu Zhaozhao.


    He looked at the trending topics on Weibo, his brows involuntarily furrowing.


    Zhao Xi sat by his desk, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Song Sinian, unsure whether to mention it or not.


    Their Mr. Song usually had such a close relationship with Lu Zhaozhao, surely he wouldn¡¯t believe in such a baseless on-screen couple, right?


    He should, anyway...


    Zhao Xi silently brainwashed himself. Besides, with Xia Wenyan around, it was even less likely for anything to happen between Lu Zhaozhao and Yin Zhuhai.


    Thinking this, Zhao Xi¡¯s whole body relaxed considerably, and only then did he hand over the documents he was holding.


    ¡°Mr. Song, the madam has become a trending topic, do we need to deal with it?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t shift, and he responded indifferently, ¡°If the trending topics aren¡¯t detrimental to Zhaozhao, then there¡¯s no need to pay attention to them.¡±


    Zhao Xi scratched his head, ¡°The trending topic isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing for the madam...¡±


    Hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s hesitant words, Song Sinian finally raised his head to look at the documents at hand.


    He glanced briefly and immediately saw the trending topic related to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s couple pairing.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils paused slightly, and he reached out to turn on the tablet next to him, instantly seeing the interactions compilation for Yin Zhuhai and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s couple super topic.


    Almost instantly, Song Sinian¡¯s face turned dark.


    He casually flipped through more pages, and quickly found Yin Zhuhai¡¯s personal profile, the more he read, the uglier his expression became.


    Zhao Xi clearly felt the tension in the room drop significantly, and hurriedly interjected, ¡°Mr. Song... this is just a couple pairing put together by the show¡¯s crew for entertainment value, it¡¯s all scripted.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t seem to take that in, his face still looking rather displeased.


    Zhao Xi continued, ¡°Well... the madam¡¯s fourth brother is also part of the production team, if Mr. Song is worried, you could call and ask him.¡±


    If talking as a third party didn¡¯t work, asking someone close to the involved party should help clear Lu Zhaozhao of any suspicion, right?


    Song Sinian pushed the tablet aside and looked back with a dark glint in his eyes, ¡°Prepare a car now, I¡¯m heading to the program crew.¡±


    Zhao Xi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the grim expression on Song Sinian¡¯s face, he decided to keep quiet and go prepare the car.


    When Song Sinian arrived at the set, Lu Zhaozhao and the rest were still filming.


    Completely oblivious to Song Sinian¡¯s presence.


    Instead, it was Xia Wenjin, who was eagerly waiting for drama to unfold, who got wind of Song Sinian¡¯s arrival at the set early on.


    Ever since she had secretly approached Yin Zhuhai, she had someone keep watch outside the filming location.


    As soon as Song Sinian arrived at the set, they were to notify her immediately.


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t expected Song Sinian to arrive so quickly and couldn¡¯t help feeling smug.


    She purposely walked over to Yin Zhuhai and whispered, ¡°Brother Zhuhai, I¡¯m about done here, why don¡¯t you see if Zhaozhao needs any help? They have a lot more to do over there.¡±


    Yin Zhuhai immediately caught on, packing the chopped fruits into a glass container and headed straight for Lu Zhaozhao.


    With a smiling face, he announced, ¡°I have prepared some chilled fruits, everyone come and have some quickly.¡±


    He said this, and in front of everyone else, he stuck several toothpicks into the watermelon.


    Hearing this, the other guests all walked toward Yin Zhuhai¡¯s direction.


    Only Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan, who were still picking vegetables, did not.


    ¡°Zhaozhao sister, Brother Yan, here¡¯s some chilled fruit to cool you off,¡± Yin Zhuhai said and carried the plate over to Xia Wenyan.


    Because they were picking vegetables, both Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan were wearing gloves, making it inconvenient to eat.


    Seeing this, Yin Zhuhai immediately grabbed a toothpick and passed it to Xia Wenyan.


    Almost instantly, he felt a chilling presence.


    Yin Zhuhai shivered and couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows.


    Was it his imagination?


    Why did he suddenly feel like the air had gotten much colder?


    Yin Zhuhai quickly dismissed the thought and picked up another toothpick to offer a piece of chilled watermelon to Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Come on, Zhaozhao, Wen Yan had some, you should try a piece too.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao decisively shook her head, ¡°No need, I don¡¯t like chilled watermelon.¡±


    She didn¡¯t have any special feelings for Yin Zhuhai, but he was a bit too enthusiastic toward her.


    Even if it was for showmance, he was trying too hard.


    It made her uncomfortable.


    Hearing this, Yin Zhuhai smiled again, ¡°Sorry, Zhaozhao, I still don¡¯t know you very well, but I will work harder in the future, just like Brother Yan, to be a good brother!¡±


    Xia Wenyan snorted from the side, ¡°You little rascal, at least you¡¯re somewhat perceptive.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°...¡±


    She suddenly wondered if her Fourth Brother was foolish enough to die in her previous life.


    He was usually quite astute, so how could he act so foolishly when it came to his sister?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but sigh and suddenly felt a familiar oppressive presence.


    She glanced over subconsciously, and her gaze collided with Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes.


    Mr. Song from their family had come to visit the set?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, sparks shining in her gaze as she looked at Song Sinian.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s completely different expression, Yin Zhuhai also followed her gaze and saw Song Sinian as well.


    His indifferent eyes seemed to hold no emotion, making it hard to discern his mood.


    But the oppressive feeling at the filming site was quite evident, clearly conveying his irritation.


    The director of the shooting naturally felt it too.


    He wiped the sweat from his forehead, glanced at the nearly appropriate time, and plucked up the courage to end the live broadcast early.


    As soon as the camera went off, Lu Zhaozhao immediately took off her gloves and ran straight towards Song Sinian.


    She practically threw herself into Song Sinian¡¯s arms, her little head tilting up, revealing a pair of curvy, sparkling eyes as she looked at him, ¡°Did you miss me, Mr. Song?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes drooped slightly, and he responded with a nonchalant ¡°Hmm,¡± though his gaze lingered on Yin Zhuhai for a moment.


    After that, with a strong possessive air, he wrapped his arm around her waist and bent down to kiss Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips.


    Lu Zhaozhao too was stunned, yet she allowed Song Sinian to hold her.


    They were already married; kissing and such didn¡¯t necessarily require them to hide it anymore.


    Feeling the acquiescent Lu Zhaozhao in his arms, Song Sinian¡¯s brow pressed down slightly, and taking her wrist, he headed straight for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s resting room...

 Chapter 196 - 196 196 It Seems He Has Given Up Struggling

    ?Chapter 196: Chapter 196: It Seems He Has Given Up Struggling Chapter 196: Chapter 196: It Seems He Has Given Up Struggling Xia Wenyan had intended to follow, but Zhao Xi, who had come with him, stopped him.


    He could tell that Song Sinian¡¯s expression was not good and that Xia Wenyan¡¯s presence would be of no use; it was perhaps better to leave only Lu Zhaozhao there.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao, who had followed Song Sinian through the door, stumbled and almost fell due to his rapid pace.


    ¡°Song...¡±


    Her small mouth hadn¡¯t even had a chance to say something when Song Sinian pressed her against the recently closed door.


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand tightly gripped her lower back, while his other hand clasped the back of her neck.


    He leaned over slightly, his kisses raining down without any technique or order.


    Whether it was because he had walked too hurriedly just before, his breath was very chaotic, its heat falling upon her small face.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s breathing became noticeably irregular, influenced by this breath.


    She even felt a bit dizzy and short of oxygen.


    Lu Zhaozhao extended a small hand, trying to push Song Sinian away a little, ¡°Song, Mr. Song... ah...¡±


    She had just caught her breath when Song Sinian once again sealed her small mouth.


    Unlike before, his heavy body almost fully weighed down on her petite frame.


    Their burning skin, separated only by thin layers of clothing, rubbed against each other frantically, causing their already racing hearts to beat even more wildly.


    ¡°Thump, thump...¡±


    The sound of their hearts beating was restless against their tightly pressed chests.


    The familiar cold scent at the bridge of her nose almost made Lu Zhaozhao lose herself completely in the moment.


    Suddenly, when the taut buttons on her back became undone and his scalding palm turned over at her chest, she snapped back to reality instantly.


    Her entire body froze on the spot.


    Had Song Sinian gone mad?


    Was he going to do this in the lounge?


    Although they were husband and wife, and such matters would naturally take place sooner or later, doing it in this kind of place... wasn¡¯t quite appropriate, was it?


    Moreover, this lounge was just temporarily set up and had no soundproofing at all!


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately felt herself breaking into a sweat.


    Song Sinian, sensing something off with Lu Zhaozhao, halted his movements as well.


    When he looked down, he saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes wet and reddened at the corners, as if she had been bullied.


    Song Sinian belatedly realized what he was doing and suddenly came to his senses.


    Especially the unusually soft feel in his hands, which made him freeze on the spot just like Lu Zhaozhao.


    He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but upon seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s averted small face, Song Sinian felt his heart cool by half.


    But things had already come to this point, and he had no room for reparations.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes paused, hesitated for a moment, and finally slowly let go of Lu Zhaozhao.


    And the latter immediately turned her back to re-fasten the buttons that had ¡°accidentally¡± come undone in a hurry.


    She didn¡¯t understand how Song Sinian had acquired the skill of undoing buttons with one hand, but she clearly hadn¡¯t gotten used to it yet, her entire small face flaming red.


    Lu Zhaozhao adjusted her clothes slightly and, with her back to Song Sinian, had no idea how to break the awkward silence.


    Just as she was pondering what to say, she heard Song Sinian¡¯s cold voice, ¡°I... I¡¯ll go back first.¡±


    Saying this, he reached out for the lounge door.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a sinking feeling in her heart and instinctively pressed down on his hand that had grasped the door handle, firmly locking the door.


    Song Sinian was even more stunned now.


    His dark eyes looked at Lu Zhaozhao, revealing a rare look of confusion.


    Why wouldn¡¯t she let him leave?


    He thought that, after what he had just done, Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t even want to see him.


    He wished he could just disappear.


    As Song Sinian thought this, a sudden pain pierced his chest.


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a glimmer of hope, maybe... things weren¡¯t as serious as he thought?


    But when his gaze met Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s slightly angry eyes, Song Sinian¡¯s heart plummeted once again.


    It seemed she didn¡¯t want to let him off easily, which was why she had asked him to stay, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao observed the constantly changing expressions on Song Sinian¡¯s face, which were really too complex.


    She had no idea what Song Sinian was thinking right now.


    Previously, it was almost impossible to read any emotional change on Song Sinian¡¯s face, but strangely, she could easily catch his thoughts.


    Now that he showed a slight improvement emotionally, she found him harder to read.


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned, her gaze fixed on Song Sinian as she took a good look at him and said firmly, ¡°Mr. Song, let¡¯s have a proper talk!¡±


    Song Sinian visibly flinched, looking away, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk.¡±


    He said this while his gaze fell directly on the doorknob.


    If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao standing by the door, he looked like he was about to walk out right then and there.


    Lu Zhaozhao instantly felt annoyed. She reached out, grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s chin, forcing him to face her, and said word by word, ¡°You have to talk even if you don¡¯t want to! I am very angry right now! You have to appease me!¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian did not respond, but his hand slowly released the doorknob.


    It seemed he had given up on the struggle.


    Lu Zhaozhao internally breathed a sigh of relief.


    She took Song Sinian¡¯s hand and led him to the couch in the lounge, then straddled it with a swing of her leg.


    Song Sinian looked up at Lu Zhaozhao with a bit of surprise, his lips pressed tightly, and the words he wanted to say remained unspoken.


    Lu Zhaozhao cupped Song Sinian¡¯s cheeks with her hands, her eyebrows furrowing even more.


    Song Sinian had been acting strange since he arrived.


    He wasn¡¯t the type to be emotionally expressive, and given his expressive disorder due to depression, it was even less likely that he would do what he had done earlier.


    After all, the last time he kissed her in public was due to a misunderstanding.


    ¡°What happened today that upset you?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze was fixed on Song Sinian, as if looking for clues in his face.


    But Song Sinian just lowered his eyelids, ¡°Nothing.¡±


    He subconsciously fiddled with the multicolored hair tie on his wrist, then held it tightly.


    Lu Zhaozhao was even more shocked now.


    Song Sinian was actually lying to her!!!


    She used to think Song Sinian would never keep anything from her...


    Lu Zhaozhao instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.


    She looked at Song Sinian with a grieving face and said slowly, ¡°Song Sinian, do you not like me anymore? Or are you planning to find a new wife?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s two questions utterly startled Song Sinian; without thinking, he immediately shook his head. ¡°No, I like, I...¡±


    His words stopped abruptly.


    His dark pupils fell again.


    He was afraid Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t like him, that she would leave him.


    That she might like that other man.


    In the office, he had seen that man¡¯s profile.


    After all these years, his personality remained just as Lu Zhaozhao had once liked.


    Seeing him joking and laughing with Lu Zhaozhao on a variety show, he became frightened...

 Chapter 197 - 197 197 How Could He Not Be Tempted

    ?Chapter 197: Chapter 197 How Could He Not Be Tempted? Chapter 197: Chapter 197 How Could He Not Be Tempted? Song Sinian grew more elusive, and Lu Zhaozhao found it stranger by the minute.


    She considered their relationship to have reached a point where there were no secrets between them, but she didn¡¯t expect him to act so oddly today.


    If it were just simple jealousy, he wouldn¡¯t have this expression.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand gently held Song Sinian¡¯s, their fingers intertwined, yet she unexpectedly felt his fingertips trembling slightly.


    She sighed softly, stretched out her hand to circle around Song Sinian¡¯s waist, and patiently said in a tender voice, ¡°Mr. Song, no matter what happens, I will stand by you, so you can try to trust me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t plan to probe to the bottom of it.


    Previously when she was troubled, Song Sinian had never made things difficult for her, so she wanted to let him feel her sincerity as well.


    Song Sinian said nothing, just pressed Lu Zhaozhao deep into his embrace.


    His entire body wrapped around her, burrowing his head deeply into the crook of her neck.


    Her scent filled his nostrils, still failing to alleviate the panic at the bottom of his heart by the slightest degree.


    After quite a while, Song Sinian finally spoke up in a muffled voice, tentatively asking, ¡°Zhaozhao, it seems like you¡¯ve never told me about your childhood...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head in confusion but still couldn¡¯t see Song Sinian¡¯s expression.


    She didn¡¯t know why he suddenly brought this up. Was it to divert from their earlier conversation?


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, then went along with Song Sinian¡¯s words, saying, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t remember much about my childhood. I only know that I fell seriously ill when I was five, and I spent several years after that recovering, with nothing much else happening.¡±


    Since then, whenever she tried to recall her childhood, she would experience terrible headaches.


    There hadn¡¯t been anything important from that time, so she¡¯d given up on trying to remember.


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Song Sinian instantly hugged her even tighter.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt his subtle movement and said with a light laugh, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s all in the past. I¡¯m right fine by your side now~¡±


    As she spoke, she turned her head and planted a kiss on Song Sinian¡¯s cheek.


    Their Mr. Song seemed to be feeling sentimental again.


    But what Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was that Song Sinian felt not only sympathy for her past illness, but he was more worried about the matters she couldn¡¯t remember.


    He had met Lu Zhaozhao once in their childhood, precisely when she was five.


    The boy who had made her laugh so radiantly then was Yin Zhuhai.


    He clearly remembered every word Lu Zhaozhao had said that day...


    Thinking of this, the multicolored hair tie in Song Sinian¡¯s hand suddenly got gripped even tighter, to the point of scratching several marks on his wrist.


    ¡°Thud thud thud!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of the resting room behind them.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body stiffened suddenly, only then remembering they were still outside.


    She quickly pretended to be calm and called out to the outside, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao, it¡¯s Yin Zhuhai. I just had some fans visit the set, and they brought quite a bit of snacks. I thought to share some with you.¡± The voice outside slowly drifted in, causing Song Sinian to hold Lu Zhaozhao even tighter.


    Feeling the tension of the person in his arms, Lu Zhaozhao gently patted Song Sinian before replying to the outside, ¡°Thank you, Senior Yin, I currently... ouch...¡±


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish her sentence, she felt a sharp pain on her neck.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows, Song Sinian bit her?


    Her eyes slowly dropped, she glanced at Song Sinian, and she touched the tip of his nose, murmuring, ¡°Be good, don¡¯t be naughty.¡±


    After that, Lu Zhaozhao continued to speak to the outside, ¡°Senior, please share the snacks with the others first; I don¡¯t like snacks.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want some snacks to make their Mr. Song so uneasy.


    Yin Zhuhai at the door acted as if he couldn¡¯t understand what Lu Zhaozhao was saying and spoke on his own initiative, ¡°What girl doesn¡¯t love snacks? I¡¯ve set some aside specially for you to enjoy after you¡¯re done with your work.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°I... uh...¡±


    Before she could say anything more, her lips were fiercely sealed once again by Song Sinian.


    As if he didn¡¯t want her attention diverted by someone else, Song Sinian¡¯s large hand tightly gripped her chin, keeping her completely immobilized.


    The resting room was already not soundproof, and now Song Sinian, full of aggressive energy, had pulled Lu Zhaozhao inside.


    As an adult, what could Yin Zhuhai possibly not understand?


    He had accepted the Lu Family¡¯s task to ideally create gossip involving himself and Lu Zhaozhao.


    One reason he agreed was because the Lu Family indeed promised other resources.


    On the other hand, it was because of what he had previously told Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenjin had too much negative press; even if he teamed up with her for a publicity couple, it wouldn¡¯t bring any benefits.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was different, she had great public favorability, and without Xia Wenjin¡¯s nasty temper.


    Just by co-hosting a live broadcast with her for a morning, his followers increased by 200,000¡ªall active ones at that.


    How could he not be tempted?


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I haven¡¯t had the chance to thank you for the previous matter. When you¡¯re done, make sure to come find me, I...¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    Before Yin Zhuhai could finish what he was saying, Song Sinian¡¯s cold voice transmitted from the other side of the room.


    Yin Zhuhai¡¯s expression suddenly turned frosty, but soon after, he recomposed himself and left.


    What had just transpired was sufficient.


    He initially thought he would need to speak a bit more to anger the man inside, but to his surprise, it didn¡¯t take much to set him off.


    Given Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s personality, she would surely come to apologize for this incident, right?


    That meant he had another chance to get close to her over the next few days.


    Yin Zhuhai, holding the snacks in his hands, walked over to the other artists with a gentle smile once again on his face.


    Meanwhile, inside the room, Song Sinian was obviously even more emotionally disordered.


    He held Lu Zhaozhao even tighter than before.


    Having directly confronted the man outside, Lu Zhaozhao would probably dislike him now.


    But he couldn¡¯t help it.


    The thought of Lu Zhaozhao being taken away by someone else made every part of him want to bristle with spikes.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt it hard to breathe, being held so tightly by Song Sinian.


    Yet, just like in the beginning, he didn¡¯t say a single word about wanting to explain voluntarily.


    It all seemed so odd.


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned and suddenly tugged at Song Sinian¡¯s arm, lowering her voice word by word, ¡°Mr. Song, let go of me first, I¡¯m getting a bit angry.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s heart plunged into an abyss, his whole body becoming rigid.


    But ultimately, he gradually loosened his grip on Lu Zhaozhao, standing face to face with her.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao immediately demanded, ¡°Mr. Song, can you tell me what the hell is going on today?¡±


    She felt if she didn¡¯t get it straight today, Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t be able to move past this state. She wanted to know what exactly he was afraid of.

 Chapter 198 - 198 198 He Really Has Gone Mad

    ?Chapter 198: Chapter 198 He Really Has Gone Mad Chapter 198: Chapter 198 He Really Has Gone Mad ¡°I¡¯m sorry for interrupting your work,¡± Song Sinian said with downcast eyes, as if he hadn¡¯t heard what Lu Zhaozhao had said.


    His voice was indifferent as he spoke for his own sake, ¡°I just came to see you, and now that I¡¯ve seen you, I¡¯m going back to work.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart suddenly ¡°thumped,¡± and she immediately reached out and grabbed Song Sinian, ¡°You can¡¯t, I still have things to say to you...¡±


    She was about to continue, but suddenly felt her hand was empty.


    Had Song Sinian just shaken her off?


    Although it was also possible that she just hadn¡¯t held on tight enough.


    Lu Zhaozhao was momentarily dazed, her gaze uncertainly shifting towards Song Sinian, only to see his expression revert to his usual indifferent demeanor.


    ¡°Mr. Song...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao wanted to say something more when the door to the resting room was knocked on again.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice slowly carried over from the doorway, ¡°Zhaozhao, the director says there¡¯s a change in the afternoon live broadcast, and he asked you to get ready in advance.¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t managed to speak her reply when Song Sinian smoothly opened the door to the resting room.


    Not just Lu Zhaozhao, but even Xia Wenyan was taken aback.


    Song Sinian glanced at him, nodded in his direction, and then left straight away.


    Xia Wenyan looked bewildered at Song Sinian¡¯s retreating figure, and then glanced at Lu Zhaozhao silently.


    He wasn¡¯t sure if it was just his imagination, but he always felt that Song Sinian seemed... unhappy.


    He pursed his lips, speaking carefully, ¡°Zhaozhao, did I interrupt something between you two just now?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao came to her senses, looked at Xia Wenyan, and shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    Song Sinian was indeed acting strange; she had wanted to stop him just now, but he didn¡¯t give her a chance.


    It looked like she would only be able to talk to him when she got home.


    But what Lu Zhaozhao absolutely didn¡¯t expect was that Song Sinian, the guy, had actually started avoiding her!


    Just like when they had first gotten married!


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to explode; was there something she had done to make Song Sinian feel she didn¡¯t like him again?


    ¡°Zhaozhao? Why aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡±


    Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded from behind her.


    Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses, only to realize that Yin Zhuhai had appeared beside her at some point.


    After these days of broadcasting, Yin Zhuhai¡¯s popularity and heat had noticeably increased.


    Even surpassing that of his company colleague, Xia Wenjin.


    He was well aware of to whom he owed this.


    Lu Zhaozhao rested her chin on her hand, showing a polite smile, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just too hot, and I don¡¯t have much of an appetite.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t even find her husband; how could she have an appetite?


    Yin Zhuhai chuckled lightly, placing a cup of cold drink in front of Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I feel the same, so I brought you a cold drink. Even if you don¡¯t have much of an appetite, have a sip.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed noticeably, she glanced at the cold drink in front of her but didn¡¯t take it.


    Yin Zhuhai naturally noticed this, and he immediately added, ¡°Zhaozhao, rest assured, my affections during the broadcast are just for show, you know the script the director gave us...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a light sigh, nodding her head.


    Yin Zhuhai was indeed different towards her when broadcasting live compared to when not.


    Compared to the direct approaches on the live broadcast, he was much gentler in private.


    Even so, Lu Zhaozhao still didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with him.


    Colleagues, that¡¯s all.


    Yin Zhuhai propped up his chin and looked towards Lu Zhaozhao, then suddenly asked as if it were an afterthought, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you find me a bit familiar?¡±


    In fact, Yin Zhuhai had a bit of an impression of Lu Zhaozhao before.


    After all, she was Xia Wenjin¡¯s arch-nemesis.


    But when Lu Zhaozhao appeared as a mysterious guest that day, he felt that her appearance was vaguely familiar, but he didn¡¯t think too much of it.


    Until... the Lu Family asked him to approach Lu Zhaozhao actively.


    He unexpectedly discovered that they had met when they were children, and it seemed that this little girl had really liked him back then...


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head to look at Yin Zhuhai, her gaze sweeping across his face, her eyebrows and eyes carrying a hint of seriousness, ¡°You... is your makeup today inspired by Mr. Pei?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    Yin Zhuhai was immediately at a loss for words.


    His makeup today had indeed been done by Pei Huai¡¯s makeup artist, but that was not the point he was trying to convey.


    Just as he was about to say something else, Lu Zhaozhao spoke up before he could, ¡°Senior Yin, I think you should change your makeup next time. Mr. Pei¡¯s features are much more rugged, and they are quite different from yours. This makeup amplifies the flaws in your features.¡±


    Listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Yin Zhuhai nearly choked with rage.


    He suppressed the urge to lose his temper and tried to have a calm and polite conversation with her.


    But then he heard Lu Zhaozhao speak up again, ¡°Senior Yin, while there¡¯s still time, you better go find a makeup artist. I won¡¯t take up any more of your time.¡±


    With those words, Lu Zhaozhao left straight away.


    Leaving only Yin Zhuhai about to explode on the spot.


    From afar, someone hiding in the shadows clenched their phone in hand with indignation.


    They had already provided Yin Zhuhai with such a good opportunity; how could he not seize it?


    The shadow glanced at the photo on the phone, a frown still twisting their brows.


    The positioning of the two people wasn¡¯t good, and anyone who looked a bit closer could tell it was staged.


    Just as they were considering how to proceed with the plan, a stern voice suddenly sounded overhead.


    ¡°Is this your real purpose for being on the set?¡±


    Xia Wenjen was startled, looking up at the source of the voice, and in the next second, her gaze met the cold eyes cast by Pei Huai.


    She immediately put away her phone and pretended to be innocent, shrugging, ¡°Mr. Pei, I don¡¯t know what you mean by your last sentence.¡±


    Pei Huai looked at her with disdain, skeptical of her acting, ¡°What else could I mean? It¡¯s exactly as it sounds.¡±


    Xia Wenjen¡¯s smile instantly froze on her face.


    This man didn¡¯t seem to give her any leeway at all.


    She stopped pretending and looked directly at Pei Huai, each word deliberate, ¡°Mr. Pei, whatever I do seems to have nothing to do with you, so please don¡¯t meddle.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes blinked, his gaze as cool and detached as ever.


    ¡°What you¡¯re doing to Lu Zhaozhao may not concern me, but Yanyan won¡¯t be pleased.¡±


    His tone was even colder than his gaze.


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenjen¡¯s eyebrows immediately knitted together, her face filled with disbelief as she stared at him, ¡°Mr. Pei, are you too caught up in the role?¡±


    This was a live broadcast, merely a persona in the script, yet he was utterly possessed.


    But considering what the outside world thought of Pei Huai, nothing more than devoted to his craft and professional, she couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips in a mocking sneer.


    Tsk tsk... such dedication!

 Chapter 199 - 199 199 What Does He Mean

    ?Chapter 199: Chapter 199 What Does He Mean? Chapter 199: Chapter 199 What Does He Mean? Pei Huai didn¡¯t get annoyed, but just looked coldly at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Maybe.¡±


    Xia Wenjin, feeling a bit uneasy as she observed the strange demeanor of Pei Huai, quickly composed herself, relying on the current power of the Lu Family.


    ¡°Pei Huai, I advise you to know your place, don¡¯t talk too much; otherwise, even though you¡¯re a best actor, I can make you disappear quietly from the entertainment industry!¡±


    Pei Huai heard her words, and it seemed as if he heard a hilarious joke, and he burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.


    Make him disappear from the entertainment industry?


    Suddenly, his eyes turned icy, and he stared intently at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait and see.¡±


    Xia Wenjin felt a chill under his gaze and didn¡¯t dare to linger any longer, scurrying away dejectedly.


    Watching her retreating figure, Pei Huai¡¯s expression grew even more gloomy.


    In his previous life, he had died without discovering the mastermind who had killed Xia Wenyan; all who died were just minor figures connected to the case.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to have a chance to do it all over again. This time, he was determined not to let Xia Wenyan fall victim to villains.


    Such a kind-hearted person as him deserved a better future.


    Pei Huai remembered the time just after he had reincarnated; many things were different from his previous life.


    He had joined this variety show to investigate the people around Xia Wenyan.


    However, he discovered that the people invited by the production team were different from his last life.


    Especially... Lu Zhaozhao.


    This woman hadn¡¯t even appeared in the entertainment circle in his previous life.


    And in his previous life, the woman by Xia Wenyan¡¯s side had been Xia Wenjin.


    He had already begun to suspect her, but unfortunately, he was arrested before he could catch her.


    Now, there were too many mysteries for him, but the one thing that hadn¡¯t changed was Xia Wenyan.


    Still as naive as in his last life.


    But this time, he would protect him properly...


    The temperature had been dropping for several days, and the rain outside the window was sporadically mixed with hail.


    Song Sinian stared out of the car window, lost in thought, when Zhao Xi¡¯s voice brought him back.


    ¡°Sir, your wife has been looking for you recently; she seems to have something urgent to discuss with you.¡±


    These past few days, Song Sinian had been on a business trip outside the city, yet his mood was unusually off.


    To be precise, ever since the last trip to the film set, Song Sinian¡¯s state had been poor.


    The obvious dark circles under his eyes made Zhao Xi worried.


    Song Sinian looked up at Zhao Xi and instead of answering, he asked, ¡°Is she doing well?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Xi didn¡¯t know how to respond to Song Sinian.


    To say Lu Zhaozhao was ¡°not well¡± would definitely lead to criticism.


    To say Lu Zhaozhao was ¡°fine¡± would surely mean their master wouldn¡¯t return home.


    As he hesitated, Song Sinian already turned his phone back on, displaying the anonymous message he had received last night.


    Inside were photos of Lu Zhaozhao and Yin Zhuhai together.


    There was also a photo of the two apparently kissing, yet upon closer inspection, one could tell the photo was staged.


    Song Sinian was aware of this, but... he feared that one day these photos might turn real.


    He had previously thought it didn¡¯t matter whether Lu Zhaozhao loved him or not; as long as he kept her trapped by his side, he could possess her for a lifetime.


    He had never had her before, so he hadn¡¯t aspired to anything.


    But now, Lu Zhaozhao was too good to him, so good it made him anxious, feeling like it was all a dream.


    He feared waking from the dream, and that Lu Zhaozhao would choose someone else without hesitation.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s fragmented words reached Song Sinian¡¯s ears, but he couldn¡¯t take them in.


    Lack of sleep over the past few days had left his head in a constant fog.


    His head ached terribly, and he was even less inclined to think about these matters.


    The black sedan wove through the rain and soon arrived at the hotel where he was staying.


    Song Sinian opened the hotel room door as usual.


    When he changed his clothes and walked into the presidential suite¡¯s bedroom, he saw Lu Zhaozhao in a bathrobe, her small feet swinging as she lay on his bed.


    Was this another hallucination?


    Song Sinian raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, but the annoyance didn¡¯t subside at the sight of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Instead, the burning sensation in his chest grew even worse.


    ¡°Mr. Song,¡± said Lu Zhaozhao, seeing that Song Sinian had no reaction. She flipped over and sat up on the bed, planning to have a proper conversation with him,


    especially about him using the business trip as an excuse to leave home!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes shimmered as she watched his tall figure approach. She pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, about to say something, when his towering form suddenly pressed down on her.


    She was caught off-guard and pinned down on the bed by Song Sinian immediately.


    Then rapid kisses, tinged with irritation and urgency, sought to pry open her small mouth.


    Lu Zhaozhao was almost amused by Song Sinian¡¯s actions.


    What did he mean by this?


    He made her angry and didn¡¯t plan to explain, just went straight for a kiss?


    Although Lu Zhaozhao was angry, she had missed him these past few days.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have begged her older brother to find out which hotel Song Sinian was staying at.


    ¡°Song, Mr. Song...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand pushed against Song Sinian, and she barely managed to turn her head away, ¡°I, I want to talk to you, um...¡±


    Before she could finish, Song Sinian silenced her again.


    Irritated, he grabbed the hand she was resisting with and pinned it above her head, as if his actions were voicing his discontent.


    She was forced to let him draw from her.


    ¡°May I...¡±


    His hoarse voice struck her eardrum, causing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heartbeat to skip, making her feel almost uncontrollably drawn to him.


    Even though this guy had the upper hand, now at the critical moment, he was unexpectedly asking for her opinion.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already very upset, her small head fuming as she muttered discontentedly, ¡°No.¡±


    Her tone was soft, yet it carried an absolute refusal.


    Song Sinian lowered his head and tenderly nuzzled her neck, placing delicate kisses along her throat.


    It was like he was coaxing or pleading as he spoke again, ¡°I will treat you well, very well.¡±


    His breath fell on her collarbone, delicately marking several bite marks there, then he murmured softly, ¡°Don¡¯t leave me...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart suddenly clenched; she suddenly seemed to understand the reason Song Sinian had been avoiding her.


    She turned her head to look at Song Sinian, who looked noticeably more haggard than the last time she saw him.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt an unbidden softening of her heart. She gently rubbed her small face against his, replying in a tender voice, ¡°I won¡¯t leave you. All I want is you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    It seemed like Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s confession startled Song Sinian; he suddenly stiffened.


    Then, he began to mock himself. Was it really because he was sleep-deprived that he had gone mad?


    He was even forcing someone to agree to such an impolite request in a hallucination.


    His Zhaozhao was so kind-hearted; if he became a bit more despicable, could he exploit her sympathy to firmly bind her to him?


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes suddenly drooped, thinking of her bright eyes possibly filled with disappointment made his heart ache tremendously...

 Chapter 200 - 200 200 Which Title Do You Prefer

    ?Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Which Title Do You Prefer? Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Which Title Do You Prefer? Lu Zhaozhao clearly sensed something amiss with Song Sinian.


    He himself, due to depression, was utterly incapable of expressing emotions.


    In the time she had spent with him, she had only just begun to grasp a basic understanding.


    But it was the first time Lu Zhaozhao had seen Song Sinian so despondent and with such clear self-loathing.


    He had acted so well during their time together that she almost forgot he was a patient struggling with depression.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand gently patted Song Sinian, trying to soothe his emotions.


    But...it was of no use.


    She took a deep breath, slowly cupped Song Sinian¡¯s cheeks, and said word by word, ¡°Mr. Song, I swear, no one is more important than you here.¡±


    It had always been that way.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils trembled slightly, and his slightly pursed lips slowly parted, ¡°You...prove it to me.¡±


    Prove that he was the most important.


    He said this, but the arms hugging Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tightened even more than before.


    As if he feared she would run away the next second.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes drooped slightly, and she instead began to smile.


    Her small hand gently caressed Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, and she tilted her head up to kiss him.


    Kiss by kiss, from his brows and eyes to the tip of his nose, from his thin lips to his neck, gentle and delicate, which stirred Song Sinian¡¯s already restless heart even more.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...you...¡±


    ¡°Shh,¡± Lu Zhaozhao suddenly placed her small hand on Song Sinian¡¯s lips, ¡°Aren¡¯t I supposed to prove it to you? Just wait patiently.¡±


    Song Sinian was slightly startled and wanted to say something when he was suddenly pinned down by Lu Zhaozhao.


    Their positions abruptly reversed, and Lu Zhaozhao now had the upper hand.


    Her small hand rested on Song Sinian¡¯s chest, her little head tilted as she looked at him with a smile, ¡°Now...you should listen to me, Mr. Song.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face, his dark eyes blinked gently, ¡°I want to hear you call me by another name...¡±


    His tone was soft, his gaze shifting away from Lu Zhaozhao because of his last remark.


    Even when saying the word ¡°name,¡± his voice became so faint it was almost inaudible.


    As if those two words should never have been spoken.


    The more Song Sinian was like this, the more it pained Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although she didn¡¯t know what had upset Song Sinian, she was certain it had something to do with her participation in a reality show.


    Lu Zhaozhao really wanted to understand the reason but wasn¡¯t in a rush at this very moment.


    She slowly lowered her head to kiss Song Sinian¡¯s lips, then with utmost tenderness, she moved close to his ear, ¡°So, what name would you like to hear? Dear? Sweetheart? Baby? Husband?¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao rattled off a string of endearments, Song Sinian¡¯s ears and neck visibly flushed with redness.


    Her small hand gently caressed the tip of his ear, teasingly using her canine tooth to nibble it, immediately causing his whole body to tense up.


    Lu Zhaozhao pretended to be baffled and murmured, ¡°It seems there¡¯s no name that satisfies you, then what should we do?¡±


    ¡°Satisfied!¡± Song Sinian hastily responded.


    However, he quickly realized that his previous remark had been too hasty, and he lowered his head with a bit of guilt, muttering softly, ¡°I, I¡¯m satisfied...¡±


    ¡°Then which nickname satisfies you more?¡± Lu Zhaozhao deliberately leaned in close to Song Sinian, and began to call out each option softly, ¡°Is it ¡®darling¡¯? ¡®Sweetheart¡¯? ¡®Baby¡¯? Or ¡®husband¡¯?¡±


    Listening to her soft, sweet voice calling out to him, Song Sinian was momentarily dazzled.


    If it were truly a dream, an illusion, he was willing to indulge in it for a lifetime.


    At least in this moment, Lu Zhaozhao belonged entirely to him alone.


    Song Sinian slowly reached out his hand, gently lifted the strand of hair by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ear, and kissed it softly at the lip, his eyes and brows filled with indescribable tenderness as he looked at her, ¡°I like it, I like every special nickname you have for me. I hope each one is unique to me...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had originally intended to tease Song Sinian, but his words made her lose her playful mood from before.


    He cared so much for her, for every word she said, she wanted to offer the same affection in return.


    Her impression of Song Sinian, whether in her previous life or this one, was flawed.


    In her past life, she thought he was cold and inapproachable.


    In this life, she found him warm and considerate, able to tolerate everything about her.


    But she had forgotten that Song Sinian, too, was someone who needed the warmth of others.


    She slowly bent down and gently hugged him, rubbing her face in the nape of his neck, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Song Sinian.¡±


    This was the first time she had apologized to him so sincerely.


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian suddenly tensed up, his eyes filled with a trace of fear as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    It seemed as though she had just said something terrifying.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment, thinking about what Song Sinian had said and her own thoughtless apology, she had certainly made him overthink again.


    She abruptly sat up, ¡°I just called you by your name to apologize! I didn¡¯t mean anything else by it, I...¡±


    The more Lu Zhaozhao tried to clarify things, the more dejected Song Sinian looked.


    She sighed softly, ¡°Husband, I never intended to leave you, nor did I feel it was bad to use these special nicknames with only you, so don¡¯t overthink it, okay? Hm?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao said, wrapping her small hands around Song Sinian¡¯s head, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say to prove it? Now I¡¯ll prove it to you, alright?¡±


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s enigmatic smile, his adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly.


    He always felt as though something big was about to happen.


    Lu Zhaozhao bent down and nipped his neck lightly, the skin touched by her lips feeling unbearably tingling, as if suddenly struck by a current, spreading from his scalp to his toes.


    A strange and wonderful sensation wandered at the bottom of his heart.


    Like sitting in a roller coaster, with a repetitive feeling of weightlessness, the unusual tingling sensation made every hair on his body stand on end.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t withstand such ¡°torture¡±, his large hand firmly grasped the side of her waist, his voice hoarse from restraint, slowly spoke, ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m in agony.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fingertips gently caressed the reddened corner of his eyes, and kissed him again, ¡°Be good, it will stop hurting in a moment.¡±


    She presented a calm front, but inside, she was in turmoil.


    Although she and Song Sinian had gotten their marriage certificate twice, she had never experienced this level of intimacy before!


    As for what to do next, she was also quite clueless.


    Lu Zhaozhao swallowed hard, watching Song Sinian become passionate because of her, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to unravel his shirt.


    She could do this! She would manage!


    First, to strip off the clothes, and then consider what to do for the next step!


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this and worked on the buttons, her hand was suddenly grasped by a large hand¡ª

 Chapter 201 - 201 201 Why Does This Dream Feel So Real

    ?Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Why Does This Dream Feel So Real? Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Why Does This Dream Feel So Real? ¡°Zhaozhao, I don¡¯t want to force you.¡±


    He tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to make his expression seem decent enough.


    But the bitterness in his eyes only made it more heartbreaking.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, ¡°Was my touch too gentle just now, making you have some kind of misperception?¡±


    Song Sinian was taken aback, and before he could react, in the next second, Lu Zhaozhao withdrew her hand and yanked open his shirt.


    With too much force, a button popped right off.


    ¡°From now on, I don¡¯t plan to let you off,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said as she, gripping the collar of Song Sinian¡¯s shirt, kissed him forcefully.


    Her actions were direct and fervent, even though she was half guessing what to do, it was enough to ignite Song Sinian¡¯s ever-wandering heart.


    Now that things had reached this point, Lu Zhaozhao had no room for shyness either.


    She placed Song Sinian¡¯s hand against her cheek, ¡°Husband, I don¡¯t know what to do next, teach me.¡±


    Her eyes shimmered in the darkness of the night, making it hard to look away.


    Only the throbbing heartbeat stood out in the night.


    And the last bit of reason in Song Sinian¡¯s heart dissipated with her words.


    If this were indeed a dream, then let it last a little longer.


    Hoping the night never brightens up...


    The next morning, Lu Zhaozhao awoke amidst soreness.


    She didn¡¯t even have the strength to move a finger now.


    She suddenly regretted treating Song Sinian like a ¡°patient.¡±


    She even began to doubt whether Doctor Tian¡¯s words about Song Sinian being affected by the medication were a ruse.


    The way he exhausted her last night¡ªhow could that be the sign of someone incapacitated?


    It was her who was not up to par!


    Her last memory was of just before dawn; what happened after that, she genuinely couldn¡¯t recall.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but sigh lightly, and just as she tried to move, the soreness throughout her body made her involuntarily frown.


    She looked up at Song Sinian, who seemed still asleep.


    It might be better to take a shower while he was still sleeping.


    She felt uncomfortable from sweating all night.


    Thinking so, Lu Zhaozhao tried to silently crawl out from Song Sinian¡¯s embrace.


    But as soon as she stirred, he seemed to sense it and pulled her back in tight.


    Because of the intense experiences from last night, Lu Zhaozhao ached all over, and being embraced like this by Song Sinian, she immediately winced in pain and couldn¡¯t help but moan.


    ¡°Hss...¡±


    Although the sound was faint, it was enough to wake the sleeping Song Sinian.


    He slowly opened his eyes, with the familiar scent at his nose, causing Song Sinian to feel a bit bewildered.


    Zhaozhao? Is it an illusion?


    She¡¯s still here?


    He remembered the wild actions from last night, but because it was just a dream, he wasn¡¯t burdened, but...


    Why did this dream feel so real?


    He hadn¡¯t been resting well recently, indeed feeling somewhat dazed.


    But such a lengthy illusion like last night, that was a first.


    ¡°Husband, are you awake?¡± Lu Zhaozhao tilted her little head, smiling at the bemused Song Sinian, and only when she saw his strange expression did she speak up.


    Song Sinian paused once again, reaching out to pinch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face.


    The touch was soft and warm.


    Was this real?


    Whether it was a dream or a hallucination, there was never any warmth, but the Lu Zhaozhao before him truly had warmth.


    ¡°Stop thinking about it, it¡¯s not a dream. I came to find you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to read the confusion in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, reached out to rub her little face sore from the pinch, and proactively informed him of the reality.


    Now Song Sinian was completely shocked.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but swallow, had he really done such a thing to Lu Zhaozhao yesterday?!


    And also so...


    Just thinking about it, Song Sinian felt a whirlwind of dizziness.


    Lu Zhaozhao saw that Song Sinian had been silent all this time, wearing an extremely scared expression, and her eyebrows instantly furrowed.


    Her little hand rose up, angrily poking Song Sinian¡¯s chest, ¡°Hey! Song Sinian, you¡¯re not going to hit and run after all this, are you? I¡¯m telling you...hiss...¡±


    Because she moved too abruptly, Lu Zhaozhao pulled on her already sore muscles and couldn¡¯t help but suck in a breath of cold air.


    Now Song Sinian was even more panicked.


    He abruptly sat up and began to check on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition, ¡°Are you okay? Where do you feel pain?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao nervously, his heart and eyes full of tenderness.


    Lu Zhaozhao saw a few changes in his expression and immediately feigned pitifulness and said, ¡°Husband, I¡¯m in so much pain, I can¡¯t even take a step, but I want to take a bath...¡±


    Her watery eyes blinked at Song Sinian, as if she was expecting something from him.


    ¡°I, I¡¯ll help you,¡± Song Sinian said, and directly lifted Lu Zhaozhao horizontally into his arms.


    Everything before him was as impactful as a nuclear explosion.


    It took him a long time to regain his senses.


    But thinking that Lu Zhaozhao truly belonged to him last night, a nameless ecstasy encircled his heart, making it beat wildly.


    Although the circumstances surrounding the event weren¡¯t great...


    Song Sinian gently placed Lu Zhaozhao in the bathtub filled with water, tenderly and carefully bathing her.


    Looking at the scattered marks on her body, Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips lightly caressed them, feeling guilty yet unable to deny that he liked this kind of label that belonged only to him marked on Lu Zhaozhao.


    It was just too beautiful.


    Thinking this, he couldn¡¯t help but lower his head and gently kiss her delicate neck.


    Because she was tormented by Song Sinian all last night, Lu Zhaozhao shivered as soon as he came close.


    Her ears instantly turned red, and she buried her little face in the bath, muttering, ¡°This, this is the bathroom, you can¡¯t...¡±


    Song Sinian was clearly charmed by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cuteness. He chuckled softly and began to speak slowly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I just want to help you clean up, nothing more.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian half-believing and half-doubtful. Her eyebrows raised slightly as she stared at his face that was unfazed by joy or anger, not knowing whether to believe him or not.


    Because the unusual gleam in the depths of his eyes was something she had never seen before.


    Her little head rested in the bathtub silently looking at Song Sinian, as if suddenly thinking of something, she spoke again, ¡°Husband... can I ask you a question?¡±


    Song Sinian was gently drying her hair with a towel, heard her voice, and gently nodded, ¡°What do you want to ask?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly turned to look at Song Sinian, word by word she said, ¡°Why did you avoid me before?¡±


    She no longer wanted to ask him if he was avoiding her.


    Because the answer was affirmative, she now needed to know why Song Sinian was avoiding her!


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bright eyes and sighed lightly¡ª

 Chapter 202 - 202 202 If You Dare Give Me Divorce Papers

    ?Chapter 202: Chapter 202: If You Dare Give Me Divorce Papers Again, I¡¯ll Break Your Legs Chapter 202: Chapter 202: If You Dare Give Me Divorce Papers Again, I¡¯ll Break Your Legs ¡°I... felt you were going to leave me.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Listening to Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice, Lu Zhaozhao stared with incredulity.


    What kind of logic was that?


    She raised her eyebrows in confusion, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be sticking to me all the time instead?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes drooped, ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d find it annoying.¡±


    In fact, what he feared more was that Lu Zhaozhao would say the word ¡°dislike¡± to his face.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand rose from the water; her wet hand touched Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, ¡°I¡¯d be too happy to feel annoyed, how could I?¡±


    Her eyes gleamed darkly, carrying a reassuring smile.


    Song Sinian placed his larger hand over her smaller one, gently caressing it, then rested his chin in the palm of her hand the next second.


    ¡°I was wrong, can you not be mad at me?¡±


    The days he had been away from Lu Zhaozhao were like living in hell, unbearably tormenting.


    Actually, his unease had peaked the moment he had left the film crew without a care.


    Every day, he worried that Lu Zhaozhao would leave him in a huff, yet he clung to a sliver of hope that if she couldn¡¯t find him, she wouldn¡¯t bring up leaving him.


    He even scorned his own ostrich-like behavior, but he... just couldn¡¯t help himself when faced with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth moved slightly; any grievances she might have had dissipated at his ¡°coquettish¡± act.


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry.¡±


    She sighed softly, tilting her head as she looked at Song Sinian, ¡°Husband... I just hope that next time there¡¯s something bothering you, you won¡¯t hide from me like this. It really hurts me...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao deliberately spoke in a pitiful tone, while she secretly observed Song Sinian¡¯s expression.


    Sure enough, upon her saying these words, Song Sinian¡¯s mood instantly dropped.


    He leaned in slightly, gently hugging her from behind, burying his head in her slightly damp neck and murmured, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t want you to get hurt...¡±


    The warm breath from his nose landed intermittently on her neck as he spoke, tickling her.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao knew that Song Sinian had taken her words to heart.


    She could¡¯ve let the matter rest there, but thinking that Song Sinian might still avoid her because of issues between them in the future, she had to keep up her pretense, gritting her teeth.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, ¡°From now on, no matter what happens, you can¡¯t hide from me like this, okay?¡±


    She tried to keep her tone as even as possible, afraid Song Sinian would see her tension.


    Song Sinian fell silent, not responding to Lu Zhaozhao immediately.


    Now she felt even more panicked.


    Could Song Sinian have noticed something?


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, pondering her next move, when Song Sinian finally spoke slowly, ¡°What... if you wanted to leave me?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was almost thrown off by Song Sinian¡¯s leap in thought.


    Was he afraid she would leave him?


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed helplessly, ¡°How could that be? In the last life, the divorce papers were given to me by you, and I was the one who was divorced!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian had never expected to hear these words from Lu Zhaozhao.


    His dark pupils dilated in disbelief, staring intently at Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°I certainly...¡±


    Certainly wouldn¡¯t do that.


    But realizing that there was no point in Lu Zhaozhao lying to him about this matter, his slightly open mouth closed again.


    Lu Zhaozhao, too, realized belatedly what she had just said.


    She waved her hands frantically, ¡°I, I just now...¡±


    She simply couldn¡¯t utter the words ¡°was joking.¡±


    Their divorce indeed happened in a past life, but it was all due to misunderstandings between them.


    In this life, having gone through so much together, Song Sinian would definitely not give her a divorce agreement again.


    Thinking this way, she suddenly reached out and grasped Song Sinian¡¯s large hand, ¡°Song Sinian, you have to promise me that you will never divorce me in this lifetime!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian was suddenly baffled by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reverse approach.


    Although he didn¡¯t know why in a previous life he would divorce Lu Zhaozhao, or even initiate it,


    The one who couldn¡¯t live without her in this life was still him.


    Seeing that Song Sinian didn¡¯t respond, the small hand gripping his palm suddenly tightened, ¡°Song Sinian, I warn you, if you dare give me a divorce agreement again, I¡¯ll break your legs and chain you up! You won¡¯t be able to escape me for the rest of your life.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s head leaned against her small hand, and he let out a light chuckle, ¡°What you just said isn¡¯t a threat to me but rather sweet nothings.¡±


    If he could stay tied to Lu Zhaozhao for the rest of his life, what would it matter even if his arms or legs were broken?


    His intense gaze fixed firmly on Lu Zhaozhao, causing her to blush and her heart to race.


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected Song Sinian to also have a somewhat ¡®lovestruck-crazy¡¯ side, and her heart tingled slightly.


    Her face turning pink, she tried to look composed and glared at Song Sinian, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t initiate a divorce with me, I will never divorce. But if you do... then wait to be crippled by me! Hmph! See if you¡¯re scared or not!¡±


    ¡°Scared, so scared that I will never divorce you in this lifetime,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes curved gently, and a smile played at the corners of his lips.


    Only then did Lu Zhaozhao pretend to be huffily satisfied and nodded, ¡°Mm, that¡¯s more like it.¡±


    Perhaps it was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words that had given Song Sinian courage; he took a deep breath and slowly spoke up, ¡°You said before that you don¡¯t remember anything before the age of five, so do you remember liking a boy?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted, ¡°Liking a boy? When was that?¡±


    Song Sinian gently caressed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, saying with forced casualness, ¡°When you were five years old, at a banquet hosted by the Song family...¡±


    The confusion in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes deepened, ¡°When I was five, I had someone I liked?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Back then, you said you liked smart and handsome boys.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small head tilted, smart and handsome boys?


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that you?¡±


    She had no recollection of being five years old; she only remembered being seriously ill as a child and then losing all her previous memories.


    Song Sinian shook his head slightly, ¡°At that time... I had some health issues, so...¡±


    Speaking up to this point, he unconsciously touched the multicolored hair tie on his wrist.


    Bringing up childhood memories, Song Sinian felt a bit nervous.


    He was afraid that Lu Zhaozhao would recall that the first person she liked wasn¡¯t him, afraid that everything now was the result of a past mistake.


    He feared that when Lu Zhaozhao remembered on her own, things would turn out even more tragically...

 Chapter 203 - 203 203 Does He Really Know

    ?Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Does He Really Know? Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Does He Really Know? Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows visibly furrowed as she turned her gaze firmly onto Song Sinian.


    She had just seen him clutching the seven-colored hair band on his wrist.


    She had noticed the hair band before, but she had never asked about it...


    ¡°Husband.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly called out to him softly, reaching out to hold Song Sinian¡¯s hand, ¡°Who gave you this seven-colored hair band?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand, which was tightly holding the hair band, suddenly paused. He looked into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes and hesitated for a moment, ¡°It was... given to me by you.¡±


    His voice trembled slightly, making Lu Zhaozhao somewhat doubt whether giving him this hair band had been a good or bad idea.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand also involuntarily touched the hair band, ¡°I gave it... ah...¡±


    A stabbing pain surged through her mind again.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but gasp, but the images flashing through her mind became clearer.


    ¡°Shh, if anyone finds out about this, neither of us will have an easy time!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a noise at the door...¡±


    ...


    ¡°Zhaozhao? Zhaozhao, how are you?¡± Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao anxiously, his heart tightening.


    He shouldn¡¯t have mentioned it; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be feeling this terrible.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand was tightly holding Song Sinian¡¯s, her whole body trembling violently.


    It took her a long time to recover.


    ¡°I, I seem to have remembered some things, but it¡¯s not very clear...¡± Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips doubtfully and spoke slowly.


    She had previously suspected that her illness during her childhood wasn¡¯t simple, and the fragments she had just recalled further confirmed her thoughts.


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao with self-reproach, but for a moment, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Song Sinian and asked word by word, ¡°Husband, do you remember the things from our childhood?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded.


    ¡°Then... do you know why I lost my memory?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian with some uncertainty.


    Actually, she was just asking casually, since the clues she could investigate were limited.


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian nodded seriously again, which caught Lu Zhaozhao by surprise.


    Did he really know?


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was filled with anticipation, she noticed that Song Sinian¡¯s complexion suddenly turned a bit pale.


    Song Sinian took a deep breath before he slowly said, ¡°At that time, you fell down from the second-floor staircase, and according to the servants, when they found you, you were already lying in a bloodbath at the staircase on the first floor.¡±


    At that time, the incident happened so suddenly that Song Sinian hadn¡¯t even had the chance to ask her name before seeing her lying in a pool of blood.


    This incident had tormented him ever since.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brow furrowed again, murmuring, ¡°So it seems that someone really did want to kill me...¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it an accident?¡± Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao somewhat puzzled.


    The incident had occurred at the Song Family¡¯s home, so naturally, the Song Family handled the investigation.


    But since Lu Zhaozhao was suggesting someone wanted to kill her...


    Did this mean the incident was related to the Song Family?


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°The fragments I can remember seem to involve a woman, who probably thought her disgraceful secret had been overheard by me, so she wanted to kill me to silence me.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t remember much else.


    Song Sinian tenderly rubbed her little head, ¡°Take your time thinking about it. If someone really did harm you, I won¡¯t let them get away with it.¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly.


    But it seemed as if she remembered something else, smilingly she continued to say to Song Sinian, ¡°Dear, just now... was there something else you didn¡¯t finish telling me?¡±


    Upon hearing ¡°Dear,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s ears instantly turned red.


    Although he wasn¡¯t very clear-headed last night, he remembered how they had decided to change how they addressed each other.


    His gaze deliberately shifted, trying hard not to make eye contact with Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°At the Song Family¡¯s banquet, children and adults were separated. Adults visiting the Song Family were wary, but children would not be, especially towards a sick, non-verbal child like me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao instantly understood what Song Sinian meant.


    Song Sinian¡¯s autism had started since he was a child.


    Indeed, adults would read the room, but the children, facing a non-verbal Song Sinian who couldn¡¯t tattle, would definitely vent all the frustrations their parents had given them on Song Sinian.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao felt even more heartache for Song Sinian, ¡°If I had been there, I would have definitely smashed those brats¡¯ heads!¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian laughed for the first time without caring about his image, ¡°You really haven¡¯t changed...¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a gentle gaze and said softly, ¡°Back then, you did just that. You made all the children at the banquet cry, except for... Yin Zhuhai.¡±


    ¡°Yin Zhuhai?¡± Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrow, a bit surprised to hear this name.


    Isn¡¯t he from M country?


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°He was one of the few who didn¡¯t lay a hand on me, so you said you liked that kind of gentle and handsome boy.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao carefully recalled Yin Zhuhai¡¯s appearance and then silently compared him with Song Sinian.


    No matter how she compared, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say she liked Yin Zhuhai over her conscience.


    She admitted she was superficial, but Song Sinian¡¯s looks were absolutely god-tier!


    If she really did say that, unless Yin Zhuhai had become disfigured, that disfigurement must have been severe!


    From god-tier good looks to what now?


    Or could it be that her dear husband had hidden his handsomeness back then?


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, looked at Song Sinian again, and thought, ¡°Impossible, how could Mr. Song have such an idea?¡±


    She propped her chin and straightforwardly asked, ¡°Dear, do you remember what happened after that?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, his eyes drooping slightly, ¡°After you said those words to Yin Zhuhai, you came over to wipe my face and then told me that if I couldn¡¯t find a wife in the future, I should come looking for you with this dowry.¡±


    He said this while lifting his arm, pointing at the seven-colored hair band on his wrist.


    ¡°???¡±


    Was she that bold back then?


    She opened her mouth, a bit stuttering as she said, ¡°You... you wouldn¡¯t marry me just because of this hair band, would you?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded but then shook his head, ¡°Because it was you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s jaw nearly dropped; she had always thought Song Sinian married her because of a cooperation deal with the Lu Family.


    To think that the connection between her and him was actually grasped by herself!


    Reflecting on Song Sinian¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao seemed to recall something else.


    She immediately grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s wrist, her face full of excitement as she said¡ª

 Chapter 204 - 204 204 He Dares Not

    ?Chapter 204: Chapter 204: He Dares Not Chapter 204: Chapter 204: He Dares Not ¡°Honey, you have to believe me, I didn¡¯t give you this friends¡¯ circle post out of sympathy or anything like that. I¡¯m not that kind of good person; I must have fallen for you, that¡¯s why I said it!¡±


    Song Sinian, looking at the nervous Lu Zhaozhao, couldn¡¯t help but laugh again.


    His large hand gently caressed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, ¡°Hmm, I believe you.¡±


    This little one, to prevent any misunderstanding on his part, had directly dirtied her own name.


    What reason did he have to continue to cling to the past?


    Unlike Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenjin was suffering terribly these past few days at the Lu Family.


    She had originally planned to use Yin Zhuhai to make Song Sinian disgusted with Lu Zhaozhao, to see her as a fickle woman.


    She hadn¡¯t expected silence from Song Sinian¡¯s side, which was bad enough, but Yin Zhuhai started showing signs of becoming a trending topic.


    Her presence was already fairly weak on ¡°Let¡¯s Eat, Cottage.¡±


    With Yin Zhuhai bringing up the rear, she could occasionally stand out.


    Now that Yin Zhuhai had gained popularity, the director even cut a lot of her scenes to give more to him!


    How could Xia Wenjin not be furious?


    She looked angrily at the various trending searches related to the variety show.


    Not a single one involved her.


    She had clearly spent money on getting into the trending searches, but not a single one had made it to the top.


    As Xia Wenjin was stewing, her phone suddenly vibrated.


    It was Lin Lin.


    Ever since the incident at the school last time, she had been calling her non-stop.


    Already irritated, Xia Wenjin thought that Lin Lin¡¯s phone calls were nothing more than a plea for help with the school matter.


    Although the situation had been instigated by her, she had no evidence, so Xia Wenjin naturally felt fearless.


    With this in mind, she directly hung up the call.


    Suddenly, the phone vibrated again, and it was Lin Lin.


    However, unlike before, this time it was just a message.


    [Xia Wenjin, don¡¯t think that by denying it, this matter will be unrelated to you. You egged me on at the time, and there were cameras. I¡¯ve got the footage, and if you don¡¯t return my call, I will take this information public!]


    Seeing this message, Xia Wenjin panicked.


    But she quickly realized that if there was real evidence, Lin Lin would have likely gone straight to the police, not threatened to expose it on the internet.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow furrowed, someone must be coaching this blockhead Lin Lin...


    It seemed she had to make good use of this wasted piece once more.


    Xia Wenjin watched her phone vibrate again and picked it up in stride.


    Lin Lin¡¯s voice soon came through the phone, ¡°Xia Wenjin, you finally answered! Let me tell you...¡±


    ¡°Lin Lin, don¡¯t be angry, I didn¡¯t mean to ignore you. Actually, these past few days I¡¯ve been trying to reconcile with Lu Zhaozhao on set, to get her not to hold a grudge against the Lin Family. After all, she¡¯s already the lady of the Song Family, would she care about the money for a painting?¡±


    With one sentence, Xia Wenjin shifted the blame directly onto Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Besides, Luna is still Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s biological mother; isn¡¯t this kind of thing just a word away for her?¡±


    Lin Lin on the other end of the phone was stunned by Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, caught off guard.


    She had to admit, what Xia Wenjin said made sense.


    If Lu Zhaozhao really agreed to let go, they wouldn¡¯t have to pay back the money at all!


    She had been thinking all these days about how to make Xia Wenjin pay the debt with her and had completely forgotten about Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenjin, hearing no response on the other end of the phone, continued, ¡°Think about it, Lu Zhaozhao is also participating in a variety show, and she definitely wants a good reputation...¡±


    She subtly hinted at Lin Lin a few times, just waiting for the other to take the bait.


    Sure enough, Lin Lin hurriedly asked, ¡°Then where do I find Lu Zhaozhao if she hardly comes to school these days and I can¡¯t get into the set?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s smile brightened instantly, ¡°I¡¯m in the same program with Lu Zhaozhao, but if you go under the pretense of visiting me, I¡¯m worried she might take her anger out on you because of me...¡±


    ¡°What should I do then?¡± Lin Lin sounded genuinely worried on the other end.


    But soon, Xia Wenjin spoke up again, ¡°I know that Lu Zhaozhao is going to the Song Family mansion for dinner this weekend. I heard there will be quite a few people, so you might try your luck then when there are more people around.¡±


    Lin Lin immediately expressed her gratitude, ¡°Really? Jin, I misunderstood you! As soon as this is sorted out tomorrow, I will definitely treat you to a meal!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s lips curled up coldly, yet she continued in her gentle tone, ¡°If you meet a woman named Song Keren at the Song mansion, you must be very careful. She and Lu Zhaozhao have a very bad relationship¡ªif she takes it out on you, that wouldn¡¯t be good...¡±


    She pretended to be concerned while telling Lin Lin all the crucial points.


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll definitely remember that! Thank you, Jin!¡±


    At this point, she could just sit back and wait for the show to start with Lin Lin¡¯s blockheadedness.


    However, what Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know was that although Lin Lin was foolish, a fool who had been fooled once by her would always get a little bit wiser.


    Like... remembering to hit the record button during a call...


    On the weekend, Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian went early to the Song mansion.


    She had promised Old Master Song to often bring Song Sinian back to the Song mansion for meals.


    But lately, Song Sinian had been avoiding her, so their planned visit to the Song mansion for a meal had been delayed.


    She could only excuse it as being tied up with the show.


    Lu Zhaozhao poked Song Sinian¡¯s cheek with her hand, ¡°Mr. Song, I have taken the blame for everything at Grandpa¡¯s, so if he gets angry later, you must protect me a bit.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly found herself at a loss for words, just wanting to act a little spoiled.


    Why was it so hard with this imperious, straightforward husband?


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a sigh and simply turned her head to the side.


    With this turn, she saw Lin Lin standing at the entrance of the Song mansion.


    As she was wondering, Song Sinian turned her face back toward him and planted a kiss on her cheek.


    Lu Zhaozhao was startled, then watched as Song Sinian took her hand to his face, ¡°Are you angry with me? Did my answer just now make you unhappy? Do you not want to see me anymore?¡±


    His voice was soft, seemingly carrying a hint of grievance.


    Lu Zhaozhao was caught off guard by Song Sinian¡¯s seamless actions.


    ¡°I, I¡¯m not,¡± Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy looking at Song Sinian.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt like Song Sinian had changed subtly since he became more forward.


    Not only did he initiate closeness, but he also knew exactly how to act coy.


    Like he knew exactly where her heart was tender, hitting the mark every time.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart raced uncontrollably as she found herself unable to take her eyes off of Song Sinian¡¯s gaze...

 Chapter 205 - 205 205 Arent You Just Trying to Get Revenge

    ?Chapter 205: Chapter 205 Aren¡¯t You Just Trying to Get Revenge on Me? Chapter 205: Chapter 205 Aren¡¯t You Just Trying to Get Revenge on Me? ¡°Cough... Sir.¡±


    Suddenly, Zhao Xi¡¯s voice rang out from inside the car.


    He really didn¡¯t want to disturb the sweet moment between Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian.


    But he couldn¡¯t ignore the situation before his eyes.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and he glanced at Zhao Xi in the driver¡¯s seat.


    Clearly, he meant that if Zhao Xi didn¡¯t give him a good reason, he would have him stopped on the spot.


    Zhao Xi inwardly cursed his bad luck but remained calm on the surface and said, ¡°Sir, the entrance to the Song Mansion is being blocked.¡±


    Today, quite a few people had come to the Song Mansion, including Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian, Song Keren, Xiao Jinglan, and Xiao Mo.


    He had heard before that Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan often came to the Song Mansion to maintain their presence, but it was such a coincidence this time.


    Looking at the crowd of cameras gathered around the Song Mansion, it was clear that they were there for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Zhao Xi frowned worriedly as his gaze shifted through the rearview mirror to the back seat where Lu Zhaozhao sat.


    Their Madame was already famous for her beauty and had gained followers because of it, and though not part of the inner circle, her popularity was indeed formidable.


    Recently, she had exploded in popularity by participating in a variety show, and these people must have sensed some stirrings, hence their presence at the Song Mansion.


    Song Sinian glanced out the window, his expression sour as he looked towards Lin Lin, who was blocking the entrance, his expression growing even darker.


    At this moment, Lin Lin didn¡¯t realize the disaster looming, and directly knelt down toward the car Lu Zhaozhao was in.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have damaged your painting. Please show mercy and spare our Lin Family... sob...¡±


    As she spoke, she kowtowed on the ground, her wretched state stirring pity.


    Of course, if you weren¡¯t the party being slandered.


    Song Sinian coldly glanced at Lin Lin outside, ¡°The Lin Family has started a public opinion war now; they must have a skilled adviser.¡±


    As for who this adviser was, of course, they knew in their hearts.


    Besides Xia Wenjin, there probably wasn¡¯t anyone else.


    She always thought that after going to the Lu Family, she would shoot straight to the top, not knowing that she had forsaken the watermelon for the sesame.


    Now that she knew her former foster mother was the artistic titan Luna, she must be sitting uneasy, right?


    Next, she would also find out that the Xia Family was actually the XJ Group that the Lu Family had always wanted to cozy up to, how interesting her expression would then become?


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, he raised his hand and drew Lu Zhaozhao into his arms, ¡°You don¡¯t need to bother with such people, just let the butler handle it.¡±


    Although these tricks couldn¡¯t really harm Lu Zhaozhao, they were indeed disgusting.


    ¡°Not needed,¡± Lu Zhaozhao lifted her hand, patted Song Sinian¡¯s encircling arm, and laughed softly, ¡°I can handle this kind of thing on my own.¡±


    Saying so, she pushed open the car door and stepped out.


    Then, seeming to remember something, she bent down and kissed Song Sinian on the forehead, ¡°Be good, wait for me in the car.¡±


    Song Sinian was slightly stunned, watching Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s retreating figure. His large hand subconsciously touched the spot on his forehead where she had kissed.


    Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, Zhao Xi clearly saw everything, but he still asked softly, ¡°Sir, are we really not going over to help the Madame?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked gently, his tone softly tender, ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll do as she said.¡±


    He leaned his chin on the car window, watching Lu Zhaozhao from afar. Suddenly, like struck by a thought, he coolly said, ¡°The daughter of the Lin Group is so capable, do her parents know?¡±


    Zhao Xi immediately understood, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. I¡¯ll handle it right away.¡±


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao had already reached the entrance of the Song Mansion.


    Seeing the reporters circle around as well, Lin Lin became even more agitated.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, now that you are married to Song Sinian, as the prestigious Mrs. Song, can¡¯t you show me mercy? To you, it¡¯s just a painting, but it¡¯s nearly costing me my life...¡±


    The onlookers around also began to gossip.


    ¡°Goodness, what¡¯s going on here? Why is it costing a life?¡±


    ¡°I heard that this young girl accidentally damaged someone¡¯s painting, and now they¡¯re demanding repayment!¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, heartless wealth, heartless wealth, it¡¯s just a painting...¡±


    ¡°Look, this young girl¡¯s forehead is almost bruised, can¡¯t they just show some mercy?¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao, hearing the unanimous comments, couldn¡¯t help but snort laughingly, and with a cold look towards Lin Lin, she said, ¡°You deliberately damaged my painting, and I am rightfully seeking accountability. Yet, to you, I¡¯m a bully?¡±


    Lin Lin sniffed, feigning injury, ¡°But you could simply not pursue it. The Song Family is so wealthy, do they even care about one painting?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao scoffed lightly, ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t it matter? Did my family¡¯s money come from the wind? Moreover, a painting worth tens of millions, and with just a light word from you, I should forego the pursuit? What kind of logic is that?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao continued, her gaze sweeping over the crowd around, ¡°Everyone here, who thinks that if someone damages a painting worth tens of millions, you should completely let it go?¡±


    Instantly, the crowd exploded.


    ¡°A painting worth tens of millions, and they want us not to pursue it? Why doesn¡¯t she just rob?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, the Song Group is quite wealthy, tens of millions might not matter to them, but why should they cover for her mistake?¡±


    ¡°Listening to just now, it seems she intentionally damaged the item, tsk, tsk... such an expensive item could directly lead to jail...¡±


    ...


    Lin Lin had not expected that Lu Zhaozhao would turn the public opinion so quickly, and immediately cried even harder.


    ¡°Sob... Lu Zhaozhao, are you trying to drive me to death? You know my parents can¡¯t come up with so much money; they would definitely make me serve time, sob... I¡¯m still young, I...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°I am only following the legal course. You explicitly said there was someone behind this, but now you want to take the blame all by yourself; this is your decision, it has nothing to do with me.¡±


    ¡°As if I¡¯d be so wretched without you?¡± Lin Lin seemed to be infuriated by Lu Zhaozhao all at once, glaring at her angrily.


    ¡°With all your wealth now, you still insist on holding me accountable; aren¡¯t you just trying to take revenge on me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Lin Lin, ¡°You? You can¡¯t even compensate for a painting, why would I need to take revenge on you? If I really wanted revenge, do you think the Lin Family would still have a place in the Shangjing Circle?¡±


    ...


    Naturally, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words weren¡¯t just a joke.


    With the influence of the Song Group in the Shangjing Circle, bringing down the Lin Family wouldn¡¯t require much effort.


    The reason she hadn¡¯t done so was that she felt Lin Lin had been tricked by Xia Wenjin and would react after realizing it.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin was clever, directly pushing this fool forward again...

 Chapter 206 - 206 206 If Youre Not Kind Dont Blame Me for

    ?Chapter 206: Chapter 206: If You¡¯re Not Kind, Don¡¯t Blame Me for Being Unrighteous! Chapter 206: Chapter 206: If You¡¯re Not Kind, Don¡¯t Blame Me for Being Unrighteous! Lin Lin knew she was at fault, but now, in order to evade the debt of over ten million, she had no choice but to brazen it out.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, aren¡¯t we classmates? Are you really going to treat me like this? Don¡¯t you consider how our classmates at school will view you?¡±


    The corner of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be the one worried about that?¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°Lin Lin!¡±


    Before Lin Lin could finish her words, a furious voice roared through the crowd.


    A middle-aged man, seemingly insane with rage, charged over and fiercely slapped Lin Lin across the face.


    Recently, he had repeatedly faced setbacks in business negotiations due to Lin Lin¡¯s offense against Lu Zhaozhao, and everyone was wary of their Lin Group offending the Song Group, thus keeping their distance.


    Some companies would even prefer to breach their contracts and lose money rather than associate with him.


    He had gone to great lengths, begging here and there to retain some resources, only to have this cursed girl directly deliver herself to the Song Family¡¯s doorstep.


    When he heard Zhao Xi making the call, he almost fainted on the spot.


    ¡°I apologize, Mrs. Song, for not disciplining this girl properly. It was this wretched girl who damaged your painting, yet she still came to trouble you. I¡¯m truly sorry!¡±


    Lin Lin¡¯s dad pressed her head down and bowed deeply to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lin Lin tried to struggle to her feet, only to be pushed down by another slap from her dad, ¡°How long are you going to keep causing trouble?¡±


    Song Sinian making Zhao Xi call him was essentially a veiled warning, and if they didn¡¯t make a show of it now, their Lin Family was doomed!


    Lin Lin¡¯s face looked exceptionally ugly. She had been acting in the Lin Family¡¯s interest, so why was her dad treating her this way?


    She clenched her fists in frustration, thinking about how humiliating this was because of Lu Zhaozhao!


    Yet, she couldn¡¯t do anything about her...


    Suddenly, she seemed to think of something, and her fists tightened even more.


    Lu Zhaozhao, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless if you are unkind!


    And Xia Wenjin too!


    None of them are good people!


    She wouldn¡¯t let any of them off!


    By nightfall, the people at the Song Mansion gradually began to leave.


    Song Keren made an excuse to move Xia Jinglan and Xiao Mo away, and she went to a restaurant alone.


    To avoid being recognized, she even disguised herself.


    Although she wasn¡¯t as popular as Lu Zhaozhao, people who had seen ¡°Eat, Little House¡± would still recognize her.


    So, caution first.


    Especially when meeting that woman.


    Before long, someone sat opposite Song Keren.


    As soon as she sat down, Song Keren cut straight to the point, ¡°Was it true when you said you had something incriminating on Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Song Keren said this while cautiously watching Lin Lin.


    She had heard about today¡¯s incident at the Song Family¡¯s gate.


    Although she didn¡¯t know the details, she had a general idea.


    Lin Lin nodded, ¡°I do indeed have some dirt on Lu Zhaozhao, but... Lu Zhaozhao managed to smooth things over with President Song, holding our Lin Family¡¯s lifeline...¡±


    She said that with a bitter smile, as if harboring a great unspeakable secret.


    Song Keren narrowed her eyes, ¡°So, let¡¯s hear what you have to say?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lin Lin immediately leaned closer to Song Keren, lowering her voice as much as possible, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao previously bought a fake Luna painting at school, and after I exposed her, she accused me of ruining her painting and even demanded ten million in compensation from our Lin Family.¡±


    Song Keren couldn¡¯t help but frown, ¡°Did you say Lu Zhaozhao got a fake Luna painting?¡±


    Given Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s status with Sinian, a painting worth about ten million was nothing to him, so she had no need to pass off a fake.


    Song Keren almost instinctively grew suspicious of Lin Lin.


    How could Lin Lin not see what she was thinking?


    She calmly added, ¡°Exactly because Lu Zhaozhao is Sinian¡¯s wife, no one questioned her. But Lu Zhaozhao did indeed have Luna¡¯s painting. She was just afraid that Jin would damage it at school, so she purposely used a fake.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing that Song Keren remained silent, Lin Lin feigned pity and sighed, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao probably wanted to frame Jin. Unfortunately, I got the bad luck of shielding Jin from disaster, sigh...¡±


    At this, Song Keren completely believed her.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin had always been at odds. During the previous school promotional filming, Xia Wenjin had joined forces with her to try to get back at Lu Zhaozhao.


    But she had escaped it by luck.


    It was likely that Lu Zhaozhao guessed Xia Wenjin was plotting behind her back, so the possibility of her seeking revenge was not far-fetched.


    Song Keren narrowed her eyes and gestured Lin Lin with her hand, ¡°Come, tell me more about the rest of this matter...¡±


    The more that could disgrace Lu Zhaozhao, the better for her.


    She couldn¡¯t wait to see this woman¡¯s tragic plight!


    The next day, as soon as Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the filming site, she was instantly ambushed by reporters at the door.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m a reporter from Xinhuang Entertainment. I heard that to outdo Xia Wenjin, you deliberately used a fake painting to frame a classmate. Is that true?¡±


    ¡°They say that the painting worth ten million wasn¡¯t an original Luna at all. As the wife of Song Group¡¯s President, aren¡¯t you afraid it might affect the Song Group¡¯s image?¡±


    ¡°They say that your classmate came to apologize yesterday but was forced to kneel. Is that really the case?¡±


    ...


    A series of questions left Lu Zhaozhao a bit dazed.


    She thought that after Lin Lin went back the day before, the drama would halt.


    But it seemed new twists had emerged.


    Given the current status of the Lin Family, they likely wouldn¡¯t openly confront the Song Family, suggesting someone else was behind this.


    Was it Xia Wenjin?


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to speak, a tall figure stepped in front of her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t recall our program inviting you here, and can you take responsibility for what you are saying now? Baseless speculations about others could lead you into a defamation lawsuit!¡±


    Xia Wenyan shielded Lu Zhaozhao tightly behind him, fearing she might get hurt.


    And naturally, Pei Huai, who came with Xia Wenyan, also stepped forward.


    Unlike Xia Wenyan¡¯s threat, he kindly addressed the reporters, ¡°I¡¯m sure you all rushed over because of the trending news. Miss Lu has already handed this matter over to a professional legal team. If you want detailed information, you can wait a bit in the lounge.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the wait, they clearly just want...¡± Before Xia Wenyan could finish, Pei Huai cut him off with a hand.


    He lowered his voice and whispered into Xia Wenyan¡¯s ear, ¡°Sometimes silence isn¡¯t the best approach; letting them guess and write smears about Zhaozhao is worse than giving them a precise answer.¡±


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, a bit anxious as he glanced at Lu Zhaozhao behind him, momentarily not sure whether to agree.


    If it were him, he would have no qualms, but since Lu Zhaozhao was a girl, having mud slung at her like this must have terrified her...

 Chapter 207 - 207 207 You you too

    ?Chapter 207: Chapter 207: You, you too? Chapter 207: Chapter 207: You, you too? Pei Huai seemed to notice Xia Wenyan¡¯s low spirits, and raised his hand to pat his back, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this kind of thing is easy to resolve. You go ahead and take care of Zhaozhao.¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡±


    Saying so, he immediately left the throng of reporters with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Watching Xia Wenyan¡¯s retreating figure, Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly in his heart.


    He left so decisively, it seemed he had complete confidence in him.


    He hadn¡¯t even considered whether Pei Huai knew the details about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s situation.


    Thinking this, Pei Huai¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile, well, if he were overthinking, then that wouldn¡¯t be Xia Wenyan.


    Fortunately, he had been having people closely monitor Lu Zhaozhao recently, so he was more than clear on the ins and outs of this whole affair.


    Additionally, with the third-person perspective video captured by private detectives in hand, clarifying the situation would be a breeze.


    Before long, Pei Huai had the journalists leave and went to Xia Wenyan¡¯s dressing room.


    At that moment, Lu Zhaozhao was sitting quietly in Xia Wenyan¡¯s dressing room, eating snacks as if she hadn¡¯t a single worry in the world.


    When Lu Zhaozhao saw Pei Huai enter, her eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°Brother Pei, are you looking for Xia Wenyan? He stepped out to make coffee.¡±


    Her tone was indifferent, maintaining basic politeness.


    Pei Huai nodded lightly and took a seat next to Lu Zhaozhao.


    His gaze pretended to wander unintentionally but noticed Lu Zhaozhao subtly avoiding him.


    Pei Huai¡¯s dark eyes narrowed as he watched her movement.


    In his past life, although he didn¡¯t pay much attention to other people¡¯s affairs, he never missed anything related to Xia Wenyan.


    Until his death, he had never heard of Xia Wenyan having a sister named Lu Zhaozhao.


    What astonished him even more was that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arrival seemed to have changed many things.


    Pei Huai even suspected whether Lu Zhaozhao was also someone reborn.


    He had tested her before, but she didn¡¯t take the bait. However, throughout their interactions, he could clearly sense that Lu Zhaozhao was avoiding him.


    It was as if she was very afraid of him.


    Since he entered the industry, the characters he played were never the evil villain. His screen image had always been one of a cultured and genteel figure.


    Yet Lu Zhaozhao was particularly afraid of him, so... it reinforced his previous assumption.


    ¡°Did you come to the show to investigate why Xia Wenyan died that year?¡±


    ¡°Clatter!¡±


    The snack Lu Zhaozhao was eating dropped to the floor.


    She stared at Pei Huai incredulously, ¡°You, you¡¯re one too?¡±


    But she quickly realized she¡¯d just let slip something she shouldn¡¯t have.


    Because Xia Wenyan was still very much alive.


    So, Pei Huai was reborn too?!


    Thinking this, she looked at him with renewed wariness.


    If he was also reborn, then he could still be the serial killer from his previous life!


    Pei Huai looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s suddenly changed face and started to laugh instead, ¡°Let¡¯s be honest with each other, I came to the film set to protect Xia Wenyan. If there¡¯s no conflict between us, I won¡¯t do anything to you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Pei Huai somewhat skeptically, ¡°How can I believe you? You know what you¡¯ve done, you don¡¯t need me to say it, right? I have no reason to believe you won¡¯t hurt Xia Wenyan.¡±


    Pei Huai rested his chin in his hand and gazed at Lu Zhaozhao, saying with a light laugh, ¡°Zhang Hu, Zhao Yi, and Wang Xiaoxiang were accomplices in the bar the day your brother had trouble. And there¡¯s Li Jiao, she personally drugged Xia Wenyan. However, I haven¡¯t caught the mastermind yet, just...¡±


    He shrugged his shoulders, speaking as if it were someone else¡¯s story.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t have much of an impression of these people, but she remembered that Li Jiao.


    In her previous life, Li Jiao was indeed one of Pei Huai¡¯s lost souls, and since she was a celebrity, the entertainment section even covered her.


    She was also the only person from the same company who testified that Xia Wenyan took drugs.


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment and did not immediately trust him.


    Pei Huai seemed to see through her thoughts and let out a light chuckle, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Yanyan, who seems a bit slow, to have a sister who¡¯s such a clever sprite. Alright then, let me further prove my innocence.¡±


    Saying this, he rolled up his sleeves and gently unwrapped the bandana on his wrist, revealing several crisscrossed scars.


    It was clear that someone had intended to do serious harm.


    Pei Huai watched as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed deeply before he continued, ¡°If you¡¯ve investigated me, you should be aware that there was a period when my condition was very abnormal. I met Yanyan during that low point in my career.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked, quietly watching Pei Huai.


    She had indeed investigated him, and what she found largely matched what he said.


    ¡°Hard to believe, right?¡± Pei Huai propped his chin up, ¡°I was clearly a has-been with no value to exploit, yet he genuinely cared about me and even frequently contacted me in private because I wasn¡¯t feeling well on a show.¡±


    He spoke of Xia Wenyan with a smiling gaze, seemingly in a good mood.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, completely not expecting the now-renowned Pei Huai to have gone through such a low point.


    Seeing the way he laid all his cards on the table, Lu Zhaozhao slowly opened up, ¡°Actually... I suspect that the mastermind behind all this is Xia Wenjin, which is why I decided to take part in the variety show. I worry my fourth brother is too naive and might be tricked by her again.¡±


    Back when she had just become recognized by the Xia Family, Xia Wenjin had used flattery to manipulate Xia Wenyan like a pawn.


    She had to be cautious.


    ¡°It¡¯s her,¡± Pei Huai¡¯s eyes suddenly flashed with a hint of murderous intent, making Lu Zhaozhao shiver as well.


    Her brows furrowed sharply, ¡°You¡ªdon¡¯t be impulsive. She hasn¡¯t done anything yet. If you act now, it won¡¯t be good for you.¡±


    Remembering Pei Huai¡¯s stern face from the news in her last life, she felt a chill.


    Unexpectedly, Pei Huai suddenly broke into laughter, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little sister, I¡¯m not going to kill her outright. Yanyan is still here. If I did that, I wouldn¡¯t be able to stay by his side.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head tilted slightly. Was it her imagination?


    Why did she feel like Pei Huai¡¯s concern for her fourth brother went beyond what one would expect from just friends?


    But on second thought, Xia Wenyan was the light that pulled Pei Huai back from the abyss; it was fairly normal for someone to go mad if their light was taken away.


    As she was contemplating, a large hand ruffled her hair, ¡°Thanks to you, little sister, it¡¯s not so easy for Xia Wenjin to throw her weight around anymore. But be careful. She took photos of you and Yin Zhuhai, those intimate ones for trick angles, I don¡¯t know what she plans to do with them.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply upon hearing this.


    Thinking about Song Sinian¡¯s unusual behavior from before, she seemed to understand something.


    ¡°That damn Xia Wenjin, if she doesn¡¯t make trouble for a day, she¡¯ll suffocate!¡± Lu Zhaozhao clenched her fists in anger.


    It seemed it was time to show her some colors!


    So that little bitch wouldn¡¯t always think she was easy to bully!

 Chapter 208 - 208 208 What does it mean that Lu Zhaozhao did

    ?Chapter 208: Chapter 208 What does it mean that Lu Zhaozhao did not meet a good end? Chapter 208: Chapter 208 What does it mean that Lu Zhaozhao did not meet a good end? Pei Huai crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair, his brows and eyes all smiling as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Sister, got any ideas? Do you need brother¡¯s help?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched slightly with a somewhat speechless look at Pei Huai.


    This man¡¯s mood swings really were just like flipping a page in a book, the second before he was as wary of her as could be.


    But the second after they were on the same side, his attitude changed completely.


    Sighing helplessly, she said, ¡°No need, for dealing with someone at Xia Wenjin¡¯s level, there¡¯s no need for anyone else to step in. Just take good care of fourth brother, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    A ¡°snap¡± echoed from the doorway.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai almost simultaneously looked toward the entrance, just in time to see Xia Wenyan stepping in.


    He stood at the doorway with a shocked expression, which actually scared both Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai.


    Could he have heard everything they were saying?


    Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak first for a moment.


    ¡°Zhaozhao! You finally acknowledge me!¡± Xia Wenyan put the coffee pot he was holding to one side and stepped forward to hug Lu Zhaozhao, who was sitting in the chair.


    Startled by his sudden declaration, Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°When did I ever...¡±


    Before she could finish, Xia Wenyan immediately rubbed his face against Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, ¡°I don¡¯t care, I heard ¡®fourth brother¡¯ the moment I approached the door, so it must be me, wuwuwu... you finally recognize me as your brother...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Both Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai breathed a sigh of relief in secret, and seeing Xia Wenyan so excited, neither had the heart to say much more.


    Naturally, Lu Zhaozhao could only let Xia Wenyan cling to her like this.


    Fortunately, the director called Lu Zhaozhao away temporarily, which put an end to this farce.


    But what Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was that as soon as she left the room, Xia Wenyan pulled Pei Huai into a separate room.


    Even the smile on his face darkened.


    Pei Huai understood at once; it wasn¡¯t that Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t heard, but that he didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to know.


    ¡°Brother Pei, when you and Zhaozhao were talking about rebirth and all that, it wasn¡¯t just me hearing things, right?¡± Xia Wenyan stared intently at Pei Huai, afraid he would make up an excuse to slip by.


    Pei Huai opened his mouth, about to say something, but seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s burning gaze, ended up saying nothing after all.


    He could easily have said that everything he had talked about with Lu Zhaozhao were just themes or lines from a shoot, but he didn¡¯t want to deceive Xia Wenyan.


    Taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°It¡¯s all true. Both Lu Zhaozhao and I are reborn. If I¡¯m not mistaken, Lu Zhaozhao probably didn¡¯t meet a good end either.¡±


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be trying so hard to change everything.


    Hearing this, Xia Wenyan felt as though something was suddenly blocking his throat.


    What did he mean by Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t meet a good end?


    His fists clenched tightly, he looked at Pei Huai silently, as if waiting for his answer.


    Pei Huai rubbed his head somewhat helplessly, ¡°Actually, in the last life, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t recognize you, and your sister was always Xia Wenjin. Even after the Lu Family acknowledged her, the Xia Family still showed her kindness.¡±


    He knew that Xia Wenyan wanted to know about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s circumstances, so he had never intended to conceal any of the intelligence he had acquired.


    ¡°Back then, Lu Zhaozhao received very poor treatment in the Lu Family; not long after she married Song Sinian, the Lu Family publicly revealed her to be a fake heiress. Then, someone leaked indecent photos of her, and losses from two mining veins purchased later by Song Group were also blamed on her. Many reports compared her with Xia Wenjin, and everyone called her a harbinger of doom...¡±


    ¡°How could this have happened? Zhaozhao actually suffered so much...¡± Xia Wenyan was on the verge of collapse, clutching his hair, seemingly unable to accept it.


    But thinking it over carefully, these incidents all had traces to follow.


    The treatment of Lu Zhaozhao by the Lu Family had always been poor; having tortured her from childhood, they certainly became more unrestrained after Xia Wenjin was recognized and brought home.


    And about those indecent photos... He suddenly remembered that his elder brother had mentioned that the Lu Family had installed cameras in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s room.


    It was easy to imagine who had released those photos in the past life.


    Damn it! They all deserved to die!


    The anger in Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes turned them bloodshot, and he wished he could kill all the members of the Lu Family right now!


    Pei Huai hadn¡¯t expected these revelations to have such a huge impact on Xia Wenyan. He stretched out his arms and embraced him, ¡°Yanyan, don¡¯t be impulsive. Those people can¡¯t hurt Zhaozhao anymore. She has her brothers to protect her, and she will be fine.¡±


    Listening to the comforting words from Pei Huai, it took a while for Xia Wenyan to calm down, but his hatred for the Lu Family did not diminish one bit.


    Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and looked at Pei Huai, asking, ¡°You just said that in the past life, the Song Group incurred losses from bidding on mining veins, the same ones that the Lu Family bought recently, right?¡±


    Pei Huai nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    All the puzzles fell into place, and Xia Wenyan finally understood why his elder brother and Song Sinian had jointly maneuvered the Lu Family to pay a high price for those mining veins.


    But these punishments were far from enough!


    The debts the Lu Family owed Lu Zhaozhao, they could never repay in their lifetime!


    His elder brother, second brother, third brother, and his parents didn¡¯t know what Lu Zhaozhao had gone through in her past life. If they found out...


    They would surely flay the people of the Lu Family alive!


    ¡°Yanyan, don¡¯t trust Xia Wenjin anymore. No matter how pitiful she seems, don¡¯t believe that woman,¡± Pei Huai advised Xia Wenyan, now that he already knew most of the truth, emphasizing deliberately.


    Although both he and Lu Zhaozhao watched over Xia Wenyan, that didn¡¯t rule out the possibility of Xia Wenjin causing unexpected trouble.


    The best approach was still to keep Xia Wenyan alert about Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenyan suddenly lifted his head, as if something had dawned on him, ¡°Right... you said I died. Was it Xia Wenjin¡¯s doing?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai evidently had an aversion to the word ¡°die.¡±


    He picked Xia Wenyan up abruptly, almost obsessively saying, ¡°You won¡¯t die, absolutely not!¡±


    Xia Wenyan paused for a moment, sensing that his emotions were off, and gently patted Pei Huai on the shoulder with a light chuckle, ¡°Brother Pei, don¡¯t get worked up, I¡¯m just asking about what happened before.¡±


    Pei Huai also realized that he might have acted a bit too forcefully and gave a light cough, ¡°I did suspect Xia Wenjin before, but there was no evidence. However, Zhaozhao seems quite certain, because... in the last life, you overdosed on drugs...¡±


    ¡°Overdosed on drugs?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows lifted slightly, the term sounding vaguely familiar.


    His eyes narrowed suddenly, as if he had pieced something together, ¡°No wonder our variety show team was reported before I attended.¡±


    At the time, he had thought it was a malicious report, but thinking back now... it must have been Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter...

 Chapter 209 - 209 209 My Wife Isnt Short of This Bit of

    ?Chapter 209: Chapter 209: My Wife Isn¡¯t Short of This Bit of Money Chapter 209: Chapter 209: My Wife Isn¡¯t Short of This Bit of Money Pei Huai looked at Xia Wenyan¡¯s smiling face and felt much more relaxed.


    Since realizing he had been reborn, he had tried to approach Xia Wenyan earlier than in his past life, but he had been worried that his strange behavior might drive Xia Wenyan away.


    Unexpectedly, the situation with Lu Zhaozhao had turned into a blessing in disguise.


    Not only did he no longer need to worry about Xia Wenyan¡¯s suspicion, but their relationship had also become closer because of this incident.


    Thinking this, Pei Huai rested his head on Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder.


    He relaxed considerably.


    Xia Wenyan had long been used to Pei Huai¡¯s physical touch, so he didn¡¯t mind it.


    What he was more concerned about now was Xia Wenjin¡¯s attack on them in his previous life.


    With this in mind, Xia Wenyan¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but fall, ¡°Brother Pei, what should I do to prevent Xia Wenjin from menacing our Zhaozhao?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s head, still resting on Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder, responded casually, ¡°How about coming clean with the Xia Family about the situation? If you think it¡¯s too complicated to explain, I can go with you.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s face suddenly changed, ¡°If they knew how miserable Zhaozhao was in her last life, my parents would probably kill the Lu Family...¡±


    Pei Huai suddenly let out a light chuckle, ¡°Would killing them be such a bad thing?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, haha...¡±


    Xia Wenyan seemed to suddenly come to his senses.


    These scumbags treated their Zhaozhao like this, killing them a hundred times wouldn¡¯t be too much!


    What was he still worried about?!


    He had to sue them for sure!


    By noon, the entire entertainment industry was once again exploding with news.


    Because Luna, who never actively disclosed her name and whereabouts, not only shared a photo of herself with Lu Zhaozhao on Weibo but also openly tagged Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s Weibo account.


    ¡°For the first time I found out that the painting I made for my daughter turned out to be a fake. Poor baby, my sweet child, you¡¯ve been wronged. @Lu Zhaozhao #Lu Zhaozhao has never lacked real paintings#picturepicture¡±


    This one Weibo post nearly crashed the servers.


    Netizens went into a crazy discussion.


    ¡°Mo Qi TAT: Oh my god, I¡¯ve never seen anything like it, our Luna is this stunning!? PS: The real deal has spoken, the ones who said the sister¡¯s painting was fake got slapped in the face, right!?¡±


    ¡°Youthful cy: Give me a dozen moms like Luna! And give me two dozen sisters like Zhaozhao!¡±


    ¡°2 Wang Commander: The sister is definitely a winner in life, her mom is Luna, her husband is the president of the Song Group, and her brother is a popular idol, I really don¡¯t understand why someone would spread rumors about the sister using a fake painting.¡±


    ¡°Positive Crab: Just because they¡¯re rich means they use fake paintings? Maybe she was just expressing her wealth by making things difficult for others!¡±


    ...


    Because of Luna¡¯s Weibo, most netizens began to support Lu Zhaozhao, but there were still a few who were relentless.


    Soon after, Yuqing University¡¯s official social media account made a public clarification.


    ¡°Yuqing University: The artwork that was damaged at the school was indeed Luna¡¯s work, the incident has been reported to the police, and follow-up news will be published in real time.¡±


    Following that, Xia Wenyan, Song Sinian, and Pei Huai also spoke out in support.


    Song Sinian: ¡°My wife doesn¡¯t care about that little money or a painting. @Lu Zhaozhao #Lu Zhaozhao Never Lacks Genuine Paintings#¡±


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°Just because my sister doesn¡¯t hold grudges doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t, stop slinging mud at her! @Lu Zhaozhao #Lu Zhaozhao Never Lacks Genuine Paintings#¡±


    Pei Huai: ¡°Supporting my sister, her integrity is there for all to see. Also, stop slinging mud at her +1 @Lu Zhaozhao #Lu Zhaozhao Never Lacks Genuine Paintings#¡±


    ...


    With several big shots leading the way, the evidence Lu Zhaozhao had and the third-party video provided by Pei Huai were released, instantly clearing her name completely.


    The netizens, who had been tricked earlier, had nowhere to vent their anger and directed it all at Lin Lin.


    When Lu Zhaozhao got the news, it was already evening, and she was sitting in the Xia Family¡¯s living room, staring blankly with Song Sinian.


    She actually had prepared to visit the Xia Family quite a while ago, but she had not expected Pei Huai to come as well.


    Knowing that both of them were reborn somehow made her feel a strange sense of kinship towards him.


    Moreover, since he genuinely cared about Xia Wenyan, she had come to accept Pei Huai.


    ¡°Ahem... Zhaozhao, actually, the reason we called you here is that we have a few things to discuss. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t want to talk about later, feel free to ignore it,¡± Xia Wenyan started after clearing his throat.


    After talking with Pei Huai, he had taken him straight back to the Xia Family home and laid out everything they both knew in front of the Xia Family.


    Upon hearing the details related to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ordeal, the Xia Family was nearly at the point of exploding.


    Especially when they heard from Pei Huai that this wasn¡¯t everything, the emotions of heartache and rage intertwined made the Xia Family members wish they could flay and debone the Lu Family right then and there.


    Fortunately, Pei Huai was good at calming people down; it was after his persuasion that this ¡°family meeting¡± took place.


    Before coming, Song Sinian had also told Lu Zhaozhao what they would probably discuss, so she felt only a bit flustered.


    She nodded slightly, ¡°Yeah, I know.¡±


    The events of her last life were indeed not very pleasant, but because of the choices she made at the start, many things didn¡¯t happen this time around.


    She was naturally much relieved.


    Seeing her composure, the Xia Family finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°By the way, this time the expose? and hired internet trolls were all orchestrated by Song Keren. I¡¯ve disclosed all the evidence already,¡± said Xia Wenyan, winking at Lu Zhaozhao with a ¡®aren¡¯t I great?¡¯ look.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but let out a light chuckle.


    Then, Xia Wenqing took up the thread, ¡°I¡¯ve sent out all the lawyer¡¯s letters, targeting both Lin Lin and Song Keren. Those two rats won¡¯t be able to escape now.¡±


    This time none of them could escape; they wanted to use public opinion to tarnish Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s name, now let them taste their own medicine!


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans are fiercely protective, and the stalkers are even scarier...


    Now, Lin Lin and Song Keren will definitely get what they deserve!


    Hearing their statements, Lu Zhaozhao quietly gave a thumbs up as a sign of approval.


    The family looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mood, which was relatively good, before Wen Qingyu finally initiated the conversation.


    ¡°Zhaozhao... um, regarding your rebirth, your fourth brother has told us about it. Can you tell Mom what exactly happened to you in your last life?¡±


    Wen Qingyu was also very nervous as she said this, holding Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand tightly, her eyes filled with indescribable pain.


    She heard from Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s last life probably didn¡¯t end well. Coupled with the incidents that Lu Zhaozhao had previously avoided, which likely did occur, it made her even more distressed.


    She was afraid that recalling these events would be uncomfortable for Lu Zhaozhao, yet thinking about her carrying the burden alone was heartbreakingly painful...

 Chapter 210 - 210 210 Cant Get Through

    ?Chapter 210: Chapter 210 Can¡¯t Get Through... Chapter 210: Chapter 210 Can¡¯t Get Through... Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth hesitantly.


    But seeing the sympathetic and encouraging looks in everyone¡¯s eyes present, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt that the events of her past life weren¡¯t so hard to speak of anymore.


    ¡°In my last life, I never saw the Xia Family come to find me before I died, but later, from my memories, I discovered many things. You must have tried to visit me and given me a lot of things, it¡¯s just that I never received them...¡±


    Afterward, Lu Zhaozhao detailed the abuse and betrayal she had suffered at the hands of the Lu Family, Xiao Jinglan, and Song Keren in her previous life.


    The already gloomy atmosphere in the living room now completely lost any hint of vitality.


    Let alone the Xia Family people, even Pei Huai who was an observer felt a gush of sympathy for the Lu Zhaozhao of the previous life.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine, a girl who from childhood was mentally abused and oppressed by her adoptive parents, being slandered and vilified like a stepping stone after the return of their biological daughter, and later being treated like merchandise sold to the Song Family, poisoned by her in-laws, mind-controlled, and finally dying miserably at home because of drugging.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s plight was a hundred times worse than anything he could have imagined.


    Now, it wasn¡¯t just the Xia Family he wanted to obliterate, but he did as well.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m truly sorry,¡± Wen Qingyu held Lu Zhaozhao, tears uncontrollably streaming down her face.


    She had always thought that Lu Zhaozhao had grown up well without her.


    But she never imagined her to be so battered and wounded.


    Wen Qingyu even felt that her entire being was trembling as she held her.


    Her child, the one she yearned to treasure like precious gems, mercilessly tortured by others.


    And to have died so tragically.


    Her heart felt as if it was being churned by a knife.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes reddened too because of Wen Qingyu¡¯s tears, ¡°It¡¯s okay, mom, it¡¯s all over now.¡±


    ¡°Whimper, I can¡¯t get over it, can¡¯t get over it... It¡¯s all because I was too careless. If I had noticed just a bit earlier, even a few years, even a year?¡±


    Wen Qingyu nearly collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably while embracing Lu Zhaozhao.


    She couldn¡¯t imagine just how helpless Lu Zhaozhao must have felt in her previous life.


    No one was there to help her; it was only ever her, from start to end, even at the time of her death...


    Lu Zhaozhao had prepared herself to console Wen Qingyu, but her words made her choke up too.


    In her last life, she indeed had been afraid.


    Betrayed by her adoptive parents, used as a stepping stone, unable to get along with her husband who was brainwashed daily by his mother, her health deteriorating due to poisoning, and burdened with all kinds of slanders.


    She had always thought she had nothing.


    So faced with Wen Qingyu¡¯s sincere heartache and apologies, she couldn¡¯t help but be moved.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s nose turned sour, and she cried uncontrollably in Wen Qingyu¡¯s arms.


    The rest of the Xia Family, Song Sinian, and Pei Huai could only silently watch the mother and daughter sobbing together, but unwittingly, they too had teary eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s past was indeed too heart-wrenching.


    After a long while, Wen Qingyu and Lu Zhaozhao managed to stop their tears.


    To prevent Lu Zhaozhao from crying again, Song Sinian immediately scooped her back into his arms.


    He had promised Lu Zhaozhao that they were visiting the Xia Family to solve issues, not to have his treasure cry her eyes out to the point of desiccation.


    Lu Zhaozhao had cried for over an hour with Wen Qingyu, her throat was hoarse.


    If this kept up, she¡¯d surely become dehydrated.


    Song Sinian held Lu Zhaozhao, and his obviously guarded expression also put Xia Nie on alert.


    He hugged Wen Qingyu too the next second, gently patting her in his arms, ¡°Alright, stop crying. If you keep crying, both you and Zhaozhao will need to go to the hospital. You wouldn¡¯t want that, right?¡±


    Hearing this, Wen Qingyu felt like crying again, but remembering what Xia Nie had said, she could only purse her lips and forcefully hold back her tears.


    Seeing this, Song Sinian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    He gently used a handkerchief to press against Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s swollen eyes, and then took the bag of ice that Xia Wenmo handed over to gently apply on her eyes.


    Fortunately, both Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu stopped crying, and everyone continued with the conversation they had been having.


    ¡°Previously Zhaozhao had mentioned that there would be unrest within XJ Corporation, but that shouldn¡¯t have been investigated by Song Sinian, right?¡± Xia Wenjue slowly voiced his doubts.


    Lu Zhaozhao was just about to speak when Song Sinian¡¯s index finger pressed against her lips, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of explaining the next part. You can rest a bit. If I say anything wrong, then you can correct me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao could only nod and obediently lean against Song Sinian.


    Thus, everyone¡¯s gaze which was originally on Lu Zhaozhao now concentrated on Song Sinian.


    He glanced at the well-behaved Lu Zhaozhao before slowly starting to speak, ¡°There wasn¡¯t internal unrest at XJ Corporation. Someone replaced you as the new CEO, and that person is Justin. In the last life, he had married Xia Wenjin.¡±


    As Song Sinian spoke up to this point, he turned his gaze towards Pei Huai, ¡°If you¡¯re also reborn, you should know, right?¡±


    Pei Huai nodded, ¡°Xia Wenjin became a movie queen with Yanyan¡¯s help in the last life, and indeed married Justin, becoming the newly promoted CEO¡¯s wife of XJ Corporation.¡±


    ¡°What the hell? That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± Xia Wenmo¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°How could my older brother possibly be overthrown by someone like that?¡±


    Pei Huai raised an eyebrow, ¡°Indeed unlikely. But at the time, he was critically injured and in the hospital, turned into a vegetable.¡±


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyes instantly widened quite a bit, ¡°Then what about my second brother?¡±


    ¡°It seems he was also seriously injured and hospitalized...¡±


    Pei Huai frowned uncertainly.


    At this moment, Song Sinian added, ¡°Xia Wenqing got involved with the mistress of an M country¡¯s mafia boss, was retaliated against, had his face disfigured, and also crippled his leg.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s face instantly fell, ¡°Me? With a mistress?¡±


    While Xia Wenqing found it preposterous, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but sarcastically comment, ¡°Second brother, you had it easy. In my last life, I died from drug overdose, and it was because someone snatched a role from me. Couldn¡¯t accept it and overdosed on drugs.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Suddenly, Xia Wenqing felt that his own situation wasn¡¯t so ridiculous after all.


    On the other hand, Xia Wenmo seemed to have thought of something, ¡°So... the report against your show was done by Zhaozhao?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded solemnly, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Then, I couldn¡¯t have died in the operating room, right?¡± Xia Wenmo uncertainly looked at Lu Zhaozhao, remembering how every time she saw him, she would cry terribly.


    Every meeting, she would remind him to take his illness seriously and undergo surgery properly.


    Lu Zhaozhao awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not too clear about third brother¡¯s situation. I only know that the painting that was auctioned off that year would increase in value tenfold because of the early death of that artist...¡±


    Xia Wenmo immediately understood.


    No wonder Lu Zhaozhao had such an ugly expression when she found out he was the painter of the artwork she had bought.


    This was also why she was always worried he might die.


    Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, ¡°It seems like the most normal death in our family was mine, tsk tsk...¡±

 Chapter 211 - 211 211 Ruin Their Reputation and Bankrupt

    ?Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Ruin Their Reputation and Bankrupt Them! Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Ruin Their Reputation and Bankrupt Them! His words had just fallen when the other members of the Xia Family looked at Xia Wenmo with disdain on their faces.


    Had it not been for Lu Zhaozhao buying him at that time, this brat would have died an early death, even without anyone else¡¯s meddling.


    There was no need for anyone else to lay a hand on him.


    Yet Xia Wenmo appeared oblivious to this fact. His gaze swept over Song Sinian and then he seemed to realize something, ¡°I can understand the situation on our side, but Song Sinian could be schemed against?¡±


    From their perspective, it was because of Xia Wenjin, but Song Sinian didn¡¯t care about anyone other than Lu Zhaozhao.


    Who could kill him?


    Everyone¡¯s gaze silently moved back and forth between Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai.


    But then they saw Pei Huai shrug and laugh, ¡°I haven¡¯t lived that long, the XJ Group had just run into trouble when I...¡±


    He made a gun-to-the-head gesture with his finger, and everyone instantly understood.


    He hadn¡¯t outlived Song Sinian, so he was in the dark as well.


    Now, everyone¡¯s attention focused entirely on Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian¡¯s death was a place Lu Zhaozhao had always refrained from touching.


    But now that the conversation had been broached, if she uniquely concealed his...


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, bowed her head without daring to look at anyone, and murmured, ¡°Mr. Song was... suffering from depression, Xiao Jinglan told me at that time that he was killed by me. It was me...¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice tremble slightly, Song Sinian immediately interrupted her.


    ¡°Even if I had truly died, it wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with you, definitely not because of you.¡±


    He spoke with exceptional determination.


    Lu Zhaozhao had been hurt too much in her previous life, and he did not want his death to burden her with such immense guilt.


    Lu Zhaozhao, with wet eyes, looked up at Song Sinian, seemingly about to speak, but after opening her mouth, she couldn¡¯t voice a word.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gentle gaze rested on the person in his arms, softly rubbing the top of her head, ¡°I think from what you¡¯ve said, it¡¯s more likely that Xiao Jinglan and the others overdosed me. With you by my side, even if you ignore me, I would never seek death.¡±


    He was acutely aware of how much Lu Zhaozhao meant to him in his heart.


    He wouldn¡¯t leave her alone in this world because he couldn¡¯t stand the thought of her being with another man after his death.


    Given his extreme possessiveness over Lu Zhaozhao, he didn¡¯t believe he could commit suicide due to depression.


    Lu Zhaozhao sniffed, still a bit uncertain, and asked weakly, ¡°Really?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded.


    But Lu Zhaozhao still seemed a little hesitant to believe it.


    She had always thought it was because she had mistakenly trusted Xiao Jinglan that Song Sinian died.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, no one knows Song Sinian better than himself, if he says he wouldn¡¯t, then he definitely wouldn¡¯t,¡± Wen Qingyu looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pitiable little face, her heart aching unbearably.


    She knew that nothing she said could comfort Lu Zhaozhao right now.


    But like Song Sinian, they both wanted to alleviate her guilt about the previous life.


    Xia Wenyan chimed in from the side, ¡°I think Song Sinian¡¯s reasoning makes more sense. Look, even I, your fourth brother, can be accused of drug use, Song Sinian isn¡¯t in the entertainment circle. If he were often seen enjoying himself, who knows what rumors of excess they could have pinned on him...¡±


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Lao Si, I finally understand why your fans call you ¡®Mute Groom¡¯.¡±


    What happened to the good little brother, why did he have to open his mouth?


    But it was thanks to his overly imaginative ideas that the originally heavy atmosphere had, on the contrary, eased up quite a bit.


    Seeing this, Pei Huai coughed lightly, ¡°Now that everyone is more or less aware of the situation, we should try to avoid what we can, so that... the tragedy of the last life won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    As he said this, his gaze, unblinkingly, was on Xia Wenyan beside him.


    In truth, he didn¡¯t care about the other members of the Xia family; from beginning to end, the person he wanted to protect was only Xia Wenyan.


    But if Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t let go of his family, he had no choice but to try to comply with his wishes.


    Just like Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s partner.


    From the moment he had first met Song Sinian, he knew the two of them were cut from the same cloth.


    However, Song Sinian was better at disguising it.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao at his side was several times smarter than Xia Wenyan...


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s complexion darkened slightly, ¡°Avoiding this kind of thing sounds too passive. Now that we know who is behind it all, stirring the pot, we certainly need to nip it in the bud.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, let them be utterly discredited and bankrupt!¡± Xia Wenqing also clenched her teeth in anger.


    Xia Wenmo glanced at them and couldn¡¯t help adding, ¡°And don¡¯t forget, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.¡±


    ¡°Yes! We can¡¯t let any of them off!¡± Xia Wenyan nodded repeatedly in agreement.


    They all actually knew that with Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing taking action, almost anyone who was against them could be dealt with, no matter who.


    Even though this was domestically, with Song Sinian¡¯s help, they were absolutely capable of sweeping anyone they pleased.


    But Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ordeal still made them feel uncomfortable.


    They always felt that if they didn¡¯t do something, it would be unbearably distressing.


    Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie were naturally aware of this as well.


    Therefore, Xia Nie, who had been silent all this while, finally slowly spoke, ¡°You brothers can do whatever you want, just don¡¯t let them off too easily.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had been tormented by them for so many years.


    It wouldn¡¯t be satisfying enough to simply kill them off easily.


    They had to be miserable, in pain, and utterly desperate.


    But these words, Xia Nie didn¡¯t want to speak out loud, nor did he want to frighten Lu Zhaozhao, so he just nodded.


    The Xia brothers naturally understood without having to be told.


    Then Xia Nie turned to look at Song Sinian and nodded at him, ¡°If there¡¯s any problem on the Song Family side with Zhaozhao, the Xia Family is ready to cooperate at any time.¡±


    Song Sinian immediately understood his meaning, ¡°Naturally.¡±


    Xia Nie simply didn¡¯t want to plan these things in front of Lu Zhaozhao; after all, having faced these issues alone in her past life, it had been tough enough.


    The rest they could handle.


    Because previously, Xia Wenyan had hired a cyber-army to defame Lu Zhaozhao, netizens¡¯ outrage was now uncontrollably directed at the two of them.


    Unable to withstand the abuse from so many people, Lin Lin directly sold out Xia Wenjin.


    She publicly revealed the previous phone call audio between herself and Xia Wenjin on Weibo.


    This sparked an uproar.


    [From Babble On: The recent saga keeps growing bigger, I feel like a varmint in fallow land! Can true daughters of wealthy families not stand to see others do well? Tsk tsk...]


    [aoao¡¯s here: Quick analysis, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s birth mom is Luna, doesn¡¯t that make Xia Wenjin her foster mom? She raised Xia Wenjin for 20 years, and as soon as she returned to the Lu Family, there¡¯s nothing but difficulties and false accusations against Lu Zhaozhao, Luna is really tragic, raising a thankless wretch...]

 Chapter 212 - 212 212 Dont Mess with My Favorite

    ?Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Don¡¯t Mess with My Favorite Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Don¡¯t Mess with My Favorite ¡°For Ni Ni Ni Ni¡¯s heart: Wow! After hearing the analysis above, suddenly it feels like Xia Wenjin is so scheming, she must think that after returning to her biological parents¡¯ home, she still wants to take advantage of the resources from her foster family, so she made her move, right?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Flower and Light Ink: Incredible! Xia Wenjin used to cling to our Yan Bao in school and even leech off Yan Bao¡¯s popularity on variety shows, tsk tsk...¡±


    ¡°Morning¡¯s Purple: Taking away Yan Bao, taking away my sister, stay away from my sweetheart!¡±


    ...


    Originally, those who viciously criticized Song Keren and Lin Lin shifted most of their firepower to curse Xia Wenjin.


    Song Keren naturally saw these messages.


    She had been afraid to go out because of the exposure of hiring naval forces, and she even dared not to answer calls from Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo.


    But how could Xiao Mo let her get what she wants?


    Early in the morning, he brought Xiao Jinglan and pried open her door, rushing in.


    Xiao Mo immediately went up to Song Keren and slapped her several times, ¡°I told you to honestly seduce Justin, but instead of doing what you¡¯re supposed to, you went to provoke Lu Zhaozhao. Are you sick?!¡±


    She went through with it, but it got exposed anyway!


    Now, even Old Master Song knew about it.


    Song Keren might not even think about marrying as a member of the Song Family, and whether she could escape Old Master Song¡¯s wrath this time was questionable.


    Song Keren screamed repeatedly, covering her face and crouching on the ground, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! It was that bitch Xia Wenjin who framed me! It was her who made Lin Lin harm me!¡±


    Previously, when she saw Lin Lin swearing earnestly on her knees, she really thought she had sent a good handle that could control Lu Zhaozhao.


    Turns out it was bait thrown by that bitch Xia Wenjin.


    Xiao Mo stared at Song Keren, seeing her look like a mess, and wished he could just kill her.


    Truly more trouble than she¡¯s worth.


    Xia Wenjin was never a good thing, and this wasn¡¯t the first time she had targeted Lu Zhaozhao.


    Unexpectedly, that bitch could drag Song Keren down too.


    He had to admit Xia Wenjin was somewhat clever.


    Song Keren knew that Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t let her off, but she didn¡¯t want to take all the blame alone.


    Outraged, she yelled at Xiao Mo, ¡°Xia Wenjin is also eyeing Justin. She did this on purpose so Justin would marry her instead of me!¡±


    Thinking of this, Song Keren quickly added, ¡°I¡ªI have already been intimate with Justin previously, she¡ªhe¡¯s jealous of me!¡±


    When Xiao Mo heard this, his expression finally changed, ¡°What did you say? You and Justin...¡±


    He looked at Song Keren somewhat incredulously.


    He didn¡¯t usually pay much attention to Song Keren. When did she get involved with Justin?


    Seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s expression much softened, Song Keren then said, ¡°That day during the welcoming banquet, I was away the whole night. That¡¯s when I met Justin, and he was very gentlemanly towards me, and we just...¡±


    Xiao Mo slowly let go of the grip on Song Keren¡¯s clothes and then asked coldly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say this at the time?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    She paused, considering if she said she didn¡¯t know Justin and then had a one-night stand, Xiao Mo definitely wouldn¡¯t look favorably upon her.


    She took a deep breath and said, ¡°At that time, I didn¡¯t tell him my identity, and you wanted me to marry someone else, so after I knew his identity, I didn¡¯t tell you all.¡±


    Xiao Mo stared steadily at Song Keren, his eyes constantly fixed on her, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he didn¡¯t say anything more.


    Whether Song Keren¡¯s latter words were true or not was not important anymore. What mattered was that she had already gotten Justin once.


    He should now think about how to make Song Keren secure him more appropriately.


    Song Keren was already a lost piece in the game, but if she could marry Justin, she would still be of some use.


    Xiao Mo thought so, and snorted lightly, ¡°You should be grateful that Lin Lin leaked the information in time; now, everyone¡¯s attention is focused on Xia Wenjin.¡±


    Song Keren pursed her lips and reached out to grasp Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hand, looking at her pitifully, ¡°Mom, I can¡¯t accept this. Xia Wenjin did this to me; she wants to ruin me...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression remained fiercely unpleasant.


    She looked up at Xiao Mo and said, ¡°Xiao Mo, Xia Wenjin has attacked Keren not once or twice. She must be desperate to have Justin; if she continues...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s worried words fell into Xiao Mo¡¯s ears, naturally making him more alert.


    He hesitated for a moment, narrowed his eyes, ¡°If that is the case, then let her taste being ruined by others. With so many enemies, it¡¯s only normal for her to be schemed against, right?¡±


    Upon seeing this, Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren were secretly thrilled.


    It seemed that Xiao Mo was going to deal with Xia Wenjin.


    Song Keren coldly curled her lips, knowing that if Xiao Mo took action, Xia Wenjin would definitely not be able to escape!


    Xia Wenjin, now you¡¯ll taste the feeling of your self-esteem being trampled underfoot!


    Just as Song Keren was feeling smug, Xiao Mo¡¯s voice rose again next to her ear, ¡°Keren, you¡¯ll come with me to the ¡®Dine-In Cottage¡¯ show tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Song Keren looked at Xiao Mo with a guarded expression.


    Being exposed, she was now like a rat crossing the street.


    If she really went to the show with Xiao Mo, wouldn¡¯t she be scolded to death?


    Xiao Mo frowned, ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to the show, and you will apologize to Lu Zhaozhao. After all, with Xia Wenjin as your backing, you...¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t!¡±


    Before Xiao Mo could finish, Song Keren screamed again, ¡°Why should I? If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao and the others, I wouldn¡¯t have been harmed so badly!¡±


    It was bad enough that she had lost her chance with Song Sinian.


    Now she had lost her reputation as well.


    And Xiao Mo still wanted her to apologize to Lu Zhaozhao?


    Impossible! She would never bow down to Lu Zhaozhao in her life!


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    A loud slap landed again on Song Keren¡¯s face.


    Song Keren was almost knocked out by the strike.


    She covered her buzzing ears, looking at Xiao Mo in horror.


    He stepped closer to Song Keren, grabbing her collar with one hand, ¡°When I tell you to go to the show, you should just do as I say, and if you want to clear your name, just follow my instructions!¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    Xiao Mo glared at Song Keren, ¡°You¡¯d better stop struggling pointlessly. If it weren¡¯t for Justin¡¯s interest in you, I would have handed you over to some old man from our partners long ago. Don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡±


    He was about to hit her again, but Xiao Jinglan quickly stepped in front of Song Keren, ¡°She¡¯ll go, she will definitely go! Don¡¯t hit her anymore; if you spoil her face, it will affect your plans for tomorrow too.¡±


    Xiao Mo, hearing this, slowly released his grip.


    ¡°You¡¯d better pray that she behaves tomorrow, otherwise not even the Emperor could save her!¡±


    With those words, Xiao Mo glared fiercely at the mother and daughter one last time before turning and leaving.


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan seemed to lose all her strength and collapsed on the floor.


    She couldn¡¯t understand how her well-laid plans had morphed into the current mess...

 Chapter 213 - 213 213 Your brain must be filled with the

    ?Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Your brain must be filled with the water from frequently standing on your head to wash your hair, right? Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Your brain must be filled with the water from frequently standing on your head to wash your hair, right? Previously, everything seemed to be going smoothly; her son was about to take the position of the CEO of the Song Family.


    But now, it seemed like everything was out of control.


    Song Keren saw Xiao Mo leave and threw herself into Xiao Jinglan¡¯s arms, crying her heart out, ¡°Mom... sob sob sob...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan raised her hand to gently pat Song Keren, comforting her, ¡°Your brother is also doing this for your own good. As long as you marry Justin, you won¡¯t have to suffer anymore.¡±


    They didn¡¯t have many cards left to play with at the moment.


    She had lost control of the Song Mansion, and now she had been kicked out, making it as difficult as climbing to the heavens to return.


    On Xiao Mo¡¯s side, there was only partial cooperation with the Lu Family. They were still being secretive, clearly not willing to cooperate properly.


    The directors behind them were each being troublesome, no wonder Xiao Mo was anxious.


    Song Keren clearly didn¡¯t see it that way. She sniffled, her eyes filled with resentment, ¡°It¡¯s all Xia Wenjin¡¯s fault, it¡¯s all her...¡±


    And Lu Zhaozhao.


    It was clearly their Lu Family¡¯s business, why did they have to drag her into it?


    If it weren¡¯t for those two, she wouldn¡¯t be in this mess.


    She wanted revenge!


    All those who looked down on her, just wait and see!


    The trending searches were boiling over, and inside the drama crew, it was even more of a storm of blood and intrigue.


    Xia Wenyan was propping up her chin, looking at Lu Zhaozhao with dissatisfaction, and glancing at Xia Wenjin from a distance, muttering, ¡°She really has some nerve, getting called out so harshly outside, yet she can still come to the show, tsk tsk...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xia Wenyan, ¡°If she doesn¡¯t come to the show, it would be a breach of contract. Coming might give her a chance to whitewash her image with people¡¯s perceptions.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenyan exploded, ¡°What a joke! If she can still whitewash with me around, I¡¯ll wash my hair while doing a handstand!¡±


    ¡°Naughty.¡± Suddenly, a large hand landed on Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°Don¡¯t make such absolute statements. Hasn¡¯t the entertainment industry seen all kinds of reversals of black and white?¡±


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t care much about whether Xia Wenjin could whitewash her image, but if there was the slightest thing that could hurt Xia Wenyan, he couldn¡¯t ignore it.


    He said this in a teasing tone, casually adding, ¡°Your brain isn¡¯t full of water from washing your hair upside down all the time, is it?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold back and laughed along.


    Ever since Pei Huai clarified everything, his whole demeanor hadn¡¯t seemed as gloomy as before.


    Especially when he was with Xia Wenyan, his spirits were extraordinarily high.


    Maybe he felt relieved after telling his hidden secrets to someone important, and the two of them now shared a common secret. Perhaps that¡¯s why his face was glowing.


    Xia Wenjin saw Xia Wenyan, Lu Zhaozhao, and Pei Huai from a distance, talking and laughing together.


    Originally, due to her bad relationship with Lu Zhaozhao, it was one thing for Xia Wenyan to diss her on the show from time to time.


    But now, because of the trending searches, she was almost completely ostracized by everyone during live broadcasts.


    She had hoped to use this opportunity to act pitiable and garner some sympathy.


    However, during the live broadcast, Pei Huai suddenly showed her excessive concern, causing the backlash against her to become even more severe.


    Pei Huai¡¯s fans, as well as the shippers of Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan, wished they could tear her apart.


    She had thought Pei Huai truly cared for her, but as soon as the live stream ended, he distanced himself with an indifferent face.


    He made it very clear that his kindness was all for the script, leaving her unable to save face at all.


    Watching the three of them talking and laughing, Xia Wenjin¡¯s fists clenched in frustration.


    It was definitely Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao; they intentionally made Pei Huai do this, all to bring her hate!


    But she couldn¡¯t do anything about it.


    If she deliberately ignored Pei Huai during the live broadcast, she would surely be chased and scolded later, but if she accepted his ¡°kindness¡± on live broadcast, she would also be scolded.


    Xia Wenjin had clearly fallen into a vicious cycle.


    ¡°Knock knock knock!¡±


    Suddenly, the door to the resting room was knocked on.


    ¡°Sorry, teachers, the show team has two visitors who said they¡¯re here for Teacher Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    The staff member looked at the people in the resting room with a smile but spoke with a nervous tone.


    Inside the room were both warm laughter and daunting coldness, a true manifestation of fire and ice.


    It was the director who wanted to stir trouble, yet he sent this poor scapegoat over.


    The staff member felt ashamed just thinking about it.


    Xia Wenyan stood up as soon as he heard this, ¡°What visitors?¡±


    Given his understanding of the show¡¯s director, who knows who he brought.


    No sooner had he spoken than Song Keren and Xiao Mo entered the resting room.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s face visibly darkened, ¡°So these are the visitors the director mentioned? It seems the director wants to blow the roof off this time.¡±


    He had only joined this program to fill a gap in his schedule.


    Now the director was trying to disgust his sister for the sake of popularity, which was intolerable.


    The show team¡¯s staff member awkwardly pulled at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Teacher Xia Wenyan, if the show team blows the roof off, you¡¯ll also have to pay a penalty...¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll pay,¡± Pei Huai put his hand on Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Yanyan and I together with our sister will calculate how much we have to pay.¡±


    Though he smiled, his words sent a chill down the staff member¡¯s spine.


    ¡°The Dining Hut¡± was popular solely because of the CP between Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan.


    Its recent popularity was also because Lu Zhaozhao had joined the show team.


    If the three of them left together, the variety show would really be over.


    The staff member didn¡¯t dare to delay, and quickly said, ¡°I... I¡¯m not clear about the details, I¡¯ll go call the director.¡±


    He said and dashed off without a trace.


    Xiao Mo, on the other hand, walked towards Lu Zhaozhao with Song Keren in tow, ¡°Zhaozhao, Song Keren is here today to apologize to you, she was also deceived by someone with ulterior motives.¡±


    He said this with an implied meaning, and now Xia Wenjin¡¯s face looked even worse in the same resting room.


    Song Keren clenched her fist; though she didn¡¯t want to bow her head, she had no choice now.


    She clenched her teeth and, looking down, said, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I¡¯m sorry, it was my fault, but I was also instigated by someone.¡±


    Xia Wenjin snorted coldly, ¡°Someone who acts on provocation is also someone who can¡¯t stand Lu Zhaozhao, right?¡±


    She looked at Song Keren coldly, having completely torn off the facade.


    They dared to lay hands on her during a live broadcast; why should she save face off-air?


    Hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, Xiao Mo frowned and looked up at her, ¡°Miss Xia, my sister was naive before, and she befriended you. You then encouraged her to be hostile towards Zhaozhao. Now that you¡¯re no longer friends, you even find people to harm her; isn¡¯t this going too far?¡±


    In a few words, he shifted all of Song Keren¡¯s blame onto Xia Wenjin.


    As if Song Keren was a victim as well...

 Chapter 214 - 214 214 Then Just Seek Good Fortune on Your

    ?Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Then Just Seek Good Fortune on Your Own! Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Then Just Seek Good Fortune on Your Own! Wen Jin rolled her eyes and retorted, ¡°If you and your sibling lack any real talent, at least your skill in twisting the truth is remarkable. Pity, though... no matter how eloquently you argue, Lu Zhaozhao is never going to speak well of you in front of Song Sinian.¡±


    Since she was currently the one being most smeared, she was absolutely not going to let Song Keren and the others have an easy time!


    ¡°What does my sister¡¯s issue have to do with you? Mind your own salty radishes and plain worries.¡± Right after hearing Wen Jin¡¯s words, Xia Wenyan retorted without sparing her any face.


    He really detested Song Keren, but the behind-the-scenes manipulator Wen Jin disgusted him even more.


    Especially after knowing about her actions in the previous life, his disdain for Wen Jin only grew.


    Seeing this, Pei Huai patted Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°There¡¯s really no need to meet these people, let¡¯s just wait for the result from the director.¡±


    As he spoke, he turned to Lu Zhaozhao and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go, sister. Don¡¯t let this trash dirty your eyes.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Trash should just stay in their own pile.¡± Xia Wenyan said, as he hooked Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm and pulled her away.


    Song Keren watched Lu Zhaozhao and the others blatantly ignore her apology and walk away, her complexion immediately darkening.


    She knew Xiao Mo¡¯s approach was useless!


    Song Keren watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s retreating figure, her gaze slowly turning sinister.


    To restore her current reputation, all she needed was to make Lu Zhaozhao look even more despicable.


    To replace the current news with even more explosive stories, then everything would be easily resolved.


    Song Keren¡¯s eyes narrowed venomously as she looked at Xiao Mo with downturned gaze and said, ¡°I need to visit the restroom, call me when there¡¯s a result from the director¡¯s end.¡±


    Xiao Mo glanced at Song Keren and initially wanted to say something, but in the end, he just nodded.


    Because they needed to wait for the news from the director, Xiao Mo was left to sit alone with Wen Jin in the lounge.


    Soon after, someone looking like a staff member came in and served both Wen Jin and Xiao Mo a cup of tea.


    As the two were already at odds with each other, they simply drank the tea in silence without paying any attention to one another.


    However, the atmosphere in the room quickly took an eerie turn with the wisps of steam rising from the tea.


    Xiao Mo and Wen Jin looked at each other and suddenly found that the person across didn¡¯t seem as detestable as they had imagined.


    In fact... they appeared rather agreeable.


    Thump, thump...


    The uncanny quiet was punctuated by the sound of heartbeats getting increasingly frantic.


    As if something was whispering in their ears, compelling them, the distance between the two of them grew shorter and shorter...


    When the director finished up with his work and entered the lounge with other staff, they were met with a shocking scene.


    Wen Jin and Xiao Mo were blatantly carrying on as if no one else was around.


    The director and his team had intended to back out immediately, but unexpectedly, several reporters had rushed in upon hearing that Song Keren had come to the production team to apologize to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Upon seeing the shocking scandal unfold before them, they unscrupulously began snapping pictures.


    It was only then that Xiao Mo and Wen Jin seemed to snap out of their trance, scrambling to cover themselves with clothing.


    Lu Zhaozhao, having been placed in Pei Huai¡¯s personal makeup room by Xia Wenyan, came out when she heard the commotion.


    But before she could see what was happening, she was pushed back by Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai.


    ¡°What just happened over there?¡± Lu Zhaozhao peered through the crack of the door in the direction of the lounge, filled with curiosity.


    Xia Wenyan quickly used his body to block the view, ¡°What happened there is too filthy, you¡¯re better off not looking.¡±


    ¡°Dirty?¡± Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow.


    Just after they had left, the entire dressing room seemed to be left with only Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin, right?


    What could the two of them have done to be surrounded by so many reporters?


    Pei Huai looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s curious gaze and cleared his throat, ¡°Just now, when I went to buy cigarettes, I spotted Song Keren secretly meeting with a group actor. Out of curiosity, I followed them and saw her handing a package to that group actor.¡±


    ¡°Uh... That package wouldn¡¯t happen to contain something that makes men and women...¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked uncertainly towards Pei Huai.


    Thinking of the fact that they had just said the scene was dirty, the only thing she could think of was that.


    Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai almost nodded at the same time.


    Who would¡¯ve thought that Song Keren feigned an apology, but in truth, she sought to harm others?


    But why would she drug Xiao Mo?


    Isn¡¯t he her brother?


    As Lu Zhaozhao was puzzling over this, it was as if she suddenly understood something, ¡°The intended target of her drugging wasn¡¯t Xia Wenjin but me, and you guys?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Pei Huai nodded indifferently, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.


    The thing Song Keren had given to the group actor was meant for Lu Zhaozhao. As for the man who¡¯d take the drug, whether it was him or Xia Wenyan, she didn¡¯t care.


    As long as the person who suffered was Lu Zhaozhao, it didn¡¯t matter who else got dragged down with her.


    Of course, she hoped the bigger the scandal, the better.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao was caught in a scandal on set, their news could be suppressed.


    Pei Huai certainly wouldn¡¯t allow such a thing to happen, especially when the plot involved him and Xia Wenyan.


    He took immediate action, using his standard benevolent smile to deceive the group actor and subtly directed him to the ¡°correct¡± path.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows visibly knitted together; she hadn¡¯t expected Song Keren to dare to do such a thing on set.


    Xia Wenyan raised his hand and rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it; this matter doesn¡¯t concern you. It¡¯s a case of the wicked bringing trouble upon themselves.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up slightly at Xia Wenyan, the corners of her mouth suddenly twitching, ¡°Since Song Keren has done this already, reminding Xiao Mo a little about who¡¯s behind it shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±


    She said this while winking at Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai.


    Both men were momentarily stunned, and then the corners of their mouths slowly curled up...


    Good idea!


    How ¡°happy¡± would Xiao Mo be if he knew Song Keren had sent him this big present?


    As for Song Keren, she better pray for good luck!


    But Xiao Mo didn¡¯t even get the news before he was angrily summoned back to the Song Mansion by Old Master Song.


    When Xiao Mo arrived, Old Master Song had smashed to bits all the teapots usually used for drinking tea.


    Xiao Jinglan, who had been sitting in the living room the whole time, was so frightened she trembled, not daring to make a sound.


    Xiao Jinglan had been called to the mansion by Old Master Song early on when the photos of Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin were exposed.


    She never expected the normally composed Old Master Song to be so furious.


    ¡°What is going on?! I had already warned you about Song Keren buying online trolls to slander Zhaozhao. And now Xiao Mo has caused such a scandal. Are you all looking to rebel?!¡±


    As Old Master Song spoke, he smashed another cup. Fragments of the cup hit Xiao Mo¡¯s forehead squarely, and blood immediately began to flow...

 Chapter 215 - 215 215 Whether the green hat is dark green or

    ?Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Whether the green hat is dark green or light green, he dyed it himself. Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Whether the green hat is dark green or light green, he dyed it himself. Xiao Jinglan was terrified and hurriedly went to check on Xiao Mo¡¯s injury.


    Seeing only a small cut, Xiao Jinglan finally, with a tearful voice, looked at Old Master Song and said, ¡°Old Master, please, don¡¯t be angry. This really is Xiao Mo¡¯s fault, but... but he probably didn¡¯t do it on purpose. She...¡±


    She might have been framed.


    That was what Xiao Jinglan wanted to say, but before she could get the words out, Old Master Song glared at her.


    In fact, whether Xiao Mo was framed or not didn¡¯t matter anymore. What mattered was that it had already happened.


    If they didn¡¯t come up with a plan, Xiao Mo might very well be abandoned by the Song Group.


    Xiao Jinglan pondered for a moment, then resolved to say, ¡°Yes, yes, Xia Wenjin and Xiao Mo have already fallen for each other, so they couldn¡¯t help themselves...¡±


    Xiao Mo was visibly shaken and hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Jinglan to say that.


    He was about to speak when he heard Old Master Song¡¯s furious voice again, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, go to the Lu Family right now and propose marriage! Get the certificate immediately! Don¡¯t disgrace the Song Family!¡±


    ¡°Okay! I, I will handle it right away!¡± Seeing Old Master Song relent, Xiao Jinglan visibly relaxed.


    As Old Master Song left, Xiao Jinglan collapsed next to Xiao Mo.


    ¡°Xiao Mo, this matter...¡±


    Before Xiao Jinglan could start, Xiao Mo responded, ¡°I understand. Rather than letting this become a scandal and having the Song Group kicked out, it¡¯s better to solidify this relationship and possibly salvage our reputation.¡±


    He understood the pros and cons.


    But he didn¡¯t know if the Lu Family did.


    Xia Wenjin and his photos had already been posted on major platforms. Even if Xia Wenjin was unwilling, only few prominent figures from the Shangjing Circle would want to marry her.


    Marrying Justin was even more impossible.


    By marrying Xia Wenjin, he would not only gain support from the Lu Family but could also facilitate the marriage of Song Keren to Justin, killing two birds with one stone.


    Besides, the Lu Family was currently highly sought after in the Shangjing Circle. He wouldn¡¯t be at a loss.


    However, he felt like he had forgotten about an important matter.


    Lost in thought, his phone suddenly vibrated.


    A message caught his eye, ¡°Your request has been fulfilled. The photos you wanted are in your email.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes twitched involuntarily, and he very reluctantly opened the email.


    Instantly, various photos and videos related to Xia Wenjin flooded his view.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face turned ashen instantly.


    He had just ordered this yesterday, and these people had acted so quickly?


    And it happened while his and Xia Wenjin¡¯s photos were being wildly shared on major platforms...


    Xiao Mo touched the wound on his forehead, feeling his entire head turn green.


    As he was thinking about how to handle this, another message arrived on his phone.


    ¡°The photos and videos this time will satisfy you. She¡¯s messing around with five or six men, in all sorts of positions.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Xiao Mo, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Jinglan, seeing Xiao Mo looking utterly devastated, cautiously asked.


    Xiao Mo glanced at her and said through gritted teeth while holding his forehead, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    This was something he had asked others to do; even if he regretted it now, it was too late.


    Green hats, whether deep green or light green, were dyed by him.


    However, for the sake of the Lu Family, he endured...


    At dusk, Song Mansion.


    Just after bathing, Lu Zhaozhao saw Song Sinian entering the door.


    ¡°Mr. Song!¡± Without thinking, Lu Zhaozhao took a flying leap into Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    He held her legs with both hands, allowing her to hang off him like a koala.


    Perhaps because she had just taken a bath, her body carried a moist vapor mixed with the scent of orange soda.


    Song Sinian bowed his head and gently sniffed her neck, then lightly kissed her shoulder.


    Since the last time they had been together at the hotel, he hadn¡¯t touched her for several days.


    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to, but she had been far too busy these days, and he hadn¡¯t found an opportunity.


    Besides, their first time hadn¡¯t exactly been pleasant.


    He had even thought he was dreaming and had gone maybe too far with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Thinking back, his ears still flushed with heat.


    Song Sinian¡¯s nose rubbed against her neck, feeling itching inside, almost desperate to throw her onto the bed.


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly didn¡¯t notice his thoughts. Instead, she started talking heedlessly, ¡°Honey, there was a huge scandal in the show crew today, guess whose?¡±


    Song Sinian casually asked, ¡°Whose?¡±


    As he asked, his gaze slowly lifted but rested on her pouty, blush lips.


    She smelled good, felt soft, her damp hair from the bath naturally hung down, occasionally brushing his cheek, making his already eager heart flutter even more.


    His big hand gently lifted her, listening to her chatter about the day¡¯s events at the show crew.


    Song Sinian had already received a report from Xia Wenyan during the day, so he knew exactly what Lu Zhaozhao was about to say.


    Yet, he didn¡¯t want to interrupt her. Song Sinian found Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s enthusiastic demeanor particularly adorable.


    With that thought, he couldn¡¯t help but peck her on the cheek.


    Lu Zhaozhao paused, blinked, and looked at Song Sinian for a moment before chattering again, ¡°At that moment, everyone in the crew was dumbfounded, then they...¡±


    Song Sinian found Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s recent expression amusing, so this time, his lips landed on her small mouth.


    ¡°Mr. Song!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed suddenly annoyed but was gently kissed on the eye by Song Sinian.


    With a look that was both amused and serious, he said slowly, ¡°I¡¯m listening, just keep talking.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao skeptically raised an eyebrow, mumbling discontentedly, ¡°You clearly don¡¯t want to listen.¡±


    ¡°I do want to listen,¡± Song Sinian spoke, tilting his head to gently kiss her earlobe. ¡°But I don¡¯t just want to stand here and listen, okay?¡±


    His black eyes held a hint of expectation, looking at Lu Zhaozhao as if a headshake in denial would be an utterly heartless act.


    Lu Zhaozhao was thrown off by his expression, merely turning her face away, ¡°As you wish...¡±


    Song Sinian seemed as though he had received a grand award, his eyes curving into a rarely seen bright smile.


    Lu Zhaozhao studied Song Sinian somewhat stunned.


    By the time she gathered her senses, Song Sinian had kissed her cheek again, even urging her, ¡°Zhaozhao, keep talking...¡±

 Chapter 216 - 216 216 Dont Be So Fierce…

    ?Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Don¡¯t Be So Fierce... Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Don¡¯t Be So Fierce... Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, about to speak, but suddenly she felt the warm breath on her cheek sliding slowly downward.


    One after another, it softly landed on her chin, her neck, her collarbone...


    ¡°Husband,¡± Lu Zhaozhao flustered, immediately reaching out to hold Song Sinian¡¯s head.


    Song Sinian seemed completely unaware of her panic; instead, he continued to urge her in a calm tone, ¡°Keep talking about your important matters. Don¡¯t stop.¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao catching a glimpse of the reddened corners of his eyes from restraint and the increasingly heavy breath on her collarbone, she would have really been fooled by him.


    Lu Zhaozhao glared at Song Sinian discontentedly, her sharp canines biting fiercely into his pale neck.


    She applied some force, the sharp pain rubbing against the blood vessels in his neck, the thudding heartbeat carrying an unusual tingling sensation through his boiling blood to his limbs.


    Song Sinian¡¯s body stiffened, his hands that held her knees gripped even harder than before.


    He turned around and pinned her directly against the wall.


    His eyes, with hints of desire, gazed down from above into the person in his arms, his husky voice slowly falling, ¡°Zhaozhao.¡±


    He called her softly.


    It was almost a murmur.


    His body lowered, his robust frame pressing against her petite form, the weight of a man bearing down on her, making her involuntarily gasp.


    Like a cat struck by large raindrops beneath falling leaves, pitifully choking back a sob.


    Song Sinian¡¯s nose gently brushed her neck. His tone even carried a teasing laugh, ¡°I really did like the sound of your crying that night...¡±


    His voice was low, filled with a seductive magnetism.


    Song Sinian slowly opened his mouth, mimicking Lu Zhaozhao, placing his teeth against her pale neck.


    The difference was, he didn¡¯t bite hard, just gently bit once, then immediately released her.


    One after another, yet it made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body tremble as if she had been electrocuted, shivering entirely.


    As his breath enveloped her completely, Lu Zhaozhao also recalled everything from that night.


    The familiar sensations made her heart start pounding wildly.


    Her small hands climbed Song Sinian, her fingertips slightly cool.


    Every inch of skin touched by Song Sinian tingled faintly, her chest feeling like ground that was slowly collapsing, sinking gradually.


    Lu Zhaozhao bit her lower lip lightly but suddenly, Song Sinian gently pried it open with his fingertips, ¡°Be good, don¡¯t bite yourself.¡±


    Saying this, he then affectionately kissed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Let me hear your voice, okay?¡±


    He said, and kissed her nose, slowly speaking into her ear like sweet coaxing.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face was buried in his shoulder, never before feeling that speaking could make one flush with embarrassment.


    Especially thinking about what Song Sinian had just said, her entire body blushed like a shrimp.


    Even her fair neck was tinged with red.


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips curved lightly, nibbling gently on her moist earlobe.


    Lu Zhaozhao shuddered again. She was just about to say something when Song Sinian dominantly sealed her lips.


    He pressed against the back of her neck, his cool nose touching hers, nearly sucking all the oxygen from her lungs.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt her breathing increasingly difficult, her already dizzy mind growing fainter.


    She instinctively bit his lower lip in a plea for mercy, but the man, who had seemed as solid as a rock, easily let her go.


    Seeing her eyes slightly red and her crying appearance, Song Sinian thought he was going mad.


    Utterly mad.


    He wanted to lean in again, but Lu Zhaozhao stretched out her little hand and covered his lips, ¡°No, don¡¯t be so fierce...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had already used up all her strength, and the little hand she extended to Song Sinian¡¯s lips was soft and feeble, hardly effective at all.


    Yet, Song Sinian stopped, holding Lu Zhaozhao with one hand while holding her little hand with his other, gently pressing her palm to his lips.


    His dark eyes, full of longing, stared intensely at Lu Zhaozhao, his voice low and enticing, ¡°Zhaozhao, call my name. I want to hear you say my name...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart became a mess.


    She had heard this before.


    She found it hard to forget how he looked at her with affectionate eyes, those eyes that pleaded for her to call his name.


    Every time she reluctantly spoke, he would make her cry for a good while, listening to her call his name in a teary voice.


    ¡°Zhaozhao.¡± Hearing no response from the person in his arms, Song Sinian called her again.


    ¡°Hisss...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly gasped, looking at Song Sinian in disbelief.


    He, he actually bit her!


    And he was sober!


    The last time they were in the hotel, she had noticed that Song Sinian¡¯s demeanor in such matters was drastically different from his gentlemanly image.


    But, annoyingly, she didn¡¯t completely dislike it.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt her brain must have been bewitched by Song Sinian, this male enchantress.


    Her little hand pinched Song Sinian¡¯s chin, her eyes misty as she blinked and whispered in a voice as small as it could get, ¡°Song, Song Sinian, can we not do this here?¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s nasally soft and mellow voice, Song Sinian felt like something inside him was going to explode.


    He buried his head deep into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s embrace, his breath uneven as he said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t agree.¡±


    ¡°What? Song... Ah...¡±


    The rest of the words Lu Zhaozhao intended to say were lost to the evening breeze that swept into their warm breath.


    ...


    The internet was abuzz with the scandal involving Xia Wenjin and Xiao Mo, but at that very moment, Xia Wenjin lay in a hospital bed, beaten beyond recognition by thugs in an alleyway.


    ¡°My child, my poor child...sob sob sob...¡± Cao Mei knelt before the hospital bed, looking at the battered Xia Wenjin, her tears flowing freely.


    Beside her, Lu Dagui¡¯s face was extremely grim as he stared at the two beside the bed.


    ¡°Cry, cry, cry, what¡¯s the use in crying? Will crying make it as if it never happened?!¡± Lu Dagui roared at Cao Mei, clearly agitated.


    If not for his connections in the hospital, the media would have discovered that Xia Wenjin was hospitalised for such dirty business.


    The previous scandal with Xiao Mo on the film set had been the talk of the town, making any future connection with Justin nearly impossible.


    Fortunately, Xiao Mo had a decent position at Song Group.


    And Xiao Mo had also expressed his intention to marry Xia Wenjin to quash the recent hot search, but now this incident had occurred!

 Chapter 217 - 217 217 Can She Swallow This Insult

    ?Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Can She Swallow This Insult? Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Can She Swallow This Insult? Cao Mei wiped her nostrils as she listened to Lu Dagui¡¯s words, then turned towards him and said, ¡°Sir, our daughter has been violated like this, we should call the police!¡±


    Every time she thought of how Xia Wenjin was returned to them in that horrifying state, she was filled with rage.


    It had to be that bitch Lu Zhaozhao!


    Or maybe Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mother!


    It had to be them!


    They had tried to set that woman up before, and now they had turned against their own daughter, shameless!


    Hearing Cao Mei¡¯s suggestion, Lu Dagui¡¯s already sour expression turned completely dark.


    He glared at Cao Mei, ¡°Call the police? Do you want everyone to know that Jin was violated?¡±


    Xiao Mo still didn¡¯t know about this. If the matter got out to the police, wouldn¡¯t it be the same as telling Xiao Mo that their daughter was violated?


    Then, Xiao Mo would definitely call off the marriage!


    And which man among the young masters of the Beijing Circle would want a woman who had been violated?


    Frightened by Lu Dagui¡¯s expression, Cao Mei recoiled and looked at him, ¡°Then, should we just let this go?¡±


    She was not content.


    Why wasn¡¯t it Lu Zhaozhao who was ruined?


    Why her daughter?!


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    Suddenly, there was a stir from the person lying on the hospital bed.


    Seeing this, Cao Mei immediately approached and took Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Jin, don¡¯t be scared, mom is here.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, Xia Wenjin suddenly remembered the events that had transpired and started pushing Cao Mei away frantically as if she had gone mad.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! Don¡¯t touch me! Ah!!!¡±


    Terrified by Xia Wenjin¡¯s reaction, Cao Mei quickly let go and said in a gentle tone, ¡°Alright, alright, mom won¡¯t touch you, don¡¯t get angry.¡±


    As she spoke, tears started streaming down her face.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin in distress, she didn¡¯t care about Lu Dagui¡¯s words anymore and blurted out, ¡°Jin, don¡¯t worry, mom will definitely call the police and catch those bastards who hurt you! They...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡±


    Before Cao Mei could finish, Xia Wenjin interrupted her, ¡°They, they... took pictures of me.¡±


    Remembering the vile words those people had used, Xia Wenjin felt as if ants were crawling all over her body, the discomfort nearly driving her mad.


    ¡°What? You mean they have pictures of you?!¡± Lu Dagui suddenly looked as if someone had stepped on his tail, glaring fiercely at Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Why must you always be such a bother?!¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t expect Lu Dagui to say such a thing to her. She stood speechless for a while, mouth agape, unable to utter a word.


    She was the one violated!


    She was the victim!


    Why does she still have to endure such insults?!


    When she was with the Xia Family, although they seemed poor, she hardly suffered any injustices in this regard.


    Even if the Xia brothers didn¡¯t really like her, they always united against outsiders when someone bullied her.


    Xia Wenjin never expected that, when she needed comfort the most, what she would hear were reproaching words from her biological father.


    Lu Dagui seemed to have noticed the discontent in Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes, his eyes burning with more anger, ¡°What? Am I wrong? You entered the entertainment industry only a few days ago and already caused a scandal with another man over some racy photos. Is this what you call being discreet?!¡±


    Xia Wenjin clenched her teeth, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at Lu Dagui and roared fiercely, ¡°That was not my willingness at all! Someone set me up!¡±


    Lu Dagui was annoyed by Xia Wenjin¡¯s retort, and he slapped her across the face, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they set someone else up instead of targeting you?! Lu Zhaozhao is in the same crew as you, why didn¡¯t they set her up?¡±


    Seeing that Lu Dagui was truly angry, Cao Mei stepped forward and blocked him, saying, ¡°It might have been that slut Lu Zhaozhao who framed Jin. Who else could it be?¡±


    Lu Dagui snorted coldly, ¡°Who else? Don¡¯t you have any clue yourself? The stupid thing she encouraged Lin Lin to do, don¡¯t you know about it? Now that it¡¯s been exposed, has she offended just one or two people?¡±


    Whether it was Lin Lin or Song Keren, both were cyberbullied because of Xia Wenjin¡¯s schemes, not to mention that Lin Lin also owned a large sum of money because of Xia Wenjin. Could she swallow that grievance?


    Pushed to the brink, people are capable of anything.


    Moreover, he heard from the production team that on the day Xia Wenjin met with trouble, Xiao Mo and Song Keren were both present.


    Although the possibility of Song Keren plotting against Xiao Mo was low, if it was an unknowing mistake by Xiao Mo, that¡¯s another story...


    Cao Mei was left speechless by Lu Dagui¡¯s words.


    Aside from Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenjin indeed had offended many people.


    She looked sheepishly at Lu Dagui, and just as she was about to say something, she heard him speak coolly again, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao has been with the Lu Family for 20 years, and has not caused as much trouble in one year as Jin has. She has always been obedient and never talked back to me as a father.¡±


    Even now, the abundance of resources the Lu Family enjoyed was all because of this girl.


    Lu Dagui frowned, recent rumors claimed that Lu Zhaozhao was a lucky star, and both the Song Family and Xia Family were doing better than before.


    Whether it was Old Master Song suddenly falling ill and being saved, Song Sinian hitting a rich vein that yielded high-quality purple jade rough stones, or Xia Wenyan, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brother, suddenly launching his career.


    All these matters stirred Lu Dagui¡¯s nerves.


    Especially now, every trending search related to Lu Zhaozhao was positive, and though she wasn¡¯t in the entertainment circle, she became wildly popular, which was very unsettling for him.


    Compared to Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenjin was wrapped in scandals, and another ugly scandal had recently been exposed.


    Lu Dagui became even more furious.


    ¡°You think so highly of Lu Zhaozhao now, then you should have not acknowledged me from the beginning!¡± Xia Wenjin was already furious. When she heard Lu Dagui comparing her to Lu Zhaozhao, her hatred intensified.


    It was clearly Lu Zhaozhao who had usurped her position, but now they were criticizing her instead.


    Lu Dagui raised his hand to hit Xia Wenjin again but was abruptly blocked by Cao Mei, ¡°Master, Jin is still injured. She only argued with you because she was agitated. Please, don¡¯t stoop to her level.¡±


    Lu Dagui glared at Xia Wenjin angrily, ¡°I only said a few words, and Xia Wenjin started yelling at me, showing no manners at all! I should have known...¡±


    Though he didn¡¯t finish his sentence, both Xia Wenjin and Cao Mei understood what he meant.


    As Lu Dagui thought this, his gaze swept over Xia Wenjin again.


    Lu Zhaozhao had been with him for 20 years and had never talked back to him, even if it meant marrying Song Sinian to secure a contract, she had obediently complied.


    The more Lu Dagui made these comparisons, the more he disliked Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Ever since Zhaozhao left, there has not been a single pleasing matter!¡±

 Chapter 218 - 218 218 This Man Really Knows How to Play Weak

    ?Chapter 218: Chapter 218 This Man Really Knows How to Play Weak Chapter 218: Chapter 218 This Man Really Knows How to Play Weak After he finished speaking, he slammed the door and walked out.


    Xia Wenjin went even crazier, hurling everything nearby out.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! Ah!!!¡±


    The next morning, a light, misty rain began to fall.


    The raindrops were small yet made Lu Zhaozhao not want to get out of bed at all.


    She truly felt like she was tormented to within an inch of her life yesterday.


    Now, she lay curled up in bed, being treated like an ancestor by Song Sinian as she ate her breakfast.


    He had held her and bathed her clean last night, and this morning, her hair still smelled pleasant.


    Though her body ached, she was clean and refreshed.


    ¡°Would you like some more Bingtang Xue Li?¡± Song Sinian asked with a gentle voice, wiping Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips with a napkin, his eyes full of adoration.


    Like a clear spring on a spring day, bubbling with transparent and deep, extended water.


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, her voice a bit hoarse from crying so long yesterday, ¡°No.¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian placed the porcelain bowl on the bedside table.


    Since she had entered the bedroom yesterday, Song Sinian hadn¡¯t let her feet touch the ground.


    No matter what needed to be done, he would carry her throughout.


    He combed her hair, helped her dress, and carried her to the restroom.


    He patiently listened to her complaints about his actions last night, just smiling at her while letting her punch and bite him.


    It seemed he could tolerate anything she did.


    Lu Zhaozhao got swept up by his charm, her anger stoked unwittingly, only to be defeated again by a gentle kiss on the corner of her eye from him.


    This man really knew how to act weak.


    Yet, he was incredibly dominant in bed. She cried so pitifully, yet he didn¡¯t stop.


    Now below the bed, he presented himself as gentle and pitiable, playing the victim.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t imagine this was the same person.


    What baffled her most was how Song Sinian, originally emotionally unavailable, had become so affectionate.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Suddenly, the bedroom door was knocked on.


    ¡°Sir, there are guests,¡± Zhao Xi¡¯s voice came from outside the door.


    If it were ordinary guests, he would have sent them away casually, so it seemed they were people Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t dismiss on her own.


    Or people he couldn¡¯t decide about on his own.


    Song Sinian asked towards the door, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Zhao Xi honestly replied, ¡°It¡¯s the director and assistant director from Mrs. Song¡¯s show¡¯s crew. They seem to want to discuss the live broadcast matter with Mrs. Song.¡±


    Yesterday, due to Xiao Mo and Song Keren suddenly going to the film crew, Xia Wenyan, and Pei Huai took Lu Zhaozhao directly to the program team.


    Mr. Song naturally knew about this.


    If they came looking for trouble, Song Sinian had a hundred ways to ensure they couldn¡¯t stay in the entertainment industry.


    However, he wasn¡¯t sure if Lu Zhaozhao was still interested in continuing the show, so he didn¡¯t know how to handle it.


    He could only come to find Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian.


    Luckily, hearing Mr. Song¡¯s voice indicated that his mood seemed not too bad.


    Lu Zhaozhao, upon hearing this, poked her head out and glanced at Song Sinian. Thinking of the skylight she opened yesterday with Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai, she couldn¡¯t help but purse her lips.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I need to go out and see the director.¡±


    This matter was caused by the director hiring people; their pursuit of ratings and attention was understandable.


    But if they were targeting her because she seemed easy to bully, she wasn¡¯t going to sit back and take it.


    Song Sinian seemed to see through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts, kissed her lightly on the forehead, and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to continue with the variety show, we can afford the penalty for breaking the contract. If you don¡¯t want to see this program, sorting them out isn¡¯t a problem either.¡±


    Upon hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly laughed, ¡°Alright, alright, I know I have your support, I¡¯m not afraid of them.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded and called toward the doorway, ¡°Let them wait in the living room, tell them Mrs. will be there in a moment.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Sir.¡±


    Zhao Xi did as Song Sinian said and led the director and assistant director to the living room.


    The two didn¡¯t expect Zhao Xi to be in the villa and exchanged glances.


    The assistant director whispered, ¡°Director, shouldn¡¯t we go to Mr. Pei first? Why start with Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    The director glanced at Zhao Xi who was some distance away, lowered his voice, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you see? Mr. Pei listens to Xia Wenyan, and Xia Wenyan listens to Lu Zhaozhao, so to get them back, we need to start with Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    The most critical is that of everyone, Lu Zhaozhao has the least clout and is just a trending celebrity with little deep contact with the entertainment circle, lacking much experience.


    She would be relatively easy to trick.


    Moreover, he heard that Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t favored in the Song family, Song Sinian barely even touched her.


    It was only due to external skepticism that they showed affection at a university show they attended before Zhaozhao.


    Other than that, the two haven¡¯t been seen together publicly.


    The last time Song Sinian saw Lu Zhaozhao on a variety show with other male artists, he got very angry.


    He reckoned that Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t reconcile with Lu Zhaozhao any time soon, so he came to her, intending to scare her back to the program group with the assistant director acting good cop, bad cop.


    The director, thinking thus, muttered quietly, ¡°Later just follow my lead. I¡¯ll play the good cop, you play the bad cop. We¡¯ll let Lu Zhaozhao know where she stands. After that, things will be easier, understand?¡±


    The assistant director nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, director, I¡¯ll give my full cooperation.¡±


    Just as they finished speaking, they heard footsteps coming from the stairs on the second floor.


    The director looked up just in time to see Song Sinian carrying Lu Zhaozhao down the stairs.


    He was startled¡ªwhy was Song Sinian also here?


    While he was still frowning, the assistant director spoke first, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, do you know how much loss your absence from the live broadcast yesterday has caused the program?¡±


    As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the living room instantly froze, turning cold and somber.


    The director shivered under Mr. Song¡¯s indifferent gaze.


    Then, his chilly voice echoed in the living room, ¡°If your program group thinks it¡¯s about losing money, then you may as well not bother at all.¡±


    The director stood with his mouth agape, finally managing a smile uglier than crying, ¡°President Song, Xiao Zhang is young and foolish, please don¡¯t take it personally. What he means is, our program group can¡¯t do without Mrs. Song; we wonder if she could continue to participate.¡±


    He said this while looking imploringly at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian sat down on the couch with Lu Zhaozhao in his arms, showing no intention of setting her down on the couch.


    Instead, he picked up the socks Zhao Xi had brought over and skilfully put them on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s feet.


    The director¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head.


    Who the hell claimed that Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao were just a couple for show?

 Chapter 219 - 219 219 Truly Offended a Great Buddha

    ?Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Truly Offended a Great Buddha Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Truly Offended a Great Buddha Song Sinian¡¯s skillfulness in putting socks on for Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t just superficial showmanship as the rumors on the internet suggested.


    Having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, he could tell at a glance whether it was an act.


    Luckily, he hadn¡¯t acted impulsively just then, otherwise, he would have really offended a great Buddha.


    The assistant director, who clearly didn¡¯t have the same discernment as the director, saw that Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t speak up and immediately started to stir the pot.


    ¡°Our director was just talking to give you face,¡± the assistant director chimed in, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t throw your weight around just because you¡¯re Mrs. Song. It might even affect the Song Group, and President Song certainly wouldn¡¯t like that, would he?¡±


    As soon as these words came out of his mouth, the director wished he could drown the assistant director in the teacup in front of him.


    If that were possible.


    How could he have brought such a fool with him?


    Song Sinian initially didn¡¯t want to interfere with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s career, but someone dared to use him to challenge his wife.


    They really did have a lot of nerve.


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips curled coldly as he gave the assistant director a sidelong glance, ¡°Even if my wife is throwing her weight around, she has the capital to do so. Or do you think the Song Group is so fragile that it could crumble because of a minor scandal involving my wife?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    The assistant director wanted to say something more, but Song Sinian¡¯s cool voice resounded through the room again, ¡°I think you¡¯re not here to discuss matters with my wife, but to deliberately insult the Song Group. In that case, we¡¯ll see you in court.¡±


    With one sentence, he issued a dismissal to the director and assistant director.


    It was clear that the assistant director had not expected his few words to make Song Sinian so angry.


    Especially when it came to legal matters, he was even more frightened.


    Even if he was a fool, he knew what it meant to battle against the Song Group¡¯s legal team.


    Only then did the assistant director turn nervously to the director, to find the director looking at him as if he wanted to kill him.


    ¡°President Song, that¡¯s not what we meant.¡± The director said, not caring about his dignity anymore as he grabbed the assistant director and bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°We specifically came to apologize to Mrs. Song. We really just want her to return to continue filming the show. This kid has a sharp tongue and has offended Mrs. Song; I will definitely teach him a lesson when we get back!¡±


    The assistant director looked at the director in disbelief, ¡°But it was you, director, who told me to play the bad guy just now... Ah!¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, his face was forcefully slapped by the director, ¡°Shut up! Do you think Mrs. Song isn¡¯t angry enough?!¡±


    The director feared the assistant director would betray him with more words and quickly pressed down his head as he continued to speak to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Mrs. Song, Xia Wenjin has already left the crew, and once the new guest arrives, there will definitely be no more random people showing up on set. So, could you possibly...¡±


    As he said this, his gaze was nervously fixed on Lu Zhaozhao.


    Previously unknown in the entertainment circle, he had finally gained popularity through a variety show. Many sponsors had increased their advertisement placements, and if the viewership didn¡¯t meet expectations moving forward, his reputation would be ruined.


    That was why he had the assistant director confront Lu Zhaozhao to be the bad guy in the first place.


    But who could have known that Lu Zhaozhao, the seemingly least influential woman, was actually the last person in the group they should provoke?


    He was deeply regretting it now.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, unsure of how to respond to the director¡¯s words.


    She had initially made a temporary guest appearance on the show mainly for Xia Wenyan¡¯s sake, and now that she was aware of Xia Wenjin¡¯s true colors, she was hesitant about whether to continue participating in the program or not.


    In her previous life, she hadn¡¯t had the chance to do anything before being framed and sabotaged at every turn.


    In this life, in her efforts to save Song Si and avenge the injustices from both the Lu Family and Xiao Jinglan, quite some time had already passed by unnoticed.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly realized that what she was doing now seemed to be all about matters from her previous life.


    And she hadn¡¯t truly done much of what she really wanted to do.


    Song Sinian kissed her gently on the cheek and said warmly, ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, don¡¯t participate, but if you do, you can keep trying. Whatever you choose, I¡¯m with you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses and looked into Song Sinian¡¯s resolute dark eyes, feeling suddenly relieved.


    Yes, in this life she had Song Sinian to protect her, and the love of her brother and parents¡ªit was time for her to relax.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly sparkled with laughter, ¡°I want to try.¡±


    ¡°Good. Then give it a try,¡± Song Sinian said, raising his hand to ruffle Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head.


    His gaze turned icy when it shifted to the director and assistant director, startling them into a shiver.


    His eyes swept over the two of them before he coolly said, ¡°If my wife encounters any more displeasure in the crew, you won¡¯t need to continue with this show.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes! We will make sure of it!¡±


    The director nodded hurriedly.


    Just as he was about to stand up with the assistant director, he heard Song Sinian¡¯s icy voice once again, ¡°The incident with Xia Wenjin is not a trivial matter, as a director you should handle it properly, right?¡±


    The director was briefly startled, then as if understanding something, he said, ¡°President Song, rest assured, this matter will be handled to your satisfaction!¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Seeing this, the director took the assistant director and left the villa like a gust of wind.


    As the director said,


    he posted a video on Weibo explaining the departure of Xia Wenjin from the show before the next live broadcast was due to start.


    He even subtly linked the incident with the previous sunroof fiasco.


    Those who had been following the show for the sunroof incident indignantly went to Weibo to furiously flood the screen.


    Sympathizing with the crew on one hand, and not forgetting to vehemently criticize Xia Wenjin.


    They cursed her as a jinx, causing not only misfortune to the crew but nearly leading to the show being unable to air.


    Online, only a small part of the discussion was about Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin, the fake and genuine heiresses.


    Resulting from the popularity of ¡°Let¡¯s Eat, Cabin,¡± even bystanders joined the discussion.


    In no time, the hashtag #XiaWenjinTheJinx almost blew up.


    At that moment, while watching the entertainment news broadcast, Lu Zhaozhao was having afternoon tea with Old Master Song at the Song Mansion.


    Song Sinian still had unfinished work, so Old Master Song had sent someone to pick up Lu Zhaozhao early to the Song Mansion.


    As Old Master Song sipped his tea, he watched the entertainment news on TV and asked casually, ¡°Zhaozhao, I heard you¡¯re going back to record the show this week?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Grandpa, do you also follow celebrities? If you have a favorite star, I can get their autograph for you.¡±


    While saying this, she playfully winked at Old Master Song.


    Ever since she¡¯d taught Old Master Song how to get along with Song Sinian, Old Master Song had become a veritable old mischief in her presence.


    Naturally, she had become much bolder with him too.


    Old Master Song couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her antics, ¡°You child... I wanted to ask if you know who¡¯s replacing Xia Wenjin as the guest on the show?¡±

 Chapter 220 - 220 220 I Really Dont Want to Be Jealous of

    ?Chapter 220: Chapter 220: I Really Don¡¯t Want to Be Jealous of Myself Chapter 220: Chapter 220: I Really Don¡¯t Want to Be Jealous of Myself Lu Zhaozhao shrugged indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s all the same to everyone.¡±


    For her, the affairs of the entertainment circle didn¡¯t matter.


    Mr. Song sighed helplessly as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s listless appearance, ¡°What if... the person going is Song Keren?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly startled, ¡°Song Keren?¡±


    Her gaze swept across Mr. Song¡¯s face, and she quickly realized that his words were not a probe but a reality.


    She had thought the director was truly sincere last time; she didn¡¯t expect him to have a trick up his sleeve for her.


    After Xia Wenjin left the show, the only logical substitute with a similar role was Song Keren.


    After all, both of them did not get along with her and were at the forefront of spreading rumors and slandering her.


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit, the director was really good at stirring up trouble.


    Mr. Song watched as Lu Zhaozhao remained silent, his grizzled brows knotted with concern, ¡°If you¡¯re unhappy, I can have the show¡¯s crew kick out Song Keren right now.¡±


    Upsetting his beloved granddaughter-in-law meant upsetting him.


    Lu Zhaozhao laughed lightly, shaking her head, ¡°No need, Grandpa. Even if Song Keren goes, she won¡¯t be able to stir up much trouble.¡±


    Her situation was different from her last life now.


    With the right time, right place, and right people, a little Song Keren couldn¡¯t shake her.


    Besides, Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai were there.


    No one in the show could be bullied; least of all, she couldn¡¯t be.


    Mr. Song stared at Lu Zhaozhao for a few seconds, and seeing that she genuinely didn¡¯t care, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    His shrewd eyes suddenly narrowed, and he mysteriously said, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, Grandpa will give you a surprise in a few days.¡±


    With that, he winked at Lu Zhaozhao, imitating her mannerisms.


    Lu Zhaozhao was instantly amused by Mr. Song¡¯s comical gesture.


    She suddenly became curious about what the so-called surprise from Mr. Song could be.


    ¡°Grandpa...¡±


    ¡°Stop right there.¡± Before Lu Zhaozhao could speak, Mr. Song interrupted her, ¡°You mustn¡¯t ask Grandpa. It¡¯s a surprise for later. I absolutely cannot tell you now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao became even more curious.


    Just as she was about to probe further, she saw Song Sinian casually stroll in.


    He came in and went straight to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side, planting a kiss on her cheek.


    Ever since he and Lu Zhaozhao had become intimate, his displays of affection for Lu Zhaozhao had become much more natural.


    So natural that Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t even react.


    He chuckled as he looked at the somewhat dazed Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao touched the place where Song Sinian had kissed her, her cheeks flushed red, ¡°Just now... Grandpa said he has a surprise for me, but he won¡¯t tell me until a few days later.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping over Mr. Song.


    He could almost guess what Mr. Song was planning, but since he wanted to surprise Lu Zhaozhao, there was no need for him to reveal it.


    Mr. Song, looking at Song Sinian¡¯s calm expression, suddenly became a bit anxious, ¡°This is an agreement between Zhaozhao and me, you better not interfere.¡±


    Song Sinian tilted his head slightly, noncommittal.


    Mr. Song finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    He stole a glance at Song Sinian and then turned to Lu Zhaozhao, saying, ¡°Right, Zhaozhao, didn¡¯t you mention earlier that you¡¯d like to see what Sinian looked like as a child? I¡¯ve had someone gather photos and portraits of Sinian from his childhood and put them in the small room upstairs. You can take a look when you have time.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes widened with excitement.


    Ever since Song Sinian had mentioned that they knew each other as children, she had been thinking about this.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Mr. Song to be so quick in arranging it.


    Song Sinian looked at her excited little face and couldn¡¯t resist pinching her cheeks. ¡°I really wouldn¡¯t want to be jealous of my own self.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck turned quite red. ¡°I, I¡¯m just a bit curious.¡±


    Song Sinian seemed to be persuaded by her and slowly withdrew his hand, saying nonchalantly, ¡°Alright then, before dinner... you can spend some time with the younger me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the time and immediately stood up from the sofa, ¡°Then you guys continue talking, I¡¯ll be back in a jiffy.¡±


    Saying this, Lu Zhaozhao hurriedly left the living room.


    Watching that petite figure disappear at the staircase, Mr. Song couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°It¡¯s only Zhaozhao who is so naive that she can be lured away by just a few words,¡± Mr. Song said, looking somewhat disdainfully at Song Sinian.


    That rascal was merely looking for an excuse to send Lu Zhaozhao away to talk to him, tsk tsk.


    Sure enough, as soon as Lu Zhaozhao left, the smile in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes faded.


    His gaze shifted to Mr. Song, and he asked in a measured tone, ¡°Has Xiao Mo set a date to marry Xia Wenjin?¡±


    Mr. Song nodded, his gaze equally serious as he looked at Song Sinian and asked, ¡°Has Justin agreed to marry Song Keren?¡±


    Song Sinian scoffed lightly, ¡°If that were not the case, what position would Song Keren take to join that TV show?¡±


    Right after the scandal between Xia Wenjin and Xiao Mo exploded on the internet, Song Keren was presented to Justin by Xiao Jinglan.


    Justin had been hesitating on how to secure both women from the Lu Family and the Song Family at the same time.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin directly blew up in a scandal.


    So when Song Keren was delivered to his doorstep, he didn¡¯t give it a second thought and simply took the deal.


    Mr. Song¡¯s calculating eyes narrowed, ¡°I heard that Xiao Mo, wanting double happiness, specially arranged his and Justin¡¯s wedding ceremonies on the same day?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s just what you heard?¡±


    A large part of why things ended up like this was stirred up by the old man himself.


    Ever since Mr. Song nearly lost his life due to negligent management of the Song Mansion personnel.


    His methods had become much harsher.


    He wasn¡¯t planning to let anyone slide¡ªnot Xiao Jinglan, Xiao Mo, or Song Keren who plotted against him behind his back.


    Those directors within the Song Group who supported Xiao Mo were dismantled by Mr. Song.


    All it took was a list from him, and Mr. Song methodically targeted their vulnerabilities.


    Song Sinian had to admit that his grandfather was indeed decisive and swift.


    Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, Mr. Song claimed innocence, ¡°How could you cast such malicious suspicions on an old man like me? I¡¯ve been out of the game for a while. If it¡¯s not hearsay, could it be that I personally took action?¡±


    Song Sinian shrugged, ¡°Who knows.¡±


    Mr. Song propped his chin unhappily while looking at Song Sinian, ¡°You¡¯ve got the nerve to say that. People outside are bullying Zhaozhao to the extreme, and you, this rascal, don¡¯t even lift a finger!¡±


    Just thinking about that pack of dogs from the Lu Family made his anger rise!

 Chapter 221 - 221 221 Will There Be a Reward

    ?Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Will There Be a Reward? Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Will There Be a Reward? Especially a few days ago, the people bullying Zhaozhao had taken it directly to her home.


    One after another, are they playing matryoshka dolls with him here?


    Song Sinian glanced at Old Master Song and opened his mouth but realized he couldn¡¯t explain the current situation to him.


    He couldn¡¯t talk about Zhaozhao¡¯s revenge against the Lu Family.


    He couldn¡¯t talk about the revenge against Xiao Jinglan either.


    He pondered for a moment and then slowly spoke up, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s more satisfying to let certain people fall where they are most proud?¡±


    Whether it¡¯s the Lu Family or Xiao Jinglan.


    It seemed more interesting to let them believe everything was already secured, only to find out in the end that it was all in vain.


    Only when they were in despair and then kicked when they were down could he quench the hatred in his heart.


    He wouldn¡¯t let off any of those who schemed against Zhaozhao.


    As for the other minor details, Old Master Song could do as he pleased, as long as it didn¡¯t affect Zhaozhao¡¯s revenge on others.


    Old Master Song noticed a flash of viciousness in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes as he said this.


    His eyes, full of wrinkles, narrowed slightly, thinking this young man must be hiding something from him.


    He pondered for a moment and asked in a lowered voice, ¡°Have you figured out how to deal with the Lu Family?¡±


    Song Sinian met Old Master Song¡¯s gaze, ¡°Soon, there will be news from the Lu Family, and then you can do as you please.¡±


    The news from the Lu Family...


    Old Master Song thought of the recent rumors related to the Lu Family, the craziest being that they had unearthed purple jadeite rough stones in their mines.


    Many rushed to cooperate with the Lu Group, but oddly, no one succeeded.


    Everyone thought the Lu Group was holding out for better prices to maximize profits.


    But watching Song Sinian, Old Master Song suddenly had a bold idea.


    ¡°The mines of the Lu Group have a problem, right?¡± Old Master Song tentatively uttered.


    However, he saw Song Sinian¡¯s lips curve in an ambiguous smirk.


    Although he said nothing, it was as if he had said everything.


    No wonder Song Sinian had stubbornly refused to bid on those two popular mining veins; it seemed there would be a good show to watch.


    Old Master Song¡¯s eyes narrowed, then why not add fuel to the fire for the Lu Group...


    Old Master Song had thoughts that Song Sinian understood clearly; he slowly stood up and buttoned up his suit jacket, ¡°Take your time to think, I¡¯m going to find Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ha! This sneaky kid!


    Really becoming more clingy since getting a wife...


    Meanwhile, Zhaozhao was in a so-called ¡°small room,¡± flipping through Song Sinian¡¯s childhood photo albums and portraits.


    The room almost resembled a warehouse, filled with photos and portraits of Song Sinian from various ages.


    Mostly portraits.


    Plus, the room was divided by screens, turning the entire room into an exhibition hall of Song Sinian¡¯s personal portraits.


    Zhaozhao had heard from Old Master Song that Sinian didn¡¯t like taking photos, so most of them were quick sketches by the family¡¯s painter possessing superb skill.


    The portraits were organized into an album after being painted.


    Looking at the assorted photos and portraits sorted by age, it was evident how much Old Master Song cherished his grandson.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you had enough?¡±


    Suddenly, a faint voice came from the direction of the door.


    Since there were several screens between the door and the inside of the room, Zhaozhao could only hear Song Sinian¡¯s voice.


    She deliberately did not make a sound, sitting quietly in the corner, hoping to have Song Sinian come to find her.


    But after waiting for a long time, she heard no movement from Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows, perhaps he thought she had already left because there was no noise in the room?


    Thinking this, she immediately started walking towards the door, but as she reached the middle, she was suddenly swept up by a strong arm.


    Lu Zhaozhao got a fright until she crashed into the embrace of a familiar scent, then she regained her senses.


    ¡°You¡¯re trying to scare me to death, Song Sinian!¡± she stared at him indignantly, calling out his full name.


    Song Sinian wasn¡¯t the least bit annoyed, his handsome eyebrows and eyes looking at Lu Zhaozhao with a light smile.


    He held Lu Zhaozhao gently, his chin slowly cushioning on her shoulder and rubbed, ¡°Did you finish looking at the childhood photos?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°I saw a part of them, but there are still many I haven¡¯t had the chance to see.¡±


    Thinking like this, as if something suddenly came to her mind, she looked up at Song Sinian and asked, ¡°Honey, when you said you first met me, about how old were we? I want to see your photos from that time.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, a bit of reluctance in his eyes, ¡°Kiddo photos all look the same, there¡¯s no need to specifically see the ones from that time.¡±


    As he spoke, he buried his head in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck.


    Like an ostrich avoiding reality.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly found it a bit funny.


    Her delicate hand gently stroked Song Sinian¡¯s head, ¡°Just let me see ... please?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao cooed softly, making it hard for Song Sinian to refuse her.


    But still, he didn¡¯t want to face his past self.


    He fell silent for a moment, then tilted his head to look at Lu Zhaozhao, his voice muffled, ¡°Will there be a reward?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was a bit torn between laughter and tears, not sure if she was more childish, or he was.


    Her hand stroked Song Sinian¡¯s head again, with a teasing smile, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll give you a reward.¡±


    At that, Song Sinian finally, albeit reluctantly, took Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s delicate hand and walked toward a set of portraits from a certain age.


    When Lu Zhaozhao first saw those portraits, she was certain.


    She could absolutely not admit to liking another man in front of Song Sinian.


    If there was, that must be a misunderstanding.


    Even as a child, Song Sinian looked as if he was sculpted to perfection, his features delicate and pleasing.


    Even as a tiny child, his expressionless, cold face was exceptionally striking.


    Her taste in celebrities hadn¡¯t changed ever since she was a child.


    And Song Sinian¡¯s type of handsome face had only grown on her heart.


    How could she possibly lie through her teeth and say she liked someone else?


    Song Sinian noticed how Lu Zhaozhao was intensely inspecting his portrait, but his brows kept furrowing more and more.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao regained her senses and thought to speak, she was suddenly caught by the chin and kissed fiercely by Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao was caught off guard, staggering and leaning into his embrace.


    This made it even easier for Song Sinian.


    He wrapped one arm around her slender waist, only then gently releasing the hand that was pinching her chin.


    Lu Zhaozhao stared wide-eyed, forced to endure his thin lips forcefully crushing onto hers.


    What is this situation?


    Even if it was meant to be a reward, wasn¡¯t this a bit too intense?


    Lu Zhaozhao put out a small hand and pushed outwardly, trying to bring him back to his senses.


    But before she could exert much force, Song Sinian¡¯s slender fingers were already clasping her delicate wrist...

 Chapter 222 - 222 222 Its Over Its Over

    ?Chapter 222: Chapter 222: It¡¯s Over, It¡¯s Over Chapter 222: Chapter 222: It¡¯s Over, It¡¯s Over Her restless pulse throbbed beneath his fingertips.


    Song Sinian pulled her even tighter.


    Her already unbalanced body leaned entirely into his embrace, tightly without a sliver of space.


    Through the thin fabric, Lu Zhaozhao could feel his burning skin and his heavy, powerful heartbeat.


    ¡°Thud, thud...¡±


    Each beat hammered against her chest, making her whole body slightly dizzy.


    Her heart, as if influenced, collapsed uncontrollably from somewhere at its apex.


    Until all her strength, like her blood, flowed from deep within her heart to her limbs, eventually softening into a heap.


    Her heartbeat was so fast that she could hardly bear it, her breaths sticky and intertwining, torturous and eroding.


    Lu Zhaozhao soon collapsed in Song Sinian¡¯s arms from exhaustion, letting his big hands circle around her, allowing her to dangle limply against him.


    Suddenly, she felt a chill on her back and realized what Song Sinian had done.


    She was already wearing very little, a spaghetti strap dress paired with a light shawl.


    Now her shawl had loosened, falling around her arms. The room, particularly cooled to preserve the paintings, was even colder than the outside.


    With these clothes, she had been just fine, but once the shawl slipped, she felt a bit cold.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly regained some sense and tightly grasped Song Sinian¡¯s arm, ¡°Honey, I¡¯m cold...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s breath caressed her collarbone, murmuring, ¡°I¡¯ll warm you up soon.¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheeks flushed instantly.


    Her small fist clenched, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, I am¡ª¡±


    She was about to say more when Song Sinian¡¯s teeth grazed her collarbone.


    She sharply inhaled from the pain, only to feel a draft lifting the hem of her dress, making her shiver involuntarily.


    Realizing what he was about to do, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small fist angrily punched him.


    But the soft punch had no effect at all.


    He lifted her up and took her completely, with none of his usual tenderness, but brutally.


    ¡°Song Sinian.¡±


    She clenched her teeth and discontentedly bit his shoulder.


    He winced, his jaw tensing and his dark, deep eyes faintly reddening.


    It was over, all over.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew Song Sinian was moved.


    If it had been manageable before, now there was no end until deep into the night.


    Decisively, she kissed the corner of his lips, trying to salvage some grace.


    But Song Sinian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple lightly bobbed, his expressions growing even more intense...


    Song Sinian turned and pressed her against the wall, the cold wall making her gasp, her small hands tightly gripping his neck.


    From the strain, her nails even scratched a few marks on his neck.


    Lu Zhaozhao panicked immediately, her hands gripping his neck, ¡°What should we do...¡±


    Her distressed eyes fell on Song Sinian¡¯s gaze, only to make him chuckle softly.


    He kissed her forehead gently, coaxing, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I love everything my wife gives me; it proves I belong to you, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    His voice husky, the emotion surrounding his words, warmly enveloping her tightly.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face turned even redder, and she simply buried her head in his shoulder.


    He wickedly nibbled on the tip of her already reddish ear.


    The tips of her ears seemed almost ready to bleed.


    ¡°Bang bang bang!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the room where the portrait was placed.


    ¡°Sir? Madam? Mr. Song asked me to call you for dinner.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body tensed up sharply, and she clearly heard the man she was holding grunt, his whole body trembling slightly.


    But she couldn¡¯t care less about Song Sinian¡¯s condition; instead, she was worried that the servant at the door might walk in directly.


    They were a mess now; how could they face anyone?!


    If word got to Old Master Song, she really wouldn¡¯t be able to show her face.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt like crying now, her small hands tightly embracing Song Sinian¡¯s neck.


    ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± Song Sinian chuckled softly, reassuring her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t come in.¡±


    Although this was the studio where his portrait was placed, aside from Mr. Song, no one else dared to step inside.


    Let alone a mere servant.


    But Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know that.


    All she knew was that the servant was right at the door, and if they weren¡¯t found soon, she was sure to come in.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked pitifully at Song Sinian, her eyes glistening with anxious tears.


    Song Sinian, feeling an itch in his heart, kissed the corner of her eye, ¡°If you cry now, I can¡¯t guarantee we¡¯ll still make it to dinner.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips pursed immediately.


    Trying hard to control her tears, but the more she did so, the more Song Sinian wanted to tease her.


    How could his wife be so adorable?


    Thinking this, he playfully lifted her by the waist and then forcefully dropped her down.


    Lu Zhaozhao, already nervous, was incredibly sensitive all over, and this movement nearly killed her.


    The electrifying tingling sensation left her powerless, and she limply leaned her head on his shoulder.


    Song Sinian was momentarily stunned, then realized what was happening, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he kissed her earlobe again.


    Then he slowly spoke to the person outside, ¡°I¡¯m here, tell Mr. Song we¡¯ll be back soon, no need to send anyone else.¡±


    The servant, who had been hesitating at the door whether to call again, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Alright, young master.¡±


    With those words, the servant quickly trotted away.


    In the chilly air, silence fell a little eerily.


    Song Sinian seemed to sense that the person in his arms might be angry, freeing a hand to pinch her chin.


    She reluctantly turned her face away, lacking any strength to resist, only to be turned back by him as he gently kissed her brow and eye corners most tenderly.


    Now he remembers to console her, huh! Too late!


    Just now, when someone came, he even intentionally scared her!


    This wicked-minded man, hmph!


    She was already letting him off easy by not seeking revenge, and he still had the nerve to try?


    Lu Zhaozhao bared her fangs, angrily biting a few times near his lips, but suddenly he pressed her deeper against the wall.


    The harder she bit him, the fiercer he responded.


    And still, she was the one to finally concede in defeat.

 Chapter 223 - 223 223 What is he looking for her for

    ?Chapter 223: Chapter 223: What is he looking for her for? Chapter 223: Chapter 223: What is he looking for her for? Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back was already drenched in sweat.


    Even though the air conditioning was on in the room, she had broken out in a full sweat.


    She resigned herself to lie down in Song Sinian¡¯s arms as he carried her directly back to the room.


    Dinner, after all, she had failed to eat at the dining table.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought she had embarrassed herself all the way to Java when a servant came directly to the bedroom with food.


    ¡°Madam, Mr. Song heard you had a bad stomachache, so he had the kitchen specially prepare some stomach-nourishing porridge for you to drink before bed.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth.


    It seemed Song Sinian had come up with a ¡°very suitable¡± excuse for her.


    She nodded, ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    ¡°The sir said madam had already taken medicine, so Old Master Song didn¡¯t call the doctor, but he also instructed that if madam still feels uncomfortable, the family doctor is on standby at any time for madam to feel at ease.¡±


    The servant looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a worried face, making sure to convey Old Master Song¡¯s instructions clearly.


    But the more this happened, the more Lu Zhaozhao felt a bit guilty towards Old Master Song.


    She was here to eat, but due to Song Sinian¡¯s meddling, she could only lie in bed and drink porridge.


    The more Lu Zhaozhao thought about it, the more depressed she felt. However, she still managed to send off the servant who came to deliver the porridge in a gentle manner.


    Fortunately, they were concerned about affecting Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s rest, so they left after putting things down.


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a long sigh of relief, looking at the ceiling while lying on the bed, wondering whether to kick Song Sinian when he comes later to vent her anger when suddenly her mobile phone started vibrating.


    She raised her eyebrows in suspicion. Could it be Song Sinian?


    She reached for the phone and just then ¡°Yin Zhuhai¡± caught her eye.


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned in confusion. What did he want from her?


    Thinking this, she tapped open the message box on the phone.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you okay? I heard the director say you were leaving the show, did my performance in the show make it difficult for you? I¡¯m really sorry...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat speechless as she read the message sent by Yin Zhuhai. How had he connected her leaving the show with himself?


    She stared at the message on the phone, not sure whether to reply or not.


    After some thought, she eventually typed a line in the chat box, ¡°My leaving the show has nothing to do with you.¡±


    But considering she would return to the live broadcast next time, that so-called departure from the show wouldn¡¯t matter, would it?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought this and deleted the message she had just typed.


    She considered for a moment, then typed out a new string of words, ¡°I didn¡¯t plan on leaving the show.¡±


    She and Yin Zhuhai were colleagues, after all. Such a level of reply should be okay, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to put away the phone when it vibrated once again.


    ¡°That¡¯s really great to hear. I was actually quite upset when I heard from the director that you were leaving the show because we got along pretty well...¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow in confusion. She now realized that besides overacting on camera, Yin Zhuhai was also into overacting in his messages.


    She didn¡¯t have much of a good impression of Yin Zhuhai to begin with.


    Before because of his reasons, Song Sinian even ate up some jealous feelings with hardship.


    She didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with him at all.


    She had just replied to the message out of courtesy between colleagues.


    His response now somehow made her feel offended.


    So Lu Zhaozhao simply didn¡¯t reply.


    But to her surprise, the other person seemed to realize this issue and started replying more and more.


    **Next time during the live broadcast, I¡¯ll bring you some of the snacks you like.**


    **I hear this time¡¯s new guest is also very mysterious, don¡¯t know if Zhaozhao likes them, but if you don¡¯t like them, I won¡¯t either.**


    ...


    ¡°Turns out he¡¯s quite the smooth talker,¡± a cool voice suddenly sounded from above her head.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart jumped, her eyes meeting Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils.


    Although she hadn¡¯t done anything, why did she inexplicably feel guilty?


    Especially since she had just been tidied up by him from the inside out, she really didn¡¯t have any energy left to squirm.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her little mouth, ¡°I want to make it clear first, I¡¯m innocent.¡±


    Thinking about what happened before, Lu Zhaozhao decisively struck first, ¡°I have no interest in this man at all, I just replied to the text out of politeness; I didn¡¯t expect him to reply me back with so much.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t speak anymore, his gaze firmly fixed on Lu Zhaozhao.


    This made Lu Zhaozhao even more nervous, her small hand reaching out to grasp Song Sinian¡¯s larger one, ¡°You have to believe me.¡±


    Her eyes shone brightly as she stared at Song Sinian, her small hands tightly clutching his, as if she had the attitude that if he didn¡¯t believe her, she would stick to him like glue.


    Song Sinian sighed helplessly and lifted his hand to gently rub Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything else.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you meant anything else; I don¡¯t want to end up chasing my husband for thousands of miles because of an outsider,¡± Lu Zhaozhao hinted, making Song Sinian¡¯s cheeks slightly redden.


    He indeed sulked last time because of Yin Zhuhai.


    He always felt that Lu Zhaozhao liked men like Yin Zhuhai, especially since Lu Zhaozhao had lost her memory.


    He kept thinking that if she recalled her childhood memories, she might feel a little change toward Yin Zhuhai.


    How could Lu Zhaozhao not see through Song Sinian¡¯s thoughts?


    Her five fingers clenched, interlocking with Song Sinian¡¯s, ¡°I just saw your childhood photos in the studio, and I am very sure, you were my type when you were little, my type hasn¡¯t changed from childhood to adulthood, you have to believe me!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao completely didn¡¯t understand how Song Sinian, who had grown into such a deific being, could be so lacking in self-confidence.


    Song Sinian was amused by her earnest words, ¡°Your type hasn¡¯t changed since you were small; you are really faithful.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve liked the same man for two lifetimes!¡± Lu Zhaozhao patted her chest very earnestly.


    She lifted her small face to look at Song Sinian, ¡°So, will you believe me? No matter what happens in the future, unless I say it myself, don¡¯t believe it, okay?¡±


    In her past life, Lu Zhaozhao had been tricked so many times that she didn¡¯t want to believe a single punctuation mark said by others.


    Had she personally verified things like she did now in her previous life, she wouldn¡¯t have been so miserably deceived.


    Song Sinian looked at her suddenly dimming eyes and bent down to gently kiss between her brows, promising, ¡°Okay, I agree to everything you say.¡±


    His straightforward answer made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s anxious heart instantly settle down.


    Just as she was about to speak, the sound of the phone vibrating rang out again.


    It was Yin Zhuhai again...

 Chapter 224 - 224 224 Think Shell Fall for This

    ?Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Think She¡¯ll Fall for This? Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Think She¡¯ll Fall for This? ¡°Zhaozhao, I suddenly miss that little lamb we used to feed together.¡±


    ¡°Its bright eyes remind me of you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the text message that seemed very flirty, then glanced at Song Sinian¡¯s face, which was completely dark.


    She immediately responded.


    ¡°Yin Zhuhai, we are just temporary colleagues, and I have a husband.¡±


    She thought that would be the end of it, even if Yin Zhuhai had thick skin to say anything more.


    Unexpectedly, she had underestimated Yin Zhuhai¡¯s desire for attention.


    ¡°So, Zhaozhao, you mean if you didn¡¯t have a husband...¡±


    His words were intentionally ambiguous, making Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression turn ugly immediately.


    Just as she was about to type a reply, Yin Zhuhai called.


    Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows and answered the phone immediately, ¡°Zhaozhao, you...¡±


    ¡°Yin Zhuhai, let me be clear. Saying I have a husband means I love my husband very much and have no room for anyone else. Do you understand?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want to argue with him too much.


    But unexpectedly, Yin Zhuhai suddenly started sobbing on the phone, ¡°Zhaozhao, sob... I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t realize I was causing you so much trouble... I¡¯ll restrain myself during this period.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Zhaozhao was completely thrown off by Yin Zhuhai¡¯s reaction.


    What was this about?


    She had merely expressed her personal stance, and he suddenly started crying.


    Did he think she would fall for that?


    The corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°We¡¯re just colleagues in the same drama crew. Since you know it bothers others, try to do less of it in the future.¡±


    After saying this, Lu Zhaozhao immediately hung up the phone.


    Looking at the phone number in her hand, the aversion in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes was obvious.


    She pouted her lips, ¡°Is this guy crazy?¡±


    Or the kind of crazy that¡¯s extremely mentally unstable.


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s petite face and sighed helplessly, reaching out to rub her little head.


    Although he didn¡¯t know what Yin Zhuhai¡¯s actions were for, he was certain Yin Zhuhai was trying to drag Lu Zhaozhao down.


    He could handle such matters with a flick of his fingers, so there was no need to tell her.


    Actually, when Yin Zhuhai was sobbing on the phone, Song Sinian felt a moment of panic.


    He feared Lu Zhaozhao might be soft-hearted, just as he had been cunning with her.


    But Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s actions just now had completely reassured him.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s soft-heartedness was reserved only for him, how wonderful...


    Meanwhile, Yin Zhuhai looked at the text messages and the recording in his hand, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    He had heard from Xia Wenjin about Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian, and he thought seducing her would be simple.


    However, being in the same drama crew for so long, she hadn¡¯t shown the slightest sign of faltering.


    She was vigorously defensive against his words.


    He initially thought it was because of Xia Wenyan that Lu Zhaozhao was so difficult to deal with.


    So he occasionally contacted Lu Zhaozhao separately offline, but this woman was still lukewarm towards him.


    Yin Zhuhai couldn¡¯t say he wasn¡¯t anxious.


    Especially when he heard the crew speaking about Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenyan, and Pei Huai all quitting the program almost simultaneously, he was truly frightened.


    He had just gained a name because of this variety show and had even discussed leading roles in a few small productions lately.


    How could he possibly let go of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s influential coattails?


    ¡°What a tough woman to deal with,¡± Yin Zhuhai said irritably as he clenched the cellphone he held, hesitating for a moment before still dialing a number.


    It took a while before someone finally picked up the phone.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Yin Zhuhai slowly began, ¡°Jin, how have you been lately? Are you doing okay?¡±


    No sooner had the voice on the other side received the question than Xia Wenjin scoffed, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t this call have been made the day I ran into trouble? You¡¯re calling now; it must not just be about checking up on my well-being, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Caught in his pleasantries being directly exposed, Yin Zhuhai felt a moment of embarrassment.


    Yet Xia Wenjin seemed not to notice and continued, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t handle Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Yin Zhuhai responded with a faint ¡°Hmm,¡± ¡°This woman is like a copper wall and iron fortress, impervious to all means. I have tried everything...¡±


    Xia Wenjin coolly said, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you try to force the issue?¡±


    ¡°Do I want to die?¡± Yin Zhuhai couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. ¡°She is the wife of the Song Group¡¯s owner!¡±


    Even if Song Sinian didn¡¯t have a good relationship with her, he would absolutely not tolerate her cheating on him.


    He wanted popularity, the kind that would ignite interest, not the kind that would send him straight to the crematorium.


    Spreading rumors with Lu Zhaozhao and solidifying a mistress¡¯ position were entirely different things.


    He still wanted a future in the starry skies.


    Hearing this, Xia Wenjin let out a cold laugh, ¡°You are really cautious.¡±


    Yin Zhuhai heard the sarcasm in her voice but still braved himself to ask, ¡°Do you know Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s other weaknesses?¡±


    Just hearing the name ¡°Lu Zhaozhao¡± gave Xia Wenjin a headache; she coldly laughed, ¡°If you want to know, just wait to ask her personally when she records the show.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Xia Wenjin hung up the phone.


    Why was she the one who was targeted for drugging, but when it comes to drugging Lu Zhaozhao, no one dares?


    Why was she the one having the bad luck?


    As Xia Wenjin sat on her bed in a daze, the door suddenly opened.


    Xia Wenjin shivered, only then noticing that the person entering was Cao Mei.


    Having been assaulted by so many, she had become particularly sensitive to movements.


    Seeing this, Cao Mei immediately spoke in a soothing tone, ¡°Jin, don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s Mom,¡±


    As she spoke, she slowly walked in, followed by Lu Dagui, who she rarely met.


    Xia Wenjin took a good look at him, noticing the dark circles under his eyes had deepened.


    Since their last conversation hadn¡¯t been pleasant, Xia Wenjin ignored Lu Dagui and just looked towards Cao Mei.


    An awkward atmosphere instantly filled the room.


    Cao Mei lightly coughed to break the silence, ¡°Jin, about your marriage to Xiao Mo...¡±


    ¡°I will not marry!¡± Before Cao Mei could finish, Xia Wenjin bit her teeth in anger.


    Why should she marry that man, Xiao Mo?


    In terms of looks, he was not as attractive as Song Sinian, not even as handsome as Justin.


    In terms of status, he was merely a manager at the Song Group, hardly comparable to a regional vice president.


    If she married Xiao Mo, she would be stepping down to a position below Lu Zhaozhao, which she refused to accept!


    She was already the Lu Family heiress, having surpassed Lu Zhaozhao long ago; why should she lose to her in marriage matters?


    Seeing her lose temper, Lu Dagui¡¯s eyebrows twisted into a knot instantly, ¡°If you don¡¯t marry Xiao Mo, who do you want to marry? Justin? He¡¯s already engaged to the Song Family and getting married on the same day as you; you might as well give up on that idea!¡±

 Chapter 225 - 225 225 Dont Touch Me

    ?Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Don¡¯t Touch Me! Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Don¡¯t Touch Me! Xia Wenjin was clearly stunned. ¡°What did you say? Justin is engaged to the Song Family? With whom? Song Keren?¡±


    She gripped Cao Mei¡¯s arm tightly, looking at her in disbelief. ¡°Mom, tell me this isn¡¯t true!¡±


    Although she wasn¡¯t fond of Justin, his prospects were still quite good; at least domestically, he wouldn¡¯t be outdone by Lu Zhaozhao.


    But why would a man like him want to marry Song Keren?


    Cao Mei was in pain from her grasp and hurriedly took Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand, explaining, ¡°Actually, Justin was interested in both of you, but ever since the incident with the drama crew, his side...¡±


    Even without Cao Mei finishing, Xia Wenjin understood what she was implying.


    She had a chance, and it was all because of Song Keren!


    Xia Wenjin thought of this and her eyes suddenly widened a lot. ¡°It¡¯s Song Keren! That bitch!¡±


    How could she have not realized it?


    She always considered Lu Zhaozhao a thorn in her side, completely forgetting that she was a thorn in someone else¡¯s side too.


    Especially after she had just sabotaged Song Keren, how could she possibly let her off the hook?


    This was all Song Keren¡¯s conspiracy!


    Xia Wenjin clenched her teeth in fury and was about to climb out of bed. ¡°I need to see Justin!¡±


    Just as she was about to get out of bed, she was yanked back by Lu Dagui and thrown onto the bed. ¡°Are you crazy?! You¡¯re about to marry Xiao Mo and you¡¯re still making a fuss about this?¡±


    Seeing this, Cao Mei quickly hugged Xia Wenjin to comfort her. ¡°Jin, Justin and Song Keren are already engaged, and they¡¯ll be married soon. Even if you find him now, it¡¯s meaningless.¡±


    ¡°How is it meaningless? I have to tell him that all this was a scheme by Song Keren!¡± Xia Wenjin was like a person possessed. ¡°It was that bitch¡¯s plot!¡±


    Cao Mei and Lu Dagui exchanged glances, both of their brows furrowed.


    ¡°There¡¯s no evidence for this matter; Justin won¡¯t believe it, and continuing to struggle like this might even affect the engagement with the Song Family.¡±


    Cao Mei tried to communicate with Xia Wenjin in a calm tone.


    Recently, the situation with the Lu Group¡¯s two mining veins had been very unfavorable. If this continued, the Lu Group might be finished.


    They desperately needed the help of other companies.


    Lu Dagui had originally thought that if Xia Wenjin could marry Justin, they could secure a partnership with the XJ Group, which would allow them to thrive domestically.


    But he hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin to be so disappointing.


    Now if the engagement with the Song Family was also lost, it would be a great loss indeed.


    Lu Dagui sighed softly, ¡°Although Xiao Mo isn¡¯t a direct descendant of the Song Group, he is the nephew of Xiao Jinglan and is said to be highly esteemed by the old patriarch. His status in the Song Group is second only to Song Sinian. You won¡¯t be mistreated if you marry into their family.¡±


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists. ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡±


    ¡°Even if you¡¯re unwilling, you still have to go! Not only do you have to marry over there, but you also have to convince Xiao Mo to invest in our family...¡±


    Lu Dagui hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. ¡°Why do I have to do all this? Are you sending me there just for this?¡±


    She looked at Lu Dagui in disbelief. ¡°How is this different from selling your daughter?¡±


    Xia Wenjin had already been suffocating from all the recent messy affairs, and now hearing Lu Dagui telling her to get married, and on top of that, to seek investment from Xiao Mo...


    She exploded instantly.


    She looked at Lu Dagui with a cold laugh, ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll be as foolish as Lu Zhaozhao? I will not be manipulated by you!¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    A crisp slap echoed through the room.


    Lu Dagui glared fiercely at Xia Wenjin, ¡°You still have the nerve to talk, but everything good you¡¯re eating and drinking right now is thanks to the cooperation Zhaozhao secured from the Song Group!¡±


    Before, he had asked Lu Zhaozhao to go on a blind date with Song Sinian. Not only had she obediently gone, but she had also directly registered their marriage with him.


    Although it was a bit rushed, she had obtained the orders and money from the Song Group in full.


    Unlike Xia Wenjin.


    The more Lu Dagui compared the two, the more unpleasant he found Xia Wenjin.


    He glared at her, ¡°If you don¡¯t marry Xiao Mo, you stand no chance with any eligible bachelors in the Beijing Circle. Are you planning to marry an older man as a concubine?¡±


    ¡°Master!¡± Cao Mei immediately interrupted Lu Dagui, ¡°I will persuade her properly, you should leave first.¡±


    Lu Dagui was fuming, and if Xia Wenjin continued to argue with him, she could very well be sent off to marry an older man.


    Lu Dagui glared at Xia Wenjin resentfully, then turned and left.


    Cao Mei looked at Xia Wenjin¡¯s disheveled hair and the swollen half of her face, wanting to tenderly wipe her cheeks, but Xia Wenjin slapped her hand away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes bore hatefully into Cao Mei, seemingly lumping her together with Lu Dagui.


    Cao Mei¡¯s heart clenched.


    She took a deep breath and still patiently said, ¡°Jin, listen to me, your father¡¯s company has been having some difficulties recently...¡±


    ¡°Ha, he¡¯s got two of the most coveted ore veins in the Shangjing Circle in his hands. Who would believe his company has problems?¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t wait for Cao Mei to finish, her sarcasm bubbling forth.


    Although she hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Lu Dagui¡¯s company, she had heard her classmates mention it enviously, deliberately or not.


    So, she knew a little bit about it.


    Cao Mei sighed softly, ¡°We thought the same before, but except for a truckload of decent rough stones at the beginning, the rest of the quality... has problems.¡±


    If they sold this batch of rough stones, their reputation would be completely ruined.


    And the Lu Family would be finished.


    So now, they could only seek cooperation with companies that had resources in other mines, mixing good and bad rough stones together to weather the storm.


    She had heard that Lu Dagui intended to target the small mine owned by Song Sinian.


    Rumors said the quality of the rough stones there was so good it was infuriating.


    But that mine was privately owned by Song Sinian, and it was said to be a purchase for Lu Zhaozhao.


    If they hadn¡¯t burned bridges with Lu Zhaozhao, it would have been easy to ask her for help now.


    Cao Mei even regretted that they might have acted too hastily then.


    She remembered when Xia Wenjin had returned to the Lu Family, she told her how she was mistreated by the Xia Family.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for that, she wouldn¡¯t have been so nasty to Lu Zhaozhao, at least their relationship wouldn¡¯t have soured like this.


    When Xia Wenjin first came to the Lu Family, she wanted to collect evidence to deal with the Xia Family, but she found that what she investigated didn¡¯t quite match what Xia Wenjin had said.


    But at that point, Xia Wenjin had already been interacting with her for a while, so the matter was dropped.


    ¡°So because of this, you want to sell me to Xiao Mo?¡± Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t care about any hidden troubles between Cao Mei and Lu Dagui.


    She came to the Lu Family to be their precious daughter; she cared nothing for their messy affairs!

 Chapter 226 - 226 226 Im not I didnt dont talk nonsense

    ?Chapter 226: Chapter 226 I¡¯m not, I didn¡¯t, don¡¯t talk nonsense! Chapter 226: Chapter 226 I¡¯m not, I didn¡¯t, don¡¯t talk nonsense! ¡°These are all your issues, why must I be sacrificed? Am I not your daughter? Shouldn¡¯t you be giving me the best life?!¡±


    Xia Wenjin angrily questioned Cao Mei, her gaze filled with deep resentment.


    Cao Mei suddenly felt a bit dazed, ¡°Jin...¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it! Get out!¡± Before Cao Mei could finish, Xia Wenjin had already pushed her out.


    Cao Mei lost her balance and fell to the ground.


    This angered Cao Mei as well.


    She was ridiculed by outsiders because of Xia Wenjin and had to face scolding from Lu Dagui at home.


    And now, the very person she was protecting had laid hands on her!


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you be more obedient like Zhaozhao?¡± Cao Mei blurted out angrily.


    But as soon as the words left her mouth, she immediately regretted them.


    She was indeed angry, but to say such a thing in front of Xia Wenjin...


    Sure enough, Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze turned even more venomous as she looked at Cao Mei.


    Feeling a chill in her heart, Cao Mei quickly said, ¡°You better rest well,¡± and left right away.


    Zhaozhao? Always Lu Zhaozhao!


    Everything that was supposed to be hers had been snatched away by Lu Zhaozhao!


    Now, they are all praising Lu Zhaozhao, what a joke!


    Previously, due to the ¡®Chi House¡¯ live broadcast mishap, rumors swirled all over the internet.


    Then, the variety show that restarted after a week¡¯s break exploded in popularity.


    [Ding, tourist group checking in, watching the gossip.]


    [¡®Chi House¡¯ is finally broadcasting again, yiyiyiyi, missed it over the week!]


    [Wen Yan wife! Sister! Mr. Pei, I¡¯m here~]


    ...


    The director looked at the fervor in the broadcast room, almost moved to tears.


    Fortunately, he had specifically gone to apologize to Lu Zhaozhao last time, otherwise, their show would have been over.


    He cleared his throat, ¡°Our ¡®Chi House¡¯ guest can¡¯t participate due to some special circumstances, but she has recommended a good friend to join our show. Now, let¡¯s warmly welcome Song Keren¡¯s addition.¡±


    Everyone in the room almost simultaneously turned towards the door, but not a single person clapped.


    With a sulky face, Xia Wenyan muttered, ¡°These people really can¡¯t stay out of trouble, always finding trouble replacements.¡±


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan and whispered, ¡°Wenyan, you have a mic on, they can hear you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched as he watched Pei Huai deliberately lower his voice and move closer to Xia Wenyan¡¯s mic.


    Was he afraid others couldn¡¯t hear?


    As expected, the comments exploded again at that moment.


    [Hahahaha... My god, Mr. Pei, you¡¯ve been misled by Wen Yan! Did you both exchange your brains for good looks? Even if the voice is soft, the mic can still pick it up!]


    [Pei ¡°The Clever¡± Huai.]


    [My goodness, can their disdain be any more obvious? Slow livestream turning into a comedy show, I¡¯m going to die laughing...]


    [Am I the only one who saw the sister looking like she¡¯s watching a retard as she looked at her brother and ¡®sister-in-law¡¯?]


    ...


    Though Song Keren couldn¡¯t see the comments, she heard the disdainful words from Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan.


    She also didn¡¯t show a pleasant face, glancing coldly at both before standing beside Du Miao¡¯er.


    Du Miao¡¯er, of course, noticed her intention to distance herself from the others, so she quite uncharitably shifted closer to Lu Zhaozhao, creating a gap between herself and Song Keren.


    During this time, Du Miao¡¯er and Lu Zhaozhao had already become good friends.


    She was originally just a nobody in the entertainment circle, who happened to meet a film star and several popular celebrities on this show.


    She had always been ready to fade into the background, but unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao was always hanging around with her.


    This made her quite popular in the show crew.


    Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan even gave her a lot of resources because of her relationship with Lu Zhaozhao.


    She certainly couldn¡¯t be ungrateful.


    Song Keren had come to the show crew because she was attracted to the current popularity of the program, and because she had snatched these resources from Xia Wenjin.


    She was very proud of herself.


    Whether it was men or resources, she had seized them all.


    In a few days, she would be Justin¡¯s wife, and Justin was the regional vice president of XJ Group.


    She felt her status was not lower than Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s.


    Thinking this, Song Keren proudly tilted her chin upward and gave Lu Zhaozhao a provocative look.


    [Tsk tsk, Song Keren is not just a substitute for Xia Wenjin, she¡¯s clearly a 2.0 version, even the rejection is 2.0]


    [Xia Wenjin at least knows how to pretend in front of others. What¡¯s with this Song Keren being so direct?]


    [I heard her fiance? is the regional vice president of XJ Group; she must have strong backing.]


    [And Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s husband is the president of Song Group! Yet, you don¡¯t see her acting all high and mighty!]


    [Is it possible that President Song and Lu Zhaozhao are just a couple for show? I¡¯ve heard rumors that their affection is only for the public, but actually... emmm...]


    The director looked at the barrage focusing on the personal affairs of Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian instead of the show content, and his head instantly ached.


    Rumors really can kill.


    Had he not been misled by such rumors originally, wouldn¡¯t he have almost been ruined?


    How much Song Sinian cared for Lu Zhaozhao was plainly visible.


    If there was another trending search related to their marriage now, his show could forget about continuing.


    ¡°Cough cough... Next, we¡¯ll proceed to group up. As before, we¡¯ll pair up in teams of two for tasks. However, this time, we¡¯ll draw team members randomly.¡±


    Last time, letting everyone choose their team members caused a huge stir before he could even meddle.


    Now, all he wanted was a smooth live show, to keep the program going.


    But when he saw the teaming situation, the director almost turned green.


    Lu Zhaozhao ended up in the same team as Song Keren, Du Miao¡¯er with Xia Wenyan, and Pei Huai with Yin Zhuhai.


    Now, not just the director, but even the viewers on screen exploded.


    [Oh my god, the director is really stirring things up! Previously it was real vs. fake rich daughters, now are we watching real vs. fake socialites?]


    [Director, you know the code for popularity too well!]


    [Song Keren is so fierce, is the little sister going to suffer?]


    [Wenyan and Mr. Pei are doing tasks inside the house, while the little sister and Song Keren have to go outdoors, tsk tsk, the director is ruthless!]


    [Boss: Men, who dare to touch my woman, I¡¯ll remember you]


    Director: I didn¡¯t, it wasn¡¯t me, don¡¯t talk nonsense!


    The director, seeing the barrage calling him out, was on the verge of tears.


    He really hadn¡¯t planned to create drama this time; why did it turn out like this?


    Was it still possible to reshuffle the teams now?!


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing the director¡¯s almost tearful face, naturally understood that this plot twist wasn¡¯t orchestrated by the director.


    She directly took the task card and said, ¡°Our task is to go pick corn. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going. It¡¯s too hot today. What if I get sunburned? How can I attend the wedding then? Can you take responsibility for that?¡±

 Chapter 227 - 227 227 Lu Zhaozhao as the Wealthy Lady

    ?Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Lu Zhaozhao as the Wealthy Lady Persona Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Lu Zhaozhao as the Wealthy Lady Persona As soon as Lu Zhaozhao spoke, Song Keren took over the conversation, showing no intention of giving any face.


    She was no longer the burden Xiao Jinglan brought to the Song Family; she was the future wife of the regional president of XJ Corporation.


    Xiao Jinglan had told her about it, and it was set in stone.


    She would not let herself be manipulated by others anymore.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand holding the Task Card suddenly paused, and she turned to look at the haughty Song Keren, her lips twitching involuntarily.


    She had thought Song Keren was trying to ride on Xia Wenjin¡¯s popularity to boost her career.


    Now it seemed Song Keren just wanted to show off on the program.


    ¡°Of course, I can be responsible,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said with a forced smile, ¡°If you don¡¯t go, I can guarantee you won¡¯t get married.¡±


    Her voice was eerily calm, startling Song Keren.


    She bit her teeth fiercely, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°You can choose not to believe, and you can choose not to go. As long as you¡¯re happy.¡±


    Saying this, she picked up her basket and walked out the door.


    Xia Wenyan caught the anxious and uneasy look on Song Keren¡¯s face and added fuel to the fire while leaning against the kitchen counter, ¡°Song Sinian is a good guy in all respect, except he¡¯s particularly petty about those who mess with my sister. Geez, even I, as her brother, would get an earful if I angered her.¡±


    He meant what he said.


    He learned later from Zhao Xi that Song Sinian had people watching him, ready to break his legs if they found him doing drugs.


    Luckily, all that was a misunderstanding.


    But for those who weren¡¯t misunderstood, well, that was a different story.


    Pei Huai, standing beside him, pitched in as he spoke, ¡°The family affairs of XJ Corporation are something even President Song wouldn¡¯t interfere in, right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, definitely can¡¯t meddle in family matters, but a little maneuvering in business shouldn¡¯t be a big issue. XJ Corporation has just come to the domestic market, right? Some people can still differentiate between the wife of a regional president and the domestic market.¡±


    Xia Wenyan casually mentioned this as he blew on his fingertips.


    At that, Song Keren could no longer sit still and ran straight for the door.


    Pei Huai and Yin Zhuhai were tasked with preparing the food ingredients for the kitchen later.


    Xia Wenyan and Du Miao¡¯er were responsible for promptly responding to the barrage of comments, so they just sat down next to the couch.


    As Du Miao¡¯er¡¯s presence was rather low-key, Xia Wenyan simply left reading the comments up to Du Miao¡¯er and gave her the freedom to pick questions.


    While talking, Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t forget to wink at the live camera, ¡°Everyone, ask anything you like. Any question Miao¡¯er reads, I will answer.¡±


    ¡°Brother Xia, this netizen asks if President Song is really that fierce?¡± Du Miao¡¯er looked at one question and asked.


    Xia Wenyan propped his chin and pursed his lips, ¡°He is the most hypocritical man I¡¯ve met. For him, there are only Zhaozhao and everyone else. So, do you get it?¡±


    [Ah!!! Is that sweet? The actual brother spilling the beans publicly?]


    [I can feel Yanyan¡¯s grudge through the screen, hahaha...]


    [Must have a love like this before I die!]


    [The person above, don¡¯t try to use this sentence to achieve immortality!]


    ...


    Du Miao¡¯er, watching the comments flood the screen, struggled to find another question, ¡°This netizen called ¡®Zhao Mei is the Cutest¡¯ wants you to describe President Song in one sentence.¡±


    Xia Wenyan rolled his eyes, ¡°President Song is just a love fool obsessed with Zhaozhao, never giving us brothers a chance.¡±


    Speaking of this, Xia Wenyan really felt like grinding his teeth in frustration.


    [Is Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s persona going to change to that of someone pampered again? Who doesn¡¯t know that her adoptive parents disowned her once they acknowledged their daughter, and her marriage to Song Sinian is just a union between two families?]


    [Are you sure about that tone upstairs? Do you know some insider information?]


    [Insider information, I don¡¯t know, but I just happen to be Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s classmate and know some things others don¡¯t.]


    [Is this a big reveal? Share more upstairs!]


    ...


    Because of a sudden burst of revelations by a new account, the style of the live stream changed dramatically.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fans immediately became unhappy and started arguing with this new account directly in the live stream.


    Following that, Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans also joined the fray, and even the show¡¯s CP fans took the fight from the live stream to Weibo.


    In no time, the entire live stream was about to explode.


    Even the trending hashtags were one after another.


    #LuZhaozhaoIsAPamperedWifePersona#


    #XiaWenyanSaysPresidentSongIsAllAboutRomance#


    #DiningHouseBombshells#


    ...


    Song Sinian watched the various trending searches on his phone and slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°So... Xia Wenyan caused this mess?¡±


    Standing beside him, Zhao Xi struggled to suppress the urge to burst out laughing and nodded seriously, ¡°Kind of. When Fourth Young Master Xia was answering questions from the netizens, he said... ahem, said you¡¯re all about your wife¡¯s romance brain.¡±


    Although there was nothing wrong with that statement.


    But he didn¡¯t know if their master would accept such a nickname.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes lowered slightly, and he tapped his fingertip on the desktop, ¡°Then what¡¯s the deal with Song Keren and Zhaozhao?¡±


    As soon as Song Keren was mentioned, Zhao Xi began to talk nonstop, ¡°During the live broadcast at Dining House, Song Keren was supposed to go and pick corn with the lady, but she was scared of getting sunburned, saying it would affect her wedding, and then the lady called her out, and after...¡±


    Having listened for a while, Song Sinian finally seemed to understand the whole story.


    ¡°Sir, for those netizens spreading rumors, should we send them a lawyer¡¯s letter directly?¡± Zhao Xi looked at Song Sinian, who was quiet, asking somewhat nervously.


    Lu Zhaozhao was their master¡¯s darling, and now someone dared to spread rumors that their lady and master¡¯s marriage was just for show¡ªit really was audacious.


    Song Sinian gave Zhao Xi a cold look, coolly saying, ¡°No need for such drastic measures yet.¡±


    He operated his phone briefly, then placed it back on the desktop, ¡°What time is Zhaozhao free?¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, ¡°Sir, are you planning to make a public appearance with the lady to slap those netizens¡¯ faces? Should I arrange for paparazzi to follow you now?¡±


    ¡°I just want to pick her up, nothing so complicated,¡± Song Sinian pressed his temples, feeling a bit of a headache coming on, ¡°Also, I¡¯ve just cleared this up on Weibo.¡±


    Zhao Xi blinked in surprise, ¡°Weibo?¡±


    Their master was actually taking the initiative to post on Weibo?!


    Was this to defend their lady?


    Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but worry a bit.


    Netizens these days loved to overthink, and if their master were to explain further for Lu Zhaozhao, it might backfire due to the backlash from a swarm of net users.


    In that case, their lady might be the one to suffer...


    He quickly took out his phone, searching for Song Sinian¡¯s Weibo, only to see that he had tagged the official Weibo of ¡°Dining House¡± and posted a Weibo ¡ª

 Chapter 228 - 228 228 Is There a Reward

    ?Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Is There a Reward? Chapter 228: Chapter 228: Is There a Reward? But the Weibo post only had two words¡ª¡±I am.¡±#Xia Wenyan live broadcast saying President Song is lovesick#


    Instantly, it was like a bomb went off below the post, as netizens frenziedly checked in.


    [Oh my God, oh my God, mom, I¡¯m really shipping this!]


    [President Song is reasonable, admitting he¡¯s lovesick is daring.]


    [No wonder Xia Wenyan¡¯s complaints are so intense, with such a reliable husband, there¡¯s no need for his brother to step in.]


    ...


    Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t long before the trending searches changed.


    #President Song personally admits to being lovesick#


    #Affluent real Mrs. Sweetness overload#


    #Dining House Autumn¡¯s first dog-food serving#


    ...


    Indeed, crisis PR still needed to be handled by their own Mr. Song, stepping in personally, he¡¯s truly brave!


    ¡°Dining House!¡± soared in popularity because of Song Sinian¡¯s two-word Weibo post.


    Consequently, all guests got a bit of the limelight too.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s popularity was unmatched.


    Suddenly, various high-end endorsements, TV scripts, and movie scripts started knocking at her door.


    In the evening, while sitting on the living room sofa looking at the scripts and various endorsements, Lu Zhaozhao felt somewhat overwhelmed.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Song Sinian had just come home and saw Lu Zhaozhao lying listlessly on the sofa.


    His gaze swept over the various invitations on the table, and he casually added, ¡°Did someone upset you?¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao appeared on ¡°Dining House!¡± earlier, the rumors about her were flying everywhere, yet she wasn¡¯t as dispirited.


    As Song Sinian spoke, he sat down on the sofa.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao immediately got up and placed her head on Song Sinian¡¯s lap.


    ¡°Nobody upset me, it¡¯s just that there are too many scripts and endorsements being offered, and I don¡¯t know how to plan.¡±


    Song Sinian was slightly taken aback, looking down at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Is that what¡¯s troubling you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao earnestly nodded.


    Song Sinian gently cradled her small face in his large hands, saying word by word, ¡°You, now Mrs. Song, just say the word, and I can arrange the right agent for you, so what¡¯s there to worry about?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt stunned, ¡°Right.¡±


    She had been worried about this for so long.


    She wasn¡¯t alone anymore, nor was she the powerless woman from her last life!


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, and her small hands pressed down on Song Sinian¡¯s large hands, ¡°Then... dear husband, please take care of the agent thing for me~¡±


    Watching her adorable face, Song Sinian also began to smile, ¡°I can, but what¡¯s my reward?¡±


    Hearing the word ¡°reward,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body stiffened.


    Previously, the rewards between Song Sinian and her were just kisses or the like.


    But ever since Mr. Song from their family started eating meat, the nature of these rewards had clearly changed.


    She remembered the last time she promised Song Sinian a reward, he had pressed her down in the studio... Oh, what...


    When Lu Zhaozhao thought about that day¡¯s events, she felt a tingling sensation from head to toe.


    She lifted her watery eyes and stole a glance at Song Sinian, unable to help herself from criticizing inwardly, ¡°This Song Sinian, he truly is a male siren.¡±


    Once entangled by him, it would be endless; he wouldn¡¯t stop until he completely drained her.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°Cough cough... There will definitely be a reward, but this time I decide what it is.¡±


    Her tone carried a slight uplift, seeming somewhat smug as she looked at Song Sinian.


    Hearing her playful tone, Song Sinian felt an itch in his chest, and his large hand gently caressed her delicate face.


    His dark eyes drooped slightly, casting a meaningful glance over her eyebrows and onto her rosy lips, only to respond quietly with a simple, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, Song Sinian being so obedient?


    She even felt a bit dizzy, wondering if her statement just now was too obviously bullying him.


    Then she heard Song Sinian mutter, ¡°If I perform well, do I get a reward too?¡±


    His large hand grasped her small one and slowly placed it on his cheek, with an expression like a pitiful puppy.


    ¡°...¡±


    Good lord, she had just finished saying she would decide the rewards, and here he was stacking up buffs on her?


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her hand, then silently looked at Song Sinian¡¯s bright eyes, almost wishing she could start chanting the Heart Clarity Spell right then.


    But ultimately, she couldn¡¯t withstand Song Sinian¡¯s ¡°magic attack¡± and was thoroughly defeated.


    ¡°Yes, yes, there¡¯s a reward.¡±


    Dear God, don¡¯t test her willpower anymore, she had none left when facing Song Sinian!


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed inwardly, her little head nestling into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace.


    She had completely given in this time.


    Song Sinian looked at her soft little face, pinched it gently with his hand, and his lips slowly curved into a smile.


    Suddenly, as if he remembered something, ¡°This weekend, Xiao Jinglan is inviting the family for dinner, do you want to go?¡±


    He had initially wanted to refuse outright, but thinking of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s intent, he was somewhat tempted to let Lu Zhaozhao see the misfortune of Xiao Mo and Song Keren.


    Lu Zhaozhao was also a bit surprised that Song Sinian brought this up.


    Since Song Sinian found out about the matters related to her in his past life, Xiao Jinglan had been almost permanently on his strict watch list.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, ¡°Why would she think of inviting so many people for dinner?¡±


    She knew before that Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren had been chased out by Old Master Song, and she thought she had calmed down, so what was she up to?


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s puzzlement, Song Sinian patiently explained, ¡°Song Keren and Xiao Mo are getting married soon, Xiao Jinglan probably wants to curry favor with the old master.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao instantly perked up, climbing off Song Sinian¡¯s lap, ¡°What? So soon?¡±


    She had thought only Song Keren¡¯s affair was settled, as she had been so high-profile on the show; it was hard not to know.


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, murmuring in disbelief, ¡°Xia Wenjin is willing to marry Xiao Mo? In her last life, she married Justin...¡±


    Xiao Mo, nominally Xiao Jinglan¡¯s nephew, also rode on Old Master Song¡¯s coattails at the company, considering himself half a Song Family member.


    But his status in the Song Group was nothing compared to Justin¡¯s current position at XJ Group.


    Xia Wenjin, being proud and arrogant, how could she possibly agree to marry Xiao Mo?


    Even if she had been embroiled in that kind of scandal with Xiao Mo, she wasn¡¯t the type to resign herself to fate willingly.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to rub her little head, as if understanding her thoughts, he casually said, ¡°The Lu Family¡¯s business is urgently in need of investment, Xia Wenjin, unwilling or not, can¡¯t bend her arm more forcibly than her thigh...¡±

 Chapter 229 - 229 229 Soon... She Will Be No Rich Girl

    ?Chapter 229: Chapter 229 Soon... She Will Be No Rich Girl Anymore Chapter 229: Chapter 229 Soon... She Will Be No Rich Girl Anymore Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes brightened when she heard the words ¡°Lu Family¡¯s business urgency,¡± ¡°So, will Mr. and Mrs. Lu also be attending this time?¡±


    Song Sinian paused slightly, ¡°They should be, I guess.¡±


    His dark pupils blinked, and then he changed his tone, ¡°If you want, I can even kidnap someone from the Lu Family to ensure their attendance.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was amused by Song Sinian¡¯s serious expression.


    She wiped away the tears of laughter from the corner of her eyes, ¡°Oh my, Mr. Song, you are just too adorable...¡±


    What was supposed to be a serious statement somehow came out with a playful tone.


    In fact, even if she hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Mr. and Mrs. Lu would surely find a way to attend the family banquet.


    It just depended on whether Xiao Jinglan dared to show up or not.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Song Sinian and said, ¡°Husband, could you talk to Grandpa about it? After all, if all our family elders are coming, it wouldn¡¯t be right for the Lu Family not to come, would it?¡±


    Xiao Mo married Xia Wenjin as his wife, she wondered if Xiao Jinglan would be disgusted to death.


    After all, she had always felt Xiao Mo was more suitable for the position of Song Group¡¯s CEO.


    A woman suited for Xiao Mo definitely had to be of higher status.


    If Xia Wenjin were the daughter of the XJ Group, she would surely be keen but now, Xia Wenjin was just a daughter of the Lu Group, and moreover, one with a terrible reputation.


    Of course, very soon... she wouldn¡¯t be a heiress at all.


    She was really looking forward to seeing the awful expression on Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face when she found out the truth.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly, and he leaned down to kiss her small face, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go talk to Old Master Song about it.¡±


    His voice was soft, very comforting to hear.


    But his eyes...


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard, barely managing to mutter, ¡°There¡¯s a reward for this too, I¡¯ll add it up for you, there¡¯s a reward for everything.¡±


    Song Sinian was taken aback for a moment, and then leaned into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck, unable to control his laughter.


    He laughed brilliantly, like an innocent, carefree child.


    Seeing his smile, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt a sense of de?ja? vu.


    Her head suddenly started to hurt again, and Song Sinian¡¯s bright smile morphed into a face half the size.


    The noise came again in her ears, ¡°If she dies, our secret will never be discovered...¡±


    The voice was distant, as if coming from a hollow place, and Lu Zhaozhao felt overwhelmingly dizzy.


    ¡°Zhaozhao?¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao?¡±


    Suddenly, an urgent voice reached her ears.


    Lu Zhaozhao snapped back to reality, just in time to meet Song Sinian¡¯s anxious gaze, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Just as he was laughing, he felt the body close to him stiffen terribly, and when he looked up, he saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes losing focus.


    Panic surged through him as he quickly called out to her.


    Fortunately, she responded soon after, but the strange feeling from just a moment ago left his hand trembling as if he was about to lose her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, feeling the shaking hand on her wrist, gently patted Song Sinian¡¯s hand. She originally wanted to brush it off with an excuse.


    But seeing the worry on his face, Lu Zhaozhao decided to tell the truth, ¡°I think... I remembered something from before I lost my memory. I¡¯ve seen you laugh like just now, and then... then there was a voice, it seemed like a woman¡¯s voice, saying something about a secret that can¡¯t be discovered...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was speaking while also trying to recall the fragment of memory she had just thought of.


    The next second, she was tightly embraced by Song Sinian, ¡°Don¡¯t think about it anymore, don¡¯t think about anything.¡±


    He had never seen her like this before, but he instinctively resisted the idea of Lu Zhaozhao dwelling on her past.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid Lu Zhaozhao would stop liking him, but rather, he feared it might be another scar for her.


    He was now almost one hundred percent certain that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s so-called ¡°illness¡± was definitely no accident.


    And it was possible that those people from before might still be keeping an eye on Lu Zhaozhao.


    They hadn¡¯t made a move on Lu Zhaozhao initially, probably because she had lost her memory. If she really remembered, she might fall into even greater danger.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t understand, but she could clearly feel Song Sinian¡¯s heartache.


    She nuzzled her small head against his chest, ¡°Mm, I won¡¯t think about it anymore.¡±


    Even if she racked her brain now, she might not be able to remember everything. Instead of worrying Song Sinian, she might as well consult with Doctor Tian during her next visit.


    Perhaps she could find a way to remember.


    Thinking this way, Lu Zhaozhao wrapped her small hands tightly around Song Sinian. She contentedly rubbed against his chest, enjoying his gentle and tender strokes...


    It was Saturday evening, and the sky was gloomy.


    Before long, a light rain began to fall, mixing with hail, which made the temperature drop significantly.


    Xiao Jinglan sat in the private dining room, looking at the time on her phone, feeling somewhat apprehensive.


    She had reserved the restaurant in advance and had not expected hail.


    Now Xiao Mo, Song Keren, Xia Wenjin, and Justin had all arrived, and even Mr. and Mrs. Lu were already sitting in the private room, but Old Master Song, Song Sinian, and Lu Zhaozhao were still nowhere to be seen.


    As time ticked by, the atmosphere in the restaurant remained gloomily tense.


    ¡°I, I¡¯ll go to the main hall and see if they have arrived...¡± Xiao Jinglan said awkwardly, trying to break the uneasy silence.


    She had arranged the time with Old Master Song in advance; even if Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t show up, he should have, shouldn¡¯t he?


    At the time, Old Master Song had even mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Lu, and she was worried that inviting the Lu Family would upset him.


    Unexpectedly, it was he who brought it up, so she notified them both.


    But now everyone was here, except for Old Master Song...


    Just as she stood up, the door to the private room was pushed open.


    Seeing Old Master Song walk in, Xiao Jinglan finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Dad, you and Sinian are here.¡±


    As she spoke, she stood up and immediately moved a chair for Old Master Song.


    However, to her surprise, Old Master Song instead turned to look at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Zhaozhao, it¡¯s warm inside, go ahead and take a seat.¡±


    And then they heard Song Sinian, with one hand, hold onto Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s slender waist and say, ¡°The hotel has air conditioning, she¡¯ll be fine as long as she doesn¡¯t sit by the door.¡±


    With that, Song Sinian pulled out a chair next to him for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Old Master Song looked speechlessly at his grandson, who was utterly disregarding his dignity, and turned his expectant gaze towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised; she had thought these two would be somewhat deferential in public, but they clearly didn¡¯t care at all.


    ¡°I...will sit in the middle.¡± She said, pointing to the spot next to her, ¡°Grandpa, you sit on the left, let Sinian sit on the right, and I¡¯ll sit in the middle.¡±


    With that, she directly sat down.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, how bold you are, Grandpa asks you to take a seat to the side, yet you¡¯re picking and choosing?!¡±

 Chapter 230 - 230 230 Cant It Be Open

    ?Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Can¡¯t It Be Open? Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Can¡¯t It Be Open? Song Keren¡¯s sudden tone startled everyone present.


    She glared at Lu Zhaozhao, visibly displeased and looking as if she were defending Old Master Song.


    Old Master Song commanded authority at home, and Lu Zhaozhao had the audacity not to show him respect, especially in front of so many people.


    He certainly wanted to teach this impudent girl a lesson right away, and she naturally decided to help.


    She was now married to Justin, and it was a done deal; Old Master Song would support her, considering her position as the vice-president of the XJ Group.


    Thinking this, Song Keren couldn¡¯t help feeling smug.


    Then, she heard Old Master Song¡¯s cold voice, ¡°I really didn¡¯t know that some people could make decisions for this old man now?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was the first to sense that something was wrong with Old Master Song. In a hurry, she intervened, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s Keren who was being thoughtless. Let¡¯s just sit down and have our meal.¡±


    She hoped the issue would be dropped there, but some were reluctant.


    ¡°Mom, it was obviously Lu Zhaozhao who... umm...¡±


    Before Song Keren could finish, Xiao Jinglan quickly covered her mouth.


    With an awkward smile, she said, ¡°Dad, Keren is feeling unwell. I¡¯ll take her out for a moment. You guys go ahead.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan said this and then dragged Keren out.


    Old Master Song frowned displeased, but still sat next to Lu Zhaozhao as she had directed.


    Song Sinian naturally seated himself on the other side.


    The two of them sat on either side, under the watchful eyes of everyone present.


    Except for Song Keren, who lacked perception, everyone else noticed the difference Lu Zhaozhao made between Old Master Song and Song Sinian.


    Particularly Mr. and Mrs. Lu.


    From the moment he entered, Old Master Song, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, had a smile on his face and occasionally served her food, showing a deeply pampering attitude typical for indulging a child.


    Song Sinian seemed to focus on his food, but occasionally took some from the edge of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s plate¡ªstuff she usually didn¡¯t eat.


    Mr. and Mrs. Lu noticed right away that those were the things Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t like.


    This completely shocked them.


    Song Sinian was actually eating the food Lu Zhaozhao disliked?


    His movements were subtle, but with a closer look, one could see that he was silently taking care of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenjin, who had been minding her own business eating, soon noticed people subtly glancing at Lu Zhaozhao, especially the Lu couple beside her.


    She sneered quietly, quipping, ¡°What now? You think Lu Zhaozhao is so wonderful and want to acknowledge her again?¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s face turned from pale to flush.


    Beside her, Lu Dagui looked even more displeased.


    He glared at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Don¡¯t forget why you are here today. Don¡¯t embarrass me!¡±


    Xia Wenjin rolled her eyes but couldn¡¯t help but clenched her fists in frustration.


    She had previously thought about ruining this marriage, but then decided that if she did, Mr. and Mrs. Lu would be disappointed in her.


    It would be difficult for her to turn things around afterward.


    Although Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t an ideal endgame, he was a decent stepping stone.


    As long as the Lu Family held their ground in the Shangjing Circle, even if she divorced Xiao Mo later, she could still find a notable suitor in the Shangjing Circle.


    Taking a deep breath, Xia Wenjin glanced at Xiao Mo beside her and, steeling herself, forced a smile and served him some vegetables, ¡°Young Master Xiao, have some.¡±


    Xiao Mo glanced at Xia Wenjin without a word, but his gaze drifted involuntarily toward Lu Zhaozhao across the table.


    She looked vibrant and captivating like a rose drenched in rain, irrestively beckoning to be picked.


    This woman was initially his to pursue, but somehow she ended up with Song Sinian as her man.


    He was not content.


    Everything that Song Sinian had now had also been his.


    Yet, he had to watch Song Sinian¡¯s expression.


    And even marry someone like Xia Wenjin, such damaged goods.


    His expression naturally couldn¡¯t look good.


    Xia Wenjin certainly saw Xiao Mo¡¯s expression, but her gaze turned towards Justin, next to her.


    To her surprise, Justin¡¯s eyes were also tightly fixed on Lu Zhaozhao.


    This caused Xia Wenjin¡¯s already clenched hands to tighten even more.


    Her nails dug hard into her palms, the sharp pain bringing her a bit of clarity.


    At this moment, Song Keren had been brought back by Xiao Jinglan.


    Her expression was resentful, but she didn¡¯t say another word.


    Xiao Jinglan had just taken her out and scolded her fiercely, telling her not to target Lu Zhaozhao at the dinner table.


    Now she was the apple of Song Sinian and Old Master Song¡¯s eyes; offending Lu Zhaozhao at the table was akin to seeking death.


    But Song Keren didn¡¯t understand why she, clearly poised to be the wife of the Vice President of the XJ Corporation district, wasn¡¯t valued more by Old Master Song and Song Sinian?


    Why would they let a woman like Lu Zhaozhao ride roughshod over her?


    Was it because what she said about Lu Zhaozhao brought shame to the Song Family?


    Therefore, they couldn¡¯t deal with it openly?


    While harboring these thoughts, Song Keren suddenly had a new idea.


    Since she couldn¡¯t deal with Lu Zhaozhao openly, could she teach her a lesson after dinner when no one else was around?


    Thinking this, Song Keren¡¯s mood immediately improved.


    She narrowed her eyes, her gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao was like a jackal targeting its prey.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a chill and subconsciously looked up, her eyes meeting Song Keren¡¯s intense gaze.


    Seeing her unfriendly look, Lu Zhaozhao knew this woman definitely harbored no good intentions.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but sigh internally; in her past life, Song Keren had been just as mindless, but at that time she had Xiao Jinglan to rely on.


    Wearing various high-end jewelry from the Xia Family, she moved through Shangjing¡¯s social circles.


    She even became a well-known socialite in the Shangjing Circle.


    But now, with Xiao Jinglan occupied with her own troubles, there was even less hope for Song Keren.


    This brain of hers, following Xiao Jinglan, was undoubtedly like a team of pigs.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes slightly drooped, her gaze sweeping across Xiao Jinglan unintentionally.


    Since seeing Xiao Jinglan just now, she had noticed her expression was full of fatigue, her meticulously made-up face unable to hide her weariness.


    It seemed that she had been eating the cubilose well every day.


    Xiao Jinglan probably hadn¡¯t realized yet that the poison used against her in her past life could be used against herself.


    The corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth slightly curled, wasn¡¯t Xiao Jinglan the perfect example of someone tasting their own bitter medicine?


    But this still wasn¡¯t enough. Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t desperate enough; she wanted her to watch with her own eyes as all her hopes slowly turned to smoke.


    Let her endure the pain she had once endured.


    ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Suddenly, a concerned voice slowly sounded by her ear.


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly looked up, her eyes meeting Song Sinian¡¯s deep black pupils.


    It was those brows and eyes that always made her feel secure, no matter when she saw them.


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged the corner of her mouth, ¡°No, I just feel a bit cold...¡±

 Chapter 231 - 231 231 Why

    ?Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Why? Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Why? Song Sinian heard the words and immediately took off his coat to drape over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Shall I take you back now?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan thought Lu Zhaozhao was just looking for an excuse to disrupt the hard-earned family dinner she had organized.


    Her eyebrows furrowed and she quickly said, ¡°Is Zhaozhao feeling very cold? I¡¯ll have someone increase the temperature in this room right now.¡±


    As she spoke, she waved at someone at the door.


    Afraid that the next second Lu Zhaozhao would say she wanted to go back.


    But unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand to pat Song Sinian¡¯s hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I just haven¡¯t warmed up from being outside in the cold. I¡¯ll be fine after sitting for a while.¡±


    Old Master Song, upon hearing this, also looked at Lu Zhaozhao with concern and turned to Xiao Jinglan to say, ¡°Have someone bring some soup to warm her up, no scallions.¡±


    After Old Master Song finished speaking, he didn¡¯t forget to pat Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder and added, ¡°Grandpa will have some soup brought for you, and if you¡¯re still cold, we could ask for a blanket. This restaurant is part of a hotel, so taking a hot shower is also an option.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, there¡¯s no need for so much trouble,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, her eyes smiling reassuringly at Old Master Song.


    Her expression was always warm and gentle; her obedient appearance was particularly comforting to the eye.


    Zhao Dalong, standing nearby, thought about how Lu Zhaozhao was always quiet at home, seemingly always maintaining that well-behaved demeanor.


    If only he hadn¡¯t ruined his relationship with Lu Zhaozhao over Xia Wenjin, perhaps she would have... no, she definitely would have helped him!


    Lu Dagui¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed as he slowly spoke, ¡°Zhaozhao, have some hot tea first; it might take a while for the soup to arrive.¡±


    As he spoke, he turned a cup of hot tea toward Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Dagui¡¯s direct gesture of goodwill surprised Lu Zhaozhao a bit, but considering his temperament, it seemed that Lu Group¡¯s situation was indeed very tricky.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be reaching out to her, his former foster daughter.


    Lu Zhaozhao recalled when she had just entered earlier, Xia Wenjin seemed less cordial with Mr. and Mrs. Lu than before.


    Indeed...


    Xia Wenjin was nice to Lu Dagui and Cao Mei solely because their family had money.


    She could act like a spendthrift heiress.


    Now that Lu Group was in jeopardy, and she was being pushed into an arranged marriage, Xia Wenjin would hardly be pleased.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked subtly as she glanced at Xia Wenjin, noticing her dissatisfied look toward Lu Dagui.


    Cao Mei, standing nearby, also had a complex expression as she watched her, and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips curved into a silent smirk.


    It seemed the rift within the Lu family was much bigger than she had imagined.


    She slowly picked up the cup of hot water on the table and gently caressed it.


    She would deepen the rift between them.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded to Lu Dagui, ¡°Thank you, Uncle Lu.¡±


    Her voice was very gentle, showing no impatience.


    This actually surprised both Lu Dagui and Cao Mei.


    They thought she would refuse or put on airs as a member of the Song Family.


    But unexpectedly, she accepted the cup and even said thank you.


    Yet this address of ¡°Uncle Lu¡± left Lu Dagui feeling suffocated.


    If he had not publicly exposed Xia Wenjin¡¯s identity back then and not driven Lu Zhaozhao away, with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s obedience, she surely would have gone to great lengths to have Song Sinian help them.


    Thinking thus, Lu Dagui became restless again.


    It was all because of Xia Wenjin.


    If she hadn¡¯t come back, their Lu Family would have already been thriving in the Shangjing Circle.


    Holding the two hottest mines in the Shangjing Circle, and having married his daughter to the president of the Song Group,


    but now...


    he couldn¡¯t even ask for help from the Song Group without looking at the face of a mere manager.


    Lu Dagui forced a dry laugh, ¡°No problem, the younger generation taking care of the younger generation is only right.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Even he himself didn¡¯t believe what he was saying.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t contradict him.


    Song Sinian and Old Master Song¡¯s attitude toward him softened because of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s, and they didn¡¯t say much.


    This made Lu Dagui hold some hope for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao had always been obedient, if he could pin the blame for the past on Xia Wenjin, maybe... he could win back Lu Zhaozhao.


    After all, they had raised her for 20 years, hadn¡¯t they?


    During the meal, everyone had their own schemes, making the atmosphere exceptionally eerie.


    Fortunately, everything went without incident from start to finish.


    To avoid contact with anyone except Song Sinian and Old Master Song, Lu Zhaozhao excused herself to the bathroom outside at the end of the banquet.


    As expected, when she came back to the dining room, there was no one there.


    She took out her phone just about to call Song Sinian when a mocking voice rang out.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, did you feel pretty pleased with yourself just now? Thinking that Old Master Song appreciates you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head and glimpsed Song Keren standing arrogantly at the door.


    During the meal, she had been fuming.


    Now, seeing Lu Zhaozhao draped in Song Sinian¡¯s jacket, leisurely and at ease, her anger intensified.


    Lu Zhaozhao was just a fake heiress of the Lu Family, yet she was living better than the real heiress, why?


    Xia Wenjin was one thing, but why should Lu Zhaozhao also trample over her?


    Seeing the newcomer at the door, Lu Zhaozhao sneered, ¡°I am indeed very pleased, what does it have to do with you?¡±


    Song Keren was so lucky to marry Justin with that brain of hers.


    ¡°What gives you the right to be arrogant with me? Do you know who I am now? My husband is the regional deputy president of XJ Group! Offend me, and you might jeopardize the cooperation between the Song Group and XJ Group!¡±


    With that, Song Keren lifted her chin, looking all high and mighty.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows twitched, ¡°You... watch too many dramas, don¡¯t you? Even if Boss loses his temper for his beloved, it¡¯s not for someone brainless like you.¡±


    Calling her brainless was already a compliment.


    Inter-company cooperation could be due to personal rapport between certain individuals, but the breakdown is definitely due to interests.


    Both XJ Group and the Song Group are major corporations, their cooperation was surely mutually beneficial, not something that could be broken off with just a single remark.


    Of course, if it were up to Song Sinian, it might not be certain.


    He had, without a second thought for her sake, given up those two popular mines.


    He didn¡¯t even ask for a reason.


    Thinking about it now, Lu Zhaozhao had to admit, their family Mr. Song was somewhat love-struck towards her.


    But that was exactly why he provided her with a sense of security that made her willing to rely on him.


    Listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Song Keren¡¯s face immediately turned sour, ¡°What are you anyway! Do you think whatever you say goes?! You¡¯re still just an object sold by the Lu Family to the Song Family, you... ah!¡±


    She hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Lu Zhaozhao, slipping off her shoe, threw it at Song Keren¡¯s face¡ª

 Chapter 232 - 232 232 How Could Song Sinian Not Adore Her

    ?Chapter 232: Chapter 232 How Could Song Sinian Not Adore Her? Chapter 232: Chapter 232 How Could Song Sinian Not Adore Her? ¡°I don¡¯t know if what I say counts, but I know if you dare talk back one more word, I¡¯ll stuff the other shoe into your mouth!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao said, gripping the other shoe and waving it in front of Song Keren.


    She was wearing a pair of low-heeled shoes, the heels weren¡¯t sharp, but they were still quite lethal.


    The sole of the shoe had just hit Song Keren on the nose bridge, bringing tears and snot all down her face.


    She couldn¡¯t care less about her image at this point and started cursing at Lu Zhaozhao furiously, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! You hit me?! I¡¯m telling Justin right now! Just wait until the Song Family loses the contract and kicks you out of the house!¡±


    ¡°That would really be something I¡¯d hope for.¡±


    Suddenly, a cold voice sounded.


    Lu Zhaozhao spotted Song Sinian standing at the door at a glance.


    He slowly bent down, picked up the shoe Lu Zhaozhao had thrown, and walked straight toward her. He then scooped her up with one arm.


    Afterward, he gently placed her on the sofa.


    He knelt on one knee, allowing Lu Zhaozhao to step on his leg.


    ¡°The associate regional president must have heard your wife¡¯s words just now, hadn¡¯t he?¡± Song Sinian said without even looking up, his tone icy.


    It was then that Lu Zhaozhao spotted Justin, who had been following behind Song Sinian.


    So, had they seen her arguing with Song Keren?


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t particularly care.


    Song Sinian had seen all sides of her.


    Thinking this, she playfully pressed her little feet on Song Sinian¡¯s leg and blinked cheekily at him.


    With a look that said ¡°See, I didn¡¯t lose out.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes briefly showed a trace of indulgence; he picked up a handkerchief he carried with him and gently wiped her feet.


    Justin coughed awkwardly, ¡°President Song, Keren was just joking earlier. Our companies¡¯ deals wouldn¡¯t fall through just because they had a small quarrel, right?¡±


    The partnership between Song Group and XJ Group was already set in stone.


    Song Sinian nodded along, ¡°True, but she upset my wife, and I would like to propose to XJ Group that we change the contact person, that shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±


    His casual comment instantly made Justin nervous.


    Song Keren, standing on the side, was even more bewildered, ¡°President Song, are you mistaken? If there¡¯s no problem with our cooperation, why would you replace my husband?¡±


    Song Sinian finally turned around to glance at her, saying slowly and clearly, ¡°Because my wife doesn¡¯t like you.¡±


    So, consequently, her husband also had to suffer.


    Song Sinian¡¯s unspoken words were very clear.


    Song Keren wasn¡¯t stupid and understood perfectly.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao is clearly just a sellout from the Lu Family¡ª mmph¡ª¡± Her words were cut off abruptly by Justin covering her mouth.


    No one understood Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s status better than he did.


    She was the dear younger sister of XJ Group¡¯s president!


    Recently, she¡¯d been doted on to high heaven by the brothers of the Xia Family!


    How could Song Sinian not dote on her too?


    Yet how could outsiders like Song Keren possibly know?


    Justin awkwardly twitched his mouth, ¡°President Song, I understand what you mean. I assure you she won¡¯t provoke Mrs. Song again, please forgive her and your wife!¡±


    With that, he glared at Song Keren, ¡°Apologize to Mrs. Song and President Song!¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°You, if you do not apologize, our marriage is over,¡± said Justin before Song Keren could speak; his words fell like a bucket of cold water.


    She was so shocked it took a long time for her to regain her composure.


    Finally, it was Justin who urged her again, ¡°Hurry! Apologize!¡±


    Even though Song Keren was displeased, she could not go against Justin¡¯s wishes and reluctantly lowered her head.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Song Sinian did not pay attention to Song Keren, just gently put shoes on her.


    ¡°With so many things in the room to throw, why throw shoes? What if you catch a cold?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes, slightly stunned by Song Sinian¡¯s words.


    His focus was always... emmm... so enchanting.


    But it was all on her, after all.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes and patted Song Sinian on the head, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t throw shoes next time, President Song, you are generous~¡±


    Hearing the title ¡°President Song¡± made Sinian frown displeasedly, his grip on Zhaozhao¡¯s ankle involuntarily tightened.


    Seeing his reaction, Zhaozhao quickly changed her address, ¡°Husband, dear husband, let¡¯s go home?¡±


    Only then did Song Sinian relax his grip, stood up, grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, and walked toward the private room exit.


    Just as they reached Justin and Song Keren, Song Sinian stopped.


    His indifferent gaze swept over Song Keren, ¡°If you want to marry honestly, then shut your mouth. There won¡¯t be a next time.¡±


    His voice was already cold, and in the silent room, it sounded even more chilling.


    As if it came from the abyss, it was terrifying.


    After saying this, his gaze moved up an inch, ¡°As for Vice President Justin, you should know better, right?¡±


    ¡°Understood, understood, have a safe journey, President Song,¡± Justin said, forcing a smile while sweating.


    He had only come back to meet Song Keren; who knew this woman would be arguing with Lu Zhaozhao?


    It wasn¡¯t until he saw Song Sinian walk away that Justin finally relaxed.


    He sighed lightly, turned his head to look at Song Keren with displeasure, ¡°Song Keren, since you are marrying me, keep yourself in check, don¡¯t provoke Lu Zhaozhao for no reason, or you won¡¯t even know how you died!¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°There are no buts,¡± Justin interrupted Song Keren sharply, ¡°Just do as I say, or don¡¯t bother marrying at all.¡±


    He originally valued Song Keren as part of the Song Family, marrying her could bring him quite a few advantages.


    But if she upset Lu Zhaozhao and cut off support from the Song Family, there was no need to marry a liability.


    She might look good, but if she always caused trouble, it wasn¡¯t worth it.


    Attractive women were plentiful, and someone of his stature was certainly not lacking in beautiful women.


    There was no need to let one woman jeopardize his great future.


    Song Keren opened her mouth but, seeing Justin¡¯s impatient face, she swallowed her words.


    She clenched her fists in frustration, not understanding why Lu Zhaozhao always received everyone¡¯s care while she did not.


    Damn Lu Zhaozhao, could it be that she needed to leave the Song Family for the attention to finally be on her?


    Thinking this, Song Keren seemed to suddenly remember something, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao, it was you who irritated me first, so don¡¯t blame me for cutting off your escape route!


    You brought this on yourself!

 Chapter 233 - 233 233 What do you mean by that

    ?Chapter 233: Chapter 233 What do you mean by that?! Chapter 233: Chapter 233 What do you mean by that?! Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Lu were already sitting in the car on the way back with Xia Wenjin.


    Lu Dagui glanced at the rearview mirror and slowly began to speak, ¡°Jin, did you bring up the matter that you were supposed to mention to Xiao Mo?¡±


    Xia Wenjin looked up to meet his gaze in the mirror and let out a faint snort, ¡°I¡¯m not even married off yet, and you¡¯re already urging me to make demands of Xiao Mo. Are you trying to spoil this marriage deal?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Dagui¡¯s face darkened at once.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s mouth curled slightly and she continued, ¡°I really want to ask, but don¡¯t blame it on me if the marriage falls through. I don¡¯t want to be made a scapegoat.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?!¡± Lu Dagui instantly became enraged and glared back at Xia Wenjin.


    Cao Mei quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°Master, Jin makes a valid point. There¡¯s no emotional foundation between Xiao Mo and Jin; this could easily become problematic.¡±


    ¡°Ha! No emotional foundation? Does Zhaozhao have an emotional foundation with Song Sinian? Look at her position in the Song Family now!¡± Lu Dagui retorted, immediately comparing Lu Zhaozhao with Xia Wenjin.


    At that, Cao Mei fell silent.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s life was a fixed routine with hardly any chance to get in touch with Song Sinian.


    If it weren¡¯t for Song Sinian¡¯s awful reputation, how could it have ever come to pass that the Lu Family was considered?


    Just at the banquet earlier, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that Song Sinian treasured Lu Zhaozhao. Even Mr. Song, caught up in his affection, treated Lu Zhaozhao like gold.


    If she were to bear Song Sinian a son or even half a child, where would that leave them?


    Xia Wenjin snorted coldly, ¡°The blame falls on you two with regard to Song Sinian. You knew the Song Family wanted the Lu Family¡¯s daughter, yet you sent them an imposter instead.¡±


    The implications of her words were very clear.


    If she had been sent over in the first place, Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t be in the picture at all.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Dagui scoffed, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao had the ability to make Song Sinian marry her at first sight¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you have that ability?¡±


    He had also considered this possibility before.


    But Xia Wenjin had tried several times to enter the Song Mansion, and Song Sinian had not only shown no interest in her but hadn¡¯t even bothered to glance at her properly.


    Initially, he even thought Song Sinian had poor taste, but after getting to know him better, he felt that Song Sinian¡¯s choice had been faultless from the start.


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists, her gaze ice-cold, ¡°Are you saying that if I could convince any man to marry me on first sight, that would be my skill?¡±


    Lu Dagui didn¡¯t understand her point, but after a glance at Xia Wenjin, he answered perfunctorily, ¡°That would have to be a skilled and reputable man, though. What¡¯s the use if you marry just any Tom, Dick, or Harry?¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying as long as the man has status, it¡¯s fine, right?¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression was unchanged as she continued speaking to Lu Dagui.


    Lu Dagui felt her gaze was a bit eerie but still nodded, ¡°That¡¯s the gist of it.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    Xia Wenjin forced a particularly fake smile, her lips drawing back in feigned mirth.


    If he put it that way, what was there for her to worry about?


    She might not be able to wrestle away someone like Song Sinian, but Justin? Could she not compete for him?


    The title of the Lu Family¡¯s daughter still carried some weight, although lately, it had been increasingly difficult to get money from Mr. and Mrs. Lu.


    She indeed needed to secure an exit strategy for herself.


    Just like Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even without the title of the Lu Family¡¯s daughter, wasn¡¯t she still clad in gold and silver now?


    She could, so why couldn¡¯t she?


    Because of the last live broadcast, Song Keren¡¯s brainless persona shifted everyone¡¯s focus onto the gossip surrounding Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian.


    Yin Zhuhai, who had previously clung to Lu Zhaozhao to hype their CP, was obviously forgotten by netizens.


    Therefore, before the live broadcast started, Yin Zhuhai wanted to repeat his old tricks. While Lu Zhaozhao was in the dressing room, he took the initiative to seek her out.


    He had his assistant send Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai out to see Lu Zhaozhao alone.


    ¡°Zhaozhao? Do you have a moment now?¡±


    Holding the script in his hand, Yin Zhuhai walked straight in.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao sitting on the sofa reading her script, he chuckled and nodded at her.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about how Song Sinian had gotten jealous over Yin Zhuhai before and felt a headache coming on.


    How did this guy manage to stand in front of her so nonchalantly after sending her all those ambiguous messages?


    Lu Zhaozhao awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Senior Yin, what advice do you have?¡±


    Yin Zhuhai sat on the sofa opposite Lu Zhaozhao with a wry smile, ¡°Zhaozhao, it breaks my heart to hear you address me like that. Weren¡¯t our previous collaborations quite good?¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to give up on Lu Zhaozhao, a ¡°hot topic magnet.¡± When Xia Wenjin was around, everyone was focused on Lu Zhaozhao, and he could also hitch a ride on her popularity.


    Even because Xia Wenyan kept pestering Lu Zhaozhao, their bickering managed to get him a lot of screen time.


    But ever since Song Keren joined the live broadcasts, her sheer stupidity became the target of netizen¡¯s arrows, causing everyone to start shipping Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s real-life romance.


    Those who shipped him with Lu Zhaozhao, the faux CP, became even fewer.


    Some people even started anti-shipping them online, finding the hyping of their dynamics with a married woman to be awkward.


    He had just stabilized the offers he was getting and needed to take on some more significant endorsements, which required more popularity.


    So he had to reach out to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Senior Yin, our relationship is purely professional. If you want to hype a CP, try doing it with someone else.¡±


    Seeing this, Yin Zhuhai awkwardly tugged at the corner of his own mouth, ¡°All this hype talk aside, can¡¯t we simply have a good relationship?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao cut him off decisively.


    If Yin Zhuhai genuinely wanted to be friends without any ulterior motives, it wouldn¡¯t have been a problem.


    But that¡¯s not what Yin Zhuhai had in mind at all.


    If she were just an ordinary colleague like Du Miao¡¯er, with a happy and mutual cooperation, it wouldn¡¯t have been an issue to share resources.


    But he insisted on taking an unusual path, wanting to hype a CP with her.


    And trying to draw attention to himself when Song Sinian was around¡ªthat was a bit much.


    Yin Zhuhai didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to be so unyielding, and his face suddenly looked a bit unsightly.


    Yet, managing a smile, he continued, ¡°Zhaozhao, we¡¯re all colleagues; do you really have the heart to see me with no presence in the program?¡±


    On hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of her mouth, ¡°Senior Yin, if you want a presence, shouldn¡¯t you go out and earn it yourself? Instead of hyping a CP, isn¡¯t gaining recognition for your character better?¡±


    Du Miao¡¯er might seem inconspicuous normally, but she often stood out in ¡°Let¡¯s Eat! Hut¡± due to her persona as an ¡°Assist Master.¡±


    Even Song Keren managed to earn her wave of popularity in the group with her clear stupidity, although... those who criticized her were more numerous.


    But... being criticized is better than having no popularity at all...

 Chapter 234 - 234 234 Are You Still Listening

    ?Chapter 234: Chapter 234 Are You Still Listening?! Chapter 234: Chapter 234 Are You Still Listening?! Yin Zhuhai saw that Lu Zhaozhao was impervious to persuasion and felt it inappropriate to say more.


    He couldn¡¯t afford to fall out with her just yet.


    The people backing her were not ones he could afford to provoke.


    No matter if it was Pei Huai, Xia Wenyan, or Song Sinian.


    He slowly stood up and nodded at her, ¡°I will consider Zhaozhao¡¯s suggestions carefully. Please excuse me for now.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao watched him leave without a care.


    In her previous life, she hardly remembered the name Yin Zhuhai. She wondered if in this lifetime he could retain his own identity.


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was that right after Yin Zhuhai left the lounge, he threw the script he was holding in a corridor not far away.


    Even due to the conversation with Lu Zhaozhao, he furiously kicked the railing of the corridor several times.


    There weren¡¯t usually many people here, so he wasn¡¯t worried about anyone witnessing his tantrum.


    Of course, that was usually the case.


    Song Keren lightly coughed, ¡°Cough cough...¡±


    The sound of coughing echoed instantly in the empty corridor, making Yin Zhuhai stiffen all over.


    He hadn¡¯t expected someone to be in the corridor at that time, but when Song Keren appeared, the tense expression on Yin Zhuhai¡¯s face disappeared.


    Naturally noticing the change in his demeanor, Song Keren frowned and asked discontentedly, ¡°What¡¯s with that expression? Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll tell Lu Zhaozhao about your behavior?¡±


    Yin Zhuhai chuckled lightly, ¡°That would matter if you two were actually close.¡±


    To Lu Zhaozhao, even a random staffer would be more credible than Song Keren.


    So he wasn¡¯t worried.


    Hearing his words, Song Keren nearly laughed out of exasperation.


    Rolling her eyes, she then said, ¡°Yin Zhuhai, since you know I¡¯m not on good terms with Lu Zhaozhao, let me tell you one of her weaknesses. Whether you use it or not is up to you.¡±


    At these words, Yin Zhuhai was visibly cautious.


    Xia Wenjin had manipulated him when scheming against Lu Zhaozhao before.


    But thanks to his cleverness, he had turned a crisis into an opportunity.


    If the information Song Keren shared was true, he could utilize it as well.


    Yin Zhuhai thought it over and felt much more relieved.


    He raised an eyebrow and looked at Song Keren, suppressing the emotion in his eyes, ¡°Why do you want to tell me Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s weakness, when you already know it yourself? Why don¡¯t you take her down personally?¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s chin lifted slightly, ¡°Why should I get involved personally? I¡¯m already the wife of a regional vice president at XJ Group. I wouldn¡¯t want such a trivial matter to affect my important marriage matters.¡±


    Indeed, she had wanted to see Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s downfall, but only before she became the wife of the regional vice president of XJ Group.


    She had originally returned to the country for Song Sinian.


    It was unexpected that he married Lu Zhaozhao; she thought that by stepping over Lu Zhaozhao, she could become the mistress of the Song family.


    Sadly, she never succeeded, and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s position in the Song Family became even more solid.


    She had indeed intended to use this incident to destroy Lu Zhaozhao, but unexpectedly, due to Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin¡¯s involvement, Justin suddenly proposed to her.


    Then none of those things mattered anymore.


    She still had to successfully marry Justin; whether or not Lu Zhaozhao was taken down seemed less important to her.


    But if someone else wanted to deal with Lu Zhaozhao, she didn¡¯t mind handing over the opportunity.


    Song Keren¡¯s gaze measured Yin Zhuhai up and down.


    She had just planned to find Lu Zhaozhao and brag about the diamond ring Justin had bought her, but just as she reached the door of the lounge, she heard Yin Zhuhai¡¯s voice.


    Once their conversation was over, she secretly followed Yin Zhuhai, not expecting to stumble upon an unexpected discovery.


    She knew it¡ªYin Zhuhai was no good!


    Yin Zhuhai saw the flickering emotions in her eyes and his cheek twitched, ¡°Okay, tell me, what is Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s weakness?¡±


    She...¡± Song Keren had just started speaking when she seemed to remember something, ¡°I can¡¯t just give it to you for free; you have to agree to my other conditions.¡±


    ...


    Yin Zhuhai blinked, visually fixed on Song Keren. Before she could speak again, he decisively turned and made to leave immediately.


    Song Keren panicked, ¡°Hey! Are you going to listen or not?!¡±


    Yin Zhuhai shrugged his shoulders, ¡°I don¡¯t even know if your information is true or false, and yet I should agree to your conditions? You must be joking; I¡¯m not stupid.¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s brows instantly furrowed, ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll just tell you so you don¡¯t have to do anything for me.¡±


    She sighed lightly, looking at Yin Zhuhai with dissatisfaction.


    Truly a man like a fox, so cunning!


    Yet, his face remained bored, while deep down he was already thrilled.


    Song Keren wasn¡¯t as difficult to deal with as Xia Wenjin, and she didn¡¯t seem very smart either.


    He had just been pretending earlier and hadn¡¯t expected her to fall for it so easily.


    ¡°Alright, hurry up and tell me, I still have to check the script,¡± Yin Zhuhai urged.


    Song Keren was almost furious, but remembering she could get back at Lu Zhaozhao, she suppressed her irritation and spoke, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao can¡¯t drink alcohol, but I don¡¯t know exactly why.¡±


    ¡°Is she allergic to alcohol?¡± Yin Zhuhai raised his eyebrows.


    Giving her something with alcohol would mean risking her life, right?


    That¡¯s illegal!


    Song Keren rolled her eyes, ¡°How could that be? Lu Zhaozhao has drunk before. When my brother was in Nanjing, he even saw her getting carried away by Song Sinian after drinking. If it were an alcohol allergy, she would have gone to the hospital by now.¡±


    The event in Nanjing involving Lu Zhaozhao was indeed not a lie, but the intel had been inadvertently shared with her by Xiao Jinglan.


    When they had seen Song Sinian not letting Lu Zhaozhao drink, they wondered if she might be allergic to alcohol, but they quickly ruled it out.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao had drunk alcohol at that banquet in Nanjing... so it couldn¡¯t be an alcohol allergy.


    Song Keren continued, ¡°But I really don¡¯t know if she goes crazy after drinking or something else happens. If you¡¯re curious, you could try it.¡±


    After saying this, Song Keren left.


    Yin Zhuhai watched Song Keren¡¯s retreating figure, his brow slowly furrowing.


    The things she just mentioned must be true. If Lu Zhaozhao was allergic to alcohol, and something happened, she couldn¡¯t escape responsibility.


    Moreover, he had just recorded the conversation between the two of them.


    If something really happened, he would release the recording.


    Yin Zhuhai thought this as the corners of his mouth unwittingly curled up.


    Lu Zhaozhao, let me see what you¡¯re really like after drinking...


    Soon, the live broadcast restarted.


    The director had learned from the previous mishap, and this time made a cautious internal arrangement while grouping.


    So, the guests were quickly divided into three groups as per the director¡¯s plan.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Du Miao¡¯er were chopping wood at home, Yin Zhuhai and Song Keren were picking vegetables, and Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan were in the kitchen preparing the meals.

 Chapter 235 - 235 235 You Youre Just Jealous of Me

    ?Chapter 235: Chapter 235: You, You¡¯re Just Jealous of Me! Chapter 235: Chapter 235: You, You¡¯re Just Jealous of Me! ¡°Director, director, what happened to you, director? Why aren¡¯t you stirring things up today?¡±


    ¡°I still want to watch the Shangjing Circle rich wives¡¯ online showdown, it¡¯s so interesting!!!¡±


    ¡°What rich wives upstairs? You¡¯re living in 2G, aren¡¯t you, sister is a confirmed rich wife, no one would object if you said she¡¯s the top rich wife of the Shangjing Circle.¡±


    ¡°Ah!!! Then I want to watch the Shangjing Circle rich wives¡¯ online duel!!!¡±


    ...


    The director, watching the barrage of comments, was silently shedding tears inside.


    He also wanted Lu Zhaozhao and Song Keren to have an online battle, but of course, only if he could still be alive after their battle.


    Now that the guest had been changed to Song Keren, netizens were filled with anticipation for the variety show, eager to witness a fierce fight every minute.


    The director wanted it too, but he dared not.


    After all, between life and exploding show ratings, he would still choose life.


    After he angered Lu Zhaozhao last time, Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan almost terminated their contracts on the spot, and the major investors who had just funded them were all pulling out.


    He didn¡¯t dare to provoke this lady again.


    But just because the director didn¡¯t dare didn¡¯t mean others wouldn¡¯t.


    Song Keren had just been assigned to pick vegetables outside and she immediately refused.


    ¡°Director, you know who I am, right? I¡¯m getting married in a few days. What if something happens? Can you take responsibility?¡±


    She glanced at the bright sun outside and pouted, ¡°With such strong sunlight outside, what if something happens to my body...¡±


    As she spoke, she intentionally stroked her stomach gently.


    ¡°My God! Could it be that Song Keren is pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Being pregnant makes you superior? You knew what you signed up for when you joined the program, and now you want to be treated like royalty?¡±


    ¡°I thought Xia Wenjin was troublesome enough, but Song Keren turns out to be even more so.¡±


    ¡°Poor sister, surrounded by two drama queens, one a scheming green tea b*tch and the other a clueless white lotus.¡±


    ¡°I wonder what their husbands think, sheesh, I don¡¯t know who can handle this woman!¡±


    ...


    Watching the comments, the director sighed helplessly and could only try to mediate, ¡°Zhuhai, Keren is a woman, you do a bit more work... and Keren, this is the task, everyone should at least work together, but you can do a bit less.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to, I won¡¯t go out in the sun, my skin is too delicate.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Yin Zhuhai looked a bit ugly at that moment.


    Actually, doing more work wasn¡¯t the issue, but if Song Keren didn¡¯t go, and he was the only one, the director wouldn¡¯t keep the camera on him for long, and he might end up finishing the tasks without getting any footage.


    The director of course knew what would happen if he agreed, it was impossible to increase Yin Zhuhai and Song Keren¡¯s individual screen time.


    If broadcasted this way, chances are it could backfire.


    He pursed his lips and chuckled dryly, ¡°Keren, even if you¡¯re going to be the future regional vice president¡¯s wife of XJ Group, it¡¯s not okay to act like this, right?¡±


    Song Keren didn¡¯t care about this, she arrogantly retorted, ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m using my power to bully people? I can¡¯t help it, I am the future regional vice president¡¯s wife of XJ Group, what can you do about it?¡±


    In a few days, she was going to marry Justin, both the Song family and Justin had met, and she didn¡¯t believe there was still room for negotiation.


    She was previously afraid of Lu Zhaozhao, but that didn¡¯t mean she was still scared now!


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing that the live broadcast was about to turn into a live broadcast accident, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly raised her hand, ¡°Director, Miao¡¯er and I will go pick vegetables, we can swap tasks with their group.¡±


    ¡°Um...¡±


    The director didn¡¯t know whether to agree or not.


    He completely didn¡¯t understand what Lu Zhaozhao was planning.


    ¡°Song Keren, our task is in the shade of the trees in the yard, you won¡¯t be exposed to the sun, you can rest assured and chop wood,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said with a mocking smile.


    She just wanted to quietly record the remaining episodes and be done, but with Song Keren¡¯s cooperation, they probably couldn¡¯t even finish filming the morning session, and the show would literally open a skylight.


    Since she was so troublesome, she might as well let her go all out.


    Song Keren didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to step in, and coldly glanced at her, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, don¡¯t even think about making me do this rough work, I am the future¡ª¡±


    ¡°You said it yourself, it¡¯s the future, who knows, you might not even be that after the show¡¯s over?¡± Lu Zhaozhao interrupted before Song Keren could finish, delivering a fatal blow.


    ¡°Some things aren¡¯t set in stone, better not always hang them on your mouth.¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s face immediately fell, ¡°You, you¡¯re just jealous of me!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°What do I have to be jealous of? Jealous of your dumb head, or your lazy limbs who can¡¯t tell grains apart?¡±


    Song Keren clenched her teeth and crossed her arms, ¡°Hmph! Say whatever you want, I¡¯m not going to do the task anyway!¡±


    She just wanted to confront Lu Zhaozhao on the show, what could that possibly do?!


    She also had her own powerful background, was she still scared of a Lu Zhaozhao?


    Thinking this, her chin lifted slightly as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I just don¡¯t believe, you can find someone to replace me?¡±


    ¡°Eh? Makes sense, I recall the Song family has a few unmarried ladies...¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    Song Keren almost clenched her teeth and stood up, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can do whatever you want just because you have Song Sinian!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao completely ignored her, turning her head to Du Miao¡¯er, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Miao¡¯er, let¡¯s go pick vegetables. Someone is going to help us chop wood.¡±


    Miao¡¯er certainly didn¡¯t hesitate, directly picking up a wicker basket and preparing to follow Lu Zhaozhao outside.


    This completely infuriated Song Keren.


    She glared angrily at Lu Zhaozhao but heard someone at the door slowly speak up again, ¡°Song Keren, I suddenly think what you said earlier makes a lot of sense, so what if I use my power to bully people? If you can do it, why can¡¯t I? Moreover... I am a legitimate CEO¡¯s wife, but you...¡±


    Though Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t finish her sentence, it was as good as said.


    Song Keren glared furiously at Lu Zhaozhao, her eyes almost popping out.


    Just as she was thinking about how to retaliate against Lu Zhaozhao, she heard a distant voice coming over, ¡°Director, if Song Keren doesn¡¯t chop the wood later, just let me know, I¡¯ll call her husband to help with the wood chopping.¡±

 Chapter 236 - 236 236 He Usually Likes to Act Spoiled More

    ?Chapter 236: Chapter 236: He Usually Likes to Act Spoiled More... Chapter 236: Chapter 236: He Usually Likes to Act Spoiled More... ¡°[After leaving ¡®Let¡¯s Eat! Cabin¡¯, Song Keren could directly take on the role of a vicious supporting actress. Her natural performance might even make her famous!]¡±


    ...


    Due to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s threat, Song Keren had to chop wood even if she wanted to slack off.


    But being pampered all her life by Xiao Jinglan, how could she endure such hardship?


    After splitting just a few pieces, she started crying in the pile of firewood.


    Yin Zhuhai, helpless, could only work while pacifying Song Keren.


    Fortunately, because of Song Keren¡¯s unreasonable troublemaking, not only did Yin Zhuhai get more camera time, he also took the opportunity while indoors to sneak some liquor, almost indistinguishable in taste from fruit wine, into the prepared fruit drink.


    Whether or not Lu Zhaozhao could drink alcohol, she would be sure to fall for it once she drank this fruit wine!


    He wanted to see what Lu Zhaozhao would be like when drunk...


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao and Du Miao¡¯er returned from the vegetable garden with the ingredients they needed, wearing straw hats.


    The two sat on the riverbank, dangling their bare feet in the water.


    Du Miao¡¯er suddenly tilted her head and asked Lu Zhaozhao in a low voice, ¡°Zhaozhao sis, is your husband really like what Brother Xia said?¡±


    Her eyes shone with anticipation as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although she hadn¡¯t been in the entertainment industry for long, there were too many couples who were only together in appearance.


    So when she heard about the relationship between Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian, she couldn¡¯t help but be curious.


    Could a man who openly admits he¡¯s lovesick really be like Xia Wenyan said?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, ¡°Half and half, I guess. Actually, he¡¯s usually more clingy...¡±


    Thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes and brows softened as well.


    Completely like a little woman in love.


    Du Miao¡¯er¡¯s eyes widened dramatically; Song Sinian had previously visited the set, and she had seen him from afar.


    Such a celestial-like man, exuding an aura of keeping others at bay, seemed nothing like the ¡°clingy¡± man Lu Zhaozhao described.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone vibrated.


    She took it out to see, and unexpectedly, it was Song Sinian.


    ¡°Finished early at work today, shall I wait for you at the show?¡±


    Seeing Song Sinian¡¯s message, Lu Zhaozhao paused before replying, ¡°Since you finished early, why not come to our show as a special guest?¡±


    Their program was live, and the director probably wouldn¡¯t reject a high-profile guest.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao pulled her feet out of the water and winked at Du Miao¡¯er, ¡°Let¡¯s go find the director.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was sending messages while Du Miao¡¯er sat beside her, naturally seeing everything clearly.


    She deliberately spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°Zhaozhao sis, you can¡¯t be serious, can you?¡±


    Before Song Sinian had even agreed, she was going to find the director. What if the director agreed, and then Song Sinian didn¡¯t?


    Du Miao¡¯er was somewhat worried for Lu Zhaozhao.


    After all, Song Sinian was the president of Song Group...


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know our Mr. Song.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled, pulling Du Miao¡¯er to her feet, and as they just put on their shoes, the phone vibrated once more.


    Lu Zhaozhao took out her phone, and Song Sinian¡¯s message appeared vividly.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Miao¡¯er was utterly convinced this time.


    Indeed, all the good men seemed to belong to someone else.


    She too wished to be in such a relationship before she died...


    When it was nearing dinner time, Sinian arrived fashionably late.


    Unlike his usual self, clad in formal suits, he wore casual attire, which gave him an air of refined ease, and he even seemed more approachable.


    It felt like he had descended a few steps from his pedestal, but only a few, as he was still leagues apart from them mortals.


    At least, that was Miao¡¯er¡¯s thought when she saw Sinian.


    At the dining table, everyone¡¯s expressions varied, but in silent agreement, they all picked up their chopsticks and started eating dinner.


    They spoke intermittently, with some holding a conversation.


    Keren, who had been quite arrogant before, suddenly became docile and didn¡¯t dare to speak another word, merely keeping her head down and eating her rice while sitting opposite Zhaozhao.


    [Hahahaha... Where did Keren¡¯s domineering aura go? Why has she wilted just as dinner started? Don¡¯t be a wimp!]


    [Well, her sister brought her husband over, of course she wouldn¡¯t dare to make a peep.]


    [Did anyone see President Song sneakily eating the veggies on the right side of his sister-in-law¡¯s plate?!]


    [To the comment above, you¡¯ve successfully made me rewind and watch it three times!]


    [I heard that Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t like eating spinach, and today¡¯s meal included spinach fried with eggs. It seems Miao¡¯er served it to Zhaozhao, probably without realizing that.]


    [President Song, a big CEO sneakily picking out food for his wife, is really something else, haha...]


    ...


    ¡°Today, we welcome President Song to our ¡®Let¡¯s Eat! Cabin.¡¯ Instead of alcohol, let¡¯s have a few glasses of juice!¡± Xia Wenyan picked up his cup and raised it towards Sinian.


    Sinian glanced at Xia Wenyan, slowly picked up his own cup, and acknowledged the gesture.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao wanted to raise her cup as well, but unfortunately, her small hand was still wrestling with the large shrimp on her plate.


    So she had no hand free for the juice in the cup.


    Sinian finished the juice in his cup in one gulp, furrowed his brow slightly, sniffed the cup again, and casually picked up the cup beside Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°There¡¯s alcohol in the juice, don¡¯t drink it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows skeptically, ¡°Alcohol? We didn¡¯t add any when we were making the juice...¡±


    Sinian pursed his lips, handed her the cup he was holding, and signaled her to smell it.


    As Lu Zhaozhao lowered her head, she immediately detected the scent of alcohol.


    Probably the fragrance of the juice was overpowering, masking the scent of alcohol, so it wasn¡¯t very noticeable.


    It seemed that nobody noticed the juice had been tampered with when they weren¡¯t paying attention.


    Luckily, it was just alcohol added.


    It shouldn¡¯t be a big deal.


    Lu Zhaozhao breathed a sigh of relief, only to see Sinian take the large shrimp from her hand and say, ¡°Let me do it, you just wait to eat.¡±


    As he spoke, he passed her a wet towel to clean her hands.


    After seeing her hands were clean, Sinian then skillfully started peeling the shrimp.


    One, two, three...


    Soon, several large shrimps were added to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s plate.


    ¡°I want to peel the shrimp for Zhaozhao too! Sinian, at least leave me two!¡± Suddenly, Xia Wenyan¡¯s indignant voice came through.


    But his slurred speech made it quite apparent he was a bit drunk.


    Especially with his face, which was flushed red, making him look somewhat silly.


    Pei Huai had certainly noticed this, and subconsciously wanted to stop him, so he gently coaxed, ¡°Yanyan, Zhaozhao has enough shrimp over there, you don¡¯t need to peel anymore...¡±

 Chapter 237 - 237 237 Really Want to Pet Him

    ?Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Really Want to Pet Him Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Really Want to Pet Him ¡°Don¡¯t! That jerk Song Sinian is already hogging my sister usually, now he wants to compete with me in variety shows too? I just want to peel shrimp, and I¡¯ll peel more than him!¡± Xia Wenyan acted as if he was deliberately being stubborn, holding a plate of shrimp protectively and watching Song Sinian with a wary look.


    The people present couldn¡¯t help but be torn between laughter and tears at Xia Wenyan¡¯s behavior.


    They hadn¡¯t expected that Xia Wenyan would act so crazy when drunk.


    And why was he a bit cute?


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a bit helpless too. She raised her hand and rubbed Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°Okay, fourth brother, stop it.¡±


    Xia Wenyan paused, then burst into a radiant smile, ¡°Brother Pei, my sister just touched my head. My other brothers don¡¯t even get this treatment. I have to send a photo to them.¡±


    As he spoke, he fumbled for his phone in his pocket, wanting Pei Huai to take a picture for him.


    Unable to withstand Xia Wenyan¡¯s drunken antics, the crowd let Lu Zhaozhao press his head and took several photos in succession.


    [Oh my God, is Yanyan this adorable when drunk? I really want to squish him.]


    [Someone previously said Yanyan was all about image, come out and face it now!]


    [Those who said President Song spoils his wife, come out and stand in punishment too!]


    [Where can I collect a shrimp-peeling brother or husband? I¡¯m all ready, just waiting to collect a number and go.]


    ...


    Initially, the director thought about whether to guide others to take Xia Wenyan back to his room to rest.


    But seeing the rising popularity, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    So he instructed staff to add some more rice and fruits to the table.


    As soon as the fruits were placed on the table, Xia Wenyan and Song Sinian almost simultaneously reached for the cherries and then put them into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s plate together.


    Xia Wenyan became unhappy again, ¡°I picked cherries for Zhaozhao first, she should eat mine first!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at Xia Wenyan and lightly muttered two words, ¡°Childish.¡±


    After that, he picked up the cherries from the plate and directly popped them into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth.


    [Hahahaha... President Song saying ¡®childish¡¯ is perfect! Action speaks louder than words, not childish at all!]


    [Apparently, where there is a sister, there is never a dull moment!]


    [If I remember correctly, wasn¡¯t President Song always portrayed as aloof in other reports? President Song, has your persona crashed too?]


    [In front of his sister, there¡¯s no such thing as persona...]


    [Is President Song drunk too? Don¡¯t make Yanyan cry later, hahaha... but I want to see!]


    ...


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao eat the cherry from Song Sinian, Xia Wenyan naturally exploded right there.


    ¡°Song Sinian, you still have to call me ¡®Brother¡¯! Don¡¯t go too far!¡±


    Song Sinian merely glanced at Xia Wenyan indifferently, then decisively looked away, pretending he hadn¡¯t heard a thing.


    On the other hand, Song Keren, who was sitting and eating, clearly couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    Even though it was a variety show, they all treated Lu Zhaozhao so specially, this show was practically turning into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cherished variety show!


    ¡°Has nobody heard of not talking while eating and not speaking while lying down?¡± Song Keren raised her chin slightly, very ungraciously interrupting the lively atmosphere.


    Instantly, the entire dining room fell silent.


    Even Yin Zhuhai, who was sitting beside him, was utterly speechless.


    They were participating in a reality show, where, aside from the usual labor, the most important footage was always during the meals when they had conversations.


    Typically, advertisements placed by the program team and promotional visits from movies or TV shows would be inserted during these times, pretended to be brought up casually.


    Song Keren had just said ¡°eat in silence, sleep in silence,¡± which was exactly like dancing in the director¡¯s minefield.


    [¡°Damn ¡®eat in silence, sleep in silence¡¯, watching a show without any sound, I might as well watch a livestream eater.¡±]


    [When Song Keren participates in a variety program, does she leave her brain at home?]


    [If you¡¯re not going to use your brain, why don¡¯t you donate it to someone in need? This practically brand-new brain must be worth a lot.]


    [The other guests must really feel agonized by her, I really don¡¯t know why the production team would invite someone like that, just to watch her act foolishly?]


    ...


    Amidst the growing wave of criticism, the heat in the live broadcast room continued to rise.


    The director checked the data and was considering breaking the tension when suddenly there was a commotion at the dining table.


    ¡°Eat in silence, sleep in silence? How come I never saw you this polite before?¡± Xia Wenyan suddenly stood up from his chair, ¡°Out of everyone here, you¡¯re the one who talks the most, everyone is sick of it and no one has stopped you, how do you have the face to say that about others?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®I¡¯? Who gave you the courage? Justin? He... Mmm...¡± Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t finish his sentence as Pei Huai covered his mouth.


    He was slightly worried that Xia Wenyan, in a moment of impulsiveness, might spill too much.


    Whether it¡¯s Justin or Xiao Mo, they all still think they are climbing up the social ladder, feeling self-satisfied.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s words could potentially put them on alert, and it would be a shame not to bring them down in one fell swoop.


    Pei Huai chuckled softly, ¡°Yanyan drank too much, I¡¯ll take him to sober up.¡±


    Saying this, Pei Huai practically dragged him away.


    Now, the atmosphere at the dining table was even more awkward.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and silently started eating the shrimp that Song Sinian had peeled for her.


    Yin Zhuhai cleared his throat, ¡°Zhaozhao, does Brother Xia not drink often? He seems to get drunk quite easily...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao knew Yin Zhuhai was deliberately striking up a conversation, but for the sake of Xia Wenyan¡¯s image, Zhaozhao still decided to boost his reputation.


    So, she narrowed her eyes slightly and chuckled, ¡°He doesn¡¯t handle his liquor well and tends to talk a lot when drunk.¡±


    In reality, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know, after all, she had never drunk with Xia Wenyan before.


    ¡°Brother Xia has always been straightforward, I think everyone should not mind it too much,¡± Yin Zhuhai tried his best to ingratiate himself with Lu Zhaozhao, especially with Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai out of the way.


    Although Song Sinian was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s husband, he rarely spoke, so as long as he didn¡¯t act too outrageously, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Lu Zhaozhao, unaware of Yin Zhuhai¡¯s intentions, engaged in disjointed conversation with him, but her actions of eating shrimp never ceased.


    Soon, the shrimp that Song Sinian had peeled for her were all gone.


    Lu Zhaozhao put down her chopsticks and was about to grab a tissue to wipe her mouth, but seeing the tissue box placed to the right of Song Sinian, her brow furrowed slightly.


    With that thought, she reached out her hand, ¡°Mr. Song...¡±


    Song Sinian, upon hearing this ¡°Mr. Song¡± while he was peeling an orange for Lu Zhaozhao,


    turned around only to see Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand stretched out.


    He slightly raised his eyebrows, glanced at her palm, and then placed his chin upon it.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned, momentarily forgetting this interaction.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Song Sinian, unclear on the context, sounded a bit softer, ¡°Zhaozhao, did I do something to upset you just now?¡±

 Chapter 238 - 238 238 Zhaozhao Are You Mad at Me

    ?Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Zhaozhao, Are You Mad at Me? Chapter 238: Chapter 238: Zhaozhao, Are You Mad at Me? The atmosphere in the restaurant suddenly grew silent.


    Lu Zhaozhao hurriedly withdrew her hand, ¡°I, I just wanted a piece of paper, I¡¯m not angry.¡±


    As she spoke, she immediately lowered her voice and leaned in close to Song Sinian, whispering, ¡°Honey, didn¡¯t I say that we could only do this when it¡¯s just the two of us...¡±


    ¡°Does this count too?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils drooped slightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say kissing isn¡¯t allowed in front of others? Is this also not allowed?¡±


    When Song Sinian said this, his large hand sneakily pinched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand underneath the table.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt helpless with his pestering and could only sigh, conceding silently.


    This kind of contact wasn¡¯t exactly prohibited; she was actually more worried about her beloved husband breaking character.


    Everyone in the outside world saw Song Sinian as an unapproachably aloof figure, the king of the business world.


    But that coquettish demeanor just now, where was there even a hint of the image others described?


    [What secrets could possibly be kept from me, a distinguished member?]


    [Where¡¯s my lip-reading interpretation?]


    [It feels like the girl is calling out ¡®honey¡¯, and then saying they can only do this when they¡¯re alone...]


    [The person above is absolutely right! I also think the mouth shapes match!]


    [Hurry up, someone analyze what President Song said!!!]


    [President Song... I think I might have misheard, why do I feel like he¡¯s acting spoiled, like saying ¡®Is this not allowed either?¡¯ and stuff about kisses...]


    [Oh my god!!! What kind of fairy-tale husband is this? A dominating boss in public, a puppy behind the scenes!]


    [Behind the scenes? It¡¯s blatantly changing into a puppy in front of the girl every minute! Haven¡¯t you noticed that¡¯s a habitual gesture of President Song¡¯s?!]


    [Ahhh!!! I also want a love-struck husband like that! I must experience this kind of romance before I die!]


    ...


    The director initially worried that after Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai left, the live stream¡¯s popularity would decrease, but it was Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s deliberately low-key interactions that made the audience intensely engaged.


    Even the director had to admit that real couples were indeed more appealing.


    Soon, the live broadcast ended, and Lu Zhaozhao naturally took Song Sinian away from the show¡¯s crew.


    Song Sinian had driven here alone.


    But now that he had drunk alcohol, Lu Zhaozhao had to be the one to drive the car.


    She led Song Sinian, and the two walked towards the parking lot as if they were out for a stroll.


    Song Sinian had consumed alcohol, and although it wasn¡¯t much, the cold wind made him feel a bit tipsy.


    He was somewhat dazed.


    He raised his hand to press against his temples and casually asked, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you guys always prepare fruit wine for the final meal of every live stream?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°No, actually, what we should have had today was a fruit drink, it wasn¡¯t supposed to contain alcohol. We are live streaming, and the director is afraid of issues, so drinking alcohol isn¡¯t allowed.¡±


    If they encountered someone like Xia Wenyan who became belligerent after a bit of drinking, the entire show¡¯s crew would be in trouble.


    So whether the fruit drink was accidentally mixed with alcohol or someone deliberately spiked it remained unknown.


    Song Sinian, of course, also understood what Lu Zhaozhao meant.


    The moment he tasted the drink, he found it strange. Now feeling fuzzy-headed because of a single drink, he became even more concerned.


    His alcohol tolerance was not so weak that he¡¯d get drunk from a fruit drink.


    Therefore, the person who spiked the fruit drink definitely had other motives.


    He was determined to catch the person who had struck from the shadows.


    Song Sinian was deep in thought when the two of them arrived at the parking lot.


    Lu Zhaozhao opened the car door and pushed Song Sinian into the back seat.


    ¡°You lie down and rest for a bit in the back; we¡¯ll be home soon.¡±


    After saying this, she was about to get up, but suddenly Song Sinian grabbed her wrist firmly.


    By the time she thought to move again, Song Sinian had pulled her into the car.


    Her body, unsteady from the motion, lunged towards Song Sinian, but fortunately, she quickly braced herself against the back seat, propping herself up to prevent crashing onto him.


    ¡°Mr. Song? You...¡±


    ¡°Let me hold you for a while,¡± Song Sinian suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms around her neck, pulling her directly into his embrace.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body stiffened slightly, but she obediently snuggled into his arms as he had asked.


    For a long time, Song Sinian could only gently pat her back, but he said nothing.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Song Sinian, her eyes smilingly gazing at him, and asked, ¡°What? Are you still unhappy about what just happened?¡±


    At the mention of ¡°what just happened,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and he turned to hold Lu Zhaozhao even tighter.


    The thought alone that if he hadn¡¯t come to the program set today, that fruit wine might have been drunk by Lu Zhaozhao.


    If that had been the case, would she have been bullied by someone without him knowing?


    A shadow flashed instantly in the depths of Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, and his arms around Lu Zhaozhao unconsciously tightened.


    Those who wanted to take action had better not choose Lu Zhaozhao, otherwise, he¡¯d make them regret living in this world!


    Sensing Song Sinian¡¯s unrest, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small head slowly peeked out, her eyes blinking as they met the pair of dark eyes gazing down at her.


    The next second, warm and soft lips gently pressed against hers.


    In contrast with the breath that drew near, the kiss was tender to an agonizing degree.


    Kissed repeatedly by him, Lu Zhaozhao felt ticklish; she shrank her neck, laughing and trying to dodge backward.


    ¡°Husband, it tickles... hahaha...¡±


    Seeing her with blushing cheeks and adorable appearance, something in Song Sinian¡¯s chest inexplicably softened.


    The hand that had been resting at her waist suddenly pressed down harder, pinning her against his side, unable to move in the slightest.


    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly, and the look he gave Lu Zhaozhao grew increasingly dark.


    Suddenly, he lowered his head and bit down fiercely on her fair neck.


    Almost immediately after, dots began to appear on her neck.


    ¡°Zhaozhao... I¡¯m feeling a bit uncomfortable,¡± Song Sinian whispered, gently holding her hand and kissing the palm, his black eyes glistening with moisture as he looked at her.


    The shimmering light in his gaze made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart tremble uncontrollably.


    Song Sinian was moved.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t be clearer; she and Song Sinian had been married for a while, but it was only recently that they had developed a physical husband and wife relationship.


    She knew that the more Sinian looked at her with those pitiful eyes, the more she would end up crying miserably in the end.


    The alarm bells in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind were almost instantly sounding the alert¡ªshe absolutely mustn¡¯t go soft!


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you angry with me?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at her with a pitiable expression and nudged against her neck like a puppy, his face clearly expressing ¡°I am so pitiful.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but swallow, trying to avert the gaze that was fixed on Song Sinian, ¡°I¡¯m not angry, I...¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao, will you pamper me, please...¡± said Sinian, and then he gently kissed her fingertips...

 Chapter 239 - 239 239 This isnt an endorsement its money

    ?Chapter 239: Chapter 239: This isn¡¯t an endorsement, it¡¯s money! Chapter 239: Chapter 239: This isn¡¯t an endorsement, it¡¯s money! His eyes gleamed intensely as he looked at her, forcibly causing the ¡°I can¡¯t¡± at the tip of her tongue to retreat back down her throat.


    She couldn¡¯t help but swallow, looking into his pair of black eyes, ¡°We¡¯re outside now... we could be seen.¡±


    Song Sinian seemed to have grasped the crux of the matter, his hand shot up, slamming the car door shut with a bang, his voice growing closer, ¡°No one will come at this time.¡±


    Moreover, this was the film crew¡¯s parking lot, and now there was only their car left.


    His license plate was so conspicuous that even if someone accidentally wandered in, seeing his license plate would let them know who was inside.


    Anyone who didn¡¯t want to court disaster wouldn¡¯t come over to disturb them.


    Song Sinian had never felt as thankful for his own status as he did today.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand clutched at Song Sinian¡¯s collar, feeling his increasingly heavy breath, her heart also lost its rhythm.


    In fact, from the moment she uttered those three words, she had already tacitly approved everything he wanted to do.


    Song Sinian looked at her small face, feeling an indescribable softness in his heart.


    She was always tender-hearted towards him, only towards him.


    He felt incredibly fortunate every time he thought about this.


    Fortunate that she had chosen him.


    Song Sinian lifted her directly by the waist, burying his face contentedly into her body.


    The soft touch enveloped him completely; the tip of his nose was filled with the scent of the person before him.


    She was his, belonging only to him.


    The greed he had never dared to entertain before had now become reality.


    Just thinking about it filled his chest to bursting, causing a faint pain.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, my Zhaozhao.¡±


    He whispered gently into her ear, his lips barely brushing her skin as they opened and closed, tickling her with a shivering sensation.


    His large, warm palm landed on the small of her back, fingers gently drawing together, grasping the slender and soft form barely enough to fill his hand.


    It felt as if he could easily snap it with a little more force.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back tensed visibly, still conscious of the surroundings, her whole state was highly strung.


    Even her senses seemed sharper than usual.


    Just a few gentle touches from him, and her whole being was reddening like a prawn ball.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart ¡°thudded¡± wildly, every inch of skin pressed close to Song Sinian could feel her trembling with tension.


    Beat after beat, like ripples in a pond where a stone had fallen, the waves spread out in ever-widening circles.


    Song Sinian murmured, ¡°Am I not performing well enough? Is that why you¡¯re always distracted?¡±


    His low, husky voice seemed to be asking a question, but his tone could hardly conceal the amusement in it.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already panicking,


    Desperately wanting to retreat, but he held her down firmly.


    Her face was already flushed, and now even more color rose in her neck than before.


    ¡°I, I¡¯m not.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t listen to her defense, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, you won¡¯t have time to think about anything else soon.¡±


    Saying this, his hand suddenly pulled down, muffling whatever else she wanted to say with his mouth.


    ¡°Too...ha...um...¡± Her words hadn¡¯t managed to come out before they were once again blocked by Song Sinian.


    His large hand clutched tightly at her waist, his entire being nearly went mad.


    Under the influence of alcohol, his greed was magnified many times over.


    Especially since the person before him was the one he yearned for day and night; he became even more uninhibited.


    The steaming breaths mingling, the heat gradually rising in the narrow and enclosed space of the car...


    What neither of them knew was that with Song Sinian¡¯s involvement, this live broadcast¡¯s discussion on the internet had doubled.


    For a time, the hashtag #ËÎ×Ü# nearly exploded.


    At the same time, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s popularity visibly skyrocketed.


    Even those who hadn¡¯t watched ¡°Let¡¯s Eat! Cabin¡± were frequently bombarded with the name ¡°Lu Zhaozhao¡±.


    Just two days later, all the major luxury brands had reached out to Lu Zhaozhao with olive branches.


    Not merely as a regional spokesperson, but as the global spokesperson for top luxury brands.


    Sitting in the living room, Lu Dagui looked at the various endorsements officially announced on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s studio Weibo on his phone, furrowing his eyebrows into a knot.


    This wasn¡¯t just an endorsement; this was money!


    Rivers of money!


    In just one month of recording the show, Lu Zhaozhao had landed more than 30 endorsements.


    He had done some quick calculations, and even at the least, these endorsements were worth 200 million.


    If all this money supported their Lu Family, the company¡¯s crisis could be easily overcome.


    But Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t much involved with their family anymore...


    Not necessarily!


    The last time they had dinner, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attitude towards them was still quite gentle.


    What they had done before was indeed a bit excessive, but Lu Zhaozhao had still given him face; perhaps if they tried to mend their relationship, she would help him out of trouble in light of her nurturing gratitude.


    Sitting next to Lu Dagui, Cao Mei saw his expression change again and again. She couldn¡¯t help furrowing her brows, tentatively asking, ¡°Master, what are you looking at?¡±


    Lu Dagui handed his mobile phone over to Cao Mei.


    The news about Lu Zhaozhao instantly caught her eye.


    Aside from the trending search for Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian, there were announcements of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s endorsements.


    Although she hadn¡¯t paid much attention, Lu Zhaozhao had indeed become exceptionally popular recently.


    Stealing a glance at Xia Wenjin, who had just returned from the hospital and was sitting next to the sofa, then back at Lu Dagui¡¯s phone, she suddenly felt conflicted.


    ¡°Look at Zhaozhao, she¡¯s hardly entered the entertainment industry, and she¡¯s already bursting with fame. If we had cultivated her properly back then...¡±


    Lu Dagui¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, seeming somewhat unwilling to let go.


    Cao Mei shot a quick glance at Xia Wenyan, clearly noticing a slight change in her expression, and quickly attempted to smooth things over, ¡°Master, there¡¯s no use talking about it now. Lu Zhaozhao is no longer our Lu Family¡¯s child; whether she does well or poorly has nothing to do with us anymore.¡±


    ¡°How can it not matter?¡± Lu Dagui¡¯s face suddenly darkened, and he glared at Cao Mei, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see for yourself at dinner last time? Don¡¯t you know what kind of character that child has after raising her for so many years?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Cao Mei pursed her lips, feeling even more conflicted.


    When Lu Zhaozhao was with the Lu family, she had always been obedient and compliant, following whatever they said, and even though she was disliked, she couldn¡¯t find much fault...

 Chapter 240 - 240 240 This Mr. Song From Their Family

    ?Chapter 240: Chapter 240: This Mr. Song From Their Family... Chapter 240: Chapter 240: This Mr. Song From Their Family... If she had known earlier how useful Lu Zhaozhao was, she wouldn¡¯t have discarded this card so soon.


    In the end, it was because Xia Wenjin was so useless that Lu Zhaozhao seemed better.


    Cao Mei wasn¡¯t oblivious, but the more she thought about it, the harder it was for her to accept.


    Why couldn¡¯t her child make it?


    Why couldn¡¯t Xia Wenjin?


    She took a deep breath, ¡°Sir, things have come to this...¡±


    ¡°Things have come to this, so think of a way, aren¡¯t mothers supposed to be bound to their children by unbreakable bonds? Find a way to coax her.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s expression suddenly turned ugly.


    Xia Wenjin was still here, and Lu Dagui was speaking like this right in front of her.


    Cao Mei immediately looked at Xia Wenjin nervously but saw that she was just looking down at her phone, seemingly unaffected.


    She secretly heaved a sigh of relief, then whispered to Lu Dagui, ¡°Sir, let¡¯s take our time to plan on this matter. Zhaozhao has been busy recently and probably doesn¡¯t have much time.¡±


    Lu Dagui glanced at her, ¡°If you don¡¯t reach out to her actively, how could she possibly have time?¡±


    Cao Mei pursed her lips, ¡°I, I understand.¡±


    She wanted to end this topic quickly, at least not to continue in front of Xia Wenjin.


    Fortunately, Lu Dagui just glanced at her and then fell silent, allowing Cao Mei to secretly sigh in relief.


    But what she didn¡¯t know was that Xia Wenjin had already heard everything they said.


    Ever since she heard from Cao Mei about the problems with the Lu Family¡¯s mines, Lu Dagui¡¯s attitude towards her had worsened every day.


    She knew that if things continued this way, he would soon try to reach out to Lu Zhaozhao again, but was that woman so easy to fool?


    She couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly.


    Her fingers quickly typed out a message on her phone.


    ¡°Do you have some free time recently? Can we go out for a drink?¡±


    Xia Wenjin looked at the name ¡°Justin¡± on the chat box and couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    She then sent another message, ¡°I was framed in the matter with Xiao Mo on the set before. Someone had tampered with my drink, and Xiao Mo was also a victim in this. We were forced into a marriage because of public opinion, can you believe me?¡±


    After sending these two messages, she immediately sent a few crying emojis, waiting for Justin¡¯s reply.


    Justin replied quickly, ¡°I believe Miss Xia, but things have already been settled, and I hope you can move on soon.¡±


    Seeing the speed of Justin¡¯s responses, Xia Wenjin knew she still had a chance.


    After all, her current identity was as a daughter of Lu Group, certainly better than Song Keren.


    Before her incident, she was almost the first choice for marriage to Justin, all thanks to that bitch, Song Keren!


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she immediately sent another message, ¡°I actually quite envy Song Keren, being able to marry such an outstanding person. Both Xiao Mo and I were forced, he¡¯s not too happy either, and I don¡¯t know what will happen in the future...¡±


    She deliberately made her remarks ambiguous, as half of what she said was true.


    The marriage between Xiao Mo and her was orchestrated by both the Lu Family and the Song Family, and they didn¡¯t like each other, so divorce was inevitable.


    If their relationship hadn¡¯t been exposed online, she wouldn¡¯t have married a man who had nothing!


    This time, Justin didn¡¯t reply too quickly.


    Just as Xia Wenjin was considering whether to send him a few more messages, her phone finally vibrated slightly, ¡°Not everyone can marry the person they love, but if I can offer Miss Xia some comfort, I am willing to be by Miss Xia¡¯s side as a friend...¡±


    A friend¡¯s company?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s mouth curved slightly, and soon it wouldn¡¯t just be that.


    She wanted to snatch him back from Song Keren¡¯s hands!


    The next day, when the sky was just barely lit, it began to drizzle.


    It didn¡¯t stop until around 9 AM.


    The air was moist, and there was a rotting smell from dead leaves pressed into the soil.


    The post-rain wind made the already cool temperature drop even further.


    Lu Zhaozhao groggily climbed out from under the covers that morning, but the chill from the slightly open window made her dive back in.


    She had completely forgotten how she had come back last night, only remembering that she had fallen asleep in a daze, then... then she couldn¡¯t remember anything that happened after.


    But she could still clearly remember what had happened before.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheeks flushed as she tossed and turned in the bed wrapped in her blanket.


    But she abruptly stopped after just one roll.


    Due to the limited space yesterday, and having tousled too fiercely, her whole body felt like it had been forced through a couple hours of anaerobic exercise; not a single muscle was without soreness.


    She flopped back down on the bed with a slap and immediately wanted to lie flat again.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the bedroom door, and Aunt Qian¡¯s voice timely rang out, ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you awake?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head popped out from under the covers and she responded towards the door, ¡°Awake, awake!¡±


    She sneaked a glance at her phone on the bedside, which strikingly displayed 9:15.


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, she really overslept today.


    She slowly crawled out of bed to find herself wearing a set of clean and fragrant pajamas.


    Her body also smelled nice, she must have already taken a bath.


    With that thought, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart softened a bit.


    This Mr. Song of their family...


    Really, she didn¡¯t know whether to find him adorable or annoying.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, there is a guest downstairs who says he¡¯s your colleague from the show crew,¡± Aunt Qian¡¯s voice came again.


    ¡°Do you want me to ask him to leave?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted as she changed clothes before stepping out of the room, ¡°A colleague from the show crew, did he mention his name?¡±


    Her colleagues from ¡°Let¡¯s Eat! Cottage¡± seemed to only include her fourth brother, Pei Huai, Du Miao¡¯er, and Yin Zhuhai.


    Or possibly those two directors who came last time?


    Regardless, it couldn¡¯t be Song Keren.


    Because if it were Song Keren who had come, Aunt Qian definitely wouldn¡¯t refer to him as a ¡°guest.¡±


    She would probably not even inform her and just send the person away.


    To Aunt Qian, both Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan were the same level of trash, no need for sorting.


    Aunt Qian shrugged, ¡°He didn¡¯t say, only mentioned that you would know once you see him, and if you don¡¯t want to meet, I can ask him to leave now.¡±


    She had originally wanted to ask Sinian first, but thought better of it since the visitor was ultimately Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s guest, and if it were a friend, informing Sinian first might not be appropriate.


    Lu Zhaozhao waved a hand at Aunt Qian, ¡°Aunt Qian, no need to go through the trouble, I¡¯ll go downstairs and check.¡±


    Regardless of who it was, the difference was not significant to her.


    She was more curious about why the person had come looking for her.


    With this in mind, Lu Zhaozhao followed Aunt Qian down the stairs, but the moment she saw the figure sitting in the living room, her brows instantly furrowed.


    Why had he come?

 Chapter 241 - 241 241 Specifically Targeting You

    ?Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Specifically Targeting You Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Specifically Targeting You The ¡°guest¡± downstairs was none other than Yin Zhuhai.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow and slowly walked into the living room, ¡°Senior Yin...¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Yin Zhuhai suddenly knelt down in front of her.


    His unexpected action startled Lu Zhaozhao and even shocked Qian Hong.


    Instinctively, she stepped in front of Lu Zhaozhao, separating her from Yin Zhuhai and looked at him warily.


    ¡°Security!¡±


    ¡°Please, Zhaozhao, I¡¯m truly here to beg you sincerely this time!¡± Yin Zhuhai didn¡¯t care about anything else and kowtowed right there on the floor.


    His force was not small, as the sound of ¡°bang bang bang¡± made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s frown tighten even more.


    She raised her hand and patted Qian Hong, ¡°No need to call security, I¡¯ll talk to him.¡±


    ¡°But madam...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aunt Qian, he probably doesn¡¯t have much ill will.¡± Lu Zhaozhao softly reassured Qian Hong.


    Although she didn¡¯t know what Yin Zhuhai was really after, all he wanted were those things, she merely did not want to refuse them.


    No need to make such a big fuss.


    Only then did Qian Hong give a look to the security guards who had rushed in.


    She signaled them to wait at the door for now.


    Their madam was just not planning on kicking him out yet, that didn¡¯t mean they wouldn¡¯t need to later.


    Lu Zhaozhao stepped forward a few paces, her voice cold, ¡°Yin Zhuhai, if you have something to say, get up and talk properly. I can¡¯t communicate with you like this.¡±


    Yin Zhuhai hesitated for a moment but eventually got up slowly, yet he didn¡¯t sit on the sofa.


    His strange behavior made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s frown tighten even more, ¡°If you¡¯re not planning to sit and talk, then just state your purpose for being here.¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Yin Zhuhai pursed his lips and finally admitted nervously, ¡°The alcohol in the juice yesterday was brought by me, and I put it there.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately understood.


    It looked like someone was investigating yesterday¡¯s incident.


    If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, the person investigating this matter was her dear husband Song Sinian.


    Although he said nothing yesterday, this incident involved her, and he would undoubtedly investigate thoroughly.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked slightly, ¡°Did you bring the alcohol to the set just to liven up the atmosphere?¡±


    She casually asked, her gaze fixed on Yin Zhuhai.


    Although she and Yin Zhuhai hadn¡¯t interacted for long, she could tell that he was a slick operator. His actions were probably guided by some ¡°advice¡± from others.


    As Lu Zhaozhao was thinking this, she heard Yin Zhuhai¡¯s voice rise.


    ¡°The alcohol was deliberately placed there by me, not to liven up the atmosphere, but solely to target you.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao was clearly taken aback.


    Qian Hong, who was standing by, looked very displeased, her gaze involuntarily turning toward the nearby security guards.


    She was considering whether to have this unpleasant man thrown out right now.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t speak, just quietly looked at Yin Zhuhai, it seemed he had made up his mind to confess after being determined.


    So... what exactly had their Mr. Song done to scare Yin Zhuhai into this state?


    Could she say, worthy of her husband?


    Absolutely impressive!


    Yin Zhuhai saw that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t spoken and immediately panicked, ¡°I, I didn¡¯t intend to do this at first, I just wanted to form a CP with you to heat things up. I didn¡¯t expect you to refuse so completely...¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re retaliating against me?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes held a hint of mockery as she looked at Yin Zhuhai.


    She scoffed at his actions.


    Yin Zhuhai¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly, appearing a bit embarrassed, ¡°Even if I say I didn¡¯t mean to do it initially, you probably won¡¯t believe me, but I just wanted to be popular for a while, I didn¡¯t want anything else. It was Song Keren who said you can¡¯t drink, but you¡¯re not allergic, so I thought... I thought of using a dead horse as a live horse doctor.¡±


    He not only confessed his motives but also sold out the instigator in one breath.


    Actually, yesterday when the drinks on set were spiked with alcohol, she didn¡¯t care.


    After drinking, she wouldn¡¯t go wild; she¡¯d just look for Sinian to act spoiled.


    So when the set¡¯s drinks were spiked with alcohol, she didn¡¯t think about it in other ways.


    Now that she thought about it, she seemed to have been stopped from drinking in front of Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan before, so they probably thought she couldn¡¯t drink, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of mockery tugged at her lips.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Song Keren to be so attentive, even using such an incident to her advantage.


    Yin Zhuhai looked at Lu Zhaozhao cautiously and hesitantly asked after a moment, ¡°Zhaozhao, please, considering our previous decent collaboration, could you let me off?¡±


    He had just left the set yesterday when he heard that someone had begun investigating the matter.


    He heard that the investigator was Sinian, and he felt a chill.


    He only wanted popularity, not death.


    He still understood what mattered more.


    So, after struggling at home all night, he took the initiative to seek out Lu Zhaozhao to confess.


    Hoping that she would deal with him leniently.


    Yin Zhuhai knew it was useless to ask Sinian, it might even lead to being completely banned.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was different from Sinian, she might leave him a way out.


    He could not care less, even if it meant he had to turn against Song Keren, he had no objections.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Yin Zhuhai, ¡°Letting you off isn¡¯t impossible, but how can I trust you won¡¯t cause trouble for me again over another trivial matter?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Yin Zhuhai faltered.


    He thought for a long time, his face becoming downcast, ¡°I also don¡¯t know what to do, I was blindly deceived by Song Keren initially, I added alcohol to the drinks we all drank. I really know I was wrong, I promise never to trust that woman Song Keren ever again...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded gravely, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll trust you.¡±


    ¡°Madam.¡± Suddenly, Qian Hong¡¯s voice rang out in the living room. ¡°Should we wait for Mr. to come back before discussing this matter?¡±


    She had disliked this man named Yin Zhuhai from the start.


    If he knew he was wrong, why didn¡¯t he come last night?


    If he really knew he was wrong, he shouldn¡¯t have come to Lu Zhaozhao, forcing her to forgive him.


    He should have been kneeling since last night pleading for forgiveness.


    This damn man didn¡¯t want to sacrifice anything; he only wanted to use disclosing the mastermind behind the scene to whitewash himself, truly shameless!


    If their Mr. knew that their Madam was getting fooled like this, where would she put her old face?


    Yin Zhuhai, hearing the words ¡°Mr.¡±, stiffened.


    If Sinian arrived, wouldn¡¯t he be dead?


    No way! Absolutely not!


    He had to make Lu Zhaozhao forgive him before Sinian became aware of this issue!


    He looked urgently at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Zhaozhao, this matter hasn¡¯t really caused any impact, if you¡¯re not satisfied, I can continue to apologize, as long as you can forgive me...¡±

 Chapter 242 - 242 242 She No Longer Needs to Look at Lu

    ?Chapter 242: Chapter 242: She No Longer Needs to Look at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s Face! Chapter 242: Chapter 242: She No Longer Needs to Look at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s Face! He said this, looking like he would kneel down at any moment.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly waved her hands, ¡°You better not kneel.¡±


    She had no fondness for men who loved to kneel. In TV dramas, men who often knelt were definitely scumbags, and it was pretty much the same in real life.


    Besides, Yin Zhuhai was not a good person to begin with.


    Yin Zhuhai¡¯s eyes suddenly widened with surprise. ¡°Does this mean you forgive me?¡±


    His hopeful gaze turned to Lu Zhaozhao, barely able to hide the excitement in his eyes.


    He had come here clinging onto his last hope, never expecting Lu Zhaozhao to be so easy to talk to.


    But the next second, his face darkened.


    That¡¯s because Lu Zhaozhao took out her phone from her pocket, and Yin Zhuhai clearly saw that the last app open was the record function.


    His mouth gaped open as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a somewhat ugly expression, ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re recording? You know this doesn¡¯t have any legal effect, right?¡±


    As he spoke these words, his mouth trembled.


    He knew that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s secret recording had no legal effect, but that didn¡¯t mean it was useless against online trolls.


    With Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s current popularity, he could be ripped to shreds by the netizens the next day, followed by a relentless internet attack.


    Yin Zhuhai felt his legs go weak just thinking about it, and he slumped to the ground.


    He was only a step away from the sofa behind him.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at his cowardly behavior and couldn¡¯t help but purse her lips.


    With no real ability, he still caused so many problems.


    If he was even slightly like Du Miao¡¯er, he wouldn¡¯t be in such a mess.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced coldly at Yin Zhuhai and said indifferently, ¡°Even if the recording I have is completely without legal effect, it¡¯s enough for my husband.¡±


    Song Sinian was not a man to speak of legality.


    He didn¡¯t need to represent the law to punish Yin Zhuhai.


    It could even be more painful than the law itself.


    Yin Zhuhai wilted instantly, like an eggplant beaten by frost over and over.


    He had completely lost all hope.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at his despairing eyes and silently sighed.


    Yin Zhuhai was indeed annoying, but she didn¡¯t plan to make another enemy.


    She understood the principle of not pursuing a defeated foe.


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly put her phone back in her pocket, then finally looked at Yin Zhuhai and said, ¡°Rest assured, as long as you don¡¯t trouble me in the future, this matter will not be disclosed, and I won¡¯t let Mr. Song trouble you either.¡±


    Yin Zhuhai looked up at Lu Zhaozhao with disbelief, ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re serious?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°I mean what I say. As long as you behave yourself on the shows, don¡¯t cause any trouble, and don¡¯t try to maintain your presence in front of me, I can guarantee that this incident will be as if it never happened. How about that?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Yin Zhuhai would be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t tempted.


    But having been through the wringer in the entertainment industry for so long, he found it a bit hard to trust Lu Zhaozhao.


    He hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded, ¡°Alright, I agree. I promise I won¡¯t bother you again. If you want me to deal with Song Keren...¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Before Yin Zhuhai could finish his sentence, Lu Zhaozhao waved her hand.


    She looked at Yin Zhuhai¡¯s guarded and puzzled eyes, sighed, and said, ¡°Someone of Song Keren¡¯s caliber doesn¡¯t need anyone else to intervene; she¡¯ll ruin herself. I don¡¯t need to attract trouble over her.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Yin Zhuhai paused for a moment, thought it through, and it seemed... there was nothing wrong with that statement.


    Song Keren¡¯s behavior on the TV show wasn¡¯t an act; she was obnoxious and brainless, with blatant stupidity shining in her eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao was right, she really had a talent for digging her own grave.


    What on earth was he thinking to have been duped by such a foolish person?


    The more Yin Zhuhai thought about it, the more he regretted.


    All he could hope now was that Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t like those other unreliable people...


    The issue Song Sinian had with the TV show¡¯s production team quickly settled down because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    It wasn¡¯t that Lu Zhaozhao had persuaded him with particularly clever arguments, but rather her attitude towards Yin Zhuhai had pleased him.


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao standing beside him, his dark eyes lighting up with inexplicable pleasure at the sight of her.


    Today was the wedding banquet for Song Keren and Justin, as well as Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin.


    Lu Zhaozhao originally didn¡¯t plan to come, but Old Master Song insisted that there would be a surprise for her at the banquet. She couldn¡¯t withstand his persistent coaxing and had to attend the wedding with Song Sinian.


    She had to admit that the wedding of the two couples was quite impressive.


    Whether it was the standard of the hotel or the various items at the wedding, they were all top-notch.


    The Lu Family might seem glorious on the surface, but Lu Zhaozhao knew better than anyone what they were really like inside.


    As for Xiao Mo¡¯s side, the money he should have invested in the rubbish directors of the Song Group had somehow been scraped together for a wedding.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked around the wedding venue with wonder. Lost in thought, she heard Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice slowly reaching her, ¡°Do you want to have a wedding?¡±


    They had gotten married by just getting the certificate the first time they met; there hadn¡¯t been a wedding.


    He had always thought that Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want to be with him, let alone let other people know about their relationship.


    But now, their relationship had grown strong enough for him to believe that Lu Zhaozhao was willing to be with him.


    Suddenly, he somewhat regretted not having arranged a lavish wedding for Lu Zhaozhao back then.


    Lu Zhaozhao was briefly taken aback, also suddenly realizing the ¡°wedding¡± issue.


    Whether in her past life or this one, it seemed they had indeed never had a wedding.


    Lu Zhaozhao was so focused on revenge and saving her marriage with Song Sinian that she had completely forgotten about these things.


    ¡°A wedding...¡±


    It seemed like a good idea.


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish her thoughts, a mocking voice interrupted, ¡°Some people, though occupying the position, haven¡¯t received anyone else¡¯s blessings. They didn¡¯t even have a wedding, tsk tsk... Totally hitching a ride...¡±


    Hearing the tone of the voice, Lu Zhaozhao knew without guessing that it was Song Keren.


    She really couldn¡¯t go a day without courting death.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned to look at Song Keren, only to see her covering her mouth, feigning shock.


    But the corners of her lips, visible beneath her fingers, were smugly curled up.


    ¡°Oh my God, Zhaozhao, I was talking about someone else. You wouldn¡¯t overthink it, right? After all, so many people get married and not everyone has a wedding...¡±


    She stood in front of Lu Zhaozhao in a white wedding dress, not caring in the slightest that Song Sinian was right beside her.


    She was already married to Justin now. Even if she didn¡¯t have a wedding, she was already the wife of the regional vice president of XJ Group.


    She didn¡¯t need to be concerned with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s opinion anymore!


    As Song Keren thought this, her face broke into a smug expression, as if she couldn¡¯t wait to slap Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face in front of all these people...

 Chapter 243 - 243 243 Well Done

    ?Chapter 243: Chapter 243 Well Done! Chapter 243: Chapter 243 Well Done! Lu Zhaozhao snorted lightly, ¡°How could that be? There are many who get married without a wedding ceremony, and it¡¯s not uncommon for people to get married in the morning and divorce by the afternoon, right, Miss Song?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Are you cursing me on purpose?!¡± Song Keren¡¯s face instantly fell.


    This woman was doing it on purpose.


    She just didn¡¯t want her to be happy!


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately made an innocent face, ¡°Oh my, I was talking about other people. You wouldn¡¯t overthink it, would you? There are so many people who get married in the morning and divorce by the afternoon, how did you take it personally?¡±


    She deliberately acted pitifully and leaned into Sinian¡¯s arms, looking utterly forlorn.


    This truly infuriated Song Keren.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao was clearly imitating her tone and demeanor, obviously striking back at her!


    Song Keren clenched her teeth bitterly, ¡°You, you...¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, a man in a white suit approached and embraced her, ¡°Keren, what are you doing here, greeting President Song and Mrs. Song?¡±


    Justin looked at Song Keren with a smile, then his gaze shifted to Lu Zhaozhao and Sinian.


    He had always wanted to take advantage of the interaction between Song Group and XJ Group to win over Lu Zhaozhao.


    But he didn¡¯t expect Sinian to cling to Lu Zhaozhao so tightly that he didn¡¯t even get a chance to approach her.


    This woman was an heiress of the Xia Family, practically a treasure trove.


    Seeing the Xia Family¡¯s attitude towards Lu Zhaozhao, even if her man were to inherit the Xia Family¡¯s fortune in the future, probably no one would object.


    Thus, Justin always wanted to curry favor with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even if he was married, wasn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao married as well?


    As long as this woman was interested in him, none of that would be a problem.


    Song Keren, already feeling frustrated, immediately clutched his arm with a sobbing face, ¡°Husband, just now Zhaozhao said some people get married in the morning and divorce by the afternoon, sob sob... I know Zhaozhao probably didn¡¯t mean it, after all, who would intentionally say such a thing to a bride on her wedding day, right?¡±


    The corner of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, wondering how she had never realized how annoying Song Keren could be.


    Justin smiled awkwardly, ¡°Yes, as you said, she definitely didn¡¯t do it on purpose...¡±


    Seeing Justin not defending her, Song Keren continued, ¡°I know, I know Zhaozhao has always disliked me and Jin, and today just happens to be the day both Jin and I are getting married, so I can understand why Zhaozhao might say a few words.¡±


    With just a few sentences, she had painted Lu Zhaozhao as a villain who couldn¡¯t stand to see others happy.


    And she portrayed herself as a blooming white lotus.


    What kind of person Song Keren was, Lu Zhaozhao knew all too well, but that didn¡¯t mean the guests at the wedding banquet did.


    Hearing Song Keren¡¯s pitiful words, several ladies around them also started gossiping.


    ¡°I heard that Xia Wenjin and Song Keren don¡¯t get along with Lu Zhaozhao. It¡¯s quite famous online. Did she come to the wedding to create a scene?¡±


    ¡°Create a scene? Both are from the Song Family; isn¡¯t it normal for the granddaughter-in-law of the Song Family to attend?¡±


    ¡°If they don¡¯t get along, wouldn¡¯t it be normal not to attend?¡±


    ...


    Amidst the gossiping voices, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Miss Song to be quite self-aware. Knowing that you¡¯ve done so many foolish things before, you should think longer before acting in the future.¡±


    She said this and nodded to Song Keren, then left with Song Sinian.


    If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Song mentioning that there was a surprise later, she wouldn¡¯t have attended Song Keren and Xia Wenjin¡¯s wedding at all.


    She silently sighed and, holding Song Sinian¡¯s arm, asked pitifully, ¡°Mr. Song, do you know what Grandfather has prepared? Do I really have to stay until the end of the wedding?¡±


    Song Sinian furrowed his brows slightly, ¡°If you¡¯re feeling uncomfortable, I can take you away right now.¡±


    Of course, he knew what Mr. Song had prepared.


    He had initially just wanted to bring Lu Zhaozhao to enjoy the festivities, not expecting that fool Song Keren to provoke his wife.


    It seemed the lesson given to her wasn¡¯t enough!


    Lu Zhaozhao squeezed Song Sinian¡¯s hand, ¡°Song Keren doesn¡¯t have that much capability, I just find their wedding boring.¡±


    Song Sinian glanced around and, seeing Mr. Song approaching from a distance toward the hall, he leaned down and whispered to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°The surprise Grandfather prepared for you is about to start, do you want to see it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes almost visibly brightened.


    ¡°Where? Where?¡±


    She instinctively looked around cautiously but saw no signs of anything unusual.


    Song Sinian, watching her adorable confusion, couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips, pinching her cheek with one hand and turning her face toward the center stage, ¡°Grandfather is up there, just wait and see.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head slightly, puzzled as she looked at the stage and then back at Song Sinian.


    She couldn¡¯t quite understand why Mr. Song would go on stage for her surprise.


    He couldn¡¯t possibly be taking advantage of Xia Wenjin and Song Keren¡¯s wedding to announce that she and Song Sinian were also going to have a wedding, could he?


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, the confusion in her eyes deepening.


    ¡°Thank you all for attending the weddings of the two couples, and now, I would like to invite Mr. Song, our elder, to give the congratulatory speech.¡±


    Mr. Song stood in the middle of the stage, looking genial and energetic.


    He cleared his throat and said, ¡°I¡¯m not any elder, our Song Family only has Sinian as a child. As for today, I came because Lady Xiao had taken care of Sinian before.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell deathly silent.


    Mr. Song¡¯s words were like a bombshell.


    His meaning was clear, besides Song Sinian, no one else was related to the Song Family.


    He even disclaimed any connection with Xiao Jinglan on the spot.


    Mr. Song seemed not to notice the atmosphere in the room, and continued, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue with the congratulatory speech. On this joyous day of your marriage, I wish you unity, love, happiness, and a blissful life...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao watched as Mr. Song, looking serious but expressionless, mechanically recited the congratulations, and she nearly laughed out loud.


    How could their old master be so humorous?


    Was this because Xia Wenjin and Song Keren had previously deceived her online, so he thought of this scene to embarrass them in front of so many people?


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit, Grandfather did it beautifully!


    It truly felt satisfying to publicly slap these people on such a celebratory occasion!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed as she looked toward the two couples standing on the stage, none of whom looked pleased.


    Mr. Song seemed completely oblivious, and finally, he added, ¡°Young people should be self-reliant, then they can have a bright future. Good luck!¡±

 Chapter 244 - 244 244 She Will Definitely Not Let Her Get

    ?Chapter 244: Chapter 244 She Will Definitely Not Let Her Get Away With It! Chapter 244: Chapter 244 She Will Definitely Not Let Her Get Away With It! The originally lively atmosphere of the wedding, after Mr. Song¡¯s congratulatory speech, almost reached the soberness of attending a funeral.


    Lu Zhaozhao lay in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, barely able to contain her laughter.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to gently pat the person in his arms and whispered, ¡°The surprise is over, shall we go back?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded her head, and raising her hand, wiped the tear stains at the corner of her eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the parking lot and wait for Grandpa.¡±


    Since Mr. Song had decided to do so, he obviously didn¡¯t plan to stay at the wedding banquet.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After delivering the wedding speech, Mr. Song walked straight down from the stage.


    Just as he was about to leave, he was stopped in the corridor by Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°Dad! Wait a moment!¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his gaze shifting to Xiao Jinglan beside him, his tone cold, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan looked nervously at Mr. Song, ¡°Dad, I need to talk to you.¡±


    She had initially asked Mr. Song to agree to be the witness at the wedding to save face for Xiao Mo and Song Keren. She never expected that he would publicly deny Xiao Mo and Song Keren as members of the Song Family.


    Most of the guests attending the wedding were prominent figures in the Shangjing Circle. Now that everyone knew that Song Keren and Xiao Mo were not members of the Song Family, it would probably be disadvantageous for them in the future.


    Xiao Jinglan naturally wanted to do her utmost to make amends.


    She clenched her fist nervously, fearing that Mr. Song would outright refuse.


    He had just made such a statement on stage; a confrontation with them offstage was just a matter of time, right?


    Mr. Song glanced at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the nearby reception room.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and immediately followed Mr. Song to the reception room.


    As soon as she entered, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t wait to ask, ¡°Dad, why did you just take Xiao Mo and Keren out of the Song Family?¡±


    Mr. Song looked indifferently at Xiao Jinglan and then slowly sat down on the sofa in the room.


    He lifted his eyes slightly, ¡°The matter between Song Keren and Zhaozhao, I don¡¯t need to mention it again, do I?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    At the mention of Song Keren, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression also darkened.


    Her scheming against Lu Zhaozhao was too obvious, and it would be difficult to make amends for her.


    Mr. Song watched her expression sink before continuing, ¡°Song Keren¡¯s actions merit more than just being disowned by the Song Family. Even if I killed her, it would be justified.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face turned pale in an instant, ¡°Dad...¡±


    She was well aware of Mr. Song¡¯s ruthless and decisive nature.


    Back when Sinian had not yet taken over the Song Group, the company was entirely managed by Mr. Song. Their generation was far from as peaceful as it is now.


    For the Song Group to have survived, certainly involved operations in the gray areas...


    Mr. Song waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Stop calling me Dad from now on, I don¡¯t even want to mention that unfilial son. If it hadn¡¯t been for Sinian being young at the time, I wouldn¡¯t have kept you around either.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was well aware.


    When Sinian¡¯s parents died early, she was able to ¡°take care¡± of Sinian in the role of a stepmother.


    In fact, even before Sinian was part of the Song Family, she was already pregnant with Xiao Mo.


    But that man was heartless, making her abort the child.


    So she had no choice but to pretend to marry someone else to keep Xiao Mo.


    Despite all being children of the Song Family, why should Sinian receive the best?


    Xiao Mo¡¯s child was clearly born earlier than those of the Song family, yet why wasn¡¯t Xiao Mo even considered part of the Song family?


    Xiao Jinglan thought about this, and her fist clenched even tighter, ¡°Even if I¡¯m not Sinian¡¯s biological mother, I¡¯ve still worked hard and suffered all these years...¡±


    The expression on Mr. Song¡¯s face clearly changed.


    Unfortunately, it was not the reaction Xiao Jinglan had hoped for.


    The look in his eyes was filled with obvious anger and undisguised disgust.


    ¡°Your so-called credits and hardships,¡± he said, ¡°are they teaching your good daughter how to frame and entrap the Song family¡¯s daughter-in-law? Or are you saying you collaborated with her to slander the Song family?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan had never expected Song Keren to have accumulated so many negative points against her.


    Her mouth opened, and she hurried to explain, ¡°Keren is still young; she¡¯s been led astray by others...¡±


    ¡°Led astray?¡± Old Master Song scoffed, ¡°You clearly knew that Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin were on bad terms, yet you kept pushing Song Keren to interact with her, and even wanted her to seduce Sinian. Are these the merits and hardships you speak of?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    It was over, now everything was ruined.


    The reason she initially agreed to help Xia Wenjin was solely for the Lu family¡¯s contract.


    She had not expected that what she thought was killing two birds with one stone would now become a stumbling block for her.


    Xiao Jinglan pursed her lips, having no choice but to find an alternative, ¡°I, I¡¯ve made mistakes, but Xiao Mo has always been dedicated and upright at the company, he...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I arranged for him to marry the Lu family¡¯s daughter,¡± Mr. Song pretended to sigh helplessly, ¡°Now, the Lu family is thriving in the Beijing Circle, so in the future, they should be able to look after Xiao Mo without any problems.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Old Master Song¡¯s graying eyebrows twitched slightly, ¡°Xiao Mo married the Lu family¡¯s daughter, and Song Keren married into a good family, both leveraging the Song family¡¯s name. Do you still have any complaints?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan quickly shook her head, ¡°No, no, I just feel the Song family is lacking in descendants. If Keren and Xiao Mo were part of the Song family, they could also lend some support.¡±


    Mr. Song snorted, ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, if they aren¡¯t members of the Song family, they wouldn¡¯t be willing to lend their support?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean.¡± Xiao Jinglan quickly corrected herself.


    Seeing this, Mr. Song finally stood up straight, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing more to discuss.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan opened her mouth, ¡°Dad...¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s footsteps halted as he approached the door, and he turned to look at Xiao Jinglan, speaking indifferently, ¡°If you¡¯re worried about losing your status in the Song family and finding it difficult to get by in the Shangjing Circle, I can find you an appropriate match to marry into. As for everything else, you better stop thinking about it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After Mr. Song left, the entire parlor fell into a deathly silence.


    She was now completely abandoned by the Song family.


    She had fought tooth and nail to worm her way into the Song family, managing to secure a precarious position at last.


    She had endured insults and devised strategies, all to push Xiao Mo into the position of president of the Song Group.


    But now, she had nothing.


    All because of that wretched girl Song Keren!


    No! It was because of Xia Wenjin!


    Had she not wanted to marry Sinian, she would never have taken action to help, and if it weren¡¯t for helping her, how could she have dragged Song Keren down with her?


    She had always thought it was because Lu Zhaozhao married into the Song family that things turned out this way.


    But upon closer reflection, even though Lu Zhaozhao had married in, she had never done anything to threaten her.


    On the contrary, it was her repeated attempts to trip up Lu Zhaozhao on behalf of Xia Wenjin that always fell through, which eventually led to their increasingly difficult situation.


    Now that Xia Wen had married into their family, she would never let her have an easy time!

 Chapter 245 - 245 245 Childish

    ?Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Childish Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Childish ¡°What Lu Family¡¯s daughter?


    She¡¯s just a country bumpkin!


    She will make her understand who truly rules this house as the lady of the house!


    As Mr. Song left the reception hall, he immediately continued walking out.


    Just as he was about to call Song Sinian, he saw Zhao Xi standing far away in the corridor.


    His eyebrows slightly furrowed, ¡°That damn kid hasn¡¯t gotten into trouble, has he?¡±


    Usually, Zhao Xi and Song Sinian were almost inseparable, his appearance here couldn¡¯t mean that something had happened to Song Sinian, could it?


    Mr. Song felt a wave of unease.


    Zhao Xi chuckled lightly, ¡°Old Master, don¡¯t overthink it¡ªMaster hasn¡¯t left yet and wanted to see you off.¡±


    Hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s words, Mr. Song finally breathed a sigh of relief and followed him to the parking lot.


    When he saw Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian sitting in the back seat of the car, he breathed another sigh of relief.


    Mr. Song gave Song Sinian a look, signaling him to make room for him.


    But Song Sinian seemed not to have seen it and ignored it completely.


    Mr. Song pursed his lips, having no choice but to sit reluctantly in the passenger seat.


    Zhao Xi, looking at the childish behavior of the two, almost laughed out loud.


    Indeed, ever since Lu Zhaozhao married into the Song Family, the home had gained a liveliness it never had before.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, did you see how Grandpa stood up for you just now?¡± As soon as Mr. Song sat in the passenger seat, he turned his head to look at Lu Zhaozhao in the back seat, his eyes full of cunning glee shining with expectation.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded and chuckled, responding, ¡°I saw.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Mr. Song¡¯s face wrinkled into a slight frown of disappointment.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly realized something and decisively held up two thumbs, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re the best! You really slapped their faces hard just now! Impressive!¡±


    The next second, Mr. Song¡¯s chin lifted triumphantly as he looked at Song Sinian.


    It was as if he wanted to write on his face, ¡°Look, Zhaozhao praises me more than you.¡±


    Song Sinian gave Mr. Song a sidelong glance, his lips coolly releasing two words, ¡°Childish.¡±


    Mr. Song was unconcerned, still sporting a ¡°I¡¯m really great¡± expression.


    Lu Zhaozhao was nearly laughed into stitches by the two childish men.


    After a moment, Song Sinian raised his eyes slightly and looked at Mr. Song, ¡°Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t look for you?¡±


    She had spent years trying to ensure that Xiao Mo and Song Keren enjoyed the treatment of the Song Family members, and now that Mr. Song had directly dashed her hopes, there was no way she wouldn¡¯t react.


    Mr. Song pursed his lips, his eyes full of disdain, ¡°When I was about to leave, she stopped me and said that even if there were no merits over the years, there were hardships...¡±


    He had indeed given Xiao Jinglan the rights to the Song Mansion years ago because she had been dutiful in the Song Family.


    But it turned out that her dutifulness was all for show.


    In the years he had delegated his authority, Xiao Jinglan had indeed done well, not only infiltrating the majority of the mansion¡¯s servants but also using her status to collude with many shareholders of Song Group.


    Even to secure her position as the lady of the house completely, she sought to remove him, the inconvenient old man.


    Thinking about this, Mr. Song couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°Some people are just insatiably greedy, like a snake swallowing an elephant.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked slightly startled, glanced at Old Master Song, then at Sinian, and could not help but slowly ask, ¡°Don¡¯t you think... Xiao Jinglan cares a bit too much for Xiao Mo?¡±


    Before, she had told Sinian and the Xia Family about her past life, but she had slightly concealed how she had died.


    She had always thought that Xiao Jinglan¡¯s kindness toward Xiao Mo was because he was her nephew.


    But now thinking about it, her kindness toward Xiao Mo seemed unusually excessive.


    Even after Sinian had passed away, she had actually thought of letting Xiao Mo defile her, then take over the property of the Song Group.


    Old Master Song and Sinian almost simultaneously flinched, and the former¡¯s face turned even uglier.


    At the time, because Xiao Mo and Sinian were about the same age, and because Xiao Jinglan had been devoted to the Song Family, he had been particularly concerned about Xiao Mo.


    But if... if Xiao Mo was not Xiao Jinglan¡¯s nephew, but her son...


    Then her schemes against the Song Family were not just what they had seen.


    Although Xiao Mo was the same age as Sinian, he was older by a few months.


    ¡°This bastard!¡± Old Master Song bit his teeth in anger.


    How could he have such a worthless son?


    Sinian¡¯s mother was of top appearance and family background. When his daughter-in-law had married in, he had even felt that his son was incredibly lucky to have found such a good woman.


    Unexpectedly! Unexpectedly, this dog had been cheating on his daughter-in-law!


    Old Master Song pressed his temples, feeling a throbbing pain there.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes and suddenly grew nervous at the sight of Old Master Song grinding his teeth.


    Beside her, Sinian raised his hand to pat her small hand, comforting her with, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Master isn¡¯t angry at you.¡±


    After saying this, he looked at Old Master Song and said, ¡°Let Zhao Xi investigate this matter. You¡¯ve just offended some of these villains; they might strike back.¡±


    ¡°Strike back?¡± Old Master Song scoffed, ¡°It¡¯s been ages since anyone dared to strike back at me, even if they dare to deceive me for so many years, the one to retaliate would be me!¡±


    After Old Master Song figured out the ins and outs, his face became so dark it seemed water might drip from it.


    He considered himself clever, yet he had been played by a woman!


    In the past, he had almost died because of it!


    If word of this got out, where could he put his face?


    Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°You can handle Xiao Mo¡¯s matter, but whatever you plan to do, make sure you inform us beforehand to avoid any mishaps.¡±


    ¡°Got it, got it,¡± Old Master Song waved his hand impatiently, his mood deteriorating even further.


    He had thought that publicly disowning Xiao Mo and Song Keren from the Song Family would be satisfying.


    Now knowing that Xiao Mo¡¯s identity might actually be a child of the Song Family, his mood got even worse.


    How could the Song Family produce such trash like Xiao Mo?


    Old Master Song had known before that Xiao Mo was not a simple character and later, when he almost died from hypoglycemia in the mountains, he had thoroughly investigated Xiao Mo.


    That thorough investigation found his misdeeds were very... shocking.


    Xiao Mo somewhat resembled Xiao Jinglan, appearing somewhat delicate and soft, but he was actually domineering in certain circles and also the abusive type.


    Their circle was not large, but Xiao Mo¡¯s reputation was particularly notorious.


    Known for being particularly cruel and violent, many people would decisively run away after a few days with him.


    Who knew how long Xia Wenjin could pretend after marrying him?

 Chapter 246 - 246 246 He Doesnt Bully You Normally Does He

    ?Chapter 246: Chapter 246: He Doesn¡¯t Bully You Normally, Does He? Chapter 246: Chapter 246: He Doesn¡¯t Bully You Normally, Does He? Mr. Song thought this, and his gaze couldn¡¯t help but look towards Song Sinian. Then he looked very seriously at Lu Zhaozhao and asked, ¡°Daughter-in-law, this damn boy¡ªhe... he hasn¡¯t bullied you, has he?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°???¡±


    She looked at Mr. Song with a bewildered face, not knowing why he would suddenly blurt out such a sentence.


    Just as she was about to speak, she saw Song Sinian¡¯s face, particularly gloomy, as he stared at Mr. Song, ¡°What you¡¯re thinking of will never happen in this lifetime. I don¡¯t have that kind of hobby, and although my father is a scum, even he doesn¡¯t have that situation.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s investigative information was unknown to Lu Zhaozhao, but he knew.


    So he was naturally crystal clear about what Mr. Song just said.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡± Mr. Song, upon hearing this, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Lu Zhaozhao continued to look at Mr. Song with a blank face, then looked up at Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, what were you just talking about?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes met Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s, and he said indifferently, ¡°Nothing much, the Old Master is just worried about potential genetic problems in the family.¡±


    ¡°Ha?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire little face crumpled into a frown.


    The expression on her face grew even more conflicted.


    Seeing this, Mr. Song nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zhaozhao, Sinian¡¯s genes are definitely fine.¡±


    Certainly not like Xiao Mo, that trash.


    With corrupt intentions, and also psychopathic.


    Probably related to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s upbringing...


    After all, a mistress intent on climbing the social ladder ¨C how refined could she possibly be?


    ¡°Pitter-patter, pitter-patter...¡±


    Raindrops suddenly fell on the car window, followed by a dense shower pelting down.


    The rain grew heavier, and soon the entire city was engulfed in curtains of rain.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Bang!¡±


    Justin, who had just returned to his villa after the wedding, smashed his fist forcefully onto the desk in his study.


    He had thought that by marrying Song Keren, he would be connected to the Song family in any case.


    This way, his standing in the XJ Corporation would have some backing.


    But unexpectedly, on the day of the wedding, Song Keren was effectively disowned by the Song family!


    The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, grinding his teeth at the thought of how this woman, using her status as the wife of the deputy general manager of the XJ Corporation, kept causing trouble for him lately, which gave him such a headache.


    Does she not have a brain?!


    He had initially thought to let it be, as if marrying a trophy wife.


    But Song Keren wasn¡¯t a trophy wife!


    She was a trouble magnet!


    ¡°Knock knock knock!¡±


    The study door was suddenly knocked on, and Song Keren, wearing a semi-transparent nightgown, walked in slowly, ¡°Honey, aren¡¯t you tired now?¡±


    As she said it, she exaggeratedly preened and posed to one side, as if afraid he wouldn¡¯t notice.


    But Justin wasn¡¯t in the mood at all.


    He rubbed his temples, slightly irritated, ¡°I have a lot of work to attend to, and the recent wedding preparations have set me back quite a bit. Go get some rest first.¡±


    He tried to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor, because he understood women like Song Keren.


    If he lost his temper at her, she would surely make a huge scene with crying and wailing, ending up in an uncontrollable mess.


    Better to stabilize her first, and wait for her to leave, so he could have some peace.


    Song Keren clearly did not realize Justin¡¯s intention. She immediately moved forward again, pressing her entire body against him, ¡°Husband, tonight is our wedding night. Can you bear to leave your bride alone in the room?¡±


    Justin¡¯s mouth twisted into a forced smile, ¡°How could I? But I¡¯m really very busy right now. You go back to the room first, and once I¡¯m finished, I¡¯ll join you, okay?¡±


    He tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart, displaying a pained smile while looking at Song Keren.


    ¡°But...¡± Song Keren¡¯s mouth opened, wanting to persist with Justin a bit more.


    ¡°Bzzz bzzz bzzz.¡±


    Suddenly, the mobile phone on the desk started to vibrate.


    Justin casually picked it up, shaking it at Song Keren, ¡°You see, I just told you I was busy with work, but you didn¡¯t believe me. Go back to your room, and I¡¯ll come over when I¡¯m done.¡±


    Song Keren sighed, ¡°Okay then, I...¡±


    She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when Justin¡¯s phone buzzed again.


    She glanced at the screen, and her pupils trembled for a moment, saying nothing more before leaving.


    Naturally, Justin did not notice Song Keren¡¯s reaction. To him, it was only important that Song Keren left.


    Once the study door closed, Justin turned his attention to his mobile phone.


    Only then did he notice that the person messaging him was Xia Wenjin.


    [Justin, are you okay? I didn¡¯t mean to message you at this time on purpose, I just feel like we... can kind of empathize with each other. If I disturbed you, I am very sorry.]


    Thinking of the messages Xia Wenjin had sent him before, and of Xiao Mo, who had also been indirectly disinherited by Old Master Song today.


    Suddenly, Justin felt a sense of kindred spirit with Xia Wenjin.


    He took a deep breath and replied to Xia Wenjin¡¯s message.


    [How could you be disturbing? But Miss Xia, how do you have time to contact me? Isn¡¯t tonight supposed to be...]


    Although he did not finish his sentence, the message was very clear.


    Today was her wedding night with Xiao Mo, and logically, Xiao Mo should be with her.


    But Xia Wenjin was chatting with him instead.


    Before Justin had time to ponder, Xia Wenjin¡¯s message came through again.


    [Because of what happened at the wedding banquet, Xiao Mo isn¡¯t even at home. I guess there must be something more important to him than me...]


    Being indirectly disinherited by the Song Family on your wedding day, leaving the bride alone at home on the night of the wedding... Tsk tsk...


    Justin¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, and suddenly he had a bold idea.


    Xia Wenjin was, after all, the jewel of the Lu Family, and it was because of her business with Xiao Mo that she made it to the front page of the Shangjing Circle¡¯s entertainment section, and that was why she married Xiao Mo.


    Otherwise, he would definitely have taken Xia Wenjin as his own.


    It¡¯s not that he was particularly fond of her, but her status was worth his consideration.


    If he was to speak of who he truly wanted to marry, it would definitely be Lu Zhaozhao.


    Whether it was her social status or her appearance, that woman was etched in his mind.


    If Song Sinian hadn¡¯t beaten him to it... he was sure he could have had that woman for himself.


    But now, since he couldn¡¯t get close to Lu Zhaozhao, the next best thing would be to find a way to remove that man from her side.


    Xia Wenjin was definitely a suitable candidate. All he needed was to guide her slightly.


    Thinking this, Justin immediately transformed into a sensitive man and fired off another message to Xia Wenjin.


    [It seems that you and I are alike, meeting the wrong people at the wrong times. I wonder when the heavens will rectify this mistake...]


    As Justin was feverishly chatting with Xia Wenjin in the study, Song Keren had already returned to the bedroom.


    She just couldn¡¯t forget the name that appeared on Justin¡¯s mobile phone screen¡ªXia Wenjin!


    This shameless woman, already married, was still trying to seduce her husband on their wedding night?!

 Chapter 247 - 247 247 Too Sharp-Tongued

    ?Chapter 247: Chapter 247 Too Sharp-Tongued Chapter 247: Chapter 247 Too Sharp-Tongued She wouldn¡¯t let her succeed so easily!


    Justin was already her husband, and no one could take him away from her!


    Song Keren clenched her fists, thinking that tomorrow was the exam day at their school. She hadn¡¯t planned to participate, but now it seemed she had no choice but to go.


    Xia Wenjin, you just wait and see, I¡¯ll definitely make you regret this!


    The next morning, Lu Zhaozhao returned to school early.


    Recently, because she was always busy with live streaming and various endorsement photo shoots, she had been so busy she could hardly touch ground.


    If it wasn¡¯t for Xu Zhenzhen reminding her about the exam today, she probably would have failed.


    Fortunately, in her past life, aside from going to school, she stayed at home, so she was very familiar with her university courses and just needed a little revision.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, did you hear? Xia Wenjin and Song Keren both came to the school to take the exam,¡± Xu Zhenzhen said, sitting on a bench next to the school¡¯s field, biting the straw of her hot milk and looking up at Lu Zhaozhao with tilted head.


    ¡°They each dressed up, tsk tsk, one with bare legs, the other with a tight skirt; they don¡¯t even seem to mind the cold.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, while speaking, also pulled her unbuttoned trench coat tighter around her.


    As it neared late autumn and had rained for several days, the temperature had dropped significantly, and even with a coat on, one could feel a hint of chill.


    Lu Zhaozhao herself was in a knitted sweater paired with jeans, and a thick shawl wrapped around her upper body.


    She held the hot milk Xu Zhenzhen bought for her, sipping as she shook her head, ¡°I hadn¡¯t heard, I thought they would not come.¡±


    After all, yesterday was the wedding day for both Song Keren and Xia Wenjin.


    A night in spring is worth a thousand gold, she understood that.


    Whether Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin had feelings she didn¡¯t know, but with yesterday¡¯s high and mighty attitude from Song Keren, even if Justin didn¡¯t go to her bed, she would have definitely rushed to sleep with Justin a few times, right?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes instantly crinkled with mirth, her face roguishly arching an eyebrow, ¡°You say both of them came to school bright and early the day after their wedding, could it be their husbands are not quite up to the task?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tiny head stiffly turned to look at Xu Zhenzhen but wasn¡¯t sure whether to continue this topic or not.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    Suddenly, a voice rang out behind her.


    That familiar voice made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows suddenly furrow.


    She didn¡¯t turn around, but coldly looked at Xu Zhenzhen and muttered quietly, ¡°If you want to know the truth, you might ask the person in question.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced over at Song Keren from afar, with an eager twinkle in her eyes, ¡°Really, can I??¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re not afraid of getting hit...¡± Lu Zhaozhao replied, her mouth twisting into a wry expression.


    Then she heard Xu Zhenzhen confidently say, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid, I can use the law as a weapon to protect myself.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Tsk, tsk, it¡¯s not that she wanted to use the legal weapons to protect herself, but rather to attack others with them.


    But the opponent was Song Keren... take the shot when you get the chance.


    In any case, she¡¯s come looking for trouble.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I just called you, didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± Song Keren saw that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t paid her any attention and moved closer, her voice full of dissatisfaction.


    Lu Zhaozhao then turned her head to look at Song Keren, with a smile that was anything but warm, ¡°I heard you. I just find it hard to believe that the wife of the regional vice-president of the XJ Group would deign to speak to me.¡±


    Song Keren felt a surge of pride upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao mention ¡°the wife of the Regional Deputy CEO of XJ Group.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips in satisfaction, ¡°I see you know your place.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s lips twitched at the side, and she leaned in to whisper in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ear, ¡°Isn¡¯t it illegal for the Regional Deputy CEO to marry her?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen with a puzzled face, only to hear her murmur gloomily, ¡°Marrying someone with an intellectual disability against their will should be illegal, right?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter, thinking that Xu Zhenzhen really had a sharp tongue.


    Song Keren stood to the side, watching the two of them whispering and snickering, her face immediately darkening, ¡°Are you two secretly talking bad about me?!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen raised her eyebrows slightly, glancing at Song Keren, ¡°We were just discussing the marriage of people with intellectual disabilities. Do you think it has anything to do with you?¡±


    Song Keren pursed her lips, but didn¡¯t speak.


    Still feeling annoyed, she glared at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°You better not be talking about me, or I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was somewhat speechless.


    Her husband was the Regional Deputy CEO of XJ Group, and XJ Group wasn¡¯t her family¡¯s business. What was there to be proud of?


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for Justin. When other people took brides, they soared up high.


    When he took a wife, his position was at risk. Tsk tsk.


    Indeed, before getting married, not only do women need to be discerning, but men definitely need to be careful as well...


    Song Keren, seeing that Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen were not speaking, sat down on the bench next to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows crinkled visibly as she shifted towards Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen took the chance to wrap her arms around Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s waist, resting her chin naturally on her shoulder, and asked coolly, ¡°CEO¡¯s wife, if you grace us with your presence, what is it for? Just say what you need to say...¡±


    The insincere smile on her face said more than enough, even though she didn¡¯t voice the rest of the potentially crude remark.


    Song Keren glared at Xu Zhenzhen, fuming, ¡°I¡¯m here for Lu Zhaozhao, it has nothing to do with you. Why don¡¯t you just scram?¡±


    ¡°You and I aren¡¯t close, if anyone should scram, it¡¯s you.¡± Before Xu Zhenzhen could retort, Lu Zhaozhao beat her to it and went on the offensive.


    In her previous life as well as in this one, Xu Zhenzhen was her only good friend.


    How could she just watch her friend be bullied by someone else?


    Especially when that someone had bullied her in her previous life.


    Song Keren¡¯s brow immediately twisted into a knot, her displeasure sweeping over Lu Zhaozhao before she huffed, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I¡¯m doing this for your own good, giving you a chance. You better not miss out because of someone irrelevant...¡±


    She deliberately made it sound mysterious, hoping to lure Lu Zhaozhao into her trap.


    ¡°Ha! Song Keren, did you take a minor in comedy? How can you be so funny, hahaha!¡± Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help bursting into laughter, ¡°The wife of a Regional Deputy CEO offering an opportunity to the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group? How did you come up with such a joke? Hahaha...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen succeeded in turning Song Keren¡¯s face beet red with laughter. Song Keren stood up angrily, glowering at Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I came here to propose a partnership with you. How about we join forces against Xia Wenjin?¡±


    As soon as her words fell, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s laughter stopped.


    She had thought of a hundred reasons why Song Keren might seek out Lu Zhaozhao, but this one had never crossed her mind...

 Chapter 248 - 248 248 This Tear is Physical

    ?Chapter 248: Chapter 248 This Tear is Physical Chapter 248: Chapter 248 This Tear is Physical Xu Zhenzhen looked at her with disdain. ¡°Keren, are you sure there¡¯s nothing wrong with your brain?¡±


    The relationship between her and Xia Wenjin had always been closer, both in the past and presently.


    Suddenly, she came to Lu Zhaozhao, saying she wanted to join forces against Xia Wenjin¡ªthis was pure stupidity mourning stupidity¡ªthe stupidity is dead.


    Keren cast a cold glance at Xu Zhenzhen, wishing she could sew her mouth shut.


    She had reluctantly lowered her pride to approach Lu Zhaozhao, intending to collaborate, but this damn woman, Xu Zhenzhen, just had to interfere.


    Grinding her teeth, she looked at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°I know we¡¯ve had our differences, but isn¡¯t the enemy of my enemy a friend? Don¡¯t you hate her for stealing the position of the Lu Family¡¯s daughter from you?¡±


    Keren looked at Lu Zhaozhao confidently, unable to believe she wouldn¡¯t be tempted.


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the position of the Lu Family¡¯s daughter at all.¡±


    The Lu Family was nearly ruined; why would she want it?


    Moreover, she didn¡¯t like Mr. and Mrs. Lu.


    Keren¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You... you don¡¯t want to be the Lu Family¡¯s daughter again?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged her shoulders. ¡°Not at all. I prefer my current parents.¡±


    Keren clenched her fists, her eyes on Lu Zhaozhao now reflecting slight panic.


    She had thought this offer would surely secure Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cooperation.


    After all, between the Lu Group and the Xia Family, couldn¡¯t she see which weighed more?


    Her mouth opened, and after a moment¡¯s hesitation, she said, ¡°If you¡¯re worried that collaborating with me is a trap, you needn¡¯t be. I really hate Xia Wenjin now, especially since she tried to seduce my husband on her wedding night!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Hearing Keren¡¯s revelation, unlike Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s indifferent emotion, Xu Zhenzhen was clearly all about the gossip.


    Xia Wenjin seduced her brother-in-law on her wedding night? Tsk tsk... that sounds explosive!


    She raised her eyebrows high. ¡°Since you know she seduced your husband, why don¡¯t you tell Xiao Mo? Isn¡¯t he your cousin?¡±


    Keren glared at Xu Zhenzhen. ¡°If I tell my cousin, and he ends up divorcing Xia Wenjin, won¡¯t I just be giving Xia Wenjin a reason to get closer to my husband?¡±


    ¡°You mean, if she gets divorced, she poses a threat to you, so even your position as vice president¡¯s wife isn¡¯t secure,¡± Xu Zhenzhen muttered, clicking her tongue.


    That clearly hit a nerve with Keren.


    She almost screamed at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? My husband loves me very much, okay?! Be careful, or I¡¯ll sue you for slander!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao watched her, sword drawn, and sighed lightly. ¡°Keren, you should find someone else. I¡¯m not interested in your family affairs.¡±


    Keren against Xia Wenjin would truly be a dog-eat-dog fight.


    There was no need for her to get involved.


    Since Xia Wenjin could brazenly flirt despite Justin and her married status, that only spoke volumes about the dire state of the Lu Family.


    Xia Wenjin was securing her own escape routes.


    However... she was seriously underestimating Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s ruthlessness.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly found herself looking forward to seeing what Xiao Mo would do when he discovered his cuckoldry. What would it be?


    Keren glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I can give you time to think, but remember, once this chance is gone, it¡¯s gone!¡±


    With those words, she left the scene like a proud rooster.


    Xu Zhenzhen clicked her tongue twice, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Keren acts like a rooster about to lay eggs?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªWhat kind of adjectives are you even using?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen, amused yet confused, and leaned her head back onto her shoulder.


    She knew Xu Zhenzhen was just worried about her.


    Xia Wenjin was indeed a mess, but Song Keren was no better.


    There was absolutely no need to get dragged down by someone as foolish as Song Keren just to deal with Xia Wenjin.


    She patted Xu Zhenzhen on the hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I would never team up with Song Keren. I¡¯m actually looking forward to watching them tear each other apart~¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen furrowed her brows, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s mutual tearing, and not just Song Keren getting thrashed by Xia Wenjin?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded seriously, sat up straight, and said word by word, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, though Song Keren might be a bit slow, she¡¯s fierce...¡±


    ...


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mouth twitched, and she found herself at a loss for words.


    Indeed.


    Song Keren might not be able to outwit Xia Wenjin, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t outfight her, physically speaking, of course.


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen fall silent, Lu Zhaozhao added another comment, ¡°Besides, with Xiao Jinglan backing Song Keren up, their fierce battle is guaranteed to be out of control.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, ¡°Ah!!! Now that you say that, I¡¯m even more excited!¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao rubbed her temples, feeling a bit of a headache coming on as she looked at Xu Zhenzhen speechlessly.


    What am I going to do with you, my gossip-loving bestie.


    Sigh...


    Xu Zhenzhen, beaming, was chewing on her straw and pulled out her phone to check the time, her eyes suddenly freezing.


    She immediately thrust the phone in front of Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Look, look, Xia Wenjin has just posted another sanctimonious tweet on Weibo, clearly targeting you. Is she sick?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s phone and saw the Weibo post by Xia Wenjin.


    Came to school today, going to do well on the exam, cheer up! #BeautyInTestTaking#


    Below was a photo Xia Wenjin had taken in the classroom.


    Each photo seemed like a selfie of Xia Wenjin, but each one also seemed to capture some part of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Some showed her student ID, some her profile, some her back, and even her seat arrangement in the classroom.


    Their seating during major exams was arranged based on their daily quiz performance.


    The first row was nearly always where the class geniuses sat, while those in the middle rows were average.


    Someone had clarified below the Weibo post that suddenly built up Xia Wenjin as a top student.


    [Didn¡¯t expect Little Jin to be such a scholar, impressive!]


    [Lu Zhaozhao sitting in the middle, huh? Looks like her academic performance isn¡¯t as good as Xia Wenjin¡¯s, tsk tsk, all the beauty but no brains?]


    [Lu Zhaozhao must be the warmest dressed female celebrity I¡¯ve seen this summer¡ªwearing a cardigan and even wrapping a shawl, is it that cold?]


    [Xia Wenjin looks so nice today, that¡¯s real celebrity demeanor!]


    ...


    The comments were overwhelmingly praising Xia Wenjin, with plenty throwing shade at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xu Zhenzhen scrolled through the messages, angrily typing replies as she went along.


    While typing furiously, she didn¡¯t hold back from venting, ¡°Does Xia Wenjin have a screw loose? Are her paid trolls really that outstanding? Praising blindly? Xia Wenjin doesn¡¯t fear leg cramps but can still pull off celebrity demeanor? Is she freaking born of a rocket monkey? So fierce, why doesn¡¯t she just fly to the sky?!¡±

 Chapter 249 - 249 249 You Still Want to Be a Wealthy Young

    ?Chapter 249: Chapter 249: You Still Want to Be a Wealthy Young Lady with This? Chapter 249: Chapter 249: You Still Want to Be a Wealthy Young Lady with This? Lu Zhaozhao listened to Xu Zhenzhen ranting and couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You¡¯re planning to become a lawyer in the future, is this way of talking really okay?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, ¡°Future is future, now is now. Just looking at Xia Wenjin makes me uncomfortable all over. I¡¯ve seen bitches, but never one like her!¡±


    She had clearly married Xiao Mo, which logically should have nothing to do with Lu Zhaozhao anymore.


    Yet, it seemed like she was deliberately picking a fight with Lu Zhaozhao, always eager to clash, even managing to get involved during exams.


    She suddenly paused while operating her phone, frowned, and looked at Lu Zhaozhao uncertainly, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you think there¡¯s a possibility that Xia Wenjin is deliberately provoking you to ride on your popularity?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged her shoulders, ¡°I think it¡¯s not as simple as it seems on the surface.¡±


    If Xia Wenjin were really on the same level as Song Keren, the Xia Family¡¯s brothers wouldn¡¯t have ended up so miserable.


    At the dinner organized by Xiao Jinglan last time, she noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Lu were no longer so unconditionally doting on Xia Wenjin.


    Being so intelligent, how could she not see it?


    Marrying Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t in her plans, that¡¯s why she targeted Justin.


    Xia Wenjin was never one to sit and wait for doom.


    In her previous life, she had everything going for her, but for greater benefits, she sacrificed all her loved ones.


    In this life, she deserved none!


    Xu Zhenzhen gave Lu Zhaozhao a look, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t worry, no matter what happens, I will always firmly stand by your side!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly stunned, then she hugged Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She felt warmth in her heart, not because of what she had just said, but because in her last life, when she was lonely and helpless, Xu Zhenzhen also steadfastly stood by her side.


    If she hadn¡¯t gone abroad... would she not have vanished without a trace?


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes slightly; it seemed she needed to find a way to stop Xu Zhenzhen from going abroad...


    Or at least, find someone to protect her from harm.


    Online, Xia Wenjin¡¯s fans and the navy were relentlessly pursuing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fans in a battle.


    [The so-called former Lu Family¡¯s daughter? Fake is fake, look at those grades, tsk tsk...]


    [And she wants to be a rich family¡¯s daughter? Hello, little poor student!]


    [Female artists should have the awareness of being one, I really don¡¯t know why there are so many ordinary girls trending in showbiz lately?]


    ...


    Wave after wave of slander was directly thrown under Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s Weibo.


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could react, her fans struck back furiously.


    [Xia¡¯s fans should have some shame, leave with your sister ¨C not agreed!]


    [You can black anything, aren¡¯t you afraid it blows up in your face?]


    [It¡¯s tough luck for our girl to run into such drama queens, even getting framed during an exam, Xia¡¯s family is really a toxic fandom!]


    ...


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s actions were not only provoking Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fans but were also dancing in Xia Wenyan¡¯s minefield.


    When he received the message, he immediately pulled out his phone to post on Weibo to support Lu Zhaozhao.


    But the Weibo interface was only half-typed when Pei Huai took the phone from his hand.


    ¡°Brother Pei, why are you taking my phone?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows instantly knitted together, his gaze towards Pei Huai full of indignation.


    Ever since their family knew about Pei Huai and Lu Zhaozhao being reborn, he had been marked as a risky person by his family.


    After all, in his last life, he had been slandered terribly in his area of expertise.


    Fortunately, Pei Huai vouched for him, allowing him to re-enter the entertainment circle.


    So no matter if it was acting in TV dramas or movies, they were almost always thrown into the mix together.


    Pei Huai glanced at the content on Xia Wenyan¡¯s phone, raised his hand to delete it, and then placed the phone back in his hands, ¡°If you act too rashly now, it¡¯s easy to attract negative attention to Zhaozhao. These people are clearly paid trolls, easy to deal with.¡±


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips and remained silent, but his brows were continuously furrowed.


    Pei Huai sighed helplessly, ¡°If you want to support Zhaozhao, it¡¯s not impossible...¡±


    ¡°How do I do that?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, and even his expression relaxed quite a bit.


    He looked at Pei Huai expectantly, causing him unconsciously to avert his gaze.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°Strike the snake at its vital point, you need to understand why Xia Wenjin would post this kind of Weibo.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s words plunged Xia Wenyan into deep thought.


    What could Xia Wenjin¡¯s motive be?


    Isn¡¯t it just to make the netizens target their Zhaozhao?


    He scoffed, unable to think of anything deeper.


    As Xia Wenyan thought about this, he turned his pleading gaze towards Pei Huai.


    His eyes suddenly curled up in a smile, ¡°Brother Pei~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Brilliant, heroic, and handsome Brother Pei~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Little Pei Pei~~~¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡± Before Xia Wenyan could come up with more mushy nicknames, Pei Huai¡¯s hand was already pinching Xia Wenyan¡¯s cheek, silencing him.


    But when he looked into those straightforward eyes of his, Pei Huai¡¯s body stiffened before slowly loosening his grip.


    He unconsciously stroked the palm that had just touched his lips, slightly annoyed, ¡°Xia Wenjin wants to clout-chase, using everyone¡¯s debate over the real and fake Lu Family¡¯s daughter to elevate her status in the entertainment circle to the same level as Zhaozhao.¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin was being criticized, her popularity wasn¡¯t low.


    This publicity stunt was simply an attempt to elevate her status.


    Her focus was on making others think she¡¯s better than Lu Zhaozhao, encouraging fans to rally was also for the investors to see.


    After all, people in the circle knew these tricks, but the investors didn¡¯t.


    They only knew who had more popularity, they¡¯d pick them for endorsements or choose them for roles based on their fame.


    Whether it¡¯s good or bad popularity, that wasn¡¯t important.


    Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be trending searches.


    Despite her young age, Xia Wenjin understood the unwritten rules of the entertainment industry deeply.


    Xia Wenyan caught on immediately after Pei Huai¡¯s explanation.


    ¡°Fancy increasing her popularity? In her dreams!¡± Xia Wenyan snorted, immediately pulling Pei Huai to lean on his shoulder and clicked away, ¡°click, click¡± a few photos.


    Pei Huai¡¯s brows slightly raised, his eyes focusing on the smartphone Xia Wenyan was operating.


    [Xia Wenyan: Pei Huai and I went to script reading, guess our roles~ #MyBrotherPeiIsTheBestLooking#]


    Right after that, he posted four photos of him and Pei Huai, the last one being from a terribly unflattering low angle.


    Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai had high CP (couple pairing) popularity online, and now the main characters themselves were openly showing off their chemistry, how could this not explode?


    The fans who were already crazily shipping them went wild, throwing a 5 million yuan prize on Weibo to celebrate.


    Now, not just their CP fans were going crazy.


    Pei Huai looked at his smug little face, sighed silently, and gave Xia Wenyan a slightly forlorn look, ¡°About that last photo, are you sure you¡¯re not my biggest hater?¡±

 Chapter 250 - 250 250 What is this mess all about

    ?Chapter 250: Chapter 250 What is this mess all about? Chapter 250: Chapter 250 What is this mess all about? Xia Wenyan silently opened the last photo, glanced at it, and then looked up at Pei Huai sitting next to him, shaking his head, ¡°No, I think Brother Pei, you look handsome from any angle!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s pupils trembled slightly, then he turned his head away, ¡°Only you know how to sweet-talk me with your flattery.¡±


    Xia Wenyan noticed his ears turning red and smiled triumphantly.


    When he and Pei Huai had first met, he thought this senior might be difficult to get along with.


    Though he always seemed to smile warmly, it made people feel that his smile and gentleness were just facades.


    But after a few days together, he was certain.


    It was indeed a facade; the real person was quite reserved.


    And he had a soft spot for sweet words, unexpectedly innocent, just a few teasing remarks would turn his ears red like blood.


    Xia Wenyan really enjoyed Pei Huai¡¯s company and felt comfortable around him.


    When he was at home, his older brothers would say he had a short temper and inevitably nag him about it.


    But Pei Huai was different; he could always inadvertently provide him with the most appropriate solution when he was irritable.


    Xia Wenyan leaned his head against Pei Huai¡¯s arm and teased, ¡°Brother Pei, if you ever get married, our CP will go ¡®sob sob sob.''¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting married.¡±


    Pei Huai blurted out almost immediately.


    As soon as he spoke, Pei Huai knew he had been a little impulsive.


    He glanced at Xia Wenyan¡¯s surprised eyes and added, ¡°I am a non-marriage type, I have no plans to marry.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t expected Pei Huai to be so formal, and thought he might have inadvertently hit a sore spot.


    He pursed his lips and laughed it off, ¡°Not getting married isn¡¯t so bad, very freeing.¡±


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t look back at Xia Wenyan but turned to look out the car window, as if casually asking, ¡°What about you? Will you marry?¡±


    Xia Wenyan tilted his head and thought seriously, ¡°Probably, but I¡¯m still young now, and besides, getting married late is almost standard in our profession, so I¡¯ll talk about it later.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t come back, nor did he speak again.


    But Xia Wenyan had a feeling that he didn¡¯t seem very happy.


    He opened his mouth, thinking of saying something to cheer Pei Huai up, but after a long thought, he couldn¡¯t find an appropriate reason.


    Maybe... cook him some instant noodles tonight to sweeten him up on the set?


    That evening, just before school was out, Xu Zhenzhen immediately sprang over.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, did you see today¡¯s trending search? It¡¯s been bombshells all day!!!!!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t contain her excitement and grabbed Lu Zhaozhao, shaking her wildly.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt dizzy from the shaking, ¡°What bombshells?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen immediately took out her phone, frantically showing her the trending search filled with ¡°explosion¡± characters.


    ¡°Look! The gentleman Xie Yunzhen has been exposed for cheating, the fans¡¯ prayers for a beating were answered! And then came the Thunder God¡¯s Hammer! Not only did he cheat, but he also has a non-marital child!!!!¡±


    As she spoke, Xu Zhenzhen scrolled through her phone, ¡°Check this out, Xie Yunzhen¡¯s selection of concubines, sleeping with fans, it¡¯s getting messier the more it¡¯s uncovered, and during the time he dated his wife, there were even group activities, my god, it¡¯s like opening the door to amazing and amazing walks right in!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    What a complete mess?


    She raised her eyebrows in speechlessness. She had just thought that Xia Wenjin was going to pull some stunt, only to find out the troublemaker wasn¡¯t her this time.


    Xu Zhenzhen walked outside with her arm around Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s, gossipping with stars in her eyes, ¡°Thanks to that legal expert, all the attention on Xia Wenjin¡¯s scandal fizzled out. She wasted her money for nothing, ah hahaha...¡±


    It might have been that she laughed too arrogantly, but Xia Wenjin who wasn¡¯t far away glanced at them, then glared at her hatefully.


    Seeing this, Xu Zhenzhen immediately raised her chin and rolled her eyes wildly at her without any reservation.


    Xia Wenjin knew she wouldn¡¯t gain any sympathy from Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen, so she quickly packed up her things and left.


    ¡°I think that woman, Xia Wenjin, must have some serious problems,¡± Xu Zhenzhen said, not forgetting to throw a few more jabs as she watched Xia Wenjin walk away.


    She had disliked Xia Wenjin from before, and now seeing her openly target Lu Zhaozhao, she was even more irritated.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°She¡¯s been sick for more than a day or two, it¡¯s not like she just got sick today.¡±


    As the two walked one after another, Lu Zhaozhao seemed to remember something and said, ¡°Zhenzhen, my second brother is coming to pick me up today, why don¡¯t we go out for a meal together?¡±


    She had wanted to invite Xu Zhenzhen for a while now, to thank her.


    Unfortunately, she had been preoccupied with matching wits against Xiao Jinglan and Xia Wenjin and never had the chance.


    Now that she had time, why wait for another day?


    Xu Zhenzhen wasn¡¯t shy either and nodded directly, ¡°Sure, I know a really good dessert shop. Let¡¯s go have dinner first, and then I¡¯ll treat you to bubble tea and cake!¡±


    ¡°No problem!¡±


    The two linked arms and walked to the school gate, spotting the long-waiting Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°Second brother!¡± Lu Zhaozhao waved at him, ready to pull Xu Zhenzhen along, but was stopped.


    All of a sudden, Xu Zhenzhen turned her back, with one small hand on her forehead, ¡°Zhaozhao, I suddenly feel a bit unwell, I probably can¡¯t make it for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you to the school clinic, you...¡±


    ¡°No need, no need. I just need to go back to the classroom and drink some water.¡± Xu Zhenzhen interrupted Lu Zhaozhao without waiting for her to finish, ¡°Tomorrow, no, another day we¡¯ll make plans!¡±


    After saying this, Xu Zhenzhen ran off like a swarm of bees without a trace.


    Lu Zhaozhao stood there somewhat dazed. With the speed that Xu Zhenzhen just took off, it really didn¡¯t match up with the words ¡°not feeling well.¡±


    What was up with her?


    It was as if she had seen a ghost.


    ¡°Zhaozhao?¡± Suddenly, a gentle voice came from behind her.


    Turning her head to look at the approaching Xia Wenqing, Lu Zhaozhao smiled lightly, ¡°Second brother...¡±


    Xia Wenqing raised his hand to touch her head and asked, ¡°What happened? I just saw you and your classmate coming together, why did she leave?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t know, she just said she felt unwell, and then she was gone.¡±


    She too wanted to know what had happened.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, pretending to ask casually, ¡°Was that person just now a good friend of yours? It seemed like you two got along well?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Her name is Xu Zhenzhen, she¡¯s one of the few friends I have at this school, and she¡¯s really nice!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t notice anything off about Xia Wenqing and just happily chatted along.


    Xia Wenqing glanced toward the disappearing figure in the distance, his eyes showing a trace of complexity.


    Xu Zhenzhen.


    Is that the name you¡¯re using to hide out in the country?


    His fist clenched imperceptibly, then relaxed as he turned his gaze back to Lu Zhaozhao, the warmth returning to his face, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Zhaozhao.¡±

 Chapter 251 - 251 251 Snatched Her Man

    ?Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Snatched Her Man Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Snatched Her Man He disguised himself so well that Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t notice at all.


    She just followed him out of the school.


    She didn¡¯t notice Xia Wenjin, who was looking at them from a distance with a sinister expression on his face.


    Originally, when she came to school in the morning, relying on a ¡°photo¡± with Lu Zhaozhao, she had stirred up a wave of popularity.


    Her previous agent had said that to increase her standing, she should either clash with higher-profile artists or release sensational press releases to criticize other popular female artists of the same type.


    Xia Wenjin now had popularity, and quite a few scripts were being offered to her, but the project she first signed would greatly impact her future.


    Most of her current popularity was due to haters, so many production teams also worried that the ferocity of these haters might affect the broadcasting.


    Therefore, productions with good scripts and teams did not favor her scandal-driven popularity.


    To get better scripts, she had no choice but to criticize Lu Zhaozhao.


    Everything had been going smoothly, but unexpectedly Xia Wenyan chose this moment to announce his new drama with Pei Huai, and her traffic immediately plummeted.


    She had planned to ride on the popularity, even if that meant being criticized.


    But who would have guessed that Xie Yunzhen, a model of a good man in the entertainment industry, would be exposed by someone today?


    And it was a series of exposes.


    One after another, just as the crowd was recovering, another heavy bomb would explode.


    And each was more sensational than the last!


    With such thrilling gossip, who would care about her, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s outfits, and academic problems?


    Xia Wenjin sat in the sedan that had picked her up, her brow furrowing instantly.


    She took out her phone and started messaging her agent, Brother Ha, ¡°The old way doesn¡¯t work anymore, what should I do next?¡±


    Brother Ha was an agent her parents had found for her, known for his capability and for promoting many artists.


    Especially, he was adept at promoting controversial artists, which was why Mr. and Mrs. Lu had chosen him as their agent.


    Soon, Brother Ha replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry for now. Wait for this wave of popularity to pass, and then keep criticizing Lu Zhaozhao. You¡¯re in the same school as her. Isn¡¯t it easy to target her?¡±


    Xia Wenjin looked at the text message on her phone and couldn¡¯t help but squint her eyes.


    Brother Ha had a point. As long as Lu Zhaozhao was still at the same school, she couldn¡¯t escape.


    Besides, even if she wanted to run, she couldn¡¯t escape their ¡°fate¡±.


    Mistaken identities, true and false daughters, and deep-seated family grudges were always what the crowd loved to watch.


    Thinking this, the car pulled up to the villa where Xiao Jinglan was currently living.


    After being driven out by Old Master Song, she had been living here with Song Keren and Xiao Mo.


    Xiao Mo had his own bachelor apartment and occasionally stayed there, but he mostly lived at home, so naturally, after their marriage, Xia Wenjin also moved in here.


    As she entered, Xia Wenjin saw Xiao Jinglan sitting on the sofa.


    ¡°Jin, you¡¯re back?¡±


    She looked at Xia Wenjin with a smile, ¡°I heard you had exams at school today, it must have been tough. Come and eat some cubilose. I just had the chef prepare it, it will help you recover.¡±


    Xia Wenjin knitted her brows and was about to refuse when she heard Xiao Jinglan continue, ¡°I have been eating this cubilose since my time at the Song Mansion; it¡¯s especially good for the skin. Lu Zhaozhao used to eat this kind as well. Considering how important the skin must be for artists, I took the liberty of instructing the chef to prepare some for you...¡±


    Hearing that it was ¡°good for the skin,¡± Xia Wenjin found herself somewhat tempted.


    Hearing that Lu Zhaozhao had also eaten these, she grew even more disturbed.


    She, both in identity and status, was far more noble than Lu Zhaozhao. How could she allow Lu Zhaozhao to possess better things than her?


    Whether it was in terms of men or the treatment received in the entertainment circle...


    Xia Wenjin slowly sat down beside Xiao Jinglan and pulled at the corners of her mouth, ¡°I normally don¡¯t have the habit of eating cubilose at home, but since I have married into the family, I am naturally willing to share a hobby with Aunt Xiao.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan, smiling, patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand, but her heart sneered repeatedly.


    Xia Wenjin certainly knew how to put up a facade; if it hadn¡¯t been for Song Keren telling her, she wouldn¡¯t have known that this little wretch dared to seduce Justin!


    If it hadn¡¯t been for her, she would not have lost control of the Song Mansion, nor would she have been driven out of the Song Family.


    All because of Xia Wenjin, that jinx!


    Now that she had married into their family, she still wasn¡¯t settling down...


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s gaze toward Xia Wenjin increased in disdain.


    The cubilose in front of her had been tampered with, and as long as she drank a bowl every day, she would meet the King of Hell within a year.


    Drinking it once or twice wouldn¡¯t harm the body.


    But continuous use over time was another story.


    Once ingested over a certain period, expelling the toxins from the body would be as difficult as reaching the heavens!


    Her initial plan had been to control Lu Zhaozhao with this method, first to ruin her body, then to dominate her mind, thereby reclaiming her high status as the lady of the Song Mansion!


    But now...


    Xiao Jinglan thought of this and knitted her brows. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the servants from Song Sinian¡¯s side visited her every few months asking for cubilose, she would have thought her plan had failed.


    Xia Wenjin leisurely ate the cubilose from the bowl, finding it tastier than she had expected. Its fine, smooth texture was immediately delightful, no wonder Xiao Jinglan liked it.


    ¡°Cough, cough... Jin, Auntie knows that there are many misunderstandings about you outside, but since you¡¯ve married Xiao Mo, Auntie is like your mother now. No matter when, Auntie is always on your side, you know?¡± Xiao Jinglan slowly began, looking at Xia Wenjin with a loving expression.


    Her deliberate affection made Xia Wenjin somewhat uncomfortable.


    She had never wanted to marry Xiao Mo; her intimacy with Xiao Jinglan had originally been to marry into the Song Family, to marry Song Sinian.


    Now that marrying Song Sinian was hopeless, she naturally did not want to engage in hollow pleasantries with Xiao Jinglan.


    Moreover, she disliked her daughter, Song Keren.


    A nobody who had managed to steal her man.


    And had used such despicable methods.


    However, thinking of what Lu Dagui had told her previously, Xia Wenjin pulled at the corners of her mouth and grasped Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hand, ¡°Aunt Xiao, you¡¯ve been so kind, I¡¯m truly moved.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan secretly chuckled, about to say something when Xia Wenjin continued, ¡°Now that our families are related, I won¡¯t be shy. My dad mentioned that there were some issues with the mining venture before. If Xiao Mo could offer just a bit of help, the profits from the mining later...¡±


    She didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear enough.


    Xiao Jinglan should understand; as for whether it could succeed or not would depend on Lu Dagui¡¯s abilities.


    She had delivered the message; even if they didn¡¯t get the money from Xiao Mo¡¯s side later on, it wouldn¡¯t have much to do with her...

 Chapter 252 - 252 252 Can No Longer Be Explained as

    ?Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Can No Longer Be Explained as ¡®Coincidence Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Can No Longer Be Explained as ¡®Coincidence If it worked out, the Lu Family¡¯s finances would stabilize, and she could continue being the glorious Miss Lu.


    But if it didn¡¯t, she would have to secure Justin in a hurry.


    By then, even without the Lu Family, she would still be the wife of the regional vice president of XJ Group.


    Just like Song Keren now, she could act high and mighty.


    Xiao Jinglan was momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting that just as she had casually brushed off the subject, Xia Wenjin had seized the opportunity to climb up.


    Her lips twisted awkwardly, and a hint of irritation flashed in her eyes, ¡°This, this matter...¡±


    ¡°I know Aunt Xiao can¡¯t decide alone, that¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll talk to my dad, and you guys can arrange some time this weekend to come to our house for a good discussion.¡± As soon as Xia Wenjin spoke, she had set the time and place.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s cheeks visibly trembled, ¡°I will discuss this matter properly with Xiao Mo...¡±


    Xia Wenjin looked at Xiao Jinglan with an expectant expression, ¡°Aunt Xiao, you just said you would always support me from now on, so you will help me with Xiao Mo as well, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Jinglan almost gritted her teeth.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to break ties with Xia Wenjin now, after all, she had the Lu Family backing her.


    However, it didn¡¯t matter, they still had plenty of time, and as for dealing with a bratty girl, she had her ways.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    Suddenly, the villa door burst open, and the figure of a man walked in.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s lips twisted, ¡°Xiao Mo is back, I won¡¯t disturb you young couple any longer, I¡¯ll head back to my room now.¡±


    After she said this, without waiting for a reaction from Xia Wenjin¡¯s side, she left immediately.


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fist angrily, this woman was cunning like an old fox!


    She and Xiao Mo had no feelings for each other; what happened then was due to the drugs.


    Even though she was married to him, she didn¡¯t like his touch at all.


    Her expression of disgust was almost written all over her face.


    Naturally, Xiao Mo¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t great either, he had wanted to marry someone like Lu Zhaozhao, a petite and delicate beauty.


    Not Xia Wenjin, a fetid man-eating flower.


    But since he had married her, sleeping with her was no loss.


    ¡°Go upstairs and take a bath, wait for me,¡± Xiao Mo said as he took off his coat and threw it on the sofa.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°I, I¡¯m not feeling well today.¡±


    Xiao Mo sneered softly and approached slowly, ¡°How is it? Feel uncomfortable sleeping with me? Weren¡¯t you very comfortable being slept by so many men before?¡±


    Xia Wenjin pushed Xiao Mo away, looking at him in shock.


    She hadn¡¯t reported that incident, and the only ones who knew were Mr. and Mrs. Lu, how did Xiao Mo know?


    No, he couldn¡¯t possibly know.


    He must be bluffing her.


    She couldn¡¯t let herself be intimidated, ¡°I, I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡±


    Xiao Mo glanced at Xia Wenjin, ¡°After our scandal broke out, you didn¡¯t go home that day, did you? Someone sent me photos of you from that day during the wedding, do you want to see them?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin was nearly struck by lightning, completely frozen in place.


    Xiao Mo patted her on the shoulder, ¡°I can overlook this matter, but you¡¯d better behave. Now, go upstairs obediently, take a bath, and wait for me in the room.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo watched Xia Wenjin slowly ascend the stairs, his lips curling up in satisfaction as he admired her retreating figure...


    Due to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s rising popularity, there were surprisingly few paparazzi following her.


    Despite her popularity, she was married, and her husband nearly treated her like a princess.


    Thus, the public was naturally more lenient towards her.


    No one expected that a trending search would suddenly drop on Weibo.


    #Lu Zhaozhao Cheats#


    This trend almost exploded across all major platforms as soon as it went live.


    Many people followed suit and gossiped.


    Because of Xie Yunzhen¡¯s previous affair scandal, when Lu Zhaozhao was caught in intimate photos with a young male lead, it immediately caused a stir in the entertainment circle.


    ¡°Look, what¡¯s the use of President Song being so good to Lu Zhaozhao? Some women just love the thrill.¡±


    ¡°Hard to believe Lu Zhaozhao, who looks so innocent, could be such a person...¡±


    ¡°I hope she didn¡¯t cheat, otherwise it¡¯s really a betrayal to President Song.¡±


    ¡°This is already confirmed, yet some still gullibly trust ¡®sister¡¯, how pathetic?¡±


    ¡°We still believe in sister!¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao found out about this trending search just as she got out of bed, feeling a bit dazed.


    Because she couldn¡¯t remember at all how she had cheated.


    As she opened up the photo under the trending hashtag, she couldn¡¯t help but twitch her lips.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s gentle voice reached Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ears as he softly kissed her forehead, only to notice she was looking at her phone.


    On the phone screen, there were glaring big characters¡ªLu Zhaozhao Cheats.


    Song Sinian slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°Why are you looking at this?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian innocently, ¡°I just wanted to see who I supposedly cheated with.¡±


    ¡°Now you¡¯ve seen it.¡± Song Sinian picked Lu Zhaozhao up from the bed, ¡°Just stay at home; your supposed affair partner will take care of this matter himself.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly stunned, ¡°Did my third brother contact you?¡±


    Song Sinian gently placed her on the bedroom sofa, ¡°Yes, right after the trending search appeared, people from the Xia Family called. Your photo with Xia Wenmo was maliciously tampered with, so the instigator probably knows about your relationship but still leaked it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, ¡°What¡¯s the benefit in doing such a thing?¡±


    Xia Wenmo was her brother; just by clarifying it online, such lies would self-destruct. She really couldn¡¯t understand what the other party aimed to gain from this.


    Song Sinian picked up a sock and started putting it on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s foot before slowly explaining, ¡°Xia Wenyan said your resources have been very good lately, someone is jealous and wants to step on you to climb up. The drama crew that recently handed you the script just confirmed you as the lead actress, and you were slandered right after. Immediately after, Xia Wenjin¡¯s agent then pushed her into the top spot.¡±


    This scenario couldn¡¯t simply be explained as a ¡°coincidence.¡±


    Xia Wenjin previously tried to use a school examination to slander her but failed, so she resorted to using her shopping photos with Xia Wenmo to tarnish her instead.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Then... did my third brother tell you how to counterattack Xia Wenjin?¡±


    From what she knew about Xia Wenmo, even back when he and Xia Wenjin were siblings, he didn¡¯t like her.


    Now that the two were enemies, and with Xia Wenjin having done such a disgusting deed, Xia Wenmo probably wouldn¡¯t let her off easily, would he?


    Her third brother might not be skilled in other areas, but his ability to crush opponents¡¯ hearts was definitely top-notch...

 Chapter 253 - 253 253 Im Very Petty

    ?Chapter 253: Chapter 253: I¡¯m Very Petty Chapter 253: Chapter 253: I¡¯m Very Petty Song Sinian sat on the couch, pulling Lu Zhaozhao into his embrace, his neck pressing into the nape of hers. His tone was low as he murmured, ¡°Do you want to know?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was preoccupied with the matter of being slandered, not anticipating the ¡°danger¡± that was silently approaching.


    She nodded, ¡°Mhm, I want to know.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips gently grazed the hollow of her neck. ¡°Zhaozhao, give me a kiss.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao paused, then turned her head to leave a kiss on his cheek.


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough.¡± Song Sinian turned her around in his arms, rubbing his nose against hers playfully. ¡°I¡¯m quite petty, you see. When you keep asking me about other men, it makes me unhappy.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was amused by his words.


    With her eyes smiling, she leaned in his embrace and held his cheeks, looking at him with a playful twinkle, ¡°My Mr. Song now recognizes when he¡¯s unhappy?¡±


    Her gaze met his, scenes from the past flashing through her mind.


    There was a time when he was a man who did not know how to express any emotions, but now, he had started to act coy with her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, watching the changes in Song Sinian, experienced an indescribable sense of contentment.


    She wrapped her arms around Song Sinian¡¯s neck and bit down on the flesh of his neck as she lifted her chin.


    At that moment, Song Sinian just happened to be looking down, and her lips landed precisely on his Adam¡¯s apple.


    Both were momentarily stunned.


    The next second, Lu Zhaozhao found herself pressed against the sofa by Song Sinian, his weight pressing down gradually. The soft cushions of the sofa sank along with the contours of her body. Confined within his arms on the couch, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart began to race.


    ¡°Song, Song, Song...¡± Lu Zhaozhao began to stutter as soon as she spoke.


    Song Sinian propped himself up and leaned close to her ear, his voice husky, ¡°At times like this, I prefer different names.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire body tingled merely from hearing that restrained, husky voice of his.


    Not to mention what he might do to her next.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands pressed against Song Sinian¡¯s chest, her face flushing red, her voice trembling, ¡°We¡ªwe still haven¡¯t finished our important discussion. My third brother, he¡ªmmh...¡±


    Her words were cut short as he swallowed them into silence.


    His kisses were neither hurried nor slow, even leisurely, as he traced the outline of her lips with his own.


    Just when she thought he would let her go, he became unrestrained once again.


    Feeling his body¡¯s warmth drawing nearer, Lu Zhaozhao became somewhat dazed; her mind was woozy, unconsciously letting Song Sinian lead her entirely by the nose.


    Once Song Sinian slowly pulled away, he saw her looking like someone who had been bullied; her eyes were red and misty.


    She appeared so soft and pitiable that one couldn¡¯t help but want to ravage her once more.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand gently caressed her lips, his voice rough, ¡°Do you still want to ask that question?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly snapped back to reality, her face instantly flushing bright red.


    Her small hands covered her eyes, ¡°Ask, ask, ask¡ªI¡ªI want to know what exactly does my third brother plan to do?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao, who was covering her face, with an almost-smiling gaze, finding her incredibly cute.


    He slowly stretched out his large hand, pulling one of her small hands over, and brought it to his lips for a gentle, biting tease, ¡°Since you want to listen, Mrs. Song better focus now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shivered inexplicably, always feeling that Song Sinian¡¯s gaze on her was very odd, extremely odd...


    She always felt like his gaze was about to devour her.


    It must be her imagination, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but swallow, and just as she was about to concentrate as Song Sinian had suggested, he suddenly pulled her hand down.


    She abruptly remembered what Song Sinian had done to her before and instantly realized what he was about to do.


    Her fingertips, damp with moisture, made her so embarrassed that she buried her face directly into Song Sinian¡¯s chest, ¡°Don¡¯t...¡±


    Her small hand attempted to retreat, but he gripped it even tighter.


    Song Sinian nuzzled her neck with his nose and curved his lips into a light smile, ¡°Mrs. Song, you need to concentrate...¡±


    His eyes deepened as he gazed at her neck, already blushed with desire, and started to suck on it tenderly.


    She squirmed restlessly in his embrace, her slender fingers digging deeply into his back, wrinkles marring his neatly pressed shirt from her rubbing.


    Lu Zhaozhao, held gently by him, felt like she¡¯d suddenly boarded a roller coaster. Her heart was abruptly thrown high into the clouds, then it turned into a heavy rain cloud, bursting furiously amidst thunder and lightning...


    At last, it turned into a fine rain that fell softly.


    Song Sinian, seeing that she¡¯d lost all her strength, slowly released her small hand and instead grasped her ankle, yanking her forcefully downward.


    ¡°Uh-huh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao let out a muffled groan as her pale legs rested upon his shoulders.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes widened suddenly, and she stretched out her small hand to stop him, only to be met with his slow and deliberate force, drawing closer to her.


    Her small hand against his skin, her whole body could not help but tremble, ¡°I, I just...¡±


    ¡°So, do you need me to hold your hand?¡± Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish speaking, his large hand clasped both of her small ones.


    Now... she couldn¡¯t escape even more.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Song Sinian with a bittersweet smile, but then she heard him, with a knowing tone, say lowly, ¡°So you like this...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t catch the rest as he fiercely pulled her hands toward him.


    She felt as if she had been dragged into chaos, her entire being floating ethereally, with only her hands, firmly held by Song Sinian, remaining warm and reassuring...


    The end of autumn was already quite cold, and the temperature difference between inside and outside quickly fogged up the windows with a barely perceptible layer of vapor.


    As water droplets rolled down the glass, Lu Zhaozhao was already lying on the couch, asleep once more.


    A blanket covered her body, and the damp fringe on her forehead was still moist.


    Song Sinian sat beneath the sofa, his back bare and crisscrossed with red scratches, some even streaked with blood from her nails.


    His dark eyes blinked as he watched Lu Zhaozhao sleeping on the couch, gently caressing her tired face, feeling somewhat remorseful.


    He shouldn¡¯t have been so rough with her just now, at least... he should have restrained himself a bit.


    But some things, once touched, are like bewitchment; the more you try to restrain, the more you want to devour it entirely.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    In the silence of the room, a cellphone suddenly rang. Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed, glanced at the name on the phone, and slowly reached out to pick it up from the table¡ª

 Chapter 254 - 254 253 Do You Need Me to Hold Your Hand

    ?Chapter 254: Chapter 253: Do You Need Me to Hold Your Hand? Chapter 254: Chapter 253: Do You Need Me to Hold Your Hand? Song Sinian sat on the sofa, holding Lu Zhaozhao in his arms with his neck pressed against her nape, his voice low, ¡°Do you want to know?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was only concerned about being slandered and had not anticipated the ¡°danger¡± quietly approaching.


    She nodded, ¡°Yes, I want to know.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips gently grazed her nape, ¡°Zhaozhao, give me a kiss.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao paused, then turned her head and left a kiss on his cheek.


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough.¡± Song Sinian turned her around in his arms as if bargaining and rubbed his nose against hers. ¡°I¡¯m quite petty, you know. You always ask about other men in front of me, and it upsets me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was amused by his words.


    Her eyes curved, leaning in his embrace, holding his cheeks, smilingly looking at him, ¡°My Mr. Song now knows when he¡¯s upset?¡±


    Her gaze met his, and past scenes flashed through her mind.


    There was a time when he was a man who didn¡¯t know how to express his feelings, but now he had started to act coquettishly with her.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched the changes in Song Sinian with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.


    She reached up to embrace his neck and lifted her chin to bite down on his neck.


    At that moment, Song Sinian had just looked down, and her mouth perfectly bit onto his Adam¡¯s apple.


    Both were startled.


    The next second, Lu Zhaozhao was pinned down on the sofa by Song Sinian, his body¡¯s weight gradually pressing down, and the soft cushions of the sofa slowly sinking with her shape. Lu Zhaozhao, restrained by his arms on the sofa, found her heart racing.


    ¡°Song, Song, Song...¡± Lu Zhaozhao began to stutter.


    Song Sinian propped himself up, leaning close to her ear, his voice hoarse, ¡°At times like this, I prefer to be called something else.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was already weak from hearing his hoarse, restrained voice.


    Not to mention what more excessive things he would do to her later.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hands pressed against Song Sinian¡¯s chest, her face flushed, and she stammered in panic, ¡°We, we still haven¡¯t finished discussing the important matter? My third brother, he... um...¡±


    Her words were cut off, completely blocked by him.


    His lips leisurely traced the shape of her lips, slow and unhurried.


    Yet every time she thought he was going to let her go, he intensified again.


    Feeling his increasingly close body heat, Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat dazed, her head feeling foggy, and unconsciously, she was completely led by Song Sinian.


    When Song Sinian slowly released her, he saw her looking as if she had been bullied, her eyes red and moist.


    Soft, pitifully adorable, it made one want to ravage her all over again.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand gently caressed her lips, his voice hoarse, ¡°Do you still want to ask the previous question?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly came back to her senses, her little face instantly blushing crimson.


    Covering her eyes with her hands, she said, ¡°Ask, ask, what exactly does my third brother plan to do?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao covering her cheeks, smiling playfully, thinking she was incredibly cute.


    He slowly stretched out his hand, pulled one of her small hands to his lips, and gently bit it, ¡°Since you want to listen, Mrs. Song, you¡¯ll need to concentrate now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt an inexplicable shiver and always felt that Song Sinian¡¯s gaze was off, very off...


    She thought his look seemed like he wanted to devour her.


    Could it just be her imagination?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but swallow and was about to concentrate as Song Sinian had instructed when he suddenly pulled her hand down.


    She instantly remembered what Song Sinian had done to her before and immediately understood what he was about to do.


    Her entire face turned as red as a shrimp ball, and she buried it in Song Sinian¡¯s chest, ¡°Don¡¯t...¡±


    Her small hand tried to pull back, but he gripped it tightly against his chest.


    Song Sinian¡¯s nose rubbed against the nape of her neck, and he chuckled lightly, curling his lips, ¡°Mrs. Song, you need to concentrate...¡±


    His eyes gradually darkened as he turned his head to look at her neck, which had reddened slightly due to his light breaths, and he suckled it repeatedly.


    She struggled uncomfortably in his arms, her slender fingers deeply hooked into his back, crumpling his neat shirt.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt like she suddenly rode a roller coaster, her heart violently thrown high, ascending above the clouds, then turning into a cluster of storm clouds, bursting vigorously amidst thunder and lightning...


    Eventually, it turned into a fine rain falling down.


    When Song Sinian saw she had no strength left in her body, he slowly let go of her small hand and instead grabbed her ankle, pulling her down fiercely.


    ¡°Mmm...¡± Lu Zhaozhao moaned, her pale legs tightly grasped by his large hand, her slender, beautiful ankles glaringly evident.


    They felt soft and pliable in his heated palm.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes widened suddenly, stretching out her hand to push him away, but he leaned in very slowly.


    Her small hand against his skin, she couldn¡¯t help but tremble, ¡°I, I, I can¡¯t listen anymore...¡±


    Song Sinian seemed to ignore her words, merely asking softly, ¡°Do you need me to hold your hand?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly startled, and his large hand took hold of both of her small hands.


    Now... she couldn¡¯t run away anymore.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian with a bit of a cry and laugh, only to hear him looking at her with a knowing expression, hoarsely saying word by word, ¡°So you like this...¡±


    What followed, Lu Zhaozhao could no longer hear clearly, her consciousness seemed to be dragged into chaos, her entire being floating, only the hands Song Sinian held felt continuously warm, comforting...


    As late autumn was already quite cold, the temperature difference inside and outside quickly steamed up the windows.


    By the time water droplets rolled down the window glass, Lu Zhaozhao was lying on the couch asleep again.


    A blanket covered her body, and her fringed forehead was still slightly damp.


    Song Sinian sat below the couch, his uncovered back crisscrossed with scratch marks, even bearing traces of blood in some areas.


    His dark eyes blinked slightly as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao sleeping on the couch, gently caressing her tired face, feeling somewhat remorseful.


    He shouldn¡¯t have been so rough with her just now, at least... he should have restrained himself a bit.


    But some things, once touched, seem like an addiction, the more you want to restrain, the more you want to swallow it whole.


    ¡°Bzzz bzzz bzzz...¡±


    A phone¡¯s ringtone suddenly broke the silence in the room, Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, he glanced at the name on the phone and slowly reached out to pick it up from the table¡ª

 Chapter 255 - 255 254 Shatter the Hypocritical Facade of

    ?Chapter 255: Chapter 254 Shatter the Hypocritical Facade of This Family! Chapter 255: Chapter 254 Shatter the Hypocritical Facade of This Family! The first thing he saw was the group chat with the Xia Family¡¯s four brothers.


    ¡°Xia Wenyan: Brother-in-law, can you handle it? Can you calm Zhaozhao¡¯s emotions?¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenmo: Instead of asking brother-in-law, it would be better to use your connections to clean up the trash talk on the internet.¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenqing: Right, also send me a copy of those trash-talkers¡¯ details while you¡¯re at it; I need to arrange the follow-up legal actions.¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenyan: Big Brother, won¡¯t you take control? It¡¯s obviously the third brother who caused this trouble! Why is it suddenly my fault?¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjue: Could it be possible that because you didn¡¯t manage things properly, it allowed this absurd expose? to find an opportunity?¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenyan: ... (Listen up, is this even something you can say?)¡±


    Song Sinian looked at the screen as one message after another popped up, then glanced over at Lu Zhaozhao, who was lying on the sofa, and sighed helplessly¡ªbut still replied in the group chat.


    ¡°Song Sinian: Zhaozhao doesn¡¯t have the time to care about this right now. If you all want to deal with it, then do it quickly.¡±


    Song Sinian turned off his phone and threw it onto the sofa beside him.


    His gaze slowly fell upon Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s delicate face.


    She was sound asleep, her already adorable face now looking even more gentle and heart-melting.


    She always managed to effortlessly win people¡¯s affection.


    Whether it was the four brothers of the Xia Family or other people online, his dark eyes swept over her small face.


    Suddenly, his gaze darkened. His Zhaozhao was too good, and he knew it better than anyone.


    He didn¡¯t like it when her attention was on others, especially when they were alone together.


    He wanted her to think of him and only him.


    Every time he had her all to himself, when her eyes and heart were filled only with him, the madness in his heart could quiet down for a moment.


    He leaned against the sofa, his large hand gently stroking her face, and he murmured softly, ¡°My Zhaozhao, mine...¡±


    ...


    While Lu Zhaozhao was sound asleep, Xia Wenmo directly logged onto his main account and posted a selfie with Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Weins: I never thought that one day, a painting would lead me back to my sister. My biological sister! #RumorMongersComeGetYourPunishment#¡±


    Below the Weibo post, aside from the selfie of Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenmo, there was also a photo of a painting signed abyss.


    Following that, his Weibo was quickly shared by the big names in the art community.


    As Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mother, Luna naturally was one of the first to do so.


    ¡°Luna: My son did an amazing job //@Weins: I never thought that one day, a painting would lead me back to my sister. My biological sister! #RumorMongersComeGetYourPunishment#¡±


    ¡°Wenzel (Xia Wenyan): Third brother is right! Dog head, dog head~ //@Luna: My son did an amazing job //@Weins: I never thought that one day, a painting would lead me back to my sister. My biological sister! #RumorMongersComeGetYourPunishment#¡±


    ¡°Theresa: Rumor mongers, come get your punishment! //@Weins: I never thought that one day, a painting would lead me back to my sister. My biological sister! #RumorMongersComeGetYourPunishment#¡±


    ¡°Wendian: You think bullying our little darling in the painting community is okay? #RumorMongersComeGetYourPunishment#¡±


    ...


    In an instant, the internet went into a frenzy once more.


    ¡°The genius painter Weins is Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s older brother?! What?! Am I blind? The big-shot didn¡¯t log in for two years, and when he did, he dropped a bombshell? Er Kang, my eyes are deceiving me!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s more outrageous is that the genius painter is Luna¡¯s son!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so outrageous about that, upstairs? Luna is an art mogul, so what¡¯s surprising about her son being a big name in the art world? It would be more shocking if their son was involved in the entertainment industry, right?!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys more concerned about Weins¡¯ good looks? My god, such an angelic youth!¡±


    ¡°So who was the dumbass that said our Genius Painter had an affair with his sister?! Come out and take your beating!¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenjin glared at message after message until her eyes felt like they were going to pop out.


    That sickly Xia Wenmo was actually the Genius Painter Weins?!


    How is that possible?!


    His paintings are no match for hers! No match at all!


    She clenched her fists in fury, her nails almost piercing her palms.


    She had wanted to use the opportunity to bring down Lu Zhaozhao by snatching the script set for her; after all, even if she explained that Xia Wenmo was her brother, the netizens wouldn¡¯t believe her.


    They¡¯d think she had used some sort of trick.


    But Xia Wenmo¡¯s self-exposure drew out the big names of the painting world to stand up for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Not just the entertainment circle¡¯s fans could control the comments.


    Her own fan base was small, and most of the people smearing Lu Zhaozhao were bought water army. She had thrown in 200,000, and before she even heard a splash, the fans of the painting world¡¯s big names had already flooded the screen.


    Not to mention fans in the entertainment circle who were wholeheartedly supporting Lu Zhaozhao and various CP fans.


    Staring furiously at the screen, she told herself she absolutely couldn¡¯t let Lu Zhaozhao and her people succeed.


    She couldn¡¯t just watch her whitewash herself.


    Xia Wenjin saw the money she had given to the water army company dwindling and frowned, an idea seemingly striking her in an instant. She immediately sent out a message to them.


    ¡°Stop blackening Lu Zhaozhao with the remaining money.¡±


    Continuing to do so would have no effect.


    She had to maximize her gains. Since slandering Lu Zhaozhao was useless, to draw attention, she had to use other methods.


    Thinking this, her fingertips typed quickly on the keyboard, ¡°Use the remaining funds to swap entries, make #XiaWenjinIgnoredInTheXiaFamilyFor20Years trending, and focus on the content about being in the Xia family for 20 years yet knowing nothing. You know what to do, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjin looked at the ok emoji reply from the other side, her face turning even more sinister.


    The Xia family had raised her for 20 years, yet they had kept everything from her.


    Luna must have used her reputation in the painting world to pave the way for Xia Wenmo. Despite being her child, she was so cruel to her!


    Her talent far exceeded that of Xia Wenmo. She had even come first in the school competitions.


    Why could Xia Wenmo be called a Genius Painter, and she was nothing?!


    The more Xia Wenjin thought like this, the more agitated she became.


    She was determined to show the world how this big shot in the painting world favored sons over daughters, playing one role to your face and another behind your back!


    She wanted to tear apart this family¡¯s hypocritical fac?ade in front of all the netizens!


    Sure enough, due to the heat from Weins¡¯s ¡°self-reveal,¡± the entries related to Xia Wenjin quickly rose to the top.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin was in the Xia family for 20 years and didn¡¯t know Luna was her foster mother? She didn¡¯t even know her brother was Weins? That... sounds a bit far-fetched, right?¡±


    ¡°The family must have deliberately kept it a secret, right? Looking at it this way, Xia Wenjin does seem a bit pitiful, no wonder she¡¯s always targeting Lu Zhaozhao...¡±


    ¡°The son is a Genius Painter, while the daughter remains nameless. Even if the mother is a genius, she seems to favor sons too heavily, doesn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°Turns out even geniuses can¡¯t avoid cliche?s... Poor Xia Wenjin!¡±


    ...


    For a moment, the hot search #XiaWenjinReallyPitiful shot up the rankings.


    Xia Wenjin, seizing the gap, planned to quietly add fuel to the fire...

 Chapter 256 - 256 255 You Have the Nerve to Mention It

    ?Chapter 256: Chapter 255: You Have the Nerve to Mention It? Chapter 256: Chapter 255: You Have the Nerve to Mention It? She decisively flipped through her old phone¡¯s photo album, finding quite a few pictures she had taken before and posted them one by one with her current phone.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin: Honestly, no one brought it up, and I never wanted to talk about it, but for the past 20 years, I¡¯ve been kept in the dark. Not to mention my living expenses... I¡¯m very grateful to my current parents, and as for some people in the past, I don¡¯t want to mention them anymore. #XiaWenjinIsSoPitiful#¡±


    The Weibo post about her immediately started circulating on various platforms.


    But some eagle-eyed people immediately jumped out.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the other pictures Xia Wenjin posted, but the outfit in picture three is a unique piece from XNN; P.S.: Haute couture might have duplicates, but unique pieces definitely won¡¯t. XNN¡¯s unique pieces are on a totally different level from haute couture. The price is multiplied by 10.¡±


    ¡°I know this one! The bags in the first picture are all limited edition from HLT, plus HHG. The first row of bags starts at 300,000+, and the following limited edition ones have skyrocketed in price...¡±


    ¡°So the shoes in picture seven also look like they¡¯re from XNN¡¯s...¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for the internet to do a complete 180; those who had pitied Xia Wenjin all felt like they had been slapped in the face.


    Because the items Xia Wenjin showed off could all be considered top luxury, or even luxury among luxuries.


    Even the cheapest item was worth tens of thousands.


    These high-end brands were all understated, and only the truly wealthy treated them as everyday purchases.


    They were fundamentally different from the so-called luxuries known to the general public.


    Xia Wenjin had not expected public opinion to flip so quickly; she even suspected that the ones claiming the items were luxurious were hired by the Xia Family.


    To refute these ¡°paid posters,¡± she went out of her way to spend money on professional appraisers to authenticate the items in her photos.


    But before the results could come in, the luxury brands themselves took the stage to claim their products.


    ¡°XNN: The clothes are indeed our custom orders, made for Miss Luna, and the measurements were taken personally at Miss Luna¡¯s place for Miss Xia Wenjin. #WeAreGenuineLuxury#¡±


    ¡°HLT: The limited edition bags from picture one are from our releases this year, last year, and the year before. #WeAreGenuineLuxury#¡±


    ¡°HHG: The bags are real, and so is the person... #WeAreGenuineLuxury#¡±


    This stirred up even more excitement among the onlookers.


    ¡°Is Xia Wenjin the legendary ignorant rich person? Everything she¡¯s been given from her foster family is top-notch, yet she¡¯s still playing the victim, tsk tsk...¡±


    ¡°The lavish financial onslaught from her foster mom is so fierce; poor her, let me bear this burden!¡±


    ¡°Shangjing has a new case of jealousy. This is pitiful? Who will pity me?¡±


    ¡°Speaking of luxury brand official Weibo accounts, isn¡¯t HHG¡¯s official account being a bit cheeky? One extra word, and they could easily get cyberbullied, hahaha...¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin, such an ingrate, thinking she got more from her birth parents, ahahaha... laughable, what she¡¯s showing now isn¡¯t even as expensive as the previous bags!¡±


    ¡°Some people think they can come back and be the pampered young lady, but they end up losing a watermelon for a sesame seed, hahaha...¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenjin was already furious because of the previous incident, and seeing netizens mocking her made her even more enraged.


    She had never imagined that the clothes, shoes, and bags she had once looked down upon were so valuable!


    Had she known, she would have brought everything with her.


    At the time, she felt that everything the Xia Family bought for her had depreciated in value, which is why she hadn¡¯t brought any of it back with her.


    She suddenly remembers the outfit she wore to the Lu Family¡¯s house, which she had thrown away directly at the high-end clothing store.


    Now she finally understood why the shop assistant who had picked up her clothes looked so uncontrollably delighted.


    Xia Wenjin bit her lip, but then she began to feel that something wasn¡¯t quite right.


    Even though Wen Qingyu and Xia Wenmo were both famous painters, their level of spending was not something one or two famous artists could afford.


    Her eyes suddenly narrowed ¨C could it be that the Xia Family had some secret she was unaware of?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed; she could never figure out why the Xia Family kept her in the dark.


    Was it because they knew from the start that she wasn¡¯t the Xia Family¡¯s daughter, so they treated her this way?


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and after much deliberation decided to call Xia Wenmo.


    ¡°Dudu dudu...¡±


    After a few rings, someone picked up the phone.


    Xia Wenjin secretly breathed a sigh of relief; she had thought Xia Wenmo would just hang up on her.


    Back when she was with the Xia Family, their relationship was the worst, and she rarely called him. Even if she did call, they would talk for at most a few sentences.


    Xia Wenjin looked at the connected call screen and gently pressed the record button.


    ¡°Hello? Xia Wenjin? What kind of mischief are you up to this time?¡± The voice of Xia Wenmo on the other end was cold, his words laced with distinct impatience.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s lips curled slightly as she asked as calmly as possible, ¡°I just want to know if you¡¯ve been intentionally hiding the real situation of the Xia Family from me for these past 20 years?¡±


    Xia Wenmo scoffed lightly, ¡°Intentionally hiding? Xia Wenjin, don¡¯t you have any idea what kind of person you are?¡±


    She was arrogant and unreasonable as a child; if she knew her family was powerful and influential, would anyone else still be able to live?


    Of course, the main concern was that her parents were worried about Xia Wenjin being a girl. Once her identity as the young lady of the Xia Family became known, she could be approached with ill intentions by some despicable people.


    Thinking of how painstakingly his parents protected Xia Wenjin only for her to cast it aside as if it was nothing, made Xia Wenmo feel bitter.


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists, ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you had to hide it from me, given that our family was well-off...¡±


    ¡°Even if we had told you, what could you have done? Aren¡¯t you the type who, upon seeing a family wealthier than your own parents, would turn her back on her kin without a second thought?¡± Although Xia Wenmo was too lazy to continue arguing with her, he was compelled by curiosity about Xia Wenjin¡¯s real purpose.


    If it was just to inquire about the Xia Family¡¯s affairs, it was too out of character for Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenmo leaned back, glancing at Xia Wenqing who was sitting beside him processing documents, and took a silent look at the recording pen that was open beside him; his irritation seemed to ease considerably.


    With his elder brother there to deal with the troublemaker Xia Wenjin, all he needed to do was to play the part of a tool.


    He might as well get the chance to give Xia Wenjin a good tongue-lashing and not be at a loss.


    Suddenly, the sound of sobbing came through the phone, ¡°Big brother, do you really hate me so much? Is it just because I won a painting competition over you when we were kids?¡±


    ¡°Have the nerve to bring that up? If it wasn¡¯t for you sabotaging my hand, you think you could have won with your level of painting? You wouldn¡¯t stand a ghost of a chance!¡± Xia Wenmo became infuriated the moment he remembered the events of their childhood.


    How shameless could this woman get?


    On the other end of the phone, Xia Wenjin seemed to be affected by his words, her crying grew louder, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s all my fault, I know I was wrong, can you just let me go... *sobs*...¡±

 Chapter 257: 254: So Many Melons, Cant Finish Eating, Just Cant Finish!

    Chapter 257: Chapter 254: So Many Melons, Can¡¯t Finish Eating, Just Can¡¯t Finish!


    Xia Wenmo was so frustrated by Wen Jin¡¯s nonsensical words that he felt like his head was about to burst into smoke, ¡°Wen Jin, are you sick? If you are, hurry up and get better! If you want to play the pity card, go to your parents, stop trying to gain my sympathy!¡±


    ¡°Please spare me, woo... spare me...¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s brows instantly furrowed into a knot, and with a swift move, he ended the call.


    Beside him, Xia Wenqing slowly turned off the recorder that was recording.


    ¡°Wen Jin must think everyone is as stupid as her, not realizing the ulterior motive behind this call?¡± Wenmo couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes as he glanced at the recorder in Wenqing¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Do I look like a fool to her?¡±


    Of the four brothers, Wenmo had the worst relationship with Wen Jin. Even if she were to apologize, she wouldn¡¯t bother apologizing to him.


    ¡°...¡±


    Wenqing didn¡¯t say a word, just silently worked on the files on his computer.


    Seeing Wenqing¡¯s silence, Wenmo sprawled himself on the sofa, full of disdain. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she call Lao Si? Isn¡¯t he easier to fool than me?¡±


    Wenqing¡¯s typing halted suddenly, he turned his head to look at Wenmo, ¡°At least he wouldn¡¯t directly scold her like you do. Even if Lao Si dislikes her, he would tone it down a bit when a girl cries. Someone like you who scolds more as they cry, indeed, is not common.¡±


    Wenmo¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°Second brother, why do I feel like you¡¯re implying something about me?¡±


    Wenqing pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose and slowly looked away, ¡°What are you thinking? Be confident, remove the ¡®seems like¡¯.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    When Zhaozhao woke up again, it was already lunchtime.


    Knowing she didn¡¯t want to move, Sinian scooped her up, blanket and all, and carried her directly to the dining room.


    Due to Sinian¡¯s instructions, Qian Hong had temporarily sent the villa¡¯s servants to the Song Mansion.


    Besides her and two chefs, there was nobody else around.


    After arranging the meal, Qian Hong left directly.


    Without anyone else in the room, Zhaozhao leisurely leaned against Sinian, indulging in being fed by him.


    Reassuredly living the life of someone who spreads their hands for clothes and opens their mouth for food.


    After eating half a bowl of beef and vegetable porridge, Sinian wiped her little mouth with a napkin from the table, ¡°Eat slowly, you didn¡¯t have breakfast this morning, eating too hastily is bad for your stomach.¡±


    Zhaozhao¡¯s brows arched slightly, and her cheeks puffed up instantly, ¡°I wonder who didn¡¯t let me have breakfast, hmph.¡±


    Her feigned angry look made her resemble a suddenly puffed-up little blowfish; fierce at first glance but amusing upon closer inspection.


    Sinian repeatedly admitted his mistake, ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s all my fault. I should have let you eat first. Exercising on an empty stomach indeed isn¡¯t good.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhaozhao¡¯s cheeks suddenly flushed.


    What empty stomach exercise?


    Huh?


    Why does such an ordinary phrase sound so suggestive here!!!


    Unable to help herself, Zhaozhao covered her flushed face, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the ground.


    Had she accidentally flipped some weird switch in Sinian?


    It seems she would have an opportunity to consult Doctor Tian soon...


    Song Sinian found her appearance incredibly cute and softly kissed her on the bridge of her nose, which startled Lu Zhaozhao so much that she shivered, ¡°I, I haven¡¯t had enough to eat yet!¡±


    Her fluffed-up appearance resembled a wary little animal, utterly adorable.


    Song Sinian struggled to hold back, but finally, he let out a soft laugh.


    Although he didn¡¯t say anything, that laugh seemed to say it all.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ten toes all pressed together, her toes blushing a light pink in embarrassment.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, the sound of a vibrating phone filled the room.


    It was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone.


    She answered without a second thought.


    She didn¡¯t even check the caller ID.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, have you seen the latest entertainment gossip? Oh my god, it¡¯s so thrilling, and there¡¯s so much juicy news, I can¡¯t even keep up!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s excited voice came through the phone.


    No speaker needed, Song Sinian could hear everything clearly.


    His face fell instantly, as Xu Zhenzhen, the gossip queen, would surely have her salary docked by Zhao Xi this month!


    He had just managed to divert Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attention away from external gossip, even sacrificing her breakfast time, and now this woman calls at noon with more gossip?


    Listening to Xu Zhenzhen, Lu Zhaozhao blinked blankly, her awareness slowly returning, ¡°Uh... is it about me having an affair?¡±


    ¡°Huh? You had an affair?¡± The other side paused, then quickly responded, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re still early in the game, and now... the gossip has shifted, and it¡¯s all on Xia Wenjin now!¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was even more confused.


    She recalled being on the ¡®hot search¡¯ for cheating in the morning, then hearing from Song Sinian that his elder brother would counterattack. That was just a few hours ago, what could have Xu Zhenzhen so excited already?


    If she remembered correctly, last time Xu Zhenzhen was this thrilled was when the purported ¡®good man of the entertainment industry¡¯ had his reputation collapse.


    Those claims were bizarre and distasteful.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t imagine what kind of scandal involving Xia Wenjin could get Xu Zhenzhen so excited.


    Xu Zhenzhen, hearing no response from the other side of the phone, continued, ¡°You¡¯ll never guess¡ªXia Wenjin turned out to be a gossip queen! Because of your elder brother and his mother being well-known in the art world, she claimed that your family mistreated her in lifestyle, and even posted life photos from her time with your family to prove her point, but each photo backfired on her.¡±


    As she spoke, she didn¡¯t forget to send screenshots to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Look at this, her setup before joining your family, oh, your family really spared no expense. Too bad she didn¡¯t appreciate it, ahahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao flipped through the photos Xu Zhenzhen sent to her phone, muttering, ¡°Wow... netizens these days really have far-reaching powers.¡±


    Not to mention Xia Wenjin, she didn¡¯t even recognize her.


    Xia Wenjin had the best daily supplies in the Xia Family which was kept from her for her protection.


    But she was actually raised in relative poverty in the Lu Family. Other than a few outfits she wore for formal appearances which matched the status of Lu Family¡¯s daughter, her private everyday clothes were worthless.


    Sometimes, the jewelry and handbags she used for outings were Cao Mei¡¯s because, to the Lu Family, she was just a one-time transaction merchandise.


    Any further investment was a waste.


    It was only after marrying into the Song Family and to uphold Mrs. Song¡¯s dignity that she began to recognize and familiarize herself with various luxury brands.

 Chapter 258: 257: Some people, greedy and biting off more than they can chew

    Chapter 258: Chapter 257: Some people, greedy and biting off more than they can chew


    ¡°That¡¯s not even the worst part! Xia Wenjin, for some reason, started a live stream to complain about how the Xia Family treated her poorly and even played a recording of a phone call with your third brother. Such a scheming bitch!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was munching on melon seeds while analytically breaking it down for Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°That phone recording was obviously intentional, trying to gain public sympathy, especially after her recent debacle, which she probably didn¡¯t expect herself.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lip, ¡°Maybe she didn¡¯t expect the Xia Family to care about her so much.¡±


    Her initial impression from Xia Wenjin¡¯s description was that the Xia Family¡¯s circumstances seemed bleak.


    Though after meeting the Xia Family, there were many inconsistencies, she never imagined their family was so extravagantly wealthy.


    So, it was normal for Xia Wenjin to be shocked.


    Xu Zhenzhen let out a long sigh, ¡°Some people, greedy and never satisfied, despite the Xia Family providing her everything, she still manages to play the victim, tsk tsk...¡±


    As she spoke, it seemed she suddenly remembered something and said, ¡°Right, I got so caught up gossiping with you, I almost forgot to tell you something important.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brow lifted slightly, slightly curious.


    Xu Zhenzhen was serious when it came to important matters, never joking.


    If she said it was important, it definitely was.


    ¡°Do you remember when Xia Wenjin subtly insulted you as an academic loser?¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice was much more serious than before.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, recalling how during an exam at school, Xia Wenjin had deliberately used a photo op for Weibo to subtly attack her.


    Her brows lifted slightly, ¡°She didn¡¯t mention that again during her live stream, did she?¡±


    ¡°The only chance she sees to outdo you, why would she let it go?¡± Xu Zhenzhen spoke of Xia Wenjin with obvious exasperation.


    Everything had been her own choice, yet now that things weren¡¯t working out, she tried to shift the blame onto others.


    Lu Zhaozhao had become a huge innocent target, unfortunately marked by such an idiot.


    After a moment¡¯s thought, Xu Zhenzhen timidly asked, ¡°Zhaozhao, are you confident about surpassing her in this exam?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao laughed wryly, ¡°Honestly, no.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    That left Xu Zhenzhen feeling a bit emo, since she had hoped this exam would be a major comeback.


    It seemed all their hopes now rested on Song Sinian.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if she keeps trying to trample me with her ¡®top student¡¯ facade, I won¡¯t let her get away with it,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, soft and mild, drifted over from the other end of the phone.


    Rather than seeming like words of comfort, they actually lit up Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes, ¡°Just for that, I¡¯ve got my eyes on Xia Wenjin! I recorded her livestream, and after you slap her with the truth, I¡¯ll make a meme video of her!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As expected... it had to be Xu Zhenzhen stepping up to fight.


    After hanging up with Xu Zhenzhen, Lu Zhaozhao only then noticed Song Sinian¡¯s intent gaze on her.


    ¡°Uh... honey?¡±


    She tentatively called out to him, but heard no response.


    He just rested his head in her neck crease, as if pondering something.


    Not quite comfortable, Lu Zhaozhao reached out to rub his head, softly saying, ¡°Honey, I need your help with something...¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s low voice came through.


    This made Lu Zhaozhao secretly breathe a sigh of relief.


    As long as he was still willing to talk, that was good.


    She smiled and turned her head, hugging Song Sinian¡¯s head, and cooed, ¡°You heard what Xu Zhenzhen said just now, right? She wants to undermine me again. Can I not fight back?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly, seemingly unmoved emotionally, ¡°Do you want her to shut up forever?¡±


    ¡°Uh, this...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was momentarily stunned.


    Sinian saw the expression on her face, his big hand slowly grasping her small hand, his emotional fluctuation inexplicable, ¡°Did I disappoint you?¡±


    Song Sinian was a bit uneasy as he stroked the back of her hand, not even noticing it himself.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out and held Song Sinian¡¯s hand, ¡°How could you? I¡¯m no sanctimonious white lotus. I just think killing Xia Wenjin directly would be letting her off too easily. Her end should be much more miserable.¡±


    Upon saying these words, Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian, ¡°So, hearing me say this, would you be disappointed in me?¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head without even thinking, ¡°No, whatever you do, I will help you. If you want her to shut up forever, she should shut up. If you want her to be miserable, she must be miserable.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking at his resolute manner, actually smiled with her eyebrows curved, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but even though it¡¯s menacing talk, it sounds like a love confession coming from your mouth.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s expression softened a lot, he held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand and kissed her fingertips, ¡°No way, it¡¯s the official romance-brain seal.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao laughed nonstop in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, realizing he truly was unmatched when it came to dry humor.


    Song Sinian gently hugged her, his big hand patting her back, then he asked after a moment, ¡°What did you just want me to help you do?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her little head, ¡°Help me collect all the test scores from this past half-year since I enrolled, including Xia Wenjin¡¯s. Make sure to organize them in order.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised as he looked at her face full of boldness and confidence, he started to look forward to what surprises Lu Zhaozhao had prepared for him...


    Because of the constant expose?s getting debunked, the live stream did attract quite a few people, but the heroine role that had been promoted all along was still stalled.


    Other scripts had no good roles, so the agent thought of letting her live stream to sell products.


    Xia Wenjin, always high and mighty, heard about live streaming sales, gave her agent the cold shoulder, and went straight back to the Lu Family.


    The image of her being despoiled by that despicable man at the Xiao Family villa still haunted her.


    When she thought about the room at the Xiao Family where she had been with that man, she felt disgusted.


    That man was a pervert!


    Although he didn¡¯t show it clearly, he had the audacity to touch her under those circumstances; he definitely wasn¡¯t a good person!


    Fortunately, where Xiao Mo had touched her was quite private and not visible, otherwise she...


    Xia Wenjin gritted her teeth, cuddled up in the bedroom at the Lu Family, her whole body shaking with anger.


    One day, she would definitely take brutal revenge on that despicable man!


    And on Song Keren, who had caused her to end up like this!


    When she had first suspected that Song Keren was the mastermind, she had wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine, but she quickly gave up...

 Chapter 259: 258: You... Have you been hit?

    Chapter 259: Chapter 258: You... Have you been hit?


    It wasn¡¯t that she was averse to her current identity.


    Rather... even if she were to ruin Song Keren, she couldn¡¯t marry Justin right now.


    Song Keren was no longer of the Song Family, and Justin detested her, so she might as well use this point to continue to get close to Justin.


    Why not let Song Keren experience what it felt like to be trampled under the feet of those she despised?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s fingertips twirled as she picked up her phone and sent a message to Justin, ¡°Justin, do you have time recently to go out for a drink?¡±


    Lately, she and Justin had been corresponding frequently, and that man¡¯s attitude towards her was still gentle.


    She knew that man had feelings for her, if it weren¡¯t for that damnable Song Keren...


    ¡°I have time today. Miss Xia, would you like to go out for a drink?¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t expect Justin to reply so quickly, let alone extend an invitation directly.


    She pursed her lips, mused for a moment, and then immediately sent a message back, ¡°I¡¯m currently at the Lu Family. If Mr. Justin is convenient...¡±


    Mr. and Mrs. Lu should be together with Xiao Jinglan right now.


    Thanks to her successful matchmaking, Lu Dagui hadn¡¯t troubled her about her overturned plans.


    As for whether Xiao Mo would agree to invest and how he would do it, that was no longer her concern.


    She was not as foolish as Lu Zhaozhao, who had had Sinian sign such an outrageous agreement for the sake of the Lu Family.


    The thought made Xia Wenjin clench her fists involuntarily. Despite Lu Zhaozhao making such excessive demands when she married into the Song Family, Sinian still treasured her like a gem.


    Ha! Lu Zhaozhao really was as capable as Lu Dagui claimed.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, Xia Wenjin¡¯s phone vibrated again; it was Justin.


    He had actually called her directly, which somewhat surprised her.


    Was it that he didn¡¯t want to come pick her up?


    Xia Wenjin hesitated for a moment, but still answered the call.


    Soon, Justin¡¯s magnetic voice came through from the other end of the line, ¡°Miss Xia, I¡¯m already at the entrance of the Lu Family. I¡¯m calling to tell you not to rush, I¡¯m not busy tonight and can wait for you for as long as it takes.¡±


    His words instantly warmed Xia Wenjin¡¯s entire being.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that, after testing Justin¡¯s limits time and again, she would be pleasantly surprised every time.


    It seemed that this man¡¯s fall into her hands was only a matter of time.


    Now, what she had to do was to make this man submit to her.


    Xia Wenjin suddenly felt emboldened, her tone softening a few degrees, ¡°Okay, I just got back to the Lu Family not too long ago, I do need some time to get ready.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll wait for you downstairs.¡±


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Justin finally hung up the phone.


    He glanced at the villa¡¯s windows through the front windshield, then casually tossed his phone onto the passenger seat.


    These past few days, he had been busy cleaning up the mess left by marrying Song Keren, which was already annoying enough.


    He had no desire to return to his current home.


    Right after Song Keren gave him another barrage of calls, he had just received Xia Wenjin¡¯s message, so he made his way here.


    His feelings for Xia Wenjin were no different from those for Song Keren; in fact, in his eyes, Xia Wenjin was even more useful than Song Keren.


    Song Keren had already been disowned by the Song Family, but Xia Wenjin was still the Lu Family¡¯s precious daughter.


    Who mattered more, he could discern that.


    Xia Wenjin had recently married the disowned Xiao Mo, her situation wasn¡¯t any better than his; willing to confide in him, he was naturally happy to be ¡°used¡±.


    However... he wouldn¡¯t waste this prime opportunity to get what he wanted.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t struggle for too long in the villa; twenty minutes later, she appeared before Justin.


    As soon as she sat in the passenger seat, she smiled lightly at Justin, ¡°Sorry, did I come down a bit late...¡±


    Her voice sounded somewhat pitiable, her eyes looking at him, even faintly reddening.


    Justin, maintaining a gentle smile, shook his head, ¡°Not at all; waiting for a lady is a gentleman¡¯s basic courtesy.¡±


    As he said this, he took the chance to size up Xia Wenjin¡¯s attire.


    The weather was now considered early winter; while daytime was still manageable, the nights were bitterly cold.


    Especially when the sun set, Xia Wenjin was only wearing a tank top with an extremely thin cardigan on top.


    His glance swept past her collarbone, and just then he saw what seemed to be... bloodstains.


    Xia Wenjin seemed to notice his gaze and immediately covered the area she had just touched.


    Her hand didn¡¯t cover it thoroughly, even more of the dark red scab peeped through her fingers.


    ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t look...¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she spoke.


    But by the time Justin looked up again, Xia Wenjin¡¯s tears had already fallen.


    Justin was slightly startled, ¡°You... were you hit?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t speak, but her silence proved to be a better explanation.


    Given his understanding of Mr. and Mrs. Lu, they shouldn¡¯t resort to hitting her; after all, they had always shown affection to this daughter publicly.


    So the only person left who would have hit Xia Wenjin was the recently married Xiao Mo.


    His eyes narrowed, ¡°Xiao Mo, he...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Xia Wenjin, as if startled, immediately shrank back, and seeing Justin scared, she then timidly pleaded, ¡°Can you please not mention his name in front of me?¡±


    She took a deep breath, as if to stabilize her own emotions, begging Justin.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Now Justin was completely sure.


    The injuries on Xia Wenjin¡¯s body were caused by Xiao Mo.


    Could it be because of being disowned by the Song Family that he took his anger out on Xia Wenjin?


    She had consistently targeted Lu Zhaozhao for everything and made outrageous claims online; it was normal for the Song Family to be annoyed.


    But... Justin, puzzled, raised an eyebrow; Xiao Mo didn¡¯t seem like a fool, without the Song Family to rely on, shouldn¡¯t he hold onto the Lu Family tightly?


    Could it be... the Lu Family wasn¡¯t doing so well?


    Justin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and suddenly he had an idea, ¡°It¡¯s cold today; let me take you somewhere to warm up.¡±


    Investigating the situation of the Lu Family wouldn¡¯t be easy; if he wanted firsthand information now, he had to start with Xia Wenjin.


    He had already been burnt once before with Song Keren; this time, he had to be cautious no matter what...


    If Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t assist his business as he imagined, then he would have to consider other options; using her as a stepping stone wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea.


    Justin and Xia Wenjin, each with their own thoughts in the car, were unaware that every move they made had already been captured early on by someone in the shadows.


    By the time their car left the Lu Family villa¡¯s gate, the footage had been precisely sent out¡ª

 Chapter 260: 259: I Cant Take It Anymore, Im Done For!

    Chapter 260: Chapter 259: I Can¡¯t Take It Anymore, I¡¯m Done For!


    In the training room, a tall man used a towel to wipe the sweat off his cheeks while looking at the messages coming in on his phone.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin with Justin, the man seemed not surprised at all.


    ¡°Ah!!! Big brother! Save me, big brother! I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± Far away, Xia Wenyan lay on the sparring stage, completely resigned to his fate.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t come, I¡¯m going to be beaten to death by Song Sinian...¡±


    The Song Sinian in question simply removed his boxing gloves, then bent over to grab Xia Wenyan by the back of his collar with one hand and lifted him off the ground.


    In his grip, Xia Wenyan instantly became like a little chicken awaiting slaughter.


    He regretted his earlier excitement just as much as he had been enthusiastic about coming.


    No wonder his second and third brothers never returned after sparring with Song Sinian just once.


    At that time, he had thought that Song Sinian had stolen their family¡¯s little cabbage and could blatantly not give it back during these times.


    It turned out not to about getting even; it was clearly about getting beaten.


    He couldn¡¯t even last a single round before Song Sinian had him pinned and was hitting him.


    His big brother said that Song Sinian was still holding back when hitting him...


    What would have happened if he really went all out?


    ¡°Big brother... I can¡¯t do it anymore, I¡¯m about to croak!¡± His pitiful eyes stared intently at Xia Wenjue sitting in the distance, not forgetting to frantically wave his hands, fearing his big brother wouldn¡¯t see him.


    With a helpless sigh, Xia Wenjue said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right there. Song Sinian, let him go.¡±


    ¡°Thud.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    The next second, Xia Wenyan was tossed aside by Song Sinian.


    Reaching for the water bottle in the corner.


    Xia Wenyan sprang back to life on the spot, rolled over, and determinedly flipped out of the sparring stage.


    Too terrifying, way too terrifying!


    He would never spar with Song Sinian again, wuwuwu...


    Just that combination of punches he had just experienced made him feel as though Song Sinian had beaten the life out of him.


    Xia Wenyan looked at Xia Wenjue with a face full of grievance, ¡°Big brother, what was so important that you just had to look at your phone? Was it something to do with Zhaozhao?¡±


    If his safety as a dear little brother had been neglected for something other than his sister, he really would feel emo.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°It¡¯s related, but not extremely so.¡±


    He put away his phone and walked over slowly, seeing that both Xia Wenyan and Song Sinian were watching him, he then leisurely spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve had people monitoring Xia Wenjin¡¯s movements, and just now, my contact sent a message, here.¡±


    Saying that, he handed his phone to Xia Wenyan.


    ¡°What the heck?! How is that even possible? Didn¡¯t she just marry Xiao Mo? She can¡¯t possibly already be cheating on him, can she?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s jaw nearly dropped.


    But soon after, a wicked grin spread across his face, ¡°If Song Keren finds out, do you think they would start fighting each other?¡±


    People like Xia Wenjin and Song Keren, so full of malice, he didn¡¯t want to spare them an ounce of kindness.


    Refusing to live a good life and instead climbing up by stepping others down, such people could not be considered human.


    Especially when those being stepped on were their dearly beloved little sister!


    Xia Wenjue pursed his lips noncommittally, ¡°Don¡¯t you understand Xia Wenjin¡¯s personality yet? Whatever she wants to get, she¡¯ll use any means necessary to obtain it.¡±


    As he said this, his gaze inadvertently drifted towards Song Sinian by his side.


    The first thing Xia Wenjin did after returning to the Lu Family was to slander Lu Zhaozhao, followed by trying to snatch someone else¡¯s husband, utterly devoid of any sense of morality.


    She had always been like that since she was young.


    Despite the restrictions placed on her by her family, she still did as she pleased, even pretending to be obedient on the surface, all the while stopping at nothing in secret.


    Xia Wenjin always thought she had hid it well, not knowing that most of her messes were cleaned up by him and Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenyan, propping his chin and leaning on the railing of the PK stage, blinked with obvious malice gleaming in his eyes, ¡°So... should we tell Song Keren?¡±


    Song Sinian put his water cup back where it was and glanced at Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenyan, saying indifferently, ¡°Song Keren already knows that Xia Wenjin and Justin have hooked up.¡±


    Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjue looked at him in surprise. Although they didn¡¯t say anything, their faces clearly read, ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils shifted slightly, ¡°That time when Zhaozhao went to take exams at school, Song Keren sought her out, saying she wanted to join forces with her because Xia Wenjin had seduced her husband.¡±


    Compared to Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenyan was clearly more shocked.


    He almost incredulously covered his mouth, ¡°My goodness, did Song Keren get a new brain after getting married? She found out so soon? I thought she wouldn¡¯t know until Xia Wenjin exposed herself!¡±


    After all, the personality she showed on the variety show wasn¡¯t fake; she was genuinely foolish.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Should we give Song Keren a little hint?¡± Xia Wenyan squinted his peach blossom eyes, his expression full of the eagerness to stir trouble.


    Before, it was these two women scheming against Lu Zhaozhao, now it¡¯s time they got a taste of their own medicine!


    Seeing the two men next to him remained silent, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but pout, ¡°Can¡¯t we reveal just a tiny bit?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Song Sinian cut in abruptly, causing Xia Wenyan¡¯s face to fall, but the next sentence brightened his entire expression.


    ¡°If they¡¯re going to tear into each other, we need to give precise details of the place and time.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes immediately narrowed, ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s the way! If these two women aren¡¯t tearing into each other, we would truly be letting them off too easily.¡±


    He placed his hand on Xia Wenjue¡¯s shoulder beside him and murmured, ¡°Big brother, do you think... should we notify some seasoned paparazzi to go there?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Song Sinian and Xia Wenjue almost spoke in unison, baffling Xia Wenyan.


    He frowned in confusion, ¡°Why not?¡±


    Xia Wenjue patted Xia Wenyan on the back, ¡°You¡¯re still a bit green. What do you think will happen if the affair between Justin and Xia Wenjin blows up?¡±


    ¡°With Justin in this cuckolded situation and caught by his wife, it¡¯s highly likely they will both get a divorce, right?¡± Xia Wenyan smacked his lips, speaking rather conservatively.


    Justin was very concerned about his image. The day of Song Keren¡¯s marriage, he immediately lost the halo of the ¡®Song Family,¡¯ which irked him a lot.


    If Song Keren drags this dirty laundry into the spotlight, he would definitely not keep her.


    A divorce was almost a foregone conclusion.


    As for Xiao Mo...


    He might tolerate it for the sake of ambition, but if he found out the Lu Family was finished, would he still tolerate it?


    ¡°Besides, with Xia Wenjin¡¯s intelligence, do you think she wouldn¡¯t take advantage of this situation to latch onto Justin? By the time of the divorce, she might even manage to whitewash herself...¡±

 Chapter 261: 260: You Can Grab Her and Give Her a Good Beating!

    Chapter 261: Chapter 260: You Can Grab Her and Give Her a Good Beating!


    He tapped on Xia Wenyan¡¯s glabella and said, ¡°You¡¯re all in the entertainment industry; you should know this isn¡¯t hard, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan suddenly found himself at a loss for words.


    Others might not be up to it, but Xia Wenjin absolutely was; she had thick skin and no bottom line.


    She could convincingly turn black into white even with her eyes closed.


    Xia Wenjue glanced at Song Sinian beside him and asked indifferently, ¡°You think so too, don¡¯t you?¡±


    What he didn¡¯t expect was Song Sinian shaking his head with an air of detachment, ¡°I just think it would be more interesting if he solved this privately.¡±


    Xiao Mo was a scumbag of what breed, he knew all too well. Recently, he might be pretending because of her status as the Lu Family¡¯s precious daughter, but what if he found out she had cuckolded him?


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjue exchanged glances and suddenly fell silent.


    As expected when it comes to being sinister, Song Sinian took the cake.


    And so, with the silent ¡°assistance¡± of the three men, Song Keren precisely tracked down the lovey-dovey Xia Wenjin and Justin, and together with Xiao Jinglan gave Xia Wenjin a beating.


    Lu Zhaozhao was a little shocked when she learned of this news.


    Not because the affair was so outrageous, nor because of Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s fighting prowess.


    Rather, it was because Song Keren herself was the one who told her.


    She raised her eyebrows slightly, watched the video Song Keren sent her, then looked at Song Keren again, ¡°So... are you sending me this video to recommend I join a martial arts class with you?¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s brows were clearly furrowed, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I don¡¯t have time to joke with you. I told you last time, I want to cooperate with you. This is my sincerity.¡±


    She had reached the end of her patience with that woman, Xia Wenjin.


    How dare she so blatantly seduce her husband, and the two even went out for drinks alone!


    When she saw that bitch, she was cooing and crying in Justin¡¯s arms!


    Shameless creature!


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, ¡°I recall I also told you that your brother would be more suitable for this matter, right? After all, he¡¯s the one being cuckolded.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, we can¡¯t tell my brother; they can¡¯t divorce!¡± Song Keren bit her lip, ¡°Are you going to cooperate with me or not?! She hurt you so badly before, don¡¯t you want revenge?¡±


    Song Keren was desperately inciting Lu Zhaozhao, wishing she could just push her head down and make her join in revenge against Xia Wenjin.


    Right now, she may be Justin¡¯s woman, but she absolutely held no power.


    Even her finances were not generous.


    Because the Song Family had stricken her name, and because she had hit Xia Wenjin, Justin showed her no good face.


    If she touched Xia Wenjin, Justin would definitely divorce her.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was different.


    Although she might not want to admit it now, the Song Family was indeed good to her. As long as she was willing, dealing with Xia Wenjin would be easy, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Keren¡¯s persistence and couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows slightly, ¡°What you mean is, I should seek revenge against anyone who¡¯s hurt me?¡±


    Her eyes blazed as she looked at Song Keren, causing her to involuntarily swallow hard.


    Remembering what she had done to Lu Zhaozhao before, Song Keren felt somewhat guilty.


    She pursed her lips, ¡°I, I was also schemed against by Xia Wenjin before, that¡¯s why I targeted you online, but I didn¡¯t really do anything too excessive to you, right?¡±


    Song Keren thought carefully. Most of what Lu Zhaozhao knew could be blamed on Xia Wenjin.


    As for the things she had done, Lu Zhaozhao probably had no clue.


    Thinking this, Song Keren suddenly felt more confident, ¡°You should only strike back hard at those who truly harmed you in secret!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded seriously, ¡°Now that you say it, I suddenly think there might be some sense in what you¡¯re saying.¡±


    Song Keren thought she had successfully persuaded Lu Zhaozhao and became even more excited, ¡°Right! Don¡¯t worry, cooperating with me will only benefit you and cause no harm. I can tell you where she goes at the right time, and you can catch her and deal with her harshly!¡±


    As long as Xia Wenjin suffered, she would feel relieved!


    It would be best if someone could beat her up every day!


    Let¡¯s see if she still has the face to seduce her man!


    Seeing the hardly hidden thoughts written all over her face, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into laughter.


    ¡°Ha ha ha... Song Keren, has anyone ever told you that you, hmm, are quite interesting?¡±


    Although Song Keren was somewhat annoyed, she vaguely sensed that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s remark was not complimentary.


    She indeed wanted to collaborate with Lu Zhaozhao, but that didn¡¯t mean she had to be beneath her.


    Song Keren¡¯s face instantly cooled, and she glared at Lu Zhaozhao with dissatisfaction, ¡°What do you mean? Are you trying to mock me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°No, I just genuinely find you interesting, and your recent words reminded me of something even more interesting.¡±


    Saying this, she took out her phone from her pocket, flipped through it, and then placed it on the table.


    Song Keren¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to listen to your so-called interesting story; it has nothing to do with me!¡±


    ¡°No no no, this matter is indeed closely related to you.¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fingertips lightly slid to the recording interface.


    Soon, Yin Zhuhai¡¯s voice emerged from the phone, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do. I was deluded by Song Keren and spiked everyone¡¯s fruit drinks with alcohol. I really know it was wrong, I promise I¡¯ll never trust that woman Song Keren again...¡±


    Hearing Yin Zhuhai¡¯s voice, she froze completely.


    As she listened to the latter part of the recording, she recoiled as if burned, stepping back several steps, watching Lu Zhaozhao warily.


    After a moment, she realized something, ¡°No, it¡¯s not! It has nothing to do with me! He, he¡¯s deliberately slandering me!¡±


    Song Keren stuttered in her denial, having just incited Lu Zhaozhao. If Lu Zhaozhao truly intended to strike back at her, she¡¯d be in deep trouble.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t care why you had Yin Zhuhai tamper with the drinks, but I need to tell you explicitly not to drag me into your dog-eat-dog fight with Xia Wenjin. I¡¯m really not interested.¡±


    Song Keren gnashed her teeth, and despite Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s insulting words, she didn¡¯t dare utter a word of retaliation.


    She was bold with Lu Zhaozhao because she had married Justin, but if Lu Zhaozhao shared this recording with him, she¡¯d be finished.


    Not because of Lu Zhaozhao, but there was Song Sinian present at the recording that day, and he was also someone who had the spiked fruit drink.


    If, after her instigation, Yin Zhuhai had added something other than alcohol to the drink, and when responsibility was investigated, Yin Zhuhai would surely betray her just like now!

 Chapter 262: 261: Idol My Ass!

    Chapter 262: Chapter 261: Idol My Ass!


    Back then, it definitely wasn¡¯t something that could be brushed off with just a few words.


    Song Keren couldn¡¯t help but shiver all over, ¡°I... I...¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Speechless, Song Keren could only scurry away from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dressing room.


    She had just reached the door when she saw Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai entering with milk teas in hand.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s wary eyes fixed on Song Keren, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    To him, Song Keren was pretty much as bad as Xia Wenjin.


    Both had a bad relationship with Lu Zhaozhao, and it definitely wasn¡¯t for anything good if they were looking for her.


    Especially since he had just learned that Song Keren had previously sought out Lu Zhaozhao at school, wanting to collaborate with her, his gaze towards her became even more displeasing.


    Pei Huai naturally shared the same animosity.


    If Xia Wenyan disliked someone, he would dislike them twice as much.


    Song Keren glanced up at Xia Wenyan, her anger rising somewhat, ¡°What does it matter to you? Get lost!¡±


    As she said this, she pushed Xia Wenyan.


    Fortunately, Pei Huai was quick and agile, grabbing Xia Wenyan by the lower back and pulling him back a bit.


    Song Keren¡¯s outstretched hand missed, and she lost her balance, tumbling to the ground.


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Xia Wenyan burst out laughing, not leaving her any dignity.


    Song Keren, cursing, got up from the ground and was about to argue with them but happened to meet Pei Huai¡¯s particularly sinister gaze.


    It was as if, should she dare to say another word, he would reach out and rip her throat out the next second.


    A chill ran down Song Keren¡¯s neck, and she could only glare at them hatefully before leaving bitterly.


    Watching Song Keren¡¯s retreating figure, Xia Wenyan scoffed, about to walk into the dressing room when Pei Huai pulled him back.


    Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Xia Wenyan sharply inhale, ¡°Hiss...¡±


    Though his voice was low, it immediately caught Pei Huai¡¯s attention.


    His brow furrowed suddenly, ¡°Are you injured?¡±


    He reached anxiously to lift the hem of Xia Wenyan¡¯s shirt but saw a bruise on his waist just as he was pressing down.


    His mind exploded at once.


    Someone had hit Xia Wenyan without his knowing?!!


    Almost instantly, he tensed up, ¡°Who? Who laid hands on you?¡±


    He almost gritted his teeth, his eyes red and barely visible under the hanging strands of his hair, making his expression unreadable.


    He struggled to keep his voice restrained, trying to appear less dangerous.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this later, I need to give Zhaozhao...¡± he said, lifting up the milk tea and intending to enter the dressing room first.


    But Pei Huai clung tightly to his wrist, ¡°Tell me, how were you injured?¡±


    The grip on his wrist tightened a bit, just to the point where it was unbearable yet he absolutely couldn¡¯t break free.


    ¡°I...¡± Xia Wenyan was about to say something when Pei Huai clearly indicated ¡°we can¡¯t move past this unless you talk.¡±


    He sighed, looked around, and gently tugged on the corner of Pei Huai¡¯s shirt, ¡°Can we go to your dressing room to talk? This...¡±


    He looked a bit troubled.


    Pei Huai hardly hesitated and immediately nodded in agreement. Gripping his wrist, he pulled him towards his own lounge.


    The guests¡¯ lounges weren¡¯t too far away.


    So Xia Wenyan quickly reached Pei Huai¡¯s lounge.


    Pei Huai led him to sit on the sofa, his eyes forcefully suppressing the rage in his heart as he spoke extremely gently, ¡°Tell me, how did you get this injury? Don¡¯t worry, I will protect you.¡±


    His voice carried a deep certainty, causing Xia Wenyan to slightly startle, yet he found it hard to resist the fondness this man before him was showing.


    He chuckled softly, a bit embarrassed as he scratched his head, ¡°Actually... this injury happened while I was sparring with my older brother and Song Sinian...¡±


    ¡°Did they hit you?!¡± As Pei Huai said this, the temperature in the entire room seemed to drop noticeably.


    These two bastards, how dare they hit the person he cherished so deeply in his heart?!


    And to hit so hard?


    He had seen it clearly just now; his sides were all bruised!


    Was that sparring?


    That was beating!


    Listening to Pei Huai¡¯s words, Xia Wenyan¡¯s face grew even redder, and he immediately shook his head, ¡°No... They were letting me train, merely hitting the target in my hand.¡±


    Hearing this, Pei Huai, though his rage somewhat subsided, still looked at Xia Wenyan with a perplexed expression.


    He worried Xia Wenyan was lying.


    ¡°And the injury on your waist...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s face turned even more downward, ¡°My brother thought that my martial arts were poor, so he told me to practice more, and then... While I was slacking off and sleeping on the side, I accidentally rolled over and fell, along with the water bottle I was holding...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Upon hearing this, the tight grip of his hand on Xia Wenyan¡¯s wrist finally relaxed.


    He helplessly raised his hand and rubbed Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°You...¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment, feeling both heartache and finding him clumsily adorable.


    ¡°Did you apply any medicine to the injured area?¡± Pei Huai withdrew his hand, his gaze landing on his visibly embarrassed cheek.


    But he saw him falter for a second, then reluctantly lift his head, ¡°When I got home yesterday, I didn¡¯t think much of it, just showered and went to bed. Who would have thought that getting up today would really kill me.¡±


    With that, Xia Wenyan pursed his lips discontentedly, ¡°Back in the day... Ah!¡±


    Before he could finish his pretentious words, Pei Huai reached out and poked his waist.


    Though the force at his fingertip wasn¡¯t much, it was enough to make him gasp sharply.


    And his sharp scream even startled Pei Huai.


    He furrowed his brow tightly, ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°No need!¡± Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t give it a second thought before immediately clutching Pei Huai¡¯s hand, ¡°I, I just need to apply some ointment. If people find out I fell from atop the PK stage while sleeping, how embarrassing would that be! I am an idol!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    An idol my ass! Aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s suffering?!


    Though Pei Huai really wanted to say that, observing Xia Wenyan¡¯s tightly clenched hands, he took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go to the hospital, just stay put. I¡¯ll go get you some medicinal oil.¡±


    Xia Wenyan blinked his eyes, about to argue a few more words, but in the end, under Pei Huai¡¯s displeased gaze, obediently closed his mouth.


    Alright, for the sake of his idol facade, medicinal oil wasn¡¯t out of the question.


    But when Pei Huai picked up the medicinal oil, ready to apply it, Xia Wenyan felt completely awkward.


    ¡°Brother Pei, can we discuss this?¡± his peach blossom eyes nervously scanning Pei Huai, clearly on guard, ¡°You see, the injury here isn¡¯t as bad as you think. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s really necessary to apply the medicinal oil...¡±

 Chapter 263: 262: Just Afraid of Pain?

    Chapter 263: Chapter 262: Just Afraid of Pain?


    His strange expression made Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows slightly raise, ¡°You...¡±


    Are you afraid of him?


    Pei Huai¡¯s hand slowly clenched, and if it weren¡¯t for the need for the oil bottle in his hand, he might have crushed it with one palm.


    Had he been too obvious just now and been noticed by him?


    So was that why he was cautious?


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze was fixed on Xia Wenyan, and his mind instantly became chaotic; his heart also ached painfully.


    Even when breathing, he felt the air like blades with barbs, tormenting him over and over, and each breath was blood-soaked.


    He looked at Xia Wenyan somewhat desperately, even wanting to plead with him not to look at him with that kind of gaze.


    He didn¡¯t want this, really didn¡¯t want this.


    If even he looked at him with eyes full of fear, how was he to face the rest of his life?


    Like a person and heart rotting in a swamp, his whole being was slowly sinking.


    Seeing Pei Huai didn¡¯t move for a long time, Xia Wenyan glanced from the oil upward stealthily and caught Pei Huai standing pale and rigid.


    ¡°Brother? Brother Pei?¡±


    Xia Wenyan was also terrified.


    He reached out and took his hand, only then noticing how cold his fingertips were.


    He had seen such a lifeless look before, during what he called his darkest days.


    Lately, Pei Huai had been all smiles around him, appearing well, and he thought he had really recovered.


    But what had just happened? Was he triggered?


    Xia Wenyan had no idea what he had done to trigger Pei Huai.


    Not overthinking it, as if having made a very serious decision, he shouted at Pei Huai, ¡°I! I¡¯ll apply! I¡¯ll apply the oil!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai slowly came to his senses and saw Xia Wenyan looking resigned to fate.


    He skeptically raised an eyebrow and then listened to Xia Wenyan stutter, ¡°Pei, Brother Pei, can you be gentle later? I, I am a little bit afraid of pain, really, just a little...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t respond, but Xia Wenyan could notice his palm gradually warming up if he paid close attention.


    He... isn¡¯t afraid of him?


    Just afraid of pain?


    His dark eyes slightly lowered, watching his neck slowly turn pink from embarrassment; his heart suddenly started pounding uncontrollably.


    ¡°Thump, thump...¡±


    The heartbeats were almost dizzyingly intense.


    He didn¡¯t dislike him, and this realization melted the bitterness in his heart in an instant.


    He didn¡¯t dislike him.


    The corners of Pei Huai¡¯s mouth slowly curved, ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle.¡±


    Saying this, he slowly lifted the hem on the side of his waist and gently lifted, ¡°Hold on, if it hurts...¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Xia Wenyan stuffing the hem of his clothes into his mouth, completely looking resigned to fate.


    Pei Huai: ¡°...¡±


    He poured the medicinal oil into his palm, rubbed it until warm, and then applied it to the bruised side of Xia Wenyan¡¯s waist. As he gently pressed his palm, a muffled sound emanated.


    Pei Huai¡¯s hand stiffened, and he inexplicably found Wen Yan biting on his shirt hem, which he was rubbing medicinal oil on, a bit too stimulating for him at the moment.


    He turned his face away, trying not to think about anything else.


    But his gaze kept wandering over him unintentionally.


    Especially his whining¡ªit was truly torturous!


    Luckily, this did not last too long, and the medicinal oil was soon rubbed in.


    Pei Huai sighed in relief quietly and was about to say something to Xia Wenyan to break the awkward atmosphere when he saw him looking at him with a teary whimper.


    Damn!


    He was really going crazy!!!


    ¡°Take a rest, I¡¯ll take the milk tea to Zhaozhao.¡± After saying that, he left the break room like the wind, carrying the milk tea.


    Xia Wenyan was stunned, ¡°Brother Pei...¡±


    I have my milk tea too!


    But before he could finish speaking, Pei Huai had left, and Xia Wenyan completely shut down.


    Pei Huai left the break room but didn¡¯t head straight to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s room; instead, he took a long detour through a different corridor to her break room.


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat surprised to see Pei Huai coming alone.


    Her beautiful brows curved, ¡°Brother Pei? Do you need something?¡±


    Pei Huai almost always stayed close to her, so his coming alone must be something he didn¡¯t want Xia Wenyan to worry about, right?


    Pei Huai lifted the milk tea slightly toward Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Yanyan bought the milk tea for you. He¡¯s in my break room now, just put on some medicine...¡±


    ¡°He got hurt?¡± Lu Zhaozhao almost instinctively stood up, her eyebrows furrowed deeply. ¡°Who did it?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Seeing the identical scenario, Pei Huai actually blushed for a moment.


    He cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem... he accidentally fell asleep and rolled off the platform onto the water cup he was holding...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, not sure whether to sympathize with her brother or the water cup.


    However, Pei Huai¡¯s expression softened significantly, ¡°Here, drink your milk tea first.¡±


    His gaze on Lu Zhaozhao was definitely more pleased the more he looked.


    The previous little sister of Xia Wenyan had moved him a hundred times to want to get rid of her.


    He even prepared to be disliked by Xia Wenyan, but in the end... Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t give him a chance, directly tearing off Xia Wenjin¡¯s mask unintentionally.


    Initially, he was also somewhat cautious towards Lu Zhaozhao, fearing she might be another Xia Wenjin, so he always kept his guard up around her.


    But as they spent more time together, he could see more clearly that Lu Zhaozhao genuinely cared for Xia Wenyan.


    He picked up a cup of milk tea for Lu Zhaozhao, poked a straw into it, and placed it in front of her, ¡°Just now when we were coming over, I saw Song Keren leaving your room; did she come to ask you for a collaboration again?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly sneered, ¡°Yeah, she wants me to deal with Xia Wenjin; I really don¡¯t know what goes on in her head, she¡¯s seriously ill.¡±


    Pei Huai watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s response, the sneer towards others somewhat similar to Xia Wenyan¡¯s, they truly were siblings.


    Recalling the atmosphere when he was just with Xia Wenyan, he suddenly felt a bit better.


    He slowly sat down on a chair not far from Lu Zhaozhao, pondered for a moment, ¡°I heard aside from Song Keren, Xia Wenjin has been snooping around about your school grades lately, wanting to pull you down to establish her own image. Brother Pei helped you take care of both of them, how about that?¡±


    Pei Huai smiled brightly, his eyes and brows carrying a trace of bloodthirst.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost choked on the bubble tea she was drinking.


    She immediately started coughing, her little face turning red as she looked at Pei Huai, covering her small mouth with a tissue, taking a while to catch her breath.


    ¡°You, now that you have my brother, don¡¯t be so impulsive, cough cough cough...¡± Lu Zhaozhao spoke hurriedly, still coughing, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to make my brother a widower... uh, I mean, cough cough cough...¡±

 Chapter 264: 263: How Could We Not Know?

    Chapter 264: Chapter 263: How Could We Not Know?


    Pei Huai seemed to sense something, his entire pupils trembling.


    Lu Zhaozhao could tell by his reaction that she had just said too much, but... what was said was said.


    She sighed, ¡°Alright, stop trembling. Given how you treat my fourth brother, only he, the natural fool, wouldn¡¯t notice.¡±


    Pei Huai paused, but then slowly relaxed.


    He hesitated before looking at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You... don¡¯t object?¡±


    ¡°Why would I object? We¡¯ve both crawled out of hell step by step for the sake of love. I believe your feelings for him are genuine. That¡¯s enough,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said with a natural smile.


    She actually wasn¡¯t much opposed to this sort of thing.


    As long as two people truly loved each other, nothing else was an obstacle.


    In fact, she was more concerned about her fourth brother and felt more sympathy for Pei Huai.


    Her fourth brother was incredibly slow on the uptake; he probably still hadn¡¯t realized Pei Huai¡¯s feelings for him.


    What was more, his own emotional responses were just as slow.


    So, even if outsiders approved of their relationship, Pei Huai still had the Himalayas to climb in the form of Xia Wenyan...


    That night, a cold breeze swept over the windowsill of the hotel.


    Xia Wenjin sat quietly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her face still covered with numerous scratches from fingernails.


    Yet, a smile of triumph curved the corners of her mouth.


    Her initial intention was simply to curry favor with Justin, but she hadn¡¯t expected Song Keren to show up, resulting in both herself and Xiao Jinglan receiving a beating.


    But none of that mattered. What was important was that Justin had actually grown closer to her because she took the beating.


    The more ferociously Song Keren fought yesterday, the more she lost value in Justin¡¯s eyes.


    Such a brainless woman.


    How many men can live without their pride? With Song Keren making such a scene, she left no dignity for Justin; how could he possibly side with her?


    She used to be able to lord over others with the status of the Song Family, but now she was nothing.


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the wider her smile grew.


    ¡°Beep¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, the sound of the room¡¯s door being unlocked with a magnetic card echoed.


    Xia Wenjin knew that Justin had arrived.


    After she was beaten yesterday, Justin had swept her away, not only checking her into a higher-end hotel room but also calling an expensive private doctor for her.


    The wounds on her face weren¡¯t really a big deal, something she knew better than anyone.


    But she couldn¡¯t let on in front of Justin. The only way to control a man¡¯s heart was to make him feel sorry for her.


    ¡°Why are you sitting out here?¡± As soon as Justin entered, he saw Xia Wenjin, shrinks into a ball, sitting in front her of the floor-to-ceiling window with her back to him.


    He was about to walk over when Xia Wenjin shivered at first and then immediately flung herself at him upon seeing him.


    Justin was taken aback for a moment, but then the corners of his mouth quietly curved up.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that this daughter of the Lu Family would be easier to win over than he imagined.


    Although Song Keren was very annoying yesterday, her accidental aid proved to be quite useful to him this time around.


    With her head buried in Justin¡¯s chest, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t see his expression, let alone guess what he was thinking at that moment.


    She clung tightly to Justin, forcing a few tears out, ¡°I¡¯m just so scared, with no one by my side, I don¡¯t know what to do...¡±


    Her whole body was shaking, looking pitiful and endearing.


    Justin felt a moment of tenderness, but that was all it was, just a moment.


    He raised his hand and gently patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s back, saying, ¡°How can there be no one with you? You already have a husband, he...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention him, please...¡± This time, Xia Wenjin shook even more violently.


    This shaking was not entirely feigned.


    Suddenly, she remembered the day when Xiao Mo had made her take a bath and wait for him in the room.


    He used those filthy things to whip her, to abuse her...


    She couldn¡¯t help but shiver; she hated Xiao Mo to her core, but he had photos of her, and even if she hooked up with Justin, he wouldn¡¯t let her leave cleanly.


    She had to find an ally for herself.


    Find someone Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke, or better yet, make Xiao Mo disappear from this world!


    Justin obviously sensed something amiss from Xia Wenjin. He looked down at her, then at her hands clutching his clothes, and frowned, ¡°Why are you so afraid of your husband? What has he done to you?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was, after all, the heiress of the Lu Family, how could Xiao Mo dare to lay hands on her?


    Could it be that the Lu Family was on the brink of defeat?


    Is that why Xiao Mo was so brazen?


    Or does Xiao Mo have something on the Lu Family, or on Xia Wenjin herself?


    His questioning gaze swept past but definitively landed in Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes.


    He was suspecting her.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart chilled; thinking about it, it made sense. Justin was the regional vice president of XJ Group, how could a man without some savvy occupy such a position?


    She sniffled, slowly releasing Justin before saying, ¡°He, he hasn¡¯t done much to me, it¡¯s just some of his strange habits, I can¡¯t bear it... and he had drugged me in the production team before, and took photos...¡±


    Her words instantly dispelled Justin¡¯s concerns.


    So Xiao Mo did indeed have something on Xia Wenjin, no wonder she wanted to rebel but didn¡¯t dare to.


    Justin put on a grave face, but inside, he was overjoyed. The more such a woman existed, the easier it was for him to control her.


    He reached out and held Xia Wenjin into his arms, ¡°It¡¯s heartbreaking that such a beautiful person like you would encounter this; I had thought you and Xiao Mo were mutually in love...¡±


    Listening to the voice beside her ear, Xia Wenjin¡¯s lips curved up silently, ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I was hardly familiar with him. If it wasn¡¯t for my parents¡¯ sake, I wouldn¡¯t have married him. In fact, at that time, I had someone else in mind, but I didn¡¯t expect he would get married so quickly.¡±


    As she spoke this, she even looked up at Justin.


    It was almost as if she was saying, ¡°The one I fancied is you.¡±


    How could Justin not know?


    But he couldn¡¯t accept Xia Wenjin¡¯s affection so soon because what he wanted was the support of the Lu Family, not to marry her.


    The woman he wanted to marry was one who could help him reach the peak of his career, not one who would tarnish his name or hinder his work.


    How much the brothers of the Xia Family despised Xia Wenjin, he was well aware.


    He had originally thought that by marrying Song Keren, with the backing of the Song Family, he would be set. However, he hadn¡¯t expected Song Keren to have no connection with the Song Family anymore.


    But since they were already married, he could only plan slowly.


    At least, he couldn¡¯t let the brothers of the Xia Family continue to despise him...


    Justin forced a smile, ¡°Since you have reluctantly chosen such a marriage, I know it¡¯s not your fault, but you have to take good care of yourself, even just for your own sake, you must be alright, understand?¡±

 Chapter 265: 264: Almost There with One Step Left...

    Chapter 265: Chapter 264: Almost There with One Step Left...


    ¡°Uh-huh, I will.¡± Xia Wenjin snuggled into Justin¡¯s arms, pretending to be moved, but secretly gritted her teeth.


    How could this man not have grasped what she just meant, yet he did not respond to her.


    She did not understand what Justin was hesitating about.


    They were so close to the endpoint...


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fist, realizing she could only stop here for today.


    She knew that if she continued, the outcome would not improve and might even lead Justin to think she was manipulative, so all she could do was endure.


    At the same time, things weren¡¯t going well for Mr. and Mrs. Lu either.


    They originally planned to meet with Xiao Jinglan over the weekend, but she had stood them up the night before.


    When they met the next day, Xiao Jinglan looked as if she despised them so much she could crush them.


    Forget about discussing business, she mocked and ridiculed them with pointless chatter, and they broke off the meeting without accomplishing anything.


    Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, Lu Dagui was still seething with rage, cursing as he drove, ¡°Xiao Jinglan, that bitch, really thinks she¡¯s all that! She used to be part of the Song Family, and now she¡¯s nothing, yet she dares to boss me around?! What is she even?!¡±


    Cao Mei gripped the seatbelt tightly, looking at Lu Dagui¡¯s dark expression like the bottom of a pot, and spoke cautiously, ¡°Master, we are also somewhat in need of others...¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the mined veins had yielded no valuable rough stone, they wouldn¡¯t need to tolerate Xiao Jinglan¡¯s demeanor.


    ¡°Damn it! Why should I have to beg that woman!¡± Lu Dagui cursed loudly.


    His heart grew even more discontented.


    He knew better than anyone what this was really about.


    Ever since the Lu Group acquired those two resource veins, he thought the Lu Family was set to soar. He did not care about companies that were once comparable in size to his.


    Nor did he consider companies larger than his that couldn¡¯t match the Song Group, which he hadn¡¯t much cared about either.


    At the time, he felt excessively confident, but thinking about it now, who gave him that confidence?


    It was Lu Zhaozhao, whom he had driven away!


    Before he had expelled Lu Zhaozhao, his life could be said to have been smooth sailing.


    The more Lu Dagui thought about it, the more suffocated he felt.


    Thinking about the meetings with Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan today and last night made him even more irritable!


    Both were married off, yet what Lu Zhaozhao could achieve, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t even manage to meet Xiao Mo!


    Otherwise, he would not have to continuously bear Xiao Jinglan¡¯s humiliations!


    Lu Dagui became angrier as he thought about it, pressing harder on the accelerator.


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Cao Mei panicked, ¡°Master, don¡¯t get angry, why don¡¯t we ask Zhaozhao for help and sell one of the veins to Sinian?¡±


    In the end, both veins were problematic; if they sold one, might the other not revive?


    Suddenly lucid, Lu Dagui hit the brakes and stopped on the roadside.


    His eyes quickly filled with a gleam of insight, ¡°That makes sense! If Sinian buys one of the veins, not only will we have money for operations, but we might also turn losses into profits!¡±


    Sinian already had a Purple Jade mine, and even if half of it was of inferior quality, it was still salable.


    People might criticize it a bit, at most.


    Lu Dagui grew more excited as he thought, ¡°Contact Zhaozhao in the next few days and have her seal this deal.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Cao Mei pursed her lips, wanting to refuse, but remembering that she herself had initiated the conversation, she reluctantly agreed.


    ¡°Now, it¡¯s really late, she should be asleep. I¡¯ll find her first thing in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    So, the next day, Lu Zhaozhao was rudely awakened by Cao Mei¡¯s call before she could even fully wake up.


    She sluggishly crawled out from under her covers to her bedside by the time the phone had already stopped ringing.


    Lu Zhaozhao had just reached for her phone when it vibrated twice in succession.


    It was a message from Cao Mei.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, do you have time to come home? Mom misses you.¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao, mom knows she¡¯s neglected you because of Xia Wenjin, but it was because she lied, telling mom the Xia Family mistreated her, that mom treated you that way, mom knows she was wrong...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nearly retched on the spot as she read these messages.


    If she hadn¡¯t experienced her past life, perhaps she might have believed a fraction of it.


    But now, she didn¡¯t believe even a punctuation mark of Cao Mei¡¯s words.


    The Lu Family was already in chaos, their show of weakness only proved that they were getting increasingly desperate.


    Lu Zhaohao¡¯s eyes narrowed, and after pondering for a moment, she replied, ¡°Let me think about it.¡±


    For now, she didn¡¯t intend to dash the hopes of the Lu Family; after all, only by filling them with hope, and then revealing herself as the one to deliver a crushing blow, would their despair be maximized, wouldn¡¯t it?


    They had given her misery in her past life, and she intended to return it tenfold, a hundredfold!


    Soon, Cao Mei replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Zhaozhao, take your time, mom won¡¯t pressure you, mom will wait patiently.¡±


    ¡°After going through so much, mom now realizes you are more important than Xia Wenjin.¡±


    ¡°Hah!¡± Lu Zhaozhao scoffed aloud as she read the message, amused by Cao Mei¡¯s dramatic act.


    Such an interesting show would be too boring if only she watched it.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao took out another phone and snapped a photo of the messages Cao Mei had sent.


    Then she posted it on her social media.


    Some people, no matter how hard they try, can¡¯t get what they can¡¯t have.


    She intentionally attached the photo she had taken to the post.


    However, only Xia Wenjin could see this post.


    She had previously noticed that Xia Wenjin nearly stalked her social media daily using alternate accounts, but it was all in vain.


    That¡¯s because Mr. Song from the Song Family had installed an app on her phone long ago. Whenever she wanted, she could see who viewed her social media, when they viewed it, who they were, down to their real-time address, name, and phone number.


    So the more Xia Wenjin tried to hide, the more she resembled a ridiculous clown.


    Soon, Lu Zhaozhao received a notification that Xia Wenjin had read her latest social media post.


    Her lips curled slightly upward, and she promptly deleted it.


    Xia Wenjin must be furious now, right?


    Her parents, who had always treated her like a precious gem, were now belittling her?


    But Lu Zhaozhao was certain she wouldn¡¯t confront Cao Mei directly.


    Her standing in the Lu Family had been shaky during the last dinner party, and confronting Cao Mei over a social media post now would only worsen her situation.

 Chapter 266: 265: Good Fellow!

    Chapter 266: Chapter 265: Good Fellow!


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t provoke Cao Mei, so her raging anger had nowhere to go but towards herself.


    Today just so happened to be the day the school published the exam results.


    Lu Zhaozhao really was looking forward to Xia Wenjin¡¯s preparation for these past few days...


    She quickly tidied up, ate her breakfast, and then headed straight for school.


    Upon arriving at the dorm, she saw Xu Zhenzhen, with a schadenfreude grin, scrolling through her phone.


    ¡°Caught any new juicy gossip?¡± Lu Zhaozhao had long been accustomed to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s occasional gossip insights, every time indulging with her always seemed doubly delightful.


    She immediately took out her phone and handed it to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Can you believe it? Song Keren got beaten up, both her legs broken, hahaha... And she¡¯s still blabbering on an announcement about being in a car accident, I¡¯m dying of laughter.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but pause slightly, looking at the trending search related to Song Keren.


    [Shocking! A certain Ms. Song from the entertainment industry allegedly beaten up and sent to the hospital for treatment]


    [Song Keren debunking rumors: It was a car accident]


    [¡°Let¡¯s Eat! Cabin¡± show¡¯s artist lineup rumored to have undergone changes]


    [Hospital treatment record of a suspected Ms. Song from the entertainment industry leaked]


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao scrolled through the unfolding events from the bottom up, feeling somewhat surprised.


    She thought today¡¯s hot topic would be about Xia Wenjin, but it turned out to be about Song Keren.


    Although Song Keren was recently quite annoying on variety shows, hadn¡¯t seemed to have annoyed anyone enough to warrant a beating offline, had she?


    Breaking both legs¡ªthis must signify a deep-seated vengeance, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, completely at a loss as to who could hate Song Keren so much.


    Xu Zhenzhen watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expressions and couldn¡¯t help but let her mouth quirk up on one side.


    How Song Keren¡¯s legs got broken, she knew better than anyone else.


    She was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bodyguard at school, and she usually had first-hand information about anything related to Lu Zhaozhao from the outside world.


    The abrupt news of Song Keren getting beaten seemed odd, but it was just some people who didn¡¯t want to involve Lu Zhaozhao.


    She learned from Zhao Xi that it was Pei Huai who had ordered the hit, to divert attention, and even used shills to shift the public focus.


    Xu Zhenzhen, propping up her chin, couldn¡¯t help but smack her lips, ¡°Tsk tsk... No matter who broke Song Keren¡¯s legs, Xia Wenjin won¡¯t be spared from her wrathful retaliation.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised.


    ¡°Right after she found out Xia Wenjin was seducing her husband, Song Keren got her legs broken, and just at the moment when a popular variety show¡¯s guest list happens to be inviting Xia Wenjin. It would be odd if Song Keren didn¡¯t seek retribution.¡± She leaned on Xu Zhenzhen and murmured a few words of agreement.


    ¡°However, if Song Keren had any brains, she would realize something was fishy about this whole situation.¡±


    Hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen burst into laughter.


    She couldn¡¯t help but grin at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Like you said... anyone with a bit of brain would find it strange, but Song Keren lacks one.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well... That made sense, and she couldn¡¯t find a single thing to rebut.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but shrug her shoulders slightly, neither affirming nor denying Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words.


    If previously Song Keren could still rely on Xiao Jinglan¡¯s smarts to bully others, after the incident where Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan tried to catch a cheater, she probably couldn¡¯t help but direct her suspicions towards Xia Wenjin now, could she?


    After all, they both knew all too well what the other was made of.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Xu Zhenzhen and asked, ¡°Did Xia Wenjin come today?¡±


    ¡°Here she comes, here she comes, swaggering into the school office early in the morning, god knows what mischief she¡¯s plotting now,¡± Xu Zhenzhen shrugged, unable to resist glancing at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Just as she was about to rant, she suddenly noticed the corner of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth lifting in an expectant smile.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°You know! You know what kind of trouble Xia Wenjin, that bitch, is stirring up, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Her gossipy nerves started to wildly jolt at that moment.


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to take the initiative to publicly tear into Xia Wenjin.


    Every time she faced Xia Wenjin, it was always worth watching.


    Especially seeing that eager expression on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, was she about to initiate a public showdown?


    The more Xu Zhenzhen thought about it, the more excited she became, her whole being expectantly staring at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Being stared at with such intense eyes, Lu Zhaozhao sighed helplessly, rubbing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s hair before saying, ¡°Yes, yes, you just follow me and wait to be on the front line of the onlookers.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen got even more excited, ¡°Okay, okay, when?¡±


    No sooner had she finished speaking than the dormitory door was knocked on.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, the principal needs to see you, please go to the principal¡¯s office.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on my way,¡± Lu Zhaozhao answered, waiting until the person at the door had left before turning to Xu Zhenzhen and saying, ¡°See, isn¡¯t it starting now?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, ¡°You mean Xia Wenjin is in the principal¡¯s office right now? What is she doing there?¡±


    Before she could finish her question, her phone suddenly ¡°dinged¡± with a notification.


    Xu Zhenzhen instinctively glanced at it, frowning.


    ¡°Damn it, that bitch is live streaming! And she¡¯s really in the principal¡¯s office!¡± Xu Zhenzhen pulled out her phone and handed it to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Look, she must have secretly started it! This angle looks like a hidden camera, right?¡±


    She knew Xia Wenjin was up to no good, but didn¡¯t expect her to be so sneaky!


    Especially when she saw the description below the live stream, she became even more furious.


    ¡°Unmasking a Pseudo Scholar¡±


    Just one look and she knew Xia Wenjin was implying something about Lu Zhaozhao.


    Someone had previously dug up all of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s test scores from the school, and when arranged from the start of the school year to the end of this term, each test score was found to be one point higher.


    So, fans who liked Lu Zhaozhao and passersby speculated whether she was so powerful that she could manipulate her scores.


    Although it was just a small group of people amusing themselves, it had still been latched onto by Xia Wenjin¡¯s fans to publicly shame her.


    Now it appeared Xia Wenjin was looking to use the release of school scores to severely slam Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xu Zhenzhen originally thought Xia Wenjin was just causing minor disturbances at school, not realizing how vicious she could be to secretly live stream.


    If it weren¡¯t for her previous efforts to create a parody video of Xia Wenjin, she wouldn¡¯t have been following her.


    And if she hadn¡¯t been following her, how would she know this bitch was insinuating things about her darling Zhaozhao?


    Goodness gracious!


    The more Xu Zhenzhen thought about it, the angrier she got, wishing she could charge into the principal¡¯s office right now and smack Xia Wenjin in the face.


    ¡°Principal, our school surely wouldn¡¯t protect a student who is exploiting the school¡¯s reputation to hype up their personal brand, would it?¡±


    Suddenly, Xia Wenjin¡¯s voice came through from the live stream.


    ¡°And if someone made a blunder on a program about professional knowledge, that could potentially affect the reputation of our school, right?¡±


    The principal glanced at Xia Wenjin, his face the picture of calm, ¡°I¡¯ll investigate this matter thoroughly. Once Lu Zhaozhao arrives, we¡¯ll hear what she has to say.¡±


    Xia Wenjin seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but since she was live streaming, she could only force a smile, ¡°Then I¡¯m really looking forward to hearing all about it...¡±

 Chapter 267: 266: Isnt That a Bit Shameless?

    Chapter 267: Chapter 266: Isn¡¯t That a Bit Shameless?


    Lu Zhaozhao watched from the live stream as that smug smile played across her lips and chuckled lightly, then patted Xu Zhenzhen on the shoulder, ¡°Since you can see everything from here, Zhenzhen, just wait in the dorm for me.¡±


    ¡°No way, that little bitch obviously came prepared. If you go alone, who knows how she¡¯ll deal with you?¡± Xu Zhenzhen gripped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand tightly, her pretty brows furrowing deeply.


    Xia Wenjin must have been absolutely certain to dare to secretly start a live stream in the principal¡¯s office.


    She couldn¡¯t let Lu Zhaozhao take that risk.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out and pinched her tightly furrowed face, chuckling lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know exactly what Xia Wenjin is up to. Just sit back and enjoy the show, and oh, make sure to record the screen.¡±


    As she spoke, she slowly withdrew her wrist from Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s grasp and winked playfully at her.


    Xu Zhenzhen could only watch Lu Zhaozhao from a distance, her gaze falling silently on Xia Wenjin on her phone screen.


    Following Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s instructions, she casually hit the record button.


    But she didn¡¯t forget to send a message to Zhao Xi using her own phone.


    [Urgent, Xia Wenjin that little bitch is making a move! No time to talk, here¡¯s the link! 2.05yTY:/ Copy and open Douyuan, check out ¡°Jin¡¯s Work¡± from now on offering flowers to herself. wttps://v.douyuan.com/iRwu6Sb/]


    Immediately after, Xu Zhenzhen shared Xia Wenjin¡¯s live stream.


    Luckily, she had used a secondary account at Xia Wenjin¡¯s, so the screen only displayed a name similar to ¡®zombie fan¡¯ sharing the live stream, then no more activity.


    Zhao Xi was stunned for a long while when he received the message.


    He checked the sender¡¯s name over and over and after a long time, realized it was indeed from Xu Zhenzhen.


    At first glance at the shared link, he almost thought Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s account had been hacked.


    Fortunately, the mention of Xia Wenjin at the beginning made him click on the live stream immediately.


    Right upon entering the live stream, he saw Xia Wenjin and the principal.


    From the angle, he knew it wasn¡¯t a normal one.


    With that thought, Zhao Xi immediately headed towards the CEO¡¯s office with his phone.


    ¡°Sir, take a look,¡± Zhao Xi handed over the phone somewhat anxiously, ¡°Xia Wenjin has started a live stream inside the school. I saw your wife entering the principal¡¯s office as I was on my way here.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s target had always been Lu Zhaozhao; no telling what mischief she was up to this time.


    Song Sinian raised his eyebrows noticeably upon hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s words, but his expression eased a lot when he saw the phone handed by Zhao Xi.


    Zhao Xi was slightly surprised, having thought their boss would rush to the school without a second thought.


    Song Sinian tapped the screen, and then they heard the voice coming through the video again.


    ¡°Principal, now that Lu Zhaozhao is here, there¡¯s no need to hide or keep anything, just ask,¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s words seemed to pull the principal into her camp.


    This annoyed both Song Sinian and Zhao Xi.


    She was trying to pressure Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xia Wenjin and, unconcerned, turned to the principal, asking, ¡°Principal, did you want to see me?¡±


    The principal nodded, motioning for her to sit down.


    He then slowly began to speak, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that some time ago on the internet...¡±


    ¡°Principal, you¡¯re beating around the bush so much, some thick-skinned people don¡¯t understand,¡± Xia Wenjin said maliciously watching Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You used your terrible grades as your persona, which badly affected the school¡¯s reputation, that¡¯s why the principal had to call you in.¡±


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could react, the principal¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Xia Wenjin!¡±


    At the same time, the live stream¡¯s chat became lively.


    [Wow! Is Xia Wenjin as disliked in school too? Tsk tsk... No longer playing the top student role, but going for battle mode now? Hahahahaha]


    [I heard it¡¯s top student peeling, and thought Xia Wenjin was being peeled, but turns out it¡¯s Xia Wenjin herself who started the live stream. Who is she going to peel?]


    [Watching the live stream, it¡¯s definitely peeling Lu Zhaozhao, waiting eagerly.]


    [Xia Wenjin, shameless, always clinging and attacking her younger sister!]


    [I¡¯m absconding with the younger sister, ignore the Wen fans!]


    [And who exactly is pretending to be a top student alongside Jin, huh! Does a certain Zhao really not know her own limits?]


    ...


    In no time, the entire live stream was in uproar.


    Xia Wenjin was not worried about things going wrong at all because she had already hired trolls to attack Lu Zhaozhao in the chat, so she wasn¡¯t afraid even if Lu Zhaozhao had many fans.


    Passersby never care which ones are trolls.


    As long as she could prove Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s false persona, all the ridicule would be directed at Lu Zhaozhao!


    She wanted to step on her and take all the resources she was handling!


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly curled the corners of her mouth and looked up at Xia Wenjin, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean. What do you mean by ¡®affecting the school¡¯s reputation¡¯?¡±


    Xia Wenjin snorted coldly, ¡°Your own scandalous deeds, have you forgotten them yourself? Because of you, the whole school has been tainted.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°If we are talking about dragging the school¡¯s name through the mud, I guess nothing tops certain students creating romantic scandals with people from the production team during their school time...¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao!¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes widened in an instant, and if they weren¡¯t still live, she would have torn her apart on the spot.


    If it wasn¡¯t for that bitch, Song Keren, she wouldn¡¯t have had such scandals, and she definitely wouldn¡¯t be here getting humiliated by Lu Zhaozhao!


    She took a deep breath, her smile tight but not reaching her eyes as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I¡¯m already married to my husband, you don¡¯t need to divert everyone¡¯s attention with these kinds of matters.¡±


    She said, placing the documents she held on the principal¡¯s desk, ¡°Principal, these are all of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s grades this semester. If these kinds of grades still qualify as a top student, isn¡¯t that a bit too shameless?¡±


    The principal frowned as he looked at the grades arranged neatly from 61-70, but his brow relaxed considerably after a moment.


    Xia Wenjue had called him in advance, saying that if anyone were to make a big deal about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s grades recently, he should ignore it.


    He said his sister would handle it herself.


    The principal didn¡¯t make a big deal of it initially until Xia Wenjin confronted him in his office.


    That¡¯s when he realized what was going on.


    He¡¯d worried Xia Wenjin might cause serious trouble, but seeing these grades now, the principal actually felt reassured.


    He had specifically checked Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s grades in each subject because of Xia Wenjue¡¯s comment that ¡°my sister is a genius, nobody can fault her academic performance.¡±


    When he saw that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s grades were just passing, he was admittedly a bit helpless about Xia Wenjue¡¯s bias.


    But when he saw the test papers for each subject, he was stunned.


    Their school¡¯s grades were all assessed automatically by computer, so even having good relations with the teachers wouldn¡¯t earn any extra marks.


    While others lost marks due to incorrect answers, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s deduction was because she only answered that many questions...

 Chapter 268: 267: Is This Fair?

    Chapter 268: Chapter 267: Is This Fair?


    She had indeed set a target for her score, and she was quite confident in the score she controlled.


    Now, every word of mockery that Lu Zhaozhao threw at her would eventually backfire on herself.


    That¡¯s why the principal just looked indifferently at the report card on the table and showed no intention of speaking.


    Lu Zhaozhao sneered and looked at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Then in your opinion, what kind of grade qualifies as ¡®top student¡¯? Like yours?¡±


    Thinking that Lu Zhaozhao was not responding to her previous remark because she felt guilty, Xia Wenjin¡¯s face became even more smug.


    She slightly tilted her chin up, virtually looking down her nose at Lu Zhaozhao as she said, ¡°If you can get grades similar to mine, I¡¯ll acknowledge you¡¯re a top student!¡±


    As Xia Wenjin spoke, she tapped her fingers on the back of her hand.


    In an instant, the hired commenters in the live broadcast surged up, turning what was originally an evenly matched discussion into a one-sided situation.


    [Shameless! Gold-plating her own face? Saying that getting grades similar to hers means you¡¯re a top student, lol!]


    [To the person above, Xia Wenjin is actually a top student. If you¡¯re capable, why don¡¯t you let Lu Zhaozhao score high too!]


    [Exactly, if Lu Zhaozhao got full marks in every subject, would anyone still criticize her? Even our Jin can¡¯t outscore her, yet she¡¯s still trying to pretend to be a top student! She deserves to be exposed!]


    [If you¡¯re capable, show us the grades, if not, then shut up!]


    ...


    Meanwhile, watching the screen, Song Sinian¡¯s expression immediately darkened, and he tapped on his phone screen, ¡°Zhao Xi, go make a call to Xia Wenjue.¡±


    His voice was cold, sending a shiver down Zhao Xi¡¯s spine, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we contact the Fourth Young Master of the Xia family at a time like this?¡±


    Compared to Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenyan was much better at playing the public opinion war.


    This kind of paid commenter could easily be obliterated by the ¡°combat fans¡± in Xia Wenyan¡¯s hands.


    A subtle arc lifted in Song Sinian¡¯s brows, ¡°We don¡¯t need Xia Wenjue to deal with the public opinion war. Have him trace the company behind these paid commenters in the live broadcast, and he¡¯ll know what to do next.¡±


    Even without paid commenters, Xia Wenyan could also skillfully employ the methods of the entertainment industry to tear Xia Wenjin apart repeatedly.


    So, he wasn¡¯t worried at all.


    As early as when Lu Zhaozhao asked him to help access the grades, she had made a request, asking him not to take action against Xia Wenjin, as she wanted to personally slap her face in public.


    Of course, he would listen to his wife¡¯s words.


    So he wouldn¡¯t act against Xia Wenjin, but that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t make the Xia family members do it.


    As for him... he still had the paid commenters to deal with, didn¡¯t he?


    Thinking so, Song Sinian pulled over a computer nearby and began to operate on the keyboard.


    Soon there was a startling change in the live broadcast room.


    The previously frenzied discussion suddenly became somewhat eerie.


    [Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: Lu Zhaozhao truly deserves this!]


    [Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: I can¡¯t wait to see Lu Zhaozhao exposed.]


    [Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: If the principal can¡¯t even handle this, then there¡¯s no need for him to be a principal.]


    [Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: Jin is the best, the cutest, go Jin~]


    Random Internet Guy Guagua: Holy crap! Yuhe Media is killing it, managing to spam in the live stream!


    Beauty on Top Jin: Is this dude cheating? Isn¡¯t the official supposed to ban this? Tsk tsk... are they exploiting a bug?


    Sister¡¯s the GOAT: Could it be possible... they¡¯re using a bot army?


    ...


    Zhao Xi watched as the cyber army in the live chat was stripped down on the spot and couldn¡¯t help but snicker.


    It was clear that these bot army members had no idea that their IPs had just been captured by their boss, nor did they know that he had already altered their backend data.


    So, the people in the live stream began to question the Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd. that had just been spamming the chat.


    Jili Gu: A few days ago, I saw in the news that some media companies were exposed for using cloud-based systems that make it simpler and more brutal to manipulate. With one phone, you can control anywhere from 200 to 20,000 phones to act as a bot army.


    Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: Why hasn¡¯t the principal given an explanation yet, are they playing favorites?


    Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: Can you do whatever you want with the support of the Song Group?


    Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: We support Jin!


    Love Yanbao More Love Sister: Isn¡¯t it obvious that the posts above are from a media company¡¯s bot army? Did they forget to switch accounts, or is there a backend bug? Mocking a bit + praising Xia Wenjin a bit, your script is a bit perfunctory...


    Step on Jin a Million Times a Day: Xia Wenjin, your money¡¯s wasted! Isn¡¯t the bot army you hired too shoddy?


    ...


    Zhao Xi watched as the number of people in the live stream skyrocketed, and the corner of his mouth slowly curled into a smile. Now, whether online or offline, Xia Wenjin¡¯s face was completely lost!


    His gaze shifted to the screen where Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s indifferent voice came through, ¡°I don¡¯t think you have the qualifications to represent top students. Top students are those with the ability to surpass others in learning, using their superior cognitive abilities to excel in academia. You, with your above-average grades, don¡¯t deserve the term.¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Xia Wenjin glared at Lu Zhaozhao fiercely, ¡°I don¡¯t deserve it? And you do? Do you even know how much you scored this time? Do you lack even a modicum of self-awareness?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lips, scoffing, ¡°The person lacking self-awareness seems to be you.¡±


    Her overly nonchalant demeanor seemed to insult Xia Wenjin.


    She glared at Lu Zhaozhao furiously, ¡°Since you¡¯re so overconfident, why don¡¯t I give you a chance? Let¡¯s have a competition today and let everyone see your true abilities?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, uncommitted, curled her lips, ¡°Suit yourself, if it will give you a sense of self-awareness.¡±


    ¡°?!!!!¡±


    Wasn¡¯t that her line?


    Xia Wenjin was about to explode with rage because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    She glanced at the principal and with a look that suggested she¡¯d already given her opponent a chance, she said, ¡°Principal, since Lu Zhaozhao has agreed, why don¡¯t you bear witness for us and let us compete in your office?¡±


    The principal looked at the two of them and sighed softly, ¡°What are you going to compete in? The teachers of various subjects are not here, and there¡¯s no one to set up test papers for you.¡±


    ¡°So what? Lu Zhaozhao and I can devise questions for each other,¡± she said, her gaze turning to Lu Zhaozhao, provocatively stating, ¡°How about it? We each come up with three questions. That¡¯s fair, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjin knew that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s grades weren¡¯t that great. Even if she came up with questions, they wouldn¡¯t be too difficult, but it would be different for her. She had been well-prepared for a long time, and the questions she had for Lu Zhaozhao were all related to postgraduate professional subjects.


    Many a postgraduate student had faltered on such questions¡ªshe didn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhaozhao would be capable of answering them.


    Everyone online was going to see Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s frustration and embarrassment at being unable to answer the questions!


    Xia Wenjin trembled with excitement at the thought of Lu Zhaozhao being scorned by everyone!

 Chapter 269: 268: Its Just for Show

    Chapter 269: Chapter 268: It¡¯s Just for Show


    Even if the principal pointed out these issues later, as long as she wrote down all the answers, others would only think that Lu Zhaozhao lacked mastery in her studies.


    Her image as a top student would become even more solid!


    The principal didn¡¯t pay attention to Xia Wenjin but looked towards Lu Zhaozhao instead, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Since Student Xia wants to do this, let¡¯s go according to her proposal. Better than using old test papers and having her accuse others of cheating.¡±


    Xia Wenjin knew Lu Zhaozhao was alluding to her, but she didn¡¯t care at all.


    She snorted coldly, her mind only filled with the three questions she had memorized earlier.


    She was determined to slap Lu Zhaozhao in the face, hard.


    So, after the principal handed them each an A4 paper, she immediately began writing down the questions.


    Lu Zhaozhao, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t in such a hurry. She glanced at the questions Xia Wenjin had posed before she began writing on her A4 paper.


    [Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: Only starts writing after looking at someone else¡¯s questions, is she even copying the questions? Does Lu Zhaozhao have no shame?]


    [Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: Stop pretending, Lu Zhaozhao! Struggling is useless!]


    [Yuhe Media Communication Co., Ltd.: As expected, our Jin is the best!]


    [Bo Datou: Hahahaha... I¡¯m dying of laughter. Has the water army company upstairs not realized their accounts are compromised yet?]


    [Jing Jiu Yao Yan: By the time they realize, their employer has already overturned half an hour ago, haha...]


    [Gugugu: I¡¯m really worried about my sister, Xia Wenjin obviously set up the whole thing waiting for my sister to fall into the trap, so insidious!]


    ...


    By now, most of the people who had joined the live stream had understood the twists and turns, even before all of Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans had come charging in.


    The direction of the live stream commentary was starting to turn.


    Naturally, Xia Wenjin had no idea what the netizens were saying; all her focus was on the questions she had just created.


    She waited arrogantly for Lu Zhaozhao to stop writing, then shook her A4 paper and said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one last chance to regret and admit your poor performance while it¡¯s still possible, to save yourself from embarrassment when you can¡¯t solve these problems later.¡±


    Xia Wenjin knew Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t the type to back down easily.


    The more she said this, the more Lu Zhaozhao would be infuriated and certainly wouldn¡¯t agree.


    True to form, no sooner had she spoken than Lu Zhaozhao chuckled, ¡°The questions are all written, isn¡¯t it a bit late to say these things now?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words hit her bullseye ¨C she wouldn¡¯t miss such a good opportunity.


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, ¡°Since you say so, then take care of yourself.¡±


    Saying this, she placed the questions in front of Lu Zhaozhao.


    The other party glanced at her before focusing intently on the problems in her hand.


    Soon, she picked up her pen and began writing feverishly.


    Xia Wenjin glanced at the answers Lu Zhaozhao was writing and couldn¡¯t help but smirk; clearly, this woman was pretending to understand.


    The answers she wrote were nothing like what Xia had seen before.


    And sure, it was a postgraduate level problem; how could she possibly understand?


    She was just putting on a show.


    The better she pretended now, the more embarrassed she would be later when called out.


    Xia Wenjin was smug beyond measure, and only then did she look at the questions Lu Zhaozhao had set for her. But when she saw them, she was stunned.


    What were these?


    Why is it that she understands every single word, yet when they¡¯re strung together, she can¡¯t make heads or tails of it?


    And these three problems vaguely exude a familiar feeling, as if she¡¯s seen them before, yet it feels like she hasn¡¯t...


    Noticing something amiss with Xia Wenjin, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly smiled, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You can¡¯t do it?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face flushed red in an instant, ¡°Who says I can¡¯t do them? I, I¡¯m just reviewing the problems!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, ¡°Then you better hurry up.¡±


    As she spoke, her pen had already stopped.


    Xia Wenjin was taken aback, only then realizing Lu Zhaozhao had finished all three problems!


    But she glanced over them briefly and they were still different from the answers she remembered, just like the first problem.


    Xia Wenjin then breathed a sigh of relief.


    She snorted, ¡°Not knowing how to do it is one thing, but writing nonsense is pointless.¡±


    After saying this, Xia Wenjin lowered her head to continue pondering over the three problems Lu Zhaozhao posed.


    The principal had been watching the problems posed by the two from the beginning, his brows first raising, then furrowing.


    But after reviewing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s problems, his entire demeanor relaxed.


    [One of Xia Wenjin¡¯s problems looks like it¡¯s from last year¡¯s recommendation for research positions, my goodness, a freshman coming up with such questions, Xia Wenjin is ruthless!]


    [She¡¯s clearly setting a trap, waiting for her little sister to fall into it. Tsk! Shameless!]


    [I was recommended for research at Yuqing University last year too, and the little sister¡¯s answers are correct. Her approach is much more streamlined than mine!]


    [If I¡¯m not mistaken, the problem in the middle is the recommendation question from the year before last, right? The last one is from the year before that...]


    [Wow, are they setting such a high bar for the little sister? If the little sister gets them all right, will the university give her a recommendation?]


    [Good question from above. But let me tell you, the little sister got them all right! What¡¯s even more outrageous is... did you all notice the problems she posed to Xia Wenjin just now?]


    [What? What?! Someone spill the truth already!!!]


    [Continuing from above, the problems the little sister gave to Xia Wenjin are also recommendation questions, and they¡¯re actually the follow-up questions to the ones she was tasked with... which means the little sister wasn¡¯t just reviewing earlier, she was ¡°searching¡±!]


    [666!]


    [666!]


    [666!]


    In an instant, the live stream screen was filled with 666s, and the previously aggressive trolls were suddenly silent. The entire live stream was anticipating the upcoming turnaround.


    ¡°Student Xia Wenjin, how much longer do you need?¡± The principal asked, seeing her scratching her head in frustration and knowing she couldn¡¯t solve the problems she had in hand.


    As the principal of a university, how could he not tell the level of the problems posed by Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin?


    Xia Wenjin was obviously doing it on purpose, but she hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to take advantage and use the situation to her own advantage, hanging her out to dry.


    Xia Wenjin truly brought it upon herself.


    ¡°I...¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s forehead had already broken out in beads of sweat. Frowning, she muttered, ¡°It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t do it, it¡¯s that the problems Lu Zhaozhao gave me are flawed.¡±


    Saying this, she pushed the A4 paper forward, placing it on the table, ¡°Who knows what kind of nonsense problems she came up with; it¡¯s natural that I can¡¯t solve them. Moreover, the three problems she just solved were all wrong, it¡¯s her scribbling indifferently, that¡¯s why she was so fast.¡±


    Principal: ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°...¡±


    Netizens: ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao thought that since Xia Wenjin had intended to establish herself as a top student and even chose specific problems from previous years¡¯ recommendation tests, she would try to solve them somehow. Never had she anticipated that Xia might just have memorized an answer...

 Chapter 270: 269 Are You Deceiving Me?

    Chapter 270: Chapter 269 Are You Deceiving Me?


    The principal looked at Xia Wen Jing with a somewhat speechless expression, ¡°I already watched her solve the problems just now. There was no problem at all. The answers were all correct, and they were very concise.¡±


    No sooner had he finished speaking than Xia Wenjin immediately retorted dissatisfiedly, ¡°Impossible! Principal, are you deliberately favoring Lu Zhaozhao? With her terrible grades, how could she possibly solve the recommendation exam questions?¡±


    The principal glanced at her, ¡°If she couldn¡¯t solve them, she wouldn¡¯t have been given the same recommendation exam paper as you.¡±


    He then picked up the A4 paper in front of Xia Wenjin, ¡°These three problems are all from the paper you set questions for, and they are all on the same exam paper. If you don¡¯t believe it, you can check on your phone right now.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin was speechless, unable to believe the situation unfolding before her eyes.


    At this moment, the online viewers watching the broadcast were all boiling with excitement.


    ¡°What a knowledgeable Yuqing University¡¯s principal!¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Yuqing University¡¯s principal is incredible! He has written many postgraduate exam books, and he charges over 100,000 for a single lecture outside the school.¡±


    ¡°Yuqing University is already impressive; how could anyone who becomes its principal be mediocre?¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin is really overstepping her bounds in front of an expert, hahaha...¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenjin did not dare to act rashly, and of course, most importantly, her phone was currently live streaming, so she couldn¡¯t check even if she wanted to.


    She clenched her teeth, taking a long while to find an excuse, ¡°Even so, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that Lu Zhaozhao used to have poor grades. She just got these three questions right by sheer luck!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xia Wenjin with a mocking look in her eyes, ¡°Since Student Xia¡¯s questions are from the same exam paper, could you please catch these three ¡®dead mice¡¯? Hmm?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face grew even uglier.


    At that time, she had only copied the questions directly to suppress Lu Zhaozhao and hadn¡¯t studied them carefully.


    Not to mention being able to solve them.


    She had merely memorized an answer.


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists, then tore up the A4 paper in her hands, ¡°Hmph! Lu Zhaozhao, even if you got these three questions right, what does it prove? With your usually poor grades, how can I believe that you actually solved these questions?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao smirked, ¡°Since you asked sincerely, I will graciously tell you.¡±


    She turned her head towards the principal, nodded politely, ¡°Principal, may I use the school computer to check my test papers for this term?¡±


    The principal nodded, and swiftly began to operate the computer, then turned the notebook he was holding towards her.


    Xia Wenjin was instantly stunned.


    Because she clearly saw that on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s test papers, although only parts were completed, not a single question was answered incorrectly.


    Meaning, she really was controlling her scores.


    And upon seeing this, the online viewers exploded.


    ¡°Damn, is this the mentality of an academic achiever? Is the trick to score control to do fewer problems?¡±


    ¡°Shocked +10086, to score a high 90, just skip a few questions! Ahh!!! She is really an academic achiever!¡±


    ¡°They say God is fair, so which window did God actually close on her?¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin! Stunned, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin, this is the so-called trying to hurt the swan all day long, and the swan pecking out your eyes! Tried to trap her, but didn¡¯t expect her to really be an academic achiever, hahaha, face-slapped much?¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t see what the netizens were saying, she guessed the situation wasn¡¯t going to improve much.


    She really wanted to shut down the live stream, but considering things had already escalated, closing it wouldn¡¯t help the situation.


    She took a deep breath and decided to pressing Lu Zhaozhao nonstop, ¡°You could have scored well, so why did you choose to answer like that? Are you being fair to your teachers? This is disrespectful.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°How many marks I score seems to be my freedom, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no reason for you to act like this!¡± Xia Wenjin, acting like a self-righteous good person, really made Lu Zhaozhao nauseous.


    She blinked her watery eyes, waved her hand at Xia Wenjin, and motioned for her to come closer.


    Under normal circumstances, Xia Wenjin definitely wouldn¡¯t have done so, but she was live streaming now.


    If Lu Zhaozhao hit her in front of so many people, even if she didn¡¯t strip Lu Zhaozhao of her top student persona, it would still negatively impact her.


    After all, as a public figure, one must submit to public scrutiny.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a somewhat provocative expression.


    It seemed like she was waiting for Lu Zhaozhao to make the first move.


    Unexpectedly, when Lu Zhaozhao leaned closer, she didn¡¯t strike but instead deliberately lowered her voice and slowly said, ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t do well on the exam is that I worried about overshadowing you, and causing you to feel inferior. After all, Mr. and Mrs. Lu raised me for 20 years, and I don¡¯t want to upset them, but it seems unnecessary now...¡±


    Her voice was just loud enough for the audience in the live room to hear.


    After saying these words, the pity in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes for Xia Wenjin finally began to fade.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned even uglier.


    She stared at Lu Zhaozhao incredulously, unwilling to believe a single word she said.


    If she really cared about Mr. and Mrs. Lu as she claimed, why would she constantly oppose them?


    Meanwhile, the netizens in the live room exploded again.


    [Hug the sister, Mr. and Mrs. Lu are such terrible people, yet she still thinks about repaying good for evil, she¡¯s so naive.]


    [Sister, leave those rotten people!]


    [Sister! They don¡¯t deserve you! Wooo...]


    [Xia Wenjin doesn¡¯t deserve your kindness! Really, just tell her to get lost!!! Out of the entertainment industry!]


    ...


    The principal watched the two making a fuss and finally cleared his throat, ¡°Now that you understand Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s situation, which was a misunderstanding, let¡¯s stop here. Since this is an internal matter of the school, I don¡¯t want anyone to tarnish our school¡¯s reputation out of self-interest. If someone does, our school is also prepared to take legal action to protect our reputation, I hope you both understand.¡±


    These words sounded like they were meant for both Lu Zhao and Xia Wenjin, but it was actually only a warning for Xia Wenjin.


    Unfortunately, the principal¡¯s words came a bit too late...


    Because by the time Xia Wenjin arrived, the whole town already knew about it.


    Probably as soon as they left, the principal could send a legal notice to Xia Wenjin.


    Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.


    Tsk tsk, now this is going to be interesting to watch.


    Xia Wenjin, of course, knew this, but now she had no choice but to leave the principal¡¯s office with her head held high.


    As soon as she left, she immediately turned off the live stream, rushed after Lu Zhaozhao, and intercepted her in the hallway.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! Did you plan all this?! Are you setting me up?!¡± Xia Wenjin glared viciously at Lu Zhaozhao, unable to comprehend how her foolproof plan had failed.

 Chapter 271: 270 Bah! What rubbish!

    Chapter 271: Chapter 270 Bah! What rubbish!


    Lu Zhaozhao, wearing an innocent face, looked at Xia Wenjin. Then her lips slowly curved up, revealing two pretty little canines, ¡°Yes, I did it on purpose, so what?¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin,¡± Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand to brush away the hand that was blocking her way, then continued, ¡°I will take everything you have had, whether it was in the past or it is now, just wait and see...¡±


    She proudly lifted her chin, her eyes looking at Xia Wenjin with a taunting and teasing expression that she never had on normal days.


    Seeing her eyes full of fury gradually turning bloodshot, Lu Zhaozhao then turned and left.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! You bitch!¡± Xia Wenjin gnashed her teeth furiously, her reluctant gaze firmly fixed on her retreating figure.


    Though she hated to admit it, it seemed that Lu Zhaozhao was really about to do it.


    Take away everything from her.


    Whether it was her past holdings or her current possessions.


    Earlier, she had thought little of the Xia Family, yet she hadn¡¯t expected that Xia Wenmo and Wen Qingyu were both big shots in the art world.


    They might not have the wealth of the Lu Family, but their connections in the art world were something the Lu Family couldn¡¯t match.


    If she had known how impressive Wen Qingyu was, she would never have left so easily.


    Although Xia Wenmo didn¡¯t like her, relying on his sister¡¯s and Luna¡¯s daughter¡¯s fame, he definitely could easily rise in the art world.


    At the very least, she wouldn¡¯t be struggling so hard in the entertainment industry as she was now.


    Thinking this way, Xia Wenjin felt a wave of sourness in her heart, all because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for being provoked by this woman, she wouldn¡¯t have left the Xia Family so soon.


    From the start, Lu Zhaozhao had stolen her identity as the precious daughter of the Lu Family and her fiance?, rich enough to rival nations, and now she even dared to brazenly say she was going to take everything that belonged to her?!


    She absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow it!


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, her phone vibrated.


    Xia Wenjin glanced at the caller ID, her brows immediately furrowing.


    Because the caller was none other than her good mother-in-law, Xiao Jinglan.


    She had only ended her livestream not long ago; probably by now, the news was filled with her trending on social media.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t care at all anymore.


    Whether it¡¯s positive trending or negative, either way it¡¯s trending, just as her agent said, negative trending is still popularity.


    She had enough popularity.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin scoffed and directly pressed the end call button.


    She didn¡¯t want to listen to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s preachings now.


    Ever since the last time she and Song Keren cornered her in the hotel, they had torn their faces off.


    Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan haven¡¯t exposed this incident to Xiao Mo, simply because they feared that Xiao Mo would divorce her, then she would brazenly seek out Justin.


    Xia Wenjin curled her lips sarcastically, did they think that without a divorce, she wouldn¡¯t brazenly seek out Justin?


    If Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t want Xiao Mo to know, even if there was something on her side, they would help cover it up, right?


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin took out her phone and sent a message to Justin.


    ¡°Hotel Auduo, Room 601, I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡±


    This was the hotel they often went to recently.


    This is the hotel where Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan last confronted someone.


    She just wanted Song Keren to know that even if she came to confront her a hundred times, she wasn¡¯t afraid.


    Sure enough, she soon received a reply from Justin.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was a bit surprised by Justin¡¯s reply, as usually when she messaged him, he would say he would come later.


    What was going on?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow furrowed as she thought about the recent livestream, and she suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Jinglan, who had been hung up on, was completely furious.


    She had thought that her and Song Keren catching her and Justin at the hotel would make her restrain herself.


    But no, this woman completely ignored her!


    Very well!


    She absolutely wouldn¡¯t let her get away with it.


    Thinking this, Xiao Jinglan directly called Cao Mei¡¯s phone.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Cao Mei on the other end of the line didn¡¯t expect Xiao Jinglan to call her proactively.


    Since the day their families¡¯ business negotiations fell through, they hadn¡¯t been in touch.


    Cao Mei thought Xiao Jinglan wanted to bring up their families¡¯ business dealings, so she answered the phone.


    But as soon as she began to speak, Xiao Jinglan started yelling, ¡°Where did that slut Xia Wenjin go? Has she gone back to the Lu Family?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice was loud, even though she hadn¡¯t put on speaker, it was loud enough for Lu Dagui seated next to her to hear.


    Cao Mei¡¯s face fell at once, and she angrily gritted her teeth, ¡°Xiao Jinglan, don¡¯t push it too far, although Jin has married into your family, that doesn¡¯t give you the right to torment her!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was already fiery, and hearing Cao Mei¡¯s words only made her angrier, ¡°I torment her? Why don¡¯t you say she torments me? Before getting married, seducing Sinian was one thing, but now seducing our Xiao Mo, still not keeping quiet after marrying him, and even seducing her brother-in-law, how shameless can she be?¡±


    ¡°You, what do you mean by that, you¡¯re slandering!¡± Cao Mei trembled with anger, but thinking of Xia Wenjin¡¯s character, she inwardly felt Xiao Jinglan might be telling the truth.


    Sure enough, as soon as she spoke up, the other side scoffed, ¡°Ask Xia Wenjin what she has been up to lately! And last weekend when you came here for negotiations, where did she go that night?!¡±


    The more Cao Mei listened, the more alarmed she became, but she still unwillingly said, ¡°Her... how would you know about her matters? You have no proof, she...¡±


    ¡°Proof, huh? I am the proof! Didn¡¯t you want to know why I stood you up that day?! Because I took Keren to the hotel to catch a cheater! And the cheater was your daughter! Pah! What trash! This slut XXX...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan grew angrier as she spoke, hurling every curse she could think of.


    Cao Mei was completely stunned by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s tirade.


    Ever since she married Lu Dagui, although they weren¡¯t extremely wealthy, she could still be considered a socialite in the Beijing Circle.


    Women within the circle might be sarcastic but wouldn¡¯t spew so many obscenities.


    But Xiao Jinglan was different; she had ascended from being a mistress, having struggled in the modeling circle.


    What hadn¡¯t she seen?


    Verbally sparring with someone like Cao Mei was a piece of cake for her.


    Her usual guise as a socialite didn¡¯t mean she truly had either the breeding or education fit for one.


    Hearing no response from the other side, Xiao Jinglan cursed again, ¡°Tell that little bitch Xia Wenjin, she can dodge once, but not forever. Sooner or later she has to come back, and she better wise up! Don¡¯t keep making a fool of herself out there!¡±


    At this point, Cao Mei had recovered from the initial shock of being cursed at, ¡°How is Jin making a fool of herself?¡±


    ¡°Hah! Are you still playing dumb with me? Whatever she¡¯s done, you think the Lu Family wouldn¡¯t know?¡±

 Chapter 272: 271 Let her have some shame!

    Chapter 272: Chapter 271 Let her have some shame!


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mocking voice came through again, ¡°Now she¡¯s all over the entertainment headlines! If she doesn¡¯t have the skills, she shouldn¡¯t provoke Zhaozhao! They were from the same school, yet she¡¯s so far behind, but still has the audacity to pose as a top student, hmph!¡±


    ¡°She...¡±


    ¡°Enough, stop your prattling. Just tell Wen Jin to have some shame!¡±


    Cao Mei couldn¡¯t finish her sentence before Xiao Jinglan snapped her phone shut with a ¡°click.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Not just Cao Mei, but even Lu Dagui, who was sitting beside her, had his face darken completely.


    Ever since Xiao Jinglan had called about the trending topic, he had been searching it up on his phone.


    So, he quickly understood the whole story.


    ¡°If only Wen Jin was half as obedient as Zhaozhao, I wouldn¡¯t have lost all my dignity because of her!¡± fumed Lu Dagui through clenched teeth.


    Cao Mei knew that if she said anything positive about Xia Wenjin now, she would definitely be scolded.


    She sighed secretly in her heart. She couldn¡¯t understand how she, being so wise, ended up having such a foolish daughter as Xia Wenjin.


    If only the Lu Family wasn¡¯t in the midst of their own crisis right now, but no, she had to go and provoke Zhaozhao, and even try to seduce Justin...


    Cao Mei was at a loss for what Xia Wenjin was thinking.


    ¡°Master, actually, I¡¯ve been in touch with Zhaozhao these past few days and from what she said... it seems she still has some sentiment for us.¡±


    After all, they had raised her for 20 years. Although they weren¡¯t very close during these years, they hadn¡¯t mistreated her in terms of food or clothing.


    She had endured being manipulated for 20 years; even if she was discontent, she wouldn¡¯t take it out on them but would continue to please them.


    Thinking this, Cao Mei felt somewhat more balanced in her heart.


    Her own daughter is now ruined, but the adopted daughter she had raised before might still be retrieved...


    Lu Dagui¡¯s expression softened quite a bit after he heard what Cao Mei said.


    Just as Cao Mei was about to speak again, her phone suddenly vibrated.


    She looked down, her face breaking into a smile, ¡°Look, Zhaozhao is now messaging me. Let¡¯s see...¡±


    As she spoke, she opened the message.


    When she saw the content, her face fell.


    Lu Dagui also noticed the change in Cao Mei¡¯s demeanor. He reached out to take her phone and saw the message that read:


    [Ms. Cao, I¡¯ve thought it over carefully. Since it¡¯s happened, let it be. I won¡¯t blame you, but I also don¡¯t want to be caught in the middle anymore. I hope you and your daughter can get along well.]


    He pounded his fist furiously on the sofa, ¡°Xia Wenjin, that bad luck charm! Having her back is just asking for trouble!¡±


    Cao Mei awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be blamed on Jin, after all, Zhaozhao¡¯s attitude has always been equivocal...¡±


    ¡°See for yourself!¡± Lu Dagui glared at Cao Mei and threw his phone to her.


    It was a live broadcast video from school. Although Zhaozhao had spoken softly, her words were clearly audible in the broadcast.


    ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t do well in the exams is that I was worried my grades would overshadow yours and make you feel inferior. After all, Mr. and Mrs. Lu have raised me for 20 years, and I didn¡¯t want to make them sad, but it seems unnecessary now...¡±


    Cao Mei covered her mouth in disbelief, shocked by Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts.


    Suddenly, she deeply regretted having driven Zhaozhao out of the Lu Family. If only she had been a bit nicer to her then.


    Wouldn¡¯t she have avoided such a decisive break now?


    Cao Mei¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. Xia Wenjin had come so suddenly back then, always talking about how the Xia Family mistreated her.


    ¡°Well, looking at the reports online, the Xia Family not only didn¡¯t abuse her, but even provided her with better food, clothing, and living conditions than the Lu Family did.¡±


    ¡°With such kindness shown by the Xia Family and she still criticizes them as worthless, how much can these humans, who have only known her for a short time, matter to her?¡±


    Cao Mei just thinking about it felt a chill in her heart.


    She watched the video of Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin with a sense of loss, bewildered, thinking she might have really made a mistake...


    The sky outside darkened, and soon the wind began to pick up.


    Leafless branches swayed in the wind.


    At Song Group, President¡¯s Office.


    Song Sinian watched Xu Zhenzhen, who stood before him, his eyebrows slightly lifted, ¡°You can temporarily stay in the Legal Department of Song Group this holiday. I will have Zhao Xi assign you a sideline role.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced at Song Sinian and sat down directly on the sofa, ¡°President Song, why not just arrange a position for our Zhaozhao at Song Group and let her come to the company?¡±


    A boring winter break, if Lu Zhaozhao and she were both at Song Group, she wouldn¡¯t be bored.


    At least she could properly gossip with Lu Zhaozhao.


    The eyelids of Song Sinian slightly lifted, ¡°She has her own interests, and I reckon she won¡¯t stay at the company to mess around with you.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged, ¡°That¡¯s really a pity.¡±


    Resting her arms on the sofa, her little face beamed as she spoke, ¡°I feel like just having Zhaozhao around makes it possible to see her dominate every day, tsk tsk, so adorable.¡±


    No sooner had her words fallen than the eyes of Song Sinian grew colder by degrees.


    The whole office suddenly turned icy cold.


    Xu Zhenzhen shivered suddenly, immediately raising her hands in a gesture of surrender, ¡°No no no, I¡¯m just speaking off the cuff, not trying to compete with you for Zhaozhao. You don¡¯t need to see me as a thorn in your side.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s possessiveness over Lu Zhaozhao was not something she could not see.


    After all, to become a formidable lawyer, one must be proficient in psychology.


    Only then could she better analyze her clients and provide more reasonable collaboration methods.


    Of course, it was also for better communication with her partners.


    However, Xu Zhenzhen had never expected to apply it in this context.


    She actually didn¡¯t quite like this possessive and obsessive side of Song Sinian.


    The reason she had agreed to Song Sinian initially was merely to earn more money.


    However, after getting to know Lu Zhaozhao, this job had somehow turned into a duty for her.


    If it wasn¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao loving Song Sinian so desperately, she would definitely encourage Lu Zhaozhao to stay away from such men.


    After all, a person with a weak heart would find it difficult to love someone as obsessively as Song Sinian until death.


    Fortunately, that is exactly what Lu Zhaozhao did.


    She naturally didn¡¯t need to worry anymore.


    Just after Xu Zhenzhen finished speaking, the temperature in the room seemed to increase significantly.


    She muttered under her breath, not quite sure what to criticize at the moment.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Just then, someone knocked on the office door.


    Sitting on the sofa, Xu Zhenzhen looked toward the door and saw Zhao Xi enter, followed closely by someone else.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly widened¡ª

 Chapter 273: 272: How come she never realized he was such a smooth talker before?

    Chapter 273: Chapter 272: How come she never realized he was such a smooth talker before?


    She almost reflexively turned her head back and then curled her body into the sofa, trying hard to act as if she hadn¡¯t seen anything.


    It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, how could she encounter this man here?


    She feigned composure, taking several deep breaths in the sofa before she sat up properly again, pretending that she hadn¡¯t seen anything.


    ¡°President Song has guests?¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze lightly swept over Xu Zhenzhen, who was seated on the sofa, before quickly pulling away.


    His expression was very calm, as if the two of them didn¡¯t know each other at all.


    Xu Zhenzhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but an inexplicable sense of loss flashed through her heart.


    She turned away, sitting silently on the sofa, unconsciously drawing herself up into a very obedient-looking pose.


    Thinking about it, this person was now a prominent legal magnate of XJ Group, and her, just a little shrimp, why would he remember her?


    Thinking this, Xu Zhenzhen actually felt more at peace.


    Song Sinian gave Zhao Xi a look, signaling him to take Xu Zhenzhen away first. His gaze then turned to Xia Wenqing and asked, ¡°What brings you here today?¡±


    Without speaking, Xia Wenqing slowly walked over to where Xu Zhenzhen had been sitting. Only after hearing the office door close did the hand resting on the armrest casually caress the spot where she had been.


    Raising his eyes again, Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze carried an indistinct smile, ¡°Brother-in-law, if my sister knew her best friend was actually planted by you, do you think she¡¯d be angry?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Almost instantly, Song Sinian¡¯s face darkened.


    His undisguised hostility bore straight into Xia Wenqing as if he had already decided where to bury him.


    Xia Wenqing was taken aback, realizing that his last remark might have been a bit too much.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°Ahem... I just wanted to give you a friendly reminder. I had no intention of telling Zhaozhao about this.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Clearly, Song Sinian did not believe him and continued to glare at Xia Wenqing with a cold eye.


    At this point, Xia Wenqing really didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.


    When he had first spotted Xu Zhenzhen in school, he felt it was strange that she appeared by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side.


    Because as far as he knew, Xu Zhenzhen had no understanding of art.


    That she could return to the country and even choose this major surprised him, so he investigated her a little.


    And sure enough... he couldn¡¯t find out anything.


    It wasn¡¯t until he discovered Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s connections with Song Sinian, mostly through Zhao Xi, that he found the subtle clues.


    He had to admit, Song Sinian¡¯s protection of Lu Zhaozhao was extremely comprehensive and in place.


    It was even a bit obsessive.


    After all, no one would decide to off someone¡¯s own brother over such a trivial matter on the spot.


    However, Xia Wenqing was certain that Song Sinian was totally capable of doing so.


    Seeing Song Sinian¡¯s unchanging expression, Xia Wenqing simply raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, ¡°Alright, alright. I was wrong. I actually just wanted to make a negotiation. I¡¯d like to stay at the Song Family in the capacity of a consultant lawyer.¡±


    ¡°Why do that,¡± Song Sinian finally spoke, but his tone remained ice-cold and detached, giving one the chills.


    Xia Wenqing sighed, ¡°To understand a very important matter. However, I assure you that I won¡¯t cause any harm to your relationship with Zhaozhao, and of course, I won¡¯t hurt Zhaozhao either.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes dropped slightly, seemingly pondering.


    He took a deep breath, ¡°I promise that even if Zhaozhao comes to the company, I won¡¯t interfere with you, and I¡¯ll make Lao Si leave Zhaozhao alone. How about that?¡±


    Of course, his promise was only within the company.


    Outside the company, he had no control.


    Xia Wenqing sat on the sofa, staring straight at Song Sinian. After all, setting up his brother was better than being killed by his brother-in-law.


    After a moment of contemplation, Song Sinian slowly spoke, ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word.¡±


    Xia Wenqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of a smile in his eyes as he promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, us lawyers take our promises very seriously.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Night fell, and Song Sinian returned home after finishing his work.


    But as soon as he walked in, he saw Lu Zhaozhao sitting in the dining room, wiping her tears.


    His heart suddenly twisted.


    Thinking about how Lu Zhaozhao was bullied at school, his eyebrows furrowed.


    He had thought that as long as Lu Zhaozhao won this ¡°battle¡± nicely, it was fine, but he never considered that she would be heartbroken over these issues.


    He strode over, and the moment Lu Zhaozhao turned her head, he pressed his lips to hers.


    It was his fault, all his fault.


    He should have protected her more carefully.


    He should have cleared every obstacle for her, so that Xia Wenjin and the others couldn¡¯t continue to sway before her eyes.


    And Song Keren, Xiao Mo, Xiao Jinglan, Mr. and Mrs. Lu...


    Every one of them deserved to die!


    Lu Zhaozhao, with a dazed face, was clasped in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, his warm, gentle lips, which had been cautious at first, suddenly became fierce and desperate.


    His large hand gripped her waist with alarming strength.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know what had provoked Song Sinian, she reached out to push him away and speak, but before the words could leave her lips, they were swallowed up again.


    She simply gave up struggling and let Song Sinian have his way.


    Because she had dueled with Xia Wenjin at school during the day, she suspected that Song Sinian would want to talk to her about it at night, so she had asked Qian Hong and the others to leave work early, waiting at home alone for Song Sinian.


    Now, with no one else at home, it didn¡¯t matter what Song Sinian wanted to do.


    But this was the kitchen, and she was still somewhat uncomfortable.


    Song Sinian had lost much of his rationality; his lips roamed over her pale neck, trailing down to her delicate collarbone with each kiss.


    The dining room was very quiet, only filled with the sound of their breathing, and occasionally, the noise of sucking.


    The empty sound echoed, making one¡¯s face flush.


    ¡°Husband...¡± Her voice was hazy, soft, carrying a pleading tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s cold here.¡±


    She didn¡¯t forcefully push Song Sinian away, but instead gently pinched his neck with her small hand.


    Hearing her voice, he subconsciously looked up, only to catch sight of her eyes, full of moisture, gazing at him with a flushed look.


    His heart pounded fiercely, wishing he could swallow her whole right then.


    He abruptly lifted her onto the table, and his overwhelming breath descended chaotically onto her face, finally sealing her small mouth that wanted to argue.


    ¡°You won¡¯t be cold in a bit, I promise.¡±


    His breath was unsteady, light and heavy, disorderly brushing over her pale, soft skin.


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao got home, she changed into loose-fitting home clothes, which were so baggy that the buttons could easily be pulled askew without much force.


    She was almost laughed at by Song Sinian¡¯s audacity; how had she never noticed before that he was so eloquent?

 Chapter 274: 273: Isnt She Dominant Enough?

    Chapter 274: Chapter 273: Isn¡¯t She Dominant Enough?


    ¡°You...¡±


    Before she could say anything, Song Sinian had already turned around and pinned her against the dining table.


    Her little hands were braced on the front of the table, her back shielded by his tall figure, leaving no space for the cold air to penetrate.


    ¡°Shh, Zhaozhao, be good. You won¡¯t be cold in a moment.¡± He gently coaxed her while grasping her waist with one hand.


    Taken by surprise, Lu Zhaozhao found herself completely lying on the table, with only the tips of her toes barely touching the ground.


    The next moment, just as Song Sinian mentioned, when the weight of his body fully came upon her, she was not cold at all.


    The sudden thrill sent a wave of heat from her spine to her limbs and bones like a wildfire.


    Had it not been for half of her body lying on the table, she would have already fallen onto the floor.


    She let out a low moan, the lingering tone echoing in the dining room and striking her eardrums, making her entire soul tremble.


    Lu Zhaozhao had never thought she could make such a spine-tingling sound.


    Song Sinian had also not anticipated that, upon hearing her voice, he would completely lose himself in frenzy.


    The dining table was made of solid wood, sturdy, spacious, and waterproof...


    The only drawback was that the legs of the table occasionally moved from their original positions and made noises as they rubbed against the floor.


    The dining room was already quiet, which made the minor noises sound even more noticeable amid the chaotic atmosphere.


    ...


    Due to not knowing what had upset Song Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao endured no matter how intense his actions were and kept him company.


    This support lasted until deep into the night.


    Lu Zhaozhao could no longer care about what the dining room looked like; she herself was completely disheveled.


    Had it not been for Song Sinian carrying her back to the room and giving her a thorough wash, she felt she would have slept in the dining room all night.


    After a long tussle with Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian also calmed down significantly.


    He lay in bed, holding the limp Lu Zhaozhao, reminiscing about the sobbing state he had caused her earlier, he couldn¡¯t help but kiss the corner of her eye.


    Feeling Song Sinian¡¯s calmed emotions, Lu Zhaozhao slowly started to speak, ¡°Honey, were you in a bad mood today?¡±


    Song Sinian was slightly startled, he looked down at Lu Zhaozhao, seemingly unclear why she would ask that.


    But since she asked, he naturally responded authentically.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Indeed, I was somewhat upset.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her little head, glanced at Song Sinian, and found a comfortable position in his arms before she continued asking, ¡°Was it because of some problem at work?¡±


    She carefully recalled everything related to Song Sinian.


    Xiao Mo should be just as immobilized as the Lu Family right now, and the directors behind him had been severely undercut by Mr. Song, basically leaving no one useful.


    So, it was impossible for anyone to trouble him.


    The Song Group also recently collaborated with XJ Group, and all of the projects in development were personally supervised by his older brother.


    Could it be some internal issues within the XJ Group?


    As Lu Zhaozhao pondered this, Song Sinian¡¯s clear voice resonated in the room, ¡°It¡¯s not because of work.¡±


    This confused Lu Zhaozhao a bit, ¡°Then what is it because of?¡±


    ¡°Because of you.¡± Song Sinian sighed softly and gently kissed her still reddened eye corner again, ¡°Because you were bullied and cried.¡±


    ¡°Huh??¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind went blank.


    She was bullied???


    And she cried?


    Did she lose her memory?


    Why didn¡¯t she remember any of this?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind was racing, trying to recall everything, but still could not find anything that matched what Song Sinian had just said.


    If being bullied referred to the incident in school when Xia Wenjin live-streamed, then her crying was...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head was about to explode.


    Suddenly, as if realizing something, she stiffly turned her head to look at Song Sinian and asked, ¡°Husband, when did you see me crying?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes dimmed a bit, ¡°During dinner.¡±


    As expected...


    Slowly, Lu Zhaozhao raised her sore arms and cupped Song Sinian¡¯s cheeks, ¡°That was because I ate too much wasabi.¡±


    After she returned home, the kitchen had prepared a lot of dishes and even left a cold dish.


    She didn¡¯t know it contained wasabi and had taken a big bite, which made her tear up continuously.


    That was when Song Sinian had walked in.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t even know what to say at this point.


    Song Sinian, obviously not expecting that Lu Zhaozhao had been crying because of wasabi, fell silent for a moment, then decisively said, ¡°I will have the wasabi removed from the kitchen ingredients.¡±


    His slightly clenched expression almost made Lu Zhaozhao think he wanted to eradicate all the wasabi in the world.


    Lu Zhaozhao burst into laughter, hooking her arms around his neck, laughing almost wickedly.


    ¡°My Mr. Song, how can you be so adorable?¡±


    He got worried over her tears, even associating it with the daytime incident thinking she was bullied.


    She had been strong enough during the live stream, hadn¡¯t she?


    She had even told Song Sinian about the things she was currently handling, proving she wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with.


    But in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, she seemed to always be the vulnerable little cabbage, easy to bully.


    Lu Zhaozhao, nestled in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, suddenly felt immensely happy.


    The pain she felt in her last life was as great as the happiness she felt now.


    She lifted her little face and gave Song Sinian¡¯s chin a peck before saying word by word, ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t worry. Nobody is bullying me, now I¡¯m the one who bullies others.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian remained silent, still seeming unconvinced.


    ¡°With you here, if I still got bullied, that¡¯d be an insult to the title of Mrs. CEO of Song Group, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Lu Zhaozhao said twinkling her eyes at Song Sinian, ¡°Don¡¯t you think? My Mr. Song?¡±


    Song Sinian was successfully reassured by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    He gently rubbed his chin against Lu Zhaozhao, tightening his arms around her, then said, ¡°As long as you are happy, I am willing to do anything. Whatever you want, I will bring it to you. So... no matter what happens, will you tell me, please?¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to guess about the things happening around Lu Zhaozhao again.


    Every time he saw her mood differed from usual, his heart would feel uneasy.


    The issues of her last life always loomed in his heart.


    Both he and the Xia Family felt immense sympathy for the helpless Lu Zhaozhao of the past, while Song Sinian deeply resented his past self for not caring for her more.


    Even if Lu Zhaozhao hated him, he shouldn¡¯t have left her side, should he?


    Lu Zhaozhao could clearly sense the emotional turmoil in Song Sinian. She hugged him tightly and soothingly said, ¡°I can promise that, but... I¡¯m afraid what I might ask for later could upset you...¡±

 Chapter 275: 273: Nobody Bullies Me

    Chapter 275: Chapter 273: Nobody Bullies Me


    ¡°You...¡±


    She was about to say something when Song Sinian suddenly turned around and pinned her against the dining table.


    Her small hands were propped on the table, and behind her, his tall figure blocked her, casting an imposing shadow over her from above.


    ¡°Hush, Zhaozhao, be good...¡± He cooed at her while scooping up her waist with one hand.


    Lu Zhaozhao, caught off guard, found herself completely sprawled on the table, with half of her body practically suspended in air, her feet desperately trying to find a foothold on the ground.


    She couldn¡¯t care less about the cold now, her hands frantically clawing the table but finding no leverage whatsoever.


    Suddenly, the familiar scent of cedar wood caused her nerves to flood like a rising tide, viciously rushing in from the boundless sea and crashing over the coast again and again.


    The spine-tingling sensation spread from her back to her limbs, delightfully and intensely tingling to the tips of her toes.


    Had it not been for the fact that most of her body was leaning on the table, she would have fallen under it by now.


    Her trailing voice echoed around the dining room and then crashed onto her eardrums, shaking her entire soul.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s soft plea for mercy reached Song Sinian¡¯s ears, driving him into further frenzy.


    The dining room was already quiet, which only made the incidental noises stand out more in the chaotic mix.


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao, unaware of what had agitated Song Sinian, patiently accompanied him no matter how tumultuous he became.


    And that accompaniment dragged on until late into the night.


    Lu Zhaozhao paid no attention to the state of the dining room anymore; she herself was completely disheveled.


    The only consolation might have been that the dining table was made of solid wood, sturdy and spacious, and waterproof...


    Had Song Sinian not carried her back to the room and meticulously washed her, she felt she would have had to sleep in the dining room all night.


    After Song Sinian¡¯s lengthy entanglement with Lu Zhaozhao, he finally calmed down significantly.


    He lay in bed holding the limp Lu Zhaozhao, thinking of her sobbing under his torment, and he couldn¡¯t resist kissing the corners of her eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao, sensing Song Sinian¡¯s calm emotions, slowly opened her mouth to ask, ¡°Husband, were you in a bad mood today?¡±


    Song Sinian paused slightly, looking down at Lu Zhaozhao as if somewhat puzzled by her question.


    But since she asked, he naturally responded truthfully.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Indeed, I was a bit upset.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her little head, glanced at Song Sinian, and found a comfortable position in his arms before continuing to ask, ¡°Is it because there¡¯s a problem with work?¡±


    She carefully pondered over matters related to Song Sinian.


    Xiao Mo should be as immobilized as the Lu Family, with his backing board members having been thoroughly dealt with by Old Master Song, leaving almost no one useful.


    So it was unlikely anyone had been causing trouble for him.


    Recently, the Song Group had been cooperating with XJ Group, and all development projects were personally overseen by his older brother.


    Could it be that there was some issue within XJ Group?


    As Lu Zhaozhao mulled it over, Song Sinian¡¯s crisp voice echoed in the room, ¡°It¡¯s not about work.¡±


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao was a bit puzzled, ¡°Then what is it?¡±


    ¡°Because of you,¡± Song Sinian sighed lightly, his lips gently kissing her still-reddened eye corners again, ¡°Because you were bullied and you cried.¡±


    ¡°Huh???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind went blank.


    She was bullied???


    And she cried?


    Did she lose her memory?


    Why doesn¡¯t she remember any of this?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head was spinning rapidly as she recalled all the events, yet she couldn¡¯t find anything that matched what Song Sinian had just said.


    If by being bullied, he meant the incident at school when Xia Wenjin started the live stream, then her crying was...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind was on the verge of bursting.


    Suddenly, she seemed to realize something and turned her stiff little head to look at Song Sinian and asked, ¡°Husband, when... did you see me crying?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes immediately dimmed a bit, ¡°During the time at the restaurant.¡±


    As expected...


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly lifted her sore arms to cradle Song Sinian¡¯s cheeks, ¡°I was just hit by the taste of mustard.¡±


    After she got home, the kitchen prepared a lot of food on the table, including a dish of cold salad.


    She didn¡¯t realize it had mustard in it and happened to take a big bite, which made her keep tearing up.


    That was the moment when Song Sinian entered the house.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t even know what to say at the time.


    Song Sinian, having not expected Lu Zhaozhao to cry from eating mustard, fell silent for a moment and then decisively said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone remove mustard from the kitchen ingredients in the future.¡±


    His expression, slightly gritting his teeth, almost made Lu Zhaozhao think he was going to eradicate all the mustard in the world.


    Lu Zhaozhao now burst out laughing, hooking her arms around his neck, laughing so mischievously.


    ¡°My Mr. Song, how can you be so adorable?¡±


    He saw her tears and even connected it to the day¡¯s events, thinking she had been bullied.


    Wasn¡¯t she strong enough in the live stream earlier that day?


    She had already told Song Sinian about the things she was currently doing, and it was evident that she was no pushover.


    But in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, she seemed forever to be a little cabbage, easily bullied.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought this as she snuggled into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace and suddenly felt immensely happy.


    As painful as her previous life felt, this life was just as blissful.


    She lifted her little face and kissed Song Sinian¡¯s chin, then slowly said, ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t worry, nobody is bullying me, now it¡¯s only my turn to bully others.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian stayed silent, still seemingly not reassured.


    ¡°With you here, if I still get bullied, wouldn¡¯t that be too disgraceful for the title of Mrs. CEO of the Song Group?¡± Lu Zhaozhao quipped as she winked at Song Sinian, ¡°Don¡¯t you think? My Mr. Song?¡±


    Song Sinian was successfully soothed by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    He gently rubbed his chin against Lu Zhaozhao, tightened his long arms around her, and then said, ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy, I¡¯m willing to do anything. Whatever you want, I¡¯ll bring it to you. So... no matter what happens, will you tell me, okay?¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to guess about things happening around Lu Zhaozhao anymore.


    Whenever he saw her mood was different than usual, he would feel anxious.


    The matters regarding her previous life that Lu Zhaozhao mentioned always remained a barrier in his heart.


    Both he and the Xia Family deeply pitied the helpless Lu Zhaozhao of the previous life, and Song Sinian hated his past self for not being more caring toward her.


    Even if Lu Zhaozhao hated him, he shouldn¡¯t have left her side, should he?

 Chapter 276: 274: Isnt It Normal to Like Her?

    Chapter 276: Chapter 274: Isn¡¯t It Normal to Like Her?


    Lu Zhaozhao could clearly feel the emotional fluctuations in Song Sinian. She also clung tightly to him and soothed in a soft voice, ¡°I can promise that, but... I¡¯m afraid what I¡¯m going to ask for soon might make you unhappy...¡±


    She looked at Song Sinian a bit nervously as she said this.


    She had actually planned to sneak off and do it when the time came, but seeing how Song Sinian was ready to blow up just because she ate some mustard for her sake, she decided to tell the truth instead.


    That way, if something really did happen, she could at least play dumb...


    Seeing her anxious little expression, Song Sinian gently kissed the tip of her nose, ¡°You¡¯ll have to tell me before I know whether I¡¯ll be unhappy or not.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips slightly, ¡°Actually, I want to go see Doctor Tian with you.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils blinked, seemingly unsurprised, ¡°Do you want to see her for hypnosis to retrieve your lost memories?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Song Sinian, somewhat astonished by how he had guessed her thoughts.


    Under normal circumstances, shouldn¡¯t he be thinking about his own psychological treatment?


    Mr. Song from their family, however, was different from the others, seeing right through to the essence through the facade.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, her eyes unwavering as she watched Song Sinian, as if trying to discern something from his facial expression.


    But the next second, she felt that her idea was silly.


    If Song Sinian was the type of person whose thoughts were written all over his face, how could she have failed to notice anything in her last life?


    Song Sinian took Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand and kissed it, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, no matter what you want, I¡¯ll bring it to you. I won¡¯t stop you from doing anything you wish, as long as it doesn¡¯t affect your safety.¡±


    His dark eyes stayed fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, the affection in them clearly visible.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly, ¡°Mm, I understand! I promise I won¡¯t act rashly!¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Although Song Sinian responded to Lu Zhaozhao, his eyes darkened significantly.


    He knew that Lu Zhaozhao was simple-hearted and wouldn¡¯t overthink the issue of amnesia, but to him, it was different.


    Since he couldn¡¯t stop Lu Zhaozhao, he would have to stay by her side, clearing any obstacles for her.


    The night grew increasingly intense.


    Inside the hotel, Xia Wenjin and Justin were lying on the big bed in their room.


    Only a floor lamp beside the bed was turned on in the room.


    Under the dim yellow light, Xia Wenjin gently tugged at the covers and looked towards Justin, ¡°Darling, I¡¯ve been so humiliated today all because of that slut Lu Zhaozhao. Can you help me?¡±


    She curled her arm around Justin¡¯s waist, looking at him with a particularly aggrieved expression.


    Listening to the words beside him, Justin sneered inwardly, his gaze sweeping over Xia Wenjin¡¯s face.


    He had to admire her nerve.


    Despite the overwhelming public condemnation outside, with the evidence nailed down, she still managed to play the victim in front of him.


    Justin ran his hand over her head, not showing the slightest bit of dislike for Xia Wenjin on the surface.


    They were just using each other, each for their own benefit.


    Besides, her looks and figure were very much to his taste, and since she could help him deal with Song Keren, keeping her quiet lately, Justin didn¡¯t mind what people outside were saying about Xia Wenjin.


    What¡¯s more, he still needed Xia Wenjin to help him with something even more important.


    ¡°Jin, you¡¯re just too naive, that¡¯s why you ended up being taken advantage of like this.¡± Justin watched Xia Wenjin with patience, his tone slow.


    He didn¡¯t seem angry, nor did he seem to be mocking.


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t tell what he was trying to express at the moment.


    Weren¡¯t men supposed to be the most susceptible to pillow talk when in bed?


    Could it be that her method of operation was wrong?


    She hesitated and bit her lip, looking at Justin, ¡°I, I don¡¯t understand what you mean...¡±


    But Justin suddenly laughed, pinching Xia Wenjin¡¯s chin and gently caressing it, ¡°You¡¯re so smart, how could you be fooled by appearances? You¡¯ve always wanted to beat Lu Zhaozhao, but you¡¯ve only ever taken action against her. Have you ever thought about why she always wins against you?¡±


    Xia Wenjin felt even guiltier now because the man in front of her not only knew about her rivalry with Lu Zhaozhao, but also that she deliberately caused trouble for her.


    She looked up at Justin, only to find that there wasn¡¯t a hint of displeasure in his expression.


    Somewhat surprised, she blinked and said instinctively, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because Lu Zhaozhao is too cunning?¡±


    Justin shook his head gently, ¡°Think about it more carefully, a Lu Zhaozhao who has left the Lu Family has almost no power to fight against them. How could she fight back against you over and over again?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t speak, just staring steadily at Justin, as if waiting for his answer.


    If she knew the answer, she wouldn¡¯t be so thoroughly crushed by Lu Zhaozhao.


    She detested that woman to death, yet she had no way to deal with her.


    If Justin knew... could she easily outshine Lu Zhaozhao then?


    Although Xia Wenjin¡¯s emotions were fleeting, Justin captured them accurately.


    His smile grew even brighter, ¡°The reason why Lu Zhaozhao always has the upper hand over you is because she has a backer behind her, Song Sinian.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s face darkened a bit.


    How could she not know?


    She had tried to seduce Song Sinian before, but that man was like he was sick, his heart and eyes filled with only Lu Zhaozhao.


    She even spent time trying to please Old Master Song, only to find out that she had offended him a long time ago.


    What could she do?


    If she could turn back time, she would definitely not provoke Old Master Song. No! She would marry Song Sinian earlier!


    Then everything would have been hers!


    But now these thoughts were useless; she could no longer win Song Sinian¡¯s heart, much less marry him.


    She knew it better than anyone.


    Whatever Xia Wenjin was thinking, how could Justin not know?


    He scoffed at it in his heart, but his face reassured her softly, ¡°Sometimes you have to change your perspective to deal with a problem. If you want to defeat Lu Zhaozhao, you should think of ways to weaken or eliminate her support, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjin instantly pouted, ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t tried. I¡¯ve tried to make Song Sinian lose interest in Lu Zhaozhao, but it¡¯s useless. That man is spellbound when it comes to Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    She even believed that even if Lu Zhaozhao were to lie in bed with another man, as long as Lu Zhaozhao denied it, he would believe her.


    So there was no way she could drive a wedge between them.


    Justin, of course, also knew how much Song Sinian liked Lu Zhaozhao.


    After all, a woman like Lu Zhaozhao, whether in terms of looks, family background, or personality, was hard not to like.


    Isn¡¯t it normal for Song Sinian to like her?


    Any man faced with the choice between Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao would know whom to choose, right?

 Chapter 277: 275: She Cant Take It Anymore, Alright!

    Chapter 277: Chapter 275: She Can¡¯t Take It Anymore, Alright!


    He chuckled lightly, ¡°That¡¯s why I said that the direction you¡¯re putting your effort into is wrong. Since you can¡¯t make Song Sinian give up on Lu Zhaozhao, have you ever thought about making Lu Zhaozhao lose Song Sinian?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was confused by his words.


    What¡¯s the difference between making Song Sinian detest Lu Zhaozhao and making Lu Zhaozhao lose Song Sinian?


    Justin just smiled silently and watched Xia Wenjin quietly.


    Suddenly, she seemed to realize something, ¡°You mean to get rid of Song Sinian...¡±


    She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when Justin covered her mouth with his hand, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything, just think about it.¡±


    Xia Wenjin bit her lower lip, almost understanding the true meaning of what Justin wanted to convey.


    If Song Sinian were gone, Lu Zhaozhao, no matter how capable, wouldn¡¯t be able to stir up any trouble.


    So, to deal with Lu Zhaozhao, getting rid of Song Sinian was key.


    But Song Sinian was the CEO of Song Group, getting rid of him would be as hard as reaching the heavens!


    While Xia Wenjin was feeling dejected, she heard Justin speak slowly again, ¡°You are my precious darling, don¡¯t risk your life. Even if you have such thoughts, you should find someone else to do it, understand?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin suddenly gave a start, as if she had just thought of something.


    Right!


    Why should she do it herself?!


    She was now married to Xiao Mo, and there were plenty of people around her who had access to the Song Family.


    Xiao Jinglan, Song Keren, and those behind them¡ª who among them couldn¡¯t be used?


    Maybe she could even ask Xiao Mo to handle it...


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin underwent a significant change.


    Lu Zhaozhao, your good days are really coming to an end!


    Since school had just gone into winter break, Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t in a hurry to go to Tian Xiangjun.


    For one thing, the winter break was long and there was no rush.


    On the other hand, ever since her break started, Song Sinian had been less restrained.


    Since the incident at the restaurant, Song Sinian seemed to have opened the door to a new world.


    Every evening after the chef was done cooking, he would let them go home immediately.


    Or to another courtyard.


    Lu Zhaozhao would then be entangled by him from evening till deep into the night.


    For several days in a row, let alone seeing Doctor Tian, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t even want to leave the house.


    She would catch up on sleep during the day at the villa, while Qian Hong took care of the groggy Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s meals. When Song Sinian finished work in the evening, he took care of everything himself.


    If it wasn¡¯t for some urgent issues at the company that required Song Sinian¡¯s attention, Lu Zhaozhao would probably have to stay in the villa for a few more days.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, have you been very tired lately?¡± Tian Xiangjun looked at the faintly tired Lu Zhaozhao and couldn¡¯t help but worry a bit.


    She knew more or less about the trending topics concerning Lu Zhaozhao recently.


    Since Lu Zhaozhao had been with Song Sinian, she had started paying attention to this young girl.


    So she was aware of most situations.


    She handed the flowering tea on the table to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Have some flowering tea, it can help relax your mood.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled softly, ¡°I have indeed been a bit tired lately...¡±


    She suddenly seemed to remember something, a bit embarrassedly scratching her head, ¡°Doctor Tian, do you remember when I came to you wanting to adjust Mr. Song¡¯s medication?¡±


    Doctor Tian was slightly taken aback, ¡°Is Sinian still not doing well?¡±


    She had already adjusted to the new medication, and these drugs had no effect on that aspect.


    But if it still wasn¡¯t working, could it be that this guy naturally had some issues?


    No wonder Zhaozhao looked pale.


    Sinian, this guy, had a good face and body, but if that didn¡¯t work, it kind of felt like... emmm, seeing it but not being able to eat it.


    Should she prescribe him some energy-boosting medicine?


    But if Sinian knew about it, would it not be too good...


    While Doctor Tian was thinking, she reached out to pick up a cup of flower tea and sipped it, trying to hide the embarrassment on her face.


    Zhaozhao raised her eyebrow, seeing Doctor Tian¡¯s expression and knowing she misunderstood.


    Their Mr. Song is not incompetent, he¡¯s actually too much!


    She was about to break down!


    As Zhaozhao was thinking about how to start speaking, she saw Doctor Tian hesitating to speak and looking at her.


    Helplessly, she frankly said, ¡°Doctor Tian, what I mean is, is there any way to let Mr. Song rest a bit? Or let me rest a bit...¡±


    As soon as she spoke, her entire small face turned extremely red.


    Doctor Tian was initially confused by what Zhaozhao meant, but seeing her blushing face, and suddenly speaking up, she realized something.


    ¡°You, you, you and Sinian, that guy???¡± The rest of her words didn¡¯t even come out; they were all turned into exclamations on her face.


    Did Sinian finally get some action?


    Then, she thought of Zhaozhao¡¯s tired face and her words, and instantly seemed to realize something; she also blushed.


    ¡°Cough cough cough... well, this guy is indeed a bit too much, although he is young, but I will advise him to restrain himself.¡±


    Such a good daughter-in-law, finally within grasp, it¡¯d be troublesome if he scared her away by being too rough.


    It seems he really needed to have a serious talk with that naughty guy.


    Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Thank you, Doctor Tian, but I have another favor to ask of you.¡±


    Doctor Tian put down the flower tea in her hand and nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just say it, as long as I can help.¡±


    Sinian was like her own child, and Zhaozhao was his wife, naturally her child too.


    If her child needed help, of course, she would help!


    Zhaozhao took a deep breath before she spoke, ¡°I actually lost my memory when I was very young, and that part of my memory is somewhat important to me...¡±


    So Zhaozhao explained the general situation to Doctor Tian.


    At the end, she added, ¡°Mr. Song knows about this, but I think he might be worried, so if possible, I¡¯d like him to be present during the hypnosis.¡±


    Doctor Tian nodded, ¡°Actually, even if you didn¡¯t mention it, I wanted to discuss this with you.¡±


    She looked somewhat uneasy as she said this.


    Zhaozhao immediately sensed something and quickly asked, ¡°Has Mr. Song¡¯s condition gotten worse?¡±


    Lately, she felt that Sinian had become better at expressing himself than before; she always thought these were good signs.


    But seeing Doctor Tian¡¯s hesitant expression, her heart couldn¡¯t help but sink.


    In her past life, the shadow of Sinian leaving her had always lingered; her entire heart started pounding anxiously because of Doctor Tian¡¯s words.


    She didn¡¯t want Sinian to have any more problems...

 Chapter 278: 276 Im Afraid I Cant Bear to Part with You...

    Chapter 278: Chapter 276 I¡¯m Afraid I Can¡¯t Bear to Part with You...


    Tian Xiangjun¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know whether this is a good or bad thing.¡±


    She let out a light sigh and continued, ¡°After you married Sinian, his emotional state showed obvious improvement, and he took much less medication than before, but...¡±


    ¡°But what?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hands were tightly clasped together, fearing she would hear some terrible news.


    She couldn¡¯t lose Song Sinian again.


    No matter what problems arose, she had to save him!


    Tian Xiangjun¡¯s gaze swept across Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face. Seeing her anxiety, she slowly began speaking, ¡°Have you felt that Sinian has become increasingly attentive towards you? Even to the point of obsession...¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Tian Xiangjun¡¯s words left Lu Zhaozhao taken aback, not understanding how this was related to what had been discussed earlier.


    Her brows furrowed in confusion as she looked at Tian Xiangjun but still honestly replied, ¡°He has indeed been quite concerned about me lately.¡±


    Especially after learning how she died in her previous life, and after suffering so much mistreatment, Song Sinian had become even more fixated on her than before.


    Of course, she couldn¡¯t reveal this to Tian Xiangjun.


    Song Sinian and the Xia Family were willing to believe her because they truly loved her, and incidents from her past life did show some signs in this life.


    Moreover, since Pei Huai was also reborn, it was easier to persuade them.


    But Tian Xiangjun didn¡¯t have many interactions with them, so there was no point in telling her. It might even result in being treated for a psychiatric disorder.


    Tian Xiangjun sighed, ¡°Just now, while I was chatting with Sinian, I noticed this. He mentioned his last mental breakdown occurred a few days ago after seeing you cry.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly panicked.


    The things they did following his emotional breakdown made her cheeks burn even more.


    But thinking about Tian Xiangjun¡¯s attitude after learning that she and Song Sinian had consummated their marriage, it seemed Sinian hadn¡¯t told her about what happened afterward.


    Lu Zhaozhao finally let out a silent sigh of relief, ¡°Doctor Tian, I don¡¯t quite understand, why is it dangerous for Mr. Song¡¯s emotions to be richer than before?¡±


    Tian Xiangjun sighed, ¡°It¡¯s because his emotions are rich only towards you. His joy, anger, grief, and pleasure are all directed solely at you. You¡¯ve become even more important to him. In other words, you are his whole world. If you...¡±


    She hesitated for a moment, not daring to finish the thought.


    She was aware of this girl¡¯s feelings towards Song Sinian.


    But she worried that if anything happened to Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian probably couldn¡¯t bear it.


    Just her crying had led to a loss of control in Sinian¡¯s emotions. What if Lu Zhaozhao was hurt, or... left? What would happen to Song Sinian then?


    She couldn¡¯t bear to imagine, and that¡¯s why she was even more concerned.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to suddenly understand, ¡°Doctor Tian, I got it. What should I do now?¡±


    In her last life, she was a burden to Song Sinian. This life must not repeat that.


    She wanted Song Sinian to be well.


    Tian Xiangjun looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s determined expression and hesitated for a moment, ¡°You could try getting him to project some of his affection outward a little, like finding another emotional anchor, or even several.¡±


    As she spoke this, she quickly explained, ¡°I don¡¯t mean for Sinian to fall out of love, but to find more emotional anchors.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, ¡°Doctor Tian, I understand. I will definitely give it a try.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ...


    After finishing the psychological consultation, Lu Zhaozhao followed Song Sinian directly to Song Group.


    In order not to draw the attention of others in the company, Lu Zhaozhao specifically disguised herself, planning to stay in an unassuming break room.


    But Song Sinian didn¡¯t give her any chance, leaving her in the President¡¯s office during the meeting.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed helplessly, looking at the pile of snacks and fruit placed next to the office sofa, she simply gave in to her circumstances.


    ¡°Knock knock knock!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of the President¡¯s office.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly.


    At this time, shouldn¡¯t all the management of Song Group be in a meeting?


    People who weren¡¯t managers probably wouldn¡¯t dare come to the President¡¯s office, so who could it be?


    Lu Zhaozhao sat on the sofa, didn¡¯t say a word, just quietly waited to see if the person outside would enter without anyone answering.


    As expected, the person at the door knocked again, and seeing no response, they pushed the door open and entered.


    But the next second, their expression changed.


    ¡°Zhaozhao?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was also stunned for a moment, then couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the sight of the other person, ¡°Zhenzhen? What are you doing here?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief, turned off the recording phone she had taken out of her pocket, and then said, ¡°I just heard from the work group that President Song secretly brought a woman to the President¡¯s office. I was worried some little temptress was seducing your husband, so I came straight here to vanquish the demon, only to bump into you, this little demon.¡±


    Thank goodness, thank goodness, Song Si had not been unfaithful.


    The thing she worried about didn¡¯t happen, which relaxed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s expression considerably.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly, gesturing her over with a wave, ¡°How come you¡¯re at Song Group?¡±


    She walked straight in and sat next to Lu Zhaozhao, shrugging her shoulders in a helpless manner, ¡°No way around it, they offered too much.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help it and burst into laughter.


    Her gaze fell on the work badge around Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s neck, and she saw the words ¡°Legal Department.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly remembered something from her past life and tentatively asked, ¡°Zhenzhen, have you ever thought about going abroad to further your education?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shook her head, ¡°No, the laws in China and abroad differ a lot. I haven¡¯t aspired to be a cosmopolitan lawyer yet.¡±


    As she spoke, she picked up a mango from the table, peeled it, and started eating.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched her carefree manner and pressed on, ¡°Then, do you want to work abroad?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen seemed to sense the unusualness in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s manner, her clear eyes suddenly fixed on her.


    This made Lu Zhaozhao somewhat nervous, but she still managed a composed smile and asked back, ¡°What¡¯s up? Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen narrowed her eyes, ¡°Zhaozhao, tell me the truth, are you trying to find me a job? Or does your Mr. Song dislike how close we are and intends to exile me to the border?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªHahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Your imagination really beats me.¡±


    She wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes and sighed helplessly, ¡°I just think you have great talent in legal affairs. If one day you wanted to go abroad for further studies, I¡¯d be afraid of letting you go...¡±

 Chapter 279: 277 He Must Set the Matter in Stone

    Chapter 279: Chapter 277 He Must Set the Matter in Stone


    ¡°What a joke, no matter how important work is, it¡¯s not as important as my Zhaozhao. If there ever comes a day when I go abroad, there¡¯s an eighty to ninety percent chance it¡¯s because I¡¯m marrying some foreign tycoon and becoming a princess or something...¡± Xu Zhenzhen held her pretty chin high with absolute certainty as she bragged.


    In fact, she had originally come from abroad, and if it weren¡¯t for Song Sinian, she might have really gone abroad again.


    It¡¯s just that staying there long-term was unlikely.


    That person...


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze dimmed as she looked towards Lu Zhaozhao in front of her.


    She had never expected her to be that person¡¯s sister.


    ¡°Thud thud!¡±


    The door to the office resounded at that moment, and before Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen could react, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.


    Seeing the person at the door, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, ¡°Big Brother, what brings you here?¡±


    She leaned over the back of the sofa to look at Xia Wenqing who had just entered, squinting her watery eyes.


    Xia Wenqing surveyed the office inconspicuously before gently looking at Lu Zhaozhao and saying, ¡°I heard you were here, so I came to check on you. I happen to be working at the Song Family office recently.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here too?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, ¡°Is there a problem with the Song Family?¡±


    Xia Wenqing walked over, raised his hand, and soothingly rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°No, the Song Family is cooperating with XJ Group. It¡¯s all part of the normal process. Do you think your Big Brother can¡¯t take a back door?¡±


    Upon hearing these words, Lu Zhaozhao let out a sigh of relief, but suddenly, as if she remembered something, she immediately hugged Xu Zhenzhen and said, ¡°Big Brother, this is my bestie Xu Zhenzhen, my best friend! She¡¯s the one and only!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face turned slightly red as she put on a calm front and nodded to Xia Wenqing.


    In fact, when he came to the Song Family, she had noticed him, but it seemed like this man didn¡¯t pay any attention to her.


    It had scared her for quite some time, but on second thought, someone of his stature probably wouldn¡¯t notice her. She was overthinking it.


    It was all her misconception.


    Xia Wenqing nodded to Xu Zhenzhen as well, without saying anything more.


    Lu Zhaozhao, failing to detect the subtle atmosphere between the two, instead broke into laughter upon seeing Xia Wenqing¡¯s work ID around his neck, ¡°Big Brother, you¡¯re in the Legal Department too? Zhenzhen is also... Can you take extra care of her for me?¡±


    ¡°No, no need for that.¡± Xu Zhenzhen quickly reached out to tug at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sleeve.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao pressed down on her and whispered, ¡°Let me tell you, my brother is a big shot in the legal world. It¡¯s best to learn as much as you can from him, so you won¡¯t lose out in the future, you know?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t even know how to explain.


    Then she heard Xia Wenqing respond indifferently, ¡°Since it¡¯s Zhaozhao¡¯s request, I will certainly comply.¡±


    Speaking, his gaze turned to Xu Zhenzhen, he slowly said, ¡°Starting today, you¡¯ll work with me on the cases at hand. Go tell Secretary Hu now, I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was completely numb.


    The reason she had always been avoiding Xia Wenqing was because she liked him too much; when she couldn¡¯t see him, she could still get a little thrill, but now, following him every day, she was really afraid she wouldn¡¯t be able to control herself.


    Xu Zhenzhen was really thankful that her friend was wholeheartedly thinking about her career, but if she lost control and pounced on her Big Brother...


    This bestie of mine, I don¡¯t even know if we can still be besties.


    Especially when she remembered that incident abroad... It gave her an even bigger headache.


    Xu Zhenzhen slowly stood up and, seeing Lu Zhaozhao wink at her, had no choice but to leave with a stiff scalp.


    The moment the office door closed, Xia Wenqing raised his hand and poured a cup of tea for Lu Zhaozhao, asking seemingly casually, ¡°If you send your bestie to work under me, I won¡¯t be soft on her, nor will I allow her to slack off fishing for three days and drying the nets for two, going out to meet boyfriends, you get it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately laughed, ¡°Our Zhenzhen, aside from being interested in gossip, doesn¡¯t have the opposite sex in her life, let alone a boyfriend. Her boyfriend might as well be her career...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Xia Wenqing said in an undisturbed tone, sighing in relief.


    No boyfriend yet, then why did she rush back to the country?


    Xia Wenqing originally wanted to ask Song Sinian for clarity, but that guy was only interested in Lu Zhaozhao, and probably wouldn¡¯t get anything about other people¡¯s affairs.


    Instead, since Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen were close, he had to slowly infiltrate through his sister.


    He had just heard that Xu Zhenzhen had come to the CEO¡¯s office, but Song Sinian was in a meeting, so he guessed it was Lu Zhaozhao who had come.


    He had wanted to take the opportunity to ask his sister about Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s situation, but just as he got to the door, he overheard someone saying they were going abroad to become a princess.


    His brain buzzed instantly, and he pushed the door open and walked in.


    He didn¡¯t expect that before he could say much, Lu Zhaozhao had hustled him into keeping the person close at hand.


    Up to now, Xia Wenqing still felt a bit muddled.


    He took a sip of tea leisurely before continuing, ¡°I¡¯ve brought the person for you, but if she can¡¯t adapt to the intensity of work here...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately winked at Xia Wenqing, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if Zhenzhen can¡¯t adapt, I¡¯ll just secretly tell you, my second brother, and you can take special care of her, right~¡±


    Because she was so comfortable with the Xia Family, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but act coyly towards Xia Wenqing.


    But what she didn¡¯t know was that her every move was exactly what Xia Wenqing was hoping for.


    He nodded as if helplessly, but deep down, he despised himself for skillfully using Lu Zhaozhao to help with his plans.


    But he had no other choice.


    Last time, he didn¡¯t have a strategy and thought letting things take their natural course was enough, but reality proved that things don¡¯t always go as one wishes.


    This time, he had to get things set in stone.


    There could be absolutely no more errors...


    Lu Zhaozhao, propping up her chin, drank her tea and couldn¡¯t figure out why, but she always felt that Xia Wenqing looked a bit strange today.


    As for what was strange, she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it at the moment.


    She just felt something was off.


    Her gaze shifted up and down over Xia Wenqing, just as she tried to discern something from his face, when the voice of Xu Zhenzhen came from the doorway, ¡°Manager Xia, I¡¯ve finished talking with Secretary Hu, and he asked me to bring these documents over.¡±


    When Xu Zhenzhen said this, she only poked her head in slowly, her gaze sweeping over Xia Wenqing¡¯s face before moving away.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought Xu Zhenzhen was scared of Xia Wenqing, so she whispered to him, ¡°Second brother, could you be a bit warmer towards Zhenzhen? After all, she¡¯s a girl, not one of your company¡¯s steely...¡±


    Xia Wenqing looked at Lu Zhaozhao fixedly for a moment, then his gaze shifted to the office door and he slowly stood up, ¡°From now on, you follow Zhaozhao and call me second brother, let¡¯s go now.¡±

 Chapter 280: 278: Quite Good Relationships with... People?

    Chapter 280: Chapter 278: Quite Good Relationships with... People?


    Xu Zhenzhen was clearly startled before seeing Lu Zhaozhao wink at her.


    Immediately she understood that their dear Zhaozhao had secretly helped her out.


    She had previously heard from Zhao Xi that the Xia family¡¯s brothers all cherished Lu Zhaozhao greatly.


    It made sense to her, as a girl like Lu Zhaozhao was not someone people could resist doting on.


    Initially, she thought that a rich girl like Lu Zhaozhao would be difficult to get along with and foolish, but after getting to know her, Xu Zhenzhen found her incredibly likable.


    So even though Song Sinian, her boss, could be demanding, Xu Zhenzhen never declined any task.


    Thinking this, Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft sigh¡ªthe so-called sweet burden was now hers as well.


    With a silent sigh in her heart, she tried not to care too much about Xia Wenqing.


    She knew he didn¡¯t like her¡ªin fact, he despised her.


    Otherwise, why would the normally affable Xia Wenqing be so cold to her alone?


    Sigh, such bad karma.


    Thinking like this, Xu Zhenzhen followed Xia Wenqing back to the Legal Department.


    As soon as they set foot in the door, one after the other, a figure hastened straight toward Xu Zhenzhen and hugged her, saying, ¡°My dear little Zhenzhen, why did you come back so late? I...¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Xia Wenqing directly plucked him off Xu Zhenzhen.


    JIM was obviously taken aback when he realized who had picked him up¡ªand then wore a look of embarrassment.


    ¡°Manager Xia...¡±


    Xia Wenqing glanced at him and said coldly, ¡°Contracts and documents are easy to damage.¡±


    It was then that JIM noticed the documents Xu Zhenzhen was cradling. His orchid-like fingers shot up in alarm as he said in a panic, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Manager Xia; I was just anxiously looking for my little treasure Zhenzhen, I didn¡¯t see...¡±


    Xia Wenqing looked at the man in front of him¡ªmade up with eyeliner and sporting mid-length curly hair¡ªhis brows uncontrollably twitched a few times. ¡°Xu Zhenzhen is my person from now on; allocate less menial work to her.¡±


    His person?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Her gaze slowly shifted to Xia Wenqing, his profile especially striking, and the line from his jaw down to his neck always seemed so bewitching.


    Xia Wenqing also seemed to realize that his words might not have been quite appropriate, and added, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen will be my secretary from now on and will follow up on the cases I¡¯m handling. Everyone should focus on their own work.¡±


    After saying this, he turned and left directly.


    Of course, Xu Zhenzhen obediently followed behind him.


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Xu Zhenzhen out of the corner of his eye and then went to pour himself some coffee.


    Since the office had been set up temporarily, it wasn¡¯t fully equipped.


    After setting down the documents and files she was holding, Xu Zhenzhen saw Xia Wenqing with a cup and suddenly thought of something, ¡°Manager Xia!¡±


    Xia Wenqing paused and turned around to look at Xu Zhenzhen but was splashed on the hand by the hot water from the coffee machine.


    Xu Zhenzhen was immediately horrified. She had actually wanted to warn Xia Wenqing that the coffee machine was prone to malfunction and was originally supposed to be sent for repairs.


    But because Xia Wenqing had moved offices, this coffee machine had been forgotten.


    She had meant well, worried that Xia Wenqing might get scalded, only to end up with him getting burned.


    In a panic, Xu Zhenzhen rushed over and grabbed Xia Wenqing¡¯s hand, directing it under the running water of the sink.


    Luckily, as it was early winter, the water was sufficiently cold, which was perfect for easing the burn on the back of his hand.


    Xia Wenqing watched Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s every move silently, his whole being feeling somewhat dazed.


    Xu Zhenzhen only realized what she was doing after Xia Wenqing¡¯s hand had stopped being so red.


    She wanted to explain herself, but then she saw Xia Wenqing suddenly pull his hand away.


    Xu Zhenzhen was taken aback. Was he angry?


    She felt a bit awkward and tugged at the corners of her mouth, ¡°Uh, sorry, I didn¡¯t know you don¡¯t like physical contact with others. I was just startled too, it was a reflex... I didn¡¯t mean to touch you on purpose.¡±


    Xia Wenqing took a deep breath and turned his face away, ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡±


    Afterward, he stretched his hand toward the tap again.


    The ¡°whoosh¡± of water rushing from the tap seemed to desperately break the silence in the room, but to no avail.


    Xu Zhenzhen watched Xia Wenqing¡¯s focused expression and couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips slightly.


    So, it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t like physical contact, he just didn¡¯t like her touching him?


    Xu Zhenzhen sighed heavily, wishing she had kept her mouth shut.


    Yet, seeing the burn on the back of his hand, she pursed her lips and eventually said, ¡°This coffee machine is a bit faulty, sometimes the water comes out late, and it might suddenly spew hot water after the coffee is done brewing, it¡¯s easy to get scalded.¡±


    At her words, Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyebrows instantly furrowed, his gaze shifting toward the coffee machine as he fell into thought.


    Had she also been scalded before?


    Seeing that Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t say anything, Xu Zhenzhen found a seat and sulked to herself.


    Fortunately, Xia Wenqing¡¯s hand was treated properly, with no blisters forming, just a bit of redness and swelling, which allowed Xu Zhenzhen to breathe a sigh of relief...


    But the office¡¯s coffee machine had become a common worry for both of them.


    This damn thing definitely needed to be replaced!


    At noon, Song Sinian finally finished his work and went to have lunch with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Because she kept thinking about Song Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat distracted while eating.


    Song Sinian pinched a crystal shrimp dumpling and brought it to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth, asking as if offhandedly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there a problem with Doctor Tian?¡±


    He had noticed that Lu Zhaozhao was out of sorts since he returned from the hospital.


    He had not asked the reason, hoping Lu Zhaozhao would talk first, but after going to the company, he had been too busy until now, with no chance to ask.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, and she pursed her lips while giving Song Sinian a light smile, ¡°Nothing much. Things with Doctor Tian are going smoothly, and I¡¯ve talked to her ¨C she said you could be with me during hypnosis, which I found comforting.¡±


    But the other issue was not so easy to overlook.


    She had wanted to be upfront with Song Sinian, but feared he might reflexively resist if she told him outright to find a few emotional anchors.


    So, she had planned to do it secretly, but hadn¡¯t yet figured out how to proceed, which kept her preoccupied since returning from the hospital.


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian had noticed, and she suddenly felt guilty.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over her face, and his dark eyes slowly dropped.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao told him about Doctor Tian, he sensed she was hiding something else.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao was too easy to read; unschooled in guarding her feelings around him, almost everything was written all over her face.


    She probably wasn¡¯t even aware of it.


    Song Sinian relished the trust Lu Zhaozhao placed in him, so he couldn¡¯t help but be concerned seeing her look so troubled.


    Lu Zhaozhao, of course, did not know what Song Sinian was thinking.


    She rested her chin on her hand, looking at Song Sinian, before speaking slowly, ¡°Sinian, have you met anyone recently with whom you have a good relationship?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°Someone I have a good relationship with...?¡±

 Chapter 281: 279: Do you think she will remain indifferent?

    Chapter 281: Chapter 279: Do you think she will remain indifferent?


    He murmured Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    He briefly analyzed the phrase ¡°relation is not bad.¡±


    Relation is not bad means the relationship is decent.


    Song Sinian paused for a moment before slowly saying, ¡°There are a few with whom the relationship isn¡¯t bad, Zhao Xi, Xia Wenjue, Doctor Tian.¡±


    He thought about it and added another sentence. ¡°My grandfather should count as well.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s grudging admission, Lu Zhaozhao almost couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Mr. Song would definitely scold Song Sinian as an ungrateful wretch again if he knew.


    She sighed helplessly and reached out to rub Song Sinian¡¯s head, ¡°Then, when you have time, why don¡¯t you get along well with them?¡±


    Her words instantly knitted Song Sinian¡¯s brows, ¡°Why should I get along well with them? Isn¡¯t it enough as it is?¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to waste time on other people.


    Apart from work, the time he spent with Lu Zhaozhao was already so limited. He wished that he could stick to her every single minute of the remaining time.


    But he was afraid that Lu Zhaozhao might not like it, afraid that she would find him too annoying.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids twitched, and his gaze swept over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, suddenly as if he had thought of something.


    Did she think he was clinging to her too much now, and that¡¯s why she spoke like this?


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked, his demeanor slightly despondent, he looked towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    He recently found himself constantly pestering her, seeking to be intimate.


    But what she didn¡¯t know was that he was already restraining himself as much as he could.


    He wished he could hold her tightly, not to mention stick to her...


    Song Sinian pretended to play with his fingertips nonchalantly, trying hard to compose himself.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Song Sinian and immediately noticed that he seemed to be in a bad mood. She then slowly started to speak, ¡°I plan to follow the artist¡¯s path, so I will probably be very busy in the future. I¡¯m worried that when I¡¯m not here, there will be no one to keep you company...¡±


    Her small hand gently tugged at Song Sinian¡¯s arm, shaking it a little, her voice carrying a hint of coyness.


    She had previously noticed that Song Sinian had severe separation anxiety when it came to her.


    To alleviate his emotions, she had come up with the idea of rewarding him.


    If it weren¡¯t for Doctor Tian¡¯s reminder, she wouldn¡¯t even have known that this was because of his over-reliance on her.


    Her presence was equivalent to a pillar of support for Song Sinian¡¯s soul.


    As long as she was there, he could live.


    If anything happened to her, Song Sinian might not be able to survive.


    From Tian Xiangjun¡¯s perspective, adding a few more support pillars to Song Sinian¡¯s world would prevent his emotions from easily collapsing.


    Of course, Lu Zhaozhao understood this as well.


    Song Sinian immediately stretched out his arm to pull Lu Zhaozhao fiercely into his embrace, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve said it before, whatever you want, will be realized.¡±


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could speak again, he continued, ¡°When you¡¯re not here, I will work hard and won¡¯t disturb you. I will wait for your return...¡±


    So he didn¡¯t need anyone else at all.


    What he wanted was only ever her alone.


    If she didn¡¯t like him clinging to her, he could just keep waiting right where he was.


    He was willing to give her everything she wanted, as long as she was happy.


    As long as she still wanted him.


    As long as she didn¡¯t leave him...


    Song Sinian hugged Lu Zhaozhao tightly and took a deep breath, but his eyes were filled with intense despair.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently patted Song Sinian, and seeing that he hadn¡¯t let go, she could only slowly start to guide him.


    If he really didn¡¯t want to, then it would be alright.


    Rather than seeing him suffer, she would be better off being his stabilizer.


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this way, she suddenly said softly, ¡°Honey, I heard from my brother that there¡¯s a banquet coming up, do you want to go?¡±


    Song Sinian slowly lifted his head and looked into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bright eyes, ¡°Do you want to go?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°There¡¯s only one last episode left to film for the variety show, and I don¡¯t have anything else to do over the winter break, so it would be nice to attend, especially since it¡¯s a charity event.¡±


    Maybe she could even capture something interesting.


    Lu Zhaozhao remembered the unique ear cuff she had previously photographed for Song Sinian, and her gaze towards him became even more brilliant.


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao, puzzled, but didn¡¯t say much.


    Song Keren, who also knew about this news, had received her invitation to the charity banquet early due to Justin¡¯s status.


    She had rushed back to the villa where Xiao Jinglan was staying, seeking her help to come up with a plan.


    Because she had an injury on her leg, and was confined to a wheelchair, Justin would never allow her to attend the charity banquet.


    If Xiao Mo had received an invitation, then Xia Wenjin could attend, and Justin would surely spend time with that woman again!


    The thought made Song Keren burn with rage.


    ¡°Mom, you must find a way to stop Xia Wenjin, that bitch must not attend the charity banquet,¡± Song Keren said venomously through clenched teeth.


    She had thought after ripping Xia Wenjin apart in the hotel last time, she would back off a bit.


    But she didn¡¯t expect that woman to be unrepentant, even acting more recklessly because she knew they wouldn¡¯t dare to tell Xiao Mo about it.


    Xiao Jinglan frowned deeply, ¡°That bitch is clearly avoiding me. Every time I visit, she sneaks away.¡±


    Fortunately, Xiao Jinglan knew that the woman ate cubilose every morning, so she made sure to double the special ingredient in it.


    Since she couldn¡¯t peacefully be a daughter-in-law in the Xiao Family, she had only herself to blame!


    Song Keren clenched her fists tightly, ¡°Then what do we do? Are we supposed to watch her seduce my husband and do nothing?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan narrowed her eyes, as if suddenly having an idea, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to team up with Lu Zhaozhao before?¡±


    Song Keren didn¡¯t understand why Xiao Jinglan was bringing this up now, but she pouted and muttered, ¡°I was planning to make both of them suffer losses, but that woman Lu Zhaozhao completely ignored my approach, and even... she has evidence from Yin Zhuhai that could incriminate me...¡±


    As a result, the alliance had fallen through.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s lips curled up slightly, ¡°Well, in that case, it makes things easier for us.¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s face became even more puzzled, and she looked at Xiao Jinglan in confusion, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan patted her on the head and said, ¡°If Lu Zhaozhao finds out that Xia Wenjin wants to drug Song Sinian and sleep with him, do you think she¡¯d remain indifferent?¡±


    Song Keren shook her head, ¡°Definitely not.¡±


    But would it be so easy to drug Song Sinian?


    If it had been that easy, she would have turned the situation to her advantage a long time ago¡ªwhy would she have needed to marry someone else?


    Xiao Jinglan clearly understood what Song Keren was thinking. She chuckled softly, ¡°Silly child, we just need to make the drugging incident happen. Whether it succeeds or not doesn¡¯t matter. The important thing is to let Lu Zhaozhao know that Xia Wenjin wants to make a move on Song Sinian. That¡¯s enough...¡±

 Chapter 282: 280: It Must Be So!

    Chapter 282: Chapter 280: It Must Be So!


    Song Keren instantly understood, Xiao Jinglan was plotting to use another¡¯s hand to strike!


    She couldn¡¯t help but feel invigorated.


    Lu Zhaozhao already had a bad relationship with Xia Wenjin, and she didn¡¯t need to collude with Lu Zhaozhao. This method could also make the two of them fight against each other!


    Indeed, like her mom! She was just impressive!


    Soon, the day of the charity auction arrived.


    The person in charge of the charity auction had been instructing the waitstaff and security early in the morning, with a thousand warnings and ten thousand pieces of advice, to take great care of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arrival.


    Even if the sky fell and the earth cracked open, they could not let Lu Zhaozhao lose a single strand of hair.


    The reason this charity auction was such a big event was entirely thanks to this lady¡¯s blessing.


    Originally, this charity auction was not going to be significant, they even struggled to rent a small space for the venue, let alone the auction items.


    But just three days before the auction was to be held, the Song Group suddenly provided a sponsorship sum and even specifically made a hotel under their group available to them as the venue.


    This thrilled the person in charge immensely.


    Following that, the XJ Group also gave a sponsorship sum, and figures from the entertainment industry like leading actors and top young stars had their agents inform them that they would join their charity auction.


    Even the genius painter from abroad sent three of his paintings to be auctioned off at the charity event.


    These big surprises nearly knocked the person in charge unconscious.


    He had thought these magnates joining would certainly have some excessive demands, but they seemed to have conspired together, having only one condition.


    To ensure Lu Zhaozhao had fun.


    The person in charge was so moved he nearly cried.


    It was then that he found out it was because Lu Zhaozhao wanted to attend this charity auction that the Song Group was so generous.


    As for Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenmo, from the news they had previously leaked, both of them were Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brothers.


    And they both were extreme fans of doting on their sister.


    The person in charge had never been a fan chaser, so he wasn¡¯t particularly sensitive to gossip, but he knew about the concept of public personas in the entertainment industry.


    But after being hit by these big surprises several times, he was utterly convinced!


    What public personas?!


    They were simply spoiled to the heavens, alright!


    Because the auction was in the second half, the first half was mainly a dance.


    So everyone could dance in the first part of the time, casually eating and drinking to foster relationships.


    For those in the business circle, this was definitely a great opportunity to get to know each other.


    At first, many people did not pay attention to this charity auction, but once they heard Song Sinian was going to attend, many were tempted.


    The originally unclaimed invitations to the auction were instantaneously inflated to astronomical prices.


    This was something Xia Wenjin only found out after arriving at the charity auction.


    She originally came to the charity auction just to get more interaction with Justin.


    Moreover, at this kind of public event, even if Song Keren knew, she could only grit her teeth and swallow the blood.


    After all, it was her fault for having a broken leg and being unable to come, right?


    Xia Wenjin linked her arm through Justin¡¯s, accompanying him in the banquet hall, and as she occasionally caught envious gazes from others, the corners of her mouth couldn¡¯t help but rise.


    At that moment, as she lifted her head, she just happened to see Lu Zhaozhao entering through the banquet hall doors.


    Dressed in a silvery-blue, strappy off-the-shoulder V-neck evening gown, she made her entrance and immediately grabbed everyone¡¯s attention.


    Her skin was originally fair, and the silver-blue evening dress, sparkling as if radiating light from her very being, made it quite difficult for onlookers to divert their gaze.


    The man who was chatting with Justin couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in admiration, ¡°They say President Song is a true romantic, and with such a bewitching beauty for a young wife, anyone would turn into a grand lover.¡±


    Justin did not refute but simply chuckled lightly, ¡°Miss Lu is indeed very lovely.¡±


    ¡°Tsks, you guys might not know, but this charity auction isn¡¯t all that grand, really. I heard it was President Song wanting to please his beauty, so he just threw money at it to make it happen,¡± a man to Justin¡¯s left started sharing insider information.


    ¡°Word is the Song Group put in money too, and not a small sum either,¡± he continued.


    Upon hearing this, a few people around Justin looked over.


    After all, with the regional vice president of XJ Group here, whether this piece of news was true could be confirmed with a simple question.


    Justin was also taken aback as the regional vice president; money splashing wasn¡¯t something he could represent XJ Group on; of course, it would be Xia Wenjue, not him.


    But if he claimed ignorance now, he would definitely lose face.


    So Justin forced a smile and said, ¡°The Song Family and our XJ have a partnership, and this charity auction is for raising funds for charity, so it¡¯s no big deal for XJ Group to show some support.¡±


    Everyone instantly adopted an understanding look.


    It seemed the rumors around were all true.


    Especially after Pei Huai, Xia Wenyan, and Xia Wenmo arrived at the charity dinner, everyone became even more certain of it.


    ¡°Tsks, who would have thought President Song¡¯s tender wife was so favored.¡±


    ¡°Just for attending a charity auction, her husband spends money, the third brother donates art, the fourth brother shows up to support, tsks...¡±


    ¡°If Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s third and fourth brothers are so impressive, does she also have an elder brother and sister, or second brother and sister or something?¡±


    ¡°Who knows? They might not be very famous. After all, with several siblings in one family, not everyone can be that accomplished.¡±


    ¡°Tsks, as Mrs. Song, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s title alone is impressive enough, the others could probably live comfortably for a lifetime even without any titles, right?¡±


    ...


    Others¡¯ whispers and speculations reached Xia Wenjin¡¯s ears, and she felt a bit stupefied.


    Because only she knew what Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s other two brothers did for a living.


    She still remembered how the head of a certain company, who had always been eager to please Lu Dagui, acted so respectfully towards Xia Wenjue.


    Although he said he followed a very good boss, now, the more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the stranger it seemed.


    Was Xia Wenjue really as he described himself?


    Or was he deceiving her just like Wen Qingyu and Xia Wenmo did?


    Suddenly, Xia Wenjin began to feel extremely uneasy.


    Could the family she had abandoned actually have better conditions than the Lu Family?


    She clenched her fists tightly, never willing to believe.


    She must be overthinking it.


    If Xia Wenjue were really that formidable, would Xia Wenyan need to strike out on his own in the entertainment industry?


    Yes!


    It must be that!


    Taking a deep breath and just as she was starting to calm down, she overheard a man nearby asking, ¡°Justin, this lady isn¡¯t your new bride, is she?¡±


    The man winked at Justin as if he was just making small talk.


    Justin laughed softly, ¡°This is Miss Xia Wenjin, a friend of mine. She helped me get familiar with Shangjing when I first returned to the country.¡±


    His words were candid, but everyone present was in the business circle; how many didn¡¯t understand the unsaid nuances behind their words?


    The man across from Justin suddenly widened his eyes, ¡°Miss Xia! I know! She dominated the trending searches for a long time recently, I remember it being about the real and fake heirs or something...¡±

 Chapter 283: 281 I Have the Capital to be Arrogant

    Chapter 283: Chapter 281 I Have the Capital to be Arrogant


    His words had barely fallen when Xia Wenjin¡¯s face began to look unsightly.


    She awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, yet still put on a pitiful act and said, ¡°Although my parents raised Zhaozhao for 20 years, they were still quite sad when she left the Lu Family...¡±


    With that one sentence, Xia Wenjin made it sound like Lu Zhaozhao had left the Lu Family of her own accord.


    After all, only she, Lu Zhaozhao, and the people from the Lu and Xia Families knew the truth of what happened at that time.


    Even if she said anything, no one would confront her about it to her face.


    Justin slightly furrowed his brow upon hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words. Although he was a collateral member of the Xia Family, he really didn¡¯t know about this matter.


    He only knew there was friction between Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao, but as for the more detailed information, he was not privy to it.


    Justin had always been curious as to why the Xia Family, which used to treasure Xia Wenjin so much, seemed to care less about her shortly after Lu Zhaozhao appeared.


    In his view, it was only natural for Xia Wenjin not to like Lu Zhaozhao.


    After all, to her, Lu Zhaozhao was like an outsider.


    ¡°Rumor has it Miss Lu is already married, to the Song Family...¡±


    Before the person could finish, the man standing directly across from Justin elbowed him, ¡°How come you haven¡¯t drunk much yet? Too much to drink?¡±


    He promptly winked at the man.


    Xia Wenjin, disliking the current atmosphere, promptly found an excuse to walk towards a quieter area.


    From afar, she could still hear the previous conversation continue.


    ¡°Xiao Mo is now just an ordinary manager, and Old Master Song made it clear he was distancing himself from the relationship at the wedding. You didn¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°I thought the Lu Family had such capability, raising a foster daughter to marry the heir of Song Group, while their own daughter marries into a collateral branch of the Song Family. It looks now like the foster daughter has the better fortune...¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that so? I overheard the servants of the Song Family saying that Old Master Song especially adores this granddaughter-in-law, perhaps even more than his own grandson, tsk tsk...¡±


    ...


    The more Xia Wenjin listened, the more agitated she became.


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly only managed to marry Song Sinian because she had relied on her status as the Lu Family¡¯s precious daughter.


    Now, it seemed like everyone had forgotten about that!


    Why did she deserve it?


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists tightly, only to catch a glimpse of Lu Zhaozhao in the distance being pampered like a princess, with people taking care of her from all angles.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, would you like some more fruit? The strawberries look quite lovely.¡± Xia Wenyan, holding two plates of fruit featuring nearly every variety, stood by her side.


    Next to him, the taller Pei Huai occasionally used a fork to feed him fruit, tasting them as Xia Wenyan suggested.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the expectant Xia Wenyan and then at Pei Huai, who was very much in tune with him, unsure whether to eat or not.


    If she did, just watching would feel like being fed dog food.


    If she didn¡¯t, her fourth brother¡¯s gaze was simply too intense.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed, picked up a fork in her hand, and stabbed a strawberry to eat.


    Seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s beautiful peach blossom eyes curve with a smile, she also began to smile along.


    Actually, Lu Zhaozhao herself had not expected a simple charity dinner would blow up her three brothers, the eldest, third, and fourth.


    Miss Lu had just heard from Xia Wenyan that his older brother had been planning to attend the charity dinner, but last night, he was unexpectedly sent away on a work assignment by Song Sinian.


    Miss Lu always felt this seemed eerily familiar, as she had initially wanted to ask Xu Zhenzhen to join her at the charity gala, but she had mentioned having to go out of town for work.


    Could it be that her brother¡¯s work assignment coincidentally matched with Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s?


    Probably...


    After prodding another strawberry, Miss Lu asked, ¡°When are Big Brother and Mr. Song likely to return?¡±


    Xia Wenyan shrugged, ¡°Don¡¯t know. If they¡¯re talking business, they¡¯ll probably need quite a bit of time.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If those two have trouble on their own turf, they really wouldn¡¯t be living up to their positions.¡±


    Suddenly, a familiar voice reached her from behind.


    Miss Lu¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, and she turned to see Xia Wenmo approaching. She sweetly called out, ¡°Third Brother!¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Xia Wenmo reached out and ruffled Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair before leaning in and whispering, ¡°I just saw Xia Wenjin sneak in here as well. Stay away from her later, alright?¡±


    That woman always begrudged others¡¯ happiness and might use this opportunity to hurt Lu Zhaozhao.


    He never used to believe in the notion of someone being inherently bad, but he had come to understand it quite tangibly through Xia Wenjin¡¯s behavior.


    Thus, with Xia Wenjin around, Lu Zhaozhao had to stay alert.


    She just might exploit any loophole.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s gaze unintentionally drifted in a certain direction as he spoke.


    Lu Zhaozhao followed his gaze and spotted Xia Wenjin.


    It seemed Xia Wenjin also felt someone¡¯s eyes on her and looked back.


    Almost in an instant, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s and Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes met.


    Following that, Lu Zhaozhao felt the malevolence in Xia Wenjin¡¯s stare.


    Lu Zhaozhao, unperturbed, blinked and slowly curved her lips into a profoundly mocking smile.


    Then, she deliberately leaned into Xia Wenmo and whispered, ¡°Third Brother, take a quick look and tell me if my face is punchable enough now?¡±


    Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s exaggeratedly defiant stance towards Xia Wenjin.


    He looked at his adorable sister with a mix of amusement and exasperation, sighing, ¡°Are you not afraid she¡¯ll retaliate?¡±


    How petty Xia Wenjin could be was no secret to him after all these years of living together.


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, ¡°Whether I act arrogant or not, she¡¯s going to target me, so why should I give her the satisfaction? Besides, with my brothers and husband around, I have the capital to be confident~¡±


    Her proud little face revealed a satisfaction that deeply pleased Xia Wenmo.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao had not been with the Xia Family for long, her understanding and lovable nature had indeed made everyone instinctively protective of the youngest family member.


    They wanted to give her all the best things in the world.


    Off to the side, Xia Wenyan, with a plate in hand, looked at Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenmo whispering to each other and grumbled discontentedly, ¡°Hey, hey, Third Brother, mind the order of things, will you? Don¡¯t interrupt my feeding time with sis.¡±


    He had finally graduated from the reserve ranks to a bona fide brother, and he had to be the most reliable one at all costs!


    Xia Wenmo gave Xia Wenyan a sidelong glance, then looked at the plate in his hand before turning to ask Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, would you like something to drink? Shall Third Brother get it for you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, who had come to the charity dinner with the sole purpose of indulging in food and drinks, treated all her brothers¡¯ attentions with equal appreciation...

 Chapter 284: 282: How Long Do You Think You Can Remain Arrogant?

    Chapter 284: Chapter 282: How Long Do You Think You Can Remain Arrogant?


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know that Xia Wenmo had been targeted when he went to get the drinks.


    Nor did she know that when he brought the drinks back, one of the fruit beverages suitable for ladies had already been spiked.


    From a distance, the person who drugged the drink saw Lu Zhaozhao take the fruit beverage and silently walked in another direction.


    ¡°Sister just finished eating fruit, she shouldn¡¯t drink juice; it¡¯s bad for the stomach,¡± before Wen Jin could take the tall glass, Xia Wenyan gave Pei Huai a look.


    The next second, Pei Huai took the tall glass from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand.


    Worried that Xia Wenmo might snatch it back, he tilted his head and took a big gulp.


    Xia Wenmo glared at Xia Wenyan and dismissively said, ¡°So you plan to keep Zhaozhao here just eating fruit?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s lips twitched guiltily, ¡°Not really... I was thinking of my sister¡¯s health.¡±


    Xia Wenmo looked at Xia Wenyan speechlessly, almost writing ¡°Do you think I believe you?¡± on his face.


    At that moment, Xia Wenjue and Song Sinian happened to walk back.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao encircled by Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan, his brow furrowed, then he walked straight over and reached out to block Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lower back.


    Such an obvious display of claiming authority, if they couldn¡¯t see that, they were truly blind.


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, his gaze shifting to Xia Wenjue, clearly accusing him of why he, as the eldest brother, didn¡¯t talk more with Song Sinian.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s expression also held a complaint.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s lips twitched, clearly disgusted with his two brothers.


    He had sacrificed his time with his sister to discuss matters with that stinky kid, Song Sinian.


    Yet on his return, he had to endure the resentful looks of two ingrates. They were really white-eyed wolves, hmph!


    Xia Wenjue silently huffed in his heart, if it wasn¡¯t because Xia Wenmo had just had surgery and Xia Wenyan was too incompetent in fights,


    he would definitely drag both younger brothers to spar with Song Sinian!


    Meanwhile, the figure who left the banquet hall for another direction had slipped into a corner.


    ¡°Miss Song, I have done what you asked... Should I...¡± The woman looked nervously toward Song Keren and the presence of Xiao Jinglan behind her.


    Seeing this, Song Keren glanced disdainfully at the woman, then handed her an envelope.


    The woman thanked them profusely and immediately left the banquet hall.


    Originally, Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren planned to have a waiter drug Song Sinian.


    But after approaching two or three waiters, they found they couldn¡¯t bribe any of them.


    The waiters at the charity auction were all meticulously selected by the organizers, who repeatedly emphasized the need to take good care of and protect Lu Zhaozhao.


    Any issue arising would be their collective responsibility.


    As a result, Xiao Jinglan not only failed in her bribery attempts but also had to pay several times to keep people quiet.


    Left with no choice, they finally managed to rope in a minor celebrity at the charity auction, vaguely connected to Wen Jin.


    However, they had prepared the follow-up evidence well¡ªif investigated, it would surely trace back to Wen Jin.


    By then, there would be no way for her to deny it!


    Song Keren thought to herself and couldn¡¯t help but smile. However, when she remembered that Lu Zhaozhao, even if drugged, had Song Sinian by her side to easily handle the situation, her expression changed again.


    ¡°What a pity, this time we can¡¯t let Lu Zhaozhao be humiliated as well.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan tapped Song Keren on the shoulder, ¡°You silly child, now that Lu Zhaozhao is so thoroughly protected by Song Sinian, attacking her would definitely come at a cost. To me, she is the best weapon.¡±


    As long as Song Sinian knew that it was Xia Wenjin who did this, he would definitely not let her get away with it.


    He might even destroy this wretched girl.


    Xiao Jinglan scoffed lightly, looking at Xia Wenjin not far away with a cold expression.


    This bitch dared to seduce her son-in-law and cuckold her son!


    She deserved to die!


    If it weren¡¯t for the financial ties with the Lu Group, she would have killed this woman directly!


    ¡°Alright, since everything is already arranged, let¡¯s just wait for the follow-up news,¡± Xiao Jinglan said as she began to push Song Keren away.


    She had barely taken two steps when Song Keren grabbed her hand pushing the wheelchair, ¡°Mom, you go wait in the car for me. I need to visit the restroom and will be back soon.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was about to speak, but Song Keren added, ¡°If you wait here for me, I¡¯m worried that Lu Zhaozhao might see us, and we might lose all our efforts.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan thought it over and felt it made sense.


    ¡°Then be careful. go and come back quickly, and don¡¯t get involved with anyone else, understand?¡±


    After instructing her with these words, she turned and walked away, leaving only a female assistant with Song Keren.


    The assistant had been assigned to Song Keren by the company when she was an artist.


    She found her handy, so she kept her around.


    Seeing that Xiao Jinglan had left, Song Keren then turned to the assistant and said, ¡°Take me over there.¡±


    The assistant froze for a moment, ¡°Sister Song, didn¡¯t you want to go to the restroom?¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s face darkened, ¡°I said where to go now, why so much nonsense?¡±


    The assistant¡¯s face instantly paled, and she timidly nodded, ¡°I understand, Sister Song.¡±


    With that, she pushed Song Keren along the long corridor of the banquet hall towards the balcony as instructed.


    They soon found Xia Wenjin near the balcony.


    ¡°Oh, who is this? I don¡¯t remember my brother giving you an invitation to the charity dinner,¡± Song Keren¡¯s mocking voice slowly rose.


    Xia Wenjin was sipping champagne in her hand and paused slightly when she heard Song Keren¡¯s voice.


    Turning her head to look at Song Keren sitting in the wheelchair, she suddenly scoffed, ¡°Just because Xiao Mo didn¡¯t, doesn¡¯t mean others didn¡¯t, like your husband...¡±


    She deliberately lifted her chin, provoking Song Keren.


    Knowing Song Keren, this fool would definitely jump with fury at her mockery.


    Having just been compared to Lu Zhaozhao and been frustrated, Song Keren¡¯s arrival was perfectly timed.


    She didn¡¯t care how Song Keren had got there or what she was there to do.


    She just wanted to vent all the jealousy she felt toward Lu Zhaozhao on Song Keren.


    Song Keren clearly clenched her fists, but her expression wasn¡¯t as irritable as Xia Wenjin had anticipated.


    Instead, she wore a strange smile, staring into Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes and slowly said, ¡°Xia Wenjin, how much longer do you think you can be arrogant? Even if you seduced my husband, what difference does it make? As long as I don¡¯t cry and make a fuss, this position will always be mine, you can only wish for more!¡±

 Chapter 285: 283: Killing to Strike Fear into the Heart!

    Chapter 285: Chapter 283: Killing to Strike Fear into the Heart!


    Killing someone is to cut them to the heart!


    That¡¯s what her mother taught her.


    Xiao Jinglan said that what Xia Wenjin wanted the most right now was the status of the XJ Corporation regional vice president¡¯s wife.


    That¡¯s why that bitch was desperately provoking her, making a scene that everyone knew about, so that Xiao Mo would divorce Xia Wenjin, and Justin would also divorce her because of her frivolous behavior.


    By then, that bitch would have succeeded.


    But if she ignored Justin¡¯s and Xia Wenjin¡¯s affairs and held onto her position, then Xia Wenjin could only be a mistress!


    And she would be a mistress for life!


    Thinking this, Song Keren felt secretly thrilled.


    She tilted her chin up, looking at Xia Wenjin, ¡°To think that the Lu Family¡¯s daughter has become a mistress, tsk tsk... how shameless!¡±


    Xia Wenjin obviously hadn¡¯t expected Song Keren to suddenly change her attitude, let alone that she would come specifically to block her way and say these words.


    She raised her hand and slapped Song Keren¡¯s face.


    Song Keren didn¡¯t react in time, and her face took a solid slap, followed by the two grabbing each other¡¯s hair and instantly scuffling.


    Originally, the spot where the two of them were standing was a corner with little attention, but such an unseemly struggle and loud quarrel made it difficult not to attract attention.


    Just as everyone started looking over, suddenly, from the corner, several bodyguards sprang out and dragged both Song Keren and Xia Wenjin out.


    The bodyguards were so fast that many people didn¡¯t even get a clear look at who was fighting before the two disappeared amidst the imposing group of bodyguards.


    ¡°Was that Xia Wenjin just now?¡± Xia Wenyan rubbed his slightly warm neck and frowned uncomfortably.


    He had been feeling a bit thirsty and parched since a while ago.


    He suspected that he had dressed too warmly today.


    Xia Wenyan subconsciously tugged at his collar, and the flushed neck and unusual expression made Pei Huai frown.


    Of course, he saw clearly who the two women fighting in the corner were.


    Ever since he was reborn, he had taken into his hands the maternal family¡¯s power that he had scorned in his previous life.


    With these people on his side, his activities within the Shangjing Circle were like a fish in water.


    To prevent the occurrences of his previous life from happening again, he had people keep an eye on Xia Wenjin.


    He knew she would attend this charity auction, but despite that, he hadn¡¯t received any news related to her, and yet Xia Wenyan had been affected.


    What exactly happened?


    He carefully recalled everything that had happened before Xia Wenyan¡¯s incident.


    Almost all the food he ate came from his mouth, and many of them were even shared with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to be fine now, but why was Xia Wenyan...


    Suddenly, Pei Huai seemed to have thought of something.


    It was that glass of juice!


    His eyes narrowed slightly; at that time, the juice had been brought to him by Xia Wenmo, and he wouldn¡¯t act against his own sister.


    So it had to be tampered with while he was getting the juice.


    Thinking this, Pei Huai immediately turned to Xia Wenyan and said, ¡°You¡¯re dressed a bit too warmly, there are rooms in the hotel upstairs, you should go change your clothes.¡±


    He tried to look calm as he looked at Xia Wenyan.


    It was obvious that he didn¡¯t know he had been drugged.


    Sure enough, Xia Wenyan nodded, feeling it wasn¡¯t just a problem of feeling hot.


    But his brain also seemed to be sluggish.


    He usually followed Pei Huai, feeling as though no matter what trouble he got into, Pei Huai could help him settle it.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan followed directly behind Pei Huai, and the two went onto the elevator, one after the other.


    But at this moment, Xia Wenyan already felt his feet go soft, as if he was stepping on clouds.


    He simply leaned on Pei Huai¡¯s body, ¡°Brother Pei, I feel a bit uncomfortable...I, I think something isn¡¯t quite right with me.¡±


    Xia Wenyan wanted to explain his condition clearly, but as soon as he spoke, he realized that his words were just a breathy whisper intermingled with heavy breathing.


    He was completely stunned.


    Having been around the entertainment industry for so long, even though he hadn¡¯t eaten pork, he had seen pigs run.


    ¡°Brother Pei, I think someone has drugged me,¡± he said, already hanging on Pei Huai¡¯s body.


    Even his voice had become much softer, and he didn¡¯t know if Pei Huai had really heard him.


    His thoughts seemed to float farther and farther away in his head, as if he himself was about to float away.


    Suddenly, he felt the ground disappear from under his feet and realized that he indeed ¡°floated¡± up.


    Or rather, he was forcibly ¡°floated¡± up by Pei Huai.


    ¡°Brother Pei...¡±


    ¡°Be good, I know everything already, I¡¯ve called the doctor, they are in the hotel room now, don¡¯t worry, Brother Pei is here,¡± Pei Huai said, holding onto Xia Wenyan¡¯s arm, unconsciously exerting more strength.


    But his face looked even worse than Xia Wenyan¡¯s.


    In his previous life, the news of Xia Wenyan¡¯s death due to ¡°drug intoxication¡± had always been an unsettling nightmare haunting him.


    He had always thought that as long as he could properly protect Xia Wenyan, this life would not repeat the same mistakes.


    But now, even though he was right beside Xia Wenyan, he still let him drink juice that had been spiked.


    He was about to explode.


    If it weren¡¯t for his sole focus on treating Xia Wenyan, he would go and tear the person who drugged him to pieces right now.


    No! Tearing those scumbags to pieces would be too merciful for them!


    He would make them live a life worse than death!


    Living in a nightmare every day!


    Pei Huai clenched his teeth fiercely, and saw a man standing at the doorway not far away, dressed in pure black with patterns on his side face.


    ¡°Master...¡±


    The man tried to extend a hand to help Pei Huai hold Xia Wenyan but was met with a cold stare.


    He pressed his lips together, immediately fell silent, then decisively opened the door, making room for the two.


    By this time, Xia Wenyan was completely confused.


    Feeling hot all over, he unconsciously searched for a cool spot.


    ¡°Yanyan be good, don¡¯t move around, you¡¯ll feel better soon after the injection,¡± Pei Huai said as he laid Xia Wenyan on the bed, holding onto his hands that were frantically reaching around, his tone gentle enough to startle the man in black.


    It seemed this person was very precious to their young master, someone they would have to treat well in the future.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows furrowed for a long while, his somewhat vacant eyes looked at Pei Huai as if he understood, and then he stared straight at him, not moving anymore.


    Pei Huai immediately gave a doctor standing by a look, signaling him to treat Xia Wenyan right away.


    Of course, the doctor was also one of his own men, after all, he didn¡¯t trust people with unclear backgrounds.


    It wasn¡¯t that he trusted these people much, but rather, their lives were all in his hands.


    They live if he lives.


    They die if he dies.


    So he wasn¡¯t afraid of betrayal.


    The doctor looked at Pei Huai trepidatiously, still with the image of him ruthlessly killing abroad in his mind.


    Now suddenly seeing Pei Huai being so kind to someone, he almost couldn¡¯t react.


    But he still started to treat Xia Wenyan promptly.


    ¡°Master, the drug this young master has been given can be mostly resolved with medication, but we still need to alleviate it slightly...¡±

 Chapter 286: 284: Ask for His Help?!

    Chapter 286: Chapter 284: Ask for His Help?!


    The doctor glanced at Pei Huai and clearly noticed the gloominess that had enveloped him.


    He added eagerly, ¡°Soaking in cold water, maybe adding some ice... it, it¡¯s just a bit torturous.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Just as the doctor felt he was about to suffocate in the eerie silence.


    Xia Wenyan struggled again, ¡°Hot... so hot.¡±


    Pei Huai clenched his teeth and saw that Xia Wenyan¡¯s wrists, which he was holding, had turned red, and his expression grew even uglier.


    ¡°Yanyan, be good, I¡¯ll find someone to help you right now...¡±


    When he said this, it felt as if his heart was being sliced by a knife.


    From the beginning, after he was reborn, he thought as long as he was alright, he was willing to do anything for him.


    Whatever he wanted, he would make sure he got his wishes fulfilled.


    Even if what he wanted wasn¡¯t him, he would still help him get it.


    Just like that.


    But at some point, his feelings for Xia Wenyan had changed.


    He wanted to stay by his side, but it was no longer simply about protecting him.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine what it would be like for him to be with someone else.


    Now, seeing Xia Wenyan in such distress, he felt like he was dying of pain.


    If it could make him feel any less miserable, he could endure any torture.


    He was willing to find someone to provide relief, as long as he wasn¡¯t in pain anymore.


    What was his humble craving compared to that?


    ¡°Don¡¯t...¡± Xia Wenyan seemed to understand Pei Huai¡¯s words and propped himself up to hold down Pei Huai¡¯s arm, ¡°Brother Pei, don¡¯t...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai was stunned for a moment, as if he had grasped Xia Wenyan¡¯s intention.


    He stared at him with his eyes suddenly rimmed with red, ¡°Yanyan, do you not want someone else?¡±


    The person gasping for air on the bed was a bit slow to respond but still endured the pain and gently nodded his head.


    Pei Huai hugged the man on the bed, holding back tears, ¡°We won¡¯t find anyone, we¡¯ll manage without anyone else.¡±


    He probably didn¡¯t even realize that his arms were trembling as he held Xia Wenyan.


    And Xia Wenyan, already feeling terrible, was hit by Pei Huai and felt even dizzier.


    He nestled his head in Pei Huai¡¯s chest, smelling the familiar scent, and felt a bit more at peace.


    But the heat engulfing his body showed no signs of subsiding.


    The doctor and the man in black exchanged a glance, and with great tact, they nodded at Pei Huai and withdrew to guard the door.


    Xia Wenyan shifted again, voice hoarse, ¡°Brother Pei, I feel awful, Brother Pei... Brother Pei...¡±


    His voice was weak, sounding almost like a whine.


    Wave after wave of heat battered against Pei Huai¡¯s ear.


    Pei Huai, already severely irritable, was clung to tightly by him; he could only gently pat his back, then once more picked him up.


    Since Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t want to seek relief with anyone else, they could only resort to the method suggested by the doctor, soaking in cold water.


    And the ice cubes...


    Better to forget about them.


    Probably after an ice bath, Xia Wenyan¡¯s small frame would start running a high fever.


    Pei Huai silently exhaled a sigh, embracing the person in his arms even tighter.


    Luckily, there was a bathing pool in the hotel.


    After he had filled the tub with water, he gently placed Xia Wenyan into it, and Xia Wenyan instinctively struggled as he suddenly hit the cold water.


    Even his nerves seemed to instantly sober up quite a bit.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Yanyan, I¡¯m right here with you,¡± Pei Huai gripped Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand tightly with one of his while using the other to support his back, afraid that he might accidentally fall into the tub.


    Listening to Pei Huai¡¯s restrained voice and his cautious demeanor, Xia Wenyan felt a warm sensation in his chest.


    He lay on the edge of the tub, tilting his head and looking at Pei Huai, suddenly feeling rather bold.


    He slowly pulled Pei Huai¡¯s hand into the tub, ¡°Brother Pei, help me...¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes looked like they were about to pop out; he stared at Xia Wenyan, opened his mouth, but was absolutely speechless.


    Xia Wenyan thought perhaps his request was too much, but for some reason, he always felt that when Pei Huai looked at him, it was as if he would pluck the moon from the sky if he asked for it.


    So he blurted it out without hesitation.


    But now, seeing Pei Huai¡¯s shocked expression, he thought his request might have been a bit too much.


    Yet, he didn¡¯t want to give up at all.


    Xia Wenyan pinched Pei Huai¡¯s hand, his head tilting further in the opposite direction, ¡°Brother Pei, dear Brother Pei... help me...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s stiff figure finally moved slightly, but his Adam¡¯s apple involuntarily bobbed up and down.


    Yanyan was asking for his help?


    He was asking for his help?!


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t know if he was too excited or too pleased.


    But he dared not show it too obviously, so he took a deep breath, ¡°Don¡¯t say later that Brother Pei took advantage of you.¡±


    ¡°I... ha...¡±


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t say another word, and his unfinished sentence turned into exclamations.


    The water in the tub was cold, and the temperature within wasn¡¯t much warmer; Xia Wenyan¡¯s moments of clarity in the tub alternated with confusion.


    He only remembered the water gliding over his skin and how comfortable the cool skin of the man he was leaning against felt.


    He had felt terribly uncomfortable at first but ended up comfortably falling asleep...


    Looking at Xia Wenyan, who was already asleep on the bed, Pei Huai sighed helplessly; even a few cold showers in the bathroom didn¡¯t help him calm down.


    In the end, he had to deal with it himself, considering the events that had just unfolded.


    Thinking of this, the tips of Pei Huai¡¯s ears couldn¡¯t help but turn red.


    Suddenly, the mobile phone on the nightstand vibrated. It was Xia Wenyan¡¯s.


    He glanced at it and saw a message from Xia Wenjue.


    It seemed they had been away too long, and Xia Wenjue had sensed something was wrong.


    Pei Huai was hesitating whether to reply to the message when Xia Wenyan¡¯s phone vibrated again.


    This time it was a call.


    He sighed softly, reached for the phone, and answered it, ¡°Hello, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan and walked over to the adjacent room to take the call.


    Xia Wenjue seemed a bit surprised but still asked, ¡°Why do you have Lao Si¡¯s phone? What trouble has he gotten into now?¡±


    Xia Wenyan was frank by nature and disliked scheming; aside from Lu Zhaozhao, what Xia Wenjue worried about the most was Xia Wenyan.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao had Song Sinian, who was extremely vigilant, not letting anyone touch Lu Zhaozhao.


    So now, he was only worried about Xia Wenyan.


    Since Pei Huai had been following Xia Wenyan, he had been less worried.


    However, as close as Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai were, they weren¡¯t blood brothers, so as the elder brother, he naturally couldn¡¯t afford to completely let go.


    Pei Huai¡¯s dark eyes slowly dropped, and after hesitating for a moment, he still told the truth, ¡°Someone tried to drug Zhaozhao, but Yanyan accidentally drank it. I took him to see a doctor; the issue is resolved now. However, about the charity dinner...¡±

 Chapter 287: 285 She Was Indeed Too Nervous

    Chapter 287: Chapter 285 She Was Indeed Too Nervous


    Xia Wenjue immediately ¡°got¡± what Pei Huai was emphasizing.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s situation had already been dealt with, but the crux of the problem lay in the fact that someone at the charity gala was targeting Lu Zhaozhao and had not been caught yet.


    Actually, Pei Huai wanted to tell Xia Wenjue that the issue was with the fruit juice that Xia Wenmo had taken.


    But if he said so, they would probably find the person who drugged the drink very soon, and Xia Wenyan would likely be taken away by them quickly as well.


    He looked at Xia Wenyan, who was sleeping exceptionally well-behaved on the bed, hesitated for a moment, and still chose to keep it a secret.


    In fact, just a moment ago his men had already dealt with the task he had assigned.


    He had also confirmed that the person who had drugged them was someone from Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s side.


    They had been very secretive; if he had not known from the beginning that the drug was in that cup of fruit juice, he would not have been able to uncover them so quickly.


    It seemed that the lesson of breaking Song Keren¡¯s leg last time was still too light for her.


    And Xiao Jinglan... Ha!


    None of them were going to get away with it!


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenjue, who had just hung up the phone, also realized something was amiss.


    He immediately returned to the banquet hall, gave Song Sinian a look, and slowly said, ¡°Zhaozhao, it looks like your dress hem might be dirty. The charity gala auction is about to start soon, why don¡¯t you and Sinian go to the lounge to tidy up a bit?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was enjoying the fruit on her plate when she heard Xia Wenjue¡¯s words and instinctively looked behind her. But the evening dress under the lights shimmered so beautifully that she truly couldn¡¯t see where the back of her skirt was dirty.


    But since Xia Wenjue said so, it must be dirty.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze shifted to Xia Wenjue, as if silently asking why he wanted to take Lu Zhaozhao away.


    But Xia Wenjue only gave him a ¡°Stay calm¡± look, and Xia Wenmo had to suppress his curiosity at the bottom of his heart.


    Lu Zhaozhao noticed that Xia Wenmo seemed a bit unhappy, she put her plate down, winked at him, and said, ¡°Third brother, save me a spot at the auction later. I¡¯m going to the lounge first and will be back soon.¡±


    Xia Wenmo nodded, silently watching Song Sinian take her away right before his eyes.


    Fortunately, the lounge was not far from the banquet hall they were in, so the two quickly entered the lounge.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat down directly on the sofa and began looking for the dirty spot on her skirt.


    But after looking back and forth for a long time, she nearly wore out her eyes and still did not find any stains.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows knitted slightly, she turned with a pleading look to Song Sinian, ¡°Honey, can you help me find out what¡¯s wrong with the dress?¡±


    When Song Sinian heard this, he had just seen the message sent by Xia Wenjue.


    He glanced at the message, a chill flashed through his eyes, but it quickly retreated.


    Song Sinian stood up, walked over to Lu Zhaozhao, and gently took her small hand before soothingly saying, ¡°It¡¯s not necessary to search anymore. A waiter will bring a new dress over soon, and someone else will be dealing with the dirty part of this one. You don¡¯t need to worry, OK?¡±


    Song Sinian, kneeling beside her, holding her small hand, changed the subject, ¡°I just happen to have the list of items for the auction. Do you want to see if there¡¯s anything you like?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked, staring intently at Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, are you guys hiding something from me?¡±


    She remembered ever since the commotion at the charity gala began, the Xia brothers and Song Sinian had seemed a bit off.


    She hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time.


    Especially when Xia Wenyan first left, she hadn¡¯t found it strange, but now that such a large part of the day had passed, Xia Wenyan showed no signs of returning.


    And with the auction about to start, the person who had insisted on sitting beside her had vanished without a trace.


    It all seemed very strange.


    Sinian didn¡¯t respond to Zhaozhao¡¯s comment, nor did he deny it.


    Zhaozhao understood immediately.


    Her eyebrows suddenly furrowed, ¡°Has something happened to my eldest brother?¡±


    Sinian hesitated for a moment, but still nodded, ¡°He ate something that was poisoned and was taken away by Pei Huai, but he¡¯s alright now.¡±


    He chose the information Zhaozhao would want to know while hiding some of it.


    He didn¡¯t want Zhaozhao to know that these people were targeting her; otherwise, she would feel guilty about Xia Wenyan¡¯s incident.


    He understood her too well.


    The Xia brothers naturally felt the same way.


    In fact, more than worrying about Xia Wenyan, they were furious that someone had dared to make a move on Zhaozhao right before their eyes!


    And they had almost succeeded!


    Just thinking about it made them feel agitated.


    Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, her small hand gripping and gently swaying the hem of her dress before shifting her gaze to Sinian, ¡°So my dress hem isn¡¯t dirty, right? My eldest brother just didn¡¯t want me to worry, so he made an excuse to leave?¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    ¡°Then... was the commotion just now related to this incident?¡± Zhaozhao carefully recalled all the details associated with this event.


    Sinian nodded again, ¡°Yes, the commotion did have something to do with the incident, but it wasn¡¯t the whole story.¡±


    Listening to Sinian¡¯s calm voice and recalling Xia Wenjue¡¯s expression from before, Zhaozhao still felt a bit uneasy.


    Should she go check on Xia Wenyan now?


    She remembered that Xia Wenyan had left with Pei Huai; with Pei Huai there, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.


    He wouldn¡¯t let anything happen to her eldest brother.


    Sinian had also said he had already received medical attention...


    ¡°Zhaozhao, this incident isn¡¯t as terrible as you imagine; it¡¯s already been resolved,¡± Sinian gently squeezed Zhaozhao¡¯s palm, ¡°Your brothers just don¡¯t want to spoil your mood for the evening, so they decided not to tell you. Yet, you guessed it anyway.¡±


    His soothing tone managed to calm Zhaozhao¡¯s erratic heart.


    She really was too tense.


    Zhaozhao held Sinian¡¯s hand against her cheek, ¡°When I heard it was my eldest brother, my mind instinctively jumped to the worst possibilities...¡±


    The things she had experienced in her past life still affected her quite a bit.


    Sinian¡¯s thumb gently caressed Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, ¡°You can slowly try to rely on the people around you. We are all here to support you strongly, to protect you. You don¡¯t have to face these things alone, you understand?¡±


    Sinian looked at Zhaozhao¡¯s slightly pale face, a hint of distress flashing in his eyes.


    The last time they had visited Doctor Tian, Tian Xiangjun told him Zhaozhao¡¯s psychological state wasn¡¯t really suitable for hypnosis; although she appeared emotionally positive and proactive, she was actually just choosing to forget the hurt she had endured.


    Deep down, she was more fragile than anyone else.


    Of course, Sinian understood that Zhaozhao¡¯s seemingly unaffected demeanor wasn¡¯t because of the security they provided, but rather...

 Chapter 288: 286: Shell Definitely Retort Until Even His Own Mother Wouldnt Recognize Him!

    Chapter 288: Chapter 286: She¡¯ll Definitely Retort Until Even His Own Mother Wouldn¡¯t Recognize Him!


    They didn¡¯t die like they did last life.


    If anything happened to any one of them, Lu Zhaozhao would be terribly panicked.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t know how to calm her down.


    So he could only do as she wished as much as possible, everything according to her hopes.


    Song Sinian silently sighed in his heart, slowly retracting the hand that had been on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, and kissed her palm.


    Lu Zhaozhao only felt tingles in her palm, and when she subconsciously looked at Song Sinian, she couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    She remembered that lately, Song Sinian always clung to her, and whenever they had time, the two of them would...


    Now, they were in the lounge, and there weren¡¯t many people here.


    Even if there were, no one would come in to disturb them.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but swallow again, now that it was just the two of them here.


    With no one to disrupt a lone man and a single woman secluded in a room, all three conditions were perfectly matched.


    So their Mr. Song...


    As Lu Zhaozhao was feeling anxious, Song Sinian slowly stood up, and her heart suddenly clenched.


    Her current evening gown wasn¡¯t easy to take off, and because of its fishtail design, it was also inconvenient...


    While she was lost in her wild thoughts, Song Sinian walked away.


    Lu Zhaozhao was taken aback for a moment, then saw Song Sinian pouring a cup of water by the water dispenser, before he came back, ¡°Drink some water first, wait a while, your new dress will be delivered soon.¡±


    ¡°Uh... okay,¡± Lu Zhaozhao held the cup somewhat guiltily, but her gaze wandered several times over Song Sinian¡¯s body.


    Was it her imagination?


    Did their Mr. Song really not plan to do anything?


    Lu Zhaozhao sipped the hot water in small mouthfuls, yet her heart wouldn¡¯t stop pounding.


    But until the new evening gown was delivered to the room, Song Sinian had not done anything out of line, let alone utter some risque? comment like before.


    He seemed to have returned to the abstinent Mr. Song of the past.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked down at the black evening gown she had changed into, and then at Song Sinian, so love could disappear, right?


    Or was it... because she saw Doctor Tian last time, she changed Song Sinian¡¯s medicine again?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mind was a mess, looking at Song Sinian who was still calm beside her, she fell into deep self-doubt.


    After a moment, Lu Zhaozhao decisively took out her phone and sent a message to Xu Zhenzhen.


    Almost simultaneously, the phone in the hands of Xu Zhenzhen, who was sitting in the passenger seat, vibrated.


    She casually took it out and saw the message from Lu Zhaozhao.


    Upon seeing the question, her eyes immediately widened.


    Xia Wenqing, who was driving, scanned Xu Zhenzhen subtly and asked casually, ¡°What¡¯s up? Boyfriend?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen stiffened, her mouth twisted awkwardly, ¡°Manager Xia is joking...¡±


    The person she liked was him; why would she need a boyfriend?


    Xu Zhenzhen silently sighed.


    Fortunately, Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t know, otherwise, it would have been even more awkward.


    As she was pondering how to reply to Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenqing spoke again beside her, ¡°Call me Second Brother in the future, I promised Zhaozhao to take care of you, you don¡¯t need to feel burdened.¡±


    His voice was indifferent, showing no emotion.


    But the burden was indeed immense.


    Being favored by the object of her secret admiration, she had been restless all this time. The worst part was that he didn¡¯t have a clue; it was just too damn hard.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath, and after a moment, managed to pull together a forced smile, ¡°Okay, Se... Second Brother.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Xia Wenqing responded in a subdued tone, still behaving like a heartless robot.


    Taking advantage of the pause, Xu Zhenzhen quickly replied to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s message before obediently taking her seat again.


    Actually, this business trip was originally assigned to her, but for some reason, after the other party heard some rumors, they made a big fuss about it, forcing her immediate superior to accompany her.


    The thought of spending the next few days with this man left Xu Zhenzhen feeling both agony and sweetness.


    Ever since she returned to the country, she hadn¡¯t seen Xia Wenqing again.


    He seemed even more mature and composed than before, his brows and eyes colder than when they first met, yet he still carried himself with an air of scholarly politeness.


    Indeed, seeing him in person made it very difficult for her to give up.


    The car fell into silence once more, suffocating Xu Zhenzhen with awkwardness.


    After hesitating for a moment, she cautiously ventured, ¡°Do you plan to settle down in the country, ¡®Second Brother¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Xia Wenqing replied tersely, leaving no room for further conversation.


    With her left hand clutching her right, Xu Zhenzhen stammered, ¡°Then, then when do you plan to marry ¡®Second Sister-in-law¡¯?¡±


    At her words, Xia Wenqing suddenly slammed on the brakes.


    Strapped by the seat belt, Xu Zhenzhen was jolted forward and stared blankly at the now-red traffic light ahead, utterly confused.


    Wasn¡¯t it green just a moment ago?


    It seemed to turn yellow only after Xia Wenqing stepped on the brake.


    Was she imagining things?


    While she was pondering, Xia Wenqing next to her turned his gaze onto her, ¡°I don¡¯t have any plans to get married soon, nor is there a ¡®Second Sister-in-law.''¡±


    ¡°Oh, oh...¡± Xu Zhenzhen weakly chuckled, awkwardly putting an end to the uncomfortable subject.


    For some reason, she felt as though Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression just then wasn¡¯t quite right, as if he was angry.


    She distinctly remembered that when he was overseas, he was on the verge of discussing marriage and had even prepared an engagement ring, the kind that can only be custom-made once in a lifetime.


    Had he been rejected?


    Could a man like Xia Wenqing actually be turned down?


    Xu Zhenzhen sneaked a glance at him and couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly.


    She didn¡¯t know whether to say the other party thought too highly of themselves or that Xia Wenqing was unlucky in love, tsk tsk...


    ¡°Are all the documents we need for the meeting prepared?¡±


    Suddenly, Xia Wenqing¡¯s cool voice broke the odd tension in the car.


    Xu Zhenzhen immediately snapped back to reality and bent down to reach for the briefcase by her feet, only to be stopped by a large hand shielding her head.


    His palm was warm, carrying a pleasant scent, somewhat like the fresh grass fragrance of a tropical rainforest.


    It was penetratingly soothing.


    Xu Zhenzhen froze for a moment, hastily lifting her head, only to hear Xia Wenqing calmly say, ¡°The passenger side air vent has a perfume valve.¡±


    The little winged doll on top was easily scratched by accident.


    He had reflexively reached out to block her when he saw Xu Zhenzhen lowering her head.


    Afraid she¡¯d get scratched.


    He had intended to explain clearly, but seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s look, he averted his gaze and added, ¡°Bought it overseas, it¡¯s quite expensive.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The ¡°thanks¡± on the tip of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s tongue nearly turned into an opera curse.


    If this man weren¡¯t her idol, she¡¯d have given him a piece of her mind to the point his own mother wouldn¡¯t recognize him!


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath and gave a strained smile, tugging at the corners of her mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ¡®Second Brother¡¯, I¡¯ll make sure to be careful next time.¡±


    As she spoke nearly gritting her molars, to her surprise, the awkward atmosphere between them inexplicably improved quite a bit...?

 Chapter 289: 287 The Old House Caught Fire Beyond Rescue...

    Chapter 289: Chapter 287 The Old House Caught Fire Beyond Rescue...


    Xu Zhenzhen organized the documents in her hands, ¡°All the documents are here, including the issues to be discussed this time.¡±


    She had been fully prepared for the business trip ever since she received the assignment, and she could handle it alone even without Xia Wenqing.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the other party insisting that their leadership must attend, there would have been no need for him to go out of his way.


    How outstanding Xu Zhenzhen was, Xia Wenqing certainly knew.


    It was precisely because he knew that he was even more anxious.


    The car drove for a while longer and soon arrived at the restaurant they had agreed upon earlier.


    The people they were to cooperate with were waiting in a private room of the restaurant for Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen.


    As soon as they saw the newcomers, a group of people warmly welcomed them.


    The man standing at the forefront, in a suit, was blond and blue-eyed.


    Yet when he spoke, it was in fluent Chinese.


    ¡°Mr. Xia, I¡¯ve heard much about you,¡± the man said, his gaze then turning to Xu Zhenzhen, who was behind Xia Wenqing.


    His eyes and brows smiled, seemingly having a good relationship with Xia Wenqing.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenqing just glanced indifferently at the man before simply introducing, ¡°This is the assistant assigned to me by Song Group, her name is Xu Zhenzhen.¡±


    The man nodded immediately, smiling warmly at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°So you are Secretary Xu, hello, hello, my name is Wales, I am...¡±


    He was just about to warmly come forward for a handshake when Xia Wenqing coldly said, ¡°The conditions we proposed earlier, how have you discussed them?¡±


    Wales was clearly taken aback, but then looked at Xia Wenqing again, all smiles.


    ¡°We can discuss the conditions slowly, come, come, let¡¯s eat first.¡± He seemed not at all perturbed by Xia Wenqing¡¯s attitude earlier, warmly pulling him to sit down at the table in the private room.


    Xu Zhenzhen naturally followed closely behind Xia Wenqing, sitting next to him.


    The assistant following behind Wales curiously leaned over and whispered, ¡°Hadn¡¯t we already settled everything earlier?¡±


    Previously, Wales¡¯s client had some disputes with Song Group.


    This matter was originally trivial, so it had always been handled by his junior assistant.


    He had always been dealing with Song Group¡¯s lawyers or assistants until a few days ago, when the situation suddenly underwent a drastic change.


    The person negotiating with him suddenly became a famously accomplished international lawyer.


    Thinking their client faced great trouble, he immediately informed Wales.


    He had always been Wales¡¯s assistant and naturally knew of his acquaintance with Xia Wenqing; the two seemed to have been good friends since their student days.


    They later made a name for themselves in the legal field together.


    To the junior assistant¡¯s surprise, they had resolved the matter in just a few words.


    He had thought this trip was merely for a simple meal, followed by a signature to conclude it, but why were they discussing it again now?


    Wilson looked at the junior assistant, chuckled lightly, his eyes and brows filled with a strong gossipy air, ¡°You, you¡¯re still too young; give it another two years, and you¡¯ll understand.¡±


    The junior assistant was even more confused; he had already graduated from university, was not young anymore.


    Wilson, seeing the almost written-on-the-face expression of the junior assistant and looking at certain people maintaining an impeccable demeanor, couldn¡¯t help but marvel.


    This small case could alarm big shots like Xia Wenqing, it must be no trivial matter.


    He came just out of curiosity, and now it seems it was not in vain.


    He and Xia Wenqing knew each other from school, and this guy was quite the celebrity in their department, but oddly enough, he was like a monk, completely indifferent to anything but law.


    He never thought he¡¯d see such a different side of Xia Wenqing in his lifetime.


    Seeing him so composed now, he couldn¡¯t help but want to stir up some trouble.


    Wales cleared his throat lightly, ¡°Come on, we haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time, how about a drink? What do you say?¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, almost revealing ¡°up to no good¡± from his radiant smile.


    Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t have many close friends at school, Wales was one, but this guy was only a ¡°bad influence¡± at best.


    He originally wanted to refuse outright, but then heard Wales say to Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Come on, Assistant Xu, lift your glass.¡±


    As he said that, he even winked at Xu Zhenzhen.


    Now Xu Zhenzhen, who initially wanted to pretend to be invisible, had no choice but to bravely lift her glass.


    But the next second, the glass in her hand was taken by Xia Wenqing, who drank from it and then glanced at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°You¡¯re driving later.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s lips moved slightly, and ultimately, she obediently nodded.


    Now Wales¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, his mischievous expression just turned towards Xia Wenqing, only to meet the latter¡¯s ¡°keep messing around and I¡¯ll kill you¡± look.


    Wales sighed helplessly in his heart, what a pity.


    So everything proceeded normally from there.


    After the meal, they went to a KTV room.


    Just when Wales thought there was no more drama to watch, he saw Xia Wenqing propping up his chin, looking sickly as he leaned back on the sofa.


    The dim light, casting on his face, had lost the previous seriousness and business-like appearance.


    And Xu Zhenzhen, sitting nearby, also noticed this and cautiously approached Xia Wenqing, asking, ¡°Second Brother, are you feeling unwell anywhere?¡±


    Xia Wenqing gently turned his head, with his thin lips drawing closer to Xu Zhenzhen, noticing her lustrous earlobes, his Adam¡¯s apple gently bobbed, ¡°I think I have a headache, feeling quite uncomfortable.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows instantly furrowed, ¡°Do you need me to buy you some hangover medicine?¡±


    She remembered Xia Wenqing hadn¡¯t drunk much, could it be he can¡¯t hold his liquor?


    ¡°No need, just take me back to my hotel room later, it¡¯s in the building next door.¡± After saying this, he slowly closed his eyes.


    Xu Zhenzhen sat by his side, perfectly positioned to view his handsome profile and slightly rugged Adam¡¯s apple.


    Realizing what she was staring at, Xu Zhenzhen immediately turned her head away.


    God, this man is just too bewitching.


    As she was thinking of how to divert her attention, she suddenly felt a weight on her shoulder.


    Xia Wenqing had leaned on her shoulder, and seeing his slightly furrowed brow, he seemed to be in quite some discomfort.


    Thinking so, Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but shift closer, trying to make Xia Wenqing as comfortable as possible.


    Observing all this from a distance, Wales couldn¡¯t help but tsk in amazement, even his assistant beside him was a bit surprised, ¡°Mr. Wales, isn¡¯t Mr. Xia¡¯s alcohol tolerance usually very good? How come he feels so unwell after just one drink? Should we take him to see a doctor?¡±


    Wales stiffly turned his head towards his assistant, his lips twitching slightly, ¡°Probably not needed, he¡¯s dealing with old issues that are beyond help...¡±

 Chapter 290: 288: Its Impossible to Suffer a Loss

    Chapter 290: Chapter 288: It¡¯s Impossible to Suffer a Loss


    Assistant: ...


    Isn¡¯t it just feeling uncomfortable after drinking? Why hasn¡¯t it been resolved yet?


    The sky outside grew darker, and in the latter half of the night, it began to snow lightly.


    When Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the film set, the shooting site needed to be cleared because of the sudden snow, so their shooting schedule was postponed.


    Naturally, Lu Zhaozhao went to the conference room to wait for the director and others to gather for the script reading.


    This was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s second time joining the group; she was playing a role in a fantasy genre, and although she was the third female lead, the character was quite decent, a playful and romantic little fox demon.


    In the plot, she was the male lead¡¯s pet who adored him wholeheartedly yet was never cherished by the male lead who detached himself from all desires and emotions.


    The little fox sacrificed everything for the male lead, only to become a victim upon his ascension, a truly tragic fate.


    Lu Zhaozhao reviewed the script in her hand, flipping through the parts she had annotated before.


    She then saw other members of the crew gradually entering.


    The arrivals included the male lead Bai Qing and the female lead Sun Qian.


    Before Lu Zhaozhao came to the group, her assistant had sent her a list and information about other members of the group.


    Although Xia Wenyan and Song Sinian both felt it was unnecessary for Lu Zhaozhao to be so earnest, knowing who they were should have been enough for her.


    Lu Zhaozhao wanted to act in the entertainment industry, and they had no objections, but it was unnecessary to deliberately cater to people within the circle.


    However, seeing her insistence, they didn¡¯t stop her anymore.


    When Lu Zhaozhao saw the two enter, she nodded at them, saying, ¡°Hello, both teachers.¡±


    Bai Qing also nodded at Lu Zhaozhao and warmly greeted with a smile, ¡°Teacher Lu, coming so early to read the script is quite diligent.¡±


    ¡°In the entertainment industry, talent is what counts, diligence doesn¡¯t matter much,¡± Bai Qing had barely finished when Sun Qian suddenly spoke with a sarcastic tone.


    Her remark startled both Bai Qing and Lu Zhaozhao.


    It seemed neither had expected her to say such a thing suddenly.


    Realizing their expressions, Sun Qian immediately put on a forced smile and said to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Teacher Lu, don¡¯t mind me, I¡¯m just straightforward, you would know if you have seen my interviews, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses, looking at Sun Qian¡¯s utterly malicious gaze, and knew her so-called straightforwardness was somewhat nauseating.


    She chuckled lightly, returning the forced smile, ¡°I don¡¯t mind at all, I¡¯m quite like Teacher Sun in that regard, so it¡¯s no big deal.¡±


    Bai Qing looked at Sun Qian with an indescribable expression, then glanced at Lu Zhaozhao.


    He had been in the industry for quite some time and naturally knew Sun Qian had just deliberately targeted Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although she had the backing of the Song Group and was supported by others, it didn¡¯t mean she could control the entire entertainment industry.


    Sun Qian was considered a prominent figure in the industry, not yet a top star but having S-grade scripts and one or two extremely popular dramas to her name, she wasn¡¯t worried about resources.


    So that must be why she dared to show Lu Zhaozhao such attitude, right?


    Bai Qing quietly sighed, feeling somewhat sorry for the beauty before him.


    Being a newcomer, she would probably be at a disadvantage in front of Sun Qian.


    Just as he was thinking about how to change the subject, he heard Lu Zhaozhao speak again, ¡°Teacher Sun, I have loved your acting since I was little. After your most popular drama, I haven¡¯t seen you in many other good shows. I¡¯ve been really starved for good content lately, Teacher Sun, you should really keep it up!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sun Qian probably never expected Lu Zhaozhao to fight back, let alone in this manner. Her face instantly darkened as she glared at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Beside her, Bai Qing was utterly shocked. He had just thought her to be a delicate little flower waiting to be bullied. Tsk, tsk, it seems that was not the case...


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Sun Qian¡¯s expression, her smile brightening even more, ¡°Teacher Sun, are you angry? Teacher Sun, I¡¯m straightforward so don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re washed up, I mean even now, almost at 40, you still play young girls, and your acting career has a long way to go. I saw a senior before who at 70 could still play a young girl, and her screen father was even 17 years younger than her!¡±


    Every word seemed to praise Sun Qian, but each one was actually a stab.


    Everyone knew that Sun Qian¡¯s biggest issue now was that despite being almost 40, she still clung to a young girl persona.


    Even the scripts she chose started from a young girl¡¯s age to an older one, earning her mockery online because of this practice.


    Moreover, whatever genre she had recently worked on had failed to catch fire again.


    Her attempts at changing her image had failed, forcing her back into leading roles in idol dramas.


    Lu Zhaozhao was no longer just being straightforward; she was like a modern-day Little Li Flying Dagger, each word aimed to kill.


    By now, Sun Qian¡¯s face had darkened to an impenetrable shade.


    She had initially targeted Lu Zhaozhao because of her close relationship with Pei Huai, intending to belittle her. But how dare this young woman not only talk back but also mock her?


    Biting her teeth, Sun Qian managed a forced smile, ¡°Why would I mind? Being direct isn¡¯t a bad thing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good, I thought Teacher Sun might be angry. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so generous~¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s last sentence carried a drawn-out tone, grinding Sun Qian¡¯s teeth even more.


    Beside her, Bai Qing couldn¡¯t help but stifle his laughter, almost injuring himself internally.


    He took this script mainly to leverage Sun Qian¡¯s status to boost his career, thus planning to build a good relationship with her. However, Sun Qian, leveraging her seniority, looked down on those who rose to fame through popularity.


    So, when he was at the door earlier and also felt slighted, he didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to immediately fly into a retort that shot Sun Qian down.


    To say he wasn¡¯t thrilled would be a lie.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the conference room door, and a man wearing a mask and sunglasses stood at the entrance.


    As the three inside wondered who it was, the man took off his sunglasses.


    ¡°Mr. Pei?¡±


    Bai Qing¡¯s eyes widened significantly, surprised to see Pei Huai here.


    Sun Qian seemed equally surprised.


    She instinctively adjusted her hair, about to greet him, when she heard Pei Huai shout towards Lu Zhaozhao in the room, ¡°Zhaozhao, come here.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows, set down the script in her hand, and immediately walked towards the door.


    Pei Huai, observing the shock clear in the other two¡¯s eyes, chuckled lightly, ¡°I¡¯ll borrow Zhaozhao for a moment, sorry for the interruption.¡±


    He then nodded at the two in the room and left with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Bai Qing, eyes full of wonder, thought about the recent events, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Pei and Lu Zhaozhao to be so close. Could it be that Mr. Pei really likes Lu Zhaozhao? She¡¯s already married...¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Sun Qian blurted out. ¡°Why would he like that type of woman?¡±

 Chapter 291: 289 Shameful But Effective

    Chapter 291: Chapter 289 Shameful But Effective


    She was practically speaking through gritted teeth when she said that sentence.


    In their circle, it was quite normal for drama crew members to become couples.


    And those who had husbands and still cheated on the side were not in short supply.


    So if Pei Huai had a liking for Lu Zhaozhao, it didn¡¯t seem to be something that would shock anyone.


    But given Sun Qian¡¯s attitude, she seemed to have some... feelings towards Pei Huai...


    Bai Qing, being an outsider, had no interest in Sun Qian and certainly did not want to gossip about her intentions.


    All that mattered was that she did not cause trouble for him on the set.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao, who had been taken away by Pei Huai, had followed him to a secluded corner.


    ¡°Brother Pei, how is my fourth brother doing?¡± Before Pei Huai could speak, Lu Zhaozhao had already blurted out the question.


    She remembered on the night of the charity banquet, it was Pei Huai who had taken Xia Wenyan away when he said he was feeling unwell.


    After that, they hadn¡¯t returned.


    She guessed that Pei Huai had taken care of things concerning Xia Wenyan.


    Pei Huai¡¯s lips moved slightly, and in the end, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°His body is fine, but it¡¯s hard to say about his mental state.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s words stunned Lu Zhaozhao, as if she suddenly understood something.


    Xia Wenyan had been drugged and then taken away by Pei Huai. His body was fine now, so...


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and leaned in closer, lowering her voice to ask, ¡°Brother Pei, did you guys...¡±


    ¡°No, no.¡± Pei Huai was like he¡¯d been scalded, but when he tried to explain, he didn¡¯t know how to put it into words.


    Indeed, he hadn¡¯t done anything substantial with Xia Wenyan, but if it involved using his hands...


    Did that count?


    The thought alone gave Pei Huai a headache.


    He shouldn¡¯t have been so impulsive the day before. Seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s pitiful state broke down his defenses.


    And then the next day, the guy had vanished without a trace.


    Not taking calls, not replying to texts.


    It would be a lie to say he wasn¡¯t anxious.


    Pei Huai thought it over and realized the only person he could turn to was Lu Zhaozhao.


    Seeing the dejected look on his face, Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand to pat his shoulder, ¡°Brother Pei, do you know that a double negative equals a positive?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze silently met Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s, and in the end, he said nothing.


    Sensing his mood, Lu Zhaozhao let out a soft sigh, ¡°I¡¯m not very clear about what my fourth brother¡¯s attitude is exactly, but I suggest you don¡¯t pursue him too eagerly. Give him some time to think. You know how my brother¡¯s mind works.¡±


    As long as Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t feel the need to rebel, he would probably be able to persuade himself quickly.


    Either to continue being brothers with Pei Huai or to continue with Pei Huai as...


    Pei Huai¡¯s dark pupils drooped; he realized that what Lu Zhaozhao was suggesting was probably the best solution.


    But he was afraid.


    Afraid that Xia Wenyan would really see through his feelings and then keep his distance from him.


    Although he had met all sorts of people in the entertainment industry, he had never considered such matters.


    His actions the day before may have pushed Xia Wenyan even further away.


    Noticing Pei Huai¡¯s crestfallen appearance, Lu Zhaozhao hesitated before speaking softly, ¡°Brother Pei, you don¡¯t have to be so pessimistic. Knowing my fourth brother¡¯s personality, I think it¡¯s more likely he¡¯s avoiding you because he feels he did you wrong and is ashamed to face you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao could see the nature of the relationship between Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai.


    The feelings Xia Wenyan had for Pei Huai were much deeper than what Pei Huai believed.


    He had plenty of fair-weather friends around him, but she had never seen Xia Wenyan so clingy with anyone before.


    Pei Huai seemed somewhat skeptical, ¡°Really?¡±


    He gave a wry smile.


    ¡°How about this, Brother Pei, give him some time to cool off, and if you still can¡¯t see him, I¡¯ll help you make your presence felt, how does that sound?¡± Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t stand to see such a good-looking ¡°sister-in-law¡± looking so downcast.


    After all, her heart was set on helping her fourth brother.


    And if it weren¡¯t for Xia Wenyan blocking disaster for her yesterday, Pei Huai and her fourth brother wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.


    A glint of light suddenly flashed in Pei Huai¡¯s eyes, he had only asked Lu Zhaozhao about Xia Wenyan¡¯s situation but didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao would offer to help him.


    He knew Xia Wenyan cared a lot about his little sister, and indeed, things would be much simpler with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s help.


    He knew what he was doing was shameful.


    But effective.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it in your hands.¡± Pei Huai relaxed a little, raising his hand to ruffle Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair, ¡°Brother Pei can only rely on you now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao silently gave Pei Huai a thumbs-up gesture, winked, and said, ¡°Who said I still have to rely on Brother Pei to mingle in the circle in the future, right~¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s expression softened considerably as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Backed by Song Group, with XJ Group¡¯s people holding the fort, Lu Zhaozhao could do as she pleased in the entertainment industry without anyone saying a word.


    To her, he was just an actor after all, even if he had connections, they were limited.


    Her words were merely meant to comfort him.


    Pei Huai had to admit, Lu Zhaozhao was truly an exceptional little sister.


    Even if he could no longer stay by Xia Wenyan¡¯s side in the future, he would protect his little sister in his place.


    In his past life, he refused to accept the subordinates left by his mother¡¯s family out of pride.


    This time, he wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake.


    Only those with the ability had the capital to rebel.


    Sometimes, dirty work could be solved with just a word.


    There was no need for him to dirty his hands.


    Moreover, he needed to protect Xia Wenyan for a long and enduring time, so he naturally couldn¡¯t get involved with such dirty affairs again.


    Pei Huai felt much more at ease, his gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao gentler, ¡°Focus on your filming, and remember to call me if there¡¯s any trouble, I can still handle these minor matters in the circle.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, take care, Brother Pei.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    After watching Pei Huai walk away, Lu Zhaozhao took out her phone and sent a message to Xia Wenyan.


    [Brother, do you have time this afternoon?]


    After sending the message, Lu Zhaozhao put away her phone.


    At the same time, on the other side of the phone, Xia Wenyan, who was sitting in the Xia Family¡¯s living room, glanced at his slightly vibrating phone. Just as he was about to pick it up, he felt a chill.


    He weakly withdrew his hand and silently sat back down.


    ¡°Spill it, who among you is going to pick up Avril this time?¡± Within the living room, Wen Qingyu¡¯s gaze swept over the three brothers sitting opposite her, her tone icy.


    The Three Xia Brothers exchanged glances, each well-aware of the others¡¯ feelings.


    Avril was the granddaughter of a friend of their grandfather, claiming to visit China for tourism, but actually for matchmaking.


    That spoiled miss could be described as Xia Wenjin 2.0. Every time she visited the Xia Family, they would avoid her if they could.


    To their dismay, this annoying woman was still chasing after them even after they returned to the country.


    The mere thought was aggravating.


    Before, their family had a Xia Wenjin, and when the two of them were together, competing and outshining each other, it deflected some of her attention.


    Xia Wenjin was never at a disadvantage, always ensuring Avril left empty-handed. It was also because of her that Avril couldn¡¯t stay at the Xia Family for long each time she visited. But now what to do?

 Chapter 292: 290: Better a Friend Dies than Me

    Chapter 292: Chapter 290: Better a Friend Dies than Me


    The Three Xia Brothers never imagined they would miss Xia Wenjin over something like this.


    The three of them swiftly exchanged glances before Xia Wenyan spoke up first, ¡°Mom, shouldn¡¯t we wait for the second brother to be here before discussing this matter together?¡±


    After all, good times are shared, and so are the tough ones.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly, ¡°The second son said he has a wife now, so there¡¯s no need to bother him with such matters in the future.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°When did that happen?¡±


    ¡°Mom, you actually believe his lie?¡±


    The three brothers clearly exhibited a full measure of distrust regarding Xia Wenqing having a partner.


    Are you kidding? Xia Wenqing, that smiling tiger, only had eyes for the law outside of women!


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s beautiful eyebrows lifted subtly as she took out her phone, flipped through it, and set it on the table, ¡°Here, this is what your second brother told me himself.¡±


    Instantly, Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenmo, and Xia Wenyan crowded in to see.


    On Wen Qingyu¡¯s phone was unmistakably a photo, along with a few lines of text below.


    ¡°This is your future daughter-in-law, if I don¡¯t marry this person in the future, then I¡¯ll remain unmarried for life.¡±


    After reading these messages, the three sat back down with a sulking air.


    They thought Xia Wenqing had just made up an excuse, but judging by his serious tone, it seemed to be true.


    But when exactly had he taken a liking to this young girl?


    And why did this young girl look somewhat familiar?


    While the Three Xia Brothers were deep in thought, Wen Qingyu spoke again, ¡°If you three could be as resolute as the second one, then there¡¯d be no need for you to go.¡±


    Saying so, she swept her gaze across the faces of Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenmo, and Xia Wenyan, a look of disdain on her face.


    Her annoying sons were still without partners, yet her precious daughter was about to be married off.


    The mere thought of it made her temples throb.


    Xia Wenjue immediately stood up and said, ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been negotiating work matters with Song Sinian, and I still need to investigate the incident from the charity event last night, so I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have the time.¡±


    At times like these, he couldn¡¯t bother with brotherly loyalty; his priority was to get out of there.


    As soon as Xia Wenjue finished speaking, Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan scorned him.


    But since his reasoning was sound, Wen Qingyu nodded, giving him the green light to proceed.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost being drugged at the charity event¡ªshe was also aware of it.


    Of course, the matter needed to be investigated thoroughly.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s gaze swept over Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan, ¡°Then it will be up to the third and fourth; one of you will have to welcome Avril.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª!¡± As soon as Wen Qingyu finished, Xia Wenmo immediately stood up.


    Xia Wenyan, who had originally wanted to speak out, breathed a sigh of relief in secret. With his older brother stepping forward, he wouldn¡¯t have to go.


    But just as he relaxed for a second, he heard Xia Wenmo continue, ¡°I can¡¯t go either. At the time of the charity event, I was present, and it was while I was with Zhaozhao that this happened. Big brother, if you want to thoroughly investigate it, you¡¯ll definitely need me, right?¡±


    Turning his head, Xia Wenmo winked at Xia Wenjue.


    He knew if he had spoken at the same time as Xia Wenyan, he would have surely lost out, so he had played a bit of a smart trick.


    Now Xia Wenyan wasn¡¯t able to use that as an excuse anymore.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, glancing at the stunned Xia Wenyan and the smug Xia Wenmo, and nodded lightly.


    ¡°Third brother, aren¡¯t you being a bit unfair? I was the actual victim at the time, I...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s words stopped abruptly, cut off in the very instant.


    Although he had been drugged yesterday, it didn¡¯t mean he had lost his memory.


    The reason he had rushed out before dawn, all flustered, was because he just couldn¡¯t face Pei Huai.


    He remembered Pei Huai had even offered to find someone to relieve him, but not only had he refused, but he also clung to him...


    Just thinking about this gave Xia Wenyan a headache.


    ¡°Alright, since the eldest and the third brother are busy, then...¡± Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes narrowed as she glanced at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Since the charity banquet doesn¡¯t need you, then do you, young man, have someone you would remain single for your whole life without marrying?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    For some reason, the face of Pei Huai flashed through Xia Wenyan¡¯s mind.


    His heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he shook his head subconsciously, ¡°No, there¡¯s no one.¡±


    Only then did Wen Qingyu breathe a sigh of relief, ¡°Then it¡¯s you. Go pick up Avril later, and she¡¯ll be in your care for the next few days. If she asks, just say your dad and I went out to collect scenery!¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to meet the girl either; she was merely the granddaughter of a family friend of her husband¡¯s, but social niceties had to be observed.


    She had seen through her sons; they would never like Avril, so she wasn¡¯t worried about being her mother-in-law one day.


    As for how they would get along with Avril, it would be left to fate.


    After all, better his misfortune than mine.


    She could only wish her youngest son good luck!


    Xia Wenyan opened his mouth, intending to refuse, but saw that the people of the Xia family had already hurriedly left.


    Only his father still sat on the sofa, nonchalant as ever.


    Xia Wenyan glanced at his father, then at Wen Qingyu who had already run off to pack, and finally, his gaze rested on Xia Nie¡¯s face.


    ¡°Looking at me is useless; the real head of our house has always been your mother,¡± Xia Nie shrugged his shoulders, resigning himself to the inevitable.


    Xia Wenyan sighed silently and eventually compromised.


    Normally, he would have thrown a tantrum and asked his older brothers for help, but he didn¡¯t do so just then.


    Because even if he didn¡¯t go to pick up Avril, he had no idea what he should do.


    He usually spent his time with Pei Huai, either following his schedule or Pei Huai.


    Whatever Pei Huai was doing, he would join in.


    But waking up in the hotel that morning, he had felt a bit panicked.


    Almost as if possessed, he had rushed out while Pei Huai was still asleep.


    After arriving at the Xia family¡¯s home, he regretted it.


    He knew he shouldn¡¯t have left without saying goodbye, but since he had already done so, he went so far as to not even reply to Pei Huai¡¯s calls and messages.


    At this point, he didn¡¯t know how to face the situation.


    It was the first time he had encountered such an incident.


    He didn¡¯t even know why he had run away, and even less why he did not dare answer Pei Huai¡¯s calls.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s head was in complete disarray; he decided to stop thinking about it altogether.


    He picked up the mobile phone on the desk, and only then did he see the messages from Lu Zhaozhao.


    His brows knitted slightly, and after a moment¡¯s hesitation, he replied, ¡°I¡¯m a bit busy this afternoon, but I can make some time.¡±


    After sending this, as if something else had crossed his mind, he typed another line, ¡°I heard you¡¯re entering the set today; are you running into any troubles?¡±


    He remembered that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cast included Bai Qing and Sun Qian, one a popular male idol, the other an actress well-known in the drama circuit.


    Bai Qing had a rather good reputation in the industry, it was just his fans that were too intense.


    As for Sun Qian... her reputation wasn¡¯t as stellar, and he had even heard rumors of her throwing tantrums in the past...

 Chapter 293: 291 Just Simply Missed Brother

    Chapter 293: Chapter 291 Just Simply Missed Brother


    Although he had never collaborated with her, the gossip circulating in the industry was generally reliable.


    Lu Zhaozhao had already returned to the previous meeting room when she received Xia Wenyan¡¯s message.


    She glanced at the message and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I just purely missed my brother.¡±


    Sure enough, the next second, her phone seemed to go into vibration mode.


    [!!!]


    [Once I finish what I¡¯m handling, I¡¯ll come to the set immediately!!!]


    [What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll bring it for you!!!]


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking at Xia Wenyan¡¯s messages, couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of her mouth, guessing that even if she asked for an orca right now, he¡¯d plunge into the ocean to fetch one for her.


    Sun Qian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, her face darkening.


    Seeing her lips curl up with particular joy, she grew even more irritated. ¡°It¡¯s only your first day on set, and you¡¯re already having someone visit you. Even our male and female leads wouldn¡¯t dare do this, Lu Zhaozhao. You¡¯re quite impressive!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was in the midst of replying to Xia Wenyan when she lifted her brows and glanced at Sun Qian, immediately responding with a smiling face, ¡°Is that so? Teacher Sun, you have good insight¡ªI too think I¡¯m quite impressive.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Bai Qing, who was drinking water and watching, choked on his laughter due to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s remark.


    He coughed a few times before he managed to recover.


    Looking at Sun Qian beside him, her face was contorted severely as she suppressed the urge to explode with anger.


    Bai Qing immediately averted his eyes, choosing not to watch Sun Qian any longer.


    He was just a spectator and didn¡¯t intend to get involved.


    When Sun Qian mentioned the male and female leads earlier, his heart had skipped a beat, fearing he might get dragged into the drama.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao had skillfully deflected, leaving Sun Qian speechless.


    It wouldn¡¯t be honest to say he wasn¡¯t pleased.


    When he had joined the crew previously, his manager had repeatedly advised him not to clash with Sun Qian, no matter what.


    Public opinion about idol actors joining TV dramas was mixed.


    His acting was decent, but not yet masterful.


    Mostly, he was propped up by his fans¡¯ fervent support and aggressive promotion.


    Luckily, thanks to his large and loyal fanbase, he had managed to land this S-tier script.


    His biggest prior issue with joining the crew had been Sun Qian, the female lead, who had enormous influence in the crew due to her previous hit TV shows.


    Moreover, she had expressed disapproval of idol actors, which had made his contract negotiations with the crew quite challenging.


    Thus, he didn¡¯t have a good impression of Sun Qian either, but for the sake of resources, he had no choice but to treat her with utmost respect.


    He had thought the coming months of filming would be difficult, but he never expected to encounter such a pleasant surprise as Lu Zhaozhao right upon his arrival.


    How could Bai Qing not be happy?


    Someone else was drawing the fire, plus he had a show to watch, tsk tsk...


    Sun Qian clenched her fists tightly. Looking at the smiling Lu Zhaozhao, she asked nonchalantly, ¡°Do you and Mr. Pei have a good relationship?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao propped her chin and casually counter-asked, ¡°If we didn¡¯t have a good relationship, how could he possibly come to visit me alone, right?¡±


    Sun Qian¡¯s chest tightened again.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s radiant face and her beaming smile, she just wanted to tear that face apart.


    ¡°Mr. Pei hardly has any friends in the circle. He just came to the crew once, who knows what for?¡± Sun Qian deliberately scoffed lightly, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just another publicity stunt instigated by some people. Isn¡¯t that what internet celebrities rely on?¡±


    With one sentence, Sun Qian had offended two people.


    Although Bai Qing did not speak, his brows furrowed noticeably.


    Lu Zhaozhao, on the other hand, appeared indifferent and was not affected at all.


    She squinted her eyes, ¡°Teacher Sun, you don¡¯t know, but Brother Pei came to the set to see me, obviously because he likes me.¡±


    She had noticed just now that Sun Qian seemed to focus on Pei Huai.


    She was very unhappy about others being linked with Pei Huai.


    Especially women.


    ¡°What does he like about you? Don¡¯t flatter yourself!¡± Sun Qian almost blurted out, her impatience clearly written all over her face.


    Exactly.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not flattering myself; I¡¯m being realistic. Brother Pei likes me because I¡¯m young and simple-minded.¡±


    She then slightly raised her head to look at Sun Qian and said word by word, ¡°By the way, what Brother Pei hates the most is people like Teacher Sun who act all high and mighty due to their age. Oh, that¡¯s not right, I mean, people who are a bit old. Well, not exactly... Anyway, he prefers younger ones.¡±


    ¡°Lu! Zhao! Zhao!¡±


    Sun Qian suddenly stood up and slammed the table, glaring fiercely at Lu Zhaozhao, wishing she could swallow her on the spot.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Sun Qian with a puzzled expression and hurriedly said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Teacher Sun? I speak bluntly, please don¡¯t mind...¡±


    ¡°Enough! Stop pretending with me! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what kind of woman you are!¡± Sun Qian tore off her mask of civility, not intending to continue any pretense of friendliness with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao also dropped all her smiles, propped her chin, and looked at Sun Qian with disdain, ¡°You should have been like this from the start. Why pretend to be so upright?¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Sun Qian gritted her teeth angrily and was just about to scold Lu Zhaozhao some more.


    But then she saw Lu Zhaozhao suddenly look at her with a panic-stricken face, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Teacher Sun, did I say something wrong again? Please don¡¯t take it to heart, I just... speak straightforwardly.¡±


    She deliberately stressed the last four words and then maintained a lazy, disdainful demeanor.


    This time Sun Qian was literally exploding with rage because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Trembling, she pointed at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You, I think you want to be kicked out of the crew! Believe it or not, I can get the director to fire you right now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately took out her phone, turned on the camera¡¯s video function, flashed a ¡°yeah¡± sign at it, then turned to Sun Qian, ¡°Come on, Teacher Sun, what did you just say? I didn¡¯t catch that, could you say it again?¡±


    Sun Qian¡¯s face turned utterly dark.


    She had seen shameless people but never someone this shameless.


    But she couldn¡¯t say a single word since this woman was recording.


    She got up from her seat and stormed out of the meeting room.


    Her status in the crew was not something a small fry could shake. She would make sure Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t stay in the crew!


    Lu Zhaozhao, just you wait!


    Watching Sun Qian leave, Lu Zhaozhao put away her phone.


    She looked at Bai Qing sitting next to her and awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Bai, for dragging you into this mess just now.¡±


    Bai Qing shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not really affected, but since you¡¯ve offended Sun Qian, she might go to the director and find someone to replace you...¡±


    He had just watched Lu Zhaozhao give Sun Qian a good thrashing, which was admittedly satisfying, but given Sun Qian¡¯s clout, the crew wouldn¡¯t inconvenience the lead actress for a supporting actress.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s role was probably in jeopardy...

 Chapter 294: 292 He Just Wants Him to Belong to Him Alone...

    Chapter 294: Chapter 292 He Just Wants Him to Belong to Him Alone...


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged her shoulders, her face the picture of indifference. ¡°I guess that¡¯s going to be tough on Teacher Sun.¡±


    When she first joined this drama crew, she had heard about Sun Qian.


    She really had acting chops, but after her breakout hit, she had been typecast, almost always playing her roles by the book based on her previous experiences.


    Even if you photo-shopped her into her other dramas, there wouldn¡¯t be much of a sense of discord.


    She was nine years older than Bai Qing, and at first glance, there was an apparent mismatch between a mature woman and a puppy-dog-like younger brother. Bai Qing was okay ¨C with a bit of makeup and facial expression work, playing an aloof Immortal Lord was a piece of cake.


    But trying to get Sun Qian to play an energetic, nai?ve young girl? It just didn¡¯t feel right no matter how you looked at it.


    If Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t been so fond of the Little Fox character in the script, she wouldn¡¯t have taken this drama.


    The relationship between the male and female leads lacked chemistry ¨C definitely the biggest bug in the TV series.


    She took on the drama with the sole intention of familiarizing her face to the audience.


    Her current fame wasn¡¯t backed by substantial achievements, and the scripts she could get were mostly for low-budget TV shows.


    The Song brothers, Song Sinian and the others, were willing to invest heavily in her, but she thought it was better to start with a few minor roles to hone her skills.


    Now that she had people backing her up, she wasn¡¯t as anxious.


    Bai Qing wanted to say something more, but seeing that the person in question didn¡¯t care, he held his tongue.


    After all, she was the wife of the Song Family, and the worst-case scenario was to retire and become a wealthy socialite.


    Not like them, who had to fight their way through the entertainment industry.


    He¡¯d better mind his own business...


    At noon, Xia Wenyan drove Avril directly to a western restaurant in the city center.


    ¡°The third and fourth floors here are filled with domestic and international boutiques. After you¡¯ve eaten your fill, you can go and check them out by yourself.¡±


    Xia Wenyan had just gotten out of the car and couldn¡¯t wait to head toward the building where the restaurant was located.


    Avril frowned in dissatisfaction and followed Xia Wenyan, grumbling, ¡°Didn¡¯t Uncle Xia and Aunt Wen tell you to take care of me? Why should I wander around alone?¡±


    Her gaze lingered on Xia Wenyan¡¯s face for a moment.


    When the Xia Family lived abroad, she would spend some time at their place every year.


    Every time, she was targeted by that brat Xia Wenjin, who would always play some prank on her as soon as she was caught off guard.


    She hadn¡¯t even bothered to take a good look at the Xia brothers before now, and after a closer look, Xia Wenyan wasn¡¯t half bad.


    Before coming to China, her father had explicitly suggested that she could try dating one of the Xia brothers.


    She didn¡¯t care initially, but after seeing Xia Wenyan, she thought it might not be such a bad idea.


    Xia Wenyan had good looks and a modest fame as a star in China...


    ¡°Are you a kindergartener? Needing someone to take care of you while you go shopping? Are you still on the bottle?¡± Xia Wenyan turned around and glanced at Avril with a look full of disgust.


    He hadn¡¯t received any texts or calls from Pei Huai since picking up Avril this morning.


    He was already annoyed, and this woman kept dragging him around endlessly, bossing him about.


    If it weren¡¯t for her being the daughter of a family friend of the Xias, he would have wanted to tape her to the rolling shutter door of the shopping mall downstairs.


    Avril¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, staring at Xia Wenyan in disbelief. ¡°Is that something a gentleman would say?¡±


    Xia Wenyan waved his hand dismissively, ¡°I¡¯m not a gentleman.¡±


    ¡°But Uncle Xia and Aunt Wen asked you to take care of me!¡± Avril persisted. ¡°Plus, I came to China to find a boyfriend, and if you don¡¯t treat me right, I¡¯ll become your sister-in-law!¡±


    Xia Wenyan immediately froze in place, staring at Avril with an expression akin to looking at an idiot.


    He could only thank her for her grace in eliminating herself from consideration.


    As for his brothers, they were even less likely to fancy her.


    Xia Wenjin was already a handful, and here was Avril, basically Xia Wenjin 2.0. Who would want to marry such a woman and bring her home?


    Avril thought Xia Wenyan¡¯s silence was due to the deterrent effect of her words and immediately felt pleased with herself.


    She waved her hand, ¡°I¡¯m hungry now, take me to the restaurant.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    He had had enough of seeing Avril¡¯s face and the thought of having to eat with her made his stomach churn.


    It looked like he would need to stop by the pharmacy to buy some digestive tablets before meeting with Lu Zhaozhao in the afternoon.


    He also had to find a way to shake off this annoying woman.


    The two of them walked one after the other to the restaurant, and just as they were about to enter, they saw a tall man walking in ahead of them.


    Xia Wenyan paused, blurting out, ¡°Brother Pei?¡±


    Besides him, there stood a scholarly-looking man in glasses, who seemed to have a good relationship with him.


    Is he his friend?


    Why hadn¡¯t he seen him before?


    Pei Huai, noticing Xia Wenyan¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, instinctively moved to shield the glasses-wearing man.


    An Ying was his subordinate, and when Xia Wenyan was around, he never met with him.


    He disliked Xia Wenyan interacting with these unclean things.


    He just needed to be well protected by him.


    He had originally only brought An Ying out to take care of some business and to eat at the restaurant by the way, not expecting to run into Xia Wenyan by chance.


    What he didn¡¯t expect even more was to overhear that woman¡¯s words to Xia Wenyan in the restaurant.


    So is this woman Xia Wenyan¡¯s girlfriend?


    No, that can¡¯t be right; if he had a girlfriend, he would surely know about it.


    She¡¯s probably a date arranged by the Xia Family...


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have mentioned doing something that Xia Wenyan¡¯s sister-in-law would do.


    Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t noticed Pei Huai when he first entered and was quite happy.


    But he didn¡¯t expect that Pei Huai would shield the man behind him right in front of him.


    The person he used to protect was only him, so why did he...


    Xia Wenyan suddenly paused, why was he thinking this way?


    Isn¡¯t it up to Pei Huai whom he wants to protect?


    Why... why does he feel so annoyed?


    He frowned, suppressing the uncomfortable feeling in his heart, and chuckled lightly, ¡°Brother Pei, are you here to eat too?¡±


    Pei Huai nodded, ¡°Yeah, just by chance.¡±


    His words were perfunctory, hard for anyone not to notice.


    Xia Wenyan tugged at the corner of his mouth, about to make up an excuse to change the subject, when he heard Avril by his side speak up, ¡°Pei Huai, you¡¯re the acting star Pei Huai, aren¡¯t you? I really like you, can we have dinner with you?¡±


    She looked at Pei Huai with a face full of surprise and delight, which annoyed Xia Wenyan even further.


    Pei Huai had no intention of accepting, but seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s unhappy expression, he bizarrely agreed.


    If Xia Wenyan¡¯s fiance?e likes him, then maybe he wouldn¡¯t get together with this woman?


    Pei Huai suddenly felt his thoughts were somewhat mean, yet he couldn¡¯t let go.


    He couldn¡¯t bear to watch him be with someone else, whether that person was a man or a woman.


    He simply wanted him to belong to only him...

 Chapter 295: 293: Scram! Dont Touch Me!

    Chapter 295: Chapter 293: Scram! Don¡¯t Touch Me!


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze scanned over Xia Wenyan, and his demeanor immediately became gentler towards Avril, ¡°I¡¯m a friend of Xia Wenyan, but I must say I¡¯ve never seen such a beautiful girl by his side before.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan gave Pei Huai a look, his eyes nearly rolling all the way back in annoyance.


    How had he never noticed how slick Pei Huai was with words before?


    And calling her a beautiful girl?


    Pah!


    She wasn¡¯t even as good-looking as him!


    Hmph!


    The more Xia Wenyan thought about it, the angrier he got, and he took a seat at the table, beginning to eat the appetizer dessert.


    Previously, when she was with him, she always called him Yanyan, but now that she¡¯d met this woman, she resorted to calling him Xia Wenyan, huh!


    Pei Huai, well played!


    Avril was blooming with joy from Pei Huai¡¯s compliment, not paying any attention to Xia Wenyan beside her.


    As she was about to shower Pei Huai with attention, she realized that Xia Wenyan had started eating the dessert in front of her.


    Her eyebrows furrowed, ¡°Xia Wenyan, that dessert was mine.¡±


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t even look up, his voice was cool, ¡°You say it¡¯s yours, call it by its name, and see if it responds.¡±


    Saying so, he poked another piece and stuffed it into his mouth in frustration, ¡°Girls are always trying to maintain their figures, right? You should eat fewer sweets to avoid getting fat.¡±


    Seeing this, Pei Huai pushed the dessert in front of him towards Avril, ¡°Eat mine.¡±


    Xia Wenyan loved sweets, and he usually indulged him, so his serving was always meant for Xia Wenyan.


    Under these circumstances, he probably wouldn¡¯t want it.


    It was better to give the dessert to Avril, saving her the effort of fighting over Xia Wenyan¡¯s share, or rather, he didn¡¯t want to see the two of them sharing a dessert.


    It was too unpleasant to watch.


    Avril¡¯s cheeks flushed, and she looked at Pei Huai with evident admiration and shyness.


    This set Xia Wenyan off completely, and he slammed his fork down on the table, ¡°If you two want to eat, eat together, I¡¯m done serving you!¡±


    Pei Huai had never seen Xia Wenyan lose his temper like this, and almost instinctively grabbed his arm, looking at him nervously, ¡°Yan...¡±


    ¡°Get lost! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Before Pei Huai could say anything, Xia Wenyan shook off his hand.


    His mind was practically exploding; he was devoid of any capacity for rational thought, let alone having a proper conversation with Pei Huai.


    It never crossed his mind that Pei Huai would take a liking to Avril, and act so clingy in front of him.


    Right now, he felt like beating the hell out of this disgusting couple!


    Pah! Pei Huai, that lousy jerk!


    Xia Wenyan was just feeling angry, never reflecting on why he had labeled Pei Huai as a scumbag.


    With his departure, the atmosphere around the dining table changed drastically.


    Seeing this, An Ying, who was sitting beside Pei Huai, immediately said in a low voice, ¡°Master, I¡¯ll go check on Young Master Xia.¡±


    Pei Huai nodded gently and waved his hand to An Ying.


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t want to see him now, so he could only have An Ying first send someone to protect his safety, and everything else would have to wait.


    After An Ying had left, only Pei Huai and Avril remained at the dining table.


    Originally, when Xia Wenyan left, Avril was startled too; she had thought Pei Huai would chase after Xia Wenyan, leaving her and that glasses-wearing man.


    Unexpectedly, Pei Huai had actually stayed behind to keep her company. Could that mean this man was interested in her?


    Avril¡¯s cheeks went slightly red as her gaze sized up Pei Huai, and she reassured him, ¡°Pei Huai, brother, don¡¯t worry about it. Xia Wenyan has always had that bad temper; just ignore him. He¡¯ll calm down in a bit.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyelids drooped, and he put on a forced smile to cope with Avril, ¡°No matter what you say, he¡¯s still your boyfriend. Isn¡¯t this a bit inappropriate? Aren¡¯t you going to coax him?¡±


    Avril shrugged her shoulders, disdain flashing in her eyes, ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend. My parents only asked me to come to China for blind dates. They didn¡¯t say I had to stick with anyone specific. Besides... the type I like is totally different from Xia Wenyan.¡±


    As she spoke, her eyes roamed purposefully over Pei Huai¡¯s form.


    Pei Huai¡¯s expression visibly relaxed compared to before, and the smile on his lips became a few degrees more genuine.


    ¡°So... what if Xia Wenyan likes you?¡± Pei Huai asked tentatively as he looked at Avril. ¡°Would you be willing to get along with him?¡±


    Without a second thought, Avril shook her head, ¡°Definitely not. Like I said, he¡¯s not my type. I like...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll find someone to send Miss Avril back. I¡¯d worry about you being out on your own.¡± Pei Huai stood up, his gaze towards Avril still warm and gentle.


    Her intended refusal was swallowed back inside.


    After all, it was also her first time meeting Pei Huai. Being too forward might leave a bad impression.


    Avril stood up to follow Pei Huai, intending to ask for his contact information, but then she saw him suddenly make a phone call.


    She wanted to say something more but never got the chance, and like that, she was confusedly sent away by Pei Huai¡¯s assistant.


    Sitting in the car on the way back, Avril felt more and more regretful. When she returned to the hotel, she simply gave Xia Wenyan a call.


    At that time, Xia Wenyan was already driving to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s film set.


    Just as he was about to share a good rant with his adorable sister, he received a call from Avril.


    He hung up with impatience.


    Lu Zhaozhao silently glanced at Xia Wenyan, her little hands holding the dessert cake Xia Wenyan had brought her.


    She arched her eyebrows in confusion, ¡°Why are you so angry? Who upset you? I¡¯ll go hit them!¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want my precious sister getting mixed up with that kind of woman,¡± Xia Wenyan blurted out almost without thinking.


    Avril had the typical European height, tall and sturdy, compared to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s petite frame; it was almost like a Samoyed versus a Pomeranian.


    He certainly didn¡¯t want his precious sister to be at a disadvantage.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly in surprise. She thought it was about Pei Huai, but it turned out to be because of a woman.


    Just as she was figuring out how to subtly inquire more, she heard Xia Wenyan complaining like beans spilling out of a bamboo tube.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you don¡¯t know, back when our family was abroad, Avril would come stay at our place for a few days every year. I thought I wouldn¡¯t see her again after returning to China, but who knew she¡¯d even follow me back here? It¡¯s so annoying!¡±


    ¡°That woman is so spoiled, always acting like a queen, expecting everyone to fawn over her! At the slightest provocation, she¡¯s ordering people around. I¡¯m not her father, I don¡¯t need to indulge her temper tantrums!¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t even look at herself! Humph! She¡¯s not even as good-looking as me. All she does is prance around seductively all day! It makes me wonder if some people are just blind!¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenyan¡¯s complaints, Lu Zhaozhao felt something was slightly off, but she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was.


    She had a feeling that Xia Wen¡¯s grudge against Avril was not just because she visited the Xia Family...

 Chapter 296: 294 What do you want to do?!

    Chapter 296: Chapter 294 What do you want to do?!


    Lu Zhaozhao poked another small cake and stuffed a piece into her mouth, uncertain whether she wanted to ask a question.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Suddenly, the door to the resting room was knocked.


    ¡°Teacher Lu, the director wants to do a test shoot, we need to go to the makeup room now.¡±


    The staff at the door looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a beaming smile, but their eyes occasionally stole glances at Xia Wenyan, who was sitting right across from Lu Zhaozhao.


    This was a top-tier celebrity, indeed a sight for the eyes.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao quickly stood up, tapped Xia Wenyan on the top of his head, and said, ¡°Bro, I¡¯ve got to go get busy, you stay here and be good.¡±


    ¡°Alright, go ahead~¡±


    Xia Wenyan waved his hand, casually lingering in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s resting room.


    He had originally planned to discuss with Pei Huai about taking on a new script together.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that attending a charity dinner would lead to such complications.


    Furthermore, that jerk seemed to have taken a liking to Avril, which annoyed him even more.


    As Xia Wenyan thought about this, he suddenly remembered that Avril had just called him, not knowing where Pei Huai and Avril were messing around now.


    He wondered why he had never noticed before how poor Pei Huai¡¯s taste was.


    The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, but just then, he saw the messages Avril had sent him.


    ¡°Send me Pei Huai¡¯s contact info, I forgot to ask when we were chatting.¡±


    ¡°Did you get my message? Reply immediately!¡±


    ¡°I need Pei Huai¡¯s contact information!!!¡±


    ...


    It seemed they had already left, and Avril hadn¡¯t managed to get Pei Huai¡¯s contact info.


    Xia Wenyan looked at Avril¡¯s agitated messages and slowly curved his lips.


    He didn¡¯t get it, so be it; he didn¡¯t bother to care about them...


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao, who had left the resting room, had also reached the makeup room.


    Their drama team¡¯s resting rooms were allocated according to status, but makeup was done as a team, although each person was assigned a different makeup artist.


    Sun Qian and Bai Qing were almost finished with their makeup, nearly at the final touch-up stage.


    Thus, the ones sitting in front of the makeup table were the second male lead Yan Gui and the second female lead Lin Baiyu.


    Although she was the third female lead, because her role carried a bit more weight, she was getting makeup done alongside the second male and female leads.


    In a fantasy drama, everyone, especially the male actors, needed to wear headpieces, and the makeup could make or break a character¡ªthey could either look superbly dashing or utterly inexpressible.


    Bai Qing, a celebrity initially famous for his looks, naturally had impeccable makeup.


    Plus, their makeup team was well-known throughout the industry, so the entire makeup process was quite a treat.


    Except for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Because she watched in horror as her makeup artist continued to make her uglier and uglier.


    Her natural beauty was the type that could captivate at first glance even without makeup.


    Yet, this makeup artist had a knack for highlighting the wrong features, using clashing colors carelessly; in no time, her face resembled a palette.


    The large, glittery pieces on her face and the thick eyelashes that nearly weighed down her eyelids looked utterly vulgar.


    Don¡¯t even mention the seductive Little Fox, this level of makeup in the production crew of A Chinese Ghost Story would definitely not even be accepted by the grandmother ghost.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced up at the mirror and saw her makeup was worlds apart from that of the second male and female lead. She also noticed the self-satisfied makeup artist and her increasingly guilty-looking assistant and seemed to understand something.


    ¡°Stop the makeup,¡± Lu Zhaozhao suddenly interrupted the makeup artist Zhao Mei who was still working on her face.


    Zhao Mei was also startled, ¡°Teacher Lu, do you have a problem with my makeup?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pulled out her phone and took several snaps of her own face.


    She handed the phone to Zhao Mei, ¡°Can¡¯t you tell if I have a problem with your makeup?¡±


    When she had taken the photos earlier, she had noticed Sun Qian looking over with a particularly triumphant expression.


    It seemed that Zhao Mei dared to do such makeup probably because Sun Qian had instructed her to.


    Yan Gui and Lin Baiyu, who just happened to see Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s overly bright face, nearly got their eyes dazzled by it.


    With this kind of makeup, saying there was no trickery involved would be hard for anyone to believe.


    But Zhao Mei had a bit of a reputation in the industry, and they were only third- or fourth-tier actors who couldn¡¯t afford to offend someone like that.


    If she decided to find fault with their makeup as well, that would be problematic.


    So, they all had to act like quails, showing no intention of helping Lu Zhaozhao.


    In the entertainment industry, when it came to vested interests, people naturally stood by indifferently.


    Initially intimidated by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s remarks, Zhao Mei quickly became emboldened upon seeing that no one around stood up for Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been in the makeup industry for over a decade, seen all sorts of big names, and this is the first time someone has said this to me. Teacher Lu, did you really want to throw your weight around on your first day in the crew?¡±


    She knew Lu Zhaozhao had the backing of the Song Group and was Xia Wenyan¡¯s sister.


    If she went to complain to Song Sinian or Xia Wenyan, Zhao Mei could retaliate with professionalism.


    So, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, Zhao Mei felt even more confident.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked startled and gazed at Zhao Mei, ¡°Teacher Zhao, that¡¯s a bit harsh. I¡¯m quite new to the industry and not very familiar with the makeup circles...¡±


    Sitting by her side, Yan Gui and Lin Baiyu, upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao, knew that this poor newcomer was likely going to back down.


    With such ugly makeup, she would probably face widespread ridicule when the TV series aired. Even if she explained later that it was the makeup artist¡¯s fault, probably nobody would believe her...


    Thinking this way, they looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a bit more sympathy.


    Sun Qian was even more triumphant. Only Bai Qing, sitting quietly on the side, picked up his folding fan, covering most of his face and watched Lu Zhaozhao with interest.


    Had he not seen Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s quick-switching capabilities before the script reading, he would probably be sympathetic towards her like Yan Gui and Lin Baiyu.


    But having witnessed her confront a popular top-tier celebrity without flinching, would she step back just because of a mere makeup artist?


    Impossible.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao submit, Zhao Mei raised her voice a few decibels, ¡°Now that you know, just sit quietly, and I...¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, Teacher Zhao, you misunderstood,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved, ¡°What I mean is, I don¡¯t understand your circle, but among my fans are crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Let me post on Weibo and have them take a look.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to take out her phone to open Weibo, when Zhao Mei abruptly stopped her.


    ¡°What, what are you trying to do?!¡±


    She just wanted to teach Lu Zhaozhao a lesson, not provoke an online mob!


    Lu Zhaozhao looked baffled at Zhao Mei, ¡°Of course, to share Teacher Zhao¡¯s makeup skills with everyone. Rest assured, I¡¯ll definitely post your name and photo so everyone can see the skills you¡¯ve honed over a decade~¡±

 Chapter 297: 295: Is This the Confidence of a Wealthy and Powerful Woman?

    Chapter 297: Chapter 295: Is This the Confidence of a Wealthy and Powerful Woman?


    Zhao Mei¡¯s entire demeanor changed when she heard what Lu Zhaozhao said.


    She had deliberately given Lu Zhaozhao a terrible makeup look so that Lu Zhaozhao would be at a disadvantage.


    Being the fourth female lead, even if the director disliked her makeup, he would think it was her own fault and not blame the makeup artist.


    But Lu Zhaozhao had directly posted a photo online, which changed everything.


    ¡°You, doing this, are leaking the crew¡¯s privacy! If the director finds out, you better watch out!¡± Panicking, Zhao Mei immediately started to threaten Lu Zhaozhao.


    She couldn¡¯t control her, but surely the director could?


    Hearing the word ¡°director,¡± Lu Zhaozhao visibly flinched.


    She looked as if she had been scared again.


    A smug smile curled on Zhao Mei¡¯s lips, but before she could relish in her triumph, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s next words made her expression even uglier.


    ¡°Teacher Zhao makes sense. If the director finds out that someone with over a decade of experience did this makeup, wouldn¡¯t he suspect that some people are deliberately sabotaging the crew?¡±


    As she spoke, there was a faint smile in her eyes, making her appear exceptionally innocent.


    It was as if those words hadn¡¯t come from her own mouth.


    Zhao Mei staggered, instinctively taking a few steps back to distance herself from Lu Zhaozhao.


    This woman was too crafty.


    She swallowed nervously, about to say more, when suddenly Sun Qian from behind spoke up, ¡°I think Teacher Zhao¡¯s skills are fine. Why is it that no one else has a problem, only you do? Shouldn¡¯t you reflect on yourself?¡±


    ¡°If you think it¡¯s fine, then let Teacher Zhao do your makeup to this standard from now on,¡± Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, unfazed.


    ¡°The investors will be thrilled if both teachers¡¯ tastes align so well.¡±


    Sun Qian glared at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Who do you think you are? Can you decide who does my makeup?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao just pursed her lips, not minding Sun Qian¡¯s words but instead looked at Zhao Mei with pity, ¡°See, Teacher Zhao, even Teacher Sun doesn¡¯t want to use you.¡±


    Sun Qian¡¯s expression changed abruptly, ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Teacher Sun, don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯ll speak for you!¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, turning to Zhao Mei with indignation, ¡°Teacher Zhao, you¡¯ve been in this job for over a decade yet your makeup is like this, see how you¡¯ve upset Teacher Sun!¡±


    Zhao Mei was dumbstruck, ¡°No, Teacher Sun...¡±


    ¡°Look, why does Teacher Sun only complain about you and not others? Can¡¯t you reflect on yourself?¡± Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t wait for her to finish, launching into another tirade.


    ¡°I¡¯m new here, I don¡¯t understand, but Teacher Sun is an old fossil in the entertainment industry, doesn¡¯t she understand?¡±


    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t respect that Teacher Sun can¡¯t keep up with trends, you cannot deceive people so blatantly!¡±


    Her barrage left Zhao Mei dumbfounded.


    Sun Qian was dumbfounded too.


    Although it looked like Lu Zhaozhao was criticizing Zhao Mei, every sentence pointed out her old age and peculiar taste in aesthetics.


    Just as she was about to retort, Lu Zhaozhao looked back at her sympathetically, as if defending her, ¡°Teacher Sun, don¡¯t mind, I¡¯m just blunt. We¡¯re both of similar temperament, so you surely won¡¯t be mad, right?¡±


    Sun Qian was grinding her teeth.


    If it had been just her and Bai Qing, she would have turned against Zhao Mei right there.


    Now, besides them, there were a few stylists, stylist assistants, and other artists.


    If she threw a tantrum here, it might end up being leaked to the public.


    So Sun Qian could only clench her teeth, swallowing her teeth and blood.


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry, not angry...¡±


    Her latter words were almost bitten out from her rear molars.


    The artists and makeup artists who were originally worried about Lu Zhaozhao now looked at her with admiration in their eyes.


    They couldn¡¯t help but say that Lu Zhaozhao was truly tough.


    Was this the confidence of a wealthy tycoon¡¯s wife?


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Zhao Mei and pointed at the sulking little assistant behind her, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    She had noticed Zhao Mei oppressing the little assistant while she was being made up.


    Whatever she did, she would always have a few barbs to throw.


    Apparently, she didn¡¯t like this little assistant very much.


    ¡°I...¡± The little assistant started to open her mouth but quickly glanced at Zhao Mei beside her and then lowered her head again, muttering, ¡°My name is Liu Ningxia.¡±


    Her voice was very low, almost impossible to hear clearly if you weren¡¯t listening carefully.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed, ¡°The makeup you did for me just now was pretty good. From now on, be my personal makeup artist. As for the base salary... follow your industry standards.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Mei immediately became restless, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, what do you mean?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked innocently and shrugged her shoulders, ¡°What do I mean? Can¡¯t you see? I just appointed a personal makeup artist.¡±


    Zhao Mei felt overwhelmed.


    Liu Ningxia had been with her for a year. She was talented and capable, even far surpassing her mentor.


    That¡¯s why she constantly found faults, oppressed her, restricted her, and made her doubt herself.


    She couldn¡¯t let Liu Ningxia leave her; otherwise, she would soon surpass her.


    Thinking this, Zhao Mei glared at Liu Ningxia, ¡°Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and explain to Teacher Lu exactly what level you are at?!¡±


    Liu Ningxia, frightened by Zhao Mei, immediately trembled as she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Teacher Lu, I... I still have many shortcomings, not enough to qualify as your personal makeup artist...¡±


    She actually wanted to become an independent makeup artist, but her abilities might not support her ambition yet. She was currently just a small assistant, unsure of when she could graduate.


    Zhao Mei looked at Liu Ningxia with satisfaction, a trace of triumph flashing in her eyes.


    How could she possibly let Liu Ningxia escape her control?


    Zhao Mei¡¯s cunning was crystal clear to Lu Zhaozhao, and she feigned sympathy with a sigh, ¡°Ah! Teacher Zhao has been in the industry for over a decade, yet even Teacher Sun despises her like this, following her... tsk tsk...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s one statement implicated both Sun Qian and Zhao Mei, sparing neither of their faces.


    Even Liu Ningxia was stunned, seemingly thinking over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s just now.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we do it this way?¡± She gestured to Liu Ningxia, ¡°As long as you can make me look better than this ghostly appearance, the spot for my personal makeup artist is yours. Later, I¡¯ll have my brother recommend a teacher who won¡¯t mislead the young, what do you think?¡±


    This kind of offer was like a pie falling from the sky, but precisely because of that, it made people even more nervous.


    Lu Zhaozhao certainly understood this, so she tapped her fingertips on the table and added, ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t just be kind for free. After you graduate, you have to sign a three-year contract with me, and the salary will be 20% lower than that of an usual personal makeup artist. So think it over carefully...¡±

 Chapter 298: 296: Is He Getting Old?

    Chapter 298: Chapter 296: Is He Getting Old?


    ¡°I do!¡±


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao finished speaking, Liu Ningxia immediately agreed.


    Zhao Mei, who was standing beside them, angrily pulled her, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? What do you think you can do with your ability? She¡¯s just fooling you, and you really think highly of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Who is fooling whom? Everybody knows,¡± responded Lu Zhaozhao, unable to restrain herself from giving Zhao Mei a disdainful look, ¡°Have you forgotten what Teacher Sun said just now? Can¡¯t you manage your own business without messing up someone else¡¯s? Tsk tsk...¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®I¡¯? Don¡¯t hold up my makeup,¡± Lu Zhaozhao interrupted, waving her hand dismissively, ¡°Teacher Liu, let¡¯s hurry up, I don¡¯t want to meet the director looking like this palette.¡±


    Liu Ningxia paused, still getting used to being called ¡°Teacher Liu.¡±


    Although she doubted her abilities, she still wanted to do her best to apply makeup for Lu Zhaozhao.


    After all, it was her only opportunity left now...


    The news of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s confrontation with Sun Qian and the makeup artist in the dressing room quickly spread throughout the film crew.


    Xia Wenyan, who was staying in the film crew, naturally heard about it.


    He had wanted to confront Sun Qian, but Lu Zhaozhao stopped him.


    In the end, Xia Wenyan could only end up assigning Jim, an internationally renowned makeup artist, as her personal makeup artist.


    Although he didn¡¯t get direct revenge for his sister, the title of an international makeup artist was enough to infuriate the makeup artist who had bullied his sister.


    He made sure that the makeup artist would never appear in any of his future film investments.


    Even though he couldn¡¯t immediately cut off Zhao Mei¡¯s livelihood, the entertainment industry is a circle.


    The films invested by XJ Group were all big productions, so were the teams Zhao Mei served. Once it became known not to work with Zhao Mei,


    She would quickly be removed from the makeup crews of major productions and would have to resort to smaller film crews.


    But small crews mainly focus on quick returns and simplicity regarding costumes and props; no one would seek out Zhao Mei given her rates.


    Indeed, she wouldn¡¯t be completely blocked, but she would struggle immensely.


    After dealing with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s situation in the film crew, Xia Wenyan finally returned home only to find Xia Wenqing was there too.


    He thought about how if it wasn¡¯t for his second brother suddenly declaring he found someone to marry today, he wouldn¡¯t have been so miserably tricked by his elder brother and third brother.


    He crossed his arms and sat beside Xia Wenqing indignantly, glancing at him, ¡°So you decided to come back, huh? I thought your soul had been snatched away! Do you know how tough my day has been?¡±


    Xia Wenyan was muttering discontentedly like a grumbling wife.


    He had suffered too much today and needed someone to vent to.


    Xia Wenqing was filled with memories of his recent days spent with Xu Zhenzhen.


    He kept mulling over them but couldn¡¯t let go.


    He noncommittally grunted in response and fell back into deep thought.


    Xia Wenyan, hearing a response, started to ramble nonstop, ¡°Why on earth do we have to entertain that Avril? She is not only bothersome but also troublesome. Can¡¯t we have someone from Xia Family¡¯s branch marry her off?¡±


    Xia Wenqing squinted his eyes, catching the words ¡°marry her off.¡± He reflexively replied, ¡°She¡¯s still young; she probably doesn¡¯t want to marry yet.¡±


    If Xu Zhenzhen was willing to marry, he would be ready to marry her right now.


    However, given her current demeanor, marriage was absolutely off the cards.


    Xia Wenyan raised his eyebrows slightly, ¡°She¡¯s still young? She¡¯s already of legal marriage age, you know? Zhaozhao is married.¡±


    Avril was two years older than Zhaozhao, so why couldn¡¯t she marry?


    Xia Wenqing nodded, ¡°You have a point, but if she¡¯s unwilling, what can we do?¡±


    Xia Wenyan also fell silent.


    But soon, he seemed to think of something and looked at Xia Wenqing with a grin, ¡°There¡¯s a saying, ¡®A heroine fears a persistent suitor!¡¯ Just persist until she agrees, right?¡±


    To avoid her setting her sights on Pei Huai.


    Xia Wenqing slightly frowned, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that make her resent it and have the opposite effect?¡±


    He had been focused solely on his studies and career before and had never bothered with romantic relationships.


    Let alone how to date.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze fell on Xia Wenyan.


    Although his younger brother had never dated, he had seen many scripts in the entertainment industry.


    He was the epitome of the saying ¡°not having eaten pork, but having seen pigs run.¡±


    His opinion might be a good approach.


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t expect Xia Wenqing to support his idea so much; he instantly got excited, ¡°Big Bro, you don¡¯t understand, huh? Nowadays, you can¡¯t pursue someone too overtly; you need to moisten things silently, boil the frog in warm water, and then play the hero saves the beauty at the crucial moment. With this whole combination out, who wouldn¡¯t be swooned?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t speak, but he somehow felt that Xia Wenyan¡¯s words made a lot of sense.


    Is this how relationships work nowadays?


    He had seen Zhaozhao and Song Sinian being so affectionate and thought that just getting married first would naturally lead to everything falling into place.


    He hadn¡¯t realized there were other methods.


    His eyes narrowed, ¡°Now that you mention it, we should indeed plan carefully.¡±


    He was now working in the same office as Xu Zhenzhen; for the moistening things silently, he was perfectly positioned.


    As for playing hero...


    His gaze moved to Xia Wenyan, thinking about whether to learn more from him when he met his expectant look.


    Xia Wenqing paused, and Xia Wenyan suddenly pinched his chin, ¡°Woman, without my permission, you are not allowed to leave my sight. From now on, you can only look at me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The air grew quiet for a moment.


    Xia Wenyan coughed slightly, ¡°Cough cough... was my expression just now too charming? Nowadays, girls really like this kind of cool and fierce persona.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing glanced coldly at the chin Xia Wenyan was pinching, his gaze chill enough to amputate on the spot.


    Xia Wenyan immediately withdrew his hand and even moved back a bit, ¡°Anyway, you wouldn¡¯t understand; a dominant boss is always the GOAT in every girl¡¯s heart.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t quite understand, he was greatly shocked.


    The few sentences Xia Wenyan just said instantly brought to his mind dozens of laws and regulations, each seeming very severe and arrestable.


    Is it because he was old?


    Do young girls nowadays start liking legal buffs?


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyebrows slightly frowned, and he looked up at Xia Wenyan, slowly asking word by word, ¡°You¡¯re not planning to chase someone else like this, are you?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Xia Wenyan was about to speak when a familiar figure flashed through his mind.


    He waved his hand irritably, ¡°I¡¯m so good-looking and outstanding, do I look like someone who needs to chase others? People who like me and want me to be their boyfriend could line up from our house to France!¡±

 Chapter 299: 297: Havent Had the Chance

    Chapter 299: Chapter 297: Haven¡¯t Had the Chance


    Xia Wenqing gave Xia Wen Yan a cool look. ¡°Once you weed out the crazy fans, there¡¯s not much of a queue, is there?¡±


    ¡°Older brother!!!¡±


    ¡°Mmm, I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    In the evening.


    Lu Zhaozhao headed to a hotel that was closest to the film crew¡¯s location.


    When she reached the room, she saw Song Sinian seated on the living room sofa, working on his laptop.


    His hair was still damp, seemingly fresh from a shower.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dry your hair?¡±


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao walked through the door, she embraced Song Sinian from behind the sofa.


    Resting her chin in the nape of his neck and inhaling his fresh scent, Lu Zhaozhao immediately felt invigorated.


    She looked at Song Sinian with a beaming smile and kissed him on the cheek.


    Song Sinian lifted his hand to rub her head, his tone flat, ¡°Haven¡¯t gotten around to it yet.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned with suspicion, feeling that lately, Song Sinian had been quite distant with her.


    She nuzzled her head against his neck. ¡°Sinian, have you been very busy with work lately? Are you all still investigating the charity gala incident?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips paused ever so slightly, ¡°Work is okay. As for the charity gala, we can¡¯t investigate any further. The ones behind it were Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan, and the perpetrators have been caught. As for Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan... you don¡¯t have to worry about them.¡±


    Previously, because the incident targeted Lu Zhaozhao, once he found out who was behind it, he planned to take action.


    However, Pei Huai intercepted the matter.


    He had specifically sought out the Xia Family for this matter, asking them to handle it, saying that they could deal with the women however they wanted if he wasn¡¯t satisfied with the outcome.


    Song Sinian, though unsure how Pei Huai would deal with Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan, could see that Pei Huai wasn¡¯t someone to be taken lightly.


    To put it precisely, there seemed to be an indescribable ruthlessness and ferocity about him.


    Of course, Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t worried¡ªwith her husband and brothers around, she didn¡¯t even have the chance to worry.


    Noticing Lu Zhaozhao resting motionless on his back, Song Sinian probed, ¡°How did you feel about your first day joining the set today?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a soft sigh, ¡°It felt quite good, but Brother Pei visited the set in the morning, and then my fourth brother came in the afternoon. The two of them usually inseparable, now apart, it really takes some getting used to.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t turn around, he just said indifferently, ¡°Perhaps being together for too long can lead to feelings of fatigue.¡±


    His dark pupils fluttered, a trace of desolation crossing the depths of his eyes.


    Much like their situation now.


    He slightly lowered his head, concealing the emotions in his eyes and refocused on the laptop in his hands.


    Lu Zhaozhao propped her chin, contemplating, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Aren¡¯t her fourth brother and Pei Huai just starting out?


    Is it already coming to an end?


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ll go get a towel to dry your hair.¡±


    Saying this, she let go of Song Sinian and trotted off to the bathroom.


    As Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s retreating figure grow further away, his pupils trembled.


    When Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t at his side, he missed her.


    But when she was near him, if she even slightly moved out of his line of sight, he would feel like she might disappear and not come back.


    This feeling tormented him, making him want to cling to her desperately, yet fearing that it would make her despise him.


    He always felt he couldn¡¯t keep her.


    When Song Sinian was still in a daze, Lu Zhaozhao had returned with a towel in hand.


    This time she didn¡¯t walk behind the sofa, but instead kicked off her slippers and climbed directly onto it.


    Although the early winter weather was somewhat cold, the room was very warm.


    That¡¯s why as soon as Lu Zhaozhao entered, she had taken off her coat, wearing only a thin, khaki-colored short knit top.


    She placed the towel on Song Sinian¡¯s head, half-kneeling on the couch, and began to dry his hair.


    Her top was rather fitted, but every time she lifted her arms, the hem would subtly reveal a sliver of her waistline.


    The distance between Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao was very close; he could even feel the warmth radiating from her skin.


    He reached out his hand, intending to touch her, and then as though thinking better of it, he grabbed the hem of her clothes and pulled down sharply.


    Lu Zhaozhao, who was drying his hair, was pulled down by this sudden jerk and ended up lying flat on the couch.


    She looked at Song Sinian blankly, only to hear him start weakly, ¡°I, I was just trying to help you pull down your clothes, really...¡±


    He spoke the last few words so softly, yet his ears slowly reddened.


    As if he had committed some terrible wrong.


    Lu Zhaozhao was so charmed by his endearing look that her entire heart softened.


    Holding the towel in her small hand, she pinned Song Sinian against the back of the couch, looking down at him with a triumphant smile, ¡°Doing something wrong comes with a price, my Mr. Song.¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly, ¡°What price...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had simply meant to tease Song Sinian, but he actually asked her with all seriousness.


    This immediately brought out Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mischievous side.


    She pushed the towel up, covering Song Sinian¡¯s eyes.


    The next moment, she slowly bent down, her warm lips lightly touching his ear, ¡°The punishment is... letting me bully you for a while.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t say anything, but he instinctively realized something, his breathing growing heavier.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently kissed his lips, ¡°Good boy~¡±


    Without his vision, Song Sinian¡¯s other senses became exceptionally sharp.


    He leaned back against the couch, his neck resting just right on the top, and the rustling noise crept closer, pinning him down firmly.


    As if she didn¡¯t do so, he would resist.


    Song Sinian found it amusing inside, yet he cooperated fully, letting her press his hands behind him.


    His bathrobe had already been loose, and she had been tugging at it so much that the belt was on the verge of falling off.


    Completely without any practical function.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡± he called out her name softly, his voice deep and husky.


    Though they had seen each other in the past few days, there had been no real progress.


    He had long wanted to bully her thoroughly, but he had always restrained himself.


    But if she continued to be so mischievous, he might just have to torment her vigorously.


    He knew what he was like when he went crazy.


    Especially since he was now teetering on the edge of madness.


    ¡°Shh~ Today, Mr. Song has to be a good boy and listen to me, alright?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice, tinged with a hint of laughter, fell in his ear.


    Her small hand gently twisted the tip of his ear, seeing him in this compliant state, her whole heart started pounding fiercely.


    Her gaze followed the neckline of his bathrobe, and her fingertips traced his beautifully contoured collarbone, only to see the man before her shiver slightly.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slowly, and suddenly, she had a daring thought...

 Chapter 300: 298: What Are You Anyway?

    Chapter 300: Chapter 298: What Are You Anyway?


    She slowly slid down, seating herself on the carpet right below the sofa.


    Her hair was soft, gently brushing the inner side of his thigh, almost making him gasp for air.


    ¡°Zhaozhao.¡±


    He instinctively reached out his hand, but only touched her fluffy head.


    The towel that was covering his eyes also slipped down due to his movement.


    In the dim room, he could only see the small head heaving beside the sofa under his large hand.


    The veins on his arm tightened even more, leaving him no choice but to grab the towel that had just slipped off and cover his already flushed cheeks.


    He felt that sooner or later, he would die at the hands of Lu Zhaozhao...


    It was only at night that Xia Wenjin learned Lu Zhaozhao had joined a new drama crew.


    It was because her spoiler photos from the set were so appealing that they made the trending search, and that¡¯s how she found out.


    Xia Wenjin browsed through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s trending news, furrowed her brows, and immediately called Justin.


    Soon, the call was answered on the other side.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Jin?¡± Justin¡¯s voice was as gentle as ever.


    Although he had lost interest in this woman long ago, she was still useful to him, so Justin naturally wouldn¡¯t neglect her.


    Listening to the gentle voice on the phone, Xia Wenjin took a deep breath, ¡°I want to join a filming group, I wonder if you could help me...¡±


    Her words clearly stunned Justin for a moment, but he still patiently asked, ¡°Did you find a script you really want to shoot?¡±


    Xia Wenjin immediately denied, ¡°No, I saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s trending search; she has already joined a drama crew.¡±


    Upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s name, Justin¡¯s eyebrows visibly furrowed.


    Was this woman out of her mind? He had already told her not to provoke Lu Zhaozhao again.


    Was her brain not working properly?


    If it weren¡¯t for her still being useful, he really wouldn¡¯t bother with her.


    As Justin was thinking about how to refuse her, Xia Wenjin spoke again, ¡°I have no connections with Song Sinian, but if... if I were in the same drama crew as Lu Zhaozhao, I might be able to meet him.¡±


    The likelihood of that happening was much higher than her finding Song Sinian directly.


    Justin immediately understood.


    ¡°I see, I¡¯ll try to arrange it for you, but... the role might not be good, you know, the drama crew has already started filming, and changing the cast at this point might...¡±


    Before Justin could finish, Xia Wenjin immediately responded, ¡°I understand, I¡¯m just looking for a chance anyway, the importance of the role doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    Right now, as long as she could get into the drama crew and get close to Lu Zhaozhao, that was enough.


    As soon as Song Sinian appeared, she would find a way to take action against him.


    Justin was right; everything Lu Zhaozhao had now was because of Song Sinian, wasn¡¯t it?


    She had always wanted Lu Zhaozhao to leave Song Sinian, never considering that if there were problems on Song Sinian¡¯s end, Lu Zhaozhao would be even worse off.


    But now it was different, she would make sure Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s life became more and more miserable...


    Having received a response from Justin, Xia Wenjin felt quite smug.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The bedroom door was suddenly kicked open, startling Xia Wenjin.


    Seeing Xiao Mo entering, her eyebrows furrowed, and she reluctantly turned her face away.


    Both she and Xiao Mo knew that there was no real affection between them, and Xiao Mo was even perverted in that respect.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had her videos and photos, she wouldn¡¯t have put up with this scum!


    Xia Wenjin stood up, looking for an opportunity to leave the room, but Xiao Mo grabbed her hair and threw her onto the sofa.


    ¡°Xiao Mo?! Are you insane?!¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s tears flowed from the pain.


    She glared at him furiously and raised her hand to hit him, but he grabbed it.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Your dad, that old bastard, actually deceived me! The two mine veins he secured are all garbage! Now all the money is going down the drain!¡±


    He was among the first to receive the news.


    He had no idea how to explain this to the board of directors behind him.


    Xia Wenjin felt pain from his grasp and kicked Xiao Mo, ¡°What does his problematic mine vein have to do with me?¡±


    The mine veins weren¡¯t secured by her, so why take it out on her?!


    Xiao Mo sneered coldly, ¡°What does it have to do with you? Both mine veins of the Lu Family are ruined, the Lu Family is finished, what are you, a Lu family miss, considered now?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart trembled sharply.


    The Lu Family was finished?


    She had thought that the Lu Family was just having some financial turnover difficulties, never imagining they were on the brink of bankruptcy.


    Xiao Mo grabbed Xia Wenjin¡¯s chin, looking down at her, ¡°Before, being the Lu family¡¯s daughter had some uses, but now without the Lu Family, what are you considered?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was completely panicked now because she had never considered this before.


    She had left the Xia Family for the Lu Family to live a life of luxury.


    And now, before she had enjoyed much, she was told that the Lu Family was about to go bankrupt?


    Wouldn¡¯t she be losing to Lu Zhaozhao then?


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible! Impossible!¡± Xia Wenjin shook her head frantically, ¡°There must be another way, there must be another solution, right?¡±


    Seeing her frantic appearance, Xiao Mo frowned, ¡°Given the current situation of the Lu Family, either a big fool is willing to invest in the Lu Family, or find a high-quality mine vein, mix the rough stones from it with those two veins, otherwise, it¡¯s too hard for the Lu Family to revive.¡±


    He had originally planned to climb up using the Lu Family¡¯s mine veins, but unexpectedly, not only did he not gain any advantage, he was severely tricked.


    If it¡¯s revealed that there are issues with the Lu Family¡¯s mine veins and the capital chain breaks, he would also suffer losses.


    Thinking of this, Xiao Mo felt a headache.


    His position in the Song Group was already not very stable. He had wanted to use this opportunity to show the board of directors his capabilities, but now with things turning out this way, he feared he might have to cover up for the Lu Family.


    Xia Wenjin sat blankly on the sofa, muttering, ¡°Investment, mine veins... Investment, mine veins...¡±


    Suddenly, as if she thought of something, ¡°Song Family, the Song Family has money, right? Can¡¯t they help? Aren¡¯t you with the Song Family? Xiao Jinglan is Sinian¡¯s stepmother, can¡¯t she help our family?¡±


    She had heard from Lu Dagui before that Xiao Mo and his backers had invested money in the Lu Family.


    So if the Lu Family went down, they would all lose money.


    Even if Xiao Mo disliked her, he would help the Lu Family.


    ¡°Ha! You wish, don¡¯t you remember what Old Master Song said on the wedding day? He had already removed Song Keren and me from the Song Family.¡±


    Even Xiao Jinglan was no exception, it just wasn¡¯t announced publicly.


    Now, the only person with money and mine veins was Sinian.


    During that mine vein auction, everyone fought tooth and nail, only Sinian, under his own name, picked up an unremarkable mine vein.


    There were many who mocked him at the time for choosing beauty over the kingdom...

 Chapter 301: 299: Relying on Salted Fish?

    Chapter 301: Chapter 299: Relying on Salted Fish?


    The board members had even wavered in their support for Song Sinian because of this incident.


    He hadn¡¯t used the Song Family¡¯s money to purchase the mining veins, but he had let the Song Family miss out on two very lucrative veins.


    Otherwise, the directors with other intentions wouldn¡¯t have connected with him, establishing contact with the Lu Family through him.


    Now, those who had mocked Song Sinian not only faced the embarrassment of being proven wrong but also the risk of total bankruptcy.


    They regretted their actions deeply.


    And the other directors, seeing the mining veins that Song Sinian had purchased in his name, which had produced several pieces of purple jade rough stones and made a fortune, regretted it so much that they might as well have turned green with envy.


    Most of the board members still didn¡¯t know the situation of the Lu Family.


    Once they found out, Song Sinian¡¯s position in the Song Group would probably be unshakeable.


    In the future, even if he asked those old coots to fork out all their money, they would follow his instructions.


    He would have even less of a chance then.


    Unless... Song Sinian died.


    He had considered tampering with Song Sinian¡¯s medicine before, but the people around him had always been Mr. Song¡¯s loyal servants and never gave him a chance.


    ¡°Song Sinian had helped the Lu Family before, he...¡± Xia Wenjin began but abruptly stopped.


    He had helped the Lu Family because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even giving up those two mining veins was for Lu Zhaozhao.


    She had thought Song Sinian was infatuated when she first went to the Lu Family.


    Who would have thought that some people could avoid business risks with infatuation.


    Xiao Mo glanced at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Don¡¯t bother with Song Sinian; you have offended Lu Zhaozhao, and the Lu Family has put in no small effort. Considering Song Sinian¡¯s affection for Lu Zhaozhao, do you think he would help the Lu Family?¡±


    No.


    No one in their right mind would.


    But whether Lu Zhaozhao would was another question.


    She had heard from Cao Mei that Lu Zhaozhao grew up under her suppression.


    Whatever she said, Lu Zhaozhao would listen to.


    Lu Zhaozhao might be married to Song Sinian now, but... if Cao Mei still had some use to her, perhaps the Lu Family¡¯s hurdle could be overcome after all.


    Ignoring what Xia Wenjin was thinking, Xiao Mo continued, ¡°I heard that the CEO of XJ Group is coming to the country recently. Aren¡¯t you on good terms with Justin? See if you can get any useful information from him.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly; the CEO of XJ Group was coming?


    Her eyes narrowed. If she could latch onto this big leg, would she no longer have to put up with Xiao Mo?


    The headquarters of XJ Group was abroad, and even if she married Xiao Mo in the country, it would make no difference abroad.


    As long as she got citizenship elsewhere...


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin suddenly had a plan in mind.


    Heaven really was good to her, providing her with another path at a critical moment.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s mood improved significantly. Just as she stood up to leave, Xiao Mo grabbed her.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked, his eyebrows raised high and tilting his chin up at her, ¡°Don¡¯t make me do it; get the things ready as you should.¡±


    Xia Wenjin thought of the dark little room in the bedroom and couldn¡¯t help shuddering; those things were what she never wanted to see again in her life.


    She clenched her fists, about to refuse, when she heard Xiao Mo¡¯s voice ring out again, ¡°I¡¯m in a bad mood today, you¡¯d better move quickly, otherwise, I¡¯m not sure when I¡¯ll be done.¡±


    Xia Wenjin clenched her arms tightly and could only grit her teeth and agree, ¡°Alright, I know.¡±


    One day, she would make Xiao Mo taste the same suffering she had endured!


    She also wanted to use all those things that were used on her on him!


    Make him beg for life but be unable to die!


    A week later, Xia Wenjin, as she wished, obtained a role in the drama crew where Lu Zhaozhao was.


    By this time, the filming had already started, and after spending a few days with Bai Qing, Yan Gui, and Lin Baiyu, Lu Zhaozhao had already formed a good relationship with them.


    As for Sun Qian, she would stay in the nanny van when she didn¡¯t have scenes, and even when she was on set, she would occasionally talk to Bai Qing.


    She held a high and mighty attitude towards everyone else.


    As time passed, everyone else got tired of throwing warm glances at a cold ass.


    When Yan Gui and Lin Baiyu were shooting their scenes together, Bai Qing sat next to Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°This weekend, aren¡¯t you going to ¡®Let¡¯s Eat! The Cottage¡¯ to film the last episode? I heard you asked for leave from the director, why haven¡¯t you left?¡±


    His tone was casual, sitting alongside Lu Zhaozhao wrapped up in a thick coat.


    Lu Zhaozhao was also wrapped in a fluffy coat; her already petite figure shrank into the coat, leaving only her pretty little head visible.


    ¡°Because two of the regular guests took leave, the other guests had to be postponed as well,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze drifted toward the filming site, yet her eyes lacked focus.


    The show¡¯s crew only knew that Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan both had sudden matters to attend to, but had no idea what it was that prevented them from filming.


    Lu Zhaozhao propped up her chin and sighed lightly. If this continued, ¡®Let¡¯s Eat! The Cottage¡¯ might end sooner than expected.


    She wasn¡¯t worried about the show¡¯s crew; she was worried about the relationship problems between Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan.


    She had initially thought Xia Wenyan had figured things out, and the two could return to their previous state.


    But she never expected the Xia Family would be visited by an Avril, with her fourth brother busily hosting this female tyrant, leaving him no time to harmonize with Pei Huai.


    This was quite bothersome.


    Bai Qing tilted his head to glance at Lu Zhaozhao, her chin propped and a troubled look on her face, which he found quite amusing.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, do you know that a new person has joined our drama crew? The female number five has been replaced. I heard she was already on the plane but then turned back. Tsk tsk...¡±


    Bai Qing gossiped, clearly trying to catch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attention.


    Unfortunately, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t seem very interested, ¡°In the entertainment industry, being intercepted is common. Who knows, mid-shoot, maybe they¡¯ll disappear.¡±


    ¡°Ptui ptui ptui! Quick, spit it out with me!¡± Bai Qing couldn¡¯t help but pull Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, ¡°Our industry is so superstitious, if you jinx it, how am I going to survive?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao turned stiffly to look at Bai Qing and perfunctorily threw him three words, ¡°Spit spit spit!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Bai Qing looked at Lu Zhaozhao somewhat helplessly. How did such an indifferent person become a wildly popular influencer?


    Was it by being a salted fish?


    Bai Qing sighed and also propped up his chin, ¡°I just wanted to say that if someone manages to get added to the crew after the start, it means they have some skills. Even though you have a strong backing, it¡¯s still better to be cautious.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nepotism won¡¯t touch me. After all, our crew¡¯s most despised person hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡±


    She knew who she was talking about, and so did Bai Qing, the one person in the entire crew who was most aloof and even looked down on influencers.


    He pursed his lips, about to say something else, when he saw a figure coming over¡ª

 Chapter 302: 300: Using Someone to Commit a Murder, Ended Up Harming Oneself

    Chapter 302: Chapter 300: Using Someone to Commit a Murder, Ended Up Harming Oneself


    Bai Qing immediately fell silent, not saying another word.


    Lu Zhaozhao, who realized the situation belatedly, looked over just in time to see Sun Qian approaching.


    She was accompanied by four assistants and a bodyguard holding an umbrella.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, clearly nonplussed.


    If the four assistants were understandable, what on earth was the bodyguard there for?


    The film set was full of staff, at most some extras.


    Everyone knew star chasing at work was a no-no, so the set was relatively safe.


    Sun Qian pulling such a stunt really seemed quite affected.


    Zhaozhao had heard that this bodyguard had been specially requested for Sun Qian by the production.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Sun Qian and whispered, ¡°Do you think Teacher Sun got a bodyguard because she knows she¡¯s often asking for a beating?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Bai Qing didn¡¯t speak, he almost couldn¡¯t hold back a laugh.


    Fortunately, he had a folding fan in his hand, which he swiftly used to cover his face while he silently recited the lines he was about to shoot, trying to distract himself.


    Otherwise, he was certain Lu Zhaozhao would be the death of him with laughter.


    Sun Qian was the highest-ranking among the actors, usually domineering, and nobody dared to provoke her.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was definitely an exception.


    If Sun Qian dared to nitpick Lu Zhaozhao, Zhaozhao would immediately retaliate, not giving her an inch of face.


    So these past few days, whenever Lu Zhaozhao was around, Sun Qian wouldn¡¯t dish out sarcasm on anyone else.


    Those who had made a name for themselves in the entertainment industry were often shrewd, so it didn¡¯t take long to figure out this pattern.


    Naturally, whenever Sun Qian appeared, everyone gravitated toward Lu Zhaozhao, relying on her sharp tongue for peace.


    Over time, the others¡¯ relationships with Lu Zhaozhao actually improved.


    Even if Sun Qian looked down on Lu Zhaozhao, she couldn¡¯t get the better of her.


    She simply chose not to stoop to her level.


    Sun Qian found a seat a few places away from Lu Zhaozhao.


    Just then, the assistant director walked in with someone.


    ¡°Teachers, this is Xia Wenjin, the new actress playing the fifth female role who has just joined us. Please get acquainted with her; I will go and inform the director,¡± the assistant director said. After nodding his head, he left Xia Wenjin behind and walked away.


    Bai Qing looked at Xia Wenjin, his eyes suddenly widening.


    Although he wasn¡¯t up-to-the-minute on entertainment news, he was well aware of the true and false heiress saga between Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin.


    He had just been wondering who could join the cast after the shoot had begun, never expecting it to be Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arch-nemesis?


    A bit worried, he glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, only to see her still looking completely at ease.


    Bai Qing pursed his lips, realizing he had been needlessly concerned.


    Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t even afraid of Sun Qian, so Xia Wenjin... would be even less of an issue, right?


    ¡°Teacher Sun, Mr. Bai, hello, I¡¯m Xia Wenjin. I really adore both of your works.¡±


    Xia Wenjin spoke, deliberately excluding Lu Zhaozhao.


    Her move made Bai Qing raise an eyebrow, uncertain whether to respond or not.


    He was about to nod noncommittally and move on when Sun Qian¡¯s sarcastic voice chimed in, ¡°You say you like the works of me and Bai Qing, so tell me, what works has Bai Qing done?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Xia Wenjin was suddenly at a loss for words.


    She had just casually thrown out a compliment, wasn¡¯t that just how the entertainment industry worked?


    Why would anyone follow up with a question?


    And doesn¡¯t Sun Qian really hate Lu Zhaozhao?


    She¡¯s intentionally sidelining Lu Zhaozhao here; shouldn¡¯t she be happy that she can join her in going against Lu Zhaozhao in the crew?


    Xia Wenjin probably couldn¡¯t even dream that a person like Sun Qian would treat her own status more importantly than anything; she disdains associating with popular traffic stars.


    Let alone joining them in suppressing others.


    Because they¡¯re not worthy!


    Sun Qian gave Xia Wenjin a sidelong glance and sneered coldly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can¡¯t talk about Bai Qing¡¯s works because he has none, or because his popularity isn¡¯t enough?¡±


    Xia Wenjin awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°I, I¡¯ve just arrived on set and don¡¯t know enough about the teachers; I will definitely catch up on Mr. Bai¡¯s works when I get back.¡±


    Bai Qing shrugged his shoulders and gave Xia Wenjin a standard fake smile.


    When he came to the crew, he had specifically looked at the representative works and preferences of each artist.


    Even when Lu Zhaozhao was belittling him, she could mention a few of his works. This Xia Wenjin really doesn¡¯t care.


    She deserves to be sarcastically mocked by Sun Qian.


    Hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, Sun Qian hooked her lips into a chill smile, ¡°Since you don¡¯t know Bai Qing¡¯s works, you should know mine, right?¡±


    This statement struck Xia Wenjin like a bolt from the blue.


    She genuinely didn¡¯t know.


    But if she doesn¡¯t say anything now, Sun Qian will definitely make things difficult for her later.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze shifted to Bai Qing, trying to get a hint from him.


    Bai Qing pursed his lips and silently glanced at Sun Qian; sure enough, she shot a direct look across, and Bai Qing pretended to be helpless, shrugging at Xia Wenjin in response.


    Although Sun Qian wasn¡¯t yet 40, her demeanor, like that of some older, experienced actors, was particularly good at pulling rank, believing that everyone should know her representative works.


    Xia Wenjin, a newbie who gained fame through popularity, was particularly detestable to Sun Qian, not to mention, infamous.


    Lu Zhaozhao propped up her chin, watching with an expressionless face as Xia Wenjin tried to use others against her own adversaries, only to shoot herself in the foot.


    What level is Sun Qian?


    An expert in the entertainment industry who climbed her way up from a small fry to A-list status. To think of using her as a pawn, what was going through Xia Wenjin¡¯s mind?


    Did she consider everyone else as foolish as herself?


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t expected Sun Qian to humiliate her so publicly, her face turning remarkably red.


    ¡°Eh? Is this young lady here to visit the set?¡± Suddenly, Yan Gui¡¯s voice came through.


    He was cheerfully dragging Lin Baiyu over this way. Seeing the commotion, he casually asked.


    Seizing the opportunity, Xia Wenjin quickly took the lead in the conversation, ¡°I¡¯m the new actress for the fifth female role, my name is Xia Wenjin, I¡¯m very pleased to meet both teachers.¡±


    This time, she dared not claim to have seen their works anymore.


    Yan Gui and Lin Baiyu were also taken aback.


    They had heard the name Xia Wenjin, after all, she was a regular in the hot searches recently.


    Plus, with Lu Zhaozhao present as a counterpart, it was hard for them not to know.


    Yan Gui awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Ah, a new colleague, welcome, wel... hiss...¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, Lin Baiyu pinched him on the waist, ¡°Teacher Sun is about to film soon, don¡¯t block the way.¡±


    Lin Baiyu nodded towards Yan Gui, signaling for her to sit down behind Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although they didn¡¯t know the whole truth behind the hot searches between Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin previously, during the time they spent with Lu Zhaozhao,


    They knew her to be a forthright young lady, easy to get along with and without any airs.


    Naturally, they would avoid Xia Wenjin, her adversary, whenever possible; after all, they didn¡¯t have much interaction with a fifth female lead.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenjin pursed her lips and turned her gaze to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao...¡±

 Chapter 303: 301: Do you have no idea how annoying you are?

    Chapter 303: Chapter 301: Do you have no idea how annoying you are?


    She looked pitiful, as if someone had bullied her.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows, then heard Xia Wenjin say with a sobbing tone, ¡°I can understand that because of our past relationship, you don¡¯t like me, but you didn¡¯t have to do this, really...¡±


    Xia Wenjin sniffled, forcing a show of strength while looking at Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°I just want to film quietly, I don¡¯t intend to be your enemy, can you please let me go?¡±


    Her mournful demeanor suggested that Lu Zhaozhao was some unforgivable major villain.


    The extras not far away had never interacted with Lu Zhaozhao and knew mostly from internet rumors.


    But everyone knows that trending topics and gossip in the entertainment industry are never the whole story.


    What could be more thrilling than watching the subject of the gossip produce new drama right before their eyes?


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes, looking at Xia Wenjin¡¯s self-directed pitiful performance, clearly somewhat speechless.


    ¡°You, who bumped off the original number five actress to join the cast, are now telling me you just want to film quietly? Do you think the previous number five actress knows what you said?¡±


    Her words were a direct hit to Xia Wenjin.


    The surrounding onlookers were shocked.


    They didn¡¯t know who the original number five actress was, as it was normal for cast changes to happen after joining a production.


    Xia Wenjin clearly hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to know and became flustered, ¡°You¡¯re slandering me! I got in through my own efforts.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lip, ¡°So on what date did you audition, and on what date did you receive the notice to join the cast? Do you even know what role the number five actress is supposed to play?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Xia Wenjin was at a loss for words.


    She quickly covered her face with her sleeve and faked crying again, trying to elicit sympathy from those around her.


    Lu Zhaozhao waved her hands dismissively, ¡°Enough, stop crying here. If you want to hire someone to deliberately film conflicts between us on set, I don¡¯t mind, but just don¡¯t involve the other teachers, okay?¡±


    Bai Qing, Yan Gui, and Lin Baiyu, upon hearing this, unconsciously stepped back.


    They were well aware of how Xia Wenjin had gained popularity.


    They had joined the cast wanting to film quietly and had no desire to be involved in her attention-seeking.


    Sun Qian felt particularly the same.


    She had not wanted to be involved in the warfare between Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin, but if it started to affect her reputation, that would be a different matter.


    Sun Qian¡¯s brows furrowed as she looked at Xia Wenjin and said, ¡°If you really want to film quietly, then go read the script diligently. Why do you keep hanging around the leads? There is no need. You only have two scenes with the second male lead, and everyone knows what you¡¯re up to.¡±


    Xia Wenjin, called out so directly by Sun Qian, immediately looked at her with a face full of aggrieved innocence, ¡°Teacher Sun, that¡¯s not what I mean, I just wanted to get to know everyone better, I didn¡¯t think everyone would dislike me so much because of Zhaozhao...¡±


    ¡°There are plenty of reasons to dislike you, it doesn¡¯t take my sister to say anything. Do you really have no clue how annoying you are?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice came from afar.


    He removed the sunglasses from his face and pulled Lu Zhaozhao back a big step, as if trying to keep her away from some virus that Xia Wenjin carried.


    Xia Wenyan thoroughly checked over Lu Zhaozhao before he finally breathed a sigh of relief and positioned her behind him.


    Seeing the newcomer was Xia Wenyan, Xia Wenjin was so angry she could have crushed her teeth.


    She was already at a disadvantage on the set, and now Xia Wenyan was also supporting Lu Zhaozhao...


    But Xia Wenjin thought, this might also be a good thing.


    Xia Wenjin certainly didn¡¯t have Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s composure. A slight provocation and he would fly off the handle.


    Perhaps everyone, considering Xia Wenyan¡¯s nasty attitude towards her, would sympathize with her.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin put on a pitiful look again and stared at the two of them, ¡°Lao Si, I¡¯ve lived with you for 20 years. Do you really have to treat me like this? Does 20 years of affection mean nothing compared to blood relations?¡±


    Her words sounded so pitiful that even Xia Wenyan felt goosebumps listening to them.


    How could she brazenly tell such smooth lies?


    Before Xia Wenyan had a chance to retort, Avril appeared in front of everyone, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that all the Xia family brothers are useless, and only Lao Si is somewhat useful, the one most obedient to you, like a dog?¡±


    Xia Wenyan exploded at that, ¡°What the hell? She used to talk about me like that?¡±


    If he had always thought he was a decent brother before seeing Xia Wenjin, Avril¡¯s words made him realize that he was a complete fool.


    He thought about the times he had defended Xia Wenjin in front of Lu Zhaozhao and wanted to slap himself.


    Avril looked at Xia Wenyan with disdain, ¡°She said you¡¯re the easiest among your brothers to deceive and that you¡¯d give her the money you earned as a model. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t bother with you at all.¡±


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°...¡±


    Is it too late for him to get his money back now?


    After Avril replied to Xia Wenyan, her gaze started to size up Xia Wenjin, ¡°I never thought you could enter the entertainment industry, tsk tsk... Is the domestic entertainment industry so easy to break into? If someone like you can debut, it seems I could also join a talent show or something.¡±


    Teacher Sun listened to Avril¡¯s words, which were delivered as though no one else was present, and his expression immediately soured.


    The entertainment industry was plagued with such riffraff, which made it so murky.


    Every Tom, Dick, and Harry thought they could make it in showbiz.


    Without the slightest bit of integrity.


    Teacher Sun frowned and coldly said to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, these people have come for you, right? You better get them to leave quickly; they¡¯re already seriously affecting the normal shooting of the crew!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and was also somewhat speechless.


    She was about to speak when Avril beat her to it, ¡°I came to the set to look for Pei Huai. I heard he¡¯s been coming to the set frequently...¡±


    Xia Wenjin had been fighting with Avril for so many years, how could she not see through her intentions?


    She immediately spoke up, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao has an unusually close relationship with Mr. Pei. He probably comes to the set to see Zhaozhao, right? After all, Zhaozhao is a heartthrob...¡±


    Her words, seemingly laden with innuendo, caused everyone to unconsciously turn their gaze to Xia Wenjin.


    Her malice was all too obvious, hidden within her words.


    But Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t care at all; she and Lu Zhaozhao had already fallen out with each other, and her attempts to stir up others had all failed.


    She couldn¡¯t be bothered to pretend anymore. As long as Avril thought that Pei Huai liked Lu Zhaozhao, she would be dead meat!


    Xia Wenjin was feeling smug when she suddenly saw Lu Zhaozhao rush over and slap her across the face with a ¡°smack.¡±


    ¡°If you want me to hit you, you can just say so, no need to beat around the bush,¡± Lu Zhaozhao wiped her hand on Xia Wenyan¡¯s clothes. ¡°To call me a married woman is one thing, but to drag my brother¡¯s friend into it? Aren¡¯t you afraid of being hammered to death by Brother Pei¡¯s fans when you step outside!¡±

 Chapter 304: 302: Destroy Her Ship, May Lightning Strike!

    Chapter 304: Chapter 302: Destroy Her Ship, May Lightning Strike!


    Her fourth brother and Pei Huai were already having a tough time, and Xia Wenjin actually wanted to use her to create misunderstandings.


    Destroy her CP, may thunder strike!


    It was bearable, but she fucking couldn¡¯t bear it anymore!


    People present probably didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to react so fiercely, so much so that they stopped brawling.


    And Xia Wenjin was completely stunned by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s slap, with no idea how to retort.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao simply went ¡°crazy¡± to the end, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, Xia Wenjin, don¡¯t come provoking me! My husband is all about love, and so am I! If I see you trying to sabotage our marital relationship again, I will rip your mouth apart!¡±


    As she spoke, she looked ready to pounce and fiercely beat up Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenyan, seeing this, immediately hugged Lu Zhaozhao from behind.


    She was small and delicate, and now encircled by Xia Wenyan, she looked like a little white cat wanting to take someone down a notch.


    But no matter how lethal it tried to be with its claws, in contrast to Xia Wenyan¡¯s height, it all seemed merely adorable.


    Sun Qian originally looked down on Lu Zhaozhao due to her close relationship with Pei Huai.


    After all, there were numerous people in showbiz who messed around even after getting married.


    But Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words just now had reversed Sun Qian¡¯s perception, convincing her there was nothing shady between her and Pei Huai as she had imagined.


    Although Sun Qian still didn¡¯t quite like Lu Zhaozhao, the online celebrity, considering her good relationship with Pei Huai, she wasn¡¯t entirely unable to accept her.


    After all, if she ended up with Pei Huai, his friends would become her friends.


    She¡¯d have to start learning to adapt as well.


    She cleared her throat, about to calm the chaotic situation, when she saw a tall figure appear in front of them.


    It was Pei Huai!


    Sun Qian¡¯s heart started pounding wildly.


    Just as she was about to speak, she saw Avril rush over ahead of her, ¡°Pei Huai!¡±


    Xia Wenyan, still holding Lu Zhaozhao, tensed up instantly and held her even tighter.


    He didn¡¯t even want to turn his head.


    Lu Zhaozhao, suspended in mid-air, glared at the stiff Xia Wenyan, then glanced at Pei Huai approaching, and was just about to say something when Xia Wenyan tucked her under his arm, ¡°You¡¯ve hurt your hand, let¡¯s go to the rest room.¡±


    Saying this, Xia Wenyan carried Lu Zhaozhao off, disappearing on the spot.


    Leaving everyone in disarray.


    Pei Huai also paused for a moment but then indifferently asked the people around, ¡°What just happened...¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin was picking a fight, spreading rumors that you and Lu Zhaozhao had an improper relationship, and she got hit,¡± Avril blurted out almost immediately.


    Sun Qian frowned slightly, glanced at Avril, and subtly said, ¡°It was just a small friction within the crew, but someone had to spread rumors in public, making Zhaozhao furious.¡±


    By saying this, she was indirectly probing Pei Huai.


    Lu Zhaozhao had already clarified that there was nothing between her and Pei Huai, but it was unclear what Pei Huai thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m good friends with Yanyan, and his sister is like my sister. Our relationship is not as dirty as some people think,¡± Pei Huai said coldly, looking at Xia Wenjin. ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t assume that your frequent hotel rendezvous with your brothers-in-law implies an inappropriate relationship between you, right? Teacher Xia?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face instantly turned pale.


    She didn¡¯t expect Pei Huai to know about her hotel visits with Justin?


    Does that mean Lu Zhaozhao also knew?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow furrowed, and she fixed a dead stare on Pei Huai.


    She wasn¡¯t afraid of Song Keren tattling to Xiao Mo, after all, she dreaded the prospect of divorce.


    But Pei Huai was different, she held no leverage over him.


    Xia Wenjin was so preoccupied with how to handle Pei Huai she completely failed to notice that after her silence, the looks she received bore an added tinge of disdain.


    Just moments ago, standing on a moral high ground, she ridiculed others, only to be stuck in the mire herself, yet still had the audacity to mock others.


    Avril had always been at odds with Xia Wenjin, and now, hearing such juicy gossip, she was all riled up.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin, thinking you¡¯re so tough, huh? Not even sparing your sister-in-law¡¯s man? Aren¡¯t you a Lu Family heiress? Is high society always this messy?¡±


    Avril¡¯s words were laced with thorns, turning Xia Wenjin¡¯s complexion from green to white.


    Furious, Xia Wenjin glared at Avril. ¡°My business has nothing to do with you!¡±


    After that, not waiting for anything more from Avril, she turned and ran off without looking back.


    Only then did Avril shift her attention to Pei Huai. ¡°Pei...¡±


    ¡°Mr. Pei, I just saw Zhaozhao seemed to be hurt. Let me take you there to check on her,¡± Sun Qian interrupted before Avril could finish.


    She realized that Avril had a crush on Pei Huai, and considering that this woman was brought in by Xia Wenyan,


    She became surer that Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t interested in Pei Huai.


    Pei Huai must not be drawn to Lu Zhaozhao either, otherwise, her doting brother wouldn¡¯t bring another woman to approach Pei Huai.


    With this in mind, Sun Qian¡¯s animosity towards Lu Zhaozhao diminished substantially.


    Pei Huai nodded in Sun Qian¡¯s direction, ¡°Thank you for the trouble.¡±


    Actually, he initially came to the set to find Lu Zhaozhao, not expecting Xia Wenyan to be there.


    Thinking about their last unpleasant parting, his mind was in turmoil.


    Following Sun Qian, his thoughts were swirling in chaos.


    He didn¡¯t know how to start a conversation with Xia Wenyan later, let alone how to bring up their last encounter.


    He admitted he had crossed a line.


    But... he didn¡¯t want to let go.


    Just the thought of him spending his life with someone else was driving him insane.


    He could swear to treat him better than anyone ever could.


    To be good to him alone in this lifetime was something he could achieve ¨C even offering his life was no matter, if only he desired it.


    But what he feared was that he desired nothing at all.


    While Pei Huai was still battling with himself, Sun Qian had already led him to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dressing room.


    She had intended to exchange a few pleasantries with Pei Huai, but the director had already sent someone to fetch her.


    Reluctantly and with a straight face, Sun Qian had no choice but to leave ¨C dedication trumped all.


    She especially didn¡¯t want to leave a bad impression on Pei Huai.


    When Pei Huai and Avril entered, Xia Wenyan was in the process of applying ice to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand.


    Upon seeing them, Xia Wenyan decided to feign ignorance.


    Catching on, Avril immediately sat down next to Lu Zhaozhao. ¡°You must be Zhaozhao? I¡¯m Avril. Seeing how much you disliked Xia Wenjin just now, we¡¯re definitely going to be good friends!¡±


    Although she addressed Lu Zhaozhao, her eyes kept stealing glances at Pei Huai nearby.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows quivered slightly as she forced a stiff smile in response.


    Considering they were not shipping the same couples, friendship was out of the question.


    Lu Zhaozhao caught a glimpse of the awkward atmosphere between Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan and let out a helpless sigh internally. She reached for the cup of coffee that had long turned cold on the table, and deliberately let her hand slip¡ª

 Chapter 305: 303: Lu Zhaozhao is a Cool Girl!

    Chapter 305: Chapter 303: Lu Zhaozhao is a Cool Girl!


    A cup of coffee spilled all over Xia Wenyan.


    ¡°Oh my god, what should we do? Brother, I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked completely panicked and extremely remorseful.


    But only Pei Huai, who had his eyes on Xia Wenyan the whole time, knew that Lu Zhaozhao did it on purpose.


    He was a bit puzzled as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, only to see her wink at him before she turned back to start wiping Xia Wenyan haphazardly.


    ¡°Brother, you can¡¯t wear these clothes anymore, what should we do now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, I...¡± Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Lu Zhaozhao, her arm unsteady again, spilled the coffee pot on Avril behind her.


    Avril immediately screamed.


    In an instant, the entire resting room turned into chaos.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands, originally wiping Xia Wenyan, switched to helping Avril.


    As she wiped, she didn¡¯t forget to instruct Pei Huai, ¡°Brother Pei, you take my brother to the costume department to find a suitable outfit. There¡¯s also a changing room there, I need to stay and help Avril.¡±


    She looked pitifully at Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai, a picture of utter helplessness.


    If Pei Huai hadn¡¯t previously received Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s wink, he would have believed her.


    Indeed, Lu Zhaozhao was a girl to be reckoned with!


    She was genuinely helpful when it came to work!


    Pei Huai inwardly decided that from now on, Lu Zhaozhao was his little sister!


    He pretended to be calm and patted Xia Wenyan on the shoulder, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯m familiar with this costume department. I¡¯ll take you to change your clothes, so Zhaozhao won¡¯t worry.¡±


    Xia Wenyan initially wanted to resist, but upon hearing the words ¡°Zhaozhao will worry,¡± he relented.


    Especially seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pitiful appearance, he could only grit his teeth and stand up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon, stay here and don¡¯t wander off.¡±


    After all, he didn¡¯t know what Wen Jin, that crazy woman, would actually do.


    He finally had such a soft and cute little sister; he couldn¡¯t risk anything because of Wen Jin.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly, waved at Xia Wenyan, then turned back to Avril, ¡°I brought quite a few outfits to the set, let me help you pick one to change into first?¡±


    Although Avril was annoyed, seeing that Pei Huai was also there, she couldn¡¯t very well lash out at Lu Zhaozhao directly and had to follow her to find clothes.


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenyan followed Pei Huai toward the costume department, growing even more irritated by his silence.


    ¡°Mr. Pei, the busy superstar, still has time to visit the set to see my sister.¡±


    Hmph! He has time to see Zhaozhao but didn¡¯t even send me a message!


    If Avril didn¡¯t have his contact, would they have connected already?


    The more Xia Wenyan thought about it, the angrier he became, his eyes nearly shooting flames at Pei Huai.


    Pei Huai was taken aback for a moment, then turned back and caught Xia Wenyan¡¯s eye, who immediately stepped back, extremely wary.


    ¡°I just happened to be passing by, so I came over,¡± Pei Huai caught his wary expression and felt a sinking feeling in his chest.


    He took a deep breath internally, striving to calm his emotions, then said, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the costume department quickly, your clothes are wet, it must be uncomfortable.¡±


    He said this, pointing to a small path, ¡°Taking this way to the prop department will be quicker, let¡¯s...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, the sooner we go the sooner we return, so you don¡¯t delay meeting someone to bond.¡± Xia Wenyan, seething, directly headed toward the path Pei Huai pointed at.


    Now it was Pei Huai who was baffled.


    Meeting someone to bond?


    The person he wanted to bond with the most was right in front of him, yet he refused to pay him any attention.


    Pei Huai watched Xia Wenyan¡¯s retreating figure, sighed silently to himself, and resignedly followed him to the costume department.


    Since they were currently filming a scene, the staff responsible for the main character¡¯s costumes and props had already taken what they needed to the shooting location.


    Only a warehouse manager was left.


    Pei Huai, being familiar with the crew, easily obtained entry permission.


    Xia Wenyan, disturbed and confused, randomly grabbed a piece of clothing and planned to change and leave.


    ¡°Hold on, Yanyan.¡±


    As soon as Pei Huai spoke, he held back his hand that was grabbing the clothes.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows lifted slightly, and he glanced at him, then raised his hand and shook off Pei Huai, ¡°Speak if you have something to say, stop touching me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai instantly fell silent.


    He gave a bitter smile and withdrew his hand, his eyes surveying Xia Wenyan¡¯s face for a few seconds before he slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    Though it was just a brief sentence, it made Xia Wenyan¡¯s heart skip a beat.


    An inexplicable panic caused his heart to instantly sink.


    He always felt that if he didn¡¯t say something now, it might be over between him and Pei Huai.


    He might never pay attention to him again, or... they might become complete strangers.


    He didn¡¯t want that.


    ¡°You can change here, I¡¯ll wait for you at the door.¡± Pei Huai¡¯s lips twitched awkwardly, the pain spreading in his chest made even breathing feel painful.


    He seemed to have a hard time accepting that Xia Wenyan disliked him.


    After all, where had things gone wrong?


    Pei Huai turned around, just about to leave when, the next second, his wrist was grabbed.


    His body stiffened for a moment, and he turned around in disbelief.


    ¡°Brother Pei...¡±


    Don¡¯t go.


    The two words that Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t say out loud were enough with his intense gaze fixed on Pei Huai.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice unintentionally carried a sob, and even his eyes were a bit red.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, he lifted his hand, about to touch his cheek, but remembering what he had just said, he could only clench his fist, pretending nothing had happened.


    He didn¡¯t know why Xia Wenyan suddenly grabbed him, and he didn¡¯t dare to ask or speak.


    He was afraid of being misunderstood, and afraid of saying something that might anger Xia Wenyan and make him dislike him even more.


    Xia Wenyan, seeing Pei Huai standing silent, realized how inappropriate his earlier behavior had been.


    He opened his mouth, intending to find an excuse, but upon seeing Pei Huai¡¯s injured dark eyes, he didn¡¯t utter a word.


    He just stood there holding Pei Huai¡¯s wrist, and Pei Huai let him, without moving.


    Finally, Xia Wenyan was the first to speak, ¡°Brother Pei, pick a nice looking piece of clothing for me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, good.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like clothes that are too long, and I don¡¯t want a complex pattern.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°No suits, no jackets.¡±


    ¡°Okay, good.¡±


    Pei Huai, listening to Xia Wenyan¡¯s requests, began to help him look for clothes in the props department, with no objections.


    Seeing how obedient Pei Huai was, Xia Wenyan suddenly felt a teasing urge, and he muttered again, ¡°Then you¡¯re not allowed to give your contact information to Avril.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°???¡±


    He looked incredulously at Pei Huai, who was bending down to search for clothes, unable to believe him, ¡°Did you just clearly hear what I asked?¡±

 Chapter 306: 304: Are You Forgetting Loyalty Upon Seeing Beauty?!

    Chapter 306: Chapter 304: Are You Forgetting Loyalty Upon Seeing Beauty?!


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t even lift his head as he responded dejectedly, ¡°You didn¡¯t let me give my contact information to Avril.¡±


    He didn¡¯t find it surprising; Avril was the match the Xia Family arranged for Xia Wenyan.


    Last time, Avril had clearly expressed interest in him, so it was normal for Xia Wenyan to be upset.


    He could understand.


    But what he didn¡¯t know was that when Xia Wenyan heard this, the original irritation in his heart instantly vanished without a trace.


    He smugly raised an eyebrow, ¡°Then you also better not pay attention to her later. I¡¯m telling you, that woman Avril is no good; even if you¡¯re looking for a partner, you can¡¯t pick someone like her. Just seeing her annoys me.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s hand, which was flipping through clothes, suddenly paused, and he turned to look at Xia Wenyan, his eyes filled with surprise.


    He... doesn¡¯t like Avril?


    Seeing that Pei Huai remained silent, Xia Wenyan jabbed him with his elbow, ¡°What? You don¡¯t want to?¡±


    Pei Huai quickly shook his head, ¡°No, I thought you liked her, which is why I shouldn¡¯t have paid attention to her.¡±


    ¡°What a joke, with someone like Avril, I wouldn¡¯t take her even if you paid me!¡± He rolled his eyes, ¡°Marrying her would be worse than death.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s heart finally settled down, he clutched Xia Wenyan¡¯s wrist, and muttered somewhat helplessly, ¡°Last time, I thought I got in the way of your arranged date, and you got angry...¡±


    ¡°I was angry seeing you flirting with her! She¡¯s not even as attractive as I am, yet you praised her for looking good!¡± Xia Wenyan said, poking Pei Huai¡¯s chest with his finger indignantly, ¡°Are you not betraying loyalty at the sight of beauty?!¡±


    Pei Huai pressed Xia Wenyan¡¯s finger against his chest, laughing softly, ¡°You are attractive, you are the most attractive, no one is more attractive than you. I should not have complimented others in front of you; I won¡¯t do it anymore, don¡¯t be angry.¡±


    His dark eyes twinkled with mirth as he apologized, yet he was extremely sincere.


    Xia Wenyan now felt somewhat embarrassed.


    Previously, it was Pei Huai who had helped him with the herbal medicine, and not only had he not repaid him, but he had also thrown a tantrum over Avril.


    And now, without saying anything, Pei Huai just apologized, leaving Xia Wenyan feeling even more uncomfortable.


    He pursed his lips, ¡°I¡¯m not angry, I just... don¡¯t like you praising others when you¡¯re outside...¡±


    Xia Wenyan had intended to explain, but the words seemed to change as they reached his lips.


    He quickly amended, ¡°What I mean is, it¡¯s the same with me too; I would definitely not praise others in front of you because you are the best in my heart, you understand, Brother Pei?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Pei Huai felt like he was about to faint.


    He had thought that having Xia Wenyan¡¯s forgiveness was enough, but he didn¡¯t expect to hear such a direct confession.


    Even though ¡®the best¡¯ to him meant something different in his heart, this was enough.


    Pei Huai suddenly felt at peace.


    He reached out and pulled Xia Wenyan into his embrace, ¡°Mhmm, I understand, you are the best for me too, no one can compare. I will not make the same mistakes again.¡±


    The familiar scent in his arms, this feeling of getting back what was lost, he was experiencing it for the second time.


    He even felt that a rupture between Xia Wenyan and him would be harder to bear than hearing the news of his own death.


    He didn¡¯t want to lose him, neither in spirit nor in any other way...


    While the two were looking for clothes in the props department, Lu Zhaozhao had already changed Avril¡¯s clothes and returned to the dressing room.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the time on the phone, feeling somewhat apprehensive.


    I didn¡¯t know if it was the right choice to create opportunities for them.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I want to ask you something.¡± Suddenly, Avril, who had changed her clothes, propped up her chin and looked at her, ¡°Are you familiar with Pei Huai?¡±


    She was not interested in Lu Zhaozhao.


    Just as she was not interested in Xia Wenjin.


    She had been pampered by her family since childhood and had never taken much liking to the same sex; to her, these women were all potential rivals.


    Especially someone as attractive as Lu Zhaozhao.


    Fortunately, she was already married, so it wasn¡¯t impossible for her to get along with her.


    Her father had insisted that she get along well with the men from the Xia Family, but they were either workaholics or workaholics, and she had no desire to find such dull men.


    If she were to choose, it would be men like Pei Huai¡ªgentlemanly and with eyes only for her.


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes and put on a polite, shallow smile, ¡°Not that familiar, not very close.¡±


    With just a glance, she saw through Avril¡¯s thoughts.


    There was no need to step on her to curry favor with Pei Huai.


    Even if her fourth brother and Pei Huai didn¡¯t work out, she didn¡¯t want someone like Avril to trouble Pei Huai.


    Avril¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly, and her expression turned unfriendly in an instant as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although she had recently joined the cast, she knew from Sun Qian¡¯s behavior towards Pei Huai and Lu Zhaozhao that Lu Zhaozhao was on good terms with Pei Huai.


    To claim that they weren¡¯t close in her presence was clearly a brush-off.


    Avril scoffed, ¡°I never had much regard for the Xia Family¡¯s daughters to begin with, whether it was the earlier Xia Wenjin or you, always so disagreeable.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected that a single comment would make Avril turn on her so directly.


    She looked at her, speechless, and silently turned on the recording function on her phone.


    The frequent visits of Avril to the Xia Family were something she learned from Xia Wenyan.


    Although the Xia Family didn¡¯t like Avril, the girl who acted high and mighty, they tolerated her out of courtesy, having said nothing against her.


    After all, their family had also had to deal with the high and mighty Xia Wenjin before.


    It was a draw; neither side had lost out.


    Therefore, the Xia Family hadn¡¯t inquired further, but now that Xia Wenjin had left the Xia Family, there was no one left to stand up to Avril, who became even more arrogant.


    Lu Zhaozhao had no desire to waste time on Avril; since she wanted to be arrogant, it was enough to let everyone know how she was.


    Hopefully, Avril wouldn¡¯t restrain herself too much and would perform well, so that the Xia Family wouldn¡¯t have to entertain this petulant young lady anymore.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Avril, ¡°Since you don¡¯t like the children of the Xia Family, yet you still want to visit us, do you have a crush on one of my brothers?¡±


    ¡°Heh!¡± Avril laughed derisively, ¡°Them? Are they worth it? If it weren¡¯t for my parents forcing me to come every year, do you think I¡¯d want anything to do with your Xia Family? Either workaholics or frigid, I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with the Xia family, every single one has a serious issue.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression also darkened, ¡°Since you¡¯re not interested in any of my brothers, you might as well not visit us anymore.¡±


    Avril seemed taken aback by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s blunt words and shot her a disdainful look, ¡°Of course I wouldn¡¯t wish to visit your family, but haven¡¯t I yet to find a suitable man? The brothers of the Xia Family are annoying, but if I can¡¯t find anyone better, wouldn¡¯t I also need to marry a dependable man?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face turned completely sour.


    She wondered how her brothers would feel knowing that they were seen as dependable men only fit for being someone¡¯s fallback option...

 Chapter 307: 305: Where? Where is the weak woman?

    Chapter 307: Chapter 305: Where? Where is the weak woman?


    ¡°Our Xia Family are honest people, so do we deserve this?¡± suddenly, Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice came from the doorway.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned around and just in time saw two burly men standing at the entrance.


    Seeing Mr. Pei¡¯s large hand resting on Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder, a look of shared animosity on their faces, she knew her earlier opportunity hadn¡¯t been wasted.


    Tsk tsk... Worthy of being a movie emperor indeed, such dominance.


    She had just been thinking about battling it out with Avril, then sending the recording to the Xia Family.


    Now with Xia Wenyan there, she didn¡¯t even need to battle.


    After all, when brother is around, of course, you count on brother.


    Moreover, the ¡°sister-in-law¡± was there too.


    Avril hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenyan and the others to burst in so abruptly, clearly startled.


    More importantly, Pei Huai was there too.


    She had been inquiring about Pei Huai everywhere lately and, apart from hearing that he was a movie emperor, the rest was about the same as what the fans knew.


    He had worked his way up in the entertainment industry very quickly and was the youngest movie emperor in the circle. Endorsements covered him like a cloak, and he was a top-tier celebrity in both influence and power.


    So, he must be very rich.


    She had dated so many men before, but none were like Pei Huai¡ªgood-looking, nice personality, and also rich.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been pushing Xia Wenyan to get in touch with Pei Huai.


    But this guy had been acting so weird lately, not only refusing to share Pei Huai¡¯s contact information but also being all snappy and brusque with her, so annoying!


    Upon seeing their reaction, Avril hastily explained, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, what I mean is... I have someone else in my heart now, that¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to marry into the Xia Family.¡±


    ¡°I really should thank you on behalf of my whole family,¡± Xia Wenyan rolled his eyes and retorted sarcastically.


    ¡°My three brothers would rather stay single than make do with someone like you, so you¡¯d better not set your sights on them.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s brow furrowed noticeably, as he added, ¡°Yanyan doesn¡¯t like ugly girls, he would never marry you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao sneaked a glance at Pei Huai and seeing his anxious expression, she couldn¡¯t help but snicker to herself.


    Brother Pei really is, well, meticulous.


    Upon hearing this, Avril¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. She had wanted to retort, but remembering her target wasn¡¯t Xia Wenyan, she chose to ignore it.


    Xia Wenyan, slow on the uptake, seemed to suddenly realize something. How could he have omitted himself just now?


    That was close, very close, thank goodness for Brother Pei!


    He immediately chimed in for support, ¡°That¡¯s right, don¡¯t even think about sinking your teeth into this swan.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had intended to hold it in, but she didn¡¯t manage to.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s words were just too funny.


    Avril¡¯s face looked terrible, and she glared at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I already said, I¡¯ve got someone I like. I won¡¯t marry anyone from the Xia Family. You don¡¯t need to flatter yourselves.¡±


    With things having come to this, Avril had no choice but to sever ties with the Xia Family boldly.


    ¡°You promise! Write it down now! I don¡¯t believe you!¡± Xia Wenyan said as he pulled out a notebook from his chest.


    The Xia Family had always kept a low profile overseas because of Xia Wenjin.


    Even people within the XJ Corporation, if not key members, found it very hard to know the identities of the Xia Family.


    Naturally, Avril¡¯s family was clueless as well.


    But seeing that her family¡¯s situation looked decent, they wanted to use Avril to leverage their family background and have a safety net.


    Her parents didn¡¯t care much before, after all, having one more girl in the family wasn¡¯t a bad thing.


    If their sons really liked Avril, they would¡¯ve considered it as an early engagement.


    But nobody expected Avril to be such a troublemaker; her parents were worn out by her antics and had no choice but to hand her over to the younger generation.


    At the time, Xia Wenjin got into an argument with Avril, both of them butting heads so fiercely that it actually brought some peace to the family.


    It was precisely because of this that Avril was able to continue associating with the Xia Family.


    Now that everything had been laid out on the table, Xia Wenyan was no longer willing to endure.


    Avril frowned, watching as Pei Huai¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on Xia Wenyan, she bit her lip, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll write the guarantee then.¡±


    She said this while looking aggrieved.


    Every now and then, she glanced at Pei Huai, but since he didn¡¯t offer to speak up from beginning to end, Avril couldn¡¯t help but speak up first.


    ¡°Xia Wenyan, are you always this aggressive? Aren¡¯t you afraid your friends will laugh at you for bullying a weak woman?¡±


    She had an ulterior motive for saying this, hoping to create an opportunity for Pei Huai to step in and speak for her.


    But Pei Huai didn¡¯t show the slightest intention of helping; instead, it was Xia Wenyan who looked at Avril with shock, ¡°Weak woman? Where? Where¡¯s the weak woman?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Avril almost couldn¡¯t keep her composure.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Pei Huai being there, she would have definitely had a proper argument with Xia Wenyan.


    She took a deep breath, pretending to be deeply wronged as she looked at Xia Wenyan, ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°Enough, save your acting for after you write the guarantee. I¡¯ll push you to go to a drama set and be an extra, so you don¡¯t waste your energy...¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked disgusted, almost causing Avril to lose her composure completely.


    She clenched her palms tightly, the pen almost puncturing the paper as she wrote the guarantee!


    She wasn¡¯t worried about the guarantee; all she had to do was cry and make a fuss at home later, claiming that Xia Wenyan had forced her to write it.


    The Xia Family wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything to her, so it didn¡¯t matter whether she wrote the guarantee or not.


    She wasn¡¯t afraid!


    Thinking like this, Avril¡¯s hands moved even faster.


    Soon she had finished writing the guarantee and tossed it at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Here, are you satisfied now? I have nothing to do with the Xia Family now, so stop using this to disgust me in the future!¡±


    Xia Wenyan flipped the guarantee in his hand and Pei Huai, very observant, caught it, folded it, and placed it into his jacket pocket.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but pout, tsk tsk, Pei Huai was really under his brother¡¯s thumb.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned off the recording and stood up, ready to wrap things up, ¡°Since you have nothing to do with our Xia Family, please leave now. I don¡¯t want someone like you offending people in the production crew and leaving me to take the blame.¡±


    Avril¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°You¡¯re kicking me while I¡¯m down! Believe me, I will tell Uncle Xia and Aunt Xia right now! If they find out...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pulled out his phone and played the recent recording, and instantly, Avril¡¯s voice echoed throughout the room.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my parents forcing me to come here every year, do you think I¡¯d want to interact with people from the Xia Family? Either workaholics or frigid. I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with the Xia Family¡¯s feng shui, each one of you is seriously ill.¡±


    Seeing this, Avril reached out to grab Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone, but fortunately, Xia Wenyan was quick to act, blocking Avril to the side, ¡°You can insult our family if you want, but how dare you lay a hand on my sister?!¡±

 Chapter 308: 306: Regretting it so much it hurts!

    Chapter 308: Chapter 306: Regretting it so much it hurts!


    Xia Wenyan glared deathly at Avril, as if he wanted to twist her head off right there and then.


    It made her a bit intimidated.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything, it¡¯s you who are bullying me! Brother Pei, please stand up for me, wuu wuu wuu...¡± As Avril spoke, she tried to fall towards Pei Huai.


    Unexpectedly, Pei Huai dodged, and Avril ended up falling solidly on the ground.


    The fall was quite harsh, and she was stunned, not expecting this man, who had once been so gentlemanly toward her, to dodge!


    Wasn¡¯t he supposed to catch her, and then help her seek justice?


    Even if he was friends with Xia Wenyan, he still needed to have the ability to discern right from wrong, didn¡¯t he?


    ¡°Damn it! You still have the nerve to call me Brother Pei, I...¡± Fumed Xia Wenyan, seeing her pretentious demeanor, his anger surged.


    He raised his hand to grab Avril but was suddenly pulled back by Pei Huai.


    Xia Wenyan looked surprised, thinking that Pei Huai had really become compassionate.


    Even Avril, sitting on the ground, looked hopefully at Pei Huai.


    She knew this man wouldn¡¯t let Xia Wenyan bully her!


    ¡°It¡¯s not worth sullying oneself for such a person.¡± Pei Huai¡¯s indifferent voice resonated in the resting room.


    As he spoke, he also held Xia Wenyan and stepped back.


    Then, the door behind them was opened, and several men who looked like bodyguards walked in, all staring at Avril, who lay on the ground somewhat disheveled.


    ¡°This person doesn¡¯t qualify to be part of the team; please take her out, and if she makes a fuss, send her directly to the police station.¡±


    Before Xia Wenyan could speak, Pei Huai had already spoken out first.


    As soon as they had entered the door and sensed something was amiss, Pei Huai had immediately contacted the security department of the crew.


    Their arrival was perfectly timed, preventing Xia Wenyan and Avril from physically fighting.


    ¡°Let me go! Let go of me! I was brought into the crew by Xia Wenyan! Are you blind?¡±


    Avril struggled, trying to break free from the grip of the security.


    She was already disheveled, and being thrown out of the crew would be a total loss of face for her.


    ¡°You...¡±


    Just as Xia Wenyan was about to speak, Pei Huai stopped him, ¡°This person entered the crew by following Xia Wenyan. If other artists find out how lax security is here, your department will surely be penalized, right?¡±


    The men were clearly taken aback, their grip on Avril tightened.


    Pei Huai chuckled lightly, then resumed his usual gentle tone, ¡°I know it¡¯s not easy for your security department, so we won¡¯t pursue this matter further. Just throw this woman out, and of course... if she¡¯s too much trouble, sending her to the police might be easier.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    So they were to send this woman to the police, after all?


    The men glanced at each other, thinking sending her to the police didn¡¯t seem problematic if it meant no trouble for them.


    Avril, of course, caught the underlying message in Pei Huai¡¯s words. She stared at him as she struggled, ¡°Mr. Pei, I have no quarrel with you, why are you doing this to me?!¡±


    Pei Huai shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t even know you, why would I go against you?¡±


    His mouth curved into a very professional yet insincere smile as he looked at Avril.


    But Avril could tell, his gaze was so cold it was almost trembling, not even resembling the way one would look at another person.


    She suddenly shivered uncontrollably, not even having time to react before the bodyguards dragged her away.


    Suddenly, the resting room became quiet.


    Lying on the couch, Xia Wenyan relaxed, ¡°At least that plague is gone, and she will never come to Xia Family again, thank God.¡±


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t say anything, he just lovingly ruffled Xia Wenyan¡¯s hair.


    Beside them, Lu Zhaozhao quietly watched the pair and silently indulged in their affection...


    In the evening, just as Xia Wenjin returned to her hotel to rest, her phone rang.


    She glanced at the phone number, hesitated for a moment, but still answered.


    Soon Lu Dagui¡¯s voice came over the phone, ¡°Jin, where are you right now?¡±


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, ¡°I recently joined a film crew, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ...


    There was a slight pause on the other end of the phone.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenjin coldly said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Lu Dagui anxiously said, ¡°Do you know that the president of the XJ Group is coming to the country?¡±


    Of course, she knew.


    But Xia Wenjin asked instead, ¡°What does the president of XJ Group coming to the country have to do with me?¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to play dumb with Lu Dagui anymore¡ªif he didn¡¯t say, she would just pretend not to know.


    Lu Dagui obviously realized that Xia Wenjin was running out of patience and bluntly said, ¡°Our family is in a bit of a bind right now, so dad needs new investors. If we can secure investment from the president of the XJ Group, our family can be saved. You wouldn¡¯t want to lose the title of Miss Lu Family, would you?¡±


    His last sentence was clearly a threat.


    She had left the Xia Family without looking back, aiming for the title of Miss Lu Family. Although it was indisputable, now it seemed that it was the only status that could compel her to help.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression visibly darkened, ¡°What do you want me to do? I¡¯m already married.¡±


    Although she had thought about it, hearing it from Lu Dagui really irritated her.


    He had once sold Lu Zhaozhao to Song Sinian for the Lu Family business.


    And now he was scheming against her.


    If she could really get close to the president of the XJ Group, why would she care about the Lu Family mess?


    However, she just happened to need the right cover to seduce the president of the XJ Group.


    Xiao Mo and Justin could not help her, but Lu Dagui was different.


    His desire to get the XJ Group president to invest meant he would stop at nothing.


    Their goals aligned and the rest would naturally fall into place.


    Lu Dagui took a deep breath, ¡°I just need an invitation to a banquet. You have a good relationship with Justin, so it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to get, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjin hesitated, ¡°I can help you get the invitation, but you have to agree to one condition.¡±


    ¡°What condition?¡± Lu Dagui¡¯s voice came through, clearly alert, which truly made Xia Wenjin sneer.


    At this point, did he really think the Lu Family had anything desirable left?


    Xia Wenjin scoffed coldly, ¡°All you need to do is take me with you when the time comes, you don¡¯t need to know anything else.¡±


    This left Lu Dagui stunned, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going with Xiao Mo?¡±


    The president of the XJ Group came to the country specifically for cooperation with the Song Group.


    This underscored the importance they placed on this collaboration.


    Had he been nicer to Lu Zhaozhao at the beginning, could he also have risen to greater heights?


    Lu Dagui thought of Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao, and regret gnawed at him!


    Just as the rumors said, Xia Wenjin was indeed a jinx!

 Chapter 309: 307: So Love Will Disappear, Right?

    Chapter 309: Chapter 307: So Love Will Disappear, Right?


    ¡°I have other matters to attend to, you don¡¯t need to worry about it,¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s tone was clearly impatient, ¡°Don¡¯t you just need an invitation? I will contact you once I have it in hand. Don¡¯t call me unless it¡¯s necessary, I¡¯m really busy on set.¡±


    Lu Dagui was choked with anger but had no way to refute her words.


    He took a deep breath, ¡°Fine, I understand.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, the more Lu Dagui thought about it, the more irritated he became.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Xia Wenjin¡¯s arrival at the Lu Family, claiming she was mistreated by the Xia Family, would he have been so heartless towards Lu Zhaozhao?


    It was all her fault! She was the curse!


    If he told Lu Zhaozhao about this, would she be willing to help him out once more...


    As Lu Dagui mulled over this, he sent Lu Zhaozhao a message.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, do you have time to come over for a meal at home?¡±


    ¡°Actually, there¡¯s something I never told you before. When Xia Wenjin first came to our house, she constantly accused the Xia Family of mistreating her. That¡¯s why I believed the rumors and turned against you...¡±


    ¡°I was wrong, and I hope you can give me a chance to make it up to you.¡±


    After sending the message, Lu Dagui started to wait.


    He figured that once Lu Zhaozhao saw the message, she would reply to him no matter what.


    But what he didn¡¯t know was that Lu Zhaozhao had seen the message shortly after it was sent.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± As soon as Song Sinian entered the hotel room, he noticed Lu Zhaozhao, seated on the sofa, looking at her phone.


    Only one floor lamp was lit in the room, and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face was expressionless as she stared at the phone, making it impossible to tell whether she was happy or angry.


    But the aura around her, as she leaned on the sofa, seemed somewhat off.


    So Song Sinian didn¡¯t even think before walking over and sitting beside her.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head towards Song Sinian and handed him the phone, ¡°Take a look, this is the message Lu Dagui just sent me.¡±


    She suddenly felt like laughing.


    In her past life, she lived so miserably, trampled underfoot by Xia Wenjin as a stepping stone, and Lu Dagui never once took the initiative to send her a message.


    Now that the Lu Family was on the brink of collapse, he suddenly remembered their kinship.


    Did Lu Dagui genuinely feel remorse?


    Impossible.


    If the Lu Family was still as successful as in her last life, even if he knew the Xia Family hadn¡¯t mistreated Xia Wenjin, he would never apologize to her.


    Because to the Lu Family, she was nothing more than a useful tool.


    That was it.


    Song Sinian glanced at the message on the phone and then carelessly threw the phone aside.


    Immediately after, he pulled Lu Zhaozhao into his arms and carefully patted her back, as if to comfort her.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow slightly and looked up at Song Sinian, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes lowered, ¡°I... worry about you and want to make you happy.¡±


    If he hadn¡¯t known about what happened to Lu Zhaozhao in her last life, he might have simply ignored Lu Dagui.


    But the events of her past were too tragic for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Betrayed by the foster parents who raised her for over twenty years, used as their stepping stone, drained by their own daughter.


    Although the bad deeds of this life had all failed to succeed, just like in the previous life, now they had the audacity to ask for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s forgiveness?


    Disgusting!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mood had been somewhat gloomy, remembering her past life, but Song Sinian¡¯s words made her feel her heart fill up.


    No matter if it was her last life or this one, Song Sinian was always the person who loved her without considering any cost.


    She stretched out her little hand to wrap around Song Sinian¡¯s neck, smiled radiantly, and bit his collarbone lightly with her teeth, ¡°Then how do you plan to make me happy?¡±


    Song Sinian seemed very busy with work these days; although they had many opportunities to meet, time was always limited.


    Like today, having the chance to see him so early, she naturally didn¡¯t want to let him slip away.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at him with smiling eyes, just waiting for him to pick up the conversation and flirt with her.


    A hint of darkness flickered through the depths of Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, as his desires surged instantly.


    He missed her.


    Every day.


    Even sneaking in cuddles and kisses after she had fallen asleep, but he dare not take any further initiative.


    To have Lu Zhaozhao now was already the greatest blessing he could have received from the heavens.


    If keeping Lu Zhaozhao meant enduring torment, he was willing.


    Song Sinian took a deep breath, bent his head, and gently kissed her lips, then her nose, her eyes, and lastly her forehead...


    And then...


    Then there was no ¡°then¡±!


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Song Sinian in shock, then she struggled out of his arms and grabbed the mobile phone that he had just tossed aside.


    Song Sinian was visibly stunned; he watch blankly as Lu Zhaozhao powered up the front camera on the phone, then inspected her face from left to right with disbelief.


    ¡°Song Sinian, tell me, have I become ugly?¡±


    Song Sinian immediately shook his head.


    ¡°Then do I lack attractiveness?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at herself in the phone from left to right, even zooming in twice, but still couldn¡¯t spot any difference from before.


    Although Song Sinian did not understand why Lu Zhaozhao would ask such a question, he honestly answered her, ¡°No, you¡¯ve always been attractive.¡±


    Especially to him, fatally attractive.


    He really wanted to say this, but he was afraid Lu Zhaozhao would say he¡¯s too clingy.


    He had to be good, he could not make her angry.


    Lu Zhaozhao put away the phone, her look towards Song Sinian was even more shocked, ¡°You... you are Song Sinian, right?¡±


    She scrutinized Song Sinian warily, suddenly worried that her beloved husband had been switched out with a different core.


    After all, if reincarnation could happen, then time travel and such wouldn¡¯t be far-fetched, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao swallowed hard, staring intently at Song Sinian.


    ¡°I am,¡± Song Sinian replied, looking at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s anxious expression, sighing helplessly, ¡°I am Song Sinian. Whether it¡¯s your past life or this one, I¡¯m the Song Sinian who¡¯s your husband.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face fell instantly, ¡°Then I understand, since you¡¯re my husband, you must not love me anymore, so love can disappear, right?¡±


    ¡°?!?!!!¡±


    Song Sinian was completely panicked now, ¡°How could that be? I love you, Zhaozhao, I really love you; you have to believe me, I love you!¡±


    He didn¡¯t know how to express himself nor how to explain in such a situation.


    He simply held Lu Zhaozhao tight, afraid that she wouldn¡¯t believe him and would run away.


    Lu Zhaozhao, nearly suffocating in his embrace, understood naturally that Song Sinian was not just coaxing her.


    This was her silly husband from home.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand to gently pat Song Sinian, ¡°Husband, loosen up a bit, I can¡¯t breathe...¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian immediately released her but then clasped her tight again as if remembering something.


    However, compared to earlier, he had indeed loosened his grip just a tad...

 Chapter 310: 308: Do You Think Other Things Are More Important Than Me?

    Chapter 310: Chapter 308: Do You Think Other Things Are More Important Than Me?


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a resigned sigh.


    Previously, Sinian had emotional disorders, so he relied solely on logic to handle most matters.


    Zhaozhao knew that what he said was exactly what he intended to express.


    Now, however, Sinian had gained a better understanding of emotions and even showed his feelings from time to time.


    But sometimes, Zhaozhao found it harder to understand him.


    To be exact, Sinian, now in touch with his emotions, had started to conceal them.


    She still interacted with him in the straightforward way she had before, inadvertently causing misunderstandings between them.


    Zhaozhao gently patted Sinian¡¯s back and muttered unhappily, ¡°Mr. Song, why have you been spending so little time with me recently? Is it really because you¡¯re busy with work?¡±


    After saying this, her small hands cradled his cheeks.


    ¡°...¡±


    Sinian didn¡¯t speak, but his silence said everything.


    Zhaozhao tilted her head, pinched his cheeks, and asked, ¡°So, do you think other things are more important than me?¡±


    Sinian decisively shook his head without any hesitation.


    This left Zhaozhao even more confused.


    She squinted her eyes, sizing up Sinian, and carefully recalled what outrageous thing she might have done recently that made her beloved husband unwilling to be close to her.


    She distinctly remembered how lively Sinian had been before.


    Every day he saw her, he seemed eager to exhaust her.


    Suddenly, Zhaozhao thought of something.


    It seemed that Sinian had been distant since she left Doctor Tian¡¯s place.


    Could it be that Doctor Tian changed his medication, and so his body... emmm wasn¡¯t performing well?


    Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze slowly moved downward, stopping at a particularly critical spot.


    However, she quickly dismissed this thought.


    They had been intimate in the last few days; was she not clear about his capability?


    Thinking of this, Zhaozhao¡¯s face instantly fell, ¡°I can¡¯t believe this, I really can¡¯t believe it... Sinian, tell me, why don¡¯t you want to be close to me anymore? Did someone say something to you?¡±


    Sinian shook his head and seeing her distraught expression, a touch of doubt arose in his heart.


    His lips formed a straight line, and finally, he slowly began, ¡°You told me... if I had time, to get along well with others, I thought you... didn¡¯t like me clinging to you.¡±


    He initially wanted to say ¡°annoy,¡± but after some thought, he changed his word.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Zhaozhao was stunned.


    She had never expected that she was the culprit.


    She carefully recalled the incident that day, ¡°I, I didn¡¯t mean that...¡±


    As soon as Zhaozhao finished her sentence, Sinian¡¯s head rested on her shoulder.


    With his tall stature, embracing her like this almost enveloped her entirely in his arms.


    Sinian didn¡¯t know how Zhaozhao would explain, but from her recent denial and her attitude towards him, he might have misunderstood her meaning.


    This was undeniably a form of pardon for him, let alone blaming Zhaozhao.


    She didn¡¯t dislike him or his closeness.


    That was good.


    Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know what Sinian was thinking, but she felt it was essential to have a thorough talk with him about this matter.


    Her small hands cradled Song Sinian¡¯s cheeks, staring at him intently as she said, ¡°Song Sinian, I let you interact with others because I¡¯m worried that I¡¯m the only one supporting you here.¡±


    Her hand glided down, resting on his chest.


    ¡°If something happened to me, I¡¯m afraid you wouldn¡¯t be able to endure, so I...¡±


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish her sentence, Song Sinian immediately bowed his head and sealed her lips with his.


    This thought was even more terrifying than Zhaozhao saying she would abandon him.


    At least if Zhaozhao truly abandoned him, she would still be alive.


    No, he couldn¡¯t bear a world without her.


    Song Sinian, as if possessed, wrapped his long arms tightly around Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s waist, his lips inching slowly, painstakingly across hers, his emotions explosive with extreme anxiety.


    Even the arms that imprisoned her were trembling.


    The harder he tried to meld her into his chest, the softer she felt, like clouds at the edge of the sky. He felt that with just a bit more pressure, she would dissipate.


    These emotions continuously provoked his nerves, making him feel as if the person in his arms was an illusion.


    He desperately sought redemption, yet his deepening feelings made it all the more difficult to control himself.


    His Zhaozhao, why couldn¡¯t she be only his Zhaozhao?


    Lu Zhaozhao was initially a bit nervous, especially because Song Sinian¡¯s strength was extraordinarily great, and he seemed possessed.


    She thought she was doomed, even prepared to be hurt by him.


    But he was only aggressive for a moment, then unexpectedly became gentle.


    One after another, the gentle touches seemed like he was pleading with her.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment before she calmed down from her panic.


    Her hand, originally stiff at her side, climbed up to his neck, the soft touch on the back of his neck inexplicably calming Song Sinian¡¯s heart significantly.


    Even the strength in his hand lessened. He gently turned his head, cautiously leaving marks on her pale neck.


    Lu Zhaozhao shivered, her eyes meeting his deep, dark ones, the restrained redness at the corners making her heart pound forcefully, leaving her weak.


    It took a great while for Lu Zhaozhao to struggle out of her immersion.


    She gasped for air, taking a long time to utter a few words, ¡°Husband, could you... could you listen to me first?¡±


    Her eyes somewhat hazy, she gazed at Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face, striving to gather her thoughts.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed distinctly, his gaze landing on her slightly swollen lips, seemingly uninterested in listening.


    Seeing his expression, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    She raised her hand to caress Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, sighing helplessly, ¡°I thought I was doing this for your sake, but it only made you anxious.¡±


    Doctor Tian might be right, but for Song Sinian, losing her was losing everything.


    Even if Song Sinian could carry on, he would merely be a walking corpse.


    It wasn¡¯t that she saw herself so essential, but she remembered herself in the previous life, losing Song Sinian.


    At that time, she didn¡¯t know of Song Sinian¡¯s feelings for her, yet she was already in despair.


    Now, the emotions between her and Song Sinian had changed drastically compared to the previous life.


    She couldn¡¯t imagine surviving without Song Sinian.


    Perhaps to others, she still had family and friendship.


    She shouldn¡¯t be so pessimistic, but she couldn¡¯t help it.


    Song Sinian¡¯s emotions were even more intense and pure, so Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt relieved.


    Forget finding other pillars of support; loving him well was enough!

 Chapter 311: 309: Shocked by His Bold Remarks...

    Chapter 311: Chapter 309: Shocked by His Bold Remarks...


    ¡°Song Sinian, listen carefully, I love you, and my heart can only make room for you alone,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said earnestly, looking at Song Sinian. ¡°No matter what happens in the future, you have to remember that, okay?¡±


    Looking at his obviously stunned expression, she added, ¡°If I ever do something that makes you uneasy, just tell me, alright? I already loved you for a lifetime in my past life, and in this life, you can¡¯t escape me!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips twitched, and he eventually revealed an exceptionally brilliant smile.


    He embraced Lu Zhaozhao, burying his head deeply in her bosom.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands rubbed Song Sinian¡¯s head, and she started to feel better, ¡°It seems that today is full of good news.¡±


    As Song Sinian listened to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice, he looked up at her and asked in confusion, ¡°Did someone bully you on the set today?¡±


    His brows furrowed slightly, worrying within.


    He had previously wanted to send someone to follow Lu Zhaozhao, or to assign her an assistant, but she had refused them all.


    He also felt it was inappropriate to plant someone by her side.


    Changes in the cast and crew were too frequent, making it impossible for someone to be constantly by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side.


    Therefore, lately, he had only been able to place a bodyguard among the security of the set.


    At least within a limited scope, he could ensure her safety.


    He would not risk Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s safety.


    Although he had already understood the situation with Avril, he would be even happier if Lu Zhaozhao would tell him about it herself.


    Lu Zhaozhao laughed softly, ¡°Me, bullied by others? That would be surprising. I¡¯m the one who usually doesn¡¯t bully others!¡±


    Her small hand rubbed Song Sinian¡¯s head again before she continued, ¡°Today my fourth brother brought Avril to visit the set. Avril is the daughter of a family that has good relations with the Xia Family. She actually likes Brother Pei, tsk tsk... You should¡¯ve seen the jealous look on my fourth brother¡¯s face...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao recounted the day¡¯s events on the set with almost a jesting tone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how my parents will handle it, but I think Avril probably won¡¯t be coming to our house next year,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said as her small hands now traveled to Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face.


    Lately, she had been unaware of why Song Sinian had been distant, so she always felt like they had missed something between them.


    That was why she wanted to stick even closer to Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t mind at all, allowing Lu Zhaozhao to mess around with him and even... enjoying it when she fussed over him like a kitten, nuzzling and kneading.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked, and he coolly responded, ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand paused, her eyes meeting Song Sinian¡¯s, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    She knew Song Sinian never lied to her.


    He must know something with the way he said that.


    Song Sinian pinched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s waist, pulling her into his embrace before he explained word by word, ¡°Recently, the cooperation between XJ Group and Song Group has come to fruition, and typically, there will be a symbolic partnership banquet where representatives from both parties will attend...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, ¡°You¡¯re saying, once my big brother¡¯s identity is exposed, Avril¡¯s family will latch onto that and not let go?¡±


    Song Sinian gave a light laugh, raising his hand to pinch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s nose, ¡°You, always focusing on others. Haven¡¯t you thought about why Xia Wenjue kept his identity so secret abroad and chose to reveal it now during a domestic cooperation?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly froze.


    She indeed hadn¡¯t thought much about it.


    Her eyebrows lifted slightly, and her gaze rose to meet Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes as she asked uncertainly, ¡°It¡¯s not because of me, is it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao really couldn¡¯t think of any other reason.


    Sure enough, Song Sinian nodded directly.


    But seeing that Lu Zhaozhao had no strong reaction, he also breathed a sigh of relief and asked, ¡°Are you not angry?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Why would I be angry? Now that the Lu Family is finished, and Xia Wenjin has married, my identity being exposed must have made them puke. Just thinking about it feels great~¡±


    After her rebirth, all she wanted was to make up for what she owed to Song Sinian and to take revenge against the Lu Family, Xiao Jinglan, Xiao Mo, and Song Keren.


    She had never thought she would find her real family, let alone that their status would be so extraordinary.


    So, all of this was an unexpected gain, wasn¡¯t it?


    Lu Zhaozhao was thinking this when she suddenly felt a tightening around her waist. She looked puzzledly at Song Sinian, only to see his fingertips gently pinching her waist.


    ¡°Do you have anything else to tell me?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly, his gloomy gaze swept slowly over her small face, his voice carrying a hint of roughness.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s collar with one hand, and pulled him forcefully in front of her, ¡°Actually, there is.¡±


    The two were extremely close, their breaths meeting just inches apart, the warm mist falling softly onto their skin, stirring a flush.


    ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t you think you should properly compensate me for my past losses, hmm?¡± Lu Zhaozhao teased with a playful wink, looking quite audacious.


    Song Sinian¡¯s earlobes turned instantly red and his entire body stiffened terribly.


    His hand on her waist tightened, ¡°Zhaozhao, stop provoking me, I feel like I¡¯m going crazy, I¡¯m afraid that in a moment...¡±


    In a moment, it might be too much for you to bear.


    Song Sinian dared not say the rest out loud, afraid of frightening Lu Zhaozhao.


    But his patience had already reached its limit.


    Yet Lu Zhaozhao seemed utterly oblivious to the danger, leaning intentionally closer to him, ¡°What about in a moment? We¡¯re old husband and wife now, am I supposed to be scared of you?¡±


    ¡°Click¡ª¡±


    The last string in Song Sinian¡¯s mind labeled ¡°reason¡± snapped.


    He picked up Lu Zhaozhao and stood up straight.


    Lu Zhaozhao was startled, hugging Song Sinian clumsily, not sure whether to cry or laugh, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too much?¡±


    Song Sinian strode towards the bedroom, inhaling sharply, ¡°If you knew what I¡¯ve been thinking lately, you probably wouldn¡¯t have tempted me like earlier.¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI wasn¡¯t tempting you... I...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt very guilty about her words.


    Song Sinian, on the other hand, chuckled lightly, ¡°Every day when I look at your little face, I think about how it would look teary and soft, pleading with me to be gentle. When I see your waist, I think about how beautiful it looks, pale with a sprinkling of red dots.¡±


    ¡°I like every part of you; I even want to leave my mark everywhere, to have you be permeated with my scent, inside and out.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart pounded like a drumbeat, her entire face turned as red as a shrimp ball, either from the thrill of hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words or from shock at his bold declaration...

 Chapter 312: 310 A Good Wife and Mother All Alone...

    Chapter 312: Chapter 310 A Good Wife and Mother All Alone...


    She had always felt that Song Sinian¡¯s actions towards her spoke louder than his words.


    But just now, she felt as if she had been slapped in the face.


    Her little puppy had turned into a big grey wolf...


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly thought of the thing he had always controlled himself over, and she couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    ¡°Husband, I, I now regret having...¡± She had not finished her words when she felt an extra row of ¡°little teeth¡± around her waist.


    Right after, her whole body was thrown onto the mattress.


    The dim light cast two shadows on the wall, resembling the ripples on a lake stirred by the wind.


    At that moment, Lu Zhaozhao was completely exhausted, her eyes red-rimmed, looking like a bullied, crying mess.


    She knew the more she appeared this way, the crazier Song Sinian would get, and she had already been trying very hard to control herself.


    Yet in the end, she still ended up bullied to the point of tears. She just let him be.


    She decided never to provoke Song Sinian again...


    Meanwhile, at the Xia Family.


    Due to Avril¡¯s incident, Xia Wenyan had returned home early.


    He didn¡¯t believe Avril had anything good to say after being at a disadvantage, so before coming home, he specifically called Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo to return with him.


    At that time, Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie were already seated in the living room looking grave.


    Upon seeing Xia Wenyan enter, Wen Qingyu immediately asked, ¡°I heard you and Avril went to your sister¡¯s film set? And then had her thrown out?¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded, ¡°She was after Pei Huai, trying to get to him by stepping on me, so she followed me to the set. Once there, she shamelessly bullied Zhaozhao, and I couldn¡¯t hold back.¡±


    Then, Xia Wenyan exaggeratedly retold how Avril treated their Xia Family as a backup and was planning to marry one of their honest men after having her fun.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°She really dares to dream, not even looking at what she herself looks like? With disproportionate facial features, yet she sees herself as a fairy?¡±


    ¡°Who gave her the confidence to think that the Xia Family would definitely marry her if we entertained her?¡± Xia Wenqing scoffed coldly, his expression turning even uglier.


    He hadn¡¯t even wooed his wife yet, and such a mess had sprung up.


    If he did manage to woo her, who knew if this mess would ruin it.


    He had experienced firsthand how unreasonable Avril could be.


    It was only because every time Avril came, Xia Wenjin would argue back and forth with her, leaving her no time to focus on them.


    Otherwise, they would have noticed her intentions early on and thrown her out long ago.


    Xia Wenjue was a bit more patient than his brothers. Hearing the words of Xia Wenqing, Xia Wenyan, and Xia Wenmo, he sighed softly and said, ¡°Avril¡¯s behavior has always been over the line. If we just throw her out of the country over something she casually said, her parents might be difficult to deal with...¡±


    Seeing this, Xia Wenyan quickly added, ¡°Also, big brother, she said in front of our sister that you are a workaholic and frigid, wondering what Feng Shui the Xia Family has, as everyone is seriously ill.¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s gentle expression vanished instantly, ¡°Did she actually say such filthy words in front of Zhaozhao?¡±


    He had known Avril was no good, but to speak filthily in front of his sister was intolerable!


    Their sister was soft, adorable, and easily bullied, how could she be pitted against such a vile person?!


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s words seemed to remind Xia Wenyan of something even more critical, ¡°It¡¯s not just dirty talk; she even wanted to hit our little sister! When the little sister recorded Avril mocking our family, she went straight to hit her!¡±


    At his words, everyone in the Xia Family started to panic.


    ¡°Did Zhaozhao get hurt?¡±


    ¡°Was Zhaozhao hit?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, being her brother and still letting her get bullied in your presence?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to find someone to take care of Avril right now!¡±


    ¡°I will make Avril rot in jail! And make her family go bankrupt!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Uh...¡± Xia Wenyan was almost intimidated by his family¡¯s vigor.


    He hurriedly gestured with his hands and said, ¡°Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t hurt. When she tried to hit her, Brother Pei and I stopped her, and then she rushed at me, but the security handled her.¡±


    He was originally worried about being blamed by his parents for Avril¡¯s issue when he came home.


    But seeing their expressions now, it seemed they would never want anything to do with Avril and her family again.


    Their parents were clear-headed; their families had been close friends because their grandfather once saved the ancestors of the Xia Family. Hence, the Xia Family had also secretly helped Avril¡¯s family several times.


    After all, the Xia Family believed in repaying even the smallest favors.


    But it turned out that Avril¡¯s family... was really something else.


    They had truly treated the Xia Family as fools.


    Wen Qingyu sneered slightly, resat himself, glanced over everyone present, and slowly said, ¡°Big brother, let¡¯s just end Avril¡¯s family¡¯s business dealings abroad. Such ingrates are not needed.¡±


    Xia Wenjue nodded, ¡°Should we send Avril back?¡±


    ¡°Send her back?¡± Wen Qingyu looked at Xia Wenjue with a smile that was not really a smile, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll personally make sure of it!¡±


    Xia Wenqing slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°Mom, aren¡¯t you planning to attend the upcoming event?¡±


    Soon, at the dinner hosted by the XJ Group and the Song Group, where they planned to publicly reveal Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s identity.


    His mom wasn¡¯t attending?


    Wen Qingyu pursed her lips, ¡°The star of that day is Zhaozhao, and as her mother, naturally, I need to manage logistics to ensure her peace of mind.¡±


    As she said this, her gaze slowly fell on Xia Wenqing, ¡°As the second brother, you would help mom, right?¡±


    While she said this, she turned her head to look at her husband beside her, Xia Nie, ¡°Husband, you support me too, right?¡±


    Although she was smiling as she spoke, the way she looked somehow gave everyone goosebumps.


    Wen Qingyu had been tough among women in her younger days, and even after marrying Xia Nie, she had not toned down much.


    Their brothers, of course, knew of their mother¡¯s heroic deeds and knew that after having a daughter, she had put aside everything to become a ¡°good wife and mother.¡±


    But it seemed she had been a good wife and mother to a lonely extent...

 Chapter 313: 311 What is she doing here so early?

    Chapter 313: Chapter 311 What is she doing here so early?


    Xia Wenjin had been spoiled since childhood, but her character became worse day by day.


    Wen Qingyu even worried that it was because she had been too arrogant in the past, so the retribution had fallen on her daughter.


    But now Wen Qingyu had to admit that genetics were indeed very mystical.


    Xia Wenjin had been carefully raised by her side for 20 years, yet deep down, she was just as selfish as her parents.


    She was too lazy to care about what retribution meant now; her daughter was what mattered most!


    Dare to say her son is an honest man, and then dare to lay a hand on her daughter?


    She would definitely go back and beat the crap out of Avril¡¯s family!


    After so many years of marriage to Xia Wenjin, Xia Nie knew exactly what she was going to do.


    ¡°Alright, alright, as long as you¡¯re happy, you can even turn Avril¡¯s house upside down; I¡¯ll support you.¡± Xia Nie gently patted Wen Qingyu¡¯s back, his eyes full of indulgence.


    In the country, you have to abide by the rules and regulations.


    But abroad, it¡¯s about who has the stronger wrist.


    If you anger his wife, be prepared to bear the brunt of her wrath.


    ¡°Right!¡± Wen Qingyu seemed to suddenly remember something and then fixated her gaze on Xia Wenqing, saying, ¡°I ordered some clothes for Zhaozhao, remember to bring them to her.¡±


    Her words paused for a moment, ¡°If you can¡¯t see her, then deliver the clothes to Song Sinian¡¯s company and let him take them back.¡±


    Xia Wenqing was now staying at the Song Group, and getting his help should not be a problem.


    Xia Wenqing naturally did not refuse.


    Instead, Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan, who were beside them, became unhappy.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I deliver the clothes to my sister¡¯s film set?¡± Xia Wenyan pouted discontentedly.


    Xia Wenmo gave him a glance and also spoke up, ¡°I don¡¯t do much besides painting; I can take it to my sister as well.¡±


    Their words immediately caught Wen Qingyu¡¯s attention.


    Her eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Hmm, you two indeed seem to have a lot of free time.¡±


    Hearing this, Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan shivered almost simultaneously.


    The two suddenly had an ominous premonition...


    Lu Zhaozhao did not find out that Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan had gone abroad with Wen Qingyu until the next day.


    She was sitting in a chair wrapped in a thick coat, resting, the morning sunlight warm and making her drowsy.


    She had been tormented by Song Sinian until dawn last night and now felt too weak to move.


    Luckily, she did not have many scenes today, and most of them involved her lying down elsewhere.


    After all, she was the male lead¡¯s pet spirit fox in the drama.


    Her languid demeanor actually added a distinct flair to her character, so of course, the director wouldn¡¯t say anything.


    She yawned lightly and glanced at her phone, silently taking a selfie and sending it to Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao was planning to doze off again but felt like someone was constantly staring at her.


    She scanned her surroundings subconsciously and just happened to see Xia Wenjin sitting not too far away.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow; if she remembered correctly, Xia Wenjin hardly had any scenes this morning.


    Even if she did, it wouldn¡¯t be this early.


    What was she doing here so early?


    As Lu Zhaozhao was pondering, she saw Xia Wenjin look over, then retract her gaze and elegantly stir the cubilose in her hand, taking a graceful bite.


    Other unknown actors crowded around her, each with a gleam in their eyes.


    ¡°Teacher Xia, this cubilose looks really expensive, what brand is it?¡±


    ¡°Teacher Xia¡¯s skin looks so good, it truly is all because of the money spent.¡±


    ¡°Teacher Xia is indeed a wealthy lady, always so particular.¡±


    ...


    There were quite a few people around engaging in flattering her, as after all, many people knew that Xia Wenjin had been parachuted in and had even pushed out the original fifth female lead.


    She was a hidden resource grabber.


    The major players in the filming crew didn¡¯t much care for Xia Wenjin, and after her initial day¡¯s battle with Lu Zhaozhao, their disdain for her only grew.


    But for the other actors with fewer resources and smaller roles, getting close to Xia Wenjin might have had its benefits.


    Thus, Xia Wenjin always had quite a few followers surrounding her and showering her with excessive, colorful praise.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the cubilose in Xia Wenjin¡¯s hands, unable to resist hooking the corner of her mouth, surprised that Xiao Jinglan¡¯s method would be used on her.


    She had even thought Xia Wenjin was Xiao Mo¡¯s wife and would show some mercy.


    It seemed... she had underestimated Xiao Jinglan¡¯s ruthlessness.


    She never had any humanity; to her, Xia Wenjin was only useful as long as she was beneficial to Xiao Mo.


    As for whether Xia Wenjin could survive or for how long, that didn¡¯t matter at all.


    Noticing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze, Xia Wenjin intentionally raised her voice a few decibels to make sure Lu Zhaozhao could hear her.


    ¡°This is a nourishing gift specially prepared for me by my husband¡¯s aunt because she pities me for working hard in my shoots.¡±


    Everyone knew she had married Xiao Mo, whose aunt Xiao Jinglan was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mother-in-law.


    Her mother-in-law didn¡¯t care about her, yet she doted on this niece-in-law, which was good gossip for others too.


    Although Xiao Mo lost his Song Family status, Xiao Jinglan still retained hers.


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Xia Wenjin a look, listening as she continued, ¡°Ever since I got married, every morning, my aunt has people send it over specifically for me, even to the filming site here.¡±


    Consuming cubilose every day after getting married?


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a light sneer, her gaze subtly sweeping over Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes, a hint of shock clearly crossing her eyes.


    According to what Xia Wenjin had said, she hadn¡¯t been drinking it for long since her marriage, so why did the symptoms look more severe than those of Xiao Jinglan, who had been drinking it for a long time?


    She suddenly remembered the incident when Xia Wenjin went behind Xiao Mo¡¯s back to seduce Justin.


    Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren even caught them at the hotel.


    It was probably this incident that made Xiao Jinglan hate Xia Wenjin, wasn¡¯t it?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips, thinking that, having made an enemy of Xiao Jinglan, Xia Wenjin still dared to drink the cubilose she pushed. She really had guts.


    The drugs, once consumed, lingered in the body and were hard to metabolize; a small amount wouldn¡¯t do much harm.


    But prolonged consumption would damage all the organs in the body.


    And it was entirely irreversible.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand slipped into her pocket, thinking about Xia Wenjin¡¯s current state; she probably wouldn¡¯t need to wait half a year¡ªXia Wenjin would be done soon.


    Even if she stopped taking it now, her body was already ruined.


    This poison was interesting; if she continued taking it, she would appear to be in decent health, but she would look increasingly haggard.


    But if she just stopped abruptly, it would be like stepping hard on the brakes on a roller coaster¡ªthe impact on the body would be tremendous.


    The problems that had been hidden would explode like landmines, one after another.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly; since both Xiao Jinglan and Xia Wenjin had been consuming this type of cubilose and their health was nearly ruined,


    what if they both knew that the poison was mutually administered? Wouldn¡¯t that make things even more interesting?

 Chapter 314: 312: What Is She Thinking?

    Chapter 314: Chapter 312: What Is She Thinking?


    Xiao Jinglan and Xia Wenjin both detested each other to the point of grinding their teeth in hatred.


    This might be a good method.


    It just depended on who was more ruthless between Xiao Jinglan and Xia Wenjin.


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, she took out her phone and sent a message to Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯ve discovered that Xiao Jinglan also fed Xia Wenjin poisonous cubilose. I want to use this incident to have them fight each other, what do you think?¡±


    When Song Sinian received the message, Xia Wenqing had just entered his office.


    He glanced up at Xia Wenqing and signaled him to wait for a while.


    Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t hesitate and sat down directly on the sofa.


    The only person who could make Song Sinian spare time was Lu Zhaozhao, so waiting longer made no difference to him.


    Song Sinian skimmed the content of the message and immediately replied to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I support your idea on this matter, but we¡¯ll discuss the specifics when we meet tonight.¡±


    Actually, after seeing the message, Song Sinian¡¯s brain had rapidly reviewed all the potential dangers.


    He could directly provide Lu Zhaozhao with a suitable plan.


    But since this matter involved Lu Zhaozhao, he couldn¡¯t be so rash without much consideration, which is why he gave her that kind of answer after careful thought.


    Soon, he received a message of agreement from Lu Zhaozhao.


    Only then did Song Sinian secretly breathe a sigh of relief and set his phone aside.


    ¡°Was that a message from Zhaozhao?¡± Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but blurt out as he saw Song Sinian approaching.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°She found out that Xiao Jinglan fed Xia Wenjin that poisoned cubilose.¡±


    He didn¡¯t go on to talk about what Lu Zhaozhao wanted to do next.


    Lu Zhaozhao confided in him, telling him everything.


    To him, it didn¡¯t matter whether Lu Zhaozhao was a good person or a bad one; even if she wanted to destroy the whole world, he wouldn¡¯t blink an eye.


    It was enough that she wished it.


    But he wasn¡¯t sure about the Xia Family.


    What difference would it make even if they were his biological parents or blood-related brothers?


    He didn¡¯t want them to know the other side of Lu Zhaozhao; he alone knew that side of her, and that was enough.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°Xiao Jinglan fed Xia Wenjin poisoned cubilose? What was she thinking? To poison her to death so Xiao Mo would marry another?¡±


    Song Sinian shrugged, ¡°Possibly, considering her son was cuckolded, it¡¯s normal for her to hate Xia Wenjin.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was determined to have Xiao Mo rise to power. With Xia Wenjin¡¯s reputation being so tarnished, how could she be worthy of her son?


    Xia Wenqing curled his lip, ¡°True, for Xia Wenjin to end up like this is within expectations.¡±


    She had been arrogant and haughty since childhood, lacking the capacity to tolerate others.


    As her older brother, he had always tried to protect her dignity behind the scenes, preventing her from being wronged.


    But in the end, he never received a word of gratitude from her.


    To say it wasn¡¯t disheartening would be a lie.


    Ever since he found out how maliciously Xia Wenjin had treated the never-met Lu Zhaozhao, he had lost all affection for her.


    Some people were better let go of early, cutting losses promptly was the best strategy.


    Taking a deep breath, Xia Wenqing went straight to the point, ¡°Have you talked to Zhaozhao recently about a partnership dinner between our companies? Is she willing to attend?¡±


    To be exact, is she willing to reveal her identity?


    ¡°Are you willing to become part of the Xia Family openly and honorably?¡±


    Actually, when they entrusted this matter to Song Sinian, their entire family was very anxious.


    They were terrified that their presumption might displease Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian glanced at Xia Wenqing, his gaze indifferent, ¡°She has no objections, just proceed with the previous arrangements.¡±


    Xia Wenqing visibly relaxed and then said, ¡°My mom and the third and fourth went to handle Avril¡¯s situation, and she ordered a dress for Zhaozhao before returning...¡±


    As he spoke these words, his gaze stayed fixed on Song Sinian, as if he were worried that he would refuse.


    However, from start to finish, his demeanor seemed rather nonchalant, as if there was not much of a reaction.


    Yet, the more it was like this, the more anxious Xia Wenqing became.


    Song Sinian was different from ordinary people; his lack of expression didn¡¯t mean he had no opinion.


    ¡°Leave the evening gown matter to Xu Zhenzhen, and let her also attend the banquet,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over Xia Wenqing, ¡°You tell Xu Zhenzhen about this.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t expect Song Sinian to say such a thing and was somewhat stunned.


    He had actually considered inviting Xu Zhenzhen as well, but his thoughts were somewhat different from Song Sinian¡¯s.


    He had only recently learned that Xu Zhenzhen was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bodyguard at school.


    It made sense for Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen to attend the banquet together, but somehow it felt a bit odd...


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, his gaze shifted to Song Sinian, only to meet his sharp, penetrating eyes.


    His piercing look seemed as though it could see through everything.


    Xia Wenqing felt inexplicably guilty and immediately agreed, ¡°I, I will tell her as soon as I get back about the evening gown, and her attending the banquet won¡¯t seem too out of place.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow twitched slightly, his gaze sweeping Xia Wenqing¡¯s face before ultimately remaining silent.


    He could see that Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression was off, but what that expression meant, he wasn¡¯t sure.


    He had wanted to ask Zhao Xi, who was by his side, directly, but ever since he had asked Zhao Xi in front of Old Master Song, he had been told that asking someone about their expression directly to their face isn¡¯t very nice, so he could only wait for Xia Wenqing to leave.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    The door of the office was closed again, and only then did Song Sinian gesture to Zhao Xi and asked, ¡°What exactly did Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression mean when he left just now? Why did it look so strange?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Zhao Xi was at a loss for words when asked by Song Sinian.


    Normally, it was nothing new for Xia Wenqing to come to Song Sinian¡¯s office, and he seldom paid attention to the other¡¯s expressions.


    After all, apart from Lu Zhaozhao and Old Master Song, the Xia family were the most friendly to their Mr. Song.


    He certainly wouldn¡¯t be on guard.


    So just now, he had only vaguely listened to the conversation between the two, and wasn¡¯t aware of what expression Xia Wenqing had made.


    Zhao Xi felt slightly uneasy.


    After pondering for a moment, he cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. Song, when did you find Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression odd, exactly?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils narrowed slightly, ¡°It was right after I told him to give the evening gown to Xu Zhenzhen, to pass it to Zhaozhao, and suggested she could also attend the banquet in passing ¨C from then until he left, his expression changed many times, all very strange.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen? Evening gown?


    Zhao Xi remembered, Xia Wenqing had also said, ¡°Having the evening gown matter, her attending the banquet wouldn¡¯t seem too abrupt.¡±


    If it were any other time, there would be nothing wrong with this statement. However, he had accidentally observed the two interacting before.


    He didn¡¯t know if he was overthinking, but he always felt Xia Wenqing¡¯s attitude towards Xu Zhenzhen seemed more than ordinary...

 Chapter 315: 313: Automatically Imagine a 100,000-word Essay About the Boss

    Chapter 315: Chapter 313: Automatically Imagine a 100,000-word Essay About the Boss


    And Zhenzhen also found it strange, if it were under normal circumstances when facing someone as rigid as Wenqing, she would have snapped at them in a heartbeat!


    But peculiarly, she never snapped at Wenqing.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s mind seemed to light up in an instant!


    He suddenly looked at Song Sinian with a bit of excitement, ¡°Sir, is it possible that the second young master of the Xia Family likes Zhenzhen?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian suddenly fell silent.


    Because his understanding of the word ¡°like¡± was limited only to Lu Zhaozhao.


    When Zhao Xi said that Wenqing liked Zhenzhen, he could understand the literal meaning.


    But emotionally, he felt nothing.


    So his look toward Zhao Xi seemed to ask, ¡°And then?¡±


    Having followed Song Sinian for so long, Zhao Xi obviously understood what he meant.


    So, he seriously explained again, ¡°It¡¯s just... the second young master of the Xia Family likes Zhenzhen, and it¡¯s very possible that the feeling is mutual, although this is just my personal speculation.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Uh... Sir, you just mentioned that the second young master of the Xia Family had a strange expression just now, could it be that he¡¯s worried you might guess his thoughts?¡± Zhao Xi could only analyze up to this point.


    After all, he was not the person involved, and his thought process was limited.


    Hearing this, Song Sinian understood.


    If Wenqing liked Zhenzhen and Zhenzhen liked Wenqing, then if the two of them were together, they wouldn¡¯t have time to compete with him for Zhaozhao, right?


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Zhao Xi, look into the work in Legal Department and try to get those two together.¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes widened suddenly.


    Was their boss suddenly enlightened?


    Was he actually starting to help his big cousin snag a partner?


    Zhao Xi was incredibly moved, indeed their boss, since marrying his wife, had become more and more like a human with feelings.


    Indeed, their lady boss was the best!


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t see Zhao Xi¡¯s expression and after pondering for a moment, added, ¡°Try to give them chances to be alone.¡±


    ¡°Okay~¡±


    ...


    Meanwhile, Wenqing, who had no idea of the plans being made, had already returned to the office with the gown.


    His gaze lingered on the evening gown on the desk for a moment, then he picked up the desk phone and dialed the internal line.


    ¡°Assistant Xu, could you come here a moment?¡±


    Soon, Zhenzhen pushed the door open and walked in.


    Her gaze casually swept over Wenqing¡¯s figure, and thinking of the recent days they had spent together, Zhenzhen had noticeably relaxed a lot.


    Wenqing was earnest about his work and didn¡¯t make things difficult for her.


    During their last business trip together, he had even shielded her from drinking.


    She always felt that their relationship, compared to that of superior and subordinate, was quite good.


    She was now under the protection of Zhaozhao, so Wenqing would take extra care of her.


    Thinking this way, the woman felt significantly more at peace.


    Perhaps, this was a good thing for her.


    As long as she could see him, she felt every day was wonderful.


    As for the future, she no longer wanted to think about it.


    ¡°Zhenzhen?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhenzhen came back to her senses and finally heard Xia Wenqing calling her.


    She hurriedly looked up, just meeting Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze, ¡°Xia, Second Brother, did you just call me?¡±


    Xia Wenqing nodded, noting Zhenzhen¡¯s distracted demeanor, his brow subtly furrowing, ¡°Zhaozhao is going to attend a banquet soon. Why don¡¯t you go with her? It¡¯s been a long time since you both saw each other.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhenzhen quickly shook off her previous mood, looking a bit excitedly at Xia Wenqing.


    She indeed missed Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenqing nodded and pushed the evening gown on the table forward, ¡°Take this gown to Zhaozhao for me, your evening gown will be delivered to you later.¡±


    He said this with his gaze deliberately lowered, not looking at Zhenzhen.


    He was worried she might refuse.


    After all, an evening gown is a very personal item, and it would be normal if Zhenzhen didn¡¯t accept it.


    The reason he mentioned Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gown to Zhenzhen after talking about hers was to lower her guard.


    If she still had objections, he could only ask Zhaozhao for help again.


    As Xia Wenqing was thinking this, Zhenzhen immediately responded, ¡°Will the evening gown also be picked up here later?¡±


    She had already heard from Zhao Xi that the Song Family and the Xia Family wanted to make Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s identity public soon.


    Announcing it at a joint banquet would definitely be sensational.


    She could hardly wait to see Xia Wenjin¡¯s regretful expression crack.


    A front-row ticket to the drama, how could she miss it!


    Zhenzhen had originally thought that if Song Sinian had not planned on letting her go, she would have applied through Zhao Xi.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenqing took the initiative to bring it up, and she was, of course, willing to accept.


    Xia Wenqing was slightly startled, inadvertently returning the question, ¡°Would you mind choosing it yourself?¡±


    ¡°Uh.. choose it myself?¡±


    As soon as Zhenzhen finished speaking, Xia Wenqing immediately added, ¡°What I mean is, if you go and see for yourself, you should be able to find something more suitable. After all, you¡¯re going to attend with Zhaozhao, you should pick something you like, right? Don¡¯t all girls like to look pretty?¡±


    Hearing Xia Wenqing¡¯s awkward words, Zhenzhen looked at him confusedly, almost bursting out laughing.


    Xia Wenqing was always very formal; it was probably his first time discussing such a feminine item as an evening gown with someone else, no wonder he felt embarrassed.


    Zhenzhen immediately smiled, ¡°No problem, just let me know when the time comes, and I¡¯ll be there at a call!¡±


    Her overly relaxed answer eased Xia Wenqing¡¯s mind significantly.


    He nodded and motioned for Zhenzhen to take the evening gown from the table.


    Zhenzhen stepped forward immediately, hugging the gown in her arms. Just as she turned to leave, she suddenly tripped over the carpet underneath her feet, poised to fall straight forward.


    Xia Wenqing, with quick reflexes, immediately reached out and pulled her back.


    The distance between them closed unusually, a strange atmosphere causing both of them to freeze.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s dark pupils slowly drooped, landing on Zhenzhen¡¯s face that haunted his daydreams and nights; suddenly, the scene that had appeared when he was talking with Xia Wenyan at home flashed across his mind.


    ¡°Young girls nowadays really love this type of high-flown and cool persona.¡±


    ¡°Boss, regardless of the era, is always the ¡®GOAT¡¯ in girls¡¯ hearts.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze slowly lowered, and upon seeing her small, rosy lips, he remembered the feel of her lips when they were abroad.


    ¡°Women...¡±


    He stiffly spit out these two words, embarrassingly cringing enough to bury himself in a three-bedroom apartment.


    Xia Wenqing ultimately couldn¡¯t utter the embarrassing lines Xia Wenyan had said.


    He just gritted his teeth, helped Zhenzhen steady herself, and added with the previous context, ¡°Women, are just trouble.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhenzhen¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Good grief, the way Xia Wenqing had just held her and uttered the word ¡°women.¡±


    In her mind, she had automatically fantasized a 100,000-word fanfiction about their boss romance...

 Chapter 316: 314 But... Shes a Mutt!

    Chapter 316: Chapter 314 But... She¡¯s a Mutt!


    The next second, Xia Wenqing sent her crashing back to reality with a single sentence.


    It made sense, after all, how could someone like Xia Wenqing possibly utter a domineering CEO line?


    Lines that were so tacky and so melodramatic¡ªthere was just no way they could come from Xia Wenqing¡¯s mouth.


    But... she was such a bumpkin!


    She absolutely loved it!!!


    If it weren¡¯t for Xia Wenqing pulling back just in time, she would have nearly screwed everything up.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath, tried to remain calm, nodded at Xia Wenqing, and then turned and ran away.


    Watching Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s retreating figure, Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyebrows knitted together in an instant.


    Thinking back to that scene, Xia Wenqing felt a headache coming on.


    He had once thought that Xu Zhenzhen had feelings for him as well.


    But it had all been his own wishful thinking from start to finish.


    She didn¡¯t even like his type at all.


    Thinking of this, Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes dimmed significantly.


    But if he did as Xia Wenyan had suggested, would Xu Zhenzhen like him?


    In a trance, Xia Wenqing recalled those two lines from the domineering CEO¡¯s script that Xia Wenyan had mentioned.


    His dark eyes narrowed, and he tentatively cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem... Woman, from now on, without my permission...¡±


    ¡°Woman, from now on...¡±


    Ah!!!


    Just let him die! He simply couldn¡¯t utter those words!


    Now, even thinking about that line made him feel like his mouth was burning.


    Irritated, Xia Wenqing scratched his head, thinking he needed to recite the criminal law book a few more times tonight to calm down...


    Previously, Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan had both taken leave, and the final episode of ¡°Dinner Time! Cabin¡± had not been recorded.


    The director had specifically sought out Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan earlier, but both parties had been very non-committal, nearly driving the director to baldness.


    Worried that the last episode would fall through.


    He had already prepared himself to abandon the two stars for the last episode.


    But then, this week, when he went to invite them, both of them coincidentally agreed.


    The director was so excited he almost cried, and immediately informed the other artists without delay.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t have a very heavy role in the drama crew usually, and she tended to nail her scenes in one take.


    With great talent, she also brought popularity and resources.


    She was easy to get along with as long as she wasn¡¯t causing trouble, and the director, hearing that she was going to film the last variety show, considerately gave her a day off.


    Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    Although she was also well-resourced, her performances were quite ordinary, and she liked to throw her weight around on set.


    The director had wanted to kick her out of the crew several times, but given her powerful background, the director had no choice but to shoot if possible, and cut her scenes if not.


    Hearing that Xia Wenjin asked for leave like Lu Zhaozhao, the director had no sooner granted her request to leave the crew than he started instructing the scriptwriter to take the opportunity to cut down Xia Wenjin¡¯s parts in the script.


    Her acting was already awkward, and she couldn¡¯t bring out the highlights of her character; the director didn¡¯t want his reputation ruined by a minor female role.


    Though she might be passable for a newcomer with no acting experience, when compared to Lu Zhaozhao, she was unbearable to watch.


    Xia Wenjin sat resting in the guest room of ¡°Dinner Time! Cabin.¡±


    The morning¡¯s live broadcast had already ended, and everyone was sitting around in groups, taking a break.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s assistant, who was always by her side, placed the cubilose on the table and then glanced at Lu Zhaozhao as if by accident.


    An observant junior assistant commented, ¡°Teacher Xia, your family really dotes on you. Whether on the set or here, someone is always sending you cubilose. It¡¯s clear you¡¯re the treasure of the house.¡±


    Xia Wenjin chuckled lightly, turned her head towards Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan not far away, and lifted her chin slightly, ¡°Yes, my family obviously treats me well, after all, not everyone is so elevated.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brow suddenly twitched, and he looked up at Pei Huai next to him, muttering discontentedly, ¡°Brother Pei, why do I feel like she¡¯s insinuating something about me?¡±


    Pei Huai handed him a cup of water and said indifferently, ¡°Remove ¡®feel like,¡¯ she is insinuating something about you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth twitched.


    He knew that no good words would come from Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth!


    ¡°It¡¯s just eating some cubilose, what¡¯s there to show off about? That¡¯s obviously someone who hasn¡¯t seen much of the world...¡±


    Before coming to record the show, Song Sinian had informed Pei Huai about Xia Wenjin¡¯s poisoning by cubilose.


    Moreover, he had told him about wanting Xia Wenjin and Xiao Jinglan to fight internally.


    Naturally, Pei Huai had to give a good assist here.


    He pretended to be indifferent and said sarcastically, ¡°The brand of cubilose she eats is quite expensive, I heard it¡¯s from her mother-in-law, really generous indeed.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, who was sitting on the side, quietly glanced at Pei Huai with a bit of confusion raising her eyebrows.


    Actually, she had been planning on unleashing some sarcasm when Xia Wenjin ate the cubilose to farm some hatred points.


    She didn¡¯t expect Pei Huai to do it.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was a coincidence, or...


    Lu Zhaozhao paused slightly, then quickly followed Pei Huai¡¯s lead, ¡°Indeed, I didn¡¯t receive such treatment when I married into the Song Family.¡±


    Once Xia Wenyan heard this, he immediately exploded, ¡°Is Xiao Jinglan crazy? Even if she is Song Sinian¡¯s stepmother, she can¡¯t treat you so differently, right?¡±


    ¡°Yanyan, you forgot something, Xiao Mo is a child from Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brother¡¯s family, the relationship is one step removed,¡± Pei Huai reminded softly.


    Now Xia Wenyan was even more incensed.


    He reached out and grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, ¡°We don¡¯t care for that. She¡¯s not Song Sinian¡¯s real mother anyway. With her, there are problems; without her, life goes on. If she dares to give you attitude, we¡¯ll have Mr. Song marry her off!¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    Xia Wenyan really dared to say and think anything.


    Getting Xiao Jinglan married off was indeed... hmm, an interesting idea.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she considered the feasibility of this idea.


    On the side, Xia Wenjin turned from pale to flushed from their conversation, immediately looking ugly, ¡°What do you mean by that? Isn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao without cubilose because she¡¯s unlikable?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s unlikable! Your whole family is unlikable! Tch!¡± As soon as Xia Wenjin finished speaking, Xia Wenyan lashed out at her non-stop.


    Dare to insult his sister? What nonsense!


    Did she even qualify?!


    Xia Wenyan rolled his eyes, not giving her any face.


    He wasn¡¯t on screen now, and even if he cussed, Pei Huai wouldn¡¯t care. Xia Wenyan simply let loose.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Xia Wenyan in his berserk output mode and couldn¡¯t help swallowing hard, feeling that he had been quite reserved towards Xia Wenjin before realizing her true nature.


    She cleared her throat, raised her hand and patted Xia Wenyan¡¯s back, ¡°Fourth brother, don¡¯t bother with those self-righteous people. Maybe she knows how to behave in front of others?¡±


    Xia Wenyan sneered lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! Not once in the past 20 years has there been such a person around her.¡±


    ¡°If we go by what you¡¯re saying, if she can¡¯t get along with people, why would anyone be eager to send her nice things? What¡¯s in it for them? It can¡¯t be just to poison her with good things, can it?¡±

 Chapter 317: 315: Just You?

    Chapter 317: Chapter 315: Just You?


    Lu Zhaozhao responded as if it was unintentional.


    Pei Huai naturally chimed in, ¡°Because she¡¯s the Lu family¡¯s precious daughter, after all, she¡¯s their flesh and blood.¡±


    Xia Wenjin originally just wanted to show off the cubilose, to let Lu Zhaozhao know that Xiao Jinglan only cared about her, and treated her differently.


    It didn¡¯t matter to her whether Lu Zhaozhao cared or not.


    Even if Lu Zhaozhao caused trouble for Xiao Jinglan, that was fine.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenyan to seize the chance to mock her, nor had she imagined that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words would make her feel uneasy.


    Cubilose is poisoned?


    She had never thought that before.


    She didn¡¯t want to marry Xiao Mo, but after all, she was the Lu family¡¯s precious daughter, and Xiao Mo was just an outsider to the Song family.


    His marrying her was definitely marrying up.


    She knew that Xiao Mo and his people still needed to use her reputation to secure a foothold in the Song family, so she was fearless.


    Even if she was caught in bed with Justin, she was still arrogant.


    But she had never considered that Xiao Jinglan might poison her cubilose.


    Xia Wenjin looked at the cubilose in front of her and suddenly lost all appetite.


    She knew the likelihood of Xiao Jinglan poisoning her was not high, but... what if?


    Xia Wenjin stood up abruptly, giving Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan a disdainful glance, ¡°In front of all of you, I really have no appetite.¡±


    Having said this, she turned to her assistant, ¡°Take my things to my resting room.¡±


    As she spoke, she left.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew that Xia Wenjin was deeply troubled and didn¡¯t need her to say much; just a hint of suspicion would be enough to make her trace things back to their source.


    Not to mention that she already harbored a grudge against Xiao Jinglan.


    How could she not become suspicious?


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t have many connections, and since she couldn¡¯t let Xiao Jinglan find out about testing the cubilose, she had no choice but to ask her assistant to take care of it.


    She repeatedly cautioned the assistant that no one should discover this, threatening to hold her responsible should it get out, before feeling reassured. She had her pretend to go shopping while sending the items for testing.


    Unfortunately, what Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know was that as soon as her assistant left, they handed over the items to An Ying, a subordinate of Pei Huai...


    Because of the cubilose incident, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off, so after attending ¡°Eat, Cabin!¡± that night, she headed straight back to her villa.


    As soon as she entered, she saw Xiao Mo.


    Her eyebrows furrowed, intending to avoid him, but the man charged straight towards her.


    Before she could react, he slapped her across the face.


    Xia Wenjin was completely stunned.


    She glared furiously at Xiao Mo, ¡°Have you gone mad?! Why did you hit me?!¡±


    ¡°Why my brother hit you, do you really not understand in your heart?¡± Suddenly, a familiar mocking voice came from the side.


    Xia Wenjin then saw clearly that the one speaking was Song Keren.


    Seeing the smug look in her eyes, Xia Wenjin understood almost instantly.


    Song Keren had told Xiao Mo about her affair with Justin.


    Otherwise, this man wouldn¡¯t have gone crazy.


    But right now, she clenched her teeth and decided not to admit anything.


    She, covering her swollen face, glared at the two, ¡°Why should I understand? Just because both of you are sick?¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s eyes instantly widened, and she kicked toward Xia Wenjin¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°Ugh! Xia Wenjin, you slut! You seduced my husband and went to a hotel to sleep with him, do you think this matter is over?!¡±


    She sneered at Xia Wenjin, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, I was worried that your divorce would affect my brother and Lu Family¡¯s relationship, but now...ha! Lu Family is finished!¡±


    In the afternoon, core members of Lu Group anonymously exposed that Lu Group¡¯s financial chain had broken and all their mining veins were worthless.


    The news exploded all over the news rankings.


    Then, other well-informed individuals also followed suit to twist the knife.


    Companies that had been offended by Lu Family when they boasted about striking the veins also took the opportunity to kick them while they were down.


    Companies involved with Lu Group were distancing themselves left and right.


    It could be said that the more glorious Lu Group had been before, the more miserable they were now.


    Song Keren thought of Xia Wenjin¡¯s previously arrogant demeanor and knew that Mr. and Mrs. Lu were no good either.


    Xiao Jinglan had previously refrained from making a scene with Song Keren because Xia Wenjin was the precious daughter of the Lu Family and if they tangled, Justin might divorce Song Keren to marry Xia Wenjin because of her status.


    But now that the Lu Family was ruined, Xia Wenjin¡¯s status wasn¡¯t even as good as Song Keren¡¯s.


    So she naturally had nothing to worry about and of course, she harbored vengeance for Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenjin, hearing Song Keren¡¯s words, was clearly stunned, ¡°What did you say? What¡¯s finished?¡±


    She had only been out for an afternoon, so how could the Lu Group be finished?


    Xia Wenjin was about to use her phone to ask Cao Mei, but in the next second, her hair was grabbed tightly by Xiao Mo, who dragged her upstairs.


    Xia Wenjin, in pain, tried to scratch at Xiao Mo, but then his slap landed on her face again.


    He hit her very hard, nearly knocking her out with a slap.


    Xia Wenjin gritted her teeth and thought of Xiao Mo¡¯s perverted preferences, fearing what he might do next, ¡°What are you going to do to me?! Be careful, I¡¯ll call the police! In the end, we¡¯ll both go down together!¡±


    Xiao Mo, hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, kicked her aside again, and Xia Wenjin curled up in pain.


    Looking at Xiao Mo¡¯s bloodthirsty eyes, she felt like she was about to die in the next second.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes, already filled with anger, stared at her as if bloodshot.


    Remembering that Song Keren told him Xia Wenjin had cuckolded him, he wanted nothing more than to kill her.


    He indeed didn¡¯t like Xia Wenjin, but that didn¡¯t mean he enjoyed being cuckolded!


    Xiao Mo stepped closer to Xia Wenjin and grabbed her hair tightly, pulling her head down forcefully so she had to look up, ¡°You still have the face to threaten me? You wretch, if you dare to utter a word, I¡¯ll get someone to release all those photos and videos of you, and then we¡¯ll see how you¡¯ll live!¡±


    The bankruptcy of Lu Group was earth-shattering for Xia Wenjin.


    Her image as a wealthy heiress was destroyed with the sex photo scandal, and she was finished in the Shangjing Circle.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t want to end up in ruin.


    She hastily reached out to grab Xiao Mo, pleading, ¡°Xiao Mo, I was wrong, please be magnanimous and forgive me, I¡¯ll never dare again, my... my contact with Justin was just to deal with Lu Zhaozhao...¡±


    She was desperately trying to find a way out, seeking Xiao Mo¡¯s mercy.


    Xiao Mo sneered looking at Xia Wenjin, ¡°You think you¡¯re fit to deal with Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Such a dazzling woman would belong to him after getting rid of Song Sinian; he couldn¡¯t allow any mishaps!


    But seeing Xia Wenjin in her current state, Xiao Mo suddenly had an interesting idea...

 Chapter 318: 316: Are You Planning to Go Back on Your Word?

    Chapter 318: Chapter 316: Are You Planning to Go Back on Your Word?


    Xia Wenjin had already been bewildered by Xiao Mo, and she didn¡¯t even dare to talk back in the face of his ridicule.


    Xiao Mo stared at Xia Wenjin with a sinister gaze, ¡°If you really want to see Lu Zhaozhao hit rock bottom, how about I teach you a good method?¡±


    ¡°What... what method...¡± Xia Wenjin took a deep breath, struggling to endure the pain in her belly.


    As long as she could hold on now, she would find a way to break free from Xiao Mo once she met Justin.


    She tried her best to put on a pleasing expression, hoping that he wouldn¡¯t hold it against her any longer.


    But how could such a trivial ruse escape Xiao Mo¡¯s notice?


    He sneered coldly, grabbed her hair, and dragged her towards the second floor, ¡°The method will naturally come after you have accepted your punishment.¡±


    Xia Wenjin went insane immediately.


    She knew all too well what was in that room on the second floor.


    Usually, Xiao Mo would still pay attention to her going out and would not be too rough, but she had many injuries on her body as well.


    But now, she felt that Xiao Mo had gone completely mad.


    If she got dragged upstairs by Xiao Mo, she would definitely be beaten to within an inch of her life.


    Just thinking about this, Xia Wenjin clung tightly to the banister, refusing to go upstairs no matter what.


    Xiao Mo had never had much patience with Xia Wenjin in the first place, and he went up and punched her face twice, leaving her completely powerless to fight back.


    Then, he dragged her upstairs like a dead dog.


    Song Keren watched everything happening in the living room, her lips curling up involuntarily.


    The humiliation she had been swallowing these days seemed to dissipate in an instant.


    She had known about Xiao Mo¡¯s perverse hobbies, but since his victims weren¡¯t her, she didn¡¯t particularly care.


    Moreover, Xiao Mo was now venting for her, which made her even more thrilled.


    Song Keren waved at her bodyguards, signaling them to push the wheelchair behind her.


    One of her legs was already injured.


    The last time, because of a fight with Xia Wenjin, even her cast had cracked.


    She had no choice but to make another trip to the hospital.


    Just now, seeing Xia Wenjin in that state, she kicked out in hatred; thankfully, she switched feet before kicking, otherwise, she would need another hospital visit.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, off to the bar, we¡¯re not coming back until we¡¯re drunk!¡±


    Xia Wenjin was at a disadvantage, so of course, she had to celebrate properly!


    But she didn¡¯t get to feel smug for long; the car had just driven into the tunnel when it was stopped by a group of strangers.


    She didn¡¯t even have time to resist before she and the two bodyguards were knocked out with chemicals.


    The strangers quickly packed up the bodyguards and Song Keren into the car.


    Not long after, Pei Huai¡¯s phone suddenly vibrated.


    He glanced at it, tapped a few characters on it, sent the message, then put down the phone again.


    He looked up at Song Sinian, who was sitting across from him, and said indifferently, ¡°We agreed earlier, I would be the one to deal with them. Are you thinking of reneging?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Pei Huai expressionlessly, ¡°When do you plan to deal with it?¡±


    He didn¡¯t think Pei Huai would let Song Keren off the hook, after all, he had said before that he was reborn just to protect Xia Wenyan.


    Now that Xia Wenyan was being threatened, it was reasonable for Pei Huai to take action.


    But he was taking too long.


    Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren were still fine.


    He was a bit annoyed.


    ¡°Whoever¡¯s wife, they cherish the most.¡±


    When he thought about how those two women had schemed against Lu Zhaozhao, he felt a surge of anger, wishing he could have dealt with them both on the spot.


    Pei Huai tapped on the phone in his hand, and when his gaze shifted back to Song Sinian, he suddenly cracked a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking at just the right time, I happen to have a stack of real-time photos, want to take a look?¡±


    Saying this, he placed the phone onto the table and casually slid it over.


    Song Sinian, not knowing what to expect, lifted his hand to unlock the phone. When he saw the pictures of Song Keren with barely any clothes left on her, it was as if he¡¯d been scalded, and he quickly withdrew his fingers.


    He glared at Pei Huai with furious eyes, as if he was about to kill him with a look.


    Seeing Song Sinian¡¯s reaction, Pei Huai¡¯s expression darkened as well, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You don¡¯t like seeing me use these tactics? Fair enough, after all, Song Keren used to be your half-sister...¡±


    He had seen too much filth in his previous life, and when he saw Song Sinian¡¯s face change, he almost instinctively assumed Song Sinian was going to oppose him.


    Almost instinctively, he became hostile towards Song Sinian.


    ¡°Are you sick in the head?¡± Song Sinian looked coldly at Pei Huai, ¡°Why do you insist on showing me these filthy things? Can¡¯t you just explain with words?¡±


    He looked as if he¡¯d seen something disgusting, wishing he could gouge out his very eyes, which made Pei Huai pause in surprise.


    It was only in a moment of distraction that he remembered Song Sinian was a freak who, besides Lu Zhaozhao, loved no one else.


    Although he hadn¡¯t been reborn, he had the same severe fixation on his other half as Pei Huai did.


    How could such a person care about anyone else?


    Thinking this, Pei Huai suddenly laughed at himself, sardonically.


    He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, ¡°Sorry, sorry, I didn¡¯t expect such a strong reaction from you. I was just trying to joke, my apologies.¡±


    He saw that Song Sinian¡¯s gaze was still unfriendly, and continued, ¡°I guarantee the next thing that happens will also please your family¡¯s Lu Zhaozhao, how about that?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t respond, but the atmosphere in the room had noticeably improved from before.


    Indeed, mentioning Lu Zhaozhao always worked.


    Song Sinian stared at him as if to say, ¡°What do you plan to do?¡±


    Pei Huai picked up the phone, used a burner number, and sent all the photos to Xiao Jinglan.


    If two people had hurt Xia Wenyan, why should only one bear the burden?


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed, and as his gaze lingered over the photographs in his hand, a shadow of malevolence crossed his face.


    The game had just begun; the two of you better hang in there...


    In the evening, just after finishing shooting, Lu Zhaozhao received a call from Song Sinian.


    She was a bit puzzled as to why Song Sinian would take the initiative to call her.


    Usually, he worried about interrupting her filming and would wait for her messages saying she was heading back to the hotel before calling her.


    Could something have happened?


    This thought made Lu Zhaozhao connect the call immediately, ¡°Hello? Mr. Song?¡±


    Her voice carried an uncommon nervousness, ¡°Nothing¡¯s happened on your end, has it?¡±


    Upon hearing her, Song Sinian paused, then seemed to understand her concern.


    He chuckled softly, his tone much gentler than before, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just wanted to ask if you wanted to see some excitement today, do you?¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Lu Zhaozhao was speechless from Song Sinian¡¯s approach.


    Their family¡¯s Mr. Song was calling her just to enjoy some drama?


    She pressed her fingers to her temples, unable to help but wonder if their family¡¯s Mr. Song had hit a rebellious phase.


    While she was still confused, the voice from the other end of the phone spoke up again, ¡°It¡¯s related to Xiao Jinglan, want to see?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to respond but quickly changed her tune, ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Where?!¡±

 Chapter 319: 317: One after another with wolfs hearts and dogs lungs!

    Chapter 319: Chapter 317: One after another with wolf¡¯s hearts and dog¡¯s lungs!


    Her excited tone made Song Sinian involuntarily chuckle softly in his ear.


    He was becoming increasingly attuned to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotions and discovered that as long as she was happy, his mood would also improve.


    He found this feeling particularly pleasant.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way to pick you up now; wait for me at the entrance of the set,¡± he said.


    After he finished speaking, he hung up the phone.


    Soon, Lu Zhaozhao was sitting in Song Sinian¡¯s car.


    Because of what Song Sinian had said earlier, Lu Zhaozhao was all abuzz with gossip, her face brimming with excitement as she looked at him.


    Song Sinian felt his cheeks start to burn under her gaze, and finally, he slowly said, ¡°Xiao Jinglan has been hospitalized. It¡¯s said to be due to a fit of rage leading to an urgent situation, and she¡¯s been rushed to the hospital for rescue.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly widened even more, ¡°Xiao Jinglan was hospitalized due to anger? Was it Xia Wenjin¡¯s doing?¡±


    She could think of no one else.


    After all, she had just recently confided to her about the issue with the cubilose.


    It wasn¡¯t impossible that she would confront Xiao Jinglan and cause a scene.


    But to have actually angered Xiao Jinglan to the point of hospitalization...


    That was beyond her expectations.


    Song Sinian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and gently shook his head, ¡°It wasn¡¯t Xia Wenjin; it was Song Keren.¡±


    He did not tell Lu Zhaozhao about Pei Huai¡¯s shenanigans.


    He didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to know too much about the dirty business; those matters were best left to them ¡®big masters¡¯ to handle.


    His treasure just needed to stay safe and sound.


    Lu Zhaozhao, who was already keen to watch Xiao Jinglan¡¯s spectacle, became even more excited upon hearing that Song Keren was the main instigator.


    So, in the car, Song Sinian simply disclosed part of the situation to her.


    She listened with rapt attention, suddenly feeling a bit eager to see just what kind of end the heart-playing Xiao Jinglan from her past life met with.


    When Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian arrived at the hospital, Xiao Jinglan had already been admitted for a full day and night.


    The doctors had pulled her back from the brink, and she was now resting in a VIP ward.


    By this time, quite a few people had already arrived in the ward.


    Apart from Old Master Song, Xiao Mo and Justin were both present.


    However, there was no sign of Xia Wenjin or Song Keren.


    It made sense for Song Keren not to come to the hospital, but what about Xia Wenjin?


    She hadn¡¯t come to the set that morning and was reported to have taken a week off.


    When she heard from Song Sinian in the car that Xiao Jinglan had collapsed, she thought Xia Wenjin was planning to kick her while she was down.


    It would have been paying Xiao Jinglan back in her own coin.


    She never expected Xia Wenjin not to show up at all.


    Old Master Song saw Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian and patted her hand, ¡°Zhaozhao, why did you come?¡±


    He was well aware of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s poor treatment of Lu Zhaozhao.


    If Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t on her last legs, he, as an elder, wouldn¡¯t have set foot in the hospital.


    But with the presence of Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao, he found it rather absurd.


    After all... Song Sinian detested Xiao Jinglan so much.


    So why did the two come?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes gleamed as she looked at Old Master Song and, feigning concern, said, ¡°Mrs. Xiao Jinglan is still an elder, and it¡¯s only proper for me as a junior to come and see how she is.¡±


    Mainly, to watch the commotion.


    Mr. Song immediately understood her intention.


    But he nodded seriously, ¡°It¡¯s really you who has the filial piety to come to visit in the hospital, and to look in on Song Keren and Xia Wenjin. Neither of them is even showing their shadow, hmph. A bunch of ungrateful wretches!¡±


    Mr. Song would have been better off not mentioning it, because as soon as he did, both Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help coughing.


    Xia Wenjin had been beaten by Xiao Mo so badly that she couldn¡¯t leave the house, and Song Keren had been ruined by someone else to the point where she couldn¡¯t show her face in public.


    Neither of them could appear.


    If Mr. Song suddenly asked for them to come to the hospital, their charade would inevitably fall through.


    Just as Xiao Mo was planning to make up excuses for Song Keren and Xia Wenjin, the door to the hospital room was suddenly knocked on again.


    In an instant, everyone¡¯s attention concentrated on the door to the room.


    To Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s surprise, the person who entered was actually Xia Wenjin.


    She had thought the conflict between them was enough to turn them against each other, yet Xia Wenjin had come to see Xiao Jinglan.


    But then again, she thought, she also came to the hospital, only to gloat over the misfortune.


    Why couldn¡¯t Xia Wenjin come?


    Compared to Lu Zhaozhao, the person more shocked was Xiao Mo.


    He had beaten her severely yesterday after learning that Xia Wenjin had cuckolded him.


    He didn¡¯t leave her with any dignity.


    She should be in no state to even crawl, let alone come to the hospital.


    Seeing her with sunglasses and a mask, Xiao Mo¡¯s face grew even uglier.


    He stared at Xia Wenjin warily, fearful that she would cause trouble in front of Old Master Song.


    Xia Wenjin glanced at the people inside the room and tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°I came to bring food for Aunt Xiao.¡±


    As she spoke, she showed the thermal container she was holding to Xiao Mo.


    Seeing that her movements were not very stable, Xiao Mo could only walk over and lightly support her with his hand.


    However, because of Xia Wenjin¡¯s ¡°awareness of the times¡± attitude, Xiao Mo¡¯s alertness towards her lessened considerably.


    He took the thermal container from Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand, looking like a perfect gentleman.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched their display of ¡°affection¡± and couldn¡¯t help but feel her stomach churn.


    If only Xia Wenjin could use her current acting skills in a film set, she wouldn¡¯t be so spurned by directors.


    As for Xiao Mo, he was thoroughly disgusting from beginning to end.


    Old Master Song glanced at the two of them and said coldly, ¡°Why have you only just arrived now? Where is Song Keren?¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded at Old Master Song, ¡°Keren¡¯s legs aren¡¯t convenient, so she let me come first.¡±


    Speaking, she pushed the sunglasses on her face and added, ¡°I ran into quite a few fans on the way here, so I had to cover up completely.¡±


    Her words completely relaxed Xiao Mo¡¯s nervous heart, and he took the opportunity to say, ¡°There¡¯s enough of me here at the hospital, you¡¯ve been working hard filming; go home early later.¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t decline either, obediently nodding her head.


    Mr. Song saw how harmoniously they behaved, completely disbelieving.


    However, considering that Lu Group had already fallen, and Xia Wenjin was being so obedient and submissive, it wasn¡¯t entirely out of the question.


    Old Master Song waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯m old and can¡¯t endure much trouble, you young people take good care of her.¡±


    After saying this, his gaze turned to Xiao Jinglan, asking, ¡°My servant said that you passed out at home with a phone in your hand, what exactly happened?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face turned pale then flush, thinking about those photos she received, Xiao Jinglan nearly vomited all the blood in her body.


    She had never considered the consequences when dealing with others, but when the same method was used on her daughter, she felt like the sky was falling.


    Under no circumstances could Xiao Jinglan tell Mr. Song the truth.


    If Justin knew that Song Keren was violated and that there were so many photos and videos taken, her status as the wife of the regional vice president of XJ Group would be gone, she couldn¡¯t speak!

 Chapter 320: 318 How Did You Come Back?

    Chapter 320: Chapter 318 How Did You Come Back?


    Xiao Jinglan tugged at the corners of her mouth, ¡°I, I suddenly felt unwell and wanted to call an ambulance, but as soon as I took out my phone, I passed out.¡±


    Mr. Song frowned, ¡°So young and already with so many ailments, once you recover, you should go to Songhai to recuperate.¡±


    Songhai?!


    Hearing this, Xiao Jinglan was shocked.


    Although Songhai was a healing resort, it was as far away from Shangjing as heaven is from earth.


    If she agreed, it would be the same as being exiled.


    Xiao Jinglan hastened to refuse, ¡°No need, Old Master, I¡¯m still very healthy, truly, this is just temporary.¡±


    She feared that if she spoke any slower, Old Master Song would really send her away.


    Were it not for the various medical instruments attached to her, she would have struggled to get out of bed this instant and walked a few steps to prove her health to Old Master Song.


    How could Old Master Song not see what she was thinking?


    He waved his hand and said, ¡°Alright, alright, you young people handle it yourselves. I¡¯m old.¡±


    Saying this, he turned to Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Alright, the patient has been visited, come back home with this old man.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded and reached out to pull over Song Sinian.


    She was here just to revel in the drama. Seeing Xiao Jinglan looking miserable in bed, scared to the point of springing like a carp by Old Master Song.


    She almost couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing.


    What surprised Lu Zhaozhao even more was Xia Wenjin, because in the lunchbox they just opened, Lu Zhaozhao spotted the same type of cubilose that Xia Wenjin had.


    Tsk tsk... no wonder Xia Wenjin was so keen on delivering meals to Xiao Jinglan.


    The drunkard¡¯s interest is not in the wine.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly looked forward to the expression on their faces when they would discover the truth.


    The poisoned cubilose, although Xia Wenjin would not eat it anymore, the damage it caused to her body would never heal.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s health was getting worse, and she estimated it wouldn¡¯t be long before she discovered that the cubilose she ate was tampered with.


    By then, even if she wanted to struggle, it would be too late.


    The most dangerous are those who are desperate.


    Previously, she was worried that Xiao Jinglan discovering that the cubilose she ate was switched would be detrimental to Song Sinian.


    Now with Xia Wenjin acting the fool and taking the heat, there was no reason not to use him...


    Soon, only Xiao Mo, Xia Wenjin, and Xiao Jinglan were left in the hospital room.


    Xiao Jinglan was already furious, and seeing Xia Wenjin only added fuel to her fire.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Xiao Mo focusing on hitting Xia Wenjin yesterday, Song Keren wouldn¡¯t have been overly excited and gone out.


    If she hadn¡¯t gone out, she wouldn¡¯t have been schemed against, nor would such a ghastly incident have occurred.


    She gave Xia Wenjin a cold look, ¡°If you have nothing to do, then go back. Stop wandering around outside.¡±


    If people saw her face that had been beaten, it would still disadvantage Xiao Mo.


    Xia Wenjin nodded, pretended to be obedient, and pushed the door to leave.


    She had come to the hospital to see Xiao Jinglan¡¯s miserable state and incidentally return the poisoned cubilose she had given her.


    She had received the toxicology test results of the cubilose last night.


    The conclusion was more shocking than Xiao Mo¡¯s physical attack.


    The damage to the organs caused by the poison is irreversible!


    More importantly, she saw that the concentration of poison in the cubilose was extremely high!


    Xiao Jinglan had been intent on poisoning her from the start!


    Since her body couldn¡¯t recover from the injury, Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t get off easy either!


    She wanted Xiao Jinglan to taste her own medicine!


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin left the hospital room on her own, but when she reached downstairs, she realized she had left her car keys in the room.


    She didn¡¯t want to see Xiao Mo, the beating from yesterday made her repulsed by him both physically and mentally.


    But without the car keys, she had only the option to take a taxi home.


    Thinking about her bruised face, Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow furrowed instantly.


    She gritted her teeth and, with reluctance, went back to the hospital room.


    Taking a deep breath, she was just about to push open the slightly ajar door when she heard Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice from inside.


    ¡°You heard just now, that damn old man wants to send me away, and now the board members supporting us are hesitating. You better think of something fast, otherwise we¡¯ll soon be driven out by that damn old man.¡±


    The more Xiao Jinglan thought about it, the angrier she got, and she couldn¡¯t help but grit her teeth in frustration, ¡°Clearly, you are the eldest son of the Song Family, everything should rightfully be yours, all because of that damn Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    Since she married into the Song Family, things had been thrown into chaos!


    First, it was her being stripped of power because of that wretched girl, and Song Keren also being disfavored by Old Master Song because of her, even becoming the laughingstock among the Shangjing high society ladies.


    Xiao Mo glanced at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your haste in pulling down Lu Zhaozhao with Song Keren back then, you wouldn¡¯t have been disfavored by the old master.¡±


    Everyone knew that Sinian was the apple of Mr. Song¡¯s eye.


    And Sinian, who was close to no one else, was only close to Zhaozhao.


    Because of Zhaozhao, Sinian had even started visiting the Song Family more often than before, and she inadvertently saved Old Master Song.


    How could he not like her?


    It was Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren¡¯s foolishness that failed to successfully conspire against her, even implicating him in the process.


    Xiao Jinglan knew she was in the wrong, but still couldn¡¯t help retorting, ¡°How was I supposed to know Zhaozhao was so cunning...¡±


    Xiao Mo frowned, ¡°Enough, things are already like this, just talk less.¡±


    Outside the hospital room, Xia Wenjin stood at the door, utterly shocked.


    Xiao Mo was actually a child of the Song Family?!


    No wonder Xiao Jinglan was so arrogant.


    Digesting this news, and thinking of the lucrative prospect of the Song Group, Xia Wenjin¡¯s spirits instantly lifted.


    If the Song Family lost Sinian, then Xiao Mo would be the next heir.


    Even if Old Master Song was reluctant to acknowledge it, the Song Family had no direct descendants left.


    He had no choice but to admit it!


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists secretly, resolving that if she could get rid of Sinian, she would become the future Mrs. President of the Song Group.


    With these thoughts, she listened until there was no more movement inside the room, then finally knocked on the door.


    Xiao Mo opened the door and glanced at Xia Wenjin, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Why have you come back?¡±


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, though her mouth was obscured by the mask, so Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t see it.


    ¡°I came back for my car keys, they are on the table in the room.¡± She slowly lowered the sunglasses she had on, giving Xiao Mo a pitiful look.


    If this man was destined to be the president of the Song Family Group, then she absolutely had to make a good impression on him.


    Xiao Mo looked at Xia Wenjin with disgust but still went inside to get her the car keys.


    Just as he was about to turn back, Xia Wenjin grabbed him abruptly, ¡°Xiao Mo, I meant what I said yesterday. I know I was wrong. I won¡¯t secretly meet Justin anymore, and from now on, I¡¯ll listen to you, I¡¯ll be a good wife...¡±

 Chapter 321: 319: How Could He Not Believe?

    Chapter 321: Chapter 319: How Could He Not Believe?


    She said, and with a gentle shake of the arm she was holding, ¡°Do you believe me, please?¡±


    A complex emotion flitted across Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes.


    If it were not for the pressure from Old Master Song, he wouldn¡¯t want a woman like Xia Wenjin.


    To him, she was merely an outlet for his frustrations, and it didn¡¯t matter if she had been used by others.


    As a man, he naturally liked the compliments and submission expressed by a woman.


    But as for her continuing to be his wife in the future?


    Ha!


    How could she have the audacity to ask for such a thing?


    If he were to marry, he would only marry someone as dazzling and bewitching as Lu Zhaozhao.


    Not to mention, she was smart, and her family background wasn¡¯t bad either.


    She brought good fortune to her husband.


    Who wouldn¡¯t like a woman like that?


    He glanced at Xia Wenjin and said indifferently, ¡°We¡¯ll see how you perform.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I will definitely show you how I¡¯ve changed!¡± Xia Wenjin looked at him with eyes full of hope, as if he were the love of her life.


    Xiao Mo gave her an indifferent glance and entered the ward without much expression.


    The moment the door shut, the expression on Xia Wenjin¡¯s face vanished.


    She actually wasn¡¯t worried about Xiao Mo divorcing her after ascending to a higher position.


    Because the more prominent a person was, the more they cared about their reputation.


    Once she dealt with Xiao Jinglan, she would find a way to kill Song Keren later on.


    She had plenty of methods to make Xiao Mo unable to leave her!


    So what if the Lu Family went bankrupt?


    She would still rise to the top on her own merits!


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin took her car keys and left.


    Her phone in her pocket suddenly vibrated. Xia Wenjin took it out to look.


    Seeing the name on the screen, she decisively hung up the call.


    Meanwhile, on the other end of the phone, Lu Dagui¡¯s face looked particularly unsightly.


    ¡°This wretched girl actually hung up on me?!¡±


    Lu Dagui stared at his phone in disbelief, listening to the cold voice of the automated service, ¡°Sorry, the user you are dialing is currently unavailable.¡±


    After the news of the Lu Group¡¯s financial chain breaking, Lu Dagui¡¯s phone had been bombarded with calls.


    At first, he had patiently answered calls and explained, but later on, he simply stopped taking them.


    Luckily, he used different phones for work and personal life; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able to make calls on this phone either.


    Cao Mei, seeing Lu Dagui¡¯s extreme irritability, cautiously soothed him, ¡°Maybe Jin is busy.¡±


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t been home recently because she was said to be joining a film crew, so Lu Dagui and Cao Mei came directly to the film base.


    They knew the only way to help the Lu Group out of trouble was to ask Justin for assistance, but they weren¡¯t acquainted with him.


    Therefore, they had to seek out Xia Wenjin.


    Moreover, since Xia Wenjin had entered the industry, she had obtained quite a few endorsements and probably had a good amount of money in hand.


    Even though this money was but a drop in the bucket for the Lu Group, it should at least temporarily appease his business partners.


    Lu Dagui frowned, ¡°Busy? What is she busy with? It¡¯s just a role in a film. Does she not even have time to see her own parents?¡±


    He grew more irate the more he thought about it, recalling how many people were saying Xia Wenjin was a calamity when he initially didn¡¯t care much.


    But as the Lu Family¡¯s misfortunes piled up, how could he not believe it?


    Moreover, Ever since Xiao Mo married Xia Wenjin, he was directly disowned by Old Master Song in public, and soon after, Xiao Jinglan fell ill and was hospitalized.


    He was more and more suspicious that Xia Wenjin was meant to ruin him.


    Indeed, he should never have agreed to that woman¡¯s demand in the first place, or else he wouldn¡¯t have left this ticking time bomb around for so long.


    Or perhaps... if he had refused when he found out Xia Wenjin was returning, what would the Lu Family¡¯s situation be like?


    Lu Dagui squinted his eyes, deeply in thought, when Cao Mei suddenly patted him, ¡°Sir, do you think that person over there is Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    They had been waiting at the film studio for Xia Wenjin to show up, but instead, they encountered Lu Zhaozhao, who had returned by car.


    Was she here filming as well?


    Thinking this, Lu Dagui followed by Cao Mei, walked over to her.


    ¡°Zhaozhao!¡±


    Cao Mei called out to her first.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, and as soon as she turned around, she saw Mr. and Mrs. Lu.


    She arched her eyebrows slightly, looking at them with puzzlement, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    She was of course aware of the Lu Group¡¯s financial crisis that was making noise on the internet, but she didn¡¯t want to bring it up proactively.


    She originally planned to go straight home after returning from the hospital with Song Sinian but then remembered she had left something in the production crew, so she decided to stay at a hotel near the film set with Song Sinian for the night.


    She had Song Sinian go back to the hotel first, while Zhao Xi took her to the crew.


    She had not expected to run into Lu Dagui and Cao Mei here.


    Cao Mei, because of what happened before, still held some hope for Lu Zhaozhao, so her tone was much softer when speaking to her.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, your dad and I came here looking for Jin. We heard she was filming with the crew and didn¡¯t expect to find you together.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked, ¡°Xia Wenjin should be at her own home right now. I saw her just now when I visited Xiao Jinglan at the hospital. If you¡¯re looking for her, you can go to her place.¡±


    Hearing the name ¡°Xiao Jinglan,¡± a complex emotion clearly flickered in the depths of Cao Mei¡¯s eyes.


    She knew exactly how Xiao Jinglan had targeted Lu Zhaozhao in the Song Mansion previously.


    Unbelievably, after this woman fell ill, Lu Zhaozhao actually went to visit her.


    She couldn¡¯t tell whether Xiao Jinglan was that good at disguising, or Lu Zhaozhao bore no grudges...


    As Cao Mei thought this, her gaze involuntarily shifted to Lu Zhaozhao, her regret deepening.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, could you perhaps ask President Song for help? Your mother is begging you...¡± Cao Mei couldn¡¯t help but plead with Lu Zhaozhao.


    In the past, Lu Zhaozhao would always be obedient, no matter what she said.


    Even if she wouldn¡¯t listen now, wouldn¡¯t she soften at the sight of her living poorly?


    She had raised this child for so many years, understanding her kind heart and good temper...


    Lu Zhaozhao stepped back as she heard the plea, widening the distance between her and Cao Mei, ¡°Sorry, I have no relation to the Lu Family anymore, and my husband probably wouldn¡¯t like me associating with you.¡±


    She paused, then added, ¡°I also don¡¯t want to make my current parents unhappy, so please don¡¯t mention this again.¡±


    Lu Dagui initially didn¡¯t want to get involved, believing that with Cao Mei there playing the pity card, they could somehow soften Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart.


    But he hadn¡¯t expected her to be so heartless when she spoke.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, we raised you for 20 years, is this how you treat your foster parents?!¡± Lu Dagui glared at Lu Zhaozhao, looking utterly heartbroken.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt incredibly disgusted.


    How could he distort the truth after committing so many reprehensible acts?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze swept over Lu Dagui and Cao Mei, her tone chilly¡ª

 Chapter 322: 320: Do You Have Another Dog Outside?!

    Chapter 322: Chapter 320: Do You Have Another Dog Outside?!


    ¡°Am I not acting just as you taught me before? I was to obey my parents at home, and to obey my husband after getting married. You are no longer my parents, and we have no relationship, so I don¡¯t understand why I should still agree to your demands.¡±


    She spoke every sentence that stabbed deeply into Mr. and Mrs. Lu¡¯s hearts.


    Leaving them speechless.


    These were indeed the teachings Cao Mei and Lu Dagui had always used to make Lu Zhaozhao obedient.


    But who knew she would be acknowledged by her biological parents?


    Zhao Xi, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, watched Lu Zhaozhao face both of them alone and couldn¡¯t help but applaud her silently.


    Indeed, she was their Mr.¡¯s wife, striking right at the heart with a single sentence.


    Not only did she use their past lessons to block their demands, but she also made them regret having once driven her out of the Lu Family.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s implication seemed to be telling them that if she hadn¡¯t left the Lu Family, she would still be their obedient daughter, always listening to them.


    She would have agreed to any of their requests.


    A mortal blow to the heart.


    Lu Zhaozhao saw Cao Mei and Lu Dagui¡¯s expressions turn very ugly, recalling how Xia Wenjin had always tried to poison Mr. and Mrs. Lu against her.


    Suddenly, she entertained the idea of giving them a taste of their own medicine.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed lightly, ¡°I never thought that the parents who raised me for twenty years would dislike me so much; initially, my parents wanted to visit the Lu family, but I never expected things would end up like this...¡±


    Cao Mei and Lu Dagui were briefly stunned, then they heard her ask, ¡°What terrible things had I done in the past?¡±


    Both of them carefully thought about it and indeed found nothing; they had always known that Lu Zhaozhao was not their biological daughter, hence the scant affection.


    It was after Xia Wenjin returned home and assertively claimed that the Xia Family was mistreating her that they decided to retaliate in kind.


    ¡°Ah! If there hadn¡¯t been any misunderstanding, perhaps our three families could have gotten along well, what a pity...¡±


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao finished speaking, Cao Mei quickly took over, ¡°We can still get along well now, our three families...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible now, my parents are very angry about the past, and Mr. Song, even more so, which is why...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice trailed off toward the end.


    She looked directly at them for a moment, then continued, ¡°I have other matters to attend to, so I won¡¯t keep you any longer.¡±


    With that, she left without looking back.


    Cao Mei watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s departing figure, sinking dejectedly to the ground.


    She always felt that things shouldn¡¯t be like this.


    Although the Lu Family hadn¡¯t been extremely wealthy before, they had a reputable name in the Shangjing Circle.


    Even buoyed by the support of the Song Family, they had been prominent in the Shangjing Circle for a time.


    But when exactly did the Lu Family begin its decline?


    Was it since Xia Wenjin returned?


    Lu Dagui glanced at Cao Mei sitting on the ground and said disgustedly, ¡°Won¡¯t you stand up, waiting to be laughed at by others?¡±


    ¡°Sir, since Zhaozhao won¡¯t help us, what should we do?¡± Cao Mei, confused by recent debt-collection calls, was somewhat disoriented.


    If the Lu Group couldn¡¯t gather the funds within a week, they would have to declare bankruptcy.


    Lu Dagui snorted lightly, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao is just an ingrate; she talks nicely but still refuses to help, doesn¡¯t she?¡±


    Cao Mei, brainwashed by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s recent words, frowned deeply and mumbled, ¡°If we had not driven Zhaozhao away earlier, for Zhaozhao¡¯s sake, Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t have let the Lu Family face troubles; after all, we represented Zhaozhao in the Shangjing Circle...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Dagui fell into sudden silence.


    Because Cao Mei was right.


    Even if Song Sinian hated their family, as long as Lu Zhaozhao was in the Lu Family, Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t stand by and watch her perish.


    Song Sinian was almost entirely obedient to Lu Zhaozhao, and Lu Zhaozhao was completely compliant with them.


    Lu Dagui clenched his teeth angrily, how had he thought of outright discarding such a trump card back then?


    ¡°Now thinking about it is useless, just wait. The upcoming gala dinner with the cooperation of Song Group and XJ Group, the president of XJ Group will also come. By then I will discuss the Lu Family¡¯s overseas orders with them, and let them inject funds into the Lu Family, it should work.¡±


    Lu Dagui narrowed his eyes, watching the direction in which Lu Zhaozhao had disappeared.


    Once their Lu Family turned things around, he¡¯d thoroughly deal with these two unfilial daughters!


    Of course, Lu Zhaozhao had no idea about Lu Dagui¡¯s thoughts, but seeing Mr. and Mrs. Lu¡¯s teeth-gritting expressions as she left just now, she felt quite thrilled.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone vibrated.


    She thought it was Song Sinian, who was anxiously waiting at the hotel, so she immediately took out her phone.


    Unexpectedly, the caller was not Song Sinian, but¡ªXu Zhenzhen.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow in confusion and answered the call, ¡°Hello? Zhenzhen?¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao, ¡®Saving a life creates more merit than building a seven-layer pagoda¡¯... You have to save me! It¡¯s extremely urgent!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice almost carried a cry.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart clenched, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, what¡¯s the matter? Take it slow.¡±


    She had just arrived at the drama crew¡¯s rest room and stood still without moving.


    Thinking about how Xu Zhenzhen suddenly disappeared abroad in her past life, she felt awful.


    She began to worry about what to do if she couldn¡¯t stop Xu Zhenzhen.


    She decided to sit down on the sofa in the rest room, prepared for a prolonged discussion with Xu Zhenzhen.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was internally struggling, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice came through again.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, can you teach me how to choose an evening dress?¡±


    ¡°??? What the heck?!¡± Lu Zhaozhao jumped up from the couch.


    All this worry, and it was just to pick an evening dress?


    Lu Zhaozhao pressed her temples with her hand, realizing she had been overthinking things.


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reaction, Xu Zhenzhen immediately said in a pitiful tone, ¡°Sis, I can only rely on you! Dear Zhaozhao, you definitely won¡¯t abandon me, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°You... just try on a few, and you¡¯ll find the right one.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    There was a sudden silence over the phone.


    After a long while, a reply came, ¡°Listening to your advice is like hearing a golden truth.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was amused by Xu Zhenzhen and sighed helplessly, ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll go with you to pick an evening dress, how...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not necessary, not necessary, I just wanted to know how to choose...¡± Xu Zhenzhen interrupted before Lu Zhaozhao could finish.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen! Is there another dog around you?!¡±


    Other¡¤Xia Wenqing¡¤Dog: Meow meow meow?

 Chapter 323: 321: Where Theres Something Unusual, Theres a Demon!

    Chapter 323: Chapter 321: Where There¡¯s Something Unusual, There¡¯s a Demon!


    Xu Zhenzhen felt a twinge of guilt and quickly said, ¡°What are you talking about with dogs...¡±


    ¡°!!¡±


    Indeed!


    Someone as brash as their family¡¯s Xu Zhenzhen, if spoken to like that, would definitely start mouthing off again.


    But she actually denied it!


    There must be demons at work when things are abnormal!


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes, it seemed Xu Zhenzhen wanted to pick out evening dresses with that ¡°dog¡± of a man.


    What can one do when their best friend wants to chase after a guy?


    Of course, just indulge her.


    ...


    After chatting with Lu Zhaozhao, it was quite late for Xu Zhenzhen.


    To ensure that she could comfortably choose an evening dress after meeting Xia Wenqing the next day, she went over the plan again and again.


    This kept her up until late into the night.


    Xu Zhenzhen had thought that with these preparations, she could peacefully pick out an evening dress with Xia Wenqing.


    But due to her excitement... she suffered from insomnia.


    So when Xia Wenqing received her, she looked like an eggplant that had been frostbitten several times over.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you sleep well last night?¡± Xia Wenqing glanced at Xu Zhenzhen sitting in the passenger seat, his brow furrowing slightly.


    Xu Zhenzhen dared not look at him and casually replied, ¡°Mm, work has been a bit troublesome recently, so I read for a while...¡±


    She would never admit that she only fell asleep after five in the morning.


    Now at 9 a.m., she had gotten up at 8 a.m. to groom and dress, managing only about three hours of sleep.


    It was no wonder she looked haggard.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s dark eyes dropped slightly. He found nothing unreasonable about her excuse.


    After all, there¡¯s nothing wrong with a girl wanting to strive upwards.


    He had been so happy about going to buy an evening dress with her alone that he¡¯d woken up at five in the morning to pick out clothes and a tie.


    Yet this little girl was so heartless.


    She was indifferent to his invitation, and even spent the previous evening studying.


    He sighed silently, ¡°Working hard is good, but don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, ¡°Okay, Brother Xia.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The two remained silent all the way and soon arrived at the mall.


    Xia Wenqing had selected several haute couture brands for the evening dresses. Unsure of what style would suit Xu Zhenzhen, he could only take her to try on one by one.


    Actually, providing her measurements would have been enough, but he didn¡¯t want to do it that way.


    He wanted to spend more time alone with her.


    He knew this was selfish, but... he didn¡¯t want to change.


    Xia Wenqing looked at Xu Zhenzhen, who was leisurely picking out evening dresses next to him, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.


    He had always known Xu Zhenzhen was good-looking, but he never had the opportunity to observe her so closely for such a long time.


    This gave him an odd sense of satisfaction.


    If only he could keep watching her like this.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the number, and his brows furrowed.


    Seeing this, Xu Zhenzhen, who had been choosing evening dresses, immediately said, ¡°Brother Xia, go ahead and take care of what you need to. I think I¡¯ll be picking out for a while longer.¡±


    ¡°Alright, just wait here for me obediently once you¡¯re done.¡±


    Xia Wenqing, although reluctant, still braced himself and went out.


    Because the caller was none other than Xia Wenjue.


    Recently, the Lu Group had been thrust into the spotlight due to a break in its financial chain.


    He and Xia Wenjue had not been shy about stirring the waters.


    The Lu Group was now pinning its hopes on a turnaround from overseas orders, but his older brother had learned that due to a hurricane at sea, many cargo ships had vanished into the ocean.


    Among them were those belonging to the Lu Family.


    They had been actively tracking the Lu Group¡¯s maritime orders, so he had no choice but to take the call.


    Xu Zhenzhen watched Xia Wenqing¡¯s retreating figure, her stiff posture finally relaxing significantly.


    She had been worried ever since the beginning that the evening gown she wore might reveal the flaws in her figure, so she had repeatedly checked several styles.


    Fortunately, her crash course with Lu Zhaozhao the day before hadn¡¯t been a waste of time.


    Taking advantage of Xia Wenqing¡¯s absence, she could try on even the unsuitable dresses without any issue.


    With that in mind, Xu Zhenzhen decisively picked out a few evening gowns she quite liked and headed to the fitting room.


    When she reemerged, she was in a rose-gold mermaid evening gown, the sparkling crystal embellishments accentuated her waistline perfectly.


    She looked just like a mermaid emerging from the water.


    ¡°My goodness, Miss, this evening gown suits you so well!¡± The store assistant looking after Xu Zhenzhen exclaimed in surprise, genuinely amazed.


    Even other customers who had come to look at evening gowns couldn¡¯t help but take a few extra glances at Xu Zhenzhen.


    Not for a moment did this scene make Xu Zhenzhen feel shy.


    She was even suddenly quite looking forward to Xia Wenqing coming back soon and seeing her in this evening gown.


    After all, if others thought it looked good, he would probably think the same, right?


    ¡°I¡¯ll go ask a friend for their opinion.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded to the assistant and walked towards the store¡¯s lounge area.


    Xia Wenqing had just gone to make a call, probably heading in this direction.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a few steps, then realized the hem of the dress was somewhat inconvenient due to her casual stride.


    She usually walked fast with big steps, so the fishtail dress was a bit restrictive.


    She simply stood in place and lifted the hem a bit.


    ¡°Hello, Miss...¡±


    A voice suddenly came over, the man smiling politely at Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at him suspiciously, ¡°Do you need something from me?¡±


    The man in front of her seemed a bit scholarly and shy, and he looked alright, but he was only around 170 centimeters tall.


    Compared to someone like Xia Wenqing, who was over 185 centimeters, men around 170 centimeters seemed a bit short and thin.


    The man was clearly a bit embarrassed but took the initiative to speak, ¡°Sorry, Miss, I noticed that the evening gown you are wearing is very beautiful, so I¡¯d like to buy one for my girlfriend, too. Would it be too presumptuous to ask to take a picture of you?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t mind, although the right to one¡¯s image was a thing, secret photography was rampant.


    On the contrary, the fact that the man in front of her had asked permission made it more acceptable to her.


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, ¡°If my face isn¡¯t shown, you can take a photo.¡±


    The man thanked her profusely, ¡°I¡¯ll take a picture of you and, after you check it, I¡¯ll send it to my girlfriend, is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡±


    So Xu Zhenzhen stood in the corridor while the man took a few photos, and together they selected the most suitable one to send to his girlfriend.


    It seemed she also liked it a lot, so they quickly made a decision.


    The man was overjoyed, full of gratitude, ¡°Thank you! Thank you! I really don¡¯t know how to thank you!¡±


    Hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen seemed to remember something, she pulled out a business card from her handbag, ¡°This is my business card. I am a lawyer. If you really want to thank me, you can refer anyone in need of a lawyer to me.¡±


    ¡°Great, great, Mr. Xu is not only beautiful but also kind-hearted. I¡¯ll take you out for dinner someday! I...¡±


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±

 Chapter 324: 322 Lick Dog, Lick Dog, Licking Until Theres Nothing Left

    Chapter 324: Chapter 322 Lick Dog, Lick Dog, Licking Until There¡¯s Nothing Left


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s cool voice carried over; though not loud, his tone was inexplicably cold.


    Xu Zhenzhen had never heard Xia Wenqing speak in such a tone, and was immediately frightened.


    Her mouth fell open, and she quickly explained, ¡°I... we were just taking photos.¡±


    The man was obviously intimidated by Xia Wenqing¡¯s presence, nodding along, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, this lady¡¯s evening gown is just so beautiful, I thought my partner might like it too, so I asked the lady to help take a photo.¡±


    ¡°A photo for your partner?¡± Xia Wenqing seemed to have seized upon the key point.


    Xu Zhenzhen and the man were both puzzled but nodded their heads in unison.


    Almost instantly, the coldness on Xia Wenqing¡¯s face melted away completely.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°The evening gowns here are indeed beautiful, you can pick a few more for your girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± The man was bewildered by Xia Wenqing¡¯s sudden change of demeanor.


    However, seeing his mild expression, he naturally did not say much more.


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, they parted ways.


    Xu Zhenzhen followed Xia Wenqing, walking back with him.


    Had she just heard Xia Wenqing sound unhappy? Had something happened?


    He usually seemed to be gentle, a man whose joy and anger were not worn on his sleeve.


    Could it be something to do with Lu Zhaozhao that had made him so upset?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows furrowed, and she became worried as well.


    Suddenly, Xia Wenqing stopped in his tracks, turned back, and said indifferently to Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Why did you come out just now? Didn¡¯t I ask you to wait obediently inside?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head somewhat sheepishly, ¡°I... I wanted you to have a look at this evening gown for me...¡±


    She wanted him to be the first to see her.


    To show him her best side.


    But how could she put that into words?


    ¡°It looks very nice, and it suits you well,¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s voice suddenly came from above her.


    It was then that Xu Zhenzhen realized how close they were.


    So close that she could clearly see the man¡¯s attractive eyelashes and the slight upturn at the corners of his mouth.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s heart suddenly started ¡°thumping¡± wildly.


    She instinctively took a step back, afraid that the sound of her heartbeat might be heard by Xia Wenqing.


    She could see him every day now, and their relationship had even become much closer than before because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    That was enough.


    Initially, Xia Wenqing was pleased to hear Xu Zhenzhen say she had changed into the evening gown for him to see, but when he saw her step back, his eyebrows instantly furrowed.


    Was he being too eager?


    Xia Wenqing clenched his fist, lowering his gaze, ¡°Let¡¯s continue looking then.¡±


    With that, he turned and walked away.


    Watching the direction Xia Wenqing had left, Xu Zhenzhen secretly sighed with relief.


    Thank goodness, thank goodness she hadn¡¯t been discovered!


    It seemed that in the future, she would have to be more careful...


    A week later, the collaboration dinner party between XJ Group and Song Group began with a bang.


    There were many prominent business figures from the Shangjing Circle as well as several partners who had good relationships with the Song Group.


    Since many big shots attended this collaboration dinner, many people were eager to get in.


    When the media reporters heard the news, they followed suit and came to the dinner.


    XJ Group and Song Group could be considered multinational cooperation, and with such fanfare, it was hard not to let people speculate.


    After all, XJ Group ranked among the top firms overseas, and though they faced none of the resistance that smaller businesses might when entering the domestic market, conflicts with local industries were still inevitable to some degree.


    Yet, the relations between XJ Group and Song Group seemed particularly harmonious, which made people even more curious.


    Everyone wanted to know if there were any secrets between them that weren¡¯t publicly known.


    Song Sinian was a major figure at this collaborative dinner event, and thus he couldn¡¯t find the time to accompany Lu Zhaozhao.


    To prevent her from being bullied, Song Sinian had specifically arranged for Xu Zhenzhen to join her.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, my darling, you¡¯ve finally returned to my arms,¡± Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but hug Lu Zhaozhao as soon as she saw her.


    She had thought that working for Song Sinian¡¯s company would allow her to see Lu Zhaozhao frequently, but she never imagined that Song Sinian would be so ruthless even towards his own self.


    His wife was invisible during work!


    And she saw even less of her.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s small face and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, reaching out to pinch her little hand, ¡°So you¡¯ve got time to love me again?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen knew what Lu Zhaozhao was going to say.


    Her small face blushed and she turned her head, gently patting Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back with her hand, ¡°Not at all, you¡¯re overthinking it...¡±


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s rarely coy demeanor, Lu Zhaozhao knew that the matter was almost certainly set.


    She just didn¡¯t know how far along the two of them were.


    Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t the type to pry into other people¡¯s privacy; perhaps Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t want to talk about it because she felt it wasn¡¯t suitable yet.


    Or perhaps they hadn¡¯t made things official.


    Regardless, she supported Xu Zhenzhen, just as she had stood by her side without a second thought all those years ago.


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, she directly hooked her arm through Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s and said, ¡°No matter whether you have other dogs in the future or not, you will always be my most, most important friend. Remember that, do you understand? If one day you really run into trouble, I hope you remember I¡¯m a sister you can rely on.¡±


    Just like you told me in your previous life.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened upon hearing this.


    Looking at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s overly serious gaze, she felt somewhat guilty.


    Her initial interaction with Lu Zhaozhao was due to work.


    Even though she now considered Lu Zhaozhao her most important friend, her initial approach had indeed been impure.


    So the nicer Lu Zhaozhao was to her, the more guilty she felt.


    Xu Zhenzhen had thought about coming clean to Lu Zhaozhao, but she was also worried about harming Song Sinian.


    Although she wasn¡¯t particularly fond of Song Sinian, she couldn¡¯t ignore how genuinely good he was to Lu Zhaozhao.


    And Lu Zhaozhao loved Song Sinian to death.


    Doing so would, without a doubt, add friction to their relationship.


    Xu Zhenzhen sighed helplessly and hugged Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm, ¡°In my last life, I must have saved the Galaxy; that¡¯s why I have a best friend like you in this life.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t save the Galaxy, saving her was indeed true.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to say something, a mocking voice suddenly came from behind.


    ¡°If saving the Galaxy in a previous life means becoming best friends with this kind of person, it really wants to make me die laughing.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen and Lu Zhaozhao turned around at the same time, only then noticing Xia Wenjin and Mr. and Mrs. Lu standing not far away.


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat surprised to see this family of three; she hadn¡¯t expected them to appear here at the same time.


    Wasn¡¯t Xia Wenjin avoiding Mr. and Mrs. Lu just a week ago?


    Had they reconciled?


    Seeing that the pair didn¡¯t utter a word, Xia Wenjin mocked further, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen, do you know about licking dogs? The more you lick, the more you end up with nothing.¡±

 Chapter 325: 323: How does it feel to lose a watermelon and pick up a sesame seed?

    Chapter 325: Chapter 323: How does it feel to lose a watermelon and pick up a sesame seed?


    Lu Zhaozhao was Song Sinian¡¯s wife, and she couldn¡¯t mock her in public.


    But that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t mock the people around her.


    What was Xu Zhenzhen?


    She was nothing but a sycophant to Lu Zhaozhao, and that¡¯s the only reason she had her current status. What was there to be arrogant about?


    Why was she wearing such a high-end evening dress?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised as she met Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze and scoffed, ¡°Xia Wenjin, that sounds like something you¡¯d know from experience, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Her gaze swept across Mr. and Mrs. Lu with utter contempt.


    Thinking about everything this couple had done to Lu Zhaozhao, she couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes.


    How dare this trash show their faces here?


    Xia Wenjin knew what Xu Zhenzhen was mocking, and her face turned ugly in an instant.


    Recently, the financial crisis erupting in Lu Group was widely known.


    If Lu Group went bankrupt, her standing as the Lu family¡¯s daughter would be worthless.


    Xia Wenjin glanced coldly at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°What nonsense are you talking? Our Lu family is not only about mining. Who doesn¡¯t know we mainly do business overseas? What does the mining industry matter?¡±


    Her speech trailed off here, and she glance at Lu Zhaozhao before continuing, ¡°Unlike some people, what good does licking others¡¯ boots do? Still just a sidekick, right?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was almost amused to laughter by Xia Wenjin, ¡°Right, right, right, everything you say is correct. After all, a sidekick like me can only wear limited edition evening dresses, right, Zhaozhao?¡±


    She knew Xia Wenqing had brought her to buy the dress because of Lu Zhaozhao, but she didn¡¯t mind.


    After all, this was the first time her idol bought her clothes, and such expensive ones!


    There was no reason not to accept.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly, ¡°Zhenzhen is right.¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t know why Xu Zhenzhen was attributing the buying of the dress issue to her.


    But in this atmosphere of shared enmity, backing up her sister felt absolutely right.


    Xu Zhenzhen winked at Lu Zhaozhao, then turned her gaze back to Xia Wenjin, ¡°Xia Wenjin, take my advice, be a good lackey to the right person, and you¡¯ll have everything you could want.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face darkened even more, ¡°What are you so proud of? You...¡±


    Jin, the president from XJ Corporation seems to have arrived,¡± Cao Mei, seeing Xia Wenjin apparently at a disadvantage, reached out to pull her hand and nodded towards the distance.


    From the looks of things there, the chaos suggested that some bigwig might have arrived.


    Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be so noisy.


    Consequently, everybody¡¯s gaze turned in that direction.


    Sure enough, after a noisy moment, several men in suits walked toward the center of the banquet hall.


    One of them, Xia Wenjin noted with particular familiarity.


    Beside her, Lu Dagui seemed to have recognized him too, ¡°Jin, do you see the man at the front, isn¡¯t he from the Xia family?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart, which had been thumping wildly, suddenly ¡°plunged¡±.


    She had merely found him familiar, but now... she was certain.


    That man was Xia Wenjue.


    She awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°That should be him, no idea what he has to do with XJ Corporation...¡±


    She had previously probed indirectly, only knowing Xia Wenjue¡¯s boss was very powerful.


    Could it be that his boss was related to XJ Corporation, or perhaps his boss was the CEO of XJ Corporation?


    Was he following the CEO of XJ Corporation?


    No wonder the collaboration between Song Group and XJ Corporation went so smoothly. It turned out it was Xia Wenjue¡¯s doing behind the scenes.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression turned even uglier, as she hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjue, despite being an office worker, to have quite a few resources at his disposal.


    She felt angry again because of the Xia Family¡¯s deceit!


    If they had told her all these things at the beginning, she wouldn¡¯t have left the Xia Family so decisively.


    Nor would she have allowed Lu Zhaozhao to come to the Xia Family so smoothly...


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin glared at Lu Zhaozhao with a venomous look in her eyes.


    It was all Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fault!


    If it wasn¡¯t for her sudden appearance in front of the Xia Family, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a miserable state!


    Wen Qingyu used to dote on her so much, but he became cold towards her only after Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arrival...


    The root of all these evils was Lu Zhaozhao.


    Fortunately, the Lu Group wasn¡¯t at the end of its rope yet, as long as the president of XJ Group was willing to invest in their family.


    They still had quite a few overseas businesses in the Lu Family, using those as collateral would be enough.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s fleeting venomous glance did not escape Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s notice.


    She despised people like Xia Wenjin the most, who could create troubles and then shift the blame onto others.


    She knew Xia Wenjin much earlier than Lu Zhaozhao did; she had heard about her when she was still abroad.


    Back then, she only knew that Xia Wenjin was Xia Wenqing¡¯s sister, and she had even thought about how to face this sister if she really got together with her dream guy.


    But after returning to the country... the dream guy¡¯s sister was no more.


    Instead, she became her best friend Lu Zhaozhao; oh, how delighted she was that night, almost unable to sleep.


    Indeed, their beloved Zhaozhao was truly the dream guy¡¯s sister, as charming as her brother.


    Thinking this, Xu Zhenzhen looked coldly at Xia Wenjin standing behind her and said, ¡°Some people really should brighten their eyes and carefully see who exactly is standing as the president of XJ right now~¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words instantly made Xia Wenjin tense up, and when she saw the man standing next to Song Sinian, her face turned deathly pale.


    ¡°How is this possible? How can it be him? He...¡±


    Even Lu Dagui and Cao Mei were completely dumbfounded.


    Xia Wenjue was the president of XJ Group?!


    The person they looked down upon was someone they couldn¡¯t even aspire to climb up to.


    This shift was most fatal for Xia Wenjin.


    Because not long ago, she was still the daughter of the Xia Family.


    She was the little Miss of XJ Group!


    She viciously bit her lip, her gaze towards Lu Zhaozhao becoming even more malicious, ¡°It was you, you knew all along, didn¡¯t you?!¡±


    From the outside, the Xia Family was worth nothing compared to the Lu Family.


    She didn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhaozhao really didn¡¯t care about their poverty when she acknowledged the Xia Family.


    She must have learned about the Xia Family¡¯s situation from Song Sinian long ago, which is why she switched identities with her so quickly.


    Lu Zhaozhao stared at Xia Wenjin, dumbfounded, suddenly admiring her ability to shift blame.


    It was initially her decision to come to the Lu Family; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been retrieved by the Xia Family.


    ¡°You must be sick? If you are sick, go get treatment quickly! Stop barking here!¡± Xu Zhenzhen rolled her eyes at Xia Wenjin, ¡°You were the one who despised the Xia Family for being poor initially, and now that you can¡¯t reach them, you regret it? Too late for regrets now!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words penetrated Xia Wenjin¡¯s lungs like arrows.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned even uglier.


    ¡°How does it feel? To lose a watermelon and pick up a sesame seed, Lu Family¡¯s daughter? Ha!¡± Xu Zhenzhen, unbothered by her expression, mocked her arrogantly with Lu Zhaozhao beside her.


    She raised her eyes and mocked Mr. and Mrs. Lu as well, ¡°The couple from the Lu Family never expected, did they? The adopted daughter you rejected is the very person you couldn¡¯t even ingratiate yourselves with!¡±

 Chapter 326: 324 Tsk tsk... Ignorant!

    Chapter 326: Chapter 324 Tsk tsk... Ignorant!


    Lu Dagui¡¯s face had turned completely dark now.


    He had thought that, through the Lu Family¡¯s overseas business, obtaining investment from the XJ Group wouldn¡¯t be too difficult.


    But with the added resentment between Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao, he was sure he wouldn¡¯t get the money!


    Lu Dagui had never detested Xia Wenjin so much.


    If it weren¡¯t for her... would he have been able to secure the investment from XJ Group?


    No, if it weren¡¯t for him, he wouldn¡¯t have needed to stoop so low and beg, Lu Zhaozhao alone would have been enough.


    Lu Dagui genuinely regretted it so much that his guts turned green!


    Cao Mei felt as if the whole sky had collapsed, ¡°The XJ Group¡¯s heiress...¡±


    She reached out and tugged at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Jin, didn¡¯t you say that the Xia Family was poor and even abused you previously? How could their family possibly be the XJ Group? Are they lying?¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Xia Wenjin raised her hand and pushed Cao Mei down, ¡°They deliberately kept it from me and abused me; otherwise, how could I not know they are from the XJ Group?¡±


    Xia Wenjin clenched her teeth, filled with resentment toward the Xia Family.


    She even wondered if the Xia Family always knew she was not their biological child, which was why they were so wary of her.


    ¡°My parents abused you? Xia Wenjin, do you have a persecution complex?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed instantly, ¡°Wasn¡¯t everything you had at the Xia Family top-notch? They took such good care of you to protect you from harm; how can you have the face to blame them?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about how in the past life, Xia Wenjin had everything from the Xia Family, yet she destroyed them herself.


    She wished she could slap her right then and there.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why, after the Xia Family gave her their all, it resulted in such an outcome.


    But now, seeing Xia Wenjin claim she was abused for the past 20 years due to the Xia Family¡¯s secrets,


    Lu Zhaozhao felt like she finally understood something that had always puzzled her.


    Perhaps it was because Xia Wenjin found out that someone from the Xia Family had secretly approached the Song Family, so she ruthlessly destroyed the Xia Family.


    She wouldn¡¯t allow anything given to her to be shared with anyone else, not even a little bit.


    Especially since she had long considered the Xia Family as something in her pocket.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you should go to the stage, Mr. Song from your family will be looking for you soon.¡± Xu Zhenzhen watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mood and patted her hand.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xu Zhenzhen and then toward the center of the ballroom¡¯s stage, just in time to see Song Sinian looking over.


    Their eyes met across the distance, and Song Sinian immediately walked towards her.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want to waste time on Xia Wenjin; she picked up her skirt and headed towards the center of the stage.


    How could Xia Wenjin let Lu Zhaozhao go? Just as she reached out to grab her arm, Xu Zhenzhen quickly twisted her arm and pressed her down.


    Her move was too quick; before Mr. and Mrs. Lu could react, Xia Wenjin was already under Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s foot.


    She was wearing a pure white haute couture dress, and Xu Zhenzhen had just stepped a shoe print onto the back of it.


    ¡°You let... mmph!!!¡±


    Before she could finish her words, Xu Zhenzhen covered her mouth, ¡°Xia Wenjin, if you don¡¯t want everyone to see you embarrass yourself, you¡¯d better shut up now, or I¡¯ll tear your haute couture dress and cool you down?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s voice abruptly stopped; she knew Xu Zhenzhen was crazy enough to do it.


    So even when she was extremely angry, she had no choice but to forcibly remain silent.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Xia Wenjin with satisfaction, then soon heard Xia Wenjue¡¯s voice coming from the center of the stage.


    ¡°Hello everyone, I am Xia Wenjue, the current president of XJ Group. You all want to know why we¡¯re collaborating with the Song Group, and the reason is actually very simple...¡±


    He courteously extended his hand toward Lu Zhaozhao, and upon seeing Luo Zhaozhao place her hand in his, he solemnly announced,


    ¡°Because the little princess of XJ Group is married to Song Sinian, the president of Song Group, and Sinian and I have decided that all projects of this collaboration between XJ Group and Song Group will be gifted to Xia Family¡¯s youngest daughter, Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    As soon as Xia Wenjue finished speaking, everyone around erupted into shock.


    ¡°Oh my! All the projects involved in the cooperation between XJ Group and Song Group? That¡¯s a huge deal! Both XJ Group and Song Group have invested a lot of money in these projects, and now they¡¯re all given to Lu Zhaozhao? How much money is that?!¡±


    ¡°Now, apart from XJ Group and Song Group, Lu Zhaozhao must be the wealthiest in the entire Shangjing Circle.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if the foster parents who severed their parental relationship with Lu Zhaozhao will regret it now, haha...¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t understand their thinking? Clearly, after their daughter married into the Song Family and got so pampered by Song Sinian, if they had maintained a good relationship with this daughter, wouldn¡¯t they have everything they could wish for? And to think she¡¯s also a heiress of the XJ Group! Tsk tsk... such folly!¡±


    ...


    The foolish Mr. and Mrs. Lu: ...


    Had they known things would turn out this way, they would have never driven Lu Zhaozhao away, let alone oppose her at every turn.


    Lu Dagui and Cao Mei thought of this, their looks at Xia Wenjin filled with indescribable resentment and bitterness.


    Xia Wenjin was also very angry, but she was held down by Xu Zhenzhen and couldn¡¯t get away.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Suddenly, an elegant voice came through, the familiar intonation startling Xu Zhenzhen.


    Feeling uneasy, she reflexively let go of Xia Wenjin the next second.


    True enough, when she looked up, she saw Xia Wenqing walking over.


    ¡°Second Brother,¡± Xu Zhenzhen called out somewhat guiltily.


    She didn¡¯t know how to explain her recent actions.


    Usually, she was fierce working under Song Sinian, especially just now when she clashed fiercely with Xia Wenjin, losing all semblance of the ladylike persona she had tried to maintain in front of Xia Wenqing.


    How could such a strict man like him like a fierce and violent woman?


    Xia Wenjin, seeing Xia Wenqing¡¯s displeased face, thought he was angry because Xu Zhenzhen had hit her.


    After all, she was once a child of the Xia Family, and though not very close, her second brother usually took care of her.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin immediately threw herself at Xia Wenqing, ¡°Second brother, woo woo woo... this woman hit me!¡±


    Xia Wenqing almost reflexively pushed Xia Wenjin away, not quite catching the mumbling from her mouth.


    Xia Wenjin, not standing steadily, fell directly to the ground.


    Not just Xia Wenjin, even Xu Zhenzhen was stunned.


    Xia Wenqing frowned slightly and brushed off the arm Xia Wenjin had clutched.


    He was originally coming to find Xu Zhenzhen, but as soon as he saw her, he saw Xia Wenjin causing trouble...

 Chapter 327: 325: Indeed, Their Younger Sister is the Best!

    Chapter 327: Chapter 325: Indeed, Their Younger Sister is the Best!


    Fortunately, Xu Zhenzhen had quick reflexes; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have known what sort of loss she¡¯d suffer!


    Just as he was about to back Xu Zhenzhen up, Xia Wenjin suddenly started attacking him. Was it wrong for him to fight back?


    ¡°Second Brother! Why did you push me?¡± Xia Wenjin sat on the ground, coming back to her senses and looking at Xia Wenqing with an accusing gaze, filled with grievances.


    Xia Wenqing felt nauseated when he saw that look in her eyes.


    His eyebrows knitted together, ¡°Don¡¯t call me Second Brother; I have no relation to you. Miss, please respect yourself!¡±


    The sorrow on Xia Wenjin¡¯s face grew even deeper, ¡°Second Brother, you used to be so good to me, why are you treating me this way now?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense; I didn¡¯t.¡± Xia Wenqing immediately deflected without a second thought, ¡°The one who was nice to you was Xia Wenyan.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want Xu Zhenzhen to know if there was still any connection between him and Xia Wenjin now.


    Back when they lived in the same house, he treated her as his sister born of the same mother, always ready to clean up after her messes.


    But after seeing her true colors, and making sure that she had no blood relation to the Xia Family,


    He absolutely didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with her.


    Especially in front of the woman he liked, even a former sister wouldn¡¯t do.


    After she left the Xia Family, she was just another woman, someone he shouldn¡¯t associate with!


    ¡°I was deceived, okay?!¡± Suddenly, Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice joined in, ¡°I treated her as a sister, and she treated me like an idiot.¡±


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes at Xia Wenjin at the thought.


    Xia Wenjin stared blankly at the two men who clearly loathed her, and in a bit of a self-destructive tone said, ¡°If you had told me the true situation of our household from the beginning, how could I have turned out like this?!¡±


    If she had known earlier that she was the pampered young miss of the XJ Group, would she still have envied others?


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s words immediately rendered Xia Wenqing and Xia Wenyan speechless.


    Almost simultaneously, both turned their gazes toward Xia Wenmo, who was not far behind them.


    Among the four brothers, he was the one who hated Xia Wenjin the most. Back when they were together, the brothers always thought about how to resolve their conflicts.


    Now, they were no longer siblings with Xia Wenjin.


    Of course, at moments like this, it was time for their family¡¯s heavy hitter to take the stage!


    Xia Wenmo glanced at Xia Wenjin sitting on the ground, ¡°Tell you the truth? So you wouldn¡¯t wickedly frame others, then? Back when Teresa was here giving lessons, you almost ruined my wrist just to get first place, a person who wouldn¡¯t even spare her own brothers doesn¡¯t deserve to be part of the Xia Family!¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenmo¡¯s harsh criticism, Xia Wenjin felt not the slightest bit guilty.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t I deserve it? I merely used some tactics, that¡¯s all! You lost because you were no match for me! The victor is king, and the vanquished is the villain!¡±


    She didn¡¯t think she had done anything wrong!


    At her words, Xia Wenmo was almost laughed to anger.


    He actually thought that she would feel ashamed.


    Indeed, for selfish people like her, shame simply didn¡¯t exist.


    Xia Wenmo rolled his eyes, ¡°You said it yourself, the victor is king, and the vanquished is the villain. What right does a loser have to bark?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°What about you? We let you off because we thought you were one of the Xia Family. Now that you¡¯re not, do you think you don¡¯t have to pay back the debts you owe?¡± Xia Wenmo didn¡¯t wait for Xia Wenjin to finish speaking, his gaze coldly landing on her right hand.


    Startled, Xia Wenjin quickly hid her hand behind her back.


    Remembering the time when she arranged for someone to deliberately break Xia Wenmo¡¯s hand, preventing him from participating in the competition, she dared not meet Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyes.


    She was truly afraid that Xia Wenmo would seek revenge against her.


    Among the four Xia brothers, the third, Xia Wenmo, was not only venomous with words but also the most crazed.


    His passion for painting was insane, and his temperament even more so.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for his complete disregard for that painting competition, coupled with the protection of the other Xia Family members, Xia Wenmo would most certainly not have let her off.


    She looked at Xia Wenmo with terror, ¡°What, what do you want to do?¡±


    Xia Wenmo slowly curled his lips into a sinister smile, ¡°What else can I do? Of course, I take revenge where revenge is due, and I hold grudges where grudges are due. Just because you don¡¯t remember what you did back in the Xia Family doesn¡¯t mean others have forgotten...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart suddenly clenched, recalling that she indeed did many underhanded things while abroad.


    Most of the time, it was Xia Wenqing and Xia Wenjue cleaning up her messes.


    Since she never faced any consequences herself, she was brazen and reckless.


    Later, when she came to the domestic side and joined the Lu Family, she felt the Lu Group was a hundred times stronger than her previous family.


    No matter how she treated the Xia Family members, no one would lay a finger on her.


    But now, the situation had reversed.


    It was the Xia Family that held true power, and the Lu Family was like a tiny ant they could squish with a flick of their fingers.


    Of course, she was now afraid.


    ¡°Third brother, I was wrong, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose before... I...¡±


    ¡°Stop, stop, stop! Just spare me the disgust. Whether it¡¯s the past or now, I never considered you my sister. Having someone like you for a sister, I¡¯d rather just die.¡±


    When Xia Wenmo said this, he suddenly paused, thinking that if he hadn¡¯t met Lu Zhaozhao, he might have indeed died young.


    Tsk tsk, indeed, having a good sister is so important.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s fondness for Lu Zhaozhao multiplied, indeed their family¡¯s little sister was the best!


    Xia Wenjin was long accustomed to Xia Wenmo¡¯s venomous tongue and knew he was not on her side, so she directly switched her target.


    She crawled a few steps toward Xia Wenyan, who was not far away, and stretched out her hand to grab his trouser leg.


    Her movement startled Xia Wenyan, who stepped back and happened to step onto Pei Huai¡¯s foot.


    Startled, he quickly lifted his foot, almost falling over.


    Fortunately, Pei Huai was quick and caught him by the waist while securing his bent leg with the other hand.


    Xia Wenyan, in panic, wrapped his arms around Pei Huai¡¯s neck, his eyes fixated on Xia Wenjin.


    With one leg hooked over Pei Huai¡¯s body, he didn¡¯t forget to pat Pei Huai, ¡°Hurry, walk back, this woman wants to frame me!¡±


    Pei Huai: ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin: ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenmo: ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing watched the commotion unfold, sighed helplessly, and looked directly at Mr. and Mrs. Lu standing to the side.


    Then he gave a look to an assistant not far away, before handing a lawyer¡¯s letter to Lu Dagui.


    ¡°This is a legal complaint against the Lu Group, jointly filed by several foreign companies. I had intended to mail it to your company, but since we met today, I¡¯ll give it to you now.¡±


    Lu Dagui¡¯s eyes suddenly widened substantially, and as he looked at the lawyer¡¯s letter in his hands, flipping through it, he seemed as if thunderstruck.


    Cao Mei, seeing his shocked expression, also panicked and looked at the lawyer¡¯s letter in his hands.


    Although she didn¡¯t know which companies the Lu Group typically did business with, she knew that overseas business was undoubtedly the lifeblood of the Lu Group!

 Chapter 328: 326: National Sister Instantly Turns into a Real Princess

    Chapter 328: Chapter 326: National Sister Instantly Turns into a Real Princess


    ¡°If their overseas business also fails,¡± they thought, ¡°the Lu Family would truly be finished.¡±


    Xia Wenqing looked at the ashen face of Lu Dagui and went on to say, ¡°I represent these companies in holding the Lu Group accountable. You should find a lawyer and prepare to respond to the lawsuit sooner rather than later.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Dagui slumped to the ground.


    His face became even grayer, ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over...¡±


    Before, when he heard there was a hurricane at sea, he thought that if there was a problem with the order, he wouldn¡¯t have to bear the losses due to force majeure.


    He even expected to make a considerable insurance claim from this order.


    But what he didn¡¯t expect was that the insurance company had gone bankrupt!


    The money he had been counting on evaporated, not to mention having funds to replenish goods for the several partners.


    And now, these partners had even joined forces to sue him.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s subordinates were all part of the XJ Group¡¯s legal team; there was no way he could win.


    In other words, the Lu Family was thoroughly ruined.


    Xia Wenjin, seeing Lu Dagui¡¯s state, knew the Lu Family was beyond saving.


    Their much-anticipated overseas orders and XJ Group¡¯s injections of capital had all turned into bubbles.


    Her complexion turned even uglier in an instant.


    Beside her, Xia Wenmo glanced at her and coldly added, ¡°If certain people hadn¡¯t attacked our Zhaozhao in the first place, would it have come to the point of losing everything? Hah!¡±


    Lu Dagui, as if suddenly snapping to his senses, grabbed Xia Wenjin¡¯s hair and started to fight her, ¡°It¡¯s all you! You¡¯re the curse! If not for you, your father would not have ended up like this!¡±


    He was like a madman, completely unrestrained, beating and kicking Xia Wenjin.


    Cao Mei, who initially still harbored a sliver of mother-daughter affection for Xia Wenjin, could only stand there dumbfounded as she watched Lu Dagui losing his mind.


    She couldn¡¯t comprehend how their family had become so miserable step by step.


    She looked up at the glamorous Lu Zhaozhao who stood among the crowd, being admired like a star, and then at Xia Wenjin beside her, struggling against Lu Dagui¡¯s assault, and suddenly felt a little dazed.


    It seemed like their family shouldn¡¯t be like this...


    The commotion from Xia Wenjin and Lu Dagui was quite loud, but it didn¡¯t take long for the bodyguards directed by Xia Wenqing to pack them up and throw them out.


    However, the incident of Xia Wenjin and her father causing a scene at the banquet still topped the hot search that night.


    It was almost as sensational as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hot search.


    #LuZhaozhaoRealPrincessOfXJGroup#


    #GenuineHeiressThrowsAwayWatermelonForSesameSeedFatherDaughterDuoCausesUproarAtBanquet#


    #NationalSisterInstantlyTurnsIntoRealPrincess#


    For a time, waves surged across the entire internet.


    [Lu Zhaozhao is the heiress of the XJ Group? Then was Xia Wenjin previously the heiress of the XJ Group? She actually gave up such a prestigious identity to join the Lu Family; she really is generous!]


    [Generous? She used to claim online that her foster parents abused her, but the daily outfits and bags she posted were all top-tier limited editions! Xia Wenjin was clearly unaware of her own luxury before!]


    [Exactly! Thought she had found a golden watermelon with the Lu Family, turns out it was just a sesame seed! Hahahaha...]


    [I find it a bit unreasonable. Why didn¡¯t Xia Wenjin know her own family was so wealthy after living for 20 years? Didn¡¯t her family tell her?]


    [Is it possible that they knew from the start that Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t their biological child?]


    [Conspiracy theorist above, are you a fan of Xia Wenjin? How can you spin this into a negative?]


    [Let¡¯s stick to the facts, only brain-dead fans would defend blindly!]


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao, having fallen out with Lu Dagui previously, went straight back to Xiao Mo¡¯s villa.


    She looked at the online comments that were not completely one-sided and boldly posted the recording of her phone call with Xia Wenyan on Weibo.


    Xia Wenjin: I only found out yesterday that my so-called big brother is the president of the XJ Group, which is really laughable. And here I thought they really considered me their biological daughter...


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s agency took advantage of the heat and simply had her start a live stream to sell products.


    If it had been before, Xia Wenjin would have refused without a second thought.


    But now she had no other choice.


    The Lu Group had already declared bankruptcy, and she couldn¡¯t get any money from the Lu Family.


    Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t giving her any money because of the situation with Justin and Song Keren.


    She could only rely on herself.


    All she had now was popularity; she hadn¡¯t acted in any significant works, at most she would appear on a variety show or accept minor endorsements.


    So live stream selling was the best option for her.


    Although she was unwilling, she now had no choice.


    Facing the live stream camera, Xia Wenjin even badmouthed the Xia Family people, casting herself as a victim.


    All the while pretending to be unafraid of power and speaking the truth.


    ¡°Even if they never treated me as part of the family, I was once the daughter of the Xia Family...¡±


    ¡°Listen to this, is she even speaking like a human being?¡± Xia Wenyan pointed at the live-streaming Xia Wenjin on his mobile screen, nearly exploding with rage.


    He sat in the Xia Family¡¯s living room, grumbling in discontent.


    If he could, he would really like to pull Xia Wenjin out of the phone and give her a thrashing.


    How can someone be so shameless?


    The Xia Family¡¯s people also listened with speechless expressions to Xia Wenjin¡¯s complaints in the live stream about how she was mistreated in the Xia Family.


    However, Lu Zhaozhao sitting aside was not surprised.


    Xia Wenjin had used this tactic before after learning about the two big shots in the art world from the Xia Family.


    It was just that she didn¡¯t know at the time that the photos she took would slap her in the face, so she crashed and burned.


    This time, the Family Head of the Xia Family took the initiative to disclose her identity, which gave Xia Wenjin a chance to fight back.


    Everyone was clear about the status of the XJ Group abroad.


    The various limited edition bags and clothes were just everyday items for the Xia Family, not worth much.


    Xia Wenjin took this opportunity to also whitewash the things she did against Lu Zhaozhao when she returned to the Lu Family.


    [No wonder Xia Wenjin targeted Lu Zhaozhao, it sort of makes sense now.]


    [One shouldn¡¯t preach goodness to others without understanding their hardships, support Jin! Jin did nothing wrong!]


    [Sob... Jin is so kind-hearted, I was too superficial before!]


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the comments on the live stream, a bit speechless, she pursed her lips and turned to Xia Wenqing, ¡°Second Brother, I remember you mentioned Xia Wenjin¡¯s phone call to Fourth Brother before, do you have the recording of their call?¡±


    Xia Wenqing was more experienced in this area than Xia Wenyan, so he should have a backup.


    Xia Wenqing nodded, ¡°I have their call recording, how do you want to handle it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment and said seriously, ¡°First, let Fourth Brother also release the call recording; we can¡¯t let her step on him using this incident.¡±


    Xia Wenyan immediately got excited and reached out to hold Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, ¡°It¡¯s really my sister who cares about me the most.¡±


    Xia Wenmo looked at Xia Wenyan with disdain, ¡°If only you had used your brain a bit more while talking to Xia Wenjin on the phone, you wouldn¡¯t have been conned by her like this.¡±


    Xia Wenyan shrugged off responsibility, ¡°All these years our family has been wiping her ass, and still, she smears us beyond recognition, right?¡±

 Chapter 329: 327: Song Sinian Has Become More Clingy Than Before

    Chapter 329: Chapter 327: Song Sinian Has Become More Clingy Than Before


    Twenty years of dedicated care, all to be called abuse in Xia Wenjin¡¯s mouth.


    No matter what evidence they produced now to prove their past kindness to her, it couldn¡¯t reverse public opinion.


    On the contrary, it only gave Xia Wenjin a higher profile.


    Xia Wenyan, with an air of pitiable helplessness, looked towards Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo, the three brothers, ¡°Eldest brother, second brother, third brother, can you stop this woman? She¡¯s really disgusting!¡±


    They might not care about their reputation, but Xia Wenjin¡¯s direct slinging of mud at them was just too revolting.


    What was more revolting was that this matter also involved Lu Zhaozhao.


    Just thinking about it made Xia Wenyan feel irritable.


    If only Pei Huai were here, he could discuss it with him.


    With Brother Pei around, any goblin or ghost would have to retreat!


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing the silence of the Xia brothers, knew they also had no idea how to counter Xia Wenjin.


    After all, they hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin to be so shameless, to play the victim while revealing her identity.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and slowly asked, ¡°What was Xia Wenjin¡¯s behavior like before?¡±


    Xia Wenmo was nearly the first to speak, ¡°Not good. She used to think highly of herself when she was young, and would often bully girls in class who were prettier than her.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. She even transferred schools twice before because of bullying,¡± Xia Wenyan nodded in agreement, ¡°and previously, to win first place in a drawing competition, she intentionally had thugs block third brother and smashed his hand.¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao heard this, her brows furrowed instantly.


    She knew that, for a painter, besides color perception, the hand was most important.


    What Xia Wenjin did was clearly meant to destroy Xia Wenmo.


    No wonder Xia Wenmo disliked Xia Wenjin so much. Now that Lu Zhaozhao knew this, she disliked the woman even more.


    Xia Wenmo glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and saw her face turn somber; that¡¯s when he raised his hand to rub her little head, ¡°Stop thinking about it; it was a long time ago, and it doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±


    He vividly remembered how Lu Zhaozhao cried her eyes red every day during his last surgery.


    He always felt that he did not have the talent to be a brother, even disliking the idea of having a sister or brother at home.


    Until Lu Zhaozhao appeared, that¡¯s when he understood the joy of being a brother.


    Having a sister who had nothing but him in her eyes was truly a blessing.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes drooped, involuntarily gripping Xia Wenmo¡¯s hand to look at it.


    Thinking about how much her third brother had endured.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze fell upon the scars on Xia Wenmo¡¯s fingers, and suddenly as if something clicked, ¡°What did you guys do when Xia Wenjin used to cause trouble?¡±


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s chin tilted slightly upward, ¡°Hand it over to eldest brother and second brother. If it could be settled with money, we paid; if not, we went through legal procedures before compensation.¡±


    Perhaps it was because Xia Wenqing and Xia Wenjue were too efficient at handling things that Xia Wenjin, other than occasionally apologizing, never really faced any substantial punishment, which might have emboldened her?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly quirked up, ¡°Then... do you still have the records or materials from those resolved issues?¡±


    Her question instantly brightened the eyes of Xia Wenqing and Xia Wenjue.


    ¡°Right, how did I not think of that? Xia Wenjin is playing the victim now because she put herself in the victim¡¯s position. If the public knew the ¡®victim¡¯ was actually the aggressor...¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes excitedly turned towards Xia Wenjue as he spoke.


    ¡°Right now, when public sentiment is inflamed, whatever we say won¡¯t be taken seriously. These next few days, it seems we¡¯ll need to sort through our records and evidence.¡±


    They had previously sealed up these materials to protect Xia Wenjin, and now it seemed that there were advantages to sealing them up.


    At least when they needed them, they were there.


    Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan nodded in understanding.


    Since Xia Wenjin was not playing fair, there was no need for them to go easy on her.


    It was time for her to feel the storms they had blocked for her!


    It was nearly 8 o¡¯clock in the evening when Lu Zhaozhao returned to the villa where Song Sinian was staying.


    Having been staying in a hotel recently, Lu Zhaozhao had almost forgotten what her home looked like.


    Because she arrived back a bit late, Qian Hong and the others had already left.


    Lu Zhaozhao changed her shoes and took off her coat then headed straight to the second-floor bedroom.


    To her surprise, although the lights in the bedroom were on, Song Sinian was nowhere to be found.


    She furrowed her brows in suspicion and took another trip to the study, only to find it empty as well.


    She had no choice but to take out her phone and dial Song Sinian¡¯s number, but she discovered his ringing phone in the dining room on the first floor.


    Wearing slippers, she hopped over and just saw Song Sinian sitting in the dining room.


    In front of him was a steaming pot, and it looked as if he was cooking something.


    Their family normally had meals prepared by a chef in the kitchen and delivered to the dining room, so it was rare to see cooking utensils in the dining room.


    This little cooking pot was actually something she had secretly bought and stashed in the dining room cupboard for sneaking late-night snacks.


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian had dug it out.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Song Sinian with a smile, feeling a little guilty as she asked, ¡°Mr. Song, haven¡¯t you had dinner?¡±


    She had already told Song Sinian in advance that she would be going to the Xia Family to have dinner, so she hadn¡¯t considered that Song Sinian might be hungry.


    Song Sinian gave Lu Zhaozhao a look, noticing her guilty expression. His dark pupils lowered slightly, and he nodded gently.


    He indeed hadn¡¯t eaten dinner, but it wasn¡¯t because Lu Zhaozhao had gone to the Xia Family; it was because he had only just finished work for the day.


    He had come back late, and since Qian Hong had already left, he made his way to the kitchen.


    Thinking of the little cooking pot that Lu Zhaozhao had previously used, he whimsically took it out.


    And just before he had it open for long, Lu Zhaozhao returned.


    ¡°How about... I cook for you?¡± Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the ingredients Song Sinian had thrown into the pot, contemplating how to give Mr. Song of their household a hearty meal.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t decline either, stepping aside to let Lu Zhaozhao pass.


    She lifted her hand to open the pot lid, only to see two or three pieces of cut corn in the water. Her eyebrows raised¡ªwas he intending to make soup?


    While she was still puzzled, the light above was suddenly obscured by a shadow, and her whole body was enveloped in it.


    Shortly after, Song Sinian wrapped his arms around her from behind, affectionately burying his head in her neck.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, raising her hand to rub the top of Song Sinian¡¯s head.


    Since the last time the two of them had a clear conversation, Song Sinian had become clingier than before.


    Whenever they had the chance to be alone, Song Sinian would proactively come over for kisses and hugs and to lift her high.


    As if he couldn¡¯t kiss or hug enough, sticking close to her.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t mind at all, after all, he was her husband. If she didn¡¯t dote on him, who would?

 Chapter 330: 328: Indeed Worth Celebrating!

    Chapter 330: Chapter 328: Indeed Worth Celebrating!


    ¡°Did you enjoy your visit to the Xia Family today?¡± Song Sinian asked, kissing her fair neck in a low voice.


    Lu Zhaozhao, who was completely unguarded as she busied herself in front of the hot pot, casually responded, ¡°Pretty happy, ouch...¡±


    She suddenly felt a pricking sensation on her neck but thought nothing of it as she felt the other person¡¯s lips quickly withdraw.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes dimmed, catching a glimpse of her skin flushed with red and white, and kissed it gently again.


    He felt a strange dryness in his throat, compelling him to suckle a few more times.


    The thirst seemed to grow more intense...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice was still in his ear, ¡°Today at the Xia Family¡¯s place, I saw Xia Wenjin¡¯s live stream; she was drudging up the past again, claiming she was mistreated by the Xia Family for 20 years. I don¡¯t know how she has the gall to say that.¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Sinian mumbled in response, shifting to a different spot.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a tickling from his movement, reaching out her little hand to pinch Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, ¡°But my four brothers have come up with a way to deal with them now, it was my idea. Am I not very clever?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, very clever,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice was a bit husky, following up with another response to her words.


    Lu Zhaozhao was almost made to laugh by his perfunctory reply.


    Pretending to make small talk, she muttered again, ¡°My parents really hope I could live with them for a while. Do you think I could end up living at the Xia Family¡¯s place in the future?¡±


    Holding Lu Zhaozhao in his arms, Song Sinian clearly paused, and almost instantly, the whole dining room¡¯s atmosphere seemed to drop with him.


    Lu Zhaozhao, who realized her joke had gone too far, quickly corrected herself, ¡°The thing I just said was just teasing you. I thought you weren¡¯t listening to my idle chatter.¡±


    Song Sinian remained silent, instead fixing Lu Zhaozhao with an especially aggrieved look, as if he were deeply wronged.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t bear his expression and simply surrendered, ¡°I was wrong, okay? Don¡¯t be mad at me, huh?¡±


    While she spoke, she even turned her head to kiss Song Sinian¡¯s cheek repeatedly, wanting to coax him.


    But what she didn¡¯t expect was to be picked up by Song Sinian the next second.


    Lu Zhaozhao, in a panic, clung to Song Sinian¡¯s neck, and as he strode out of the kitchen, she was completely overwhelmed.


    ¡°Song Sinian, the pot! The kitchen pot!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, that pot will automatically shut off once it¡¯s dry, you mentioned it last time.¡± Song Sinian said, while carrying Lu Zhaozhao straight up to the second floor.


    Lu Zhaozhao, between laughter and tears, raised her hand to pat Song Sinian¡¯s back, ¡°I¡¯m not going to run, you... um...¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Song Sinian pinned her against the door and kissed her fiercely.


    He had always been reluctant to impose on Lu Zhaozhao; he feared that she wouldn¡¯t like it.


    Adding to that, he was slow to catch on to emotions and lacked a sense of measure.


    But ever since Lu Zhaozhao said she would love him, that her heart had room only for him, he felt he had gone mad.


    He wanted to stick to her every minute of every second.


    Wanted to bully her harshly.


    Seeing her flustered because of him each time, he couldn¡¯t control the craving in his heart for her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, pinned against the door by him, one hand clutching the back of her neck and the other her lower back, solidly trapped her without giving her the slightest chance to escape.


    All her strength seemed to be drained away, slowly dissipating with the uncontrollable collapse until she slumped powerless into his embrace.


    Only then did Song Sinian barely let go of her lips.


    She gasped for air, with not a hint of pushing him away.


    She had seen what Song Sinian was like when he lost his mind.


    If she showed even a slight intent to ¡°resist,¡± Sinian would instantly go wild on her.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly regretted why she had said she¡¯d stay at the Xia Family¡¯s home to tease him.


    Now, see what happened?


    She thought about the day she clarified the misunderstanding with Song Sinian. Song Sinian had been utterly crazy the entire night. If she hadn¡¯t fallen asleep at some point in the morning,


    He might have gone mad for a while longer.


    As a result, the next day, she lay in bed all day long.


    Talk about embarrassing.


    When Lu Zhaozhao recalled that day, a flash of panic crossed her eyes. She wanted to ¡°admit her mistake¡± properly to Song Sinian.


    After all, it¡¯s not scary to concede, what¡¯s scary is Mr. Song¡¯s never-ending...


    Song Sinian seemed to sense her thoughts. His limpid eyes stared at her as he coaxed, ¡°I lost control a bit before, don¡¯t be scared, it won¡¯t happen again... I¡¯ll make you happy, okay?¡±


    His handsome brows and eyes looked at her with a hopeful light, and Lu Zhaozhao, as if possessed, nodded her head.


    The next second, Song Sinian hoisted her onto his shoulder and went straight to the bathroom.


    Shortly after, the sound of water from the bathroom became chaotic and indistinct, carrying with it the barely perceptible sound of faint sobs...


    When Lu Zhaozhao emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel by Song Sinian, it was already two hours later.


    Lu Zhaozhao was so drained at this point that she didn¡¯t even have the strength to walk; she let Song Sinian place her on the bed like a baby.


    Then he carefully dried her hair and wiped her face.


    Lu Zhaozhao was too lazy to move, leaning on the headboard and watching Song Sinian bustle about tending to her every need.


    After a moment, Song Sinian brought over a cup of warm water, meticulously feeding her.


    Watching Lu Zhaozhao sip half the cup one mouthful at a time, he slowly began to speak, ¡°Zhaozhao, let¡¯s get married, shall we?¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Lu Zhaozhao was stunned.


    Did she just mishear something?


    Weren¡¯t they already married?


    The bewildered expression on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face made Song Sinian chuckle softly.


    He set the cup on the nightstand and gently brushed her hair behind her ear before speaking, ¡°I mean, let¡¯s have a wedding ceremony?¡±


    At that time, his union with Lu Zhaozhao was rushed, only registering their marriage before moving in together.


    He had always felt that having Lu Zhaozhao by his side was enough and had never given much thought to anything else.


    But as Lu Zhaozhao spent more time with him, his understanding of love also grew deeper.


    He now wanted to do more for Lu Zhaozhao.


    At the wedding ceremony of Xia Wenjin and Song Ke he attended before, Xu Zhenzhen had mentioned that every woman fantasizes about her own wedding.


    So, he wanted to give Lu Zhaozhao a wedding ceremony, too.


    Lu Zhaozhao was a little surprised that Song Sinian would bring up the wedding. After all, they hadn¡¯t had a ceremony in their past life.


    But in her previous life, there were too many regrets, and the wedding became a minor one.


    Now, with the Lu Family¡¯s downfall, Mr. and Mrs. Lu having been punished, Xiao Jinglan falling ill, and being targeted by Xia Wenjin,


    There weren¡¯t many targets left for her revenge.


    Indeed, it was a cause for celebration!


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head, feigning naughtiness as she blinked, ¡°Then... shall we have a wedding ceremony? That way, everyone will know you¡¯re mine!¡±


    ¡°Although...¡±

 Chapter 331: 329: They Dont Dare

    Chapter 331: Chapter 329: They Don¡¯t Dare


    Song Sinian seemed to hesitate for a moment, which puzzled Lu Zhaozhao.


    She lifted her small face to look at Song Sinian. ¡°But what?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly. ¡°If we involve Mr. Song in the wedding, he¡¯ll definitely invite all the distant relatives and people from my mother¡¯s family.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was momentarily stunned.


    In her previous life, she and Song Sinian had only registered their marriage and started living together.


    From beginning to end, she always felt that Song Sinian didn¡¯t like anything too high-profile, so she never took the initiative to suggest having a wedding ceremony.


    As for Song Sinian, that was even easier to understand; he thought she didn¡¯t like it.


    Moreover, after their marriage, she was always under Xiao Jinglan¡¯s oppression and had not even had time to connect with the Xia Family.


    Not to mention the relatives on Song Sinian¡¯s mother¡¯s side.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she leaned her small head on Song Sinian¡¯s shoulder and asked, ¡°What are the relatives on your mother¡¯s side like?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao for a few seconds, seeming like he was about to say something, but after a pause, he just gently shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    He had always lived with the Song Family, and ever since his mother passed away, he had never seen her maternal relatives again.


    This answer wasn¡¯t surprising to Lu Zhaozhao at all.


    To Song Sinian, relatives were no different from strangers.


    She asked casually, ¡°Does your mother have other relatives?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s expression remained calm as he replied indifferently, ¡°There is a grandmother and an uncle.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows. ¡°That¡¯s quite strange, that they¡¯ve never come to the Song Family to ask for your help.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t dare.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s concise answer left Lu Zhaozhao with even more questions in her eyes.


    It was then that she remembered that in her past life, as well as this one, she never talked with Song Sinian about his parents.


    She only knew that Feng Xiran had passed away when Song Sinian was very young, which led to Song Gu later marrying Xiao Jinglan.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked in the dimly lit room, and for a moment, she didn¡¯t know whether to speak up or not.


    Seeing her silence, Song Sinian rubbed her little head with his large hand. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? Are you tired?¡±


    He had indeed been a bit rough just now, having been somewhat intense with her.


    Only after wrapping her up from the water, did he see those speckles over her body.


    Song Sinian felt a bit guilty, but he was even more afraid that she might be angry.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her small mouth and gently shook her head. ¡°I want to know about your parents¡¯ past... but of course, if it makes you uncomfortable, you don¡¯t have to talk about it.¡±


    She had previously suspected that Song Sinian¡¯s emotional detachment was related to his parents¡¯ early demise.


    So she was worried that her question might upset him.


    But unexpectedly, Song Sinian chuckled lightly, leaned down, and kissed her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s okay, if you want to hear it, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    Saying so, he grabbed a pillow and propped it against Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lower back before continuing. ¡°My mother was Feng Xiran, the least favored youngest daughter of the Feng family. My father, Song Gu, was an only child. Though he wasn¡¯t pampered, he was willful and untamed...¡±


    Through Song Sinian¡¯s emotionless and flat recounting, Lu Zhaozhao learned about Feng Xiran and Song Gu¡¯s past.


    Song Gu, Song Sinian¡¯s father, never really had much affection for his mother, Feng Xiran.


    The initial marriage to Feng Xiran was because of her compliant nature, easy to control, marrying her fulfilled the duty to marry and have children; the rest didn¡¯t concern him.


    Feng Xiran had suffered from a severe lack of love since childhood, and after marrying into the Song Family, she desperately tried to secure her position, so she gave birth to Song Sinian early on.


    She hoped to gain her husband¡¯s attention and care, so how could she tolerate being ignored? Thus, she tried every possible way to make her presence felt in front of Song Gu.


    She even went to the extent of abusing Song Sinian just to make Song Gu show up.


    Song Sinian was Song Gu¡¯s only child, and as long as he was sick, Song Gu had no choice but to appear.


    It was later that Old Master Song discovered something was amiss and took Song Sinian under his wing.


    But by then, the abused Song Sinian had already lost the ability and desire to express his emotions.


    Old Master Song, although he tried his best to bond with him, was helpless.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out her little hand to hold Song Sinian¡¯s, looking into his eyes with utter sympathy.


    She had never considered that Song Sinian¡¯s emotional barriers stemmed from his mother.


    Song Sinian raised his hand and patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, ¡°All that is in the past now, that woman is just an insignificant person to me.¡±


    The past events and feelings were like watching a movie for him; he couldn¡¯t even muster a shred of emotion.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes became moist again, and she reached her small hand out from under the towel, tenderly embracing Song Sinian.


    Her tears ¡°plink, plink¡± fell, leaving Song Sinian somewhat at a loss.


    He gently patted her back, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying now?¡±


    The pat from him only made Lu Zhaozhao cry even harder.


    Song Sinian had encountered such a situation before, but the last time was after Lu Zhaozhao spoke about her past life.


    But what was the situation now?


    Song Sinian slowly lifted her up, heartachingly wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes, his handsome face almost creased together, ¡°What has happened? Tell me, and I¡¯ll help you solve it, okay?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°No good, why did that woman have to do that to you? You were just a child who didn¡¯t understand anything, sob... It hurts my heart!¡±


    The more she spoke, the harder she cried.


    Song Sinian, who was already feeling out of his depth, felt even more struck when he realized Lu Zhaozhao was crying because of her concern for him.


    A sourness welled up in his chest.


    His eyes welled up slightly with untold emotion, and it felt like a heavy burden on his heart had been lightened.


    He reached out again to embrace Lu Zhaozhao, took a deep breath, and held her even tighter.


    So this is what it feels like to be cared for by someone...


    It feels wonderful.


    For several days in a row, Xia Wenjin relied on playing the sympathy card, frequently topping the trending searches, repeatedly milking the abuse she faced in the Xia Family for attention and to sell products.


    Xia Wenjin was initially worried that the Xia Family would retaliate with PR, and she even prepped the company¡¯s publicists, ready for a showdown at any moment, and to garner more traffic in the process.


    But as Xia Wenjin waited day after day, while other more explosive news items kept popping up, she could see her popularity visibly declining.


    If she couldn¡¯t come up with something more sensational soon, it would be very difficult to maintain her current heat.


    ¡°Have you thought of anything else to reveal?¡± her agent looked up at Xia Wenjin, his eyebrows nearly forming a knot.


    When he had taken on Xia Wenjin, it was because she was the heiress of the Lu Group.


    Such rich heirs playing at being stars usually came with resources, and he was happy to add another feather to his cap.


    Moreover, with Xia Wenjin¡¯s popularity and controversy, boosting her profile would be easy.


    He had given Xia Wenjin quite a few resources, but she had been picky, either complaining about the low status of business endorsements or the small size of the roles...

 Chapter 332: 330: The Weasel Pays New Years Visit to the Chicken

    Chapter 332: Chapter 330: The Weasel Pays New Year¡¯s Visit to the Chicken


    Finally, she was willing to do live-streaming and promote products, but just when her popularity started to rise, it was already on the verge of dropping again.


    He felt that the recent string of scandals in the entertainment industry didn¡¯t seem accidental¡ªit felt as though someone was deliberately orchestrating them from the shadows.


    They wanted to counter one scandal with another...


    He hoped he was just overthinking it, but if not... that spelled trouble.


    Before, with the support of the Lu Group, Xia Wenjin had managed to offend the president¡¯s wife of the Song Group and still hung on in the entertainment circle.


    Now that the Lu Group had collapsed, who would give her any face?


    As her agent, he dared not get involved anymore.


    Otherwise, when Xia Wenjin¡¯s misfortune came, it would drag him down too.


    Seeing the agent¡¯s somber face, a flash of coldness passed through Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes as she asked, ¡°Have you found any variety shows with Xia Wenyan or Lu Zhaozhao recently? Preferably live-streaming ones.¡±


    With pre-recorded shows, she worried that the ¡°highlight moments¡± could be edited out by someone.


    She might not be able to compete with Lu Zhaozhao when it came to backing, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t win in other areas.


    The agent stared at Xia Wenjin with a look that one gives to a madman.


    She had leaked information not long ago about the Xia Family mistreating her, but having worked with Xia Wenjin for a while, he, as an experienced agent, didn¡¯t believe for a second that she was the type to be victimized.


    And who would mistreat someone with designer bags worth hundreds of thousands, all limited editions?


    If there were such a person, he¡¯d be the first to welcome such ¡°abuse¡±!


    Right now, the public¡¯s focus was on the fact that the Xia Family had not publicly revealed Xia Wenjin¡¯s true identity with the XJ Group, but once they got over that, her little tactics would seem like nothing.


    He saw right through it, which was why he couldn¡¯t be bothered to pile more resources on her.


    Variety shows just ride the wave of popularity; once they¡¯re shot, they¡¯re done.


    It¡¯s not like shooting TV series or movies where problems could lead to compensation claims.


    The agent glanced at Xia Wenjin and said, ¡°Going after Xia Wenyan now could easily put you at a disadvantage, I¡¯ve heard he has a bad temper...¡±


    ¡°If Xia Wenyan lays a hand on me, it¡¯ll only boost my popularity, and they¡¯ll be the ones at a loss, not me,¡± Xia Wenjin interrupted before the agent could finish, shutting him up with her reply.


    Without the Lu Family¡¯s support now, she could only rely on herself to make money.


    Moreover, it was the Xia Family who was now afraid of ruining their reputation, so she was like someone with nothing to lose and not afraid of those who have something to lose.


    The agent was also struck by her ¡°awareness¡± and said, ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll go and ask around for you.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    No sooner had the agent stepped out than she received a phone call.


    She knew it was Cao Mei from the number displayed.


    Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, at first intending to hang up, but then it was as if she suddenly thought of something and she picked up immediately.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Cao Mei¡¯s voice came through quickly from the other end, ¡°Jin, do you have any free time recently? Mom wants to meet you.¡±


    Xia Wenjin suppressed the irritation in her heart and replied coldly, ¡°Speak directly, I don¡¯t have much time to beat around the bush with you, I¡¯m busy.¡±


    Cao Mei was evidently taken aback by Xia Wenjin¡¯s words.


    After pausing for a few seconds, she started stammering, ¡°Jin, no matter what, I am your mother, how can you talk to me like this? I...¡±


    ¡°Enough, stop acting with me. I haven¡¯t known you for more than a few months since we met, there¡¯s no deep affection there, so stop deceiving yourself. If you have something to say, just say it!¡±


    Xia Wenjin was too lazy to exchange insincere pleasantries with Cao Mei.


    She became the obedient daughter to the Lu Family because they had money, but now it seemed that her family was worth more than the Lu¡¯s.


    Would she have returned to the Lu Family if the Xia Family hadn¡¯t kept her in the dark?


    Cao Mei never expected Xia Wenjin to speak her mind so frankly, once again finding herself at a loss for words.


    Although she had many grievances towards Xia Wenjin now, when she first came to her home, Cao Mei couldn¡¯t have been more thrilled with her daughter.


    Cao Mei never expected this to be the outcome.


    Previously, when people said Xia Wenjin was an ingrate, she found it laughable, but now it appeared she was the biggest joke of all!


    Cao Mei slowly closed her eyes and decided not to continue with the small talk, ¡°Your dad wants to borrow a sum of money from you, and we¡¯ll repay it with interest...¡±


    ¡°Repay with interest? The Lu Family is bankrupt now, do you think I don¡¯t know how much he owes? Repay with interest? That¡¯s really funny!¡± Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t wait for Cao Mei to finish before mocking her.


    Cao Mei couldn¡¯t take her sarcastic tone any longer, angrily scolded, ¡°Xia Wenjin, do you have any conscience at all? Have you forgotten how shamelessly you came to the Lu Family in the first place?¡±


    Xia Wenjin sneered, ¡°So what? Now that the Lu¡¯s are finished, do you think you¡¯re still the wealthy patrician from before? I bet you don¡¯t even have a place to stay now, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Listening to the silence from Cao Mei, Xia Wenjin seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot, ¡°Considering the past few months have been relatively pleasant, I¡¯m willing to give you some money, but you¡¯ll have to do something for me in return.¡±


    Cao Mei was completely numb by now, with the Lu Group having gone bankrupt and all their properties mortgaged and seized.


    She and Lu Dagui were on the verge of being homeless.


    Cao Mei, nearly in despair, asked, ¡°What do you want us to do?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°What I want you to do is simple... I¡¯m sending you an address right now; go and stay there. I¡¯ll tell you what you need to do in detail later.¡±


    Cao Mei clenched her teeth and eventually could only utter one word, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xia Wenjin watched as the call ended, the corners of her mouth slowly curving into a smile.


    Lu Zhaozhao, just wait and see. Everything you have now will be reclaimed by me, one by one!


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Out of the blue, Lu Zhaozhao, who was on set filming, sneezed.


    She rubbed her nose and couldn¡¯t help but look up at the sky.


    Was she dressed too lightly?


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you okay? You¡¯re not getting sick from overworking these days, are you?¡± Sun Qian, hearing Lu Zhaozhao sneeze, immediately asked with concern.


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, clearly a bit uncomfortable with the sudden closeness from Sun Qian over the past few days.


    She preferred their previous relationship, where they didn¡¯t get along, as it made her feel more at ease.


    This current behavior always gave her the sense that something wasn¡¯t right, like a weasel paying a New Year¡¯s visit to a chicken.


    Lu Zhaozhao also knew that Sun Qian¡¯s kindness wasn¡¯t because of her identity, nor because her professional abilities had changed Sun Qian¡¯s opinion.


    It was simply because Sun Qian realized she had no romantic interest in Pei Huai.


    Lu Zhaozhao awkwardly pulled at the corner of her mouth, ¡°I¡¯m fine, just a ticklish nose.¡±


    Sun Qian nodded, still in the caring elder sister mode, ¡°It¡¯s good if you¡¯re not sick. The weather these days is very conducive to colds. If you feel unwell, feel free to get some cold medicine from me. I¡¯m well stocked.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you, Teacher Sun.¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded lightly.


    Then she listened as Sun Qian continued to ask, ¡°Is your brother coming to visit on set today?¡±

 Chapter 333: 331: What on Earth is This Ridiculous News?!

    Chapter 333: Chapter 331: What on Earth is This Ridiculous News?!


    Her voice was faint, sounding as if she was just making small talk.


    But such small talk, she had to repeat several times a day, and it truly gave her a headache.


    Sun Qian¡¯s ulterior-motived greetings left her feeling especially exhausted.


    She awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth, ¡°I don¡¯t know when my brother will arrive, he didn¡¯t say anything about it today. Teacher Sun, you also know how there have been rumors flying around outside recently...¡±


    Sun Qian didn¡¯t seem to mind; she only wanted to hear what she was interested in.


    Since Lu Zhaozhao had said her brother wouldn¡¯t come, then Pei Huai wouldn¡¯t be there either.


    So after getting her answer, she took the script and went back to her nanny van.


    Lu Zhaozhao pressed her temples, somewhat speechlessly.


    She suddenly couldn¡¯t quite understand why Sun Qian needed to ask every day if her fourth brother would come to know if Pei Huai would come.


    But hadn¡¯t she noticed that the two grown men were appearing together a bit too frequently?


    They weren¡¯t blood siblings; who would stick with another person for so long!


    Lu Zhaozhao really wanted to pry open Sun Qian¡¯s head, add some brain cells, then seal it back up.


    But she couldn¡¯t say it.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed lightly, only praying that Xia Wenyan wouldn¡¯t show up again lately.


    She was being worn thin by Sun Qian now.


    ¡°Zhaozhao!¡±


    Suddenly, an excited voice came over, making Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s temples throb instantly.


    The moment her front foot declared Xia Wenyan wouldn¡¯t come, her dear brother surprised her on the back foot.


    Lu Zhaozhao had given up struggling; she waved at Xia Wenyan, somewhat envious of someone who knew nothing.


    Pei Huai followed Xia Wenyan, nodding at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Upon seeing Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenyan immediately grabbed her hand and said mysteriously, ¡°I have a piece of good news and a piece of bad news. Which do you want to hear first?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows, ¡°The bad one, I guess.¡±


    She felt most people would choose to hear the bad news first.


    Xia Wenyan immediately let out a sigh, ¡°Starting from tomorrow, your dear fourth brother won¡¯t be able to visit you on set anymore; I¡¯ve got a new job.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao wanted to clap like a seal on the inside!


    Thank heavens!


    With Xia Wenyan not coming, she wouldn¡¯t have to endure Sun Qian¡¯s formulaic courtesy anymore!


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao silently processing, Xia Wenyan raised his hand and hastily patted her back, ¡°Don¡¯t panic just yet; you haven¡¯t asked me what the good news is.¡±


    Caught up in her joy, Lu Zhaozhao immediately followed up, ¡°So what¡¯s the good news?¡±


    Could it be that he¡¯s with Pei Huai now?


    That seemed unlikely; after all, her fourth brother¡¯s thought processes were extremely lengthy...


    As Lu Zhaozhao pondered, Xia Wenyan¡¯s melancholic voice came through, ¡°The good news is, I¡¯m joining the crew this week! Right here at this film base! We¡¯ll be able to meet every day soon!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, damn!


    That¡¯s not good news at all!


    It¡¯s like a bolt from the blue!


    Now Lu Zhaozhao felt an urge to kneel down and sing ¡°The North Wind Blows¡± on the spot.


    What kind of freaking news is this?!


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head incredulously toward Pei Huai, giving him a ¡°aren¡¯t you going to explain this?¡± look.


    Pei Huai sighed helplessly and slowly walked over, ¡°Yanyan recently found a good script. By chance, the filming location is right here in this studio complex. There are two pretty good roles, so Yanyan and I decided to take them.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched with an expression that clearly said, ¡°I don¡¯t believe you at all.¡±


    She didn¡¯t buy the coincidence one bit!


    It must have been Xia Wen Yan who deliberately chose a script that was being filmed at the studio complex; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been so coincidental.


    He and Pei Huai came every few days, and now... they were coming every day, which had excited Sun Qian beyond belief.


    Lu Zhaozhao already anticipated that from now on, her visits here for filming would never be peaceful.


    She thought for a moment and turned her gaze to Xia Wen Yan, clearing her throat lightly, ¡°Big Brother, I suddenly feel like drinking milk tea. Could you get me one?¡±


    Seeing her rarely ask for something, Xia Wen Yan was naturally willing.


    ¡°What brand do you want? Half sugar or less sugar? With or without pearls? Large or small cup? You... hmm!¡±


    Xia Wen Yan¡¯s words were cut short as Lu Zhaozhao reached out and covered his mouth.


    With a smiling gaze, she spoke word by word, ¡°I like whatever flavor Big Brother likes. I¡¯ll enjoy anything you pick for me.¡±


    Xia Wen Yan¡¯s heart bloomed with joy in an instant, and he was as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! With your brother here, I¡¯ll definitely get you the tastiest milk tea!¡±


    Saying this, he dashed excitedly out from in front of Lu Zhaozhao.


    As Xia Wen Yan headed off, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze returned to Pei Huai, ¡°My brother¡¯s gone off to buy milk tea. Why didn¡¯t you go with him?¡±


    Pei Huai chuckled softly and sat down next to her on the resting chair, ¡°You sent Yanyan away just to have a private talk with me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips noncommittally.


    Indeed, speaking with an intelligent person saved effort.


    At the same time, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but feel that her naive Big Brother was probably a lost cause.


    She sighed, resigned to the belief that a fool sometimes has his own kind of fortune.


    She glanced at Pei Huai and, in a low voice leaning close, said, ¡°You must know what Sun Qian intends toward you, right?¡±


    Pei Huai nodded gently, ¡°I¡¯ve turned her down before.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao finally relaxed, ¡°Sun Qian is a bit stubborn and probably won¡¯t give up easily. I¡¯m worried that if she really discovers something, it¡¯ll be you two who suffer.¡±


    In the entertainment industry, relationships between people of the same sex are not rare. Even if the paparazzi get something, everyone has an unspoken agreement not to leak it to the public.


    It¡¯s like an unstated rule of the circle.


    People have seen a lot and don¡¯t make a big deal out of it, but the fear is that some people with ulterior motives might spill the beans.


    Since Pei Huai had already made his decision about Xia Wen Yan, she wasn¡¯t worried about that, but her Big Brother¡¯s feelings for Pei Huai were still unclear.


    If some complication arose, she feared it might destabilize their current relationship.


    After all, Xia Wen Yan was quite the foolishly straightforward type.


    Pei Huai naturally understood what Lu Zhaozhao was worried about and nodded lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be careful. I won¡¯t let anyone hurt Yanyan. If anyone tries to harm him, I won¡¯t let them off easily.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s tone was calm, but to Lu Zhaozhao, it carried an unmistakably threatening undertone.


    In his past life, Pei Huai had cut down so many people for Xia Wen Yan.


    She suddenly grew concerned about Pei Huai¡¯s current mental state.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s furrowed brow, Pei Huai seemed to realize something and chuckled lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. In this life, I just want to be with Yanyan and live well. I won¡¯t do anything reckless or illegal.¡±


    Hearing him say this, Lu Zhaozhao finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Oh, one more thing...¡±

 Chapter 334: 332 Stay away from him!

    Chapter 334: Chapter 332 Stay away from him!


    Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows, ¡°Have you... decided to make a move against Xia Wenjin?¡±


    Pei Huai visibly flinched, as if he had not expected Lu Zhaozhao to ask such a question.


    He chuckled lightly and countered, ¡°Why would you suddenly bring this up?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Recently, although the scandals released by Xia Wenjin were aimed at the Xia Family, the ones affected the most were me and Fourth Brother.¡±


    Their family¡¯s Mr. Song, because of this matter, had wanted to pack Xia Wenjin off to Africa to mine coal overnight.


    Not to mention Pei Huai.


    Previously, Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan mistakenly harmed Xia Wenyan with drugs, one got exposed in various colorful videos and photos, and the other ended up in emergency care from the distress.


    She had also only obtained this information after pestering Sinian for days on end.


    According to Sinian, this setup was not yet over, it was just a part of Pei Huai¡¯s plan.


    If Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan had such a miserable fate, let alone Xia Wenjin.


    Pei Huai shrugged, his demeanor indifferent as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°In your heart, is your brother really such a person?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing Pei Huai¡¯s expression of being wronged, almost didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.


    She raised her hand to pat Pei Huai, uttering solemnly word by word, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I have such a brother that I feel secure.¡±


    She was no saint and felt no pity or sympathy for those who had once bullied her.


    After all, they had not shown any mercy when they schemed against them.


    Why should they show mercy?


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze fell on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s petite face, seemingly a bit helpless.


    He sighed lightly and raised his hand to rub Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head, ¡°If your brother were even half as smart as you, I would surely be nervous every day.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know whether to sympathize with her brother or with Pei Huai at that moment.


    ¡°Cough, cough...¡±


    Suddenly, a familiar coughing sound came through.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but feel a jolt at the bottom of her heart.


    Sure enough, she turned her head towards the source of the sound and saw Sun Qian walking towards them gracefully.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I brought the cold medicine, do you want to drink some first?¡± Sun Qian shook the cold medicine in her hand with a concerned expression.


    Her voice was gentle, seeming as if she came because she was worried about Lu Zhaozhao.


    Afterward, Sun Qian¡¯s gaze shifted towards Pei Huai and she smiled, ¡°Pei Huai, are you here to deliver medicine to Zhaozhao too?¡±


    It was good that she had planted an assistant here to secretly monitor Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side after she left.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have known that Pei Huai and the others had come!


    Sun Qian thought about her timing of appearing just right, neither awkward nor failing to highlight her care for Lu Zhaozhao.


    She refused to believe Pei Huai could remain indifferent towards her.


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze swept past Lu Zhaozhao before it finally settled on Sun Qian.


    He gently shook his head, his voice neither salty nor bland, ¡°I came with Yanyan to visit the set.¡±


    Afterward, he raised his hand to touch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head, asking, ¡°Are you sick?¡±


    The concern in Pei Huai¡¯s eyes was genuine.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao was Xia Wenyan¡¯s darling treasure. If she were sick, Xia Wenyan would surely be in a flurry of panic.


    ¡°No, I just sneezed, Teacher Sun might be a bit too worried,¡± Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corners of her mouth stiffly, offering Pei Huai a look that said ¡°it¡¯s all thanks to you.¡±


    Pei Huai could clearly understand the mockery in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes.


    He slowly lowered his hand, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re not sick.¡±


    ¡°Cough cough...¡± Seeing this, Sun Qian coughed a few more times, ¡°These past few days I¡¯ve felt a bit uncomfortable, maybe caught a cold, and I don¡¯t even have a thermometer at hand, Pei...¡±


    ¡°Stay away from him!¡±


    Before Sun Qian could finish her sentence, a displeased voice came from afar, causing everyone around to look in the direction of the sound.


    Xia Wenyan appeared from a distance, carrying three cups of milk tea.


    He tossed the milk teas into Pei Huai¡¯s arms and pulled both Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai several steps back, keeping a distance from Sun Qian.


    Sun Qian¡¯s smiling facade cracked momentarily; she struggled to maintain a gentle voice as she looked at Xia Wenyan and asked, ¡°Teacher Xia, what do you mean by this?¡±


    Xia Wenyan eyed Sun Qian warily and said seriously, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say you have a cold?¡±


    Sun Qian nodded, her expression growing more puzzled as she looked at him.


    ¡°You have a cold and still don¡¯t know to stay cautious? What if you infect my sister and Brother Pei?¡± Xia Wenyan looked at Sun Qian disdainfully as if she were some dreadful virus.


    Even someone as seasoned as Sun Qian almost cracked on the spot.


    What kind of ironclad straight man was Xia Wenyan?


    She, a delicate woman, had a cold¡ªshouldn¡¯t he be caring and considerate?


    And he even accused her in public?!


    Lu Zhaozhao, standing behind Xia Wenyan, almost burst out laughing; if she hadn¡¯t pinched her thigh hard, she worried she might laugh too loudly.


    It was really hard for an ironclad straight man like Xia Wenyan to find a wife, so...


    Her gaze stealthily glanced at Pei Huai and then quietly withdrew.


    As for Pei Huai beside her, he seemed unsurprised by such occurrences.


    He calmly opened a cup of milk tea and handed it to Lu Zhaozhao, then opened another cup and brought it to Xia Wenyan¡¯s lips.


    Xia Wenyan almost instinctively drank the milk tea, the person who had just been all bluster a moment ago now completely tempered.


    Sun Qian looked at Pei Huai gratefully, then said aggrievedly, ¡°Teacher Xia, I know you don¡¯t like me, but I really had no bad intentions. I was just coming over to bring Zhaozhao some cold medicine.¡±


    She spoke, pulling out the cold medicine from her hand, ¡°I was worried Zhaozhao might catch a cold...¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re really worried she might catch a cold, stay away from her; it¡¯s not like you have many scenes together.¡± Listening to Sun Qian¡¯s beat around the bush, his brow furrowed, and he snapped back out.


    Don¡¯t think he couldn¡¯t see Sun Qian¡¯s interest in Pei Huai!


    His Brother Pei, such a great guy, how could he be ruined by a woman like Sun Qian?


    He had heard more than once from people in the circle about topics related to Sun Qian.


    Not only does she love to act like a diva, but her temper stinks too.


    Their family¡¯s Brother Pei is such a good-tempered person, why should he find someone with such a poor temper?


    And this woman always stirs up trouble between him and Pei Huai.


    If Sun Qian really got together with Pei Huai, he suspects they wouldn¡¯t even remain friends.


    The thought alone made Xia Wenyan burst into irritation.


    He was absolutely not going to let Sun Qian have a chance with Pei Huai!


    Hmph!


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan looked at Sun Qian with even more wariness.


    Sun Qian¡¯s molars were almost crushed, but with Pei Huai present, she could only continue to play the innocent.


    She pursed her lips, and tears fell, ¡°Teacher Xia... sob, you really misunderstand me, I...¡±

 Chapter 335: 333: He cant really have taken a liking to that old white lotus, can he?

    Chapter 335: Chapter 333: He can¡¯t really have taken a liking to that old white lotus, can he?


    She hemmed and hawed for the longest time, but not a single person went up to console her.


    Sun Qian also felt that the crying was pointless, so she stifled her sobs and looked pitifully at Pei Huai standing to the side.


    She sniffled, ¡°Pei Huai, you believe me, right?¡±


    Pei Huai was headachy listening to Sun Qian¡¯s crying nearby, but fortunately, she had stopped now, and he couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her anymore.


    He decided to speak up, ¡°Since Teacher Sun has caught a cold, you should go back to the nanny van to rest. It¡¯s cold outside; it¡¯s best to stay in until you¡¯ve recovered from your cold.¡±


    Ideally, she would stay in the nanny van and not show up at all.


    Pei Huai¡¯s slightly disdainful words, however, held a completely different meaning to the few who heard them.


    Especially for Sun Qian, who, after being provoked by Xia Wenyan¡¯s firm declaration, was deeply moved by Pei Huai¡¯s obvious ¡°bias¡± toward her.


    Sure enough, Pei Huai cared about her.


    It was just that with so many people around, he could not show too much partiality to her.


    Beside her, Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyebrows quirked when he heard Pei Huai¡¯s words, and he immediately felt annoyed.


    But he didn¡¯t lash out directly, instead turning his gaze to Lu Zhaozhao and said gently, ¡°Zhaozhao, your brother is going back first. If there¡¯s anything, come find me on set, and don¡¯t let anyone bully you, okay?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao bit her milk tea straw, nodding silently.


    She wondered if it was her imagination, but she felt like Xia Wenyan seemed upset.


    This Fourth Brother of hers was usually not very good at hiding his feelings, yet now he could stay so calm?


    Tsk, tsk... Pei Huai¡¯s in big trouble now!


    Sure enough, after Xia Wenyan spoke to her, he left without even greeting Pei Huai.


    Pei Huai was startled for a moment, then suddenly realized something and quickly followed after Xia Wenyan.


    In no time, only Lu Zhaozhao and Sun Qian were left at the filming site.


    Sun Qian was in a particularly good mood because she had just been cared for by Pei Huai.


    She gently handed the cold medicine to Lu Zhaozhao with a smile, ¡°Here, take this. I need to go back and take good care of myself now, or Pei Huai will worry.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, talk about patting oneself on the back.


    Was this the highest level of self-love, self-conquest?


    Meanwhile, Pei Huai had caught up with Xia Wenyan.


    He reached out to grab Xia Wenyan, but Xia Wenyan subtly dodged away.


    With a sigh of resignation, Pei Huai kept pace with him and asked softly, ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    Xia Wenyan gave Pei Huai a cold look and replied tersely, ¡°No.¡±


    Pei Huai almost burst out laughing.


    The corners of his mouth curved up, ¡°If you said that with a smile, I might actually believe you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now Xia Wenyan was even more irritated.


    He shot Pei Huai a glare, ¡°You¡¯d better hurry up and take care of your Teacher Sun. She¡¯s sick, standing outside in such cold weather. Who knows, by the time you¡¯re not around, she might just kick the bucket!¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªhahaha...¡±


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t hold it in and burst into laughter.


    Xia Wenyan was startled by the laughter, swung a punch at him, but Pei Huai caught it.


    Tears of laughter nearly streaming down his face, Pei Huai saw Xia Wenyan was still miffed and hurriedly apologized, ¡°Sorry, sorry, my bad, I shouldn¡¯t have laughed so loud...¡±


    Xia Wenyan was so vexed by his apology that he stopped speaking altogether.


    Pei Huai immediately dropped his smile and asked gently, ¡°Yanyan, were you just angry because of Sun Qian?¡±


    Xia Wenyan pouted, ¡°What do I have to be angry about? I was just afraid you¡¯d go down the wrong path. Seeing you just now, acting like you weren¡¯t worth a dime, hmph!¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Pei Huai was stunned for a moment and pondered carefully about everything that had just happened; he didn¡¯t catch Xia Wenyan¡¯s point at all.


    Xia Wenyan was even more upset by his clueless expression.


    He tried to pull his hand back, but couldn¡¯t get it free, so he could only grumble dissatisfiedly, ¡°You were just worried about Sun Qian being too cold outside, even going on and on advising her to go back to the nanny van.¡±


    Xia Wenyan grew more irritated the more he thought about it. He had made it so obvious.


    Yet, Pei Huai, that blockhead, still contradicted him!


    He couldn¡¯t really have taken a fancy to that old white lotus Sun Qian, could he?


    Xia Wenyan thought about how fake Sun Qian had been while talking to Pei Huai, and he felt goosebumps all over his body.


    Pei Huai looked at Xia Wenyan¡¯s scrunched little face, sighed softly, and patiently explained, ¡°I meant for her to shut up and leave quickly, not what you¡¯re thinking.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Xia Wenyan clearly didn¡¯t believe him, raising his eyebrows with a skeptical look fixed on Pei Huai.


    Pei Huai nodded repeatedly, ¡°I swear, every word I said is true.¡±


    Xia Wenyan stared at Pei Huai for quite some time, still seeming not quite reassured.


    Pei Huai chuckled lightly and reached out to draw Xia Wenyan into his arms, ¡°How about this, then? In the future, if I think someone is not bad, I¡¯ll bring them in front of you for your approval, okay? If you don¡¯t like the person, I won¡¯t associate with them anymore, alright?¡±


    ¡°Emmm...¡±


    Xia Wenyan frowned and didn¡¯t respond for a long time.


    He knew Pei Huai said this because he cared about his opinion, but why did he feel even more unhappy now that Pei Huai had said it?


    Xia Wenyan also felt he was being a bit unreasonable, but he just wasn¡¯t happy.


    After pondering for a moment and scanning Pei Huai¡¯s face several times, he finally asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that you¡¯re part of the no-marriage club?¡±


    Pei Huai knew what Xia Wenyan was trying to convey.


    He nodded lightly, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, but being in the no-marriage club doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t date. If there¡¯s someone I like, spending time together isn¡¯t bad.¡±


    He said this while his gaze gently swept over Xia Wenyan.


    If he couldn¡¯t be with him as a lover, he could accept this current state.


    As long as no one else was by Xia Wenyan¡¯s side.


    Only he would be fine.


    In order to not make Xia Wenyan think he was weird, that was all he could say.


    After all, someone who neither dated nor married, staying close to him constantly, would eventually be suspected by others.


    Xia Wenyan might be slow to catch on, but that didn¡¯t mean the others around him were.


    If Xia Wenyan wasn¡¯t ready yet, he could only use this kind of excuse to stay by his side.


    Seeing him looking glum, Pei Huai wrapped his arm around Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder and headed straight for the set¡¯s resting room.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ve bought you snacks and fruits in the resting room.¡±


    Xia Wenyan gave Pei Huai a side glance, his mouth twitched but he ended up saying nothing, simply following Pei Huai back to the resting room.


    Seeing the sofa, coffee table, and massage chair that Pei Huai had arranged early in the resting room, his eyebrows lifted slightly.


    Next to the massage chair were all his favorite foods.


    Xia Wenyan sat silently on the sofa, and Pei Huai casually peeled a sugar mandarin and brought it to his mouth.


    Already accustomed to being fed by Pei Huai, he instinctively opened his mouth and took it.


    He chewed thoughtfully, then suddenly, as if something occurred to him, he stared at Pei Huai and asked¡ª

 Chapter 336: 334: Why Is He Being So Sour?

    Chapter 336: Chapter 334: Why Is He Being So Sour?


    ¡°Brother Pei, do you have someone you like now?¡±


    Xia Wenyan said this while staring intensely at Pei Huai.


    For some reason, he felt a bit nervous.


    What if Pei Huai really had someone he liked, would he start to drift away from him?


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes lifted slightly, watching his lips move before extending his palm to Xia Wenyan¡¯s lips.


    Xia Wenyan reflexively spat the orange seed into Pei Huai¡¯s hand.


    This made Xia Wenyan even more upset.


    Pei Huai was so good to him as a brother, he would definitely treat a girlfriend even better.


    Once he had a girlfriend, he would surely dote on her and not on him.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows furrowed instantly, and his complexion grew even uglier.


    If Pei Huai had a girlfriend, wasn¡¯t it natural for him to spoil her?


    Why was he feeling so sour about it?


    Of course, Pei Huai had no idea what Xia Wenyan was thinking. He discarded the orange seed from his hand and stuffed another segment of orange into his mouth.


    Then he slowly said, ¡°I don¡¯t like any women.¡±


    Just one man.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, seeming much cheerier, ¡°I knew it. How could you possibly date someone under my nose without me knowing...¡±


    He said this with a clear touch of triumph.


    Pei Huai sighed helplessly and asked casually, ¡°What about you, do you plan on continuing with blind dates recently?¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°blind dates,¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s scalp tingled.


    That Avril wasn¡¯t really a blind date candidate at all.


    It was just because he hadn¡¯t messed with his older brothers, and was sent to be a target.


    Xia Wenyan ate another segment of orange, then lazily leaned back on the sofa and muttered, ¡°Forget about blind dates, I¡¯m quite lazy by nature. If I were looking, I¡¯d want someone who dotes on me, and preferably not too fierce...¡±


    He said this, his gaze drifting towards Pei Huai, smiling, ¡°Of course, if it¡¯s someone better than Brother Pei, that would be even better.¡±


    But someone better than Pei Huai towards him... emmm, that seems very hard.


    Because Pei Huai was really too good to him.


    If he didn¡¯t meet such a person, it seems like making do with Brother Pei wouldn¡¯t be so bad...


    After all, Brother Pei isn¡¯t going to get married, so sticking by his side shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan, stuffed another orange segment into his mouth, and chuckled, ¡°Then it¡¯s a deal. Find someone who treats you better than Brother Pei, and if not, you¡¯re not allowed to settle.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Xia Wenyan nodded decisively, completely unaware of what this promise meant to Pei Huai.


    He contentedly picked up another tangerine from the table and started peeling it.


    Looking for someone who would treat Xia Wenyan better than him?


    Impossible.


    So... Yanyan, you can only be mine.


    Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and as evening approached it began to snow, lasting for two days.


    The film crew Lu Zhaozhao was part of could only shoot indoor scenes due to the weather.


    Her part in the indoor scenes was minimal, so the director simply gave her a few days off, allowing her to leave the crew.


    Lu Zhaozhao initially wanted to stick close to Song Sinian at the company, but then she remembered they had discussed marriage and hadn¡¯t even bought a diamond ring yet.


    So she turned her head directly to the mall, planning to first take a look at the latest popular styles and then go with Song Sinian to customize a pair of wedding rings.


    Lu Zhaozhao browsed through several stores but didn¡¯t find any styles she liked; instead, she saw a nice jade bracelet.


    ¡°Madam, this is a new style in our store. Let me get it for you to take a look.¡±


    As the clerk spoke, he brought over all the jade bracelets that Lu Zhaozhao had seen and placed them on the counter.


    Lu Zhaozhao was just about to reach for one when a hand snatched it up before she could.


    ¡°This bracelet isn¡¯t bad, I¡¯ll take it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows and looked up at the person holding the bracelet, her expression displeased.


    The person who took the bracelet was a man, probably in his thirties, not overweight but somehow his slicked-back hair made him look greasy no matter how she looked at him.


    Especially the obviously flirty way he looked at her made Lu Zhaozhao feel even more disgusted.


    She simply ignored the man in front of her and picked up another bracelet.


    ¡°Beautiful lady, if you like this bracelet, I can bear to part with it, just give me a contact number.¡±


    Suddenly, the man by her side spoke slowly.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao showed little reaction, he added, ¡°My name is Feng Jiyue. Have you heard of the Song Group? I am the cousin of Song Sinian, the president of Song Group.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, well.


    This man was a relative from the maternal side of Song Sinian¡¯s family?


    She remembered that Song Sinian had mentioned their family members from the Feng family would attend their wedding.


    She didn¡¯t expect them to arrive so quickly.


    Their wedding planning wasn¡¯t even finalized yet, had the Feng family members come in such a rush?


    If Lu Zhaozhao remembered correctly, after Feng Xiran¡¯s death, the Feng family had lost the support of the Song Family and quickly declined.


    They were even squeezed out of the Shangjing Circle by other families.


    She didn¡¯t expect that they¡¯d come to Shangjing so quickly after just hearing the news of Song Sinian¡¯s wedding.


    Now that they had come, to actually use the name of the Song Group to swindle?


    Lu Zhaozhao could not stand it.


    She glanced at Feng Jiyue and said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the Song Group, and I¡¯ve heard of Song Sinian, but I¡¯ve never heard of him having any cousins.¡±


    Because of her previous popularity in the entertainment industry, Lu Zhaozhao had disguised herself a bit when she went out.


    She had not expected to run into such an unlucky person at a jewelry store.


    Upon hearing what Lu Zhaozhao said, Feng Jiyue was not angry but rather became smug, ¡°I grew up with Song Sinian; don¡¯t believe me, look.¡±


    He said this and took out his mobile phone; the screensaver was a photo of him with Song Sinian.


    Although it was Song Sinian as a child, the delicate features made him instantly recognizable.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a softness in her heart, never imagining that Mr. Song from their family was such a cool little bun when he was a child.


    So cute.


    But thinking about how his biological mother treated such a little bun, she felt a pain in her heart as if it were being pricked by needles.


    Feng Jiyue saw that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression had softened a lot and continued to speak fluently, ¡°My aunt is Song Sinian¡¯s biological mother, and he is having a wedding soon, which is why I came to the Song family.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her skeptical brows and surveyed Feng Jiyue, ¡°You¡¯re staying at the Song family¡¯s?¡±


    She had been to Old Master Song¡¯s place with Song Sinian last weekend and didn¡¯t see any member of the Feng family; perhaps this guy was just bluffing?


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he hesitated to speak directly for a moment.


    He was originally following his parents¡¯ wishes, coming to the mall to pick a wedding gift for Song Sinian, incidentally using his wedding as an opportunity to mend the relationship between the two families, and by the way...

 Chapter 337: 335 What Does He Have to Fear?

    Chapter 337: Chapter 335 What Does He Have to Fear?


    Stayed in Shangjing.


    Previously, Song Sinian ignored his family relations, and the Song Family was controlled by Song Gu¡¯s second wife, leaving no opportunity for others to intervene.


    Not long ago, they heard that Old Master Song had driven Xiao Jinglan and her daughter out.


    Even his nephew was subtly demoted.


    So, they wanted to seize this opportunity to visit Shangjing to discuss investment matters with Song Sinian and regain their footing in the Beijing Circle.


    He had repeatedly looked at numerous items, all too expensive, so he hadn¡¯t decided what to buy.


    Just now, when he saw Lu Zhaozhao enter, his heart soared.


    Although this woman wore a mask and glasses, her figure and the visible features of her face revealed her beauty.


    Though his family already had a daughter-in-law, how could a man be content with just one woman?


    Having multiple women would truly showcase a man¡¯s charm.


    Especially such a beautiful woman.


    As long as she knew how good his relationship with the Song Family was, any beautiful woman would obediently orbit around him!


    ¡°I am now...¡±


    ¡°I know the Song Mansion very well, if you lived there, I couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware.¡± Before Feng Jiyue could finish, Lu Zhaozhao cut off his trail with a single sentence.


    Feng Jiyue choked, suddenly coughed, ¡°Cough, cough, cough... I certainly don¡¯t live in the Song Mansion now, Old Master Song isn¡¯t in good health, how could I, a junior, disturb him?¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth, giving him a forced, insincere smile.


    The Song Family indeed had it easy, with everyone dropping problems right into their lap.


    Anyone and everyone dared to flaunt their association with Mr. Song!


    If he wasn¡¯t taught a lesson today, he would never learn.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao unmoved, Feng Jiyue changed tactics and persisted, ¡°Well, I saw you seemed to like this bracelet, and it must be fate that we met here. I¡¯ll give this bracelet to you as a gift for our meeting.¡±


    Saying this, he took a card from his pocket and placed it on the table, ¡°Here, swipe it!¡±


    The salesperson was clearly baffled.


    Watching Lu Zhaozhao and Feng Jiyue, they hesitated whether to take the card or not.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the salesperson and said indifferently, ¡°Since the gentleman wishes to buy, you should take it.¡±


    The salesperson immediately understood, quickly taking the card with a professional smile, saying, ¡°Sir has good taste, this bracelet is a new arrival at our shop, priced at four hundred thousand. I¡¯ll swipe the card for you now.¡±


    ¡°What? How much?¡± Feng Jiyue was shocked, looking incredulously at the bracelet, ¡°Is this just a bracelet for four hundred thousand?¡±


    The salesperson nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s our new product.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Feng Jiyue, scoffed silently, but outwardly pointed to another bracelet that seemed particularly transparent, ¡°This gentleman should rather buy this one.¡±


    Feng Jiyue, thinking Lu Zhaozhao was helping him out, quickly nodded, ¡°Yes, I want this one.¡±


    ¡°Uh... This one is two million one hundred thousand.¡± The employee cautiously looked towards Lu Zhaozhao as they spoke.


    From their years of experience, they knew the man hadn¡¯t just dismissed the prior bracelet, but couldn¡¯t afford it.


    Now, Feng Jiyue¡¯s eyes nearly popped out, ¡°A bracelet...¡±


    2.1 million!


    Is this robbery?!


    He had barely started speaking when he immediately slammed on the brakes.


    He had just boasted at the seaside, claiming he was Song Sinian¡¯s cousin.


    Being the president of the Song Group, if he, as his cousin, couldn¡¯t afford a single bracelet, it would be a huge embarrassment.


    He cleared his throat and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a bracelet, nothing significant, but none of these here are worthy of a beautiful lady like you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Feng Jiyue a glance, ¡°If you can¡¯t even afford a bracelet, don¡¯t try to inflate your worth using the Song Group¡¯s name. Watch out, or you might get taken to the police station.¡±


    Her words instantly infuriated Feng Jiyue.


    ¡°What do you mean?!¡± Feng Jiyue glared at Lu Zhaozhao, his eyes filled with malice, ¡°Clearly, you just want to swindle money from me. Now that you can¡¯t take advantage, you¡¯re deliberately tarnishing my reputation!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was utterly disgusted by this kind of man.


    How could he be so slick and so repulsive?


    One second he¡¯s throwing cash around for a beauty, and the next, his face changes instantly when he¡¯s confronted?


    Feng Jiyue caught Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm, ¡°Women like you need a good lesson! You¡¯re lucky to have met me today. I won¡¯t stoop to your level. Just give me a gentle kiss, and I¡¯ll pretend this never happened. Otherwise...¡±


    His gaze roved over Lu Zhaozhao, eyeing her curvaceous body, and his lecherous smile deepened.


    Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows, giving a cold stare at her grabbed wrist, ¡°I advise you to let go of me while I¡¯m still willing to talk nicely.¡±


    ¡°Heh! Women like you who worship money should be eradicated, why should I let go?¡± Feng Jiyue grew more smug as he spoke, ¡°Aren¡¯t you after money? I¡¯ll give you money, but then you have to sleep with me!¡±


    He sneered at Lu Zhaozhao, not believing for a moment that he, a man, couldn¡¯t handle a delicate little woman like her.


    What could be so bad about forcing her?


    His cousin was the president of the Song Group, after all¡ªsuch a trivial matter could easily be hushed up with some money.


    What was there to fear?


    His grandmother had said, Feng Xiran was their family¡¯s daughter, and her son naturally had to support their Feng family.


    If it weren¡¯t for Xiao Jinglan creating obstacles and preventing them from seeing Song Sinian, their family would have soared to great heights long ago.


    Did he need to lead such a miserable life?


    Now that Xiao Jinglan had left the Song Mansion, and Song Sinian was ill, Old Master Song would eventually have to rely on their in-laws.


    Essentially, the Song Group would be theirs in the future!


    He would eventually become the heir to the Song Group!


    Watching his increasingly smug expression, Lu Zhaozhao slightly blinked, ¡°Men like you truly deserve to be cut off from future generations!¡±


    As she spoke, she launched a kick fiercely between his legs.


    Feng Jiyue didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to be so ruthless. One kick struck his vital parts, and he collapsed on the spot, unable to keep gripping Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°You... you filthy... ah!¡± He lay on the ground, teeth clenched, about to curse some more when Lu Zhaozhao caught up and kicked him several more times viciously.


    Aside from where he protected himself, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t forget to fiercely stomp on his disgusting face a few times.


    She had practiced boxing before, and her strikes were no different from those of a grown man...

 Chapter 338: 336: A True Winner in Life!

    Chapter 338: Chapter 336: A True Winner in Life!


    Even the intensity was excessive.


    So, Feng Jiyue was done for.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at his contorted figure on the ground, scoffed lightly, and then tossed her hair as she said to the sales clerk who had been stunned from the beginning, ¡°Alright, now you can call security over.¡±


    ¡°Uh, yes, yes!¡±


    The clerk finally snapped out of it and immediately used the walkie-talkie to call the building¡¯s security.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought for a moment, then added another instruction, ¡°If this man makes a scene, just call the police directly. After all, some people have been emphasizing that he is the cousin of the president of the Song Group, so this kind of act could be considered fraud, right?¡±


    The sales clerk clearly hesitated.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for this man openly assaulting a customer in the store, they wouldn¡¯t have called security.


    But calling the police... was beyond their control.


    While the clerk was hesitating, Lu Zhaozhao pulled down her sunglasses slightly, revealing half a smiling face and winked at her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if I say he¡¯s a fraudster, then he definitely is; you go ahead and call the police with confidence.¡±


    The sales clerk saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s familiar face and immediately widened her eyes, ¡°You, you are...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao!!!


    The clerk almost screamed on the spot.


    Before the sales clerk could finish her sentence, Lu Zhaozhao made a gesture to keep quiet.


    She definitely didn¡¯t want to get busted here.


    The clerk immediately covered her mouth and nodded repeatedly.


    The entire Shangjing Circle was buzzing with stories about Lu Zhaozhao.


    A fake heiress of the Lu Group, she had transformed overnight into the daughter of a renowned overseas financial magnate and married the most enviable president of the Song Group, Song Sinian.


    A true winner in life!


    Especially since she was exceedingly beautiful!


    She had the kind of beauty that dazzled at first glance!


    With such a level of beauty, it was really too difficult to forget her face.


    So, with just half a face showing, the sales clerk immediately recognized Lu Zhaozhao.


    Since the person herself was here saying that the cousin was an imposter, then it was definitely a sham!


    The clerk, as if infused with adrenalin, said, ¡°Rest assured, customer! We will definitely report such a brazen scammer to the police so that he can be brought to justice!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded slightly and then pointed towards the bracelet that had been placed on the counter earlier, saying, ¡°Could you please pack up this bracelet for me? I need to give it as a gift.¡±


    She was referring to the jadeite bracelet with excellent translucency she had been looking at earlier, valued at 2.1 million!


    Lu Zhaozhao was actually so generous as to just buy it!


    These sales clerks lived off the turnover from these pieces of jewelry; with Lu Zhaozhao purchasing the bracelet, she was their financial backer!


    She definitely needed to serve her well!


    ¡°No problem at all, rest assured! I¡¯ll wrap it up for you right away!¡±


    ¡°Mm, thank you...¡±


    It wasn¡¯t long after Feng Jiyue had been beaten that the news of him being sent to the police station in the afternoon reached Old Master Song.


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s mother sat on the sofa across from him in the living room, crying and looking at Old Master Song with a heartrending expression.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you must help our Jiaye. He is the Old Feng Family¡¯s only sprout. Now he¡¯s been beaten and taken to the police station, wuu wuu wuu... what are we to do... wuu wuu wuu...¡±


    Mr. Song was so bothered by the crying that it gave him a headache.


    Previously, when Feng Xiran was still alive, she would handle all the messy affairs of her maternal family by herself.


    But after Feng Xiran passed away, the people of the Feng family left Shangjing, and there hadn¡¯t been much actual contact since.


    Listening to the whining and wailing, Mr. Song just felt a headache coming on.


    ¡°Alright, stop crying, tell me, what exactly happened?¡± Mr. Song massaged his temple irritably, his gaze shifting to Hao Li with an expression of impatience.


    In his younger days, Mr. Song was also a personage who dominated the business arena.


    His methods were ruthless. Although not as inhumane as Song Sinian, he was still someone who struck fear in the business world.


    The sight of him naturally caused Hao Li¡¯s scalp to tingle.


    But now she had no choice but to steel herself and speak up, ¡°Our family was originally planning to move back to Shangjing. It just so happened that Sinian was getting married, so we came back early, but we didn¡¯t expect... wuwuwu...¡±


    Hao Li, once again, started crying.


    She wore an expression of having suffered the gravest injustice, as though she would not be able to go on living if Mr. Song didn¡¯t help her resolve her issue.


    The corner of Mr. Song¡¯s mouth twitched as he listened to her intermittent crying, and he felt truly annoyed.


    He furrowed his brows heavily, looked at Hao Li, and said word by word, ¡°If you want to cry, then wait until you¡¯ve finished before coming to see me.¡±


    Saying this and gesturing with his hand, he was about to signal the butler to chase Hao Li away.


    Almost instantly, Hao Li¡¯s crying ceased.


    She squeezed the tears that hadn¡¯t yet fallen and hurriedly waved her hand, ¡°I, I¡¯ll stop crying, I¡¯ll continue, Old Master, I¡¯ll continue!¡±


    The old butler at the side almost laughed out loud at her abrupt cessation of tears.


    Fortunately, years of habit allowed him to barely maintain his expression.


    He cleared his throat softly and reminded her, ¡°The Old Master is getting on in years and can¡¯t stand the sound of crying. If you from the Feng family have something to say, say it quickly. The Old Master has other matters shortly.¡±


    Today was, after all, the weekend. He had already inquired through Zhao Xi.


    Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t busy with her drama crew recently and was supposed to come back to the Song Mansion for dinner today.


    After Mr. Song found out, he had the kitchen start preparing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s favorite dishes since the morning, and he even had the chef make a few trendy desserts.


    He was just waiting to feed his treasured granddaughter-in-law.


    He didn¡¯t want to waste too much time on irrelevant people.


    Hao Li didn¡¯t know what was on Mr. Song¡¯s mind, she only knew that if she didn¡¯t speak now, she might not get another chance later.


    The stature of the Song Family was high, and they looked down on families of little significance like hers.


    If she wanted to get mixed up with the Song Family in the future, she absolutely couldn¡¯t vex the old master.


    Now that the Song family was without Xiao Jinglan, it was only a matter of time before they could establish good relations with the Song Family.


    After all, Song Sinian was the child of her husband¡¯s sister. Feng Xiran had previously worked tirelessly for the Feng family. Now it was time for Song Sinian to contribute to the Feng family!


    Besides, Song Sinian was ill, and in the future, Mr. Song would still need the support from the Feng family.


    When it came down to it, the burden was heavier on the Feng family.


    She was the one who gave birth to the only eldest grandson of the Old Feng Family!


    Thinking of Feng Jiyue, Hao Li¡¯s expression darkened considerably.


    How could she have almost forgotten her poor son?!


    Hao Li looked at Mr. Song, saw the impatience on his face, and hurriedly said, ¡°Old Master, Jiaye had just arrived in Shangjing, and we were thinking of buying some gifts to see you, but we didn¡¯t expect... to have him beaten up! Those damn people! And they even called the police and had Jiaye arrested. With all the injuries on him, what are we to do...¡±

 Chapter 339: 337: Simply Double the Happiness!

    Chapter 339: Chapter 337: Simply Double the Happiness!


    She had heard that Feng Jiaye was taken away by the police and immediately made a trip to see him.


    Her son was locked in a special ward, undergoing treatment¡ªhis entire face swollen like a pig¡¯s head. The doctor had said he was kicked in the groin, and it was quite possible that he might never be able to have children again.


    His recovery would determine the final outcome.


    What a sin!


    Feng Jiaye was the sole scion of their family!


    The treasure of the Old Feng Family!


    She knew Feng Jiaye had been beaten but didn¡¯t know who had done it or how many people were involved.


    But seeing how severely their Feng Jiaye was beaten, she concluded there must have been quite a few, so she exaggerated the story in front of Old Master Song.


    ¡°Our Jiaye has just arrived in Shangjing and didn¡¯t know who he offended, yet he was beaten to such a state, Old Master, you must stand up for us. After all, Jiaye is almost like a member of the Song Family, right? He¡¯s Sinian¡¯s cousin...¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s words made the old butler¡¯s head ache.


    Not to mention Old Master Song.


    What did she mean?


    He had just arrived in Shangjing, hadn¡¯t offended anyone, and was beaten up, so was it the enemies of the Song Family who did it?


    Sinian¡¯s cousin is one thing, but how did he become almost a member of the Song Family?


    They didn¡¯t want to acknowledge that at all.


    How much the Feng family valued men and looked down on women was clear to Old Master Song long after Feng Xiran had married into the Song Family.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Feng Xiran¡¯s seemingly docile and wise appearance, he wouldn¡¯t have turned a blind eye to her supporting her natal family.


    Little did he expect that the seemingly docile and wise Feng Xiran would be so cruel to her own son!


    Old Master Song thought of this matter, and anger filled his belly.


    His beloved grandson had been estranged from him precisely because of Feng Xiran.


    Now that he finally started to become more humane after marrying his precious granddaughter-in-law, those clowns from the Feng family appeared again.


    Old Master Song thought about it and wanted to spit on the Feng family.


    Had it not been for the face of the Song Family and the young Song Sinian, the issues with Feng Xiran would have been made public long ago.


    He was annoyed by the Feng family people visiting, but he still had to invite them to Song Sinian¡¯s wedding when the time came.


    Old Master Song let out a sigh and waved at the old butler, ¡°You go take care of this matter, see what exactly is going on, and handle it as it should be handled.¡±


    The old butler had followed him for so many years and knew his mind, so naturally, he trusted him to do things properly.


    Hao Li, upon hearing this, seemed somewhat unhappy. Their Jiaye had such a big incident, and just a housekeeper was sent to deal with it?


    Wasn¡¯t that too dismissive?


    Moreover, their Jiaye was injured, and the Old Master didn¡¯t even offer to give him proper treatment, let alone mention that their family should come to stay at the Song Mansion.


    They were strangers in this place.


    Wouldn¡¯t he extend the courtesy due to a host?


    After all, they were relatives by marriage!


    Her brow furrowed, ¡°Old Master, our Jiaye...¡±


    ¡°If you think the butler won¡¯t handle it as well as you would, then handle it yourselves,¡± Old Master Song cut her off before she finished speaking.


    He didn¡¯t want to deal with the Feng family¡¯s matters in the first place.


    If it weren¡¯t for them coming to him, he wouldn¡¯t bother.


    ¡°Now you still dare to be picky?¡±


    ¡°Do they think the Song Family is running a charity?¡±


    Hao Li shivered and suddenly fell silent.


    The butler didn¡¯t indulge her and simply added fuel to the fire, ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t be angry, the Song Family has never before had an issue with retrieving someone from the police station. The Feng family worries I lack experience and might not manage well, which I can understand.¡±


    Hao Li nearly had a heart attack then.


    ¡°It¡¯s not, not what I meant,¡± Hao Li moved her mouth, still trying to struggle.


    But thinking of the current situation, she could only grit her teeth, ¡°I, I would like to thank Old Master Song on behalf of our Jiaye first...¡±


    Old Master Song didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids, ¡°Mhm, cause fewer troubles in the future, that would be thanks enough.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    At the same time, after leaving the mall, Lu Zhaozhao headed to the Xia Family.


    She recently heard in Luna¡¯s fan group that Luna¡¯s paintings had won an Alexander Hertz Prize abroad.


    The prize was almost the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in the art world.


    Arguably the most authoritative international award in painting.


    So she planned to give this bracelet as a gift to Wen Qingyu.


    She had thought that after arriving at the Xia Family, she could have some quality time bonding with her mom and enjoy being pampered by her.


    She never imagined that when she arrived at the Xia Family, all her brothers were there.


    She blinked in surprise and before she could speak, Xia Wenyan made a proud welcoming gesture, ¡°Ta-da~ Surprise or not? I knew you¡¯d come home after hearing mom won an award, so I specially called everyone here!¡±


    Wen Qingyu gave Xia Wenyan a look, vigorously petting Kaka¡¯s head, her disdain for this youngest son reaching its peak.


    Indeed, she should¡¯ve found partners for these stinky boys sooner to prevent them from competing with her for her daughter¡¯s affection.


    If it weren¡¯t for maintaining a good mother¡¯s image, Wen Qingyu would¡¯ve wanted to perform a grand slaughter before her sons right then and there.


    Xia Wenmo, seeing Wen Qingyu¡¯s expression, couldn¡¯t help but snicker, and quickly waved at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, come sit, we¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    Only then did Lu Zhaozhao obediently nod her head and took her seat beside Wen Qingyu.


    She handed over the gift box she was holding, her little face blushing, ¡°Mom, this is a gift I bought specifically for you, to congratulate you on the award.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t spent a lot of time with Wen Qingyu, but she could feel her indulgence.


    The things Lu Zhaozhao had not dared to hope for in her last life, she not only possessed in this one, her own mother had also become her idol.


    Truly double the happiness!


    Seeing this, Wen Qingyu immediately received the gift with a smile, and when she saw the bracelet inside, her smile brightened even more.


    She put on the bracelet Lu Zhaozhao had bought for her right away, ¡°Indeed, daughters are more considerate. All four of your brothers were thinking about how to sponge off their old lady¡¯s prize money after hearing I won, hmph!¡±


    ¡°Mom, isn¡¯t it because you said you already have everything, and whatever we buy, you¡¯ll find terribly annoying,¡± Xia Wenyan said first, trying to curry favor.


    Sure enough, the next second he received a glare from Wen Qingyu.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo naturally stood quietly to the side, watching Xia Wenyan attract fire.


    Having one beaten in their family was enough.


    After all, better him than me.


    With their sister there, Lao Si probably wouldn¡¯t be beaten too badly.


    That was enough.


    Seeing the look in Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes toward Xia Wenyan turning increasingly dangerous, as if she might skin him on the spot, the Three Xia Brothers quietly moved behind the sofa...

 Chapter 340: 338: Doesnt She Understand Yet?

    Chapter 340: Chapter 338: Doesn¡¯t She Understand Yet?


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t just Xia Wenyan who noticed something was off; even Lu Zhaozhao could see it.¡±


    She immediately reached out and grabbed Wen Qingyu¡¯s hand, blurting out subconsciously, ¡°Mom, I need your help with something!¡±


    Wen Qingyu was taken aback and looked at Lu Zhaozhao somewhat astonished.


    The others also had puzzled expressions across their faces.


    Even normally emotionless Xia Nie was looking toward Lu Zhaozhao now.


    She would normally go to Song Sinian when she had a problem.


    Her coming to them willingly was enough to excite each and every one of them.


    Scanning the Xia Family, Lu Zhaozhao felt their burning gaze and suddenly regretted speaking so earnestly.


    Now there was trouble.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, did something happen to you? Don¡¯t worry, Mom is here, and I¡¯ve got your back!¡± Wen Qingyu said, worrying that Lu Zhaozhao might hesitate, and firmly clasped her small hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid; Mom will certainly help you within the confines of the law.¡±


    As for beyond the law, that¡¯s for her husband to handle.


    It wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    At worst, they could drag whoever troubled their Zhaozhao abroad to deal with.


    Thinking so, Wen Qingyu gave Xia Nie a look.


    The latter naturally nodded, decisively taking directions from his imposing wife.


    Xia Wenjue stood behind the sofa watching Lu Zhaozhao, nodded, and said, ¡°Zhaozhao, if you don¡¯t want Song Sinian to know, Big Brother can handle it for you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about legal matters; Second Brother will take care of it,¡± Xia Wenqing added.


    Xia Wenmo raised his eyebrows, feeling for the first time that not studying law was a loss.


    But he had other strengths.


    After all, his elder and second brothers handled business and legal affairs for the XJ Group, respectively.


    His father¡¯s men were naturally under his command.


    He usually liked painting and seldom managed those under him, but surely he couldn¡¯t do nothing when his sister needed help.


    Sitting beside the sofa, the tip of his pen turned lightly, a hint of mystery flickering in his eyes.


    ¡°If someone needs to be dealt with, Third Brother just happens to need a workout; I can handle them for you!¡±


    With his words, almost all eyes of the Xia Family turned toward Xia Wenmo.


    This was the first time they had heard Xia Wenmo say such a thing.


    He usually couldn¡¯t be bothered to manage those under him, let alone make them operate.


    Oh ho, it looks like the third child really was provoked.


    The most shocked among them was Xia Wenyan.


    He was focused on the entertainment industry and, coincidentally, Lu Zhaozhao had also entered the entertainment industry, so he often interacted with her.


    This was among his most prestigious aspects at home.


    Though his elder and second brothers could interact with Lu Zhaozhao now and then, his third brother was always an outsider.


    Now... his third brother was rising!


    He couldn¡¯t help feeling like the least capable at home.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan stiffened his neck and immediately wanted to show off, ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Shut your mouth, let Zhaozhao speak first.¡± Before he could even begin, Wen Qingyu cut him off mercilessly.


    Xia Wenmo, very much in coordination, grabbed an orange from the table and shoved it directly into Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth.


    The Xia Wenyan was completely silenced.


    Lu Zhaozhao was actually also startled by the Xia Family¡¯s solemn attitude.


    She had simply wanted Wen Qingyu to help investigate the Feng Family¡¯s affairs.


    She had heard quite a bit about the Feng Family from Song Sinian before.


    She didn¡¯t pay much attention to it at the time, but after she saw Feng Jiaye in person,


    She suddenly felt that the Feng Family¡¯s early arrival at Shangjing was not entirely innocent.


    ¡°I... I want to investigate the Feng Family¡¯s situation, the family of Song Sinian¡¯s biological mother.¡±


    She felt a bit uneasy under the gaze of the Xia Family members and slowly spoke up.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyebrows lifted, ¡°Did you encounter the Feng Family recently? Or did they cause trouble for you?¡±


    Now that Lu Zhaozhao was Song Sinian¡¯s wife, wouldn¡¯t the Feng family members, even if shortsighted, be so direct?


    She was now so favored in the Song Family, and had just been announced as the young miss of the XJ Corporation.


    Are they out of their minds?


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know how to explain to Wen Qingyu for a moment.


    She hesitated for a moment, ¡°Well, I guess you could say I was bothered, but he didn¡¯t know I was Song Sinian¡¯s wife.¡±


    So, Lu Zhaozhao told the Xia Family members about encountering Feng Jiaye while buying a bracelet.


    Almost instantly, the room¡¯s atmosphere visibly chilled.


    ¡°The Feng Family¡¯s toad really thinks big!¡± Xia Wenjue sneered coldly, ¡°He can¡¯t even afford a bracelet, and he dares to claim he is Song Sinian¡¯s cousin?¡±


    Xia Wenqing narrowed his eyes, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°So, after you hit him, did you have someone call the police to take him to the station? Did he know your identity at that time?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head. ¡°No, I had the salesperson call the police; she probably wouldn¡¯t reveal my identity.¡±


    She didn¡¯t explicitly say so, but her ¡°shushing¡± gesture said it all.


    That salesperson was sharp, she probably wouldn¡¯t let her identity slip.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyes darkened, ¡°Such a guy, casually using another family¡¯s name; he really got off lightly.¡±


    He deserved more than just a broken leg.


    Such trash should be treated like spineless animals!


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s face was full of disdain, ¡°The Feng Family¡¯s toad dare to harass you like that? They really have the gall!¡±


    Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t directly retort Xia Wenyan, but followed his lead, saying, ¡°Whether the Song Family knows about the Feng Family coming to Shangjing is another matter, but using the Song name to mess around in the Shangjing Circle definitely deserves a lesson!¡±


    Especially if this trash dared to mess with her precious daughter, even dared to curse and hit her?


    She couldn¡¯t even bear to say more, Feng Jiaye that damn thing, he¡¯s done for!


    Lu Zhaozhao, watching the Xia Family members each with a dangerous air, suddenly doubted whether telling them about Feng Jiaye was a wise choice.


    Looking at the expressions of her parents and several brothers, she felt like they all wanted to exterminate the Feng Family.


    Wen Qingyu, seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s worried expression, quickly raised his hand and patted her small hand, comforting, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you want to know about the Feng Family¡¯s affairs, I will have your elder brother investigate in the next two days; as for Feng Jiaye¡¯s matter, remember to tell Sinian when you go back tonight, okay?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao grew more confused after hearing Wen Qingyu¡¯s words.


    Doesn¡¯t she know Mr. Song¡¯s temperament?


    The moment he finds out Feng Jiaye laid a hand on her, Feng Jiaye will turn into Erma Family Business, getting his head smashed!


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know was, this was exactly the effect the Xia Family members wanted.


    It wouldn¡¯t seem too brutal when their entire family went to deal with the Feng Family.


    After all, their son-in-law was one of them...

 Chapter 341: 339: Shall She Have the Final Say?

    Chapter 341: Chapter 339: Shall She Have the Final Say?


    Everyone had taken a swing at the Feng family, so as far as Lu Zhaozhao was concerned, they were now on an even playing field.


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, but seeing the expectant look in Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes, she obediently nodded her head.


    She agreed to tell Mr. Song of the Song family, but when to tell him was now up to her, wasn¡¯t it?


    Just as Hao Li left the Song Mansion, Xiao Mo also received the news that the Feng family was coming to Shangjing.


    ¡°The Feng family has ruthless ambitions, Xiao Mo, you must not take them lightly!¡± Xiao Jinglan lay on the bed in her bedroom, seriously looking at Xiao Mo.


    Not long after she had married into the Song family, the Feng family had tried every means to fight for a position in the Song Mansion.


    Fortunately, she had been forceful enough at the time to prevent their success.


    But now that she was not at the Song Mansion, she feared that the Feng family might be up to something again.


    Xiao Jinglan was originally staying in the hospital, but concerned that the matters regarding Song Keren could be exploited by others with ulterior motives, she returned directly to the villa before she was fully recovered.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the bedroom door, and Xia Wenjin walked in carrying a bowl of bird¡¯s nest soup, placing it on the bedside table next to Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°Mom, your bird¡¯s nest soup is ready in the kitchen. I brought it for you.¡±


    Recently, she had been very well-behaved at the Xiao family, which somewhat surprised Xiao Jinglan.


    However, considering the downfall of the Lu Group, her reliance on her husband¡¯s family was understandable.


    Xiao Mo had recently mentioned that Xia Wenjin had made a fair amount of money through live-streaming sales.


    Therefore, Xiao Jinglan had warmed up a lot towards Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Mm, just leave it there. I¡¯ll eat it in a bit.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan looked at Xia Wenjin¡¯s somewhat pale face and added, ¡°You should also eat some bird¡¯s nest every day. Keep yourself nourished. Since you¡¯ve married into the Xiao family, we naturally won¡¯t mistreat you.¡±


    Xia Wenjin lowered her head, a trace of resentment flashing across her eyes.


    Xiao Jinglan, already ill and bedridden, was still plotting against her.


    If not for the poisoned bird¡¯s nest Xiao Jinglan had given her, she wouldn¡¯t be having such severe withdrawal symptoms.


    Now that her complexion looked so poor, this woman must be delighted, right?


    Heh, just wait until she finds out who it was that had been poisoned all along, the look on her face would certainly be a sight to behold!


    Xia Wenjin slowly raised her head, finally showing a faint smile, ¡°Mm, I know. I trust Xiao Mo.¡±


    She said these words with an extra depth of feeling, gazing at Xiao Mo as if he were her only savior.


    Though there was pretense in Xia Wenjin¡¯s actions, she truly considered Xiao Mo to be her future hope.


    After all, he was of the Song family bloodline. If anything were to happen to Song Sinian, then the day would come for Xiao Mo to take charge.


    With so many eyeing Song Sinian with envy, she was not the least bit worried that Xiao Mo would remain obscure.


    Xiao Mo frowned, watching as Xia Wenjin looked toward him. His expression was far from pleased.


    Ever since he learned that Lu Zhaozhao was the heiress of the XJ Group, his mood had been very grim.


    He had initially harbored expectations for the president of the XJ Group, hoping to collaborate with him, thinking maybe he could return to his previous glory within the Song Group.


    Although he wasn¡¯t a legitimate member of the Song Family, to quite a few shareholders, he was also a chosen and anticipated figure.


    But ever since his last investment in the Lu Group turned sour, there was a clear change in the attitudes of the shareholders behind him.


    On one hand, they had lost a considerable sum of money, and on the other, they were starting to experience their own set of problems, leaving them with no interest in supporting him in his endeavors.


    Xiao Mo had recently been very passive.


    He scrutinized Xia Wenjin up and down, then coldly spoke up, ¡°During all your time at the Xia Family, did they really not reveal anything to you about the XJ Group?¡±


    Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t understand as he looked at Xia Wenjin.


    Details about her and the Xia Family tearing into each other could make it to the trending list at any minute.


    To be precise, it was Xia Wenjin who had been unilaterally attacking the Xia Family, while they had made no move to respond.


    Actually, he could understand; as a multinational corporation, the XJ Group certainly held more weight compared to Xia Wenjin, who was the absolute underdog.


    And most people tend to sympathize with the underdog, so even though they were eager for the Xia Family to make a comeback, most chose to watch the spectacle from the sidelines.


    They felt that no matter how much the Xia Family tried to prove they had been kind to Xia Wenjin in the past, it couldn¡¯t undo the fact that they hadn¡¯t disclosed the true situation at home to her.


    Xia Wenjin could claim the moral high ground ever since her identity related to the XJ Group was publicly disclosed by the Xia Family.


    She had also been capitalizing on this issue¡¯s popularity, conducting sales and even signing a fair number of endorsements.


    Xiao Mo knew Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t a kind soul, so he thoroughly disbelieved that she was any sort of victim.


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenjin immediately put on a pitiful mien, pouting, ¡°Of course I¡¯m telling the truth, I also just found out that the president of XJ Group was my foster brother, and beyond that, I didn¡¯t even know that my foster mother is Luna, let alone anyone else¡¯s identity....¡±


    Xiao Mo glanced at Xia Wenjin, seeing that she didn¡¯t seem to be lying, his brows furrowed even deeper.


    He thought to himself that if a self-seeking person like Xia Wenjin had known that the Xia Family belonged to the XJ Group, why would she have ever left them for the Lu Family?


    Although he had no clue why the Xia Family kept things from Xia Wenjin, he had a feeling that they were holding back and possibly preparing something major.


    Now that her relations with the Xia Family had turned so sour, any chance at a good relationship with the XJ Group was gone too.


    This path was completely blocked off, making Xiao Mo even more frustrated.


    His dislike for her wasn¡¯t something she couldn¡¯t feel.


    She disliked this man as well, but the only reason she was putting up with him was because he shared blood with the Song Family.


    With the Lu Family now fallen, she had no choice but to lean on Xiao Mo as her temporary pillar of support.


    Right now she might seem compliant, but in truth, she didn¡¯t have much allure for Xiao Mo.


    Xia Wenjin thought for a moment, then tentatively spoke up, ¡°Actually... staying at the Xia Family for 20 years, it¡¯s not like I have absolutely no useful intel.¡±


    A flicker of change crossed Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze as Xia Wenjin slowly continued, ¡°Every man in the Xia Family cares deeply about Wen Qingyu. She¡¯s the linchpin of the entire Xia Family. If anything were to happen to her because of Lu Zhaozhao, the Xia Family would never let it go...¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face, which had held a hint of anticipation, instantly turned cold.


    He stared at Xia Wenjin, his voice turning icy, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, don¡¯t even think of touching Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan also nodded in agreement, ¡°I concur, that Lu Zhaozhao might look delicate and frail yet she has some weird luck. It¡¯s as if bad fortune befalls anyone who harbors any ill intentions towards her.¡±


    She didn¡¯t understand how Lu Zhaozhao, who had been spoiled useless by the Lu Family, somehow, after marrying Song Sinian, gradually turned into a precious jewel.

 Chapter 342: 340 Let that despicable person beg for life but unable to beg for death

    Chapter 342: Chapter 340 Let that despicable person beg for life but unable to beg for death


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression grew even uglier.


    She clenched her fists, feigned being deeply hurt, and looked at the two people in front of her with a stuttering voice, ¡°I know Lu Zhaozhao is now the heiress of XJ Group. Even if I wanted to be her enemy, I don¡¯t have the ability. You can rest assured.¡±


    She sniffled, then pretended to mention casually, ¡°Actually, I just wanted to say that Wen Qingyu holds a high status in the Xia Family. Whoever hurts her will face the Xia Family¡¯s retaliation.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression changed noticeably when he heard this.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenjin naturally didn¡¯t say anything more.


    It was enough that Xiao Mo received her message.


    She believed that someone like Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t waste her good intentions.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows furrowed and, seeing that the conversation between the two had halted, she then remembered the topic they had been discussing previously, ¡°Both of you remember, if you encounter anyone from the Feng family, you must be on high alert, understand?¡±


    She thought for a moment, then earnestly reminded Xia Wenjin, ¡°Especially you, don¡¯t let the Feng family catch you off guard at all. They¡¯re desperate to set foot in the Song Mansion.¡±


    Particularly since Feng Jiyue had been beaten up and was now in the hospital.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if Feng Jiyue was really attacked or if the Feng family faked the incident to attract Old Master Song¡¯s attention.


    Xia Wenjin listened, confused. Ever since she had entered, she had been hearing about the Feng family.


    Who was the Feng family?


    She looked at Xiao Jinglan doubtfully and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°What¡¯s the story with the Feng family, and why do they want to live in the Song Mansion?¡±


    Would Old Master Song agree?


    Xiao Jinglan was taken aback as well, realizing that Xia Wenjin and her family were completely unaware of what had happened before with the Song Family.


    She sighed lightly, thought for a moment, and then explained, ¡°The Feng family is the parental family of Song Si¡¯s mother, Feng Xiran. After Feng Xiran died, they tried to take the opportunity to live in the Song Mansion, but I drove them away later.¡±


    As Xiao Jinglan said this, she couldn¡¯t help grinding her teeth, ¡°They must have heard some rumors, which is why they¡¯re back in Shangjing, hmph! As if they¡¯re worth anything!¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed the Feng family was not simple to have made Xiao Jinglan so wary.


    She wondered if there was anyone in the Feng family who could be useful to her.


    It seemed she would have to try to make contact with these people from the Feng family when she had the chance...


    In the evening, just as Song Sinian got off work, Lu Zhaozhao was driven to the hospital by Zhao Xi.


    ¡°Sir, the Old Master said that the lady¡¯s family is hospitalized and asked you to make a visit to the hospital on behalf of the Song Family to express condolences,¡± Zhao Xi said as he drove, relaying Old Master Song¡¯s instructions, ¡°The Old Master also said he¡¯s too old to go see the younger generation and asked you and the lady to hurry back home for dinner after visiting the hospital.¡±


    Song Sinian glanced from the rear seat toward the driver¡¯s cabin, his brow slightly furrowing, ¡°Is it someone from the Feng family?¡±


    Ever since Feng Xiran had passed away, the Feng family members had not appeared in Shangjing for a long while.


    His wedding to Lu Zhaozhao was still some time away; why had they come so early?


    Zhao Xi looked at Song Sinian through the rearview mirror and, seeing that he only frowned slightly, secretly heaved a sigh of relief.


    He had been sweating when he received the task from Old Master Song.


    Afraid that it would disturb their young master.


    Mr. Song had been worried that seeing the Feng family would upset Song Sinian, but sooner or later, he would have to face them.


    So, gritting his teeth, Mr. Song delegated the task to Zhao Xi.


    He stayed back at the Song Mansion, waiting for news from Zhao Xi.


    To prevent any issues, he specifically instructed Zhao Xi to make sure that Lu Zhaozhao was with him before allowing Song Sinian to go to the hospital.


    Though he trusted Lu Zhaozhao, he still felt somewhat uneasy.


    Zhao Xi glanced again in the rearview mirror before slowly speaking, ¡°It¡¯s Feng Jiaye from the Feng family who was beaten up in the mall, reportedly for molesting a customer. He was arrested by the police.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao arched her eyebrows slightly, looking at Zhao Xi with some confusion, ¡°How did Grandpa learn about Feng Jiaye being beaten?¡±


    Could it be that Mr. Song already knew about the Feng Family coming to Shangjing?


    As Lu Zhaozhao puzzled over it, Zhao Xi spoke up again to explain, ¡°Today, Feng Jiaye¡¯s mother went to the Song Mansion to seek out Old Master Song and cry to him about the matter. That¡¯s why he sent the butler to handle it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    That¡¯s how it was.


    It seemed that Mr. Song was still unaware of Feng Jiaye using the Song Group name to swindle and deceive.


    Otherwise, with Mr. Song¡¯s character, he would never have allowed such scum out of the police station.


    Song Sinian sat quietly to the side, listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s questions, his dark pupils suddenly narrow.


    But he said nothing more.


    By the time Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the hospital, Feng Jiaye had already been placed in a VIP ward.


    Hao Li sat beside the hospital bed, tenderly wiping his face, ¡°You, why do you need to go after women on your own? Once you join the Song family, what kind of woman couldn¡¯t you have?¡±


    She thought of the medical report the doctor had given Feng Jiaye, and her heart ached.


    Though Feng Jiaye wasn¡¯t completely disabled, he was half useless now, and his chance of having children had also been reduced by half.


    Hao Li gritted her teeth, thinking of the woman who had attacked Feng Jiaye, with a flash of hatred crossing her face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already told Old Master Song everything. The Song family has extensive power; they¡¯ll definitely be able to find the woman who hit you! When they do, I¡¯ll make sure she wishes she were dead!¡±


    ¡°Bang bang bang!¡±


    As she was speaking, someone suddenly knocked on the door of the ward.


    Hao Li looked toward the door with joy, only to see Song Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao, and Zhao Xi entering.


    Her face instantly fell, seeming displeased to see the three of them.


    She had thought Old Master Song himself had come to the hospital, but it turned out to be Song Sinian.


    Hao Li managed a forced smile, ¡°Sinian, it¡¯s been a while. I didn¡¯t expect you to have grown up so much?¡±


    Her words were devoid of any warmth, and even Lu Zhaozhao, an outsider, felt awkward.


    Luckily, Zhao Xi immediately cleared his throat to break the awkward silence, ¡°Ms. Hao, this is our madam, Lu Zhaozhao. The Old Master specially instructed my master and madam to come see young master Feng.¡±


    Hao Li nodded and immediately pretended to be pitiful, dabbing at the corner of her eye as she spoke, ¡°We¡¯re grateful to the Old Master. Our Jiaye is really unlucky ¨C who knows where that heartless woman came from, to treat our Jiaye like this...¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao listened to Hao Li¡¯s exaggerated sobs, she silently moved further into the room only to see the man who had been lying on the bed in apparent peace suddenly start to struggle frantically¡ª

 Chapter 343: 341: Shes Too Disrespectful!

    Chapter 343: Chapter 341: She¡¯s Too Disrespectful!


    Hao Li was startled by his crazed appearance and, without bothering to pretend to cry, ran straight to the bedside.


    Because he had just undergone surgery and the anesthesia hadn¡¯t worn off, his tongue wasn¡¯t obeying him well.


    ¡°She! She! Four...¡±


    It was this woman who had harmed him!!!


    Even if he were reduced to ashes, he would recognize her!


    Due to the lingering effects of the anesthesia, he couldn¡¯t even speak a complete sentence properly.


    Hao Li didn¡¯t understand why Feng Jiaye was so agitated and asked nervously, ¡°My son, what¡¯s wrong with you? Tell Mom, and I¡¯ll go get the doctor right away!¡±


    Feng Jiaye couldn¡¯t straighten his tongue and could only raise his hand to point at Lu Zhaozhao.


    At that moment, Song Sinian and Zhao Xi almost instantly understood Feng Jiaye¡¯s meaning.


    The one who hit him was Lu Zhaozhao!


    Oh boy...


    Was Feng Jiaye looking to die?


    How dare he flirt with their wife?


    A joke! Not to mention hitting him, even killing him would be too lenient!


    But now he absolutely couldn¡¯t let Feng Jiaye make a scene.


    Seeing this, Zhao Xi quickly stepped forward a few steps and introduced to Feng Jiaye, ¡°Young Master Feng, please don¡¯t be too agitated, the lady next to you is our husband, Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    Sure enough, Zhao Xi¡¯s words immediately calmed Feng Jiaye down.


    What?


    That wretch was Song Sinian¡¯s woman?


    His eyes fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, and he realized that Lu Zhaozhao looked even more enticing without a mask.


    And she was even more beautiful than in photos and on TV.


    Had she not been rough with him, he might have considered treating this woman better in the future.


    But she was too ignorant!


    As Feng Jiaye thought this, he looked at Lu Zhaozhao with an evident trace of resentment.


    This damned woman had almost made him lose his lineage forever; he would definitely not let her get away with it!


    She was now Song Sinian¡¯s woman, and he couldn¡¯t lay a hand on her, but that might not be the case in the future!


    Hmph...


    He thought this and glanced again at Lu Zhaozhao, but then he met Song Sinian¡¯s cold and piercing eyes, shrank back in fright, and quickly averted his gaze.


    Song Sinian withdrew his gaze and turned to Hao Li beside him, ¡°The old master said to rest assured and receive treatment at the hospital, any difficulty, directly contact the old housekeeper, and he will try to solve it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, please thank the old master for me.¡± Hao Li nodded at Song Sinian and forced a smile.


    She didn¡¯t actually want to have much contact with Song Sinian.


    Although he was Feng Xiran¡¯s son, his personality was nothing like Feng Xiran¡¯s.


    Not to mention easy to handle, they didn¡¯t even dare to approach him.


    After all, what kinship could be spoken of with a monster like Song Sinian who couldn¡¯t even express the most basic human emotions?


    Not to mention holding him hostage with familial moral values.


    Each time Hao Li saw Song Sinian¡¯s indifferent eyes, she felt the air oppressively suffocating.


    She did not want to keep Song Sinian in the hospital room at all, but she didn¡¯t know how to ask them to leave.


    Just as Hao Li was thinking about how to speak up, Zhao Xi¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Sir, there¡¯s still a lot of work to be done at the company, should we head back first?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After Song Sinian responded, his gaze swept over Hao Li and Feng Jiaye before he turned and left with Lu Zhaozhao.


    As soon as the hospital room door closed, Feng Jiaye clenched his fists again.


    Hao Li felt puzzled and patted Feng Jiaye on the arm, ¡°My son, what¡¯s wrong with you? Don¡¯t scare me! You are my only precious son, what would I do if something really happened to you...¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    Before Hao Li could even start crying, Feng Jiaye immediately interrupted her.


    Hao Li¡¯s voice stopped abruptly, as she looked at Feng Jiaye puzzled, ¡°Son, what are you trying to say?¡±


    Feng Jiaye gritted his teeth, ¡°She! Hit!¡±


    After he spoke, he pointed at himself.


    ¡°She hit?¡± Hao Li¡¯s eyebrows nearly twisted into a knot as she looked at Feng Jiaye and his pointing finger, and after a moment of pause, it seemed as if she suddenly realized.


    ¡°Are you saying Lu Zhaozhao hit you?¡±


    Feng Jiaye nodded.


    Hao Li immediately stood up from beside the bed, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? That little bitch has already gone far away! I will go right now...¡±


    Her words suddenly stopped.


    Hao Li then remembered that Lu Zhaozhao was Song Sinian¡¯s wife, as well as the cherished daughter of the XJ Corporation.


    Even if she wanted to do something, she wouldn¡¯t be able to touch her.


    Besides, Feng Jiaye had no evidence that he¡¯d been hit, rashly accusing Lu Zhaozhao would only backfire on the two of them.


    Feng Jiaye had been somewhat worried when he saw how impulsive Hao Li was, wondering if she might suddenly rush out and cause trouble.


    But seeing her standing still again, Feng Jiaye truly breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush; I have plenty of ways to deal with her!¡±


    Hao Li didn¡¯t think so, frowning slightly with worry, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao is Song Sinian¡¯s wife, how can we go against her?¡±


    ¡°Heh! Song Sinian¡¯s wife, what of it? He doesn¡¯t care who the woman by his side really is. She should know her own status too,¡± sneered Feng Jiaye, a sinister look on his face.


    Now, Hao Li looked even more confused, ¡°Jiaye, what did you mean by what you just said?¡±


    Feng Jiaye scoffed, ¡°What do you think Song Sinian would do if he had found out I¡¯d propositioned his woman?¡±


    Hao Li wasn¡¯t sure.


    She pursed her lips, hesitatingly said, ¡°A normal man would definitely lash out at you, but this abnormal guy, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Normal or not, he would be angered, right? Even if he isn¡¯t angered, he¡¯d do something, but Song Sinian did nothing,¡± Feng Jiaye seriously analyzed, his expression growing more and more smug.


    ¡°So, either Song Sinian doesn¡¯t know because Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t dare tell him, or he knows and doesn¡¯t care. Either way, it means that Lu Zhaozhao isn¡¯t as influential in the Song family as the rumors suggest.¡±


    Song Sinian was essentially an unfeeling freak to begin with.


    Lu Zhaozhao was deemed an outcast by the Lu family, and even if the Xia family acknowledged her again, how much affection could there be for a daughter found after 20 years?


    Hao Li, swayed by his words, also felt that the status of Lu Zhaozhao was not much of a concern.


    She looked at Feng Jiaye, ¡°So, what do you plan to do?¡±


    ¡°What to do? Of course, sleep with this woman a few times severely, then pass her around for others to abuse!¡± Feng Jiaye revealed a fierce smile, ¡°Rest assured, even if I really slept with her, she wouldn¡¯t dare speak out...¡±


    If it hadn¡¯t been for that woman kicking him in the groin, he would have dealt with her long ago!


    Meanwhile, Song Sinian silently took Lu Zhaozhao to the parking lot.


    As soon as the three of them got into the car, Song Sinian leaned over, propping one hand on the car door, and cornered Lu Zhaozhao in the back seat, ¡°Tell me, what exactly is going on between you and Feng Jiaye?¡±

 Chapter 344: 342 Absolutely Cannot Let That Scumbag Off

    Chapter 344: Chapter 342 Absolutely Cannot Let That Scumbag Off


    Lu Zhaozhao visibly startled. Had Song Sinian caught on?


    Indeed, Feng Jiyue had been so agitated just now.


    Although he hadn¡¯t spelled it out, it was quite evident.


    How could their Mr. Song, so clever, fail to notice?


    But in the past, even if Mr. Song had noticed, he wouldn¡¯t have asked her about it. He would wait until she was ready to talk...


    Now it seemed he was pushing harder than before.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged her shoulders, feeling a bit guilty under Song Sinian¡¯s gaze, ¡°He was indeed hit by me.¡±


    Sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, Zhao Xi heard Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice and decisively raised the partition between the front and the back.


    Now the back seat space was occupied by only Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao became even more panicked.


    She quickly explained, ¡°I ran into Feng Jiyue at the mall. He was flirting with others under your name. I couldn¡¯t help but give him a kick...¡±


    Her pitiful eyes fluttered as she looked at Song Sinian, carefully reaching out to grasp his large hand, ¡°Can you not be angry, please?¡±


    She even deliberately placed his large hand under her chin while speaking.


    Song Sinian saw her nervous demeanor, and his tense expression instantly relaxed significantly.


    His large hand pinched her cheek, ¡°I¡¯m not angry because you hit Feng Jiyue; I¡¯m angry you didn¡¯t tell me when you encountered such a thing. Do you know I would be very worried?¡±


    Song Sinian was now feeling a lot more emotions than before,


    Especially when it came to Lu Zhaozhao.


    He had realized in the hospital that the incident with Feng Jiyue was connected to Lu Zhaozhao.


    He didn¡¯t know why Lu Zhaozhao had hit Feng Jiyue, but he felt she must be in the right.


    At Wen Yan¡¯s, Lu Zhaozhao finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    She directly stretched out her arms to hug Song Sinian, then began to mumble, ¡°I didn¡¯t have the chance to tell you yet, right? I had a matter at the Xia family¡¯s, my mom mentioned this, and I even promised them I would tell you for sure.¡±


    ¡°So...you mean to say the Xia family knows about this?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice was light, yet somehow, Lu Zhaozhao detected a hint of danger.


    She couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously, tightening her embrace on Song Sinian¡¯s arm, uncertain whether to admit it.


    She felt that if she did admit it, today might not go too well for her.


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment before giving up entirely.


    She buried her head into Song Sinian¡¯s chest, determined not to show her face as if resigning herself to fate.


    Song Sinian was almost amused by her actions.


    Even though Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t said anything, her actions spoke volumes.


    She had told the Xia family first, not him.


    Song Sinian was indeed a bit angry but was also relieved she hadn¡¯t faced it alone.


    He sighed softly, lifted his hand to rub Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small head and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine if you told the Xia family first, as long as you¡¯re not dealing with it alone, which I can accept. But I¡¯d prefer you to think of me first whenever you¡¯re in trouble.¡±


    As soon as Song Sinian finished talking, he clearly felt the arms wrapped around him loosen considerably.


    He then slowly cupped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face and spoke seriously, ¡°Zhaozhao, remember, I am your man.¡±


    With that, he didn¡¯t wait for Lu Zhaozhao to speak and assertively sealed her small mouth with his lips, as firmly as he could.


    Lu Zhaozhao had not expected Song Sinian to suddenly attack. Her small hands clung tightly to the front of his shirt, forced to accept everything he bestowed upon her.


    Song Sinian¡¯s breathing grew heavier and heavier; intense emotion swirled between his brows, finally landing on her lips, lingering and reluctant to leave.


    It was a long while before Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire body went limp in his embrace, and only then did Song Sinian slowly let her go.


    He looked on with satisfaction at her slightly swollen lips, raising his hand to gently caress them back and forth.


    Afterward, he lowered his head to lightly kiss her lips once more, his voice somewhat hoarse, ¡°Do you remember now?¡±


    Where did Lu Zhaozhao dare to say she had not remembered?


    She nodded repeatedly, almost stopping just short of thumping her chest in assurance.


    Song Sinian gave Lu Zhaozhao a glance, his lips curving into a light smirk, ¡°What just happened was the interest I¡¯m collecting in advance. The rest, we¡¯ll settle tonight.¡±


    His tone was indifferent, seemingly devoid of much emotional fluctuation.


    Yet, that one sentence was enough to make Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s legs go weak.


    Indeed, one must not provoke Mr. Song from their family to anger; she had already foreseen that she wouldn¡¯t be walking on these two legs tomorrow.


    She tried to struggle once more, tugging gently at the hem of Song Sinian¡¯s clothes and cooing, ¡°Mr. Song, I was wrong. I promise from now on I¡¯ll report to you first thing when something happens, okay?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, his gaze calm as he replied with a simple ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, determined, continued, ¡°Then... tonight...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows lifted slightly, his expression unchanged as he watched her, ¡°If you think tonight is a bit late, I can just start... mmm.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, her face flushing red, rushed to cover her own mouth before Song Sinian could finish speaking.


    What kind of beastly words were these?


    In the past, Song Sinian had only logic and no emotion; the words he uttered sounded tempting but were, at least, ¡°fact-based.¡±


    Now, however...


    At the drop of a hat, the car could crash right into her face.


    Lu Zhaozhao even missed the old Song Sinian, who back at the beginning would blush at the tips of his ears when she teased him.


    Tsk tsk, how did her refined Mr. Song turn into a big bad wolf?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian with a face full of woe, only to catch him entertainingly watching her with narrowed eyes.


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao was even more cowed.


    Song Sinian reached out, peeled her hand away from her mouth, and changed the subject, ¡°Did the Xia Family say how they plan to deal with Feng Jiaye?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I saw that they seemed quite angry, but I¡¯ve already given Feng Jiaye a taste of his own medicine. There shouldn¡¯t be a need to do anything else, right?¡±


    The corners of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth twitched up, giving Lu Zhaozhao a meaningful smile.


    Oddly enough, that smile somehow seemed to make one¡¯s scalp tingle.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to rub Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with the Xia Family people involved, they will handle it properly. There¡¯s no need for you to worry about it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded with a semblance of understanding. Although she was not sure what else the Xia Family intended to handle, since Song Sinian said so, she would just obediently listen.


    ¡°And stay away from Feng Jiaye in the future.¡± To avoid being dirtied by his filth.


    He would definitely not let that scum get away.


    He would make him regret everything he did to Lu Zhaozhao for the rest of his life!


    Song Sinian was not at all worried that what he did was too extreme; after all, with the Xia Family acting as a ¡°shield,¡± he was not concerned that Lu Zhaozhao would suspect it was his doing when she learned of Feng Jiaye¡¯s suffering.


    However, what Song Sinian did not expect was that the Xia Family shared the same thoughts as him...

 Chapter 345: 343: He Definitely Argued Her into Questioning Her Life!

    Chapter 345: Chapter 343: He Definitely Argued Her into Questioning Her Life!


    So, the day Feng Jiaye could finally get out of bed and walk, he ended up getting dragged into a bathroom and severely beaten by some other patients because of a conflict.


    Later, I heard that he was accused of harassing the hospital nurses and, after being confronted by people acting out of a sense of righteousness, got heavily beaten up once again.


    Therefore, Feng Jiaye¡¯s physical condition not only didn¡¯t improve but worsened because he was beaten so badly that he broke his arms and legs, so he had to continue lying in the hospital.


    Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t at all surprised to know that Feng Jiaye couldn¡¯t be discharged from the hospital in the short term.


    With the Xia Family and their Mr. Song around, he would have a hard time staying out of trouble in the Beijing Circle.


    Lu Zhaozhao was curled up in her chair on the filming set, looking at the recent news from the hospital, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of amusement and disbelief.


    Without guessing, she knew the people who acted righteously and the ones who had verbal clashes with Feng Jiaye were no ordinary people.


    She sighed softly, a faint mist dispersing from her lips.


    The weather was getting colder as it had just snowed for a few days.


    Lu Zhaozhao, wearing her costume, had to wrap herself in a down jacket while waiting outside.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you resting here?¡±


    Suddenly, a familiar voice reached her, and seeing the person who came, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but feel her brows throbbing involuntarily.


    She had thought that after Xia Wenyan¡¯s last visit, Sun Qian wouldn¡¯t care about her anymore.


    But it turned out that this person was indestructible, like a cockroach.


    Despite the awkwardness that had risen between her and Sun Qian last time, Sun Qian could still ignore what happened before and cozy up to her, the ¡°sister¡± of Pei Huai.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly, yet she still nodded to Sun Qian.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that her fourth brother hadn¡¯t yet reciprocated Pei Huai¡¯s feelings, she wouldn¡¯t have had to be so reticent.


    She adjusted the collar of her down jacket, tucking her neck further inside, intending to find a place to steer clear of Sun Qian.


    But before she could make a move, Sun Qian grabbed her, ¡°Zhaozhao, I need to talk to you about something.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth awkwardly, instinctively wanting to refuse.


    She felt that Sun Qian probably had nothing good to say if she wanted to talk.


    She glanced around, and the closest to her were Lin Baiyu and Yan Gui.


    But they seemed preoccupied with something and didn¡¯t notice her situation, so even if she wanted to give them some sort of signal, it was too late.


    Feeling resigned, she turned to Sun Qian and could only ask with a stiff upper lip, ¡°Teacher Sun, what do you want to talk about?¡±


    Sun Qian held a hand warmer, her gaze fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, and she then said deliberately, ¡°You must know about the recent news regarding your Xia Family, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded.


    ¡°If your Xia Family intends to continue being so indulgent without planning any PR, then tell your brother to stay away from Pei Huai. His reputation has been affected lately.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As soon as Sun Qian finished speaking, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression darkened significantly.


    She looked coldly at Sun Qian, ¡°Teacher Sun, in what capacity are you speaking to me like this?¡±


    Sun Qian¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, sensing the coldness in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s demeanor, but she seemed unfazed.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying this for their own good. I know that Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan are close, and Xia Wenyan is from the XJ Group. He¡¯s wealthy and powerful, coming into the circle for fun, but Pei Huai isn¡¯t. Everything Pei Huai has now is the result of his own efforts, step by step...¡±


    As she spoke these words, her eyes were filled with admiration for Pei Huai.


    It was precisely because Pei Huai was such a hardworking and responsible person that she held him in high esteem.


    He was different from other men in the entertainment industry; not only did he work hard, but he also had excellent reputation both inside and outside the circle.


    What¡¯s more important, he was someone who held himself in high esteem.


    There weren¡¯t any flirtatious women lingering around him.


    In summary, everything about him satisfied her.


    She had earned her current status through her own efforts, and she felt that his past with Pei Huai was similar.


    She too was a person who valued personal integrity. Although she had dated a few boyfriends over the years, she never cheated. Each relationship lasted for two to three years.


    That was considered quite devoted in the circle.


    She wasn¡¯t young anymore, so she hoped even more to marry a man as outstanding as Pei Huai.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°Are you suggesting that my brother hasn¡¯t achieved his current status through his own hard work?¡±


    She came prepared to have a falling out with Sun Qian, hence she didn¡¯t bother to hide the disdain on her face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean that at all. I am saying that Pei Huai has it tough and needs to cherish his reputation. If he keeps mingling with Xia Wenyan, in the end, it will damage Pei Huai. You and Xia Wenyan wouldn¡¯t want that, right?¡±


    Sun Qian simply looked for an excuse, pretending to be considering their sibling¡¯s best interests.


    Lu Zhaozhao snorted lightly and looked at Sun Qian with a sardonic smile, ¡°Teacher Sun, have you been playing the innocent flower for so long that you can¡¯t snap out of character in real life?¡±


    Sun Qian realized Lu Zhaozhao was beating around the bush to insult her, and her expression suddenly changed. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°What else could I mean? I¡¯m saying this for Teacher Sun¡¯s own good. Why should you be angry about that, right?¡± Lu Zhaozhao said with a mock smile, not giving Sun Qian a shred of dignity.


    Trying to smear her brother? Or planning to break up her CP (Couple Pairing)?


    Ha!


    How can she be so shameless?


    Sun Qian clenched her fists, and her flesh quivered slightly with anger. ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, don¡¯t be ungrateful. If you didn¡¯t have a good relationship with Pei Huai, do you think someone like you, a nobody, would have the right to talk to me?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao really laughed out of anger this time, ¡°Sun Qian, have some shame! I didn¡¯t want anything to do with you when I joined the crew. It was you who shamelessly ingratiated yourself, trying to latch onto my Brother Pei! Disgusting!¡±


    ¡°You... you...¡±


    ¡°What about me?! If you dare, you go and tell Brother Pei yourself to stay away from my brother. I don¡¯t have the time to deal with your arrogance!¡± Lu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes and walked away from Sun Qian, dragging her chair behind her.


    She had had enough of being hypocritically nice to Sun Qian.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that constant chaos in the crew seemed unprofessional, plus her desire to gather information about Pei Huai, she wouldn¡¯t have pretended to get along with her.


    She could hardly stand the thought of peaceful coexistence with her.


    Who knew some people could get so into their roles that they really thought they were as close as they pretended to be.


    How dare she say their family scandals could affect Pei Huai and tell her older brother to stay away from him?


    Would she dare say that to Pei Huai¡¯s face?


    He would definitely counter her until she questioned her existence!


    ¡°Zhaozhao, come sit here.¡±


    Lin Baiyu waved at Lu Zhaozhao, signaling her to come over.


    They had just been watching a live variety show when they heard Lu Zhaozhao and Sun Qian start arguing behind them.


    Before they even understood the situation, Lu Zhaozhao had come over fuming, chair in tow.


    They really sweat for her; after all, those who dared to confront the leading actress in the crew were truly a rarity...

 Chapter 346: 344 What is He Afraid Of?

    Chapter 346: Chapter 344 What is He Afraid Of?


    Though she is the precious daughter of XJ Group and the wife of the president of Song Group, it is normal for her to be a bit assertive.


    They had actually been worried before that Lu Zhaozhao, because of her dual identity, would throw her weight around on the set.


    Unexpectedly, she remained just as she had been before, without much change.


    Everyone was even more willing to get along with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Who wouldn¡¯t like someone who is wealthy, influential, good-looking, and has a good temper?


    Lin Baiyu sneakily glanced at Sun Qian. After Lu Zhaozhao dragged her chair away, Sun Qian left the set straight away.


    It seemed she was quite upset, and it was unclear if she would still shoot her part later.


    Lin Baiyu looked at Lu Zhaozhao with some worry and asked softly, ¡°What happened just now?¡±


    She had just asked casually, never expecting Lu Zhaozhao to answer her.


    After all, their argument could be considered private.


    It made sense if she didn¡¯t want to talk about it, especially if it involved something sensitive, which would make things even more complicated.


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lips, ¡°Some people are saying that the current rumors about my family are bad for Pei Huai, telling my brother to stay away from him to avoid affecting Pei Huai¡¯s reputation.¡±


    Lin Baiyu and Yan Gui exchanged glances, both totally showing a ¡°grandpa watching smartphone on the subway¡± bewildered expression.


    What the hell was this?


    What do family rumors have to do with you?


    Besides, Sun Qian and Pei Huai are not even in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, so why meddle so much?


    Lin Bailu pursed her lips, ¡°Zhaozhao, could it be that Sun Qian likes Pei Huai?¡±


    There are a lot of handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment industry, and liking someone isn¡¯t anything to be ashamed of.


    But for her to start controlling someone¡¯s behavior even before establishing a relationship, that really ruins the goodwill.


    Lu Zhaozhao noncommittally curled her lips, ¡°Brother Pei rejected her.¡±


    She definitely didn¡¯t want to add fuel to the gossip about Pei Huai and Sun Qian.


    Sun Qian liking Pei Huai is her business, but the source of the rumors must be nipped in the bud from her side!


    Lin Baiyu nodded understandingly.


    Yan Gui quietly munched on popcorn, staring at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s annoyed face, and suddenly asked, ¡°Zhaozhao, did your fourth brother tell you he was going to be on a live variety show today?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was clearly taken aback.


    Xia Wenyan went to participate in a live variety show?


    How come she didn¡¯t know?


    Yan Gui, seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s confused face, knew she wasn¡¯t aware of it.


    Now he was torn between telling her or not.


    Yan Gui¡¯s pleading eyes turned towards Lin Baiyu, wanting her to light the way.


    Lin Baiyu looked just as helpless.


    Finally, both of them simply gave up and pulled out their phones to watch the live broadcast, ¡°Here, it just started not long ago. Do you want to watch?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao initially didn¡¯t intend to watch, but when she saw that Xia Wenjin was also in the broadcast, she immediately leaned in.


    Recently, Xia Wenjin was trending unprecedentedly because of revelations about being abused in the Xia Family.


    She had been relentlessly pursuing the Xia Family over the past few days and had even released an edited recording of a phone call with Xia Wenyan.


    Though Xia Wenyan had released the complete recording, it hadn¡¯t had much effect.


    If it weren¡¯t for Xia Wenyan¡¯s fans being numerous and supportive, her fourth brother could have been smeared already.


    Now the matter still hadn¡¯t been resolved. How had her fourth brother and Xia Wenjin ended up together again?


    Lu Zhaozhao was at her wit¡¯s end.


    She clearly remembered asking Song Sinian about the Xia Family before.


    He had told her that the Xia Family side was fully prepared and would launch a counterattack in the next few days.


    Unexpectedly, just at this time, Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjin happened to run into each other.


    Her eyes were glued to the video of the two, fearing that Xia Wenyan would be provoked by Xia Wenjin and do something outrageous in the next second.


    Yan Gui, who was sitting beside her, seemed to notice what she was thinking and whispered, ¡°In addition to Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjin, this episode also features Pei Huai. Mr. Pei is a stable person, there shouldn¡¯t be any problem, right?¡±


    ¡°Probably.¡± Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know what else to say.


    Because she wasn¡¯t sure herself.


    Lin Bailu propped her chin and looked at the phone, puzzled, and asked, ¡°Given Mr. Pei¡¯s connections in the industry, it¡¯s unlikely he didn¡¯t know Xia Wenyan would be on this reality show, right?¡±


    Unless there was a last-minute issue within the production team and they had to find a substitute.


    But even if a substitute was used, they would have been arranged in advance, it¡¯s not possible for an artist to join the production team on the same day.


    Lin Bailu¡¯s words reminded Lu Zhaozhao.


    If Pei Huai knew Xia Wenjin was going to be on this live reality show, and still joined the program with Xia Wenyan.


    Then their purpose...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed as she suddenly remembered what Song Sinian had said about the Xia Family being prepared.


    She had thought the Xia Family would hold a press conference to clarify.


    Now, if they were to reveal it themselves in a live reality show, tsk tsk... it really would attract more eyeballs.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but admire the Xia Family¡¯s plan this time.


    Xia Wenjin, having recently tasted the benefits of popularity, would definitely be leeching off the Xia Family members.


    The closest Xia Family member she could contact was Xia Wenyan.


    So she was definitely going to target Xia Wenyan, executing the plan through him indeed seemed like the best approach.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze towards the live reality show carried a bit more expectation.


    ¡°Here Comes the Island!¡± was a reality show that air-dropped several guests onto a scarcely inhabited island, letting them live there for a week away from electronics and modern technology, following the lifestyle of the ancients.


    The show¡¯s purpose was to let the audience learn about some ancient lifestyle habits and tips through the program.


    Of course, that was the original purpose of the show.


    But when everyone saw Xia Wenjin and Xia Wenyan together in the same frame, all the viewers¡¯ gossiping spirits awakened.


    [Ah Man, Love Me a Billion Times More: Hahaha, isn¡¯t this the legendary bitter enemies green with envy at seeing each other? Director, you really know how to stir things up!]


    [CocoaCocoaCloud: Xia Wenjin was previously abused by the Xia Family, and now has to suffer mental torment being on a show with her foster brother, how heartless, Mr. Director!]


    [Cloud Apparel Longing Pei: Brother Pei, come quickly, some b*tch is trying to cause trouble and bully Yanyan!]


    [Sen¡¯s Laughter: Hahaha... I¡¯m laughing! I too want all kinds of limited edition torture, spare Xia Wenjin that little b*tch, let me handle it all!]


    ...


    The director, seeing the ratings shooting up, was over the moon.


    When Xia Wenjin approached him at that time, he immediately contacted Xia Wenyan.


    After all, he¡¯s the rich supporter of his program, he certainly wouldn¡¯t jeopardize his prospects for an internet celebrity.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenyan not only didn¡¯t mind but also let him boldly follow Xia Wenjin¡¯s instructions, disguising her as a mystery guest to come to the program.


    With the financial backer¡¯s approval, what was there to worry about?


    Now he was grabbing traffic, financial backers, and fame all at once!


    He raised his hand to press the earpiece and instructed, ¡°All departments, be attentive, when Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjin start fighting later, be sure to get close-ups!¡±

 Chapter 347: 345: Do You Have Any Morals at All?!

    Chapter 347: Chapter 345: Do You Have Any Morals at All?!


    He absolutely couldn¡¯t let down his affluent patron¡¯s ¡°feeding¡±.


    Exchanging favors was only right!


    ¡°Fourth Brother... I never expected to meet you here.¡± Xia Wenjin, upon seeing Xia Wenyan, stared at him with an aggrieved expression, as if everyone else present was invisible.


    Xia Wenyan coldly glanced at her and sneered, ¡°You didn¡¯t expect to see me here? Do you think the official announcement on the official Weibo is for show, or did you not look at the contract when you came? Please, there¡¯s a limit to playing the pity card.¡±


    His words instantly made Xia Wenjin¡¯s face stiffen, and the other guests also gave Xia Wenjin another look.


    They knew somewhat about the issues between Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjin.


    They had come to this show because they were aiming for its popularity to piggyback on its heat.


    At such a time, there were essentially two sides to take, either standing with Xia Wenjin to defend the weak against the strong or standing with Xia Wenyan to abuse power with the support of others.


    No matter which side they chose, they could gain attention; this was why their agents were so desperate to get them a spot on the show.


    However, though bullying with power could make one notorious, it was still negative fame, not as admirable as defending the weak.


    But the controversy of negative fame was greater, so they hesitated somewhat.


    Meng Xixi was the first to stand up, walk to Xia Wenjin¡¯s side, and firmly grasped her arm, glaring at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Xia Wenyan, aren¡¯t you going too far? Jin is just a girl who said a single sentence, and you lash out at her like that? Don¡¯t you have any gentlemanly conduct?¡±


    Xia Wenyan glanced at Meng Xixi with cool disdain, ¡°I¡¯m not a gentleman. Why do I need gentlemanly conduct?¡±


    Meng Xixi was left speechless by Xia Wenyan¡¯s retort.


    Seeing Meng Xixi rush in first, the other performers secretly gritted their teeth; such a good opportunity had been wasted.


    It was their fault for being one step too slow, but fortunately, Meng Xixi¡¯s support wasn¡¯t successful, so the others also started to chatter and back her up.


    Guo Qi spoke loudly, ¡°Xia Wenyan, remember we¡¯re still filming a show here. Please restrain yourself a bit, if not for me, then for the sake of face.¡±


    Xia Wenyan suddenly laughed, ¡°Give you face? Who do you think you are? Do you think you¡¯re Red-Haired Shanks, and everyone needs to give you face?¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenyan, picking on whoever you see is too much! Can¡¯t you discuss things properly? Is this how you treat your fans?!¡± Li Xue clenched her fists, looking indignant.


    Standing hand in hand with her, Li Mei nodded in agreement, ¡°Exactly, even if you are the Xia Family Group¡¯s young master, you should still be reasonable, right?¡±


    Xia Wenyan just stood there with hands on hips, ¡°All of you pass judgment without knowing what happened, moral kidnapping me; am I not allowed to retort? So what if I¡¯m the Xia Family Group¡¯s young master? Is being wealthy a crime?¡±


    [Moon Thoughts: Hahaha, way to go, my Yanyan! A good comeback! Being rich isn¡¯t a crime, but I¡¯m jealous, lemons on the lemon tree, below it you and me!]


    [YY Means More: Tsk tsk... Xia Wenyan is indeed arrogant. It¡¯s pathetic to think of what kind of life Xia Wenjin had with the Xia Family, it brings tears to my eyes (I?^I?)]


    [Thunder My Baby: If the person above is sick, go get a number and seek treatment. She lived with the Xia Family with clothing, food, shelter, and transportation that an average person can¡¯t earn in a lifetime; and still, she¡¯s mistreated? Someone wake them up!]


    [Mango Puddinger: I¡¯m peeing yellow; I¡¯ll go first! Damn, I hate self-righteous people the most! Even the Leshan Giant Buddha would have to give up his seat for you!]


    [I Went Green: Ahhh!!! I hate it when people rush to judge without knowing the facts! The green tea bitch around my ex was just like that! Ptooey! Death to all green tea bitches!]


    [Words to the Moon: The person above, you¡¯re off topic... but seeing your name, emmm, condolences.]


    ...


    Pei Huai stood by Xia Wenyan¡¯s side, watching him ready to take on an army with words, and raised his hand to rub Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°Don¡¯t be so angry, some people have had a mean streak for more than just a day or two.¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded, about to regain his composure, when he heard Xia Wenjin¡¯s pitiful voice ring out again, ¡°Big brother, I really had no other choice but to spill the beans, if it weren¡¯t for you all...¡±


    Though she didn¡¯t finish her sentence, the unspoken implications set everyone¡¯s imaginations running wild.


    Meng Xixi, Guo Qi, Li Xue, and Li Mei standing by Xia Wenjin¡¯s side were even more agitated.


    ¡°The Xia Family has gone too far, and now that you¡¯re on the show, you don¡¯t know when to draw the line!¡±


    ¡°Jin is already pitiful enough, and you still want to utterly destroy her, is there no justice left in this world?¡±


    ¡°Justice lies in the heart of the people; Heaven watches what we do!¡±


    ¡°To bully someone, even on a show, is there no one to regulate this?¡±


    ...


    The voices of the four people, all speaking at once, almost filled the entire live broadcast.


    [Ice Cream Doesn¡¯t Carry the Surname Li: Oh my god, does anyone remember this is a wilderness survival show? Would the Broadcasting Authority really not step in after seeing this?]


    [Lele¡¯s Vita: Fight! Fight! I love watching this kind of bloody drama and the ripping arguments, haha...]


    [Heart Throbbing Yanyan: What the heck?! Are those people sick or what? How can a single sentence imply so much?]


    [Melody is the Cutest: Listening to Xia Wenjin, it sounds like there¡¯s a big scandal with the Xia Family. Where is my translator? Bring the juicy details to me!]


    ...


    Listening to the incessant babble from the other side, Xia Wenyan snorted coldly, ¡°Since you all side with Xia Wenjin, then I might as well go to the police. Let the police thoroughly investigate whether our family has been abusing Xia Wenjin, or if Xia Wenjin has been playing us for fools these years!¡±


    At the mention of ¡°calling the police,¡± visible panic flashed across Xia Wenjin¡¯s face.


    She had done quite a few unsavory things abroad, and if those were dug up now, her reputation would be completely ruined.


    Xia Wenjin quickly spoke up to stop him, ¡°Big brother, I don¡¯t want to fall out with you all like this, after all... after all, for the past 20 years, we were a family...¡±


    Xia Wenyan scoffed coldly, ¡°Who¡¯s family are you? You know very well the things you¡¯ve done in the past, we just don¡¯t want to shake them out one by one. If you continue to be so ungrateful, I won¡¯t mind telling everyone.¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenyan! Do you have no morals at all?! How dare you threaten Jin?!¡± Meng Xixi almost immediately shrieked, looking very protective of Xia Wenjin.


    She lifted her chin, staring at him and said sentence by sentence, ¡°How can you, a grown man, have the nerve to say such things?!¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because I¡¯m immoral, so I dare to say it,¡± Xia Wenyan responded with an air of a pig not fearing the boiling water, rolling his eyes, ¡°What do I need morals for now? To keep them for you to hold me hostage? When you all were bullying with the majority, did you ever touch your conscience and check if you had any morals?¡±

 Chapter 348: 346: As Long As You Can Eat Melons

    Chapter 348: Chapter 346: As Long As You Can Eat Melons


    Xia Wenyan said as he elbowed Pei Huai beside him, ¡°Brother Pei, did you see that? They¡¯re treating me like a pushover, each one aiming to squeeze me!¡±


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan, nodded in agreement, and said, ¡°You¡¯re just too kind, which makes it easy for people to bully you. Don¡¯t worry, Brother Pei will help you get back at them.¡±


    He looked up at the few people in front of him, his voice cold, ¡°You gang up on the fewer number, does your conscience not hurt? Or is it that you have always engaged in such acts? This is simply too much, and even now on the show, you still don¡¯t know how to restrain yourselves!¡±


    ¡°Not that... clearly...¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®not that¡¯? Our Yanyan is already pitiable enough, and you still think about completely crushing him? Is there no justice left?¡± Pei Huai¡¯s face was stern, and every word he uttered carried a forceful momentum.


    It was as if they had really committed an enormous disgrace.


    The few people were dumbfounded and stared blankly at Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai.


    ¡°You dare to bully right on the show? Aren¡¯t you afraid of retribution? Don¡¯t you know that heaven is watching? Is there no one to manage this anymore?!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Overpowered by Pei Huai¡¯s forcefulness, their hearts raced and their heads buzzed.


    It took them a long while to realize, the words of Pei Huai sounded... somewhat familiar.


    It seemed... like something they had just said.


    The antics of Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan blew up the entire live broadcast.


    The fans of Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan went absolutely wild!


    [Miao Xiangputao: God damn soft persimmon! Yanyan, you are clearly an iron persimmon! Anyone dares to squeeze, just smash them! Humph!]


    [Fry a mini carrot: This is the legendary, as long as I have no morals, don¡¯t think of blackmailing me!]


    [Vast Galaxy: The one above, I disagree! This is clearly whoever dares morally blackmail me, I will morally blackmail them right back! Come on! Let¡¯s hurt each other! Lock them down, Dad!]


    [Yan X Huai is a Muggle: Brother Pei¡¯s retorts are deafening, my little heart flipped with delight! Using their own words against them, leaving them speechless! Mind-blowing!]


    [Zhang Duoxue Lucva: Suggest to keep and watch repeatedly, sisters who can¡¯t retort should all learn from this!]


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the explosive live broadcast, then at the steady performances of Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai, knowing they had this in the bag.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenyan to be so fierce, directly confronting Xia Wenjin head-on.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, is your fourth brother always so slick with his words? I really want him to forward them to help me retort,¡± said Lin Bailu, engrossed in the live broadcast, unable to resist joking with Lu Zhaozhao beside her.


    Yan Gui also joined in with a cheeky comment, ¡°Is forwarding even necessary? Brother Zhaozhao is right next door in the neighboring crew filming, as long as you¡¯re bold enough, it¡¯s not just a dream.¡±


    They were both shocked when they saw Xia Wenjin and Xia Wenyan appearing together in the same live variety show.


    They were aware of the recent noisy disputes between Xia Wenjin and the Xia Family.


    Although they didn¡¯t know the whole truth, anyone with sense could guess¡ªif Xia Wenjin was genuinely mistreated, would she possess so many limited edition handbags and custom-made clothes?


    Xia Wenjin had been ridiculed before when she used top luxury goods as evidence.


    Now, anyone sane, not swayed by manipulation, would realize her claims were baseless.


    But most people have a jealousy towards the wealthy.


    Knowing that the lives of the rich are filthy and vile is what pleases them most.


    They don¡¯t really want to know the truth.


    As long as they get some gossip.


    Lu Zhaozhao was made to laugh by their back-and-forth banter, ¡°My fourth brother¡¯s mouth really does deserve a smack, but when it comes to calling people out and identifying bitches, Brother Pei takes the cake.¡±


    Lin Baiyu¡¯s eyes widened instantly, ¡°Mr. Pei calls people out and identifies bitches?¡±


    Had it not been for just witnessing Pei Huai¡¯s eloquent tirade, she wouldn¡¯t have known he possessed such verbal skills.


    And now Lu Zhaozhao was even saying Pei Huai could spot a bitch. Tsk tsk... It seemed like they had come across some incredible news.


    Lu Zhaozhao playfully blinked, ¡°Next time someone morally hijacks you, you guys can ask Brother Pei for help.¡±


    ¡°No problem!¡±


    Lin Baiyu replied swiftly, but in her heart, she only took those words as a joke.


    What level was Pei Huai, Mr. Pei?


    And what level were they?


    Were they worthy of seeking help from Mr. Pei when being morally hijacked?


    Clearly, they were not.


    Yet the joking remarks between the two were overheard clearly by someone lurking in the corner.


    That figure moved quickly and then disappeared from the set.


    In a moment, the figure who had vanished from the set had now appeared next to Sun Qian¡¯s nanny van.


    She raised her hand and knocked on the van¡¯s door before pushing it open and stepping inside after receiving permission.


    ¡°Sister Qianqian,¡± the assistant nodded to Sun Qian, ¡°I just heard something concerning Mr. Pei, so I rushed back here.¡±


    Although she was Sun Qian¡¯s assistant, she usually lingered not too far from Lu Zhaozhao.


    The intent was to know immediately if Pei Huai appeared.


    Sun Qian knew Lu Zhaozhao disliked her interacting with Pei Huai, so even if Xia Wenyan sometimes visited the set with Pei Huai, she wouldn¡¯t tell her.


    This was Sun Qian¡¯s last resort.


    The junior assistant had been keeping watch outside, but only when she heard Lu Zhaozhao and the others discussing Pei Huai did she find out that Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan were currently filming a live variety show.


    It seemed there was some conflict on the set, so she thought about it and immediately came back to report.


    Sun Qian¡¯s brow raised, still furious from her earlier disagreement with Lu Zhaozhao; she was in a bad mood.


    Plus, she hadn¡¯t seen Pei Huai much recently, worsening her mood even further.


    She really didn¡¯t want to hear a bunch of useless news right now.


    Sun Qian looked at the young assistant with displeasure, ¡°What happened to Pei Huai?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Pei is currently filming a live variety show with Xia Wenyan, and there seems to be a problem...¡± The assistant cautiously watched Sun Qian, revealing only a bit of the news she had just gathered.


    She didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened between Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan, so she didn¡¯t dare say too much.


    Sun Qian was slightly stunned before she remembered that Pei Huai did have a live variety show in his schedule.


    With this in mind, she immediately took out her phone and started searching.


    Quickly, she found the live variety show.


    Because Xia Wenyan had been arguing aggressively, the survival variety show, which required everyone to work together from the start, had split into two small factions.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that everyone was filming in the same location, both sides probably wouldn¡¯t even speak to each other.


    Sun Qian was watching the variety show just as it reached the fire-making segment.


    The show¡¯s crew asked the guests to start a fire using the ancient method of drilling wood.


    Xia Wenyan glanced at the tools and decisively handed them to Pei Huai...

 Chapter 349: 347: Let Me Teach You How to Recognize a Bitch ~

    Chapter 349: Chapter 347: Let Me Teach You How to Recognize a Bitch ~


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t hesitate at all, he didn¡¯t even say a word of refusal.


    He picked up the materials and crouched on the ground to start making fire with sticks.


    Almost instantly, the live broadcast¡¯s barrage comments erupted.


    [Pei Huai delays retirement for 10,000 years: Ha! Mr. Pei! You¡¯re such a softy! Just spoil him!]


    [Yanyan is my wife: Oh my god, the CP I ship must be real! If this isn¡¯t love~]


    [AWCAR Zeze: The person above, how can you send voice messages?!]


    [Xia Qingyu: Yanyan, you really are... not even pretending at all, where did that fierce, all-conquering attitude from just now go?]


    ...


    Sun Qian saw the screen filled with pink bubbles and her eyebrows nearly twisted into a knot.


    She really didn¡¯t know why Pei Huai had to agree to Xia Wenyan, letting him get so close.


    He was already well-known and established, he didn¡¯t need this kind of attention.


    Every time Sun Qian thought of Xia Wenyan¡¯s recent scandals, she couldn¡¯t help but grit her teeth.


    This kind of attention did Pei Huai no good, on the contrary, because of the excessive binding with Xia Wenyan, he might not be able to take on many scripts.


    Male actors are different from female actors.


    Female actors have a short prime, basically after their best period, there aren¡¯t many suitable scripts left, and if they want to act, they can only play mother roles.


    But male actors have a much longer prime, whether young or old, there are suitable roles for them.


    Many older, seasoned actors can occasionally become popular again because of their roles.


    Pei Huai became famous when he was young, and in his mid-life, he has already won the award for best actor and has many achievements.


    He nearly lacks nothing.


    That¡¯s why she felt Xia Wenyan was dragging Pei Huai down!


    And he still had the nerve to say he was Pei Huai¡¯s friend, huh!


    Such a servant ghost of a friend!


    Although Sun Qian was dissatisfied, her body involuntarily continued to follow the live broadcast.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly, Xia Wenjin seemed to be pricked by a splinter and immediately started screaming, holding her hand to the side.


    The other people became even more chaotic.


    There were those providing first aid, comforting, covering their eyes, and bandaging.


    Xia Wenyan sat on a nearby earthen mound, with his legs crossed and leaning on a wooden stake, and muttered to Pei Huai, ¡°Brother Pei, look over there, what a commotion, you¡¯d think they were amputating.¡±


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t respond but let out a light chuckle, his hands moving more deftly with the fire-making tool.


    Soon, he had the fire lit.


    The people opposite, however, were not happy.


    ¡°Xia Wenyan, what do you mean? Jin gets injured, and it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t care, but to actually take pleasure in her misfortune?¡±


    ¡°Exactly! We¡¯re not asking you to do anything, but please be kind!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see Jin is injured, will you still stir trouble at this time?¡±


    ¡°Poor Jin to have a breadwinning brother like you!¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyebrows quirked, originally, he didn¡¯t plan to continue clashing with them, but they were relentless!


    He glanced at them coldly. ¡°Do you dare to show her hand to the camera properly? Do you believe if you hadn¡¯t made such a big fuss about it, her wound would have already healed?¡±


    ¡°Really feel sorry for her? Don¡¯t just show sympathy with words; take action, use your appearance fees to support her!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you all so kind? Kind people should do kind deeds! Don¡¯t be stingy in offering your love, there are so many people out there who can¡¯t even afford a meal, just waiting for your donations!¡±


    ¡°I, as a brother who supports his family, certainly can¡¯t afford someone like her. If you fancy her, you take care of her. How about we do a live broadcast for everyone to witness?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The people present hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenyan to turn their own words against them one by one, leaving them gawping at each other, at a loss for words.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenjin clenched her fists and then, with watery eyes, looked at Xia Wenyan and said, ¡°Fourth brother, if you¡¯re angry, just direct it at me¡ªthey¡¯re all innocent...¡±


    Her stuttering and aggrieved appearance made the people standing next to her feel a bit ashamed.


    They had joined the reality show solely to get attention, but Xia Wenjin was actually defending them.


    This gave them a slight emotional stir.


    Xia Wenyan scoffed, ¡°Are you blind? With such big eye sockets? From the beginning to the end, the only person I¡¯ve targeted is you. If they hadn¡¯t spoken for you, how could they be faulted?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Those who had just been emotionally affected were instantly put out again.


    Even Xia Wenjin was caught off guard by Xia Wenyan¡¯s comment.


    She came on the show explicitly to create buzz by fighting to the death with Xia Wenyan.


    The more Xia Wenyan bullied her, the more he aroused the protective instinct of the bystanders.


    But after a string of Xia Wenyan¡¯s manipulative moves, those who supported her were ridiculed.


    Although she didn¡¯t know what the online comments were, she could guess they weren¡¯t good based on the reactions of the few beside her.


    Xia Wenyan, known for his straightforwardness, had lots of fans because of his image, and it even saved him from cyberbullying.


    But she wasn¡¯t so lucky.


    Seeing that Xia Wenyan was impervious to persuasion, Xia Wenjin had no choice but to find a breakthrough with Pei Huai.


    She sniffed and, giving a pitiable look, said to Xia Wenyan, ¡°Fourth brother, I know you don¡¯t like me, but we¡¯re a team. Can you let Brother Pei share the fire he¡¯s started with us? I can handle it, but there are other girls here...¡±


    Xia Wenjin said this and then shifted her gaze toward Pei Huai.


    Pei Huai gave Xia Wenjin a look, was about to speak, but Xia Wenyan¡¯s mocking voice rang out, ¡°You know I don¡¯t like you, yet you still call me fourth brother just to disgust me? You¡¯re well aware of how you returned to the Lu Family; do I really need to spell it out here?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart tightened, feeling a bit guilty, but she didn¡¯t believe Xia Wenyan had evidence.


    After all, she¡¯d been biting at the Xia Family for so long; if they really had some trump card, wouldn¡¯t they have played it a long time ago?


    With this in mind, Xia Wenjin was no longer afraid.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s mere words couldn¡¯t talk her to death, right?


    She took a deep breath and, with a pitiable look again, fixed her eyes on Pei Huai, ¡°Brother Pei, you wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch us struggle without fire, would you? They¡¯re all girls, in such cold weather without fire, they¡¯ll certainly freeze...¡±


    Pei Huai ignored Xia Wenjin, instead, he turned his head to look at Xia Wenyan, seemingly waiting for his next instruction.


    ¡°Brother Pei,¡± Xia Wenyan suddenly stood up from the wooden stump.


    He raised his arm to put it around Pei Huai¡¯s shoulder, raising an eyebrow and looking at him with attractive, peach-shaped eyes, word by word, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s take this rare opportunity for me to teach you how to spot a schemer~¡±

 Chapter 350: 348: She Really Has Some Nerve!

    Chapter 350: Chapter 348: She Really Has Some Nerve!


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face darkened instantly upon hearing Xia Wenyan¡¯s words.


    She frowned, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Xia Wenyan shrugged, ¡°Just what it sounds like, Brother Pei is a nice guy, and I¡¯m afraid some people might try to take advantage of him for their own benefit.¡±


    As he spoke, he patted Pei Huai on the shoulder and pointed at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Brother Pei, look at her, she¡¯s the ultimate green tea bitch. Just a slight droop of her eyelids, playing the victim, and there¡¯ll be dumbasses rushing to defend her without her lifting a finger. She¡¯s best at playing innocent and kind¡ªthree parts tranquil times, seven parts weak and defenseless, using the remaining ninety percent for moral blackmail.¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenyan! You¡¯re going too far!¡± Xia Wenjin, exposed on the spot, clearly couldn¡¯t save face.


    Her fingers trembled as she pointed at Xia Wenyan, seemingly quite angered.


    Xia Wenyan acted as though he was completely unaware, ¡°Brother Pei, look, I¡¯ve hit her sore spot, and she¡¯s furious. Do you think she might hit me, Brother Pei? I¡¯m really scared~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Who is the real green tea bitch here?


    The live stream was stirred up again due to Xia Wenyan¡¯s antics.


    [December¡¯s Salted Veggie: Yanyan, has no one ever told you that you¡¯re the real green tea?]


    [Fan of Yanyan and Huai: Mom, I can spot a bitch now!!! Although it¡¯s totally useless, oh Lord, where can you find a boyfriend as cute as Yanyan and also good at spotting bitches?]


    [Past Pei Huai Smells Good: Forget about it above, Yanyan is Brother Pei¡¯s!]


    [Milk Tea wo Sugar: Yanyan is Brother Pei¡¯s, Brother Pei is everyone¡¯s. Rounded off, Yanyan is also everyone¡¯s.]


    [Wen wants to be with Huai: Hahaha, if I were Xia Wenjin I¡¯d die of embarrassment on the spot, green tea meeting a no-nonsense man? Hahaha...]


    ...


    Sun Qian¡¯s brows furrowed deeply as she read the content in the live stream.


    If she was initially upset about Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai promoting their CP on the variety show, now all her anger was directed at Xia Wenjin.


    This bitch actually wanted to harm Pei Huai on the variety show?!


    How shameless!


    Sun Qian¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she whispered to her assistant beside her, ¡°Go and tell the director, I need to...¡±


    She whispered some instructions, and her assistant pursed her lips, seemingly hesitant.


    Sun Qian glared at her, ¡°What? Are my words not effective anymore?¡±


    The assistant quickly shook her head, ¡°No, no, but I heard Xia Wenjin has powerful backers and is quite an influencer. Could this impact you, Sister Qianqian? I¡¯m just worried about you...¡±


    Although Sun Qian was domineering, she paid well.


    Besides, her assistant¡¯s job was usually just to keep an eye on Lu Zhaozhao, which was easy, so she didn¡¯t want to lose the job.


    She knew Sun Qian held sway in the entertainment circle, but if Xia Wenjin really had significant backing, it would be the small fries like them who would suffer in the end.


    Worst case scenario, Sun Qian might sacrifice a pawn like her to protect herself when things went south.


    Sun Qian frowned and coldly eyed her assistant, ¡°She wants to act, right? I¡¯m just helping her out, what¡¯s there for her to fuss about?¡±


    The assistant paused, then spoke again, ¡°But what if the director doesn¡¯t believe me...¡±


    ¡°Alright, just inform the director that I have something for him, schedule a time after the shooting, and leave the rest to me.¡± Sun Qian waved her hand irritably, signaling the assistant to go immediately.


    The assistant nodded repeatedly and turned to leave the van.


    Sun Qian watched her assistant¡¯s figure disappear, then glanced at the live show in her hand, her expression darkening once more.


    Xia Wenjin, huh?


    Ha!


    I really wanted to see what great abilities you had!


    Because Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjin appeared on a variety show together, the popularity related to the Xia Family had skyrocketed once again.


    Lu Zhaozhao naturally got caught up in this wave of popularity.


    A lot of paparazzi were staking out the daily activities of Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin on the set.


    They were hoping to capture a big scoop.


    The producers and directors certainly didn¡¯t want to miss out on this heat, so they organized a small-scale press conference.


    They hoped to use this wave of popularity to make their show more recognizable.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t mind, so when the director mentioned this, she agreed.


    So that evening, the director took all the main creative staff to the press conference.


    Of course, Xia Wenjin, playing the fifth female lead, was also there.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao and the others had seated themselves, several reporters couldn¡¯t help but aim their long and short cameras at their faces.


    The host briefly made an opening and then moved on to the Q&A session.


    ¡°I think everyone is very interested in the situation of our crew, so next, I¡¯ll pass the mic to our journalist friends, hoping everyone can help promote it.¡±


    Everyone naturally understood the implications.


    Although this was organized as a press conference by the crew, everyone was really there for the gossip between the Xia Family and Xia Wenjin.


    They would get exclusive news and incidentally help promote the show; it was mutually beneficial.


    ¡°Recently, there have been a lot of news articles about Xia Wenjin and the Xia Family, and I want to ask Teacher Lu what do you think about Xia Wenjin being abused by the Xia Family?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t expect the first question to be addressed to her, and she was taken aback.


    She chuckled lightly, ¡°Like you, we are also looking at it on our phones, after all, this kind of news can only be known through Teacher Xia.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s response sounded like a joke, but sharp-eyed people could immediately detect that Lu Zhaozhao was sarcastically implying that Xia Wenjin was lying.


    Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t stupid, she also caught the hidden meaning in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    Her eyes narrowed, wishing she could glare fiercely at Lu Zhaozhao right then, but she couldn¡¯t make a rash move during a press conference.


    So, the next second, Xia Wenyan covered her face and started crying pitifully.


    At this moment, almost all eyes were focused on Xia Wenjin.


    Even the reporter who had just asked the question immediately took several pictures of Xia Wenjin with his camera.


    With the media¡¯s keen intuition.


    They felt that Xia Wenjin was about to drop some sensational news!


    So they all closely watched Xia Wenjin, afraid of missing any important information.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao leaned back in her chair with a relaxed look, quietly watching Xia Wenjin¡¯s performance.


    The more arrogant she was now, the clearer the slap in the face would be from Xia Wenyan later.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s previous live confrontation with Xia Wenjin on the variety show had already made everyone question whether Xia Wenjin was really being abused by the Xia Family.


    If she really had been abused by the Xia Family, could Xia Wenyan really be so righteous?


    But some people felt that precisely because Xia Wenyan dared to treat Xia Wenjin like that on the variety show, it confirmed the fact that the Xia Family abused Xia Wenjin.


    The internet was now in an uproar because of the two appearing on the variety show, and the popularity was only increasing, which made Xia Wenjin extremely happy.


    But she didn¡¯t expect...

 Chapter 351: 349 Go Stay Where Its Cool!

    Chapter 351: Chapter 349 Go Stay Where It¡¯s Cool!


    After she returned to the drama set, she had new scenes added to her role.


    At first, she thought it was because of her newfound popularity that the director increased her screentime.


    But after filming for a day, she realized something was amiss.


    Indeed, her screentime had increased, but most of it involved either being beaten or humiliated.


    There were no highlights left for her.


    She had essentially become a clown!


    Even her makeup became progressively uglier.


    She had sought out the director before, hoping to reject these pointless extra scenes, but she was rejected every time.


    It must have been Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s doing!


    She was the only one in the entire crew who had a grudge against her!


    Xia Wenjin thought about the humiliation she suffered in the crew, and her anger deepened.


    She took a deep breath, put on an extremely aggrieved expression, and slowly began, ¡°I know I¡¯m a newcomer and not very capable, but I just want to do my job well. Isn¡¯t that allowed?¡±


    As she spoke, tears began to fall, her face pitiful like a pear blossom bathed in rain.


    The media, already eager to catch something sensational, went into a frenzy.


    ¡°Teacher Xia, are you saying someone in the crew has been bullying you?¡±


    ¡°There are so many people in the crew, are they just watching as Teacher Xia is bullied?¡±


    ¡°Teacher Xia, have you reported these incidents to the director? Does the director not care?¡±


    ...


    Amidst the rising voices from all sides, Xia Wenjin became agitated too, ¡°I... know I have to work hard as a newcomer, but being forced to film these meaningless scenes, I really can¡¯t do it... sob, sob, sob...¡±


    The main actors sitting beside her remained silent:


    The director who was unfairly blamed remained silent:


    The somewhat confused host remained silent:


    Almost everyone on the stage looked at Xia Wenjin speechlessly, and no one spoke up for her.


    What Xia Wenjin was really like in the crew, others might not know, but they were very clear.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin crying uncontrollably, other reporters wanted to continue questioning, but Xia Wenjin just lay there crying, not responding to further questions.


    The reporters had no choice but to direct their questions toward the director and other main creators.


    ¡°Director, what do you think about Teacher Xia¡¯s complaint about being forced to add scenes?¡±


    ¡°Teacher Sun, Mr. Bai, as the leading male and female roles in the crew, do you know anything about Teacher Xia being forced to take on extra scenes?¡±


    ¡°Teacher Lu, are the additional scenes for Teacher Xia the doing of the Xia Family or the Song Family?¡±


    ...


    The reporters were sharpening their questions one after another.


    It made everyone present quite uncomfortable, and it can be said that Xia Wenjin, by her actions alone, had offended everyone on the stage.


    They thought the crew was just riding on a wave of popularity; they didn¡¯t expect Xia Wenjin to accuse them all of being the abusers the moment she spoke.


    Who could endure that?


    Sun Qian was the first to snap, retorting with annoyance, ¡°Then you should really ask Teacher Xia about how someone who squeezes others out for their resources when a drama starts filming is being bullied!¡±


    It was yet another bombshell!


    Initially, the Female No. 5 announced was indeed different from the current one.


    At that time, since Female No. 5 had a small influence and no popularity, nobody cared.


    Now, brought up by Sun Qian, it energized the journalists instead.


    Bai Qing also cleared her throat lightly, ¡°Actually, we hardly had any interaction with Teacher Xia on the set, and as for why she was given extra scenes, we have no idea. All I know is that her filming time was particularly long, and we all had to wait for her.¡±


    What a bombshell!


    The journalists below were ecstatic!


    Who would have thought the self-claimed newcomer Xia Wenjin was actually a scene hog?


    Lin Baiyu and Yan Gui, who had been silently sitting aside, initially planning to blend into the background, exchanged glances and joined the bandwagon in criticizing Xia Wenjin.


    After all, if they didn¡¯t clear their names now, they would be the ones slandered later.


    ¡°I can also testify that Teacher Xia¡¯s shooting time was indeed longer than ours,¡± Yan Gui spoke up first.


    Following him was Lin Baiyu, ¡°Indeed, when we were on set, Teacher Xia didn¡¯t like interacting with us, so we are also unclear about the reasons behind her additional scenes...¡±


    Now, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t cry anymore.


    She initially wanted to pretend to be the victim to make Xia Wenjin unlucky, but why were others eagerly stepping on her?


    If she didn¡¯t speak up now, she¡¯d simply be slandered as an utterly inexcusable person!


    She was clearly the victim here!


    ¡°It¡¯s not what they said! It was Lu Zhaozhao who disliked me and used some means to make the director give me a bunch of nonsensical scenes!¡± Throwing caution to the wind, Xia Wenjin directly singled out Lu Zhaozhao.


    She just couldn¡¯t believe Lu Zhaozhao could still hide behind others!


    Hmph!


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat speechless and curled her lips, ¡°Teacher Xia, this is a press conference, not a place where you can monopolize the conversation by simply talking.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re feeling guilty, aren¡¯t you?! Dare you say in front of the reporters that my extra scenes have nothing to do with you?!¡± Xia Wenjin sneered at Lu Zhaozhao, nowhere near her pitiful look from before.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenjin as if she were a fool, ¡°What if I just say it? It really has nothing to do with me. If I truly didn¡¯t want to see you, why would I add scenes for you? I¡¯d just ask the director to kick you out of the drama group, just like what you did to the previous Female No. 5. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Xia Wenjin clenched her teeth, clearly at a disadvantage when mentioning this topic.


    Lu Zhaozhao adjusted the microphone in front of her before continuing, ¡°Also, Teacher Xia, if you have issues in the future, please look for reasons within yourself. It can¡¯t be that our drama group and Teacher Xia have a feud and are all abusing you, right?¡±


    Her words immediately reminded everyone of Xia Wenjin¡¯s previous claims about the Xia Family abusing her.


    The situation was eerily similar.


    The key creatives on stage seemed to suddenly recall something, and one after another, they quickly spoke up.


    ¡°I can¡¯t carry this burden; our company is too small to withstand such a massive cyber attack,¡± Lin Baiyu was the first to speak.


    Following her was Bai Qing, ¡°I want to clarify here that I really didn¡¯t speak much with Teacher Xia at the set, so don¡¯t count the abuse accusations against me.¡±


    Yan Gui also leaned closer to the microphone, ¡°I usually spend my time with Baiyu, Zhaozhao, and Bai Qing; I don¡¯t have time to abuse Teacher Xia, please give me witness.¡±


    After several people consecutively cleared their names, the journalists¡¯ gaze fell on Sun Qian¡¯s face.


    Sun Qian originally didn¡¯t want to join in the drama but seeing the mud being flung her way, she too felt annoyed.


    She indeed wanted to suppress Xia Wenjin, but it had nothing to do with abuse.


    She cast a cold glance at Xia Wenjin and spoke coldly, ¡°There¡¯s a huge gap between our statuses, abusing her? Ridiculous... The director giving her extra scenes is already bullying her, do we even dare to speak?¡±


    With one sentence, Sun Qian cleared her connection while also pulling the director into it.


    Since adding the scenes was something she had instructed the director to do, she couldn¡¯t forget this favor.


    As for Xia Wenjin, she could go wherever it was cool!

 Chapter 352: 350: Every Move is the Thunder Gods Hammer

    Chapter 352: Chapter 350: Every Move is the Thunder God¡¯s Hammer


    Seeing the situation growing increasingly unfavorable for herself, Xia Wenjin burst into tears again, ¡°It¡¯s not like that, it¡¯s not what you think, I know it¡¯s hard for everyone, and we all say these things for the sake of our careers. I can understand, sob sob sob...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    At this point, it was not just the creative team on stage who were speechless, even the reporters in the audience were at a loss for words.


    Although it¡¯s true that the entertainment industry does need capital to operate.


    Capital is not something that can be represented by just one or two individuals.


    XJ Group and Song Group are indeed powerful, but that doesn¡¯t mean they can completely dominate the entertainment industry.


    If that were the case, they would have already blacklisted Xia Wenjin. Would they still allow her to carry on causing a fuss?


    Furthermore, the current production they were in had a famous director who had been well-known for a long time, and both the lead actress and actor were backed by industry capital.


    They themselves had already become a part of that capital and really had no need to heed the opinions of others.


    Nor would they act as Xia Wenjin had said, having to watch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face.


    So when Xia Wenjin spoke, it was as if she had made a huge joke.


    The reporters below the stage had more or less figured out how much truth was in Xia Wenjin¡¯s statements.


    Before the press conference was even over, drafts were already forming in the minds of the journalists from various media outlets.


    Even the director and producers who attended the press conference were so angry they were practically fuming.


    The production¡¯s filming wasn¡¯t even finished yet, and Xia Wenjin had become a hot potato that was difficult to handle, impossible to discard or even touch.


    One by one, those involved were filled with anger, which all piled onto the person standing behind Xia Wenjin.


    That evening, Xia Wenjin received a call from Justin and was a bit surprised.


    Ever since she learned that Xiao Mo was the grandson of the Song Family, she had consciously kept her distance from Justin.


    But after all, Justin was a means of support for her, so she hadn¡¯t planned to burn all her bridges.


    What she hadn¡¯t expected was to be furiously scolded by Justin as soon as she answered the call.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin, what on earth is the matter with you? Are you out of your mind? I sent you to the production to act, not to go and offend the director and producers!¡±


    His own resources in the country were already scarce.


    The relationships he had struggled to maintain were hard-earned.


    And now, because of Xia Wenjin, he¡¯d almost lost his biggest money-making venture in the entertainment industry!


    Xia Wenjin was also confused by the scolding.


    Thinking about the injustice she suffered at the press conference, she started to cry over the phone, ¡°Justin, how can you just listen to what others say? It was clearly Lu Zhaozhao in the production team that made things difficult for me... sob sob sob, you have no idea how much bullying I¡¯ve endured on the set!¡±


    Hearing the sobbing on the other end of the phone, Justin¡¯s brows instantly furrowed.


    He said irritably, ¡°The person who added those scenes for you wasn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao, it was Sun Qian, the lead actress of your production team! What on earth did you do to offend her?¡±


    Xia Wenjin paused, ¡°How do you know it was Sun Qian and not Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    She didn¡¯t remember offending Sun Qian, who was the most aloof person on the set, aside from the male lead and Lu Zhaozhao, and she hadn¡¯t seen her talk to anyone else.


    Most of the time, she was in her nanny van, only occasionally staying at the location.


    She remembered that Sun Qian seemed to have a good relationship with Lu Zhaozhao before.


    But later she heard from several special extras that they seemed to have had a fallout.


    Justin didn¡¯t want to continue arguing with Xia Wenjin and simply told her the truth, ¡°The director told me personally, so stop causing trouble on the set, or I won¡¯t be able to save you when it blows up!¡±


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but then she swallowed her words.


    This man, Justin, had no patience for her now.


    There was even less reason for her to grovel before him.


    She was silent for a moment before finally replying, ¡°I understand.¡±


    After that, the person on the other end of the line told her to take care of herself before hanging up.


    Xia Wenjin narrowed her eyes as she looked at the disconnected call.


    Sun Qian might have given her a hard time to curry favor with Lu Zhaozhao.


    But now that Sun Qian and Lu Zhaozhao had fallen out, maybe she could try to build a good relationship with her.


    After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.


    Cooperating with Sun Qian might even have unexpected results!


    As Xia Wenjin thought this, the corners of her mouth slowly curled up.


    Lu Zhaozhao, just you wait!


    You made me lose face at the press conference, and I will definitely make you pay!


    What took Xia Wenjin by surprise was that before she could approach Sun Qian to join forces, Xia Wenyan¡¯s Weibo page already exploded with bombshell revelations.


    It was all about Xia Wenjin bullying classmates abroad, maliciously slandering her competitors, and even going so far as to have someone smash the hand of Xia Family¡¯s third child, Xia Wenmo, to win a school painting competition.


    Each incident was backed by solid evidence. It was thoroughly damning.


    Before, netizens were on Xia Wenjin¡¯s side, but almost as soon as they saw the various pieces of evidence, they swarmed to support the Xia Family.


    [Lao5wu: She dares to do such cruel things without even knowing she¡¯s the Miss of XJ Group? If she knew, wouldn¡¯t she be even more ruthless to others?]


    [Again, Someone Smashed Your Window: I really never saw through Xia Wenjin¡¯s pitiable disguise; who would have thought she was actually such a tyrant?!]


    [Chasing Happiness: My goodness! I have to say my goodness, how can such a person with a terrible track record still be a celebrity in this country, don¡¯t some departments care at all?]


    [Rolling in Puff: The Xia Family has been cleaning up after Xia Wenjin for so many years, and now they¡¯ve been bitten back. Tsk tsk, seems like the Xia Family is really angry, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have gone straight for the Thunder God¡¯s Hammer.]


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao, curled up in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, couldn¡¯t help but complain as she looked at the screen full of ¡°explosive¡± trending topics, ¡°I never imagined Xia Wenjin used to be so fierce, even a bully in school, tsk tsk...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes slowly lowered, and his large hand gently pinched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek without saying anything.


    The Xia Family had discussed these revelations with him before publishing them, and there were still some details that hadn¡¯t been released that were even more shocking than what they had seen.


    He wasn¡¯t worried that the Xia Family would obliterate Xia Wenjin; she had been hopping around in front of Lu Zhaozhao long enough.


    It would be a disservice to her enduring antics not to completely ruin her.


    While Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t specifically mentioned what Xia Wenjin did in her past life, he had vaguely guessed a part of it from her confessions about the Xia Family¡¯s past misfortunes.


    He hadn¡¯t asked Lu Zhaozhao, as he didn¡¯t want her to relive those tragic memories.


    And Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t have the capacity to turn the tables now, the Lu Family had already been brought down entirely.


    Thinking of this, Song Sinian¡¯s eyes blinked slightly, as if he suddenly thought of something, ¡°Zhaozhao, have you ever considered that with the Xia Family exposing Xia Wenjin, she might have someone from the Lu Family smear you online...¡±

 Chapter 353: 351: From now on, you must listen to your wife, understand?

    Chapter 353: Chapter 351: From now on, you must listen to your wife, understand?


    He knew that Lu Zhaozhao had always been well-behaved in the Lu Family, but they might still use some absurd tactic.


    Lu Zhaozhao was startled for a moment, then immediately turned to Song Sinian and smiled, ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t worry, even if they really think up some way to smear me, I¡¯m not afraid. I have as much dirt on them as they have on me.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows gave a slight lift, as if he had realized something.


    But he still asked with a casual voice, pretending to be indifferent, ¡°What kind of dirt do you have on them?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head and thought seriously, ¡°Before, when Xia Wenjin followed me to the hospital to see my third brother, I got information on the thugs she hired. Also, after I got married, Mr. and Mrs. Lu installed a camera in my room to try and set me up by taking private photos, but my older brother and the others have kept video evidence of it. And there¡¯s more...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao counted on her fingers the compromising material she had, completely unaware that someone¡¯s face had turned pitch black when she mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Lu¡¯s near successful scheme to trick her and take private photos.


    If it weren¡¯t for a sudden drop in the room¡¯s atmosphere, Lu Zhaozhao probably wouldn¡¯t have realized the problem.


    Her voice abruptly stopped, and she looked a bit sheepishly toward Song Sinian.


    She saw his tall figure slowly pressing down, ¡°Why are there things in what you¡¯ve told me that I didn¡¯t know about?¡±


    Especially regarding Mr. and Mrs. Lu.


    She had suffered so much without him knowing?!


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows knotted almost instantly.


    Suddenly thinking of Lu Zhaozhao previously insisting that he give up mining areas three and four, he immediately realized something.


    All these things were what Lu Zhaozhao had experienced in her previous life.


    In her last life, she didn¡¯t have the ability to foresee the future like she did now, so... was she photographed by Mr. and Mrs. Lu in her previous life?


    What did they do to her with those photos?


    Just the thought of it made Song Sinian¡¯s heart ache terribly.


    Knowing that these were real experiences from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s previous life, it felt as if his heart was tightly bound by thorns, each beat bringing searing, heart-wrenching pain.


    They truly deserved to die!


    But death would be too kind for those two!


    They should suffer torment, living a fate worse than death! Repent for their past deeds for the rest of their lives!


    Thinking this, Song Sinian felt almost a palpable air of wrath about him.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a ¡°thump¡± in her heart, thinking that Song Sinian was angry about her concealment.


    She quickly extended her little hand to clasp his cheek and kissed him on the lips, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Song. When it happened, we had a misunderstanding over something else, so I didn¡¯t dare tell you...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s pupils trembled slightly, remembering that he was completely insensitive to emotions before. If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fearless approach, they might have missed out on this lifetime together.


    Thinking that the tragedy of her past life might entirely be his doing, Song Sinian felt even worse.


    He slowly put his arms around Lu Zhaozhao, pressing her against his chest, his hands on her lower back trembling slightly.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, thank you for still choosing me in this life,¡± Song Sinian took a deep breath, feeling an inexplicable sourness in his chest.


    Actually, Lu Zhaozhao could have completely chosen to give up on him and not be with him, and she could still find another man who would love and cherish her.


    It didn¡¯t have to be him.


    Especially in the previous life, when she had suffered so much by his side, yet she still chose him, this depth of love filled his heart with warmth that he had never felt before.


    He was grateful that the person he loved was Lu Zhaozhao, and grateful that Lu Zhaozhao was willing to love him.


    Lu Zhaozhao was blindsided by his sudden confession.


    She had thought that Song Sinian was just angry because of her secrecy a moment ago, but now why such a passionate confession?


    Had she missed something?


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t dare to think too much, her small hand subconsciously patting Song Sinian¡¯s back gently.


    She laughed lightly and said, ¡°What are you talking about? Whether it is the last life, this life, or the next, I¡¯m willing to be with you.¡±


    No one could love more purely than Song Sinian did.


    She was content and willing to cherish it.


    Suddenly, she felt a shadow loom over her head, and his warm breath drew nearer.


    Almost instinctively, Lu Zhaozhao accepted the advance, but unlike the usual gentle entanglement, Song Sinian was like a beast eager for solace, plundering her breath in a way that set her heart racing.


    She nearly couldn¡¯t withstand it, pushed by Song Sinian¡¯s overwhelming advance to lean back against the couch.


    Her original sitting position slowly turned into a slanted recline until he completely pinned her down on the couch.


    His hand clasped the back of her neck, and even as she lay on the couch, he didn¡¯t let go, as if he feared she would disappear the moment he released her.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t understand where Song Sinian¡¯s current obsession was coming from, but she was happy to cooperate.


    Only, he was really too fierce, kissing with such force while slightly arching his body, yet not allowing her to struggle free.


    After a moment, the breath between the two of them grew heavier, and he vented heavily, sucking several times on her neck until the crimson marks became scattered dots on her skin, and only then did the strength in his hands lighten.


    Lu Zhaozhao hummed softly, as if protesting his behavior.


    The panic in Song Sinian¡¯s heart dissipated almost entirely amid the tender entanglement and friction with Lu Zhaozhao due to her excessive cooperation.


    He lowered his head to her cheek and kissed her gently, laughing softly into her neck encouraged by the obviously whimsical hums she made.


    The roots of Song Sinian¡¯s hair were prickly, rubbing against her neck, and he said in a muffled voice, ¡°I wasn¡¯t good before, unable to care for your feelings, letting you suffer so much; but it won¡¯t happen again, I will treat you well.¡±


    His hair was harsh against her already sensitive neck, tickling her.


    This peculiar sensation spread across her back, raising goosebumps.


    Lu Zhaozhao extended her small hand to touch Song Sinian¡¯s ear, thinking about how she had initially dared to approach him because of the reddening tips of his ears.


    She always thought of the aloof Song Sinian as a pure-hearted little wolfhound prone to blushing.


    Lu Zhaozhao remembered, and her eyes and brows were filled with a smile.


    Her small hand pinched the tip of Song Sinian¡¯s ear before she slowly spoke, ¡°With such a good wife like me, of course, you should treat me well, and from now on, you should always listen to your wife, understand?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face rubbed again into the crook of her neck, suddenly as if he thought of something, he lifted his head abruptly to look at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Almost instantly, Lu Zhaozhao understood his intention.


    Her small hand suddenly clutched Song Sinian¡¯s neck, and her entire being tensed up, ¡°Song, Song Sinian, you must keep your word!¡±

 Chapter 354: 352: You Actually Hit Me?!

    Chapter 354: Chapter 352: You Actually Hit Me?!


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t say a word, took big strides from the couch, lifted Lu Zhaozhao from it, and headed straight for the bedroom.


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to burst into laughter out of frustration, ¡°Hey, hey! Someone just said they¡¯d listen to their wife!¡±


    Song Sinian gently patted the leg he was holding, ¡°Be good, I¡¯ll listen to you under the bed.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao was truly at a loss whether to laugh or cry.


    Their Mr. Song actually played tricks!


    What was worse, she found this Song Sinian adorable!


    It was over, her head was itching terribly, she was growing love-struck!


    Looking at the bedroom getting closer, Lu Zhaozhao simply gave up struggling.


    After all, their home¡¯s big wolf-dog Mr. never listened in certain places.


    The more she sobbed, the more he tormented her...


    Lu Zhaozhao irritably scratched Song Sinian a few times to vent her frustration, but all she heard was the vibration of laughter from his back.


    Alright, she gave up.


    Late at night, the wind was strong and cold outside the window, and an early layer of white frost had formed.


    Song Sinian sat on the edge of the bed watching Lu Zhaozhao, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, his dark eyes full of affection.


    He gently stroked her cheek with his large hand, listening to her dissatisfied murmurs, his lips slowly curling into a smile.


    But soon, Song Sinian¡¯s smiling face grew serious.


    He reached for his phone on the bedside table and went straight to the small living room within the bedroom.


    He quickly dialed Zhao Xi¡¯s number.


    The person on the other end was clearly woken up by the call, his voice nasal.


    ¡°Sir? What do you need?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes lowered, ¡°Inform Mr. and Mrs. Lu, I want to give them a chance to make a comeback.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Zhao Xi fell silent.


    Had he not woken up properly?


    Why did it seem that he recognized every word their Mr. Song said, yet when put together, he couldn¡¯t understand?


    After all the monstrous things the Lu couple had done to Lu Zhaozhao, their Mr. Song still wanted to help them?


    Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t imagine what was going on at all.


    Could it be because Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t bear to see the Lu couple go bankrupt, so she pleaded for their Mr. Song to help them?


    Zhao Xi¡¯s brow furrowed, unable to think of any other reason.


    Naturally, Song Sinian understood what Zhao Xi was thinking.


    His dark eyes lowered, the look in his eyes darker in the night, ¡°Just letting them go bankrupt is too mild a punishment for them.¡±


    His voice was light and fluttering, yet the tone was as cold as the dead of winter.


    In an instant, Zhao Xi understood, their Mr. Song had no intention of letting the Lu couple off.


    Then, listening to Song Sinian relay the rest of his plan, Zhao Xi was thoroughly relieved.


    Hearing about their master¡¯s upcoming plan, he felt somewhat eager to try it out.


    These two scumbags definitely needed to pay a heavy price for their actions!


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t expect the Xia Family to reveal all her past dark secrets, and she got recognized on the street and had milk tea thrown all over her.


    She originally wanted to go straight back to the film crew, but her company¡¯s car was exposed online, so she could only shamefully return to the villa first.


    ¡°How dare you come back? You¡¯ve practically thrown our family¡¯s reputation away!¡± Xiao Jinglan started scolding Xia Wenjin the moment she stepped through the door.


    Recently, with the Feng family¡¯s visit already annoying her, she didn¡¯t expect Xia Wenjin to stir up so much trouble.


    At first, she felt that leveraging the Xia Family¡¯s popularity to make some money wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    After all, she was Xiao Mo¡¯s wife, and the money she earned was theirs.


    But who knew that this woman would go on TV and provoke Xia Wenyan, and now all her dirty laundry was being aired.


    Xiao Jinglan looked at Xia Wenjin, filled entirely with rage.


    She initially thought she could tolerate her as the heiress of the Lu Group, but now with the Lu Family gone, she still acted flirtatiously and didn¡¯t know how to behave properly.


    She couldn¡¯t stand it anymore!


    Xia Wenjin frowned, looked up at Xiao Jinglan, and explained, ¡°Aunt Xiao, those things the Xia Family released were just slanderous nonsense to defame me, I was never like what they said when I was with the Xia Family...¡±


    ¡°Stop pretending, just stop!¡± Xiao Jinglan rolled her eyes, ¡°Slander, really? If you¡¯re capable, why don¡¯t you let the Lu Family slander Lu Zhaozhao too! See if she has as much dirt as you!¡±


    Having recently lived with Xia Wenjin, she saw everything crystal clear.


    A restless woman like Xia Wenjin obviously had no good intentions.


    She wasn¡¯t surprised at all that she could do things like bullying and hiring thugs to beat people up.


    Xia Wenjin initially wanted to retort, but remembering she still needed to please Xiao Mo, so she just gritted her teeth and listened to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s scolding.


    However, hearing her words, Xia Wenjin suddenly thought of a good way to deal with Lu Zhaozhao.


    It was too difficult for her to clear her name now, but dragging Lu Zhaozhao down into the mud was easy.


    The Xia family had just exposed her dark secrets, causing such a stir online, so if the Lu Family exposed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dark past, she guessed they would be treated the same.


    After all, ever since she and Lu Zhaozhao swapped identities, everyone saw them as a pair to compare.


    If Lu Zhaozhao also got caught up in some disgraceful actions, how would the netizens see her?


    Thinking of this, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of her mouth.


    Xiao Jinglan was in mid-scold when she saw Xia Wenjin¡¯s smiling lips, and anger surged over her head, prompting her to stride over.


    ¡°Slap!¡±


    She slapped Xia Wenjin across the face.


    Xia Wenjin was clearly stunned by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s slap.


    Holding her slapped cheek, she stared at Xiao Jinglan in disbelief, ¡°You hit me?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan glared coldly at Xia Wenjin and sneered, ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to hit you for a while now, if it wasn¡¯t for you, would Keren and Justin¡¯s relationship have turned out this bad?!¡±


    As she spoke, she lifted her hand again.


    Xia Wenjin, who wasn¡¯t one to take losses, saw Xiao Jinglan not letting go and simply pushed her away.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s body, already severely frail, especially since returning from the hospital, had not improved but had grown even weaker.


    Pushed by Xia Wenjin, she fell straight to the ground.


    Xiao Jinglan sat on the ground in pain and screamed, ¡°Xia Wenjin, you shameless bitch! I¡¯ll kill you! How dare you lay a hand on me?!¡±


    Xia Wenjin stood to one side, her eyebrows tightly furrowed, ¡°You were the one who hit me first! And I¡¯ve already clarified the past issues with you, my relationship with Justin has ended, and I will focus on being with Xiao Mo from now on, so stop causing trouble at home!¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was Xiao Mo¡¯s mother, Xia Wenjin wouldn¡¯t even give her this much respect...

 Chapter 355: 353: Its All Too Late!

    Chapter 355: Chapter 353: It¡¯s All Too Late!


    ¡°If she has no shame, I don¡¯t mind going all the way with her.¡±


    After all, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s life isn¡¯t going to last much longer.


    Does this woman even know what ¡®harming others harms oneself¡¯ means?


    Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but get furious as she looked at Xia Wenjin¡¯s face, ¡°A woman like you is simply not worthy of Xiao Mo!¡±


    ¡°Not worthy of Xiao Mo, but didn¡¯t he still marry me?¡± Xia Wenjin glanced at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°You should spend this time thinking about how to get back into the Song Family instead of worrying about someone beating you to it and having to curse in the streets again.¡±


    After saying this, she went straight upstairs.


    Leaving Xiao Jinglan downstairs frantically smashing things.


    Xia Wenjin now had no time to deal with Xiao Jinglan, Xiao Mo hasn¡¯t been coming home much recently, and she didn¡¯t need to pretend so well at home.


    She had just returned to the upstairs bedroom when she called Cao Mei.


    Since their last contact, it had been a while since they last spoke.


    Even when Cao Mei called her, she always made excuses about being busy to put her off.


    After all, to her, the Lu Family was no different than a burden.


    The Lu Family had gone bankrupt and been liquidated, leaving nothing in the house.


    If it weren¡¯t for finding some use in them, she wouldn¡¯t have found them a place to live, let alone give them 3,000 yuan a month for living expenses.


    When she made the call, the phone rang several times before someone picked up.


    Xia Wenjin asked impatiently, ¡°Why did it take so long to answer the phone?¡±


    There was an obvious silence on Cao Mei¡¯s end, ¡°I was cooking, and I didn¡¯t have my phone on me. Are you calling to come over to the house?¡±


    Xia Wenjin scoffed softly, ¡°Why would I go there? To hear Lu Dagui scoff at me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    There was silence on the phone once again.


    ¡°Alright, I know life isn¡¯t easy for you right now, I¡¯ll give you some more money,¡± Xia Wenjin said, then added, ¡°Did you see the trending searches related to me today?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure if Cao Mei had a habit of keeping up with the news.


    If she hadn¡¯t seen it, she¡¯d have to explain it to them all over again, just the thought of it was annoying.


    But considering she had to ask them for a favor later, she reluctantly put up with it.


    Cao Mei glanced at Lu Dagui sitting on the living room couch, staring at her with a grim face, and she had no choice but to honestly reply, ¡°I saw those trending searches, it¡¯s all over the internet right now, won¡¯t your job be affected?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face couldn¡¯t help but turn sour when she thought of this.


    Usually, her popularity was high, so even with negative trending searches, the impact on her was not huge.


    But now the revelations from the Xia Family directly involved school bullying and hiring thugs to injure people.


    The denunciations online were surging wave after wave.


    She already had few endorsements, and now they were starting to drop one by one.


    How could she not be affected?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face changed, ¡°The Xia Family is slinging mud at me, it would be strange if I weren¡¯t affected, that¡¯s why I called you.¡±


    Cao Mei immediately understood what Xia Wenjin meant and asked slowly, ¡°What do you want us to do?¡±


    ¡°Of course, whatever the Xia Family does to me, you do to them,¡± Xia Wenjin said without thinking, ¡°They sling mud at me, as my parents, shouldn¡¯t you throw it back at them?¡±


    Cao Mei pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment, ¡°But Zhaozhao has been so well-behaved and obedient around us for the past 20 years, there¡¯s really no dirt to be thrown on her.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t lying with that statement.


    For the past 20 years, Lu Zhaozhao had indeed been very well-behaved and obedient, even constantly striving to please them and do everything to the best of her ability.


    Let alone dirt, had she not married into the Song Family, she hadn¡¯t even said a harsh word to them.


    No matter how excessive their demands were, she would always find a way to fulfill them.


    Even when they asked her to get close to Song Sinian, to secure benefits for the Lu Family, she never refused.


    Cao Mei thought about it and suddenly felt that she had indeed been too harsh on Lu Zhaozhao before.


    If she had been nicer to her after Xia Wenjin returned, she and her husband wouldn¡¯t be in such a sorry state.


    At the very least, by following Lu Zhaozhao, they wouldn¡¯t have had to worry about food and drink, and perhaps the Lu Family wouldn¡¯t have gone bankrupt.


    Everything changed after Xia Wenjin came back to the Lu Family.


    The supposedly rich ore veins turned out to be completely useless, and even the solid maritime contracts somehow went wrong.


    Before, Cao Mei refused to believe that her own flesh and blood could be such a jinx.


    But now, everything forced her to believe it.


    If they continued to follow Xia Wenjin, they might run into even more misfortune in the future.


    As Cao Mei thought this, she seemed to have made up her mind, ¡°Zhaozhao is a good child¡ªother than being too obedient and not very willing to attend public events, she really has no major issues.¡±


    ¡°No major issues? Then you can¡¯t make up some minor ones? You¡¯ve raised her for 20 years, can¡¯t you come up with some lies?¡± Xia Wenjin frowned unhappily, her voice rising significantly.


    ¡°Because of Lu Zhaozhao, my reputation is ruined; I don¡¯t care! I want her to go down with me!¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, Cao Mei felt for the first time that her behavior was somewhat ridiculous, ¡°Your reputation was ruined because of what you did at the Xia Family, not because of Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°How is it not? If the Xia Family hadn¡¯t dug up my past to exact revenge for her, would those things have come out?¡± Xia Wenjin grew angrier the more she spoke, ¡°Is it not their fault for not telling me the true situation of the Xia Family, leading me to be laughed at for ¡®dropping a watermelon to pick up a sesame seed¡¯?¡±


    Cao Mei was stunned, ¡°So what you said before about being mistreated at the Xia Family... was that false?¡±


    Xia Wenjin huffed coldly, ¡°They¡¯re so rich, yet they only gave me 10,000 yuan a month for pocket money, isn¡¯t that mistreatment?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Cao Mei was suddenly at a loss for words.


    Xia Wenjin was even more heartless than she had imagined.


    Considering their current situation, Xia Wenjin¡¯s character was very telling.


    How blind they had been to not appreciate Lu Zhaozhao and instead insist on bringing Xia Wenjin, a homewrecker, back to their family.


    Cao Mei¡¯s insides were filled with regret.


    But it was all too late!


    Cao Mei suddenly laughed at herself self-deprecatingly; if she were Lu Zhaozhao and knew about everything they had done, she would definitely not forgive them.


    Xia Wenjin seemed to notice that Cao Mei was onto something and raised her eyebrows slightly, urging, ¡°Start spreading rumors on Weibo today. Later, send me the account, I have a lot of followers on Weibo now. I¡¯ll give you a little boost by sharing your posts. That way, your account will gain a lot more followers, and you might be able to scrape by with some advertising in the future.¡±


    She was, in a way, offering to support them.


    Cao Mei¡¯s eyes drooped, ¡°Let me think about this a bit more.¡±


    ¡°Fine, take some time to think. But remember, if you wait more than a couple of days, it will be useless. You¡¯d better decide quickly, to avoid later regret,¡± Xia Wenjin said as she hung up the phone.


    Little did she expect that after Cao Mei hung up, her forlorn expression had just been perfectly captured on a live broadcast video...

 Chapter 356: 354: How Malicious?

    Chapter 356: Chapter 354: How Malicious?


    [Invisibility Technique liveget: Wow, what did I just hear? Xia Wenjin asked her birth parents to slander Lu Zhaozhao?]


    [Feng Jun Alias: Where¡¯s my translator? Quickly clarify the whole story for me!]


    [It¡¯s your Little Dragon Girl: Oh my God, the conversation between these two is so loaded, my brain is overloading. Can someone please analyze it?]


    [Cold Gao Xiaomei: Here it is! First, Xia Wenjin admitted that the Xia Family abuse claims were false, she actually thinks receiving ten thousand a month as pocket money is abuse! Second, she wants her birth mom to slander Lu Zhaozhao! Third, she admitted that she did indeed bully someone abroad!]


    ...


    The contents of the live broadcast quickly went viral online because they were related to Xia Wenjin.


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenjin had already gone to sleep, not believing that Cao Mei and the others could resist the temptation.


    Just throwing some dirt on Lu Zhaozhao could earn them a sum of money, and they wouldn¡¯t lose anything.


    Xia Wenjin blissfully waited to check the results the next day, never expecting that the internet would explode with the broadcast¡¯s content overnight...


    Song Sinian looked at the online comments, his expression calm, making it difficult to gauge his true emotions.


    Zhao Xi coughed lightly and quietly reminded, ¡°Sir, Lu Dagui wants to meet with you, he wants to know when the request he made earlier could be fulfilled.¡±


    A flicker of emotion crossed Song Sinian¡¯s normally impassive face as he looked up at Zhao Xi, ¡°Arrange the meeting with him now.¡±


    He set the tablet on his desk, stood up, and grabbed his coat hanging on the rack.


    Zhao Xi didn¡¯t dare delay and immediately notified Lu Dagui.


    The meeting place they agreed upon was a suburban factory a bit far from downtown.


    Since Lu Dagui went bankrupt and many people were looking for him, he had to live in a remote suburb.


    It required a ride from the suburbs to downtown, and they didn¡¯t have any transportation.


    So they had to settle for an abandoned factory close to the suburb.


    As soon as Lu Dagui spotted Song Sinian, he immediately groveled his way forward.


    He had completely given up hope on the Song Group before, but unexpectedly received a call from Zhao Xi, which offered him a great benefit.


    Without a second thought, he agreed.


    ¡°It¡¯s really tough for President Song to come in person, I wonder about the item I requested...¡±


    He rubbed his hands together, grinning as he looked at the two bodyguard-like figures behind Song Sinian, each holding a case.


    Just by looking, one could tell they were heavy.


    His smile brightened even more.


    On the contrary, Cao Mei, who was following behind him, seemed subtly uneasy.


    She nervously watched the several people who accompanied Song Sinian, feeling even more panic rising in her chest.


    She reached out to tug at Lu Dagui¡¯s sleeve, trying to catch his attention, but Lu Dagui¡¯s gaze was already fixed on the cases carried by Song Sinian¡¯s subordinates.


    Song Sinian had no intention of wasting words and gestured for his men to open the cases they were holding.


    In almost an instant, the contents nearly blinded Lu Dagui¡¯s eyes.


    Each case was filled with gold, appearing to be very heavy.


    Now Lu Dagui¡¯s smile turned even more radiant.


    ¡°President Song, if there¡¯s ever another matter like this, feel free to contact me any time, I will certainly spare no detail!¡± said Lu Dagui, as he moved forward to take a case but was stopped by Zhao Xi.


    Lu Dagui froze, could there be another condition from Song Sinian?


    While he was stunned, Song Sinian grabbed one of the boxes filled with gold, slowly fastened it, then picked up the handle of the suitcase and fiercely slammed it into Lu Dagui¡¯s face.


    Due to the gold inside, the weight of the box was astonishing.


    Moreover, since Song Sinian had used all his strength, when he swung the suitcase, Lu Dagui nearly passed out on the spot.


    He staggered and fell to the ground, his nose and mouth covered in blood.


    Cao Mei was immediately frightened into a stupor, ¡°President Song, what are you doing?¡±


    Song Sinian threw down the box and looked down at the two people from above, his voice chilling, ¡°On what grounds do you think you can mistreat my wife and then vanish from before me without consequence?¡±


    Lu Dagui and Cao Mei were both frightened.


    They were well aware of what they had done to Lu Zhaozhao in the past.


    Could it be that Song Sinian was planning to finish them off right here?


    Thinking this, Cao Mei immediately knelt on the ground and started kowtowing to Song Sinian, ¡°We were wrong, President Song, please, based on the good deed we just did for Zhaozhao, spare us! Please!¡±


    Beside her, Lu Dagui hadn¡¯t come to his senses yet, he frowned deeply and slowly crawled up from the ground, raising his sleeve to wipe the blood from his mouth, ¡°We raised Zhaozhao for 20 years, if not for our merit, then for our hardships... Ah!¡±


    Before Lu Dagui could finish, his stomach took a solid punch from Song Sinian, and then he was seized by the collar and continuously punched in the face.


    Honestly, even Zhao Xi hated to think that his own head needed an automatic mosaic filter to block out such a violent and bloody scene.


    This was also his first time seeing Song Sinian lose control like this.


    However, considering what Mr. and Mrs. Lu had done to Lu Zhaozhao, his master¡¯s rage was understandable.


    He had previously assumed that the Lu Family merely mentally abused Lu Zhaozhao and hadn¡¯t done anything too outrageous.


    It was only after he saw the video materials sent by Xia Wenjue that he realized the Lu Family planned to auction off their lady¡¯s nude photos, and even more shamelessly, they had installed cameras in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s previous room.


    Such malice couldn¡¯t be covered up by any pretense of merit or hardship.


    If Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s backing wasn¡¯t Song Sinian, wasn¡¯t the Xia Family, if she had just been an ordinary person, she would have been destroyed long ago.


    How vile was the Lu Family?


    They didn¡¯t deserve forgiveness!


    Even if they truly repented, the wrongs they had done couldn¡¯t be compensated for in this lifetime!


    Cao Mei, who had always lived a pampered life, was not used to such spectacles.


    At first, she was petrified; it took her a long time to get up and try to rescue Lu Dagui, but she was stopped by the bodyguards.


    Therefore, she could only sit on the ground quietly crying, until she watched as Lu Dagui was beaten motionless by Song Sinian.


    ¡°Sir, if this continues, he¡¯ll be beaten to death, and that would be letting him off too easily.¡±


    Zhao Xi timely spoke up, stopping Song Sinian who seemed intent on continuing his rampage.


    Another beating could be fatal.


    At that point, any punishment would be meaningless.


    These kinds of people weren¡¯t worth sullying their master¡¯s hands!


    Only then did Song Sinian slowly stand up, took the handkerchief Zhao Xi passed to him and wiped the blood off his hands before coldly saying, ¡°Send these two to Country X to mine coal, leave this money with ¡®caregivers¡¯ to ensure they live well, and let them spend the remainder of their lives in deep repentance!¡±

 Chapter 357: 355: Mr. Songs Rebellious Phase

    Chapter 357: Chapter 355: Mr. Song¡¯s Rebellious Phase


    Cao Mei, upon hearing this, was about to go insane.


    ¡°Have me dig for coal?¡±


    She had hardly ever done household chores, let alone dig for coal!


    ¡°President Song, please spare me a way to live; I really can¡¯t go!¡± Cao Mei crawled towards Song Sinian from the ground, but he simply dodged her.


    Cao Mei tried to act again but was held down by the bodyguards once more.


    Song Sinian glanced at Cao Mei with cold eyes, not bothering to look at her again, and left the factory straight away.


    By the time he got back to the Song Family, Lu Zhaozhao had returned at some unknown time.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you¡¯re back?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed as she ran over from the living room.


    She had received a reminder from the Xia Family in the morning that they would publicize the incident that happened at the Lu Family.


    Although she had agreed to it before, she didn¡¯t expect that when it came time to release the information, they would consult her opinion again.


    What surprised her even more was that Cao Mei had betrayed Xia Wenjin live on air.


    She had no idea what kind of internal strife had occurred between them.


    Knowing this, Lu Zhaozhao hurried back non-stop, wanting to share the good news with Song Sinian.


    Seeing her bright and shining eyes, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile, ¡°I thought you had a film to shoot and would be staying at the hotel tonight.¡±


    ¡°Today is a special case, I...¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s subsequent words were cut off as she frowned.


    She felt something was off about Song Sinian from the beginning, and only upon getting closer did she notice his clothes were in much more disarray than usual.


    And some parts of his coat were even dirtied.


    It was as if he had been rolling around in a place full of dust.


    ¡°Mr. Song, your clothes...¡± Her small hand instinctively straightened his collar.


    Song Sinian felt a bit guilty; as he reached out to hold Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, intending to deflect, he suddenly stiffened.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao had already noticed the scratch on the back of his hand.


    Though it wasn¡¯t very obvious, she was so close to him that it was hard not to notice.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slowly, her gaze meeting Song Sinian¡¯s.


    Had Song Sinian been in a fight?


    Her suspicious glance sharpened, and the latter guiltily avoided her eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao initially wanted to press for answers, but seeing the wound on his hand, she ultimately compromised.


    ¡°Let¡¯s treat the wound on your hand first.¡±


    She led Song Sinian to sit on the sofa and fetched disinfectant and ointment from the drawer.


    Lu Zhaozhao carefully applied the medicine to Song Sinian but never asked how he got hurt.


    She knew Song Sinian¡¯s temperament; even if she asked, he might not necessarily tell her.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°In the future, don¡¯t fight yourself. Small injuries are still okay, but if you get seriously injured, I will be heartbroken, you know?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes flickered, his uneasy gaze fixed on her, seemingly trying to discern whether her words were sincere.


    Lu Zhaozhao was almost amused to laughter by Song Sinian.


    This guy goes to fight, doesn¡¯t tell her, and now when she isn¡¯t angry, he actually can¡¯t believe it?


    Angrily, she pressed the cotton swab on the wound on the back of his hand a couple of times, but didn¡¯t put much strength into it.


    How could Song Sinian not see through her?


    Seeing her puff her cheeks in indignation, his heart softened, and he really didn¡¯t understand how Mr. and Mrs. Lu could bear to treat her so poorly.


    Didn¡¯t they know how good she was?


    No, they knew.


    It was precisely because they knew that they cruelly exploited her, because she was not their own daughter, they didn¡¯t feel any pain using her!


    Song Sinian thought about those two pieces of trash and felt that he had been too lenient just now.


    If it weren¡¯t for his principle of not hitting women, he wouldn¡¯t have let Cao Mei off so easily either!


    The harm Lu Zhaozhao suffered in the Lu family, even dying a hundred times wouldn¡¯t be enough to erase.


    The more Song Sinian thought about it, the more his heart ached when his gaze fell upon Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face.


    He couldn¡¯t even care about the wound on his hand, he reached out and embraced Lu Zhaozhao tightly in his arms.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought he was cuddling because he was angry with her, so that little bit of irritation that had just bubbled up inside her disappeared in an instant.


    There was no helping it, their Mr. Song from the Song family was just too endearing.


    She simply couldn¡¯t resist.


    Her small hands wrapped around his waist, gently patting his back from time to time, she muttered, ¡°Our Mr. Song is all grown up now, even starting to have a rebellious phase...¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, listening to the teasing of the person in his embrace, he lowered his head and nibbled on the tip of her ear.


    Lu Zhaozhao shuddered instinctively and retracted her neck, but Song Sinian held her tightly, making it impossible for her to escape.


    His nose brushed against her earlobe, his voice low and enticing, ¡°You¡¯re the one who knows best whether I¡¯ve grown up or not, right?¡±


    !!!


    Good heavens, she inwardly exclaimed.


    She missed the old Mr. Song who would turn red at the ears from a simple flirtation!


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could lift her little hand to hit him a few times to show her dissatisfaction, Song Sinian¡¯s lips were already upon hers.


    Soft and small, enveloped entirely by his breath, it made his whole heart soften.


    His lips slowly savored hers, gradually intensifying, a bit forceful yet very tender.


    His stubbornness held her captive in his arms, his possessive intimacy left her defenseless, willingly plunging deep into it.


    After a while, Song Sinian slowly released the person in his arms.


    His gaze fell upon her moist, reddened little mouth, darkening his eyes, his large hand gently stroked it.


    He lowered his head, about to kiss her again...


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    The ringtone from the phone unexpectedly sounded in the living room, startling Lu Zhaozhao and significantly dissipating the intimate atmosphere between them.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the name on the phone and felt a moment of relief in her heart.


    It wasn¡¯t even night yet, and if Song Sinian tangled up with her now, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get out of bed tomorrow.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand directly pinched Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, smilingly said, ¡°I¡¯ll take a call, you wait here for a bit, then get ready for dinner.¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, watching the sly look in her eyes, he exhaled helplessly, and ultimately had to let the little rascal go.


    After all, she was at home, waiting a bit longer wasn¡¯t out of the question...


    Lu Zhaozhao, unaware of Song Sinian¡¯s thoughts, took the phone and ¡°thump thump thump¡± ran up to the second floor.


    She casually answered the call, and immediately Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Zhaozhao, are you... okay?¡±


    She had wanted to go directly to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s house to find her, but now that she was a celebrity, her schedule was busy with filming, shooting magazines, and advertisements; she might not be at home.


    So Xu Zhenzhen pondered and ended up giving her a call.


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly taken aback, then, thinking of the recent trending searches, she understood what Xu Zhenzhen was worried about.


    Especially since she hadn¡¯t been back for long, those revelations the Xia family had spilled were all connected to her time in the Lu family...

 Chapter 358: 356: Its Settled Then!

    Chapter 358: Chapter 356: It¡¯s Settled Then!


    Normal people would feel pain, but she was different; she had already experienced it once.


    Although the harm still stung her, it gradually subsided because of the love people around her showed.


    She knew her hardships were not because she was lacking in some way, but because the bad people were too evil.


    They used their relationship with her to suppress and belittle her, stopping at nothing for their own gain.


    Yet, they had the nerve to blame her.


    This twisted relationship had ended as soon as she came back from rebirth.


    Lu Dagui and Cao Mei still wanted to use her to fight for things that didn¡¯t belong to them for Xia Wenjin¡¯s sake, but in this life, it was impossible.


    She took a deep breath, her tone light, ¡°I¡¯m fine, these things happened before, they¡¯ve just recently come to light.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t see Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression, but knowing Lu Zhaozhao, these matters were probably not as easy as she made them sound.


    The people who raised her for 20 years, turning against her.


    The thought alone was chilling.


    Lu Zhaozhao was such an emotional person, she had likely been deeply hurt at the time.


    She was silent for a moment, then slowly said, ¡°Zhaozhao, whenever you feel unhappy, just call me. I can...¡±


    She thought long and hard, but couldn¡¯t come up with any good solutions.


    ¡°I can accompany you to eat, drink, and shop, to make you feel a bit better, I don¡¯t know what else I can do.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was almost amused by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words.


    What kind of straightforward comfort technique was this?


    In her previous life, she had spent time with Xu Zhenzhen, who had always talked and acted this way.


    Whenever they went out, it was either to eat, drink, or shop. If Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t left for abroad, she might have endured longer.


    Or she might have chosen a more drastic way to avenge Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao, recalling her previous life, suddenly thought of something, ¡°Zhenzhen, if you really want to cheer me up, I do have a good idea?¡±


    ¡°What idea?¡± Xu Zhenzhen perked up instantly. ¡°As long as I can do it, I¡¯ll give it my all!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cunning eyes narrowed, ¡°I remember you went to pick out an evening gown with someone before. How far have you progressed with him?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Silence fell on the other end of the phone, as expected.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately pretended to sigh, ¡°I¡¯m emotionally hurt right now, and I just want to ease my mind by hearing some of my best friend¡¯s romantic gossip...¡±


    ¡°So how did I end up with such an unethical best friend?¡± Xu Zhenzhen also caught the teasing tone in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    Sensing her mood wasn¡¯t as bad as she thought, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s tone also relaxed significantly.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, but still didn¡¯t forget to press Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Maybe in our last life you lacked a lot of virtue, so this life you ended up with an unethical best friend like me. Come on, tell me how far things have gone between you two. Can I consider him a potential brother-in-law?¡±


    Although Xu Zhenzhen wasn¡¯t much older than her, addressing him that way was definitely appropriate.


    Xu Zhenzhen sighed lightly, not sure how to explain it to Lu Zhaozhao.


    After all, the person she was crushing on was her brother.


    Lu Zhaozhao considered her a best friend, and she wanted to be her sister-in-law.


    Xu Zhenzhen massaged her temples with a bit of a headache, pondered for a long time, and began hesitantly, ¡°We haven¡¯t made any progress yet. Although I like him, he doesn¡¯t like me, and... he has a ¡®white moonlight¡¯ in his heart.¡±


    ¡°White moonlight?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised, ¡°Did he tell you that himself? He has a ¡®white moonlight¡¯?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen paused suddenly upon hearing this.


    It seems that isn¡¯t the case.


    Previously, when they were abroad, she always felt that Xia Wenqing¡¯s attitude towards that woman was different from his attitude towards others.


    But they still haven¡¯t gotten together till now.


    Could it be that she was overthinking?


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips, ¡°He never said anything.¡±


    At this, Lu Zhaozhao finally breathed a sigh of relief. If the other party openly admitted to having a ¡°white moonlight,¡± she would definitely urge Xu Zhenzhen to back off immediately.


    These types of guys who use deep affection to hook up with women are mostly jerks.


    ¡°Since he hasn¡¯t mentioned it, whether there¡¯s a ¡®white moonlight¡¯ or not doesn¡¯t matter anymore, what¡¯s important is his attitude towards you,¡± Lu Zhaozhao thought about her previous misunderstanding with Song Sinian, which was because they considered too much and didn¡¯t lay their cards on the table.


    Otherwise, in their past life, they both wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a tragic mess.


    With that in mind, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze grew even more resolute, ¡°Zhenzhen, if you feel like he might be interested in you as well, just take the initiative and confess! The worst that could happen is getting rejected, which is way better than suffering from suspicions all day. Besides, three-legged frogs are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere!¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªhahaha...¡± Xu Zhenzhen was amused by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    Before she could even speak, Lu Zhaozhao continued, ¡°If the guy you confess to really doesn¡¯t appreciate it, I¡¯ll introduce you to some quality men later!¡±


    Upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s nose suddenly felt a bit sour.


    She had originally called to comfort Lu Zhaozhao, but unexpectedly, she ended up being the one comforted.


    Yet Xu Zhenzhen did feel much more relaxed.


    Laughing lightly, she joked, ¡°Well, if I really do have a heartbreak, I¡¯ll rely on you to introduce quality men to support me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hurriedly assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry, if you can¡¯t get married, just come to my house and be my sister-in-law. My big brother, second brother, third brother¡ªall bachelors!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Oh my.


    She exclaimed ¡°oh my.¡±


    She had been previously worried that Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t accept the fact that her best friend wanted to be her sister-in-law.


    Now... it seems like there¡¯s no pressure at all.


    But hearing Lu Zhaozhao mention introducing her to her big brother, second brother, and third brother.


    Does that mean Xia Wenqing doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend right now?


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly got excited, ¡°Then that¡¯s settled!¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Xu Zhenzhen completely relaxed.


    She was planning to go back to the hotel¡¯s private room just now when a familiar voice sounded, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was stunned, turned back to look at Xia Wenqing who appeared behind her, her lips suddenly curled up and her eyes carried a relaxed smile as she said, ¡°I just called Zhaozhao for a chat.¡±


    Her voice was gentle, but it carried a pleasant tone.


    It had been a long time since Xia Wenqing had seen Xu Zhenzhen with this expression, and his mood relaxed along with hers.


    Even his gaze toward Xu Zhenzhen softened significantly, ¡°Really? Is she alright now?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s situation was clearer to him than anyone.


    After all, during the Xia family and Xia Wenjin¡¯s battle, all the big exposures were approved by Lu Zhaozhao.


    They had been worried about Lu Zhaozhao being affected, so they had Song Sinian keep an eye on her situation...

 Chapter 359: 357: Boys Should Also Protect Themselves When Outside

    Chapter 359: Chapter 357: Boys Should Also Protect Themselves When Outside


    So how could he not know?


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly, he sighed silently at the bottom of his heart, just wanting to find more common topics with this young woman.


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yeah! She¡¯s doing... pretty well now, not too greatly affected.¡±


    When she said this, she actually felt a twinge of heartache for Lu Zhaozhao.


    But thankfully, Lu Zhaozhao had left those scumbags behind and met better parents, a brother, and a husband.


    It was like another form of compensation from heaven for her.


    Thinking of this, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly thought of something and looked at Xia Wenqing to ask, ¡°Second Brother, how come you¡¯re out here? The client...¡±


    Xia Wenqing shook his head, ¡°The few I met today can really drink, I drank a bit too much and came out for a cigarette.¡±


    He indeed drank a lot, but going out for a smoke was just an excuse.


    He saw Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t returned for a while and was worried she might encounter trouble as a girl alone outside.


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, ¡°Then... Second Brother, have you finished your cigarette?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s done. If you¡¯re heading back, I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s tone was indifferent, revealing none of his emotions.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen followed Xia Wenqing, one behind the other, back to the gathering.


    Since the client had a good relationship with Xia Wenqing, they poured him a lot more alcohol when they returned.


    By the time Xu Zhenzhen was escorting Xia Wenqing back to the hotel, he was quite unsteady on his feet.


    Xu Zhenzhen had no choice but to muster her courage and support Xia Wenqing towards the hotel room.


    Her cheeks were flushed, and her heart was racing rapidly, like beating drums.


    This was probably the closest they had ever been in each other¡¯s company.


    With every breath Xu Zhenzhen took, she could smell the unique scent of pine on Xia Wenqing.


    Due to her height, his head was nearly resting on her shoulder.


    All Xu Zhenzhen needed to do was tilt her head, and she could have close contact with him.


    It wasn¡¯t that she hadn¡¯t thought about it.


    But she dared not.


    When she was abroad, she had even dreamt that Xia Wenqing passionately kissed her.


    The kiss left her weak in the knees and her heart pounding.


    The very thought made her face turn scarlet.


    The hand on Xia Wenqing¡¯s back tightened.


    The man leaning on her shoulder suddenly let out a groan, the warm breath mixed with alcohol brushing against her ear made Xu Zhenzhen shiver uncontrollably.


    Xu Zhenzhen stiffened for a moment, her head turned slightly as she glanced at Xia Wenqing leaning against her, feeling even more nervous.


    She thought if she didn¡¯t hurry, she might commit a crime...


    Fortunately, Xia Wenqing¡¯s room was not far, so she quickly found the hotel room.


    Swipe the card, insert it, lift her foot to close the door, and drop him on the sofa¡ªall in one smooth motion.


    Exhausted, she sat down at Xia Wenqing¡¯s feet and patted his knee, ¡°Second Brother, get some rest early; I¡¯m heading back.¡±


    Xia Wenqing slowly opened his eyes, seeing Xu Zhenzhen before him, and nodded gently, ¡°You should rest early too.¡±


    After saying this, he seemed to regain some lucidity, but his gaze was still vacant, he looked... well, quite vulnerable.


    This idea flashed through Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mind and was quickly dismissed.


    Indeed, boys also need to learn to protect themselves when they¡¯re out.


    Xia Wenqing was already handsome; now drunk like this, he looked very... pushover-able.


    It seemed she would have to give him a subtle reminder one of these days.


    So careless, is that really okay?


    Xu Zhenzhen sighed in her heart and scurried out of the room.


    Xia Wenqing watched Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s retreating figure, frowning slightly. Eventually, he propped himself up and made his way to the bathroom.


    He hadn¡¯t drunk this much alcohol in a long time.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to get this drunk.


    He tugged at his shirt collar and headed straight for the shower.


    Meanwhile, Xu Zhenzhen had just reached her room when she froze.


    Her room card... seemed to be with Xia Wenqing.


    Xu Zhenzhen remembered that she had hung her purse on him to support Xia Wenqing.


    Now, her belongings were left in Xia Wenqing¡¯s room.


    After a moment of struggle, Xu Zhenzhen braced herself and returned to Xia Wenqing¡¯s room.


    She was about to knock when she found that the door was not closed at all.


    ¡°Uh... Wenqing? My room card is in your room, I...¡± Xu Zhenzhen pushed open the door to check and found Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t there.


    She knocked again, but there was still no response, so she had no choice but to walk in.


    In case Xia Wenqing was asleep in the room, she couldn¡¯t just sleep in the lobby, could she?


    With that thought, she headed straight for the sofa where she had been before, not noticing Xia Wenqing¡¯s figure.


    Maybe he was asleep?


    Xu Zhenzhen thought as she searched for her purse by the sofa.


    Suddenly, she heard the bathroom door behind her click.


    Xu Zhenzhen jumped, and the purse she had just picked up dropped to the floor again.


    ¡°I...¡±


    She opened her mouth, but the words she meant to say suddenly got stuck.


    That was because Xia Wenqing was wrapped in just a towel, with droplets of water still on his upper body. It seemed he had just come out of the shower.


    Xu Zhenzhen had only known that Xia Wenqing looked good in clothes, but she had never imagined his physique would be so impressive.


    The classic type that seems thin clothed but reveals well-built features once disrobed.


    Xu Zhenzhen intended to restrain herself, but she couldn¡¯t control her own eyes.


    Xia Wenqing was already her type, and now, shirtless and dripping, her ability to sit there calmly, without choosing to rush over and pounce on Xia Wenqing, was already a stroke of luck.


    Suddenly, Xia Wenqing seemed to notice her presence. His gaze swept over her, then he grabbed a towel from a nearby cabinet and began to dry himself.


    As if... he didn¡¯t care at all that Xu Zhenzhen was there.


    This strange behavior left Xu Zhenzhen a bit stupefied.


    But what she didn¡¯t know was that Xia Wenqing¡¯s mind was also in turmoil.


    He had drunk quite a bit, and before coming back to the hotel room, he had been holding his breath deep down, determined not to embarrass himself in front of Xu Zhenzhen, which was why he managed to make it back to his room.


    So when Xu Zhenzhen left and closed the door behind her, his mind completely relaxed.


    Even his reactions were half a beat slower than usual.


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen seated on the sofa just startled him for a moment, but considering Xu Zhenzhen had already left, the ¡°person¡± sitting on the sofa couldn¡¯t possibly be her.


    It seemed he really did drink too much today.


    He hadn¡¯t experienced such vivid hallucinations in a long time.


    When Xu Zhenzhen had just disappeared from his sight, he often saw hallucinations of her appearing before him due to lack of rest.


    Even after taking sleeping pills later on, the hallucinations would still occur from time to time.


    To the point where now, seeing Xu Zhenzhen every day, he still felt a sense of panic that he couldn¡¯t grasp or keep her...

 Chapter 360: 358: Is She Actually Going to Confess?!

    Chapter 360: Chapter 358: Is She Actually Going to Confess?!


    Xia Wenqing thought as much, and her heart clenched again.


    She wiped her head with the towel and looked back at Xu Zhenzhen to find that she was still sitting there.


    His brow furrowed, and the next second he walked straight over to her.


    Xu Zhenzhen watched as Xia Wenqing approached, starting to feel nervous, ¡°Sec... Second Brother, I, I... Ah!¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Xia Wenqing, who had lowered his head, blocked her words with a light press of his lips.


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s soul practically flew out of her body.


    What was happening???


    Her head was held in place by Xia Wenqing; thus, she could only stand idly as he kissed her.


    She responded as cautiously as she could, but then he suddenly stopped.


    Now Xu Zhenzhen was even more confused.


    Did she do something wrong?


    She practically had no experience in this area; if any... it was only practicing with Xia Wenqing in dreams.


    She lacked any real experience.


    Xia Wenqing gave Xu Zhenzhen a glance, then suddenly chuckled, raised his hand, and swept her off her feet into a horizontal carry.


    Having had quite a bit to drink, Xia Wenqing was somewhat unsteady as he held Xu Zhenzhen.


    His hands were not gentle at all.


    By the time Xu Zhenzhen realized it, she had been tossed onto the bed by Xia Wenqing.


    She felt momentarily dizzy, and then Xia Wenqing¡¯s tall figure loomed over her.


    Xu Zhenzhen panicked completely.


    ¡°Sec... Second Brother, don¡¯t be impulsive, I...¡±


    I¡¯m Xu Zhenzhen, for God¡¯s sake!


    If it weren¡¯t for that tiny bit of reason left, aware that Xia Wenqing was drunk, she would have wished to flip over with a carp jump and take matters into her own hands!


    This man was truly challenging her moral boundaries.


    It was as if Xia Wenqing hadn¡¯t heard what she said, as he bent down to press his lips against her again, this time not on her lips but on her fair neck.


    His fingertips firmly clasped the nape of her neck, beneath them the robust, thrumming pulse that caused his own heart to race wildly.


    The fixation of so long seemed to manifest into reality today, and Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but be lost in it.


    Her neck was as beautiful as he remembered: soft and vulnerable, irresistibly inviting him to do more.


    ¡°Hisss...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly gasped from the chill, realizing that Xia Wenqing had bitten her.


    She looked at Xia Wenqing almost in shock, never having expected that such a stern and refined man in private would have such a repressed desire?!


    Her neck was already sensitive, and as Xia Wenqing both nibbled and sucked on it, she felt tingles on her scalp.


    Her limbs went weak.


    For an instant, she felt an impulse to just lie there and let him do as he pleased.


    ¡°Why are you being so obedient today?¡± Suddenly, a deep voice rang in her ears, startling Xu Zhenzhen back to her senses.


    Her eyes widened considerably, and as she looked at Xia Wenqing and opened her mouth to speak, his lips came down upon hers again.


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly and instead hugged her tightly as he lay down on the bed, ¡°I had a bit too much to drink today, so just be good and let me hold you while we sleep.¡±


    Saying this, he nuzzled into the crook of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s neck, found a comfortable position, and settled down.


    Xu Zhenzhen was rigid on the spot.


    What is he talking about?


    Is he mistaking her for someone else?


    Xia Wenqing had never spoken to her so gently, let alone hugged and kissed her.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s initially surging emotions were instantly doused with cold water, chilling her to the bone.


    She had previously dwelled on the words Lu Zhaozhao said, wanting to find a time to confess her feelings to Xia Wenqing face-to-face, but now it seemed he already had someone he liked...


    She had no chance.


    The more Xu Zhenzhen thought about it, the more stifled she felt. Just as she tried to struggle out of Xia Wenqing¡¯s embrace, she felt the person behind her hug her even tighter.


    Xu Zhenzhen was gently patted by his large hand, and her heart sank even deeper.


    Forget it, she¡¯d leave after he fell asleep.


    The next day, Xia Wenqing woke up almost at noon.


    He raised his hand to press his temples, remembering he drank quite a bit last night, but he couldn¡¯t recall anything that happened afterward.


    Xia Wenqing was still suffering from a hangover, his head pounding fiercely. He subconsciously picked up his phone to check the time and saw a message from Xu Zhenzhen.


    It was sent at 6 a.m.


    [A buddy of mine came to Shangjing, I¡¯m going to help out, I¡¯ll need to take a two-day leave.]


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s brows raised slightly, feeling somewhat displeased.


    He was so drunk at the hotel, and this heartless person actually went to meet some friend.


    Was her friend a man or a woman?


    Why did she need two days to meet a friend?


    Xia Wenqing really wanted to ask Xu Zhenzhen for clarity, but his current status didn¡¯t entitle him to inquire about these matters.


    He couldn¡¯t help but sigh, suddenly thinking of something.


    So he immediately picked up his phone and dialed Lu Zhaozhao.


    Soon, he heard her soft voice on the other end, ¡°Hello? Big brother Wenqing?¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice, Xia Wenqing felt his headache lighten considerably.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you haven¡¯t been harassed by Xia Wenjin lately, have you?¡±


    He slowly stood up, walked to the room divider in his pajama robe, and poured himself a cup of coffee.


    Lu Zhaozhao responded, ¡°No, these days Xia Wenjin probably has his hands full and doesn¡¯t have time to bother me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s hand slowly stirred the coffee with a spoon before he switched topics to Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Zhaozhao, if I remember correctly, Xu Zhenzhen is your best friend, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly paused, becoming a bit nervous, ¡°Did she encounter any problems at the law firm?¡±


    She remembered urging her just yesterday to bravely charge forward; she couldn¡¯t have run into a wall, could she?


    Xia Wenqing pursed his lips, trying to sound indifferent, ¡°She suddenly asked for a two-day leave, saying she was meeting a friend. Do you know who it is? Since she¡¯s close to you, it could be troublesome if something happened...¡±


    His hesitant words made Lu Zhaozhao suddenly anxious, ¡°Zhenzhen has someone she likes recently, she¡¯s probably... going to confess?¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao spoke, she added, ¡°Big brother Wenqing, if Zhenzhen comes back and is in a bad mood, you must pay attention to her and make sure she doesn¡¯t get any bad ideas. Of course, if it went well, then you don¡¯t have to worry about her...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart suddenly sank.


    He had never dreamed that Xu Zhenzhen had someone she liked right under his nose.


    And to make matters worse, she was actually going to confess?!


    He was completely thrown.


    Right now, he could hardly wait to drag Xu Zhenzhen back!


    Confess what?!


    Xia Wenqing tried to calm himself down before continuing, ¡°Then do you know who she likes? Or what kind of job he has, so I can be prepared...¡±

 Chapter 361: 359 I just think... you did a great job

    Chapter 361: Chapter 359 I just think... you did a great job


    Lu Zhaozhao on the other line was clearly silent for a while before she spoke up again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either, she¡¯s kept it very tight this time. How about I ask her when she comes back? Big Brother, just relax for now; who knows, maybe if her confession is successful, she¡¯ll be even more diligent at work?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words of comfort did nothing to console him.


    On the contrary, they stung his heart even more.


    Xia Wenqing took a deep breath and it took him a long while to calm down before replying, ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll handle this.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you, big brother~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao hung up the phone, Song Sinian came over and hugged her from behind the sofa.


    He affectionately nuzzled her neck and murmured, ¡°Who were you talking to?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao reached up to rub Song Sinian¡¯s head and casually replied, ¡°My big brother. He was telling me Zhenzhen took a day off, so he was asking about her situation.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen with Xu Zhenzhen?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face slightly turned to look at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Normally, he hardly ever inquired about other people¡¯s business.


    But Xu Zhenzhen was someone he had paid to hire; if something really had happened, it would end up affecting Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t notice the abnormality in Song Sinian, merely replying indifferently, ¡°She called me yesterday and mentioned that she likes someone, but there hasn¡¯t been any progress, so I supported her to confess. Then... then my big brother called me, saying Zhenzhen had taken the day off, asking where she went.¡±


    Song Sinian seemed to realize something; the corners of his mouth silently curved up, ¡°So you told your big brother what you and Xu Zhenzhen talked about yesterday?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, but then saw that Song Sinian quietly buried his head in her neck.


    For some reason, she always felt like Song Sinian was... smiling.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head suspiciously to look at Song Sinian, pushing his head with her hand, and muttered discontentedly, ¡°Mr. Song, do you know something I don¡¯t?¡±


    When Song Sinian raised his head again, his expression had returned to its usual calmness.


    He gently shook his head, ¡°No, I just think... you did well.¡±


    He had previously heard from Zhao Xi that Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing might like each other.


    Although he didn¡¯t know what exactly happened between Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing when they went out yesterday, he was certain that what Lu Zhaozhao had just said could serve as a catalyst for their feelings.


    As for who would break through that barrier first, it depended on who was more anxious.


    Anyway, neither of them should have time to fight him for his wife now.


    He was very satisfied.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted, always feeling like there was a hidden message in Song Sinian¡¯s words.


    She was about to continue questioning, but Song Sinian changed the subject directly, ¡°Xia Wenjue has a birthday this weekend, do you know?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Zhaozhao was confused.


    She shook her head directly, ¡°How do you... ¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words stopped there, as if something occurred to her.


    The Xia Family had investigated her as soon as they made contact, so it didn¡¯t seem surprising that Song Sinian knew Xia Wenjue¡¯s birthday.


    Song Sinian gently pinched her cheek and then said, ¡°Later, you call Grandpa and tell him we¡¯re going to the Xia family this weekend, so we won¡¯t be back for dinner.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, her little head nuzzling into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, questioning in puzzlement, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more appropriate for you to talk to Grandpa?¡±


    Song Sinian shrugged, ¡°If I make the call, he would certainly get on the phone and scold me for being undutiful. I¡¯m scared.¡±


    Scared my ass.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought of how he behaved every time they went to the Song Mansion for dinner together, and she couldn¡¯t help but get a headache.


    Clearly, every time he managed to make old Master Song so angry he¡¯d jump with rage, and now he had the nerve to say he was scared?


    Recently, Song Sinian¡¯s visits with her to the Song Mansion had become much more frequent, and the exchanges between Song Sinian and Mr. Song grew more direct.


    Their current relationship resembled that of puberty crashing into menopause, with meals full of sparks and lightning.


    But strangely enough, old Master Song seemed to enjoy it.


    And she was at her wit¡¯s end with these two.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed softly and, after rubbing Song Sinian¡¯s head, resigned herself to make the phone call...


    Xu Zhenzhen took two days off and didn¡¯t see Xia Wenqing when she returned to the office of the Legal Department at the Song Group.


    She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and went straight to Song Sinian¡¯s office.


    She had to give Song Sinian an explanation for taking off spontaneously these past two days.


    Even though she had already requested time off in advance from Zhao Xi and Xia Wenqing.


    But still, she felt somewhat uneasy.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen had just knocked on the office door when it was opened from the inside.


    ¡°Zhenzhen? What are you doing here? What a coincidence!¡±


    A familiar voice came through, sending a chill down Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s spine.


    She stared incredulously at the source of the voice, just in time to see a woman wearing the latest white professional suit from Chanel standing inside the office.


    Her wavy long hair fell gracefully beside her ears.


    Yes, gracefully.


    A word that would never be associated with her in this lifetime.


    Her eyes lowered, and then she put on a smile to look at Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°Indeed, quite a coincidence. I¡¯m actually doing an internship at the Song Group right now.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen seemed a bit surprised, ¡°Oh, is that so? I just came here to discuss business and didn¡¯t expect to bump into you and Wenqing. What a small world.¡±


    Saying this, she winked at Xia Wenqing, ¡°Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Her affectionate demeanor made Zhao Xi, standing on the side, furrow his brows.


    This woman was clearly Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s rival, and in times like these, he had to side with his own people.


    He cleared his throat, ¡°Excuse me for interrupting the pleasantries, but our Mr. Song has already made things very clear about the contract. If there are no issues, Ms. Liu, you can sign here.¡±


    Zhao Xi said this, his gaze casually sweeping over Xu Zhenzhen, giving her a look.


    Xu Zhenzhen had just regained her composure when she realized something.


    She hurriedly stood beside Zhao Xi, putting distance between herself and Liu Xiaozhen.


    The corners of Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s brows twitched slightly; seeing that Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t speak, she maintained her elegant smile.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll sign right now.¡± She said, and picked up the pen from the desk and wrote her name on the document.


    Afterward, she looked up at Xia Wenqing with a beaming smile, ¡°So... old classmate, pleasure doing business with you.¡±


    Xia Wenqing nodded at Liu Xiaozhen, yet he still said nothing.


    Because from the very start, all his attention had been focused on Xu Zhenzhen.


    He hadn¡¯t seen her for two days, she wouldn¡¯t answer his calls, she wouldn¡¯t reply to his texts.


    And what was even more infuriating was... the band-aid on her neck!


    There were only so many ways one could get hurt on the neck, and the only reason to put a band-aid there was to cover up a love bite...

 Chapter 362: 360: Just Lock It Down Directly

    Chapter 362: Chapter 360: Just Lock It Down Directly


    Xia Wenqing only had to think about this, and he felt like he was going to explode right there, let alone think calmly.


    Song Sinian sat at his desk, looking at the situation in front of him, and for the first time, he felt the other senses that emotions could evoke.


    Xia Wenqing was usually more old-fashioned than his grandfather, but now he was about to derail, and his expression was truly spectacular.


    Especially when he saw the band-aid on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s neck, his face became even brighter.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips tapped lightly on the desk. So... how much longer could he hold back?


    Why not add more fuel to the fire?


    His dark eyes blinked slowly, and he slowly spoke, ¡°Lawyer Xia, Lawyer Liu, the rest of the matters can be discussed in the Legal Department.¡±


    Song Sinian had flat-out issued an eviction order, and he had tied Liu Xiaozhen and Xia Wenqing together in doing so.


    Now Xia Wenqing¡¯s complexion turned even uglier.


    He took a deep breath in his heart, only then did he pretend to be calm as he looked at the silhouette standing behind Zhao Xi and said, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen, come to my office later to organize the materials.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t even lift her eyelids, and directly replied, ¡°I got it, Lawyer Xia.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lawyer Xia?


    Good, very good!


    He took two days off, and even the way he was addressed had changed!


    Xia Wenqing clenched his fists angrily and strode straight out of Song Sinian¡¯s office.


    Now, only Song Sinian, Xu Zhenzhen, and Zhao Xi remained in the room.


    Without Liu Xiaozhen and Xia Wenqing there, Xu Zhenzhen relaxed completely.


    She sat directly on the office sofa, utterly in the state of one who had just survived a calamity.


    Zhao Xi and Song Sinian exchanged a glance, and then Zhao Xi began, ¡°Zhenzhen, that Liu Xiaozhen just now, do you know her?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded her head, ¡°More than just know, she was my senior at a school abroad.¡±


    And she was Xia Wenqing¡¯s unattainable love.


    It was said Xia Wenqing had remained single all this time because of her.


    She had seen Xia Wenqing alone in the country, not with Liu Xiaozhen, and thought that he had given up on Liu because he had come back home.


    Now it seemed she had thought too much.


    Xu Zhenzhen thought about Xia Wenqing¡¯s tender demeanor when he was drunk¡ªhad he mistaken her for Liu Xiaozhen then?


    She remembered that back when she was still in school, Xia Wenqing and Liu Xiaozhen already had a very ambiguous relationship.


    After she left, they must have gotten together, right?


    So if they really had been together, did Xia Wenqing return because he had broken up with Liu Xiaozhen?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows furrowed.


    The relationship between the two of them was indeed enough to give her a headache.


    Forget it, don¡¯t think about it anymore.


    Zhao Xi narrowed his eyes, looking at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s demeanor, and couldn¡¯t help but pry further, ¡°Liu Xiaozhen is a proxy lawyer for the Song Family¡¯s side branch, and she¡¯ll often be interacting with the Song Family¡¯s Legal Department in the future. Do you have a problem with that?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen thought Zhao Xi was talking about work-related issues, so she nodded her head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m a professional.¡±


    And Liu Xiaozhen was very professional too; there should be no problems in terms of work.


    It was just thinking about the loving times Liu Xiaozhen and Xia Wenqing had shared together that made her heart feel a bit congested.


    Thinking of this, Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath, only then did she bring up the earlier matter, ¡°About me taking leave the other day...¡±


    As she said this, she unconsciously touched her neck.


    But just as she touched the band-aid on her neck, she started to feel guilty again.


    Fortunately, Zhao Xi spoke up in a timely manner, ¡°Sir is already aware of this, and lately madam has been spending more time with sir, so there isn¡¯t much she needs, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Back in school, Song Sinian was worried someone might bully Lu Zhaozhao, which is why he had Xu Zhenzhen stay close to protect her at school.


    Now with Lu Zhaozhao on the film set with Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai watching over her, and spending time with their sir after shooting, there naturally was no need for Xu Zhenzhen to play the bodyguard anymore.


    Especially after their sir found out that Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing might have feelings for each other, he couldn¡¯t wait to lock them both up.


    How could he possibly be unhappy about it?


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Zhao Xi, I bit incredulous, then turned her head to look at Song Sinian.


    It seemed she couldn¡¯t believe her ears.


    ¡°You¡¯re Zhaozhao¡¯s friend, and she said you might have been in a foul mood recently, so I should ease up on you a bit at work,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, calm and undisturbed, fixed on Xu Zhenzhen.


    He was not exactly lying.


    Lu Zhaozhao indeed said those words, but they were meant for Xia Wenqing.


    But seeing Xia Wenqing¡¯s demeanor just now, he knew the man hadn¡¯t taken it to heart.


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen almost teared up.


    Indeed, Lu Zhaozhao is like her half-sister from a different father!


    Otherwise, Song Sinian, this skinflint, would never show her such a good attitude.


    Ah...


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh in her heart before slowly standing up from the sofa, ¡°Then, since that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll head back to the Legal Department now. If Zhaozhao needs anything, I¡¯ll be there any time.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The office door rang again, and Zhao Xi looked at Song Sinian with a bit of concern, ¡°Sir, that Liu Xiaozhen seems a bit strange.¡±


    She appeared to be quite close to Xu Zhenzhen, yet there was no trace of joy on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face.


    In fact... there was some resistance.


    And watching Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s enthusiasm towards Xia Wenqing, it was clear what she was thinking.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°It¡¯s better for her to be strange than not. If she wasn¡¯t strange, she¡¯d be of no use.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t care less about whatever stories the three of them had overseas.


    What concerned him was what kind of story Liu Xiaozhen could stir up here.


    Zhao Xi, slightly exasperated, pursed his lips and asked Song Sinian cautiously, ¡°Then... sir, should we keep pairing Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing together for their work?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Mm, just lock it down.¡±


    Upon saying that, Song Sinian added, ¡°Throw in that catfish too.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Zhao Xi was momentarily stunned, but soon understood Song Sinian¡¯s intention.


    The catfish he was referring to was Liu Xiaozhen.


    Whether the situation between Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing could be stirred up seemed to depend on this catfish, Liu Xiaozhen.


    It was uncertain whether their sir¡¯s decision was for the better or worse...


    Meanwhile, Xia Wenqing and Liu Xiaozhen were one after the other coming downstairs.


    ¡°Wenqing, why don¡¯t we get a cup of coffee and chat?¡± Liu Xiaozhen laughed lightly, then added, ¡°I saw Zhenzhen heading to the president¡¯s office; she probably has a lot to talk about...¡±


    Mentioning Xu Zhenzhen, Xia Wenqing¡¯s brows instantly furrowed even tighter.


    Indeed, he still cared so much for Xu Zhenzhen. It was the same overseas. She had thought after Xu Zhenzhen left, she might have a chance with him.


    Little did she expect that after finding out Xu Zhenzhen had disappeared, he became like a madman.


    Eventually, he regained some composure, but he became even more unreachable than before...

 Chapter 363: 361: People of Two Worlds

    Chapter 363: Chapter 361: People of Two Worlds


    She thought that as long as enough time passed, Xia Wenqing would forget Xu Zhenzhen, so she worked hard to expand the overseas business domestically just to create opportunities to be together with Xia Wenqing.


    She had heard that Xia Wenqing returned to the country because of his sister.


    So she had been working desperately, believing that as long as she worked hard enough and could be as excellent as him, she would not lose to a Xu Zhenzhen.


    Unexpectedly, she had encountered Xu Zhenzhen.


    This woman really was like a lingering spirit.


    Liu Xiaozhen clenched her fists and took a deep breath.


    But it didn¡¯t matter, it definitely wouldn¡¯t be the same this time, she wouldn¡¯t fail again...


    Xia Wenqing originally didn¡¯t want to agree to Liu Xiaozhen, but thinking about Xu Zhenzhen still being in Song Sinian¡¯s office, he really didn¡¯t know when she would come back.


    He simply went downstairs to also get her a cappuccino, giving him a reason to keep her in the office.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenqing nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s go to the cafe.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s lips curled up, and she immediately followed behind Xia Wenqing.


    Below the Song Group Tower was a bustling commercial street.


    The cafe was located on the first floor, a very large place, with simple decor yet extraordinarily comfortable and cozy.


    Liu Xiaozhen looked at the sun outside the window, then at Xia Wenqing, and tentatively said, ¡°Wenqing, you¡¯ve been in China for quite some time, do you have a WeChat account? It would be convenient for me to contact you since we¡¯ll be colleagues in the future. Besides the phone, we should have some other convenient way to keep in touch, surely we can¡¯t just send emails to reach you?¡±


    Ever since Xia Wenqing had come to China, she had lost his contact information.


    Fortunately, she had heard about Xia Wenqing¡¯s whereabouts from other friends and followed him to China.


    Otherwise, it would have been really difficult to get his contact information casually.


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Liu Xiaozhen, thought seriously for a moment, then took out his cellphone and placed it on the table, ¡°This is the WeChat I use in China. For work-related matters, just contact me on this number.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen chuckled lightly and immediately added Xia Wenqing¡¯s WeChat ID.


    She casually opened his WeChat, then glanced at his Moments and profile picture.


    As expected, Xia Wenqing really wasn¡¯t willing to deal with these things.


    Whether it was WeChat or phone numbers, for him, they were just means to stay in touch.


    Unlike others who enjoyed showing off and expressing emotions in their Moments.


    He wasn¡¯t good at, nor did he like, handling these.


    Liu Xiaozhen clicked on Xia Wenqing¡¯s profile picture and said, ¡°Has anyone ever told you that your avatar is too dull and old-fashioned? If a young girl saw this avatar, she would be scared off. Do you still want to find a partner?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s words made his eyebrows twitch slightly again.


    Was he really that old-fashioned?


    His dark eyes slowly lowered, falling on the avatar on his phone.


    His avatar was a photo taken during a promotional shoot at the law firm, and he had casually used it.


    He hadn¡¯t changed it for a while, and he really didn¡¯t have any feeling about it.


    He knew that many people described him with the words ¡°old-fashioned,¡± and his fourth brother would occasionally call him an old fogy.


    He had never thought it was anything bad.


    But thinking that Xu Zhenzhen might think the same, his eyebrows involuntarily furrowed.


    Xia Wenqing pondered for a moment, his fingertips gently caressing the phone, then, as if he had made up his mind, he slowly began, ¡°Then if I want to look less dull, what kind of avatar should I change to?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen felt a sudden surge of excitement in her heart, but she quickly suppressed the turmoil inside, pretending to speak casually, ¡°Let me take a photo for you, the environment here is just perfect.¡±


    Saying this, she took out her phone and began to take photos of Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°Wenqing, it would be better if you turned your face towards the window.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing had no idea why looking at the window would be better, but he didn¡¯t have any other reference than the person before him.


    Since he had already started, he had no choice but to continue bravely.


    Fortunately, Liu Xiaozhen only took three photos then stopped.


    The results actually looked pretty good.


    So, Xia Wenqing casually picked one and changed his profile picture.


    That should make him look less old-fashioned, right?


    Thinking of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s little face, his mood instantly improved quite a bit.


    But thinking about the Band-Aid on her neck...


    Damn, even more annoying.


    Meanwhile, at the Legal Department.


    What Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t know was that changing his profile picture had almost instantly caused an uproar in the entire Legal Department.


    ¡°My God? Is Lawyer Xia in love? He even changed his profile picture!¡±


    ¡°This photo, you can tell it¡¯s taken by him. From this angle, the photographer must definitely be a girl!¡±


    ¡°Right, after all, a straight guy wouldn¡¯t capture it this beautifully.¡±


    ...


    The gossip was clearly also heard loud and clear by Xu Zhenzhen sitting in the office.


    Hearing everyone talking about Xia Wenqing changing his profile picture, she couldn¡¯t resist and clicked open Xia Wenqing¡¯s WeChat.


    Sure enough, the profile picture had been changed.


    And if she wasn¡¯t mistaken, the place looked like the coffee shop downstairs.


    Her lips involuntarily twitched, some people had just told her to wait in the office to handle some documents and then went off to have coffee and take photos with someone else.


    As Xu Zhenzhen thought, she unconsciously zoomed in on Xia Wenqing¡¯s profile picture, and as she did so, she unexpectedly saw the outline of the person taking the photo in the reflection on the glass.


    That slightly reflective white Chanel style business suit... was exactly what Liu Xiaozhen was wearing!


    Although she couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s features clearly through the glass, Xu Zhenzhen was very sure, the woman taking photos for Xia Wenqing had to be Liu Xiaozhen!


    Thinking like this, Xu Zhenzhen immediately started checking Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s social media.


    Sure enough, she quickly found a profile picture almost identical to Xia Wenqing¡¯s.


    And a social media post akin to an official announcement: ¡°He is still the same person, happy he is still him.¡±


    Her little hand tightly gripped the phone, having seen Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s social media, she somehow calmed down.


    She was never a match for Liu Xiaozhen from the start.


    The woman Xia Wenqing had always liked was also her.


    How could she dare to consider herself a rival in love?


    She was never in Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes from the start.


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but scoff at herself, perhaps because she had spent a lot of time alone with Xia Wenqing recently, she had deluded herself into thinking she could compete with Liu Xiaozhen.


    She suddenly realized that what Liu Xiaozhen had said years ago was right, an ugly duckling is still an ugly duckling, and no amount of effort by the ugly duckling will make people esteem it more.


    Xu Zhenzhen took another look at Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s social media, then decisively exited the WeChat app and put away her phone.


    It was time for her to wake up.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath, stood up, looked at Xia Wenqing¡¯s office for a moment, then walked out the door...


    They were people from two different worlds, so it was time to go back to being two different worlds.

 Chapter 364: 362: Offering You a Free Lesson in Bitch-Identifying~

    Chapter 364: Chapter 362: Offering You a Free Lesson in Bitch-Identifying~


    Xia Wenqing had no idea that his wife had outright changed her profile picture just by him switching his.


    When he returned to the office, he received another leave request text from Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xia Wenqing was completely exasperated.


    But he really had no way to deal with Xu Zhenzhen.


    Over the weekend, because of Xia Wenjue¡¯s birthday, Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian went to the Xia Family house ahead of time.


    Since it was an internal, small birthday banquet, they originally planned to invite just a few close friends.


    The Xia Family hadn¡¯t been in the country long, and most of the Xia brothers¡¯ businesses were overseas, so they didn¡¯t have many close friends domestically, hence the limited guest list.


    But then Mr. Song had made plans to go fishing with an old friend in advance.


    Xu Zhenzhen said she had important matters and couldn¡¯t get away.


    So, in the end, only Pei Huai showed up at the Xia Family house.


    ¡°Big bro, why didn¡¯t you bring your girlfriend back?¡± Before the meal, Xia Wenyan, sitting on the sofa and watching Xia Wenqing, who was still working on his laptop, couldn¡¯t help but pry.


    He had intended to munch an apple from the table, but Pei Huai took it away from him.


    He looked puzzledly at Pei Huai, but heard him say indifferently, ¡°We¡¯re going to eat soon, if you want an apple, have one after the meal.¡±


    Xia Wenyan pouted and reluctantly withdrew his hand, sitting obediently back in his original spot.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s brows lifted slightly as he looked up from beside his computer.


    Xia Wenyan, this goofball, actually listens sometimes?


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at Pei Huai, then turned his gaze to Xia Wenyan, and said lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t have a girlfriend, what¡¯s there to bring?¡±


    He did want to bring Xu Zhenzhen back, but she might already have a boyfriend by now.


    At that thought, Xia Wenqing¡¯s mood turned irritable.


    He had thought that when Lu Zhaozhao came for his big brother¡¯s birthday, she might bring Xu Zhenzhen.


    But unexpectedly, even Lu Zhaozhao was turned down by her, claiming to have other important matters.


    Could it be the same guy who made her request leave the last time?


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s dark eyes narrowed as his fingers typing on the keyboard grew heavier.


    Sitting opposite him, Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenqing curiously, becoming interested in what Xia Wenyan had just said.


    She leaned in close to Xia Wenyan and whispered, ¡°Fourth bro, how did you know second bro has a girlfriend?¡±


    It was hard to imagine what Xia Wenqing dating would even be like, given that besides work, there was only more work.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed, if Xia Wenqing also had a partner, then the only people left to introduce to Xu Zhenzhen would be Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenmo.


    Xia Wenmo would definitely not be suitable.


    Her third brother liked to quietly paint, and with Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s love for gossip and excitement, they surely wouldn¡¯t match.


    As for the eldest brother... he was also very busy, but it wasn¡¯t totally out of the question.


    She had actually thought Xia Wenqing was the most suitable one, as both being lawyers and working together.


    Dealing with bizarre cases should provide more than enough gossip material for Xu Zhenzhen, meeting all the criteria.


    But now... he¡¯s got someone.


    So that¡¯s not going to work out.


    Xia Wenyan had merely intended to tease Xia Wenqing a bit, but seeing how interested Lu Zhaozhao was, he immediately perked up.


    ¡°Second bro must be dating in secret, but probably too shy to say so,¡± he whispered to Lu Zhaozhao, gossiping beside her.


    His voice was intentionally low, but that didn¡¯t mean Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t hear.


    Things were already difficult enough between him and Xu Zhenzhen, and if Lu Zhaozhao told Xu Zhenzhen he had a girlfriend now, even if Xu Zhenzhen broke it off with that guy, she probably wouldn¡¯t consider him anymore.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenqing stared at Xia Wenyan very seriously and asserted once more, ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, I do not have a girlfriend.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes and was equally puzzled.


    Her second brother¡¯s attitude indeed seemed like he didn¡¯t have a girlfriend, given his old-fashioned personality, if he did have one, he would definitely be upfront about it.


    There wouldn¡¯t be any sneaking around.


    Then what¡¯s with her fourth brother¡¯s certainty?


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes and turned to Xia Wenyan, asking, ¡°Fourth brother, why are you so sure? Did someone tell you?¡±


    Xia Wenyan shook his head decisively, took out his phone, and flipped through it to show Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Look, second brother has even changed to a couple¡¯s profile picture, isn¡¯t that evidence enough of having a girlfriend?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s words made Xia Wenqing frown as well; he looked unconsciously and just saw Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s profile picture, which she had helped him take.


    Then there was Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s own profile picture.


    He didn¡¯t notice anything inappropriate, but rather looked confusedly at Xia Wenyan and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t these just profile pictures with a similar style?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Even Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corners of her mouth.


    So this was the reason her second brother didn¡¯t have a girlfriend?


    She previously thought Xia Wenyan was naively direct, but now it seems... her second brother is the real ironclad straight man.


    At least her fourth brother knows how to identify ¡°bitches¡±!


    By comparison, her second brother is truly weak.


    Xia Wenyan even looked disdainfully at Xia Wenqing and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Second brother, are you interested in this Liu Xiaozhen?¡±


    Xia Wenqing shook his head decisively, ¡°Not interested, she¡¯s just a colleague.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao also became curious, ¡°If you¡¯re colleagues, why use a couple¡¯s profile picture?¡±


    If Song Sinian dared to use a couple¡¯s profile picture with another woman, she would definitely explode on the spot.


    Xia Wenqing had intended to continue denying the matter of the couple¡¯s profile picture, but seeing that Lu Zhaozhao also cared so much about it, made him unconsciously reflect on himself.


    Did they really see it as a couple¡¯s profile picture in their eyes?


    He didn¡¯t mind other people¡¯s opinions, but that didn¡¯t mean he wanted to be misunderstood by Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen.


    After a moment of contemplation, Xia Wenqing explained why he changed his profile picture, ¡°I think the clients I¡¯ll be dealing with in the future will be younger, so that¡¯s why I chose to change my profile picture.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The living room once again fell into silence.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t resist looking up at Song Sinian, who was sitting beside her, and asked, ¡°Mr. Song... if it were you...¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go out alone with a woman,¡± Song Sinian said, already winning at the starting line.


    Even Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t resist applauding from the side, ¡°Well done, brother-in-law, perfect answer.¡±


    With that said, he couldn¡¯t help but look at Xia Wenqing disdainfully and asked, ¡°Second brother, do you now realize where the problem lies?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Honestly, he didn¡¯t.


    He even felt a bit baffled.


    He memorized so many legal provisions, yet none were as convoluted as the few Xia Wenyan had mentioned.


    Xia Wenyan sighed at Xia Wenqing and couldn¡¯t resist patting Pei Huai on the shoulder, saying, ¡°Brother Pei, see that? That¡¯s someone blinded by a ¡®green tea bitch,¡¯ you can¡¯t follow his example!¡±


    Pei Huai chuckled and nodded at his smug expression, ¡°Understood.¡±


    Xia Wenqing: ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan, satisfied, lifted his chin and took out his phone, opened Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s profile picture, and said, ¡°Come on, Teacher Xia will give you a free lesson on bitch-identifying~¡±

 Chapter 365: 363: Anyway, Only Profits, No Losses

    Chapter 365: Chapter 363: Anyway, Only Profits, No Losses


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Xia Wenqing was annoyed, he decided to first learn skills and deal with the annoying stuff later.


    Seeing that his second brother didn¡¯t respond, Xia Wenyan continued, ¡°This woman named Liu Xiaozhen obviously has feelings for you. If you didn¡¯t know, I¡¯d have to say she¡¯s really high-class at pretending.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing fell silent again.


    He had indeed never noticed this, because to him, the opposite sex around him was divided into Xu Zhenzhen and other women.


    Why should he care about other women?


    ¡°That woman purposefully swapped profile pictures with you as a way to subtly suppress any hidden rivals. If there happens to be other women interested in you, everyone will assume you two are dating. Any morally upright person would definitely stop harboring thoughts about you, understand?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenqing was utterly shocked.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that just changing a profile picture could involve so many complicated implications.


    But what hit him even harder was the phrase ¡°any morally upright person would definitely stop harboring thoughts about you.¡±


    How could this be?


    He hadn¡¯t even won Xu Zhenzhen over yet, and now he was suddenly tagged as not single?


    Xia Wenqing quickly weighed the pros and cons, his eyes nervously fixed on Xia Wenyan as he asked, ¡°So what should I do now? Change the profile picture back?¡±


    Xia Wenyan immediately spotted the situation with his second brother!


    But if he pushed for details now, he¡¯d definitely clam up again.


    His eyes spun cleverly before he smiled slyly at Xia Wenqing, saying, ¡°Changing it back is definitely necessary, but... there¡¯s a different tactic.¡±


    Seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s somewhat mischievous expression, Xia Wenqing¡¯s suddenly sparked trust instantly halved.


    He pursed his lips and turned his gaze to Lu Zhaozhao beside him, asking, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you have any good ideas?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment, not expecting to be suddenly called upon while sitting beside and enjoying the drama.


    She could roughly guess the ploys that the woman named Liu Xiaozhen was playing on her second brother.


    If her second brother liked her, any tactics would be okay.


    But if he didn¡¯t reciprocate those feelings, and she still secretly did these things, it was almost akin to sabotaging his relationships.


    She had previously thought that her second brother and Xu Zhenzhen might end up together.


    Now it seemed likely that Xu Zhenzhen had failed in confessing her feelings, or else she wouldn¡¯t have sounded so down when she called.


    Perhaps once Xu Zhenzhen recovered, she could help matchmake her with her second brother.


    Having made up her mind, Lu Zhaozhao immediately moved closer to Xia Wenqing and said, ¡°Second brother, if you change your profile picture now and post a clarification of being single on social media, it would seem very strange. Instead, why not... find someone to help you?¡±


    Xia Wenqing raised an eyebrow in curiosity, ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°You could find someone else to help you take a picture and upload it, including that person in the post, then explain ¡®a singleton who doesn¡¯t understand photography,¡¯ and casually express your thanks. This way, you could easily take care of this situation,¡± Lu Zhaozhao seriously suggested.


    Xia Wenqing slightly furrowed his brow and nodded gently, ¡°That indeed sounds like a good idea.¡±


    If Lu Zhaozhao helped take the picture, at least he wouldn¡¯t have to remain so passive.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao quickly added another suggestion, ¡°Second brother, how about letting Zhenzhen take the picture for you? Although your sister here could also help, I think having Zhenzhen, your coworker, take the picture would provide an additional witness. What do you think?¡±


    She definitely wouldn¡¯t mention that she was indirectly paving the way for her friend.


    Regardless of whether her second brother liked Xu Zhenzhen or not, at the very least, he would owe her a favor.


    One thing led to another, and wasn¡¯t that how good relationships started?


    Even if they didn¡¯t work out later, they could still climb a level higher in their careers.


    In any case, this wave was all gain and no loss.


    Xia Wenqing was stunned, never expecting that the person Lu Zhaozhao recommended would be Xu Zhenzhen.


    His heart suddenly fluttered with excitement. He was just thinking about how to casually show her his friends circle to let her know.


    Now with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s help, the matter was directly resolved.


    Indeed, the cutest person in the world was his sister!


    Xia Wenqing suppressed the agitation in his heart, but put on a calm facade, ¡°Then let Xu Zhenzhen help, but for me, a grown man to say this, it feels a bit...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Big Bro! I¡¯ll take care of this!¡± Lu Zhaozhao was so eager she almost thumped her chest in front of Xia Wenqing.


    Song Sinian gave Lu Zhaozhao a glance, unable to help shaking his head slightly. The siblings were scheming against each other yet both felt they had taken advantage of the other.


    It was really... hilarious.


    Pei Huai, although not sure what little schemes they were plotting, saw Song Sinian laughing unusually and quickly analyzed the recent situation in his mind.


    His dark eyes narrowed as he sorted things out in his mind and quickly grasped the focus; there seemed to be something unusual about Xia Wenqing, Liu Xiaozhen, and Xu Zhenzhen.


    But it had nothing to do with Xia Wenyan, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t care less.


    ¡°Brother Pei, did you learn the method Zhaozhao just mentioned?¡± Xia Wenyan noticed Pei Huai sitting quietly and couldn¡¯t resist softly asking.


    Pei Huai came back to his senses, his lips curling slightly as he looked up at Xia Wenyan and said indifferently, ¡°I didn¡¯t learn it, but I¡¯m not afraid, I have you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s face flushed immediately, feeling his heartbeat speeding up inexplicably.


    He raised his hand to his chest, unable to help but sigh mournfully. Indeed, his Brother Pei was too charming.


    What if someone clung to him? How would that end?


    Ah! There was no helping it; he would have to guard his Brother Pei himself!


    The winter night came early, and by not even 7 o¡¯clock, the sky was already pitch black.


    Because the Xia family had released many Thunder God¡¯s Hammers, Xia Wenjin¡¯s work was almost entirely ruined.


    She couldn¡¯t go to the film set, and even her live-streaming room for online selling was temporarily blocked.


    She had no choice but to stay honestly in the villa.


    Although Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t like Xia Wenjin, she couldn¡¯t cut off her food and drink.


    Looking at Xia Wenjin sitting across the dining table, her brows were deeply furrowed, feeling irritable no matter how she looked.


    Clearly brought up by a top-tier wealthy Xia family, how could she behave like this?


    Had she shown any sentiment toward the Xia family initially, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a state.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know how some people still have the face to eat in our home,¡± Song Keren glared at Xia Wenjin, poking the steak in her hand, and started mocking.


    She still remembered the scene when this woman beat her up in the hotel.


    Back then, Justin had sided with her, and just the thought of that made Song Keren feel bitter.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows knitted, and she stared coldly at Song Keren, saying with a sardonic smile, ¡°I am in my own house, but what about you, a married daughter, still clinging on here instead of leaving?¡±


    She was Xiao Mo¡¯s woman, residing here rightfully.


    But Song Keren was already married to Justin, unlike her...

 Chapter 366: 364: What Should We Do?

    Chapter 366: Chapter 364: What Should We Do?


    Song Keren sneered upon hearing this, ¡°Even if I married Justin, this is still my home. Weren¡¯t you looking down on my brother before, acting all high and mighty? Now that the Lu Group is gone, how come you¡¯re not so arrogant anymore?¡±


    As she mentioned this, she couldn¡¯t help feeling secretly thrilled.


    Back then, the only thing Xia Wenjin had that could compete with her was her family background, and now that was gone, what was she worth?


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t be bothered to pay attention to Song Keren.


    Moreover, arguing with her was of no benefit.


    When she had the chance, she would definitely make that bitch, Song Keren, mute with poison!


    Xia Wenjin swept a glance over Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan before lowering her head to continue eating.


    Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t live much longer, and Song Keren wouldn¡¯t be jumping around for many more days. She had plenty of time to wait it out.


    Song Keren hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin to be such a coward, not reacting even when insulted.


    She despised Xia Wenjin even more in her heart.


    ¡°Mom, brother still doesn¡¯t know about Xia Wenjin¡¯s scandal, right? If he knew, he would definitely divorce this shameless woman!¡± Song Keren scoffed, her gaze filled with disdain as she looked at Xia Wenjin.


    Such a woman being related to her family was truly nauseating.


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t intended to say anything more, but now, with Song Keren pushing her, she wasn¡¯t willing to take it any longer.


    ¡°Song Keren, whether your brother divorces me or not is not for him to decide, but for me.¡±


    Xia Wenjin spoke in what seemed a calm tone, but her voice carried an almost imperceptible smugness.


    This immediately turned Xiao Jinglan¡¯s gaze towards Xia Wenjin.


    She already disliked Xia Wenjin because of all the mess but had thought Xia Wenjin would have the decency to be humble. How dare she have the audacity to say such things?


    Xiao Jinglan slammed her hand on the table with a ¡°bang,¡± ¡°Xia Wenjin, don¡¯t be shameless. Right now, Xiao Mo is not home to divorce you, but once he returns, you won¡¯t be staying in this family anymore!¡±


    Before, they put up with her as the heiress of the Lu Group, which at least could be helpful to Xiao Mo¡¯s career.


    But now that the Lu Group had gone bankrupt, they were lucky not to be affected.


    With Xia Wenjin¡¯s reputation now ruined and unable to make money, they definitely couldn¡¯t take on such a burden!


    Xia Wenjin coldly watched Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren, the corners of her mouth slowly curling into a cold smile, ¡°Since you have shown no kindness, don¡¯t blame me for being heartless.¡±


    As she spoke, she stood up from the dining table, ¡°If you dare let Xiao Mo divorce me, I will expose all your family secrets. Then we¡¯ll see who¡¯s the unlucky one, you or me!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was shocked.


    She had no idea what secrets Xia Wenjin was talking about.


    Just as she was about to speak, Song Keren lunged forward, ¡°It¡¯s you! It was you, you bitch, who schemed against me! You found those people... it was you who set me up!¡±


    As Song Keren spoke, she began fighting with Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenjin was confused.


    What she mentioned was about Xiao Mo, so why was Song Keren so agitated?


    Without further thought, Xia Wenjin also started fighting with Song Keren.


    In her crazed words, she received another crucial piece of information¡ªSong Keren had been defiled before, and there were photos to prove it!


    Now, this was an unexpected gain.


    Song Keren had grabbed Xia Wenjin¡¯s hair, but she didn¡¯t let her off either. Both exchanged punches and kicks, back and forth, neither gaining the upper hand.


    Xiao Jinglan had wanted to help, but her body was so weak that she collapsed in place shortly after throwing herself into the fray.


    She could only watch helplessly as the two became entangled in a fight in the dining room.


    ¡°What on earth are you two doing?!¡±


    Xiao Mo had just returned home when he heard the clamor in the dining room.


    Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Song Keren and Xia Wenjin who had come to blows.


    He rubbed his hair in irritation, then plucked them both up, one in each hand.


    Song Keren seemed to have gone mad, her eyes bloodshot as she glared at Xia Wenjin, as though she wanted to tear her to pieces.


    ¡°Brother! This bitch is the one who sent those men! It was her! She¡¯s the reason I¡¯m in this mess!¡± Song Keren struggled in Xiao Mo¡¯s grasp and, failing to break free, turned to accusing Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenjin said nothing in return but instead looked at Xiao Mo.


    She believed that Xiao Mo must have investigated the ordeal Song Keren went through and would absolutely not believe that she was the one who had Song Keren harmed.


    Sure enough, upon hearing Song Keren¡¯s accusations, Xiao Mo instead released Xia Wenjin, ¡°This wasn¡¯t her doing.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Song Keren couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°She just admitted to my mom and me that she knows our family¡¯s secrets! If you divorce her, don¡¯t blame her for being unkind and unrighteous!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin was somewhat speechless.


    What she had said was that if they were unkind, they couldn¡¯t blame her for being unrighteous.


    Forget it, this was an idiot; she couldn¡¯t expect anything reliable to come out of her mouth.


    Xia Wenjin rolled her eyes, ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about your issue, but now I do know your secret.¡±


    Song Keren: ¡°!!!¡±


    Song Keren, who had already been furious, now felt like she was about to cough up blood from rage!


    What did Xia Wenjin mean?


    She was saying that what she referred to just now wasn¡¯t her own issue?


    Impossible!


    Song Keren¡¯s bloodshot eyes fixed on Xia Wenjin, ¡°You say it¡¯s not about that issue, so it¡¯s not about that issue? Why should I believe you?¡±


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips and casually shrugged her shoulders.


    She knew the Lu Family was in decline, and she was almost completely ostracized. She had no real standing in this family.


    So, she had to take a gamble.


    If she won, she could continue to have a position in this family. If she lost, she would be finished!


    However, she had made ample preparations. In this battle, she would only win!


    ¡°I know Xiao Mo is a child of the Song Family and a brother to Song Sinian.¡±


    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but to those present, it sounded like a thunderclap.


    Song Keren, knowing the truth, went weak at the knees and collapsed to the floor.


    Had Xia Wenjin really not lied, meaning she¡¯d also passed her own leverage into her hands?


    What if she told Justin?


    Then Justin would definitely not want her anymore...


    Song Keren immediately grew nervous; she seemed to think of something and fixed her gaze on Xia Wenjin, ¡°Don¡¯t be too smug. If you dare to tell Justin about my issue, I¡¯ll make public all those photos of you!¡±


    Xia Wenjin thought of her compromising photos and let out a cold laugh. She slowly squatted down to look at Song Keren and said, word by word, ¡°Go ahead. My reputation can¡¯t get any worse, and after all, if the story comes out, it will be you who loses face. I just wonder if you can withstand the same ordeal I have?¡±

 Chapter 367: 365 Undertones

    Chapter 367: Chapter 365 Undertones


    ¡°You...¡± Song Keren gritted her teeth, only able to stare fiercely at Xia Wenjin, no longer able to utter another word.


    Xia Wenjin had decided to let everything crash and burn because she was already ruined.


    Even if her reputation was ruined, it was just one more point for mockery.


    But if people outside found out, not only would she be ridiculed by everyone, but she would also be kicked out by Justin.


    She was never really part of the Song Family; Old Master Song had removed her from the Song Family circle when she married Justin.


    It would be incredibly hard for her to show her face in the entire Shangjing Circle thereafter.


    Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan would certainly try to send her overseas again.


    She didn¡¯t want that!


    She didn¡¯t want to live out her miserable life abroad!


    Song Keren glared at Xia Wenqing viciously, but she was completely powerless against her.


    She could only cast a pleading look towards Xiao Mo beside her.


    Xiao Mo was even more confused than Song Keren.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin to know about his relationship with the Song Family.


    Killing Xia Wenjin now wouldn¡¯t work, given her current high profile.


    It would be difficult to explain her sudden disappearance.


    And troublesome.


    All he could do now was to stabilize Xia Wenjin, as she could rely only on them now; perhaps having a good talk would lead to a favorable outcome.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin, you just...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about how I found out, and don¡¯t lecture me on morals. Just know that if I reveal this, whether others believe it or not, the Song Family will definitely investigate thoroughly, and then I won¡¯t be the only one in trouble.¡±


    Xia Wenqing interrupted before Xiao Mo could finish.


    She knew that more than having one extra member in the family, Xiao Mo cared more about his future.


    That¡¯s why she had to be tough, to avoid being manipulated.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face visibly changed. Before he could react, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t sit still anymore.


    Biting her teeth, she cursed, ¡°Xia Wenjin, have you no shame? You¡¯re nothing but trash, and you still think to drag my son down?!¡±


    Now that Xia Wenjin knew the real truth, she had nothing left to hide.


    She had already made a clean break with Xia Wenjin, so she wasn¡¯t afraid to speak her mind.


    Xiao Mo frowned and raised a hand to stop Xiao Jinglan, ¡°I¡¯ll handle this matter, no need for any of you to chime in.¡±


    His eyes swept over Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren, his expression dark and frightening.


    Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren didn¡¯t dare breathe too loudly, but Xia Wenjin secretly sighed in relief.


    She had won.


    At least for now, Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t dare mess with her.


    After dealing with Song Keren and Xiao Jinglan, Xiao Mo then turned to Xia Wenjin and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡±


    Although Song Keren still feared Xiao Mo deep down, she felt a bit more confident now, so she didn¡¯t feel too intimidated facing him.


    She nodded and followed him to sit beside the sofa.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Xiao Mo got straight to the point the moment he opened his mouth. He didn¡¯t have much time to beat around the bush with Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenjin took a deep breath. ¡°I mean no harm. I told you before, I want to live a good life with you. You want to take down the Song Family, I just want the name of Mrs. Song. I can help you, and once you succeed, I won¡¯t care how many women you find.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze fell on Xia Wenjin, seemingly considering the credibility of her recent words.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenjin immediately took a step back and said, ¡°I have nothing now. Without relying on you, I have no chance of turning my life around, so I will help you.¡±


    Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes. ¡°What other conditions do you have?¡±


    Xia Wenjin swallowed. ¡°I just want to live well in this household. At least, you can¡¯t hit me anymore.¡±


    Her body was covered with large and small scars, not visible from the outside, but her skin bore all the marks of Xiao Mo¡¯s torture.


    Xiao Mo looked at Xia Wenjin again. ¡°Fine, I agree.¡±


    Xia Wenjin finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°What I said about helping you wasn¡¯t nonsense. Justin is with XJ Group, but he is actually an overseas branch of the Xia Family. If he can ally with the forces inside XJ Group, it¡¯s not impossible to push you to a higher position.¡±


    Xiao Mo must also have his own forces in the Song Group, otherwise, Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t be so arrogant.


    ¡°Justin is my brother-in-law. Even if I collaborate with him, I don¡¯t need you to facilitate,¡± Xiao Mo said coldly, looking at Xia Wenjin.


    It was only because she knew secrets about him that he couldn¡¯t handle easily that he had agreed to her many trivial conditions.


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips. ¡°Song Keren is useless to Justin, and she¡¯s not smart. Even if you wanted to work with Justin, it couldn¡¯t be openly done. But I can.¡±


    This was indeed something Xiao Mo had to admit.


    Whether him or Justin, if they wanted to keep power in their hands, they had to act in secrecy.


    He certainly couldn¡¯t be seen overly interacting with Justin.


    But Song Keren is such a fool.


    More likely to err than to succeed.


    Allowing her to help would probably hinder more than help.


    Thinking this, Xiao Mo¡¯s expression towards Xia Wenjin softened slightly. ¡°You¡¯re not planning to rekindle your old flame with Justin during this, are you?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face immediately darkened. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I want the position of Mrs. Song. So, I absolutely won¡¯t mess up again before you succeed. You can trust me.¡±


    Xiao Mo scoffed lightly. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see your sincerity then...¡±


    Because Lu Zhaozhao and Sinian had gone to the Xia Family over the weekend for Xia Wenjue¡¯s birthday, on Monday, Lu Zhaozhao made a special trip back to the Song Mansion with Sinian.


    It just so happened that they bumped into Hao Li, who had also come to the Song Mansion.


    Before, Hao Li didn¡¯t know that Lu Zhaozhao was the one who had acted against Feng Jiaye, so she hadn¡¯t made things difficult for Lu Zhaozhao at the hospital.


    Now that they had bumped into each other, it was truly a narrow road for enemies.


    With a fake smile, she looked at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been coming to the Song Mansion a lot lately, but it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you, this granddaughter-in-law. You really are a big star, always busy.¡±


    The mocking tone in Hao Li¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t lost on Old Master Song. He frowned immediately and looked at her coldly. ¡°Zhaozhao is my granddaughter-in-law of the Song Family; it¡¯s not your place as an outsider to make snide remarks.¡±


    Normally, if someone heard that, they would refrain from saying anything more.


    But Hao Li, after hearing Old Master Song¡¯s words, instead sensed an ¡°implicit message¡±.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao held her current status by being the granddaughter-in-law of the Song Family, if she wasn¡¯t, then Hao Li could manipulate her at will?


    Hao Li¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she quickly looked at Old Master Song with a fawning expression. ¡°Old Master, I am Sinian¡¯s aunt, almost half a member of the Song Family...¡±

 Chapter 368: 366: How Could There Be No Issues?!

    Chapter 368: Chapter 366: How Could There Be No Issues?!


    Mr. Song¡¯s brows suddenly twitched, as he felt the statement eerily familiar.


    It seemed like he had heard it somewhere before.


    After Hao Li finished speaking, she shifted her gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao and ambiguously added, ¡°No matter what, I am the elder of these two children. If they have done anything wrong, it¡¯s my duty as their aunt to correct them.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, and she gave Hao Li a look, astonished by her thick-skinned nature.


    ¡°If I remember correctly, what was it that landed Feng Jiaye in the hospital?¡± Lu Zhaozhao pretended to be clueless and looked towards Song Sinian.


    Immediately after, Song Sinian¡¯s cold voice chimed in, ¡°Public indecency...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Hao Li with a concerned face and murmured, ¡°Tsk tsk, to think it reached the point of needing reeducation in the police station, aunt, you¡¯ve indeed got some correcting to do.¡±


    At that, Hao Li¡¯s expression darkened.


    Did she not know why the police were involved with their Jiaye?


    If it weren¡¯t for fear of Mr. Song knowing about this and the possibility that this wretched girl might poison his mind against her, she would have exposed her deeds long ago!


    Hmph!


    With this thought, Hao Li¡¯s gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao clearly conveyed her displeasure.


    ¡°Although Jiaye has just arrived in Shangjing, some people dislike our association with the Song family and have thus schemed against him.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao snorted lightly, ¡°So are you saying it¡¯s a hardship for you to interact with the Song family?¡±


    Her half-smiling face stared at Hao Li, igniting even more rage within her for no apparent reason.


    If not for Mr. Song and Song Sinian being present, she would have slapped this wretched girl hard.


    To cure her of her disrespectful attitude!


    Straining a smile, she looked at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Why would that be? I was just saying that the Song family is large and its business extensive. Sinian, working so hard alone, must surely make many envious. It¡¯s important to expand the family soon.¡±


    Hao Li had learned that Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian had been together for quite some time now, yet there was still no sign of a child.


    It probably lies with this woman¡¯s issue, or perhaps Song Sinian hasn¡¯t even touched her.


    She remembered Song Sinian as a child, cold as a stone; no matter how Feng Xiran treated him, he barely responded to the outside world.


    Now, although it doesn¡¯t affect his work, his marital life...


    Thinking this, Hao Li sneered to herself.


    No wonder Lu Zhaozhao dared not tell Song Sinian; even if she did, he probably wouldn¡¯t care.


    Originally, Mr. Song hadn¡¯t planned to bother with Hao Li, but upon hearing ¡°expand the family,¡± he also grew excited.


    Lu Zhaozhao was the only person Song Sinian ever liked.


    He could clearly see the affection between them, but why was there still no child?


    Before Mr. Song could raise his concern, Song Sinian gave Hao Li a cold glance and indifferently said, ¡°This concerns the Song family and is none of your business. If you¡¯re generally unoccupied, better spend more time in the hospital guiding Jiaye, so he doesn¡¯t repeat his mistakes.¡±


    ...


    At this, Hao Li was completely lost for words.


    Now that Song Sinian had spoken, there was no room for her to intervene.


    Mr. Song¡¯s grizzled brows suddenly furrowed, and he started to feel worried.


    He knew his grandson well; if Song Sinian resolved not to have children, no effort by Lu Zhaozhao would change that.


    Song Sinian had a rough childhood, so it was normal for him not to want children.


    But he was even more worried about Song Sinian¡¯s possessiveness toward Lu Zhaozhao...


    Others might not.


    But if Song Sinian decided not to have children just to monopolize Lu Zhaozhao, he wouldn¡¯t find it strange at all.


    It seemed he needed to find an opportunity to have a serious talk with Song Sinian soon.


    Because of his apprehension toward Song Sinian, Hao Li did not dare to speak disrespectfully afterward.


    After dinner, Mr. Song made up an excuse and called Song Sinian away, leaving only Lu Zhaozhao and Hao Li in the living room.


    Lu Zhaozhao did not want to be in the same room as Hao Li, so she left the living room and went to the backyard.


    But she hardly had any peaceful time in the backyard when Hao Li also arrived at the small garden.


    Lu Zhaozhao got up from the garden¡¯s rocking chair again, but Hao Li blocked her way, ¡°Why are you running? Feeling guilty seeing me?¡±


    Hao Li sneered coldly, looking down on her with a superior attitude.


    Just now, Old Master Song and Song Sinian were there, so she couldn¡¯t speak, but now that they weren¡¯t with Lu Zhaozhao, there was no one to protect her!


    Lu Zhaozhao saw through Hao Li¡¯s intentions in an instant and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Why would I feel guilty? The ones who should feel guilty are the Feng family.¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s face involuntarily darkened, ¡°Are you admitting that you hurt our Jiaye?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°To put it accurately, I was eliminating a pest. Trash like Feng Jiyue should have stayed in the trash heap a long time ago.¡±


    In her previous life, she didn¡¯t remember the Feng family coming to find the Song Family.


    It probably had to do with Song Sinian not announcing their wedding publicly.


    At that time, Xiao Jinglan still monopolized control of the Song Mansion, and Old Master Song wasn¡¯t in good health.


    So, the Feng family never had the opportunity.


    Now that Xiao Jinglan was covertly driven out of the Song Family and Old Master Song was healthy, the Feng family thought they could use the wedding as a chance to come to Shangjing.


    They wanted a share of the Song family¡¯s riches.


    Initially, the Feng family and Xiao Jinglan had no difference.


    Both were villains coveting the Song family¡¯s assets.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but narrow her eyes, then added, ¡°Lady Xiao had previously said to be wary of you relatives, and she was indeed right.¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s eyes suddenly widened significantly; she hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Jinglan, even after leaving the Song family, to still have a lingering influence.


    Thinking of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s previous ways of suppressing their Feng family, Hao Li immediately became alert and watched Lu Zhaozhao closely.


    If she simply spoke of Jiaye getting fresh with her, the Song family might not care too much for the sake of face.


    But it would be different if they knew the Feng family had designs on the Song family¡¯s assets.


    Xiao Jinglan was truly malicious; she had been driven out of the Song Family, yet she still did not forget to harm their family.


    Hao Li¡¯s face trembled slightly from anger, ¡°She, she was spouting nonsense! Who doesn¡¯t know what she was aiming for when she married into the Song family to become a stepmother? How could you believe her, a stranger, slandering Sinian¡¯s aunt?¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted, ¡°But Feng Jiyue was indeed parading around under the Song family¡¯s name, committing fraud. It seems like what Lady Xiao said... doesn¡¯t seem wrong?¡±


    ¡°How could it not be wrong?! Our Jiaye was... was also misled! Maybe it was Xiao Jinglan who instigated it behind the scenes!¡± Hao Li didn¡¯t think twice before flinging mud at Xiao Jinglan.


    That woman harmed their Feng family, and she would not let her get away with it!

 Chapter 369: 367: What is all this nonsense?

    Chapter 369: Chapter 367: What is all this nonsense?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curl up slightly; it seemed her initial thoughts were indeed correct. The grudge between the Feng family and Xiao Jinglan was not trivial.


    She usually had to film on set and couldn¡¯t often visit Mr. Song, but she had heard from Zhao Xi that Mr. Song was quite annoyed by Hao Li.


    However, since she was Sinian¡¯s aunt and came with Sinian¡¯s cousin, Mr. Song couldn¡¯t really lose his temper.


    At first, he managed to send her away by claiming he was unwell.


    Later, Hao Li used this as an excuse, claiming she needed to take care of Mr. Song, which troubled him greatly.


    Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t always come to the Song Mansion to help, but letting the two annoying people confront each other wasn¡¯t a bad idea either.


    It would prevent Hao Li from being too idle every day.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged. ¡°Whether Jiaye is instigated by Lady Xiao or not, you know it very well. At least Lady Xiao has been with the Song family for so many years. Grandfather should also be clear about whom to trust, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Li frowned. She had thought that after Xiao Jinglan was kicked out of the Song family, she wouldn¡¯t have the capability to compete with her anymore.


    That¡¯s why she was so unrestrained.


    After all, Old Master Song was getting older and needed someone to look after him.


    With Xiao Jinglan not in the Song Mansion now, she could stay there under this pretext.


    If that didn¡¯t work, she could at least get Old Master Song to find them a place to live.


    The Song family was so wealthy; were they short of a house?


    Her plans were making a loud noise in her mind, but she had never expected Lu Zhaozhao to be on Xiao Jinglan¡¯s side.


    It seemed Zhaozhao had implied that Xiao Jinglan was still very trusted by Old Master Song...


    Since that was the case, she couldn¡¯t continue to be hard on Lu Zhaozhao.


    If she and Xiao Jinglan joined forces, she would be the one to suffer.


    She pursed her lips. ¡°You¡¯d better not be so gullible, or you¡¯ll end up getting sold out and counting the money for others!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°At least for now, Lady Xiao seems reliable. If you, dear aunt, can prove that you are more reliable than Lady Xiao, or make grandfather and the others believe that Lady Xiao is indeed inferior to you, maybe I will believe you too.¡±


    Saying this, she nodded at Hao Li and turned to leave.


    Sure enough, Hao Li didn¡¯t follow her this time but sat down in contemplation in the small garden.


    The corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth couldn¡¯t help but twitch again; it seemed Hao Li took her words to heart...


    Meanwhile, Old Master Song and Song Si were sitting in the study, staring at each other.


    ¡°What did you want to ask me by sending Zhaozhao away?¡± Song Si, seeing Old Master Song was not about to speak, took the initiative.


    He didn¡¯t want his wife to wait for him for too long.


    Now that Hao Li was still outside, she would definitely target Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Si¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly; indeed, he couldn¡¯t let Jiaye stay in the hospital alone; it was time for Hao Li to join him in lying side by side.


    Thinking this, he had already decided to add Hao Li¡¯s name to the ¡°accident¡± Zhao Xi was arranging.


    Old Master Song furrowed his brows and sized up Song Si for a moment before murmuring, ¡°You and Zhaozhao have been married for a while now...¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want children; it has nothing to do with Zhaozhao,¡± Song Si blurted out almost without thinking.


    His time with Lu Zhaozhao was already scarce, and if Zhaozhao had a child, she might not even have time to see him.


    Just the thought of this irritated Song Si, so he had been deliberately using contraception.


    Mr. Song¡¯s mouth twitched, and he looked at Song Sinian with disdain, ¡°You are my grandson, how could I not understand you? The fact that Zhaozhao and you don¡¯t have children is a hundred percent your issue! I am just worried whether it is a physical or psychological problem.¡±


    Song Sinian: ¡°...¡±


    It was the first time in his life that he felt an indescribable sensation from being speechless.


    Although he was relieved that Old Master Song did not blame Lu Zhaozhao, he found his disdainful demeanor hard to accept.


    He found it hard to believe that he was truly his own grandson.


    Old Master Song couldn¡¯t help but sigh, previously he had desperately wanted to consult an expert to deeply study what was actually going on in his grandson¡¯s mind.


    Now, all he wanted was to hold a great-grandchild.


    But, unfortunately, Song Sinian, this rotten kid, was not cooperating.


    So, he could only make a roundabout approach by involving Lu Zhaozhao.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°Have you asked Zhaozhao her opinion? Has she mentioned when she might want to have children?¡±


    Old Master Song knew Lu Zhaozhao was Song Sinian¡¯s lifeline¡ªif she was willing...


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow arched slightly, having clearly seen through Old Master Song¡¯s ulterior motives.


    With a cold look at Old Master Song, he said coolly, ¡°Zhaozhao is still young, and now is her career rising period, it¡¯s not suitable to have children.¡±


    Old Master Song almost rolled his eyes on the spot.


    This rotten kid was driving him to his grave.


    What do you mean Zhaozhao is still young? What career rising period?


    Wasn¡¯t it all just nonsense spewed by this rotten kid?


    Old Master Song pursed his lips, ¡°Zhaozhao¡¯s age indeed isn¡¯t significant, but you...¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows raised.


    Almost guiltily, Old Master Song immediately fell silent.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already said it, I¡¯m not ready to have children yet. Let¡¯s wait until things settle down at home before discussing having children,¡± said Song Sinian, his tone indifferent and emotionless.


    Yet Old Master Song knew that if he continued, Song Sinian would probably turn against him again.


    He couldn¡¯t help but sigh silently to himself, forget it, he would just directly ask Lu Zhaozhao when he had the time.


    By then, even if Song Sinian disagreed, it wouldn¡¯t matter if Lu Zhaozhao agreed.


    This was the so-called, ¡®one thing conquers another.¡¯


    Old Master Song was secretly delighting in his plan but hadn¡¯t expected that the nearby Song Sinian would suddenly speak, ¡°Grandfather... do you know the beads from your abacus are about to explode off my face?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    What kind of nonsense is that?


    Old Master Song rolled his eyes again, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Song Sinian chuckled lightly, the smile not reaching his eyes, ¡°You better not talk to Zhaozhao about this alone. I don¡¯t want her to feel distressed because of you. If she is unhappy, your great-grandchild, whether a boy or a girl, will be nothing, and I mean what I say.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Good grief, Song Sinian was tough on himself, and even tougher on others.


    His mouth involuntarily twitched and, feeling irritated, he waved his hand dismissively at Song Sinian, ¡°Alright, alright, I get it. If I continue talking with you, this rotten kid, I might probably die of anger, so get out, get out, get out!¡±


    Song Sinian stood up indifferently and before leaving, gave Old Master Song a lingering look as if unsure.


    Seeing that he indeed took his words to heart, Song Sinian then left the study of the Song Mansion...

 Chapter 370: 368: She Cant Be That Miserable, Right?

    Chapter 370: Chapter 368: She Can¡¯t Be That Miserable, Right?


    Mr. Song watched Sinian¡¯s departing figure and couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply again.


    The old butler entered the door just in time to witness this scene and cautiously asked, ¡°Did you have a quarrel with Sinian?¡±


    Mr. Song shook his head, ¡°No, that brat fighting with me would be a miracle.¡±


    In the past, when Sinian was emotionally unstable, what Mr. Song most hoped for was to interact with Sinian like any other normal grandfather and grandson.


    But now...


    The wish had come true, and he found himself wanting more.


    Moreover, since Zhaozhao was a good kid, he sincerely hoped that the two of them could have several kids who would live nearby.


    Even if it¡¯s just one?


    Mr. Song didn¡¯t know how many years his health would allow him to wait for them.


    He didn¡¯t want to leave with regrets.


    As Mr. Song thought this, he mentioned the incident that had just happened to the old butler.


    The old butler nodded in understanding, ¡°Sinian is cherishing his wife, so he can¡¯t bear to have her go through pregnancy.¡±


    Mr. Song rolled his eyes involuntarily, ¡°It¡¯s true he cherishes Zhaozhao, but this kid is definitely afraid that others might vie for Zhaozhao¡¯s attention, that¡¯s why he¡¯s dead set against having children now.¡±


    He could guess that with his toes!


    Seeing Mr. Song puffing up in frustration, the old butler couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, ¡°Regarding the child matter, since Sinian won¡¯t let you talk directly to Zhaozhao about it, there¡¯s nothing wrong with approaching it from another angle...¡±


    Mr. Song pursed his lips, ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t considered that? If that brat finds out it was my doing, he might cut me off completely!¡±


    Just the thought gave Mr. Song a headache.


    Although he didn¡¯t hold the belief in preferring boys over girls, he was still reluctant to see the Song Family¡¯s future inheritance fall into the hands of unrelated people.


    Even if Sinian had a daughter, she would be a direct descendant of the Song Family.


    The old butler patted Mr. Song¡¯s shoulder and slowly said, ¡°Old Master, you need not worry. After all, Sinian and Zhaozhao have only just gotten married, not too long ago. Wait another year or so, we could invite some relatives with children to come and play in the mansion, maybe then Zhaozhao will also want one.¡±


    Mr. Song nodded, ¡°It seems that¡¯s the only way.¡±


    Mr. Song glanced outside at the sky and couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly.


    Now, he could only pin his hopes on Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Unexpectedly, Zhaozhao, who had left from the back garden, sneezed on the corridor.


    She rubbed her nose, a bit puzzled as to why she sneezed out of nowhere.


    Could it be that someone was thinking of her?


    ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz...¡±


    Suddenly her phone in her pocket began to vibrate.


    Zhaozhao got a little startled before she took out her phone and answered the call.


    ¡°Hello? Second brother?¡± Zhaozhao was a bit puzzled why Xia Wenqing would call her at this time.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you at the set right now? I need a favor,¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s indifferent voice came through the phone.


    No emotional fluctuation could be detected.


    Zhaozhao paused for a moment, ¡°Not yet, Mr. Song and I came to the Song Mansion, second brother, what do you need me to do?¡±


    Xia Wenqing was noticeably silent for a moment before slowly saying, ¡°You mentioned before about changing the profile picture, I¡¯ve decided to take care of it.¡±


    As he spoke, he quickly explained, ¡°When I joined the Song Group, many people gossiped about me having a girlfriend, which has seriously affected the working environment, so I want to resolve it as soon as possible.¡±


    Most importantly, he didn¡¯t want Xu Zhenzhen to misunderstand.


    Now, most of the people in the Legal Department were discussing this, and Xu Zhenzhen must have heard about it.


    Although he still didn¡¯t qualify to date her, his reputation absolutely mustn¡¯t suffer!


    It was then that Lu Zhaozhao suddenly remembered the idea she had suggested to Xia Wenqing at Xia Family.


    She had almost forgotten about it.


    ¡°Second Brother, are you saying that I should contact Zhenzhen now to help you take that photo?¡± Lu Zhaozhao carefully recalled the previous events and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Xia Wenqing suppressed his pounding heart and maintained a steady tone as he said, ¡°Yes, after all, if I suddenly go find Xu Zhenzhen, it would seem quite odd.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Where would it be odd? Besides, Zhenzhen is easy-going, she won¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    She might not mind, but he did!


    He completely didn¡¯t know how to bring up the issue with Xu Zhenzhen.


    But with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, things were much easier.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenqing coughed lightly and said, ¡°You girls are shy, and now that everyone in the Legal Department thinks I have a girlfriend, I¡¯m worried Zhenzhen might think I broke up with someone else. Wouldn¡¯t that be embarrassing for me as her boss?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha... okay, okay, don¡¯t worry, Second Brother, I¡¯ll protect your face!¡± Lu Zhaozhao laughed out loud, ¡°I¡¯ll call Zhenzhen right after I hang up with you; you just relax, Second Brother, I guarantee she¡¯ll help you sort this out by tomorrow.¡±


    Xia Wenqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Mm, thank you for that; I¡¯ll treat you and Zhenzhen to dinner after this is all sorted.¡±


    ¡°Okay~¡±


    After saying this, Lu Zhaozhao hung up the phone.


    She then stood in the corridor and dialed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s number.


    ¡°Doo doo doo...¡±


    The phone had barely rung twice when someone picked up.


    ¡°Hello? Zhaozhao, what¡¯s up?¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice sounded a bit hoarse, with a nasal tone, indicating she wasn¡¯t feeling well.


    Lu Zhaozhao was clearly taken aback, ¡°Zhenzhen, are you sick?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen took a tissue and rubbed her reddened nose, glanced at her reddened eyes in the mirror, and casually responded, ¡°Mm, it¡¯s okay, it¡¯s not serious.¡±


    She had planned to take a day off to let out her emotions and then go back to work refreshed.


    But she couldn¡¯t control it, so she ended up staying at home for several days.


    Now her whole mood was off, let alone going to work.


    ¡°That¡¯s the case. I actually wanted to ask you to help my Second Brother with a small favor, but if you¡¯re sick, it¡¯ll have to wait.¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, then asked, ¡°Have you taken any medicine? Did you eat anything tonight?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen blinked her moist eyes, and upon hearing the words ¡°Second Brother,¡± she couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°What does Second Brother need help with?¡±


    It can¡¯t be that he needs help managing a date, not being able to handle his work, right?


    Xu Zhenzhen thought this and felt even more pain in her heart.


    Could she be that unlucky?


    Break up and still be forced to work.


    With a slightly helpless sigh, Lu Zhaozhao said, ¡°It¡¯s just my silly Second Brother being tricked. Some green tea took advantage of his blind spot regarding social circle matters, took a photo with him as the profile picture, even sneakily set their profiles to show they are a couple¡ªyou see how scheming that is?¡±

 Chapter 371: 369: Just as Wronged!

    Chapter 371: Chapter 369: Just as Wronged!


    ¡°???¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes almost popped out as she heard this.


    Was it what she thought?


    Was the ¡°green tea bitch¡± Lu Zhaozhao mentioned actually Liu Xiaozhen?!


    Her heart suddenly grew unsettled as she listened to Lu Zhaozhao continue to mutter, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for my fourth brother¡¯s exceptional bitch-detecting skills, he wouldn¡¯t have even known he was being schemed against. So, I can only ask for your help.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard, ¡°So...what do I need to do?¡±


    Hearing that Xu Zhenzhen was not refusing, Lu Zhaozhao immediately spoke up, ¡°My second brother needs to change his profile picture. On one hand, it¡¯s to dissociate from that green tea bitch, and also to avoid everyone thinking my second brother is the one cheating. So, I need you to help take a profile picture for my second brother, and then could you please take a photo together with him and post it on social media...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt like she had cried for nothing these past couple of days.


    She raised her hand and pressed her somewhat red and sore eyes, suddenly at a loss for words.


    She had been heartbroken for so long, only to be told now that it was all a sham.


    Xu Zhenzhen coughed lightly, feeling a bit awkward as she asked, ¡°Zhaozhao, isn¡¯t the green tea bitch who duped the second brother called Liu Xiaozhen? Didn¡¯t the second brother like her?¡±


    ¡°Do you also know that woman?¡± When Lu Zhaozhao heard this, she immediately started explaining, ¡°How could he like that green tea bitch?! My second brother said he never liked that woman, not at all; these are my second brother¡¯s own words! It was that green tea bitch who pretentiously acted close to my second brother to suppress her rivals.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Was that how it was?!


    She had always thought they were mutually interested...


    Back then, Liu Xiaozhen was so haughty toward her, she never would have guessed it was all an act!


    Apart from being shocked, Xu Zhenzhen now looked down on Liu Xiaozhen.


    Since the past events had been fake, could she...perhaps try pursuing Xia Wenqing again?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought for a moment and then added, ¡°Zhenzhen, you must help me protect my second brother in the Song Family. Keep him away from that Liu Xiaozhen; she really belongs in a trash bag¡ªsuch a great pretender!¡±


    ¡°Okay! Don¡¯t worry, I promise to complete the mission!¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s spirits immediately lifted.


    Starting tomorrow, she would guard thoroughly, absolutely not allowing that little bitch Liu Xiaozhen to succeed!


    And for deceiving her for so long, she would certainly take an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!


    Liu Xiaozhen, just you wait and see!


    Xu Zhenzhen, a person of action, went to the Legal Department to work early the next morning, knowing the whole story.


    To make up for her absence these past couple of days, she even specially cleaned Xia Wenqing¡¯s office.


    So when Xia Wenqing entered his office, noticing it looked different from the past couple of days, his eyebrows twitched slightly.


    Was it... Xu Zhenzhen?


    Was she back to work?


    Just as Xia Wenqing was contemplating, someone suddenly knocked on the office door.


    Soon after, a familiar figure pushed the door and walked in.


    ¡°Second brother, I¡¯m back! Is there any work I need to do?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s smile was splendid, making Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart involuntarily quicken its pace.


    He watched as Xu Zhenzhen walked over, his gaze sweeping over her, eventually settling on her neck.


    Although the band-aid was gone, the faint traces were still somewhat noticeable.


    Xia Wenqing felt a bit suffocated but remembering Xu Zhenzhen was indeed of the age to fall in love, and it was normal to have someone she liked.


    He just felt a bit upset that the person Xu Zhenzhen liked wasn¡¯t him.


    Maybe it really was as Xia Wenyan had said, he was too old-fashioned, not the type that girls of their age fancied.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart was in turmoil, but his face remained calm as he looked at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°I have a lot of work to deal with, but there¡¯s something I need your help with.¡±


    He had just called yesterday when he received a message from Lu Zhaozhao, saying that she had already spoken to Xu Zhenzhen.


    So what he was saying now didn¡¯t come across as abrupt.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s watery eyes blinked. When she had first walked in, she had been thinking about how to broach the subject with Xia Wenqing in a roundabout way, not expecting him to bring it up first.


    She paused slightly, ¡°Second Brother, do you really not like Liu Xiaozhen? Wasn¡¯t she your college crush?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Now Xia Wenqing was truly shocked. His eyebrows shot up, ¡°Since when was Liu Xiaozhen my college crush? How come I don¡¯t know about it?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Xu Zhenzhen was now fully convinced that Xia Wenqing was the victim.


    This was clear from the disgust that flashed in his eyes when Liu Xiaozhen was mentioned as his college crush.


    Xu Zhenzhen cleared her throat lightly, ¡°Actually, this matter... emmm, is probably only unknown to you. Most people who are familiar with you should know about it.¡±


    Xia Wenqing seemed to suddenly grasp the crux of the issue, ¡°You mean, back when you were still at school, you already heard this rumor?¡±


    He had always thought that there was a possibility between him and Xu Zhenzhen.


    Even that they had mutual feelings, but after that incident happened, she suddenly became very strange and even distanced herself from him.


    Was it because of this matter?


    Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t sure. He really wanted to ask Xu Zhenzhen directly why she had left without saying goodbye that year.


    But he didn¡¯t dare. She already had a boyfriend now, and if she found out that he liked her, would it scare her away?


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s fist clenched unconsciously, and the dislike for Liu Xiaozhen in his heart grew even stronger.


    Xu Zhenzhen sneaked a glance at Xia Wenqing and seeing his agitated state, she said with some pity, ¡°Back at school, that¡¯s indeed what we all thought. And since Liu Xiaozhen made most of your decisions for you at that time, everyone naturally believed it.¡±


    ¡°She made decisions for me?¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s lips twitched.


    Back then at school, he had already started taking on external cases, so he didn¡¯t have much time for school trivialities.


    Occasionally, Liu Xiaozhen would remind him of school-related activities or duties.


    He hadn¡¯t realized that his lack of interest and casual ¡°whatever¡± could be manipulated by Liu Xiaozhen into the current situation.


    Xia Wenqing rarely regretted anything, except when it came to matters involving Xu Zhenzhen.


    But now, he deeply regretted why he had to be so averse to trouble at that time...


    It was really troublesome now.


    Xia Wenqing sighed with a bit of helplessness, ¡°I didn¡¯t think so much... really.¡±


    When his gaze met Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s, it was a bit nervous; he was afraid Xu Zhenzhen wouldn¡¯t believe him.


    His tone carried a hint of panic.


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly found Xia Wenqing¡¯s voice to be a bit pitiful.


    For someone who was conscientiously working hard, he was wrongly labeled as being lovestruck due to not much communication back at school.


    Xia Wenqing, who had been wronged so severely, seemed quite pitiable.


    As for her.


    Just like him, also tricked by Liu Xiaozhen, she was equally wronged!


    Of course, she had no grounds to mock Xia Wenqing...

 Chapter 372: 370: Solidifying Her "Girlfriend" Status…

    Chapter 372: Chapter 370: Solidifying Her ¡°Girlfriend¡± Status...


    Liu Xiaozhen was cunning; how could they, who hadn¡¯t even brushed shoulders with Xia Wenqing, dare to confront him in person?


    It must be said, Liu Xiaozhen was truly shameless!


    Xu Zhenzhen awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth and patted Xia Wenqing¡¯s shoulder to comfort him, ¡°Elder brother, don¡¯t worry about this matter, after all, you didn¡¯t know Liu Xiaozhen would act so... uh, anyhow, you haven¡¯t lost anything yet. Now that we know, we¡¯ll just be more careful in the future.¡±


    No losses?


    His losses were significant!


    If it weren¡¯t for the principles instilled in him since childhood about not hitting women, he really would have wanted to slap Liu Xiaozhen a few times!


    Seeing that Xia Wenqing was still in a bad mood, Xu Zhenzhen thought for a moment and couldn¡¯t help but change the subject, ¡°Elder brother, why don¡¯t we change the profile picture first? This is a must-do task Zhaozhao gave me; I need to do it well!¡±


    Xia Wenqing looked up at Xu Zhenzhen and nodded, then watched her take out her phone and start snapping pictures of him.


    Her movements were quick, giving him no time to react.


    Xia Wenqing thought about the time Liu Xiaozhen took photos of him, asking him to pose, and wondered whether Xu Zhenzhen would ask him to pose.


    He glanced at Xu Zhenzhen inadvertently, and before he could speak, Xu Zhenzhen handed him the phone with the photo she just took, ¡°Elder brother, have a look! How is it?¡±


    Xia Wenqing felt a surge of excitement but maintained a calm demeanor as he looked at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s phone.


    The next second, a slight crack appeared on his usually composed face.


    How to put it?


    Xu Zhenzhen did take a photo, but... the portrait didn¡¯t look like him at all; it was wholly unrelated.


    He knew there could be discrepancies between people¡¯s photos, but he hadn¡¯t expected it to be this jarring.


    Xia Wenqing looked at the photo in his hand with a headache, unsure of where to even begin praising it.


    He really was... at a loss for words.


    Seeing Xia Wenqing¡¯s somber expression, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly seemed to realize something, ¡°Uh... Elder brother, actually... I¡¯m not very good at taking photos. Should I find someone else to help?¡±


    From her aesthetic point of view, she thought Xia Wenqing looked good even if his entire face was a blur.


    A person with no bad angles, who looks good no matter how you photograph him.


    So she got a bit too casual in her excitement.


    Xia Wenqing silently sighed, held her phone, hesitated for a moment, and then waved her over, ¡°Forget it, no need for someone else. I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Saying this, he pulled Xu Zhenzhen closer, and with a long arm, took a selfie of them together.


    Xu Zhenzhen, nervous about her first photo with Xia Wenqing, was thinking about how to pose when Xia Wenqing took the shot.


    Surprisingly, the photo turned out pretty good.


    She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Remembering Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression just now, Xu Zhenzhen hesitated for a moment and paused, ¡°Elder brother, should I take a few more carefully?¡±


    Xia Wenqing pursed his lips and finally nodded in agreement.


    Compared to before, Xu Zhenzhen was indeed more serious.


    But... the results were still indescribable.


    Xia Wenqing was also somewhat helpless. He raised his hand to look at the photos on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s phone and hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°How about this, turn on the burst mode, and I¡¯ll stand by the window. Let¡¯s try again?¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay~¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen certainly had no objections, clearly aware of her lack of skills.


    Moreover, she didn¡¯t mind doing these everyday tasks with Xia Wenqing at all.


    So, for a full half hour, the two of them chattered away in the office, discussing photography issues until they finally agreed on a few photos they were both satisfied with and called it quits.


    Xia Wenqing looked at Xu Zhenzhen, whose eyes were curved happily, and felt his heart soften. However, thinking about her behavior over the past few days, his heart sank involuntarily.


    He took a deep breath and asked casually, ¡°I heard you got a boyfriend. What does he do?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s hand, flipping through photos, suddenly paused, and she looked at Xia Wenqing in shock.


    She had a boyfriend? Why didn¡¯t she know about it?


    Who on earth had told Xia Wenqing?


    She was still chasing someone, and now she was said to have a boyfriend?


    Could it be Liu Xiaozhen?


    It wasn¡¯t impossible, considering she had pretended to be Xia Wenqing¡¯s moonlight for several years.


    Throwing dirt on someone else wasn¡¯t impossible either.


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips, ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart suddenly leaped, but thinking about the marks on her neck, his brows furrowed again.


    So... had she successfully confessed her feelings, then been taken advantage of, and then dumped?


    Xia Wenqing thought so, and his gaze towards Xu Zhenzhen was full of indescribable pity.


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t notice Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression, but she thought that Xia Wenqing being deceived repeatedly wasn¡¯t right.


    She hesitated for a moment, ¡°Second Brother, do you want me to teach you a very easy way to spot a bitch?¡±


    Xia Wenqing raised his eyebrows. Although he wasn¡¯t very interested, if Xu Zhenzhen was willing to talk, he was definitely willing to listen.


    He nodded, ¡°Go on, let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly perked up, ¡°It¡¯s really simple. When there¡¯s a woman around you, and you¡¯re unsure whether she¡¯s good or bad, just listen to your girlfriend. If she says she doesn¡¯t like this girl, you definitely shouldn¡¯t have any contact with her, understand?¡±


    Xia Wenqing nodded, quickly grasping the main point¡ªIf the wife says someone¡¯s no good, then don¡¯t associate with that person.


    Xu Zhenzhen saw for the first time how obediently Xia Wenqing listened to her instructions, and her heart leaped as well.


    ¡°Of course, Second Brother, you don¡¯t have a wife yet, so...¡±


    You could ask Lu Zhaozhao for help; their Zhaozhao is also a little expert in spotting bitches, no problem.


    But before she could finish, Xia Wenqing calmly responded, ¡°I can ask you, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was suddenly speechless.


    Xia Wenqing actually said he could ask her?!


    Did that mean he felt a little different about her?


    Or maybe...


    As Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s heart was churning like a stormy sea, the office door was knocked on at this moment.


    Both Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze shifted to the door simultaneously.


    They saw Liu Xiaozhen pushing the office door and walking in.


    ¡°Good morning, Wenqing, are you busy? I just came over to handle some things and brought breakfast along,¡± Liu Xiaozhen said with an especially gentle smile, placing the food container she was carrying on the nearby desk.


    The food container was clearly not bought from outside.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s bold move to bring a food container to the office was merely to let others think she had specially brought food for Xia Wenqing, solidifying her status as the ¡°girlfriend¡±...

 Chapter 373: 371: Still Not Giving Up?

    Chapter 373: Chapter 371: Still Not Giving Up?


    If it had been before, Xu Zhenzhen would have definitely believed it.


    She might even have tactfully left the office, leaving them some private space.


    But since yesterday when she found out that Liu Xiaozhen relied on this tactic to cut off Xia Wenqing¡¯s romantic opportunities, she was quite annoyed.


    Because she was one of those romantic opportunities!


    Xia Wenqing furrowed his brows slightly as he looked at the lunch box Liu Xiaozhen brought, clearly more wary of her.


    He rarely paid attention to what Liu Xiaozhen came to his office to say or do.


    In his eyes, Liu Xiaozhen was just a classmate or a work colleague.


    Their interactions were also limited to work-related matters.


    But now she was quietly adding some seemingly trivial details, which now seemed... fatal.


    He and Liu Xiaozhen had nothing going on, yet she came to him with a lunch box early in the morning; anyone who didn¡¯t know better might think there was something...


    Xia Wenqing thought this, then turned his head to look at Xu Zhenzhen.


    It was almost as if he had ¡°help me¡± written on his forehead.


    Xu Zhenzhen had never seen Xia Wenqing like this before. In the heat of the moment, she directly stepped between the two.


    ¡°Lawyer Liu, our Lawyer Xia doesn¡¯t eat these things. If you really want to give them away, there are plenty of colleagues outside who haven¡¯t had breakfast yet. Shall I take it to them?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen tugged at the corner of her mouth, giving her a fake smile that couldn¡¯t have been any faker.


    Liu Xiaozhen didn¡¯t expect Xu Zhenzhen to say that, and her hands holding the lunch box visibly trembled.


    She forced a smile and said to Xia Wenqing, ¡°Wenqing, I brought this breakfast for you, you decide.¡±


    In the past, Xia Wenqing would not have cared about these things and would have let her put it aside. Once she left without the lunch box, people outside would automatically fill in the blanks.


    Liu Xiaozhen had calculated well, but unfortunately, she didn¡¯t know that the current Xia Wenqing had already received thorough guidance from several ¡°Mistress Identifying Masters.¡±


    His ability to spot a fake had improved dramatically.


    So, he glanced at Liu Xiaozhen and said indifferently, ¡°Zhenzhen has the final say on this. Please discuss it with her.¡±


    He decisively pushed the matter onto Xu Zhenzhen.


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s geared up appearance, he naturally stepped back to let the capable take over.


    ¡°Did you hear that, Lawyer Liu?¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly smiled, ¡°Give me the lunch box, my desk mate Secretary Wang hasn¡¯t had time for breakfast yet, and he probably wouldn¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen was so angry she almost clenched her teeth until they shattered, but especially in front of Xia Wenqing, she couldn¡¯t lose her composure.


    She could only sigh lightly, ¡°It¡¯s all stuff that Wenqing likes to eat, it¡¯s a bit of a pity.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Xu Zhenzhen looked at Liu Xiaozhen with slightly mocking eyes, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect that Lawyer Liu would know our Lawyer Xia¡¯s preferences so well, quite attentive indeed.¡±


    Previously, not knowing the relationship between Liu Xiaozhen and Xia Wenqing, each of her words could easily sting her.


    Now that Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s facade had been stripped away, Xu Zhenzhen could successfully get through all the traps in her words.


    She looked at Liu Xiaozhen with a sneer, saying quite seriously, ¡°Since Lawyer Liu is here for a company collaboration, please formally address our Lawyer Xia. Stop calling him Wenqing, Wenqing... people who don¡¯t know might think our Lawyer Xia is your boyfriend~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face turned slightly pale.


    She wondered how Xu Zhenzhen looked different from before, was it because she already knew there was nothing between her and Xia Wenqing?


    How did she find out?


    Liu Xiaozhen furrowed her brows, considering where she might have slipped up.


    Xu Zhenzhen observed Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s guilty demeanor, and her scorn for Liu Xiaozhen deepened.


    How blind had she been in the past to have been deceived by Liu Xiaozhen to such an extent?


    Silent, Liu Xiaozhen could only seek help from Xia Wenqing with her eyes.


    If he said something, at least she wouldn¡¯t feel too awkward.


    But Xia Wenqing seemed completely oblivious to her expression, instead, he nodded in approval, ¡°Zhenzhen is right, since it¡¯s about work, we should really be earnest. Otherwise, it¡¯s easy for professionalism to be questioned.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s words sounded like he prioritized work above all else.


    This made it impossible for Liu Xiaozhen to divert the conversation elsewhere.


    She clenched her teeth resignedly, ¡°I understand, Lawyer Xia. I¡¯ll be more careful in the future. About this breakfast...¡±


    ¡°Give it to Zhenzhen. Let her take it outside; such things shouldn¡¯t be in the office,¡± said Xia Wenqing, his tone light but his words indisputable.


    Liu Xiaozhen had no choice but to stiffly hand the lunch box to Xu Zhenzhen, thinking she would surely just take it and leave.


    Leaving her and Xia Wenqing alone, where she could find an opportunity to make amends.


    However, Liu Xiaozhen didn¡¯t expect that Xu Zhenzhen, after taking the lunch box, showed no intention of leaving.


    Instead, she stood in front of Xia Wenqing like a guardian deity.


    The muscles on her face involuntarily twitched as she forcefully suppressed the irritation in her heart and said to Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Secretary Xu, aren¡¯t you going to take the lunch box outside?¡±


    She said this while deliberately looking at Xia Wenqing.


    Xu Zhenzhen had always been obedient to Xia Wenqing¡¯s words; he had just said that lunch boxes shouldn¡¯t be in the office, so she should immediately take it outside.


    Why wasn¡¯t she moving?


    Of course, Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t know what Xu Zhenzhen was planning, so his gaze also turned to her.


    If it were before, Xu Zhenzhen would have surely completed the task immediately.


    But now, with Liu Xiaozhen around and her watchful eye on Xia Wenqing, there was no way she would allow her to spend time alone with Xia Wenqing!


    At that moment, Xia Wenqing seemed to recall what Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao had said before.


    Never be alone in a room with someone who¡¯s not a romantic interest!


    He reached out and tugged gently at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s sleeve, saying, ¡°You can take that outside in a bit. Let¡¯s get the work done first.¡±


    Just as Xu Zhenzhen was searching for an excuse to stay, Xia Wenqing handed one to her.


    Naturally, she eagerly took over the conversation, ¡°Alright, Lawyer Xia. I¡¯ll just place the lunch box by the coffee machine.¡±


    After saying that, Xu Zhenzhen swiftly moved the items and then hurried back.


    It seemed as if she was afraid that once she turned her back, Liu Xiaozhen would devour Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenqing could naturally see Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s ¡°caution.¡±


    Seeing her rushing about, his entire heart softened, and even his gaze towards Xu Zhenzhen became indulgent.


    Liu Xiaozhen caught a glimpse unintentionally and was immediately drenched in a cold sweat.


    Xia Wenqing was still not over Xu Zhenzhen?


    Tension gripped Liu Xiaozhen, recalling all the effort it had taken her to separate them. Now, after such a short reunion, Xia Wenqing was...


    With her brows deeply furrowed, Liu Xiaozhen immediately interrupted the harmonious atmosphere between them...

 Chapter 374: 372: He Deserves to Be Hung Up and Beaten Every Day!

    Chapter 374: Chapter 372: He Deserves to Be Hung Up and Beaten Every Day!


    ¡°Wen... Uh, Lawyer Xia, I think there¡¯s a problem with the materials this time. Shall we talk about it?¡±


    Xia Wenqing nodded his head upon hearing it was work-related.


    However, considering Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s previous meddling, he turned his head to Xu Zhenzhen and waved her over, saying, ¡°Zhenzhen, come and liaise with Lawyer Liu on the details of the upcoming work.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen was slightly taken aback, looking at Xia Wenqing in confusion, he asked, ¡°Lawyer Xia, what do you mean by this?¡±


    Xia Wenqing replied calmly, ¡°Zhenzhen is my assistant; it¡¯s only right for her to handle these matters. Rest assured, I¡¯ll be monitoring closely and it won¡¯t affect the progress of the case.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen almost couldn¡¯t believe his eyes as he looked at Xia Wenqing¡ªhad the workaholic actually delegated his work to someone else?


    Xu Zhenzhen certainly hadn¡¯t expected it either, but since Xia Wenqing had said so, how could she not cooperate?


    ¡°Lawyer Liu, don¡¯t worry. I will certainly cherish the opportunity to work with you and take it very seriously,¡± she said with a smile, although the smile in her eyes couldn¡¯t be more fake.


    Liu Xiaozhen suppressed his irritation, pulling at the corner of his mouth and eventually said, ¡°Then I look forward to your guidance.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure~¡±


    ...


    As the severe cold of the winter set in, a light snow fell.


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t had the time to visit Tian Xiangjun recently because of the Xia Family and Xia Wenjin¡¯s previous allegations.


    Now that both the Lu Family and Xia Wenjin had quieted down, she and Song Sinian went to Tian Xiangjun¡¯s psychological studio together.


    Seeing Song Sinian in a visibly better state than before, she felt greatly relieved.


    Doctor Tian poured them both some floral tea before slowly starting, ¡°Are you two here for individual psychological counseling like before?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°This time it¡¯s me, I want to undergo hypnosis. There are some things from my childhood that I¡¯m concerned about and I want to see if I can retrieve lost memories through hypnosis.¡±


    She always felt that the things she had forgotten were not ordinary...


    She even suspected that her previous fall down the stairs might not have been an accident.


    But in her last life, she had been too entangled in numerous chaotic matters and had never gotten the chance to unravel the mysteries.


    Now, surrounded by loving parents and a protective brother, even if she faced any problems, she had Song Sinian and her family to shelter her from the storm.


    This sense of security was something she had never felt in her last life.


    Only now did she have the courage to unlock the puzzles of her childhood.


    Doctor Tian frowned slightly, ¡°What caused your childhood amnesia? If it¡¯s been too long, it might be impossible to remember.¡±


    She looked at Lu Zhaozhao with concern.


    She had heard about her past from Song Sinian before and had admired how Lu Zhaozhao, despite being manipulated by a pick-up artist for so long, still managed to stay clear-headed.


    It proved that this child¡¯s resilience was extraordinary, but even the most resilient people had their vulnerable spots.


    She worried that the memories Lu Zhaozhao had lost could be her sore points.


    Although as a psychologist she should encourage facing one¡¯s psychological shadows head-on.


    But if these things have already been forgotten, why not let them stay that way?


    She just felt that Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao had both suffered too much, and now that things were finally improving, she didn¡¯t want them to face any more setbacks.


    ¡°I fell down the stairs and lost my memory when I was a kid,¡± Lu Zhaozhao thought Tian Xiangjun felt some psychological burden and lightly chuckled while patting her hand, ¡°Doctor Tian, don¡¯t worry, I just want to try to solve the puzzles in my heart. If I really can¡¯t remember anything, then it¡¯s okay to let it go.¡±


    Tian Xiangjun pursed her lips and glanced over at Song Sinian, seemingly waiting for him to express his opinion.


    ¡°We will do as Zhaozhao said, but if any dangerous situation occurs, wake her up immediately,¡± Song Sinian said this with exceptional solemnity while looking at Tian Xiangjun, making her even more nervous.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out and tugged at Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, you¡¯re being too dramatic. I just accidentally fell down the stairs; it¡¯s not as serious as you think. Don¡¯t scare Doctor Tian.¡±


    While saying this, she also pulled the corners of her mouth towards Tian Xiangjun, signaling her not to take it too seriously.


    Tian Xiangjun sighed silently, ¡°Rest assured, I have a clear idea of what to do.¡±


    Afterwards, Lu Zhaozhao followed Tian Xiangjun into the treatment room.


    Naturally, Song Sinian also went in with them.


    Not wanting to delay Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hypnosis, Song Sinian wisely sat down on a sofa to the side, quietly waiting.


    Lu Zhaozhao lay down on a comfortable single-seat sofa and, under Tian Xiangjun¡¯s guidance, gradually fell into sleep.


    ¡°Now, you have returned to your childhood, back to the day you fell down the stairs... try to think about what the weather was like that day, whether it was day or night...¡±


    Her gentle voice echoed around.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s closed eyes twitched, and she mechanically responded, ¡°The wind is blowing outside; it seems like it¡¯s raining, and it¡¯s very dark outside.¡±


    Doctor Tian quietly breathed a sigh of relief and continued, ¡°Now, you are standing on the staircase where you were then, see what you can see?¡±


    ¡°A man, and a woman...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice was a bit choppy, ¡°That man is Lu Dagui, and the woman is... is...¡±


    Her body suddenly curled up tight, and then she began to tremble.


    ¡°Don¡¯t come over!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly started to struggle on the sofa.


    Seeing this, Song Sinian immediately strode over and gently grasped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand.


    Her fingertips were cold, and her whole face began to turn pale.


    She seemed to have encountered something very frightening.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t be afraid! I know you can hear my voice,¡± Doctor Tian hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition to suddenly worsen; she immediately tried to pull her out of the memory, ¡°I will count to three, and you will leave the current scene, one! Two! Three! Wake up!¡±


    But this caused Lu Zhaozhao to struggle even more fiercely.


    She abruptly opened her eyes, but her whole body was as if it had been soaked in water, trembling uncontrollably.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao open her eyes, Song Sinian immediately held her tightly in his arms and began to soothe her back, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s all okay now, I¡¯m here, everything is okay.¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what Lu Zhaozhao had experienced in her memory, but he was quite certain that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fall down the stairs in her childhood was no accident.


    And that incident could not be detached from Lu Dagui.


    He suddenly regretted that he had only beaten Lu Dagui once before.


    Such a person should be hung up and beaten every day!


    Lu Zhaozhao nestled in Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, shaking non-stop, and it took her a good while to recover from the memory just now.


    Her eyes blinked, still carrying traces of moisture, with her eye sockets faintly red...

 Chapter 375: 373: Is This Too Exaggerated?

    Chapter 375: Chapter 373: Is This Too Exaggerated?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart was thumping wildly, and she leaned silently in Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    The scene from her memory had impacted her greatly, and she was having a hard time digesting it.


    She was not a child of the Lu Family, something Lu Dagui and Cao Mei had almost known since she was a child.


    But... what she didn¡¯t know was that Xia Wenjin was also not born of Cao Mei!


    Although she hadn¡¯t heard everything in her memory, it was indeed because she overheard that woman telling Lu Dagui about the child between them...


    Lu Zhaozhao was still young then, and didn¡¯t know she wasn¡¯t the Lu Family¡¯s child.


    So, after hearing this news, she mistakenly thought she was the child of that woman...


    As a result, that woman choked her and pushed her down the stairs.


    The twisted face of that woman, Lu Zhaozhao remembered it to this day.


    But who exactly was she?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows were almost knotted; she vaguely remembered what the woman looked like. She might recognize her if she saw her again.


    But if she was asked to draw her, she probably couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you alright?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice, gentle, fell on her ear.


    It gave her a great sense of security.


    Her small hands, which were initially holding Song Sinian, now clung even tighter.


    Seeing this, Tian Xiangjun coughed lightly, ¡°I¡¯ll go out and pour a cup of water. Sinian, you take care of Zhaozhao for a while, let her relax. If there¡¯s any problem, call me; I¡¯ll be drinking tea next door.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I understand,¡± Song Sinian nodded to Tian Xiangjun. Then he gently patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back again, softly comforting the person in his arms.


    Lu Zhaozhao obviously felt Song Sinian¡¯s tenderness, and her whole body relaxed significantly.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I just remembered some things, but they¡¯re not very complete...¡±


    She slowly opened her mouth, and the images from just before flashed through her mind again, causing Lu Zhaozhao to shiver uncontrollably.


    As an adult, she knew that with her current skills, she wouldn¡¯t be controlled by a frail woman again.


    But such terrifying events occurred during her childhood, and the feeling of isolation and helplessness was hard to shake off. She tried to comfort herself but was repeatedly overwhelmed by the scenes in her mind.


    Song Sinian¡¯s arms around her tightened, pulling her closer to his chest, ¡°Stop thinking about these things for now. There will be plenty of time to deal with this situation later; it¡¯s not urgent right now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nuzzled her head in Song Sinian¡¯s chest, ¡°But I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll forget by then...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if you forget, it doesn¡¯t matter. Some people will definitely remember,¡± Song Sinian said, his eyes flashing darkly.


    Even if Lu Dagui didn¡¯t remember, he would make him until he did.


    However, he would have to go about this behind Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back, given her current condition and difficulty in facing those events again.


    Lu Zhaozhao, confused, looked up at Song Sinian, as if suddenly realizing something, ¡°Right, how could I forget? I saw Lu Dagui there; he must know something!¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡± Song Sinian nodded, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this anymore. Others will remember, and I¡¯ll handle the follow-up matters. You just need to stay by my side.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to say something else but, recalling the event from her memories, her eyebrows furrowed tightly once more.


    She distinctly remembered Lu Dagui watching emotionlessly as that woman choked her and flung her, just like she was an ant, insignificant in death.


    Lu Zhaozhao had always known that Lu Dagui was a selfish man, but she never imagined he could be so cruel.


    So even if Song Sinian beat him to a pulp, she wouldn¡¯t mind in the slightest.


    Sympathize with someone who wanted her dead?


    ¡°She must not have been tormented enough.¡±


    She certainly had enough.


    Especially for scum like Lu Dagui, you can¡¯t afford to be soft-hearted.


    After Lu Zhaozhao handed the matter over to Song Sinian, she completely relaxed.


    But unexpectedly, the moment she relaxed, she immediately developed a high fever. Before Song Sinian could take her home, she had to be taken straight to the hospital.


    Therefore, early the next morning when Lu Zhaozhao woke up again, the entire ward was fully surrounded.


    Aside from the Xia family members, Song Sinian, and Old Master Song, even Xu Zhenzhen and Pei Huai had come.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    She stared blankly at the crowd in front of her, seemingly confused as to why all these people had gathered while she had just been asleep.


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly propped herself up, just as she tried to sit up, Wen Qingyu immediately came forward to support her and placed a pillow behind her.


    Others helped with the blankets, while some brought breakfast.


    It could be said that apart from Old Master Song, none of the remaining people were idle.


    That¡¯s when Lu Zhaozhao noticed something was amiss.


    It seemed she wasn¡¯t at home...


    This place should be... the hospital.


    She had just felt very tired yesterday and had fallen asleep directly, without realizing that Song Sinian had taken her to the hospital.


    Wasn¡¯t that an exaggeration?


    Her gaze circled around the crowd but noticed that Song Sinian was standing beside her brothers and showed no sign of approaching her.


    Lu Zhaozhao was a bit dazed, ¡°Yesterday I...¡±


    ¡°Yesterday you had a fever, Sinian brought you here and you haven¡¯t woken up until now,¡± said Wen Qingyu, feeling a twinge of pain in her heart as she spoke.


    She truly felt sorry for Lu Zhaozhao.


    When Wen Qingyu had just found out that Lu Zhaozhao was her daughter, she wanted her to come and stay with the Xia family for a while.


    After all, they had been apart for so many years, and she cherished the thought of making it up to her.


    Moreover, having a daughter as gentle and sweet as Lu Zhaozhao made it difficult not to grow fond of her.


    But unexpectedly, she had already gotten married early and particularly liked Song Sinian.


    Even if Wen Qingyu wanted to keep Lu Zhaozhao close, she couldn¡¯t destroy her happiness, so she had to settle for inviting Lu Zhaozhao over for meals when possible.


    She had thought Lu Zhaozhao would be safe by Song Sinian¡¯s side.


    Yet unexpectedly, last night she suddenly received news that Lu Zhaozhao had been admitted to the hospital due to a fever.


    More importantly, she had spent the entire night in the hospital, and Lu Zhaozhao had been unconscious the whole time.


    Moreover, she seemed very restless, as if constantly having nightmares.


    She seemed to be struggling fiercely.


    Wen Qingyu was genuinely terrified.


    If given the choice, she would rather be the one sick in bed, not Lu Zhaozhao.


    Feeling Wen Qingyu¡¯s earnest gaze, Lu Zhaozhao felt somewhat embarrassed to bring up the reason for her fever yesterday.


    Perhaps it was due to the shock from the memories of her childhood that had caused the fever.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze drifted towards Song Sinian, standing directly opposite her...

 Chapter 376: 374 Too Unqualified

    Chapter 376: Chapter 374 Too Unqualified


    It seemed that Mr. Song from her family hadn¡¯t told anyone the real reason for her coma during her unconsciousness.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart was moved.


    Song Sinian had always respected her every decision, even if he didn¡¯t know why she wanted to do it, he supported her as always.


    Having such a husband really boosted her confidence.


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged at her lips, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine, I just fell ill by accident, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s nothing serious?¡± Wen Qingyu immediately objected.


    Her brows furrowed, ¡°Zhaozhao, you need to take your health seriously, you know?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, little sister, you¡¯re now the young lady of the Xia Family, you can ask others to do whatever you want, you don¡¯t need to work so hard yourself,¡± Xia Wenyan followed up on Wen Qingyu¡¯s words and chimed in.


    Xia Wenjue nodded as well, ¡°Lao Si is right, there are many things you don¡¯t need to shoulder yourself, we have the Xia Family to support you, and there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t solve.¡±


    He was worried that Lu Zhaozhao had fallen ill because of the pressure from the issues between Xia Wenjin and the Xia Family.


    He felt somewhat guilty.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s thoughts were similar to Xia Wenjue¡¯s, and because he was mostly the one dealing with the skirmishes with Xia Wenjin, it made him even more upset.


    At that time, he was only thinking about how to thoroughly crush Xia Wenjin, without considering the external pressure Lu Zhaozhao must bear during that period.


    Especially since Xia Wenjin was in the same drama crew as her.


    He had been negligent.


    Old Master Song stood by and listened as one by one, members of the Xia Family voiced their concerns. He looked at Song Sinian with a hint of disappointment mixed with vexation and then spoke up.


    ¡°In-laws, Zhaozhao¡¯s illness is also our Song Family¡¯s responsibility. We promise to take even better care of her from now on!¡±


    Old Master Song was afraid that if he spoke too slowly, his precious granddaughter-in-law might be taken back to her family.


    Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie weren¡¯t unreasonable people.


    They understood that everyone falls ill at times as part of human nature.


    The reason they were so concerned about Lu Zhaozhao now was because they hadn¡¯t been able to take care of her as she grew up.


    Not to mention learning about her sudden illness...


    However, the attitude of the Song Family made Wen Qingyu feel much better.


    She couldn¡¯t simply place all the blame on others.


    Xia Nie noticed his wife¡¯s mood and turned to Old Master Song, ¡°Old Master, Zhaozhao¡¯s illness isn¡¯t something we can control, and you¡¯ve also been up all night. Now that Zhaozhao is awake and the doctor has said there¡¯s nothing wrong, why don¡¯t we all take a break?¡±


    It was okay for them, but Old Master Song was indeed getting on in years, and if he carelessly fell ill too, Zhaozhao would probably feel distressed.


    The old master glanced at everyone present and then at Song Sinian, who remained silent beside him, and sighed helplessly, giving a slight nod.


    Xia Nie then cast a glance at his several sons and Song Sinian, ¡°You guys should also go with me to the resting room. Zhaozhao has Zhenzhen and your mom.¡±


    Actually, he was also trying to secure a chance for Wen Qingyu to be alone with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xu Zhenzhen was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s best friend, and if there really was something wrong, she would probably also be able to speak out more easily.


    Seeing Wen Qingyu, Xia Nie nodded at her and whisked away those reluctant children.


    Song Sinian was the least willing of all, but looking at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pale little face, he hesitated for a moment, and just then, he caught a glimpse of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s worried eyes.


    In an instant, his tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed, and in the end, he gently nodded at Lu Zhaozhao and left with the Xia Family.


    For a time, only Xu Zhenzhen, Wen Qingyu, and Lu Zhaozhao were left in the entire hospital room.


    Xu Zhenzhen sat by the bedside, her hand tightly holding Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, and asked, ¡°Zhaozhao, are you hungry? Do you want to eat something now?¡±


    ¡°She just woke up, she could start with some porridge,¡± Wen Qingyu whispered. Hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen immediately picked up the millet pumpkin porridge that was on the bedside table and brought it over.


    Wen Qingyu arranged the small table for Lu Zhaozhao, and the two of them took care of her like she was a three-year-old baby, almost wishing they could feed her spoon by spoon.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the two of them with a bit of a crying smile, ¡°I just have a bit of a fever, it¡¯s not like I can¡¯t move, there¡¯s no need for you two to busy yourselves, please just sit down.¡±


    As she spoke, she stretched out her hands to hold onto their arms, with the stance of not letting go unless they stopped.


    Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen exchanged glances and had no choice but to compromise.


    They were practically sitting on either side of the sickbed, watching Lu Zhaozhao eating her millet pumpkin porridge against the head of the bed.


    For a time, the hospital room was so quiet it was a bit scary, only punctuated occasionally by the sound of Lu Zhaozhao scooping porridge.


    Lu Zhaozhao really couldn¡¯t stand the atmosphere and helplessly looked at the two people in front of her, ¡°I¡¯m really okay, I...¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao, is this fever really just a sudden cold?¡± Wen Qingyu, looking at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pale little face, finally couldn¡¯t help but speak up.


    She noticed that Lu Zhaozhao was clearly taken aback and hurried to explain, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to pry into your privacy, I just want you to know that you can rely on mom too, and you can talk to mom about anything.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen also held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand, ¡°I have the same thought, your condition last night didn¡¯t seem like just a common cold. Did that Xia Wenjin bitch bully you again?¡±


    Just thinking about Xia Wenjin¡¯s vile schemes made her brow furrow involuntarily.


    She had known before that this woman was no good, but who would have thought she¡¯d be so vicious??


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze shifted back and forth between Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s faces for a moment before sighing helplessly, ¡°Actually... the reason I went to the hospital was to see a psychologist.¡±


    ¡°A psychologist?¡± Wen Qingyu instantly became anxious, ¡°Zhaozhao, there¡¯s nothing wrong, is there?¡±


    She knew about the treatment Lu Zhaozhao had received at the Lu Family before, but she had never heard that she was going to get psychological treatment...


    That was her negligence.


    A child suffering from years of psychological abuse might appear sunny and cheerful on the surface, but could be scarred all over beneath the fac?ade.


    She was such an inadequate mother.


    Thinking this, Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes welled up with tears.


    Xu Zhenzhen also looked at Lu Zhaozhao anxiously.


    Their uneasy gazes left her feeling somewhat numb.


    She cleared her throat lightly, a bit embarrassed, ¡°I didn¡¯t go to see a psychologist because I have psychological trauma, but because I fell down the stairs when I was young, so I went to see a psychologist for hypnotherapy to see if I could remember what happened back then...¡±

 Chapter 377: 375: This is absolutely not okay!

    Chapter 377: Chapter 375: This is absolutely not okay!


    Lu Zhaozhao originally wanted to explain a bit to reassure them that she didn¡¯t have any psychological disorders.


    But as soon as she spoke, the expressions on Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s faces became even more unsightly.


    ¡°You mean to say, you went for hypnosis because of that childhood incident where you fell down the stairs, and then you got a fever?¡± Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, her gaze fixed on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face, with an indescribable seriousness.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded gently.


    Xu Zhenzhen exploded at this, ¡°Zhaozhao, you were pushed down the stairs, weren¡¯t you?! Did you see the face of that scum who pushed you?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was still a child back then, and that human scum was so cruel.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao also clearly sensed that something was amiss.


    It seemed like... she had let something slip.


    Lu Zhaozhao originally wanted to change the subject, but seeing the overly serious faces of Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu, the words she had at the tip of her tongue were ultimately swallowed back down.


    Thus, it did not take long for Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen to learn from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth about what had happened the night before.


    Now, both of them were furious!


    Lu Dagui, that scum, actually watched with his own eyes as Lu Zhaozhao was choked and pushed down the stairs?


    ¡°That bunch of scum from the Lu Family...¡± Wen Qingyu was almost gnashing her teeth.


    Initially, she thought that since the Lu family had raised Lu Zhaozhao for 20 years, she left them a way out, but now she discovered that they had almost killed Lu Zhaozhao previously.


    She now deeply regretted her decision at the time.


    The more Wen Qingyu thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt, and she resolutely decided to go to the resting room to find her husband and avenge her precious daughter!


    But Lu Zhaozhao needed someone with her even more now, so not until she fell asleep, did the two quietly leave the hospital room.


    Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen walked one after another through the hospital¡¯s long corridor.


    From a distance, they saw a woman pushing a man in a wheelchair coming towards them.


    ¡°Why did you insist on going out to see that little wench when you should be resting comfortably in bed?¡±


    Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen were not the types to meddle in others¡¯ affairs, so when they heard the person speaking, they just thought it was someone else¡¯s family matter.


    But the next second, they heard the man in the wheelchair say, ¡°We still need the Song family now. With Lu Zhaozhao hospitalized, you should at least pretend to care and go have a look. Besides, we also need to find out exactly why that woman was hospitalized, right?¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened, ¡°You¡¯re right, maybe that little wench did something shameful and ended up in the hospital because she got beaten up by that kid from the Song family, heh heh...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The two were chatting enthusiastically, completely unaware that Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu had already stopped not far away.


    Although they did not recognize these two, they knew from their hostility towards Lu Zhaozhao that they were no good.


    With bodyguards guarding outside Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hospital room, they didn¡¯t need to worry about these two trying to force their way in.


    If they dared to do so, the bodyguards would throw them out at the first opportunity.


    Not to mention, from what they had just overheard, these two were still at the mercy of the Song family, so they were even less likely to do anything out of line.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and she glanced at Xu Zhenzhen beside her and said softly, ¡°Zhenzhen, I just remembered that I forgot to bring something with me. You go ahead to the resting room, I¡¯ll be over in a little while.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mouth opened slightly, and although she initially had something to say, she swallowed her words back down and nodded lightly; then the two left the corridor one after another.


    But Wen Qingyu, who had left, didn¡¯t head back to the hospital room; instead, she found a discreet spot to hide.


    She didn¡¯t have the temperament to tolerate someone cursing her precious daughter under her watch.


    Just now, she had put up with it because Xu Zhenzhen was there, after all, she is Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s good friend, and she couldn¡¯t disgrace her own daughter.


    That¡¯s why she had just now sent Xu Zhenzhen away, looking for an opportunity to give these two scumbags a good thrashing.


    Hao Li and Feng Jiadong, having been rebuffed at the door of the sickroom, could only return in a dispirited manner.


    ¡°Tsks tsk... that little tramp says she¡¯s hospitalized, yet neither her man nor old Mr. Song is in the sickroom. It looks like you were right; this little tramp has no standing in the Song family,¡± Hao Li muttered to herself.


    This made her even more curious about why Lu Zhaozhao fell ill and was hospitalized.


    Maybe she really was admitted because Song Sinian had hit her?


    Otherwise, why would they station bodyguards outside the sickroom door, not allowing people to visit her?


    There must be something fishy going on!


    Feng Jiyue, sitting in the wheelchair, shared similar thoughts; he snorted coldly, ¡°For all we know, Song Sinian has other quirks. That woman looks the way she does; he might not even enjoy playing with her much. Don¡¯t be fooled by Song Sinian¡¯s decent appearance, heh...¡±


    Hao Li nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right. That little tramp was all high and mighty with me just the other day, and now she¡¯s getting her comeuppance!¡±


    Thinking of how she was on Xiao Jinglan¡¯s side, she felt no affection for Lu Zhaozhao.


    But even if she weren¡¯t siding with Xiao Jinglan, simply because Lu Zhaozhao was Song Sinian¡¯s woman, she wouldn¡¯t have any feeling for her.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao was the Song family¡¯s legitimate granddaughter-in-law. If she got pregnant and had a son, then the Song family¡¯s wealth wouldn¡¯t fall into their hands!


    This absolutely couldn¡¯t happen!


    It seems they needed to find a way to move into the Song Mansion as soon as possible.


    Once they coaxed old Master Song, they would have everything!


    Thinking this, Hao Li suddenly felt much happier in her heart.


    She was pushing the wheelchair, and it didn¡¯t take long before they reached a corner of the corridor. Before she could react, something was thrown over her head.


    Feng Jiyue seated in the wheelchair received the same treatment.


    Just as they tried to resist, a barrage of punches rained down on them, and wretched cries instantly filled the corridor.


    Wen Qingyu was just about to knock the two out when suddenly a stick appeared beside her, hitting both people precisely at the back of their necks.


    Without even struggling, both of them passed out.


    Wen Qingyu was startled and when she saw the face of the other party, she awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth.


    The other party was also a bit embarrassed and likewise tugged at the corner of their mouth, ¡°Auntie... you, you too?¡±


    Her gaze fell downward, looking at the two people beside her, with nowhere to hide her stick.


    Xu Zhenzhen had wanted to beat them up the moment she heard these two speaking ill of Lu Zhaozhao.


    But with Wen Qingyu there, she felt embarrassed to show her fierce side in front of her crush¡¯s mother.


    She never expected...she would think the same way.


    Wen Qingyu, caught in the act, was somewhat embarrassed, but seeing the stick in Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s hand, she suddenly felt relieved.


    Her fondness for Xu Zhenzhen soared straight up in her heart.


    A best friend who steps up when someone speaks ill of her daughter is truly valuable.


    If she could have such a daughter-in-law... it wouldn¡¯t be bad to form a group and beat up others when going out...

 Chapter 378: 376 This vicious woman!

    Chapter 378: Chapter 376 This vicious woman!


    Wen Qingyu thought this, and her entire being brimmed with happiness.


    She winked at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°While no one else has noticed, shall we help them loosen up a bit?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, seeing Wen Qingyu¡¯s eagerness, agreed without a second thought.


    The two of them didn¡¯t care whether Feng Jiyue really had a broken arm or leg, they just piled Hao Li on top of him and pushed the pair to the restroom on that floor.


    Then they hung up an ¡°Out of Order¡± sign.


    It wasn¡¯t until much later in the day that the two emerged from the restroom with smiles on their faces and vanished down the corridor in perfect unison.


    By the time Feng Jiyue and Hao Li were discovered and rescued from the restroom and had received treatment, it was already afternoon.


    Old Master Song sat in the hospital room looking at the two people lying side by side, his eyebrows knitted into a knot.


    If he hadn¡¯t just happened to be in the hospital, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have gone out of his way to visit them.


    But since he was indeed in the hospital, he had heard that Hao Li and Feng Jiyue had been beaten up and someone had forced their heads into a toilet, covering them in filthy water.


    This was certainly an intentional act of vengeance.


    Old Master Song was somewhat puzzled. Feng Jiyue and Hao Li had only recently arrived in Shangjing; how could they have so often been the victims of beatings?


    He had heard, Feng Jiyue was either involved in conflicts with people in the hospital or harmed due to some hospital family clashes.


    Trouble seemed to follow him all day long.


    And now, they had been beaten up in a restroom.


    What kind of deep hatred or grievance was this?


    ¡°Old Master, you must help us find the person who beat us up, wuwuwu... Our Jiaye really suffered too much, wuwuwu...¡±


    Hao Li lay in the hospital bed, her face swollen and crying a river of tears.


    Although there was an element of performance in front of Old Master Song, the sight of her son in such a state genuinely pained her heart.


    Feng Jiyue had been inexplicably injured often recently, with the fractured areas hardly healing and multiplying instead.


    This time was even worse.


    Because Hao Li landed on top of him, she had further fractured his already broken body.


    Now, Feng Jiyue not only had to have the fractured areas reopened, he also needed to undergo surgery again.


    Thinking this, Hao Li became even more distressed.


    ¡°Old Master, our Jiaye...¡±


    Before she could finish, the door to the hospital room was suddenly knocked on.


    As Hao Li looked up, she saw the person entering was Xiao Jinglan, and her expression immediately soured, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was also taken aback.


    She had come to see Old Master Song. Hearing that Lu Zhaozhao was sick and hospitalized, she hoped to use this opportunity to curry favor with Old Master Song and perhaps find her way back into the Song Mansion.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected to run into Hao Li as soon as she arrived.


    Her eyebrows furrowed, but she quickly regained her composure, curling her lips into a smile and saying, ¡°I came to see Zhaozhao. I heard you were ill, too, so I thought I¡¯d drop by.¡±


    ¡°Heh...¡±


    Hao Li scoffed inwardly. Come to see her?


    She was clearly here to gloat!


    Something¡¯s not right... no matter how I think about this, it reeks of strangeness.


    Could it have been done by this woman?


    Hao Li¡¯s heart suddenly clenched.


    Such a thing was not impossible.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xiao Jinglan had a good relationship. Since Lu Zhaozhao had fallen ill, she definitely should¡¯ve come to the hospital immediately, so why did she only arrive now?


    And after her and her son had been treated?


    She clearly came here to gloat at their misfortune, right?


    This vicious woman!


    Hao Li¡¯s feelings of repulsion towards Xiao Jinglan instantly hit 200 percent.


    Xiao Jinglan caught a glimpse of the hostility in Hao Li¡¯s eyes and snorted coldly to herself; however, she asked with a gentle demeanor, ¡°Old Master Song, what happened to these two? How did they get so badly hurt?¡±


    Mr. Song smirked, thinking about the troublesome nature of the two, then glanced at Xiao Jinglan beside him and suddenly had an idea.


    ¡°These two somehow got beaten up in the hospital, and the place they were attacked was a blind spot for the cameras. In private places like the restroom, there are even fewer cameras.¡±


    Mr. Song let out a light sigh, ¡°If you aren¡¯t too busy lately, could you help look into this matter and take care of the two of them in the meantime? I¡¯m an old man and can¡¯t withstand such tolls.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t expected that a simple hospital visit would result in Mr. Song ¡°reactivating¡± her into service, although it involved dealing with the Feng family¡¯s affairs, at least she was being made use of.


    If she handled this well, Mr. Song might slowly start delegating authority to her again in the future.


    Just like before.


    With this thought, Xiao Jinglan suddenly felt spirited.


    Since her last hospitalization, her health had been deteriorating, and even walking a bit more made her gasp for breath.


    She had planned to rest for a while longer before finding another opportunity to approach the Song Mansion.


    But now an opportunity had presented itself right into her hands, how could she pass it up?


    Without hesitating, Xiao Jinglan nodded firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Old Master Song, leave this matter to me. Hao Li and I are old acquaintances, and we¡¯re both women; I¡¯m the most suitable to handle this.¡±


    The moment Hao Li heard this, she immediately grew anxious, ¡°Old Master Song, leaving this matter to a woman like Xiao Jinglan might not be wise, right? Lu Zhaozhao and I have been beaten, and if the situation turns out to be terrible...¡±


    ¡°Sister Hao Li, rest assured, I have dealt with such matters before when I was with the Song family; you have nothing to worry about.¡± Before Hao Li could finish, Xiao Jinglan quickly interrupted her.


    ¡°Besides, Old Master Song is getting on in years; are you truly going to make him personally investigate such a troublesome matter? What if it exhausts him?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s eyebrows immediately knotted tight.


    She had said as much as she could, and if she kept obstructing, it would seem like she was being ungrateful.


    Suddenly, Hao Li seemed to remember something, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want you to investigate, but I heard Zhaozhao is also sick. Aren¡¯t you going to take care of her? Actually, we can handle this matter ourselves...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s complexion instantly turned greenish, her vigilant eyes fixed on Hao Li.


    It seemed this woman was blatantly competing for a place in the Song family. Now that she was beaten up like this, it was probably a ploy to gain sympathy, right?


    Otherwise, why would she, having been beaten herself, still think of pushing her out and investigating on her own?


    Xiao Jinglan narrowed her eyes, and with a forced smile said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sinian is looking after Zhaozhao; there¡¯s no need for me. If I really went there, he might not be too pleased...¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°Enough of ¡®but.¡¯ It¡¯s settled then. If there¡¯s anything you can¡¯t handle, just mention it to the old housekeeper,¡± said Mr. Song, glancing at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°you should know how to contact the butler. I¡¯m leaving the matter to you, don¡¯t disappoint me.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, Old Master Song!¡±

 Chapter 379: 377 Quite Ruthless

    Chapter 379: Chapter 377 Quite Ruthless


    Xiao Jinglan, full of gusto, agreed readily.


    It was then that Mr. Song finally heaved a sigh of relief. Indeed, whether it was his son¡¯s second-time wife or that woman from the Feng family, none were easy to deal with.


    However, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s timely arrival had truly resolved his urgent dilemma.


    He knew Xiao Jinglan had been making some moves behind the scenes, but since these matters weren¡¯t out in the open, it was not easy for him to take action against her.


    But now with the woman from the Feng family involved, the two of them starting a quarrel should reveal quite a bit.


    It would also give him much more peace down the road.


    It was like killing two birds with one stone...


    In the evening, Lu Zhaozhao opened her eyes again and saw Song Sinian standing by her bedside.


    ¡°Awake?¡± Song Sinian quietly looked at Lu Zhaozhao, gently caressing her cheek with his large hand.


    The soft and warm touch on her cheek made Lu Zhaozhao instinctively rub her small face against Song Sinian¡¯s large hand.


    She was probably really frightened yesterday¡ªalthough she woke up during the day, she was completely drained of strength due to the fever earlier.


    She had intended to rest for a while but ended up sleeping for the whole day.


    Seeing the look of distress between Song Sinian¡¯s brows, she placed her small hand on his large one and smiled affectionately, ¡°I¡¯m fine, husband.¡±


    Her soft utterance of ¡°husband¡± made one¡¯s heart involuntarily soften.


    Especially for Song Sinian, who was trembly tender towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    He stood up and hugged Lu Zhaozhao right away. Previously, when Lu Zhaozhao had a fever, he was surrounded by several people from the Xia family, completely blocking his access to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Normally, he would have thrown all the Xia family members out of the hospital.


    But now, he was worried that Lu Zhaozhao would be upset when she woke up¡ªshe was already ill, and he did not want to trouble her further.


    So, he had to be patient.


    Now that all the other troublesome people had left, he couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.


    Song Sinian hugged Lu Zhaozhao tight, wishing he could merge her into his very bones.


    Nothing drove him crazier than watching her so weak and being powerless to help.


    Lu Zhaozhao, held in his embrace, felt like she was about to suffocate the next second.


    She raised her hand and patted Song Sinian, speaking with some difficulty, ¡°Husband, I... I can hardly breathe.¡±


    Song Sinian, startled, immediately let go of Lu Zhaozhao, looking at her slightly flushed face with eyes full of self-reproach.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed a bit helplessly, her small hands directly grasping Song Sinian¡¯s, ¡°My Mr. Song, I know you¡¯re worried about me. I won¡¯t do this anymore. Can you please not be so upset?¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian still did not speak, but instead buried his head in the crook of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck, sniffing the fragrance of her skin, as if his entire heart was healed.


    His head nuzzled against her, and a hoarse voice finally emerged slowly, ¡°Just now, when the Xia family people were all around you, I was very worried.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t quite understand what he meant.


    He was worried that she would understand, but the Xia family people surrounding her¡ªwhat was he worried about?


    Song Sinian did not look at Lu Zhaozhao, continuing moodily, ¡°I was so worried that the Xia family people might take you away. I know they are important to you, as everyone feels that blood relatives are more significant...¡±


    His hesitant words fell into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ears, immediately making her laugh silently.


    It was then that Lu Zhaozhao realized, Song Sinian was jealous.


    Together with his deep care for her, seeing her frequent interactions with the Xia family, he probably feared that his place might be supplanted by them.


    He had been emphasizing the importance of the Xia Family all this time, but his voice sounded so pitiable that Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh.


    Where did Mr. Song learn his tea ceremony skills from?


    It was quite adorable.


    Her little hand rubbed Song Sinian¡¯s head, soothing him, ¡°Mr. Song, I won¡¯t go back to the Xia family. I¡¯m already married to you; I¡¯m your wife now. Would you have the heart to let me go back to the Xia Family alone?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t even think about it; he decisively spoke up.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost laughed at his response, ¡°So, you see, there¡¯s no need for you to worry, okay?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Song Sinian hugged Lu Zhaozhao tighter, still feeling incredibly uneasy at heart.


    He had fallen asleep at Doctor Tian¡¯s place and had felt an indescribable panic since then.


    After that, her high fever had persisted, and he was nearly driven to madness with worry, staying constantly by her side at the hospital.


    He feared that she might just quietly disappear if he blinked.


    Now feeling the lively presence of Lu Zhaozhao again, the panic in his heart had still not subsided.


    His Zhaozhao was too fragile; he needed to protect her properly.


    Recently, there were quite a few annoying flies circling around his wife, and he, of course, dealt with them as they came.


    Since the Feng family didn¡¯t want to leave, he might as well let Xiao Jinglan play with them.


    They had clashed before, and Hao Li had just been beaten not long ago; it was a good time for her fire to be directed at Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°Mr. Song, have my parents gone back?¡± She had not seen any of the Xia Family since she woke up, so she asked subconsciously.


    Song Sinian slowly lifted his head, his expression slightly mournful, but he honestly replied, ¡°They have all gone back; they will come again tomorrow.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pinched Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, smiling mischievously, ¡°How did you convince them to go back?¡±


    She had thought the Xia Family would stay for a long time.


    After all, this was the first time she was hospitalized since she had reconnected with the Xia Family, and they normally cared deeply for her, so staying seemed normal.


    But all of them had left, which was a bit odd.


    Especially her brothers, who had hardly had time to make their presence felt.


    Song Sinian shrugged his shoulders, ¡°It wasn¡¯t because of me; it was because of... your mom.¡±


    ¡°My mom?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows instantly raised.


    That felt even stranger.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked, his tone light, ¡°While you were asleep, there was trouble at the hospital again. I heard someone beat up a patient and their family member, then stuffed them in the toilet.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Wow.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but purse her lips, ¡°It wasn¡¯t Feng Jiaye and Hao Li, was it?¡±


    The only ones she could think of who were still hospitalized and had contact with her were them.


    Song Sinian nodded.


    ¡°My mom... emmm... is indeed a bit fierce.¡± Lu Zhaozhao tugged at her mouth awkwardly; though she had seen Wen Qingyu¡¯s prowess before, the act of beating people up and throwing them into a toilet...


    That was pretty extreme.


    One could only say, that¡¯s definitely her mom.


    Song Sinian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Besides her, your best friend was involved too...¡±

 Chapter 380: 378: Dare to Provoke Again?

    Chapter 380: Chapter 378: Dare to Provoke Again?


    ¡°To be precise, if it wasn¡¯t for Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s report, he wouldn¡¯t have known about this at all.


    He had never had a good impression of Feng Jiaye and Hao Li.


    Besides having Zhao Xi arrange for someone to take good care of them before, he hadn¡¯t paid any attention to this mother and son duo.


    Unexpectedly, they were so gross-mouthed. Knowing that Lu Zhaozhao was hospitalized, they still dared to provoke?


    He heard from the hospital about the medical check-up results of the two and felt that they had been treated too leniently.


    Now that Xiao Jinglan had arrived, she probably wouldn¡¯t let these two have an easy time.


    However, the tension between the two wasn¡¯t intense enough yet, he needed to fuel the fire a bit more.


    Lu Zhaozhao had her eyes widened a lot after hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, ¡°Zhenzhen and my mom teamed up to beat up Feng Jiaye and Hao Li?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°It¡¯s said that while the two were in the resting room, they overheard Feng Jiaye and Hao Li speaking ill of you. They pretended to leave separately but ended up ambushing them at the same place.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao could feel the shock of their encounter just by listening.


    She wiped the tears of laughter from the corner of her eye with her hand and then said to Song Sinian, ¡°That really does sound like something my mom and Zhenzhen would do. They¡¯ll probably become sworn sisters after this.¡±


    Would that make it more likely for her to have Zhenzhen as her sister-in-law?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about the previous time she had asked Xu Zhenzhen to help take photos for her second brother, not knowing how far they had progressed.


    It seemed she would have to urge them to move things along soon.


    While Lu Zhaozhao was thinking, Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face leaned in closer again, ¡°Zhaozhao, it¡¯s just the two of us now, stop thinking about others, I¡¯m feeling uncomfortable here.¡±


    As he spoke, Song Sinian took Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand and pressed it against his chest, giving her a pitiful look.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart nearly melted right then.


    She simply couldn¡¯t resist the charm of Mr. Song from their family. Before, he was clueless about emotions and always blunt, flustering her to death.


    Now that he understood emotions, it was even more intense...


    Meanwhile, the Xia Family had all gathered at the Xia household.


    Wen Qingyu sat on the living room sofa with a serious face, glanced at her sons back and forth, her brow furrowing even more.


    ¡°Mom, just say what you have to say, your expression is making me jittery.¡± Xia Wenyan rubbed the goosebumps on his arms and couldn¡¯t help but mumble.


    When they had come back from the hospital, his mother looked unwell, and as soon as they got home, she started a family meeting.


    This made him more nervous.


    Wen Qingyu glanced at her sons and then at her husband, Xia Nie.


    The latter gently held her hand and tenderly said, ¡°Did Zhaozhao tell you why she had a fever?¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes widened considerably, her face clearly reading ¡°How did you know¡±.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, Xia Wenmo, and Xia Wenyan all fell silent simultaneously.


    Their mom¡¯s thoughts always showed on her face, was there even a need to guess?


    If something hadn¡¯t happened to Zhaozhao, would their usually cheerful mother be irritable?


    No.


    So, as soon as they got home, they had prepared themselves to wait for her to speak.


    Xia Nie sighed helplessly and reached to gently rub Wen Qingyu¡¯s head, ¡°The situation with Zhaozhao falling ill seems quite suspicious, so your concern is normal.¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes suddenly turned red, ¡°That child has really suffered too much...¡±


    Xia Wenmo narrowed his eyes, a distinct malice flickering within, ¡°Was Zhaozhao suddenly getting a fever because someone poisoned her?¡±


    Otherwise, he really couldn¡¯t imagine what special circumstances would cause the normally healthy Lu Zhaozhao to suddenly develop a high fever.


    Xia Wenjue was also aware of this issue, and he looked at Wen Qingyu, asking, ¡°Is this related to the Lu Family?¡±


    Recently, the Lu couple had disappeared without a trace, and despite his efforts to gather information everywhere, he hadn¡¯t been able to find any clues about them.


    Had the couple secretly acted against Lu Zhaozhao and then hidden themselves?


    ¡°Recently, the Feng family has also been restless, maybe they are the ones stirring up trouble...¡± Xia Wenqing crossed his arms, sharing his opinion as well.


    Listening to the analysis of his several brothers, Xia Wenyan suddenly felt his eldest brother, second brother, and third brother all made a lot of sense.


    Why did only he seem useless?


    He frowned and laid his head down on the coffee table in defeat, ¡°Mom, can you just tell us who bullied our little sister? I can¡¯t figure it out, but save a spot for me in the revenge.¡±


    Wen Qingyu looked disdainfully at her youngest son, hand on her forehead, and couldn¡¯t help but wonder what future this foolish boy would have in finding a partner.


    Or if anyone would even want him.


    She sighed deeply, ¡°Zhaozhao said it¡¯s because she went to see a psychologist, that¡¯s why she suddenly had a fever last night.¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao went to see a psychologist?¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows shot up, ¡°Is it because the recent troubles with the Lu Family have stressed her out?¡±


    Xia Wenqing pursed his lips, ¡°If I had known, I would¡¯ve resolved it quickly.¡±


    Xia Wenmo scoffed coldly, ¡°We should¡¯ve just taken those dogs from the Lu Family abroad and finished them off, much easier.¡±


    Xia Wenyan blinked, his brows furrowing further, ¡°Zhaozhao shouldn¡¯t be affected by those dogs from the Lu Family, right? When Xia Wenjin was on the film set, Zhaozhao didn¡¯t even bother with her.¡±


    And now, Lu Zhaozhao felt no affection for the Lu Family at all.


    After all, the Lu Family had gone too far.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s mood grew even heavier, ¡°It¡¯s related to the Lu Family, but the reason Zhaozhao got a fever is because she remembered something from her childhood.¡±


    After that, she discussed the matter of Lu Zhaozhao seeing a psychologist to recover her childhood memories with the Xia family members.


    When they heard that Lu Zhaozhao had been choked and pushed down the stairs when she was very young, the people of the Xia family exploded.


    ¡°That dog Lu Dagui just watched? Hah? He...¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s fists clenched instantly.


    He wished he could find Lu Dagui right now and beat him till he lost his teeth.


    Suddenly, he sort of agreed with his youngest brother¡¯s idea¡ªjust take these dogs abroad and grind them up!


    Xia Wenqing felt the same.


    And Xia Wenyan even more so.


    Their beloved little sister had been horribly abused since childhood, and they even tried to kill her?


    What else was there to say?


    Anyone who could harm a child was scum!


    Regardless of age or gender!


    ¡°Before, I thought that since the Lu Family had raised Zhaozhao for 20 years, if something tragic really happened, Zhaozhao might care, but...¡± Wen Qingyu¡¯s words trailed off there.


    But what she meant to say next was crystal clear to the Xia brothers.


    Before, they had spared the Lu Family members out of consideration for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Now, there was absolutely no need to spare them!

 Chapter 381: 379: If You Cant Speak, Choose to Keep Quiet.

    Chapter 381: Chapter 379: If You Can¡¯t Speak, Choose to Keep Quiet.


    The Xia brothers instantly got Wen Qingyu¡¯s point.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s face darkened, ¡°If the people of the Lu Family dared to act, they must bear the consequences!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, losing everything they¡¯ve got is indeed too lenient for them.¡± Xia Wenqing pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his eyes filled with coldness.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s expression was even more gloomy, his already frosty gaze sharpening further.


    He fiddled with a pencil between his fingers and suddenly hooked up the corner of his mouth, ¡°So after we catch them, we can deal with them according to the Xia Family¡¯s rules, right?¡±


    When Xia Wenmo said this, his gaze turned toward Xia Nie.


    There was a slight raise in the other¡¯s eyebrow as he gave a slight nod.


    Xia Wenyan, who was sitting by the side, couldn¡¯t help but get excited, ¡°Third brother, when you make your move, take me with you! I¡¯ll be your wingman! I¡¯ll beat them so badly, even their mothers won¡¯t recognize them!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s mouth twitched, and he simply changed the subject, ¡°By the way, that girl with Zhaozhao, her name is Xu Zhenzhen, right?¡±


    Upon hearing this name, Xia Wenqing tensed up.


    Xia Wenyan nodded repeatedly, ¡°Right, she¡¯s Zhaozhao¡¯s bestie, and they¡¯re really close. What about her?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo all turned their gaze toward Wen Qingyu.


    They thought there was some juicy gossip about Xu Zhenzhen.


    ¡°I also think this young lady is quite good. Today, when we beat up those two dogs from the Feng family together, we worked seamlessly. You can tell she¡¯s a good girl just by looking,¡± Wen Qingyu recalled the day¡¯s events, praising her uncontrollably.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Everyone present was speechless.


    Indeed, in their mother¡¯s eyes, the standards for a good person were somewhat unique.


    Everyone was a bit speechless, except Xia Wenqing, whose lips curled silently.


    Xu Zhenzhen held quite a high impression in their mother¡¯s eyes.


    It looked like he would have to put in some serious effort...


    The winter wind was bone-chilling, but inside the hospital ward, it was exceptionally warm.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat up in the hospital bed, enjoying being fed by Song Sinian, when they heard a knock on the ward door.


    Both of them looked toward the entrance to see two familiar figures¡ªXiao Jinglan and Hao Li.


    As Song Sinian caught sight of them, his brows furrowed almost instantly.


    His displeasure was immediately apparent, short of having the word ¡°scram¡± written on his face.


    Hao Li hadn¡¯t seen much of Song Sinian before and was very uncomfortable with his forceful aura.


    Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t feeling much better, but in order to regain control of the Song Family¡¯s inner house, she bit the bullet and carried a thermos into the room.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I heard you were sick, so I specially brought you some cubilose, would you like to try?¡± Xiao Jinglan forced a smile, playing the part of a gentle and virtuous person to the fullest.


    ¡°I actually wanted to visit you yesterday, but they said you were sleeping, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡±


    As she spoke, Xiao Jinglan placed the thermos on the bedside table.


    The silver fungus was still the kind she often ate, only the dose inside was intended for someone like Xia Wenjin who required larger amounts.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sudden fever might have been caused by consuming too much of the silver fungus, which would explain why her body suddenly showed problems.


    Of course, she had to press her advantage and make sure Lu Zhaozhao was taken out of the game for good!


    Upon hearing this, Hao Li sneered internally, this woman hadn¡¯t changed at all, always pretending to be something she¡¯s not.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xiao Jinglan and chuckled, ¡°I¡¯ve just started eating and don¡¯t want to eat yet, but this will get cold soon...¡±


    Speaking of which, she turned to Hao Li and said, ¡°Since my aunt just got beaten up yesterday, why don¡¯t you have this bird¡¯s nest instead?¡±


    Hao Li didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to offer her the bird¡¯s nest that Xiao Jinglan brought, and she couldn¡¯t help but freeze for a moment.


    She remembered how Xiao Jinglan strutted around the Song Family house, always eating various luxury items.


    The bird¡¯s nest brought to the hospital this time must be of good quality.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t give it away in front of Song Sinian.


    Thinking this, Hao Li¡¯s already small eyes almost crinkled up with delight, ¡°Then I won¡¯t be polite, hey, despite having been in the hospital for so long, I¡¯ve never had this kind of bird¡¯s nest even once...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan, hearing her sarcastic tone, grew a gloomy expression, but it didn¡¯t show much on her face.


    She looked up at Lu Zhaozhao and spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°Since Zhaozhao can¡¯t eat this with her meal right now, I¡¯ll have someone send it over specially for you this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    It seemed that Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t give up until Lu Zhaozhao had eaten the bird¡¯s nest.


    Lu Zhaozhao had just been wondering if the bird¡¯s nest Xiao Jinglan brought was poisoned, and seeing her insistence, it must surely be poisoned.


    Well, since she wants to send it, let her send it.


    The corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth curved, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble Lady Xiao.¡±


    Hao Li, hearing Xiao Jinglan act so subservient to Lu Zhaozhao, couldn¡¯t help but scoff internally.


    She began eating the bird¡¯s nest in the thermos, and the moment she tasted it, her eyes lit up.


    In the Old Feng Family, they had always valued men over women, with the best items reserved for the men in the house.


    How could Xiao Jinglan¡¯s life be so fortunate, always having the finest things to eat and drink?


    And now Xiao Jinglan was actually using such fine items as favors.


    As she thought about Xiao Jinglan possibly sending more bird¡¯s nest to Lu Zhaozhao, Hao Li¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but narrow.


    Since Xiao Jinglan already offered it, and Lu Zhaozhao lacked nothing in the Song Family, why not let all these goodies become hers?


    Thinking so, Hao Li¡¯s mood instantly improved.


    She cleared her throat, turned away from Xiao Jinglan, and instead spoke to Song Sinian, ¡°Sinian, when I came to see your wife in the hospital yesterday, I heard she was sleeping and wasn¡¯t allowed in the room; it¡¯s sad we didn¡¯t even enter the sickroom. On the way back, we were unjustly beaten by some damned person, and the hospital hasn¡¯t even given us an explanation yet, ah...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan, listening to Hao Li¡¯s words, couldn¡¯t help but curving her lips in a mocking smile.


    Indeed, this woman hadn¡¯t even done the basic homework before coming to the Song Family.


    Song Sinian was utterly obedient to Lu Zhaozhao, yet she had the audacity to try and deceive Song Sinian ¨C her brains really weren¡¯t working.


    Song Sinian glanced coldly at Hao Li, ¡°If you can get beaten even in the hospital, then don¡¯t wander around attracting unnecessary attention.¡±


    His voice was frosty, startling Hao Li, who was eating her bird¡¯s nest, almost spilling the thermal flask from her hands.


    Her smile turned awkward, ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to speak, perhaps you should choose to keep silent,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids did not lift an inch, ¡°Don¡¯t disturb my wife while she¡¯s eating.¡±


    As he spoke, he continued to spoon-feed porridge into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth bit by bit, occasionally picking out little dishes she liked to bring to her lips...

 Chapter 382: 380: Indeed in Cahoots!

    Chapter 382: Chapter 380: Indeed in Cahoots!


    Unlike his tall and aloof appearance, he looked particularly gentle when feeding Lu Zhaozhao.


    Hao Li watched Song Sinian, a bit perplexed, not understanding where she had just gone wrong.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed delicate, even needing a man to feed her when she was sick, really spoiling her.


    She remembered that the Feng family¡¯s Jiaye had said Song Sinian didn¡¯t care about this little tramp. Now that she was sick, Song Sinian was feeding her by the mouthful; this shouldn¡¯t look like he didn¡¯t care.


    Lu Zhaozhao ate until she was seventy percent full and seeing that the two showed no sign of leaving, she asked again, ¡°Isn¡¯t Lady Xiao going to rest early? I heard you were not in good health lately and had just been discharged from the hospital.¡±


    Lady Xiao¡¯s face visibly twitched.


    The fact that she had been in the hospital was a thorn in her side.


    Forcing a smile, she looked at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Old Master Song just left me in charge of the hospital matters yesterday, so I took the opportunity to come by and see how Zhaozhao was doing.¡±


    She was clearly dealing with Hao Li¡¯s issue, yet Lady Xiao spun it into something that seemed very grand.


    Even Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but admire her glib tongue.


    In her previous life, Xiao Jinglan had fooled her completely with her slick tongue; now, thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t that the other was so clever or had such brilliant tactics.


    It was her own lack of information and stupidity.


    Lu Zhaozhao heard a tinge of bragging in the conversation and involuntarily glanced at Hao Li.


    Her smile which wasn¡¯t quite a smile evidently got under her skin.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xiao Jinglan were in cahoots; now that Xiao Jinglan was highly valued by Old Master Song, she came to give her the news first, hmph!


    They were indeed in collusion!


    Hao Li took another sullen sip of cubilose before saying, ¡°Old Master Song only asked you to help investigate the hospital¡¯s situation. When did he say to let you handle everything? Some people really know how to gild their own faces.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao silently curled the corner of her mouth, watching with satisfaction as Hao Li gave Xiao Jinglan a hard time.


    Hao Li and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s methods differed, as did their personalities.


    Xiao Jinglan was best at sweet talk, but Hao Li was the least susceptible to that, so she always managed to embarrass Xiao Jinglan sufficiently.


    Even Xiao Jinglan, who was used to big scenes, couldn¡¯t handle someone tough like Hao Li.


    If Hao Li hadn¡¯t been such a handful, perhaps Old Master Song wouldn¡¯t have passed the task to Xiao Jinglan, would he?


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao with relish, reached out with a handkerchief to wipe her lips, and then put away the breakfast that was on the table.


    Instead, he sat beside Lu Zhaozhao and started peeling sugar tangerines for her.


    Seeing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s uncomfortable expression and the tense standoff with Hao Li, Lu Zhaozhao naturally couldn¡¯t resist adding fuel to the fire.


    ¡°Since Lady Xiao was personally appointed by Grandfather, she must have some skills. Auntie just arrived in Shangjing not too long ago, so it¡¯s better to listen more,¡± she said.


    After these words from Lu Zhaozhao, Hao Li became even more convinced that Lu Zhaozhao and Xiao Jinglan were on the same side.


    Her fists clenched, her gaze shifted to Xiao Jinglan by her side. No way, she absolutely couldn¡¯t be suppressed by her!


    Lu Zhaozhao was now a granddaughter-in-law of the Song Family, having the right to speak was one thing, but why should Xiao Jinglan, a foreign woman whose husband had died, be above her? Why?


    Ha! Old Master Song wanted Xiao Jinglan to investigate the hospital business?


    She would make Xiao Jinglan screw it up, and then see if she could still stand her ground in the Song Family!


    Thinking this way, Hao Li finished her cubilose, put it down on the table, and then said, ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing wrong here with Zhaozhao, I¡¯ll go back to the hospital ward to take care of our Jiaye. There¡¯s no one to attend to Jiaye by his side. I really don¡¯t know what some people do when they come to the hospital, heh...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was once again stabbed in the back by Hao Li, her brow instantly furrowing into a knot.


    ¡°Lady Xiao, since you aren¡¯t busy with other matters, why don¡¯t you help Aunt Feng look after Feng Jiyue? After all, we are all family,¡± Song Sinian said, glancing at Hao Li who was about to leave, and slowly opening his mouth.


    His tone was so flat and emotionless that one couldn¡¯t detect any particular feeling, but his words clearly sided with the Feng family.


    Hao Li became excited at once, turning her head to look at Song Sinian, but his expression remained calm, as if nothing had happened at all.


    However, with his words, it was as good as an imperial edict!


    Who didn¡¯t know that aside from Old Master Song, the person whose words carried the most weight was Song Sinian?


    Now that he had spoken, how could Xiao Jinglan possibly refuse?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows also furrowed, and she didn¡¯t expect Song Sinian to say something that sounded so reasonable.


    But why was this matter targeted at her?


    Was it just because Hao Li had just spoken up?


    She looked at Song Sinian, puzzled, and then heard him speak again, ¡°Grandfather has asked you to handle the hospital affairs, and he hopes that you won¡¯t let him down.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan, no matter how dissatisfied, had to swallow all her complaints.


    She took a deep breath in secret, maintaining a forced smile on her face as she said, ¡°I understand, it¡¯s a minor matter that I will surely handle well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li had both left, Lu Zhaozhao reached out her small hand and tugged at Song Sinian, smilingly said, ¡°Mr. Song, why did you ask Xiao Jinglan to take care of Feng Jiyue?¡±


    Song Sinian placed a peeled sugar tangerine into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth, then spoke indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t you wish to see those two clash with each other?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, had she been exposed?


    Song Sinian looked at her shocked expression and couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, I will help you with anything you want to do.¡±


    Saying so, he stuffed another tangerine segment into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth, and after watching her dazed look, he kissed her on the eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao came to her senses, looked at Song Sinian, and pursed her lips, ¡°Mr. Song, you... are really too good.¡±


    Song Sinian folded the tangerine peel in his hand, and with a teasing look in his eyes, he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°So, what reward do you plan to give me, my Mrs. Song?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao noticed the clear predatory look in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, and swallowed subconsciously.


    Why did she always feel that her sweet, milky husband had turned into a wolf cub?


    The very fierce kind, at that.


    Especially when Song Sinian looked at her with that gaze, she had a premonition that she wouldn¡¯t be able to get out of bed and walk for days.


    ¡°How about I knit you a scarf?¡± Lu Zhaozhao cautiously made a promise to Song Sinian.


    He should like a scarf hand-knitted by her, right?


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian rejected her without a second thought, ¡°I don¡¯t want a scarf.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, suddenly feeling a little downcast.


    He didn¡¯t like it?


    Although Lu Zhaozhao did not expect Song Sinian to have his own preferences, she had rarely taken the initiative to personally make something for Song Sinian, and he had refused without even thinking, which hurt her a little...

 Chapter 383: 381: Then What Cooperation Do We Need?

    Chapter 383: Chapter 381: Then What Cooperation Do We Need?


    ¡°The knitting needles are too sharp, you could get hurt easily,¡±


    Song Sinian saw her downcast little face and knew without thinking what the little one was pondering.


    Although he used to struggle to understand emotions, he could still guess from her logic.


    Now that he could understand most of her emotions, he was even clearer about what her little face was trying to express.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face flushed, and she muttered discontentedly, ¡°Those are knitting needles, not skewers, how could they hurt someone?¡±


    Song Sinian knew that convincing Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t be easy, but there was another way...


    He lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. Seeing she did not resist much, he breathed heavily, lifted his hand to clasp the back of her neck, and suddenly exerted force to pull her in for a deep kiss, with one hand caressing her round and delicate shoulder...


    It took Lu Zhaozhao a good while to regain the freedom to breathe on her own, laying limp in Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    She hit his shoulder with her little hand indignantly, complaining, ¡°I¡¯m still a patient, Mr. Song!¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I know, so I¡¯m just collecting some interest for now.¡±


    ¡°Bad guy...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Though Song Sinian did not speak, the gentle vibrations from his chest still revealed his stifled laughter.


    Indeed, Mr. Song of their household had learned some bad tricks.


    At the same moment, Hao Li, who had returned to the ward, had an extremely unpleasant expression on her face.


    Since Feng Jiaye was still sleeping, Hao Li did not disturb him, but just sat back on her own bed, thinking about how to deal with the current situation.


    Xiao Jinglan, now relying on her good relationship with Lu Zhaozhao, wanted to regain control over the Song Family. She must stop her at all costs.


    Her relationship with Lu Zhaozhao had already soured, and trying to ingratiate herself with her would probably not be so easy.


    Moreover, with Xiao Jinglan around, who knew what she had been telling Lu Zhaozhao about her.


    The path through Lu Zhaozhao was now a dead end.


    She had to find another way.


    Suddenly, there was movement from the bed next to her.


    As Feng Jiaye stirred, Hao Li immediately jumped off her bed.


    Although both she and Feng Jiaye had been beaten, most of her injuries were on her face, with quite a few teeth knocked out, and her body only had more bruises without any damage to her internal organs.


    In contrast, besides the reopened surgery wound on his leg, Feng Jiaye also suffered fractures in another leg and arm.


    Seeing Feng Jiaye¡¯s suspended arm and leg felt more painful to Hao Li than if she had been killed.


    ¡°How do you feel, Jiaye? Where does it hurt, want me to call the doctor to check again?¡±


    As Hao Li spoke, her eyes started to redden.


    Feng Jiaye was already in considerable pain all over his body. Seeing Hao Li about to cry, he glared at her irritably, ¡°Where did you go just now? Why did it take you so long to come back?¡±


    ¡°I went to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ward. That little bitch was admitted to the hospital yesterday, wasn¡¯t she? I went to check on her today,¡± Hao Li¡¯s mood worsened as she recalled that their beating in the restroom yesterday happened because they went to see Lu Zhaozhao.


    They also had no idea who they had offended, with all the punching and kicking they endured.


    If it had been before, she would immediately suspect Lu Zhaozhao.


    But since their hospitalization, the mother and daughter often had conflicts with other patients and their families.


    This wasn¡¯t the first or second time they had been attacked in the hospital.


    Therefore, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t be sure who had attacked them.


    Feng Jiaye looked coldly at Hao Li and muttered, ¡°What were you doing there? With that time, you¡¯d have been better off urging Mr. Song to investigate who gave us the black eye yesterday.¡±


    Every time Feng Jiaye thought about the beating he had suffered the day before, he was filled with anger.


    Before he had come to Shangjing, his life wasn¡¯t on the level of the super-rich, but at least he had everything he wanted.


    He was the sole heir of the Feng family; his father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother would acquiesce to his every request.


    But after his arrival in Shangjing, not only had that bitch Lu Zhaozhao beaten him up, but every single day he spent in the hospital resulted in another beating.


    Even a trip to the restroom could turn into a beating over some trivial dispute.


    Now, for no reason at all, he and Hao Li were stuffed into a toilet.


    How could he stand for this?


    He wouldn¡¯t rest until he found the person who had beaten him!


    He would tear them limb from limb!


    In the Beijing Circle, he was still Song Sinian¡¯s cousin, and with his influence, he refused to believe that he could ever be the one at a disadvantage.


    Seeing Feng Jiaye fuming, Hao Li hastened to soothe him, ¡°Jiaye, the reason I went out was precisely to deal with this matter. Yesterday, while you were asleep, Old Master Song handed the investigation over to that old mare Xiao Jinglan.¡±


    ¡°What? Xiao Jinglan?¡±


    The very mention of the name caused Feng Jiaye¡¯s brow to furrow.


    He had heard of this woman a long time ago.


    Back when his family had been in Shangjing, Xiao Jinglan had never missed an opportunity to make life difficult for the Feng family.


    Otherwise, following the death of Feng Xiran, the Feng family would not have struggled so much in the Beijing Circle.


    It was all Xiao Jinglan¡¯s fault!


    They had only just managed to return to the circle by capitalizing on the opportunity of Song Sinian¡¯s marriage, and now was that wretched woman going to pull her old tricks again?


    Thinking this way, Feng Jiaye couldn¡¯t help but look even more troubled, ¡°Xiao Jinglan has always been our enemy. Is Mr. Song asking her to handle the investigation just to embarrass us?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Hao Li didn¡¯t even let Feng Jiaye finish his rant before interrupting, ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Mr. Song doesn¡¯t care for Xiao Jinglan anymore. If she weren¡¯t on fairly good terms with Lu Zhaozhao, Mr. Song probably wouldn¡¯t bother with her at all.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao?


    Merely hearing this woman¡¯s name made Feng Jiaye feel a throbbing pain.


    Lying in the hospital bed these past days, that part of his body hadn¡¯t risen in the mornings at all.


    The excruciating pain from that day made his heart race every time he thought about it, let alone feel any other urge.


    He was painfully aware that, both physically and psychologically, that woman Lu Zhaozhao had dealt him a severe blow!


    He would never let Lu Zhaozhao off the hook!


    But right now, he couldn¡¯t do anything about Lu Zhaozhao. Even if she was no longer held in high regard by Song Sinian, she was still Song Sinian¡¯s wife.


    The Song family would not allow an outsider to insult her.


    But what if she wasn¡¯t anymore?


    Feng Jiaye¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Xiao Jinglan is seeking a partnership with Lu Zhaozhao, aren¡¯t you going to find someone to collaborate with?¡±


    Hao Li immediately felt troubled, ¡°There are only Mr. Song, Song Sinian, and Lu Zhaozhao in the Song Family. Excluding Lu Zhaozhao, neither Song Sinian nor Mr. Song are the cooperating kind...¡±


    If they could just get on good terms with these two, who would need a partnership?


    Seeing Hao Li fail to understand, Feng Jiaye frowned and spoke with dissatisfaction, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao is only worth partnering with because she gained status by marrying Song Sinian. If there are other women by Song Sinian¡¯s side, do you think Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s status would still matter? Even if Xiao Jinglan has a good relationship with her, it¡¯s pointless!¡±

 Chapter 384: 382: Who Has a Crush on You!

    Chapter 384: Chapter 382: Who Has a Crush on You!


    Hao Li¡¯s eyes widened suddenly.


    How had she not thought of that?


    She had heard that Song Sinian¡¯s health had greatly improved, which was why he had openly married Lu Zhaozhao.


    Did this mean Song Sinian had taken an interest in women?


    Song Sinian¡¯s father was a notorious philanderer with many women around him, which had often caused Feng Xiran to run back to her parents¡¯ home, tearful and complaining.


    However, Song Gu was an interesting man; no matter how many women he had, he never let any of them bear his child.


    Partly because Old Master Song wouldn¡¯t allow it, and partly because Song Gu couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with the relationships.


    Although he was involved with women outside, he was very clear about his priorities.


    He believed his children had to be born from his own wife to be legitimate, so even if he played around, he would never let them bear his illegitimate children.


    Otherwise, the Song Family wouldn¡¯t have only Song Sinian as the sole heir.


    With the precedent set by Song Gu, his son would probably follow suit.


    ¡°Then where do we look for a suitable candidate?¡± Hao Li frowned, falling into deep thought once again.


    The woman they were looking for had to be ambitious, but at the same time, they needed to have something over her to ensure control.


    Otherwise, once she got close to the Song Family, all their efforts would have been for nothing.


    Feng Jiaye also looked at Hao Li, apparently seriously pondering the question she had just raised.


    Suddenly, a spark of light crossed his eyes, ¡°I actually have a candidate in mind...¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Hao Li turned to look at Feng Jiaye, her eyes faintly filled with anticipation.


    Indeed, her son was clever, coming up with such a good strategy¡ªif they could find the right candidate, the Feng family would be able to live it up in Shangjing.


    Feng Jiaye¡¯s lips curled into a sinister smirk, ¡°Isn¡¯t Hao Jiayi just perfect?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing this name, Hao Li¡¯s expression visibly stiffened.


    Because Hao Jiayi... was the child of her brother¡¯s family.


    And she was adopted.


    After her brother Hao Ming got married, they had no children for a long time, and after getting checked out at the hospital, it turned out there were no problems with either of them.


    So her mother used an old method, and they adopted a girl from the orphanage, and within a few years, her brother had his own child.


    Although they raised Hao Jiayi, family members never really treated her as one of their own.


    Her brother and sister-in-law, seeing the girl growing up quite attractively, planned to marry her off to a rich man to support the family in the future.


    Unexpectedly, she shamelessly seduced Jiaye from their family.


    Hmph!


    Whenever Hao Li thought of Hao Jiayi, she was filled with rage.


    Were it not for the fact that her son was not taken advantage of, she would have certainly killed that vixen!


    Feng Jiaye, of course, knew what Hao Li was thinking, and with dissatisfaction, he frowned and said, ¡°Mom, isn¡¯t Hao Jiayi studying to be a secretary? Old Master Song won¡¯t allow our Feng family to get involved in the Song Family¡¯s business. There shouldn¡¯t be any problem with arranging a job for her at Song¡¯s, right?¡±


    Hao Li nodded, ¡°You inform that brat Hao Jiayi about this, and leave the rest to me!¡±


    It¡¯s just a secretarial job, even if Old Master Song is reluctant, out of face, he would give a nonessential position, right?


    They were just waiting for that girl Hao Jiayi to work with them from the inside out!


    As the evening approached, the sky had darkened considerably.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat in the hospital room, gossiping with Xu Zhenzhen.


    ¡°So you mean to say that Liu Xiaozhen knew my second brother had changed his profile picture and still took the initiative to go to his office to find him?¡± Lu Zhaozhao poked the small cake in her hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she listened to Xu Zhenzhen tell her about the fight she had with Liu Xiaozhen in Xia Wenqing¡¯s office.


    She had previously thought that Liu Xiaozhen was nothing but an old green tea, relying solely on her tea art to hover around Xia Wenqing.


    But after hearing what Xu Zhenzhen said, she felt that the woman called Liu Xiaozhen was not simple at all.


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, poking a bite of the small cake and nodding vigorously, ¡°Exactly, I had never realized before how green tea Liu Xiaozhen was. I really underestimated her. She¡¯s definitely the ancient Bi Luo Chun tea, tsk tsk...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, ¡°Before? You knew Liu Xiaozhen before?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. We were schoolmates. I used to study abroad...¡±


    Her words suddenly stopped there.


    Lu Zhaozhao also paused, surprised; she had never heard Xu Zhenzhen mention this to her.


    She had always thought Xu Zhenzhen had gone abroad later, never expecting that she had always been abroad before.


    Seeing the confused look on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly pursed her lips, her expression becoming much more downcast.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought she had brought up something that had hurt Xu Zhenzhen and quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°Zhenzhen, I didn¡¯t mean to pry into your privacy. I was just saying it in passing. If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, let¡¯s not.¡±


    In her previous life, Xu Zhenzhen had never mentioned it, but it didn¡¯t affect their friendship.


    Whether in the previous life or this one, Zhenzhen was her most important friend.


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Xu Zhenzhen felt even worse.


    She took a deep breath and finally took Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, ¡°Zhaozhao, actually there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been hiding from you. I¡¯m afraid that if I tell you, we can¡¯t be friends anymore...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not secretly in love with me, are you?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows lifted slightly, and she said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m already married. I¡¯m a woman you can¡¯t have in this lifetime.¡±


    The originally somber atmosphere that Xu Zhenzhen had been carrying was shattered in an instant by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s joke.


    Unable to hold back, Xu Zhenzhen slapped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Who¡¯s secretly in love with you! I¡¯m trying to have a serious conversation with you!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao also squeezed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s hand and replied, ¡°Okay, okay, go ahead then. As long as you don¡¯t want to make a move on me, I think I can handle anything you say.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, brought to laughter and tears by her, took a deep breath and finally said, ¡°Actually, I was originally a bodyguard sent by Mr. Song to protect you...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was clearly stunned.


    She had thought of a hundred possible reasons but had never considered this one.


    Could it have been Song Sinian?


    In that case, last life... Xu Zhenzhen stayed by her side also because of Song Sinian?


    She always felt there had been mutual misunderstandings and missed opportunities between herself and Song Sinian.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that even if Song Sinian didn¡¯t know whether she liked him or not, he would still choose to protect her unreservedly.


    That feeling warmed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I know it¡¯s a bit like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted to say this now, but I really do like your personality, and that¡¯s why I wanted to be friends with you. While I can¡¯t say it had nothing to do with my mission, I really don¡¯t want to lose you as a good friend...¡±


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao remained silent, Xu Zhenzhen thought she was angry.


    She pursed her lips then added, ¡°Song Sinian really cares about you. He did this to protect you secretly, hoping that there wouldn¡¯t be any misunderstandings between you two...¡±

 Chapter 385: 383: No Woman Shall Come Close!

    Chapter 385: Chapter 383: No Woman Shall Come Close!


    Even though she was angry now, she didn¡¯t want her to have any misunderstandings with Song Sinian because of this issue.


    Song Sinian, although very doggish, truly cared about Lu Zhaozhao¡ªridiculously so.


    As an onlooker, she was clearly aware of this.


    As her best friend, she hoped even more that Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t miss out on him.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly and reached out to pinch Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not angry. I just didn¡¯t expect you to be involved with Mr. Song. Nor did I expect him to care about me this much from that time.¡±


    In her previous life as well as this one, she had been looked after by Song Sinian, it was just that she hadn¡¯t known in her previous life.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Lu Zhaozhao guiltily and asked cautiously, ¡°Are you... are you really okay? Zhaozhao...¡±


    She was still somewhat worried.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao had been acknowledged by the Xia Family, the only one she counted as her best friend was Xu Zhenzhen.


    And at the start, she had been a fake best friend.


    She was worried that Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t handle it.


    Lu Zhaozhao saw the concern on her small face and knew what she was thinking. She shrugged, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. After experiencing the betrayal of my foster parents, nothing else really impacts me as much. Besides, you haven¡¯t betrayed me. Our relationship just started with different motivations, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°No matter how we met, as long as the end result doesn¡¯t change, I don¡¯t think it matters. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you really are too kind.¡± Xu Zhenzhen hugged Lu Zhaozhao tightly and buried her head in her chest. ¡°I was so worried just now. I was afraid you were angry and would never want me as your best friend again.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh and look at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you choose to keep silent?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shook her head repeatedly, ¡°I couldn¡¯t. I would feel even guiltier.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªhahaha...¡± Lu Zhaozhao was amused by Xu Zhenzhen and burst into laughter, the two of them falling onto the nearby hospital bed, their laughter light and relaxed.


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head to look at Xu Zhenzhen as though a thought suddenly occurred to her, ¡°So you¡¯re saying you knew my second brother a long time ago?¡±


    Could it be that it was impossible for them back then, and even now... they might not be together?


    This thought made Lu Zhaozhao suddenly remember what Liu Xiaozhen had done, and her eyes slowly narrowed...


    Xu Zhenzhen, lying down and looking at the ceiling above, didn¡¯t see the change in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression, ¡°I did know your second brother a long time ago, but back then he and Liu Xiaozhen were classmates, so we didn¡¯t have many chances to interact with them.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao rolled over, propped up her face, and asked Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Was Liu Xiaozhen that flirtatious back when she was around my brother, too?¡±


    Thinking of how she easily managed to deter other competitors with just an avatar, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but take Liu Xiaozhen seriously.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for her eldest brother¡¯s birthday, with her fourth brother, the king of gossip around, her second brother might not have even known he¡¯d been tricked.


    Xu Zhenzhen also turned on her side to face Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Back then... it was indeed like that. I thought at school that those two were a couple. A lot of people felt the same.¡±


    As expected.


    A shadow passed in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes; indeed, the reason Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t had feelings for her second brother might have been because of Liu Xiaozhen.


    ¡°Zhenzhen, do you think my second brother is outstanding?¡± Lu Zhaozhao propped her chin and gave Xu Zhenzhen a glance.


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, ¡°Outstanding, yes. He was very outstanding even back when he was at university. Lots of girls from his year and other years liked him, and of course, there were those from different majors too...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao curled her lips. Was this what she wanted to ask?


    She wanted to ask if Xu Zhenzhen had any interest in her second brother.


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth, but ultimately, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask.


    In case Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t like her second brother, or her second brother didn¡¯t like Xu Zhenzhen, she might be forcing matters.


    She thought for a moment, then raised her hand to pinch Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheek and said, ¡°My second brother is a complete straight arrow; he just can¡¯t see all the twists and turns around him. So keeping him pure is all up to you now.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was directly amused by Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Okay, okay, I will definitely guard Lawyer Xia¡¯s virtue more than my own, you just relax! As long as I¡¯m here, not a single woman will get close!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Geez, if Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t work out, she could be blamed for her second brother staying single forever.


    Lu Zhaozhao was a bit torn between laughter and tears, but Xu Zhenzhen seemed especially happy.


    Having Lu Zhaozhao as a get-out-of-jail-free card meant that even if she was trying to make her presence felt in front of Xia Wenqing, she had a reasonable excuse.


    After lying on the hospital bed and chatting for a while, Xu Zhenzhen reluctantly left the hospital.


    By the time she returned to Song Group, it was already the afternoon.


    She was just walking into the office with the materials she had prepared when she noticed a new face in the office.


    Surprisingly, this new face was very diligently cleaning the office.


    Since there was usually only Xia Wenqing in the office, the cleaning was left to her as the assistant.


    Xia Wenqing was a clean person, even at work, so it didn¡¯t take Xu Zhenzhen much time to clean.


    As she was about to sit down on the sofa next to the man who was focused on his work at the desk, she heard the woman speak, ¡°Are you here for Lawyer Xia?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen stopped in her tracks and instinctively looked up at Xia Wenqing, who was working, just in time to meet his black eyes.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyelids lifted slightly, and he said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯re back?¡±


    His tone was light, revealing no clear emotions.


    Xu Zhenzhen chuckled softly and blinked, ¡°Yeah, I was just about to give you the materials in my hands, inside...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Before Xu Zhenzhen could finish speaking, the documents in her hand were taken away by the unfamiliar face of the woman.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows furrowed, watching as the woman placed the materials in front of Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia, the documents.¡± The woman pulled a mild smile, appearing exceptionally gentle and tranquil.


    Yet her over-enthusiastic, proactive demeanor set off alarm bells for Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xia Wenqing saw Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s conflicted face and slowly began to explain, ¡°This is Hao Jiayi, a secretary who just joined Song Group today. The HR department assigned her to the Legal Department to handle miscellaneous tasks for now.¡±


    Hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    So it was a newcomer to Song Group. Then... her eagerness was understandable.


    Newbies always want to make a good impression in front of the boss.


    She smiled at Hao Jiayi, ¡°My name is Xu Zhenzhen, I¡¯m also from the Legal Department, currently Lawyer Xia¡¯s assistant. I look forward to working with you...¡±

 Chapter 386: 384: Directly Taking Down Her Stage

    Chapter 386: Chapter 384: Directly Taking Down Her Stage


    Hao Jiayi nodded repeatedly and also broke into a smile, ¡°Okay, Zhenzhen, from now on you can call me Jiayi, it sounds much more intimate.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, and the faint wariness that had just sprung up in her heart settled down.


    But Hao Jiayi¡¯s scrutinizing gaze never left her.


    She came to the Song Group specifically for Song Sinian.


    Since this morning, she had been using her advantages to indirectly probe into the relationship between Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao, along with Song Sinian¡¯s public image and reputation within the company.


    She had earlier heard Feng Jiaye tell her to seduce Song Sinian at the Song Group, so she could marry into the Song Family, so she always assumed that Song Sinian was a wastrel heir just like Feng Jiaye.


    But after her investigation, she realized Song Sinian was not someone to be trifled with.


    Within the company, he had only two images: one, a demon boss; two, a wife-pampering fanatic.


    Many said that Song Sinian seemed to be especially devoted to this wife, with the entire internal staff of the Song Group being witnesses to Song Sinian¡¯s wife-pampering frenzy.


    Generally, men who display their wife-pampering traits so openly fall into two categories: one sort does it for face, setting up a wife-pampering facade.


    The other kind genuinely dotes on his wife.


    Clearly, Song Sinian was the latter; he indulged his wife without any need for saving face¡ªit wasn¡¯t for others to see that he wanted to spoil her.


    So this kind of man was utterly untouchable.


    Hao Jiayi knew that Feng Jiaye arranged for her to lure Song Sinian at the Song Group; if she told them the truth, they certainly wouldn¡¯t allow her to stay at the Song Group any longer.


    She had to find a more suitable target before they found out, so she could escape the control of the Feng and Hao Families.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s eyelids drooped as her gaze settled on Xia Wenqing¡ªobviously, this man before her met her criteria.


    Of course, she wouldn¡¯t miss out on such an opportunity.


    Quality men never lack suitors, so she only needed to stand out among them to be sufficient.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the office door.


    The three people inside almost all looked towards the door.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia...¡± Liu Xiaozhen, who had just reached the door, couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly upon seeing Hao Jiayi in the office.


    Still, she put on an elegant smile, ¡°Am I interrupting your work?¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s gaze swept over Liu Xiaozhen, and she replied with a friendly smile, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m the secretary, Hao Jiayi. Are you here to see Lawyer Xia? If it¡¯s something simple, perhaps I can be of assistance.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s brows lifted slightly; she hadn¡¯t expected another woman to be by Xia Wenqing¡¯s side.


    Nevertheless, this woman seemed much more approachable than Xu Zhenzhen; perhaps she could be put to good use.


    She nodded at Hao Jiayi, ¡°I¡¯m here to discuss work with Lawyer Xia.¡±


    Her gaze then shifted to Xu Zhenzhen and nodded at her too, ¡°With someone here to help share the load, Zhenzhen should have an easier time at work now...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen gave Liu Xiaozhen a sidelong glance and said with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, ¡°Then Lawyer Liu can hire a few more secretaries, perhaps then there would be no need to work at all.¡±


    ¡°...,¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s smile froze on her face, unable to believe Xu Zhenzhen would actually show her such disrespect.


    She thought back on how she had always had the upper hand over Xu Zhenzhen, where was there ever room for her to rebel?


    As Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s thoughts turned angrier, she feigned aggrievement and said, ¡°Sorry, Zhenzhen, I didn¡¯t mean to belittle you just now. I didn¡¯t expect you to overthink it...¡±


    ¡°Zhenzhen, perhaps Lawyer Liu just misspoke in the moment. Don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Hao Jiayi said, softly tugging on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s arm and deliberately whispering, ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with helping each other out in private in the future.¡±


    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was enough for Xia Wenqing, sitting at the desk nearby, to hear.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows knitted instantly, as Hao Jiayi¡¯s remark was clearly an implication of helping with her work in the future.


    But she didn¡¯t need it.


    Her brows furrowed, and she looked at Hao Jiayi with displeasure, her dislike for her growing as she watched her take Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s side.


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t want to treat people differently, but she had no fondness for those who took sides before things were clear.


    She glanced at Hao Jiayi, stepped back to create distance between them, and said coldly, ¡°We each have our own responsibilities; there¡¯s no need for mutual assistance. Moreover, our job types are different; I can¡¯t have you help me. But if you pass your clerical work to me, I think I also won¡¯t have the time.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    It was now Hao Jiayi¡¯s turn to be at a loss.


    She originally intended to seize Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s words to build a persona for herself as friendly, enthusiastic, and kind. She didn¡¯t expect Xu Zhenzhen to so bluntly dismantle her fac?ade.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s expression changed, and although she hadn¡¯t planned on stepping on Xu Zhenzhen too hard on her first day, she couldn¡¯t believe how ungrateful Xu Zhenzhen was.


    Well, she couldn¡¯t blame her then.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears in an instant, and big drops soon fell as she put on a front of being terribly aggrieved yet striving to stay strong.


    Her crying caught Xu Zhenzhen off guard.


    Although she didn¡¯t wish to foster a particularly good relationship with Hao Jiayi, with her acting this way, it was as if an accusation of her bullying was written all over her face.


    Xu Zhenzhen wasn¡¯t usually scared, but what she really feared was Xia Wenqing¡¯s opinion.


    She pursed her lips, her brows furrowing, and right as she was about to speak, she heard Hao Jiayi¡¯s pitiful voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zhenzhen... I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    She apologized, but said nothing else, leaving Xu Zhenzhen with no chance to explain.


    Liu Xiaozhen watched from the side, her eyes lighting up ¡ª who knew Hao Jiayi was such a character, capable of pushing Xu Zhenzhen to this extent?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows were now tightly knotted as she said, ¡°Why are you crying? I didn¡¯t say anything about you! You...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Zhenzhen. It¡¯s my first day of work, I don¡¯t understand anything, I really want to do well, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t think I would make you angry... Wuuu... Please don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    Hao Jiayi sobbed, wiping away her tears, her continual apologies making her look like the very picture of a tear-stained beauty, stirring sympathy instinctively in any onlooker.


    As she thought this, she rubbed her eyes with more force while pretending to wipe them, intent on making them appear redder.


    She was certain that any man who saw her like this couldn¡¯t help but feel pity.


    ¡°Xu Zhenzhen, come here.¡± Suddenly, Xia Wenqing, who had been silent until now, slowly spoke up, causing Xu Zhenzhen to feel a sudden heaviness in her chest, her brow involuntarily creased.


    Could it be that Xia Wenqing also thought what she did was too much?


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips, her mood turning even sourer...

 Chapter 387: 385 Being Favored by the Beloved in Public

    Chapter 387: Chapter 385 Being Favored by the Beloved in Public


    Having a Liu Xiaozhen, that green tea, occasionally show up in the office was already annoying enough, but fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao had spoken up before, and Xia Wenqing came to know Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s true colors.


    She didn¡¯t need to waste too much breath on her.


    Now, a white lotus had been sneakily placed in the office, who constantly whimpered in front of Xia Wenqing to make her presence felt.


    Could she even live her life anymore?


    Xu Zhenzhen walked over to Xia Wenqing with a defeated look, not even wanting to talk.


    Xia Wenqing noticed the change in Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s expression, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she asked in a lowered voice, ¡°Do you like this new woman in our office?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was visibly startled, not quite grasping Xia Wenqing¡¯s implication.


    She was dumbfounded, then heard Xia Wenqing continue, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that for a woman you¡¯re not sure is good or bad, it¡¯s me you would ask?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen felt instantly charmed by Xia Wenqing!


    She had clearly said before, ¡°When a woman whose nature you¡¯re uncertain of appears by your side, at that moment, if your girlfriend says she doesn¡¯t like this girl, then you must definitely not interact with her.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s heart suddenly started pounding wildly, the ¡°thump, thump¡± of its beating so clear it seemed to reverberate through her chest.


    She took a deep breath in secret, pretending to be calm as she looked at Xia Wenqing, then slowly began to speak, ¡°I don¡¯t like her. If Liu Xiaozhen is green tea, then she¡¯s a white lotus.¡±


    Nobody good, either of them.


    Xia Wenqing nodded, ¡°Mhm, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    As he spoke, he lifted his head to look at Hao Jiayi on the side and said coldly, ¡°Secretary Hao, if you can¡¯t control your emotions, then don¡¯t appear in my office, you¡¯re seriously affecting my work efficiency.¡±


    Not only Liu Xiaozhen and Hao Jiayi were shocked by this, but even Xu Zhenzhen herself was astounded.


    I mean, family, a man who listens to advice is really a treasure, isn¡¯t he?!


    Especially a man who listens to his own advice.


    Xu Zhenzhen now looked at Xia Wenqing as if he were a freshly opened bottle of cola, and the bubbles in her heart surged wildly.


    She even had the illusion that regardless of whether this man was hers or not, based solely on the fact that he had just now fully heeded her word, believing the other party was a white lotus to such an extent, she was determined to see it through with Xia Wenqing to the very end!


    Hao Jiayi was still crying, but upon hearing Xia Wenqing¡¯s words, she suddenly didn¡¯t know whether to continue crying or not.


    Just moments ago, Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t seem to harbor that much hostility towards her, so why, after Xu Zhenzhen came over and said a few words, did he start to find her displeasing?


    Hao Jiayi clenched her fists. Had she really underestimated this woman?


    Although she hadn¡¯t been in contact with Xu Zhenzhen for long, she could tell at a glance that this woman wasn¡¯t the conniving type. In her company, such people could only suffer in silence.


    Especially in front of a man.


    Yet she managed to turn the tables against the wind!


    Hao Jiayi couldn¡¯t understand where she had gone wrong.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lawyer Xia, just now I was just because, because...¡± She sniffed, sounding pitifully pathetic.


    Her gaze turned to Xia Wenqing, unintentionally sweeping past Xu Zhenzhen before quickly retracting as if afraid of being scolded for being slow.


    Her blatantly fearful expression was practically shouting that she feared Xu Zhenzhen.


    How could Xia Wenqing fail to see it?


    He glanced at Hao Jiayi and said indifferently, ¡°It seems you and Assistant Xu won¡¯t be able to mesh well in work for the time being, so wait until you can before coming back to my office.¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s action of sniffling came to an abrupt halt, leaving her completely stunned. ¡°Lawyer Xia, I...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard you were recommended by the Feng family. If you have no work experience, you should learn properly instead of crying all the time; otherwise, you¡¯re just embarrassing your family,¡± Xia Wenqing coldly cut in before Hao Jiayi could finish her sentence.


    He didn¡¯t even leave Hao Jiayi with a shred of dignity.


    ¡°I value personal ability the most. If all you can do is cry, you might as well transfer to another department.¡±


    Even someone as clueless as Hao Jiayi could tell that Xia Wenqing was genuinely annoyed.


    How could she dare to continue crying?


    ¡°Lawyer Xia, I¡¯m really sorry, I won¡¯t do it again. Please give me another chance, I¡¯ll definitely work hard!¡± Hao Jiayi raised her hand to wipe away the scarce tears at the corner of her eyes, standing there as if making a solemn promise.


    Xia Wenqing kept frowning, glancing at Hao Jiayi and spoke icily, ¡°In my office, everyone aside from me answers to Xu Zhenzhen. If you have any suggestions, bring them to her. If you have complaints, keep them to yourself. I don¡¯t want my office filled with people who are always voicing complaints.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was standing beside Xia Wenqing, practically beaming with joy.


    So this was the thrill of being favored in public by someone you like!


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Xu Zhenzhen, about to say something, when he saw the undeniable mirth in her eyes.


    He was slightly taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected her to be so delighted over this.


    Indeed, sometimes the words of Xia Wenyan were not completely without merit. It seemed... it was indeed necessary for him to seek some advice from him.


    Although his younger brother Lao Si may not have tried pork, he had seen pigs running; certainly better than someone who hadn¡¯t tasted pork nor seen pigs run.


    He had considered seeking out Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian, but... Song Sinian was notoriously indifferent to others when it came to his sister Lu Zhaozhao.


    He was willing to learn, but he didn¡¯t have the emotional deficiencies to master it.


    And as for Lu Zhaozhao, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to shamelessly ask her for advice on pursuing her best friend.


    So after much thought, only Xia Wenyan was left.


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but lament internally, never would he have imagined that his family¡¯s most unreliable Lao Si, would become his last resort, tsk tsk...


    Meanwhile, at the Song Group office,


    Zhao Xi was sitting at a desk with documents in hand, by now he was fully aware of everything that had happened in the Legal Department.


    ¡°Sir, is it really okay to have Hao Jiayi in the Legal Department?¡± Zhao Xi remembered that he couldn¡¯t help but frown the first time he met Hao Jiayi.


    Having been by Song Sinian¡¯s side for so long, he could see through any type of person in an instant.


    Especially a White Lotus Bitch of Hao Jiayi¡¯s caliber; he was spot-on every time.


    Moreover, since Hao Jiayi was recommended by the Feng family, he wasn¡¯t sure what she was up to, but it was definitely nothing good.


    The intentions of Hao Li and Feng Jiyue were as clear as if they were written on their foreheads.


    They surely had some ulterior motives for sending Hao Jiayi to the Song Group.


    Zhao Xi looked at Song Sinian with puzzlement. It was obvious he could refuse the request from the Feng family side, yet their Mr. Song had agreed.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked as he glanced at Zhao Xi, responding indifferently, ¡°What¡¯s the problem with her being in the Legal Department?¡±

 Chapter 388: 386: Is it Appropriate to Add Fuel to the Fire?

    Chapter 388: Chapter 386: Is it Appropriate to Add Fuel to the Fire?


    The Legal Department recently mostly dealt with corporate infringement actions, and then there was suing some media that didn¡¯t know any better. So even if Hao Jiayi was in the Legal Department, there wouldn¡¯t be a problem with leakages.


    Zhao Xi hesitantly looked at Song Sinian, ¡°Sir, the Feng family has sent us a woman who can¡¯t lift with her hands and can¡¯t carry on her shoulders. Their intention is so obvious, I¡¯m worried... that it might, might have a bad influence.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Song Sinian responded indifferently, as if he had taken some of it in.


    Zhao Xi seized the opportunity to add, ¡°I¡¯ve already looked into this Hao Jiayi¡¯s situation. Although she¡¯s the child of Hao Ming, Hao Jiayi¡¯s brother, she was adopted, and her relationship with Feng Jiyue is somewhat unclear and confusing.¡±


    From the investigation, it seemed that Hao Ming originally planned to wait until Hao Jiayi grew up, and then ¡°sell¡± her for a good price. But it just so happened that Hao Jiayi got involved with Feng Jiyue.


    Even if Hao Ming wanted to ¡°sell¡± her off again, he would have to consider Feng Jiyue¡¯s feelings.


    After all, their Hao Family depended on the Feng Family to survive.


    Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t do anything against the Feng Family¡¯s wishes, especially since Feng Jiyue was the Feng Family¡¯s darling. They had even less to say.


    Song Sinian nodded, speaking lightly, ¡°Then that¡¯s just perfect. I was worried that the person coming to Song Si would be ambitious. Now it seems a good fit.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Zhao Xi stared at Song Sinian, utterly bewildered, not getting the point at all.


    He raised an eyebrow and finally spoke after a long while, ¡°Sir... I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Song Sinian tossed the document he held onto the desk and looked up at Zhao Xi, patiently saying, ¡°Do you think Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen would make a suitable couple?¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Zhao Xi didn¡¯t expect Song Sinian¡¯s train of thought to jump so quickly and took a moment to catch up.


    He nodded repeatedly, ¡°A handsome man and a beautiful woman, they are indeed a good match.¡±


    But what does that have to do with Hao Jiayi?


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped, ¡°Zhaozhao hopes Xu Zhenzhen will become her sister-in-law, but the two of them are progressing too slowly. I¡¯m just spurring them on a bit.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, that¡¯s some ¡®spurring on¡¯.


    Why did he feel like their master was actually roasting Xia Wenqing over the flames?


    Hao Jiayi at a glance was obviously a woman the Feng Family intended to send to their master¡¯s side.


    Unexpectedly, his master had cunningly diverted her to his own uncle. This act of leading trouble away was unparalleled.


    It¡¯s just not known whether Xia Wenqing could handle it, because Hao Jiayi didn¡¯t seem like an easy woman to dismiss.


    Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but sigh, not knowing whether to sympathize with Xia Wenqing or Xu Zhenzhen.


    In the afternoon, the sun shone brightly, raising the temperature noticeably.


    The spots where sunlight fell on the window were covered with a layer of vapor.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of the sickroom.


    Seated inside the room reading, Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the door and saw someone who looked like an assistant enter.


    ¡°Madam, I was sent by Lady Xiao, she sent me to bring cubilose for Madam,¡± the person said with a smile to Lu Zhaozhao. ¡°Lady Xiao is investigating something at the hospital and might not be able to come over, so she asked me to deliver it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, her lips slightly curling up into a smile, giving the person a friendly look, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can just leave the cubilose over there.¡±


    The person nodded, then came in and placed the cubilose on the table.


    As she was leaving, she didn¡¯t forget to tell Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Madam, after you finish drinking, I¡¯ll come back for the thermos. You can just leave it there.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I got it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded without changing her expression and responded.


    Xiao Jinglan really did care about her, afraid she might forget to eat this cubilose and that her body might show signs of the poison, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed, and thinking of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s pale face, she had to admit that when it came to ruthlessness, Xia Wenjin was unmatched.


    Even now, if Xiao Jinglan knew she was poisoned, she probably didn¡¯t have many days left to live, right?


    If she knew that Xia Wenjin was the one who poisoned her, could she still act like this?


    While she was thinking, she heard a voice that wasn¡¯t exactly unfamiliar, ¡°Zhaozhao, are you busy?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up at the door and wasn¡¯t surprised at all to see who was entering.


    She placed the book she was holding aside and casually glanced at Hao Li, ¡°What can I possibly be busy with in the hospital?¡±


    Her tone was gentle, betraying no emotion, which only emboldened Hao Li further.


    Her eyes scanned around the sickroom and finally settled on the thermos at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bedside.


    She remembered Xiao Jinglan had said that she would send cubilose to Lu Zhaozhao every day.


    That thermos by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bed should be the cubilose, right?


    Hao Li¡¯s eyes squinted slightly as she slowly walked into the sickroom.


    She had just seen someone enter Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sickroom, so she immediately followed; Lu Zhaozhao probably hadn¡¯t had the chance to eat the cubilose yet.


    Hao Li, recalling the taste of the cubilose she had eaten before, couldn¡¯t help but salivate.


    She couldn¡¯t get anything as good as that at the Feng family¡¯s place; now that she had the opportunity, she certainly didn¡¯t want to miss it.


    Hao Li walked up to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bedside with a light laugh, ¡°Zhaozhao, I just saw someone coming into your sickroom. Was that person a friend of yours?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, ¡°The person just now is a servant from Lady Xiao¡¯s household, here to deliver cubilose. Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°No problem, of course no problem,¡± Hao Li forced a smile, ¡°It¡¯s just... sigh! I got hurt before, and I¡¯ve been feeling uncomfortable ever since. Yesterday, after eating cubilose, I instantly felt a lot better. I know the old master has already taken good care of us. It wouldn¡¯t be right to trouble him further...¡±


    As she said this, her eyes kept covertly glancing at the thermos at the head of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bed.


    If Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t see her intention now, she would be truly blind.


    She hadn¡¯t intended to eat what Xiao Jinglan sent over in the first place, but she didn¡¯t expect Hao Li to be so eager.


    And she had provided her with such a good excuse.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows lifted slightly, but instead of going along with her words, she responded, ¡°Grandpa has been indeed very busy lately and hasn¡¯t had much time. You could go directly to Lady Xiao; she has been at the hospital lately.¡±


    Hao Li was a bit choked up, but thinking of the delicious cubilose from the day before, she bit her lip and still pretended to be hesitant, ¡°Lady Xiao has to busy herself investigating the hospital. I wouldn¡¯t dare bother her, sigh...¡±


    As she spoke, she sighed deeply, as if genuinely considering everyone else first.


    Lu Zhaozhao, holding back the urge to laugh, bowed her head slightly before saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to ask Grandpa and you don¡¯t want to find Lady Xiao, are you expecting me to help you out? I don¡¯t have much say in the Song family; I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be of much help.¡±


    ¡°No need for any say, didn¡¯t I just see Lady Xiao had someone send you cubilose?¡±

 Chapter 389: 387: Cant Make the Same Mistake Again

    Chapter 389: Chapter 387: Can¡¯t Make the Same Mistake Again


    Hao Li said this, her gaze once again turning toward the position of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bedside.


    ¡°These items, you are able to enjoy them on regular days, so missing them for a day or two wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Hao Li and pretended to be troubled as she spoke, ¡°Although I always have these things, after all, they were specially sent by Lady Xiao. If she finds out I gave her gift to someone else...¡±


    Upon seeing Lu Zhaozhao soften, Hao Li¡¯s heart filled with joy.


    It didn¡¯t matter whether she was just fobbing her off or had randomly come up with an excuse.


    As long as she resolved this problem, even if Lu Zhaozhao was making excuses, she wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse.


    Hao Li looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a smile, her face full of determination, ¡°If you don¡¯t want Xiao Jinglan to find out, isn¡¯t that easy? As long as you don¡¯t say and I don¡¯t say, no one else will know.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao stayed silent, Hao Li¡¯s thoughts were precisely what she desired, but it still was not enough.


    Thus, she slightly furrowed her brow, as if she were seriously contemplating her recent words.


    Hao Li was getting a bit anxious inside and quickly added, ¡°Every time I¡¯ll be careful, definitely won¡¯t let the person delivering the cubilose notice.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, you wouldn¡¯t be unwilling to give it to me, would you? It¡¯s just a portion of cubilose. If word gets out, who knows what they will say about the Song Family being stingy!¡±


    Before Lu Zhaohao could finish speaking, Hao Li blurted out.


    She had been coaxing Lu Zhaozhao for quite a while, and if she still didn¡¯t relent, Hao Li could only scare her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t don¡¯t don¡¯t, I¡¯ll give it to you,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said as though she had truly been frightened by Hao Li, hastily agreeing to her proposal.


    Upon hearing this, Hao Li immediately went to her bedside, took the insulated container with the cubilose, and sat beside it, quickly opening it.


    As if she was afraid that Lu Zhaozhao might have second thoughts.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced indifferently at Hao Li and picked up the book beside her to read again.


    Hao Li, eating the cubilose in her hands, looked at Lu Zhaozhao with the demeanor of a victor.


    Her gaze moved up and down Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body and she muttered, ¡°Zhaozhao, in view of the cubilose you¡¯ve given to your auntie, let me give you some well-intentioned advice. You shouldn¡¯t trust Xiao Jinglan too much. She¡¯s not as kind and gentle as she appears on the surface; she¡¯s the type to have honey on her lips but bitterness in her heart.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao remained silent, but inside she highly agreed with Hao Li¡¯s words.


    Compared to someone like Xiao Jinglan who was sweet-tongued but had bitter intentions, she was straightforwardly bad, clearly bad for anyone with eyes to see.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising that, in the previous struggles between Hao Li and Xiao Jinglan, she had ended up on the losing side, even being directly driven out of the Shangjing Circle.


    Someone of Hao Li¡¯s caliber could be manipulated by anyone with a bit of brains, let alone by someone like Xiao Jinglan who would never tire of schemes and manipulations.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao kept silent, Hao Li was not annoyed.


    She knew that Lu Zhaozhao and Xiao Jinglan were as close as two peas in a pod, and her few words couldn¡¯t change her attitude.


    She ate the cubilose from the bowl, feeling very pleased, and so she didn¡¯t mind conversing more with Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I must say, Xiao Jinglan spared no effort in her schemes against Sinian when he was a child. But Sinian was silent at that age and managed to evade them all.¡± Hao Li thought of this and still felt a surge of displeasure.


    Back then, she had gotten a hold of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s weaknesses, yet she somehow slipped away.


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t make the same mistake again!


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned slightly as she listened to Hao Li¡¯s words. She turned to look at the woman and asked, ¡°Did Lady Xiao ever harm Mr. Song when she was young?¡±


    Hao Li had just been speaking casually, never expecting Lu Zhaozhao to actually take it seriously.


    How could she not be agitated?


    Hao Li immediately perked up, looking at Lu Zhaozhao with bright, spirited eyes and said, ¡°Of course! When Sinian was little, he barely spoke, even if someone bullied him, he didn¡¯t know how to fight back. Although Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t dare to openly harm him, she didn¡¯t hesitate to pull strings behind the scenes...¡±


    After that, Hao Li told Lu Zhaozhao quite a bit about Song Sinian¡¯s childhood.


    Although some parts were exaggerated, she didn¡¯t miss a thing regarding what Xiao Jinglan had done, telling it all to Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Sinian¡¯s mother died early, and Xiao Jinglan used the pretense of having him remember his mother; all the photos she showed him were of Feng Xiran after her death.¡±


    ¡°Often under the guise of bringing Sinian food, Xiao Jinglan frequently added too much or too little salt in his dishes. How could such a young child withstand that?¡±


    ¡°She even colluded with the tutors to belittle and punish Sinian...¡±


    ...


    Listening to Hao Li¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists tightly.


    She had always thought that her own experiences in the Lu Family were already horrifying, but she never expected that Xiao Jinglan, the wretch, would treat Song Sinian in such a way!


    Suppressing the irritation in her heart, she pretended to ask Hao Li casually, ¡°If Xiao Jinglan treated Mr. Song like that, why didn¡¯t you expose her at the time?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Hao Li¡¯s brow furrowed in anger, ¡°How could I have not tried to expose her? But that cunning woman had colluded with numerous servants in the Song Family, and instead of succeeding in exposing her, I was the one who got trapped.¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao heard this, she raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Was there no reaction from Grandpa at all?¡±


    Given Old Master Song¡¯s concern for Song Sinian, even if he didn¡¯t believe what Hao Li said, he would not have allowed such things to happen.


    Hao Li shrugged, ¡°Although the old master didn¡¯t say much, he did increase surveillance on the people around Sinian. Even if Xiao Jinglan wanted to harm him, her opportunities were much fewer. But that doesn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t continue to do things afterward. That woman would never miss any chance to harm Sinian!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want to admit it, what Hao Li said was indeed true.


    Xiao Jinglan certainly wouldn¡¯t miss any opportunity to harm Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes, holding the book in her hands. She was silent for a moment and then slowly spoke, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s difficult for me to make a judgment on this matter. I never met Mr. Song when he was a child, and I only got to know Lady Xiao after getting married, so I can¡¯t really judge the truth of your words.¡±


    ¡°How can you, a child, be so...¡±


    ¡°However, I find your words hard to believe. After all, Lady Xiao treats her nephew as dearly as her own child, how could she possibly be so cruel to her stepson?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Hao Li with an air of incomprehension, seemingly very skeptical of her words.


    Hao Li¡¯s frown immediately deepened into a knot, ¡°Lady Xiao¡¯s treatment of her nephew...¡±


    She was cut short.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s nephew?


    Xiao Mo?


    She treated him as tenderly as her own?


    These statements shouldn¡¯t have been problematic, but to Hao Li¡¯s ears, they exploded like a sudden thunderclap.


    If she remembered correctly, Xiao Jinglan had never had children of her own after marrying Song Gu.


    Logically, after Song Gu¡¯s death, Xiao Jinglan should have devoted herself wholeheartedly to Song Sinian, yet she had chosen otherwise...

 Chapter 390: 388: Could Someone Be Deliberately Targeting Him in Secret?

    Chapter 390: Chapter 388: Could Someone Be Deliberately Targeting Him in Secret?


    This is highly suspicious.


    She seems certain that Song Sinian would not be able to inherit the Song Family assets in the future.


    But Song Sinian is Song Gu¡¯s only offspring.


    Unless there is someone else planning to inherit, unless that person is also a child born by Song Gu...


    As Hao Li thought of this, it was as if she had suddenly attained a breakthrough.


    Xiao Mo!


    Xiao Mo was the child of Xiao Jinglan and Song Gu!


    Once Hao Li guessed this possibility, she couldn¡¯t contain her excitement.


    This was a perfect opportunity to manipulate Xiao Jinglan!


    Hao Li could no longer care about anything else, she quickly finished the cubilose she had in hand, and hurriedly said, ¡°Zhaozhao, your aunt will come visit you tomorrow, you rest well.¡±


    Once she had finished speaking, she left in a fluster.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched her departing figure, squinting her eyes, hoping that this time Hao Li could seize the opportunity to ¡°turn the tables¡± and properly torment Xiao Jinglan...


    Hao Li¡¯s heart was racing non-stop.


    When she ran back to Feng Jiaye¡¯s hospital room, Feng Jiaye was about to sit up from the bed.


    ¡°Where have you run off to?¡± Feng Jiaye¡¯s face was full of irritation.


    Although he was in a VIP hospital room, there was no one to attend to him.


    He had asked Hao Li to mention this to Old Master Song previously, but they worried that another emotional caretaker might beat him up, and he would have to stay even longer in the hospital.


    The more Feng Jiaye thought about it, the angrier he got. The previous caretaker was ugly and mean, and she was unreliable at her job, he had only said a few words when she physically attacked him!


    Not only did she hit him, but after that incident, she actually called over her entire family to beat him up.


    Otherwise, his hospital stay wouldn¡¯t have been extended so long.


    Whenever Feng Jiaye thought about how since he arrived at the hospital, he was either getting injured or on the verge of injury, it was hard for him not to become suspicious.


    Could it be that someone was deliberately targeting him in secret?


    Feng Jiaye wanted to investigate, but without manpower or resources at his disposal, what could he find out?


    If it was someone else it would be manageable, but if the person targeting him was from the Song Family, then what was there to investigate?


    Seeing Feng Jiaye struggling to sit up and wincing in pain, his face flushing, Hao Li quickly went over to support him, ¡°I just went to see Lu Zhaozhao and just got back.¡±


    Of course, she wouldn¡¯t mention going to eat cubilose there.


    Although Feng Jiaye was pampered at home, he certainly hadn¡¯t tasted such supreme quality cubilose.


    If she told Feng Jiaye, then she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to eat it anymore.


    It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t care about her son, but his father¡¯s family already doted on him; missing a bit from her wouldn¡¯t be an issue.


    Feng Jiaye¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, ¡°What were you doing at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s place again? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re trying to convince that woman?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was now aligned with Xiao Jinglan and hostile towards him, convincing her would not be easy.


    He didn¡¯t want Hao Li to waste her efforts.


    More importantly, he needed someone by his side now.


    Hao Li always ran around erratically, causing him trouble.


    ¡°I would never do that,¡± Hao Li shook her head, ¡°I just wanted to add to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s troubles and make Lu Zhaozhao dislike her too, but I didn¡¯t expect to stumble upon this unexpected gain.¡±


    Hao Li helped Feng Jiyue to sit properly before lowering her voice excitedly and saying, ¡°Xiao Mo is very likely the illegitimate son of Xiao Jinglan and Song Gu!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Feng Jiyue clearly hadn¡¯t expected the news Hao Li had obtained to be so explosive.


    He stared tightly at Hao Li, ¡°Are you sure this is true?¡±


    The Feng family had come to Shangjing for the sole purpose of taking over the Song Family¡¯s assets one day.


    If the Song Family had another child besides Song Sinian, that would be troublesome.


    His brows furrowed almost into a knot, he looked at Hao Li with a face full of doubt.


    Hao Li patted Feng Jiyue¡¯s hand, ¡°How could it be fake? I¡¯ve always felt that woman Xiao Jinglan was not simple. I never expected that she could actually give birth to Song Gu¡¯s offspring.¡±


    They understood Song Gu.


    He was extremely selfish and placed great importance on lineage.


    He wouldn¡¯t even want a child not born from his official wife.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Feng Xiran¡¯s lack of competitiveness, having only given birth to Song Sinian as her child, the Song Family wouldn¡¯t be so sparse.


    Looking at the unhappy expression on Feng Jiyue¡¯s face, Hao Li then said, ¡°Song Gu wouldn¡¯t allow himself to have an illegitimate son, and Old Master Song wouldn¡¯t allow it either, so this is our opportunity!¡±


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s expression still didn¡¯t look any better, ¡°Old Master Song may not support it, but that doesn¡¯t mean the board members of Song Group won¡¯t.¡±


    There definitely were plenty of board members who disapproved of Song Sinian.


    If they knew that Xiao Mo was Song Gu¡¯s biological offspring, they might secretly support him.


    Feng Jiyue narrowed his eyes, falling into deep thought.


    After a moment, he looked up at Hao Li again and asked, ¡°You go and carefully investigate Xiao Mo, and see if he really is a child of the Song Family.¡±


    If Xiao Jinglan really had this illegitimate child behind Song Gu¡¯s back, then they would have a chip in their hand.


    Their target might be Song Group¡¯s assets, but everything was based on the premise that Song Sinian was the only heir of the Song Family.


    He certainly didn¡¯t want to end up handing over the duck that was already in his grasp to someone else.


    Hao Li nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely investigate this thoroughly.¡±


    Hearing Hao Li¡¯s words, Feng Jiyue frowned again, ¡°Be careful when you investigate; don¡¯t let Xiao Jinglan find out.¡±


    He knew his mother always had conflicts with Xiao Jinglan. Now that she finally knew Xiao Jinglan¡¯s big secret, he truly worried she might prematurely confront Xiao Jinglan.


    By then, forget about investigating privately, it could all be over before they even took any action.


    ¡°Sure, I will definitely keep this from Xiao Jinglan; how could I let her know?¡± Hao Li promised, smiling cheerily.


    But in her heart, she had long decided to taunt Xiao Jinglan when she got the chance.


    The grievances she¡¯d endured over a decade ago, she had long stopped tolerating them. Now that she finally held a leverage over Xiao Jinglan, she wouldn¡¯t let her off easily!


    Once she obtained the paternity test report between her and Xiao Mo, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s good days would be over!


    Hao Li grew happier the more she thought about it, completely dismissing Feng Jiyue¡¯s warning.


    As the sky gradually darkened, Song Sinian arrived at the hospital ward just as it had completely turned dark.


    He sensed something was amiss as soon as he entered.


    The ward¡¯s light was off, but Lu Zhaozhao was not lying on the hospital bed. Song Sinian¡¯s heart immediately clenched.


    ¡°Zhaozhao?¡±


    He called out softly in the ward, just about to reach for the light switch inside, when he heard Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t turn on the light.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed, trying to locate Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s figure in the darkness.


    But he had just walked from the brightly lit hospital corridor, and the bright lights of the corridor had made it impossible for him to adjust to the darkness in front of him at the moment, so he could not see where Lu Zhaozhao was...

 Chapter 391: 389: Who upset you?

    Chapter 391: Chapter 389: Who upset you?


    ¡°Zhaozhao.¡±


    He called out softly again, and a wave of unease instantly spread through his entire heart.


    Zhaozhao¡¯s reply had been so faint just now, he couldn¡¯t discern her emotions, and it put him into a slight panic.


    Suddenly, a soft touch fell into his embrace, and the familiar scent snapped Song Sinian back to reality.


    Almost instinctively, he held her in his arms, rubbing gently and cooing softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who upset you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t speak, but she clung tighter to Song Sinian.


    She had always made an effort to help Song Sinian recover his emotional capacity, but she¡¯d never considered why he suffered from emotional detachment in the first place.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lu Zhaozhao mumbled softly into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace.


    In the dark of night, Song Sinian was gradually adapting to the dim environment.


    He looked down at the face nestled in his chest, slowly making out her expressions.


    Though still a bit blurry, he could see that she was distressed.


    And distressed because of him.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed, completely baffled by her sudden change in behavior.


    He pursed his lips and tentatively asked, ¡°Who did you meet with today?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao buried her head even deeper into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace and decided to tell the truth, ¡°Hao Li came over again today. She mentioned your childhood, saying that Xiao Jinglan did many bad things to you when you were young...¡±


    She had to stop there to sniffle.


    Her nose, already nasal from a previous bout of secret tears, was now even more congested.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes softened as he understood all too well what Lu Zhaozhao was thinking.


    His wife always had such strong empathy.


    These matters were distant memories to him now, and considering his severe depression at the time, his reaction to the outside world was quite dull, so the hurt hadn¡¯t been as devastating as Lu Zhaozhao imagined.


    But even if he explained, Lu Zhaozhao probably wouldn¡¯t listen, would she?


    Song Sinian¡¯s deep gaze suddenly flickered as it fell upon Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pitiful little face, and his heart seemed to sink.


    Perhaps... if she felt more pity for him because of this, it might not be such a bad thing.


    Song Sinian ridiculed his own shamelessness while he couldn¡¯t stop himself from burying his head deep in the nape of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck.


    The feeling of being cherished was rare for him to experience.


    Although Mr. Song was very fond of his grandson, a man¡¯s way of expressing love differed from that of a woman.


    Growing up, there hadn¡¯t been many female figures around him, and even fewer kind-hearted ones.


    So the compassion from Lu Zhaozhao felt very good to him.


    He rubbed his head in the nape of her neck and said, ¡°All those things are in the past. If you sympathize with me, then show me a little more sympathy.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s words were straightforward, yet they tugged even more at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heartstrings.


    In the darkness, she reached out with her small hand to touch his cheek and finally found his handsome, thin lips, gently and tenderly pressing against them.


    Lu Zhaozhao, small and delicate, stood on tiptoe and wrapped her slender arms around Song Sinian¡¯s neck.


    In the darkness, with vision limited, other senses became remarkably sharp.


    The sound of breathing in the ear grew heavy, the warm breath from the nose seemed close enough to touch, spraying onto the skin.


    The air, filled with the scent of disinfectant, gradually took on a hint of sweetness.


    After a while, Song Sinian finally stopped. He was still breathing heavily, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, gazing intently at the small woman who had gone limp in his arms.


    ¡°Go, go inside,¡± Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, it took quite some time for her to find her voice again.


    Her little hands had long since lost their strength.


    She panted softly, her voice becoming soft and fluffy.


    Hearing this, Song Sinian let out a low laugh and scooped her up in his arms.


    Lu Zhaozhao nestled in Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, clearly hearing the ¡°thump, thump¡± of his heartbeat against his chest, which steadied her completely.


    Song Sinian gently laid her down on the hospital bed. The previously dim sky outside the window now showed a bright moon, instantly illuminating the two of them on the bed.


    The sight of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes tinged with red marks pressed heavily on Song Sinian¡¯s heart.


    He raised his hand to gently caress her eye sockets and leaned down to kiss them, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t cry over such things again, I¡¯m really okay.¡±


    After hearing these words from Song Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tear-stained face flung itself onto him, pinning him down onto the hospital bed.


    Straddling him, she looked down at Song Sinian from above, her little face showing an unusual indignation, ¡°How can you possibly be okay? Even if this incident is over, the harm it did to you hasn¡¯t gone away!¡±


    If Song Sinian were truly okay, he wouldn¡¯t have developed such severe depression. If Song Sinian¡¯s mother was the main culprit, then Xiao Jinglan was the accomplice!


    Feng Xiran had caused Song Sinian¡¯s illness, while Xiao Jinglan had worsened his symptoms.


    Both of them were executioners!


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t forgive these two. If Feng Xiran were not already dead, she would have made her pay!


    She didn¡¯t care whether this woman was Song Sinian¡¯s biological mother or not!


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao intently, his dark pupils drooping noncommittally.


    Past experiences were indeed trivial to him now, but these ¡°trivial¡± things were like tacks, embedded deep in his memory.


    ¡°Because you don¡¯t care, that¡¯s why I feel even more heartache,¡± Lu Zhaozhao held Song Sinian¡¯s cheeks, looking at him with utmost seriousness, ¡°Song Sinian, you deserve to be loved, do you know that? Do you realize that you¡¯re worthy of love?!¡±


    Perhaps no one understood better than her the pain of being betrayed by someone she once trusted.


    But the more so, the more they need to be affirmed and loved resolutely.


    Fortunate people are healed by their childhood for a lifetime, the unfortunate spend their entire life healing their childhood.


    She didn¡¯t want Song Sinian to spend a lifetime healing from his childhood; she hoped she could be the redemption for Song Sinian, pulling him out of the shadows of the past.


    Just as he had done for her.


    Song Sinian found himself feeling an unfamiliar sourness at the tip of his nose for a moment.


    But this sensation wasn¡¯t bad.


    It was as if a room that had always been sealed in darkness suddenly cracked open, allowing in sunbeams that had never before appeared.


    Warm, bright, relieving...


    Just like when he first saw Lu Zhaozhao as a child when she stood before him with a radiant smile, saying she would marry him when they grew up.


    Although he was still young then, he couldn¡¯t help but want to grasp that beam of light.


    Now... that beam of light had turned into a bright moon in his arms, how could he not cherish it?


    Song Sinian reached out his arms and hugged Lu Zhaozhao tightly to himself, pressing her deeply into his embrace, ¡°As long as you keep loving me, I¡¯ll believe that I¡¯m worthy of being loved.¡±


    He didn¡¯t seek anyone else¡¯s affection, except for Lu Zhaozhao...

 Chapter 392: 390: Wouldnt That Be Even More Troublesome?

    Chapter 392: Chapter 390: Wouldn¡¯t That Be Even More Troublesome?


    Lu Zhaozhao listened to Song Sinian¡¯s voice, felt the vibration in his chest, and lifted her small face to look at him, word by word, she said, ¡°I love you, and I will love you more with each passing day.¡±


    Her eyebrows and eyes curved, and the words that came out of her mouth were like sweet nectar, making one¡¯s heart flutter uncontrollably.


    Song Sinian¡¯s heart softened as well.


    He gently lifted his hand to touch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face, his voice husky, ¡°Then prove it to me, my Mrs. Song.¡±


    His Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly, seemingly in anticipation of something.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian with a bit of a laugh and cry, feeling like she had just been tricked.


    She lowered her eyelids to look at Song Sinian in front of her and couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly in her heart¡ªwell, it was her man, her to pamper.


    Her small hands grasped Song Sinian¡¯s large ones, their fingers interlocked, and she pressed them on top of his head.


    Lu Zhaozhao playfully blinked at Song Sinian, then leaned close to his ear and softly said, ¡°Now is the time for me to do whatever I want, Mr. Song, you should prepare yourself mentally.¡±


    As she spoke, she folded his large hands together, removed the tie from his neck, and loosely trapped him by the bedside.


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a cry and a laugh, the tie above his head, he could loosen it effortlessly.


    Now in its loose state, it completely lacked any binding effect.


    Thinking about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s imminent antics, he had a ¡°bad feeling¡±¡ªas expected, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small head slowly moved to the foot of the bed, leaving him no gap to think and making him freeze completely.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡±


    His voice was already trembling beyond recognition, his hands gripping the tie tightly.


    Oh God, this was going to drive him insane!


    He had never wanted Lu Zhaozhao to bind him up physically like he did now; it was an extreme test of his self-control.


    But soon, he could no longer muster the energy to think about anything else, all his thoughts were under Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s control, gradually drifting away...


    For two consecutive days, Xiao Jinglan ran to the hospital, obviously Xiao Mo knew about it.


    He had planned to visit the hospital the day Lu Zhaozhao was admitted, but he had been too busy recently; he had no time at all.


    Finally having a moment, Lu Zhaozhao had already been in the hospital for two or three days.


    He walked quickly along the hospital corridor.


    ¡°Xiao Mo!¡±


    Suddenly, a voice called out to him.


    Xiao Mo heard the familiar voice, frowned slightly, and then saw Xiao Jinglan walking over.


    ¡°Why are you at the hospital?¡± Xiao Jinglan raised her eyebrows, looking somewhat disbelieving at Xiao Mo.


    Normally someone who she didn¡¯t see for days at home had come to the hospital.


    Could he be here for her?


    Thinking this, Xiao Jinglan immediately pulled him to the side corridor, ¡°Why are you looking for me in the hospital? If it¡¯s something important, you could just talk at home.¡±


    Xiao Mo smirked, ¡°I¡¯m not here for you, I came to see Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed immediately, ¡°What do you want with that little slut?¡±


    Having Xia Wenjin in the family was already troublesome enough; why would he want to stir up trouble with Lu Zhaozhao?


    Wouldn¡¯t that be even more of a headache?


    Xiao Mo¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°I just came to see her. Even if I¡¯m not interested in her, now that she¡¯s Song Sinian¡¯s wife, I ought to visit her for Old Master Song¡¯s sake.¡±


    As he said this, his gaze turned to Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Haven¡¯t you also been trying to please Old Master Song recently?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help sighing, ¡°Old Master Song asked me to investigate the people who had attacked Feng Jiaye and Hao Li. I¡¯ve looked through all the surveillance footage and couldn¡¯t find any clues. I originally wanted to drag it out to use the situation to leverage against Hao Li and Feng Jiaye, but I truly found nothing.¡±


    Xiao Mo raised his eyebrow, ¡°Those people, since they planned to beat them up to blow off some steam, definitely wouldn¡¯t have left any trace. It¡¯s useless even if you keep investigating.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°Then what should I do? If this continues, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t explain myself to Old Master Song.¡±


    She had hoped to use this matter to regain Old Master Song¡¯s trust; if she couldn¡¯t handle even this, it would be extremely difficult for her to return to the Song Family.


    Xiao Mo glanced at Xiao Jinglan with a somewhat disdainful look.


    After so many years in the Song Family, Xiao Jinglan still couldn¡¯t understand Old Master Song¡¯s thoughts.


    It was unclear what she had been thinking all these years, to be so lacking in discernment.


    It¡¯s no wonder that after Lu Zhaozhao married into the family, she was despised by Old Master Song.


    Between the close Lu Zhaozhao and the completely discernment-lacking Xiao Jinglan, anyone would know who to choose.


    But after all, Xiao Jinglan was his own mother, and even if he felt she was foolish, he still had to say what needed to be said.


    ¡°Old Master Song probably just told you to handle this matter, not necessarily to catch those who hit them, right?¡± Xiao Mo coolly reminded her.


    His words carried a hint of impatience, but he still took the trouble to clarify things for her.


    Xiao Jinglan nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly what Old Master Song said.¡±


    ¡°Old Master Song is just too lazy to deal with those two from the Feng family, and casually found an excuse for you to take over. As long as you handle those two well, Old Master Song won¡¯t blame you,¡± Xiao Mo spoke again.


    Xiao Jinglan immediately understood.


    Her eyes narrowed, ¡°If I really can¡¯t find the people who hit them, as long as I deal with Feng Jiaye and Hao Li and keep them from going to Old Master Song, it¡¯s considered settled, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan pondered for a moment, then hesitated again, ¡°Their visit to Shangjing this time definitely includes a plan to gain power in the Song Family. If I casually handle this matter, they definitely won¡¯t be satisfied, and they might even complain to Old Master Song. I¡¯m afraid it would backfire.¡±


    Xiao Mo scoffed coldly, ¡°For such ungrateful people, there¡¯s no need to be polite. Just find someone to beat them up again, until they learn to listen.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan chuckled softly, ¡°Right, those leech-like people from the Feng family can¡¯t even see their own reflection; they dare to come to the Song Family trying to get a share, really overestimating themselves.¡±


    ¡°Just keep this to yourself, and communicate with me in a timely manner if you encounter any problems; don¡¯t make any more mistakes,¡± Xiao Mo instructed as he left the corridor.


    Naturally, Xiao Jinglan followed him.


    What they didn¡¯t know was that in the security passageway next to the corridor, Feng Jiaye was silently standing there with a cane.


    Watching their departing figures, his gaze was venomously piercing, almost as though he could shoot them down.


    He had just passed through the corridor when he heard people muttering something, but it wasn¡¯t until he came closer that he heard his own name being mentioned...

 Chapter 393: 391: Does He Have No Shame?

    Chapter 393: Chapter 391: Does He Have No Shame?


    Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t expected much from eavesdropping, but he discovered that Xiao Jinglan and another were discussing how to shift the blame onto others if no one could be found.


    He wondered why, ever since his hospitalization, there had been one problem after another.


    Initially, he had only been slightly suspicious, but now, hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, he couldn¡¯t help but suspect that his previous beating had been orchestrated by Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo!


    These two were clearly worried about him staying with the Song Family and contesting for the inheritance, which is why they had resorted to such violent measures against him!


    Ha!


    These two really were vicious in their scheming!


    His eyes narrowed. Did they think he would just sit back and wait for death?


    Dream on!


    He would recoup all the injuries he had suffered recently. He definitely wouldn¡¯t let these two get away with it!


    With this in mind, Feng Jiyue walked slowly towards the hospital room door, leaning on his cane.


    Xiao Jinglan, Xiao Mo, let¡¯s wait and see!


    Let¡¯s see who the ultimate victor will be!


    The deep winter weather grew colder, with a layer of frost still forming on the windows.


    When Xiao Mo arrived at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hospital room, he just happened to see her sitting by the bed, using a pen to draw frost patterns in a notebook.


    Her brows and eyes were serene, and her eyelashes flickered in the sunlight like the wings of a butterfly, shimmering with a soft light as they gently trembled.


    Her utterly focused appearance was captivating in every way.


    Indeed, no matter the method, he wanted to make such a beautiful woman his own.


    Lost in thought, Xiao Mo was brought back to reality when Lu Zhaozhao turned her head towards him.


    She had just heard some noise at the door and had thought it was Song Sinian coming, but to her surprise, it was Xiao Mo.


    Her brows creased noticeably, and her pretty face took on an unhappy shade, but it was fleeting.


    Of course, Xiao Mo didn¡¯t miss the flicker of disappointment in her eyes.


    Had Lu Zhaozhao been hoping for Song Sinian¡¯s visit?


    The thought that such a wonderful woman was now with Song Sinian made his chest feel tight.


    After all, he was the Song Family¡¯s eldest son; everything in the Song Family should belong to him.


    That included Lu Zhaozhao!


    Xiao Mo clenched his fists restlessly but maintained a genteel fac?ade as he spoke to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, I heard you were ill, so I came to visit you. I wanted to come earlier, but I was held up by work.¡±


    As he spoke, he pulled out a jewelry box from his coat and placed it on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s blanket.


    The red velvet box looked quite upscale.


    From the shape of the box, she could easily guess that it contained a necklace or some other piece of jewelry.


    Her brow tightened slightly as she looked up at Xiao Mo and asked indifferently, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a get-well gift,¡± Xiao Mo said as he opened the jewelry box, ¡°I happened to see this necklace on my way here; it suits you well.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was instantly speechless.


    By convention, shouldn¡¯t a hospital visit warrant flowers or fruit?


    But he had gone out of his way to buy a necklace as a gift.


    Anyone uninformed might mistake Xiao Mo for her husband.


    She looked coldly at the jewelry box on the blanket and rejected it on the spot, ¡°Your visit is appreciated, but I cannot accept this gift.¡±


    Xiao Mo watched Lu Zhaozhao with a light chuckle, ¡°This item isn¡¯t valuable, you don¡¯t need to feel any psychological burden.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and looked at Xiao Mo with total speechlessness.


    Not to mention it not being valuable, even if it were, she wouldn¡¯t accept it!


    How could she possibly accept something like a necklace that carries special meaning?


    Especially since Xiao Mo, this trash, had impure intentions towards her.


    She had even less reason to accept it.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether the item is valuable or not, what matters is that I can¡¯t accept it,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, not bothering to beat around the bush with him, making her stance clear.


    Xiao Mo was noticeably taken aback, not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to reject him to his face.


    A bit embarrassed, he tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°I just thought it would be inappropriate to visit you empty-handed, this piece of jewelry is just a get-well gift, you don¡¯t have to mind.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao cast a glance at Xiao Mo, ¡°You should know that I don¡¯t get along with Xia Wenjin, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo didn¡¯t speak, essentially giving his tacit agreement.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao continued, ¡°Right now, it¡¯s like we¡¯re two separate waters that don¡¯t interfere with each other. You¡¯re her husband, and if she finds out you bought jewelry for me, I couldn¡¯t explain it away even with a hundred excuses.¡±


    ¡°This...¡±


    Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t expected that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reason for refusing him would be because of Xia Wenjin, not because of him personally.


    He even felt a faint sense of relief.


    Does this mean she actually still has a good impression of him?


    Thinking this way, Xiao Mo felt a surge of pleasure, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about Xia Wenjin, she won¡¯t say anything.¡±


    As he said this, his gaze swept over the hospital room, adding an ambiguous remark, ¡°Hasn¡¯t Sinian come to accompany you? If I were him, I definitely couldn¡¯t bear to let you stay alone in the hospital, especially when you¡¯re already sick, to be alone, it¡¯s so uncomfortable...¡±


    The insinuation in his voice almost made Lu Zhaozhao laugh in anger.


    Shameless, isn¡¯t he?


    And he dares to imply shortcomings in her man, right in front of her?


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t even grant Xiao Mo another look, speaking coldly, ¡°My husband is very busy, but he always comes to the hospital to accompany me as soon as he gets off work, and I haven¡¯t felt uncomfortable at all.¡±


    These past few days, her hospital room has hardly been without visitors, forget being lonely, she now kind of misses solitude.


    But ever since she was acknowledged by the Xia Family again, her parents and several brothers simply didn¡¯t give her the chance to feel lonely.


    She had even worried that Sinian, out of ¡°competition for affection,¡± might start a fight with the Xia Family members, so she asked them to limit their visits to no more than two people at a time.


    Ever since Sinian had opened up to her, he had become clingier, often showing her his emotional side.


    Lu Zhaozhao found that Sinian was no longer the aloof Boss but occasionally acted like a clingy dog.


    It always made her helplessly sympathetic and wanting to love him a little more.


    Even when Sinian deliberately acted spoiled, she was willingly pretending to be fooled.


    She felt very comfortable with this way of interacting.


    Xiao Mo looked at Lu Zhaozhao, who was hospitalised alone and so sensible, and couldn¡¯t help but feel pity.


    Sinian, so clueless about romance, yet he had such a sweet and obedient wife, while all he could marry was trash like Xia Wenjin.


    In comparison, Xiao Mo only felt more irritated.


    He forced a smile at Lu Zhaozhao and continued, ¡°Sinian indeed is quite busy with work, he might not be able to attend to you, but if you need anything, just call me anytime, I¡¯ll always be here.¡±


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t know that, as a department manager, your work is quite leisurely.¡± Suddenly, an icy voice came from the doorway, startling Xiao Mo with a jolt.


    He turned incredulously toward the hospital room entrance, his eyes meeting Sinian¡¯s cold gaze.


    His heart suddenly ¡°thumped¡± with trepidation.

 Chapter 394: 392 Hurry Up and Scram

    Chapter 394: Chapter 392 Hurry Up and Scram


    Xiao Mo stuttered as he spoke, ¡°Sinian, why are you here?¡±


    Shouldn¡¯t he be working right now?


    Why was he at the door of the hospital room?


    ¡°My wife¡¯s hospital room, why can¡¯t I come?¡± Song Sinian stared at him with sharp eyes, indifference filling his gaze.


    Just before he entered the room, he had heard a man¡¯s voice inside.


    Initially, Song Sinian thought it was someone from the Xia Family seeking out Lu Zhaozhao, but to his surprise, it was Xiao Mo he saw at the door.


    His expression immediately turned gloomy, especially when he heard Xiao Mo insinuating things about him to Lu Zhaozhao, his face grew even uglier.


    Xiao Mo opened his mouth, slightly embarrassed, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that, Sinian...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, we are not that close,¡± Song Sinian watched Xiao Mo coldly, his expression unfriendly.


    Insinuating things about him in front of his wife and expecting him to smile, how ridiculous!


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression also turned sour, ¡°President Song, I just heard that Zhaozhao... ah, the CEO¡¯s wife was ill, so I came to visit.¡±


    He was almost grinding his back teeth to bits.


    How could Song Sinian embarrass him in front of Lu Zhaozhao like that!


    This was unbearable.


    Slowly walking into the hospital room, Song Sinian¡¯s eyes landed on the necklace Xiao Mo had just given to Lu Zhaozhao.


    His dark eyes narrowed, ¡°What is this?¡±


    Holding a notebook in her hand, Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the necklace and said lightly, ¡°Just now, Manager Xiao mentioned he was in a rush on his way here and only managed to buy this to visit me.¡±


    These were Xiao Mo¡¯s own words; she wasn¡¯t lying.


    Song Sinian picked up the necklace from the bed and casually threw it into the trash can, ¡°Every item on my woman¡¯s body must have my permission to be there, don¡¯t buy such things anymore.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo was nearly choked with rage by Song Sinian¡¯s actions.


    He already knew Song Sinian was ruthless toward others, but this was too much.


    Forcing a look of being hurt, he looked at Song Sinian, then glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I just came to visit the sick, I didn¡¯t think too much...¡±


    Seeing his flustered demeanor, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows, waiting for Song Sinian to lash out, only to see his deep eyes staring at her.


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°???¡±


    Was it her turn to speak up?


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked at Song Sinian, who then nodded slightly.


    It seemed it was her turn to act.


    Putting her sketchbook aside, Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xiao Mo seriously, ¡°Manager Xiao, thank you for your kindness, but my parents used to say that after you¡¯re married, you should listen to your husband, so I can¡¯t help you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s lips twitched, eventually forcing a smile on his face, ¡°I understand, then you rest well, I¡¯ll go first.¡±


    Saying that, he nodded his head at Song Sinian, ¡°President Song, I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    Song Sinian did not speak, but gave him a ¡°get out quickly¡± look.


    Xiao Mo, despite feeling frustrated, chose to keep quiet.


    Soon, only Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian were left in the hospital room.


    Holding Song Sinian¡¯s hand, Lu Zhaozhao looked up at him with a smile, ¡°Mr. Song, why did you come so early today?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze fell on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, replying in a flat tone, ¡°If I didn¡¯t come now, someone else would be here to keep you company.¡±


    ¡°Pfft... hahahahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold it in and burst out laughing while holding her stomach.


    She raised her hand to rub the corner of her eye, ¡°Mr. Song, are you jealous? You even get jealous over trash like Xiao Mo, not bad Martial Arts skills there.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian stood in place without speaking.


    Jealousy, he couldn¡¯t deny it.


    He despised every living creature that could breathe around Lu Zhaozhao, whether human or animal.


    Anything that could attract Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attention, he despised.


    If it weren¡¯t for not being able to lock her up and confine her by his side, he would have wished to stick with Lu Zhaozhao every day.


    But he didn¡¯t want her to be unhappy, so he tried hard to control himself.


    How wonderful Lu Zhaozhao was, he knew better than anyone.


    The amount of people she could attract was not even worth thinking about.


    Whenever someone tried to take Lu Zhaozhao away from his side, he would transform into a beast, almost wishing to prowl around her day and night, leaving no gaps for anyone.


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly noticed the change in Song Sinian¡¯s emotions. She stretched out her small hand and waved at Song Sinian, motioning him to lower his head.


    Song Sinian, although a bit upset, instinctively did as Lu Zhaozhao suggested.


    The next second, Lu Zhaozhao hugged his head and kissed his forehead.


    ¡°Song Sinian, I love you.¡±


    Her eyes were bending joyfully, her gaze intense with passion.


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian was clearly stunned by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sudden declaration of love.


    Seeing him stand there dazed, Lu Zhaozhao hugged his head again and kissed his left cheek, then said with a smile, ¡°I love you, Song Sinian.¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Song Sinian hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Lu Zhaozhao kissed his right cheek, ¡°I love you, Song Sinian, I super love you every day!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This time, Song Sinian completely lost his temper.


    He resigned himself to rest his head on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, like a big dog whose fur has just been smoothed, snuggling up to her neck, endearingly clingy.


    Song Sinian mumbled into her neck, ¡°Zhaozhao, you¡¯re really going to be the death of me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out to rub Song Sinian¡¯s head, smiling brilliantly.


    She knew Song Sinian would not stay mad at her. Even if he seemed angry, he was still the same Mr. Song who could be soothed with a single word.


    He was still the same Song Sinian who loved her to the bones.


    The next day, as soon as Feng Jiaye got out of bed, he turned to Hao Li beside him, ¡°Are you going to see Lu Zhaozhao later?¡±


    Hao Li was startled for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    She was a bit nervous looking at Feng Jiaye, thinking that her sneaking some cubilose had been discovered.


    Feng Jiaye frowned, ¡°Then, do you know when Xiao Jinglan will be at the hospital?¡±


    Seeing him change the topic, Hao Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief, repeatedly nodding, ¡°I know, I know! Are you looking for Xiao Jinglan?¡±


    She always felt that since Feng Jiaye came back yesterday, he seemed a bit off.


    But asking him yielded no answers, so Hao Li stopped asking altogether.


    Feng Jiaye squinted his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m not looking for her, I just want you to keep a close eye on her, see how she plans to investigate that previous matter.¡±


    He casually responded to Hao Li, but inside he sneered at the situation.


    He had long known Xiao Jinglan would casually deal with them, and having Hao Li keep tabs would be futile.


    But he had already figured out how he was going to deal with her...

 Chapter 395: 393: Let her taste the beating of fists and kicks!

    Chapter 395: Chapter 393: Let her taste the beating of fists and kicks!


    ¡°As long as Hao Li followed her, everything would be easy to handle.¡±


    Hao Li, of course, didn¡¯t know what Feng Jiaye was thinking. Since he had asked her to keep an eye on Xiao Jinglan, she naturally nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jiaye, I will definitely keep a close watch on her and will not let those who attacked us get away with it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Feng Jiaye sneered inside.


    They would never get away with it?


    Ha! The one who attacked them was someone Xiao Jinglan had brought in, so what was there to investigate?


    Of course, he couldn¡¯t tell Hao Li that, or else his plan would be ruined.


    Hao Li was certainly not someone who could keep things under wraps.


    If she knew Xiao Jinglan was going to have bad luck, she would definitely be unable to hide it in front of Xiao Jinglan, and then there would be trouble.


    Seeing that Feng Jiaye didn¡¯t speak up, Hao Li continued, ¡°According to the usual time, she should be at the hospital entrance by now, so should I go over there and watch her?¡±


    Feng Jiaye nodded his head, ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡±


    There was no use in her staying in the ward; it was better to keep an eye on Xiao Jinglan.


    Hao Li, naturally, didn¡¯t think too much about it and stood up to leave the hospital ward. As soon as she left, Feng Jiaye quickly took out his phone from his pocket and typed a line of text.


    [The person is already at the hospital entrance. Get ready and be prepared to act at any moment.]


    Wasn¡¯t Xiao Jinglan the one who had sent people to hit him?


    Then he would repay her with her own coin.


    Let her taste what it¡¯s like to be punched and kicked first!


    At the same time, Hao Li had already arrived at the hospital entrance and had seen Xiao Jinglan; she immediately went up to her.


    ¡°Why have you just arrived now?¡± The moment Hao Li opened her mouth, she stared at Xiao Jinglan with displeasure, as if she had committed some grievous sin.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyebrows couldn¡¯t help but raise, ¡°I usually come around this time. Do you have something you need?¡±


    Her face wasn¡¯t looking too good either.


    These past few days, regarding the incident of Feng Jiaye and Hao Li being beaten, she had investigated and had failed to uncover anything substantial.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Feng Jiaye had been beaten to the extent of broken limbs, she would even suspect that the two of them had concocted a ploy to gain sympathy.


    After all, for the Feng Family, Feng Jiaye was their precious child; they wouldn¡¯t even let Hao Li break a limb, let alone allow Feng Jiaye to lose a single hair.


    So indeed, it was someone else¡¯s doing.


    She had also recently uncovered another matter: since Feng Jiaye and Hao Li were hospitalized, they seemed to get frequently embroiled in all kinds of messy disputes.


    They were meant to stay in the hospital for some time, but now their stay was being indefinitely extended.


    Xiao Jinglan always felt that there was something odd about this matter.


    But she couldn¡¯t figure out anything.


    Hao Li looked at Xiao Jinglan and scoffed lightly, ¡°Old Master Song asked you to handle the hospital¡¯s affairs personally. Of course, Jiaye and I would come to you if we had something. Otherwise, what do you think you¡¯re staying in the hospital for?¡±


    The thought of having something on Xiao Jinglan made her feel triumphant.


    It was as if she wanted to raise her chin and look at Xiao Jinglan through her nostrils.


    A trace of disgust flickered in the depths of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t want to bother with someone as unappreciative as Hao Li.


    If it weren¡¯t for wanting to leave a good impression on Mr. Song and regain management rights over the Song Family¡¯s old residence, she wouldn¡¯t care about her at all.


    Suppressing the irritation in her heart, she glanced at Hao Li and asked, ¡°What do you want with me?¡±


    ¡°Jiaye and I have been in the hospital for so long without much luggage, have someone send us a few sets of clothes, shoes, and things like that.¡± Hao Li thought for a moment, then added, ¡°Oh, and we¡¯re not used to the beds in the room. Have someone change them too.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was about to laugh out of sheer frustration, ¡°You and Feng Jiyue are in the hospital, not on vacation!¡±


    As she spoke, she strode towards the interior of the hospital. Spending another minute with her felt like an insult.


    Old Master Song had asked her to handle the hospital affairs, not to be her slave.


    Seeing Xiao Jinglan walking away, Hao Li quickly followed, ¡°I just told you¡ªdid you hear me? I¡¯m warning you, Xiao Jinglan, it¡¯s best you¡¯re not arrogant before me, or I¡¯ll spill your secrets.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s steps faltered; her brow furrowed as she looked at Hao Li with suspicion.


    No wonder she felt off about Hao Li from the moment they met.


    So, it was because Hao Li thought she had some leverage that she was being so bold. But what could this woman know?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes narrowed and she remained silent, which made Hao Li even more arrogant, thinking Xiao Jinglan was feeling guilty.


    ¡°You better just do as I say from now on, or I promise you¡¯ll regret it,¡± Hao Li said, strutting past Xiao Jinglan with an air of superiority.


    Watching her walk away, the corners of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mouth twitched. She followed, and as they reached the corner of the corridor, she suddenly pulled Hao Li into the alcove.


    ¡°Spit it out. What exactly do you want to reveal? Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you¡ªif you spread rumors, I¡¯ll call the police and have you arrested. Even if Old Master Song intervenes, no one can save you.¡±


    Their family had been through too much recently, be it Xiao Mo or Song Keren. There were too many secrets the Song Family couldn¡¯t let others know.


    What could Hao Li have possibly uncovered?


    Whether it was a big deal or not, Xiao Jinglan felt it necessary to ask.


    Hao Li sneered, dismissing the threat, ¡°You call the police on me? If you do, you¡¯ll be the one who gets arrested, not me.¡±


    She looked proudly at Xiao Jinglan, about to gloat some more, when suddenly a tall shadow rushed over.


    Before they could react, the figure began punching and kicking Xiao Jinglan.


    The person was masked and wore a hat, making it impossible to see their face.


    Xiao Jinglan took a few hits and immediately fell to the ground.


    Hao Li was completely dumbfounded. By the time she came to her senses, she instinctively embraced the assailant and started screaming.


    ¡°Help, murder, someone help!¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that she was that close to Xiao Jinglan, but she suspected this person might be the culprit who had assaulted her and Feng Jiyue, and she absolutely couldn¡¯t let them escape.


    The assailant had planned to hit Xiao Jinglan and then run away but didn¡¯t anticipate Hao Li¡¯s firm hold.


    He had been paid to attack Xiao Jinglan.


    The person who gave him the money had also told him not to touch the other. But now that he was caught by the other, if he didn¡¯t fight back, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to escape.


    With that thought, he gritted his teeth, slapped Hao Li, and kicked her aside before she could react.


    Seeing Hao Li and Xiao Jinglan in pain together, the attacker finally fled in a panic...

 Chapter 396: 394: Just Listen Without Thinking

    Chapter 396: Chapter 394: Just Listen Without Thinking


    By the time the hospital security arrived, they found Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li both lying on the ground, incessantly crying out in pain.


    The security quickly took them to the emergency department...


    When Lu Zhaozhao heard that Xiao Jinglan had been hospitalized, she was completely shocked.


    Especially when she heard that Xiao Jinglan was assaulted while with Hao Li, she was even more surprised.


    She clearly understood why Hao Li and Feng Jiaye were beaten, but Xiao Jinglan was only there to investigate the matter; how did she end up being beaten too?


    Moreover, as far as she knew, Xiao Jinglan was the first one beaten.


    Although she wanted to beat Xiao Jinglan herself, who had actually struck the first blow?


    It couldn¡¯t have been Song Sinian.


    If he wanted to deal with Xiao Jinglan, he would have done it long ago, not waiting until now.


    As Lu Zhaozhao was pondering who might be behind the assault, the door to the hospital room was suddenly knocked.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang!¡±


    Her eyebrows twitched slightly as she looked toward the door.


    ¡°I heard you were sick, so I came to see you.¡± A woman at the door, carrying a flower basket, walked in, looked around the room, and then placed the basket on the bedside table next to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao stared unwaveringly at the woman in front of her, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    She was bewildered as she looked at Avril completely upset; if she remembered correctly, Wen Qingyu had previously said that he had already sent Avril back.


    She thought she would never see her again in her country, but unexpectedly, she appeared in her hospital room.


    That was absurd.


    Avril arched her eyebrows, glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, and with an air of disregard said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I just tell you? I heard you were sick, so I came to see you.¡±


    Saying that, she crossed her arms and sat down on a chair inside Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s room.


    Her gaze occasionally swept over Lu Zhaozhao, but her peripheral vision kept drifting toward the hospital room door.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately realized that Avril¡¯s visit was a pretense¡ªshe was actually here to ambush someone.


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could figure out whom Avril was waiting for today, someone knocked on the door once again, and when she saw who it was, her heart sank.


    It was Xia Wenyan.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, did you miss Brother Four?¡± Xia Wenyan asked with a smile as he entered.


    He took a few steps inside the room, but when his eyes landed on Avril, he froze.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed tightly, and he eyed Avril warily, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    This woman appearing at this time, could she be here to harm his precious sister?


    That thought made Xia Wenyan even more vigilant toward Avril.


    ¡°I warn you, keep your distance from my sister, or you¡¯ll regret it! Don¡¯t think that just because your family has some connections with the Xia Family, we won¡¯t hold you accountable!¡±


    If someone harmed his sister, there would be no mercy.


    Pei Huai followed behind Xia Wenyan, and when he saw Avril, a bad premonition clearly flashed through his mind.


    Especially when he saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s concerned eyes, he felt a surge of irritation well up inside him.


    Avril stood up straight, her gaze intense as she uttered each word to Xia Wenyan, ¡°Xia Wenyan, let¡¯s talk, just the two of us, alone.¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    Pei Huai and Lu Zhaozhao almost spoke in unison,


    ¡°It¡¯s absolutely not okay for Xia Wenyan and Avril to be alone together.¡±


    Avril¡¯s brows furrowed immediately as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai with dissatisfaction and said coldly, ¡°I have something to discuss with Xia Wenyan, what right do you have to stop me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll listen to my sister and Brother Pei, what¡¯s it to you?¡± Xia Wenyan retorted without a second thought.


    Although he didn¡¯t know why Pei Huai and Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t let him be alone with Avril, both of them were very important to him, and whatever they said was surely for his own good.


    Just listen blindly, that¡¯s all.


    Upon seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao finally heaved a sigh of relief.


    Thank goodness, her brother wasn¡¯t stupid to the core.


    Avril was practically furious with Xia Wenyan.


    She had no idea before that the Xia Family¡¯s influence was so formidable; she didn¡¯t even know that the legendary XJ Corporation was the Xia Family¡¯s.


    Had she known earlier how wealthy and influential the Xia Family was, she would have gotten along well with any of the brothers, no matter which one she married; her life would be carefree hereafter.


    After she was sent back previously, her father had severely scolded her.


    She pleaded for a long time before her dad agreed to let her come back to the country.


    Having burned bridges with the Xia Family before, she now had no path for retreat.


    To reconnect with the Xia Family, her only option was to start from the most naive, Xia Wenyan.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo, the three brothers, were too cunning, and she stood no chance against them.


    Not to mention outsmarting them to marry her.


    But Xia Wenyan was different, just wait for an opportunity to sneak into his good graces, and let the Xia Family know; constrained by the relations between the two families, the Xia Family might even push Xia Wenyan to marry her in anger.


    Thus, her sole purpose for coming back to the country was to secure Xia Wenyan.


    Avril, feeling a bit of a headache, looked at him, and then glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai, ¡°I have a very important private matter to discuss with you, it¡¯s inconvenient with others around.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s face revealed his speechlessness.


    He took a step back, ¡°Our relationship isn¡¯t close, what important private matters could there be to discuss?¡±


    As an artist, although he didn¡¯t carry the burden of a public idol, he still understood something about the professional integrity of an idol, which was to keep a distance from women.


    Avril was a bit annoyed by his attitude.


    She frowned, ¡°My family and your family have always had a good relationship, you should know that. Both families hope to become closer through marriage, so I...¡±


    ¡°Stop right there, my family has no intention of becoming closer through marriage,¡± Xia Wenyan interrupted without thinking. ¡°Don¡¯t impose your intentions on the elders of the two families.¡±


    Previously, because they had Xia Wenjin, who was both demanding and detestable.


    Xia Wenjin matched Avril one-on-one; naturally, neither family disliked the other.


    But now, having one of their brothers marry Avril was absolutely impossible.


    Let alone none of the brothers liked Avril, such a home-wrecker, if married into their family, could spell disaster for generations.


    The Xia Family had no intention of self-destruction.


    Avril¡¯s face darkened immediately.


    She was used to giving cold faces at the Xia Family¡¯s, and now having been repeatedly rebutted by Xia Wenyan, her patience had long vanished.


    If not for her position of disadvantage now, she would have already exploded.


    ¡°Xia Wenyan, you¡¯ll have to get married sooner or later, isn¡¯t it better to marry someone you know well?¡±

 Chapter 397: 395: Can He Give Birth?

    Chapter 397: Chapter 395: Can He Give Birth?


    ¡°Finding someone you know well is certainly good, but I really don¡¯t need to get involved with someone like you,¡± Xia Wenyan refused without a second thought.


    Avril was someone he¡¯d rather avoid at all costs; he wasn¡¯t crazy enough to marry her and bring her home.


    Besides, others look for someone well-known to avoid trouble, not to knowingly walk into a minefield.


    Avril clenched her fist, ¡°Xia Wenyan, you better not be too sure of yourself! You¡¯ve touched me before, and if your uncle and aunt found out, you would have to take responsibility for me eventually!¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head, ¡°Avril, are you sick? When have I ever laid a finger on you?¡±


    Thinking of this, he tugged at Brother Pei Huai next to him and hastily explained, ¡°Brother Pei, I didn¡¯t, you have to believe me!¡±


    Xia Wenyan felt as if his lifetime of reputation was about to be wrongly tarnished.


    Was Avril some kind of mad dog?


    When had he ever laid a hand on her?


    Avril sneered, ¡°What¡¯s the use if he believes you? As long as your uncle and aunt know, do you think you can hide? So I advise you to talk it out with me properly, or else... don¡¯t blame me.¡±


    Her oath-like manner made Lu Zhaozhao also start to care about the matter.


    She looked at Avril and said slowly, ¡°Avril, you can mess with anything but not your words. My Fourth Brother would never lay a finger on you.¡±


    ¡°Why would you say that? You¡¯ve only been in the Xia Family for a few days. Do you understand Xia Wenyan?¡± Avril scoffed at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes, ¡°I don¡¯t know about other things, but at least I know my Fourth Brother is a face-connoisseur; with your looks, he won¡¯t spare you a glance, let alone touch you.¡±


    One should understand their own worth, not be completely clueless.


    Although Avril had blond hair and blue eyes, she didn¡¯t possess the beauty of foreign women; she could only be described as lovely at best, or even plain.


    Xia Wenyan already had someone exceptional like Brother Pei Huai by his side, and everyone in the Xia Family was strikingly attractive¡ªthere was no reason to marry someone who would lower the family¡¯s standard of beauty.


    Avril was clearly provoked by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, giving her a fierce glare, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can dissuade me with just a few words; I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m set on marrying Xia Wenyan!¡±


    Brother Pei Huai¡¯s expression immediately darkened.


    He had always found Avril quite disagreeable, but the Xia Family had sent her away, so he didn¡¯t pursue the matter.


    But now that she had come back looking for trouble on her own, she could not blame anyone else.


    Xia Wenyan could only be his, and no one was allowed to compete with him!


    The things he regretted in his past life, he definitely would not repeat in this one, nor would he give anyone the chance to snatch Xia Wenyan away from him!


    ¡°He...¡±


    ¡°I like men! You have no chance!¡± Before Pei Huai could speak, Xia Wenyan grabbed Pei Huai¡¯s hand, interlocked their fingers, and raised them towards Avril, ¡°Our love is true; I could never marry you.¡±


    The atmosphere in the hospital room instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected her Fourth Brother to come out publicly, especially because of Avril. Although it was somewhat impulsive, it seemed Xia Wenyan might have had a bit of an epiphany.


    Her eyelids lifted as she caught sight of Pei Huai standing stupefied, clearly the one most impacted by Xia Wenyan¡¯s sudden declaration.


    What could possibly compare to being unexpectedly told ¡°I like you¡± by the person you love to the core of your bones?


    Especially for two people who had loved in vain and suffered separation by death in their past lives.


    Several people were the first to react, and Avril was among them.


    She hesitated for only a moment before coming up with another plan, ¡°So what if you like men? You¡¯re a descendant of the Xia Family, and you need to have an heir, right? Can he give you one?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Well, that¡¯s something.


    Zhaozhao was stunned by Avril.


    She truly had no taboos.


    Even after Wen Yan had spoken his piece, anyone with a bit of shame would¡¯ve stopped, but she found another way?


    Seeing that no one else spoke up, Avril thought they had been convinced by her words, and she looked at Wen Yan and Pei Huai with obvious pride in her eyes.


    ¡°I just said this is something we can discuss properly. Marrying me would be good for you... Eh?¡±


    Before she could finish, Pei Huai, in a fit of irritation, grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out of the ward, then threw her out with force.


    ¡°Get her out of here,¡± Pei Huai signaled to the two ¡°bodyguards¡± by the door with a look.


    The two immediately understood, covered Avril¡¯s mouth, and dragged her away without delay.


    The whole incident was so sudden that even Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t reacted.


    By the time he regained his senses, Avril had already been thrown out by Pei Huai.


    ¡°Brother Pei, she...¡±


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan, his tone carrying a hint of chill, ¡°What? You¡¯re worried about her?¡±


    Xia Wenyan suddenly shivered, ¡°Worried about her? I should be worrying about myself! You didn¡¯t see the way she was looking at me, like I was already a piece of meat in her bowl, ready to be bitten into any minute, it was terrifying!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although that description was a bit... emmm, he wasn¡¯t wrong.


    Avril did indeed see him as a piece of fat meat, ready to bite down at any time.


    Luckily, Pei Huai didn¡¯t hesitate and threw her out, otherwise Xia Wenyan would have been at a disadvantage if he was alone.


    After all, not everyone is as thick-skinned as Avril.


    If Xia Wenyan really got entangled by her, it would be quite troublesome.


    Avril¡¯s family did have a good relationship with the Xia Family, so if Avril really slandered Xia Wenyan, Lu Zhaozhao was genuinely worried about Xia Wenyan¡¯s situation.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s worried gaze shifted from Xia Wenyan to Pei Huai.


    She¡¯d better leave this to Pei Huai, as she had no hope for her fourth brother.


    Pei Huai, of course, noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze and slightly furrowed his brow; nodding at her, he finally spoke up, ¡°Today¡¯s situation is a bit special, I need to take Yanyan back to discuss what to do next, so we won¡¯t stay here much longer.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll explain things to my parents, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Hearing this, Xia Wenyan immediately looked relieved and went to hug Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°My sister is the best, not like those flamboyant temptresses out there. Come here, let big brother give you a hug, eh? Eh? EH?!!¡±


    As he spread his arms, Pei Huai immediately grabbed him around the waist and dragged him away right in front of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost laughed at Pei Huai¡¯s smooth operation.


    It seemed like Avril¡¯s actions had hit all the wrong buttons for Pei Huai.


    That he¡¯s still keeping his temper is impressive, and it only goes to show how deeply he loves his fourth brother, tsk tsk...

 Chapter 398: 396: Is He Really Capable or Not?

    Chapter 398: Chapter 396: Is He Really Capable or Not?


    She could only pray for good luck on behalf of her eldest brother now, hoping that he wouldn¡¯t accidentally trigger Pei Huai and cause an explosion.


    Upon thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao seemed to suddenly remember something and hurriedly pulled out her phone to send a message to Wen Qingyu.


    She couldn¡¯t meddle in the affairs between Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai, but she could still offer some support.


    Although her parents had a good relationship with Avril¡¯s side, it didn¡¯t mean they would allow anyone to insult their son.


    Xia Wenyan originally had an unreliable image in the eyes of Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie; anything she said would definitely be more credible than her eldest brother...


    Meanwhile, Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan had already made their way to the parking lot.


    Watching Pei Huai, who remained silent, Xia Wenyan felt uneasy.


    He had known Pei Huai for so long, yet this was the first time he had seen him so angry.


    Was it because he had just used him as a shield?


    He had only been sprouting nonsense, and, considering marrying someone like Avril, he thought it might be better to just stick with Pei Huai for the rest of his life.


    So, out of the blue, he had blurted it out.


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Xia Wenyan stole a glance at Pei Huai, who was driving, and cautiously asked, ¡°Brother Pei, are you angry?¡±


    ...


    Although Pei Huai didn¡¯t speak, the continued silence made it easy to guess.


    He sighed softly and couldn¡¯t help but mutter from the passenger seat, ¡°Sorry, Brother Pei, I didn¡¯t mean to drag you into it earlier, but Avril was just too aggressive, and I couldn¡¯t hold back, so I used you as a shield.¡±


    ...


    Not sure if it was his imagination, Xia Wenyan suddenly felt the atmosphere in the car colder than before.


    He couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously, looking at Pei Huai, who was still indifferent, and felt at a loss.


    Had he guessed wrong?


    Xia Wenyan carefully reviewed everything that had happened in the hospital room. Initially, when he mentioned that he and Pei Huai were a couple, Pei Huai didn¡¯t seem angry, just a bit dazed.


    So when did he start getting angry?


    He propped his chin with one hand, thinking hard. It seemed to start... when Avril said that Brother Pei couldn¡¯t have children...


    Yes! That was it!


    Xia Wenyan remembered that Pei Huai had always claimed to be part of the no-marriage club, and he hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time. But now, linking everything that happened in the hospital room, he couldn¡¯t help but overthink it a bit.


    Was it because he couldn¡¯t have children that Brother Pei had chosen not to marry?


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan¡¯s gaze towards Pei Huai suddenly filled with sympathy.


    His Brother Pei was so wonderful, yet he couldn¡¯t have children?


    His Brother Pei... was he really incapable?


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan, intending to suppress his anger and discuss today¡¯s events with him, only to see him looking at him with a deeply sympathetic gaze.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Although he didn¡¯t know what Xia Wenyan was concocting in his little head, the expression on his face didn¡¯t bode well.


    Xia Wenyan opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly spoke, ¡°Brother Pei, actually, you shouldn¡¯t mind what Avril said. There isn¡¯t much good coming from her mouth anyway.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, giving Xia Wenyan a side glance before responding indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m quite surprised that you would think that.¡±


    Just when Avril was saying they couldn¡¯t have children even if they were together, he got a bit nervous because Xia Wenyan might never have considered spending his life with a man.


    He was afraid Xia Wenyan would overthink things because of Avril¡¯s words.


    Pei Huai had always felt that Xia Wenyan was still young. Even if he had to wait a few more years, he could, but he had never expected Avril to pull such a move.


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t know what Pei Huai was thinking. When he heard him say this, he thought he was talking about what Avril had said before about him being unable to have children.


    He raised his hand and patted Pei Huai¡¯s shoulder, comforting him, ¡°Brother Pei, don¡¯t worry. With today¡¯s technology being so advanced, you definitely won¡¯t have any problems.¡±


    Pei Huai was confused by his words, his eyebrows slightly raised as he turned towards Xia Wenyan, ¡°What won¡¯t be a problem?¡±


    Xia Wenyan thought Pei Huai was embarrassed, and quickly explained, ¡°Brother Pei, there¡¯s no need for you to hide anything from me in our relationship. Besides, with technology so advanced, whatever ailment you have can definitely be cured.¡±


    Pei Huai finally caught on.


    His face suddenly darkened, and he slammed on the brakes.


    The car quickly stopped by the side of the road.


    ¡°Xia Wenyan.¡± He almost gritted his teeth, staring at him word by word.


    He was worried here that he might be schemed against by Avril, and all he could think about was whether he could perform?


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t expect Pei Huai to suddenly get angry. He looked at him in panic, thinking it was because of what he had just said, poking at a sore spot again.


    He immediately changed his tune, ¡°Brother Pei, you can. You definitely can. You¡¯re the most powerful! You...¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Pei Huai raised his hand and pushed him down onto the passenger seat, irritably saying, ¡°Stop spouting nonsense, or I might just deal with you right here!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xia Wenyan immediately fell silent, but soon he came to his senses.


    What was there to be afraid of?


    He had been seen by Brother Pei before.


    With that thought, he surprisingly didn¡¯t resist at all.


    Xia Wenyan looked up at Pei Huai, who was towering over him, his heart suddenly pounding erratically.


    He couldn¡¯t help but swallow, feeling that Brother Pei looked... a little bit sexy today.


    Seeing Xia Wenyan had become obedient, Pei Huai finally slowly rose up.


    ¡°My body has absolutely no problems.¡±


    He settled back into the driver¡¯s seat, casually replying to Xia Wenyan.


    He didn¡¯t want him to think there was anything wrong with his body.


    Actually, when he had pushed Xia Wenyan down onto the passenger seat just now, it was a spur of the moment thing.


    The words had slipped out as well.


    Pei Huai was just set off by Xia Wenyan¡¯s pitying look, and hadn¡¯t even processed what he had said.


    By the time he realized what he had said, he was relieved Xia Wenyan wasn¡¯t the type to overthink.


    Otherwise, he might have started avoiding him.


    Pei Huai sat in the driver¡¯s seat for a good while before he regained his composure, ¡°Don¡¯t wander around lately, especially don¡¯t go out alone with Avril, got it?¡±


    Xia Wenyan leaned back in the passenger seat, embarrassed by the jumble of thoughts in his head just now, averted his eyes, and didn¡¯t dare to meet Pei Huai¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°I got it. I won¡¯t give Avril any opportunities. I¡¯d rather stay single my whole life than marry such a woman.¡±


    After saying this, he turned to look at Pei Huai, smiling, ¡°Brother Pei, I think Avril will definitely go to my parents to talk about our affair. You might have to take the blame again...¡±

 Chapter 399: 397 Are You Polite?

    Chapter 399: Chapter 397 Are You Polite?


    Xia Wenyan felt a bit embarrassed when he spoke those words.


    He had always been taken care of by Pei Huai, and now that he had to deal with Avril¡¯s issue, it was really tough on his Brother Pei.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly before he turned his head to glance at Xia Wenyan.


    He didn¡¯t speak, his gaze deep and thoughtful.


    As long as Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t like Avril, it didn¡¯t matter how the rest was handled.


    He was worried that if the Xia Family noticed his feelings for Xia Wenyan, they might try to intervene.


    ¡°Brother Pei, are you upset?¡± Xia Wenyan sneaked a peek at Pei Huai and asked cautiously.


    After all, he had bothered Pei Huai with too many things.


    Now, even assuming this responsibility, it wouldn¡¯t be abnormal to get angry.


    Pei Huai shook his head gently, ¡°No, I¡¯m just worried that because of this, your parents will want you to stay away from me.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows instantly furrowed, ¡°Fuck, this could really backfire, couldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Even though his parents didn¡¯t usually interfere much with their children¡¯s romantic affairs, if they insisted on breaking him away from Pei Huai because he said they were together and forced him to marry a woman, that would be a disaster.


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s words only heightened Pei Hui¡¯s anxiety.


    It seemed this matter required a long-term strategy.


    Now that Xia Wenyan had made it public in front of Avril, it was probably only a matter of time before his parents found out.


    He needed to think about how to handle this...


    In the evening, Song Sinian arrived at the hospital and happened to see a somewhat agitated Lu Zhaozhao.


    His eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°Did the Feng Family come to you again today?¡±


    Usually, Lu Zhaozhao would be smiling and waiting for him to get off work, but today... her mood didn¡¯t seem too good.


    When Lu Zhaozhao saw Song Sinian coming, she immediately opened her arms.


    Song Sinian naturally took her into his arms and gave her a reassuring pat, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t the Feng Family, then was it Xiao Jinglan harassing you?¡±


    Whether it was the Feng Family or Xiao Jinglan, he wouldn¡¯t let them off easily.


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head lightly, ¡°This afternoon, my fourth brother and Pei Huai came to visit, but before they arrived, someone else did, and you would never guess who it was.¡±


    Song Sinian stayed silent, just quietly looking at her, waiting for her to continue.


    ¡°Avril actually came back from abroad and had the audacity to say she wants to marry my fourth brother. Can you believe that?¡± The thought alone gave Lu Zhaozhao a headache.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Avril to be so persistent.


    Song Sinian seemed to catch the drift as he scanned Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face before saying softly, ¡°Did she upset you?¡±


    He was already staying in hospital due to childhood psychological trauma, and over the past few days, Song Sinian had wanted her to have a comfortable time in the hospital, but had not anticipated that all these troublesome matters would keep finding their way to her.


    Thinking this, a shadow of displeasure crossed Song Sinian¡¯s face and eyes.


    It seemed that if Lu Zhaozhao merely nodded, Song Sinian was ready to deal with her immediately.


    In truth, Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t worried about Avril, but she was rather concerned that, should Song Sinian really take action against Avril, it could be difficult to explain to her parents.


    After all, Avril¡¯s parents and his had some connections.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t worry about whether her parents would care about what Avril said.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her little lips, ¡°He¡¯s not pestering me, but my eldest brother. I don¡¯t want such a sister-in-law...¡±


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t like her, then find someone to marry her off,¡± Song Sinian said, unable to resist pinching her little face after hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pitiful tone.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao was willing, he was ready to help her with anything.


    It was just a matter of getting rid of Avril.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes immediately widened with curiosity as she looked at Song Sinian and cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. Song, do you have any good ideas?¡±


    Getting Avril married off was definitely the best solution, but now she was single-mindedly focused on Xia Wenyan. How could she possibly shift her target?


    The Xia Family was the easiest first bite of meat she could take, and she would not give it up easily.


    Song Sinian, of course, saw through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s concerns.


    He stretched out his hand to lift her by the waist, placing her on his lap before continuing patiently, ¡°Avril fancies Xia Wenyan, merely because she thinks he is wealthy and influential, simple-minded, and easy to manipulate.¡±


    If Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenyan were all that easy to manipulate, she certainly wouldn¡¯t consider Xia Wenyan.


    After all, which woman would want to live with a man who always confronts her?


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth to retort but couldn¡¯t find anything to refute.


    If her eldest brother were here, he would surely retort to Song Sinian, ¡°Are you being polite?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back before he continued, ¡°With Xia Wenyan¡¯s temperament, he certainly won¡¯t agree easily. If at this time there are quite a few people starting to pursue Avril, and they have decent conditions, don¡¯t you think he would consider it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was obviously stunned. Could it really work that way?


    Avril wanted to marry into the Xia Family for their family background and status.


    If she couldn¡¯t marry Xia Wenyan, then marrying a man with decent conditions would be the second-best option.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was worried that someone like Avril, who was never satisfied and always wanted more, wouldn¡¯t look twice at any other man besides Xia Wenyan.


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, her eyebrows knitted into a knot, ¡°What if Avril insists on my eldest brother?¡±


    ¡°Then strip Xia Wenyan of his inheritance eligibility in the XJ Corporation, or have Xia Wenyan find a way to give up his right to inherit. Without that, he won¡¯t be so valued in front of Avril,¡± Song Sinian nearly blurted out without thinking.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly lit up. Indeed, he was their family¡¯s Mr. Song, solving problems directly and simply.


    As long as it was clear what Avril really wanted, the matter would be easy to resolve.


    What she wanted was nothing more than the Xia Family¡¯s power and status. So if Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t have those, he would be worthless in Avril¡¯s eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao wrapped her arms around Song Sinian¡¯s neck, and with a slight tilt of her head, she kissed his chin, ¡°This plan is just perfect, I¡¯ll mention this idea to my eldest brother right away!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Song Sinian just lightly replied, saying nothing more.


    If Avril really was as fixated on the Xia Family as Lu Zhaozhao said, then once Xia Wenyan used this method to deal with her, the other three brothers of the Xia Family would become her next targets.


    Unless each of them gave up their rights to inherit the XJ Corporation, Avril would still be a ticking time bomb for their family.


    Of course, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t need to know that.


    He would handle the follow-up matters, so there was no need for her to worry anymore...

 Chapter 400: 398: Are You Tired Today?

    Chapter 400: Chapter 398: Are You Tired Today?


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently stroked Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head as he looked down at her small face and asked, ¡°When do you plan on being discharged from the hospital? Do you want to stay here for a few more days, or come home with me?¡±


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m coming home with you,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said without hesitation.


    Her situation wasn¡¯t serious to begin with; if it weren¡¯t for her emotional breakdown in front of Song Sinian, she wouldn¡¯t have stayed in the hospital for so long.


    Moreover, with the Xia Family living in constant fear and Old Master Song worried about her health, she had been forced to become a protected species.


    Now that Song Sinian had finally agreed to let her go home, how could she miss this opportunity?


    Lu Zhaozhao, afraid that Song Sinian would change his mind, hugged his neck and nuzzled him, cooing softly, ¡°Mr. Song, I don¡¯t like staying in the hospital; I want to go home. Aunt Qian is at home; she will definitely take good care of me.¡±


    In fact, Qian Hong had originally planned to come to the hospital to care for Lu Zhaozhao, but she was worried that after Qian Hong¡¯s arrival, she wouldn¡¯t be able to continue with their plan, so she had no choice but to stay in the hospital alone.


    She was typically taken care of by the hospital¡¯s nurses for her food, clothing, housing, and transportation.


    She had had enough of the hospital these last few days, and Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li had become enemies, so she guessed they would be too busy fighting each other to bother her for the time being.


    There was no point in her staying in the hospital any longer.


    Although Song Sinian didn¡¯t think the same as Lu Zhaozhao, he also didn¡¯t want her to stay in the hospital.


    He had originally thought that her stay in the hospital would ensure she received better care.


    He didn¡¯t expect... that she would be busier in the hospital than at home.


    All sorts of riff-raff dared to show up at the hospital.


    If they kept this up, his little wife would probably be worn out.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll handle your discharge procedures; you¡¯ll have to endure one more night in the hospital today.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes immediately smiled warmly, and she hugged Song Sinian tightly, ¡°As long as Mr. Song is with me, I¡¯m not aggrieved anywhere.¡±


    The words she said were sincere, not meant to flatter him.


    In fact, no matter where she was, as long as Song Sinian was by her side, she never felt aggrieved.


    And Song Sinian would never let her be aggrieved.


    Her words softly melted Song Sinian¡¯s heart, and even his gaze became more tender as he looked at her.


    His nose gently rubbed against hers, then slowly moved behind her ear, and then to the nape of her neck...


    His warm breath touched inch by inch of her skin, bringing a familiar sensation that spread a tingling warmth to the bottom of her heart.


    ¡°Are you tired, Zhaozhao?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s husky voice gently grazed her ear.


    A chill ran down Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back.


    ...


    They were practically an old married couple by now. Taking a deep breath and hugging Song Sinian tightly, she boldly responded, ¡°How could I possibly be tired staying in the hospital?¡±


    A low chuckle from Song Sinian reached her ear.


    He knew his little wife had agreed...


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but rest his head on her neck. No matter when, Lu Zhaozhao was always so lovable.


    He always found her irresistible, unable to let go.


    He slightly tilted his head, his thin lips touching the pale skin of her neck, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if you¡¯re tired, it¡¯s okay; we still have a long night ahead, and you¡¯ll have plenty of time to rest.¡±


    ...


    Hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao felt overwhelmed. It seemed she was definitely in for it today.


    ...


    Late at night, the outside air was cold, with heavy dew.


    A thin layer of moisture clung to the icy windowsill.


    Song Sinian, watching Lu Zhaozhao asleep in bed, let the corner of his mouth curl slightly upwards.


    His large hand gently caressed her back, the soft skin under his palm offering a tender sensation.


    He really had gone a bit too far just now, to the point where even afterwards, he had to carry her for a bath.


    Lu Zhaozhao had fallen asleep long ago, probably from sheer exhaustion.


    Suddenly, his phone lit up in the darkness. Song Sinian frowned and picked it up, the name on the screen catching his eye.


    Xia Wenmo.


    This man had always been inconspicuous among the Xia brothers.


    Apart from a previous illness, Xia Wenmo had barely any presence.


    What he often did was buy things for Lu Zhaozhao and collect all sorts of her favorite famous paintings.


    So, Song Sinian was surprised that Xia Wenmo would actively seek him out.


    He sent a message and discovered, besides the one he just received, there were many others.


    They must have been sent earlier, but he was busy then and hadn¡¯t noticed.


    Song Sinian browsed through the messages Xia Wenmo had sent; several names caught his attention.


    His dark pupils narrowed, and he sent a message back, ¡°Why are you suddenly interested in that person¡¯s whereabouts?¡±


    Lu Dagui and Cao Mei had been captured by his people some time ago, so it would be difficult for Xia Wenmo to find any trace of them, even if he wanted to know their whereabouts.


    Xia Wenmo sent a message back quickly.


    ¡°You are more aware than I am why Zhaozhao was hospitalized; of course I¡¯m seeking those two out to settle accounts and find out what exactly happened back then.¡±


    He didn¡¯t try to hide his intentions, directly revealing his purpose to Song Sinian.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want Zhaozhao hospitalized again for the same reason. I think your thoughts must be the same as mine.¡±


    After so many years, as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brother, he hadn¡¯t been able to be by her side and felt guilty.


    Especially after learning that Lu Zhaozhao, as a child, had almost lost her life due to the scum of the Lu Family, his anger reached its peak.


    Being the most emotionally sensitive among the Xia brothers, precisely because of that, facing the harm from Xia Wenjin, he chose to be invisible in the Xia Family.


    He couldn¡¯t face his own sister being the one who hurt him.


    Fortunately, Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t the sister, which allowed Xia Wenmo to reconnect with that long-missed emotion.


    If he wanted to protect Lu Zhaozhao, he needed his own strength, not just as a simple painter.


    So, taking this opportunity, he took over most of his father¡¯s influence abroad, knowing that dealing with Lu Dagui would be easy.


    But what he truly wanted was to drag out those who conspired with him, ensuring Lu Zhaozhao had no worries ¨C that was his real goal.

 Chapter 401: 399: Which Look Is That?

    Chapter 401: Chapter 399: Which Look Is That?


    Song Sinian looked at the message on his phone, his black eyes squinting in the depth of the night.


    He turned and glanced once more at Lu Zhaozhao, who had already fallen asleep, then after a slight hesitation, he typed a line on his phone, ¡°I can tell you where the person is, but you have to leave a survivor.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want the scumbag who had harmed Lu Zhaozhao to die so easily.


    He wanted him to atone for what he had done for the rest of his life.


    ¡°No problem, I¡¯m not so merciful as to let him off easily,¡± Xia Wenmo replied quickly with a message.


    At first, when Xia Wenmo learned that Lu Zhaozhao was his sister, he was very dissatisfied with his brother-in-law, Song Sinian.


    Their family¡¯s cherished darling had married another man without ever feeling the warmth of familial affection.


    He had a tough time accepting that.


    Later, he had inquired about Song Sinian and disliked everything about this unemotional man.


    But recent events made him feel that only Song Sinian could provide Lu Zhaozhao with enough security by marrying her.


    Song Sinian was extremely obsessive about Lu Zhaozhao, and for a while, he worried that his obsession would affect their relationship, but the reality was quite the opposite.


    It was precisely because of Song Sinian¡¯s obsession that whatever happened, he would steadfastly stand by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side regardless of right or wrong.


    He even felt somewhat glad that Song Sinian had such a personality.


    Although when it came to stealing his sister, he was a bit annoyed...


    Thinking this, Xia Wenmo sent another message to Song Sinian, ¡°Let¡¯s not let Zhaozhao know about this; after all, we are now in the same boat.¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Xia Wenmo¡¯s message and snorted softly.


    If it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao, he wouldn¡¯t bother being on the same boat with anyone.


    However... if the issue with Lu Dagui came to light one day, having someone else to take the blame wouldn¡¯t be so bad.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips gently stroked the screen, and he quickly sent a two-character response, ¡°Understood.¡±


    Once he received Xia Wenmo¡¯s reply, he placed the phone back on the bedside.


    When Lu Zhaozhao had fainted due to her traumatic memories, he had wanted to settle the account with Lu Dagui.


    But that man had already been thrown overseas.


    He couldn¡¯t leave Lu Zhaozhao behind and go overseas alone, so he would have to bring him back.


    Although he trusted his subordinates¡¯ abilities, there was no telling if Lu Dagui would cause trouble from within.


    Even though Lu Dagui was not capable of much, a person with no hope for the future could do anything crazy.


    He wouldn¡¯t take such a risk.


    It just so happened that Xia Wenmo wanted to take over this matter, so he was naturally happy to be relieved of the burden.


    Xia Wenmo was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brother, and using his own words, he definitely would not let him off easily; thus, handing over this matter to him, Song Sinian felt at ease.


    All he needed to do was to stay by his wife¡¯s side every day...


    The next morning, the Xia Family¡¯s living room was noisy.


    Avril sat on the couch, crying her eyes out.


    ¡°Aunt Wen, you must seek justice for me, Xia Wenyan is really too bullying, wuu wuu wuu...¡±


    As she spoke, her crying grew louder.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s head ached from the noise; she raised her hand to press against her temple and then looked at Avril to ask, ¡°What exactly happened, stop crying and clarify.¡±


    She knew that her youngest son had always been somewhat disengaged, but to see Avril cry like this, she was also a bit curious.


    Avril wiped the tears from her cheeks, ¡°Aunt Wen, I know I¡¯ve done a lot to anger you before, but that¡¯s no reason for Xia Wenyan to bully me. After the way he treated me, how am I supposed to go on living?¡±


    What did ¡°that way¡± mean exactly?


    Wen Qingyu was completely in the dark.


    Today she was the only one at home. She had intended to go to the Song Family to find Lu Zhaozhao, but before she even left the house, Avril had blocked her way inside.


    Although Wen Qingyu did not understand what Avril meant, she still slowly began to speak, ¡°So, what do you want Lao Si to do? Apologize to you?¡±


    ¡°No need for him to apologize to me.¡± Avril shook her head gently, her voice breaking.


    Wen Qingyu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, still somewhat puzzled. Had Avril suddenly become sensible?


    As she wondered, Avril¡¯s next sentence almost made Wen Qingyu spit blood.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want his apology, I want him to marry me.¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out, ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    Avril wanted Xia Wenyan to marry her?


    Recalling Avril¡¯s claim that Xia Wenyan had bullied her, her mind exploded.


    Xia Wenyan usually wasn¡¯t the brightest, but to fail to use his brain at such a time?


    He had actually bullied Avril?


    Was he blind?


    Wen Qingyu pressed her temples with her hand, feeling completely overwhelmed, ¡°Avril, you need to tell me clearly, what exactly happened between you two?¡±


    Although she found Xia Wenyan unreliable, she could not believe he would do such a thing.


    Was there some misunderstanding?


    Avril was well-prepared for Wen Qingyu¡¯s skepticism and immediately burst into loud sobs, ¡°Aunt Wen, do you not believe me? Is that why you¡¯re asking? If you don¡¯t believe me, you can call Xia Wenyan back and ask him.¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s brows knotted instantly. Seeing how adamant Avril was, her heart sank.


    Could it be that Xia Wenyan really did something outrageous?


    Otherwise, why would Avril be so certain?


    Avril saw through Wen Qingyu¡¯s thoughts.


    She wasn¡¯t worried about Xia Wenyan facing her after returning to the Xia Family.


    What worried her more was the possibility of Xia Wenyan disappearing altogether; in that case, even if she wanted to sling mud at him, it would be difficult.


    Pei Huai almost always accompanied Xia Wenyan, and she had no opportunity to be alone with him.


    But if Xia Wenyan returned home to the Xia Family, it would be different; she could stay over amidst everyone¡¯s ignorance and stir up trouble undercover.


    If she stayed just one day at the Xia Family, Wen Qingyu would never allow Xia Wenyan to continue gallivanting outside.


    By then, with Xia Wenyan also staying at the Xia Family, her chances to act against him would multiply.


    Thinking of this, Avril couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of her mouth. What did it matter if all of this was a lie?


    As long as she insisted on being bullied by Xia Wenyan, no one could do anything to her.


    Her parents were on good terms with the Xia Family; out of respect for her parents, Wen Qingyu would investigate thoroughly.


    She wasn¡¯t worried about lacking opportunities to act against Xia Wenyan.


    Wen Qingyu looked at Avril, troubled, and after hesitating, she slowly said, ¡°I¡¯ll have this rascal come back now; you stop crying...¡±

 Chapter 402: 400 What Kind of Devilish Help Is This?

    Chapter 402: Chapter 400 What Kind of Devilish Help Is This?


    No matter what was really going on, Xia Wenyan had to come back and explain himself.


    Avril pretended to be obedient and nodded. She raised her hand to dab at the corners of her almost tear-free eyes, but in reality, she sneakily watched Wen Qingyu¡¯s retreating back as he went to make a phone call.


    When Xia Wenyan saw Wen Qingyu¡¯s incoming call, he was going over a script with Pei Huai.


    He immediately jumped up from the sofa upon seeing the caller¡¯s name, ¡°Brother Pei, my mom¡¯s calling me.¡±


    Although he didn¡¯t know what Wen Qingyu wanted from him, he felt sure it was nothing good.


    Avril had left so arrogantly yesterday, she must have had a backup plan.


    His mom usually didn¡¯t contact him if there was nothing important, so if she did, it definitely meant there was an issue.


    Xia Wenyan had a nagging feeling that this had something to do with Avril.


    Pei Huai looked at Xia Wenyan, who was like a bird startled by a mere twang of a bow, and patted his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, answer the call first to listen. Maybe it isn¡¯t as serious as you think.¡±


    Pei Huai said this but deep down, he was just as nervous as Xia Wenyan.


    He was even a bit worried; perhaps Wen Qingyu had heard something from Avril, and that was why he had called for Xia Wenyan to leave him.


    Thinking this, his fists involuntarily clenched, but he maintained a calm and breezy appearance on the outside.


    Of course, Xia Wenyan had no idea what Pei Huai was thinking. Seeing Pei Huai so composed, he mentally psyched himself up.


    If Brother Pei was this calm, he definitely couldn¡¯t lose face.


    Xia Wenyan took a deep breath before answering the call, ¡°Hello? Mom?¡±


    ¡°Lao Si, what exactly is going on with you and Avril? Why did she come to our house crying first thing in the morning, saying that you bullied her? She even wants to marry you. What exactly did you do?¡± Wen Qingyu¡¯s voice slowly came through from the other end of the phone.


    Although Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t put the call on speaker, in the quiet room, Pei Huai could still clearly hear everything coming from the phone.


    His brows furrowed significantly. It seemed Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t know what Xia Wenyan had actually said that day.


    Pei Huai wondered why Avril hadn¡¯t told Wen Qingyu about yesterday¡¯s events. What exactly was she planning?


    Did she think that by covering for Xia Wenyan, he would agree to marry her?


    That was simply daydreaming.


    Xia Wenyan certainly didn¡¯t have Pei Huai¡¯s patience. The moment he heard Avril slander him, he exploded, ¡°Is that woman insane? When did I ever bully her? Why didn¡¯t she mention how she was acting like a lunatic yesterday, trying to latch onto me?¡±


    Just the thought of Avril clinging to him like a plaster yesterday, insisting on marrying him and having his children, sent a chill down his spine.


    Although Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t know what had transpired between the two of them, from the sound of Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, it seemed he hadn¡¯t done anything despicable. Wen Qingyu immediately felt a sense of relief.


    ¡°Avril is making a scene over here. If it¡¯s nothing important, come back home early and sort this out.¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s voice came through the phone once again.


    Xia Wenyan looked visibly unhappy, ¡°What¡¯s there to sort out? Just kick that shameless woman out!¡±


    It was bad enough she slandered him, but to also spread rumors in front of his parents was utterly diabolical!


    Wen Qingyu was a bit troubled as well, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d still be calling you if I could just drive her out?¡±


    Avril clearly wasn¡¯t going to be reasonable, and even if Wen Qingyu wanted to kick her out, it would be difficult.


    So she could only ask Xia Wenyan to come back.


    Xia Wenyan frowned, but hearing Wen Qingyu¡¯s words, he calmed down quite a bit.


    Thankfully, his mom still trusted him; otherwise, this situation would have been much more difficult.


    After hesitating for a moment, he eventually agreed, ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll come home in a bit. Make that woman wait for me. If she dares to slander me, she better be ready to get hit!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Xia Wenyan¡¯s entire face collapsed.


    He had been very firm in his words, but thinking about Avril¡¯s unreasonable tantrum-throwing manner, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but feel a headache coming on.


    His mom would definitely consider the feelings of Avril¡¯s parents, and if she really agreed to let him marry her, what would he do?


    As Xia Wenyan thought this, his pleading gaze turned to Pei Huai, ¡°Brother Pei, what should I do? I feel like I¡¯m going to be ruined by that woman Avril...¡±


    He sounded so pitiful, completely oblivious to the fact that Pei Huai¡¯s expression had turned utterly gloomy because of what he had just said.


    If that woman Avril really intended to harm Xia Wenyan, he wouldn¡¯t mind sending her straight to the King of Hell.


    His brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Are you going back to the Xia Family later?¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded, ¡°Avril is throwing a fit at my place right now, so I definitely need to go back.¡±


    Otherwise, if his father found out that his beloved mother was upset because of him, he would be in for a beating.


    Pei Huai pondered for a moment and when he looked at Xia Wenyan again, there was obvious concern in his eyes.


    ¡°Give Zhaozhao a call.¡±


    Besides Wen Qingyu, the most influential person in the Xia family was Lu Zhaozhao. With Lu Zhaozhao there, he could feel a bit more at ease.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, ¡°Right, how could I forget my precious little sister? If my mom doesn¡¯t believe me, Zhaozhao can vouch for me!¡±


    The thought of having Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s help relaxed him considerably.


    Xia Wenyan took out his phone and was just about to call Lu Zhaozhao when Pei Huai leaned in close.


    He looked at Pei Huai with confusion, ¡°Brother Pei, you still... hiss...¡±


    Before Xia Wenyan could finish, Pei Huai bit him on the neck.


    Tears came to his eyes from the pain.


    Xia Wenyan looked at Pei Huai in disbelief, his voice clearly tinged with a sob, ¡°Brother Pei, why did you bite me?¡±


    He looked at Pei Huai with a pitiful, reproachful expression, his eyes filled with a slight resentment.


    This was the first time Pei Huai had ¡°laid a hand¡± on him after all this time they had spent together.


    ¡°I¡¯m helping you,¡± Pei Huai said without changing his expression, his hand touching the teeth marks on Xia Wenyan¡¯s neck.


    ¡°???¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s confusion deepened¡ªwhy did helping him involve biting him?


    What kind of devilish method of helping was this?


    Thinking this made Xia Wenyan feel even more aggrieved, his eyes reddening even more than before.


    Pei Huai¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved, his voice a bit hoarse, ¡°With your voice already having a crying tone, now is the perfect time to call Zhaozhao.¡±


    Xia Wenyan seemed to suddenly understand something and instantly felt less aggrieved.


    He picked up the phone to call Lu Zhaozhao but then paused as if he remembered something.


    ¡°Brother Pei, I think I¡¯m an actor...¡±


    As a basic skill for an actor, he did have acting ability.


    He couldn¡¯t claim to have ceiling-level acting skills, but shedding tears in ten seconds¡ªhe could do it!

 Chapter 403: 401: Are You Angry?

    Chapter 403: Chapter 401: Are You Angry?


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t look at Xia Wenyan again; instead, he spoke to himself, ¡°Then do you think you can act it out in front of Zhaozhao?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan seemed to be stuck all of a sudden.


    He had genuine feelings for his precious little sister; how could he possibly mix acting into that?


    Upon thinking this, Xia Wenyan instantly understood.


    He looked at Pei Huai with a look of admiration, ¡°Brother Pei, you really do think ahead!¡±


    Pei Huai raised his hand to touch the tip of his nose, and casually said, ¡°Save the flattery for later; go make your phone call first.¡±


    ¡°Got it, I got it!¡±


    After finishing his words, Xia Wenyan immediately mustered up some emotions and started making the call¡ª


    The moment the call was answered on the other end, Xia Wenyan opened his mouth, ¡°Zhaozhao, it¡¯s me. It¡¯s an emergency, your fourth brother is waiting for you to save him.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her phone with a puzzled face, hearing Xia Wenyan¡¯s slightly tearful voice caused her eyebrows to frown involuntarily, ¡°Fourth Brother, don¡¯t panic, tell me what¡¯s going on slowly.¡±


    Xia Wenyan, who has always been fearless, the sky could fall and still not a wrinkle on his brow, was almost crying now?


    Her heart suddenly tightened, and she began to worry faintly.


    Song Sinian, who was by her side, slowly walked over and wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind.


    His cheek rested against the nape of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck, positioned perfectly to hear her conversation on the phone.


    ¡°Avril went to our house, and mom said I should come back. I feel like the odds are not in my favor.¡± Xia Wenyan, following the method Pei Huai had given him, briefly informed Lu Zhaozhao of the situation.


    Lu Zhaozhao nearly blurted out immediately, ¡°I¡¯ll swing by the Xia Family later too. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely be on your side.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenyan was so delighted he almost jumped on the spot, but luckily Pei Huai pressed down on his shoulder to prevent him from becoming too exuberant.


    He took a deep breath to suppress the excitement in his heart, mumbling, ¡°My life and death are in your hands, Zhaozhao. I would rather die than marry that woman Avril!¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s words carried a hint of gritting teeth when he reached this point.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if you want to, I don¡¯t.¡± Lu Zhaozhao spoke softly, comforting Xia Wenyan.


    In fact, she was serious.


    Someone like Avril, who was only interested in personal gain, didn¡¯t fit the Xia Family¡¯s style at all.


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t like her either, yet she was still eagerly trying to marry into the Xia Family, just the thought of it gave her a headache.


    With these words from Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenyan was completely reassured.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll head home first, and later Four Brother will be waiting for your rescue.¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s words were a bit nasal, but somehow they sounded more pleasant than before.


    Indeed, crying and whining were really not suitable for Xia Wenyan.


    Lu Zhaozhao hung up the phone and realized Song Sinian was still clinging to her.


    She shook her back lightly, ¡°Sinian, let go of me first, I need to get ready to go to the Xia Family.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Song Sinian almost cut her off with his refusal, which took her by surprise.


    In her memory, Song Sinian was almost always willing to satisfy her requests; this kind of reaction was really rare.


    She looked at him doubtfully, raising her eyebrows, and turned her head to look at Song Sinian on the side, speaking faintly, ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    Song Sinian gently shook his head, his nose nuzzling against the nape of her neck.


    Seeing that Song Sinian hadn¡¯t spoken, Lu Zhaozhao tentatively asked another question, ¡°So... do you not want me to go to the Xia Family alone?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian remained silent, yet his hand holding Lu Zhaozhao suddenly tightened.


    It seemed that was the issue.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly curved into a smile, and she raised her hand to rub Song Sinian¡¯s head, ¡°If you¡¯re not busy, could you accompany me to the Xia Family? I might not be able to handle my fourth brother¡¯s issue...¡±


    As she spoke, she looked at Song Sinian with feigned pitifulness.


    As if she had truly encountered some immense difficulty.


    Song Sinian knew that he was currently being childish, but Lu Zhaozhao was indulging him.


    She was so overt in her indulgence that it made him, a grown man, feel somewhat embarrassed.


    He let out a silent sigh and kissed Lu Zhaozhao on the cheek, ¡°I¡¯ll have Zhao Xi get the car ready. You wait at home for me, don¡¯t rush, I¡¯ve got everything under control.¡±


    ¡°Okay, my Mr. Song,¡± Lu Zhaozhao smiled warmly at him, deliberately emphasizing the word ¡°my.¡±


    Song Sinian slightly curved the corners of his lips before he finally turned and left the room.


    As soon as he stepped out, he took out his phone and sent a message to Pei Huai, ¡°Don¡¯t come troubling Zhaozhao with your damn issues in the future.¡±


    Then he followed it with another message, ¡°I¡¯ve had Zhao Xi compile information on all the places Avril frequents and the people she can contact, and sent it to you. Find someone quickly to lure this woman away, and don¡¯t let her keep flitting around under Zhaozhao¡¯s nose.¡±


    Pei Huai was sitting on the sofa in the living room when he received the message.


    As expected, Song Sinian had seen through the fact that he had sent Xia Wenyan to find Lu Zhaozhao.


    Pei Huai looked at the stack of documents that had appeared in his inbox, his eyebrows raised slightly, but this wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing.


    At least he had obtained Avril¡¯s information.


    Although he had resources at his disposal, getting all of Avril¡¯s information in such a short time was certainly not as efficient as from Song Sinian¡¯s side.


    Luckily for him, Avril, oblivious to her fate, had previously offended Lu Zhaozhao, otherwise Song Sinian would never have intervened.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyelids drooped as he finally tapped out a line on his phone, ¡°With President Song¡¯s help, this matter will surely be handled smoothly.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    When Xia Wenyan returned home, Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian hadn¡¯t arrived yet, but his three brothers were already there.


    Seeing Xia Wenyan enter, Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo all looked at him with a trace of sympathy.


    They had heard that Avril was back, and initially didn¡¯t care much.


    But hearing that she had made a scene at the Xia Family, insisting that she had been bullied by Xia Wenyan and demanding him to take responsibility, the three of them had a hard time staying calm.


    They all disliked Avril, and if someone like her entered the Xia Family, living under the same roof with them, it would be the end of the Xia Family.


    Every year, Avril used to stay at their place for a while, and they couldn¡¯t avoid her fast enough, let alone living under the same roof in the future.


    That would truly be a fate worse than death.


    Sensing their sympathetic gazes, he couldn¡¯t help but purse his lips, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m back.¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenyan, you heartless thing, you bully me and refuse to take responsibility, waaaah...¡± As soon as Xia Wenyan spoke, Avril immediately stepped forward and unleashed a barrage of accusations at him.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s temper flared instantly, ¡°What do you mean ¡®bully you¡¯? Have some shame, okay? I¡¯ve never even touched a finger of yours. I hardly ever see you, how could I bully you? Stop trying to pin your crap on me!¡±

 Chapter 404: 402: Defeat Magic with Magic

    Chapter 404: Chapter 402: Defeat Magic with Magic


    He thought he had seen shameless people before, but never anyone as shameless as Avril.


    The Xia Family naturally believed Xia Wenyan; if he had truly done something, he would definitely admit it.


    Besides, they were all too clear about what tricks Avril was trying to play.


    Initially, when Avril was unaware of their family¡¯s actual circumstances, she even looked down on the three brothers.


    Now that she knew, she couldn¡¯t wait to latch onto their connections.


    No, she clearly intended to brazenly impose herself on the Xia Family.


    Listening to Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, Avril once again threw herself into Wen Qingyu¡¯s arms, putting on a pitiable face, ¡°Auntie, look at Xia Wenyan; he actually denies it, wuu wuu wuu...¡±


    ¡°I acknowledge your mother! If you had any shame at all, you wouldn¡¯t come to my house! Thinking you can force me into marrying you because of the relationship between our families, you¡¯re dreaming! Let me tell you, Avril, I¡¯m into men!¡±


    Xia Wenyan, provoked by Avril, had spoken without a filter, truly shocking the Xia Family members.


    Even Avril hadn¡¯t expected that Xia Wenyan would dare to reveal his attraction to men in front of the Xia Family.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo, of course, didn¡¯t believe he really liked men.


    After all, Xia Wenyan was always irreverent in his actions, and spouting outrageous things was within reason.


    Especially facing a woman like Avril, not to mention him, if she pushed him too far, liking men wouldn¡¯t be out of the question.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed, staring intently at Xia Wenyan, she asked word by word, ¡°Are you really into men, young man?¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded repeatedly, ¡°Of course! I even have a boyfriend already! You¡¯ve met him before.¡±


    If not now, when else would he use his Brother Pei as a shield?


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the Xia Family¡¯s place, she walked in on this exact scene.


    The Xia Family members were staring at Xia Wenyan, wide-eyed.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lu Zhaozhao stood awkwardly at the door, mouth agape, ¡°Is this a bad time for me to show up?¡±


    As soon as Xia Wenyan saw Lu Zhaozhao enter, he immediately ran to her, ¡°Zhaozhao, you¡¯re finally here; this woman is driving me to death...¡±


    His tone was exceedingly pitiful as he clung to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm, the very picture of an innocent, persecuted little flower.


    The Three Xia Brothers silently watched Xia Wenyan; they wouldn¡¯t even help an old lady if she fell, but they had to hand it to their youngest brother, Lao Si.


    Just a moment ago, he was fierce as anything facing Avril, but now that Lu Zhaozhao had arrived, he acted like a wounded little white lotus.


    Anyone unaware of the situation would think he was the one who had just been scolded.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced over at Avril, her brows almost knotted in displeasure, ¡°My Lao Si would never marry you, even if you pushed him to his death, it wouldn¡¯t happen.¡±


    Avril pinched the palm of her hand but kept up her aggrieved facade, looking at Lu Zhaozhao with a whimper, ¡°But he clearly bullied me...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, hearing Avril tell such blatant lies, was utterly infuriated.


    ¡°You previously seduced a man over sixty years old, which I saw with my own eyes. And now you want to throw this filth onto my Lao Si¡¯s back? It¡¯s like you¡¯re dreaming in broad daylight!¡±


    With a single sentence, Zhaozhao left everyone from the Xia Family, including Avril, absolutely stunned.


    His entire being, shaking with anger, was a result of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s baseless accusations.


    Xia Wenyan was the first to snap out of it, looking at her with mockery, ¡°I really couldn¡¯t tell, Avril, you sure know how to play.¡±


    ¡°To be able to pin this on Lao Si is quite fierce,¡± Xia Wenmo sneered lightly, his gaze sizing up Avril as though he was seeing her for the first time today.


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing exchanged glances before Xia Wenqing slowly started to speak, ¡°Avril, I advise you to direct your grievances towards the right person, or else our family can fully sue you for slander.¡±


    No sooner had Xia Wenqing finished speaking than Xia Wenjue raised his hand to pat Wen Qingyu, ¡°Mom, I think you should communicate this matter with Avril¡¯s parents. If this really turned into an incident back home...¡±


    As he said this, his gaze lingered on Avril¡¯s stomach for a few seconds, the meaning behind his unsaid words was self-evident.


    Now it was Avril¡¯s turn to explode, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! When have I ever been involved with a man in his sixties? I¡¯ve hardly met you a few times, on what grounds do you defame me like this?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged her shoulders, ¡°Is it possible that you simply didn¡¯t see me? After all, you haven¡¯t met my fourth brother recently, yet he could hassle you, so how could I not see that sixty-something-year-old man?¡±


    The members of the Xia Family soon realized what was happening.


    Their Zhaozhao was using the same tactics against others as had been used against her.


    Defeat magic with magic.


    Avril also realized that Lu Zhaozhao was deliberately picking a quarrel with her, and even if she wanted to clear things up, Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t listen.


    She simply turned her gaze directly to Wen Qingyu, ¡°Auntie, you surely wouldn¡¯t want my parents to know about the thing between me and Xia Wenyan, would you?¡±


    Her words clearly carried a threat, and even Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    To be honest, if it hadn¡¯t been for the fact that her parents were friends with them, she would have kicked this ungrateful woman out the door long ago.


    Now she had the nerve to use the situation to threaten her?


    Not to mention Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t done this, even if he had, she would rather have her son castrated than let him marry Avril.


    Marry her for what?


    To bring herself trouble?


    Xia Wenyan gave Avril a cold look, stepped in front of Wen Qingyu, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear clearly just now? I like men, I won¡¯t possibly marry you, is there something wrong with your brain?¡±


    He had already said this before, and with Pei Huai backing him up as his shield, he had no fears anymore.


    Avril was so angry she gritted her teeth, glaring at Xia Wenyan before turning her head back to Wen Qingyu, ¡°Auntie, are you really going to watch your son marry a man?¡±


    Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t speak, just silently looked at Xia Wenyan by her side, as if evaluating him with a skeptical gaze.


    ¡°Your partner is Pei Huai?¡± Wen Qingyu pondered for a moment before asking.


    Xia Wenyan, though feeling slightly guilty, still nodded.


    Wen Qingyu patted Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Not bad, you¡¯ve got a good eye.¡±


    Avril stood by, completely shocked. She had thought Wen Qingyu would slap Xia Wenyan, to give him a good wakeup call.


    But to let him off so lightly?


    Avril¡¯s eyebrows knotted instantly, ¡°Auntie, the two of them together won¡¯t be able to have children. Who will inherit his wealth in the future? I don¡¯t mind him liking men, I can still bear him a child...¡±


    ¡°Stop right there! There¡¯s absolutely no need!¡± Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t even think before he cut off Avril¡¯s words. ¡°My future wealth? I¡¯ll leave that to Zhaozhao¡¯s kids. As for the Xia Family... I plan to give up my inheritance rights and transfer everything to Zhaozhao. As for me, I guess I¡¯ll just work for her.¡±

 Chapter 405: 403: Simply Ungrateful!

    Chapter 405: Chapter 403: Simply Ungrateful!


    Avril couldn¡¯t believe her ears, ¡°Are you insane?¡±


    The Xia Family represented XJ Corporation, and he decided to just give it up?


    Was there something wrong with Xia Wenyan¡¯s brain?


    Her gaze was way too direct, to the point it was almost like she wanted to say it right to Xia Wenyan¡¯s face.


    If she hadn¡¯t been interested in Xia Wenyan¡¯s identity and status, she would not have had the shamelessness to stick around, but there he was, willing to give up everything.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth curled into a cold smirk, ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine! Giving all the family wealth to my sister is still better than having it extorted by some shameless people.¡±


    His mocking eyes fixated on Avril, barely stopping short of saying she was the shameless one.


    Lu Zhaozhao was completely confused; wasn¡¯t he here to help?


    How did it end up with Xia Wenyan¡¯s wealth all ending up to be hers?


    Lu Zhaozhao certainly didn¡¯t plan on accepting it, but with Avril present, voicing it out would be counterproductive to Xia Wenyan, so she decided to discuss this matter with him properly after Avril left.


    When Xia Wenyan gave her a determined look, Avril¡¯s brow furrowed instantaneously.


    Although he disliked Xia Wenyan, having been with the Xia Family for so long, she understood his temperament.


    Once he started something, there was no turning back.


    Xia Wenyan was done for.


    Her gaze involuntarily shifted towards Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo.


    Avril¡¯s direct look startled the other three brothers so much that they couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    It was obvious she was shifting her target.


    They all saw the way she just slandered Xia Wenyan; if the same were to happen to them, their mom would probably lose her mind on the spot.


    Xia Wenjue didn¡¯t hold back anymore and blurted out, ¡°I think Lao Si¡¯s idea makes a lot of sense. I¡¯ll give my shares to Zhaozhao as well; in the future, I¡¯ll work for my sister too.¡±


    ¡°My life was saved by my sister; what¡¯s mine is hers, and not to mention the company shares, I¡¯ll also give mine to her,¡± added Xia Wenmo from the side.


    He couldn¡¯t be bothered to spar with Avril, worried that his bad temper might lead to some deadly consequences, hence embarrassing both his dad and mom.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenqing nodded and agreed with what the others said, ¡°Since it¡¯s like this, I might as well draft a contract directly. Let¡¯s all of us sign it right away. From now on, the four of us brothers will work for our sister.¡±


    ¡°Agreed.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    ¡°Just waiting for our sister to sign our paychecks.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Avril watched as the Xia brothers competed in their enthusiasm, unable to believe her ears.


    Had they gone insane, or had Lu Zhaozhao cast a spell on them?


    Such a huge piece of the XJ Corporation pie was given to Lu Zhaozhao just like that?


    Then what was the point of her scheming to worm her way into the Xia Family?


    ¡°You all must be crazy! Right now, you might not care because you¡¯re all single, but what about in the future? Who will want to marry you?!¡± Avril, unwilling to let the situation go, tried to change what was happening.


    But her brain simply wasn¡¯t up to the task, so she could only lash out irrationally.


    Xia Wenyan sneered, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this matter, as long as it¡¯s not you who he marries.¡±


    ¡°You and your family are truly ungrateful!¡±


    Avril said angrily before storming off.


    She hadn¡¯t given up, but she worried if she continued to stay at the Xia Family, the Xia brothers might really sign the so-called transfer contract. Then, all her efforts would have been in vain.


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t allow that to happen.


    No sooner had Avril left the Xia Family than the four Xia brothers placed the contract in front of Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, could you sign this contract?¡± Xia Wenqing said as he placed the printed contract and a pen in front of her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised, ¡°Now that Avril has already left, it might not be necessary...¡±


    She had never wanted to inherit the Xia Family¡¯s wealth. Besides, her husband was so wealthy that she didn¡¯t need to take any part of the Xia Family wealth back.


    Although she was a Xia daughter, she hadn¡¯t had any connection with the Xia Family for the past 20 years.


    She felt embarrassed to thicken her face and rely on blood relations to split family properties, especially since her brothers had always been kind to her. She had even less reason to fight over properties with them.


    Xia Wenyan saw through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts immediately and leaned close, looking pitiful, ¡°Zhaozhao, just think of it as helping your fourth brother out. Didn¡¯t you see that woman, she was almost ready to tear me apart. If you don¡¯t sign, I¡¯m afraid all four of us will be in grave danger.¡±


    ¡°Lao Si is right,¡± Xia Wenqing nodded repeatedly, ¡°Avril is after the XJ Corporation behind us four. The more she wants it, the more we can¡¯t let her succeed.¡±


    Xia Wenmo shrugged, ¡°I already said, my life is my sister¡¯s, let alone my assets.¡±


    Listening to his three younger brothers, Xia Wenjue couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly, ¡°As the eldest brother, I make the decisions. We¡¯re going to transfer all the company shares to Zhaozhao.¡±


    If it were Xia Wenjin, they would only share part of the stocks with her.


    Of course, the precondition is that she is the biological daughter of the Xia family.


    But they genuinely liked Lu Zhaozhao, and even if the company were to be inherited by Lu Zhaozhao in the future, they would have no objections.


    The network and resources they held were sufficient for them to start their own ventures.


    Lu Zhaozhao, having lacked parental protection for the past 20 years, had already suffered enough. They wanted to compensate her and hoped she could own all the wonderful things in the world.


    The Song Family was in good standing, but a girl needed the support of her maternal family to feel more secure.


    With the shares of XJ Corporation, Lu Zhaozhao could be on an equal footing with Song Sinian.


    How could Lu Zhaozhao not know what the Lu brothers thought? She turned her head, looking at Wen Qingyu with a pleading gaze, hoping she would say a few words on her behalf.


    However, Wen Qingyu just looked very reassured, watching her sons.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t refuse. This is their heartfelt intention,¡± Wen Qingyu said. ¡°Besides, if those naughty boys still held shares, Avril wouldn¡¯t easily let them go.¡±


    While Wen Qingyu said this, she knew that as long as the matter wasn¡¯t done by Xia Wenyan, it could be easily resolved.


    Their family had a good relationship with Avril¡¯s parents, but that didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t turn hostile.


    Moreover, this time, the blame was on Avril. If her parents had any dignity, they wouldn¡¯t continue to allow their daughter to wreak havoc in the country.


    Avril managed to come to the country, which exactly showed that she had talked her parents around.


    It might be better not to associate with such friends.


    She made up her mind but decided not to tell Lu Zhaozhao.


    With her understanding of Lu Zhaozhao, if she knew that the matter with Avril could be easily settled, she wouldn¡¯t accept the transfer of shares.

 Chapter 406: 404 Are You Sure?

    Chapter 406: Chapter 404 Are You Sure?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand clenched and turned to look at Song Sinian beside her. Her eyes were full of ¡°what should I do¡±.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He raised his hand and rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°It¡¯s all up to what you like.¡±


    The moment he spoke, the members of the Xia Family instantly became tense.


    Lu Zhaozhao might be easy to deceive, but that did not mean Song Sinian was.


    As they were worried that Song Sinian would expose them, they heard him slowly start to speak, ¡°It¡¯s just a share transfer document, their usual work remains the same, only a signature is needed, and essentially, nothing else changes.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows slightly and muttered softly, ¡°How could there be no changes?¡±


    The share transfer document, once it¡¯s registered in her name, meant that she would be the actual power behind the XJ Group. She¡¯d become a truly wealthy individual.


    How could things remain the same?


    Seeing her frowning face, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but reach out and caress it, ¡°Now, Avril has her eye on your brothers. If you don¡¯t sign, she will soon find out everything that¡¯s just happened; it was only a trick in front of her. Later...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll sign, I¡¯ll sign right now,¡± said Lu Zhaozhao. As she spoke, she picked up the pen on the table and began to sign her name, but not without adding, ¡°I¡¯m only accepting this temporarily. Once Avril¡¯s matter is resolved, it must be changed back.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, you decide.¡±


    Nearly everyone in the room looked at Lu Zhaozhao with an indulgent gaze.


    Aside from her, almost everyone understood that once signed, the contract would not be changed.


    While XJ Group indeed was property of the Xia Family, it was not that important to the four Xia brothers.


    They were each influential in their own domains.


    Even if the entire XJ Group went to Lu Zhaozhao, it didn¡¯t matter.


    After all, she was their sister; of course, they should spoil her themselves.


    The winter afternoon sun was still warm.


    But inside the hospital room, Xiao Jinglan felt utterly cold.


    Lu Zhaozhao had been discharged, and she hadn¡¯t known.


    She had originally planned to use Zhaozhao¡¯s hospitalization to boost her visibility with Old Master Song. She hadn¡¯t expected Zhaozhao to be discharged so soon.


    What frustrated her more was that she was now the one in the hospital.


    With this, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but press her temples in headache. She was initially here to investigate the assault on Feng Jiaye and Tao Li.


    She hadn¡¯t expected to become a victim herself.


    ¡°Now that Zhaozhao has been discharged, how am I supposed to maintain visibility in front of Old Master Song?¡± Xiao Jinglan glanced at Xiao Mo sitting beside her, growing even more irritable.


    Xiao Mo glanced at her, ¡°If there¡¯s no chance now, we¡¯ll just have to wait for another opportunity. You should focus on recovering now. As for the person who assaulted you, I will investigate it.¡±


    He had initially come to the hospital to visit Lu Zhaozhao, only to be told upon arriving at the ward that Lu Zhaozhao had already been discharged.


    He had then decided to visit Xiao Jinglan¡¯s ward, only to find that Xiao Jinglan was also unaware, which was indeed useless.


    He was right under his nose, yet she knew nothing.


    Xiao Jinglan sighed weakly, ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you then.¡±


    She and Hao Li had reported to the police immediately after being assaulted, but there had been no investigation results.


    There were no surveillance cameras where they were attacked. The hospital was chaotic with a mix of different people. They had reviewed the footage from the hospital lobby and hallways, but had failed to find any trace of the perpetrator.


    So this matter could only be handled by Xiao Mo.


    ¡°You should get some good rest during this time,¡± Xiao Mo said as he got up to leave the hospital room, but was suddenly stopped by Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan gestured for Xiao Mo to come closer with a hook of her hand.


    Xiao Mo raised his eyebrows, puzzled, ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    Although his expression didn¡¯t change much, his tone carried a hint of impatience.


    He had originally come here to see Lu Zhaozhao. Last time, he had been humiliated by Song Sinian in front of Lu Zhaozhao and wanted to use this opportunity to regain some face, but to his surprise, Lu Zhaozhao had already been discharged.


    Not only had he not seen her, but he also had to deal with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mess. How could his mood be any good?


    Xiao Jinglan certainly noticed Xiao Mo¡¯s irritation, so she lowered her voice, ¡°On the day I was beaten, Hao Li provoked me, saying she knew my secret...¡±


    ¡°What?¡± As soon as Xiao Mo heard the word ¡°secret,¡± his eyebrows immediately knotted.


    He and Xiao Jinglan indeed had many secrets unknown to others, but Hao Li had only been in Shangjing for a short while¡ªwhat could she know?


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan nodded repeatedly, ¡°I know what kind of person Hao Li is. If she hadn¡¯t gotten hold of any solid evidence, she wouldn¡¯t dare to boast in front of me. I suspect she might really know something, but I¡¯m not sure what it is exactly...¡±


    She spoke with little confidence, even appearing somewhat guilty.


    She recalled that last time Xia Wenjin said he knew their secret, and it turned out that Song Keren exposed herself.


    Fortunately, Xia Wenjin was now in the same boat as them, so there was some room for maneuver.


    But Hao Li and Feng Jiaye were not.


    She was a bit worried that what they knew might have a detrimental impact on Xiao Jinglan and her secrets.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t worry about this matter for now.¡±


    Things were chaotic enough already; he didn¡¯t want to add more complications.


    He realized that any matter left to Xiao Jinglan recently would turn problematic.


    So this was definitely not an issue to be left to her anymore.


    He pondered for a moment and instructed, ¡°As long as Hao Li doesn¡¯t bring it up again, just pretend you don¡¯t know anything. At least until I have thoroughly investigated, you must not reveal any clue in front of her, understand?¡±


    ¡°Okay, I understand.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan wanted to say something else, but seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s icy gaze, she chose to keep silent, helplessly watching as Xiao Mo left the hospital room.


    He had initially planned to leave the hospital directly, but remembering Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, Xiao Mo felt his heart pounding.


    After much hesitation, he decided to head toward the hospital room of Feng Jiaye and Hao Li.


    Although Xiao Jinglan had also been injured with Hao Li, she disliked Hao Li immensely, so she had intentionally arranged for the hospital rooms to be on opposite sides, one on the east and the other on the west.


    This way, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Hao Li coming to bother her.


    As Xiao Mo made his way there, he thought about how to probe Hao Li and the others, but just as he reached the door to the hospital room, he heard Feng Jiaye¡¯s uncontrollable anger.


    ¡°How many times have I told you, just keep an eye on Xiao Jinglan and that¡¯s it, why don¡¯t you ever listen?¡±


    Hao Li hung her head in hurt, unable to understand why Feng Jiaye had been raging about this matter in recent days.


    She had simply talked about how bravely she caught the person who attacked them that day, yet her son had flared up again and she had no clue why...

 Chapter 407: 405: Really Annoying

    Chapter 407: Chapter 405: Really Annoying


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to be impulsive, it was just that the person might very well be the mastermind behind the assault on us,¡±


    Hao Li thought for a moment, assuming that Feng Jiaye was feeling sympathetic toward her as a mother.


    Just as she finished speaking, however, Feng Jiaye exploded in anger, ¡°You¡¯re not hurt?! Ha! If you hadn¡¯t intervened, that person wouldn¡¯t have touched you at all!¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Feng Jiaye¡¯s words clearly stunned Hao Li.


    Indeed, the assailant had only hit Xiao Jinglan and was about to flee; she wouldn¡¯t have been hit if she hadn¡¯t clung to him desperately.


    But her son wasn¡¯t there at the time, how did he know?


    With a puzzled look, she turned to Feng Jiaye, about to speak, when he continued, ¡°I sent that person. If he hadn¡¯t hit you, he would have been caught! Then you and I would both end up in jail!¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Hao Li was utterly shocked.


    ¡°He... you... that...¡±


    She didn¡¯t know where to start.


    After a long pause, she finally managed to gather her words, ¡°So what do we do now?¡±


    Feng Jiaye snorted coldly without sympathy, ¡°What can we do? If it weren¡¯t for the mixed public opinion at the hospital and the fact that the person was detained by you, he would¡¯ve been caught already!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now, Hao Li dared not say another word.


    She feared that continuing the conversation would only result in more scolding.


    Fortunately, the person had acted decisively and hit her; otherwise, if he had been caught, both she and her daughter would have been doomed.


    Hao Li was completely preoccupied with the worry that the man who had hit them might be caught, forgetting to ask Feng Jiaye why he had someone hit Xiao Jinglan.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Mo, outside the hospital room, had heard every word of their conversation clearly.


    He furrowed his brows, surprised to find out that it was Feng Jiaye who had arranged the assault.


    Feng Jiaye had indeed caught him off guard by using such a desperate strategy.


    He had always considered the Feng family as mere clowns, incapable of causing any serious trouble; now, it seemed, he needed to be more cautious.


    Moreover, now that Hao Li had admitted to knowing their secret, he had to strike first!


    Thinking this, Xiao Mo watched the silence settle inside the room before he finally turned and left.


    It was time to teach the Feng family a lesson...


    Lu Zhaozhao had just been discharged from the hospital a few days ago and returned to the film crew.


    Luckily, her role wasn¡¯t significant, so taking a few sick days hadn¡¯t affected the schedule too much.


    Several people from the crew, who were on good terms with Lu Zhaozhao, came to her dressing room to chat until it was time to shoot.


    The director, knowing that Lu Zhaozhao had just come from the hospital, didn¡¯t want to assign her too strenuous a role, so he scheduled one scene for her in the morning and another in the afternoon.


    After getting her makeup done, Lu Zhaozhao went over to the set and saw Sun Qian in the rest area.


    She had previously had a falling out with Sun Qian over Xia Wenyan, and Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t plan on greeting her.


    As she was passing by Sun Qian, she heard a sarcastic voice ring out, ¡°Some people are really delicate; a mere fly swat sends them to the hospital for days.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao knew Sun Qian was deliberately talking about her, so she gave her a cold glance and crisply replied with four words, ¡°None of your business.¡±


    She really couldn¡¯t stand Sun Qian¡¯s opportunistic attitude, warm and friendly when she wanted something and completely different when she did not.


    Now knowing that she couldn¡¯t take advantage of her, Sun Qian was making sarcastic remarks here.


    So annoying.


    Since her rebirth, the women who had managed to annoy Lu Zhaozhao this much were only Xiao Jinglan and Xia Wenjin, and now Sun Qian was the first.


    She didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with this kind of person, but she just had to come and bother her.


    Sun Qian¡¯s face fell at once, and she glared at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I was just saying, why are you so guilty? Why so eager to take it personally?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at her with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, ¡°I was also just speaking my mind. Why are you getting angry?¡±


    She could talk in riddles, couldn¡¯t she?


    She, a top actress in the entertainment industry, didn¡¯t care about her image, so what did she have to fear?


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t get too smug. In this circle, it¡¯s not all about who you know,¡± Sun Qian squinted and warned impulsively.


    She had given Lu Zhaozhao face before, but it was her own choice not to take it.


    So she couldn¡¯t blame her afterward.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly smiled more brightly, giving her a particularly radiant fake smile, ¡°Thank you, Teacher Sun, for reminding me about having connections. I will try to make more use of them in the future.¡±


    After saying this, she nodded to Sun Qian and turned to walk towards another lounge area.


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao sat down, Lin Baiyu hurried over, ¡°Zhaozhao, you¡¯ve got to see this.¡±


    She gestured with her chin for Lu Zhaozhao to turn around.


    Only then did Lu Zhaozhao see that, right next to where Sun Qian had been sitting, a relatively unfamiliar actor had appeared.


    He was busily attending to Sun Qian at her side, and if it hadn¡¯t been for his costume, Lu Zhaozhao might have thought he was her assistant.


    Having thought this, Lu Zhaozhao took another look at him, the costume he was wearing did look somewhat familiar.


    ¡°Is that person new?¡± Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but ask Lin Baiyu.


    With Xia Wenjin¡¯s recent scandal, it was normal for her role to be recast and a new actor to be brought in.


    ¡°She is indeed new, but she is the previous Female No. 5 who was replaced,¡± Lin Baiyu explained as he glanced at Sun Qian and the female actor.


    ¡°This role was originally intended for Zhang Qiao, but she had no strong connections and wasn¡¯t very skilled, so she was easily replaced. Now that the production has had to replace someone last minute, and she was available, they brought her back.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, not making a big deal of it.


    After all, this kind of thing was common in the entertainment industry.


    Whose backing was stronger, that¡¯s who got the resources.


    People without strong backing were easily pushed out, securing a role was all about ability.


    Not long after Lu Zhaozhao shifted her gaze, Sun Qian looked her way, frowning and picking up her script in irritation.


    Seeing this, Zhang Qiao carefully asked, ¡°Teacher Sun, is there something bothering you?¡±


    She had been reluctantly ousted from her role earlier, and though she felt resentful, without any powerful support, she was powerless.


    However, who could have expected that the person who replaced her would have their career tumble so quickly? It was like karma.


    After being brought back into the production, she resolved to latch onto someone powerful.


    Knowing she had no connections or networks, being around these top-tier celebrities meant she could only play the sidekick...

 Chapter 408: 406: Why Should She Care About Her?

    Chapter 408: Chapter 406: Why Should She Care About Her?


    No matter what, she couldn¡¯t let this kind of thing happen again.


    Sun Qian cast a glance at Zhang Qiao and sneered, ¡°What? Can you actually cheer me up when I¡¯m in a bad mood?¡±


    Having mixed in the entertainment circle for so long, she had encountered many who actively sought to cling to her for advancement. It was clear to her what Zhang Qiao was up to, so she didn¡¯t bother to treat her with much courtesy.


    Thinking like this made Sun Qian feel even more disdainful of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Others were scrambling to curry favor with her, yet it was only Lu Zhaozhao who lacked such insight!


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, casting several more glances in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s direction.


    Zhang Qiao awkwardly pulled at the corner of her mouth, ¡°I may not have much capability, but I¡¯m willing to take on some of Teacher Sun¡¯s burdens. For matters such as these, a person with a broad-minded perspective like Teacher Sun might think of strategies that consider the bigger picture, whereas I, despite being rather petty, might come up with methods more suitable for smaller issues.¡±


    She had been in the entertainment industry long enough to have developed the skill of tailoring her words to whoever she was speaking with.


    She had originally intended to dedicate herself to acting, believing that if she were gold, she would eventually shine.


    But the harsh reality smacked her squarely in the face.


    No matter how good her acting was, without someone backing her, she would always lose out on the good roles.


    Without popularity or connections, rising to prominence was excruciatingly difficult.


    She had once thought there was no need for her to desperately grovel before others.


    Now, she had come to a realization.


    What did groveling matter if it could help her climb higher?


    If she could just be a good lapdog for Sun Qian, maybe in the end, she would have everything she desired.


    By then, who would care about how she had climbed to the top?


    Sun Qian was pleased with the flattery she had just received from Zhang Qiao.


    Zhang Qiao did have some talent with words.


    Her fingertips tapped lightly on the back of the chair as she casually remarked, ¡°Most people in our crew got in on the strength of their abilities, but there are a few who are here to add a gold plating to their careers through their popularity alone. They might not think much of it, but I worry that these few bad apples might spoil the whole batch...¡±


    Zhang Qiao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly; if Xia Wenjin were still with the crew, she would have certainly thought that comment was directed at her.


    Yet now that Xia Wenjin was gone, the only one who fit the description of having popularity without talent was Lu Zhaozhao.


    She had been with the crew long enough to witness Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s acting firsthand.


    On her very first day on set, she had secretly watched the footage of other actors¡¯ performances.


    She had to admit, even though Lu Zhaozhao lacked a substantial portfolio, her acting skills were surprisingly good. It was as if she had been fed by the heavens themselves.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s acting seemed to outshine even Sun Qian¡¯s.


    Even in a minor role, she exuded a special charisma that made her memorable.


    Zhang Qiao could even assert that once this show aired, she didn¡¯t know about the others, but Lu Zhaozhao would undoubtedly become popular again because of her acting.


    However, Zhang Qiao certainly couldn¡¯t praise Lu Zhaozhao in front of Sun Qian. With her hints already so explicit, how could she not understand?


    Sun Qian¡¯s dislike for Lu Zhaozhao was simple, regardless of the reason. Being new to the set, Zhang Qiao didn¡¯t grasp the intricacies of their relationship.


    Zhang Qiao chuckled softly, pouring Sun Qian a glass of water and handing it over, ¡°I think these bad apples could be taught a lesson. They should be disciplined in their acting, to give them a long-lasting lesson.¡±


    Sun Qian¡¯s eyes suddenly widened with excitement.


    This idea was indeed good.


    She had previously been concerned about offending Lu Zhaozhao due to her good relationship with Pei Huai, fearing that it might affect her image in his eyes.


    But now when she thought about it, there was no need for her to suffer for the sake of a stranger.


    Lu Zhaozhao was nothing more than a friend¡¯s sister.


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t like her anyway.


    Why should she care about her?


    Sun Qian made up her mind and decided to give Lu Zhaozhao a hard time during their scene together later, to teach her a lesson!


    The deep winter weather was freezing to begin with, and Lu Zhaozhao, who was filming outside, wrapped herself in a thick down jacket.


    Her scene was up before long.


    Since it was a scene with Sun Qian, Lu Zhaozhao was even more vigilant.


    She feared this woman might cause trouble for her during the shoot.


    Unexpectedly, Sun Qian didn¡¯t pick a fight from beginning to end, throughout the filming, which caught Lu Zhaozhao a bit off guard.


    Considering Sun Qian¡¯s professional persona, it wasn¡¯t that hard to understand.


    But as long as she didn¡¯t pull any stunts, why should Lu Zhaozhao care about the reason?


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to leave, she heard Sun Qian speak up, ¡°Teacher Lu, wait a moment.¡±


    She wore a shallow smile, looking totally harmless.


    Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t in a hurry, ready to play along with her act, ¡°What is it, Teacher Sun?¡±


    She stood in place, revealing a polite smile.


    Sun Qian too had a beaming smile, standing next to the director.


    ¡°I just discussed with the director, if we only use a backdrop for this scene, it might not bring out the excitement of the drama. The part where we fall into the water will be shot live.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Sun Qian, knowing she was settling a private score¡ªthey were going to shoot a water scene in such cold weather, clearly she intended to mess with her.


    ¡°Teacher Sun really does take her work seriously,¡± she said, laughing lightly at Sun Qian, without any objection.


    Sun Qian looked back at Lu Zhaozhao with a smug expression, after all, her suggestion was sensible and fair; Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t have the chance to argue, even if she wanted to.


    She cocked the corner of her mouth, ¡°Naturally, the most important thing is to be dedicated as an actor.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded gravely, ¡°Then I hope Teacher Sun can continue to be as dedicated in the upcoming scenes.¡±


    This was a script about a painful love story, her upcoming scene was about her character, as the male lead¡¯s divine pet, secretly in love with the male lead, opposing the female lead, being retaliated against, and then getting pushed into the water by the female lead.


    But in subsequent scenes, the female lead was continuously tortured¡ªlocked in a water dungeon, forcibly held under a water tank, pushed into the water...


    She would be tormented in the water far more times than her supporting role.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to not object, but in reality, she was threatening Sun Qian¡ªshe had to be just as dedicated in every single scene to come, or else she, the so-called senior, would be slapping her own face in public.


    Sun Qian¡¯s face involuntarily twitched; she had only been focused on punishing this little wretch, completely forgetting about the later plot.


    If she really made Lu Zhaozhao dive into the cold water today, she expected that Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t let any of her water scenes slide.


    Indeed, she wanted to punish Lu Zhaozhao, but she had to have a justified cause.


    Otherwise, what would Pei Huai think of her?


    Worse yet, Lu Zhaozhao might complain about her to Pei Huai, and then even if he had an explanation, it wouldn¡¯t be clear.


    Sun Qian¡¯s brows furrowed as her gaze roamed over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pretty face.


    This woman was really a handful!

 Chapter 409: 407: What Is Ans Intention?

    Chapter 409: Chapter 407: What Is An¡¯s Intention?


    She stiffly tugged at the corner of her mouth and ultimately turned her head to look at the director and said, ¡°Director, considering Teacher Lu just got back from the hospital, having her actually shoot in cold water might not be wise, just in case she gets sick again, which could affect the upcoming schedule.¡±


    The director furrowed his brows, seemingly at a loss for words.


    He never intended to have them actually film in cold water.


    It was Sun Qian who insisted earlier that not filming in water would affect the quality of the crucial scenes.


    He knew Sun Qian was trying to put Lu Zhaozhao in a tough spot, but since it was a matter between the actresses, he didn¡¯t feel the need to intervene, so he hadn¡¯t.


    Now she was tossing the blame onto him.


    The director¡¯s face visibly soured.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips curved up slightly as she smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. My health may not be the best, but Teacher Sun can handle it. Besides her scenes with me, she also has a part where she falls into the water. How about Teacher Sun demonstrates it for me? If it doesn¡¯t work out, we can always change it later.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The director couldn¡¯t help but take another look at Lu Zhaozhao, realizing that beneath her delicate appearance, she wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with.


    He had heard from other crew members that Sun Qian had suffered defeats at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hands before, so it seemed... he had even less to worry about.


    He just waited for the outcome.


    Sun Qian¡¯s face immediately darkened, ¡°Teacher Lu, I was wholeheartedly thinking of you, yet you ask me to go into the water first. What are your true intentions?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked innocently, ¡°Teacher Sun, you¡¯re misunderstanding me. You clearly said it was to avoid affecting the highlight of the scene. With such integrity and righteousness, I thought you wouldn¡¯t refuse. Did I think wrong?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sun Qian clenched her fist, glaring venomously at Lu Zhaozhao before saying somberly, ¡°I was just worried about Teacher Lu having just left the hospital, thinking your body might not hold up, but it seems I was overly concerned. Since it¡¯s like this, let¡¯s just proceed with the normal shooting later!¡±


    After saying this, she didn¡¯t pay any attention to how others viewed her and marched off.


    The director touched his nose, gave Lu Zhaozhao a glance, and with a slight nod, left as well.


    On the contrary, Lin Baiyu ran over from not too far away, ¡°Zhaozhao, did you just offend Teacher Sun? You¡¯re going to have it rough when shooting your scenes together later.¡±


    Her brow was tightly furrowed, clearly worried for Lu Zhaozhao.


    The scene coming up was where Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s character would stealthily attack the female lead, only to fall into the water due to a backlash.


    If Sun Qian made things difficult for her later, she might be forced to repeatedly fall into the water in this cold weather.


    Thinking about the outdoor temperature, Lin Baiyu couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    She too had scenes to film in the water.


    After all, she was the second female lead; most of her scenes overlapped with the male lead and the female lead.


    If Sun Qian insisted on having everyone in the water, they would all suffer too.


    It was impossible for Lin Baiyu not to resent Sun Qian at the bottom of her heart.


    Lu Zhaozhao patted Lin Baiyu on the shoulder and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can handle it.¡±


    She had no intention of just watching Sun Qian bully her.


    As for the upcoming water scene, she naturally had prepared a special gift for Sun Qian. It remained to be seen whether she could take it or not.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about this, giving the director¡¯s retreating figure a glance, her limpid eyes narrowing slightly...


    At the same time, Sun Qian, who had left the set, returned to her nanny van.


    As soon as she got into the van, she angrily threw everything within reach to the floor.


    The assistants in the nanny van were naturally silent as sparrows, quietly tidying up the van, fearing that any peep would earn them a thorough scolding from Sun Qian.


    ¡°What were all of you doing just now?¡± Sun Qian sat in her seat, eyeing the few assistants in the van, and immediately caused several of them to shiver in alarm.


    The assistant who had been with Sun Qian the longest hurriedly spoke up, ¡°We went to inquire about Mr. Pei¡¯s matters at the neighboring film crew. We just heard that Mr. Pei seemed to have returned to filming, so we went to find out.¡±


    Sure enough, upon hearing Pei Huai¡¯s name, Sun Qian¡¯s expression visibly improved.


    Her eyebrows lifted a little as she looked at the assistant and said, ¡°Will Pei Huai come to the set later?¡±


    She was about to shoot a drowning scene with Lu Zhaozhao, and if Pei Huai saw her deliberately bullying her, he might hold it against Sun Qian and tattle.


    That woman was so scheming, Sun Qian couldn¡¯t afford not to be cautious.


    The assistant was also a bit dumbfounded, for who could know whether Pei Huai would come to the set or not?


    But she dared not say that.


    Her eyes darted around, thinking that whenever Lu Zhaozhao was on set, Xia Wenyan would always come, and Pei Huai was inseparable from Xia Wenyan, so they should come, right?


    The assistant swallowed nervously, cautiously saying, ¡°They should come, after all, Lu Zhaozhao has already returned to the set, and if brother Xia Wen comes, Mr. Pei should also come along.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®should¡¯? I want a precise answer!¡± Sun Qian, dissatisfied, swept another cup to the ground.


    Luckily, there was no water left in the cup, so it only crashed onto the floor of the nanny van.


    Frightened, the assistant shrank back and quickly said, ¡°Then, then I¡¯ll have someone keep watch at the neighboring film crew, and if Mr. Pei comes, we can know immediately.¡±


    Sun Qian only then nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Alright, hurry and arrange it, don¡¯t linger here and be an eyesore.¡±


    With a wave of her hand, she shooed the assistants off the van.


    Outside was a frozen tundra, nowhere near as warm as inside the van.


    But to stay in the van with Sun Qian, a veritable she-devil, they¡¯d rather suffer the cold outside, at least it spared them constant anxiety and dread.


    Shortly after the assistants left the van, they each received tasks and dispersed to various parts of the set.


    After all, Sun Qian only ever acted gentle and kind when Pei Huai was around.


    When Lu Zhaozhao was previously on the set, Pei Huai had come almost every day, and they too had enjoyed a stretch of good days.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Lu Zhaozhao falling ill and Pei Huai staying away at the neighboring set, their lives wouldn¡¯t have been so tough.


    Fortunately, now that Lu Zhaozhao had recovered and returned to the set, they were thanking their lucky stars!


    Half an hour later, the crew had finished preparing the ¡°pond¡± onsite.


    Due to it being deep winter, ice had formed on the water pool before, but with the temperature increasing around noon, the crew had managed to deal with the ice on the ¡°pond,¡± and the water inside had been processed.


    They had initially wanted to add warm water to the ¡°pond,¡± but the temperature difference between the water and the air was too high, causing steam to constantly rise in front of the camera.


    The crew had no choice but to add more cold water.


    Although it wasn¡¯t as bone-chilling as ice water, in this weather, tumbling around in cold water definitely wasn¡¯t something the average person could endure.


    These crew members, who had been on sets for a long time, had seen all kinds of things, and it was clear to them that this was a high-status actor bullying a lower-status one, but it remained to be seen whether the actor in question could withstand it...

 Chapter 410: 408: You Did It on Purpose!

    Chapter 410: Chapter 408: You Did It on Purpose!


    Lu Zhaozhao had just arrived on set when she saw the ¡°pond¡± prepared by the staff, and not far away, Sun Qian also spotted it.


    Her eyes lifted, and at the sight of Lu Zhaozhao, the corners of her mouth curled into a smug smile.


    She was eager to see if Lu Zhaozhao would still be smiling in a moment.


    Soon, shooting began.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s character, Little Fox, quietly followed behind Sun Qian¡¯s leading lady. As they approached the ¡°pond¡±, just as she was about to stretch out her claws to attack Sun Qian, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly began to struggle in agony.


    It was as if she was being controlled by something invisible, her whole body trembling.


    Lin Baiyu and Yan Gui, playing the audience from West Foreign, couldn¡¯t help but widen their eyes.


    They had seen Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s acting before, and it was indeed very lively.


    But this instantaneous immersion into character, with a performance so convincing that even people in real life would believe she was under some sort of control, made them feel somewhat inferior as actors.


    Lin Baiyue and Yan Gui exchanged glances, their admiration for Lu Zhaozhao growing in their hearts.


    Thinking of the upcoming scene and looking at the ¡°pond¡± nearby, both couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly.


    Because Sun Qian had demanded real emotion, they too would have to roll around in the ice-cold pond later on.


    Just thinking about it and looking at Sun Qian, their gaze carried a bit more disdain.


    They knew Sun Qian deliberately targeted Lu Zhaozhao; they were caught in the crossfire, but that didn¡¯t stop them from disliking her.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao swayed, her expression changed, and she lunged straight for Sun Qian.


    Almost in the next instant, Sun Qian was knocked into the ¡°pond.¡±


    Before she could say anything, Lu Zhaozhao followed, jumping in and tightly grabbing Sun Qian.


    The icy water stunned Sun Qian completely, and she struggled almost instinctively, trying to climb out, but Lu Zhaozhao pressed her down again.


    Everyone watching the scene was bewildered, except for the director, who looked at his camera with a face full of amazement, seemingly very pleased with the situation.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Sun Qian struggled in the pond for a while before the director finally called ¡°cut.¡±


    By then, Sun Qian¡¯s face had turned pale from the cold; she couldn¡¯t even curse, let alone utter a single word, as she was hastily taken back to the dressing room for a hot shower by her assistant.


    Lu Zhaozhao, climbing out, was also wrapped up tightly by the people around her and taken back to the dressing room.


    Knowing she would be going into cold water, she had worn a very tight waterproof suit under her clothes in advance, with a thick layer of plastic wrap outside. This way, even if she fell into the water, she would be able to keep the inside clothes dry for some time, ensuring some warmth.


    But Sun Qian was different.


    She had no idea she would be going into the water, so she only wore her costume.


    She was probably frozen silly by now.


    Lu Zhaozhao had done it on purpose, of course, since there was no reason for her to wait to be bullied on set.


    So she approached the director with her idea for this scene in advance. She thought she would have to have a long talk before the director would agree, but to her surprise, the director immediately consented to her idea after hearing it.


    Lu Zhaozhao was a bit surprised by this turn of events.


    She calmly returned to the lounge, changed her clothes, and took a hot bath, although most of her body hadn¡¯t gotten thoroughly wet, the water had indeed been quite cold.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao had finished getting ready and was nestled on the sofa of the lounge, sipping her hot milk, Sun Qian stormed in, full of bluster.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    She almost kicked the door open from the outside, her face a mask of uncontainable rage as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, who was sitting on the couch.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao so relaxed and at ease, Sun Qian could barely contain her anger.


    ¡°You did it on purpose! You intentionally pushed me into the water!¡±


    Her pointing finger was noticeably trembling. Just thinking of that ice-cold, bone-chilling water that had submerged her whole body made her shiver even now.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly, ¡°Teacher Sun, you shouldn¡¯t make baseless accusations. After all, the scene we were shooting was a falling-into-water scene. What¡¯s the problem?¡±


    Sun Qian¡¯s face grew even darker after hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shameless retort, ¡°Do you have the nerve to ask what the problem is? It was clearly you who was supposed to fall into the water. Why drag me down with you?! What were you thinking?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked, looking at Sun Qian incredulously, ¡°Can it be, Teacher Sun, that you¡¯ve forgotten about our script change?¡±


    Saying so, she threw the script lying on the table in front of Sun Qian, ¡°Here, this is the latest version of the script. It requires that both of us fall into the water. Moreover, the director just saw it and thought it was very good. I figured someone as dedicated as Teacher Sun certainly wouldn¡¯t mind, right?¡±


    Sun Qian picked up the script and flipped through it. Seeing indeed it was written that both characters fall into the water, she looked even more upset.


    She clenched her molars with hatred, her gaze suddenly turned a lot colder.


    She could pressure the director to exploit Xia Wenjin, and Lu Zhaozhao could exploit her in the same way, huh! Wonderful!


    Of course, Lu Zhaozhao knew what Sun Qian was thinking. She slightly curved her lips, chuckling, ¡°Teacher Sun, if you want to discuss with the director about giving me some more impressive scenes, I naturally wouldn¡¯t object. But given our relationship and my personality, I definitely can¡¯t allow Teacher Sun to suffer, can I? In the end, it¡¯ll be the director who will have a hard time...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sun Qian knew that Lu Zhaozhao was warning her not to try anything further with the director, or else she would give Sun Qian a taste of her own medicine.


    If it had been some low-tier extra, she wouldn¡¯t care at all and would¡¯ve gone straight to the director to take care of her.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was different. She had the backing of both the Song Group and XJ, and her brother was a current top-tier, red-hot star; she was not someone Sun Qian could deal with just by spouting a few words.


    She narrowed her eyes as if she had just thought of something, then turned her head to look at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°You¡¯d better not be too arrogant. Sometimes a strong family background doesn¡¯t entitle you to do whatever you please.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Sorry, but this time I do want to do as I please. What can you possibly do to me?¡±


    She looked at Sun Qian with a mocking smile.


    The kind she detested the most were those who always wield their elder status to lecture others.


    Such blatant hypocrisy, yet they always try to act as if they are the very paragons of virtue, tsk!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mocking expression didn¡¯t escape Sun Qian¡¯s notice, who glared at her fiercely before finally turning and leaving the lounge.


    The assistant who left with Sun Qian was now silent as a grave.


    She didn¡¯t dare to look at Sun Qian¡¯s face, fearing that she would vent all the frustration she had suffered from Lu Zhaozhao onto her.


    Sun Qian glanced at her quail-like assistant, her brows almost knotting into a lump, but she didn¡¯t scold her outside. Instead, she quickly returned to her own lounge...

 Chapter 411: 409: Could There Still Be Any Tricks Left?

    Chapter 411: Chapter 409: Could There Still Be Any Tricks Left?


    The moment the door closed, Sun Qian raised her arm and swept everything from the table onto the floor.


    Fortunately, Sun Qian had done this before, so the floor of the rest area was already covered with a thick layer of carpet.


    Thus, although the items she swept onto the floor were a mess, not a single one broke.


    Sun Qian glanced at the mess at her feet, glaring at her assistants by her side with an exceptionally ugly expression.


    She angrily gritted her teeth, ¡°Go contact my major fans now and spread the news of my fall into the water on the set, saying that Lu Zhaozhao is acting like a diva on the set.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Teacher Sun.¡±


    The assistants knew that Sun Qian was blatantly lying, but none dared to defy her and obediently did as she said.


    After all, it was Sun Qian who paid their salaries.


    ¡°Contact the PR company we worked with before and put out several trending searches, focusing on Lu Zhaozhao bullying me, the lead actress, and my hospitalization from being pushed into the water.¡±


    ¡°Also, go do the hospital admission procedures for me now, find a hospital with more privacy.¡±


    ¡°And arrange a few paparazzi to take some ¡®stealth photos¡¯ outside.¡±


    Sun Qian assigned tasks to each person, and although they had different expressions, they all earnestly went to do what she ordered.


    Sun Qian, looking at the empty room again, had even more malice in her eyes.


    Ha! Think Lu Zhaozhao is so arrogant?


    She¡¯d let her have her moment of arrogance and see who would be the final winner!


    Lu Zhaozhao learned of Sun Qian¡¯s hospitalization when Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai came to visit the set.


    ¡°There are rumors outside that you pushed Sun Qian into the water, and her fans are making a big fuss about it,¡± Xia Wenyan said, rolling his eyes exasperatedly.


    Sun Qian, that woman, had always been at odds with Lu Zhaozhao, and hadn¡¯t refrained from causing trouble in the past.


    Before he came, he had made a point of inquiring around the set. It was Sun Qian who wanted to make things difficult for Lu Zhaozhao but ended up getting outwitted instead.


    Thankfully his sister was smart, otherwise, she would have suffered along with the rest.


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned slightly, ¡°This just happened on the set not long ago, how did it get to the trending searches so quickly?¡±


    ¡°Do we even need to say? It¡¯s obviously her own people who bought the trending searches,¡± Xia Wenyan said dismissively. ¡°She must feel like she lost out to you, and wants to regain some ground. Now, the trending searches are either praising her professionalism or claiming you¡¯re the diva, all just a flood of paid trolls.¡±


    These were all common tactics in the entertainment industry, which Xia Wenyan of course understood.


    Pei Huai, who had been silent this whole time, quietly glanced at Lu Zhaozhao.


    After a moment, he slowly spoke, ¡°The discussion about this incident online is very heated right now, and I estimate it will affect you. Later, Yanyan and I will take a trip to the hospital to see what exactly Sun Qian is planning.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going too,¡± Lu Zhaozhao immediately responded to that.


    Sun Qian¡¯s intentions were clear; she was targeting Pei Huai.


    Lu Zhaozhao also wanted to see for herself what kind of tricks Sun Qian was up to.


    Hearing this, Xia Wenyan immediately rejected her proposal, ¡°Sun Qian is obviously targeting you; who knows what kind of grievance you might suffer if you go to the hospital.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to be mistreated at all!


    If there was anything major, they could come at him, her brother.


    Pei Huai nodded in agreement, ¡°If this was done by Sun Qian, and you visit her at the hospital, it¡¯s very likely that it will give people cause for gossip.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged her shoulders, ¡°My relationship with Sun Qian has never been good, but the clueless onlookers don¡¯t know that. If she dares to spin a story on this, I¡¯ll dare to smack it right back at her.¡±


    Now, the talk outside was about her being a diva and bullying Sun Qian. If she didn¡¯t visit Sun Qian at the hospital at this time, people would definitely say that this rumor was confirmed.


    Going to the hospital, some people might think she was feeling guilty, but others would think that the rumors of their discord were false.


    Since neither going nor staying away were good options, she might as well go and enjoy the spectacle.


    With her eldest brother and Pei Huai around, what tricks could Sun Qian possibly pull?


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, momentarily unsure how to further dissuade Lu Zhaozhao. He pondered for a moment, then his gaze shifted to Pei Huai, seeking help.


    Pei Huai lifted his hand to ruffle Xia Wenyan¡¯s hair and, with a sigh of resignation, said, ¡°Let her go with us then.¡±


    Seeing that Xia Wenyan was still frowning, Lu Zhaozhao reached out to shake his arm, ¡°With Brother Four and you by my side, what¡¯s there to worry about?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s heart bloomed with joy at being praised, ¡°Of course, your Brother Four is super reliable!¡±


    Pei Huai: ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brain really is... selling himself short and helping the buyer count the money.


    It was just as well that Lu Zhaozhao was his own sister.


    Unable to help it, Pei Huai sighed, looking at the two gleeful people, neither of them aware of the colder realities.


    Well, he¡¯d just pamper his beloved person anyway.


    Because the lead actress was in the hospital, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s scenes with Sun Qian were canceled.


    Naturally, she went straight to the hospital with Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai in the afternoon.


    When their party arrived at the hospital, Sun Qian was lying in the hospital bed looking very weak.


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit, Sun Qian¡¯s makeup artist was impressive.


    That pallid, sickly makeup was just... as good as the real thing.


    It would have looked even more realistic if she hadn¡¯t deliberately made her face so white.


    ¡°Good heavens, Teacher Sun, are you alright?¡± Xia Wenyan was stunned as soon as he entered the hospital room by the heavy makeup on her face.


    Sun Qian thought Xia Wenyan was shocked because he thought she was seriously ill, so she coughed softly and weakly said, ¡°I¡¯m alright, just feeling a bit under the weather...¡±


    Xia Wenyan stepped forward and said very seriously, ¡°You¡¯re feeling unwell and still put on such heavy makeup? Look at how white your face is, even my great-grandfather didn¡¯t look that pale three days after he passed away.¡±


    His blunt comment shocked Sun Qian so much she trembled with anger. Had Pei Huai not been there, she would have exploded in expletives.


    She had seen the makeup on her face and had worn the same look while shooting on set; she didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with it.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao nearly laughed out loud at Xia Wenyan¡¯s straightforwardness. Indeed, her Brother Four never disappointed her.


    He always managed to peel back a layer of the pretense so precisely from those playing the victim.


    Knowing she couldn¡¯t make headway with Xia Wenyan, Sun Qian shifted her target to Lu Zhaozhao standing to one side, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, have you come to apologize to me?¡±


    The trending topics online had already blown over, and even if Lu Zhaozhao knew it was her doing, there wasn¡¯t much time left to counterattack.


    After all, the fact that she fell into the water was true, and Lu Zhaozhao pushing her was also true.


    With these two points alone, Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t be able to shake off this blame!

 Chapter 412: 410: Wheres Your Face?!

    Chapter 412: Chapter 410: Where¡¯s Your Face?!


    Sun Qian saw that Lu Zhaozhao had come to the hospital and guessed that she probably wanted to ask for her magnanimity.


    She glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and sneered inwardly, thinking that only after society had harshly dealt with her did she realize who she could offend and who she couldn¡¯t.


    With that thought, Sun Qian put on even more airs.


    She looked at Lu Zhaozhao and lifted her chin even higher, almost as if wishing she could look down on her through her nostrils.


    Lu Zhaozhao had originally just come to the hospital to watch the commotion and hadn¡¯t expected Sun Qian to be so full of herself as to think she was there to apologize.


    Her gaze circled Sun Qian¡¯s face and she airily spat out three words, ¡°Are you worthy?¡±


    ¡°What did you say?!¡± Sun Qian nearly leaped out of the hospital bed in anger.


    She pointed furiously at Lu Zhaozhao, her whole body trembling.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s straight-man comments were one thing, but what was this nonsense from Lu Zhaozhao?!


    Sun Qian looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a cold gaze, her tone even colder than her expression, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, can you not see the situation you¡¯re in?¡±


    The internet was already abuzz with talk of her acting like a diva, and here she was daring to confront her in the hospital?


    Was she sick in the head?


    Lu Zhaozhao quietly observed Sun Qian, ¡°So what? What do you want to do?¡±


    She too wanted to know what Sun Qian, who seemed so able to stir up trouble, was really after.


    Thus, she didn¡¯t hurry to retort but rather played along, waiting for what was to come next.


    Sun Qian¡¯s expression eased quite a bit; her gaze swept past Pei Huai and finally settled on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face before she spoke, ¡°If you want my forgiveness and for me to clear things up for you online, it¡¯s not impossible...¡±


    Xia Wenyan listened to her deliberately playing coy, his eyebrows arching high, ¡°What exactly do you want to do? Spit it out, have...mmph...¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Pei Huai suddenly covered his mouth from behind.


    Xia Wenyan frowned in displeasure, glanced at Pei Huai, but ultimately said no more.


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t know if Sun Qian had someone recording or videotaping in the room, but it was always better to be cautious.


    However, his action was misconstrued by Sun Qian as Pei Huai taking her side.


    Her heart warmed, and her face flushed considerably.


    Sun Qian slightly lowered her head, speaking with a hint of shy coyness, ¡°We don¡¯t have that big a conflict, really. It¡¯s just that you¡¯ve been so clueless on set. As long as you apologize, I can soothe my fans for you. And besides...¡±


    She slowly lifted her head to look at Pei Huai beside her, her cheeks flushed again, ¡°Besides, if Pei Huai you would go public with our relationship, I don¡¯t think anyone would care about Zhaozhao¡¯s diva behavior anymore.¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you thinking?!¡± Xia Wenyan exploded at once. If not for Pei Huai¡¯s arm around his waist, he¡¯d have rushed up to give this woman a couple of solid slaps.


    She had gone through such a convoluted scheme to frame his sister, all to steal his Brother Pei?!


    Good grief, he cursed inwardly!


    Where was her shame?!


    Standing aside, Lu Zhaozhao nearly burst into laughter at Sun Qian¡¯s words.


    Sun Qian really had some imagination.


    Their dispute didn¡¯t have anything to do with Pei Huai; how did she have the audacity to make such a demand?


    Sun Qian glanced at Xia Wenyan, who was being blocked, and wasn¡¯t the least bit angry; after all, Pei Huai was on her side.


    Her gaze lifted slightly as she looked to Pei Huai, ¡°This is the best solution, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Pei Huai eyed Sun Qian expressionlessly, ¡°I think...¡±


    ¡°This matter has nothing to do with Mr. Pei at all. Since it¡¯s trouble I¡¯ve caused, why not do this¡ªI¡¯ll go public with our relationship, which will definitely be more sensational than if you did it with Mr. Pei.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Sun Qian with a mocking smile.


    Sun Qian¡¯s eyes widened in an instant, ¡°Are you joking with me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who started the joke? This is between you and me, why drag Mr. Pei into it?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Pei Huai your friend? He wants to help you, so what¡¯s wrong with making our relationship public?¡± Sun Qian¡¯s eyebrows knit tightly, looking at Lu Zhaozhao, seemingly completely oblivious to the problem with what she had just said.


    Lu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, ¡°He¡¯s my friend, not my dad.¡±


    Really had no idea what was going on in Sun Qian¡¯s head.


    How could someone blame their friend for their own issues?


    Sun Qian didn¡¯t listen at all, continuing on her own, ¡°There¡¯s no room for discussion about today¡¯s matter, unless Pei Huai goes public with me, otherwise, this won¡¯t be so easily resolved!¡±


    Her words were resolute and powerful, as if certain Lu Zhaozhao had no way out.


    Xia Wenyan, standing on the side, was amused to laughter by Sun Qian¡¯s self-confident demeanor.


    He cast a cold glance at Sun Qian, then looked up at Pei Huai and asked, ¡°Brother Pei, are you going to make it public with this woman?¡±


    When Pei Huai looked at Xia Wenyan, his eyes softened, and he said with a half-smile, ¡°Making it public with her? I¡¯d rather go public with you, it would be absolutely more sensational.¡±


    Xia Wenyan knew Pei Huai was teasing him, but this statement greatly satisfied his vanity.


    He lifted his chin slightly, staring at Sun Qian and said, ¡°You can give up on that. My Brother Pei isn¡¯t interested in you; in the future, quit throwing yourself at him.¡±


    Saying this, he reached out to pull Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s not stay with this old witch any longer, or who knows how much more slander she might throw at us!¡±


    Seeing Pei Huai leave with Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao, Sun Qian¡¯s face abruptly fell.


    She shouted at Pei Huai, ¡°Pei Huai, you also have feelings for me, don¡¯t you?!¡±


    Pei Huai stopped abruptly, his face instantly scowling.


    He didn¡¯t want Xia Wen to misunderstand.


    ¡°Teacher Sun, I don¡¯t know when you got that impression, but I can tell you clearly, I¡¯m not the least bit interested in you. You¡¯re not at all my type,¡± Pei Huai said to Sun Qian coldly, not giving an inch of face.


    He had finally become inseparable from Xia Wenyan; he didn¡¯t want Sun Qian to cause even the slightest rift between them.


    Pei Huai was only concerned with clearing the air with Sun Qian, and didn¡¯t notice that at the end of his statement, Xia Wenyan visibly breathed a sigh of relief.


    He had actually started to believe there might be something between them, given how sure she seemed.


    Thank goodness that wasn¡¯t the case.


    Sun Qian clearly didn¡¯t want to accept Pei Huai¡¯s assertion.


    She looked at Pei Huai incredulously, her cheeks stiff as she spoke, ¡°No, it can¡¯t be. If you didn¡¯t care about me, why would you block Xia Wenyan? Why did you stand in front of me before? And when I had a cold, why did you tell me to go back to the nanny van to rest early?¡±


    Hearing Sun Qian¡¯s words, Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth, ¡°I stopped Xia Wenyan because I was worried he¡¯d get harassed by you. Telling you to go back to the nanny van early was because I was worried your cold might infect Xia Wenyan. And I never once stood in front of you; if you think I did, that¡¯s a misunderstanding! If you don¡¯t believe me, I can swear to heaven that I¡¯m not interested in you at all!¡±

 Chapter 413: 411: Song Sinian is Injured?!

    Chapter 413: Chapter 411: Song Sinian is Injured?!


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit that Pei Huai¡¯s move to vindicate himself was very appealing. Just by looking at the nearly overflowing joy in her brother¡¯s eyes, she knew the effect was excellent.


    Then there was Sun Qian¡¯s expression, already as dark as the bottom of a pot.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips curved slightly as she dragged Xia Wenyan directly out of the hospital room.


    As soon as they left, Sun Qian began to rage within the hospital room.


    In her fury, she smashed everything on the nightstand, finally calming herself down.


    And her assistant, standing nearby, couldn¡¯t help but shiver in fright.


    Sun Qian¡¯s eyes narrowed viciously. Since Pei Huai was so ruthless, there was no need for her to continue saving face for Lu Zhaozhao.


    She took out her phone, snapped a few photos, and posted them on her own Weibo.


    [Sun Qian: Thank you for your concern. Even in the hospital, my heart is with everyone.]


    Below were a few photos of her forcing a smile.


    Because she had makeup that simulated illness, she looked exceptionally pale and weak. Combined with the phone filter and her acting skills, she gave off a very evident sense of being shattered.


    Sure enough, not long after she posted on Weibo, she trended on the search again.


    [Sun Qian Hospitalized; Lu Zhaozhao Rumored to Be Throwing Tantrums on Set]


    [Rumors Say Lu Zhaozhao Brought Money to Join Cast, Stepping On Female Lead]


    [Lu Zhaozhao Rushes to Hospital to Apologize in Person?]


    ...


    Almost every post and message related to Sun Qian was controlled by her fans.


    Weibo was nearly filled with denunciations against Lu Zhaozhao.


    At first glance, it looked as if Lu Zhaozhao was condemned by the entire internet.


    Sun Qian, satisfied with the rhythm she set off online, couldn¡¯t help but smirk. She wanted to see how Lu Zhaozhao would clear her name this time.


    She just didn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhaozhao and her group wouldn¡¯t bow down!


    Even if they came to her personally this time, she would not forgive them easily!


    After parting ways with Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai at the hospital, Lu Zhaozhao went straight to Song Group.


    By the time she arrived at the bottom of Song Group¡¯s building, it was almost noon. She didn¡¯t go up immediately but instead sent a message to Song Sinian.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m just outside your office building. Shall we have lunch together?¡±


    Her eyes smiled, crinkling at the corners as she leaned against the glass wall at the base of Song Group¡¯s building, fiddling with her phone, waiting for Song Sinian¡¯s reply.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that someone had already set their sights on her from the shadows.


    Since the news of Sun Qian¡¯s hospitalization spread online, Sun Qian¡¯s die-hard fans wanted nothing more than to kill Lu Zhaozhao.


    Some simply smeared her name online, while a few real fanatics took action.


    Seeing her alone, the person hiding in the shadows became restless.


    The figure slowly left the shadows and approached Lu Zhaozhao.


    Just as he was about to reach her, he suddenly revealed a dagger hidden on him and lunged at Lu Zhaozhao like a madman, ¡°You shameless wretch! Die!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao snapped back to reality and instinctively reached out to block the attacker as a figure approached her.


    But in the next second, before she could react, she was violently pulled aside by someone.


    A familiar scent made Lu Zhaozhao pause; then the thick smell of blood overwhelmed her senses.


    Bright red blood splattered on her cheek, causing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pupils to sharply contract.


    Song Sinian injured?!


    Her mind went ¡°buzz¡± and instantly crashed.


    Facing another person about to pounce, Lu Zhaozhao lifted her foot and kicked the person directly against the tempered glass nearby.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The loud noise made several neighboring panes of glass tremble.


    The person spat out blood, ¡°You... Ah!¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Lu Zhaozhao rushed up again, punching him repeatedly in the face, stomach, all over...


    She seemed to have gone mad.


    It was the first time Song Sinian had seen Lu Zhaozhao lose control.


    He had just seen a message from Lu Zhaozhao and had handed over the remaining work to Zhao Xi.


    He naturally went downstairs to find Lu Zhaozhao, but to his surprise, as soon as he got to the ground floor, he saw someone trying to harm her.


    He almost reflexively protected her in his arms, then his arm was slashed with a knife.


    By this time, the bodyguards had already come out from the Song Group building, but the man who had attacked him was still being beaten up alone by Lu Zhaozhao.


    To be precise... she was... almost beating him to death.


    Lu Zhaozhao was like a madwoman, continuously delivering blows in circles; the man initially held his arms up to protect his face, but after a few crisp sounds, his arm must have been fractured by Lu Zhaozhao.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be allowing Lu Zhaozhao to pound punch after punch into his face.


    The surrounding bodyguards all knew that Lu Zhaozhao was Song Sinian¡¯s beloved treasure, and they all stood by without daring to intervene.


    They were afraid of accidentally hurting their CEO¡¯s wife.


    But... was their CEO¡¯s wife not a bit too fierce?


    Her combativeness was completely disproportionate to her delicate and small stature.


    ¡°Zhaozhao,¡± Song Sinian also noticed something was seriously wrong with Lu Zhaozhao.


    He softly called her, but she had no response and mechanically continued to punch the man, who was gasping for breath, with standard combat moves.


    Song Sinian saw her gaze had gone blank and immediately reached out to embrace her.


    But she, as if she knew no fatigue, continued to refuse to spare the man in front of her, even as Song Sinian carried her away.


    Until she was forcibly taken away by Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian gave a signal to the bodyguards beside him with his eyes, indicating for them to take care of the man in front of them.


    Only then did the bodyguards swarm forward and pull the man, who was nearly beaten to disability by Lu Zhaozhao, off the glass wall that now showed cracks on the back.


    Good Lord... Their CEO¡¯s wife truly was a fierce one.


    Song Sinian, holding Lu Zhaozhao, saw her stubbornly staring at the man being dragged away and then held her face to force her to look at him, ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m okay, look at me, Zhaozhao!¡±


    He did not know how Lu Zhaozhao came to be there, but he was sure that his injury just now had triggered her.


    Lu Zhaozhao always appeared very normal, and although Doctor Tian had said her childhood trauma was severe and could impact her psyche,


    Thankfully, she always had a strong support in her heart, allowing her to completely disregard past pains.


    Song Sinian had always been curious about what this important support in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart was.


    Now he knew, it was him.


    Thinking of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s loss of control just now, Song Sinian was suddenly concerned about how he died in her past life, which had made her snap so instantly.


    He had thought about asking Lu Zhaozhao for clarity, but remembering the pain on her face when recalling her past at the Xia Family¡¯s home, he could not bear to...

 Chapter 414: 412: Who Doesnt Have Some Crazy Fans Now?

    Chapter 414: Chapter 412: Who Doesn¡¯t Have Some Crazy Fans Now?


    Lu Zhaozhao, who had been held by Song Sinian for a long time, took quite a while to come back to her senses.


    She almost immediately went to check his wound, and upon seeing the deep, bone-deep gash that was still bleeding, her little face instantly paled again.


    Song Sinian, worried that she would be stimulated again, quickly said, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t be afraid. We¡¯re going to the hospital right now, my injuries aren¡¯t serious.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes reddened instantly. She didn¡¯t care about anything else and obediently followed Song Sinian to the hospital.


    Although the wound on Song Sinian¡¯s arm wasn¡¯t too severe, he had lost a bit too much blood in his attempt to stop Lu Zhaozhao.


    Not long after being bandaged up, Song Sinian lay on the bed and fell asleep.


    Lu Zhaozhao gripped his large hand tightly, staring intently at the IV bag above, her entire being seeming soulless.


    It wasn¡¯t until Zhao Xi appeared in the ward that Lu Zhaozhao snapped back to reality.


    ¡°Madam, why don¡¯t you go rest for a bit? I¡¯ll take care of the master here.¡± Zhao Xi¡¯s gaze landed on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pale little face¡ªwith her vacant eyes, she gave him the creeps.


    He had been around Lu Zhaozhao for a not insignificant amount of time, and this was the first time he had seen such an expression on her face¡ªit was no wonder their master was worried.


    He had been instructed to make sure to take good care of Lu Zhaozhao and had also been told to inform the Xia Family.


    Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but frown deeply¡ªLu Zhaozhao¡¯s current state did seem a bit abnormal...


    Hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s voice, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly focused, ¡°Zhao Xi, go investigate the doctors who treated Song Sinian and check all his medications. Make sure to verify the medicine used in his daily IV by different people every day, understand?¡±


    Her voice sounded flat, but her tone was exceptionally serious and cold.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s gaze shifted to Song Sinian, who was already asleep on the hospital bed, and remembered his instructions: whatever Lu Zhaozhao did, as long as it didn¡¯t harm her, to follow her lead.


    He certainly wouldn¡¯t go against Song Sinian¡¯s wishes.


    So Zhao Xi nodded repeatedly, ¡°Rest assured, Madam, I¡¯ll arrange it right away. I¡¯ll make sure there¡¯s no chance for anyone to take advantage of the situation.¡±


    He knew there were many who coveted Song Sinian¡¯s position, but no one would dare to extend their hands into the hospital, at least not yet.


    But since Lu Zhaozhao was worried, he would naturally spare no effort to provide her with a satisfactory outcome.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Zhao Xi intently, then turned her gaze back to Song Sinian lying on the hospital bed. As if she had made some major decision, she slowly stood up.


    Zhao Xi thought Lu Zhaozhao was going to rest and gave a look to the two bodyguards beside him.


    ¡°Madam, I¡¯ve already arranged a place for you to rest, it¡¯s just next door...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for now. I have other things to do.¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes dropped slightly, a coldness flashing through the depths of her eyes that made Zhao Xi shiver involuntarily.


    But he still stepped forward to stop her, ¡°Madam, there are still quite a few of Sun Qian¡¯s crazy fans outside, and it might not be safe for you to go out now...¡±


    He didn¡¯t dare to risk letting Lu Zhaozhao go out alone.


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth as if to say something, but upon meeting Zhao Xi¡¯s worried eyes, she changed what she was going to say, ¡°I need to go out for a bit. If you¡¯re not at ease, you can send a few more bodyguards to follow me. I must go today.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Zhao Xi hesitated for a moment, realizing he couldn¡¯t prevent Lu Zhaozhao from leaving, but fortunately, she was still willing to have bodyguards accompany her, so the situation wasn¡¯t too bad.


    ¡°Then... then please be careful, Madam. Let the bodyguards handle any problems that arise.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I understand,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, and then she immediately left the ward.


    Zhao Xi had no idea where Lu Zhaozhao was headed, so he directly dispatched over a dozen bodyguards to follow her.


    Consequently, a formidable entourage marched behind Lu Zhaozhao, heading straight to the sixth floor of the hospital.


    Only then did Zhao Xi suddenly remember that Sun Qian seemed to be staying on the sixth floor of this hospital.


    Was Lu Zhaozhao going to see Sun Qian?


    Zhao Xi thought that since Song Sinian was indeed injured because of Sun Qian¡¯s fans, it would not be unreasonable for Lu Zhaozhao to seek her out now.


    However, recalling the fan whom Lu Zhaozhao had beaten to within an inch of their life, he couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    He silently lit a candle in his heart for Sun Qian, hoping she could take a beating...


    Meanwhile, in the hospital room where Sun Qian was staying.


    ¡°Teacher Sun, it seems like someone from the fan club intends to teach Lu Zhaozhao a lesson in private,¡± Sun Qian¡¯s agent said, sitting beside her bed and frowning with concern.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already a rising star, and she had the support of both the XJ Group and the Song Group.


    As long as she wanted to stay in the industry, she was bound to make a name for herself.


    Such a person should not be provoked in the industry if it can be avoided.


    But Sun Qian was insistent on antagonizing Lu Zhaozhao, something the agent couldn¡¯t quite understand.


    He had been in the industry for quite some time and had enjoyed a pleasant cooperation with Sun Qian, so he kindly warned her, ¡°While things haven¡¯t blown up yet, you¡¯d better defuse the big issues and diminish the small ones.¡±


    Whatever the fans did in private would eventually be pinned on the celebrity involved. Even if Sun Qian did nothing, she would still have to bear the brunt of it.


    Moreover, from the very beginning, it was she who had been stirring things up behind the scenes.


    The industry was already strictly regulated, especially when it came to fan behavior.


    Sun Qian¡¯s actions were undoubtedly treading a fine line.


    If caught, no matter what her status in the entertainment circle, she would face a downfall.


    Sun Qian shrugged nonchalantly, ¡°I¡¯ve already guided the narrative outside. This is a spontaneous act by the fans. Even if something happens, they¡¯re responsible. All I need to do is deflect the blame and pitch those fans as undercover supporters of other artists.¡±


    The agent looked at Sun Qian with disagreement, ¡°If it were just online, that would be one thing, but now they¡¯re taking it offline. If you don¡¯t get involved and they do something to Lu Zhaozhao in real life, you¡¯ll be the one who ends up in trouble!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t fathom what was going through Sun Qian¡¯s head; such a simple issue, why couldn¡¯t she see the danger?


    Lu Zhaozhao was Song Sinian¡¯s darling, and she had just been recognized by the XJ Group as their precious daughter. If such a person were to get hurt, the legal team behind her would be enough trouble for Sun Qian.


    Not to mention, Lu Zhaozhao was now a major figure in the world of entertainment, and her brother, even more so, a top idol within the industry.


    Who didn¡¯t have their fair share of extreme fans?


    What Sun Qian¡¯s fans could do, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s could do as well.


    Even more ruthlessly, because Sun Qian was just a frontline artist in the entertainment industry, while Lu Zhaozhao represented almost the entire XJ Group and Song Family.


    Thinking about this disparity made the agent break out in a cold sweat, let alone standing against Sun Qian...

 Chapter 415: 413 Save me!

    Chapter 415: Chapter 413 Save me!


    He just wanted to pry open Sun Qian¡¯s head and see what jumbled mess was stuffed inside.


    How did she even come up with the idea to go against Lu Zhaozhao?


    Wasn¡¯t Xia Wenjin a clear example?


    Although she wasn¡¯t top-tier in the entertainment industry, her family¡¯s financial power in the Shangjing Circle was still noteworthy.


    After targeting Lu Zhaozhao for some time, Lu Group went downhill, Xia Wenjin was engulfed in scandals and was now forced to exit the industry.


    If Sun Qian had any sense, she shouldn¡¯t be following in Xia Wenjin¡¯s footsteps.


    Sun Qian glanced at her agent and chuckled lightly, ¡°Brother Li, don¡¯t worry. News about my hospitalization is all over the place. Even if there are a few fans with not-so-great brains who really went and messed with Lu Zhaozhao, I could just apologize to her on Weibo. As long as she wants to continue in the industry, she wouldn¡¯t escalate the matter. Just relax.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Relax?


    How could he relax?


    If it weren¡¯t for Sun Qian being one of his top-earning clients, he couldn¡¯t care less about her.


    The agent¡¯s brow was knitted into a knot, his face colder than before, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s husband is the president of Song Group, and her maternal family is XJ Group. Even if she doesn¡¯t stay in entertainment, it wouldn¡¯t affect her.¡±


    Sun Qian snorted lightly, ¡°Then I have even less to fear. With such well-known companies, they wouldn¡¯t want to tarnish their own reputation, right?¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, the door to the hospital room was kicked open from the outside.


    A petite figure strode in, followed by a dozen bodyguards, each one tall and imposing, exuding a frightening presence.


    The agent was so startled he fell right off his chair.


    When he finally saw who it was, he scrambled up from the floor, inquiring amicably, ¡°Teacher Lu, are you here to see Sun Qian today?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao cast a glance at the agent and walked directly towards Sun Qian by the bed.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, if you¡¯ve come to apologize, I¡ªah!¡± Sun Qian hadn¡¯t finished speaking when her face was met with a forceful slap from Lu Zhaozhao.


    Seeing this, two bodyguards silently stepped out of the room and then shut the door behind them.


    After all, it was better to keep the riff-raff out while their boss¡¯s wife was inside hitting someone.


    As for the remaining bodyguards, naturally, they were there to watch over them, in case their boss¡¯s wife needed assistance.


    The agent watched as Lu Zhaozhao grabbed Sun Qian and delivered a series of slaps, the echoes of ¡°smack smack smack¡± startling him.


    ¡°Lu, Lu Zhaozhao...¡± He tried to interrupt Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s one-sided beatdown of Sun Qian, but as soon as he stood up, he was lifted off the ground by two burly bodyguards.


    They were so towering that he was completely off his feet.


    ¡°Sir, if you don¡¯t wish to get hurt, I suggest you stay quiet,¡± the bodyguard beside him whispered a reminder.


    After all, they were there to protect Lu Zhaozhao, and they couldn¡¯t just stand by idly if someone attacked their lady.


    But if he listened to reason, they wouldn¡¯t need to use force.


    Having been in the circle for so long, the agent was savvy enough to know that even if he charged in to defend Sun Qian, he would just end up getting hit alongside her.


    It would be better to just stay put on the side, at least that way you won¡¯t get beaten up.


    As for Sun Qian... she asked for it, so let her take the consequences.


    The agent had no idea what Lu Zhaozhao had been through, but he knew from the way she went straight for Sun Qian and started hammering her that Sun Qian¡¯s fans must have done something to her.


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have come directly to the hospital room to sort her out.


    Especially Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s angry slaps, they truly resonated with each strike, making his face ache just listening to them.


    Sun Qian was initially stupefied by the beating, but now she was coming to her senses and trying to fight back against Lu Zhaozhao, but her anger was no match for Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the hospital room door.


    Sun Qian seemed to snap out of it and immediately started screaming at the door, ¡°Help! Help! Lu Zhaozhao is trying to kill me!¡±


    The people outside heard this commotion and immediately pushed the door open and entered.


    The bodyguards inside the room instantly became alert.


    But seeing who the newcomers were, they obediently held the agent aside.


    Because the ones entering were none other than Xia Wenqing, Xu Zhenzhen, Wen Qingyu, and Xia Nie, who had come to visit Lu Zhaozhao at the hospital.


    They had just overheard a woman screaming inside and rushed in, only to find Lu Zhaozhao laying into Sun Qian.


    Suddenly, they were not as panicked, and even seemed a bit eager to join in.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, go easy...¡± Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t help saying with a frown, her voice giving Sun Qian a glimmer of hope, but the next second her words plunged Sun Qian into the abyss.


    ¡°What if you hurt your hand? How would you handle that?¡±


    Sun Qian exploded with anger, covering her face with her hands, unable to restrain herself from cursing, ¡°Are you blind?! This woman is beating me up, and you¡¯re worried about her hand hurting? Are you insane?¡±


    ¡°Auntie, I can¡¯t stand it anymore, this woman is not only fighting Zhaozhao, but she¡¯s also insulting us!¡± Xu Zhenzhen stood on the side, decisively finding her moment to intervene.


    Rolling up her sleeves, she was about to charge forward but Xia Wenqing grabbed her, ¡°Zhenzhen...¡±


    He knew Xu Zhenzhen was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s personal bodyguard, but in front of his mom, he was a bit concerned about how Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s behavior might affect his mom¡¯s impression of her.


    But before he could figure out how to dissuade Xu Zhenzhen, he saw Wen Qingyu swat away Xia Wenqing¡¯s hand with a look of disdain, ¡°You¡¯re Zhaozhao¡¯s brother, and yet you don¡¯t have as much sense as Zhenzhen. Seriously, what¡¯s the use of having you guys? Come on! Zhenzhen, let¡¯s go help out!¡±


    Wen Qingyu had barely finished speaking before the two of them charged straight in and joined the fray.


    Rather than joining in the fray, it was more like... they ran over to take sides.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already more than capable of beating Sun Qian on her own, with the addition of Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen, it had basically become the two of them holding Sun Qian for Lu Zhaozhao to hit like a punching bag.


    If before Sun Qian had some semblance of a chance to struggle and shield her face with her arms, now her only choice was whether to take the hits on her left cheek or right cheek.


    Xia Wenqing and Xia Nie watched the three women go at it, sighed silently to themselves, and then turned their backs on the scene.


    ¡°Wenqing, take this opportunity to think about how you¡¯re going to handle this situation later,¡± Xia Nie said, arms crossed, leaving everything up to his son, ¡°My requirement is simple, the cleaner you throw the blame away, the better.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing silently glanced at his father, the corners of his mouth twitching involuntarily.


    In the past, all of their mom¡¯s problems were singlehandedly taken care of by him, the father. Now that they were in the country, it seemed all the work had become his...

 Chapter 416: 414: He is actually threatened!

    Chapter 416: Chapter 414: He is actually threatened!


    Xia Wenqing glanced back and sighed silently at Xu Zhenzhen, who was eagerly pestering Sun Qian nearby.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s behavior definitely had the potential to become the troublemaker version 2.0, just like his mother.


    Well, it was time to practice how to shift blame for his wife!


    At first, Sun Qian was cursing and swearing, but soon she couldn¡¯t curse anymore. By the time Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenyan, and Pei Huai arrived, Sun Qian¡¯s face had been beaten to a pulp.


    She lay on the ground, weak and nearly reduced to a puddle.


    Xia Wenyan was even more startled by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s appearance, looking at her expressionless face standing in front of Sun Qian, appearing completely like an avenging god; his brow was throbbing.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you...¡±


    He was about to say something, but Lu Zhaozhao walked past him and left.


    The bodyguards who had been following Lu Zhaozhao naturally followed her directly.


    Xia Wenyan was completely baffled; he looked bewilderedly at Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu, ¡°Mom, did I... did I make Zhaozhao angry? She ignored me...¡±


    Normally, Wen Qingyu would have teased Xia Wenyan a bit, but even she noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s abnormal mood.


    She frowned slightly, raised her hand and patted Xia Wenyan, ¡°Let¡¯s follow her and see.¡±


    Saying that, Wen Qingyu left the hospital room.


    For the first time, Xia Wenyan saw such a serious expression on Wen Qingyu¡¯s face, which made him even more anxious. He looked towards Pei Huai, appearing somewhat at a loss.


    Pei Huai patted Xia Wenyan on the back, ¡°Zhaozhao will definitely be fine. We just need to handle the aftermath for her, so she doesn¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    His gaze involuntarily fell on Sun Qian, collapsed on the ground, a hint of gloom passing in his eyes.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for this woman, Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t have encountered so many troubles, nor would it have caused their Yanyan so much concern.


    His eyelids drooped, and his gaze towards Sun Qian grew colder.


    He should have dealt with this woman earlier; if it wasn¡¯t for worrying about scaring Xia Wenyan, he would have had someone take her out directly.


    That way, she wouldn¡¯t have continued to cause trouble until now.


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze swept over the few men in the room, noticing Xia Wenqing there, he knew that getting rid of Sun Qian directly might be unlikely.


    Then just let her completely disappear from the entertainment circle.


    Disappear from the public eye; dealing with her afterward would be much easier.


    His gaze turned to a nearby agent, who had been scared witless by the situation.


    He had anticipated that Sun Qian might get a beating from Lu Zhaozhao, but never expected Lu Zhaozhao to be so direct¡ªrushing to the hospital and severely thrashing Sun Qian.


    She acted too swiftly, and with so many people with her, there wasn¡¯t a chance for any reaction.


    ¡°Brother Li, you saw what just happened, right?¡± Pei Huai looked at the agent, showing an especially amiable smile, ¡°Sun Qian, unfortunately, fell down the hospital stairs and is now severely injured and hospitalized. She needs to temporarily leave the circle to recuperate. As her agent, you should be able to handle that, right?¡±


    The agent¡¯s heart tightened, instantly understanding Pei Huai¡¯s intention.


    He wasn¡¯t just shifting the blame for Lu Zhaozhao; he wanted Sun Qian to roll out of the entertainment circle entirely.


    The agent awkwardly tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Pei Huai, as you know, Sun Qian is very popular, and her fans are quite formidable... If we suddenly announce that she is retiring to recuperate, I guess many people won¡¯t believe it, will they?¡±


    Pei Huai looked at the agent with a smirk that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°Brother Li doesn¡¯t need to worry about that. The entertainment industry is never short of newcomers or sensational gossip. As for Sun Qian... she won¡¯t have the chance to appear in public anymore.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± The agent was stunned and didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment.


    Sun Qian was still in her prime; if handled properly, he could still make a good deal of money. If she were to retire now, it would be a substantial loss for him.


    Pei Huai, of course, saw through the agent¡¯s thoughts, and scoffed, curling his lips, ¡°Of course, Brother Sun can also refuse. After all, for XJ Group and Song Group, silencing an artist and an agent isn¡¯t a big deal.¡±


    The agent¡¯s liver trembled.


    Pei Huai was actually threatening him!


    If he didn¡¯t do as told, he would be ¡°retired¡± along with her.


    Then, not to mention Sun Qian, he wouldn¡¯t even have a chance to make money.


    He did want to make money, but his life was more important.


    The agent¡¯s face changed, and eventually, he stiffened up and reluctantly smiled, ¡°We can discuss this matter. Since Sun Qian has been so severely injured, she definitely needs to retire and recuperate...¡±


    Even if he didn¡¯t want to give in, he had to give in.


    After all, his life was still in someone else¡¯s hands.


    Seeing this, Pei Huai chuckled softly, raised his hand, and patted the agent, ¡°Sometimes, you don¡¯t have to be an agent to make money. After all, XJ Group and Song Group have invested in many films and TV shows. Brother Sun, you should understand the pros and cons, right?¡±


    Upon hearing this, the agent¡¯s eyes lit up.


    If losing Sun Qian meant hooking up with the investments from Song Group and XJ, the profits would be substantial.


    He glanced at the two men behind Pei Huai, seeing that they had no intention of speaking, it seemed they agreed.


    The agent¡¯s heartbeat quickened even more.


    He originally thought that losing Sun Qian, his money tree, would be a loss, but unexpectedly, instead of a money tree, he now had two gods of wealth. Who wouldn¡¯t be baffled by that?


    ¡°Rest assured, I will definitely handle this matter well and pacify Sun Qian¡¯s fans. Our staff have already operated many fan groups; leave this matter to me!¡± the agent said, patting his chest as if afraid Pei Huai might change his mind.


    He had been protecting Sun Qian just to make more money, but now that he had the backing of XJ Group and Song Group, who cared about Sun Qian?


    Pei Huai looked at the agent approvingly and nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to Brother Sun.¡±


    Nearby, Xia Wenqing watched Pei Huai¡¯s operations, and couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows, feeling for some reason as though someone had stolen his job.


    He was doing it for his future wife, but what was Pei Huai¡¯s reason?


    His suspicious gaze fell on Pei Huai, who was smiling warmly at Xia Wenyan, his lips twitching involuntarily.


    Was this unlucky brother of his saving the Galaxy or what? To meet such a reliable friend?


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, raising his hand to pat Pei Huai, ¡°I¡¯ll handle the follow-up for this matter. As for the entertainment industry side, please help Brother Four.¡±


    Pei Huai nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, whatever happens in this hospital room today will not be revealed by anyone. Just go ahead and do what you need to do.¡±


    In this hospital room, besides Sun Qian, the only other people were the agent and those standing with Lu Zhaozhao. As long as they controlled Sun Qian, everything else would be easy...

 Chapter 417: 415 Whats going on?

    Chapter 417: Chapter 415 What¡¯s going on?


    Entertainment industry matters suddenly seemed less important.


    Several people quickly reached a consensus, so after leaving a few bodyguards, they all went to Song Sinian¡¯s hospital room.


    What they hadn¡¯t expected was to see Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu right as they arrived at the door of the hospital room.


    The two of them stood at the door, showing no intention of entering.


    What was going on?


    Everyone looked towards the two, seemingly trying to discern clues from their unusual behavior.


    But despite their scrutiny, they couldn¡¯t figure out anything concrete.


    Eventually, Xia Wenqing was the first to speak up, his gaze fixing directly on Xu Zhenzhen as he asked softly, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you two entered the hospital room?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth, her smile tinged with difficulty.


    ¡°Zhaozhao¡¯s condition isn¡¯t very good.¡± She paused for a moment, ¡°So Auntie and I thought about it, and decided it¡¯s better for her to be alone with Song Sinian.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t want to be in the same room with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Rather, even if they entered, Lu Zhaozhao seemed to completely ignore their presence, indifferent to their comfort and questions, just like a wooden person bereft of emotions.


    Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen had just discussed together, and naturally understood that the former¡¯s statement had downplayed the severity.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mental condition was very bad.


    If Song Sinian¡¯s physical health didn¡¯t improve soon, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition would likely worsen.


    For the first time, they realized how significant Song Sinian¡¯s presence was to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Previously, they had been relieved that the person who assaulted Lu Zhaozhao had been blocked by Song Sinian, but from Zhaozhao¡¯s perspective, she probably would rather have been the one injured.


    Xia Wenqing raised his eyebrows skeptically at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words.


    He knew Xu Zhenzhen¡ª if Lu Zhaozhao were truly fine, she would bluntly say so.


    On the contrary, this evasive manner indicated that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s psychological condition was indeed serious.


    His gaze slowly moved to Xu Zhenzhen, then turned to Wen Qingyu, ¡°Mom, should we still go in and check on Zhaozhao?¡±


    Wen Qingyu decisively shook her head, ¡°Let¡¯s wait until Song Sinian wakes up before discussing it. His assistant is here, so Zhaozhao should be fine.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t want to deal with Lu Zhaozhao, but she was worried that if Song Sinian didn¡¯t wake up, their careless and messy words would utterly distress Lu Zhaozhao.


    If anything terrible really happened, none of them could bear the responsibility.


    Hearing Wen Qingyu¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s expression darkened.


    It seemed that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition was worse than they had imagined.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not worry for now and wait until Song Sinian wakes up.¡±


    Fortunately, Song Sinian¡¯s injuries were not severe, otherwise, they were really worried if Lu Zhaozhao could survive Song Sinian being seriously ill.


    Wen Qingyu glanced at Lu Zhao within the hospital room, who was seriously looking at the documents in her hand.


    ¡°Are all the handlers of these documents reliable? Have their backgrounds and recent contacts been investigated?¡± Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but frown as she flipped through the documents.


    In her previous life, although Song Sinian had died from depression, she always felt that no matter how severe his illness had been, he wouldn¡¯t have the heart to leave her alone in this world.


    She still remembered that the diagnosis at the time was organ failure.


    Thinking about Xiao Jinglan having a history of drugging her, she couldn¡¯t help but overthink¡ª could it be that in her previous life, Xiao Jinglan and the others had also targeted Song Sinian?


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao considered this possibility, she became immediately more guarded.


    Zhao Xi originally thought that giving Lu Zhaozhao this stack of documents would alleviate her mood, but it seemed to have made her even more anxious.


    Zhao Xi hesitated for a moment before saying very seriously, ¡°Madam, rest assured, these people have all been investigated and there are no security risks.¡±


    After saying this, he added, ¡°The doctors who prescribe medicine to Sir are all randomly assigned and almost operate under mutual supervision, so Madam can be completely reassured.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao listened to him, understanding that these matters could indeed reassure her, but her brows remained deeply furrowed.


    Lu Zhaozhao clutched the documents in her hand, and asked again, ¡°Is there anything unusual in Sinian¡¯s medical report? Like poisoning or anything of that sort?¡±


    Zhao Xi immediately handed another stack of documents to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Madam, here is Sir¡¯s medical report, and there are no abnormalities.¡±


    ¡°Was the poison that Xiao Jinglan used in the cubilose tested?¡± Lu Zhaozhao immediately took the documents and began flipping through with a serious face.


    Since the type of poison Xiao Jinglan used previously was difficult to detect in a medical report unless the toxins within the body had accumulated to a certain level, the fact that Song Sinian¡¯s medical report showed no abnormalities was actually good news.


    But thinking about their previous tampering with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s medical report, she became a bit distrustful of the document at hand.


    Zhao Xi, of course, knew what Lu Zhaozhao was thinking, and quickly explained, ¡°Sir¡¯s blood was sent for testing, and I was present throughout the process along with several very reliable doctors. So, the medical report is truly problem-free, and Madam need not worry.¡±


    He never imagined he would see Lu Zhaozhao become so paranoid.


    Probably because Sir¡¯s sudden illness was a bit of a shock to her, but that was understandable, given the very good relationship between Sir and Madam.


    He had previously thought Song Sinian was overly obsessed with Lu Zhaozhao, but now it seemed that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s stubbornness towards their master was not to be underestimated.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t speak further, her brow remained tightly furrowed, showing no signs of relaxing.


    Suddenly, the person on the hospital bed moved slightly. Lu Zhaozhao almost instinctively leaned in.


    ¡°How is it? Does the wound hurt? Should I call the doctor now? Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?¡±


    The rapid succession of her questions momentarily baffled Song Sinian, who was already dizzy from just waking up and losing too much blood.


    Now, bombarded by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s string of questions, he became even more confused.


    Song Sinian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and then turned his eyes to Zhao Xi behind her, almost asking with his gaze what exactly had happened.


    Zhao Xi cleared his throat, ¡°Cough, Madam, Sir has just woken up, let him rest a bit...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and grasped Song Sinian¡¯s hand with her small hands, falling into silence.


    It almost seemed instantaneous that Song Sinian discerned something amiss with Lu Zhaozhao...

 Chapter 418: 416: Holding a Grudge

    Chapter 418: Chapter 416: Holding a Grudge


    But he didn¡¯t say anything, he just gently held her small hand and tenderly hugged her.


    ¡°Zhao Xi, I¡¯m awake now, you can go deal with other things first,¡± Song Sinian said indifferently as he glanced at him, giving him a simple instruction.


    Having worked with him for so long, Zhao Xi naturally understood Song Sinian¡¯s intent.


    Their master wanted to handle matters between him and Lu Zhaozhao alone, without the involvement of a third person.


    He nodded at the two of them, ¡°If there¡¯s anything, sir, you can have madam call me, I¡¯ll be at the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Mm, I understand.¡±


    A moment later, Zhao Xi left the sickroom.


    For a time, only Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian were left in the sickroom. The room suddenly fell quiet, as if even the sound of their breathing could be distinctly heard in the silent room.


    Song Sinian quietly patted the person in his arms, not rushing to say anything.


    He could clearly feel how Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body stiffened immensely while hugging him.


    It seemed his injury had shaken her.


    He had thought that the arrival of the Xia Family would settle her emotions, but now it seemed that although they had come, their impact was debatable.


    Song Sinian patted Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°I¡¯m really fine, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    But Lu Zhaozhao seemed completely incapable of hearing him, continuing to hold on to him tightly.


    Song Sinian was somewhat at a loss. He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, then the corner of her eye, and finally her nose tip...


    Watching the person in his arms being forced to look up, Song Sinian then cradled her small face, looking at her seriously, ¡°Are you so anxious because, in the previous life, I was poisoned to death by someone?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes immediately reddened, and she nodded, then shook her head.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao could still communicate, Song Sinian decided to continue guiding her to speak.


    Previously, he always felt that if Lu Zhaozhao did not want to talk, then he would wait until she wanted to talk, but he never imagined that his death in the previous life would deeply trouble Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even an unexpected injury could cause her emotional upheaval.


    Song Sinian had never felt as strongly as he did at this moment, the intense love Lu Zhaozhao had for him.


    She loved him deeply, just as much as he loved her. He could not let her continue like this.


    His wife should always have a smile, full of happiness and brightness, not curled up in his arms trembling with fear like now.


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently stroked Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back, coaxing her, ¡°Zhaozhao, can you tell me about my fate in the previous life?¡±


    Tears fell heavily from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, her small mouth pursed, she remained silent.


    Song Sinian¡¯s death had always been an inescapable nightmare for her.


    She could handle parting in life, but not in death.


    She even wished that even if Song Sinian didn¡¯t love her, as long as he was alive and healthy, that would be enough.


    Especially when she thought about the last life, it was very possible that Song Sinian had been assassinated, and her heart felt even more distressed.


    Her small hand clenched tightly, her nails even scratching her palm, but she still showed no intention of letting go.


    Her body stiffened again, and she curled up in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, even trembling slightly.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, calm down and listen to me,¡± Song Sinian immediately held Lu Zhaozhao tightly in his arms, his voice gentle and low, softly reaching her ear.


    His tone was extremely soothing, making one feel at ease upon hearing it.


    ¡°You only have to tell me what happened last time for me to actively avoid it, right? The more you don¡¯t want it to happen, the more you need to tell me about it, right?¡± Song Sinian patiently explained to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao was also a bit hesitant; she looked up at Song Sinian with some uncertainty, seemingly hesitating.


    Song Sinian was not in a hurry, just gently kissing her again above her eyes, ¡°Trust me, our goal is the same. I won¡¯t let anything happen to myself, because I want to be with you for a long, long time.¡±


    His patient and gentle voice eased Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotions significantly.


    She hesitated for a moment and finally spoke, ¡°In the last life, your diagnosis was multi-organ failure, and you didn¡¯t even last a day in the hospital before you were declared dead.¡±


    Her small hand gripped Song Sinian¡¯s collar tightly, forcing herself to calm down, her voice trembling slightly as she continued, ¡°Xiao Jinglan told me that it was me who killed you, that you already had severe depression. It was because of my indifference that you reached a breaking point.¡±


    ¡°He was lying; even if you were indifferent to me, I would trust leaving you alone in this world,¡± Song Sinian raised his hand to smooth Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair gently.


    ¡°Xiao Jinglan said that merely to torment and destroy.¡±


    Regardless of whether Lu Zhaozhao was telling the truth now, he would help her see it through.


    Lu Zhaozhao had always been taboo about his death.


    If Lu Zhaozhao kept thinking that she was responsible for his death in his previous life, she might be trapped in this twisted logic for the rest of her life.


    Lu Zhaozhao bit her lip with some uncertainty, ¡°But your condition was indeed not good...¡±


    ¡°Compared to dying from depression, I think the possibility of being poisoned by Xiao Jinglan is higher,¡± Song Sinian paused slightly, ¡°I remember you said before that Xiao Jinglan almost controlled the entire Song Mansion at that time, so there were many opportunities for her to poison me, not necessarily just in cubilose.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao did not speak or object, seemingly pondering the words of Song Sinian seriously.


    Song Sinian continued, ¡°You should still remember the incident when Grandfather was injured on the mountain, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded.


    She certainly remembered that incident.


    Xiao Jinglan and others had placed drugs in Old Master Song¡¯s water cup, which caused him to faint on the mountain.


    Had it not been for Song Sinian arranging a medical team to accompany him, she might have worried about Old Master Song experiencing the same issue again.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao was gradually accepting what he just said, Song Sinian pressed on, ¡°After the incident with Grandfather, I investigated the spies Xiao Jinglan had placed in the Song Mansion. Nearly half of them had been replaced by her people. She hadn¡¯t even fully controlled the Song Mansion yet and could already harm Grandfather. If she gained control over the Song Mansion, do you think she would spare me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°Absolutely not.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was very greedy; if she truly controlled the Song Mansion, she would definitely not miss any chance to kill Song Sinian!

 Chapter 419: 417 What exactly happened during this time?

    Chapter 419: Chapter 417 What exactly happened during this time?


    Song Sinian saw her nod and couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips slightly, ¡°So even if you didn¡¯t marry into my family, she would have found a way to remove me as an obstacle. Therefore, my death in the last life has absolutely nothing to do with you.¡±


    He casually disconnected Lu Zhaozhao from the cause of ¡°his death.¡±


    After hearing his words, Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows, feeling that it made sense, yet something seemed off.


    She pursed her lips, looked at Song Sinian, and tilted her head in confusion, ¡°Don¡¯t you blame me?¡±


    A radiant smile appeared on Song Sinian¡¯s face, ¡°No matter when, no matter what happens, I¡¯ll never blame you. Besides, in the last life, if my emotional barriers hadn¡¯t eased, the outside world¡¯s emotional impact on me should have been minor, so I can¡¯t put the blame on you.¡±


    Each of his words was a deliberate attempt to absolve her of any connection to his past death.


    How could Lu Zhaozhao not see that?


    She couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft sigh and stretched out her arms to hug Song Sinian tightly.


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit, Song Sinian¡¯s words just now truly comforted her.


    Nothing was more effective than the victim personally exonerating her.


    Thinking back to after Song Sinian¡¯s death in the last life, where she, alone and helpless, clung to his portrait, and comparing it to embracing his warm body now, her nose couldn¡¯t help but tingle with sorrow again.


    Tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes, and Song Sinian distinctly felt a damp and warm sensation on the front of his clothes.


    His large hand patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back; he said nothing more, only holding her again tightly in his embrace.


    Song Sinian originally intended to let her cry for a while before having a serious chat with her, but unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly lifted her head.


    The next second, her lips pressed tightly against his.


    Her pitiful gaze was as wet as a puppy¡¯s eyes, as if pleading for his rescue.


    ¡°Song Sinian, will you kiss me?¡± Her voice sounded soft and helpless, making it hard not to feel tender towards her.


    Especially for Song Sinian, who loved her wholeheartedly.


    Without a second thought, he bent down and fiercely kissed her lips again.


    He had only wanted to comfort Lu Zhaozhao, but feeling her hands cling tightly to him, desperately seeking solace, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but want to give her more.


    He groaned softly, raised his hand to wrap around her suddenly exerting force to pin her beneath him, and kissed her deeply.


    Lu Zhaozhao realized what Song Sinian wanted to do, but it wasn¡¯t until she heard his muffled groan that she suddenly remembered his arm was injured.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly pressed down on Song Sinian¡¯s shoulders, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±


    With a hoarse voice, Song Sinian tried to soothe her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it doesn¡¯t affect.¡±


    But Lu Zhaozhao was determined and pushed him away. Song Sinian was somewhat surprised as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, and the next second, she had pinned him down on the hospital bed.


    Now, he was even more bewildered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it. You... just lie there and be good,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, her face turning red, the blush spreading to the tips of her ears.


    Song Sinian¡¯s emotions, which had calmed down, were instantly reignited by Lu Zhaozhao.


    His dark eyes, with a hint of a smile, looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to everything you say.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao stopped talking and instead let her actions speak for her.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, all the ambiguous noises in the hospital room had dispersed, leaving only the faint sound of breathing.


    Lu Zhaozhao, already on high alert emotionally, quickly fell asleep on the hospital bed after the intense ¡°exercise¡±.


    Song Sinian watched Lu Zhaozhao, exhausted and lying next to him, with a hint of indulgence in his eyes between her brows.


    But when he saw her furrowed brow, another wave of distress passed through his eyes.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to rub her brow, causing her to relax a bit before he tucked her in with the blanket again.


    His gaze lingered on Lu Zhaozhao for a while before he turned to pick up his phone and send a message to Zhao Xi.


    Zhao Xi clearly had quite a bit to discuss when he left earlier.


    Moreover, Sinian wanted to know what exactly had happened while he¡¯d been asleep in the hospital room.


    Why were there no people from the Xia Family around?


    He distinctly remembered notifying Zhao Xi before he fell asleep to bring the members of the Xia Family over.


    Soon, Song Sinian received a reply from Zhao Xi.


    After another deep look at Lu Zhaozhao, Sinian got up and left the room.


    However, he did not go far but rather stood at the entrance of the ward, so that, even when not inside, he could still see every move of Lu Zhaozhao through the hospital room¡¯s window.


    He was worried that if Lu Zhaozhao suddenly woke up and did not see him, her emotions might spiral out of control again.


    Lu Zhaozhao was in a very bad emotional state, and Song Sinian was somewhat worried that it could deteriorate further.


    Even though the likelihood was small, he did not want to let that happen.


    ¡°Sir, would you like to go to the rest area next door?¡± Zhao Xi immediately spoke up as soon as he saw Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian waved his hand and, after a look at Lu Zhaozhao inside the ward, said, ¡°Tell me about the situation just now. What exactly is going on with the Xia Family?¡±


    Normally if the Xia Family heard they could take care of, or meet with Lu Zhaozhao, they would eagerly want the whole family to be involved.


    What was going on today?


    Zhao Xi, noticing the displeasure on Song Sinian¡¯s face, quickly grasped his master¡¯s thoughts and hurriedly explained, ¡°Almost everyone from the Xia Family came, even Pei Huai and Xu Zhenzhen. But the madam¡¯s mood was not very stable, and aside from you, sir, she hardly communicated with anyone else.¡±


    Zhao Xi then recounted everything Lu Zhaozhao did while Sinian was asleep.


    Song Sinian was rueful after listening and had not expected that Lu Zhaozhao would go directly to Sun Qian¡¯s ward and beat her up.


    Seeing that Song Sinian did not respond, Zhao Xi quickly tried to justify Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s actions, ¡°The madam also lost her rationality because you, sir, were suddenly injured. We can¡¯t fully blame the madam.¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Sinian responded softly.


    His voice was neutral, making it difficult for Zhao Xi to read his current emotions.


    ¡°Also... the Xia Family has dealt with the matter regarding Sun Qian; our side doesn¡¯t need to intervene for the time being,¡± Zhao Xi added after some thought.


    Knowing Song Sinian as he did, Zhao Xi was aware that his master would not be overly harsh on Lu Zhaozhao but was concerned that if Sinian felt his wife was too impulsive and reprimanded her, it might destabilize her emotions even further.


    Song Sinian looked at Zhao Xi, ¡°Have the Xia Family people gone back now?¡±


    Zhao Xi was slightly taken aback and immediately shook his head, ¡°They are still in the hospital because they didn¡¯t dare to follow due to the madam¡¯s unstable emotions. Do you need me to call them over now?¡±

 Chapter 420: 418 Her Inner Demons

    Chapter 420: Chapter 418 Her Inner Demons


    When he said this, he looked at Song Sinian with a bit of trepidation.


    Their master¡¯s emotions were too stable; without speaking up, it was hard for him to guess what was on his mind.


    ¡°Then let them make the trip,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes drooped slightly, a complex emotion flitting across the depths of his gaze.


    Zhao Xi, seeing this, didn¡¯t feel it appropriate to say more. He nodded at Song Sinian and then quickly disappeared from the entrance to the ward.


    It didn¡¯t take long before he reappeared with the Xia Family members.


    When the Xia Family saw Song Sinian standing at the doorway of the ward, they couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly. In the end, it was Xia Wenyan who spoke first, ¡°Where¡¯s Zhaozhao?¡±


    Song Sinian pointed towards the ward door behind him with his hand, ¡°She was a bit tired and is now asleep in the room.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the Xia Family members let out a sigh of relief. Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mental state earlier had really frightened them. Now that they heard she was sleeping soundly, the anxiety that had knotted their hearts also relaxed considerably.


    Xia Wenjue stood at the entrance of the ward, looking through the window at Lu Zhaozhao lying on the hospital bed. After hesitating for a long time, he slowly spoke up, ¡°Should we arrange for a doctor to check on her while Zhaozhao is sleeping?¡±


    He was genuinely worried about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s physical condition.


    What if her condition worsened when Song Sinian wasn¡¯t around?


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped a fraction, ¡°There¡¯s no need for a physical examination. If you want to ease her anxiety, it¡¯s best to leave the hospital as soon as possible.¡±


    As long as he stayed in the hospital, Lu Zhaozhao would probably keep recalling the incident of him being attacked with a knife.


    Perhaps leaving the hospital environment would be better.


    The Xia Family members looked somewhat puzzled at Song Sinian. Xia Wenqing raised an eyebrow and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Then what about her physical condition?¡±


    ¡°The symptoms Zhaozhao is showing now are all due to her mental blocks,¡± said Song Sinian with unusual candor.


    ¡°She had previously gone for psychological counseling, and she¡¯s quite close to Doctor Tian. Letting her come to our house under the pretense of seeking treatment would make her less guarded.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t allowed Lu Zhaozhao to go to the hospital¡¯s psychiatric department because he was worried she would resist seeing a doctor.


    Especially since he had been hospitalized, Zhao Xi had said that she seemed constantly anxious.


    Aside from frequently checking the medication he was taking, she also had Zhao Xi keep a close watch on the medical staff administering his medication and treatment.


    He knew Lu Zhaozhao trusted no one.


    Having her examined at the hospital could be another pressure on her, and Song Sinian understood he had been under too much strain lately, so he didn¡¯t want to make it harder for her.


    Since Song Sinian had brought it up, naturally, they couldn¡¯t object; after all, the stability of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotions was entirely dependent on him.


    Xia Wenqing swept a glance at Song Sinian and slowly asked, ¡°Did you call us all here to tell us that you and Zhaozhao are going to be discharged together?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, then shook his head, ¡°Yes and no.¡±


    This left the Xia Family even more confused.


    Before they could ponder any further, Song Sinian¡¯s voice echoed in the quiet corridor, ¡°After Zhaozhao returns, I hope you can find some time to keep her company and try to distract her as much as possible.¡±


    Although he liked it when Lu Zhaozhao clung to him, he didn¡¯t want her to stay by his side just because she was too scared and panicked.


    If it had been the old him, he would have been content with just having Lu Zhaozhao by his side, regardless of the reason.


    The Xia Family members also felt surprised, especially Xia Wenyan, whose eyes nearly popped out, ¡°Are you having a change of heart? I thought you intended to monopolize... mmm.¡±


    Before Xia Wenyan could finish, he was silenced by Pei Huai covering his mouth.


    In the current situation, it really wasn¡¯t suitable for Xia Wenyan to speak up.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, Xia Nie, and Wen Qingyu all glanced at Xia Wenyan, then turned to look at Song Sinian. In the end, Wen Qingyu took over the conversation, ¡°Zhaozhao is my child, and as long as it¡¯s for her good, our whole family will definitely try our best to cooperate.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze met Wen Qingyu¡¯s, he nodded gently, and then continued to discuss the recent plan with several people...


    Soon, everyone reached a consensus on the plan.


    Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai returned together with some reluctance.


    He sat in the passenger seat, propping up his chin, his eyes distantly watching Pei Huai, who was driving, and said word by word, ¡°Brother Pei, you think my sister will be okay, right?¡±


    At first, when he heard that Song Sinian had been injured, he didn¡¯t think much of it, but when he saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reaction, he was truly frightened.


    His sister¡¯s life had already been hard enough before, and now she was suffering from mental torment.


    The more Xia Wenyan thought about it, the more he felt heartache.


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan, his expression gentle, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zhaozhao will definitely be fine. She¡¯s just a bit shocked right now, it will pass, it will definitely pass.¡±


    His voice when he said the last sentence was very low, almost as if he were murmuring to himself.


    In fact, no one understood Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s feelings better than he did.


    Both of them, having been reborn, had once lost the most important person to them.


    Now to see him injured, and even fallen in front of her, who wouldn¡¯t go crazy?


    Not to mention Lu Zhaozhao, even he could not remain indifferent.


    Xia Wenyan had been drugged before, and he found it hard to accept, let alone seeing someone get stabbed right in front of him.


    Xia Wenyan turned his head and glanced at Pei Huai, noticing that his mood was somewhat off, so he cautiously asked, ¡°Brother Pei, are you okay?¡±


    His attention had been on Lu Zhaozhao the whole time, and he hadn¡¯t noticed when Pei Huai¡¯s mood had dropped so low.


    He was indeed quite insensitive usually, but he really did care about Pei Huai.


    Coming to his senses, Pei Huai saw Xia Wenyan¡¯s worried eyes and tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I was just thinking about Zhaozhao and Song Si.¡±


    Xia Wenyan then breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s good, I thought I said something to make you angry just now.¡±


    With those words, his handsome, peach-shaped eyes immediately curved into a smile, ¡°But, how could Brother Pei ever be angry with me?¡±


    Brother Pei from his family had always been so good to him.


    If only he could always be this good to him.


    If only his Brother Pei wouldn¡¯t find a partner...


    Then he could always be with Pei Huai.


    At that thought, Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly widened in shock, how could he entertain such dangerous thoughts?


    Pei Huai had been so kind to him, and yet he... he even thought about ruining his chances for marriage.


    He really shouldn¡¯t have thought that.


    Feeling a bit guilty, Xia Wenyan stole a glance at Pei Huai, but when their eyes met, he quickly turned his gaze to the car window.


    Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure¡ª

 Chapter 421: 419: What Turnaround?

    Chapter 421: Chapter 419: What Turnaround?


    ¡°Wait a sec!¡±


    Xia Wenyan suddenly shouted, startling Pei Huai.


    The car jerked to a halt at the roadside.


    After Pei Huai stopped the car, he frowned tightly and looked at Xia Wenyan, as if asking with his eyes why they needed to stop.


    Xia Wenyan stretched out his hand and pointed toward a figure not far off, but at that moment, Avril had already vanished from his sight.


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t care about anything else and immediately opened the door and got out of the car.


    Pei Huai was taken aback by his sudden action but quickly also opened the driver¡¯s door and followed Xia Wenyan out of the car.


    The two of them happened to stop right in front of the mall entrance, so as soon as Xia Wenyan got out, he headed straight for the mall door.


    ¡°Brother Pei, hurry up and follow me,¡± Xia Wenyan said as he walked forward, gesturing to Pei Huai to come along.


    Pei Huai sighed helplessly and resigned himself to follow.


    Although he didn¡¯t know who Xia Wenyan had just seen,


    since he was asked to go along, he naturally would.


    You indulge the one you choose.


    Pei Huai watched Xia Wenyan¡¯s sneaky behavior and couldn¡¯t help but tug at the corner of his mouth.


    There were quite a few people in the mall, and because of Xia Wenyan¡¯s actions, many people were looking their way.


    He would have been better off walking openly, this sneaking around only drew more attention.


    But clearly, Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t realized this problem himself.


    Pei Huai, a tad helpless, raised an eyebrow, took a stride forward, reached out his hand and grabbed the back collar of Xia Wenyan¡¯s shirt, yanking him up.


    ¡°Walk properly, stop fooling around.¡±


    His voice was mild yet carried an indescribable indulgence.


    Xia Wenyan had long been used to Pei Huai¡¯s favoritism, his attractive peach blossom eyes instantly crinkling with a smile, ¡°Alright, Brother Pei, I¡¯ll listen to you!¡±


    He had just finished speaking and was about to walk forward with Pei Huai when unexpectedly, just as they rounded a corner, the person they were following suddenly turned back.


    The two groups just happened to run into each other face to face.


    ¡°So it is you,¡± Avril, whom Xia Wenyan had been following, lifted her eyebrows fiercely and looked at Xia Wenyan with displeasure.


    She had just been walking when she heard a very familiar voice behind her, thinking she had heard wrongly, only to find it really was Xia Wenyan.


    Being caught following someone was a first for Xia Wenyan, but with his knack for thriving in the entertainment circle, how could he show weakness in front of Avril?


    Xia Wenyan feigned nonchalance and lifted his chin slightly, ¡°What? Is this mall only for you to shop in, and not for me?¡±


    When he said this, his gaze deliberately shifted to the man next to Avril.


    Black hair, a high nose and deep eyes, slightly tanned skin, and a sturdy build, with a full beard on his face¡ªsuch obvious features belonged unmistakably to someone from ZD country.


    How did Avril get to know this man?


    Avril seemed to notice the doubt in Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes, but she had no intention of enlightening him.


    Thinking back, she had set aside her pride to go to the Xia Family, wanting to marry him.


    He had the nerve to reject her outright, and now that she had found a better option, if he were to get in her way...


    Avril¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°You can shop all you want, but if you¡¯re thinking of doing anything else, I¡¯d advise you to save it. Even if you regret it, I will never look back!¡±


    What the hell?


    Look back at what?


    Why would he regret anything?


    Do you regret not agreeing to marry her?


    He wouldn¡¯t have followed her if he hadn¡¯t been worried that Avril was scheming something against the Xia Family behind their backs!


    The burly man standing next to Avril slightly furrowed his brows and looked at her, ¡°Baby, do you know him? Is he your friend?¡±


    ¡°Not at all!¡±


    ¡°Not at all!¡±


    Both of them almost simultaneously answered the man.


    Avril seemed to feel that her reaction had been somewhat abnormal, so she quickly softened her voice and said to the man beside her, ¡°Farhad, this person is a neighbor from my childhood, hardly a friend.¡±


    Xia Wenyan heard Avril¡¯s voice, which she nearly squeezed out of her throat, and frowned uncomfortably.


    This woman really knows how to pretend.


    Pei Huai saw his expression and sneakily pinched his arm, reminding him not to cause trouble.


    Xia Wenyan, although not in agreement, didn¡¯t act rashly.


    Farhad just nodded lightly. ¡°No problem, a neighbor from childhood can still be considered a friend. Are they here to shop? I can pick up the tab.¡±


    When Avril heard Farhad say this, her face suddenly turned a bit ugly.


    She knew Farhad was wealthy and didn¡¯t care about such expenses, but the thought of letting him spend money on Xia Wenyan really annoyed her.


    They had humiliated her before, and she hadn¡¯t settled the score with them yet. Why should her boyfriend buy them anything?


    No way, absolutely not!


    But she couldn¡¯t say this outright in front of Farhad; that would hurt his pride.


    From their time spent together, she realized that Farhad was extremely concerned with keeping face. Moreover, he fit her standards for a spouse in every other respect.


    His family was illustrious, with his own company and wealth.


    He was handsome and well-built.


    He was an exceedingly rare marriage prospect.


    Moreover, the two of them had experienced love at first sight, after which Farhad had fiercely pursued her.


    They had now reached the stage of talking marriage, and getting a marriage license would make her the affluent wife of a wealthy family.


    Why would she still need to care about the Xia Family¡¯s opinion?


    Thinking this, Avril wrapped her arm around Farhad¡¯s, ¡°I think we¡¯d better not disturb them. They might be here to buy wedding supplies just like us, only they probably can¡¯t get married back home.¡±


    Her words instantly clarified the relationship between the two men, prompting Farhad to give them an extra look.


    In his country, such a situation would face legal sanctions.


    So Farhad¡¯s impression of them plummeted instantly.


    His face darkened as he looked away as if avoiding garbage, ¡°I can¡¯t believe how open things have become back home...¡±


    Upon hearing Farhad speak, Avril couldn¡¯t help but reveal a triumphant smile at the corners of her mouth.


    Although she didn¡¯t know if Pei Huai and Xia Wen were really a couple,


    Since he dared to use that excuse to confront her, she didn¡¯t mind stomping on his face.


    How could Xia Wenyan fail to see the expressions on their faces?


    In fact, he didn¡¯t mind Avril¡¯s provocation in the least, since after all, it was an excuse he had made up to resist marrying Avril.


    But would Brother Pei mind?


    Xia Wenyan sneaked a glance at Pei Huai and didn¡¯t expect to see his face looking extremely gloomy.


    Xia Wenyan simply leaned his head close to Pei Huai and in front of Farhad and Avril, gave him a loud ¡°smack¡± with a kiss on the face.


    The sound was so loud that Avril and Farhad¡¯s eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets!

 Chapter 422: 420: Do you have any misunderstandings about me?

    Chapter 422: Chapter 420: Do you have any misunderstandings about me?


    Even Pei Huai was taken aback on the spot.


    He subconsciously touched his cheek and heard Xia Wenyan say with extraordinary delight, aiming a taunt at Avril, ¡°Even if Brother Pei and I don¡¯t get married, we still have a bond stronger than gold, much better than some people who are always desperately trying to marry someone and still can¡¯t find anyone to take them.¡±


    As he spoke, Xia Wenyan casually hooked Pei Huai¡¯s arm and leaned on it very affectionately.


    Pei Huai immediately realized Xia Wenyan¡¯s intentions.


    He was an actor himself, and an award-winning one at that, so how could he not play along with Xia Wenyan¡¯s act?


    The corners of Pei Huai¡¯s mouth curled up slightly, and he raised his hand to gently pat Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand, ¡°Well, that¡¯s just because she¡¯s jealous I get to be with you. After all, she had her heart set on marrying you before, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    Avril, who was already concerned that Xia Wenyan¡¯s baseless claims might affect her chances of marrying the man in front of her, exploded the moment she heard what Pei Huai said.


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense!¡± Avril glared at them both indignantly, asserting firmly, ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about marrying Xia Wenyan. Besides, with his unclear relationship with you, how could I possibly marry him?¡±


    After saying that, Avril immediately tugged at Farhad beside her, ¡°Darling, please don¡¯t believe a word they say. They¡¯re just jealous of our relationship and are trying to drive a wedge between us, to split us up!¡±


    Farhad clearly believed Avril¡¯s words.


    He looked displeased at Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan, ¡°I thought you two were Avril¡¯s neighbors and friends, which is why I was nice to you. Since you are not, I advise you to leave now or you will face consequences that you cannot handle!¡±


    ¡°Oh, the mighty one,¡± Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. ¡°What consequences could possibly befall me that I couldn¡¯t handle? We¡¯re in our own country, not your ZD nation. You should watch where you¡¯re trying to flex your muscles!¡±


    Xia Wenyan already disliked Avril.


    He had followed her to the mall to see what kind of trouble she was stirring up again.


    Who would have thought she was here on a date with another man?


    If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered following her since he found the man equally disagreeable.


    Xia Wenyan rolled his eyes again, and thinking back on Farhad and Avril¡¯s scornful looks towards him and Pei Huai, he couldn¡¯t resist rolling his eyes at them in return.


    Look down on someone, please¡ªwho hasn¡¯t mastered that?


    Hmph!


    Farhad¡¯s brow instantly furrowed in response to Xia Wenyan¡¯s retort.


    If not for the people above him insisting he pursue this woman in this country, why would he be interested in a woman like her?


    In his ZD nation, didn¡¯t he have his pick of any kind of woman he wanted?


    Did he need to endure such mockery here for her sake?


    In their country, they practiced polygamy, and wives were seen as possessions of their husbands.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he¡¯d have to settle in their nation after marriage, he couldn¡¯t stand women like her.


    Avril, clearly sensing Farhad¡¯s upset mood, quickly stood in front of him, angrily addressing Xia Wenyan, ¡°Xia Wenyan, don¡¯t push your luck! You¡¯re clearly bullying us because we¡¯re foreigners! I¡¯d like to see if you¡¯d dare be so arrogant in ZD nation!¡±


    She knew that Farhad had a significant background in ZD nation.


    The first time Avril met Farhad, he pursued her relentlessly, and she too had worried whether his identity and background were fabricated. Thus, she had someone investigate, only then discovering that he indeed had an extraordinary background in his country.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have easily agreed to marry him.


    But this damn Xia Wenyan just had to stir up trouble!


    He just couldn¡¯t stand to see her well off, getting married to someone so rich and powerful, couldn¡¯t stand to see her outranking them.


    The more Avril thought about it, the angrier she got. She glared viciously at Xia Wenyan, ¡°If you have a problem with me, come at me directly. Farhad is just my boyfriend, don¡¯t drag innocent people into this!¡±


    ¡°Are you misunderstanding something? From the beginning to the end, you¡¯re the only one I¡¯ve targeted. If he hadn¡¯t been nosy standing beside you, would I have involved him?¡± Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes again.


    He didn¡¯t even leave Avril with an ounce of dignity.


    Listening to their back and forth, Farhad also started to feel annoyed.


    He looked displeasedly at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Little brother, leave some room for maneuver. You¡¯d best not anger me.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the corners of Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth involuntarily twitched. He¡¯d been frightened since he was a child!


    He¡¯d seen plenty of his father Xia Nie¡¯s tactics, which were even more ruthless than the international Mafia.


    A mere foreigner from ZD country was not worth his concern.


    Moreover, they were in his home country now¡ªthe foreigner¡¯s reach was limited. What did he have to fear?


    ¡°Elder, you should also leave some room for maneuver and best not anger me.¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s lips curled into a brilliant but insincere smile as he looked at Farhad.


    Just as he wanted to boast a little more, he was restrained by Pei Huai, ¡°Alright, the squabble¡¯s been had, the jokes made, we have other more important matters to attend to, let¡¯s not waste more time.¡±


    Pei Huai spoke in a light tone that seemed flat, but it still made Xia Wenyan feel a clear pressure.


    He pursed his lips, looking at Pei Huai somewhat guiltily.


    In his battle with Avril, he¡¯d completely forgotten how he had used Pei Huai as a shield just moments ago. Brother Pei wasn¡¯t angry, was he?


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan suddenly quieted down, ¡°Brother Pei is right, let¡¯s hurry back. There¡¯s no need to waste time with certain people.¡±


    Avril was so angry she wanted to curse. Who was wasting whose time?


    If those two hadn¡¯t been following them around, would she have gotten angry?


    Now that they had all been irritated, they had the gall to say that?


    Avril was about to speak when she saw Xia Wenyan eagerly dragging Pei Huai away, and her frustration simmered inside her.


    But she couldn¡¯t show it in front of Farhad; she had to force a smile, trying hard not to explode with anger.


    ¡°Dear, let¡¯s go too. We shouldn¡¯t bother with that nutcase.¡±


    As she spoke, she tried to wrap her arm around Farhad¡¯s, but he dodged her.


    Avril was momentarily stunned, standing there dumbfounded as she watched Farhad.


    Looking at her expression, Farhad¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but thinking of that person¡¯s orders, he gritted his teeth and offered his arm, ¡°Don¡¯t associate with those kinds of people in the future, seriously bad luck.¡±


    He already found his interactions with Avril unpleasant, and yet he had to push himself to marry this woman and take her back to ZD country, or else that person wouldn¡¯t let him return.


    No matter how much Farhad disliked Avril, he had no choice but to continue appeasing her. Otherwise, if this woman wouldn¡¯t marry him, his return to ZD country would be indefinitely postponed...

 Chapter 423: 421: How can he say such a thing without a conscience?

    Chapter 423: Chapter 421: How can he say such a thing without a conscience?


    As long as he could return to ZD country, he didn¡¯t care about anything else.


    After marrying Avril, couldn¡¯t he just deal with her however he wanted?


    Meanwhile, Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan, who had left earlier, returned to the car.


    Pei Huai¡¯s silence made Xia Wenyan¡¯s heart thump wildly.


    He cautiously glanced at Pei Huai, ¡°Brother Pei, I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have used you as a shield earlier, nor should I have been so arrogant...¡±


    ...


    Pei Huai said nothing, only began to drive on his own.


    Now, Xia Wenyan was even more panicked.


    After carefully ransacking his brain for a while, he turned to Pei Huai and said word by word, ¡°Earlier, I thought Brother Pei¡¯s acting was top-notch, and being an industry leader in the entertainment circle, that¡¯s why I was so brazen. I promise I won¡¯t do that again, Brother Pei, don¡¯t be mad, Brother Pei, I really made a mistake, Brother Pei.¡±


    The three consecutive Brother Peis from Xia Wenyan left Pei Huai somewhat speechless as he curled his lips. He glanced at Xia Wenyan and sighed helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can get away with it by buttering me up.¡±


    Hearing Pei Huai¡¯s voice, Xia Wenyan immediately stopped panicking.


    Pei Huai was willing to talk to him; there was still hope.


    He immediately curved his handsome peach-blossom eyes, looking at Pei Huai with a fawning face, ¡°How could it be flattery? Who doesn¡¯t know that my Brother Pei is a man of high moral integrity, the industry leader, and the pinnacle of appearance!¡±


    ¡°Enough with the nonsense here,¡± Pei Huai said, lifting his hand to rub Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, before he admonished, ¡°I didn¡¯t let you keep talking just now because that man is not simple.¡±


    Xia Wenyan pouted, ¡°What¡¯s so unusual about him? Don¡¯t tell me you know him, Brother Pei?¡±


    Pei Huai nodded, ¡°I do know him; I¡¯m the one who arranged for him to be there.¡±


    He had no intention of deceiving Xia Wenyan. After all, a little investigation would reveal who was behind this.


    Pei Huai had no intent to conceal it.


    He was worried that Avril¡¯s parents would find something wrong with the man marrying Avril and would certainly investigate.


    If they couldn¡¯t find anything, they would inevitably blame the groom.


    He didn¡¯t want Xia Wenyan to take the fall.


    So from the moment he began to speak, Pei Huai intended to lay all the cards on the table.


    Xia Wenyan looked at Pei Huai dumbfounded for a long time without saying a word.


    Pei Huai thought his words had frightened Xia Wenyan, a hint of darkness flickering in his eyes before he slowly spoke up, ¡°Do you think I was too harsh?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely harsh, you actually arranged such a good man for Avril?! Don¡¯t you know she and I have a feud?¡± Xia Wenyan stared at Pei Huai discontentedly, unable to refrain from complaining.


    Pei Huai suddenly froze; he finally grasped Xia Wenyan¡¯s point.


    With a slight lift of his eyebrows and a bit of helplessness in his eyes, he clarified, ¡°That man is not as good as you think. He is from ZD country, where they practice polygamy, and after marriage, a wife becomes the husband¡¯s property.¡±


    Upon hearing that ¡°after marriage, the wife becomes the property of the husband,¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, even appearing a bit eager as he looked at Pei Huai.


    Then cheekily, he chirped, ¡°So if we go there to get married, Brother Pei, would you belong to me?¡±


    While saying it, he even smugly arched his eyebrows.


    Pei Huai pushed his head down with his hand, ¡°In ZD country, two men together will end up in jail. By that point, forget about me belonging to you, whether we¡¯ll still be alive is the question.¡±


    In fact, just now, when Pei Huai heard Xia Wenyan say ¡°would you belong to me,¡± he really wanted to reply to him that from the moment he came back to life, he belonged to him alone.


    Not only his person but his very life belonged to him, just that he didn¡¯t know if he would accept it.


    Pei Huai clenched the steering wheel tightly, suppressing the stirring in his heart, his words came out nonchalantly.


    Seeing no reaction from Pei Huai, Xia Wenyan pouted, feeling somewhat disappointed.


    He sat quietly in the passenger seat, much calmer than before.


    Actually, since the moment he got into the car, he had been thinking about why he kissed Pei Huai in front of Avril and Farhad.


    After much thought, he could only conclude one thing: he had fallen for Pei Huai.


    Xia Wenyan remembered how he had vowed to find someone better than Pei Huai or he¡¯d never be in a relationship.


    But now, thinking about it, the best to him had always been Pei Huai.


    He was truly defeated by his Brother Pei¡¯s suit pants; what now?


    It seemed like Brother Pei was quite oblivious, how could he woo him to become his real boyfriend?


    What if Pei Huai didn¡¯t like him?


    What if, after he confessed, Pei Huai would never treat him well again and became someone else¡¯s Brother Pei? Could he accept that?


    The more Xia Wenyan thought, the more uncomfortable he felt, and in the end, he just sat in the passenger seat and emo¡¯d.


    Indeed, love and relationships really weren¡¯t for him...


    Early the next day, a lot of people visited the hospital ward where Song Sinian was staying.


    Hao Li, hearing that Song Sinian had been stabbed, rushed over immediately.


    She ran exuberantly to the entrance of the ward; as soon as she entered, she ran into Lu Zhaozhao who was about to leave.


    The smile on Hao Li¡¯s face hadn¡¯t even had time to fade.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brow instantly furrowed.


    Hao Li hastily coughed lightly, masking the embarrassment on her face, ¡°Zhaozhao, how is Sinian doing now? Does he need me to come over and take care of him? After all, we are in the same hospital, you know?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Hao Li without uttering a word; her expression remained wooden, betraying no hint of what she might be thinking.


    Seeing her silent, Hao Li¡¯s eyebrows arched in dissatisfaction, and she muttered, ¡°No matter what, I¡¯m still your aunt. Giving me the silent treatment like this, who are you trying to show that face to?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao just stared straight at her, with no intention of speaking.


    Hao Li was getting annoyed now, and her voice involuntarily rose a few notches, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Lu Zhaozhao... Ah!¡±


    She didn¡¯t even get the rest of her sentence out before her face was fiercely slapped by Lu Zhaozhao.


    Hao Li stared at Lu Zhaozhao in disbelief, with a look as if she had just seen a ghost.


    Lu Zhaozhao actually hit her...


    She actually hit her?!?!


    ¡°You little bitc... Ah!¡± ¡°Smack!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Smack!¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡± ¡°Smack!¡± ¡°Smack!¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao completely ignored Hao Li¡¯s shrieks, raised her hand and slapped her a dozen times in succession.


    The crisp sounds even had a rhythm to them.


    In an instant, Hao Li¡¯s face was swollen.


    Hao Li could no longer care whether her face looked good or not; she raised her arm to cover her face and made a run for it.


    Just as she turned around, she ran into a human wall and before she could react, she was shoved back by that wall of people.


    Hao Li couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, breaking into curses, ¡°Who the hell is the blind bastard blocking my way? Do you have a death wish?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Hao, you¡¯d better open your eyes wide before you speak.¡± A calm voice suddenly came through, causing Hao Li to shudder involuntarily.


    She looked up and saw Zhao Xi and Old Master Song standing not too far away, and the human wall was the bodyguards brought by Old Master Song.


    No wonder it felt so hard when she bumped into them.


    Just as Hao Li was about to apologize, she saw Lu Zhaozhao walking over from behind.


    Seeing this, she immediately pointed to her own face and complained to Old Master Song, ¡°Old Master, look at my face. This is all because Lu Zhaozhao hit me. Has this woman gone mad? She... Ah!!!¡±


    Hao Li didn¡¯t get a chance to finish her sentence when Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand immediately grabbed her hair, and the raised hand started dancing on her face again.


    ¡°Smack!¡± ¡°Smack!¡± ¡°Smack!¡± ¡°Smack!¡±


    The loud smacks echoed in the empty corridor, rising and falling in turn with Hao Li¡¯s screams, creating an unexpectedly harmonious rhythm.


    Old Master Song was completely astounded; he never expected his granddaughter-in-law to have such a fearsome side!


    Wasn¡¯t this just too awesome?


    He had always been worried that Lu Zhaozhao, delicate and petite, would be bullied when outside. It seemed now he had no reason to worry.


    As long as his granddaughter-in-law could swing her arms to hit someone, nothing else mattered.


    However, Old Master Song also noticed the abnormal attitude of Lu Zhaozhao, recalling the words Zhao Xi had said to him before coming to the hospital.


    He couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of heartache for the poor child.


    At first, Hao Li kept screaming, but seeing Old Master Song¡¯s indifferent demeanor, she quickly pleaded for his intervention, ¡°Old Master, you have to do something about Lu Zhaozhao, she¡¯s completely disrespectful! She... Ah!!! She¡¯s going to beat me to death. Hurry up and get her away from here!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Old Master Song looked at Lu Zhaozhao, then turned his gaze to Hao Li, before he leisurely said, ¡°Zhaozhao, a light beating is enough, don¡¯t hurt your hand. Remember, health comes first, don¡¯t trouble yourself...¡±


    Hao Li felt like vomiting blood upon hearing this. Wasn¡¯t she the one being hit?


    Why did Old Master Song act as though his daughter-in-law was the one being bullied, warning her not to hurt her hand?


    Was Old Master Song a devil?


    How could he say such a thing in good conscience?


    Seeing that there was no hope in seeking help from Old Master Song, Hao Li turned to pressuring Zhao Xi, ¡°Zhao Xi! Aren¡¯t you Sinian¡¯s assistant? Can¡¯t you see this woman going crazy? Why don¡¯t you call the bodyguards to take her away?¡±


    Zhao Xi shrugged his shoulders, wearing a look of helplessness, ¡°She¡¯s the wife of Song Group¡¯s CEO, the only granddaughter-in-law of the Song Family. What am I compared to her, to call the bodyguards on her?¡±


    ¡°?!!!!¡±


    Hao Li was utterly speechless.


    Was she really going to be beaten to death here by Lu Zhaozhao?


    At the thought, she suddenly deflated like a punctured ball.


    ¡°Stop hitting, please stop, I was wrong! Waaa...¡± Hao Li couldn¡¯t control herself and broke into loud sobs.


    Compared to being beaten to death in the hospital, she would rather apologize.


    She would do it any way they wanted, just as long as the beating would stop.


    Lu Zhaozhao was just too frightening; Hao Li couldn¡¯t afford to provoke her.

 Chapter 424: 422: I Want Your Life!

    Chapter 424: Chapter 422: I Want Your Life!


    Hao Li covered her entire head and sprawled on the ground, her whole figure extraordinarily disheveled.


    Terrified that Lu Zhaozhao would continue to hit her, she kept her head down while not forgetting to plea for mercy, ¡°I was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have spouted nonsense. Please, don¡¯t hit me anymore, I really know my fault, I¡¯ll change, I won¡¯t dare to do it again!¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s wailing echoed through the entire hospital corridor.


    Many people in the hospital heard her commotion.


    Old Master Song watched her behaviour and also felt quite embarrassed.


    Although he didn¡¯t know how Hao Li had offended Lu Zhaozhao, based on his understanding of Lu Zhaozhao, Hao Li definitely didn¡¯t do anything good.


    Getting beaten up by Lu Zhaozhao was well-deserved.


    Xiao Jinglan was actually there to visit Song Sinian, especially after hearing that he had been cut with a knife, she wanted to find out the severity of his wounds.


    But as soon as she reached the corridor, she heard a woman¡¯s miserable scream. She quickly went over, only to see Lu Zhaozhao single-handedly pounding Hao Li.


    At this time, Song Sinian had also walked out of the ward. From a distance, Xiao Jinglan could see that he appeared to be in good spirits, not like someone severely injured.


    Apart from the bandaged arm, there seemed to be no other injuries on his body.


    Xiao Jinglan furrowed her brows, it seemed that Song Sinian really had a big life.


    She pursed her lips and walked straight over, ¡°Mr. Song, what¡¯s going on here? What has Hao Li done to Zhaozhao?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was such a shrewd person; she knew that Mr. Song and Song Sinian doted on Lu Zhaozhao, so even if Lu Zhaozhao made a mistake, they would be biased towards her.


    Plus, seeing that Old Master Song had absolutely no intention of stopping the beating, she knew that it must be Hao Li who had provoked Lu Zhaozhao.


    Hao Li was already filled with rage, and being beaten by Lu Zhaozhao had made her increasingly desperate. Hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice, she became even more enraged.


    Especially after hearing Xiao Jinglan directly blame her in front of Old Master Song, she abruptly raised her head that had been buried in the ground.


    When Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t arrived, she was afraid that Lu Zhaozhao would hit her face again, so she kept her head well-buried and didn¡¯t notice that Lu Zhaozhao had stopped when Xiao Jinglan came over.


    Her eyes bore straight into Xiao Jinglan, her small face expressionless and wooden.


    But, Song Sinian immediately noticed something amiss with Lu Zhaozhao. He frowned slightly and saw Lu Zhaozhao charge directly at Xiao Jinglan.


    Trouble.


    ¡°Xiao Jinglan, I want your life!¡± Lu Zhaozhao leapt forward and kicked Xiao Jinglan onto the wall.


    Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t react in time and slammed hard against the wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood.


    Not only Old Master Song and Zhao Xi were taken aback, but Song Sinian was also startled.


    Lu Zhaozhao must have mixed up past events with the present situation due to this stimulus.


    Seeing this, Song Sinian immediately moved forward and wrapped his arms around Lu Zhaozhao, but she stubbornly glared at Xiao Jinglan, with an intention to kill her.


    The ferocious look in her eyes made Xiao Jinglan shiver involuntarily, and even Hao Li, who had just been beaten, felt a chill run down her spine.


    Lu Zhaozhao must have lost her mind. Why was she hitting anyone she could lay her hands on?


    Seeing Xiao Jinglan sitting on the ground, spitting up blood, Hao Li suddenly felt that being slapped by Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t too bad, at least she wasn¡¯t nearly beaten to death like Xiao Jinglan.


    He sneaked a glance at Song Sinian, just in time to see him cover Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes with his hand, then pick her up with one arm and turn back to the hospital room.


    Now, nobody dared to say anything more, as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s state seemed a bit abnormal, and nobody wanted to provoke her further.


    Upon seeing Song Sinian carry Lu Zhaozhao back into the room, with the doctor following, Mr. Song felt a wave of relief.


    His gaze shifted to Xiao Jinglan, who was being helped up by the bodyguards, ¡°How did you get here?¡±


    Mr. Song sized her up and down, noticing the fresh blood still on her lips, and then continued, ¡°Later, let the doctor check on you as well, so you don¡¯t end up with any lingering issues.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan wiped the fresh blood from her mouth, suppressed the resentment in her heart, and forced a smile, ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m fine. I was just a bit worried about Zhaozhao. What happened to her just now?¡±


    ¡°What else could have happened? She was obviously going mad. Who knows what¡¯s wrong with her brain, just hitting people like that.¡± Hao Li stood up from the ground, fuelled by anger upon recalling Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s recent actions.


    Hao Li felt she couldn¡¯t get justice because Mr. Song hadn¡¯t taken her side earlier.


    But now, it was different since Xiao Jinglan had also been hit. Both of them had been struck by Lu Zhaozhao, which could only indicate that the person hitting them was problematic.


    Hao Li suddenly felt empowered and her complaints about Lu Zhaozhao grew louder, ¡°Just look at how fierce she was just now. She hasn¡¯t even officially married into the Song family and she¡¯s already this terrifying. If she really marries in, what then?¡±


    Upon hearing Hao Li¡¯s foolish words, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. Even without a wedding, Lu Zhaozhao was Song Sinian¡¯s wife; they were already legally married. What else did she want?


    Did Hao Li really think that with a few casual words, Old Master Song would send Lu Zhaozhao away?


    Such wishful thinking.


    She hadn¡¯t been able to do it while she lived in the Song Mansion, so how could Hao Li, who couldn¡¯t even enter the door, possibly succeed?


    Just thinking about her idea, Xiao Jinglan found it incredibly stupid.


    Sure enough, after Hao Li said her piece, Old Master Song¡¯s expression darkened instantly.


    ¡°You know exactly what you said to Zhaozhao, and you know why she hit you,¡± Mr. Song said with an icy voice that made Hao Li shiver.


    She involuntarily shrank her neck, and before she could say more, Mr. Song cut her off, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, return to Feng Jiyue¡¯s room now. Don¡¯t wander around aimlessly, you¡¯re not welcome here. If you want to keep living in Shangjing, don¡¯t irritate me.¡±


    Hao Li was suddenly silent, as if her neck had been grabbed.


    She pursed her lips, ready to slink away, but was blocked by Xiao Jinglan.


    Hao Li was already furious, and seeing Xiao Jinglan blocking her path, old and new resentment surged together.


    She scolded angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t you know that a good dog doesn¡¯t block the way? Move aside!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows also knotted tightly together, ¡°I came today to see Mr. Song for two reasons: to check on Sinian, and to expose your true face!¡±

 Chapter 425: 423: Who Exactly Poisoned Her?

    Chapter 425: Chapter 423: Who Exactly Poisoned Her?


    She was originally here to find Mr. Song and report the ¡°investigation results¡± from before.


    She hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Hao Li being beaten, and even less did she expect that she would be beaten too.


    As soon as Hao Li heard Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, she immediately felt guilty.


    But she remembers what Feng Jiaye told her, to deny everything regardless of the situation, plus the person who beat them was not caught.


    Wasn¡¯t she just going to shift blame as she pleases?


    Hao Li, furious, pointed at the tip of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s nose and burst into curses, ¡°You heartless woman, you just want to disturb the peace of the Song family, constantly sowing discord at home! What, if the Song family is stable, you wouldn¡¯t be able to dominate them, would you?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t afraid of Xiao Jinglan; she still held leverage over Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo.


    If they weren¡¯t afraid of mutually assured destruction, they wouldn¡¯t behave recklessly.


    Xiao Jinglan, furious to the extreme, glared at Hao Li, ¡°What nonsensical things are you spewing? I am dedicated to the Song family!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one spewing nonsense; I am stating facts. If you weren¡¯t trying to instigate, why would you blame this matter on me? Ever since my daughter and I arrived in Shangjing, we¡¯ve been living in the hospital. How many times does a family need to use such a scheme? Are you brainless?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was berated by Hao Li to the point where her face was neither here nor there.


    If she hadn¡¯t known that this last time was self-directed by Hao Li and Feng Jiaye, she might have really believed her.


    The back-and-forth arguments between the two irritated Old Master Song tremendously.


    He originally had Xiao Jinglan investigate to keep those two in check; whether she could uncover anything wasn¡¯t important.


    Now that both of them were quarrelling in front of him again, Old Master Song¡¯s head was about to explode.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, both of you shut up.¡±


    Old Master Song frowned, looking disdainfully at the two women before him.


    Neither was an easy opponent.


    His gaze shifted between the two and finally rested on Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Speak, what have you found?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan promptly began to explain incessantly, ¡°Before Hao Li and I were beaten, I discovered that Feng Jiaye had a large amount of capital flow. Moreover, the person who injured me initially only targeted me and didn¡¯t mean to hurt Hao Li. I suspect Feng Jiaye and Hao Li deliberately targeted me.¡±


    Before Old Master Song could speak, Hao Li burst out again, ¡°You shameless woman, spouting nothing but lies. What do you mean he only targeted you? I was also injured at the time!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan scoffed, ¡°Why were you injured? You know very well in your heart.¡±


    ¡°I know what? When I saw someone beating you, I immediately rushed over and held that person. If it weren¡¯t for me, you would have suffered more!¡± Hao Li glared at Xiao Jinglan resentfully, as if Xiao Jinglan were an ungrateful person.


    At that moment, she thought that the person beating Xiao Jinglan was the same one who had injured her and Feng Jiaye before, so she rushed up. But Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t know, so whatever she said now went.


    Thinking this, Hao Li couldn¡¯t help feeling smug.


    Looking at Xiao Jinglan with displeasure, she said word for word, ¡°Had I known you¡¯re so heartless, I wouldn¡¯t have helped you. I should have let that person beat you to death.¡±


    Hearing her words, Xiao Jinglan also suppressed a bellyful of anger.


    Clearly, it was Feng Jiaye who paid someone to harm, and Hao Li could lie through her teeth right in front of Mr. Song!


    She really had a knack for it!


    The more Xiao Jinglan thought, the more incensed she became, especially as she looked at Hao Li¡¯s smug face. Unable to restrain herself, she raised her hand and slapped her across the face.


    Hao Li was dumbfounded, but quickly reacted, pouncing on Xiao Jinglan and grabbing her hair, soon they were scuffling together.


    The two fought back and forth for a long while before Old Master Song had the bodyguards separate them.


    Both of them should probably have no more energy to argue, right?


    Mr. Song stared at the two individuals being propped up by the bodyguards, intentionally darkening his expression and glaring at them, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear a word from either of you right now, get out of my sight immediately!¡±


    Having said that, Mr. Song tilted his chin toward the bodyguards,


    signaling them to throw the people out.


    ¡°Old Master... I... mmm mmm mmm...¡±


    Hao Li wanted to say something but was quickly silenced by the bodyguards covering her mouth, and she was directly escorted away toward the other end of the corridor.


    Xiao Jinglan was no exception and was also escorted out by a few other individuals.


    Hao Li, worried that Old Master Song would really throw them out and forget about them, circled around from the hospital entrance and sneaked back in through a side door.


    It was all Xiao Jinglan¡¯s fault this had happened.


    She couldn¡¯t stand to see them getting along well with Old Master Song, so she deliberately came here to sow discord.


    She would never let this damned woman have peace!


    At the same time, Xiao Jinglan, who was also thrown out, was seething with anger.


    If possible, she wished she could strangle Hao Li on the spot.


    She could have regained Old Master Song¡¯s trust based on her previous investigations, but Hao Li, that shrew, lacked any decency and did nothing but curse and cause chaos.


    Her perfect opportunity was completely wasted by Hao Li!


    Thinking about this, Xiao Jinglan felt a severe pain in her chest.


    She hadn¡¯t eaten anything since she woke up late this morning, not even touching her beloved cubilose.


    Considering how hard it was for her to get to the hospital, she never expected such an outcome.


    The more Xiao Jinglan thought about it, the more upset she became, and her chest felt even more suffocated.


    Suddenly, her hands began to tremble uncontrollably, her body already weak, now felt heavier.


    It was only noon, yet she felt completely drained and even started to long for the cubilose she hadn¡¯t eaten at home.


    Sighing, Xiao Jinglan walked towards the parking lot.


    The more she moved, the more sweat appeared on her body, and her craving for cubilose grew stronger.


    Once Xiao Jinglan sat in the driver¡¯s seat, her craving for cubilose made her shake all over.


    Suddenly, Xiao Jinglan was alarmed.


    Something was very wrong.


    Why was she craving that cubilose so badly?


    It seemed like eating that cubilose would relieve her discomfort.


    Xiao Jinglan remembered that she had poisoned the cubilose earlier, and her brow furrowed immediately.


    If she was not mistaken, her symptoms were very much like the withdrawal symptoms from the poisoned cubilose.


    With this in mind, Xiao Jinglan shook even more vigorously than before, initially trembling because she wanted to eat the cubilose, but now trembling out of fear.


    If it was as she suspected, then her body might soon fail.


    Narrowing her eyes, Xiao Jinglan wondered, who had poisoned her?

 Chapter 426: 424: To Say Im Not Nervous Would Be a Lie

    Chapter 426: Chapter 424: To Say I¡¯m Not Nervous Would Be a Lie


    Was it Lu Zhaozhao or Xia Wenjin?


    Or was it Song Sinian?


    Her eyes narrowed, perhaps the Feng family also had a part in it...


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s whole heart thumped wildly from knowing she might have been poisoned.


    She never expected that after years of hunting geese, she would be pecked in the eye by them!


    Feeling heavy-hearted, she left the hospital and immediately contacted a doctor she knew to get examined.


    Sure enough, the results were not much different from what she had expected.


    To avoid alarming anyone, she sent a bodyguard in the guise of fetching clothing to retrieve the uneaten cubilose from her residence and sent it for testing.


    This examination was critical, and Xiao Jinglan could almost laugh from anger.


    Every piece of cubilose that she hadn¡¯t touched had been poisoned.


    What surprised her even more was that this batch of cubilose was the same super-poisoned batch she had given Xia Wenjin.


    At the time, because she disliked Xia Wenjin, she had heavily poisoned her portion.


    The amount she used on Lu Zhaozhao was completely different.


    Now, thinking about it, Lu Zhaozhao had been hospitalized a few times, though it was not entirely certain if it was related to the poisoned cubilose.


    However, Xia Wenjin¡¯s health had always been robust, as if she had never had any problems.


    This was very suspicious.


    Xiao Jinglan clenched her fists, thinking that Xia Wenjin must have discovered her poisoning, so she swapped it back on her, which caused her rage to rise rapidly.


    How had she never realized how capable Xia Wenjin was before?


    No wonder she had been so quiet recently, she had been secretly poisoning her, waiting for her to die before causing more trouble.


    Very well.


    Xia Wenjin, let¡¯s see who dies first!


    The sky gradually darkened, and soon, snowflakes began to flutter in the air.


    Lu Zhaozhao stared blankly out of the window, lost in thought.


    The hospital room was eerily silent, with Song Sinian sitting next to Lu Zhaozhao, gently holding her small hand.


    Due to the recent commotion, Old Master Song had the guards surround Song Sinian¡¯s hospital room, allowing no one inside without his permission.


    So now, nobody disturbed them.


    With a gentle voice, Song Sinian softly massaged Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head and asked, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes drooped as she turned to look at Song Sinian, her voice soft, ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything.¡±


    Song Sinian was visibly startled, not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to respond directly to him.


    Just earlier, when she was ranting at Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li outside, he thought Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition would worsen.


    Song Sinian had undergone psychological treatment with Tian Xiangjun since childhood due to past traumas and even though he hadn¡¯t made much emotional progress, he remembered the basic procedures Tian Xiangjun used on him.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s symptoms resembled those he had as a child.


    It was due to a significant shock causing a stress response, and if not properly guided at this time, it could easily lead to severe mental illness.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s situation was unique; only the Xia family, himself, and Pei Huai, who was also a rebirth like her, knew about her rebirth.


    For Lu Zhaozhao, having one more person know meant one more fraction of danger.


    Although he trusted Doctor Tian, he was still not completely at ease with handing over Lu Zhaozhao entirely.


    These past few days, he had been in contact with Doctor Tian and had learned quite a few methods to treat Lu Zhaozhao.


    What Lu Zhaozhao needed most now was his company, his understanding, and his love.


    He had to make it clear to Lu Zhaozhao that he wouldn¡¯t leave this world a step ahead of her like in the last lifetime.


    Only by giving Lu Zhaozhao a sense of security could she become the girl with the curved eyes and eyebrows he had first met.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze measured Lu Zhaozhao before he slowly began to speak, ¡°Do you feel hungry now, or would you like to eat something?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, yet her gaze was fixed intently on Song Sinian.


    ¡°Do you want to go outside and see the snow?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils blinked slightly; he suddenly thought of how Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze had kept focusing on the window, so he suggested another option.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao shook her head again, still staring intently at him.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, his large hands holding her small ones as he looked at her earnestly and asked, ¡°Then you can tell me whatever you want to do, no matter what it is, I¡¯ll be with you. Okay?¡±


    His voice was low and magnetic, strikingly appealing in the quiet room.


    A sudden warmth spread through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart; she reached up and tugged on Song Sinian¡¯s arm, ¡°I want you to hold me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes blinked, and her gaze towards Song Sinian filled with an increasing desire.


    Since Song Sinian had been hospitalized and injured, she had clearly felt her emotional problems, yet she couldn¡¯t control herself.


    Especially when she saw Xiao Jinglan, she would remember the bad deeds this woman had done between him and Song Sinian in the last lifetime, which separated her and Song Sinian as if by life and death.


    Just the thought of losing Song Sinian made her completely lose control, and she had no recollection of what happened next.


    When she came back to her senses, she was already being held by Song Sinian.


    To say she wasn¡¯t panicking would be a lie.


    She even started to worry that Song Sinian might not be able to endure her frenzied side.


    She even doubted, even if in this lifetime there was no Xiao Jinglan meddling, she might still lose him like before.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t know what Lu Zhaozhao was thinking; he scooped her into his arms, bowed his head, and kissed her forehead, ¡°No matter what you¡¯re thinking, I promise it won¡¯t happen.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian somewhat blankly.


    Especially after hearing his words, her small head unconsciously tilted as if she questioned what he had just said.


    How could Song Sinian not notice?


    His large hand lightly pinched her nose, ¡°I know no matter what I say now, you will still worry about the future. Even if I say now that I will always love you and never leave you, you might still not be reassured...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t speak, her eyelids drooped slightly, seemingly a bit despondent.


    ¡°So, what I can do is, whenever you need, I will be there by your side. No matter what happens, I will prioritize you. So, don¡¯t be scared, okay?¡±


    Song Sinian tenderly held her small face, kissing her nose again, his actions gentle and cautious.


    He not only soothed Lu Zhaozhao with words, but his promises were also followed by actions.


    After hearing his words, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly reddened.


    Tears streamed down her cheeks in large, heavy drops.


    Song Sinian gently kissed the tear stains on her face, ¡°My Mrs. Song really is made of water, a light touch and she becomes all teary...¡±

 Chapter 427: 425: Where Are You Running to, Mrs. Song?

    Chapter 427: Chapter 425: Where Are You Running to, Mrs. Song?


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao paused slightly after hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, even forgetting to cry.


    For some reason, she felt that Song Sinian had seemed to be driving a car just now.


    She was clearly crying, okay?


    What does he mean by ¡®tears well up at the slightest touch¡¯?


    Aware that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attention had been diverted, Song Sinian¡¯s mouth silently curled into a smirk.


    He leaned in gently and kissed her lips, ¡°Zhaozhao, can you cry a little more for me? I want to hear it...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help swallowing hard, subconsciously leaning back, but as soon as she tilted backward, she was firmly embraced by Song Sinian¡¯s strong arms.


    His mouth curved into a proud, devilish smile, ¡°Why run away, my Mrs. Song?¡±


    While speaking, he gently rubbed his nose against her cheek.


    His teasing demeanor made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s legs feel a bit weak.


    Usually, when she had to film, Song Sinian would restrain himself a bit, but whenever she had time to rest, he would tirelessly tease her over and over.


    He¡¯d make her weepily call out his name and beg for mercy.


    Sometimes he would stop, allowing her a moment to catch her breath.


    Other times, he would become even more relentless...


    But no matter which it was, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to get out of bed the next day.


    Her nervous appearance did not escape Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, and he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, ¡°I won¡¯t eat you up, don¡¯t be afraid.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, clearly disbelieving.


    She had indeed believed him before, but later she realized just how tender Song Sinian could be off the bed and how ruthless he was on it.


    No matter how sweet his words now, she had never seen him spare her in bed, humph!


    What a big liar!


    Song Sinian pulled her into his arms again, burying his head in the nape of her neck and gently rubbing against it, ¡°Today, I will just hold you to sleep, I won¡¯t do anything else.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned slightly; his words seemed fine, but why did they sound familiar?


    It sounded like a classic playboy promise.


    But Mr. Song¡¯s words should count for something, right?


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s suspicions inadvertently fell upon Song Sinian¡¯s face.


    Naturally, Song Sinian also noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze, and he sighed helplessly, kissing her on the head, ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, you have to believe me.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes were looking at her, resembling an innocent big puppy, and Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    She raised her hand, pinching Song Sinian¡¯s cheek as if to confirm that the man before her really existed.


    Understanding her thoughts and feelings, Song Sinian patiently accompanied her.


    Until the evening gradually fell...


    At 9 o¡¯clock in the evening, Xiao Mo finally appeared in Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hospital room.


    These past few days, he had been so swamped with work that he was at his wits¡¯ end, and just when he thought he could catch a break, he received a call from Xiao Jinglan saying she had been hospitalized again.


    Xiao Mo was utterly overwhelmed.


    Xiao Jinglan had been hospitalized again?


    Her recent hospitalizations seemed all too frequent, didn¡¯t they?


    When Xiao Mo arrived at the hospital and saw Xiao Jinglan, he was completely dumbfounded.


    Not to mention her complexion was as pale as a sheet of paper, her swollen face resembled a pig¡¯s head and was frightful enough on its own.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyebrows knotted almost into a lump, ¡°Who hit you this time? What exactly happened?¡±


    He remembered that the last time Xiao Jinglan went to the hospital, she had been beaten and then admitted.


    It had only been a few days since she was discharged, how could she have been beaten again?


    Could it be the Feng family again?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s complexion was exceptionally poor. She subconsciously glanced around and before she could speak, she heard Xiao Mo say, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there aren¡¯t many people around, just you and me.¡±


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan slowly started to speak, ¡°I was beaten by Lu Zhaozhao today; the woman seemed to have gone mad, a bit mentally unstable.¡±


    Thinking about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mental state, she could only describe it using such words.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao... went mad?¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s face showed outright disbelief.


    Wasn¡¯t it said that Song Sinian had an accident? How had Lu Zhaozhao lost her mind?


    Could it be that Lu Zhaozhao thought that it was Xiao Jinglan who had harmed Song Sinian?


    Xiao Mo¡¯s heart suddenly clenched.


    Although they weren¡¯t responsible for this incident, if the Song family used it as an excuse to investigate them, it would be troublesome.


    Xiao Jinglan obviously saw through Xiao Mo¡¯s thoughts and hurriedly explained, ¡°This has nothing to do with Song Sinian. Not only me, but she also gave Hao Li a beating, and even worse than what I got.¡±


    Afterwards, Xiao Jinglan narrated her hospital visit to Xiao Mo, who then breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Well, that¡¯s good, I thought something major had happened.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan suddenly fell silent.


    She had intended to tell Xiao Mo about her poisoning and then have his son properly deal with that slut Xia Wenjin.


    However, she reconsidered, knowing that Xia Wenjin was daring enough to poison her because she knew their family¡¯s secrets.


    She was so brazen because they wouldn¡¯t dare touch her.


    If she made this issue clear to Xiao Mo, Xia Wenjin probably wouldn¡¯t face any punishment, at least not until they had successfully taken over the Song Group.


    Thinking this way, Xiao Jinglan swallowed the words she was about to say.


    She knew her own son well; anything related to interests, be it family affection or love, all would be put aside.


    Even if she was his biological mother, he wouldn¡¯t show her the slightest sympathy.


    Thus, if she wanted to deal with Xia Wenjin, she had to rely on herself.


    Xiao Jinglan took a deep breath, looked at Xiao Mo, and spoke word by word, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian are about to have their wedding. If everyone at the Song Group knows that Lu Zhaozhao has psychological issues, do you think Song Sinian will still be able to sit securely as the president of the Song Group?¡±


    The Song family had only one heir, Song Sinian. If his wife had mental issues, then there was a high probability their children would too.


    They could indeed exploit this situation to destabilize Song Sinian¡¯s position in the Song Group.


    Once the shareholders of the Song Group sided with Xiao Mo, things would naturally fall into place.


    Hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes lit up; this was indeed a good strategy.


    As long as Song Sinian¡¯s position was shaken, the presidency of the Song Group would eventually be his.


    Everything Song Sinian owned would be his, whether it was power, status, wealth, or women, all would be his.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s lips curved slightly as he looked at Xiao Jinglan and spoke in a gentle tone, ¡°I will immediately start having people investigate this matter, you rest well in the hospital.¡±

 Chapter 428: 426: Start with the two of them

    Chapter 428: Chapter 426: Start with the two of them


    His words had barely finished when he turned around and left the ward.


    Xiao Jinglan watched Xiao Mo¡¯s retreating figure, her heart inexplicably sank a little.


    She clearly didn¡¯t have much longer to live, yet she couldn¡¯t tell her son, and her son seemed completely unaware of just how terrible her condition was.


    Xiao Jinglan gave a bitter smile, suddenly feeling that all her painstaking efforts for her son had become a joke.


    Because of Xiao Mo¡¯s stirring trouble, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mental health issues quickly made the front-page headlines.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already a topic of discussion, especially since not long after marrying Song Sinian, she was acknowledged by the XJ Group and brought back to be the young lady of the house.


    She was the focus of much attention.


    For someone held in such high esteem to suddenly be revealed as having mental health issues, public interest skyrocketed instantly.


    The reasons for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mental illness became a topic of widespread discussion.


    Most felt that her troubles began soon after marrying into the Song Family, leading many to believe that it¡¯s not easy being a woman married into a wealthy household.


    They even suspected that Lu Zhaozhao was subject to domestic abuse at the Song Residence.


    Song Sinian¡¯s previously admitted persona of being lovestruck was now being questioned by the public.


    One explosive trending search followed another, each more sensational than the last.


    Zhao Xi, worried that Lu Zhaozhao might see the online trends, sent a message to Song Sinian in advance, hurriedly rushing to the hospital.


    ¡°Sir, here are the work documents from the past few days.¡± Zhao Xi stood in the ward, not seeing Lu Zhaozhao, he looked at Song Sinian with some confusion before carefully asking, ¡°Sir, where has the lady gone?¡±


    Song Sinian casually flipped through the documents on the table, his voice detached, ¡°Just now, the second brother from the Xia Family came by; Zhaozhao went out for a walk with him. Why, do you need her for something?¡±


    He looked up at Zhao Xi, puzzled, seeming to sense something unusual.


    Zhao Xi shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not that I need the lady for something, but there¡¯s something related to her.¡±


    Accordingly, Zhao Xi took out his phone, displaying the latest hot topics to Song Sinian, ¡°Sir, these are today¡¯s trending searches.¡±


    [Under Suspicion: XJ Group Heiress Suffers Mental Breakdown]


    [CEO¡¯s Wife of Song Group Exhibits Worrisome Mental State]


    [Popular Female Star¡¯s Mental Absence Suspected To Be Result of Abuse]


    ...


    Song Sinian looked at the headlines, each one suggesting that Lu Zhaozhao had mental issues, his brows almost twisted into a knot.


    The incident that occurred yesterday in the ward was not known by many, mostly Xia Family members siding with Lu Zhaozhao and her friends.


    These people would not betray Lu Zhaozhao.


    Sun Qian had no way of interacting with others in the hospital, and her agent had been silenced.


    As for others... the only ones capable of spreading this news might only be Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li.


    Whether it was Xiao Jinglan or Hao Li, their purpose in smearing Lu Zhaozhao was to vie for the CEO position of the Song Group.


    Song Sinian¡¯s face darkened, ¡°Go send someone...¡±


    ¡°Husband.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when he heard Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice at the entrance of the ward, which made both Song Sinian¡¯s and Zhao Xi¡¯s hearts abruptly skip a beat.


    Almost simultaneously, they turned their gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°You came back so soon?¡±


    Standing behind Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenqing pointed to his phone, and both Song Sinian and Zhao Xi immediately understood.


    Lu Zhaozhao had clearly just seen the trending search related to her, which was why she hurried back.


    Song Sinian immediately became anxious. He looked at Lu Zhaozhao a little worriedly, afraid that her mood would be affected by this incident once again.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Zhao Xi, then turned to look at Song Sinian before slowly opening her mouth to ask, ¡°Were you two discussing the trending search?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The two responses came out almost at the same time but were completely different, and the atmosphere in the hospital room suddenly fell silent.


    Lu Zhaozhao said nothing and just walked a few steps toward Song Sinian, ¡°I just saw on the trending search that someone leaked to the media claiming that I have mental health issues.¡±


    Seeing this, Song Sinian could only nod gently, telling Lu Zhaozhao the truth, ¡°That¡¯s right, the situation is indeed like this right now, but I¡¯ve already asked Zhao Xi to start investigating.¡±


    As for his guess, he didn¡¯t plan to tell Lu Zhaozhao.


    The last time she went mad, she almost wished she could kill Hao Li and Xiao Jinglan. If she knew that this incident might be their doing, Lu Zhaozhao would probably really kill them.


    Song Sinian was not worried about her killing them; he was just worried about how Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mood might be influenced by them after she beat them up.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded seriously, ¡°I feel that this matter can¡¯t be unrelated to Hao Li and Xiao Jinglan. If we¡¯re going to investigate, start with these two.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Zhao Xi was clearly startled but still hurriedly agreed, ¡°Alright, ma¡¯am. I will definitely investigate them first.¡±


    If it wasn¡¯t because he had witnessed their madam tearing apart Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li with her own hands, he would¡¯ve thought that the current Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t have any emotional issues at all.


    Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly, their madam really had it tough.


    Xia Wenqing raised his hand to pat Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, comforting her, ¡°Little sister, rest assured, leave this matter to Zhao Xi and me. We definitely won¡¯t let others slander you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes cast downward, the light within them growing heavy, ¡°They¡¯re not trying to smear me; they want to use me to destroy Song Sinian...¡±


    Just like they did in their past lifetime.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand involuntarily clenched into a fist, ¡°This time I will absolutely not let them succeed again, I won¡¯t let Hao Li and Xiao Jinglan off the hook...¡±


    When Song Sinian saw Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face grow dark, his heart tightened.


    Zhao Xi and Xia Wenqing were also startled.


    Zhao Xi hurriedly spoke up, ¡°Ma¡¯am, now that we know those people are behind this, we won¡¯t let them succeed again.¡±


    ¡°Zhao Xi is right. With so many of us, we can surely stay on top.¡± Xia Wenqing also helped along, but after they finished speaking, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face seemed to darken even further.


    In their past lifetime, was Song Sinian not cautious of Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan?


    In their past lifetime, the Xia Family also had many members, yet they were still annihilated by them.


    So, the more Lu Zhaozhao thought about it, the heavier her face became.


    Zhao Xi and Xia Wenqing were completely at a loss, not knowing how to continue comforting Lu Zhaozhao, so they turned their pleading eyes fully towards Song Sinian.


    Both of them, one being a single dog and the other a reserve single dog, had no experience in successfully soothing a woman.


    To put it precisely, if any one of them knew how to cajole a girl, they wouldn¡¯t be single dogs...

 Chapter 429: 427: Daughter-in-law Instantly Turns into Aunt

    Chapter 429: Chapter 427: Daughter-in-law Instantly Turns into Aunt


    ¡°Zhaozhao... I think my arm hurts terribly.¡±


    Suddenly, Song Sinian spoke softly, and Lu Zhaozhao, who had a gloomy look on his face, immediately lifted her little face and walked over to him.


    She held his arm nervously and started examining it, ¡°Does it hurt a lot? Do you want me to call the doctor? Do we need to run some tests? Could it be the wrong medication?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao bombarded him with these anxious questions, baffling Zhao Xi and Xia Wenqing who were nearby.


    Just this?


    Had their anxious rambling for the past half hour not been effective at all compared to this single sentence from Song Sinian?


    The two exchanged glances, seeing the word ¡°disdain¡± in each other¡¯s eyes.


    Alright, fine, not being able to act sweetly might be why they don¡¯t have wives.


    Song Sinian, noticing that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attention had shifted, then took her little hand and soothingly patted it, ¡°I¡¯m okay, it just hurts a bit at the wound. As long as you stay by my side, it won¡¯t hurt so much.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao still seemed a bit worried. She frowned at Song Sinian, her heart not at ease.


    Seeing her worried face, Song Sinian sighed to himself, ¡°If you¡¯re still worried, we can have the doctor come and check.¡±


    Her sensitive nerves probably wouldn¡¯t relax until he was fully healed.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t mind Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s excessive concern for him.


    He liked her caring about him, whether it was excessive or not.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips and finally agreed, ¡°Shall I go call the doctor?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Watching Lu Zhaozhao leave the room, Song Sinian then looked up at Zhao Xi, ¡°Handle the matter I discussed earlier as soon as possible. As for Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li, start working on them. Those two seem too idle; let¡¯s ¡®find something for them to do,¡¯ so they aren¡¯t so free.¡±


    Zhao Xi immediately nodded, ¡°Understood, sir.¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian turned to Xia Wenqing, ¡°Zhaozhao¡¯s external public relations matter will depend on you now, second brother.¡±


    His emphasis on the term ¡°second brother¡± caught Xia Wenqing by surprise.


    He nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Zhaozhao is my sister. I¡¯ll definitely do my best. And for those who are short-sighted, I certainly won¡¯t show mercy.¡±


    ¡°Mm. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As Xia Wenqing and Zhao Xi left the hospital room and went to the parking lot together, they were still a bit in shock.


    Xia Wenqing raised his eyebrow, looked at Zhao Xi and couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen Song Sinian sincerely asking someone else for help.¡±


    From their investigations on Song Sinian, whether in business or everyday behavior, this guy was nowhere close to being ¡°kind and amiable.¡±


    Yet just now, when Song Sinian spoke, he actually felt ¡°approachable.¡±


    Quite horrifying when you think about it.


    Zhao Xi also shrugged noticeably, ¡°Honestly, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen our boss willing to let others handle matters concerning his wife.¡±


    How obsessive Song Sinian was about Lu Zhaozhao was clear to him.


    In any matter concerning Lu Zhaozhao before, Song Sinian wanted to handle everything personally.


    Even when it came to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s parents, he could fight mercilessly.


    People who openly slandered his wife, Song Sinian would tear apart one by one.


    But unexpectedly, he had now handed it over to Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenqing narrowed his eyes at Zhao Xi, ¡°Do you think... Song Sinian might have fallen for someone else?¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Zhao Xi almost spat out a mouthful of old blood, ¡°Are you joking? Who¡¯s falling for someone else? Our Mr. Song would never fall for someone else!¡±


    ¡°Then... is he acting a bit abnormal?¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, his eyes filled with worry.


    Zhao Xi paused, ¡°Actually, I think it¡¯s because he cares about his wife too much, so he¡¯s acting like this. With his wife¡¯s condition, Mr. Song probably can¡¯t focus on anything else, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing found no room to argue with that statement.


    Ever since Song Sinian had been hospitalized, Lu Zhaozhao had been extremely emotional, becoming more sensitive and very clingy.


    And clingy only to Song Sinian.


    Although they envied and despised this, they could only let it be.


    Who asked them to be absent from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s life for 20 years?


    Furthermore, considering what Lu Zhaozhao had mentioned about their previous life, Song Sinian had been wholeheartedly devoted to her. Although there were misunderstandings between them, it still didn¡¯t stop Song Sinian from thinking of Lu Zhaozhao until his death.


    That was something they, as brothers, couldn¡¯t compare with.


    Sigh!


    Seeing his depressed mood, Zhao Xi changed the subject, ¡°Lawyer Xia, are you going straight back to the office later?¡±


    Xia Wenqing shook his head, ¡°My mom and the others are waiting for me to report back about Zhaozhao¡¯s situation, so I¡¯ll probably head back later.¡±


    ¡°Then... I¡¯ll head off first.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Zhao Xi before getting into his car and driving to the coffee shop where he was meeting Wen Qingyu.


    However, when he arrived at the private room, he suddenly froze, ¡°You... why are you here?¡±


    Xia Wenqing stared at Xu Zhenzhen, who was sitting inside the private room, filled with confusion.


    ¡°I...¡±


    Before Xu Zhenzhen could start speaking, Wen Qingyu¡¯s voice came from behind, ¡°Eh? Second brother arrived so early?¡±


    She said this as she strode past Xia Wenqing towards Xu Zhenzhen.


    Wen Qingyu looked at her with a smile, her face apologetic, ¡°Sorry, Zhenzhen, I didn¡¯t expect the second brother to arrive so early; did it startle you?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth. More than startled, it completely freaked her out, okay?


    But outwardly, she politely smiled, ¡°No, auntie, my relationship with second brother is quite good, so it was just a bit unexpected.¡±


    Wen Qingyu finally breathed a sigh of relief, she waved to Xia Wenqing, ¡°Since Zhenzhen wasn¡¯t frightened, why don¡¯t you come sit over here?¡±


    While speaking, she pushed the menu in front of Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Here, Zhenzhen, look at what you want to drink.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m not picky, anything is fine.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright. Then I¡¯ll choose,¡± Wen Qingyu said as she took the menu, though her gaze inadvertently swept over Xia Wenqing.


    Noticing his gaze fixed on Xu Zhenzhen, he even pretended to pick up a glass of water from the table as a cover.


    Tsk tsk...


    Was her son falling for Zhenzhen?


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but curl up, and she said in a feigned casual tone, ¡°Zhenzhen, don¡¯t call me auntie anymore, it feels distant. Just call me sister from now on.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t hold back and sprayed out all the water in his mouth.


    ¡°Cough cough cough... Mom! You... you... don¡¯t mess around... mess around! Cough cough cough...¡±


    He was still aiming to pursue Zhenzhen, and before he could even make a move, she instantly turned into an auntie. Really now?

 Chapter 430: 428: Opened the Door to a New World...

    Chapter 430: Chapter 428: Opened the Door to a New World...


    Xu Zhenzhen was equally baffled, staring at the sudden appearance of her ¡°great-nephew,¡± plunged deep into shock.


    She had indeed considered taking her relationship with Xia Wenqing a step further, but... the sudden leap in seniority was something she had never anticipated.


    Wen Qingyu watched the pair¡¯s exceptionally entertaining expressions with satisfaction and couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°Who am I to cause a ruckus? I sincerely feel Zhenzhen and I hit it off, and I want to be sisters with her. What¡¯s the problem?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    What¡¯s the problem? The problem is huge!


    Xia Wenqing felt like he was about to burst a blood vessel from the frustration his mother was causing.


    He tugged at his stiff smile, forcing himself to find an excuse, ¡°Zhenzhen and I share an office. Do you think it¡¯s appropriate for my office assistant to suddenly become my aunt?¡±


    Wen Qingyu blinked her eyes pensively and then nodded earnestly, ¡°Indeed, that does seem a bit inappropriate.¡±


    Xia Wenqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°So...¡±


    ¡°So, we¡¯ll keep our roles separate!¡± Before Xia Wenqing could finish, Wen Qingyu blurted out, ¡°You¡¯ll still remain colleagues at work, but outside, Zhenzhen will be your aunt!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Not just Xia Wenqing, even Xu Zhenzhen felt like crying.


    How on earth did things develop into such a devilish situation?


    Xia Wenqing pressed his temples with a slight headache and said, ¡°Mom, even if you don¡¯t consider me, think about Zhaozhao. Zhenzhen is Zhaozhao¡¯s best friend. Just because you got a whim, her best friend suddenly becomes her aunt. Do you think she can handle it?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Wen Qingyu was immediately silenced.


    She really hadn¡¯t thought it through¡ªshe was merely enjoying seeing her son at a disadvantage and hadn¡¯t considered dragging her beloved daughter into this.


    Seeing that Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t respond, Xia Wenqing hurriedly continued, ¡°Zhaozhao¡¯s mood has been rather unstable lately. Sinian even handed over the task of handling the trending topic to me and Zhao Xi, so please don¡¯t add to the chaos.¡±


    Wen Qingyu sighed lightly, seemingly still somewhat reluctant.


    ¡°Elder Brother, how is Zhaozhao doing today? Does she seem better?¡± Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but frown, a trace of worry sweeping through her eyes.


    She was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s personal bodyguard and should have been by her side. If she had been there, Song Sinian might not have been injured while saving Lu Zhaozhao.


    And she wouldn¡¯t have ended up mentally breaking down because of Song Sinian¡¯s injury.


    Ultimately, it was her failure as a bodyguard.


    Xia Wenqing immediately noticed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s emotions and promptly spoke, ¡°Zhaozhao seems much better today. She even went for a walk with me. Even when Zhao Xi inadvertently mentioned the news trending outside, she could analyze the pros and cons calmly. So, you don¡¯t need to worry too much. Besides, it¡¯s not your fault for Zhaozhao¡¯s emotional breakdown; the blame lies with Sun Qian.¡±


    ¡°But... I indeed failed to protect Zhaozhao. That was my dereliction of duty.¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyelids drooped, feeling she couldn¡¯t overcome this hurdle.


    She felt she had betrayed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s trust in her.


    Listening to the conversation between Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen, Wen Qingyu raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°What responsibility does Zhenzhen have towards Zhaozhao?¡±


    She was lost, failing to grasp what the two were really discussing.


    Xia Wenqing was about to explain but heard Xu Zhenzhen speak first.


    ¡°Aunt, actually before I met Zhaozhao, I was personally appointed by Song Sinian as a bodyguard, mainly responsible for Zhaozhao¡¯s safety at school.¡±


    She had already spoken to Lu Zhaozhao about it, so she felt there was no need to continue keeping it from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s family.


    Moreover, Xia Wenqing already knew, so it wouldn¡¯t hurt for Wen Qingyu to know as well.


    Wen Qingyu was slightly astonished, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the connection between you and Zhaozhao to be so mystical.¡±


    She chuckled lightly, lifted her hand, and gently patted Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s small hand, reassuringly saying, ¡°Zhenzhen, I know you¡¯re a good kid, and I know you are genuinely friends with Zhaozhao, so you don¡¯t need to blame yourself. I think what the youngest said is right; this really isn¡¯t your fault. The ones at fault are those bad people, not you.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, nearly unable to hold back her tears.


    She had never thought that after telling the truth, Wen Qingyu would show her a friendly face.


    After all, she was so protective of Lu Zhaozhao that if she knew she had failed to protect her as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bodyguard, even if she didn¡¯t take it out on her, she wouldn¡¯t be happy.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Wen Qingyu not only to not blame her, but even to comfort her, which made Xu Zhenzhen feel even more guilty.


    Seeing her distressed expression, Wen Qingyu simply reached out to embrace Xu Zhenzhen, gently patting her back.


    Her gaze, however, turned towards Xia Wenqing, signaling with her eyes that he should change the topic and divert attention from this matter.


    Wen Qingyu had liked this young girl ever since she and Xu Zhenzhen had teamed up to teach Feng Jiaye and Hao Li a lesson.


    She had thought before that it would be nice if Xu Zhenzhen were her daughter-in-law, even contemplating setting her sons up with her, not expecting that her second son actually had good taste and favored Xu Zhenzhen.


    She intended to give a little push, but almost ended up making her cry.


    Xia Wenqing, seeing Wen Qingyu¡¯s helpless demeanor, almost couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°Zhenzhen, if you feel responsible, then help me deal with Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li. What do you think?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen instantly perked up, ¡°Really?¡±


    Xia Wenqing nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, a hint of danger flashing through, ¡°So when do we start? Day or night, do we need to scout the location first?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s temples began to throb involuntarily, somewhat helplessly looking at Xu Zhenzhen.


    He raised a hand and lightly knocked on her head, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen, Xu Zhenzhen, you study law, you are in the Legal Department at Song Group, not the Security Department.¡±


    Xia Wenqing said this with a bit of a laugh and a cry.


    He couldn¡¯t help sighing, ¡°Tell me, why did you study law in the first place, huh?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Xu Zhenzhen began to feel a bit guilty.


    She had just heard Xia Wenqing say they were going to deal with Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li and had subconsciously assumed it meant a physical confrontation¡ªhow could she have thought that Xia Wenqing¡¯s idea of dealing involved legal measures?


    Wen Qingyu disapprovingly looked at Xia Wenqing; indeed, there was a reason his son couldn¡¯t catch up with such a good girl.


    She propped her chin and coolly said to Xia Wenqing, ¡°Is there a possibility that studying law is meant for legally beating people?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s beautiful eyes suddenly widened quite a bit, and after a shocked look at Wen Qingyu, it was as if she had absorbed some grand revelation, her eyes sparkling.


    So it could be like that?!


    Indeed, your aunt is still your aunt, absolutely awesome!


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s mouth twitched, suddenly feeling like his mother had opened a new world for Xu Zhenzhen...

 Chapter 431: 429: Stop Teaching Her All This Nonsense

    Chapter 431: Chapter 429: Stop Teaching Her All This Nonsense


    He raised his hand and directly covered Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t teach her all this nonsense.¡±


    Wen Qingyu nonchalantly curled her lips. ¡°If you don¡¯t want Zhenzhen to learn, you should at least cover her ears.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing really couldn¡¯t take it anymore and decided to change the subject again. ¡°Tomorrow it¡¯s your turn to visit Zhaozhao at the hospital. Have you thought about what you want to do with her?¡±


    After Song Sinian was hospitalized, Xia Family and Song Family had arranged a hospital visitation schedule. Although they couldn¡¯t visit at the same time, they were still kin and could share information.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes narrowed, suddenly contemplating very seriously.


    Next to her, Xu Zhenzhen muttered softly, ¡°Just now, Big Brother said that after Zhaozhao beat up Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li, she seemed to be in a much better state. Should we... take Zhaozhao to beat them up again?¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Good idea! Zhaozhao has always been troubled. Maybe if we beat them up a few more times, she¡¯ll get over her issues!¡±


    Xia Wenqing: ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Not just Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li, Feng Jiyue, Xiao Mo, Xia Wenjin, Song Keren, and that couple from Lu Family, we can randomly pick and choose!¡± Xu Zhenzhen also got spirited, earnestly planning with Wen Qingyu.


    Xia Wenqing watched the two excited people and helplessly sighed in his heart.


    It seemed this matter had already escalated into a family event.


    If his mom was going to take Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen to beat people up, he could only take his brothers to clean up the mess...


    He didn¡¯t hope now that Lu Zhaozhao could resolve her issues because his mom and Xu Zhenzhen took her to beat people up; he just hoped that when the three of them were done beating others up, they would return safely.


    Ah! After all, those three were the treasures of the Xia Family women.


    Xia Wenqing glanced out the window subconsciously and saw that the skies that were clear just now had darkened considerably.


    In the afternoon, around two o¡¯clock, snowflakes began to flutter down from the sky.


    Just awoken from a nap, Lu Zhaozhao rubbed her bleary eyes. Seeing that Song Sinian was still asleep next to her, she quietly got out of bed and left.


    Although Song Sinian was hospitalized, he was still keeping up with the company¡¯s affairs without lapse.


    Moreover, since he was injured in the arm, dealing with paperwork on the computer was even more time-consuming than before.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian¡¯s tired face and felt a surge of hatred for Sun Qian.


    She had learned from Zhao Xi that Sun Qian would never appear in the entertainment industry in this lifetime, but that wasn¡¯t enough for her.


    She pondered for a moment, then took out her phone and sent a message to Zhao Xi.


    [Assistant Zhao, could you please send me all the information on Sun Qian?]


    She silently looked at her phone in hand, her eyes narrowing slightly as her gaze grew colder.


    She had been too soft-hearted before. With bad people, there were no limits to speak of.


    To fight with them, one must be relentless.


    She would not let any of them hurt Song Sinian under her watch again.


    Lu Zhaozhao pushed open the door of the ward, intending to take a walk outside, when she saw two elderly people standing with bodyguards not far down the corridor.


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly taken aback; if she remembered correctly, both of them were shareholders of Song Group.


    In her past life, Song Sinian had left Song Group to her, and these two had been relentless. However, she had been too heartbroken over Song Sinian¡¯s affairs at the time, so she hadn¡¯t really paid attention to them.


    They weren¡¯t the largest shareholders in Song Group, but they were the oldest.


    Other than age, they didn¡¯t have much to their name, often relying on their seniority to pull rank.


    Because of Song Sinian¡¯s instructions, the bodyguards stood ramrod straight, blocking the two and not giving them any chance to enter.


    The two shareholders were seething with anger, standing in the corridor, grumbling and complaining.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Lu Zhaozhao glanced at the two shareholders before turning towards the bodyguards and spoke faintly.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao, the bodyguards immediately recounted what had just happened.


    Their report incited immediate rage from the two shareholders.


    ¡°What the hell do you think you are? How dare you block our way? Do you know who we are? I am a shareholder of Song Group!¡± one of the skinny, monkey-like old men raised his voice in discontent.


    He was tall but clearly a bit hunched over.


    His corpulent companion appeared to be no more than five-and-a-half feet tall, rotund, and seemingly well-cared for; the whole person was oily and glossy, like a gleaming walnut.


    The fat shareholder watched the skinny one taking the lead, leisurely standing back with hands clasped behind him, appearing profoundly inscrutable.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at them and then turned to address the bodyguards, ¡°You did well. Random people like them shouldn¡¯t be allowed in. I¡¯ll speak to Zhao Xi and arrange for a bonus for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Song!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Song!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Song!¡±


    The skinny shareholder¡¯s face fell when he heard Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words. He looked at her with a cold gaze, ¡°What do you mean? Are you disregarding us shareholders?¡±


    The fat shareholder also stared at Lu Zhaozhao, applying pressure, ¡°When the old master was in charge of the company, we were too, you could say, we are like Sinian¡¯s grandfathers. Are you not afraid that Sinian will be unhappy with you treating us this way?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at them and said icily, ¡°Firstly, you are certainly old enough to be considered Sinian¡¯s grandfathers, but that doesn¡¯t mean you two are. Secondly, I¡¯m afraid of making Sinian unhappy, but he won¡¯t get mad at me over two unimportant people like you. Lastly, I really don¡¯t consider the two of you worth worrying about.¡±


    She answered their questions without giving them any face at all.


    This made the fat and skinny shareholders¡¯ faces turn sour instantly, ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re talking about? Do you realize how much loss Song Group has suffered because of you? Do you know that your existence is a stain on the reputation of Song Group?¡±


    ¡°I have no fucking clue!¡± Lu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes, ¡°Right now, all I know is if you continue to linger here and disturb my husband¡¯s rest, I will have the bodyguards break your legs!¡±


    The fat and skinny shareholders could hardly believe their ears, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets, ¡°You, you dare!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°What wouldn¡¯t I dare? The trending searches online are all saying I¡¯m not mentally sound. Don¡¯t you know that?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    They were momentarily rendered speechless by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s retort.


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a snort of contempt, slowly advancing towards them as her voice took on a seductive tone, ¡°Tell me, does a mentally unsound person need to take responsibility for breaking your legs?¡±

 Chapter 432: 430: I Call the Shots

    Chapter 432: Chapter 430: I Call the Shots


    The thin shareholder and the fat shareholder shivered at the same time.


    Instinctively, they stepped back several paces.


    Indeed, they had come here because they had heard the trending news outside; they initially wanted to find Lu Zhaozhao and warn her to stay away from Song Sinian, so as not to affect the stock price of the Song Group.


    They thought that Lu Zhaozhao, being just a young girl, would cower after a few threats.


    Who would have thought that this young girl would be so fierce?


    Furthermore, the aura she exuded vaguely gave them the feeling of being overpowered by Song Sinian.


    It was suffocating, to an extent.


    Could it be because she often stayed by Song Sinian¡¯s side and thus had adopted his demeanor?


    The two couldn¡¯t help but swallow their saliva, adamantly unwilling to admit that they had just been scared by this young girl, Lu Zhaozhao.


    The fat shareholder coughed lightly, seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s strong stance, he had no choice but to change tactics, ¡°Cough cough... The situation at our Song Family isn¡¯t too good right now, and now because of you, the stock price of Song Group has fallen. If this continues... it will ultimately hurt Sinian, and you wouldn¡¯t want that, would you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows high, ¡°Are you saying that my affair has a significant impact on the Song Group, and if I remain indifferent, Song Group would be doomed?¡±


    How could that be possible?


    Song Group was the leading conglomerate in the Shangjing Circle, how could it crumble just by rumors?


    But since Lu Zhaozhao had asked this way, they of course had to exaggerate a bit more.


    So the fat shareholder nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, if this continues, Song Group might really be in trouble...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded earnestly, ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, Song Group doesn¡¯t seem to have a promising future. When my husband wakes up, I¡¯ll talk to him about the acquisition.¡±


    ¡°Acquisition of what?¡± The fat shareholder¡¯s eyes almost bulged out.


    The thin shareholder was also fully shocked.


    Let someone acquire Song Group?


    Are you joking?


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at them, her smile was sarcastic but not genuine, ¡°You all know that apart from being Song Sinian¡¯s wife, I am also the young miss of XJ Group. Since Song Group is almost failing, I definitely won¡¯t just watch. If it comes to that, I might as well let my brother¡¯s people acquire Song Group.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The two shareholders were instantly speechless.


    While XJ Group might be formidable internationally, acquiring Song Group was definitely out of the question.


    Even if they wanted to acquire, it would require Song Sinian¡¯s approval.


    Lu Zhaozhao saw right through their thoughts and pretended to be nonchalant, ¡°Oh right, about the acquisition, you don¡¯t need to worry. My husband is a lovebird, just a little pillow talk from me, and I could have Song Group sold; you can just stay at home and count your money.¡±


    ¡°You are being ridiculous!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! What acquisition? Is Song Group something you can just decide to acquire?!¡±


    The fat shareholder and the thin shareholder, as if someone had stepped on their tails, roared at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Watching their reaction, a mocking smile curled up on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips, ¡°How could it not be up to me? I have the final say at XJ Group, and I also have the final say at Song Group. If I want to buy, I buy; if I want to sell, I sell! Can you control that?¡±


    ¡°You, you!!!¡±


    The fat shareholder was so infuriated by Lu Zhaozhao that he almost had a heart attack on the spot, and the thin shareholder could hardly believe that Lu Zhaozhao would be so assertive.


    They initially just felt that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s scandal was affecting the Song Group.


    Though the impact wasn¡¯t large, if they could use this opportunity to pull Lu Zhaozhao down from Mrs. Song¡¯s position, wouldn¡¯t their own daughters and nieces be easily positioned as they please?


    Now look, they could pull the people down but almost ended up selling the company.


    Although they were skeptical about what Lu Zhaozhao said, thinking of how a man lacking compassion like Song Sinian repeatedly did such outrageous things for Lu Zhaozhao.


    It was hard for them not to believe.


    Even if the XJ Group wasn¡¯t as good to Lu Zhaozhao as she said, they would definitely be eager to acquire the Song Group!


    The two of them thought this, and instantly sweat beaded their foreheads.


    Song Sinian now held power over the Song Group and had pushed the company to unprecedented heights.


    They benefitted from following him and naturally didn¡¯t want to give up power.


    But who would have thought they¡¯d encounter such an affair?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the two stammering without being able to say anything coherent and simply waved at the bodyguards nearby, ¡°Throw them all out; they¡¯re an eyesore.¡±


    The bodyguards had already been displeased with these two old fools living in the past. Hearing Lu Zhaozhao say this, they immediately perked up and picked up the two men.


    ¡°How dare you? We are shareholders of the Song Group. If anything happens to us, I¡¯d like to see how you explain it!¡±


    ¡°Song Sinian may be the president, but he can¡¯t behave so lawlessly!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her small hand in a stop gesture, and naturally, the bodyguards stood still.


    But the two shareholders, one fat and one thin, were still held up by a few bodyguards.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao had only asked them to stop, not to put them down.


    The two shareholders hung awkwardly in mid-air, extremely uncomfortable.


    Particularly the fat shareholder, whose face was swollen and red like a liver from gravity.


    Lu Zhaozhao sized them up and smiled sweetly at them, yet the smile did not reach her eyes, ¡°You¡¯d better pray for your health after being thrown out, otherwise, who knows who will replace you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Once Lu Zhaozhao said this, the color drained from their faces.


    ¡°By the way, both of you are already so old; have you chosen your successors?¡± Lu Zhaozhao said with a bright, insincere smile, ¡°If you have chosen, there¡¯s no need to worry. If not... emmm, better make arrangements early. After all, misfortunes come uninvited, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    After she finished speaking, even the feigned smile disappeared from her face.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The fat and thin shareholders were stunned. Was this woman a devil?


    Why did her words sound so terrifying?!


    They had come to threaten her, so why were they the ones frightened in the end?


    For the first time, they felt that coming to the hospital to find Lu Zhaozhao was a mistake, but it was too late for regrets.


    Now they could only pray that Lu Zhaozhao was just joking; otherwise, their loss would indeed outweigh their gain.


    As they were worrying, Lu Zhaozhao waved at the bodyguards again, ¡°All right, throw them all out now!¡±

 Chapter 433: 431: Just Leave Some Breathing Room

    Chapter 433: Chapter 431: Just Leave Some Breathing Room


    The bodyguards didn¡¯t hesitate this time; they simply picked up the person and walked out.


    Just now, they had actually felt a bit guilty about handling the two shareholders, but after hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, forget about just throwing the two shareholders out¡ªnow, if they were told to break their legs before throwing them out, they could do it too!


    They were just two shareholders, after all.


    Hmph! The entire XJ Group and Song Group were under the say of their madam, what did they have to be afraid of?!


    They had to stand tall!


    Meanwhile, Zhao Xi was in the secretary¡¯s office, contacting Song Sinian via mobile phone.


    ¡°Mr. Song, the madam asked me to send her Sun Qian¡¯s information, but she didn¡¯t say what she wants to do with it.¡±


    Actually, they had pretty much gained control over Sun Qian¡¯s situation. She might still be popular in the entertainment circle, but the rate of turnover of stars there was fast.


    A female artist nearing the end of her peak period would soon be overwhelmed by the ¡°waves¡± of emerging newcomers.


    So even if Lu Zhaozhao did nothing, Sun Qian would soon disappear from the entertainment circle.


    Song Sinian frowned slightly as he looked at the message on his phone, his gaze turning towards the hospital room door.


    Actually, not long after Lu Zhaozhao had left the bed, he had woken up.


    He had just let her go out when he saw her leave the room.


    However, he hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to ask Zhao Xi about Sun Qian¡¯s information.


    Thinking about the changes in Lu Zhaozhao over the past few days, it wasn¡¯t hard for Song Sinian to guess what she wanted to do.


    He hesitated for a moment before typing a line of text on his phone.


    ¡°Send her the information. Let¡¯s see what her next step is. Also, the bodyguards covertly protecting Zhaozhao need to be more alert, and they should report back at the first sign of any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mr. Song.¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Zhao Xi¡¯s message and fell into deep thought; suddenly, his phone rang again.


    ¡°Mr. Song, if the madam wants to do something to Sun Qian, how should we proceed?¡±


    The last time Lu Zhaozhao had gone straight to Sun Qian¡¯s hospital room and gave her a beating had indeed shocked him.


    Fortunately, the hospital they were in was under the Song Group, so it was relatively easy to seal off the hospital room.


    Plus, Sun Qian was staying in a VIP ward; for the privacy of the guests, the wards were spaced quite far apart from each other, so even if there was some noise, it couldn¡¯t be heard.


    The incident of Lu Zhaozhao beating up Sun Qian was sudden, but it wasn¡¯t too difficult for them to handle.


    If something like that were to happen again, they really wouldn¡¯t be able to take it...


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, and he replied casually.


    ¡°As long as Zhaozhao desires it, just leave Sun Qian a breath of air.¡±


    Zhao Xi on the other end stopped for quite a while before sending back a word, ¡°Okay.¡±


    It seemed he was taken by surprise.


    Song Sinian wanted to tell Zhao Xi something else, but the door to the hospital room was suddenly pushed open.


    Entering the room was Lu Zhaozhao, who was carrying a delicate little basket in her hand, filled with various kinds of fruit, all neatly packed in freshness boxes.


    At the very top was a box of green, glowing crystal grapes, plump and looking very tasty.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I just brought some fruit over. What would you like to eat?¡± Lu Zhaozhao said as she began to take out the fruit.


    These fruits were sent by Old Master Song, and each one had already been washed clean.


    She only needed to take them out.


    Song Sinian lightly smiled and looked at the grapes in her hand, saying, ¡°I¡¯d like to eat these.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately took out a grape, skillfully peeled it for him, and brought it to his mouth.


    Song Sinian was rarely cared for with such detail. After his arm was scratched, Lu Zhaozhao almost treated him like a precious baby.


    Even though he emphasized that his arm wasn¡¯t that seriously injured, she still insisted. Song Sinian couldn¡¯t persuade her otherwise, and wanting to assure her, he could only let her fuss over him.


    Fortunately, in the last few days she hadn¡¯t checked the medication and injections he was using as repeatedly as before, which was a relief.


    Song Sinian took the grape Lu Zhaozhao offered to his mouth, ate a few, and then heard her slowly start to speak, ¡°Honey, two shareholders came to the door just now, but the bodyguards stopped them.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, did they upset you?¡± Song Sinian chewed on the grapes in his mouth, quietly watching Lu Zhaozhao.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to encounter people from Song Group just by stepping out.


    The recent trending searches about Lu Zhaozhao were particularly conspicuous. Although he had started to have Zhao Xi and Xia Family¡¯s people deal with it, some people from Song Group would definitely use this opportunity to stir up trouble.


    He never had much of a relationship with the shareholders of Song Group. After all, he was able to inherit Song Group partly because he was the sole heir of the Song Family, and partly due to his exceptional capabilities.


    So he didn¡¯t need to please someone else, nor did he need to curry favor with any shareholders. The highest profits he could bring them were his biggest confidence.


    Lu Zhaozhao, seriously peeling the grapes, pursed her lips before saying, ¡°Those two shareholders said that Song Group has suffered quite a loss because of me and asked if I knew about the smear campaign against Song Group.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Song Sinian stopped chewing, and his expression instantly grew dark and severe.


    Who were these bastards who had spoken such words to Lu Zhaozhao?


    Song Sinian¡¯s black eyes narrowed dangerously. It seemed that he had been too lenient. Those damn shareholders dared to come to the hospital and directly approach his wife?


    ¡°They also said that Song Group isn¡¯t doing too well, and now because of me, Song Group¡¯s stock price has dropped. If this continues, the one who will suffer is you.¡± Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Song Sinian and relayed what those two shareholders had said to her.


    Song Sinian naturally understood the two men¡¯s intentions.


    They wanted to make Lu Zhaozhao leave him?


    Now, Song Sinian¡¯s complexion turned utterly dark.


    He took a deep breath and tried to keep a calm expression as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao and said, ¡°Did those two say their names, or... do you still remember what they looked like?¡±


    Even if Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t remember, the hospital had surveillance and could retrieve the data on these two anytime.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°They didn¡¯t mention their names, but their appearances are quite memorable¡ªone fat and one skinny. The fat one was shiny and starched, while the skinny one was shriveled up, like dried salted vegetables.¡±


    Song Sinian raised his brows high, and strangely, an image of two people formed in his mind.


    You wouldn¡¯t believe it, but... her description was quite apt.


    Song Sinian noted them internally and decided to send a message to Zhao Xi later, to deal with these two eyesores.


    ¡°Just now, I had the bodyguards throw them out, and then I said some things that might have embarrassed you...¡±

 Chapter 434: 432: Why Arent You Angry?

    Chapter 434: Chapter 432: Why Aren¡¯t You Angry?


    When Lu Zhaozhao said this, she seemed a little guilty.


    Song Sinian, on the other hand, was somewhat curious about what she had just said.


    As for losing face... that didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    Lu Zhaozhao peeled another grape and popped it into Song Sinian¡¯s mouth before muttering, ¡°I told them, ¡®I call the shots at XJ Group, and at Song Group too. If they dare to mess with me again, I¡¯ll have you sell Song Group to XJ Group.''¡±


    Her words trailed off, and she no longer dared look at Song Sinian, ¡°I also said... as long as I whisper into your ear, you would listen to anything I say.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, head bowed, had yet to hear Song Sinian¡¯s voice.


    Out of curiosity, she looked up, only to see Song Sinian still eating grapes leisurely, as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word she said.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but speak up again, ¡°Mr. Song, didn¡¯t you hear what I just said?¡±


    Song Sinian turned to look at Lu Zhaozhao and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°I heard everything.¡±


    Watching Song Sinian¡¯s smiling face, Lu Zhaozhao felt even more guilty, ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you angry?¡±


    Hearing her words, Song Sinian looked baffled, ¡°Why should I be angry? Didn¡¯t you speak the truth?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    At the time, she had just been annoyed with those two shareholders and couldn¡¯t help but exaggerate.


    Although XJ Group was nominally hers, it was only to prevent Avril from marrying his elder brother that her other brothers had arranged it that way.


    So, XJ Group was not really under her control.


    And considering Song Group¡¯s status in the Shangjing Circle, how could Sinian possibly squander his company just because of her?


    Sinian saw right through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression.


    He lifted his hand and affectionately pinched her cheek, ¡°Everything you said is true. Both XJ Group and Song Group do indeed listen to you. As long as you¡¯re happy, even merging XJ Group with Song Group could happen.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, shocked, nearly fell off her chair. She stared at Song Sinian with disbelief, her hand trembling slightly, ¡°Mr. Song, you must be joking, right?¡±


    She had only been boasting. How could she truly let XJ Group take over Song Group?


    Song Sinian fixed his gaze on Lu Zhaozhao, his large hand gently holding her small one, and gave her fingertips a soft kiss, ¡°I never lie to you. I¡¯ve said before that I¡¯m truly love-struck, so if you whisper into my ear, all these things could come true.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Good lord, Lu Zhaozhao was nearly scared to death by Song Sinian.


    He was serious.


    It seems she¡¯d better watch her words in the future, lest Song Group really does end up with someone named Xia.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°If Grandpa knew you were such a spendthrift, he¡¯d beat you to death.¡±


    Song Sinian casually shrugged, ¡°What does it matter if the grandson¡¯s company becomes the granddaughter-in-law¡¯s company?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Okay, then. She had come to understand that their family¡¯s Mr. Song was truly, madly in love.


    But then again, thinking it over, in the past life, Song Sinian had also given her the Song Group.


    Indeed, no matter when, she was always the most important in his eyes.


    That¡¯s what Lu Zhaozhao thought, her heart instantly turning tender. She simply sat down beside the hospital bed and embraced Song Sinian¡¯s waist.


    Song Sinian lifted his uninjured arm and gently rubbed her little head, ¡°Is there anything else that¡¯s making you feel uncomfortable? You can tell me directly, and I¡¯ll help you solve it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her small head, ¡°No more. Those two shareholders who just provoked me have already been thrown out of the hospital by the bodyguards.¡±


    Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, abruptly lifting her head and looking at Song Sinian, ¡°Those two shareholders were quite old just now...¡±


    ¡°Are you worried that the bodyguards were too rough just now and it could be troublesome if they got hurt?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s large hand sifted through her thick, black hair, his tone suggestive.


    Those two old fools, having said those irrelevant words just now, he wouldn¡¯t feel sorry for them even if the bodyguards had beaten them half to death, let alone just throwing them out.


    They provoked Lu Zhaozhao; they deserved to be punished.


    Without showing them a lesson, the members of the board would surely come to the hospital one after another to cause trouble.


    In the end, it would still trouble his darling.


    He certainly didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to waste her energy on such trivial matters.


    As Song Sinian was considering how to deal with these two men, Lu Zhaozhao gently shook her head, ¡°No, Mr. Song, what I mean is these two are old and not as clear-headed as before. Shouldn¡¯t they let go of the power in their hands?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, looking at Lu Zhaozhao with a smile not quite a smile, ¡°That¡¯s actually a good idea, just right to set an example for the board.¡±


    Let¡¯s see who else dares to look for trouble in the hospital?


    He propped his chin with one hand and thought carefully, ¡°The families of these two shareholders are complicated; it will be quite easy to find someone to support.¡±


    Then it would be clear who was smart enough to seize this opportunity.


    Seeing that everything was resolved, Lu Zhaozhao once again nestled her head in Song Sinian¡¯s embrace and rubbed against him, ¡°As expected, Mr. Song is the best.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes drooped slightly, and his large hand gently caressed her earlobe, his voice low and husky, ¡°Since you think I¡¯m good, shouldn¡¯t you give an appropriate reward, hmm?¡±


    His last word carried a tempting inflection, making Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart itch.


    Of course, Lu Zhaozhao understood Song Sinian¡¯s hint.


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly let go of Song Sinian, took another grape from the plate, and began peeling it once more.


    Just as Song Sinian thought Lu Zhaozhao was going to ignore what he had just said, the grape once again entered his mouth, this time not with her small hand, but her soft lips.


    The sweet taste of the crystalline grape burst in his mouth, accompanied by her tender lips, also carrying the fresh sweetness of grapes.


    Song Sinian¡¯s breath hitched, and his large hand immediately wrapped around Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move your hand, you¡¯re injured,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, hugging Song Sinian¡¯s neck and propping herself up, whispering softly.


    Song Sinian, unconcerned, replied, ¡°This hand is uninjured.¡±


    With that, he leaned in again.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little hand gently pushed, pinning him to the bed. She straddled his waist, looking down at Song Sinian from above, ¡°I told you not to move, so don¡¯t move, okay, husband~~~¡±


    Her tone was clearly coquettish, making it hard for Song Sinian to resist.


    He took a deep breath and simply collapsed on the bed, giving in.


    Let his little darling do whatever she wanted...

 Chapter 435: 433: How Could He Not Understand Her Thoughts?

    Chapter 435: Chapter 433: How Could He Not Understand Her Thoughts?


    Song Sinian had thought he could manage, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t even care if his arm was hurt as he took control of the situation himself.


    All night, only the intermittent sobs of Lu Zhaozhao filled the room.


    ...


    Winter days dawn much later than usual; it wasn¡¯t until 6 a.m. that the sky began to lighten.


    Xiao Jinglan had left the hospital early and returned home, since Xiao Mo had recently been busy contacting board members and hadn¡¯t come home much.


    As soon as she entered, she saw Xia Wenjin walking down from the second floor.


    A flash of resentment swept through Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes.


    It was this woman!


    Had it not been for her, she wouldn¡¯t have angered Mr. Song, nor would she have been driven out of the Song Family.


    Nor would Song Keren have married Justin and been marginalized!


    If it hadn¡¯t been for this woman¡¯s scheming, Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t have married her, nor would he have been driven out by Mr. Song.


    Everything was because of this woman¡¯s arrival that she, Xiao Mo, and Song Keren had ended up in such misery!


    Before they all thrived because of the Song Family, but everything changed after they encountered Xia Wenjin.


    Thinking that her current ruined health was also because of Xia Wenjin, and that her days were numbered, she hated her even more.


    She had thought that since Xia Wenjin knew Xiao Mo¡¯s identity, being too blatant in her actions might harm Xiao Mo.


    But if she could kill Xia Wenjin, Xiao Mo would lose this burden and could find a better woman...


    She was already dying; what did she have to worry about?


    Xiao Jinglan glanced at Xia Wenjin, an idea forming in her mind.


    Killing Xia Wenjin, that really was a good idea!


    Xia Wenjin felt uneasy under Xiao Jinglan¡¯s stare.


    She couldn¡¯t explain why, but she always felt Xiao Jinglan¡¯s gaze was sinister since her return from the hospital.


    Surely Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t discovered that she had been poisoned?


    Xia Wenjin dismissed the thought in three seconds; knowing Xiao Jinglan, if she had known, she would have taken vengeance instantly, not just looked at her ominously.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you visit me in the hospital when you were clearly at home and free these past few days?¡± Xiao Jinglan sensed her earlier attitude was odd, so she took the opportunity to ask this.


    Xia Wenjin was secretly relieved. Clearly, Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t discovered the poisoning.


    She immediately forced a smile and responded, ¡°I just learned you were hospitalized and was planning to visit, but I didn¡¯t expect you to have already been discharged.¡±


    Xia Wenjin added, ¡°As you know, Xiao Mo has been very busy, so he didn¡¯t inform me about your hospitalization.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan knew exactly what Xiao Mo had been busy doing. Besides, she had merely made up an excuse to brush off Xia Wenjin, so she didn¡¯t plan to press the issue.


    She glanced coldly at Xia Wenjin and said coldly, ¡°It seems you revel in my misfortune, hearing I was sick and hospitalized must have pleased you!¡±


    The relationship between Xiao Jinglan and Xia Wenjin was never good; their confrontational dialogue was normal, and it would have been strange if Xiao Jinglan spoke to Xia Wenjin kindly.


    Indeed, as soon as Xia Wenjin heard what Xiao Jinglan had said, her originally somewhat guilty heart immediately calmed down.


    She hung a flattering smile on her face and said, ¡°How could that be? You are Xiao Mo¡¯s mother and thus my mother-in-law. Only if you are healthy can Xiao Mo strive well in his career outside, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan did not speak, but felt this statement to be particularly mocking. If it were not for her current weakness due to this poison, she would definitely have leaped at her and strangled this bitch!


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Mind your business regarding Xiao Mo, and just stay put.¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded without arguing back.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was broad-minded, but she felt it wasn¡¯t worth wasting words on a dying person.


    How could Xiao Jinglan not understand her thoughts?


    No wonder Xia Wenjin had become particularly docile recently, she was clearly waiting for her here, truly a woman with a heart of a scorpion!


    Xiao Jinglan walked over to the sofa in the living room and sat down, lifting her head to look at Xia Wenjin, ¡°This weekend, accompany me on a trip. I¡¯ll introduce the Shangjing Circle¡¯s ladies to you.¡±


    Xia Wenjin looked somewhat surprised at Xiao Jinglan.


    She had lived abroad before and had not come into contact with the noblewomen and ladies of the Shangjing Circle after arriving in Shangjing.


    When the Lu Family was at its height, Mr. and Mrs. Lu never thought of letting her meet those noblewomen and ladies of Shangjing Circle.


    After all, there were countless people flattering their family every day, so there was no need for her mother to personally take her out to meet others.


    Now, the Lu Family had fallen, and her reputation was also ruined.


    Mr. and Mrs. Lu had also disappeared somewhere.


    Therefore, she had absolutely no opportunity to meet those noblewomen and ladies of Shangjing Circle.


    If Xiao Jinglan could bring her into contact with people of the Shangjing Circle, that wouldn¡¯t be bad, but would she be so kindhearted?


    She had just been acting haughty and aloof.


    Xiao Jinglan glanced at Xia Wenjin, scoffed coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve accepted you. I am only worried about our Xiao Mo. His position in the Song Group is not stable and needs connections. As for you, you are just passable.¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin was quite annoyed by the way Xiao Jinglan spoke of her, her words had successfully dispelled her doubts.


    Xiao Jinglan had chosen her because there was no other choice.


    It was fine; she didn¡¯t expect Xiao Jinglan to recognize her.


    After all, this woman would soon leave this world, and there was no need for her to bother about it.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin again forced a smile, ¡°I understand that you are doing this for Xiao Mo¡¯s good because we don¡¯t share any affection, so it¡¯s better to clarify it now for the sake of us both.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan snorted coldly, ¡°At least you¡¯re self-aware. From now on, you¡¯d better be more careful around Xiao Mo!¡±


    Watching Xia Wenjin slowly letting down her guard and falling into her trap, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression became much more pleasant.


    She slowly stood up from the sofa, her gaze lingering on Xia Wenjin for a while before continuing, ¡°Go to the clothing store and pick a few presentable outfits. Don¡¯t embarrass Xiao Mo when the time comes.¡±


    After finishing speaking, Xiao Jinglan pulled out a card from her pocket and threw it down in front of Xia Wenjin, ¡°Use this card to buy whatever clothes you need, and also, keep your cunning thoughts to yourself, and it¡¯s best not to be caught red-handed by me.¡±


    Xia Wenjin bent down to pick up the card thrown on the sofa, her smile becoming even more brilliant, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll certainly live a good life with Xiao Mo after.¡±


    Of course... after Xiao Jinglan has passed away.

 Chapter 436: 434: They are all defying the heavens!

    Chapter 436: Chapter 434: They are all defying the heavens!


    Xia Wenjin obviously wouldn¡¯t say that in front of Xiao Jinglan.


    She planned to spend Xiao Jinglan¡¯s money and become the mistress of the Song Family.


    Of course, Xiao Jinglan probably wouldn¡¯t see any of this.


    The next morning, Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen arrived at the hospital early.


    The two of them had prepared all night, and only then had they managed to gather all the necessary data.


    So when Lu Zhaozhao saw them, Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen both had conspicuous dark circles under their eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at them in astonishment, ¡°What did you two do last night?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen directly took out a stack of documents from the briefcase she carried and placed them on the table, excitedly lifting her chin and said, ¡°Here, these are the documents auntie and I sorted out overnight. Why don¡¯t you take a look first?¡±


    Wen Qingyu nodded repeatedly, ¡°Exactly, check if there¡¯s anything you¡¯d like to pick. If not, we still have alternate plans ready.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned for a moment, listening to the two of them, she thought they had prepared clothes or food or something fun for her last night.


    But when she opened the documents in her hands and saw that they were densely packed with introductions of people, she couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows high.


    The first file she opened was about Xiao Jinglan.


    It recorded Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hobbies, as well as precise data like her body weight.


    Even more outrageous was the tracking of her daily movements.


    And there was daily behavior analysis and basic schedule estimation.


    Knowing this information... it would be very convenient to beat her up.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she suppressed her thoughts for the time being.


    She continued to look down, the next one was about Hao Li, and further down were Xiao Mo, Feng Jiaye...


    Lu Zhaozhao silently looked down at the thick stack of documents.


    How much was there exactly?


    Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen seemed to sense Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hesitation; they exchanged glances and Wen Qingyu spoke up, ¡°Zhaozhao, if you didn¡¯t find what you liked here, we have more, we¡¯ll absolutely find something you¡¯re satisfied with.¡±


    Saying this, she took out a roll as thick as toilet paper from the briefcase, flipped it directly, and placed the beginning in front of Lu Zhaozhao.


    When Lu Zhaozhao saw the names of various people who she had interacted with clearly written on it, the corners of her mouth couldn¡¯t help but twitch.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, just pick someone and auntie and I will go with you to beat them up when the moon is dark and the wind is high!¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes brimmed with excitement as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Of course, if it¡¯s too much trouble, we might as well beat everyone on the list once.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! We¡¯ve prepared the list, it¡¯s not a big deal to go through everyone,¡± Wen Qingyu added buoyantly.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the thick stack of documents in front of her, and then at the unrolled list, with the corners of her eyes twitching.


    Her mother and her best friend really were thorough, planning to beat each person up?


    Together, that almost counted as ¡°serial collaboration.¡±


    Who knows what dreadful rumors might spread around the Shangjing Circle after this...


    In that case... that would really be too interesting!


    After mulling it over for a moment, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement, matching Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu.


    Is there anything more satisfying than beating up someone you despise?


    If he had a choice, he would definitely pound the people he despised twice.


    ¡°Let me take a look first!¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes sparkled, once again burying her head in the stack of documents.


    When Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu met, they burst into joy. Their preparations last night weren¡¯t in vain.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao was happy, they were even happier!


    Zhao Xi, hearing the conversation among the three from afar, couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    Originally, he had come to see if Wen Qingyu, Xu Zhenzhen, and Lu Zhaozhao needed any help with anything. But after hearing their conversation, he broke out in a sweat.


    Could he say Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mom was so fierce?


    Without any disagreement, she¡¯d provide her daughter with a list and personally go beat people up. Tsk tsk...


    This mom was indeed fierce.


    As for Xu Zhenzhen, that goes without saying.


    Although she had a background in law school, now she¡¯d address issues with her fists first.


    He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. Was it because his boss was a legal mogul that she acted so recklessly?


    The more Zhao Xi thought about it, the bigger his headache grew, so he silently closed the door and returned to the hospital room where Song Sinian was.


    As soon as he entered, Song Sinian instinctively looked up.


    ¡°Why are you back so soon?¡± he had heard that Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu had both come to the hospital, so he had sent Zhao Xi to check on them.


    Based on his understanding of his mother-in-law, he knew she might stir up some troubles.


    But he didn¡¯t expect Zhao Xi to come back so quickly.


    Had he worried too much?


    Zhao Xi¡¯s face looked a bit unpleasant. He forced a smile and said, ¡°Sir... in the resting room next door, the Xia family lady wants to take our madam to beat... emmm...¡±


    He didn¡¯t know whose name it would be appropriate to say.


    After all, Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s list was really long.


    ¡°Beat who?¡± Song Sinian frowned, not catching Zhao Xi¡¯s point.


    Confused, he looked at him and simply stopped the work he was doing.


    Zhao Xi walked over to Song Sinian, thought for a moment, and simplified his words, ¡°The lady from the Xia family and Xu Zhenzhen prepared a long list of names, probably all people who had wronged our madam. They plan to let madam pick a few from the list and then...¡±


    Although Zhao Xi didn¡¯t finish his words, the message was quite clear.


    Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen were planning to drag their madam out to ¡°handle big matters.¡±


    And these were rather dangerous matters.


    He just couldn¡¯t intervene over there; after all, one is the woman Xia Wenqing likes, likely to become their madam¡¯s sister-in-law, and the other is their madam¡¯s own mother, the wife of the Chairman of the XJ Corporation.


    What right did he have, what could he even stop?


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed as he pondered for a moment, then looked up at Zhao Xi and asked, ¡°What was Zhaozhao¡¯s reaction after knowing this?¡±


    ¡°Umm...¡± Zhao Xi didn¡¯t expect Song Sinian to focus on such a different aspect, and was caught off guard.


    After collecting his thoughts, he murmured, ¡°Madam seemed... very excited. She quickly engaged in a heated discussion with Xu Zhenzhen and the lady from the Xia family. They are probably discussing who to beat up first by now.¡±


    Right now, every cell in Zhao Xi¡¯s body was screaming, hoping that their sir could immediately stop those three crazy women next door!


    If he didn¡¯t stop them soon, they were all going to defy heaven!

 Chapter 437: 435: How Much Trouble Do You Want to Stir Up?

    Chapter 437: Chapter 435: How Much Trouble Do You Want to Stir Up?


    Song Sinian nodded seriously, ¡°As long as she¡¯s happy, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    What was that? Did he just mishear something?


    Why did it sound like their Mr. Song had just tacitly agreed to something?


    That couldn¡¯t be allowed to slide, could it?


    Zhao Xi looked at Song Sinian in shock, seemingly unwilling to believe what he had just heard was true.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the hospital room door.


    Zhao Xi immediately straightened his expression and looked towards the door.


    Their Mr. Song had issued a ban, allowing only specific individuals and people from the Xia Family and Old Master Song to appear in the hospital room.


    Now that the door was knocked, it was highly likely that it was someone from the Xia Family again, right?


    Sure enough, when the door opened, Zhao Xi saw Xia Wenqing standing at the doorway.


    He heaved a sigh of relief and looked imploringly at Xia Wenqing.


    Thankfully, it was one of the more rational members of the Xia Family. If it had been Xia Wenyan, he would have truly wanted to emote hard.


    After all, that person was a bona fide sister complex!


    He guessed Lu Zhaozhao had barely mentioned wanting to do something before he would have rushed to take the lead without a second word.


    Zhao Xi silently shifted his gaze back to their love-struck Mr. Song and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, turning his attention back to Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenqing never expected to receive such an impassioned look from a man one day.


    He frowned and looked at Zhao Xi with a ¡°scared¡± expression, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? If you need legal assistance, just say it straight, I¡¯ll do it for free as long as you stop looking at me with that creepy gaze!¡±


    Zhao Xi flushed red at his words and coughed lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t have any legal needs, I...¡±


    He paused, noticing the stack of documents Xia Wenqing had brought in, and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Oh right, did you come to the hospital today specifically for Mr. Song?¡±


    According to the Xia Family¡¯s previous schedule, it would have been Wen Qingyu¡¯s turn today, but why had Xia Wenqing come too?


    It took Xia Wenqing a moment to realize before he responded, ¡°I do have something to discuss with Sinian, so I came over directly.¡±


    Saying this, he placed the stack of documents in his hand in front of Song Sinian, ¡°Here, these matters involve you too, so take a look.¡±


    Zhao Xi was curious about what Xia Wenqing referred to, so he glanced at the documents on the table, and to his shock, his eyes nearly popped out.


    Clearly written in black and white at the top of the documents was ¡°Collaboration Plan.¡±


    Looking further down, there were detailed plans for dealing with Xiao Jinglan, Hao Li, Xiao Mo, Song Keren, Xia Wenjin, and others, with collaboration and follow-up closure plans.


    Zhao Xi was stunned.


    Well, now he finally understood how Wen Qingyu, who had not been back in the country for long, dared to consider taking Lu Zhaozhao to beat up others.


    It was all due to the encouragement of the Xia Family!


    It seemed like their Mrs. Song¡¯s involvement in the beating was almost a certainty, so he naturally resigned himself to it.


    Their Mr. Song was not afraid, and the Xia Family was not afraid, so, as the ace assistant of Song Group, he certainly couldn¡¯t be afraid either!


    Not only could he not be afraid, but he also had to handle the aftermath even better, absolutely not losing face for their Mr. Song in front of the Xia Family!


    Song Sinian was completely unaware that Zhao Xi had been thoroughly brainwashed from inside out due to Xia Wenqing¡¯s arrival.


    He flipped through the materials prepared by Xia Wenqing, his dark eyes slightly lowered.


    In fact, even if the Xia Family hadn¡¯t made such preparations, he would have dealt with the aftermath for Lu Zhaozhao; he just hadn¡¯t expected the Xia Family to be so proactive in seeking out cooperation with him.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t feel slighted, as long as he could protect his wife and make her happy, nothing else mattered.


    ¡°Zhao Xi, whose security company is it that Xiao Mo and the others use?¡± His deep voice resonated in the quiet hospital room.


    Zhao Xi glanced at the name of the security company and immediately replied, ¡°Xiao Mo¡¯s security company is opened in someone else¡¯s name, so it¡¯s basically his own business.¡±


    After all, the security is for protecting lives; the more details known, the better.


    If someone got fooled, their own lives would be at risk.


    Xiao Mo was always petty, so he would definitely look into such matters personally.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips lightly tapped on the line where the security company¡¯s name was written, before speaking, ¡°Check it out, see who else hired their security guards, make some trouble for them, and get rid of any superfluous people.¡±


    If Xiao Mo¡¯s security company had trouble, his own people would handle it.


    Since there had been no major incidents around Xiao Mo¡¯s receive timely assistance.


    Zhao Xi instantly understood Song Sinian¡¯s intention, but he still asked cautiously, ¡°So... how much trouble are we talking?¡±


    Without even lifting his eyelid, Song Sinian said, ¡°As much as you can stir up without calm, that¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    That meant to create as much trouble as possible without killing them.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, impressed by Song Sinian¡¯s deftness. This distraction tactic was executed beautifully!


    If Xiao Mo, Xiao Jinglan, Xia Wenjin, and others lacked security protection, it would be much easier for Lu Zhaozhao, Xu Zhenzhen, and Wen Qingyu to take action.


    He couldn¡¯t guarantee anything about others, but for his mother, taking on ten people alone would be no problem at all.


    After all, his father was a renowned crime boss overseas in the past, only stepping back because of his mother¡¯s involvement.


    Now that Xia Wenmo had taken over his father¡¯s people entirely, Xia Wenqing was actually quite surprised.


    He had thought that Xia Wenmo¡¯s heart was only for painting, and without it, he would rather die.


    But ever since Lu Zhaozhao appeared, his once gloomy younger brother was no longer gloomy, and had risen ranks to become a major crime boss.


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips, thinking that if it weren¡¯t for Xia Wenmo being called away temporarily for work, he would have definitely joined in, and then... it would have been a real spectacle.


    He sighed softly, ¡°Then we¡¯ll just wait for them to come up with a list; afterward, we¡¯ll confirm the location for the surprise attack.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°The location is easy to pinpoint; if the targets are Xiao Mo, Xia Wenjin, Song Keren, and Xiao Jinglan, just head to their houses.¡±


    That villa used to be the Song Family¡¯s, and they knew everything about it inside out.


    What better place for a surprise attack than this?


    Besides, on a moonless and windy night... in the Song Family¡¯s own territory, weren¡¯t they free to beat up whomever they pleased?

 Chapter 438: 436: Only I Can Be Harsh to My Own Wife

    Chapter 438: Chapter 436: Only I Can Be Harsh to My Own Wife


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s brows raised slightly as he couldn¡¯t help but look towards Song Sinian standing beside him.


    Indeed, when it came to ruthlessness, Song Sinian was enough to take the cake, even going so far as to beat people up at their doors.


    Tsk tsk... thinking about it, it was indeed quite thrilling.


    Truly, as long as Song Sinian wasn¡¯t his enemy, scheming with him was always a blast!


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s phone suddenly vibrated; he took it out and glanced at it, frowning instantly.


    Just as he was about to reply, as if he remembered something, he put his phone back.


    Xia Wenqing looked at Song Sinian again, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing pressing here, I¡¯ll take Zhenzhen back with me later. There¡¯s still a lot to handle at the company.¡±


    ...


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t respond to Xia Wenqing, instead, he just stared at him steadily.


    Suddenly feeling somewhat guilty under Song Sinian¡¯s gaze, Wenqing cleared his throat, ¡°If there are other matters, we can still discuss them.¡±


    Song Sinian, resting his chin on his hand, looked at Xia Wenqing again before finally speaking slowly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing else. If you are done next door, take Xu Zhenzhen back with you.¡±


    His tone was flat, showing no emotion, but Xia Wenqing always felt as if he was being seen through.


    This feeling annoyed him, especially since the person seeing through him was his brother-in-law, which made him even more irritable.


    But having said so himself, he naturally had no reason to stay any longer.


    When Xia Wenqing reached next door, Lu Zhaozhao, Xu Zhenzhen, and Wen Qingyu had already chosen their people.


    The three were chattering about this time¡¯s plan.


    Xia Wenqing cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem... have you guys decided?¡±


    On hearing his voice, all three turned their heads toward the door.


    ¡°Second brother, what brings you here?¡± Xu Zhenzhen was the first to speak. Seeing it was Xia Wenqing, her eyes visibly brightened.


    Xia Wenqing sighed, walking into the room, ¡°If not for the grand, earth-shattering plan you three are plotting?¡±


    Just thinking about what the three of them were teaming up to do, Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but feel a headache coming on.


    Back when his mother stirred up trouble at home, with his father looking after her, he never felt this much pressure.


    Indeed, outside of his own wife, the pressure really wasn¡¯t so intense.


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and tugged at the corner of her mouth.


    At that moment, she and Wen Qingyu had hit it off instantly, never anticipating that Xia Wenqing would get involved.


    But he already knew she was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bodyguard; he probably wouldn¡¯t say anything, right?


    After all, Xia Wenqing was so fond of his sister.


    Wen Qingyu propped her chin, looking at Xu Zhenzhen then at Xia Wenqing, and muttered discontentedly, ¡°This has nothing to do with Zhenzhen. If you¡¯re upset about something, take it out on me.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Mom, you have to say that with conscience. When have I ever been upset with you? And dare I even be upset? If I dare, wouldn¡¯t Dad just skin me alive?¡±


    The men of the Xia family always irrationally adored their wives.


    One could only scold one¡¯s own wife.


    As for others, you dare to be fierce with one and see what happens? In minutes, you could knock their heads off!


    Wen Qingyu shrugged, feeling guilty, ¡°I was just worried about you being harsh on Zhenzhen...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao sat by, supporting her chin with both hands, watching her mom scold her brother with an air of serenity.


    Seeing Xia Wenqing lose face, she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Mom, you can be at ease, how could my brother be the kind of person who bullies girls behind our backs?¡±


    ???


    Xia Wenqing felt somewhat helpless listening to Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu singing in tune.


    Got implied, thank you.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t put the blame solely on Zhenzhen. I¡¯m here to ask Zhenzhen to come back with me. There are still quite a few issues at work that haven¡¯t been resolved.¡± Xia Wenqing briefly explained the situation, giving the three people present a satisfactory answer.


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen immediately stood up from her position, ¡°Is there a problem at the company?¡±


    She remembered that when she left, there did not seem to be any thorny issues. Could it be that a problem arose during her absence?


    Xu Zhenzhen thought carefully. It wasn¡¯t impossible.


    Xia Wenqing just softly ¡°Hmm¡± and did not divulge more details.


    Xu Zhenzhen assumed it was a complex issue, hence Xia Wenqing felt it inconvenient to discuss it there.


    ¡°Shall we head back now?¡± Xu Zhenzhen suggested, moving towards Xia Wenqing.


    She didn¡¯t want her personal issues to delay work matters, especially since she did not want to gain a reputation for being negligent in front of Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenqing nodded to Wen Qingyu and Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°If there are any issues, the two of you remember to inform me in advance. As for Zhenzhen¡¯s case... as long as it doesn¡¯t affect work, it¡¯s up to you guys.¡±


    ¡°Alright, understood.¡±


    ¡°Understood, understood.¡±


    Hearing their replies, Xia Wenqing finally felt at ease.


    He turned around and left the hospital with Xu Zhenzhen.


    As soon as they got in the car, Xu Zhenzhen eagerly began asking about the company¡¯s issues. ¡°Second brother, has there been a complicated job at the company?¡±


    Xia Wenqing turned to look at Xu Zhenzhen, originally planning to find an excuse, but then he closed his mouth after thinking it over.


    Seeing him hesitate, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly became anxious. Could it be that something serious had happened?


    She thought about Song Sinian being recently hospitalized due to illness, the rumors about Lu Zhaozhao flying everywhere, and Song Group always being watched covetously in the Shangjing Circle, fearing that this time there really might be a big issue.


    With that thought, Xu Zhenzhen clenched her fists tightly, took a deep breath, and turned to Xia Wenqing again, very seriously saying, ¡°Second brother, just tell me, whatever it is, I can handle it.¡±


    ¡°Um...¡±


    Did he just say something terrifying?


    Why does Xu Zhenzhen now look so deeply aggrieved?


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, pulling out his phone from his pocket and handing it to Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Here, this is the problem you need to deal with now.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen immediately took the phone, carefully examining it, only to find that the messages on Xia Wenqing¡¯s phone were from Hao Jiayi.


    [Lawyer Xia, I have a legal matter I would like to consult with you about, do you have time?]


    [Also, Lawyer Liu has come to the firm saying it¡¯s urgent to find you, she is at the firm now, wondering when will Lawyer Xia return?]


    Xu Zhenzhen looked uncertainly at the phone in her hand, then turned back to Xia Wenqing, ¡°So, this important work matter is... Hao Jiayi¡¯s matter?¡±

 Chapter 439: 437: Better to Plague Her!

    Chapter 439: Chapter 437: Better to Plague Her!


    Her brow furrowed slightly. She had never imagined that Hao Jiayi would be categorized as ¡°important¡± by Xia Wenqing.


    Xu Zhenzhen felt a sourness in her chest, and for some reason, she felt a bit unhappy.


    If Hao Jiayi genuinely needed legal consultation from Xia Wenqing and became his client, then him deeming her ¡°important¡± wouldn¡¯t be unacceptable...


    Alright, it would be unacceptable!


    She was super annoyed!


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath and decided she would express her dissatisfaction once Xia Wenqing finished talking.


    That Hao Jiayi had always looked at Xia Wenqing with strange eyes, and now she was using such an excuse to get close to him¡ªshe definitely had no good intentions!


    She was absolutely not going to stand by while someone else tried to steal him away!


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Xu Zhenzhen and tapped her forehead, ¡°Have you forgotten what you promised me before?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    What had she promised him?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mind started spinning rapidly, thinking about her arrangement with Hao Jiayi, wondering if there were any other related agreements.


    But after thinking it over, she couldn¡¯t remember any.


    Her frown deepened, and she couldn¡¯t help but glance at Xia Wenqing, trying to find a clue in his expression.


    Unfortunately, she failed.


    Xia Wenqing let out a long sigh, his gaze meeting Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s with a hint of helplessness in his eyes, ¡°Some people, despite having previously promised to help when they¡¯re unsure if the other person is a green tea b*tch, now seem to be feigning amnesia when I actually seek help, sigh...¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen instantly understood.


    Her petite frame tensed up, ¡°Second Brother, that¡¯s not what I meant. I didn¡¯t catch on right away, but I¡¯ll help, of course I¡¯ll help! Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let any of these little sirens get close to you!¡±


    ¡°Pu¡ª¡±


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her address, ¡°Am I Tang Seng? How do I attract sirens?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen pouted, ¡°Second Brother, you attract far more sirens than Tang Seng does.¡±


    And all of them high-level sirens.


    Liu Xiaozhen had already caused her to be away from Xia Wenqing for so long.


    Thinking of this, Xu Zhenzhen felt uncomfortable.


    Xia Wenqing, sensing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s upset demeanor, cautiously asked, ¡°Zhenzhen, are you feeling unwell? Your complexion doesn¡¯t look good...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen snapped back to reality, tugging at the corners of her slightly bitter mouth, ¡°No, I just think Second Brother¡¯s charm is too great. Last time you rejected her so clearly, yet she persists in pursuing you.¡±


    A complex expression flickered across Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes, his eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°You make a good point. However, it seems... it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult to extricate myself from the current situation.¡±


    His words trailed off suggestively, causing Xu Zhenzhen to sense something out of the ordinary.


    She almost instinctively followed up on Xia Wenqing¡¯s words, ¡°Second Brother, do you have a way to get rid of them quickly?¡±


    If there was a way to calm both Liu Xiaozhen and Hao Jiayi, she would actually be happy to see it happen. After all, without others harassing him, she could stay peacefully by Xia Wenqing¡¯s side.


    But... was there such a good method?


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s fist clenched slightly, feigning nonchalance as he spoke, ¡°If I had a girlfriend, then naturally others wanting to get close would think twice. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Agree what?!


    If Xia Wenqing had someone, she would have no chance at all!


    Xu Zhenzhen wanted to lie against her conscience for the first time and say no.


    But this indeed seemed to be the best solution; if she proposed the opposite opinion now, Xia Wenqing would likely become even more suspicious.


    Xu Zhenzhen was nearly sick of herself.


    Xia Wenqing, sitting beside her and not receiving a reply from Xu Zhenzhen, turned his head to look at her with some confusion, then asked indifferently, ¡°Do you think my idea is not that good?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen weighed her words for a moment before responding, ¡°If it¡¯s just for the sake of peace and quiet that you find a girlfriend, then that seems a bit too pitiful for the other person...¡±


    Better to inconvenience herself than someone else!


    Let her take the place, and set the other girls free!


    If she could, Xu Zhenzhen wished she could shout this in front of Xia Wenqing.


    But alas, she couldn¡¯t.


    Xia Wenqing suddenly chuckled, ¡°If you think the other person would be pitiful... how about you help your second brother out?¡±


    He spoke as if he were joking.


    But the next second, he received Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s reply, ¡°Sure!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    For a moment, the atmosphere inside the car became deathly silent.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s foot slammed on the brake, and the car came to a harsh stop by the roadside, eliciting a pronounced screech of the brakes.


    Xu Zhenzhen was clearly startled by her own words as well.


    It was after hearing Xia Wenqing¡¯s words that she blurted out her response.


    In truth, when she had spoken, she hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenqing¡¯s reaction to be like this. She stiffly forced a smile and added, trying to recover, ¡°Since I already said I would help my second brother, I¡¯ve got to see it through to the end. Currently, I¡¯m not seeing anyone, so if you think I¡¯m not suitable, you might consider someone else...¡±


    ¡°No need for anyone else, just you,¡± Xia Wenqing blurted out almost without thinking.


    Actually, when Xu Zhenzhen said she would be his girlfriend, he was so taken aback that he hit the brakes.


    He had uttered that sentence just to test the limits of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s feelings for him, to carefully plan his next move.


    But unexpectedly, as soon as he spoke those words, Xu Zhenzhen took her role seriously.


    The shock surpassed his expectations and caught him completely off guard.


    Just when he was about to feel elated, it turned out Xu Zhenzhen was doing this to help him.


    This silly girl.


    She thought she was helping someone, yet she didn¡¯t realize she was stepping right into the trap he¡¯d set for her.


    While he despised himself for his shamelessness, he was also delighted that Xu Zhenzhen fell into the snare step by step.


    As long as there was a title between them first, everything else would naturally follow in steps.


    What he lacked was never patience.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheeks turned crimson when Xia Wenqing spoke words akin to a confession.


    She lowered her small head and couldn¡¯t help but murmur, ¡°Second brother, you shouldn¡¯t talk like that to someone casually; it¡¯s very easy to cause misunderstandings...¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll listen to you from now on,¡± Xia Wenqing said, watching her lower her head, unable to resist patting it gently, ¡°So... does that mean from now on, to the outside world, you¡¯re my girlfriend? Hmm?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face reddened even more; she nodded lightly, ¡°Mhm. Second brother, don¡¯t worry, I will definitely uphold your honor in this role!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing suddenly felt a throbbing in his temples. He wasn¡¯t in need of any honor¡ªhe wished he could give it all to her.


    If she were willing, he wanted to be dishonorable with her...

 Chapter 440: 438: Kill Them Without Leaving a Single Piece of Armor Behind

    Chapter 440: Chapter 438: Kill Them Without Leaving a Single Piece of Armor Behind


    But, it¡¯s not yet the time.


    He took a deep breath, ¡°Alright, when we get to the company, I hope you can maintain this momentum and annihilate them completely.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Second Brother! I guarantee I¡¯ll complete the mission!¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes smiled brightly as she thought about playing the role of Xia Wenqing¡¯s girlfriend this once¡ªit didn¡¯t seem too bad.


    At least... in some ways, they had taken a step further, hadn¡¯t they?


    No sooner had Xu Zhenzhen left with Xia Wenqing than Wen Qingyu was picked up by someone from the Xia Family.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat in the adjacent rest room, gazing out the window, deep in thought.


    ¡°Knock knock knock!¡±


    Suddenly, the door was knocked.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked towards the entrance just as Zhao Xi entered.


    ¡°Madam, the information you asked me to investigate has been organized,¡± Zhao Xi lifted the documents in hand and walked straight in, placing them on the table beside Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although he had already reported to Song Sinian, he was still somewhat uneasy.


    After all, due to Song Sinian¡¯s unstable emotions recently, he wasn¡¯t sure what Lu Zhaozhao might do.


    Lu Zhaozhao had the backing of the Xia Family and Song Family, but he still felt an indescribable worry.


    His expression was hard to ignore.


    Lu Zhaozhao naturally understood what Zhao Xi was worried about.


    She laughed softly, speaking lightly, ¡°Assistant Zhao, you needn¡¯t worry so much. Whatever I do, I will communicate with you in advance and certainly won¡¯t do anything to cause Sinian anxiety.¡±


    Song Sinian had already done enough for her. She now just wanted to do something for him.


    Trash like Sun Qian, she didn¡¯t want Song Sinian to waste any more energy on her.


    Lu Zhaozhao continued speaking while picking up the documents from the table and scrutinizing them closely.


    Soon, she found what she was looking for in the documents.


    Lu Zhaozhao pulled out a piece of paper from the pile and placed it in front of Zhao Xi, pointing, ¡°Is this Sun Shangmei Sun Qian¡¯s mother? Where is she now?¡±


    From Sun Qian¡¯s documents, it was evident that she grew up relying solely on her divorced mother, but now she seemed to have no connection with this woman named Sun Qian.


    Initially, she transferred a sum of money to an account every month, but later, the amounts grew larger, sometimes even reaching several million at a time, and, eventually, she stopped making any deposits to that account altogether.


    If this woman named Sun Shangmei was still alive, then this matter would get interesting.


    Zhao Xi was visibly taken aback. He took the paper, glanced at it, and began slowly, ¡°This woman named Sun Shangmei is still alive, but she¡¯s currently in a nursing home. In that nursing home, unless a directly affiliated relative who hasn¡¯t paid appears in person, those admitted cannot leave independently.¡±


    In other words, if someone is determined to keep a person in that nursing home, they only need to pay enough money to make it happen.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve discovered Sun Qian¡¯s secret! If we use this secret to threaten her, she shouldn¡¯t cause any more trouble!¡±


    Even if we don¡¯t shut Sun Qian¡¯s mouth, she¡¯ll stay silent willingly.


    However, Lu Zhaozhao gently shook her head, ¡°Sun Qian¡¯s actions aren¡¯t something that can be easily brushed aside by simply silencing her and making her retreat from the spotlight.¡±


    She was determined to make Sun Qian pay a real price, not just a symbolic punishment.


    She wanted her to regret her actions every single day for the rest of her life!


    Zhao Xi pursed her lips, feeling a bit uneasy as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao. Seeing her resolute gaze, Zhao Xi knew that this matter wouldn¡¯t end amicably.


    However, it was Sun Qian¡¯s own doing. She had relied on her status as a top celebrity to manipulate her fans in order to satisfy her own desires. The predicament she had fallen into was a consequence of her own actions.


    ¡°How do you want to handle this, ma¡¯am?¡± Zhao Xi hesitated for a moment before asking.


    Lu Zhaozhao was straightforward with her intentions, ¡°I want you to find this woman named Sun Shangmei. If you cannot get her out of the nursing home, my third brother can handle it.¡±


    Upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Zhao Xi immediately understood her intent. If Sun Shangmei wasn¡¯t voluntarily in the nursing home, she must harbor deep hatred towards Sun Qian.


    Furthermore, given how relentlessly she had leeched off of Sun Qian in the past, with no mercy whatsoever, it was clear Sun Shangmei was no simple character.


    If such a person were released from the nursing home, Sun Qian was indeed in for major misfortune.


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll handle this matter as quickly as possible. Is there anything else you need, ma¡¯am?¡±


    There were certainly many ways to get someone out of a nursing home.


    Some methods were presentable, others not so much, but Zhao Xi felt it unnecessary to report the details of these plans back to his lady.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought for a moment, ¡°Once you get Sun Shangmei out, you can tell her that if she¡¯s willing, she can take all of Sun Qian¡¯s assets. However, it¡¯s a question of whether she has the skill to secure them.¡±


    Zhao Xi promptly nodded, ¡°Understood, ma¡¯am.¡±


    If Sun Shangmei were truly released, her hatred for Sun Qian would be bone-deep; she would not let her daughter off easily.


    And with the lure of money, Sun Shangmei would probably not let Sun Qian have any good days ahead.


    Pitting two mutually hating individuals against each other was indeed a good strategy.


    Thinking this, Zhao Xi breathed a silent sigh of relief. Thankfully, his lady hadn¡¯t suggested anything too bloody; such ideas could have really cost him...


    After all, based on his understanding of their sir, no matter what Lu Zhaozhao proposed, he would surely agree.


    Thank goodness, thank goodness, his lady¡¯s thoughts hadn¡¯t strayed too far.


    Because there had been a heavy snowfall a few days ago, the accumulated snow on either side of the road had just begun to melt.


    The outdoor temperature was exceptionally low, so as soon as Xia Wenqing got out of the car upon returning to the company parking lot, he draped a coat over Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen found herself enveloped in a warm and familiar scent, leaving her stunned on the spot.


    She looked at Xia Wenqing dazedly, and just as she was about to speak, he gently tapped her forehead, ¡°What are you daydreaming about?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s small hands clutched the collar of the coat, ¡°Why did you put your coat on me, second brother? Aren¡¯t you cold?¡±


    Xia Wenqing was on the verge of laughing at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s remark.


    He forced a smile awkwardly, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree in the car just now? You¡¯re my girlfriend now. Do you think I¡¯d let my girlfriend wear something so thin in this cold weather?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen felt her heart warm, and a smile spread across her face, ¡°My bad, my bad, I haven¡¯t gotten into the role that quickly.¡±


    She winked playfully at Xia Wenqing, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, second brother. As soon as we walk in, I¡¯ll be your official girlfriend, and no one will get to take advantage of you through me!¡±

 Chapter 441: 439: Its Also Official Business...

    Chapter 441: Chapter 439: It¡¯s Also Official Business...


    Her assurance was real.


    Even without the identity of Xia Wenqing¡¯s girlfriend, she would never let them take any advantage from Xia Wenqing.


    Now that she had the ¡°Imperial Sword,¡± what was there to fear?


    Once they reached the company, she would definitely leave them with nothing!


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s long arm stretched out, and he pulled her directly into his embrace.


    Looking down at Xu Zhenzhen from above, he said word by word, ¡°Given your performance just now, I think it¡¯s necessary that from now on, you always remember that you are my girlfriend.¡±


    Because she was too close to Xia Wenqing, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s entire body stiffened.


    Her mind hadn¡¯t caught up yet, and her body was even slower.


    Xia Wenqing naturally didn¡¯t miss this detail.


    However, considering Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s distant attitude towards other men, her reaction to him was already pretty good.


    For the first time, Xia Wenqing felt like thanking the Feng family for creating such trouble for him; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to keep Xu Zhenzhen close on this pretext.


    ¡°Perform well later, and from now on, you will be responsible for my reputation,¡± Xia Wenqing said cheerfully, patting Xu Zhenzhen on the back, his eyes smiling as he looked at her.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s head was buzzing, and she nodded unconsciously at Xia Wenqing¡¯s words.


    Although she didn¡¯t know how long she could take responsibility in the future, for now... it was enough for her.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath and walked side by side with Xia Wenqing into the office building of the Song Group.


    The moment they arrived at Xia Wenqing¡¯s office, Liu Xiaozhen and Feng Jiayi had already been waiting at the door for a long time.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia, you¡¯re back?¡±


    Hao Jiayi immediately approached Xia Wenqing as soon as she saw him.


    Her smile was brilliant, completely ignoring Xu Zhenzhen standing by.


    Liu Xiaozhen stood aside, quietly observing the expressions on the three people¡¯s faces.


    She saw Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze shift towards her, and then she nodded gently at him, ¡°Lawyer Xia.¡±


    With Hao Jiayi taking the lead, it was natural for her to play a contrasting role to catch a wave of favor from Xia Wenqing.


    The previous method of driving a wedge between Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing was no longer useful; she needed to find a new strategy.


    Xia Wenqing also gave Liu Xiaozhen a polite nod.


    His focus had always been on Xu Zhenzhen before, so he never paid attention to the others around him.


    If it weren¡¯t for Lao Si and Zhaozhao telling him these things, he would never have noticed Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s schemes.


    Now that he had noticed, he naturally would not give Liu Xiaozhen any chance to create misunderstandings.


    As for the obvious show of goodwill from Hao Jiayi, he was even less likely to leave her any leeway.


    ¡°If you have work-related matters that need Lawyer Xia, prepare the documents first. If it¡¯s a personal matter, then wait after work,¡± Xu Zhenzhen followed Xia Wenqing into the room, pushed him onto his office chair, and then stood in front of him, hands on her hips.


    Her obviously possessive behavior annoyed both Liu Xiaozhen and Hao Jiayi.


    But in front of Xia Wenqing, neither of them dared to make a scene.


    Hao Jiayi pursed her lips, looking pitifully at Xia Wenqing, ¡°I do have a personal matter to discuss with Lawyer Xia, but if you look into it, it¡¯s also a work matter...¡±


    She said this as if she was speaking to Xu Zhenzhen, but in reality, she didn¡¯t even glance at Xu Zhenzhen, ignoring her completely.


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes dramatically, ¡°Seriously, you consider this official business? Ha! You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡±


    Hao Jiayi felt deeply wronged upon hearing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words.


    Her eyes glued to Xu Zhenzhen, she asked, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°What do I mean? Can¡¯t you understand Chinese?¡± Xu Zhenzhen sneered, not leaving any face for Hao Jiayi, ¡°Do you know how expensive Lawyer Xia is in official matters? Can you afford him with your salary?¡±


    Hao Jiayi hadn¡¯t expected this matter to get stuck on Xia Wenqing¡¯s fees, and suddenly she was at a loss for words.


    Seeing this, Liu Xiaozhen quickly jumped in to support, ¡°Zhenzhen, that¡¯s not fair. Hao Jiayi is a colleague of Lawyer Xia, and it¡¯s quite normal for colleagues to help each other, right?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t truly aiming to help Hao Jiayi; she was just annoyed that Xu Zhenzhen kept having the upper hand.


    But Hao Jiayi didn¡¯t see it that way.


    Hearing someone speak up for her, she immediately looked at Liu Xiaozhen gratefully, as if she was her savior.


    Hao Jiayi actually didn¡¯t have much fondness for Liu Xiaozhen either. Everyone here was an old fox; who couldn¡¯t see through each other¡¯s intentions?


    But at the moment, rather than fighting alone, it was better to find an ally.


    Hao Jiayi could tell that Liu Xiaozhen seemed close with Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen, but she didn¡¯t like Xu Zhenzhen.


    As for the reason, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    She didn¡¯t care about that either, as it had nothing to do with her.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s words visibly made Xia Wenqing furrow his brows, and he was just about to say something when his arm was restrained by Xu Zhenzhen.


    She discreetly winked at Xia Wenqing, signaling him not to intervene.


    Liu Xiaozhen and Hao Jiayi were too busy outperforming each other to notice the subtle interaction between Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen slightly tilted her chin up and crossed her arms, looking at Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°Do you mean that colleagues must necessarily help one another?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen chuckled lightly, ¡°I just think that there should be some camaraderie among colleagues, and a little help should be possible, right?¡±


    She had always disliked how Xia Wenqing favored Xu Zhenzhen.


    It was clear that she was superior to Xu Zhenzhen, not just a little but by a large margin when it came to family background. Why did Xia Wenqing prefer Xu Zhenzhen over her?


    Both their names even contained the character ¡°Zhen.¡±


    Why couldn¡¯t the Zhenzhen he liked be her?


    Where was she lacking compared to Xu Zhenzhen?


    Xu Zhenzhen scoffed, ¡°In that case, starting today, Lawyer Liu can start diligently helping our colleague friends. As far as I know, there are quite a few who will be going to court soon; since Lawyer Liu has offered, I¡¯m sure they would be thrilled to have such a capable person assisting them.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen froze, quickly waving her hands, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, there are so many I can¡¯t possibly help them all...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as they hear that Lawyer Liu is willing to help, they¡¯ll surely be willing to wait.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen felt like swearing.


    She had intended to make Xu Zhenzhen uncomfortable but ended up putting herself in a bind!


    Seeing Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s expression sour, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s lips curled up in a triumphant smile, ¡°Lawyer Liu, being such a good person, will surely follow through, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now, the smile on Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face was completely frozen...

 Chapter 442: 440 True Mutual Affection

    Chapter 442: Chapter 440 True Mutual Affection


    Agree to what?


    Xu Zhenzhen, that damned woman!


    She definitely did it on purpose!


    Liu Xiaozhen clenched her fist, yet forced a smile on her face toward both of them. ¡°Since we¡¯ve come to this point, I¡¯ll have to trouble Lawyer Xia to join me in this difficult matter.¡±


    As she said this, she purposefully gave Xia Wenqing a gentle smile, as if she agreed to this troublesome task just for his sake.


    How could Xu Zhenzhen possibly miss that?


    ¡°You might be mistaken, Lawyer Liu.¡± No sooner had Liu Xiaozhen finished speaking than Xu Zhenzhen blurted out.


    ¡°Our Lawyer Xia isn¡¯t as idle as you, he has lots of work to do. Plus, he needs to make money to support his family, so he doesn¡¯t have that much free time to be charitable.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen could hardly believe her own ears.


    Xia Wenqing needs to earn money for his family?


    Isn¡¯t he the second young master of XJ Group?


    With such a powerful family background, how could he possibly need to earn money to support his family?


    Could it be that XJ Group is in trouble?


    Impossible...


    XJ Group had just partnered with Song Group domestically and was thriving, how could they be in any trouble?


    She looked at Xu Zhenzhen in amazement, her eyes full of confusion.


    Xia Wenqing, propping up his chin, said leisurely, ¡°I transferred all of my company shares to my sister, which means I am now just an employee at XJ Group.¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s smile stiffened, ¡°Lawyer Xia, you must be joking, right? Although our CEO¡¯s wife is your sister, she wouldn¡¯t just give her all the shares, would she?¡±


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Hao Jiayi and chuckled lightly, ¡°Of course, it wasn¡¯t a decision I made alone. My older brother and two younger brothers all did the same, so our family company now belongs to my sister, and we brothers are merely working for her.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    A strange silence suddenly descended upon Xia Wenqing¡¯s office.


    But soon, this silence was broken once more.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia is so doting to his sister, he must spoil his other half just as much,¡± Hao Jiayi said, her gaze turning shyly towards Xia Wenqing.


    She all but outright said, when she marries Xia Wenqing, to let him pamper her properly.


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Hao Jiayi and nodded seriously, ¡°I will definitely spoil my own wife.¡±


    As he said this, his gaze inadvertently fell on Xu Zhenzhen, who was beside him.


    Hao Jiayi, not knowing Xia Wenqing well, naturally took it as a casual remark.


    But Liu Xiaozhen knew him, so when his gaze inadvertently landed on Xu Zhenzhen, her heart involuntarily clenched tight.


    Ever since her attempts to drive a wedge between Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing failed, she felt as if something had gone out of control.


    Especially every time she saw Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing clinging together, that ominous premonition grew stronger.


    Liu Xiaozhen hastily changed the subject, ¡°Lawyer Xia, even if you gave all your shares to Miss Lu, don¡¯t you still have your own law firm? How could you be like Zhenzhen said, needing to earn money for the family?¡±


    ¡°This...¡±


    Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t sure either why Xu Zhenzhen had said that just now. As he hesitated, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s crisp voice rang out in the office.


    ¡°Our Lawyer Xia, of course, needs to earn money to support the family, now that he¡¯s not alone anymore, right, Lawyer Xia?¡±


    When she said this, she also playfully winked at Xia Wenqing.


    They seemed to have a very intimate relationship.


    Hao Jiayi, who was next to them, looked at Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing, puzzled, ¡°Lawyer Xia isn¡¯t alone? Then who else is in his family?¡±


    Could it be that there was some illegitimate child or something?


    It¡¯s quite normal for wealthy families to have one or two illegitimate children¡ªshe had seen it before.


    However, if something like that happened to Xia Wenqing, she found it a bit hard to accept, as from the time she joined the law firm until now, she knew well what kind of person Xia Wenqing was.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have gone to great lengths trying to marry him.


    Xu Zhenzhen said with a light laugh, ¡°Who else could it be? Obviously, he¡¯s gone from bachelor to a blissfully married couple.¡±


    Her little hand gently pinched Xia Wenqing¡¯s cheek, ¡°Starting now, our Lawyer Xia has to earn money to support me, so for those irrelevant trifles, I don¡¯t agree for him to bother with them¡ªis this reason sufficient?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen declared her sovereignty right there and then.


    It would be a pity not to use the ¡°Imperial Sword¡± that she had finally obtained from Xia Wenqing.


    Especially when she saw Liu Xiaozhen and Hao Jiayi¡¯s faces turn pale almost instantly, her heart was simply exhilarated.


    Who made those two little vixens always flit around in front of her second brother for no good reason?


    Humph!


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s mouth hung open for a long while, she simply couldn¡¯t recover her composure.


    In the end, it was Liu Xiaozhen who spoke first, ¡°You two... you two are together?¡±


    That¡¯s impossible; there were still so many misunderstandings between them, how had they clarified everything?


    Liu Xiaozhen suddenly felt a chill running down her spine¡ªif Xia Wenqing knew what she had done before...


    Her fists clenched tightly, but she quickly came to her senses.


    If Xia Wenqing already knew the whole truth, he wouldn¡¯t be as calm as he was now.


    There must be something between them that she wasn¡¯t aware of.


    The so-called romance between Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing probably wasn¡¯t as effortless as they made it out to be.


    Liu Xiaozhen narrowed her eyes, thinking there might be another breakthrough¡ªshe definitely mustn¡¯t panic.


    Xu Zhenzhen, resting a hand on Xia Wenqing¡¯s shoulder, nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, Lawyer Xia and I are together now. You should congratulate us, right? After all, we are such good colleagues, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen and Hao Jiayi both looked a bit uncomfortable, but to make a good impression in front of Xia Wenqing, they both forced a smile.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you two to get together; it really caught me off guard,¡± Liu Xiaozhen said sullenly, looking at the two, but she didn¡¯t offer any congratulations.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s dark eyes lowered slightly, and he spoke indifferently, ¡°Is it so unusual for us to be together? I liked Zhenzhen back in university, I just didn¡¯t have the opportunity then. Now she¡¯s given me one.¡±


    As he said this, his hand gently held Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s.


    At this, Xu Zhenzhen, who had been rather triumphant just before, suddenly blushed.


    She didn¡¯t expect Xia Wenqing to say that; after all, back in school...it was her who had liked him first.


    If it were truly as Xia Wenqing said, then the two of them would genuinely be mutually in love...

 Chapter 443: 441: Her Second Brother Turned Out to be Such a Scumbag?!

    Chapter 443: Chapter 441: Her Second Brother Turned Out to be Such a Scumbag?!


    Xu Zhenzhen felt a fleeting moment of regret in her heart, but being able to be by his side as his ¡°girlfriend¡± seemed not bad at all.


    Thinking this way, her gaze involuntarily met Xia Wenqing¡¯s.


    The doting in his eyes almost overwhelmed her, as if he truly liked her as much as he said he did.


    This thought made Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s heart suddenly race.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump...¡±


    The loud beating of her heart made her awkwardly avoid Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze.


    If it weren¡¯t for Hao Jiayi and Liu Xiaozhen being there, she might have blushed and run away immediately.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s charm was no joke!


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face tensed uncomfortably, listening to Xia Wenqing unreservedly confessing to Xu Zhenzhen, and awkwardly twisted her mouth, ¡°I¡¯m just a bit surprised that Lawyer Xia likes someone like Zhenzhen...¡±


    ¡°Zhenzhen is great, and since she is my own choice, she is naturally the best.¡± Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t give Liu Xiaozhen any chance to continue, and changed the topic while looking at her, ¡°You came to the office to see me today, is there something you need?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen, stunned by the situation unfolding before her, responded upon hearing Xia Wenqing¡¯s words, ¡°I... I originally came here for work, but then I heard about the issues Hao Jiayi had been encountering recently, so I thought I¡¯d mention it to you, to maybe help her as well...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen intentionally cued to Hao Jiayi, already unable to steady the situation on her own.


    Her gaze turned towards Hao Jiayi, slightly worried she might shift her target due to Xia Wenqing¡¯s public relationship.


    To Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s surprise, there was evident hatred in the glance Hao Jiayi just gave Xu Zhenzhen.


    Her eyes lit up, sensing an unexpected gain.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s attention was all on Xia Wenqing and completely missed Hao Jiayi¡¯s gaze, upon hearing Liu Xiaozhen, she immediately turned her head and muttered discontentedly, ¡°A case that even Lawyer Liu can¡¯t solve on her own must be a major case, it¡¯s better to just hire a legal team directly...¡±


    She definitely wasn¡¯t going to give them a chance to get close to their family¡¯s second brother!


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s mouth twitched, her eyes darkening with deeper resentment.


    Yet she bowed her head, appearing particularly aggrieved, ¡°Since Lawyer Xia doesn¡¯t have time, I will have to handle it myself...¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenqing¡¯s voice, Hao Jiayi fell completely silent.


    The news of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s confrontation with Liu Xiaozhen and Hao Jiayi at the law firm soon spread to the hospital by night.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat in the hospital room¡¯s sofa, listening with interest to what Song Sinian described.


    Her calves rested on Song Sinian¡¯s lap, holding a box of cut fruit, feeding Song Sinian piece by piece.


    ¡°Has my second brother finally seen the light, to make Zhenzhen his girlfriend?¡± Lu Zhaozhao blinked her eyes curiously, stabbing another piece of cantaloupe with her fork and stuffing it into Song Sinian¡¯s mouth.


    Song Sinian raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.


    If Xia Wenqing really did make things clear with Xu Zhenzhen, these two would bother Lu Zhaozhao much less in the future.


    That would be good news for him.


    Song Sinian reached up and rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head, ¡°He¡¯s not too late to have seen the light.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°If that were true, Zhenzhen would have called me the moment it happened, right?¡±


    She recalled something Xu Zhenzhen had mentioned about liking someone...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened. Could it be that the person Xu Zhenzhen liked before was her second brother?


    What a guy, she even said she had dumped that jerk and was going to set her up with someone.


    It turned out the jerk was her second brother.


    Song Sinian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, seemingly stumped by the question.


    Given Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s personality, if she were really with Xia Wenqing, she would definitely have shared it with Lu Zhaozhao non-stop.


    But almost a whole day had passed, and Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t called her yet.


    There were only two possibilities: one was that Xu Zhenzhen was so happy being in love that she forgot about her best friend Lu Zhaozhao.


    The other possibility was... their relationship was fake.


    The first possibility was unlikely; Xu Zhenzhen wasn¡¯t the kind of person who forgets friends over a lover.


    So there was only one possibility left, that they were pretending to be in love.


    Thinking this, Song Sinian shared his analysis with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even if he hadn¡¯t said it, Lu Zhaozhao would probably have figured it out soon.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao was shocked, ¡°So... it¡¯s very possible that my second brother pretended to be her ¡®boyfriend¡¯ just to make it easier for Zhenzhen to deal with Hao Jiayi and Liu Xiaozhen?¡±


    What a guy! She let out an astonished exclamation.


    To think her second brother was that kind of jerk?!


    And she thought she was such a good person for Xu Zhenzhen!


    Lu Zhaozhao abruptly stood up from the sofa, and if Song Sinian hadn¡¯t reacted swiftly by grabbing her slender waist, she might have already stormed off to the Song Group to confront Xia Wenqing.


    Lu Zhaozhao wanted to struggle, but remembering the wound on Song Sinian¡¯s arm, she could only sit down with a frown, visibly upset, ¡°Mr. Song, let me go. I need to confront my second brother!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t be so reckless just because Xu Zhenzhen liked him, could he?


    Didn¡¯t he know what a disaster chasing after a wife could be?


    Song Sinian sighed silently, resting his chin on her shoulder, and murmured, ¡°Zhaozhao, listen to me. Your second brother really likes Xu Zhenzhen. It¡¯s just that there seems to be a misunderstanding between them, so this issue hasn¡¯t been addressed yet.¡±


    He really didn¡¯t understand why Xia Wenqing, if he liked Xu Zhenzhen, wouldn¡¯t just tell her.


    If you love someone, shouldn¡¯t you make them yours?


    And it seemed Xu Zhenzhen liked Xia Wenqing too, so why weren¡¯t they together?


    Song Sinian had as many questions as Lu Zhaozhao, but he generally didn¡¯t like to meddle in others¡¯ affairs.


    Initially, if it weren¡¯t for diverting Xia Wenqing¡¯s attention away from Lu Zhaozhao, he wouldn¡¯t have let Zhao Xi pair Xu Zhenzhen with Xia Wenqing.


    Now it seemed that while their relationship had changed, there wasn¡¯t much progress.


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned, ¡°Should I help poke a hole in this situation?¡±


    She turned her head to look at Song Sinian, somewhat uncertain.


    What if they were really just collaborating? Intervening rashly might ruin even their friendship. What then?


    Seeing her dilemma, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but pinch her cheek, ¡°If you really want to help, I have a good idea that ensures even if things come to light, it won¡¯t cause any major problems.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Zhaozhao suddenly became excited, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Song Sinian.


    If it really worked like Song Sinian said, that would be perfect!

 Chapter 444: 442: Lets See If He Can Live Up to Expectations

    Chapter 444: Chapter 442: Let¡¯s See If He Can Live Up to Expectations


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°When Xu Zhenzhen was assigned as your personal bodyguard, Zhao Xi had her thoroughly investigated, and she has a weak point...¡±


    Weak point?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy.


    Although she wanted to help both of them, listening to Song Sinian¡¯s words, she always felt like they were going to do something unethical...


    Song Sinian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s subtle expression and knew what she was thinking.


    His large hand slowly lifted, and he rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not a foolish plan. We¡¯ll just have the two of them go out to discuss business, then find someone to get Xu Zhenzhen drunk, and you just need to make a timely call to encourage her to pursue love bravely. If Xu Zhenzhen gets drunk in front of your brother, he won¡¯t just leave her there. Even if your brother refuses, she can claim it was the alcohol speaking, which covers it up.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned slightly, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be a bit inappropriate?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about Xu Zhenzhen drinking too much, there¡¯s really no need,¡± Song Sinian reassured her softly. ¡°She basically gets knocked out by just one bottle of beer. That¡¯s why I had previously instructed her to absolutely avoid drinking during work.¡±


    Shock filled the depths of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes. Despite being lifelong best friends with Xu Zhenzhen, she ironically knew less about her than Song Sinian did.


    She remembered in the past life, Xu Zhenzhen did not touch alcohol at all.


    She had been told it was because of a near-disaster caused by drinking, so she decided never to touch alcohol again.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought hard about it, wondering if the ¡°near-disaster¡± she mentioned last time might have been caused by drinking just one bottle of beer.


    Her brow quirked involuntarily, her confusion deepening.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face still wrinkled in thought, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but reach out and pinch her cheek, ¡°If you¡¯re really too conflicted about this, we can wait and see how things progress between them first...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head decisively, ¡°If there was any progress between them, they wouldn¡¯t have dragged it out from college till now.¡±


    She suddenly remembered a time before, when her brother first saw Xu Zhenzhen in school and asked her if she had a boyfriend.


    That meant her brother might actually have feelings for Xu Zhenzhen.


    If this opportunity could break the ice between them, that would be great, though she wasn¡¯t sure if her brother would muster up courage.


    After contemplating for a moment, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze shifted back to Song Sinian and she said every word carefully, ¡°Mr. Song, let¡¯s proceed with your plan. But I¡¯m a bit worried about them, so in addition to arranging someone to get Zhenzhen drunk, find a few more people to ensure their safety.¡±


    He definitely didn¡¯t want anything uncontrollable to happen before the two could even confess their feelings.


    Song Sinian immediately nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this time I¡¯ll make sure no one disturbs them.¡±


    ...


    The following day, the two unsuspecting people were sent by Song Sinian to Lin City.


    Xu Zhenzhen sat in the passenger seat, holding her bag in one hand and wiping her nose with the other, seemingly uncomfortable.


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Xu Zhenzhen sitting in the passenger seat and frowned, ¡°You seem to have caught a cold.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, looking wilted, leaned back in the passenger seat and nodded without saying a word.


    Yesterday, because she had agreed to be Xia Wenqing¡¯s ¡°girlfriend,¡± she was so elated she couldn¡¯t sleep all night, and ran to bathe near midnight. Unfortunately, halfway through, the hot water ran out.


    She thought it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal and bravely rinsed off quickly before going straight to sleep.


    It turned out that not only had she caught a cold in the morning, but her throat was also a bit sore.


    Xu Zhenzhen originally wanted to take time off, but hearing Zhao Xi mention that she and Xia Wenqing were to go on a business trip, she had no choice but to toughen up and go.


    She couldn¡¯t possibly say that she was worried about Xia Wenqing being bullied by other women when she wasn¡¯t around, could she?


    Xu Zhenzhen picked up the tissue from her purse and rubbed her nose again, which had already been rubbed red.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Did you take your medicine?¡±


    He looked at Xu Zhenzhen with some concern, hesitating whether to take her home or not.


    Xu Zhenzhen tilted her little head, revealing a comforting smile. ¡°I¡¯ve taken the medicine, it¡¯s just that I have no strength in my body and my throat hurts a bit.¡±


    Upon hearing Xu Zhenzhen mention her sore throat, Xia Wenqing next reached out to touch her forehead.


    Fortunately, the temperature wasn¡¯t high.


    ¡°Did you take any anti-inflammatory medicine?¡± Xia Wenqing looked at her wilted little face and couldn¡¯t help asking again.


    Had he known she was feeling this bad, he would have delayed the business trip.


    This little woman really made him wonder, she clearly knew she was sick, why didn¡¯t she take a leave?


    Dragging her sick, wilted body on a business trip, what was she thinking¡ªwas she careless?


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but sigh while looking at Xu Zhenzhen.


    Their car had already reached the border of Lin City, and even if they turned back now, it would take a while, so it might be better to settle her down in Lin City first.


    Xu Zhenzhen leaned on the passenger seat, feeling the warm palm on her forehead, and her eyes couldn¡¯t help but redden slightly.


    Xia Wenqing, startled, immediately stepped on the brake and parked the car on the side of the road.


    He looked at Xu Zhenzhen almost frantically and said anxiously, ¡°Is there somewhere that feels very uncomfortable? Do you want to go to the hospital right now? Don¡¯t be scared, Second Brother is here.¡±


    Seeing Xia Wenqing¡¯s unusual expression, Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and suddenly laughed.


    She gently shook her head, ¡°No, it¡¯s just that, the way Second Brother took care of me just now, it felt like you really treated me as your girlfriend. It¡¯s the first time someone has cared for me like that, so I was a bit moved, not because I felt physically uncomfortable.¡±


    Hearing this, Xia Wenqing finally relaxed.


    However, he quickly realized another issue...


    If it was her first time being cared for like that, how tough must her life have been before? Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Xu Zhenzhen.


    His big hand gently rubbed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s little head, and he said softly, ¡°As long as you want, Second Brother will always take care of you.¡±


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Xu Zhenzhen sniffed, rubbed her nose with a tissue, and then turned her little face away.


    Xia Wenqing was really too kind to her, kind enough to make her mistakenly think that he actually liked her.


    But she understood that it was all because Lu Zhaozhao was her close friend, so Xia Wenjin took extra care of her, and he only saw her as a sister.


    Xu Zhenzhen knew she was being greedy, but just for this moment, she wanted to allow herself this greed, even if it were just a dream, she was willing to indulge in it.


    Xia Wenqing took one deep look at Xu Zhenzhen and once again drove towards Lin City. They could not afford any more delays.


    Otherwise, he would be heartbroken because of this little girl...

 Chapter 445: 443 So, are you two together now?

    Chapter 445: Chapter 443 So, are you two together now?


    Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen arrived in Lin City nearly at noon.


    Xu Zhenzhen had slept in the hotel for a while and looked significantly refreshed, albeit a bit dazed, but in Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes, this version of Xu Zhenzhen was very cute.


    ¡°Do you feel any better?¡± Xia Wenqing placed the medicine in front of Xu Zhenzhen. ¡°It¡¯s almost noon, and our partners have invited us for a meal. Have something to eat first to tide you over, then take your medicine, and we¡¯ll go meet them.¡±


    Actually, had it not been for Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s insistence, he had planned to meet the business partners on his own.


    But Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s pleading eyes kept fixing on him, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to leave her alone in the hotel.


    Submissively, Xu Zhenzhen ate what Xia Wenqing brought her. ¡°Big Brother, is our partner this time really important?¡±


    He had reviewed the partner¡¯s information beforehand, knowing that cooperating with the Song Group would greatly aid their expansion elsewhere.


    If handled well, it would be an invaluable experience for her as well.


    Of course, Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity.


    But more importantly, she had already come to Lin City with Xia Wenqing; it would be a pity not to go.


    It made no sense to give up when they were already on the doorstep.


    Xia Wenqing, of course, understood Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s intentions, so he didn¡¯t continue to insist that she stay behind.


    After Xu Zhenzhen had taken the medicine, she quickly got ready and followed Xia Wenqing to the hotel¡¯s eighth floor.


    That was also the restaurant where they had arranged to meet their partners.


    As soon as Xu Zhenzhen entered the restaurant, she froze because among the partners across from her was a figure she knew very well.


    It was a Senior Brother from their same school, one year her senior and a classmate of Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°Xu Zhenzhen?¡±


    Upon seeing Xu Zhenzhen, his eyes immediately lit up, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be the lawyer for the Song Group. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was also visibly excited, ¡°Senior Brother Chu, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re the lawyer for our partners! What a coincidence!¡±


    In her college days, she often followed Xia Wenqing around, so she got to know many of the seniors and juniors, and because of her likable personality, many had a good relationship with her.


    Chu Luo was one of them.


    Xia Wenqing glanced over and Chu Luo¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect to meet here, indeed a marvelous coincidence.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Chu Luo shifted his gaze to Xia Wenqing and realized that the person accompanying Xu Zhenzhen was his former classmate.


    His eyes widened again, ¡°Xia Wenqing, you¡¯ve actually come back to China?¡±


    If he remembered correctly, Xia Wenqing came from a very wealthy family and had a bit of fame in school. Many law firms wanted to recruit talents like him.


    Chu Luo had thought that someone like Xia Wenqing would find a good job abroad, or perhaps start his own law firm. He hadn¡¯t expected him to return to China, and to be working at the Song Group, no less.


    Hearing Chu Luo bring up Xia Wenqing, Xu Zhenzhen immediately began chattering non-stop. ¡°You didn¡¯t know, did you? Not only has Lawyer Xia returned to the country, but he¡¯s also found his sister here in China. His sister is my best friend. Can you believe it? And now, I am working at the same company as Lawyer Xia...¡±


    Aside from watching Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s lips move briskly as she rattled off Xia Wenqing¡¯s affairs like a treasure, those looking at the two felt a more complex mix of emotions.


    If he remembered correctly, back in school, Xia Wenqing seemed to treat Xu Zhenzhen a bit differently.


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t believe he had chased all the way to the domestic front for Xu Zhenzhen. He never expected such a young master to be so infatuated with love.


    Chu Luo thought this as his gaze involuntarily fell on Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°So you two are together now?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, caught off guard by Chu Luo¡¯s question, blurted out, ¡°No.¡±


    At the same time, Xia Wenqing answered with a ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The entire hotel private room plunged into a moment of silence. Only then did Xu Zhenzhen belatedly remember that she was now officially Xia Wenqing¡¯s girlfriend.


    She had actually forgotten about it just now.


    Xu Zhenzhen, somewhat annoyed with herself, patted her little head and awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, saying, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a bit uncomfortable just starting out. I am indeed with Lawyer Xia now. It¡¯s just that we only got together yesterday, so I haven¡¯t quite gotten used to it yet...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen said this and hugged Xia Wenqing¡¯s arm directly, exhibiting an exceptionally intimate gesture.


    Chu Luo was not surprised at all; actually, he was more shocked that the two had only just started dating. Hadn¡¯t they been interested in each other back in university?


    But on second thought, it was their business, and he, an outsider, shouldn¡¯t interfere.


    Chu Luo quickly smiled, changing the subject, ¡°Come, come, have a seat first. We can catch up later; let¡¯s talk about business first.¡±


    Xia Wenqing had looked somewhat uncomfortable a moment ago, but now he nodded at Chu Luo¡¯s words and took a seat not far from him.


    Xu Zhenzhen stole a glance at Xia Wenqing, uncertain if she had just made him angry.


    After all, they had only just agreed yesterday, and she had already caused such a major mix-up today. It was indeed quite embarrassing.


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly worried whether Xia Wenqing would think she was unprofessional.


    What if he regretted it and decided to replace her?


    She had, after all, managed to become his girlfriend¡ªthough it was only in name, she was still his girlfriend.


    Xu Zhenzhen nervously reached out and tugged at Xia Wenqing¡¯s sleeve, asking softly, ¡°Big Brother Xia, you¡¯re not angry, are you? I really didn¡¯t mean it just now...¡±


    She looked at him with pitiful eyes, blinking in an attempt to stir his sympathy, but Xia Wenqing merely glanced at her indifferently and shook his head gently, saying nothing more.


    Now Xu Zhenzhen was even more panicked.


    Was her position in jeopardy?


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips, her gaze involuntarily scanning over Xia Wenqing a few times, trying to think of something to salvage the situation.


    What Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t know was that what Xia Wenqing cared about wasn¡¯t what she just said.


    It was Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s attitude towards Chu Luo.


    If his memory served him right, this man seemed to have hovered around Xu Zhenzhen throughout university...


    Now that Xu Zhenzhen was on a business trip, and he appeared as a partner, could it be he still harbored feelings for Xu Zhenzhen?


    Although Xu Zhenzhen was his girlfriend in name, she hadn¡¯t truly secured that status.


    He was somewhat worried that she could be snatched away by someone else at any moment, and this sense of insecurity was making him very irritable...

 Chapter 446: 444: Drinking Contest

    Chapter 446: Chapter 444: Drinking Contest


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Xu Zhenzhen indifferently and pretended to shake his head casually.


    But the obvious change to a colder demeanor made Xu Zhenzhen feel uneasy.


    Xu Zhenzhen wanted to say something, but seeing that Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t speak again, she could only obediently sit down beside him, with Chu Luo sitting next to her.


    At that, Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression turned even uglier.


    Chu Luo¡¯s gaze swept over Xia Wenqing and then lingered on Xu Zhenzhen.


    Before he came here, he had received a special mission; someone asked him to get someone drunk during this meal, and it was specifically pointed out that he should target the female lawyer from the cooperating side.


    Chu Luo didn¡¯t think much of it, but when he saw that the person was Xu Zhenzhen, he began to feel a bit reluctant.


    Back in school, he quite liked Xu Zhenzhen, finding this girl to have a good temperament and not pretentious.


    If her heart hadn¡¯t been set on Xia Wenqing at the time, he would have liked to pursue this cute girl.


    Unfortunately, King Xiang had intentions, but the goddess had no affection.


    What¡¯s more, she was now with Xia Wenqing. It seemed a bit improper for him to actively offer her drinks.


    Chu Luo looked at Xu Zhenzhen with a conflicted expression, his complex eyes caught by Xia Wenqing.


    He suddenly felt a fiery agitation in his chest, as if something was about to break out from the bottom of his heart.


    ¡°Lawyer Chu, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to talk about cooperation?¡± Xia Wenqing pinched the cup in front of him and took the initiative to speak.


    Chu Luo tensed up inside, feeling guilty when Xia Wenqing suddenly called him out, but he quickly regained his composure.


    After all, with several years of experience as a lawyer, he had that kind of psychological fortitude.


    He took a deep breath and looked at Xia Wenqing with feigned calm, saying word by word, ¡°Since it¡¯s a matter of cooperation, of course, we should show the greatest sincerity. I just returned from abroad and brought back a fine bottle of wine. It¡¯s a good opportunity to try it and also an indirect way to celebrate our alumni gathering.¡±


    Listening to Chu Luo lively lifting the mood, Xu Zhenzhen also joined his camp, ¡°That makes sense. We¡¯re hardly outsiders; it¡¯s a good chance to celebrate.¡±


    She turned her head towards Xia Wenqing and tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I, Lawyer Xia.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen actually didn¡¯t care about what Chu Luo was saying; she just wanted to use the topic as an excuse to talk to Xia Wenqing.


    Little did Xu Zhenzhen expect that her small gesture ended up looking like she was siding with Chu Luo, making Xia Wenqing even more displeased.


    He lightly caressed the ceramic cup in front of him, ¡°If you want to celebrate, then celebrate.¡±


    His voice was faint, showing no variation, but it inexplicably made one feel like he was unhappy.


    Xu Zhenzhen spent the most time with Xia Wenqing, so she could sense the slightest change in his mood.


    Let alone now, when his displeasure was so apparent.


    Xu Zhenzhen, not understanding why, looked at Xia Wenqing and was about to speak when Chu Luo poured red wine into the high-stemmed glass in front of her.


    Chu Luo¡¯s face was all smiles, but inwardly he couldn¡¯t help but mentally complain.


    He too was here on a mission. Although this kind of behavior was despicable, it was effective.


    So he had no choice but to carry it through, hoping Xu Zhenzhen wouldn¡¯t hit him afterward.


    ¡°Come on, try this red wine,¡± Chu Luo said, as he also poured a glass of red wine for Xia Wenqing.


    As he sat back down with the bottle, he took the opportunity to raise his wine glass, ¡°Come on, a toast to our first meeting outside the campus; may our careers flourish.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen listened to his half-hearted toast and rolled her eyes speechlessly, completely clueless about what there was to celebrate about their first meeting.


    But since he had already made the toast, she couldn¡¯t just snub him.


    Xu Zhenzhen braced herself and picked up her wine glass, planning to just get through this round.


    But before she could even bring the glass to her lips, someone took it away from her.


    She looked up and met Xia Wenqing¡¯s profound black eyes, ¡°You¡¯ve just taken cold medicine, you can¡¯t drink.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s voice was soft but audible enough for everyone present to hear.


    Chu Luo felt a bit awkward and tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°So that¡¯s the case, since you¡¯ve taken cold medicine, you definitely shouldn¡¯t drink.¡±


    Afterward, as if to make up for it, he picked up a drink from the table and placed it in front of Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Here, since you can¡¯t drink alcohol, have some of this beverage instead.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t snap back to reality for a moment, her gaze still fixed on Xia Wenqing, especially on the wine glass he had taken away from her.


    Indeed, she had taken medication and couldn¡¯t drink.


    Had Xia Wenqing not reminded her, she might have forgotten.


    Thinking this, she suddenly felt that Xia Wenqing, as a boyfriend, seemed quite perfect, whereas she, as a cooperative girlfriend, didn¡¯t quite measure up.


    Xu Zhenzhen silently resolved that she would play the role of a good girlfriend in the future, no matter what, and absolutely not drag Xia Wenqing down.


    Of course, Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t notice Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s thoughts. He casually took the red wine glass and began to sip it leisurely.


    Chu Luo looked at the interaction between the two and felt distressed.


    His mission was to get Xu Zhenzhen drunk, but since she took cold medicine, actually getting her drunk would be like murder.


    Knowing she shouldn¡¯t drink yet trying to get her drunk, if anything happened, he would be primarily responsible.


    Chu Luo studied law, how could he not understand?


    His eyebrows deeply furrowed, he scanned back and forth between Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing, thinking about how he could accomplish his task.


    After all, he had already taken the money; it¡¯s not like he could just do nothing, right?


    Quickly, Chu Luo came up with a new plan; if someone had to be made drunk, then getting Xia Wenqing drunk worked just as well.


    Chu Luo thought so, and during the subsequent discussion about the collaboration, he took the opportunity to ply Xia Wenqing with quite a lot of alcohol.


    Actually, Xia Wenqing wouldn¡¯t normally drink so recklessly, but the man before him was really infuriating, and for a moment, he felt the urge to challenge him.


    And with that, the collaboration talk instantly became secondary.


    The two of them became engrossed in a drinking contest instead.


    In the end, Xia Wenqing succeeded in getting Chu Luo to slump over the table.


    He propped his chin and glanced at Chu Luo, scoffing lightly, ¡°With that tolerance, you still want to talk about wine? Ha!¡±


    Xia Wenqing said this and slowly stood up, his face a bit red but surprisingly not showing many other signs of inebriation.


    Xu Zhenzhen hurriedly followed Xia Wenqing out, staring at his impressive capacity for alcohol, she had been shocked speechless.


    ¡°Brother, you¡¯re, you¡¯re okay, right?¡± Xu Zhenzhen, clutching her briefcase, followed timidly by Xia Wenqing¡¯s side; she started cautiously, her eyes full of concern...

 Chapter 447: 445: If I Behave, Youll Kiss Me

    Chapter 447: Chapter 445: If I Behave, You¡¯ll Kiss Me


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze slightly dropped as she looked at Xu Zhenzhen, a clear shadow crossing her eyes.


    Her somewhat dangerous gaze pinned on the other, ¡°Are you worried about me?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen tilted her head in confusion, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be worried about you?¡±


    Xia Wenqing had always been so kind to her. If it hadn¡¯t been for her, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up competing in drinking with Chu Luo.


    And he wouldn¡¯t have drunk so much because of her.


    To say Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t feel guilty would be a lie.


    What¡¯s more, this man was the one she liked, which made her heart ache even more.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s lips curved up slightly. He glanced at the elevator beside them and stretched out his hand to press the elevator button.


    Because of his exaggerated movement, Xia Wenqing staggered into the elevator. Seeing this, Xu Zhenzhen hurried over and used her petite body to block his way.


    He didn¡¯t hit the elevator wall; instead, he bumped into her soft, little body.


    Like soft and elastic cotton candy¡ª it felt very good.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s thoughts stirred, and he looked down at Xu Zhenzhen, standing in front of him; she had just caught him as he bumped into the elevator.


    Her lovely eye brows were filled with moisture, looking pitiful.


    In Xia Wenqing¡¯s mind, the thread of reason seemed to snap at that moment.


    He lowered his head, reached out to pinch her chin, and kissed her directly.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, and she froze in place.


    He, he actually kissed her!


    And it was so very real!


    She had imagined countless times what it would be like to be kissed by Xia Wenqing, even dreamed about his lingering, passionate kisses that seemed to draw out her very soul.


    Xu Zhenzhen felt strangely that Xia Wenqing¡¯s kiss was very familiar, as if they really had kissed before.


    ¡°Ding!¡±


    The sound of the elevator brought Xu Zhenzhen back to her senses, and almost reflexively, she pushed Xia Wenqing away.


    The latter stumbled and leaned against the elevator handrail behind him.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face was flushed, ¡°Let¡¯s... Let¡¯s go back to the hotel room first.¡±


    Seeing her shy demeanor, Xia Wenqing leaned in again and rested his head on her shoulder, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    He became unusually docile, a stark contrast to his normally stern Lawyer Xia demeanor.


    Xu Zhenzhen was amazed, watching this version of Xia Wenqing, she truly wanted to reach out and affectionately stroke his head, but she dared not at the moment.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if Xia Wenqing, drunk as he was, would remember what happened while he was intoxicated.


    If he didn¡¯t, it would be fine, she could take advantage of his drunken state to tease him a bit, but if he did remember... that would be a public embarrassment.


    It would be social death for both of them.


    Xu Zhenzhen led Xia Wenqing straight back to the hotel room, and seeing the sticky, gluey man before her, she sighed helplessly and seriously asked him, ¡°Second Brother, do you know who I am?¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze was unfocused, but soon it settled on Xu Zhenzhen. His lips curved slightly, revealing an extremely handsome smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re Zhenzhen, my girlfriend Zhenzhen.¡±


    ¡°...Well, that¡¯s something alright. Even drunk, you still remember to fulfil your duties?¡±


    Could she say she admired Xia Wenqing¡¯s professionalism?


    She sighed helplessly, ¡°Second Brother, can you be good and just go to sleep?¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s dark eyes dropped. Nose to eyes, heart to mind, he just wouldn¡¯t answer her question.


    Xu Zhenzhen was amused to laughter by him. Xia Wenqing getting drunk and acting so shamelessly? It was a first for her to see him like this. He¡¯d always been a lofty and unapproachable cold beauty in her eyes.


    It would be false to claim she wasn¡¯t intrigued.


    Even watching Xia Wenqing like this made her heart feel itchy, and she couldn¡¯t help wanting to do something to him.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath, raised her small hand, and gently rubbed Xia Wenqing¡¯s head, ¡°Will you be good?¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m good, is there a reward?¡± Xia Wenqing slowly lifted his head as a response to Xu Zhenzhen.


    But his words took Xu Zhenzhen by surprise.


    Reward?


    What kind of reward could she offer Xia Wenqing?


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s contemplation, Xia Wenqing followed up appropriately, ¡°If I behave, will you give me a kiss? How about that?¡±


    As he spoke, Xia Wenqing slowly bent down, pointed to his lips with a finger, mimicking a docile gesture for a kiss.


    Xu Zhenzhen was utterly bewildered, ¡°You, you, you, I, I, I...¡±


    She couldn¡¯t even utter a complete sentence.


    Xia Wenqing looked at her with a hint of a smile, and kissed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mouth lightly, ¡°Since you didn¡¯t oppose, I¡¯ll take that as your approval.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Only Xia Wenqing could come up with such absurd logic. Xu Zhenzhen simply gave up any pretense.


    Arguing with Xia Wenqing now was pointless, as he was drunk.


    So, as Xu Zhenzhen was helping Xia Wenqing to wash up, she suffered his occasional kisses ¨C on the corner of her mouth, eye, nose tip, or cheek.


    Xu Zhenzhen went from initial shyness to complete numbness from his kisses.


    Was this still her aloof and conservative Senior Brother Xia?


    Xu Zhenzhen was no longer worried about whether she could still be Xia Wenqing¡¯s girlfriend tomorrow. Now, she feared that when he sobered up, he might want to silence her.


    After all, such a cute Xia Wenqing...


    It would be quite embarrassing if someone found out.


    Taking a glance at Xia Wenqing, who was obediently lying on the bed, she saw he had fallen asleep. Only then did she quietly leave his room.


    But what she didn¡¯t know was, the moment she left, the person who was asleep on the bed slowly opened his eyes...


    At the same time, Chu Luo, who had already gone home, was reporting the situation over the phone.


    ¡°The female attorney who was supposed to be made drunk had a cold and couldn¡¯t drink, so I had to drink with the male attorney.¡±


    Chu Luo rubbed his slightly aching temples; he had to admit that Xia Wenqing could really hold his liquor.


    He¡¯d been faking along the way and was surprised that he hadn¡¯t managed to outdrink him.


    In the end, he¡¯d had no choice but to pretend to be drunk.


    Thankfully, Xia Wenqing and the others hadn¡¯t been suspicious and left; otherwise, he might¡¯ve had to continue faking drunkenness on the table for a while longer.


    The aftereffects of the red wine were indeed strong, and he could just about maintain enough sobriety to return the call, all thanks to his earlier deceit which had allowed him to drink one less bottle.


    Otherwise, he might not have been able to report back until the next day.


    Zhao Xi, on the other end of the phone, listened, then fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, ¡°I am already aware of what happened. You are not to be blamed for this incident, and the remaining payment will be taken care of as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    After Zhao Xi hung up, he turned and looked towards Song Sinian in the hospital room, ¡°Sir... about this matter...¡±


    His words trailed off, betraying his unease.


    Since Zhao Xi had been on speakerphone, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t possibly have failed to hear the conversation on the other end...

 Chapter 448: 446: Why Doesn’t It Count?

    Chapter 448: Chapter 446: Why Doesn¡¯t It Count?


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly arched, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who got drunk between Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing, what¡¯s important is what exactly will happen between the two of them tonight.¡±


    In fact, his original plan was to take advantage of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s drunkenness to let her take the initiative and break the ice.


    Since Xia Wenqing liked Xu Zhenzhen, upon receiving this signal, he should no longer hesitate.


    Now it wasn¡¯t Xu Zhenzhen who had drunk, but Xia Wenqing. Let¡¯s see if this man would take the opportunity of being drunk to confess to the woman he liked.


    A man and a woman, alone in a room, and this man who prided himself on being calm was also drunk.


    Getting drunk in front of someone he liked, Song Sinian didn¡¯t believe that Xia Wenqing would stay indifferent.


    At least a bit of courage to test Xu Zhenzhen should exist, and if not even that small amount of courage was there, then Xu Zhenzhen might as well marry someone else.


    Zhao Xi, looking at Song Sinian¡¯s somber tone, couldn¡¯t help but shiver inside.


    Thank goodness, the person he was targeting wasn¡¯t him.


    He could only pray that Xia Wenqing would show some spirit and make a decisive move on Xu Zhenzhen.


    After all, it couldn¡¯t always be the girl making the move, right?


    Thinking this, Zhao Xi¡¯s gaze shifted back to Song Sinian, ¡°Sir, shall we do something more, like giving Xia Wenqing a hint or something?¡±


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian shook his head, ¡°The timing is already perfect, now we just wait to see when the delicious dish will be served.¡±


    Thinking about these past few days, how Lu Zhaozhao had been constantly worrying about Xia Wenqing, his dark eyes couldn¡¯t help but narrow.


    If Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t handle even this, he wouldn¡¯t mind stripping him naked and throwing him on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s bed.


    The night deepened, dark as ink.


    The next morning, Xia Wenqing had completely sobered up.


    Thinking back to the night before, how he had been drunkenly making a scene and acting spoiled towards Xu Zhenzhen, he couldn¡¯t help the throbbing in his temples.


    He was utterly clueless about how to face Xu Zhenzhen after sobering up.


    He had held and kissed her the day before; if Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t blow up at him because of his drunkenness yesterday, what about today?


    Would she settle the score after the fact?


    It had not been easy to get Xu Zhenzhen to agree to be his temporary girlfriend, and now, just because of a few bottles of alcohol, the peace between them was broken.


    Suddenly, Xia Wenqing somewhat regretted that what he had done the day before was too rash, but then he thought of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s soft lips...


    This wasn¡¯t their first kiss, yet it once again happened while he was drunk, only this time it was Xu Zhenzhen who had been drunk.


    He had only intended to take care of her, but accidentally their lips met, and then everything progressed smoothly, kissing for a long time.


    But once Xu Zhenzhen sobered up the next day, she would frantically run away every time she saw him.


    At first, he didn¡¯t notice, until later every time he tried to get close to her, she would dodge him, and that¡¯s when he realized.


    Xia Wenqing almost instinctively sensed that Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t like what had happened between them while drunk.


    Thus Xia Wenqing had to pretend as if nothing had happened and became the aloof senior once again.


    He had hoped to slowly cultivate a relationship with Xu Zhenzhen later on, but unexpectedly, she suddenly vanished from school.


    He looked for her for a long time until coming back to the country, and then he finally rediscovered her whereabouts.


    That feeling of wistful loss, Song Si never wanted to experience it again in his life.


    He did indeed want to take things a step further with Xu Zhenzhen, but he didn¡¯t want to lose her over trying to advance their relationship, nor did he want to repeat past mistakes.


    So, he found himself trapped in an indescribable sense of helplessness, wondering what exactly he needed to do to keep Xu Zhenzhen from leaving him.


    ¡°Thump thump thump!¡±


    As Xia Wenqing was deep in thought, someone suddenly knocked on the door.


    His heart skipped a beat, but his body preemptively opened the door, and sure enough, Xu Zhenzhen was standing right outside, staring straight at him.


    Xu Zhenzhen held up the bag in her hand, ¡°Big brother, do you want to have some breakfast?¡±


    Xia Wenqing nodded slightly, making room for Xu Zhenzhen to come in.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows visibly furrowed as if she sensed his cold demeanor, but she didn¡¯t say much and walked straight to the dining area.


    She set the bag down on the table and started taking out the breakfast items she had bought.


    Xia Wenqing sat opposite Xu Zhenzhen, and since she wasn¡¯t speaking, he naturally chose silence as well.


    For a time, the hotel room fell into an eerie silence until Xu Zhenzhen, seemingly unable to bear it anymore, slammed the table and stood up abruptly.


    ¡°Big brother, do you still remember what happened yesterday?¡±


    Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t dare to meet Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze and almost reflexively shook his head.


    It seemed that Xu Zhenzhen was really angry about the events of the previous day. If he admitted that he remembered, she would probably slap him and then disappear from his sight again.


    The thought of Xu Zhenzhen disappearing once more made Xia Wenqing unconsciously clench his fists, his whole body exuding a pressing chill.


    Xu Zhenzhen gave Xia Wenqing a sidelong glance, ¡°Yesterday, you...¡±


    ¡°I just remembered there¡¯s a work schedule I haven¡¯t finished. You can go back first and organize the materials, and we can talk about everything else later.¡± Before Xu Zhenzhen could finish, Xia Wenqing stood up and started walking towards the bedroom, only to be pulled back by her.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows were almost knotted in frustration, ¡°Big brother, are you avoiding me?¡±


    Xia Wenqing still wouldn¡¯t look into Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes, ¡°No, why would I? Why would I need to avoid you? I just have a lot of work to deal with, that¡¯s all.¡±


    His voice was as calm as always, yet it carried an indescribable guilt.


    Xu Zhenzhen saw his evasive behavior and knew that he definitely remembered what had happened yesterday.


    Was he regretting it now, thinking of retracting the position of his girlfriend as well?


    As Xu Zhenzhen contemplated this, a weight settled in her chest, but she resolved to face it head-on.


    She took a deep breath and blurted out, ¡°Big brother, you have to take responsibility for me, after what happened yesterday...¡±


    ¡°?!!!¡±


    Xia Wenqing looked at Xu Zhenzhen with utter shock, for he had thought she would despise him, yet here she was, asking him to take responsibility.


    The unexpected fortune had felt so overwhelming that Xia Wenqing was almost moved to tears.


    However, to Xu Zhenzhen, Xia Wenqing¡¯s silence was tantamount to a rejection.


    All of a sudden, Xu Zhenzhen felt a chilling disappointment, her eyelids drooping, ¡°Big brother, I know what I said just now was a bit abrupt, and if you¡¯re unwilling, let¡¯s forget about it. You were drunk yesterday, and whatever happened doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    As she spoke, she turned to leave, only to be abruptly pulled back by Xia Wenqing, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t it count?¡±

 Chapter 449: 447: Will You Still Want Me After Figuring It Out?

    Chapter 449: Chapter 447: Will You Still Want Me After Figuring It Out?


    His words were urgent.


    It seemed as if he couldn¡¯t say them now, he would never be able to say them again.


    Xu Zhenzhen was stunned; she looked dazedly at Xia Wenqing¡¯s gripping arm, considering what to say, when Xia Wenqing suddenly pulled her into a fierce embrace.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t joking just now, were you? You said... you said I need to take responsibility for you, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s voice fell into Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s ears, and even clearer than his voice was the ¡°thump, thump¡± of his wildly beating heart.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly widened considerably as she felt Xia Wenqing¡¯s arms pulling her closer, and she seemed to realize something.


    ¡°Big brother, do you, do you like me? If I¡¯m wrong, you...¡±


    Before Xu Zhenzhen could finish her sentence, Xia Wenqing interrupted her, ¡°Yes, I like you, I¡¯ve liked you for a long time!¡±


    He held Xu Zhenzhen, no longer trying to hide his feelings, simply pouring out all the truth.


    If he had to say what he regretted most in his life, it was definitely the kiss that happened when they were drunk last time.


    He had recklessly kissed her without confirming Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s feelings first.


    Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t want to make the same mistake again, yet he didn¡¯t know what to do.


    He had just listened to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words, and it always felt like she might have feelings for him too. Although he had misunderstood before at school, this time, he hoped that providence would give him a chance.


    Xu Zhenzhen abruptly pulled away from Xia Wenqing, staring at him in disbelief, ¡°When you say a long time ago, when was that?¡±


    Xia Wenqing, with his arm being pressed by Xu Zhenzhen, subconsciously replied, ¡°Well... back in school.¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± Xu Zhenzhen said with great certainty, ¡°Back then, you were so cold to me!¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°When have I ever been cold to you? I¡¯ve always been nicer to you than to anyone else. Haven¡¯t you noticed?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen blinked, full of doubt, ¡°Aren¡¯t you nice to everyone?¡±


    Xia Wenqing sighed helplessly and raised his hand to rub Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s head, ¡°Back in school, in my presence, you were the only one with privileges, no one else.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was stunned. She had always thought Xia Wenqing was a very approachable senior, but actually, he had been approachable to her alone.


    A smile tugged at her lips, but it quickly froze on her face.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked up at Xia Wenqing, ¡°Then... why did you start treating me badly afterward?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing suddenly fell silent too.


    How could he explain this?


    Seeing Xia Wenqing¡¯s silence, Xu Zhenzhen thought back to when she had misunderstood that he liked Liu Xiaozhen because he had written the character ¡°Zhen.¡±


    It just so happened that both Liu Xiaozhen and she had the character ¡°Zhen¡± in their names.


    Could it be that what Xia Wenqing said was true, that he really liked her from the start?


    However, this whole thing felt as unbelievable as a fairy tale...


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath and reached out her little hand to grasp Xia Wenqing¡¯s larger one, saying, ¡°Big brother, I think we need to have a good talk today.¡±


    As she spoke, she pulled Xia Wenqing to the couch in the room.


    Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t known Xia Wenqing liked her, and after perceiving his coldness towards her, she heard he liked Liu Xiaozhen, which is why she left school so abruptly.


    Now, upon careful consideration, there seemed to be quite a few misunderstandings between them.


    Xu Zhenzhen made up her mind that today she would get to the bottom of what happened back then, no matter what.


    Xia Wenqing sat down on the sofa following Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s lead, since she wanted to talk, he was willing to keep her company.


    Things had reached this point; there was no turning back now.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked up at Xia Wenqing, who was seated opposite her. She had thought the drunken Xia Wenqing was exceptionally gentle, but to her surprise, even after sobering up, he remained just as docile.


    This feeling was quite novel to Xu Zhenzhen.


    She took a deep breath and started speaking in as calm a voice as she could muster, ¡°I feel like... there are many things about our time at school that don¡¯t quite add up. I want to clear them up.¡±


    Xia Wenqing resignedly nodded, ¡°Then... after we clear them up, will you still want me?¡±


    His voice sounded somewhat pitiable, sitting on the sofa like a big, abandoned dog.


    Xu Zhenzhen almost lost her composure.


    Her small hand tightly grasped Xia Wenqing¡¯s larger one, ¡°Yes, I definitely want you, as long as you haven¡¯t done anything atrocious.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Kissing her before... did that count as something atrocious?


    Xia Wenqing sunk into a deep self-doubt.


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t notice his expression and continued with her question, ¡°What was the reason for your coldness towards me back then?¡±


    Xia Wenqing let out a long sigh, ¡°Back then, it wasn¡¯t me being cold to you, but you would always take off as soon as you saw me, which made me think you didn¡¯t want to see me. So, I gradually dared not to be too enthusiastic in front of you. Little did I expect...¡±


    Little did he expect that Xu Zhenzhen would just disappear.


    Whenever Xia Wenqing thought about this, it would cause a dull pain in his heart.


    Hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°You¡¯re saying I was avoiding you? I...¡±


    Her words came to an abrupt halt as it seemed there was indeed such an incident...


    As for the reason, she felt somewhat embarrassed to say it out loud.


    But since Xia Wenqing had been honest with her, there was no need for her to continue to beat around the bush.


    ¡°I was avoiding you because I had a rather unsettling dream at that time,¡± she confessed, lowering her little head, ¡°I dreamed that I kissed you, and every time I saw you afterward, it reminded me of that dream, so I felt embarrassed and avoided you.¡±


    Xia Wenqing was taken aback, ¡°So, you didn¡¯t actually have an aversion to being close to me?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded honestly, ¡°I liked you back then too; how could I possibly have an aversion?¡±


    Xia Wenqing covered his face with his hand.


    If he had known it was like this, what was he hesitating for?


    All this time wasted almost led to them missing out.


    He nearly lost Xu Zhenzhen!


    Xia Wenqing suddenly felt deep regret. If he had been just a little braver back then and confessed his feelings to Xu Zhenzhen, would things between them be different now?


    Fortunately, Xu Zhenzhen had been found by him again; otherwise, he would never have been at peace for the rest of his life.


    Xia Wenqing scooted closer to Xu Zhenzhen, grabbed her, and lifted her into his arms.


    Xu Zhenzhen got such a fright that she almost reflexively wrapped her arms around Xia Wenqing¡¯s neck, ¡°Second Brother, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Xia Wenqing leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips, ¡°What if I told you... that your dream that day wasn¡¯t a dream, but a reality, would you believe me?¡±


    ¡°Huh?! What reality?¡± Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt like her brain couldn¡¯t keep up.


    Xia Wenqing looked at Xu Zhenzhen with amusement and kissed her again on the eyes, ¡°What I mean is... the so-called dream you had actually happened.¡±

 Chapter 450: 448: Beauty Causes No Small Trouble...

    Chapter 450: Chapter 448: Beauty Causes No Small Trouble...


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen almost couldn¡¯t believe it as she covered her little mouth in shock.


    She had been puzzled before, wondering why that dream felt so real?


    She could even vividly feel Xia Wenqing¡¯s warmth as he came close to her, and his breathing that gradually got heavier when he approached.


    It turned out that everything had actually happened, it wasn¡¯t just her imagination.


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt annoyed, wishing she hadn¡¯t drunk alcohol at that time.


    Her tolerance was never high, and she always blacked out whenever she drank.


    Xu Zhenzhen had felt fortunate at first that she had such a beautiful dream after getting drunk.


    Now that Xia Wenqing was telling her it had really happened, suddenly the dream didn¡¯t seem beautiful anymore.


    Had she known that Xia Wenqing had really kissed her, she would¡¯ve done exactly as she did today, without a word, going to him the next day, demanding he take responsibility.


    Xu Zhenzhen covered her little face, filled with regret, extremely sorry for why she had drunk that day.


    As a result, not only did she almost give her boyfriend away, but she also presumptuously felt she had been hurt emotionally.


    Xu Zhenzhen felt her face burning hotly, full of shame.


    She buried her little head into Xia Wenqing¡¯s chest, acting as if she would rather die than show her face.


    Xia Wenqing was amused by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s small movements, his large hand gently pinching her cheek, and he spoke in an especially gentle tone, ¡°No matter what happens in the future, I will tell you. I don¡¯t want to lose you again, Zhenzhen.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrank her neck, ¡°Next time... whatever you ask, I will tell the truth. I promise.¡±


    ¡°Good, I believe you.¡± Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but press Xu Zhenzhen directly into his arms and hugged her tightly.


    So nice.


    From now on, Xu Zhenzhen was truly his girlfriend.


    He no longer had to think of ways to keep her by his side. He could proudly stay by her side as her boyfriend.


    Xia Wenqing thought this and couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Suddenly, while holding Xu Zhenzhen, Xia Wenqing sneezed loudly.


    Xu Zhenzhen, startled, reached out to touch Xia Wenqing¡¯s head.


    Indeed, he had a fever.


    Xu Zhenzhen felt a bit guilty, ¡°Brother, it seems like I may have passed my cold to you...¡±


    Anyone near someone with a cold could easily catch it, and Xia Wenqing had held her and kissed her for so long yesterday, it would¡¯ve been odd if he hadn¡¯t caught it.


    Xia Wenqing, however, didn¡¯t care about these things at all. If he hadn¡¯t kissed Xu Zhenzhen yesterday, he wouldn¡¯t be sitting in the position of her legitimate boyfriend today. What was a little cold in comparison?


    His large hand gently pinched her little hand, laughing lightly, ¡°As long as you can be my girlfriend, even if I have to burn with a fever for a few more days, I¡¯d be willing.¡±


    He had waited far too long for this day.


    Every time he thought of Xu Zhenzhen, his chest ached faintly.


    Things were different now, whenever he thought of her, he would feel a swelling in his chest, as if something filled him up.


    Xu Zhenzhen was just as happy as Xia Wenqing, but knowing that Xia Wenqing¡¯s joy was a result of her own influence, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of heartache, ¡°Since I¡¯m already your girlfriend, from now on, you¡¯ll have to accept my meticulous care, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Xia Wenqing responded with an unusual cleverness, and Xu Zhenzhen felt her heart melting.


    She simply couldn¡¯t resist Xia Wenqing¡¯s act of being sweet and adorable.


    She always felt that no matter what Xia Wenqing asked for next, she would agree to it.


    Indeed, the power of beauty was devastating...


    Because Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing had to go on a business trip at the last minute, the plan for Wen Qingyu to take Lu Zhaozhao to thrash others was temporarily shelved.


    When Wen Qingyu arrived at the hospital with breakfast that Lu Zhaozhao loved, Lu Zhaozhao had just received the good news from Xu Zhenzhen.


    [Zhaozhao, I might just be your future sister-in-law, so please guide me plenty~]


    The message was followed by a few photos of her with Xia Wenqing, showing an unusual intimacy, lacking the awkwardness of their previous fake poses.


    Wen Qingyu glanced at the message on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°I always thought that second brother was into men. He¡¯s always so caught up in his research and never has any women around. Yet, he¡¯s the first one to find a wife.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao sneaked a peek at Wen Qingyu, wondering if it was possible that the one who liked men wasn¡¯t her second brother...


    An image flashed through her mind, and she coughed lightly, ¡°I heard from Zhenzhen that she used to like a boy back in college for many years. I never would¡¯ve guessed it was my second brother.¡±


    Wen Qingyu suddenly chuckled upon hearing this, ¡°Now that you mention it, I remember how panicked he was when I said I wanted to become sworn sisters with Zhenzhen. Tsk tsk...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Good grief, she really was her second brother¡¯s biological mother.


    No mercy when it came to setting up her own son.


    Was it so that lovers in the end become ¡°relatives¡±?


    Xu Zhenzhen looked helplessly at her mother, ¡°Thank goodness you didn¡¯t become sworn sisters with Zhenzhen, or even I would have to call her auntie.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ªHahaha...¡±


    Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter, indeed this thought was quite amusing.


    After a moment, she dabbed the tears from the corner of her eyes, then continued, ¡°If I remember correctly, back in college, your second brother had an unusual period. I thought it was just puberty, but now it seems possible that he might have had a crush on that girl then, and was later rejected.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Wen Qingyu in surprise, if she remembered correctly, her second brother and Xu Zhenzhen had attended the same school.


    If her second brother had not been interested in Xu Zhenzhen back then, there would have been no need to chase after her so persistently after encountering her in China.


    Could it be that her second brother had deep-seated feelings for Xu Zhenzhen since their college days?


    Wen Qingyu glanced sideways at Lu Zhaozhao, seeing her interest, she continued to gossip, ¡°Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have undergone such a dramatic change in personality, starting to focus exclusively on further studies. He spent time with those old fossils, almost like he was going to enter a monastery.¡±


    In fact, Lu Zhaozhao had always been puzzled, if Xia Wenqing had liked Xu Zhenzhen back then, why had it taken so long for them to get together?


    But on second thought, there was another person with them at the time, Liu Xiaozhen. Remembering her manipulative acts, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt it wasn¡¯t surprising that Xu Zhenzhen and her second brother had not ended up together.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Wen Qingyu and suddenly said, ¡°Mom, could you help me investigate a female classmate of my second brother from college?¡±


    She had originally decided not to get involved, but now that her best friend was with her second brother, she couldn¡¯t just sit by and do nothing...

 Chapter 451: 449: Can This Even Be Tolerated?

    Chapter 451: Chapter 449: Can This Even Be Tolerated?


    After all, in both her past and present life, Xu Zhenzhen had given her a lot, so she felt she should do something for Xu Zhenzhen.


    Wen Qingyu had never been asked for help by Lu Zhaozhao before, and her spirits lifted instantaneously.


    Her attractive eyebrows nearly curved into crescent moons.


    ¡°Okay, okay, if you say you want Mom to investigate someone, then I¡¯ll investigate whoever you ask,¡± Wen Qingyu¡¯s tone was tender and loving, and her gaze towards Lu Zhaozhao was filled with indulgence.


    Not to mention asking her to investigate someone, even if Lu Zhaozhao said she wanted her to flatten someone¡¯s entire family right now, she would be willing.


    Seeing her own mother so excited, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but pull the corners of her mouth into a light smile, ¡°When Elder Brother was in college, there was a girl named Liu Xiaozhen around him, she seemed to have always liked Elder Brother a lot. Even after Elder Brother came back to the country, she followed suit.¡±


    Wen Qingyu heard this and knew immediately what was going on.


    It must be that brat Xia Wenqing causing some love troubles.


    But she knew her own son well; the few rascals she gave birth to, if they didn¡¯t meet someone they truly liked, they probably wouldn¡¯t even spare a second glance.


    Just like their father in every aspect, she didn¡¯t know whether that was good or bad.


    Wen Qingyu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone look into this Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s background as soon as I get back. But don¡¯t worry, no matter what her background is, she won¡¯t be able to shake Zhenzhen¡¯s position.¡±


    As soon as Lu Zhaozhao heard this, she knew Wen Qingyu had misunderstood.


    She gently held Wen Qingyu¡¯s hand, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not worried about her taking Zhenzhen¡¯s place.¡±


    Based on her recent interactions with Xia Wenqing, her Elder Brother clearly wasn¡¯t someone easy to fool.


    Moreover, he was extremely meticulous and proper in his doings, so once he recognized Xu Zhenzhen, no one could shake her position.


    If Liu Xiaozhen really had the ability, she would have succeeded back in school and wouldn¡¯t have waited until now.


    Wen Qingyu tilted her head to the side, looking into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes with confusion, ¡°Then why do you want to investigate this Liu Xiaozhen?¡±


    She had thought it was because Liu Xiaozhen liked Xia Wenqing that Lu Zhaozhao was worried Xu Zhenzhen would be at a disadvantage, hence asking her to investigate this woman.


    Could there be some other hidden details?


    Thinking this way, Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up with the flame of gossip.


    It was all but written on her face, ¡°Hurry up and gossip with me.¡±


    Feeling her brain heat up under Wen Qingyu¡¯s gaze, Lu Zhaozhao looked at her own mother helplessly, ¡°Liu Xiaozhen, Elder Brother, and Xu Zhenzhen, they were all in the same school back then. Zhenzhen liked Elder Brother, and Elder Brother also liked Zhenzhen, but somehow... they never got together, and it seems... there were quite a few misunderstandings...¡±


    She remember from her past life, Zhenzhen had said to her that the guy she liked had a girl he was fond of.


    And everyone at school knew it, calling them the Golden Boy and Jade Girl.


    In this life, although she hadn¡¯t talked to Xu Zhenzhen about these things yet, from past experience, the ¡°Golden Boy¡± Zhenzhen had mentioned should be Xia Wenqing.


    As for the ¡°Jade Girl,¡± it should be Liu Xiaozhen.


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly remembered, on her eldest brother¡¯s birthday, how Elder Brother had earnestly claimed he wasn¡¯t dating anyone, nor did he have a girlfriend.


    So how did Xu Zhenzhen and those people at school misunderstand that her brother and Liu Xiaozhen were a couple?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about how Liu Xiaozhen had only come to Song Group to work with Xia Wenqing and it led company employees to think they were together. In school, there must be even more to the story...


    With this in mind, she shared everything she knew with Wen Qingyu.


    In an instant, Wen Qingyu¡¯s complexion changed drastically.


    The thing she hated most in her life was a green tea bitch, followed by a white lotus bitch.


    She couldn¡¯t believe a green tea white lotus bitch was trying to become her daughter-in-law. How could this be allowed?


    Just thinking about this green tea white lotus bitch, who nearly caused her to lose a precious daughter-in-law, sent her rage skyrocketing.


    She firmly grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand and said with conviction, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely strip that little bitch bare from the inside out!¡±


    Daring to covet the position of her precious daughter-in-law, hmph!


    She had to let her know how formidable the Xia Family was!


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes, burning with fighting spirit, and suddenly regretted it. Had she entrusted the wrong person?


    The weekend was sunny and bright.


    Xiao Jinglan took Xia Wenjin straight from the airport to a foreign country early in the morning.


    Xia Wenjin, looking at the especially serene Xiao Jinglan on the plane, asked with some confusion, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we were attending the weekend banquet? Why are we going abroad?¡±


    Without even opening her eyes, Xiao Jinglan replied, ¡°The host of the banquet changed his mind at the last minute and decided to make it a private island party. Why, don¡¯t you want to go?¡±


    As she said this, her gaze swept up and down over Xia Wenjin¡¯s body, her expression tinged with impatience.


    Xia Wenjin hurriedly shook her head, ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean. I just thought it was a bit strange, so I asked.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t anything out of the ordinary for these wealthy people from the Shangjing Circle to buy islands abroad.


    Therefore, hosting a party on an island abroad wasn¡¯t a big deal either.


    She just wondered why the originally planned banquet would change venues all of a sudden.


    If Xiao Jinglan had been sweet-talking her, she might have suspected some ulterior motive, but seeing her constantly impatient, Xia Wenjin felt less suspicious.


    Xiao Jinglan wanted her to support Xiao Mo at the event, but since he didn¡¯t like her, she had to pinch her nose and endure it.


    With a bit more confidence, Xia Wenjin decisively closed her eyes to rest on the seat beside her.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that Xiao Jinglan, sitting quietly beside her, shifted her gaze to her, eyes filled with coldness.


    How could she possibly allow such a scheming woman to stay by her son¡¯s side? She wasn¡¯t going to live long anyway; she didn¡¯t mind sending this woman away directly.


    When the plane arrived in Country X, it was already past 2 p.m.


    After disembarking, Xiao Jinglan and Xia Wenjin headed straight to the shopping mall next to the airport.


    ¡°The dinner tonight will be in the style of Country X, pick out a few more evening gowns here. Don¡¯t disgrace Xiao Mo at the banquet tonight, got it?¡±


    Standing in a haute couture boutique, Xiao Jinglan was perusing the dresses while still managing to give Xia Wenjin her firm instructions.


    Xia Wenjin glanced at the shop assistant standing aside and forced a smile.


    She was relieved this was abroad. Otherwise, if they heard Xiao Jinglan talking about her like this, would she have any dignity left?


    Thinking that the money she would spend on the gowns would come from the card she provided, her eyes swept over the most expensive evening dresses in the store.

 Chapter 452: 450: It Really Is Ridiculous

    Chapter 452: Chapter 450: It Really Is Ridiculous


    Xiao Jinglan, having shown no regard for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face in public, surely she must seek some benefit for herself?


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it, Mom. Why don¡¯t you sit and rest for a bit? I¡¯ll be done shopping very soon,¡± Xia Wenjin said as she picked out a few clothes and handed them to the staff to take to the fitting room.


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan narrowed her eyes and took out her phone to send a message.


    ¡°Is everything you¡¯re doing ready? The person is already at the airport¡¯s haute couture shop. I don¡¯t want to see her face again before I return to the hotel.¡±


    A message soon came through on the other end of the phone.


    ¡°Rest assured, madam, we are professionals. We¡¯ll have everything handled before you return to the hotel.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan looked at the reply on her phone with satisfaction.


    The reason she had brought Xia Wenjin abroad was that it was easier to manipulate things overseas.


    There were surveillance cameras everywhere in her home country, along with the Skynet system.


    Trying to remove Xia Wenjin with such dense surveillance would be difficult.


    It was different abroad.


    The X country she had chosen was vast and sparsely populated, not to mention there was a lack of widespread surveillance cameras.


    In many rural areas, there was hardly a person in sight.


    To facilitate the handling of Xia Wenjin, she had purposefully chosen a resort hotel in the suburbs, just waiting for her to fall into the trap.


    Thinking that she would soon be able to rid herself of the burden that was Xia Wenjin, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mood lightened significantly.


    When Xia Wenjin came out of the fitting room, she happened to see Xiao Jinglan smiling at her phone.


    Her expression seemed very strange, causing Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart to ¡°thud¡± with apprehension. For some reason, she had a feeling that something bad was going to happen today.


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists, starting to worry that Xiao Jinglan might embarrass her at the banquet. But then she thought about how important Xiao Mo now was to Xiao Jinglan, and she probably wouldn¡¯t intentionally make things difficult.


    But who could know the mind of a woman?


    After thinking it over, Xia Wenjin decided to take the initiative to give Xiao Jinglan a warning.


    ¡°Aunt Xiao, I¡¯ve selected a few clothes, which still need to be tailored. How about we chat a bit?¡± Xia Wenjin said as she sat down next to Xiao Jinglan.


    Xiao Jinglan glanced at Xia Wenjin with some disdain but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes internally, but on the surface, she spoke amiably, ¡°Aunt Xiao, you should know that Xiao Mo and I are in a partnership now. Whether you like me or not isn¡¯t important. What¡¯s important is that I am now Xiao Mo¡¯s lawful wife, and my public image represents his face.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face visibly darkened, ¡°What exactly do you mean?¡±


    Xia Wenjin sure had guts; they had come all the way overseas, and now she actually dared to threaten her. She really wouldn¡¯t see the coffin until she cried, wouldn¡¯t turn back until she hit the south wall.


    Previously, due to Mr. and Mrs. Lu¡¯s presence, she might have cared about what Xia Wenjin said, but now that couple had long since disappeared to avoid their debts.


    Xia Wenjin had no close friends back home.


    The only person she had any relation to was Xiao Mo, meaning, unless Xiao Mo took the initiative to look for her, she could forget about returning to her home country for the rest of her life.


    Thinking this, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s gaze toward Xia Wenjin became even colder.


    Xia Wenjin likewise didn¡¯t show Xiao Jinglan any kindness and got straight to the point, ¡°What do I mean? Don¡¯t you already know full well? If you brought me abroad to find an opportunity to humiliate me, I advise you to drop the idea.¡±


    When she said this, she also pulled up the corners of her mouth with particular pride, revealing a mocking smile to Xiao Jinglan.


    Although she no longer had the Lu Family as her backing, she still held leverage over their family secrets, she felt that Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t dare to gamble with her son¡¯s future.


    But Xia Wenjin utterly forgot about the time she had poisoned Xiao Jinglan.


    If a person didn¡¯t have long to live, what else did she have to care about?


    ¡°You really think too highly of yourself,¡± Xiao Jinglan looked at Xia Wenjin with a cold eye, ¡°Do you know why you can¡¯t compete with Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows knitted tightly when she heard Xiao Jinglan mention ¡°Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    She was doing it on purpose!


    Xiao Jinglan clearly knew that she didn¡¯t get along with Lu Zhaozhao, and precisely because of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s existence, she ended up in her current predicament.


    Now bringing up Lu Zhaozhao was nothing more than an attempt to provoke her, but she wouldn¡¯t fall for that trick!


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression returned to the calmness she had before.


    To Xiao Jinglan right now, it was nothing but powerless fury; she couldn¡¯t do anything to her.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows raised slightly as she casually asked, ¡°Why do you say I can¡¯t compete with Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan sneered, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you lack self-awareness? Clearly a worthless nobody, yet you¡¯re restless, trying to snatch what belongs to others. In the end, you picked up a sesame seed but lost a watermelon...¡±


    Almost everyone in the Shangjing Circle knew that Xia Wenjin had abandoned the Xia Family to become the daughter of the Lu Family.


    Unexpectedly, the Xia Family turned out to have significant connections, even the XJ company was owned by the Xia Family.


    Xia Wenjin was blissfully unaware of the fortune she was in. If she had just held on a bit longer, not despising the poor and loving the rich and running to the Lu Family, she wouldn¡¯t have been abandoned by the Xia Family.


    After all, the Xia Family had raised her for 20 years.


    Xiao Jinglan thought about it, and the corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily, and her disdain for Xia Wenjin grew deeper.


    The Xia Family had fed and clothed her well for 20 years, and she turned around and bit them in return.


    As for her and Xiao Mo, who bore grudges against Xia Wenjin, they certainly didn¡¯t expect her to have any kindness left in her.


    Xia Wenjin did not expect Xiao Jinglan to bring up this topic, and her face visibly darkened.


    She almost bit her teeth as she glared at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao is just lucky, that¡¯s all. If it wasn¡¯t for her, I would be the one married into the Song Group right now!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was almost amused to laughter by Xia Wenjin¡¯s shameless words.


    ¡°The reason Song Sinian married Lu Zhaozhao is that he wanted exactly Lu Zhaozhao, not because she¡¯s the daughter of the Lu Family. Even if her name were Lin Zhaozhao, Bai Zhaozhao, or Xiao Zhaozhao, he would still marry her. You still haven¡¯t figured it out, it¡¯s truly laughable.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes visibly widened, seemingly unwilling to believe this fact.


    Wasn¡¯t Song Sinian marrying Lu Zhaozhao precisely because she was the daughter of the Lu Family?


    Xiao Jinglan seemed to see through Xia Wenjin¡¯s thoughts, her legs crossed in a lordly manner as she casually spoke, ¡°Although Song Sinian¡¯s external reputation isn¡¯t good, the number of women wanting to marry him is astonishing. The small Lu Family, what makes you think it could catch Song Sinian¡¯s eye?¡±


    She also understood later why Song Sinian was willing to offer so many benefits to the Lu Family, just to marry a naive and pretty ¡®vase¡¯ to bring home.


    She had always thought Song Sinian was devoid of emotion, but now it seemed, his heart was probably all taken up by Lu Zhaozhao...

 Chapter 453: 451: What a Pity...

    Chapter 453: Chapter 451: What a Pity...


    If it were not for her indecisiveness, wanting to help Xia Wenjin enter the Song Family, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up being disliked by Lu Zhaozhao.


    Nor would she have lost control of the Song Mansion.


    The root of all these troubles was Xia Wenjin!


    She truly regretted being blind at that time!


    Xia Wenjin was heavily struck by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, slumping into a chair nearby, suddenly finding the card in her hand no longer appealing.


    She had always thought that Song Sinian married Lu Zhaozhao because she was the daughter of the Lu Group.


    Later, because she abandoned the Xia Family, Lu Zhaozhao got taken back by the Xia Family¡¯s people.


    Xia Wenjin always felt that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fortunes were built on her own misfortune.


    Because of Lu Zhaozhao, she had such a miserable life when she was originally the young miss of XJ Group and even should have been the wife of the Song Group.


    All the good things should have been hers alone!


    But now Xiao Jinglan was telling her that all of it was a lie.


    Xiao Jinglan watched Xia Wenjin¡¯s dispirited state with satisfaction, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth, feeling extremely pleased.


    As long as Xia Wenjin was uncomfortable, she felt exceptionally comfortable.


    Xia Wenjin stood up shakily from the chair, ¡°I suddenly don¡¯t feel well, so I¡¯m going back to the hotel first. You take your time shopping.¡±


    Saying this, she went straight to the dressing room, changed clothes, and then left the hotel with her luggage.


    Xiao Jinglan watched her retreating figure from afar, her smile growing even brighter.


    Xia Wenjin, this is the last day you¡¯ll see the sun in the sky, from now on you¡¯ll rest in a foreign land forever.


    Completely unaware that she had started down a dangerous path, Xia Wenjin dumped her luggage in the trunk and got into a taxi.


    She was already in a bad mood and now, after Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, her mood worsened.


    She clearly knew that Xiao Jinglan was just trying to disgust her, but she still took it to heart.


    Every time Xia Wenjin thought about it, she got even more irritated. Why hadn¡¯t that damn Xiao Jinglan died yet?


    It seems the poisoned cubilose she gave her should be laced with something more.


    To silence this woman once and for all!


    The car sped along the road, and in no time entered a stretch lined with woods, where there were few other vehicles, only the occasional small animal scampering across the road.


    The destination grew more and more desolate.


    When Xia Wenjin came to her senses, the area was devoid of people.


    Her heart instinctively tightened, but then she remembered that the hotel booked by Xiao Jinglan was in the suburbs, so it seemed reasonable to pass such uninhabited areas.


    Xia Wenjin steeled herself, and she relaxed once more.


    Suddenly, the car that was in motion stopped beside the road.


    Xia Wenjin furrowed her brows and looked at the driver in front, ¡°Why are we stopping here?¡±


    The driver glanced at Xia Wenjin without responding and went to the back of the car.


    Soon, several people ran over from not far in the forest, which made Xia Wenjin increasingly nervous.


    She hadn¡¯t gotten into some shady car, had she?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s thoughts had reached this point when she immediately took out her phone and dialed the emergency number. But before she could utter a word, someone grabbed her hair and yanked her out of the car.


    ¡°Ah!!! Who are you, let me go!¡± Xia Wenjin tried to struggle, but the man who was clutching her hair slapped her several times, fiercely. Her ears rang, and she almost lost the ability to resist in an instant.


    ¡°She actually looks quite pretty.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, she is the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family, after all.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame, though...¡±


    Listening to the filthy language of the people around her, her head still buzzing, Xia Wenjin had experienced such an ordeal before, so she could barely accept it. Now, the most important thing was to preserve her life.


    Shivering on the ground, Xia Wenjin pleaded desperately, ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt me. There¡¯s quite a lot of money and things in my suitcase, you can take them all.¡±


    Money and belongings were not the issue, as long as she was alive, she could always get them back eventually.


    But if she lost her life, then everything would be over.


    One of the men, his face full of scars, looked at Xia Wenjin and sneered, ¡°We¡¯d like to leave you with a life, but it¡¯s a pity, we¡¯re after your life with the money.¡±


    It was clear that Scar Face already considered Xia Wenjin as good as dead, so he let slip the true nature of their intentions.


    At this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart sank even further.


    Someone wanted her life; but who could it be? Was it Lu Zhaozhao, Xiao Jinglan, or her husband in name only?


    Or was it someone she hadn¡¯t even thought of?


    For the first time, Xia Wenjin somewhat regretted making so many enemies.


    Only now did she suddenly remember that it had been a long while since she had received any news from Mr. and Mrs. Lu.


    Could it be that they had been dealt with in the same way?


    Chills ran down Xia Wenjin¡¯s spine at the thought. No longer caring about anything else, she began to scream for help around her, ¡°Help! Help! Is anyone there? Is there anyone who can save me?!¡±


    Her voice was hoarse with shouting, but aside from the rustling of dry leaves, there was no other sound around.


    ¡°Here, you could scream your throat raw and no one would come; you might as well give up hope,¡± Scar Face and the others burst into raucous laughter.


    One after the other, their gazes were filled with disdain as they looked at Xia Wenjin.


    Scar Face, holding the dagger in his hand, drew it across Xia Wenjin¡¯s face.


    Although not with much force, her face was instantly split open, eliciting even more excitement from Scar Face and the others.


    Because of the intense pain on her face, Xia Wenjin¡¯s senses sharpened for a short time.


    She slowly got to her feet and ran frantically into the forest.


    This was the only way she could possibly save herself at the moment.


    If she was lucky, she might come across a hunter or a family out hunting; after all, in the country of X, hunting was not illegal.


    If she was unlucky, she might even die in the forest, but either of those options was better than dying at the hands of these men.


    The more Xia Wenjin thought this way, the faster her footsteps became.


    Scar Face and his group had already scoped out the area and were in no hurry; instead, they shouldered their hunting rifles, intending to treat Xia Wenjin like prey.


    After all, every year there were many incidents of people being accidentally wounded by hunting rifles, and several were mistaken for animals and shot to death.


    The thought of hunting a person like an animal and collecting a hefty commission for it excited them.


    They walked into the forest at a measured pace; after all, they had only one piece of prey, and they wanted to make her run as much as possible¡ªthat would make the game all the more interesting...

 Chapter 454: 452: Is It Intentional By Some People?

    Chapter 454: Chapter 452: Is It Intentional By Some People?


    Xia Wenjin was running wildly, feeling as if the air she breathed into her lungs was painfully raw.


    But she dared not stop, for she was afraid that once she did, her life would be over¡ªshe had never before known such fear.


    She kept a tight grip on the cellphone she had taken from her bag.


    Finding a small puddle, she pressed herself low and attempted to make a distress call, only to find herself plunged into despair when she discovered that there was no signal.


    Xia Wenjin suddenly felt as though she had encountered all the misfortunes of her life in one day, yet on second thought, was it really just bad luck?


    Or was it possible that everything she was experiencing was deliberately orchestrated by someone?


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the colder she felt creeping up her spine.


    If that were true, then her chances of survival were slim indeed.


    Xia Wenjin could not afford to think too much, and she continued to run deeper into the forest.


    Unexpectedly, while running, she came upon a wide river.


    There was a narrow log bridge between the two banks, the water below flowing rapidly, muddy and bottomless.


    Biting her teeth, Xia Wenjin awkwardly began to scramble across the log bridge.


    Suddenly, a gunshot rang out across the barren riverbanks.


    ¡°Little girl, you run quite fast.¡±


    ¡°If you keep running, you¡¯ll get across the river, where the beasts don¡¯t spit out bones after eating a person.¡±


    ¡°I advise you to turn back obediently; otherwise, you might end up without a complete corpse.¡±


    ...


    As several men approached, Xia Wenjin felt her heart sink.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why they didn¡¯t shoot her directly; after all, she was on a narrow log bridge, and one shot would seal her fate.


    Could it be they needed to leave her with an intact body?


    An idea flashed in Xia Wenjin¡¯s mind; she stood on the bridge, looking helplessly at the men, ¡°My legs have gone weak, could you help me down?¡±


    That was the only bet she could make.


    If they truly wanted to leave her an intact body, they would definitely come onto the bridge to pull her up.


    If she could seize this opportunity to snatch their hunting rifles, she might stand a chance of fighting back¡ªbut she only had one shot at this.


    The men, seeing Xia Wenjin in such a pitiable state, grew even more excited.


    ¡°If you had been wise like this earlier, would you have needed to climb onto the log bridge? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to accept your fate obediently?¡±


    Scar Face slung his hunting rifle behind his back and walked straight onto the log bridge.


    His gaze toward Xia Wenjin was evidently mocking.


    Yet, as he neared her, he slowly spoke, ¡°Come on, give me your hand.¡±


    Xia Wenjin clenched her fists and slowly moved toward Scar Face; and just as she was about to be next to him, her body tilted slightly, and she suddenly lunged at Scar Face.


    Scar Face seemed not to have expected Xia Wenjin to lunge at him directly and almost reflexively raised his hand to block.


    Maintaining balance on the log bridge was already difficult, let alone with a woman throwing herself at him?


    Scar Face¡¯s figure was already tottering, and upon seeing this, almost everyone raised their hunting rifles, aiming at the two of them. However, they hesitated to pull the trigger.


    Because their boss and Xia Wenjin were too close to each other.


    If they fired at this moment, it was all too easy to take their boss down as well.


    Thus, several people could only stand by and watch as events unfolded.


    Although Xia Wenjin put her life on the line to fight, her size and strength were at a disadvantage.


    She was quickly overpowered by Scar Face.


    Xia Wenjin felt a surge of despair, her gaze at Scar Face filled with venomous hatred, ¡°Since I can¡¯t live, at least I¡¯ll take someone with me as a cushion!¡±


    ¡°Wait...¡±


    Before Scar Face could finish his words, Xia Wenjin embraced his head and charged straight into the river with him.


    Scar Face originally knew how to swim, so he was not afraid of falling into the water with Xia Wenjin. What he did not expect was that Xia Wenjin held onto his arm tightly, not giving him any chance to swim to the surface.


    It was then he deeply understood the meaning of Xia Wenjin¡¯s words about pulling someone down as a cushion.


    The turbulent river water nearly swallowed the two in an instant; after a short while, there was no trace of them on the river surface...


    It was already a week later when Lu Zhaozhao received the news of Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin mysteriously disappeared while attending an overseas banquet with Xiao Jinglan? This sounds a bit outrageous,¡± Xu Zhenzhen rested her chin in her hands, looking at Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu in front of her.


    Since her relationship with Xia Wenqing had been confirmed, the three of them got together even more frequently.


    They had originally planned to start with Xia Wenjin, taking advantage of the dark and stormy night to give her, Xiao Jinglan, and Xiao Mo a good thrashing.


    But they hadn¡¯t even made their move before Xia Wenjin disappeared.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the information in her hands, her brows involuntarily furrowing, ¡°It is indeed outrageous, to disappear while attending a banquet abroad, it makes one wonder if this was done on purpose by some people.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s reputation was already tarnished, and she no longer had the backing of the Lu Family.


    Although she had married Xiao Mo, she was secretly involved with Justin and was caught red-handed by Xiao Jinglan.


    That Xiao Mo didn¡¯t divorce Xia Wenjin was strange in itself.


    ¡°I heard that Xiao Jinglan reported the disappearance three days after Xia Wenjin went missing overseas, tsk tsk...¡± Xu Zhenzhen propped her chin and couldn¡¯t help but gossip from the side.


    The relationship between the two of them was really bad enough.


    It was normal for Xiao Jinglan, who had never liked Xia Wenjin, to wait three days before thinking of looking for her.


    But whether she knew of the disappearance and waited three days or only found out after three days, that was uncertain.


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, seeming to catch the nuance of the situation, ¡°Could it be possible that this was orchestrated by Xiao Jinglan herself? After all, they couldn¡¯t get along.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze shifted to Wen Qingyu, perplexed, ¡°Although the two of them have conflicts, they don¡¯t necessarily have to fight each other to the death, do they?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, ¡°For those two, it really is that serious...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly turned to Lu Zhaozhao and asked, ¡°What on earth did Xia Wenjin do to make Xiao Jinglan loathe her so deeply that she would go to the extent of luring her abroad to deal with her?¡±


    As she spoke, it was as if she recalled something, and her gaze unconsciously stole a glance at Wen Qingyu.


    No matter what, Xia Wenjin was the daughter Wen Qingyu had raised for 20 years; she worried that her words might upset her.


    Wen Qingyu noticed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s glance almost immediately and slightly tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know that she¡¯d been using vicious methods against Zhaozhao since she came back to the country, perhaps I¡¯d still have a bit of pity for her...¡±

 Chapter 455: 453: What Exactly is the Answer to That Question?

    Chapter 455: Chapter 453: What Exactly is the Answer to That Question?


    Xia Wenjin had been under her care since childhood, she was the child on whom she had concentrated most and, ultimately, was also her greatest disappointment.


    She had borne four sons before her, so after giving birth to a daughter, she paid extra attention to her, wanting to raise her as a nai?ve little princess.


    Therefore, Xia Wenjin¡¯s food, clothing, and daily needs were all taken care of by her hands alone. When she wanted to learn painting, she brought in her best friend to teach her. When she liked beautiful handbags, shoes, and clothes, she found specialized designers to make them just for her.


    Yet this meticulously raised child not only failed to become the nai?ve princess she envisioned, but instead turned into a twisted, malevolent demon.


    Time and again, she hurt the people around her for her own benefit¡ªeven going so far as to hurt her own elder brothers.


    At one point, Wen Qingyu even thought her own upbringing was to blame.


    She had thought about revealing to Xia Wenjin the background of the Xia Family, but after the eldest and second eldest repeatedly helped her resolve school bullying issues, she ultimately put aside that idea.


    Xia Wenjin, having a family lawyer to clean up her messes, acted recklessly as if there were no consequences. If she knew she was the heiress of the XJ Corporation, Wen Qingyu worried she might end up taking someone¡¯s life.


    They later decided to maintain an even tighter secrecy.


    Only after returning to China did she understand why her carefully nurtured daughter was always selfish and self-serving.


    It turned out to be a mix-up.


    Her heart ached for Lu Zhaozhao, yet because she had raised Lu Zhaozhao for so many years, she still had quite an attachment.


    But, unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin directed all her malicious tactics against Lu Zhaozhao, and only then did she feel completely disappointed in her.


    It was at this time that she came to understand what is meant by ¡°a bad bamboo shoot comes not from a good bamboo.¡±


    Some people are simply born bad, and education alone cannot solve it.


    When Xu Zhenzhen heard Wen Qingyu¡¯s words and saw her complex expression, she knew she wasn¡¯t saddened because of Xia Wenjin, thereby secretly relieving herself.


    ¡°Aunt Wen, don¡¯t think too much about it, Xia Wenjin is not worth it.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, recalling Xia Wenjin¡¯s previous actions towards Lu Zhaozhao, couldn¡¯t help but feel contempt.


    She had everything best yet was never satisfied, always thinking about taking from others.


    If Xia Wenjin had just preserved one, it wouldn¡¯t be like it is now.


    It can only be said that human greed is insatiable as a snake trying to swallow an elephant.


    Wen Qingyu nodded, ¡°I won¡¯t overthink it, it just feels like a pity that our plan is one person short.¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin had been problematic since childhood, Wen Qingyu had never laid a hand on her.


    But since Xia Wenjin had struck against Lu Zhaozhao, she could no longer stand idly by and wanted to settle the score.


    They had finally formulated a plan, yet it turned out they were one person short.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked helplessly at Wen Qingyu.


    With Xia Wenjin missing abroad, it definitely involved Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo¡¯s handiwork. Whether she could come back was another matter, yet Wen Qingyu was still fixated on whether they could strike her...


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle helplessly, ¡°Has there been any movement from Xiao Mo¡¯s side?¡±


    He knew Xiao Mo was someone who loved to maintain appearances. Even if he despised Xia Wenjin, he would still make an effort on the surface.


    Xu Zhenzhen heard the name and instantly recalled something, ¡°Without you mentioning it, I almost forgot about him. Do you know how shameless he is? After Xia Wenjin disappeared, he immediately held a press conference, acting like a good husband, and cried so pitifully before reporters that he could have won an Oscar.¡±


    If she hadn¡¯t known about Xiao Mo¡¯s feud with Xia Wenjin long ago, she might have actually believed him.


    Wen Qingyu also shrugged, ¡°A man who truly loves his wife wouldn¡¯t have time to hold a press conference; he¡¯d have already gone to Country X to search for her.¡±


    Such a person is like asking a seated guest if they want chicken.


    The one truly looking to serve doesn¡¯t even need to ask; the chicken would already be on the table.


    Xu Zhenzhen agreed with Wen Qingyu¡¯s opinion, ¡°However, online, led by Xiao Mo¡¯s narrative, the netizens are all praising him as a great husband, even helping to search in Country X.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao snorted dismissively, propping her chin with one hand, and couldn¡¯t help but mock, ¡°If the netizens really help him find Xia Wenjin, Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t be able to laugh anymore.¡±


    That is if Xia Wenjin was still alive.


    Suddenly, Xu Zhenzhen seemed to remember something and her gaze fixated on Lu Zhaozhao, she hesitated then asked, ¡°So, what exactly is the answer to the question you asked earlier?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was puzzled by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s question, ¡°What question¡¯s answer?¡±


    ¡°The one about what Xia Wenjin did that was so unforgivable, making Xiao Jinglan so hateful that she had to kidnap her and take her overseas to deal with her?¡± Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help repeating her earlier question.


    She wouldn¡¯t have missed the answer to that question if it weren¡¯t for comforting Wen Qingyu just then.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost laughed at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s curiosity; he looked at her somewhat helplessly, sighed, and then continued, ¡°Xia Wenjin discovered that Xiao Jinglan was poisoning her cubilose, so she decided to return the favor in kind. Just a few days ago, Xiao Jinglan had fallen ill and was hospitalized for a couple of days; she probably realized then that she had been poisoned...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Wen Qingyu¡¯s brows suddenly lifted, ¡°Then, could she also discover that you were involved?¡±


    Her gaze was a bit worried as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Wen Qingyu still remembered that shortly after she married into the Song Family, Xiao Jinglan began poisoning her.


    Fortunately, Sinian discovered it immediately and fed all those cubilose to Xiao Jinglan.


    Although all these were done covertly, she worried that if Xiao Jinglan found out, further complications could arise for Lu Zhaozhao.


    If Xiao Jinglan really had consumed that type of poison, her current health must be very poor.


    If she knew she won¡¯t live long, who knows what extreme actions she might take.


    Thinking of this, Wen Qingyu felt a sudden pang in her heart.


    Her beloved daughter had finally started living a peaceful life; she couldn¡¯t let anything happen to her.


    As a mother, she was unwilling and would not let her daughter be put in jeopardy!


    It seemed they had to treat Xiao Jinglan as a person of significant caution from now on.


    She absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow this woman to harm her beloved daughter, not even slightly.


    Seeing Wen Qingyu¡¯s anxious expression, Lu Zhaozhao gently took her hand and reassured, ¡°Mom, you can calm down about this. Since Xia Wenjin poisoned Xiao Jinglan, I had people from Mr. Song¡¯s side stop any further actions. No matter how much Xiao Jinglan investigates her cubilose, she can¡¯t trace it back to me.¡±


    Wen Qingyu sighed in relief upon hearing this.


    However, upon further reflection, she seemed to realize something, ¡°So, the person who acted against Xia Wenjin this time, was it really Xiao Jinglan?¡±


    She had only suspected as much, but she hadn¡¯t expected the woman to be so ruthless...

 Chapter 456: 454 What Does It Mean Now?

    Chapter 456: Chapter 454 What Does It Mean Now?


    Xia Wenyan was struck down mercilessly.


    Xiao Mo was searching boldly for Xia Wenjin, confident that nothing would go wrong on Xiao Jinglan¡¯s end.


    Either Xia Wenjin had already died or was held captive somewhere.


    In any case, Xia Wenjin was not having an easy time.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but the only person who could harbor such great hatred for Xia Wenjin is Xiao Jinglan.¡±


    Because the damage Xia Wenjin caused wasn¡¯t limited to just her.


    She not only ruined Song Keren¡¯s reputation, but also had an affair with her husband, later marrying her son and causing them to be driven out of the Song Family by Mr. Song.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s life was soon to end, all because of Xia Wenjin; if she didn¡¯t kill her, she would wonder if Xiao Jinglan was losing her mind.


    For a moment, the three people in the room fell into silence simultaneously.


    Xia Wenjin had done many evil deeds; this could be considered her punishment, as evil begets evil.


    Suddenly, Wen Qingyu¡¯s crisp voice rang out in the room, ¡°Xiao Jinglan, Xiao Mo, and Song Keren must be thrilled, after all, the woman who had always been in their sight just disappeared...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen clearly caught the implications in Wen Qingyu¡¯s words and excitedly raised an eyebrow, ¡°Auntie, are you planning to provoke them tonight?¡±


    Beating them up when they were happiest would indeed be morbid, but she liked it.


    The three of them were not good people; she didn¡¯t need to talk morals with them.


    Wen Qingyu nodded, ¡°Taking this chance to cut them down a notch, they might even blame this whole thing on Xia Wenjin.¡±


    After all, aside from the reviews controlled by Xiao Mo online, there was another voice speculating that their family had hidden Xia Wenjin away.


    Even stating firmly and logically, a small group of people had started theorizing about conspiracies.


    But these claims hadn¡¯t yet fermented.


    Xiao Mo should have noticed it by now.


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have managed the controlled reviews so flawlessly.


    Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t expect these speculations to sway public opinion, but as long as Xiao Mo knew, it was enough.


    With his cautious nature, if he was suddenly attacked in the middle of the night, he would definitely be suspicious about this matter.


    Even if Xiao Mo didn¡¯t notice, she could guide the public opinion in this direction through her sons, so Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t be able to ignore it.


    With this explanation, Xu Zhenzhen felt relieved; even if they went to Xiao Mo¡¯s house to trouble the three of them, no one would suspect them.


    ¡°What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go now!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen said this and immediately stood up from her chair, wishing she could sprint to Xiao Mo¡¯s house right then.


    Wen Qingyu seemed to be influenced by her emotions and sprang up from her chair too, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s head out now!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu, slightly amused, ¡°The sky hasn¡¯t darkened yet, what are you rushing off to do?¡±


    Hadn¡¯t they agreed to wait for a night with a dark moon and high winds before heading to Xiao Mo¡¯s place?


    What was the meaning of this rush now?


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing she had been impulsive, ¡°I was just thinking this was a good opportunity, and I forgot about that.¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s face also turned red.


    She hadn¡¯t played the troublemaker for many years, but the thought of causing trouble with her daughter and her daughter-in-law excited her beyond measure.


    Who cared whether it was day or night?


    As long as she could go out and stir things up with Xu Zhenzhen and Lu Zhaozhao, she wouldn¡¯t mind charging into Xiao Mo¡¯s house and giving them a beating right now.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze swept over Xu Zhenzhen and finally settled on Wen Qingyu.


    ¡°You two better rest up now, so we can go out together tonight,¡± she said in a gentle, soothing tone that immediately calmed them down.


    Once their beloved Zhaozhao had spoken, what more could they say?


    In Country X, in a violent district,


    stood an exquisitely beautiful woman inside a luxurious villa.


    Her gaze turned toward the person lying on the bedroom bed, and she frowned, ¡°When will she finally wake up?¡±


    The woman was clearly impatient.


    ¡°The lady was swept downstream, and the debris along the way broke many of her bones. It¡¯s already a miracle she¡¯s alive. As for when she might wake, we¡¯ll have to see how her recovery goes. She could recover today if it¡¯s early, but if it¡¯s late...¡±


    Though the doctor didn¡¯t finish, the woman immediately grasped the implication.


    If it¡¯s late, she might never wake up at all.


    Hearing this, the woman¡¯s expression darkened further.


    Her gaze returned to the bed, and her eyes narrowed involuntarily, ¡°Xia Wenjin, you¡¯d better wake up soon and tell me the truth about what happened...¡±


    A sinister streak crossed the woman¡¯s eyes, particularly when she saw the once delicate and pretty face on the bed now wrapped in layers of bandages, which only added to her irritability.


    Why had things turned out this way?


    She looked at Xia Wenjin in confusion. At this time, she should have been in college; how could she have nearly drowned in a river in Country X?


    And had her face ruined?


    Could it be that the story in the book had changed because of her interference?


    While she was deep in thought, the person on the sickbed suddenly moved.


    It seemed like she might be coming to.


    The doctor hurried forward to check on her.


    ¡°Ah!!!¡±


    No sooner had the doctor used a stethoscope to check her condition, than he heard Xia Wenjin scream suddenly.


    Her voice was so sharp that it made the doctor step back in alarm.


    ¡°Stop screaming. He¡¯s a doctor, just checking your condition,¡± a cold voice suddenly filled the room.


    Even amidst the screams, her voice stood out markedly.


    As if snapping back to reality, Xia Wenjin saw another woman standing in the room. Desperately, she tried to sit up to get closer to her, regardless of who she was, as long as she could save her, that was enough.


    Although the woman didn¡¯t know what had triggered Xia Wenjin, seeing her current unstable emotional state, she decided it was best not to agitate her further.


    She took a few steps toward the bed and reached Xia Wenjin¡¯s side.


    Like grasping a lifeline, Xia Wenjin desperately clung to her arm, her whole body shaking violently.


    The woman gently patted Xia Wenjin¡¯s back, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re safe now. I rescued you. No matter what happened before, you can feel secure staying here now...¡±

 Chapter 457: 455: What Went Wrong?

    Chapter 457: Chapter 455: What Went Wrong?


    Xia Wenjin finally relaxed a bit, but she was still a little nervously looking at the woman in front of her.


    Because she had come to her senses, Xia Wenjin only then noticed the pain on her face. She raised her hand to touch her face, but discovered it was completely wrapped in gauze, and her body stiffened.


    Could it be that her face had been ruined?


    Seeing that Xia Wenjin had not spoken, the woman took the initiative to ask, ¡°Now that you¡¯re awake, do you still need me to call the police for you?¡±


    In fact, the woman¡¯s question was merely a test for Xia Wenjin; if she had wanted to call the police, she would have done so while Wenjin was still lying in the hospital bed. There was no need to wait until now, let alone ask for her opinion.


    But Xia Wenjin had just snapped back to reality and was completely unaware of this.


    Hearing the woman say this, she immediately tensed up.


    ¡°Do not call the police, definitely do not call the police!¡±


    She didn¡¯t even know who had attacked her, and calling the police rashly might lead to her being targeted again.


    Her trip to the Foreign Country was a sudden decision by Xiao Jinglan; the likelihood of others knowing was very low.


    So, Xia Wenjin speculated that this incident likely had something to do with Xiao Jinglan.


    She had always thought that once Xiao Jinglan was dead, she could rest easy, but she had totally not anticipated that Xiao Jinglan, because he knew his life was ending soon, might decide to harm her.


    She had indeed been negligent about this matter.


    Were it not for divine intervention, she might have died in a foreign land.


    The woman¡¯s eyelids narrowed, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want me to call the police, you have to let me know what exactly happened, right?¡±


    She looked at Xia Wenjin, who seemed hesitant to speak, and added, ¡°My name is Feng Xixi, but you can call me Sister Feng.¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded slightly, ¡°Sister Feng... I am... an actress. This time, I was accompanying my mother-in-law to a foreign banquet, but along the way, we encountered thugs and they forced me onto a narrow bridge where I fell into the water.¡±


    Feng Xixi¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, shall I contact your mother-in-law?¡±


    She did not expect Xia Wenjin to have married so quickly, her eyebrows furrowed even deeper.


    Was the mother-in-law she mentioned Xiao Jinglan?


    Hearing her words, Xia Wenjin immediately shook her head, ¡°No, do not contact her.¡±


    As she said this, her whole body couldn¡¯t help but shudder again.


    Feng Xixi now realized there was something fishy, ¡°Could it be that your mother-in-law secretly hired someone to act against you?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s intention to have his son ascend the ranks meant that it wasn¡¯t out of character for him to harm Song Sinian¡¯s wife.


    But were their actions not too hasty?


    She had always thought that Xia Wenjin was still in university, but to think she had already married Song Sinian and been harmed by Xiao Jinglan.


    Xia Wenjin looked up at Feng Xixi. Though she did not speak, her demeanor nearly confirmed what Feng had said.


    Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I will contact your husband, he should be able to help you, right?¡±


    Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished speaking, Xia Wenjin shook her head as if it were a rattle, ¡°No, do not contact him either, he would tell that woman if he knew.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan had harmed her, and she couldn¡¯t believe that Xiao Mo was unaware. The man spoke nicely, claiming to want to collaborate, but wasn¡¯t it just to seek an opportunity to dispose of her when done?


    Hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, Feng Xixi fell into silence.


    Song Sinian seemed to be on good terms with Xiao Jinglan, but what exactly was going on? Why did the plot and character settings she knew feel so different now?


    Wasn¡¯t Song Sinian the type who was wholeheartedly in love with his wife, unchanging until death?


    Why was he now so easily convinced by others¡¯ slander?


    Could it be because she had changed the storyline before?


    While Feng Xixi was pondering, she couldn¡¯t help but look at Xia Wenjin again, ¡°So, what do you plan to do next?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s head lowered slightly. Thinking about her current situation, her hands tightly clasped together, she fell into deep thought.


    She was actually quite confused; when she first arrived in Shangjing and learned she was the esteemed daughter of a humble room, she imagined her beautiful new life would start there.


    She had no idea that returning to the Lu Family would be the most foolish thing she did in her life.


    Before, even though the Xia brothers occasionally criticized her, they would always help her out whenever she had an issue. It was exactly this that had shaped her reckless nature.


    But now, having left the Xia Family for the Lu Family, without anyone to clean up her messes, and facing several strong opponents...


    Seeing Xia Wenjin fall silent, Feng Xixi took the initiative to suggest, ¡°How about notifying your parents?¡±


    At the mention of ¡°parents¡±, Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression darkened even further; she pursed her lips and after a long while, she finally spoke, ¡°My parents have disappeared.¡±


    ¡°Disappeared?!¡± Feng Xixi seemed unable to believe her ears. What exactly was happening?


    She felt like the entire plot had gone haywire.


    Feng Xixi raised her hand to press on her temples, ¡°Then shall I notify your siblings?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m an only child.¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s voice had become so low it was nearly inaudible.


    Had Feng Xixi not been close, she probably wouldn¡¯t have heard her.


    When she heard this, her pupils trembled. Wasn¡¯t she the fifth daughter of the Xia family?


    How could she be an only child?


    What exactly had gone wrong?


    Feng Xixi felt a bit of a headache pressing on her temples, ¡°What are your parents¡¯ names? Maybe I can help you find them.¡±


    She thought maybe it was because Xia Wenjin had just suffered some misfortune and was wary of her, a stranger, making up stories.


    Xia Wenjin, noticing something off about Feng Xixi¡¯s expression, quickly explained, ¡°I¡¯m not lying. My father is Lu Dagui and my mother is Cao Mei. Ever since my dad¡¯s company went bankrupt, they both disappeared.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Feng Xixi fell completely silent.


    Lu Dagui? Cao Mei?


    Weren¡¯t those the biological parents Xia Wenjin was to acknowledge only two years later?


    A feeling of unease inside Feng Xixi grew; she looked up at Xia Wenjin and tentatively asked, ¡°Your dad¡¯s name is Lu Dagui, so why is your surname Xia Wenjin? If your surnames...¡±


    Xia Wenjin suddenly realized something and continued, ¡°I was previously in a Foreign Country, but the parents who raised me aren¡¯t my biological parents. It was only after I came to the national territories that I learned this, so I recognized my biological parents, and my foster mother¡¯s surname is Xia.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Just returned and already recognized her biological parents?


    Feng Xixi¡¯s eyes narrowed; indeed, the plot was a whole world apart from what she knew!

 Chapter 458: 456: Why Does She Get All the Good Things to Herself?

    Chapter 458: Chapter 456: Why Does She Get All the Good Things to Herself?


    She was actually not the original host.


    But someone who had transmigrated into this book more than a decade ago.


    She had thought that she either would become the female lead or a vicious supporting character, yet she hadn¡¯t expected to transmigrate into the role of the male lead¡¯s mother¡¯s younger sister.


    An insignificant character, even just mentioned in passing by others!


    When she transmigrated over, the original story hadn¡¯t even begun.


    At that time, the Feng family had already established a connection with the Song family, arranging for Feng Xiran to marry into the family.


    In an attempt to change her destiny, she volunteered to marry into the Song family, but was rejected by the Fengs, and, feeling indignant, she even went to Song Gu, only to be similarly rejected by him.


    She and Feng Xiran were obviously twins, so why could Feng Xiran marry Song Gu, while she couldn¡¯t?


    Later on, she harbored resentment and planned to scheme against Song Gu, only to be directly thrown by this man to a gang of thugs who violated her.


    After she disclosed this incident to the Feng family, they felt she was a disgrace and wanted to quickly marry her off, arranging for her to become the wife of a boss over forty, only for her to find out not long afterwards that she was pregnant.


    Feng Xixi was not willing to accept this, so relying on her knowledge of future plot developments, she intentionally swapped her daughter with the original female lead.


    Song Gu did not like her, did he?


    Well, she would let her daughter steal the female lead¡¯s identity and then marry into the Song family!


    Even if he was reluctant, he could only watch helplessly!


    After switching the two children, she explicitly seduced Lu Dagui, unexpectedly bumping into that child.


    Naturally, she could not let this information leak, so she directly took action in an attempt to eliminate the troublesome child.


    Unexpectedly, the protagonist lived up to her title; even after being pushed down the stairs, she was still alive, only having lost her memory.


    Feng Xixi had originally planned to wait for the original story to start, but unfortunately, due to Feng Xiran¡¯s madness, the Fengs lost their standing in the Shangjing Circle, and she was forced to go into hiding abroad.


    She had waited so many years, planning to wait until her daughter, Xia Wenjin, successfully snagged Song Sinian, so she could successfully establish herself in the Song family.


    She could have never anticipated that what she would end up waiting for was news that her daughter had nearly died in a foreign country!


    Feng Xixi looked at Xia Wenjin, who was sitting on the bed with a injured face, and her frown deepened.


    She considered herself knowledgeable about the plot, so she had acted recklessly in Country X, never bothering with the domestic story.


    After all, Xia Wenjin had also been taken out of the country by the Xia family, and she felt there was no need for her to follow along or wait in China.


    If she had known things would turn out this way, she would have absolutely stayed with Xia Wenjin the entire time to see where things had gone wrong!


    Feng Xixi took a deep breath, trying her best to keep her expression calm, before slowly saying, ¡°I¡¯ve also lived in China for a while, is this Lu family you mentioned part of the Shangjing Circle? Perhaps I knew them before.¡±


    She tugged at the corner of her mouth, struggling to maintain a gentle smile.


    Xia Wenjin might have felt a sense of closeness because she believed Feng Xixi had saved her, and thus spoke the truth to her, ¡°My family is indeed from the Shangjing Circle¡¯s Lu family, but then my father¡¯s investments failed, and our family went bankrupt...¡±


    ¡°The Lu family went bankrupt?¡± Feng Xixi¡¯s eyes flickered again.


    She took several deep breaths to prevent her emotions from showing.


    Feng Xixi chuckled lightly, ¡°I haven¡¯t returned to China for a long time, the changes in the Shangjing Circle really are huge...¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded her head and, seeing that Feng Xixi truly meant her no harm, she began to open up, ¡°I have also recently returned to the country, so I don¡¯t know much either, but the changes in the Shangjing Circle are indeed quite significant.¡±


    As she said this, she suddenly thought of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Ever since she was acknowledged by the Xia Family, it was as if she had hit the jackpot.


    Not only did the Xia Family members dote on her, but even a man like Song Sinian, who was indifferent to women, was at her beck and call.


    She hadn¡¯t acted in many TV dramas in the entertainment industry, yet she was incredibly popular with netizens. Why?


    Why did all the good things have to be monopolized by her?


    Xia Wenjin then thought of her own misfortune and her resentment towards Lu Zhaozhao grew heavier. If she hadn¡¯t been acknowledged by the Lu Family back then, would everything Lu Zhaozhao had now belong to her?


    Seeing Xia Wenjin¡¯s spirits were low, Feng Xixi decided to sit at the edge of her bed, ¡°Since I have nothing else to do, why don¡¯t you tell me about the happenings in the Shangjing Circle? Like any exciting events...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin just sat there in a daze without speaking.


    At this moment, her mind was full of thoughts about Lu Zhaozhao, and she hadn¡¯t paid any attention to what Feng Xixi was saying.


    Feng Xixi thought her previous words had been too eager and quickly explained, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to pry into your privacy. I just feel that it¡¯s a twist of fate for us to meet in a foreign country, and that¡¯s why I wanted to know about the domestic affairs.¡±


    Xia Wenjin came back to her senses and realized that she had missed what Feng Xixi had just said.


    But she quickly grasped the question from her explanation.


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips and then slowly began to speak, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sister Feng. Since I¡¯m convalescing and don¡¯t have much to do, it would be nice if I could chat to entertain you.¡±


    She was actually a bit afraid that she was of no use to Feng Xixi.


    So when she heard that she wanted to listen to domestic affairs, she suddenly found a direction.


    If she could please this woman, perhaps she might be able to stay in this country, at least until she had figured out how to take revenge on Xiao Jinglan. For now, she had to depend on the woman before her.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin spoke again, ¡°The most sensational event in the Shangjing Circle has to be the discovery that the wife of the Song Group is the biological daughter of the XJ Corporation. It created quite a stir online.¡±


    In fact, even if she had not mentioned it, Feng Xixi could have found out on her own.


    So, Xia Wenjin simply used that incident to introduce her own identity as well.


    ¡°And the unfortunate gold-digger they¡¯re talking about is me.¡±


    That¡¯s how everyone online was describing her now, and a bit of self-mockery wouldn¡¯t hurt, making it easier for others to believe she had her own difficulties.


    Sure enough, Feng Xixi¡¯s expression turned complicated for a moment, ¡°Why did you leave the Xia Family for the Lu Family in the first place? Didn¡¯t the Xia Family treat you well?¡±


    They were supposed to be the protagonists¡¯ parents, the kind of parents who would cherish their child like a treasure.


    She had switched her out initially because of the good nature of Mr. and Mrs. Xia.


    Xia Wenjin shrugged and gave a wry smile, ¡°It wasn¡¯t bad, I guess. According to the netizens, they provided for me, bought me all kinds of bags, clothes, and shoes, but they just never revealed my identity as Miss Xia. I should have been content with just that...¡±


    Feng Xixi was taken aback. Could it be that the Xia couple had noticed something?


    Otherwise, why would they not reveal her identity?


    Feng Xixi pursed her lips and suddenly wasn¡¯t so sure anymore; after all, these events happened before the start of the story...

 Chapter 459: 457 Absolutely Not!

    Chapter 459: Chapter 457 Absolutely Not!


    Xia Wenjin, seeing that Feng Xixi had remained silent, thought she didn¡¯t believe her. So, she forced a carefree, bitter smile and said, ¡°These matters have already doomed me on the internet. Therefore, in the eyes of most people, I am a bad woman. I¡¯ve gotten used to it, but I didn¡¯t want you, Sister Feng, to misunderstand me, so I explained it to you...¡±


    Feng Xixi snapped back to reality upon hearing her words and couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh. She lifted her hand to pat Xia Wenjin¡¯s back and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not someone who believes everything she reads online. I prefer to trust what I see for myself.¡±


    As she spoke, her hand slowly fell and gently took hold of Xia Wenjin¡¯s, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I just wanted to have you talk about things back home for some fun; I never intended to make you upset.¡±


    Xia Wenjin had not expected Feng Xixi to be so understanding and shook her head repeatedly, ¡°No, it was me getting sidetracked as I spoke; Sister Feng, you are not to blame.¡±


    Feng Xixi chuckled, ¡°You, you¡¯re truly a good kid; it¡¯s just that your luck has been rather poor.¡±


    It was clear she had already placed her in the position of the protagonist, yet she still hadn¡¯t managed to keep that advantage.


    Feng Xixi didn¡¯t have time to keep dragging this on with Xia Wenjin; she had to quickly figure out what point the current plot had reached.


    She pretended to console her again with a pat on the hand, ¡°I was actually just speaking off the cuff just now, don¡¯t take it too much to heart. It¡¯s better for you to rest well. You stay here and recover; once you¡¯re better, then you can make plans.¡±


    When Xia Wenjin heard Feng Xixi tell her to stay, her heart, which had been tightly wound, instantly relaxed.


    She obediently nodded, laid back down on the bed as Feng Xixi had suggested, and thought to herself that only if she settled down abroad would she have the chance to fight back...


    In the dead of night, three delicate figures jumped up to the windows of the Xiao Family¡¯s villa.


    The trio slipped quietly into the master bedroom.


    The room¡¯s curtains were not drawn, so the inside was not very dark.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump.¡±


    The sound of knocking against the headboard echoed, and Xiao Mo woke from his deep sleep. The moment he opened his eyes, he was greeted with a flurry of punches.


    He didn¡¯t even get the chance to cry out in pain before someone landed a punch on his stomach.


    Xiao Mo, in agony, rolled off the bed, clutching his belly.


    ¡°Help...me...¡±


    His voice was too weak from the pain in his stomach to call out properly.


    The next second, someone grabbed him by the hair and then furiously slapped his face over and over again.


    Xiao Mo was completely dazed from the beating.


    He couldn¡¯t even call for help and started to negotiate with the three masked figures before him, ¡°Who has paid you to do this? I can pay double!¡±


    Wen Qingyu and Lu Zhaozhao clearly hesitated, but Xu Zhenzhen paid no mind and continued to unleash a barrage of attacks on Xiao Mo.


    Xiao Mo felt like he was falling apart from the beating.


    Their home used to have 24-hour security protection outside, but due to frequent accidents at the company in the past few days, which led to a severe shortage of staff there, he had had no choice but to redeploy the home security personnel. He never expected such a thing would happen.


    If he had known things would end up like this, he would never have sent away those who were there to protect his life, no matter what.


    Xiao Mo now felt an immense regret.


    He thought about how Xiao Jinglan had dealt with Xia Wenjin overseas and a chill ran down his spine.


    What if someone was now seizing the opportunity of his illness to take his life? What then?


    He didn¡¯t want to die. He had the great Song Family business waiting for him to inherit¡ªhe couldn¡¯t die!


    Absolutely not!


    A frenzied will to survive suddenly invigorated Xiao Mo, and he hollered with all his might toward the outside, ¡°Help! Someone, save me!¡±


    Surely those outside the window couldn¡¯t hear, but those inside the room could hear him quite easily.


    Lu Zhaozhao, Xu Zhenzhen, and Wen Qingyu exchanged glances, the corners of their lips barely curling up beneath their masks.


    This was the effect they desired.


    As expected, Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren rushed over upon hearing the cry. As soon as they entered, Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu each landed a punch, knocking them to the ground.


    A family of three now lay neatly on the floor of Xiao Mo¡¯s bedroom.


    Song Keren clutched her stomach, her face filled with horror as she shakily asked, ¡°Brother, who are these people? Did you cause trouble again?¡±


    She had only recently returned from abroad and had limited encounters to offend anyone.


    Besides, by their appearance, it was obvious they were targeting Xiao Mo. If she and Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t run in, they wouldn¡¯t have been punched.


    Song Keren thought this as she gazed mournfully at Xiao Mo.


    If these ruthless people decided to silence them too, wouldn¡¯t she be unjustly killed?


    Xiao Mo clenched his teeth, ¡°I don¡¯t know who on Earth hired these people, but I¡¯m willing to pay several times more, as long as they¡¯re willing, I¡¯m willing.¡±


    Song Keren turned her head toward Lu Zhaozhao, Xu Zhenzhen, and Wen Qingyu upon hearing this, ¡°Did you hear that? My brother said he¡¯s willing to pay several times the price. As long as you stop hitting us, we can talk about money.¡±


    ¡°Earning more money is nice, but it¡¯s not necessary to tarnish our reputation for such a small sum,¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice, altered by a voice changer, caused Song Keren¡¯s face to fall.


    Bullying their Zhaozhao before had been so arrogant; she had no intention of sparing her the agony.


    Xu Zhenzhen raised her hand and slapped Song Keren several times, swiftly swelling her pretty little face.


    Wen Qingyu wasn¡¯t idle either; as Xu Zhenzhen made her move, she launched a flurry of blows on Xiao Jinglan.


    Thinking how this woman had bullied their Zhaozhao in the previous life, and although she didn¡¯t succeed this time, she remained extremely malicious. Wen Qingyu¡¯s hatred made her teeth itch with rage, and the force behind her hands intensified.


    That she didn¡¯t kill Xiao Jinglan outright was her good fortune!


    Xiao Mo watched Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren being beaten and decided to simply lie on the floor and give up.


    He had just been thrashed by three people, and he was at his limit. He felt that if he continued to be beaten, he would surely die on the spot.


    He had no energy left to call for help.


    Forget about opening the window to shout for help from outside; he didn¡¯t even have the strength to get up from the floor.


    So unless the three of them stopped of their own accord, it seemed likely all three of them would end up beaten to death there.


    Xiao Mo lay on the floor, silently waiting for judgment when suddenly, as if remembering something, his gaze turned to the button on the bedside table.


    This was the security system he had installed earlier; pressing this button would also summon people to rescue them, but could they hold out until then?


    Xiao Mo furrowed his brow, bit his teeth, and still lunged for it, pressing the button.


    Almost instantly, an alarm began to sound...

 Chapter 460: 458: Was it Them Who Acted?

    Chapter 460: Chapter 458: Was it Them Who Acted?


    Lu Zhaozhao, Xu Zhenzhen, and Wen Qingyu almost simultaneously stopped what they were doing.


    Seeing that it was Xiao Mo who had pressed the button, Xu Zhenzhen lifted her leg and kicked at his armpit before following Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu out.


    They seemed to be in a panic and accidentally dropped something.


    But they were running too hastily, and no one noticed.


    On the contrary, it was the sharp-eyed Song Keren who noticed, and she, while painfully covering her face, crawled over to pick up the item from the ground.


    It was a photograph, and the person in it was Xiao Mo.


    Song Keren furiously threw the photograph at Xiao Mo¡¯s face, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! If it weren¡¯t for you, these people wouldn¡¯t have come to our house, and I wouldn¡¯t have had to take this beating because of you!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo picked up the photograph Song Keren had thrown at him and glanced at it, his brow instantly furrowing.


    Seeing him not speaking, Song Keren grew even more infuriated, gritting her teeth, ¡°What exactly have you done? You¡¯ve nearly got mom and me killed! And what¡¯s with the bodyguards at home? Why is there not a single one around?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan also seemed to notice something was off. She slowly sat up and leaned on the sofa.


    Due to the withdrawal reaction from the poisoned cubilose earlier, her health had become very, very poor. Had those people not stopped when they did, she would likely have died here.


    ¡°Xiao Mo, why aren¡¯t the bodyguards around today?¡± Xiao Jinglan asked in a weak voice, reverberating in the room.


    Both her and Song Keren¡¯s gazes almost simultaneously turned toward Xiao Mo.


    He had quite a few enemies within the Song Group, and so the villa was usually guarded by bodyguards. The absence of the bodyguards today, under these circumstances, was very strange.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Recently, some of the security company¡¯s major clients have been encountering some trouble. They requested additional security personnel, and so the company was under some strain, which is why I reassigned all the bodyguards.¡±


    But he hadn¡¯t expected that his family would be targeted because of this.


    Thinking of this, Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t help but clench his teeth, ¡°This definitely has been orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. I will not let them off easily!¡±


    Song Keren was crying, snot and tears mixed together as she glared at Xiao Mo, ¡°What good does it do if you don¡¯t let them off? We¡¯ve already been beaten up! And they¡¯ve all run away. Where will you find them?¡±


    Xiao Mo shot a cold glance at Song Keren, shook the photograph in his hand at the two of them, ¡°With this photo, we will be able to find them.¡±


    Hearing Xiao Mo say this, Xiao Jinglan immediately felt a little relieved. If he was so certain, then there must be a way.


    Her gaze fixed steadily on Xiao Mo, she asked word by word, ¡°What clue exists in this photo?¡±


    To her, it seemed like a very ordinary photograph.


    At most, she could tell that the photograph was taken secretly.


    Xiao Mo pointed at a specific part of the photo with his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t you find the background of this photo familiar?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan and Song Keren almost simultaneously looked over, scrutinizing the background of the photo closely, but they couldn¡¯t figure out what was familiar about it.


    Song Keren was even more resigned as she muttered, ¡°If you already know, can¡¯t you just say it straight out? At this time, why are you still playing coy?¡±


    The more she spoke, the angrier she became, wishing she could just point at Xiao Mo¡¯s nose and curse him outright.


    Why did she have such rotten luck? Why did it have to be today that they came to the house?


    She would avoid a beating if she could just miss a day!


    But how would Song Keren know that it was precisely because they had seen her return to Xiao Mo¡¯s house that they decided to act?


    Xiao Jinglan raised her hand to pat Song Keren, trying her best to soothe his emotions as she said, ¡°Keren, let him explain slowly.¡±


    Though she also wanted to know as quickly as possible, at this point, they had no choice but to listen to him take his time.


    She understood this child, Xiao Mo.


    Having just been brutally beaten, his emotions weren¡¯t much better now.


    If Song Keren continued to make a scene, Xiao Mo might do something irrational, and they would be the ones to suffer the consequences.


    With that in mind, Xiao Jinglan gave Song Keren a look, and he finally quieted down.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s complexion finally began to improve, and he slowly began to speak, ¡°This photo was taken at the hospital, not long after you were admitted.¡±


    When he said this, his gaze was on Xiao Jinglan, attempting to jog his memory of the event.


    Xiao Jinglan clearly paused, her eyes returning to the photo before realizing that the background wall was indeed from a hospital.


    The more she looked, the more familiar it seemed, until suddenly, as if remembering something, she declared decisively, ¡°This is Feng Jiyue¡¯s hospital room! Only the wards on this floor have this decoration.¡±


    The only people who could have taken a photo of Xiao Mo from this angle were Feng Jiyue and Hao Li.


    Thinking of this, Xiao Jinglan bit her teeth in anger, ¡°So it was them who did this? I¡¯ll make sure these two pay with their lives!¡±


    Having already had the experience of dealing with Xia Wenjin¡¯s death abroad, she now felt confident and fearless.


    Xiao Mo, sitting beside her, shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t be rash.¡±


    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be?¡± Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face contorted with hatred, ¡°They¡¯ve already tried to have us killed, should we just sit back and wait for death?¡± Ever since she learned of her impending death, she carried an air of defiance that bowed to no one.


    Anyone who dared mess with her, she¡¯d make sure they paid dearly, especially since she didn¡¯t have long to live anyway.


    Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t care in the least¡ªshe was more than willing to take a few others down with her when her time came.


    Especially those despicable people trying to seize her son¡¯s business¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t spare a single one!


    Let alone those who had schemed against them!


    With a bit of a headache, Xiao Mo pressed his temples, ¡°Wait until the matter of Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance is fully blown over. After that, you can do as you please, but not now.¡±


    The police were still investigating Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance, and if Xiao Jinglan acted rashly now, it could very well expose their involvement with Xia Wenjin, backfiring on themselves.


    As long as they safely got through Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance, Xiao Jinglan could deal with Feng family¡¯s people any way she wanted.


    He didn¡¯t mind at all.


    Although Xiao Jinglan disagreed with Xiao Mo¡¯s suggestion, to avoid exposing themselves over Xia Wenjin, she reluctantly nodded in agreement.


    Song Keren, who had been listening on the side, seemed to pick up on something. Her eyebrows shot up and she said almost incredulously, ¡°The disappearance of Xia Wenjin wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with you two, would it?¡±


    If she remembered correctly, Xiao Mo had recently been making public statements through various media outlets, asking for help from all parties to find Xia Wenjin.


    His Mr. Nice Guy act at that time had seemed quite comedic to her.


    Those unaware might even think their relationship was full of love.

 Chapter 461: 459 Its All That Womans Fault!

    Chapter 461: Chapter 459 It¡¯s All That Woman¡¯s Fault!


    She had originally wanted to return and mock Xiao Mo for his pretentious act.


    Yet now, she had shockingly discovered that the disappearance of Xia Wenjin was related to her mother and brother, making Song Keren feel a chilling sensation down her spine.


    If Xia Wenjin was dead, would they not be murderers?


    Then she would be the daughter of murderers.


    Thinking of this, Song Keren suddenly shivered.


    Xiao Mo glanced at Song Keren, his brows furrowed, ¡°What are you daydreaming about? I¡¯m just worried that some people will use Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance as an excuse to cause trouble for me.¡±


    As he spoke, he lifted his elbow and nudged Xiao Jinglan, signaling her to explain to Song Keren.


    Among the three of them, Song Keren was the most cowardly. If she ever found out that the two of them had killed Xia Wenjin, she would probably be terrified out of her wits.


    If her brain malfunctioned and her mouth moved too quickly, and she let the secret slip, he would be the one to suffer.


    Xiao Jinglan, of course, understood Xiao Mo¡¯s intention right away. She hurriedly controlled her irritable mood and managed to squeeze out a smile.


    She said to Song Keren, ¡°I was indeed impulsive just now. There¡¯s no lead on Xia Wenjin¡¯s matter yet, people outside don¡¯t know how to frame us, I really shouldn¡¯t have added trouble at this time.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Keren didn¡¯t speak but stared intently at Xiao Jinglan. Why did she always feel that their words just now meant something else?


    Xiao Jinglan naturally noticed Song Keren¡¯s hesitation and sighed softly, ¡°Your brother is already walking on thin ice in the Song Group, even a minor matter might cause him trouble. Let¡¯s not add to his problems.¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s lips twitched, add to his problems?


    Even if she didn¡¯t cause him any, he didn¡¯t seem to be doing too well anyway.


    Ever since their marriage, they had been completely ostracized by the Song family.


    ¡°Now, with the news about Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance spreading like wildfire outside, the best thing to do is to wait for her to show up. Until then, it¡¯s best for all of you not to make any rash moves.¡± Xiao Mo said this, glancing toward Xiao Jinglan, and the two of them slightly nodded to each other, a silent understanding between them.


    And beside them, Song Keren completely missed the subtle exchange between the two.


    She had indeed been shocked initially due to the suspicion that her brother and mother had caused Xia Wenjin¡¯s death.


    But as she thought about how Xia Wenjin might return soon, her brows furrowed tightly.


    If it weren¡¯t for Xia Wenjin seducing Justin earlier, her relationship with her husband wouldn¡¯t be so strained. It was all that woman¡¯s fault!


    She suddenly found herself hoping that Xia Wenjin would just die out there, or perhaps run off with another man.


    Above all, she wanted her not to return, so that Justin would stop fantasizing about her.


    Song Keren¡¯s expression darkened, and she reached out to grasp Xiao Jinglan¡¯s wrist and shake it, ¡°Mom, can¡¯t we just give up on finding Xia Wenjin, maybe she ran off with another man?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyebrows shot up, surprised by Song Keren¡¯s swift change of attitude.


    She had been thinking about another excuse in case Song Keren didn¡¯t believe what she and Xiao Mo had said, but it turned out she was rather open-minded.


    Xiao Jinglan gave Song Keren a look and rolled her eyes wordlessly, ¡°Even if she ran off with another man, there needs to be evidence of her running off with someone...¡±


    After all, she was already dead.


    Listening to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, Song Keren narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at Xiao Jinglan, then turned to Xiao Mo.


    ¡°If ... we create the illusion that Xia Wenjin eloped with someone, wouldn¡¯t she need not come back?¡±


    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, yet it struck Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan like a thunderclap.


    They suddenly felt that what Song Keren had said made a great deal of sense.


    However, neither of them spoke, which led Song Keren to think they were not considering her proposal, so she planned to persist in persuading them.


    ¡°You both don¡¯t like Xia Wenjin, and if that woman wanted to come back, she would have done so already. What if something actually happened to her abroad? Our family should sever ties with her as soon as possible, shouldn¡¯t we?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan thoughtfully nodded, ¡°It does seem reasonable, but how can we prove ...¡±


    Hearing Xiao Jinglan inclining towards her idea, Song Keren quickly said, ¡°We can¡¯t find Xia Wenjin now, but we can find someone who looks similar to her, even if just from the side. Click some distant photos, and that should work, right?¡±


    As for the person they¡¯d find, as long as they paid enough, they wouldn¡¯t worry about finding a suitable person.


    After all, who could resist money?


    Song Keren thought this, feeling triumphant in her heart.


    Deservingly hers, she was indeed clever!


    Xiao Jinglan frowned slightly, his gaze involuntarily shifting to Xiao Mo.


    Since they knew that Xia Wenjin¡¯s supposed disappearance was due to her being dead, they had been wondering how to wait for public opinion to settle down.


    They hadn¡¯t thought of using other methods to divert attention.


    But Song Keren, unaware of the true situation, purely disliked Xia Wenjin, so her idea was more likely to help them.


    Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes, ¡°This is indeed a good method. Even if Xia Wenjin comes back, we can still accuse her of having an affair.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan also nodded repeatedly, ¡°Exactly, this method is better!¡±


    Thus, the news of Xia Wenjin¡¯s death successfully turned into a headline about ¡°eloping for love.¡±


    By then, no one would care about the life or death of Xia Wenjin!


    The two smiled at each other unanimously, agreeing entirely with Song Keren¡¯s opinion.


    Song Keren instantly became excited, ¡°I just happen to know many such actors in the entertainment industry, I can help you contact these people!¡±


    Xiao Mo pressed his eyebrows together, ¡°Do you understand the consequences if this matter leaks out?¡±


    Song Keren paused, then quickly grasped Xiao Mo¡¯s concern.


    He was worried that if someone exposed their hiring of someone to impersonate Xia Wenjin, it would be their family that would face shame.


    Song Keren pursed her lips, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to find someone discreet, don¡¯t worry, leave this matter to me!¡±


    As long as Xia Wenjin stayed abroad and never came back, she was willing to help.


    More than Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s dignity, she cared about herself.


    She wanted Justin to know that Xia Wenjin was a fickle woman, unworthy of him, that only she and he were truly meant to be!


    Thinking thus, Song Keren slowly got up from the ground, but her whole body was in severe pain due to being beaten.


    She subconsciously raised her hand to touch her face, grimacing in pain. It seemed she would have to wait for the swelling on her face to go down before she could go out...

 Chapter 462: 460 His Punishment Is Truly Too Light

    Chapter 462: Chapter 460 His Punishment Is Truly Too Light


    Song Keren seemed to suddenly remember something else and turned to look at Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°How do you plan to resolve the incident with the Feng family assaulting us?¡±


    She had indeed been frightened by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words earlier, so her focus had shifted.


    But the thought that she returned to Xiao¡¯s house for no reason, only to be beaten violently, made her very upset.


    She knew about the previous grievances between the Feng family and their family, so she looked down on the Feng family.


    Especially when she thought about how the Feng family wanted to re-enter the Shangjing Circle by leveraging the marriage between Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian, it really annoyed her.


    Their family had already been driven out by the Song Family. Why should the Feng family?


    They were already mortal enemies with the Feng family, and if the Feng family established a foothold in the Shangjing Circle, she would be the one to suffer in the end.


    The relationship between her and Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t good, and she had Xia Wenjin, a sister-in-law with a poor reputation.


    In the future, if she had any conflict with the women from the Feng family, no one would help her.


    Xiao Jinglan intended to speak, but remembering how cowardly Song Keren had been just a moment ago, she opened her mouth only to hesitate at the last second.


    Fortunately, Xiao Mo saw this and took over the conversation, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t let the Feng family off. At the very least, I¡¯ll make sure they have no standing in the Shangjing Circle!¡±


    Song Keren was very satisfied with this response and nodded, ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡±


    As the sky was about to lighten, Lu Zhaozhao finally returned to the hospital.


    As soon as she pushed the door and entered, she saw Song Sinian sitting in the hospital room.


    Under the dim light, he sat quietly on the bed, holding a book, looking as if he were enjoying a peaceful moment in time.


    Lu Zhaozhao stood there, momentarily stunned.


    She had just been hot-blooded and triumphant at Xiao Mo¡¯s house, alongside Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu, but now, suddenly seeing Song Sinian, the ardor in her heart settled down.


    Lu Zhaozhao took off her coat and tossed it onto the sofa, then directly got into the covers.


    ¡°Mr. Song, why are you up so early?¡±


    Even though she had just been wearing thick clothes, her body still carried the chill of early morning.


    Song Sinian held her cold hands and couldn¡¯t help but frown, ¡°My dear wife has gone out late at night; do you think I can sleep peacefully?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt guilty.


    Although Song Sinian had agreed to let her go out with Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu to beat up Xiao Mo and the others, he hadn¡¯t given permission for her to go out late at night.


    Especially since it was almost dawn by the time she returned.


    It was only natural for Song Sinian to be upset.


    Thinking this way, Lu Zhaozhao snuggled closer into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, attempting to escape reproach by acting coquettishly.


    Seeing her meek behavior, Song Sinian sighed helplessly, ¡°Did you enjoy yourself out there?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao buried her head, not daring to say whether she was happy or not.


    Seeing her silent, Song Sinian withdrew one hand and gently rubbed her head, ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you, not looking to lose my temper at you.¡±


    All he wanted was for her to be happy and healthy. As for the rest, he didn¡¯t dare to ask for more.


    He had never sought to change her nature.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head tilted slightly upward, and she looked at Song Sinian with a bit of trepidation. Seeing that he really wasn¡¯t angry, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    She crawled up a bit and then nestled into his arms, murmuring, ¡°Of course, there¡¯s a teensy bit of happiness in going out with Zhenzhen and the others to deal with those bastards, but what makes me happier is being able to be with Mr. Song.¡±


    Upon hearing her words, Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but pinch her soft little face, ¡°Buttery tongue.¡±


    But he liked it.


    Seeing that Song Sinian wasn¡¯t angry, Lu Zhaozhao finally relaxed, snuggling in his arms and saying, ¡°Tomorrow I won¡¯t have to see Xiao Mo pretend to be a good husband in front of the media anymore, no more sore eyes.¡±


    Song Sinian lightly embraced Lu Zhaozhao from behind, his chin rubbing against the tip of her ear, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see him, I can make him disappear completely, so you won¡¯t be troubled.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao already knew his methods; there was no need for him to hide anymore.


    The people she liked, she let them stay around her; those she disliked, she let them disappear.


    As long as she was happy, that was what mattered.


    But the premise was, she could only like him the most for that to be possible.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head tilted slightly, and looking into Song Sinian¡¯s watery eyes, they instantly curved into crescents, ¡°I just knew Mr. Song treats me the best, but making scum like Xiao Mo disappear directly is far too lenient a punishment for him.¡±


    In her previous life, Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan coveted Song Sinian¡¯s family fortune and status, and together they conspired to kill him, but in this life, her changes prevented their success.


    But that didn¡¯t mean she would easily forgive these two.


    Xiao Jinglan thought Xiao Mo was her most prized son, didn¡¯t she?


    Let her watch with her own eyes how her son fell step by step into the mud. She would certainly feel worse than death, wouldn¡¯t she?


    Especially when she already knew her days were numbered. There was nothing more desperate than this, was there?


    All her painstaking efforts had gone to waste...


    Song Sinian cast his gaze down at Lu Zhaozhao, and as their eyes met, Lu Zhaozhao turned her little face away, speaking uncertainly, ¡°Hubby, do you think I¡¯m too cruel?¡±


    After her rebirth, she actually didn¡¯t care about these things anymore.


    She just wanted them to be punished!


    But the thought of possibly lowering her image in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes still made her uncomfortable.


    Song Sinian chuckled lightly, reaching out to pinch her chin, teasingly saying, ¡°I actually wish you could be more vicious, so that no Tom, Dick, or Harry would dare to mess around in front of you.¡±


    He found... that ever since he was injured, Lu Zhaozhao had become much more fierce than before.


    Although he felt sorry for her, he liked the feeling of her not caring about anyone and directly trampling over others in a frenzy.


    Song Sinian hoped that Lu Zhaozhao would be a bit more fierce outwardly, so that those old fossils in the Song Group and others wouldn¡¯t bully her easily because of her gentle appearance.


    Actually, it was a good thing.


    Unable to help herself, Lu Zhaozhao giggled in Song Sinian¡¯s arms. When she tilted her little head to look at him, her eyes instantly filled with stars.


    ¡°Song Sinian, I suddenly feel so lucky to have met you and to have had you fall in love with me.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao stretched out her little hand to touch Song Sinian¡¯s cheek.


    His indulgence in her was unparalleled under the heavens and on earth.


    It seemed that no matter what she did, he didn¡¯t find it inappropriate.


    Lu Zhaozhao liked this wholehearted trust he had in her, giving her a sense of overwhelming security.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils blinked slightly, his gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao filled with a different light, ¡°I am glad that you like it.¡±


    As he spoke, he slowly lowered his head, approaching Lu Zhaozhao. Just as their lips were about to touch, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly tilted her little head...

 Chapter 463: 461: I Will Be Good from Now On

    Chapter 463: Chapter 461: I Will Be Good from Now On


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold it back and sneezed.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow furrowed almost instantly, ¡°Do you have a cold?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly shook her head, ¡°No, I just felt a bit of an itch in my nose... I...¡±


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s following words were cut off by two more sneezes.


    Now even if she wanted to deny it, it was too late.


    Song Sinian immediately wrapped her in the blanket and pressed the emergency bell by the bed.


    Soon, the doctor arrived in their private hospital room.


    The on-duty doctor, because of his haste, nearly stumbled and fell as he rushed over and asked, ¡°Mr. Song, what seems to be the problem?¡±


    He pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose and immediately moved forward to examine Song Sinian.


    He heard Song Sinian¡¯s cool voice slowly say, ¡°It¡¯s not me, my wife has caught a cold.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    The doctor stood still, completely stiff, thinking he must have misheard.


    He had heard the emergency bell and thought something serious had happened to Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian was, after all, the CEO of Song Group, the most privileged patient in their hospital.


    Though he was only hospitalized because of a knife wound on his arm, he was listed for intensive care.


    All the doctors were on edge around him.


    Seeing the doctor not reacting, Song Sinian¡¯s brows were almost tied in a knot as he repeated his earlier words, ¡°I said my wife has a cold, now treat her immediately, right now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao sensed the room¡¯s atmosphere growing cold and quickly forced a smile at the doctor in apology, ¡°Doctor, I¡¯m sorry, my husband just cares about me too much. I only sneezed a couple of times, might have caught a slight cold, could you please prescribe something for me?¡±


    She certainly didn¡¯t want the doctor to suffer because she caught a chill going outside.


    The doctor came back to his senses, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, thankful that the CEO¡¯s wife had a relatively mild temperament.


    Otherwise, given Song Sinian¡¯s volatile mood, the doctor always felt like he could collapse on the spot.


    The doctor forced a professional smile, ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll examine your wife right now. If it¡¯s just a simple cold, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand was still tightly holding Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, but his brow showed no signs of relaxing.


    Lu Zhaozhao squeezed his hand back and winked playfully at him, ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t worry, I will obediently take my medicine and listen to you. Can you stop worrying now, please?¡±


    The corners of Song Sinian¡¯s brows didn¡¯t loosen at all, instead, he looked at her discontentedly and said flatly, ¡°When I got injured, you... umm...¡±


    He wanted to say more but was cut off by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand covering his mouth.


    Lu Zhaozhao, with her face flushed red, stared at Song Sinian and muttered softly in his ear, ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough that I admitted my fault? Can¡¯t you, as the magnanimous person you are, let me off this once?¡±


    Her voice was soft and coquettish in his ear, and no matter how angry Song Sinian was, in that moment, it all disappeared.


    He just couldn¡¯t resist her when she was this soft and coquettish, always acting spoiled towards him.


    Ah! She really had him defeated.


    Song Sinian nodded at the doctor, and in the end, couldn¡¯t resist reminding him, ¡°Make the cold medicine a bit sweeter.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Fine then.


    The CEO has spoken, what more could they say?


    But being fed such an amount of dog food right to your face really doesn¡¯t feel too great.


    The doctor hurriedly checked on Lu Zhaozhao and then left dejectedly.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched the doctor¡¯s fleeing figure and couldn¡¯t help but snicker.


    She looked up at Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m already an adult; I don¡¯t need sweet medicine for a cold.¡±


    Song Sinian leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose, ¡°I can¡¯t control others, but you are my wife, and I have to take care of you. Being sick is already uncomfortable enough; I don¡¯t want you to suffer even more from taking medicine.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was speechless at his logic but felt a fullness in her heart.


    Indeed, being spoiled unconditionally was an incredibly happy thing, so she hoped she could also make Song Sinian feel this kind of unconditional love.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought so, and with a little stretch of her hand, she wrapped it around Song Sinian¡¯s neck.


    Her chin rubbed against the nape of his neck, ¡°Hubby, I¡¯ll be good from now on.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t hear Song Sinian¡¯s response and looked up at him, only to see Song Sinian turn her over and press her onto the bed.


    He leaned over her, his warm breath falling gently on the tip of her nose.


    The familiar feeling made her unconsciously cling closer to Song Sinian.


    Now, she looked up at him, only to be pressed into the blanket by Song Sinian and then rolled up tightly.


    ¡°Being good later doesn¡¯t beat being good right now.¡±


    Song Sinian said as he lay down next to her, patting the cocooned Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Tonight, you should just sleep well here.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°...¡±


    The next day, having dealt with Xiao Mo¡¯s family, Xu Zhenzhen went to Song Group spiritedly.


    However, as soon as she arrived at the office, she ran into Hao Jiayi right outside Xia Wenqing¡¯s office door.


    She was holding a cup of coffee, seemingly about to knock and enter.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows raised slightly as she watched her coldly, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    Hao Jiayi jumped with a start from the sudden voice behind her, almost spilling the coffee, but when she saw that it was Xu Zhenzhen, she regained her composure.


    ¡°I was just bringing Lawyer Xia a cup of coffee. I saw that he didn¡¯t look too well when he entered his office this morning, probably because he didn¡¯t rest well last night.¡±


    Her words were very gentle, sounding like an extremely conscientious office assistant.


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°How well he looks, whether he rested well last night, I, as his girlfriend, surely know better than you, don¡¯t I?¡±


    She deliberately made her words sound ambiguous, just to cut off Hao Jiayi¡¯s hopes.


    Lawyer Xia had already made it public that she was his girlfriend. So why were people still throwing themselves at him?


    So annoying!


    There was a Liu Xiaozhen who used to come to Xia Wenqing¡¯s office every now and then, and she had been quite bothersome.


    And now there¡¯s a Hao Jiayi who¡¯s always trying to sneak into her man¡¯s office; Xu Zhenzhen was even more annoyed.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s face changed colors upon hearing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words, ¡°Assistant Xu, I think you misunderstood. I was only worried about Lawyer Xia, which is why I made him coffee. I had no intention of competing with you for Lawyer Xia... I...¡±


    Her voice sounded pitiful, as if she had been bullied by Xu Zhenzhen.


    The two of them stood at the office door; their voices were not loud, but the door to the office was not completely shut...

 Chapter 464: 462: Song Sinian is Crazy

    Chapter 464: Chapter 462: Song Sinian is Crazy


    So there was basically no soundproofing effect at all.


    Xia Wenqing just had to not be deaf, and he definitely would have heard it, which was exactly Hao Jiayi¡¯s intention.


    No man would like a girlfriend who made unreasonable scenes, acting sour and jealous in the office.


    Hao Jiayi was convinced that all men loved to save face, which is why she deliberately staged this scene.


    All she had to do now was stand pitifully at the door, waiting for Xia Wenqing to come out and back her up.


    Even if Xu Zhenzhen was his girlfriend now, what could it do?


    A man¡¯s mind can change on the drop of a hat.


    They only care about their own face; who would care why their girlfriend was jealous?


    Moreover, she was quite attractive, any man who saw her in this pitiful state would be moved by her vulnerability and willingly become her protector.


    Hao Jiayi believed that as soon as Xia Wenqing walked out of this office, he couldn¡¯t help but be moved by her.


    She had used this tactic before, successfully won over Feng Jiyue, and avoided the risk of marrying some other old man.


    Although Feng Jiyue was not a good catch, he was, after all, the Feng family¡¯s darling, showered with love and indulgence.


    The Feng Family looked down on her, but with Feng Jiyue around, they had to tolerate her.


    Hao Jiayi knew that Feng Jiyue would never marry her, so while stringing him along, she looked for other options for herself.


    It wasn¡¯t until Hao Li and Feng Jiyue schemed together to have her seduce Song Sinian that this opportunity arose.


    Hao Jiayi was quite taken with the photo of Song Sinian.


    However, she soon realized a problem.


    Song Sinian was crazy.


    To anyone other than Lu Zhaozhao, he was indifferent, not treating them as humans at all.


    Precisely, there were only two kinds of people in his world: Lu Zhaozhao and everyone else.


    She did not want to mess with such a lunatic.


    Hao Jiayi had to switch targets at the last minute, but luckily, given the size and wealth of the Song Group, finding an elite gentleman was easy enough.


    So, taking this chance, she successfully found her desired target¡ªXia Wenqing.


    He was not only the young master of XJ Group but also the brother-in-law of the Song Group.


    Naturally, Xia Wenqing¡¯s status and standing were impeccable, besides, he was handsome and had a gentle personality.


    Although he seemed a bit old-fashioned on the surface and was meticulous in his actions, it was precisely such men that were easy to manipulate.


    Hao Jiayi liked to target men who were prideful yet meticulous.


    But to her surprise, she and Xu Zhenzhen had stood at the office door for several minutes, and the man inside showed no sign of coming out.


    What on earth was going on?


    Had he not heard them?


    Xu Zhenzhen watched Hao Jiayi¡¯s face changing like the seventy-two transformations of Sun Wukong, a different expression every moment, and couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corner of her mouth.


    ¡°Assistant Hao Jiayi, if you want to cry, just cry; if you want to laugh, just laugh. You¡¯re crying one minute, laughing the next, and twitching after that. Did you have too many plastic surgery procedures before, and now you can¡¯t control your facial expressions?¡±


    Hao Jiayi choked on her words, her face growing uglier by the second. The pitiful look she had maintained instantly cracked, ¡°Assistant Xu, aren¡¯t you going a bit too far? My face is all natural!¡±


    Although she had made some minor adjustments a few times, this level was definitely not considered plastic surgery!


    She couldn¡¯t allow her to slander her in front of others!


    Especially in front of Xia Wenqing!


    This scheming woman was doing it on purpose!


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but give Hao Jiayi a disdainful look, ¡°Whether your face is original or not, you know it well enough, there¡¯s no need for you to get worked up over my casual remark.¡±


    ¡°I... you...¡±


    ¡°Alright, enough, don¡¯t say anymore,¡± Xu Zhenzhen deliberately lowered her voice as she leaned in and whispered, ¡°When you have some free time, you should look in the mirror and practice your expressions a bit. That teeth-grinding look from just now was really ugly.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Hao Jiayi was so angry she almost clenched her teeth to pieces, but she was outside Xia Wenqing¡¯s office door, so she could not show it too obviously. Instead, she glared fiercely at Xu Zhenzhen before turning around and leaving the office doorway.


    Xu Zhenzhen watched Hao Jiayi¡¯s retreating figure and then pushed open the office door and strode in.


    At this moment, Xia Wenqing was resting his chin on his hands, watching her with great interest.


    Xu Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow, ¡°You heard everything just now?¡±


    Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t try to hide it and nodded at Xu Zhenzhen.


    He wouldn¡¯t say that he had been looking forward to her arrival ever since he came to the office this morning, so all his attention had been on the office door.


    In fact, as soon as the two had approached the office door, he had heard the commotion outside.


    Xia Wenqing had wanted to go out and help, but after he heard Xu Zhenzhen scolding Hao Jiayi so confidently, he decided to wait for her to come in.


    Xu Zhenzhen started feeling a bit embarrassed.


    She awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, and cautiously walked to Xia Wenqing¡¯s side to ask, ¡°So... Big Brother, don¡¯t you think I was too fierce?¡±


    Xia Wenqing almost immediately sensed her nervous emotions.


    He reached out to rub Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s head and chuckled softly, ¡°How could I? No matter what, you always appear cute to me, I like you as a person, and it wouldn¡¯t change just because you¡¯re a bit different from what I¡¯d imagined.¡±


    Furthermore, Xu Zhenzhen had been the one he had liked for so many years.


    He had dreamed of keeping Xu Zhenzhen by his side. What did a little temper matter?


    He was far too pleased to even think about complaining.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheeks blushed slightly as she leaned closer to Xia Wenqing and planted a kiss on his cheek with a ¡°smack.¡±


    Xia Wenqing froze instantly. He almost instinctively touched his own cheek and then stared blankly at Xu Zhenzhen.


    She had kissed him, and it was the first time she had taken the initiative while being fully aware.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but leap excitedly. He thought he was a steady person, but after that kiss from Xu Zhenzhen, he suddenly felt like he had reverted to a young man just over 20 years old.


    He wished he could rush over now, pull her into his arms, and kiss her fiercely.


    As Xia Wenqing entertained this thought, his gaze towards Xu Zhenzhen darkened significantly.


    Xu Zhenzhen saw that Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t responding and felt unsure as she looked at him.


    Had her actions just now been too impulsive?


    Back in school, Xia Wenqing was famously prudent, always meticulous and intolerant of even the slightest mistake during his research. An individual with such traits would likely approach matters of love in an orderly fashion, right?


    Was her behavior just now overstepping the line?


    Xu Zhenzhen had wanted to ask Xia Wenqing, but seeing he was still silent, just quietly staring at her, her heart couldn¡¯t help but falter...

 Chapter 465: 463: She must have taken the initiative!

    Chapter 465: Chapter 463: She must have taken the initiative!


    ¡°Brother, just say what you have to say. When you look at me like that, I...I get scared.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but swallow, her beautiful watery eyes blinked, and almost subconsciously, she took a step back.


    Xia Wenqing looked at her timid reaction and couldn¡¯t help but laugh inwardly, yet he maintained an extremely indifferent facade and waved her over.


    ¡°If you want to know what I¡¯m thinking, you can come a little closer.¡±


    His voice was low and filled with seduction, like the song of a beautiful siren from the depths of the sea, fatal in its enticement to humans.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s sixth sense told her that it was very dangerous to get close to Xia Wenqing now, but she still couldn¡¯t control her steps, moving closer to him step by step.


    Just as she was about to get close to Xia Wenqing, his long arm reached out and scooped her into his embrace.


    Xu Zhenzhen felt the world spin, and without realizing, she sat down on Xia Wenqing¡¯s lap. When she regained her senses and realized what had happened, her entire body stiffened.


    ¡°Two, two, two...¡±


    Suddenly being so close to Xia Wenqing, Xu Zhenzhen found herself stuttering on the spot.


    She had always thought she was brave, but she hadn¡¯t realized that in matters of the heart, she was more cowardly than anyone.


    She had been the one to kiss Xia Wen first, but now being held in his arms, she dared not even move.


    What was more embarrassing was that she couldn¡¯t even manage to form a full sentence, and Xu Zhenzhen utterly despised herself inside her mind.


    Xia Wenqing was clearly pleased by her adorable reaction; he lowered his head and gently pecked her on the tip of her nose, immediately seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s pretty watery eyes widen.


    The corners of Xia Wenqing¡¯s mouth slightly curved up, followed by a kiss on her cheek. The more kisses he gave her, the more dramatic her facial expressions became, making it impossible for him to stop.


    Xia Wenqing initially just wanted to tease her, but seeing her cute reactions, he couldn¡¯t help but want to keep doing it.


    After a moment, seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s entire face flush red, Xia Wenqing finally decided to give her a break.


    ¡°Zhen...¡±


    He was about to speak when Xu Zhenzhen suddenly reached out with both hands, hooked them around his neck, and fiercely pulled herself towards him.


    The next second, her soft lips met his, and Xia Wenqing felt his heart tremble, his carefully restrained emotions instantly crumbling.


    His large hands tightened around the back of her head and the other around her slender waist, leaving no room for Xu Zhenzhen to pull away.


    His palm was hot, pressing against the fabric on her lower back, feeling his taut body, Xia Wenqing somewhat wickedly tightened his grip, lightly pinching the soft flesh at her waist.


    ¡°Mmm...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen let out a soft moan, her whole body going limp in his arms.


    But the very next second, she angrily nibbled on his lips as a sort of retaliation.


    She was afraid of hurting Xia Wenqing, so the bite was neither too light nor too heavy, just enough to make him feel a tingling sensation.


    This only piqued Xia Wenqing¡¯s interest even more.


    He seized the opportunity to grab her index finger, pulled her onto the office desk, and leaned in close.


    The breathing between them gradually deepened, and their heartbeats echoed prominently in the quiet room.


    ¡°Thump, thump...¡±


    Suddenly, Xu Zhenzhen felt a chill at her neck and shoulder, her rationality swiftly returning. ¡°Two... Mmm...¡±


    She was about to say something when her mouth was blocked again by his.


    Just as Xu Zhenzhen was being kissed into a daze by Xia Wenqing, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    The bodies of the two people who were intimately close stiffened simultaneously.


    Xu Zhenzhen reflexively jumped up from Xia Wenqing¡¯s lap.


    She quickly straightened her clothes, her entire face excessively flushed.


    Xu Zhenzhen had never imagined that Xia Wenqing could also lose control, especially with her.


    This novel feeling made her heart skip with excitement.


    She took out a mirror from her purse and tidied herself up thoroughly. Xia Wenqing also straightened his collar before shouting, ¡°Come in.¡±


    As Xu Zhenzhen intended to walk past Xia Wenqing and calmly grab a cup of coffee, she couldn¡¯t help but sneak another glance at him, and that glance nearly scared her soul away.


    Xu Zhenzhen hurriedly ran back, picked up the handkerchief in her hand, and wiped Xia Wenqing¡¯s lips.


    Their moment had been so intense that her lipstick had smeared onto Xia Wenqing¡¯s lips.


    What if someone saw this...


    Her heart pounded as she wiped his lips, feeling his lips gradually curve into a smile.


    ¡°Cough, cough...¡±


    A cough came from the doorway, and the two of them regained their senses and looked over, only to find that the person entering was Liu Xiaozhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows furrowed immediately. Why was it her again?


    This woman really wanted to ruin everything between her and Xia Wenqing every time. Luckily, Xia Wenqing was her boyfriend now; otherwise, who knows how long she would have been deceived by her.


    Thinking about Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s past actions, Xu Zhenzhen grew even more wary of her, ¡°Lawyer Liu, what brings you here now?¡±


    She made no effort to hide her dislike for Liu Xiaozhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen used to think that Liu Xiaozhen was Xia Wenqing¡¯s unattainable crush, so she worried whether Xia Wenqing might dislike her because of her attitude.


    It turned out to be merely pretense by that woman.


    Their Lawyer Xia had always kept himself pure.


    And the Zhenzhen he liked was none other than herself, Xu Zhenzhen!


    Xia Wenqing gave her tremendous security and confidence, allowing Xu Zhenzhen to stand tall.


    Liu Xiaozhen forced a smile, ¡°I¡¯m here, of course, to discuss important matters with Lawyer Xia, I...¡±


    Her smile halted abruptly upon seeing Xia Wenqing¡¯s face.


    Just now, when she knocked on the office door, she felt that the time it took to enter was a bit too long.


    Right after entering, she saw Xu Zhenzhen wiping Xia Wenqing¡¯s mouth, their closeness prompting her to cough deliberately to interrupt them.


    But now it seemed, their actions weren¡¯t just mere wiping.


    There was clearly a woman¡¯s lipstick mark on Xia Wenqing¡¯s lips!


    Had he just kissed Xu Zhenzhen in the office?


    Or was it Xu Zhenzhen, that shameless woman, who had initiated the kiss with Xia Wenqing?


    But Liu Xiaozhen thought to herself, it must have been Xu Zhenzhen who made the first move!


    Xia Wenqing, with his old-fashioned demeanor, how could he possibly do such an inappropriate thing in a public setting with Xu Zhenzhen?


    It must have been Xu Zhenzhen who initiated it!


    And she must have done it to seduce Xia Wenqing!


    With that thought alone, Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s anger uncontrollably surged.


    She looked coldly at Xu Zhenzhen, her voice dropping a few degrees colder, ¡°Assistant Xu, this is a workplace, shouldn¡¯t you restrain yourself a bit? After all, President Song pays you not for you to romance here. Moreover, your actions might affect Lawyer Xia¡¯s work...¡±

 Chapter 466: 464: You, are truly willful

    Chapter 466: Chapter 464: You, are truly willful


    Although she addressed Xu Zhenzhen, her words were actually meant for Xia Wenqing.


    She knew Xia Wenqing, a man who was always serious and responsible, no matter the time. He would never allow his girlfriend to affect his work.


    Even Xu Zhenzhen could not be an exception.


    She still remembered how, back in school, Xia Wenqing did not even spare a teacher¡¯s face, so how could he possibly give Xu Zhenzhen any face?


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°Speaking of affecting Lawyer Xia¡¯s work, aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s been most disruptive, Lawyer Liu? Your collaboration with our law firm should have ended long ago, yet you keep showing up here from time to time. What exactly is your purpose?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face visibly soured, but she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Lawyer Xia and I were classmates, and now that I have come to China, I want to find a good law firm. Is it wrong to ask him for advice?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged, ¡°If you want to go to other law firms, that¡¯s up to you, but as for the Song Group, forget about it.¡±


    Just because of the relationship between Lu Zhaozhao and him, her precious Zhaozhao would never allow someone like Liu Xiaozhen, with impure intentions, to come to the Song Group.


    Upon hearing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words, Liu Xiaozhen snorted softly, ¡°With my qualifications, I can pick any domestic law firm I want. How could the Song Group possibly not want me?¡±


    Xia Wenqing listened to Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s overly confident words, his eyebrows slightly rose, and he said indifferently, ¡°Zhenzhen is right, the Song Group indeed will not take you, and it has nothing to do with your abilities.¡±


    Just because of his and Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s discord, Lu Zhaozhao would never let Song Sinian hire her.


    Even if Liu Xiaozhen had high qualifications and abilities, she still wouldn¡¯t be able to enter the Song Group.


    Moreover, the Song Group now had him, they didn¡¯t need another Liu Xiaozhen.


    Hearing Xia Wenqing backing her up, Xu Zhenzhen became even more triumphant, she looked at Liu Xiaozhen with her chin slightly raised, ¡°Did you hear that, Lawyer Liu? It has nothing to do with your qualifications.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists, seething inside.


    Her gaze moved unsatisfactorily from Xu Zhenzhen to Xia Wenqing, with a look of disbelief, ¡°Lawyer Xia, with the history between us, are you really not going to help me?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen listened, her brow furrowed slightly, and she was about to say something when it seemed she thought better of it and closed her little mouth.


    Xia Wenqing and Liu Xiaozhen had often been grouped together in school and had collaborated seamlessly, so Xu Zhenzhen hesitated upon hearing them mention their past partnership.


    After all, they still had a camaraderie from their school days, and she had no right to demand Xia Wenqing ignore all that.


    It wouldn¡¯t be good for his reputation at school.


    Xu Zhenzhen knew this was the right thing to do, but her mood was not very good.


    Everyone wants their beloved to be biased toward them, and she was no exception.


    Especially seeing how Song Si treated Lu Zhaozhao with such indulgence, she too hoped her lover would treat her the same way.


    But Xia Wenqing was not Song Si.


    He had his own principles and integrity, so Xu Zhenzhen never held out much hope.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t care what Liu Xiaozhen was saying, but when he saw Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s originally beaming face suddenly become serene, he felt a little annoyed inside.


    ¡°Lawyer Liu, there is no special bond between us to speak of. Back in school, what we had was merely the obligation of team members. Please do not misunderstand, even if the tutor had assigned someone else to me, I would have acted the same,¡± Xia Wenqing said deliberately, with extra clarity.


    He stole a glance at Xu Zhenzhen and saw her previously tranquil face come to life again, and he bluntly added, ¡°Lawyer Liu, you have never been special to me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen started trembling uncontrollably due to rage when she heard those words.


    She had not expected Xia Wenqing to completely dismiss her.


    What was even more unexpected was that such a by-the-book man would break his principles for Xu Zhenzhen; she was practically fuming with anger.


    Why could Xu Zhenzhen receive Xia Wenqing¡¯s favoritism, why?


    She was clearly the superior one.


    Overcome with envy, Liu Xiaozhen almost went mad, yet she managed to keep her composure in front of Xia Wenqing.


    With a stiff smile, she said, ¡°I had thought, as classmates, we could help each other...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s hypocritical act and couldn¡¯t help teasing, ¡°There are so many classmates in school, Lawyer Liu could seek help from others, no need to specifically seek out our Lawyer Xia, right?¡±


    Xia Wenqing seemed to agree with Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s point, nodding, ¡°There¡¯re quite a few former classmates who¡¯ve returned to the country; you might try contacting some of them.¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    Before Liu Xiaozhen could continue, Xu Zhenzhen cut in: ¡°With Lawyer Liu being so willing to help others, she could very well join the free legal aid group in the Shangjing Circle. I believe she would shine there, especially since Lawyer Liu seems so concerned, even for employees she barely knows.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hearing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words, Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips slightly; the little girl still remembered the past grudge.


    However, seeing her flaunting her claws at someone else was quite endearing.


    He liked this vivid side of Xu Zhenzhen.


    And he liked his Xu Zhenzhen even more.


    Thinking of that kiss from just before, Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze turned directly to Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°Lawyer Liu, if there¡¯s nothing else, I have work to attend to.¡±


    As he spoke, he reached out and gently tugged at Xu Zhenzhen beside him.


    His gesture was gentle, and his eyes were full of affection as he looked at Xu Zhenzhen.


    Liu Xiaozhen had never seen Xia Wenqing like this, which only intensified her resentment.


    She knew she wouldn¡¯t gain anything by staying here today; it seemed she would have to play the long game.


    She would not let Xu Zhenzhen monopolize Xia Wenqing for long!


    She would find a crack in their relationship and then tear them apart completely!


    ¡°Since Lawyer Xia is busy, I will take my leave now,¡± Liu Xiaozhen nodded to Xia Wenqing and left the office without hesitation.


    Watching Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s departing figure, Xu Zhenzhen picked up a spray bottle from the desk, ¡°hissing¡± a few sprays into the air, as if trying to wipe away any lingering filth.


    Watching her childish behavior, Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°You really are capricious.¡±


    Putting down the spray bottle, Xu Zhenzhen muttered in dissatisfaction, ¡°Doesn¡¯t Lawyer Xia like it?¡±


    Xia Wenqing propped his chin with one hand, his eyes smiling as he looked at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°How dare I dislike it. I merely asked a question, and I went from ¡®Second Brother¡¯ to ¡®Lawyer Xia¡¯ in an instant. If I say anything else, is my title going to be downgraded again?¡±

 Chapter 467: 465: These past few days, huh?

    Chapter 467: Chapter 465: These past few days, huh?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face turned red in an instant, feeling she indeed had overstepped, wondering why, the more Xia Wenqing protected her, the more she wanted to push the boundaries.


    It was like... she wanted to test him, to see just how much he could tolerate her.


    How could she have turned into this?


    Xu Zhenzhen was full of doubts about her own behavior and even fell into a deep self-doubt.


    When Xia Wenqing saw her little face scrunch up, he waved her over, signaling Xu Zhenzhen to come closer.


    Xu Zhenzhen walked over silently, only to have Xia Wenqing suddenly pinch her face, ¡°I was just joking with you; can you stop overthinking?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t speak, just quietly looked at Xia Wenqing. He was so good to her, yet she insisted on being capricious. Was she being too childish?


    As if reading her thoughts, Xia Wenqing chuckled, ¡°If you feel guilty towards me, you could give me some compensation...¡±


    ¡°Compensation?¡± Upon hearing these two words, Xu Zhenzhen instinctively repeated.


    Xia Wenqing nodded, his large hand gently caressing her small one, ¡°Yes, if you think I, as your boyfriend, am to be pitied, then compensate me a little.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen thought seriously, ¡°How should I compensate?¡±


    Xia Wenqing raised his hand and tapped his lips, ¡°For instance, like this.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face turned red instantly.


    Although they were already boyfriend and girlfriend now, she had not yet gotten used to being so intimate with Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°I... I¡¯ll go make you a cup of coffee,¡± Xu Zhenzhen said as she hurriedly ran off.


    Watching Xu Zhenzhen flee in panic, Xia Wenqing sighed helplessly; indeed, his little girl was still too shy.


    ...


    Because Lu Zhaozhao caught a cold in the evening, Song Sinian had the doctor prescribe her cold medicine, but no one expected that she would still get a fever that night, which made Song Sinian very upset.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt even more guilty; she thought at most it was just a cold, but she ended up developing a fever.


    Lying on the hospital bed pitifully, she looked at Song Sinian with a slightly troubled face and reached out her little hand, ¡°Mr. Song, hug.¡±


    Her voice was soft and coquettish, with a bit of nasal sound; how could Song Sinian resist? Besides, he was angry with himself for not taking good care of Lu Zhaozhao.


    How could he possibly be angry with her?


    Helplessly, Song Sinian walked over to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side and wrapped her in his long arms, ¡°You can¡¯t go out so thinly dressed in such cold weather in the future, and you¡¯re not allowed to go out so late anymore, understand?¡±


    His chin rested on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, filled with compassion.


    If he had known Lu Zhaozhao would get sick after going out at night, he would have never agreed to her and Wen Qingyu, Xu Zhenzhen, and the others going out to have fun in the early hours.


    But now it was too late for any words.


    Due to the fever, Lu Zhaozhao was feeling dizzy, but she could still feel Song Sinian¡¯s care for her.


    She also felt guilty, only caring about having fun playing with Xu Zhenzhen and the others at that time, never expecting to catch a cold.


    Lu Zhaozhao remembered her weak constitution in her last life, this life¡¯s physical condition was already much better than before, to the point where she got a bit carried away with pride.


    Lu Zhaozhao hugged Song Sinian¡¯s waist tightly, behaving extra well, ¡°I know I was wrong, Mr. Song, I promise I won¡¯t go out so late anymore.¡±


    If she didn¡¯t make a good promise to Song Sinian now, she feared he might not even let her out of the hospital room door.


    Song Sinian looked down at the top of her head and raised his hand to tousle it, ¡°Since you¡¯ve been so good this time, I won¡¯t hold the others responsible.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrank her neck, suddenly feeling the air in the hospital room had turned much colder.


    No wonder she caught a cold today, her mother didn¡¯t show up, and this was the reason.


    Lu Zhaozhao nestled in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, looking up at him with her eyes smiling and curving, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, hubby, I¡¯ll behave myself these next few days.¡±


    Song Sinian raised an eyebrow, ¡°These next few days, hmm?¡±


    His tone sounded faint, yet it carried an inexplicable chill.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost instantly shivered and hurriedly shook her head, ¡°No no, I mean I¡¯m always good, but I¡¯ll be extra good these days.¡±


    After she finished speaking, she immediately sat back on the hospital bed with a well-behaved baby look, pulling in her hands and legs.


    Song Sinian felt the sudden loss of warmth in his arms, his eyebrows furrowed again.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao immediately pounced back.


    She couldn¡¯t provoke him, she couldn¡¯t provoke him.


    Who made her do the wrong thing yesterday?


    Submitting quietly was definitely the best solution.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes drooped slightly, and only then did he gather her back into his arms contentedly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you asked the Xia Family to investigate Liu Xiaozhen, did she offend you?¡±


    His voice sounded dark and threatening, as though if Lu Zhaozhao said ¡°yes,¡± he would take care of Liu Xiaozhen right away.


    Song Sinian was very irritable because of her illness, and now any little thing could set him off in an instant.


    It was just a matter of who would be more unlucky.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°I had my mom investigate Liu Xiaozhen because I was curious about what happened between her and my older brother back in their school days.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows twitched, he seemed a bit skeptical.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly waved her hand in front of Song Sinian¡¯s arm, ¡°Really, if she bullied me, I would definitely seek your help right away, how could I possibly go to my mom?¡±


    She stretched her mouth to convey as much enthusiasm as possible.


    Song Sinian stared at her for a few seconds before he finally let her off the hook.


    ¡°Thump thump thump!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the hospital room door.


    Zhao Xi pushed the door open and peeked at Song Sinian, noticing that his mood seemed much improved from last night. Then he slowly began to speak, ¡°Mr. Song, there are a few shareholders from Song Group outside waiting to see you.¡±


    Although he was speaking to Song Sinian, his gaze kept inadvertently sweeping toward Lu Zhaozhao, even hinting a plea for help.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked suspiciously at Zhao Xi and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Is there a problem at the company?¡±


    Since Song Sinian had been hospitalized after being injured by Sun Qian¡¯s fanatic fan, he had stayed in the hospital, and even though Zhao Xi occasionally brought work to him, there was always the possibility that something would go wrong within Song Group.


    Especially the shareholders of Song Group, there were always some old foxes looking to stir up trouble.


    It must be an internal issue from Song Group that has Zhao Xi so anxious, right?


    ¡°Uh...¡± Zhao Xi directly shook his head, ¡°There¡¯s nothing, no problem at the company side.¡±


    What he said was true, there was indeed no issue at the company.


    The problem was with the shareholders...

 Chapter 468: 466: One After Another, Restless

    Chapter 468: Chapter 466: One After Another, Restless


    Two idiot shareholders insisted on coming to the hospital to cause trouble for Lu Zhaozhao, only for Song Sinian to find out.


    Now, the power they held in their hands was hollowed out, and even their shares were eaten up due to various reasons. They couldn¡¯t even claim to be impoverished.


    In just a few days, the two had gone from being shareholders of the Song Group to being debt-ridden losers.


    All the shareholders of the Song Group were shocked.


    After they learned that their problem was offending Lu Zhaozhao, those who had badmouthed her in secret began to tremble in fear.


    They came to the hospital one after another, only to be turned away.


    Eventually, the trickle of visitors turned into a flood.


    Their relentless efforts led to rumors outside that Mr. Song was incapacitated, causing the shareholders to panic one by one.


    Even the stock price of the Song Group fluctuated as a result.


    That¡¯s why Zhao Xi felt worried.


    If the Song Group continued like this, although it wouldn¡¯t cause deep damage, many things would be restricted.


    That¡¯s when Zhao Xi thought of letting Lu Zhaozhao know.


    Their Mr. Song was indifferent to these matters, but at least it would matter to their lady, and maybe she could turn the situation around.


    Hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s hesitant words, Lu Zhaozhao knew there must be some issue, but with Song Sinian present, he didn¡¯t feel he could speak openly.


    Her eyes blinked slightly, and she looked at Zhao Xi again, asking, ¡°If it¡¯s not a company problem, then what exactly happened?¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao said this, she turned her gaze directly toward Song Sinian, ¡°Husband, since Assistant Zhao doesn¡¯t want to tell me, can you?¡±


    She deliberately grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s arm and gently shook it, pouting coquettishly at him.


    Song Sinian sighed somewhat helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s just that some shareholders came to the hospital, nothing serious.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows immediately furrowed tighter, ¡°Why did the company¡¯s shareholders all come to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t answer her but gently rubbed her head. It was Zhao Xi who tentatively began to address Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s question.


    ¡°Madam, it¡¯s because the two shareholders who came to the hospital last time encountered some trouble. The other shareholders are concerned about what they did before, worried that they have upset you, and thus, all rushed to the hospital.¡±


    Zhao Xi glanced at Song Sinian from time to time while speaking, fearing that the information he revealed would displease their Mr. Song.


    However, from his recent observations, it seemed that Mr. Song wasn¡¯t angry, which emboldened Zhao Xi considerably.


    He cleared his throat, looking at the puzzled expression on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face and continued, ¡°It¡¯s about the fat shareholder and the skinny shareholder...¡±


    Zhao Xi knew that if he named them, Lu Zhaozhao would not remember, but once he mentioned their characteristics, she would immediately visualize them.


    After all, even in the Song Group, these two shareholders had very distinct personal features.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to recall something instantly, ¡°So it was those two.¡±


    She remembered having her bodyguards throw them out.


    Afterward, she felt maybe she had gone too far and mentioned the incident to Song Sinian, but since he didn¡¯t blame her, she didn¡¯t take it to heart.


    Who would have thought there would be a sequel to this incident?


    Recalling Zhao Xi¡¯s hesitant demeanor from earlier, Lu Zhaozhao guessed that the aftermath of the incident was not minor.


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, then looked at Song Sinian before turning her gaze back to Zhao Xi, ¡°What happened to those two men?¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t know what had happened, Lu Zhaozhao was sure it must have something to do with Song Sinian; otherwise, the shareholders of the Song Group wouldn¡¯t be so frantic.


    Zhao Xi glanced at Song Sinian and, seeing he wasn¡¯t stopping him, spilled everything to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Those two men had offended Madam, so our Mister... just punished them a little. It¡¯s just that now those two men are in a rather bad spot, which is why so many shareholders of Song Group appeared in the hospital together.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately caught the crux of the matter, ¡°People outside must think Mr. Song is severely injured, thus causing the shareholders of the Song Group to be so agitated, right?¡±


    Zhao Xi was almost moved to tears by her quick understanding ¨C their lady was like a little angel sent by heaven to rescue him!


    He had just been worrying about how to explain the situation to Lu Zhaozhao, and before he could say anything, she already knew what he was going to say.


    Zhao Xi nodded repeatedly, ¡°The current rumors out there indeed are somewhat exaggerated, which has affected the Song Group to some degree.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head and looked at Song Sinian with a soft voice, ¡°Husband, it¡¯s all because of me that you¡¯re in such a difficult position... If it weren¡¯t for me, the reputation of the Song Group wouldn¡¯t have been affected.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed instantly, ¡°This matter has nothing to do with you. It¡¯s those old fools who can¡¯t stay out of trouble.¡±


    Not to mention that behind this affair, there were people stirring the pot, otherwise the matter wouldn¡¯t have escalated this quickly.


    They were fermenting this issue to let others know just how ruthless he could be toward his shareholders.


    They wanted someone else to take the reins as the president of the Song Group.


    Unfortunately, the person behind the scenes didn¡¯t anticipate that these old guys didn¡¯t care about anyone else¡¯s life or death; they were only concerned about their own interests being affected.


    Thus, instead of banding together against him after the matter got blown out of proportion, they swarmed to the hospital, eager to prove their allegiance.


    Song Sinian had not intended to bother with these old fools, finding it amusing to watch them being played by schemers.


    But now that his precious Zhaozhao had spoken up, he had to reluctantly deal with it.


    Song Sinian gazed at Lu Zhaozhao and gently patted her back, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s all small stuff. Since they¡¯ve disturbed you, I¡¯ll make sure they all roll back where they came from.¡±


    Having said that, he turned to Zhao Xi and spoke indifferently, ¡°Tell those old fools that if anyone continues to linger in the hospital after 5 minutes, they¡¯ll share the same fate as those two shareholders.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Song,¡± Zhao Xi breathed a sigh of relief and was about to head out to deal with the matter when Song Sinian stopped him again.


    ¡°And tell them, from now on, they are not allowed to come to the hospital. Otherwise, if I remember their faces, they will have their comeuppance.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s voice was calm, but the tone carried an undisputable authority, enough to send a shiver down even Zhao Xi¡¯s spine, who frequented Song Sinian¡¯s presence.

 Chapter 469: 467: She Played a Good Hand Terribly

    Chapter 469: Chapter 467: She Played a Good Hand Terribly


    Indeed, Mr. Lu was angry.


    He couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved that Mrs. Lu was there; otherwise, this matter wouldn¡¯t have been resolved so quickly.


    He didn¡¯t know where Mr. Lu¡¯s rage would have burnt eventually.


    Now, this fire had spread to the shareholders of Song Group, and it could be said that they had gotten what they deserved.


    Zhao Xi would absolutely not feel sympathy for these old folks who stirred up trouble!


    Due to the plans of Xiao Mo, Song Keren, and Xiao Jinglan, there were soon photos that allegedly showed Xia Wenjin being intimate with another man abroad.


    There were even sneaky videos taken.


    Subsequently, many people released ¡°all kinds of evidence,¡± and the woman in the videos even fled with that man after realizing she had been filmed.


    For a while, the buzz in the country was all about how Xiao Mo was pining for his wife, yet his wife had thrown herself into another¡¯s embrace and had gone abroad.


    The news of Xiao Mo being cuckolded reached Xia Wenjin very quickly.


    Although she wasn¡¯t in the country, Feng Xixi almost daily conveyed some local news to her.


    Xia Wenjin saw Xiao Mo¡¯s display of love and devotion before the cameras, and her facial wounds almost split open from twisting in anger.


    Especially when she saw the comments below, Xia Wenjin was shaking with rage.


    The latest trending searches were discussing how she ran off with another man abroad, and how pathetic Xiao Mo was.


    She furiously clutched the tablet in her hand, and nearly smashed it on the ground.


    What kind of person Xiao Mo was, the outside world did not know, but she was crystal clear about it; without Xiao Mo¡¯s instructions, Xiao Jinglan would certainly not have had the audacity to act.


    They had exiled her abroad and had not hesitated to send an assassin to silence her, and now they were spreading rumors about her within the country.


    Their whole family truly deserved condemnation!


    It was fortunate that Feng Xixi reacted quickly and snatched the tablet away before it was thrown to the ground.


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of being angry now? He¡¯s in the country, you¡¯re abroad, even if you want to explain, it¡¯s out of reach.¡±


    Moreover, Xia Wenjin had been pursued by killers, and the mastermind behind the scenes was very likely Xiao Mo himself; if he now knew that Xia Wenjin was still alive, he would certainly try to kill her again.


    Whether she would be as lucky next time, who knew.


    Xia Wenjin, of course, also knew that she couldn¡¯t return to the country, let alone come forward to respond to these slanders.


    But if she did nothing now, wouldn¡¯t she be left with no way out?


    Xia Wenjin sat there dully, then suddenly, as if she had remembered something, she turned her gaze to Feng Xixi, ¡°Sister Feng, please help me. I¡¯m really at my wit¡¯s end. If you help me, whatever you want in return in the future, I will agree.¡±


    Right now, the only person she could plead to was Feng Xixi. Although she didn¡¯t know why this woman had saved her, from their interactions over time, she seemed to want something beneficial from her.


    As for what she wanted, Xia Wenjin felt it was no longer important. She had nothing left now, what else was there to fear?


    Feng Xixi¡¯s brows instantly furrowed into a knot; with others, she could have simply ignored them.


    But the child in front of her was the one she had carried for ten months before giving birth.


    Although she did not have much affection for her, for her future well-being, she still had to help with Xia Wenjin¡¯s troubles.


    Feng Xixi had figured out the domestic situation these past few days. She had always thought she gave Xia Wenjin the best possible background but hadn¡¯t expected this blockhead to throw away everything she had prepared for her as soon as she returned to the country.


    She thought that, even so, having lived with the Xia Family for 20 years, they wouldn¡¯t have utterly cast her aside.


    But it turned out that in the past 20 years, Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t done anything good within the Xia Family.


    The four brothers who were supposed to dote on the ¡°female protagonist¡± actually had issues with her, especially the third son of the Xia Family, who seemed to want to perish together with her.


    Feng Xixi didn¡¯t know whether to say it was the plot¡¯s power that was too strong or that Xia Wenjin was too foolish.


    A good hand, she had managed to play it into utter shambles.


    Feng Xixi rubbed her temples with a bit of a headache. In fact, even after Xia Wenjin had returned to the Lu Family, there was still a chance to turn things around, since the conditions of the Lu Family weren¡¯t bad either.


    But for some unknown reason, Mr. and Mrs. Lu were so arrogant that they even brought disaster upon themselves.


    Xia Wenjin, seeing Feng Xixi not speaking, grew even more nervous. She quickly reached out to grab her hand, urgently saying, ¡°I promise no matter what you say, I¡¯ll do it, as long as you¡¯re willing to help me.¡±


    Her gaze clung tightly to Feng Xixi, that pitiful yet pleading expression as though she was the only one who could redeem her.


    But there wasn¡¯t much difference in saying that.


    When Xia Wenjin was abroad in the past, she often bullied her classmates and had no friends other than the little hooligans who hung around with her all the time.


    After shaking off the Xia Family upon her return to the country, she didn¡¯t make any friends at her school in China either.


    As for Mr. and Mrs. Lu, they vanished without a trace after their family went bankrupt.


    Feng Xixi was quite speechless about Xia Wenjin¡¯s social skills.


    If she had been able to find even one helper, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in her current predicament. She had even heard that Xia Wenjin had had an ambiguous relationship with a regional vice-president of the XJ Group.


    It was really baffling, how she could be so blind with eyes that actually looked quite nice.


    Feng Xixi raised her hand to pat Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand, comforting her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely help you. But right now, the most important thing is to get your face treated.¡±


    It was then that Xia Wenjin suddenly recalled how her face had been disfigured by those assassins, and with the wounds having been soaked for too long after falling into the water, nearly half of her face had been ruined.


    Her hand subconsciously touched her cheek, and she shuddered with rage, completely forgetting the scandalous news that had enraged her.


    Her face was destroyed, her most prized possession was gone.


    Xia Wenjin felt as if this was a bolt from the blue!


    Was she going to spend the rest of her life disfigured?


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t accept this reality at all.


    Her hand gripped Feng Xixi¡¯s wrist tightly, the pressure almost enough to snap it in half, ¡°Find me a doctor, the best doctor, I want my face restored to what it was!¡±


    Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at that. If you could just restore a face back to its original state, then a doctor wouldn¡¯t be called a doctor.


    They would be called a Divine Doctor.


    Feng Xixi knew that Xia Wenjin had completely lost her sanity by now, so she could only coax her softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if your face can¡¯t be restored to its former appearance, you can have plastic surgery to take on another look, and it will be safer for you to look different.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin clearly took in Feng Xixi¡¯s words. She was right; her face, even if it could be fully fixed, couldn¡¯t continue to be used.


    Because Xiao Mo wanted her dead, her face was like a living target...

 Chapter 470: 468: Became Lonely

    Chapter 470: Chapter 468: Became Lonely


    She absolutely could not go on living with that face anymore.


    Xia Wenjin thought so and suddenly made peace with her disfigurement; had she not been disfigured, she might not have made such a decision.


    Feng Xixi didn¡¯t expect her to calm down so quickly and started to see Xia Wenjin in a new light.


    If she had been this calm earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have lost so miserably when confronting the male and female protagonists.


    ¡°Sister Feng, I trust you, I am willing to have plastic surgery,¡± Xia Wenjin said, as if she had made up her mind, clenching her fist.


    If she completely changed her appearance, Xiao Mo and the others would have no way to start with her, and when she returned to her country, she planned to take vicious revenge on them!


    After Xia Wenjin made up her mind, her whole mentality stabilized.


    However, Feng Xixi¡¯s face did not look good; although she recommended Xia Wenjin to undergo surgery, she might not be able to afford the cost of the surgery.


    Her savings had almost been squandered over the past decade.


    She had previously been addicted to betting on horses, and had nearly lost half of her possessions.


    She originally thought that as soon as the original story began, she could return to her country comfortably, but who knew Xia Wenjin would cause her such big trouble?


    Why couldn¡¯t she just remain the well-off Miss Xia, instead of getting involved with the Lu Family?


    Thinking of the wall full of limited-edition bags, shoes, and jewelry that Xia Wenjin had shown off before, Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Jin, do you still have any money on hand? After all, plastic surgery will definitely cost money, and Sister Feng isn¡¯t well-off, so...¡±


    She didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but the implication was clear¡ªshe didn¡¯t have the money for Xia Wenjin¡¯s surgery, which made Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart sink to the bottom.


    She had been deceived by Xiao Jinglan into coming out here, completely unaware that Xiao Jinglan would attack her abroad, so she had only brought a few things with her.


    However... to not lose face, she had brought quite a bit of valuable jewelry.


    Suddenly, Xia Wenjin seemed to remember something, ¡°There was a card in my clothes before, there should still be quite a bit of money in it.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know if she had lost that card.


    She remembered it was the card Xiao Jinglan had given her to buy evening gowns with; at the time, she thought Xiao Jinglan had relented, but now, looking back, she realized she had been naive and failed to see through her schemes.


    Feng Xixi was also stunned for a moment, ¡°Your clothes...¡±


    Her face feigned deep thought, but inside, she was already overjoyed.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin to still have something up her sleeve.


    When she had seen Xia Wenjin at the hospital, the hospital staff had given her Xia Wenjin¡¯s personal belongings, and indeed, there had been a card among them.


    If it really contained as much money as she said...


    Feng Xixi¡¯s eyes shifted, and with a distressed face, she said, ¡°When I saved you then, I didn¡¯t see it. I¡¯ll go back and look for it again.¡±


    She didn¡¯t plan to return the card to Xia Wenjin, because the card had no password, so whatever amount was in it, it was now hers.


    Feng Xixi said with a troubled face, ¡°If I can¡¯t find the card, then your surgery will have to be postponed, it¡¯s a shame your sister isn¡¯t capable enough...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face darkened, but she said nothing.


    How had the card gotten lost?


    However, thinking back to when she fell into the water and the current was strong, maybe the card was lost at that time.


    Xia Wenjin suddenly felt a bit annoyed, but quickly seemed to think of something and spoke again, ¡°Can my suitcase still be found? It¡¯s where I fell into the water, I remember that area was quite remote...¡±


    Feng Xixi seemed to have discovered a new world, ¡°I will also help you investigate. Tell me the specific location.¡±


    This was another opportunity to take advantage, if there were valuable items in her suitcase, she might be able to hold onto quite a bit of them.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know Feng Xixi¡¯s intentions at all, feeling that Feng Xixi had been gentle and kind towards her these past few days, she completely trusted her.


    She had no idea that she was seen as mere fat to be chewed in someone else¡¯s eyes.


    Feng Xixi certainly wasn¡¯t going to deny her a facelift, but how much money it would cost was still up to her to decide...


    Lu Zhaozhao had stayed in the hospital for a few days because of a cold.


    Song Sinian had almost shadowed Lu Zhaozhao throughout her hospital stay until her discharge, after which they both returned to the Song Mansion. However, he had to leave her side due to work constraints.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but find it funny when she thought of the wistful look Song Sinian had when he left.


    ¡°Thud thud thud!¡±


    Suddenly, the bedroom door was knocked.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked towards the door in confusion, only then seeing Old Master Song enter.


    She watched him with a bit of surprise, ¡°Grandpa?¡±


    Usually, Old Master Song wouldn¡¯t come to find her if there wasn¡¯t anything important; even for casual chats, it was she who would actively seek him out in the back garden.


    Except when she was hospitalized.


    On one hand, Old Master Song was afraid of upsetting Song Sinian, and on the other hand, Lu Zhaozhao and he didn¡¯t visit the Song Mansion frequently.


    This was the first time they had moved back since moving out.


    Old Master Song cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem, Zhaozhao, these days some kids from the extended family might come over. I¡¯m worried they might disturb you, so I wanted to come and let you know.¡±


    He constantly watched Lu Zhaozhao as he spoke, trying to gauge her reaction.


    If Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t like the noise from the kids, he would definitely send them back immediately, but now he was still holding a shred of hope towards her.


    After all, Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao had been married for a while now, and he was looking forward to cradling a great-grandchild, but alas Sinian wasn¡¯t cooperating.


    He didn¡¯t dare to directly pressure Lu Zhaozhao about having a baby, so he could only try to make them like the idea of having kids around the house, in hopes that he could eventually hold a great-grandchild.


    He didn¡¯t care whether the child was a boy or a girl, just having a little one around would be nice.


    Song Sinian wasn¡¯t affectionate as a child, and whenever other people bragged about their grandsons, he could only watch his oldest grandson from afar, feeling lonely as a grandfather.


    Thus, wanting Lu Zhaozhao to have a child soon was somewhat understandable.


    Lu Zhaozhao was unaware of Old Master Song¡¯s intentions, thinking that it was because she and Song Sinian had moved out of the Song Mansion, which is why Old Master Song often let the children from the collateral branches come over to play.


    She chuckled softly, reassuringly saying, ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t dislike children, you can let them play at the house freely.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao spoke the truth, whether in her past life or in this one, she always had enough tolerance for children.


    Her biggest regret before was not being able to express her sentiments to Song Sinian. Being with him in this life, she was already content.


    If she could have a child with him, she naturally would be overjoyed.


    In her previous thoughts of revenge, she hadn¡¯t considered this matter...

 Chapter 471: 469: One after another with no filter...

    Chapter 471: Chapter 469: One after another with no filter...


    By now, most of her revenge had been exacted, and indeed, she had to contemplate the other possibilities between her and Song Sinian.


    Mr. Song breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that Lu Zhaozhao truly didn¡¯t have a look of irritation on her face.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t repulsed, that was good.


    After talking things through with Lu Zhaozhao, Mr. Song¡¯s mood improved considerably, and he couldn¡¯t help engaging in a detailed chat with her at his side, ¡°These children from the collateral branches are all around four or five years old, very well-behaved. I¡¯ve met them before. You¡¯ll know once they come over tomorrow. Perhaps you¡¯ll also like these kids.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing the relaxed look in Mr. Song¡¯s eyes, listened obediently to him as he spoke.


    This ordinary, comfortable life was something she hadn¡¯t experienced in her previous life, so she always cherished it greatly.


    The fact that Mr. Song was now healthy and could stay by Song Sinian¡¯s side satisfied her deeply.


    As for whether those children he mentioned were truly well-behaved or not, it was almost insignificant; as long as Mr. Song was happy, that was what mattered.


    But what Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected was just how enthusiastic those children would be when they saw her the next day.


    ¡°Little auntie, you¡¯re so pretty~¡±


    ¡°Little auntie, are you thirsty?¡±


    ¡°Little auntie, do you want to play with us?¡±


    ¡°Little auntie, are you hungry?¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao was surrounded by a crowd of children and for a moment, she had a hard time escaping.


    It wasn¡¯t that she disliked playing with children, but their enthusiasm upon first meeting her made her a bit suspicious.


    Especially when Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Mr. Song at the side, and he seemed to guiltily turn his face away.


    It seemed... this was Mr. Song¡¯s doing.


    Otherwise, how could these children recognize her if it was their first meeting?


    Lu Zhaozhao silently sighed in her heart, briefly entertained the children, and then returned to her room.


    She had spent a fair amount of time in the hospital recently, and there was still much work left undone before, and now that Song Sinian had returned to the company, she certainly couldn¡¯t sit idle.


    When Lu Zhaozhao thought of Song Sinian, she suddenly remembered something and left her bedroom to go directly to the study where Song Sinian was.


    But just as she approached the corridor near the study, she saw a few children huddled not far away.


    To her surprise, the children who had seemed so adorable just a moment ago were ganging up and bullying a little girl who looked very pretty.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that by acting pitiful, the Song Family will take a fancy to you, you trash. Don¡¯t dream of competing with us!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! With your poor family background, you still want to compete for favor in the Song Family. What a joke!¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you just relying on a good-looking face? My mother said, there¡¯s not one good thing in your family! You¡¯re definitely no good either!¡±


    ...


    The children pushed and shoved the little girl, knocking her to the ground.


    Lu Zhaozhao was completely dumbfounded by their behavior.


    Were these the same well-behaved, obedient kids from just before?


    Each one speaking without restraint...


    Clearly, they had learned this from the adults at home.


    Lu Zhaozhao had never believed in the innate goodness of humanity.


    While the teachings and example from parents were very important, the inherent nature of children was unchangeable.


    Lu Zhaozhao walked a few steps into the corridor and shouted at the group of children, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    The children who had been so arrogant just moments ago suddenly became panicked.


    Before they had come, their relatives at home had specifically instructed them, ¡°Do not upset this little aunt of the Song Family.¡±


    She was the sky of the Song Family; even if angering Mr. Song was forgivable, angering her was not.


    ¡°Little Auntie, she¡¯s a bad kid. She spoke ill of you, Little Auntie, so we were just teaching her a lesson for you!¡±


    The oldest looking child among them stepped forward, hastily making excuses.


    As he did so, he also shot a meaningful glance to the other kids.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, sweeping over the children, her gaze finally resting upon the bullied child.


    Surely, children are indeed children. Even with some cunning, they are not easily able to deceive adults.


    Seeing that the biggest kid had spoken up, the rest followed suit, one after another.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Little Auntie! Don¡¯t pay her any mind. Her whole family was cursed by her; she brings really bad luck!¡±


    ¡°Little Auntie, don¡¯t be fooled by her looks, which seem quite pretty. She looks at people with the same eyes as a little demon!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Little Auntie, she is such a liar!¡±


    ...


    Listening to the voices rising and falling around her, the little girl showed no intention of explaining herself.


    She simply stood quietly in place, her hollow eyes as if devoid of all thoughts.


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking at the young girl, was suddenly reminded of a young Song Sinian.


    Had Sinian, who back then had no idea how to express his emotions, also been isolated like this by others?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and she slowly crouched down, looking at the little girl, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    The girl blankly came back to reality, and her empty eyes focused a bit, ¡°My name is Yuan Yuan.¡±


    Her voice was quiet, but clear enough.


    After speaking, she reverted to her previous state, as if she were a machine; when someone ¡°awoke¡± her, she would respond according to her programming.


    And if no one ¡°awoke¡± her, she would remain in a standby mode.


    Such a child was indeed not normal.


    If it were her previous life, she might not have cared, but upon hearing the name ¡°Yuan Yuan,¡± Lu Zhaozhao visibly flinched.


    In her previous life, she had heard of this child¡¯s name.


    Back then, when the Old Master was bedridden, and Lu Zhaozhao went to see Old Master Song, the butler had mentioned in front of him about a little girl named ¡°Yuan Yuan¡± who had drowned at the age of six.


    But the investigation results were... she had been abused to death.


    And by the relatives who were supposedly taking care of her.


    Yuan Yuan was indeed a child with harsh fate; her parents died in a car accident, which had a tremendous impact on her.


    Her uncle and aunt had proactively requested to take care of her, and they even moved into Yuan Yuan¡¯s home, yet within less than a year of their care, the child had died from drowning.


    She was not even six years old at the time of her death.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the little girl with hollow eyes in front of her, her brow unavoidably creased.


    She glanced at the unruly children around and let out a light sigh, ¡°I¡¯ve heard what you¡¯ve said. I¡¯m going to punish Yuan Yuan separately by taking her away; you all go play for now.¡±


    Hearing that Lu Zhaozhao was going to punish Yuan Yuan, the kids gleefully watched her, then scattered like a swarm of bees.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao then reached out to take Yuan Yuan¡¯s hand, only to find that the girl visibly shuddered, trying to shake her off, but ultimately she gave up the struggle.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Yuan Yuan, knowing that her uncle and aunt had been abusing her for some time now. They must have also threatened the child.


    Perhaps even gaslighted her, not to seek help from others...

 Chapter 472: 470 Ow, it hurts so much...

    Chapter 472: Chapter 470 Ow, it hurts so much...


    So, Lu Zhaozhao took her away under the pretext of punishment.


    If she had told her not to be afraid and that she would help her, she might have become even more wary.


    This child might have been beaten countless times by her uncle and auntie for those very words.


    She would instinctively resist those who could truly save her, in order to avoid the beatings.


    Lu Zhaozhao herself had been manipulated by Wen Qingyu before, so she was all the more aware of how bad these bad people could be.


    Before long, Lu Zhaozhao brought her back to her own room.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Yuan Yuan quietly for a few seconds, then spoke slowly, ¡°Take off your coat.¡±


    Yuan Yuan clenched her small hands tightly; even the doll she was holding was trembling. But she obediently took off her coat.


    It had been quite cold outside just now, that¡¯s why Yuan Yuan was wearing a jacket.


    The room, however, was warmer by comparison, so even if she took off her coat, she wouldn¡¯t be too cold.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was still worried, so she had prepared two blankets in advance.


    When she saw the child¡¯s back, her brows furrowed noticeably, but she steeled herself to apply the ointment onto Yuan Yuan, found a small-sized shirt for her to wear, wrapped her in a blanket, and then sat down beside her.


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment before sending a message to Song Sinian.


    Afterward, she called for some pastries and hot drinks to be delivered.


    A child who gets beaten at home every day would be lucky to even have a full meal.


    Yuan Yuan sat blankly in place. The expected pain did not come, and when she came slightly to her senses, she looked at Lu Zhaozhao with questioning eyes, wondering if the punishment hadn¡¯t started yet.


    Lu Zhaozhao intentionally kept a straight face, ¡°Just wait obediently.¡±


    Yuan Yuan nodded, not saying anything.


    It looked like the little aunty was just applying ointment on her, giving her soft clothes to wear, and the places that had been terribly painful didn¡¯t hurt much anymore.


    Although the little aunty spoke of punishment, she had been very kind to her.


    She really wanted to stay here; she could eat less, even less...


    Thinking this, Yuan Yuan¡¯s gaze drifted to Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    The sudden knocking on the door startled Yuan Yuan so much she almost fell from the couch onto the floor.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao was quick to catch her in her arms.


    Yuan Yuan instinctively covered her head with her hands, but the anticipated hitting and scolding didn¡¯t come. It took her a long while before she dared to peek out through half-closed eyes at Lu Zhaozhao, only to see she was already being cradled on her lap.


    The confusion deepened in her eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao pretended not to notice Yuan Yuan¡¯s confusion and instead said in a firm voice, ¡°Start by eating what¡¯s on the table.¡±


    She was worried Yuan Yuan had been starved for too long, so the food she had prepared was not overly plentiful. There was strawberry-flavored hot milk and some easily digestible sweets.


    Yuan Yuan¡¯s eyes fixed on the fragrant, sweet food on the table, and she finally spoke up, ¡°Do I have to eat all of it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Yes, eat it all.¡±


    Yuan Yuan couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard.


    She reached out a slightly trembling hand and gently picked up a Madeleine cookie. The melt-in-your-mouth cookie released its sweet flavor and the aroma of eggs as it dissolved in her mouth.


    Tears welled up in Yuan Yuan¡¯s eyes involuntarily.


    She couldn¡¯t remember the last time she had eaten such delicious food.


    Now, if she dared to touch food at home, she would be hit.


    Yuan Yuan even braced for a beating the moment she reached out, but the little aunty didn¡¯t hit her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just eat, you must drink too.¡±


    The firm voice came again.


    But this voice was not scary at all.


    Yuan Yuan sniffled and picked up the milk cup from the table, bringing it to her lips.


    It was sweet strawberry milk.


    It tasted so good.


    Even if someone were to beat her to death in a moment, she would die content.


    If she could have these things every day at ¡°little auntie¡¯s,¡± maybe getting beaten wouldn¡¯t be so bad...


    She no longer wanted to go back to her uncle and aunt¡¯s place at all.


    They were too scary...


    Just thinking about that couple made Yuan Yuan¡¯s whole body shudder uncontrollably.


    Thankfully, the milk in her hand was warm.


    Yuan Yuan took another big sip of the strawberry milk, then suddenly realized the cup was almost empty, and she dared not continue drinking.


    What if this were the only time she got to drink something so delicious?


    She shouldn¡¯t have been greedy; she shouldn¡¯t have finished it so quickly.


    Yuan Yuan¡¯s eyes reddened even more, and the obvious trembling of her petite body was felt by Lu Zhaozhao.


    She couldn¡¯t really keep up the act any longer and gently hugged Yuan Yuan from behind, ¡°If you want more, I can ask the servant to get some. We can increase the amount.¡±


    Yuan Yuan tilted her little head up to look at Lu Zhaozhao, and suddenly felt that little auntie was really nice, but would she always be nice to her like this?


    When her uncle and aunt had first met her, they had been nice to her too.


    But then... everything changed afterwards.


    Yuan Yuan dared not speak.


    She didn¡¯t understand why adults could change so suddenly.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed silently, realizing that after Yuan Yuan was done with her checkup, she would need to see Doctor Tian.


    If this child wasn¡¯t saved now, she¡¯d be lost forever.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently rubbed her little head, ¡°From today on, you¡¯ll temporarily live at the Song Mansion. As for your family, I¡¯ll have someone talk to them.¡±


    Of course, that was what she¡¯d tell Yuan Yuan, but as for her uncle and aunt, those two scumbags deserved to be slashed a thousand times over!


    Child abusers are beasts!


    Those who exert violence on the weaker are just venting their incompetence!


    Since they believe the strong can abuse the weak, then let them experience what it¡¯s like to be weak for once!


    Yuan Yuan¡¯s eyelashes trembled, but she still did not speak.


    Before being sent to the Song mansion, her uncle and aunt had told her not to be like a wooden block, that she had to make little auntie happy.


    If little auntie was happy, then her uncle and aunt wouldn¡¯t hit her.


    Yuan Yuan looked up and sneaked a peek at Lu Zhaozhao, noticing that she seemed rather unhappy.


    How could she please little auntie if she didn¡¯t know how?


    When she returned from here in the future, her uncle and aunt would still hit her, right?


    She didn¡¯t want to go back...


    But if she didn¡¯t go back, no one would want her.


    Her uncle and aunt said she¡¯d be chased by dogs outside, just like the time her cousin set a dog on her, and there would be many dogs biting her outside.


    There would also be many bad people who wanted to catch her and sell her, and then she wouldn¡¯t even get a single meal and could even die.


    She had thought before about not returning to someone else¡¯s house, but her uncle and aunt found out later, and after that, she couldn¡¯t remember anything.


    All she remembered was that for several days in a row, she was groggy with sleep, and the only memories were of pain and hunger.


    Since then, she never dared to tell anyone that she wanted to stay at someone else¡¯s house anymore.


    Yuan Yuan blinked her eyes, although it was little auntie who suggested she stay, what if her uncle and aunt knew about it, would they do the same as before?


    Yuan Yuan¡¯s neck shrank, her little face filled with terror...

 Chapter 473: 471: The Biggest Crisis of My Career

    Chapter 473: Chapter 471: The Biggest Crisis of My Career


    ¡°I, I won¡¯t, I won¡¯t stay here...¡±


    Her voice was already low, and the latter part was faint like a mosquito noise, barely audible.


    As soon as she spoke, Lu Zhaozhao understood what was going on.


    ¡°Other children from the side branches will stay too, everyone has to stay, not just you,¡± Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t comfort her alone but tried to make her understand that it was the adults¡¯ decision, irrelevant to her.


    After hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Yuan Yuan¡¯s eyelashes visibly trembled, and she seemed a bit disbelieving as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    She sighed softly, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the front hall in a moment, and then let the steward arrange where you all will stay, so for now, have something to eat.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Even though Yuan Yuan didn¡¯t speak again, she obediently started eating.


    The heart in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s chest felt even more tormented.


    She glanced at her phone, just in time to see a few messages pop up.


    It was Song Sinian.


    She had just brought Yuan Yuan to the room then messaged Song Sinian to investigate Yuan Yuan¡¯s aunt and uncle.


    Now, the results had been sent back.


    Yuan Yuan was a child from a side branch of the Song Family; her parents were deeply in love and had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl, in their second year of marriage.


    Her brother had taken his father¡¯s surname, Song, and she had taken her mother¡¯s.


    But the originally happy family of four had encountered a sudden car accident. Yuan Yuan hadn¡¯t gone out that day as she was sick, and she was spared.


    Since Yuan Yuan was still young and needed care, she was handed over to her uncle, Song Guodong.


    Song Guodong and Yuan Yuan¡¯s father were half-brothers, so he felt little affection for Yuan Yuan.


    Moreover, Song Guodong had previously been lazy and knew nothing about business, so the already small Jiaye had nearly been ruined by him.


    That¡¯s when he started to eye Yuan Yuan. After all, if an orphan girl were gone, the properties in her hands would be his.


    With this thought, Song Guodong naturally was not going to be gentle with Yuan Yuan.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes, thinking about the pitiable outcome of Yuan Yuan in the previous life, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    Soon, Song Sinian sent a message, ¡°What do you want to do about this? Do you want to keep this child named Yuan Yuan?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to reply with a ¡°Yes¡± but, seeing the words ¡°typing¡± appear, she deleted it.


    Then she typed a new message.


    ¡°I want to help this child. Once things are settled, I hope to find someone suitable and trustworthy for her.¡±


    Although she liked the child, she didn¡¯t forget that Mr. Song, her husband, was incredibly jealous.


    Usually, he couldn¡¯t even tolerate a dog around him, so how could he allow someone to cling to her all the time?


    Regarding the dog, she only found out about it later, secretly told by Doctor Tian.


    She had laughed for a long while after knowing it, but thinking about everything Song Sinian did to please her, she wanted to love him well.


    And to think more for him.


    Meanwhile, the phone on Song Sinian¡¯s desk suddenly rang.


    Song Sinian stared at the phone for a few seconds, paused, and then picked up the phone from the desk again.


    Oddly, he was somewhat reluctant to face Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s answer.


    He had always known that Lu Zhaozhao was compassionate, both as a child and as an adult, she was always soft-hearted.


    But he only wanted her to have that soft heart for him alone.


    He had recently let the Xia Family¡¯s people get close to Lu Zhaozhao, which was already his limit.


    If a few more outsiders arrived...


    Sitting not far from Song Sinian, Zhao Xi could clearly feel the low atmospheric pressure emanating from their sir.


    Although he didn¡¯t know what had happened, he was sure their sir was in a very bad mood, extremely bad.


    Zhao Xi remembered that just a moment ago, their master had asked him to investigate some information about a collateral branch of the family.


    It felt somewhat sinful.


    Although he could somewhat guess what it was, the only thing that could make their master so upset must be related to their mistress.


    As Zhao Xi was thinking about how to appropriately console their master, he suddenly felt the oppressive atmosphere in the office disappear.


    In its place was their master¡¯s uplifted smile.


    Tsk tsk, indeed, only their mistress could accomplish that.


    Zhao Xi took a deep breath, slightly organized the materials in his hand, and slowly said, ¡°Sir, should we handle the matter with the Song Guodong couple?¡±


    That child was indeed quite pitiful.


    This was his first time learning that even the Song Family¡¯s collateral branch had such scum.


    However, he thought that no matter the family, there are all kinds of trash, and this trash just happened to be discovered by their mistress.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips gently tapped on the desktop, ¡°This matter is not urgent.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    This matter is not urgent, then what is?


    Zhao Xi looked at Song Sinian with a puzzled face, hoping to discern something from his expression.


    However, he quickly failed.


    He sighed silently, left with no choice but to wait for their master¡¯s instructions.


    Song Sinian, looking at the message on his mobile phone, fell silent for a moment before turning to Zhao Xi and asking, ¡°Do you know anyone suitable for raising a child?¡±


    ¡°Hm???¡±


    This question from Song Sinian completely stumped Zhao Xi.


    He suddenly felt like he was facing the biggest crisis of his career.


    He had never raised a child, and he did not know what kind of person was suitable for raising one.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, realizing that this question might be a bit too difficult for Zhao Xi, so he rephrased his question: ¡°What kind of person do you think is suitable for adopting a child?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Adopting a child?


    Did he mean the child that their mistress was concerned about today?


    At first, he thought Lu Zhaozhao would adopt the child.


    Adopt a child?!


    Zhao Xi, as if suddenly understanding something, realized why their master had been in a bad mood just now.


    It turns out he was afraid that their mistress would adopt the child.


    It seemed that the message the mistress had replied to earlier was about finding another adopter for the child.


    Otherwise, their master wouldn¡¯t be so proactive.


    Now Zhao Xi had a clue.


    He pondered for a moment, searching his mind, and tentatively said, ¡°Perhaps... someone who is not short of money, has no vested interests, is kind-hearted, but can¡¯t have children of their own?¡±


    Does such a person even exist?


    It¡¯s easy to find someone without entanglements.


    But someone who is not short of money, is kind-hearted, yet can¡¯t have children of their own, isn¡¯t this a bit difficult?


    If it¡¯s an older person, even if they don¡¯t have children, they would likely have many relatives¡¯ children around them. Those people would probably never allow a new child to share their legacy, right?


    In that case, the situation the child might face could be even worse than now.


    Zhao Xi found himself in a dilemma.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that finding a reliable caretaker for the child would be so difficult...

 Chapter 474: 472: Is This Something a Human Can Do?

    Chapter 474: Chapter 472: Is This Something a Human Can Do?


    Song Sinian fell into deep thought after hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s words.


    People who aren¡¯t lacking money, have no interest entanglements, are loving, but can¡¯t have children...


    He seemed to actually know someone like that.


    It was just unknown whether that person would be willing or not.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly, and if it were that person, they would probably agree.


    Thinking this, he sent a message to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although he had this idea, the final decision was still left to his beloved wife.


    After finishing the work at hand, Song Sinian drove straight back to the Song Mansion.


    However, he did not return to his study or bedroom, but instead went straight to where Old Master Song lived.


    When Song Sinian entered, Old Master Song was playing chess with the butler. Seeing the tall figure standing at the door, Old Master Song visibly shuddered.


    He cursed himself for being old and becoming more cowardly.


    What was there to fear from Song Sinian, the boy he had raised himself?


    Old Master Song tried to bolster himself mentally.


    But when he met Song Sinian¡¯s gaze, he heard his cold voice, ¡°Was it your idea to bring the children from the Song Family¡¯s side branches to the Song Mansion?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The bravado Old Master Song had just mustered deflated instantly.


    He looked guiltily at Song Sinian, his heart starting to pound.


    He remembered when the boy had previously told him not to rush childbirth. Although he hadn¡¯t pressed the issue, bringing those children to the Song Mansion was intended to get Lu Zhaozhao used to the idea of having a child around.


    Perhaps she¡¯d want a child with Song Sinian if she grew fond of them?


    He had just heard from the servants that Lu Zhaozhao seemed very concerned about one of the children and had even taken that child away alone.


    He was thinking of rewarding that family for raising a child that Lu Zhaozhao favored, but then Song Sinian had arrived.


    Old Master Song, feeling guilty, didn¡¯t dare look directly at Song Sinian but brazenly said, ¡°I had the children brought from the side branches. You and Zhaozhao rarely visit, shouldn¡¯t I make the courtyard lively?¡±


    Song Sinian slightly raised his eyes, sweeping over Old Master Song¡¯s guilty face, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to expose him.


    He simply found a place to sit nearby, ¡°Did you investigate the backgrounds of these side branches when you invited them?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    Old Master Song¡¯s voice trailed off as soon as he began to speak.


    He really hadn¡¯t investigated.


    His original intention was just to have the children come over to play.


    So he had picked some well-behaved children from the side branches, but he hadn¡¯t paid attention to other aspects.


    Could someone have used one of the children to harm Zhaozhao?


    Thinking this, Old Master Song became alarmed.


    If that were the case, he truly deserved nothing less than death.


    Old Master Song¡¯s visibly tense expression fixed on Song Sinian, ¡°Did someone use one of the children to harm Zhaozhao?¡±


    His gaze was glued to Song Sinian, as if afraid of missing something important.


    Song Sinian sighed silently, his look toward Old Master Song clearly contained some disdain, ¡°Zhaozhao is fine, but there¡¯s one child among them who has a serious issue.¡±


    His voice was calm, showing no intent to blame Old Master Song.


    He knew his grandfather was completely devoted to him, his eldest grandson.


    Even though his grandfather had become more fond of his granddaughter-in-law since Zhaozhao came into the family, it didn¡¯t make much difference to him.


    As long as his grandfather was healthy, he wasn¡¯t demanding.


    Old Master Song, reassured that Lu Zhaozhao was unscathed, inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Thank goodness Lu Zhaozhao was alright.


    This matter was indeed his oversight.


    At the time, he just thought that having the children from the side branches around would endear them to Lu Zhaozhao.


    He never imagined there would be so many hidden dangers.


    He really was naive, despite his age...


    Old Master Song narrowed his eyes, his gaze on Song Sinian darkening slightly, ¡°Which bastard caused the problem?¡±


    He¡¯d definitely deal with him!


    Of course, Old Master Song didn¡¯t say this aloud.


    But anyone could see the murderous aura behind his gentle demeanor.


    Song Sinian handed over the documents he was holding to Old Master Song, ¡°The child named Yuan Yuan recently lost their parents, and is now under the care of an aunt and uncle¡ªthis is their doing.¡±


    Old Master Song looked at it, puzzled.


    Then, the next second, his pupils began to tremble.


    Is this even human?


    Can a human do something like this?


    Seeing Old Master Song¡¯s troubled expression, the butler glanced at the document, and his face also turned sour.


    Although their master was decisive and ruthless in the business world, he had never harmed the old, weak, sick, or disabled.


    Such trash, existing within the Song lineage, was a disgrace to the Song Family!


    Old Master Song pressed his temples, originally thinking that Lu Zhaozhao had taken a child alone because the child was particularly charming.


    It turned out to be an utterly face-slapping revelation.


    Yet, thankfully due to Lu Zhaozhao, this child was discovered and avoided falling back into a pit of fire.


    Old Master Song gestured to the butler, ¡°Take care of this dog named Song Guodong. The idea that he bears the Song surname disgusts me.¡±


    The butler nodded, ¡°Leave this matter to me, Old Master.¡±


    Old Master Song nodded, ¡°Apart from the child named Yuan Yuan, send all the other children back, and... investigate the other children who were brought here, too.¡±


    Just in case there are more scoundrels to handle.


    It¡¯s better to deal with them all at once than have them cause more embarrassment later.


    Song Sinian slightly raised his eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t send those children back yet; let them stay in the Song Mansion for now.¡±


    Old Master Song was briefly puzzled, ¡°Are you worried about alerting the schemers?¡±


    He pondered for a moment; indeed, there was that possibility.


    Song Sinian gently shook his head, ¡°Since that child was sent out alone by her aunt and uncle, it shows they are confident she wouldn¡¯t speak out. A child who has been controlled for a long time might become emotionally unstable if something unusual is detected, so we must not let her realize anything is amiss.¡±


    Old Master Song looked at Song Sinian somewhat astonished, his gaze sizing him up back and forth.


    His grandson truly had become more compassionate since marrying Lu Zhaozhao.


    He was now even considering the emotions of a child from a sensitive perspective.


    Old Master Song felt a sense of relief inside.


    He was just about to praise Song Sinian when he heard his nephew¡¯s cold voice rise again, ¡°Zhaozhao was treated this way by Mr. and Mrs. Lu when she was at the Lu Family; I learned about it later from Doctor Tian, so I¡¯m a bit more informed.¡±

 Chapter 475: 473: Just Live Well

    Chapter 475: Chapter 473: Just Live Well


    Mr. Song¡¯s face turned dark in an instant, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    He could hardly believe his own ears!


    Their beloved granddaughter-in-law had been suffering abuse in the Lu Family this whole time?!


    Holy moly!


    Was it still possible to kill those two dogs of the Lu Family now?!!!


    Mr. Song almost slammed his hand on the table and stood up.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to pat Mr. Song on the shoulder, ¡°Those two dogs of the Lu Family have already been sent abroad to mine coal, they will never appear before Zhaozhao again in their lifetimes.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Mr. Song¡¯s rage finally subsided a bit, ¡°Thinking about what they did to Zhaozhao, sending them abroad to mine coal is letting them off easy!¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°I feel the same, so I added quite a few extra tasks for them, ensuring their second halves of their lives will be very ¡®entertaining.''¡±


    His voice was as calm as usual, but the chilling undertone almost made Mr. Song, who was well-accustomed to the cutthroat business world, shudder.


    Mr. Song rubbed his arms, suddenly feeling like Song Sinian¡¯s ¡°extra tasks¡± must be censored, otherwise they must be quite gruesome.


    The old butler also clearly felt the murderous intent emanating from Song Sinian.


    He coughed lightly, directly changing the subject, ¡°Cough cough... then this child... what does the lady plan to do with it?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze slowly retracted, ¡°As for this matter, I will consult her opinion later before discussing it. As for the children from these families, let them stay at the Song Mansion for the time being. As for the excuse, you all think of one.¡±


    With that, he left directly.


    Mr. Song watched Song Sinian¡¯s retreating figure and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°I never imagined that just bringing a few children from the side branches into the house would cause such a mess.¡±


    What Mr. Song didn¡¯t expect even more so, was that Lu Zhaozhao had grown up in abuse.


    He thought of Lu Zhaozhao, that kindhearted child, and felt a sharp pain in his heart.


    How could they have laid their hands on such a good child?


    As Mr. Song thought about this, he suddenly thought of the several children sent over, each of them seemingly well-behaved and understanding, with pretty and presentable appearances¡ªwho could have imagined that among such children, there were also those who had been abused?


    Mr. Song couldn¡¯t resist a long sigh, ¡°Butler, do you think I¡¯m getting old? That I¡¯m no longer effective?¡±


    The old butler couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Mr. Song, forgive me for being frank, but I think you¡¯re just too idle.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The corner of Mr. Song¡¯s mouth twitched, and he gave the old butler a white glance.


    He really had been with this old fellow for too long and was becoming increasingly undisciplined.


    Though Mr. Song seemed so disapproving on the surface, he had long since regarded the old butler as one of his own and didn¡¯t really mind his teasing.


    Of course, the old butler understood Mr. Song¡¯s temperament as well. He picked up the teapot from the table, poured a cup of tea for Mr. Song, and continued, ¡°When the young master only had eyes for work, you were just worried about his health. You would think that if you were gone, who in the house could stay and continue to take care of the young master. You wouldn¡¯t think about whether the young master would get married and have children, nor would you worry about whether he could be close to you. Now that the young master not only has a wife but also has grown close to you, you have other demands...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Mr. Song wanted to argue, he felt that the old butler made a lot of sense.


    When did he start raising his expectations for Song Sinian and the others so much?


    Indeed, people are never satisfied.


    Mr. Song¡¯s previously anxious heart settled in an instant.


    His only demand for Song Sinian had always been simple, to live well.


    Now that this requirement had been fulfilled, what more could he possible want?


    Thinking this, Mr. Song¡¯s eyes, usually sharp and calculating, instantly filled with laughter, ¡°You make a good point. Come, come, notify the other branches first, and then join me for a couple of games!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As night fell, only after comforting Yuan Yuan did Lu Zhaozhao return to the bedroom.


    Upon opening the door, she saw Song Sinian sitting on the sofa, reading a book and waiting for her.


    He was dressed in a deep blue silk pajama, with his legs leisurely crossed, exuding an indescribable air of nobility and aloofness from a distance.


    The moment he heard the door open, he looked up, and the cool and lofty aura instantly transformed into utter indulgence as he gazed at her.


    The moment Lu Zhaozhao entered, her empty heart was filled.


    She had just gone to soothe Yuan Yuan but was forced to recall unpleasant memories from her past.


    She might have grown up, but her mood was naturally not much better when attacked by the memories of the past.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, hurriedly stepped inside, and went straight to the couch to nestle into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace.


    Her little face rubbed against his chest in his arms, without saying a word.


    Song Sinian looked down and gently kissed her forehead, then put down the book and hugged her tightly, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, baby.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, hearing his address, couldn¡¯t help but look up at Song Sinian with a hint of surprise at his sudden term of endearment.


    Song Sinian smiled lightly, ¡°What? Is it wrong for my wife to become my baby?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°No, it¡¯s very nice.¡±


    The moniker gave her a feeling of security.


    Song Sinian gently patted her back and after a moment spoke slowly, ¡°The distant relatives who came to the Song Mansion, Mr. Song has already sent people to deal with them, and the children will stay at the Song Mansion for now. Do whatever you want to do; just go for it. I¡¯ve got your back, do you understand?¡±


    His concerned gaze was on Lu Zhaozhao, slightly worried about her emotions.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded in his embrace, ¡°I know. Even if you didn¡¯t say it, I¡¯d know whom to count on to support me in times like these.¡±


    Song Sinian saw that her mood wasn¡¯t too affected by the situation and privately heaved a sigh of relief.


    He raised his hand to rub her head and then asked, ¡°So, how do you plan to handle this matter?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head to look at Song Sinian, ¡°I want to help Yuan Yuan reclaim everything she owns and then arrange a suitable adoption for her.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded in agreement; they shared the same view on this point.


    But... finding a guardian for the child might not be that easy.


    Song Sinian thought of the previous discussion with Zhao Xi on this matter and felt a headache coming on just thinking about it.


    The other Song Family branches were certainly out of the question; if Yuan Yuan¡¯s own uncle couldn¡¯t accommodate her, it was even less likely for other interrelated Song Family branches.


    As for others, Song Sinian didn¡¯t have any suitable candidate in mind at the moment.


    If Lu Zhaozhao were to leave her with Old Master Song, he sure would be diverted, but it wouldn¡¯t be much benefit to the child¡¯s growth...

 Chapter 476: 474: Quite Troublesome?

    Chapter 476: Chapter 474: Quite Troublesome?


    He understood Lu Zhaozhao, if she decided to take charge, it would definitely be more than just superficial involvement.


    She would make sure to find the most suitable candidate for Yuan Yuan before she would be satisfied.


    After all, only those who have been in the rain would think of holding an umbrella for others.


    What¡¯s more, Yuan Yuan¡¯s situation was even worse than Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s previous circumstances at the Lu Family, making it easy for her to empathize and understand.


    Therefore, no matter what Lu Zhaozhao wanted to do, he was willing to support her unconditionally.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to sense Song Sinian¡¯s dilemma. Her small hand reached through his side and tightly hugged him, ¡°I already have a general candidate in mind for adopting Yuan Yuan, but I still need to consider it a bit more...¡±


    Song Sinian slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°Don¡¯t you plan to discuss it with me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes blinked, hesitated for a moment, ¡°What do you think about... my Fourth Brother?¡±


    ¡°¡±


    Song Sinian instantly understood her thoughts.


    If it was Xia Wenyan, he indeed fit the criteria.


    He had wealth and power, and he wouldn¡¯t care about the small assets Yuan Yuan had, plus the child... ugh, they would probably be willing.


    Only now, the situation was a bit tricky.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to start the conversation with Lu Zhaozhao.


    His awkwardness was clearly visible in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, she uncertainly pursed her lips, ¡°Hubby, do you think I¡¯m being too harsh on my brother?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean that,¡± Song Sinian immediately shook his head decisively.


    If Xia Wenyan knew that this adoption was requested by Lu Zhaozhao, not to mention adopting one.


    Even if it were ten or eight, he would be willing.


    It¡¯s just that Xia Wenyan might not have the energy to deal with this right now.


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head and looked at Song Sinian; it was rare to see him so conflicted, ¡°Hubby, what¡¯s really going on? If you think there¡¯s something wrong with my approach, just say it...¡±


    Song Sinian sighed softly, stretched out his arm to lift Lu Zhaozhao into his embrace, gently smoothing her hair, ¡°How could I possibly question your methods? It¡¯s just that...¡±


    He intended to explain, but as the words reached his lips, they turned around, and he changed his statement, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed that your Fourth Brother hasn¡¯t shown up for quite some time now?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was evidently stunned; if Song Sinian hadn¡¯t mentioned it, she wouldn¡¯t really have noticed.


    Previously, it was the Xia Family¡¯s turn to visit, and occasionally, if someone was preoccupied, they would swap times with someone else.


    Recently, the times when her Fourth Brother was supposed to come, it was mostly Wen Qingyu showing up; she thought it was her mom trying to see her daughter more, hence squeezing out her Fourth Brother¡¯s time.


    But from the tone of Song Sinian, it seemed that the issue was not simple.


    She frowned slightly, somewhat worriedly asked, ¡°Did something happen to my Fourth Brother?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s personality was always impulsive, indeed very prone to trouble, and previously, Xia Wenqing often helped clean up his messes.


    But ever since Pei Huai was by his side, such situations almost never needed his second brother.


    What was the situation now?


    Song Sinian gently shook his head, ¡°Your Fourth Brother is fine, the problem is with Pei Huai.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lu Zhaozhao stared at Song Sinian in astonishment, hardly believing her ears.


    Pei Huai was always meticulous; how could there be a problem?


    Could it be that their relationship was exposed?


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible. If that had been exposed, it would¡¯ve gone viral on the internet already.¡±


    ¡°But she hadn¡¯t seen any news about it at all.¡±


    Song Sinian pushed back a stray hair by her ear and explained, ¡°Pei Huai¡¯s maternal family arranged a blind date for him, and that woman is quite troublesome.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows knitted together instantly.


    Troublesome?


    If even Pei Huai couldn¡¯t handle her, she indeed must be troublesome.


    Her lips pursed slightly, and after a moment, she slowly spoke, ¡°So where is Pei Huai now?¡±


    Song Sinian shrugged lightly, ¡°He¡¯s probably overseas on the blind date, I guess...¡±


    ¡°And what about my fourth brother?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t gone abroad with Pei Huai, had he?


    With her fourth brother being thick-headed and not getting it, if Pei Huai had a blind date, wouldn¡¯t he just bless him on the spot?


    Then the CP she supported would be ruined.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s furrowed brow, Song Sinian lifted his fingertips and gently pressed at her brow, chuckling lightly, ¡°Your fourth brother is filming in the country. Since Pei Huai went abroad, he has been immersed in work, unable to extricate himself.¡±


    When Song Sinian spoke, it was obviously with a teasing tone.


    Lu Zhaozhao also raised her eyebrows, her fourth brother couldn¡¯t have had a change of heart during this time, could he?


    She got excited immediately.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we invite my fourth brother to the Song Mansion tomorrow?¡± she suggested, her eyes nearly sparkling.


    If she could use this opportunity to make her brother see the light, then Pei Huai¡¯s trip abroad wouldn¡¯t have been in vain.


    Seeing her playful look, Song Sinian gently pinched her cheek and said, ¡°If you¡¯d like, have him come over soon. After all, you still need to discuss Yuan Yuan¡¯s matter with him, right?¡±


    ¡°Right, exactly!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly, Mr. Song from her family really had thought of all the reasoning for her.


    If her fourth brother still didn¡¯t get it, they might just have to let the two of them raise a child together to foster affection.


    With that thought, Lu Zhaozhao sent a message to Xia Wenyan, asking him to visit the Song Mansion soon.


    But unexpectedly, Xia Wenyan was quite proactive and arrived early the next morning.


    The weather outside was gloomy with hail falling.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat in her bedroom wrapped in a blanket, quietly watching Xia Wenyan, who sat opposite her on the sofa. Compared to before, her fourth brother had obvious dark circles under his eyes and looked far less lively than when he was with Pei Huai.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt like her fourth brother seemed a bit wilted.


    ¡°Fourth brother, have you not been resting well recently?¡± Lu Zhaozhao pushed a cup of hot cocoa towards Xia Wenyan. ¡°Have something sweet; it might improve your mood.¡±


    A brilliant smile immediately appeared on Xia Wenyan¡¯s face, ¡°As expected, it¡¯s only my little sister who cares about me.¡±


    While talking, he picked up the hot cocoa in front of him and began to drink.


    Xia Wenyan indeed hadn¡¯t been resting well these days, not due to insomnia, but simply because he really hadn¡¯t been resting well.


    He had been filming in the crew recently and constantly felt empty. He thought he had too much free time, so he packed his schedule, but that restless feeling lingered.


    The more he tried to shake it off, the more exhausted he became.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the message from Lu Zhaozhao yesterday, he might have packed his schedule for the next few days too.


    Xia Wenyan propped his chin with one hand and nonchalantly asked Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just because you haven¡¯t seen your fourth brother for a while, and after comparing him to those other brothers, you¡¯ve realized I¡¯m the best, right?¡±

 Chapter 477: 475: Theres No Lie in These Words

    Chapter 477: Chapter 475: There¡¯s No Lie in These Words


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    It wasn¡¯t really like that.


    Normally, Lu Zhaozhao would surely tease him in that way.


    But seeing the huge dark circle under his eyes, she suddenly felt too heartbroken to continue.


    With a resigned sigh, she nodded her head, making Xia Wenyan even happier.


    He immediately hugged Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm, shamelessly rubbing against it, ¡°Having a little sister really is the best.¡±


    If his elder brothers saw him like this, they would definitely kick him out with a foot.


    As for Pei Huai, he had returned to his mother¡¯s family for a while now; at first, he could contact him every day, but recently it was only once every three or five days.


    And every time they could only talk on the phone for a short while before the call was hung up.


    This was the first time Pei Huai and he were apart for so long, and he was visibly not adjusting well.


    Xia Wenyan let out a dejected sigh.


    Now, there was no one to act opposite him, no one to make him delicious food, and no one beside him to help him talk back at others.


    He hadn¡¯t realized his dependence on Pei Huai had become so heavy.


    Lu Zhaozhao, feeling a bit of pity, rubbed Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been really passionate about work lately, Fourth Brother when did you become so career-driven?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao intended to listen to Xia Wenyan¡¯s explanation, but didn¡¯t expect him to excitedly grasp her hand, ¡°Zhaozhao, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d pay such close attention to your brother, Fourth Brother truly hasn¡¯t spoiled you for nothing!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Good lord, why was her fourth brother¡¯s thought process so different from a normal person?


    Did she want to highlight her care for him?


    Did she want to know if he was immersing himself in work because of Pei Huai¡¯s situation lately?


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt a throbbing pain at her temples.


    She raised her hand to rub her temples, trying to be patient as she asked again, ¡°So... why did you suddenly become so career-driven?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s mood visibly dropped quite a bit, truthfully he didn¡¯t know.


    Previously, his interest in acting or attending events wasn¡¯t great, rather he preferred to invest in the entertainment industry.


    And his vision was good, the movies and TV series his company produced were all very profitable.


    This was also why he was able to quickly establish himself in the domestic entertainment industry.


    But lately, he felt strange, as if he needed to find something to occupy his time or he would feel the time was unreasonably long and hard to endure.


    After carefully thinking it through, Xia Wenyan rested his head on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder and said word by word, ¡°Maybe I just felt bored recently, so I wanted to find something to do.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t lying with those words.


    Lu Zhaozhao tilted her head to look at Xia Wenyan, unable to resist probing his soul with a question, ¡°Before, when you weren¡¯t this busy, I never saw you get bored. Did something different happen recently?¡±


    She tried to subtly guide Xia Wenyan towards the direction she hoped he would think about.


    Otherwise, with her Fourth Brother¡¯s blockhead, he¡¯d probably remain clueless for life.


    The situation with Pei Huai was not detailed to her by Song Sinian, she only knew that his current matchmaking prospect seemed quite troublesome.


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t get away.


    Otherwise, her Fourth Brother wouldn¡¯t be taking on events and acting in boredom.


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t think much at all; whatever Lu Zhaozhao asked, he simply answered.


    Upon hearing the recent question, he propped his chin and thought carefully, ¡°Before, whether I was at home or outside, Brother Pei was always with me. Of course, I wouldn¡¯t be bored with someone to accompany me.¡±


    But now that Pei Huai had gone abroad, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to follow along, was it?


    And he had family affairs to deal with; it wasn¡¯t convenient for him to bring him along.


    Xia Wenyan had considered visiting Pei Huai abroad before, but later he thought better of it and gave up. Pei Huai was so busy, he simply had no time to spare for him.


    He¡¯d better not add to his troubles.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s abilities were not great, but he did have self-awareness.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little mouth turned down, ¡°When you didn¡¯t have Brother Pei with you before, were you bored then?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Xia Wenyan opened his mouth but instantly got stuck.


    Before he came to this country, it seemed that he had never been in this situation.


    He wasn¡¯t that busy at the time, engaged in things he was interested in, and even if he spent the whole day lying at home, he hadn¡¯t felt as tormented as he did now.


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t asked him about it before, and he hadn¡¯t thought about it, but after hearing her question, he suddenly found it very strange.


    Xia Wenyan looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a conflicted face, his hands clasping his own cheeks as if he couldn¡¯t accept the situation before him.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, Zhaozhao, I think I might be sick.¡±


    Many artists in the entertainment industry suffer from depression, and he had always thought that someone as straightforward as him would definitely not get depressed.


    Now, because of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s question, he suddenly felt that he might not be quite normal. Could this be a precursor to depression?


    Lu Zhaozhao actually thought her fourth brother had suddenly become enlightened and she couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips, ¡°The heart¡¯s illness also needs the heart¡¯s medicine...¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded very seriously, ¡°I think so too.¡±


    ¡°Then when do you plan to go to...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s place.


    He hadn¡¯t managed to finish the sentence when he heard Xia Wenyan ask very earnestly, ¡°Zhaozhao, can you introduce me to the psychologist who treated Sinian before? I think it¡¯s necessary for me to have a psychological consultation first.¡±


    What on earth?


    Lu Zhaozhao felt as if she¡¯d split apart on the spot.


    Why did she recognize every word her fourth brother said, but when put together, she couldn¡¯t understand them?


    Why the need for psychological consultation?


    What was the deal with seeing a psychologist?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenyan with a face full of confusion, almost wanting to grab him by the collar and shake him vigorously, shake all the water out of his head.


    Xia Wenyan thought that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t understood what he¡¯d just said, so he explained it again, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that the heart¡¯s illness needs the heart¡¯s medicine? I¡¯ve heard that Song Sinian has a good psychologist, so I want you to introduce them to me.¡±


    When Xia Wenyan said this, his face was full of seriousness, showing no signs of joking at all.


    Lu Zhaozhao was truly numb now.


    She was starting to feel a bit sorry for Pei Huai.


    Completely unmanageable.


    If it wasn¡¯t for her own brother, she would let him grow old alone.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, ¡°What I mean is, you¡¯re feeling bored now not because you¡¯re sick, but because the person who made you feel not bored isn¡¯t here now.¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded, ¡°So I can only wait for Brother Pei to come back.¡±


    ¡°Have you thought about finding someone else to replace Pei Huai?¡± Lu Zhaozhao ventured, her gaze fixed on Xia Wenyan¡¯s handsome face.


    If Pei Huai could be replaced, then for Xia Wenyan, he wouldn¡¯t be particularly irreplaceable.

 Chapter 478: 476: Becoming a Father Painlessly

    Chapter 478: Chapter 476: Becoming a Father Painlessly


    Lu Zhaozhao was wondering how Xia Wenyan would answer when she heard his particularly dissatisfied voice, ¡°How could Brother Pei possibly be replaced by someone else?¡±


    How could they just randomly find a person like Brother Pei? Brother Pei had been so good to him; there wasn¡¯t a second person in the world who was as kind to him as Brother Pei.


    When he had been studying abroad, he didn¡¯t quite like living with other boys. Naturally, his buddies knew what they were really like¡ªhow they acted one way at home and completely differently outside.


    Whereas Brother Pei was consistent inside and out.


    Not only was he clean, he had good taste in clothes, his cooking was delicious, and he was well-educated.


    Being with him, it seemed like every day was filled with many interesting things.


    That¡¯s exactly why he felt bored.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up; it seemed her fourth brother wasn¡¯t entirely a blockhead after all¡ªat least he had taken notice of Pei Huai¡¯s kindness and didn¡¯t reject it.


    She picked up a small hand and grabbed an orange from the table, just about to peel it when Xia Wenyan took it from her.


    With a cheerful face, he said, ¡°With big brother here, how could I let you peel fruit by yourself? Let me do it.¡±


    As he spoke, Xia Wenyan swiftly peeled the orange in his hand until it was completely clean.


    Now that Pei Huai wasn¡¯t here, he came to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s place so he could be a bit happier.


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Xia Wenyan a serious look, her beautiful eyes blinked, and then she slowly began to speak, ¡°I heard Mr. Song say that Pei Huai seems to have gone back for a matchmaking session...¡±


    ¡°Plop.¡±


    The orange that Xia Wenyan was holding just dropped to the ground.


    He seemed to realize the abnormality in his behavior just now, and he forced a stiff smile saying, ¡°This orange is dirty, let me get you another and peel it again.¡±


    Xia Wenyan, feigning composure, took another orange and started to peel it, but his mind was utterly in chaos.


    Hadn¡¯t he said he was part of the no-marriage club? Why was he going back for a matchmaking session then?


    Was it because he was forced by the pressure of his family to go on the matchmaking session?


    Xia Wenyan was a bit uncertain.


    Pei Huai had never mentioned his family situation to him.


    Even after he went back, he rarely talked about what he was doing recently. Could it be that Pei Huai was really going to get married?


    Before, he had thought that as long as Pei Huai didn¡¯t get married, he could always stay with him, enjoying food, drinks, and sightseeing.


    He had even thought that when they both grew older, they could find a scenic place to retire.


    But he never imagined that the person who had agreed to stay single with him would go on a matchmaking session behind his back!


    Xia Wenyan felt a strange emotion sweep across his chest, even stranger than anger, and he didn¡¯t know how to describe it.


    Lu Zhaozhao, clearly noticing the fluctuation of emotions on Xia Wenyan¡¯s face, secretly breathed a sigh of relief before adding, ¡°I also heard from Mr. Song that Pei Huai strongly refused, but the woman the other side introduced seems to be very troublesome. I heard she¡¯s the daughter of a local Mafia boss, and he¡¯s set his sights on Pei Huai, so he is determined to get him...¡±


    She appropriately shared the difficulties Pei Huai was facing.


    Sure enough, Xia Wenyan¡¯s expression immediately looked a lot better.


    ¡°Are you saying that Brother Pei is now in danger?¡± Xia Wenyan thought of this and his brows tensed up once more.


    He knew that those Mafias abroad almost did all kinds of evil and the system was different from the one in his country where everything could rely on the law.


    In some countries, private punishment even exists, and the law can¡¯t shake it.


    What if that woman really can¡¯t get what she wants from Pei Huai and does something again? What to do then?


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand and patted Xia Wenyan on the shoulder, comforting him, ¡°Fourth Brother, don¡¯t worry, Pei Huai isn¡¯t someone they can just push around over there.¡±


    Otherwise, the daughter of a Mafia boss wouldn¡¯t want to marry him.


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, ¡°I just heard you talking about him going on blind dates, and I was thinking that next time I call him, I must give him a good scolding. We agreed to stay bachelors together, and he went behind my back to find a woman!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Wow, she just inadvertently wingmanned loneliness.


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but considering Pei Huai¡¯s current situation, it wasn¡¯t a good time to handle the emotions between the two of them. Well, it¡¯d be better to wait until Pei Huai returned to the country.


    With her Fourth Brother being such a blockhead, she didn¡¯t have much of a choice but to let Pei Huai work hard on his own.


    Xia Wenyan, in a great mood, started peeling an orange for Lu Zhaozhao. Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he casually asked, ¡°When I came to the Song Mansion just now, I saw quite a few children here. Does Old Master Song plan to turn the Song Mansion into a kindergarten?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Xia Wenyan¡¯s comment.


    She gently shook her head, ¡°Grandpa probably felt bored, so he called the children from the extended family to stay for a few days.¡±


    Watching Xia Wenyan¡¯s carefree demeanor, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Fourth Brother, I have something I want to discuss with you.¡±


    Xia Wenyan perked up immediately, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    He looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a smile, as if he would agree to anything she said.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt warm inside, so she told Xia Wenyan about Yuan Yuan¡¯s situation.


    ¡°There¡¯s no one from the Song family¡¯s extended family suitable to adopt Yuan Yuan, so I was thinking... if you and Brother Pei aren¡¯t planning to get married anytime soon, would you consider adopting Yuan Yuan?¡±


    She focused intently on Xia Wenyan as she spoke, fearing she might detect a look of displeasure on his face, since she had taken the initiative on this matter.


    If Xia Wenyan was unwilling or showed the slightest hint of revulsion, she would definitely retract her suggestion immediately.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes lit up noticeably at the thought of adopting Yuan Yuan.


    He asked hesitantly, ¡°Would someone from the Song family¡¯s extended family come and claim the child?¡±


    After all, Yuan Yuan was part of the Song family¡¯s extended clan.


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head gently, ¡°The child has had a hard life. Apart from those two beastly uncles and aunts, she has no direct relatives. Even if she was adopted, it would be by other relatives from the extended Song family.¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded solemnly, ¡°If that¡¯s the case... then when can I meet my daughter?¡±


    He said this with stars in his eyes.


    His and Brother Pei¡¯s daughter.


    Just thinking about this title made him happy.


    Having such a little one at home should keep things from being boring.


    When Pei Huai comes back, he can surprise him with the news that he can be a father without any pain.


    Xia Wenyan still remembered the moment Avril said that Brother Pei couldn¡¯t have children, and how awful Brother Pei looked.


    Now that he had found him a daughter, he should be very happy, right?

 Chapter 479: 477: Am I Amazing?

    Chapter 479: Chapter 477: Am I Amazing?


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Xia Wenyan, who seemed eager to act, and felt a mix of amusement and bewilderment.


    Indeed, her fourth brother was still too naive.


    ¡°Yuan Yuan had suffered a lot of abuse at her aunt and uncle¡¯s place, so she might not be able to get close to you guys so quickly,¡± Lu Zhaozhao explained as she gently grabbed Xia Wenyan¡¯s wrist. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for Doctor Tian to provide psychological counseling. Afterward, it¡¯s up to you and Brother Pei to accompany the child.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had actually been worried that Yuan Yuan might not be able to accept Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai due to the previous abuse.


    But after yesterday¡¯s therapy and Song Sinian¡¯s investigation, she realized that Yuan Yuan¡¯s fear of women far exceeded her fear of men.


    This meant that her nominally called aunt was the one who abused her more at home.


    Therefore, having Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai as her guardians was actually a good thing for her.


    Xia Wenyan nodded repeatedly, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    After saying this, he seemed to think of something else. His hand, which was peeling an orange, suddenly paused. ¡°Where are Yuan Yuan¡¯s uncle and aunt now?¡±


    Now that he was Yuan Yuan¡¯s father, it was only fitting to take revenge for her, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao saw through Xia Wenyan¡¯s thoughts in an instant.


    After thinking for a moment, she figured it would be tedious for her fourth brother not to deal with Yuan Yuan¡¯s uncle and aunt. Why not let him handle it?


    ¡°I was originally going to let Brother Two gather evidence before dealing with them, but since you¡¯re free...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m free, extremely free,¡± Xia Wenyan responded with his charming eyes narrowing into crescents. ¡°Let him deal with that after I take care of these two scumbags.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, and as her gaze shifted towards Xia Wenyan, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Should we send a message to Brother Three?¡±


    He heard from Song Sinian that Brother Three had gone abroad, likely related to Mr. and Mrs. Lu.


    As for what he would do, it went unsaid.


    If Song Sinian didn¡¯t specify, she naturally wouldn¡¯t pry further.


    But her fourth brother was not as composed as Brother Three. What if he mishandled things, and it backfired?


    How could Xia Wenyan not sense Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s worry?


    His handsome features knitted together, his face fell into a pout as he complained to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Little sister, I am still your fourth brother. You should trust my abilities! This kind of matter is just a piece of cake for me!¡±


    He used to be quite impulsive, but after Pei Huai started staying by his side, he had learned quite a lot.


    As for dealing with Yuan Yuan¡¯s aunt and uncle, he didn¡¯t even need to pull out his big moves.


    But with such trash, he at least wanted to socially annihilate them first, then let them feel the harsh lessons from society. When they were utterly dismayed, he would give them a glimpse of hope before completely ensnaring them.


    Xia Wenyan, worried that Lu Zhaozhao might be concerned, briefly explained his plan to her.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but blush, totally unprepared for her fourth brother¡¯s meticulous thoughts.


    Moreover, the method was indeed unexpected. She had always thought of her fourth brother as the naive type, assuming that at most he would simply return eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth against villains.


    Seeing the astonishment in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but boast proudly, ¡°I learned all this from Brother Pei. How¡¯s that? Aren¡¯t I, your brother, very impressive? Don¡¯t I have a strong ability to learn?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenyan somewhat speechlessly.


    Indeed, only her fourth brother, with his thick skin, could speak of such a matter with such pride.


    Xia Wenyan saw that Lu Zhaozhao still hadn¡¯t spoken and thought she still didn¡¯t believe him, so he shook her arm, ¡°Little sister, just trust me this once, I really can do it, I promise I won¡¯t cause any trouble, okay?¡±


    He was really too bored, and now that he had finally found something amusing, he didn¡¯t want to give it up easily.


    Lu Zhaozhao considered for a moment, and finally nodded, ¡°Alright, but you must promise that no matter how far this matter goes, you must keep me informed.¡±


    Just in case something went wrong, she could help out.


    Pei Huai wasn¡¯t next to her fourth brother, she couldn¡¯t let him get into any trouble.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t even think about it and agreed right away.


    His peach blossom eyes shone brightly as he smiled, ¡°Then let¡¯s go see my daughter now!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai, who was completely unaware that he was already a father, was sitting in a cafe at that moment.


    The woman in front of him had been annoying him for several days.


    Her enchanting red dress seemed full of aggression.


    The heavy scent of her perfume made Pei Huai¡¯s frown deepen.


    The woman across from him seemed completely oblivious to the disgust in his eyes and spoke on her own, ¡°Mr. Pei, I¡¯ve made myself very clear, haven¡¯t I? Marrying me will only benefit you and not harm you, and I don¡¯t need you to stay here with me, you can go back to our country anytime you want.¡±


    Pei Huai looked coldly at the woman before him, his voice colder than his expression, ¡°Ya Meizi, I have also made myself very clear, I am not interested in you.¡±


    He was here because the chief of his clan was in bad shape and needed him to come back to manage the major and minor affairs of the clan.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that on just his second day here, he would be pushed to go on a blind date.


    Those old folks knew he wouldn¡¯t seriously attend the blind date, so they didn¡¯t reveal anything about it before he left, just mentioned it was a normal meeting between two major families.


    Since then, he had been harassed by the woman sitting before him, even though he had rejected her several times. She seemed to be deaf, and it was making him very irritable.


    If this woman weren¡¯t the daughter of a major family, he would have had someone deal with her long ago!


    Now, even sharing the same air with her disgusted him.


    Ya Meizi didn¡¯t take it to heart at all. She crossed her arms and slightly lifted her chin, looking at Pei Huai, ¡°Mr. Pei, why are you so unromantic? I¡¯ve already told you, I don¡¯t care whether you¡¯re by my side or not, even if you have a mistress back home, I don¡¯t mind, as long as you marry me.¡±


    She was after his status, although if he wanted to sleep with her, she wouldn¡¯t mind either. The man before her fit her aesthetic perfectly, but seeing the disgust in his eyes, she couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips.


    He really was a difficult man, but no matter, she liked a challenge.


    The more he resisted her now, the more devoted he would be to her later.


    No man could resist her after sleeping with her.


    So she never cared about these men¡¯s tough talk; as long as they obediently rolled in bed with her, what kind of man couldn¡¯t she handle?

 Chapter 480: 478: Who is it?

    Chapter 480: Chapter 478: Who is it?


    Feng Ya Meizi couldn¡¯t help but survey Pei Huai¡¯s physique with her gaze, desiring since their first encounter to taste what this man was like.


    Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, a slim torso¡ªit was clear he possessed a rare and enviable build.


    Unrestrained, Feng Ya Meizi licked her lips, almost blatantly displaying her desire for him.


    When Pei Huai came back to his senses, he just so happened to catch her suggestive look, causing his stomach to churn in an instant.


    Suppressing the urge to vomit, he regarded Feng Ya Meizi with a cold gaze, ¡°Since you¡¯re so unconcerned, you could pick any man you want. There¡¯s no need to be fixated on me.¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi smiled, ¡°But it¡¯s you I fancy.¡±


    As she said this, her voluptuous figure leaned forward slightly in an attempt to seduce him.


    Pei Huai stood up from his chair abruptly, not intending to give her any face, ¡°The only reason I agreed to meet you was because of business between our two families. If you¡¯re not interested in discussing that, then let¡¯s end things here today. I¡¯ll have my assistant continue negotiations with you.¡±


    As he turned to leave, the woman behind him grabbed at the hem of his clothes.


    Pei Huai¡¯s reaction was almost reflexive as he shook her off.


    Feng Ya Meizi looked injured as she gazed at Pei Huai, realizing he was completely unmoved by her charms. She stood as well, ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡±


    Pei Huai curled his lips in a chilling smile, yet said nothing.


    Feng Ya Meizi boldly began to tear her own clothes right in front of him, prompting Pei Huai¡¯s brow to furrow severely. He immediately stepped back, ¡°This is a cafe?, after all.¡±


    ¡°So what if it¡¯s a cafe?? Everyone here is mine,¡± Feng Ya Meizi declared triumphantly.


    Only then did Pei Huai notice that they were the only two people left in the cafe?, not even a waiter in sight.


    He suddenly felt slightly dizzy.


    But he hadn¡¯t touched the coffee on the table, so it wasn¡¯t the drink.


    His gaze involuntarily shifted towards a table not far away, on which an incense was burning, its scent growing stronger.


    His brow furrowed sharply as he realized he had fallen prey to the woman¡¯s scheme.


    Feng Ya Meizi continued walking, pulling at her clothes as she went.


    She was only wearing a fiery red evening gown, which, after her pulling at it, had left her shoulder completely exposed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m very skilled. I¡¯m sure to make you happy.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s expression turned ice-cold in an instant.


    He took a sudden step forward and pushed Feng Ya Meizi onto a nearby bench, his eyes turning a fierce red.


    Feng Ya Meizi hadn¡¯t expected him to react so swiftly, her lips curling with satisfaction, ¡°Don¡¯t be so rough with me. There¡¯s no one else here, you can take your time.¡±


    With another chilling smile, Pei Huai grabbed a coffee cup from the table and smashed it against the wall.


    In a moment, the ceramic cup shattered to pieces in his hand.


    Bright red blood spread through his grip, and Pei Huai felt his mind clearer than before.


    ¡°Even if you stripped naked in front of me, I wouldn¡¯t react in the slightest. Let alone using such despicable tactics. Since you¡¯ve had the audacity to plot against me, you¡¯ll have to face the consequences.¡±


    His frosty voice resonated through the cafe?, causing Feng Ya Meizi to shiver uncontrollably.


    She had a feeling that something was slipping out of her control.


    Before she could speak, Pei Huai¡¯s hand swiped the ceramic shards towards the woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°Ah!!!¡±


    A scream echoed through the entire cafe?.


    Yet the door to the cafe? remained unopened by anyone.


    Pei Huai had anticipated these events and dealt with Feng Ya Meizi mercilessly.


    He hadn¡¯t wanted to take things to such extremes, but both those old fools and the woman in front of him were pushing him to the edge.


    So, he couldn¡¯t be blamed for being ruthless.


    Five minutes later, the screaming stopped, and a bloodied Pei Huai also exited the cafe?¡¯s doorway.


    The people waiting at the entrance were taken aback by Pei Huai¡¯s appearance.


    Seeing him covered in blood, they hastened into the cafe?, completely missing the fact that Pei Huai¡¯s footsteps were unsteady as he left.


    He went straight to his car and ordered the driver to take him to the hotel, where he then locked himself in his bedroom.


    The pain from his pierced palm did not keep him lucid for long.


    Pei Huai could only make it to the bathroom, where he submerged himself in a bath full of ice cubes.


    He had his subordinates prepare ice and a detoxification agent long before he returned to the hotel.


    Regaining some semblance of sanity in the icy water, he then grabbed the detoxification agent beside him and started drinking.


    Afterward, Pei Huai slumped quietly in the bathtub, letting time slip by until a phone ring woke him.


    Pei Huai pressed his temples, feeling a headache, and his gaze inadvertently drifted outside the window. That¡¯s when he realized it had turned dark.


    He looked at his phone and saw many missed calls.


    Outside, it seemed like everything had turned into mayhem.


    As he was lost in thought, his phone rang again.


    It was Xia Wenyan.


    Without much thought, Pei Huai answered the call.


    ¡°Hello?¡± his voice was hoarse.


    Xia Wenyan, excited by the call being answered, said, ¡°Brother Pei, you¡¯re finally free. I¡¯ve got to tell you, I visited Zhaozhao today, and I¡¯ve prepared a huge surprise for you! Do you want to know what it is?¡±


    The voice on the other end of the line was laden with happy intonations, and even though Pei Huai couldn¡¯t see his face, he could imagine those peach blossom eyes filled with smiles.


    Pei Huai had never longed for Xia Wenyan as much as he did in that moment.


    His voice was like a burst of light in the cold, dark night, softening and warming his chilled heart.


    He softly hummed in agreement, then once again leaned back into the bathtub, listening intently to Xia Wenyan¡¯s chatter.


    Xia Wenyan prattled on, and Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile.


    His thoughts drifted further and further away.


    Until he heard, ¡°I¡¯m going to be a daddy,¡± which jolted him back to reality, and he stood up abruptly from the icy bath.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Pei Huai¡¯s expression turned dark and stormy in an instant.


    Anger was about to burst forth from the depths of his eyes.


    Who was it?


    Which woman?


    Who dared to make a move on Xia Wenyan after he left the country?


    And his own men hadn¡¯t even reported this matter to him!


    Those useless fools!


    Just as Pei Huai was about to step out of the bathtub, his body, numbed from the long soak in the ice water, suddenly wavered, and he sat back down into the bath.


    He clenched his teeth in fury, his eyes a deep black filled with crimson rage...

 Chapter 481: 479: Having a Child?

    Chapter 481: Chapter 479: Having a Child?


    Xia Wenyan heard the sudden change in tone on the other end of the phone and his peach blossom eyes curved into a smile, ¡°Brother Pei, you¡¯re happy too, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Since he couldn¡¯t see Pei Huai¡¯s expression, Xia Wenyan was completely oblivious to how misleading his words just had been.


    As he walked through the Song Mansion, he couldn¡¯t help but continue mumbling to Pei Huai, ¡°When you come back to the country, I¡¯ll bring her to meet you. She¡¯s really adorable, I¡¯ve never seen such a cute girl before. It¡¯s just that she¡¯s a little pitiful right now, but maybe by the time you come back, she will be much better.¡±


    There was no response for a long time on the other end of the phone.


    Xia Wenyan even suspected that the signal on the other side wasn¡¯t very good.


    He looked at his phone quizzically, and if it weren¡¯t for the numbers still changing, Xia Wenyan would have thought the call had been disconnected.


    ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s voice came through the phone again, only this time, his voice had a noticeable chill.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Despite his confusion, he slowly began, ¡°Her name is Yuan Yuan.¡±


    ¡°Heh.¡±


    Yuanyuan?


    He seems to be quite intimate with her.


    How long has it been since he left?


    And there¡¯s already a woman by his side that he likes so much?


    He clearly said he wanted to find someone who would be good to him...


    Is that woman good to him?


    Has she even surpassed him?


    Pei Huai felt his reasoning quietly crumbling.


    What should he do to make that woman disappear without a trace?


    Should he have someone get rid of her before he returns to the country?


    ¡°Fourth brother?¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°Who are you talking to?¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked up and saw Lu Zhaozhao approaching, his smile deepening instantly, ¡°I¡¯m talking to Brother Pei about Yuan Yuan.¡±


    ¡°Brother Pei agreed?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows lifted slightly, unable to refrain from asking.


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai listened to the conversation between the two on the phone, and his face darkened even more.


    Lu Zhaozhao also knew about this woman called Yuanyuan, and she had no extreme reaction?


    Could it be that woman had also charmed Lu Zhaozhao?


    Pei Huai¡¯s mood became even more chaotic.


    He had thought Lu Zhaozhao was on his side, and now she was also siding with that woman?


    Pei Huai¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but sink, even looking at the phone with a touch of despair.


    Even if he was reborn, would he still not be able to be with him?


    Could he really only silently bless him from his side?


    Pei Huai laughed self-deprecatingly. He had once thought... but after spending so much time with Xia Wenyan, he was not content...


    He took a deep breath and said lightly into the phone, ¡°Yanyan, I want to speak with Zhaozhao for a moment.¡±


    He wanted to know exactly who this woman called Yuanyuan was...


    Xia Wenyan, feeling slightly unwilling, handed the phone to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Here, little sister, Brother Pei wants to talk to you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows lifted slightly, looking at the phone in Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand with a bit of puzzlement, but ultimately, she took it.


    ¡°Hello, Brother Pei?¡±


    The person on the other end of the phone paused for a moment before speaking, ¡°That woman named Yuanyuan is having Yanyan¡¯s child? When did they get together?¡±


    ¡°Huh? What the hell are you talking about?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt as if she had been struck by lightning.


    She looked at her phone in disbelief and then turned to Xia Wenyan, who sat beside her, his face the picture of innocence.


    What on earth had they just exchanged?!


    Pei Huai took a deep breath, trying to suppress the gloom in his heart, ¡°I mean that woman named Yuanyuan, when did the devil... ¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Before Pei Huai could finish his next sentence, Lu Zhaozhao blurted out, unable to help herself.


    She rubbed her temples irritably, ¡°Who told you Yuan Yuan was a woman? No... Who told you Yuan Yuan was grown up? She¡¯s still a five-year-old child, alright?¡±


    ¡°????¡±


    Pei Huai on the other end of the line was clearly confused as well.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed without words and turned her gaze to Xia Wenyan, unable to resist questioning him, ¡°Big Brother Four, how did you describe Yuan Yuan to Brother Pei just now?¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked at her blankly, blinked, and said, ¡°I said I have a child now.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Good heavens, she inwardly exclaimed.


    Couldn¡¯t they just say everything all at once?


    Lu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes in exasperation, took a deep breath, and had to clarify to the person on the phone, ¡°To be precise, it¡¯s you and my Big Brother Four who have the child.¡±


    ¡°?!!!!!¡±


    Now Pei Huai was even more shocked.


    Lu Zhaozhao, with no other choice, went through the whole story with Pei Huai.


    After a moment, she asked again, ¡°That child is now at the Song Mansion, and my Big Brother Four has already decided to adopt her, but I think he may not be able to handle it alone, so Brother Pei...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as Yanyan likes her, I have no objections,¡± Pei Huai said, his voice light but carrying a touch of relief.


    From liking someone who might have had a child with another woman he liked, to just adopting a child.


    It was an earth-shattering difference.


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t even feel like blaming Xia Wenyan anymore. As long as this thing was false, that was enough.


    As for the way Xia Wenyan expressed himself leading to this misunderstanding, it didn¡¯t matter.


    The key was, he was still there.


    Seeing that the misunderstanding was cleared up, Lu Zhaozhao also breathed a sigh of relief.


    She looked disdainfully at the ¡°culprit¡± sitting beside her, who was still eagerly peeling oranges, completely oblivious to the storm he had just stirred up.


    Lu Zhaozhao silently covered her face and sighed soundlessly, whispering to Pei Huai on the phone, ¡°Brother Pei, I¡¯m really sorry for the trouble, my brother¡¯s brain sometimes doesn¡¯t work very well. We¡¯re going to have to rely on you, this family would fall apart without you.¡±


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of Yanyan and our daughter.¡±


    At his words, Lu Zhaozhao seemed to suddenly remember something, ¡°Oh right, Brother Pei, Mr. Song told me that you¡¯re having some trouble with your business, how¡¯s it going now?¡±


    Due to the recent shock provided by Xia Wenyan, Pei Huai¡¯s mind had cleared up significantly.


    Thinking back to when he left the cafe?, and the now completely disfigured face of Feng Ya Meizi, a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, ¡°Mm, it¡¯s been resolved. Just need to tie up some loose ends in the next couple of days, and it should be fine.¡±


    His casual tone made it impossible to realize the terrible things he had done.


    Later, Pei Huai seemed to remember something else, ¡°Yanyan hasn¡¯t run into any trouble lately, has he?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao laughed lightly, ¡°The biggest trouble he has is you not being in the country. He¡¯s so bored he¡¯s even started to internally compete and stir up his business. It¡¯s incredible...¡±


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but curve the corner of his mouth up, thinking of Xia Wenyan¡¯s face, and couldn¡¯t stop his mood from rising...

 Chapter 482: 480: Pamper Her Well!

    Chapter 482: Chapter 480: Pamper Her Well!


    Zhaozhao listened to the silence on the other end of the phone before continuing, ¡°Alright, you two have a good chat, I won¡¯t be the third wheel.¡±


    She said this and handed the phone directly to Xia Wenyan, then very sensibly left the room.


    Still peeling an orange, Xia Wenyan was taken aback and could only blankly take the phone, bewilderingly asking, ¡°Brother Pei, were you looking for me?¡±


    ¡°Um...¡±


    Zhaozhao watched the two chat as if no one else was around and silently sighed, then got up and left the room.


    With Zhaozhao no longer beside him, Xia Wenyan¡¯s courage grew, ¡°Brother Pei, I miss you so much. If you don¡¯t come back soon, I think I¡¯m going to get lovesick.¡±


    Pei Huai obviously knew that Xia Wenyan said that offhandedly, but he still took it seriously.


    He shifted his body, and the sound of water splashing from the bath echoed, ¡°I miss you too.¡±


    Very much, very much.


    His voice was hoarse, and because of the drugs he inhaled before, his tone also carried a complex emotion.


    When Zhaozhao was still around earlier, Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t noticed, but now alone, he distinctly sensed the difference in Pei Huai¡¯s voice.


    He furrowed his brows tightly, somewhat worriedly asking, ¡°Brother Pei, has something happened over there? Why does your voice sound a bit strange?¡±


    He remembered when he was schemed against by Avril, his voice had sounded like this.


    Xia Wenyan also recalled what Zhaozhao had told him earlier, that Pei Huai went abroad this time because the elders of his clan had dragged him to a matchmaking event.


    When Zhaozhao spoke about it earlier, he had felt a vague discomfort.


    Xia Wenyan thought it was just because they had agreed to remain single and he was furious at Pei Huay for secretly going on arranged dates, but now it seemed a bit different.


    Thinking that Pei Huai might have been plotted against, Xia Wenyan immediately became anxious, ¡°Brother Pei, where are you now?¡±


    Pei Huai felt somewhat weary as he came back to his senses, noticing Xia Wenyan¡¯s tension over the phone, he couldn¡¯t help but curve his lips reassuringly, ¡°I¡¯m in a hotel. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Brother Pei, were you set up by someone?¡± His hand clenched tightly into a fist, suppressing the nervousness at the bottom of his heart, and hesitantly asked.


    Pei Huai originally wanted to lie, but after pondering for a moment, he decided to tell the truth to Xia Wenyan, ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t expect them to be so bold during dinner. But fortunately, my men arrived on time, so they didn¡¯t manage to get the better of me.¡±


    He skipped over the process of how Feng Ya Meizi nearly got killed and briefly mentioned the outcome.


    Xia Wenyan thought of the suffering he had endured before, his brow involuntarily furrowing with a bit of heartache, ¡°Then, Brother Pei... have you seen a doctor?¡±


    He knew all too well how unbearable it felt, better than anyone else.


    At that time, he had managed to endure it thanks to Pei Huai being by his side, but now Pei Huai was in trouble, and he couldn¡¯t be with him, Xia Wenyan suddenly felt somewhat frustrated.


    He irritably ruffled his hair, ¡°When you said you were going abroad, I should have gone with you, so you wouldn¡¯t have to endure so much alone.¡±


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, ¡°Your words are enough.¡±


    It was rare for their Yanyan to actively show concern for him.


    Seeing that Pei Huai didn¡¯t want to elaborate, Xia Wenyan could only change the subject, ¡°Did the people from the family who want to arrange a marriage with you do this? Which family are they from? Will your direct rejection have any impact on you?¡±


    He had grown up in the Xia Family since childhood, and his parents were very open-minded¡ªthey never cared about those so-called concepts of social status, so for them, marrying any type of wife was acceptable.


    The children of the Xia Family were not forced into arranged marriages for the sake of the family, so he was not sure whether the Pei Huai family was the same.


    After all, there were many families that had grown strong through arranged marriages.


    Pei Huai thought of Feng Ya Meizi, whose face he had slashed, and knew that the Fengya Family would probably not let things go.


    Even if the Fengya Family knew that Feng Ya Meizi had drugged him, they would likely try to pin the blame on him.


    The Fengya Family was declining with each generation, and now with Feng Ya Meizi, they only had one daughter left, so in order to strengthen the family¡¯s power, they definitely needed to arrange a marriage between the two families.


    As for the Rimu Family he was currently in, they were hardly different from the Fengya Family; without finding him as the heir, the Rimu Family would really be on the decline.


    Originally, these old fools had been begging him, but unexpectedly, they had also conspired with the Fengya Family against him.


    He really had given those old fools too much face.


    Pei Huai took a deep breath, ¡°I will soon have my affairs abroad settled, can you be good and wait for me in the country?¡±


    Seeing that Pei Huai was not going to talk about the matter of blind dates, Xia Wenyan could only obediently agree to what Pei Huai said.


    ¡°Take good care of our daughter, and I¡¯ll bring you gifts when I return,¡± Pei Huai said, not wanting Xia Wenyan to always focus on his blind dates and deliberately changed the subject.


    Upon hearing the word ¡°daughter,¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes immediately lit up.


    He had always been particularly fond of having a sister in the past.


    However, the sister that his family raised seemed somehow different from what other families described.


    He had never felt the joy of being a brother.


    It was not until Lu Zhaozhao appeared that he found the feeling of being a brother again.


    However, Lu Zhaozhao was already quite grown up, and there were many limitations to how much he could pamper her.


    Especially things like kissing, hugging, and lifting her were completely out of the question.


    Moreover, with Song Sinian, this king of jealousy, he had even less time to interact with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Now that he had a daughter, he could properly spoil her!


    Pei Huai listened to Xia Wenyan chattering nonstop on the other end of the phone and completely relaxed.


    At this time, Feng Ya Meizi, whose face Pei Huai had slashed, had already been sent to the hospital.


    She had already awakened from her coma, and due to the severe pain in her face, her expression was very ferocious.


    ¡°What has happened to my face? My face!¡± Feng Ya Meizi was somewhat crazed lying on the hospital bed, her entire face twisted severely as she looked at the several bodyguards nearby.


    In addition to her face covered in gauze and blood, it appeared even more ferocious.


    Although they had already stitched her up, thinking back to how she looked when she was first brought in, with her face slashed, it was clear how much disdain the attacker had for her.


    They had always known that this young lady of their family was arrogant and completely disregarded others¡¯ feelings, and many people who had caught her eye, even if they were schemed against by her, had no choice but to accept it due to her status.


    After all, Feng Ya Meizi was fairly attractive in appearance and stature, and spending a spring night with such a person was acceptable...

 Chapter 483: 481: Still Not Embarrassed Enough?

    Chapter 483: Chapter 481: Still Not Embarrassed Enough?


    She probably never dreamed she would meet such a tough opponent one day?


    Not to mention Feng Ya Meizi herself, even her bodyguards had never expected such a situation to arise.


    The young master of the Rimu Family, in any case, looked gentle and refined.


    They thought this young master would only suffer this dark loss, and might even be forced to marry this woman after having relations with Feng Ya Meizi.


    But no one expected that the Rimu Family¡¯s young master would be so ruthless. Not only did he prevent Feng Ya Meizi from getting close, but he also directly ruined her face.


    Feng Ya Meizi was already rather absurd, forcing men into numerous situations.


    So when strange screams came from the cafe?, none of them paid attention, until Pei Huai, covered in blood, stepped out. That¡¯s when they realized something had gone wrong.


    Reflecting on the cold eyes of the young master of the Rimu Family now, the bodyguards couldn¡¯t help feeling chilled to the bone.


    They were indeed relieved that the young master had left Feng Ya Meizi with a dog¡¯s life. Otherwise, they feared they would have all been buried with her.


    Seeing that none of the bodyguards spoke, Feng Ya Meizi became even more hysterical, ¡°Are you all useless?! Get me a doctor! Now! Immediately!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    The bodyguards immediately ran out of the ward, each fearing that moving slowly would bring punishment from Feng Ya Meizi.


    Soon, a doctor arrived in the ward.


    ¡°Doctor, what exactly happened to my face?¡± Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s eyes fixed on the doctor in front of her, her demeanor verging on the hysterical.


    She had always been most proud of her face and her figure, and now someone had damaged her like this!


    She wished she could tear Pei Huai into pieces right there.


    This insensitive man!


    He actually dared to harm her like this?!


    The doctor, shuddering at the sight of Feng Ya Meizi, still plucked up the courage to speak, ¡°Miss Feng Ya, your facial injuries are severe, and several facial nerves have been severed. There might be an impact on your ability to make expressions...¡±


    ¡°What am I asking you about my face? I¡¯m asking about my appearance! What are you talking about nerves for?¡± Feng Ya Meizi had no patience to continue with the doctor.


    All she wanted to know was how severe her facial injuries were and whether they would affect her beauty!


    She had only wanted to taste what Pei Huai was like, but who knew he would slice her face with a shard from a cup!


    The doctor took a deep breath and said tremblingly, ¡°Miss Feng Ya, your appearance... it might be affected, but don¡¯t worry too much. The medical field is very advanced now, and the cosmetic surgery industry also...¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi violently threw something in her hand before the doctor could finish speaking, making a loud noise.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying my face is ruined?! That I need plastic surgery?!¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi couldn¡¯t believe her ears and immediately started to pull at the gauze on her face.


    Although it had just been wrapped, blood had already soaked through. Now that she was ripping it open with her hands, it became even more bloody.


    Even the well-experienced bodyguards couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit nauseous.


    Luckily, Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s attention was all on her own face, so she hadn¡¯t noticed the bodyguards¡¯ expressions of horror and disgust.


    Only then did Feng Ya Meizi see her face, which was crisscrossed with scars that nearly split her entire face open.


    Pei Huai really could inflict such cruel injuries!


    Her features had been almost completely eviscerated by his slashes, and even after treatment, her face was definitely going to be crisscrossed by scars.


    Feng Ya Meizi was trembling all over; she couldn¡¯t accept that her beautiful face had turned into this state.


    She crazily smashed the mirror in front of her, ¡°Where is Pei Huai? Where is that man?! He ruined my face! I want to kill him! No! I want to make his life worse than death!¡±


    While Feng Ya Meizi was howling, Fengya Youmu had already arrived in the hospital room.


    His brows were deeply furrowed, and his face dark as he looked at his daughter, ¡°What more do you want to cause? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve embarrassed yourself enough?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t really interfered in however his daughter caused trouble before; after all, she was his only daughter.


    The future succession of the family also rested on this daughter, so he thought that a little indulgence wasn¡¯t really a problem.


    After all, she was to be the future head of Feng Ya Family.


    But who would have thought she would provoke the young master of the Rimu Family? And even drug him!


    An arranged marriage between the Rimu Family and the Fengya Family had still been under discussion. It was fine for his daughter to check out the young man from the Rimu family, but who would have thought she¡¯d treat the Rimu family¡¯s young master the same as any ordinary man.


    Now that her face was ruined, even if they approached the people of the Rimu Family, for the sake of the Rimu family¡¯s dignity, they wouldn¡¯t easily back down.


    Let alone agree to let Feng Ya Meizi marry into their family.


    Thinking of this gave Fengya Youmu a headache.


    He stared at Feng Ya Meizi with furrowed brows, only to hear her furiously roar, ¡°What¡¯s so embarrassing about me? I gave him a chance, yet that man still didn¡¯t know how to appreciate it!¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi grabbed Fengya Youmu¡¯s arm tightly, ¡°Dad, my face is ruined, and the Rimu family stays indifferent, isn¡¯t that a sign of disrespect towards our Feng Ya family? If their family looks down on ours, why should we give them any respect?¡±


    Although Feng Ya Meizi was furious, she hadn¡¯t forgotten her goal, ¡°Since Pei Huai looks down on me, I want to make him regret it! He¡¯s just a temporary heir brought back by the Rimu family; if someone else could replace him, he would be nothing!¡±


    Fengya Youmu¡¯s shrewd eyes narrowed. The Rimu family was an ancient family of their country; taking them down wouldn¡¯t be easy, but, like Feng Ya Meizi said, if the heir could be replaced...


    If he remembered correctly, before Pei Huai appeared, the Rimu family had actually considered promoting several collateral children to compete for the position of Family Head.


    However, after Pei Huai appeared and demonstrated astonishing abilities, the position of Family Head became his.


    If others also wanted this position, could they not help them along a bit?


    Fengya Youmu carefully considered this possibility.


    Their wish to form a marriage alliance with the Rimu family was also for the future of their own family. Unfortunately, Pei Huai was not interested in a marriage alliance with their family¡ªif a different Family Head was willing to form an alliance...


    That would be good for both the Feng Ya family and Feng Ya Meizi.


    After a moment of silence, Fengya Youmu slowly spoke, ¡°Let me think this matter over carefully, and we¡¯ll discuss it later.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Seeing that Fengya Youmu didn¡¯t outright refuse, Feng Ya Meizi knew this plan was feasible.


    She understood her father; if he thought something was unfeasible, he would refuse right on the spot, rather than saying he¡¯d think it over.

 Chapter 484: 482: Why Such a Weird Temper?

    Chapter 484: Chapter 482: Why Such a Weird Temper?


    ¡°He spoke like that, which was tantamount to accepting her suggestion.¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi couldn¡¯t help but tug at the corner of her mouth, but the pain on her face instantly contorted her expression into a hideous one.


    She covered her face in rage, determined to make Pei Huai pay!


    She wanted to drive him from the position of Rimu Family Master and turn all those he cared about into a ghostly figure like herself!


    Pei Huai, just you wait and see!


    At the Song Mansion, domestically.


    To facilitate Yuan Yuan¡¯s normal adoption process by Xia Wenyan, Old Master Song had people collect compromising information about Yuan Yuan¡¯s uncle¡¯s work practices from the company.


    Of course, they wouldn¡¯t overlook Yuan Yuan¡¯s aunt either.


    Thus, Yuan Yuan naturally stayed on at the Song Mansion¡ªother children from the Song Family¡¯s collateral branches stayed as well.


    Old Master Song publicly always said that Lu Zhaozhao was very fond of these children, hence she let them stay for a few more days.


    For other members of the Song Family¡¯s collateral branches, this was a good thing.


    But for Yuan Yuan¡¯s uncle and aunt, this was not necessarily the case.


    They normally left Yuan Yuan at home and almost beat her daily to make clear to her that only complete obedience would secure her a place in their home.


    They worried that Yuan Yuan¡¯s stay at the Song Mansion could expose their usual misdeeds.


    After all, though Yuan Yuan had wounds, she couldn¡¯t bathe every day in winter, but the time she spent at the Song Mansion was lengthy.


    If servants at the Song Mansion noticed, it would be troublesome.


    Thus, on the third day of Yuan Yuan¡¯s stay at the Song Mansion, her uncle and aunt couldn¡¯t help but show up directly.


    Sitting in the main hall, Lu Zhaozhao watched the couple who were sitting on the sofa warming up to Old Master Song and couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow.


    She had not gone to seek them out yet, but they had taken the initiative to come.


    Lu Zhaozhao pulled Yuan Yuan along, with other children from the collateral branches following by her side.


    With Lu Zhaozhao there, the other children were also well-behaved.


    After all, before everyone came to the Song Mansion, their parents had instructed them to please this little aunt.


    Yuan Yuan¡¯s uncle and aunt weren¡¯t surprised at all.


    After seeing Yuan Yuan following Lu Zhaozhao into the room still sporting a silent demeanor, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    It seemed that the child had not yet exposed their deeds.


    ¡°Yuan Yuan, come over to your aunt,¡± Qin Ling immediately waved at Yuan Yuan, showing a very intimate gesture to boost her image as a good aunt in front of Old Master Song and Lu Zhaozhao.


    Having grown accustomed to being used as a tool for Qin Ling to showcase her ¡°maternal love¡± to others, Yuan Yuan obediently walked over.


    Her numb expression remained unchanged, as usual.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew that the past few days with Yuan Yuan would let her relax a bit, but it didn¡¯t mean he was willing to accept them.


    She had been tormented by her uncle and aunt for too long and now her sensitivity to the outside world had weakened drastically. So, when she faced her uncle and aunt again, she unconsciously activated her self-protection mechanism.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt terribly sorry for Yuan Yuan but knew that she couldn¡¯t openly sever ties with these two scumbags yet.


    She wanted Yuan Yuan to break free from these two trash openly and become a happy little princess, rather than continually choose to hide.


    Qin Ling looked at Old Master Song and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s composed expressions, and her smile brightened even more. ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯ve always had a good relationship with Yuan Yuan. These past few days she¡¯s been staying at the Song Mansion, and I¡¯ve missed her terribly. Can I take her back with me now?¡±


    As soon as she said this, Old Master Song¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What? Are you worried that I, an old man, might mistreat the child?¡±


    Old Master Song intentionally spoke ironically, pretending to be irritated by Qin Ling.


    Qin Ling, frightened, immediately corrected herself, ¡°No, no, how could I think that about you, Mr. Song?¡±


    Old Master Song snorted coldly, ¡°So, you are worried Lu Zhaozhao might mistreat them?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Qin Ling immediately felt like crying; that was never her intention. Why did Old Master Song always misinterpret her words?


    Beside them, Song Wang also noticed that Old Master Song was genuinely angry and chimed in to help: ¡°Mr. Song, that¡¯s not what she meant. She just missed Yuan Yuan, that¡¯s why she came here to see the child.¡±


    Old Master Song couldn¡¯t help but scoff, ¡°With so many people in the Song Family bringing their children to the mansion, none have been like you, demanding the child back just three days after sending them here. Do you think this old man can¡¯t afford to support these children?¡±


    Song Wang and Qin Ling were at a loss for words. They had only heard that Sinian¡¯s temper was peculiar and unsociable, but why was Old Master Song¡¯s temper also so bizarre now?


    Lu Zhaozhao saw that Old Master Song had vented enough, and then she slowly spoke up, ¡°Grandfather, calm down. They just missed the child a bit. Since they can¡¯t be separated from Yuan Yuan, why not let them both stay at the Song Mansion?¡±


    After addressing Old Master Song, she turned to Qin Ling and Song Wang and continued, ¡°I think you both wouldn¡¯t mind staying at the Song Mansion, right?¡±


    Song Wang and Qin Ling were both taken aback, glancing anxiously at Old Master Song.


    They knew that the Song Mansion seldom housed outsiders; even Xia Jinglan, who had once been a young lady of the Song Family, had been driven out.


    To be able to live in the Song Mansion meant a distinguished status; of course, these members of the collateral branches were willing.


    Even if they left the Song Mansion in the future, their statuses among the Song Family¡¯s collateral branches would invisibly increase.


    They hadn¡¯t expected that Yuan Yuan, seemingly dull, had actually brought many benefits to their family.


    It seemed this little girl could stay a bit longer.


    Thinking that Old Master Song was willing to let them stay in the Song Mansion, it further demonstrated that Yuan Yuan, the wretched girl, hadn¡¯t dared to speak out about her past experiences at home.


    Both were quite satisfied looking at Yuan Yuan, and then, with faces full of feigned surprise and gratitude, said, ¡°That¡¯s really kind of you, Mr. Song. As long as Yuan Yuan is happy here, we, as her aunt and uncle, are certainly happy too.¡±


    Watching their pretense of being kind and friendly made Lu Zhaozhao feel nauseous.


    Her lips slightly curved up, and she looked at Qin Ling saying, ¡°Always considering what¡¯s best for Yuan Yuan; you really are the kindest aunt and uncle under the heavens.¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao spoke, a faint smile lingered on her lips, but nobody noticed that the smile never reached her eyes.


    Qin Ling, complacently taking over Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, said, ¡°Mrs. Song, you flatter us too much. It¡¯s all because Yuan Yuan has such a good nature and lovely appearance, she¡¯s simply lovable.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Qin Ling but said nothing more...

 Chapter 485: 483: Wont Stir Up Any Trouble

    Chapter 485: Chapter 483: Won¡¯t Stir Up Any Trouble


    Yuan Yuan, because of the friction between the couple, usually acted like a piece of wood. She really didn¡¯t know how they had the nerve to brag like that.


    She glanced at them indifferently and saw the light in Yuan Yuan¡¯s dull eyes slowly darken. She felt a pang of sympathy but maintained an unmoved facade as she instructed, ¡°Yuan Yuan, go to my room and tidy up the things on the sofa. My fourth brother will be here soon.¡±


    Yuan Yuan¡¯s dull eyes seemed to brighten at the mention of her fourth brother, as if the thought of him brought some light to her gaze.


    Lu Zhaozhao finally let out a sigh of relief, it seemed her carefree brother did have some effect on Yuan Yuan.


    Yuan Yuan obediently nodded her head and left the hall, clutching the doll in her arms.


    Song Wang and Qin Ling didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to command Yuan Yuan so casually in their presence, especially considering Mr. Song¡¯s and Yuan Yuan¡¯s reactions. It seemed this wasn¡¯t the first time she had done so.


    Tsk tsk, they had thought that to win over Song Sinian¡¯s woman, one would have to be extremely kind and gentle.


    They never expected Lu Zhaozhao to be just as arrogant and aloof as the other well-bred young ladies they had encountered.


    Song Wang and Qin Ling exchanged a glance, and their concerns about Yuan Yuan¡¯s status in the Song Mansion began to ease.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao was not a kind person, Yuan Yuan¡¯s secret would not be exposed.


    Their staying at the Song Mansion under the pretense of concern for Yuan Yuan would only work more in their favor.


    The couple was even happier...


    Not long after leaving the hall, the two of them went straight to the guest room arranged by the steward.


    As soon as they entered, they hurriedly locked the door behind them and sneaked into the inside room.


    ¡°Husband, isn¡¯t it problematic for Yuan Yuan to keep staying at the Song Mansion?¡± Qin Ling, having calmed down, still worried that Yuan Yuan¡¯s affair might be exposed.


    They had indeed allowed Yuan Yuan to come to the Song Mansion with the intention of basking in the Song Family¡¯s glow.


    Their family¡¯s company was on the brink of bankruptcy, now waiting for the assets in Yuan Yuan¡¯s hands to turn things around.


    But if they could win Old Master Song¡¯s favor and get even a small order from him, they would be set.


    They had planned to visit the Song Mansion after Yuan Yuan¡¯s return, to make their presence felt and casually seek an order.


    They didn¡¯t expect Old Master Song to have the more distant relatives stay a few more days, which brought them directly to the Song Mansion. At first, they still feared that Yuan Yuan would be exposed.


    But they never imagined that the wretched girl not only remained undisclosed, but she also helped them make a lengthy impression on Old Master Song.


    With luck, securing a small order shouldn¡¯t pose a problem.


    But all this depended on the premise that the little wretch Yuan Yuan wouldn¡¯t be discovered...


    Song Wang¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. From the moment he arrived, his mind had been occupied with how to broach the subject of an order with Old Master Song, but as soon as he entered the bedroom, he was taken aback by the audacious atmosphere.


    As he was still dazed, Qin Ling suddenly spoke up.


    Song Wang glanced at Qin Ling, annoyed by the dampening of his spirits, ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about? That wretched girl has already been frightened by you, she definitely won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    Otherwise, they would have been discovered by now. How could Old Master Song still show them any favor?


    Song Wang couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly, looking down contemptuously at Qin Ling who stood beside him.


    The woman by his side was stocky with a severe look about her. If his family hadn¡¯t been in such a difficult position with debts, his father would never have let him marry such a woman.


    She wasn¡¯t gentle in bed, and worse, she had a habit of flying off the handle.


    Previously, the family¡¯s maids couldn¡¯t stand her temper and had all resigned.


    Later, when there was little money left, hiring maids became even more difficult.


    Luckily, after his brother died and left a child behind, he could let this woman rough up the kid; otherwise, he would have been the one suffering.


    Although he disliked this fat and ugly woman, he still needed the support of her family, so he had to endure.


    Besides, the child getting beaten wasn¡¯t his, it was from his brother¡¯s family.


    If the girl were accidentally beaten to death, it wasn¡¯t his fault.


    At most, it¡¯d just send her to meet her real parents sooner, which could be considered a good deed.


    Qin Ling¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, seeming to want to continue discussing the matter, but seeing Song Wang¡¯s lack of interest, she was forced to change the subject.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian¡¯s wife, did you see her? I thought she was some kind of benevolent fairy, but turns out she¡¯s no different from the other noble daughters.¡±


    Upon hearing Qin Ling mention Lu Zhaozhao, Song Wang¡¯s interest was also piqued.


    He had heard the employees at Song Group discuss Lu Zhaozhao before, though they mostly sang her praises¡ªhow beautiful and kind she was, with a lovely temperament and delicate air.


    Having met her today, he really did find Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s beauty undeniable.


    No wonder she could hold on to Song Sinian.


    But then again... Beautiful and delicate women were always easy to manipulate.


    Thinking this, Song Wang¡¯s sleazy eyes suddenly gleamed with a light.


    He sat on the bed in the bedroom, arrogantly crossing his legs, ¡°She was raised as the pampered daughter of the Lu Family, and now she¡¯s also the young lady of XJ Group, of course she¡¯s a lady of high status.¡±


    Song Wang had seen Lu Zhaozhao once from a distance, and back then, she appeared even more vulnerable than now, seemingly easier to bully.


    Probably marrying Song Sinian gave her much more confidence than before.


    Qin Ling heard Song Wang¡¯s words and snorted indifferently, ¡°The Lu Family went bankrupt long ago, what lady of high status is she?¡±


    As a woman, Qin Ling naturally envied Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dazzling beauty, and thinking about her current status and identity, she wished she could find some dirt to throw on her.


    ¡°Although the president of XJ Group has acknowledged Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s status, who knows if it¡¯s only because she married Song Sinian, becoming Mrs. Song, that they acknowledged her? Perhaps at the Xia Family, she¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Qin Ling¡¯s words seemed to strike a thought, and she continued, ¡°They discarded their own daughter they raised for 20 years just like that. How well can such a wealthy family treat a daughter they¡¯ve only just acknowledged?¡±


    Song Wang, who had apparently never considered these points, hesitated, ¡°Well... at least Song Sinian seems to be quite good to her; otherwise, Old Master Song wouldn¡¯t have brought in a child from a cadet branch to keep her company.¡±


    ¡°Heh!¡± Qin Ling suddenly scoffed, ¡°Is it possible that Song Sinian despises her for being unable to have children, so he had a child from the Song Family cadet branch sent over? Looking at how disinterested she seemed earlier, how could she want to keep so many children around?¡±

 Chapter 486: 484: How Could I Not Know?

    Chapter 486: Chapter 484: How Could I Not Know?


    ¡°?!?!¡±


    Song Wang looked as if someone had suddenly unlocked his meridians, a face full of shock staring at Qin Ling, as if she had spoken some unspeakable truth.


    Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao had been married for quite some time, yet there had been no news of her pregnancy. Could it be...


    Could it really be, as Qin Ling had suggested, that because Lu Zhaozhao had not conceived Song Sinian¡¯s child, she was about to be scorned by him?


    Song Wang thought of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s excessively beautiful face and unseemly thoughts began to spring up from the depths of his heart.


    A woman without any solid backing was the easiest to control.


    It seemed his stay at the Song Mansion these days wouldn¡¯t be lonely after all...


    In the evening, after dinner.


    Xu Zhenzhen came to the Song Mansion.


    Since that last visit to Xiao Mo¡¯s house with Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu, Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t seen Lu Zhaozhao again.


    She had wanted to visit Lu Zhaozhao in the hospital a few times but was always stopped by Xia Wenqing.


    He was worried that Song Sinian might involve Xu Zhenzhen in the matter of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s illness.


    Naturally, he was distressed about his beloved sister¡¯s sickness and would have blamed anyone else if they had taken his sister out.


    But it just happened that the people who took Lu Zhaozhao out were his mother and his wife, so he didn¡¯t dare to blame them.


    But Song Sinian was different, he was crazy.


    The only person he cared about was Lu Zhaozhao, so for the sake of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s safety, he absolutely refused to let Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu get anywhere near the hospital while Lu Zhaozhao was sick.


    Although Xu Zhenzhen and Wen Qingyu had some complaints, after hearing Xia Wenqing¡¯s reasons, they didn¡¯t argue and obediently waited for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s recovery.


    So when Xu Zhenzhen found out that Lu Zhaozhao had recovered and returned to the Song Mansion, she immediately found an appropriate reason to come over.


    As soon as Xu Zhenzhen saw Lu Zhaozhao, she held her tightly and wouldn¡¯t let go, ¡°Zhaozhao, I missed you so much, boo hoo hoo... If I had known you were going to catch a cold that day, we should have confronted them during the daytime...¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for Xia Wenqing worrying about startling the enemy, she would have loved to give Xiao Mo and the rest another beating.


    It was all their fault that her darling Zhaozhao got sick!


    Humph!


    Even without speaking, Lu Zhaozhao could guess what Xu Zhenzhen was thinking.


    With a somewhat bemused smile, she patted Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s back and comforted her, ¡°I just had a bit of a cold, and I¡¯m already better, it wasn¡¯t that serious.¡±


    Because of her sickness, their subsequent plans to confront others had been put on hold.


    How could Lu Zhaozhao not know this?


    She let out a soft sigh and continued to gently pat Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s back.


    Mr. Song of their family certainly had been too worried before, otherwise, the Xia Family wouldn¡¯t have such a big misunderstanding.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew that explaining further was pointless, so she simply changed the subject, ¡°Zhenzhen, did you come to the Song Mansion today specifically to see me?¡±


    She had seen Xu Zhenzhen carrying something when she arrived.


    Hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen seemed to remember something important and immediately got up from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arms, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, there¡¯s another big reason why I came here.¡±


    She said that, pulling out two kraft paper envelopes from her briefcase, ¡°Your older brother prepared this material for you, he said the evidence against those two pieces of trash is all ready, this is a backup, and he asked me to deliver it to you and to ask when do you plan to deal with those two people.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t expect Xia Wenqing to act so quickly, she was obviously a little surprised.


    Xu Zhenzhen flipped through the documents in her hands and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Actually, half of the evidence here was collected by your fourth brother and then brought over.¡±


    From Xia Wenqing, she learned that Xia Wenyan planned to adopt Yuan Yuan, and although Xu Zhenzhen was also a bit doubtful whether Xia Wenyan could take good care of her, after thinking it over, there was still a Pei Huai by his side, and it seemed... she instantly stopped worrying.


    After all, Pei Huai gave them a very reliable impression.


    Even the usually unreliable Xia Wenqing seemed a lot more trustworthy.


    Lu Zhaozhao let out a light laugh and also started looking through the material.


    She was indeed quite satisfied, after all, with this evidence, it was enough to keep those two people in prison for a few years.


    Xu Zhenzhen tilted her head to look at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao darling, where is that girl named Yuan Yuan now, can I go see her?¡±


    She actually felt a bit sorry for the child and had even bought her a gift specially.


    Lu Zhaozhao came to her senses and nodded naturally, ¡°No problem, right now my fourth brother is taking her to play in the yard, if we go now, we should be able to run into them.¡±


    As she spoke, she put the documents back into the briefcase and placed it on the desk.


    The two of them left the bedroom, and as soon as they reached the corridor, they saw Song Wang.


    ¡°Mrs. Song.¡± Song Wang came over with particular eagerness, his gaze, however, boldly sizing up both Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen.


    His little action obviously disgusted both women.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked coldly at Song Wang, her brows also furrowed.


    Was this man, who had come during the day acting all timid, now getting bold after staying at the Song Mansion for just half a day?


    ¡°Mrs. Song, I have something I would like to talk to you about in private,¡± he said with a particularly bright smile, but no matter how she looked at him, he seemed lecherous.


    Xu Zhenzhen even felt an urge to go up and punch him twice.


    But regrettably, this was the Song Mansion, and this man was a relative of the Song family.


    If she hit someone, it would probably add to Xia Wenqing¡¯s troubles.


    Xu Zhenzhen tugged at Lu Zhaozhao, not wanting her to stay with this sleazy man.


    Lu Zhaozhao, however, raised her hand gently and patted Xu Zhenzhen, saying, ¡°Wait for me for a moment, I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips, despite not wanting to do it, but since their family¡¯s Zhaozhao said so, she decided to listen.


    Thus, Xu Zhenzhen could only watch with eager eyes as Lu Zhaozhao and Song Wang walked together to a place not far away.


    Lu Zhaozhao stood still and glanced around, although there weren¡¯t many people nearby, Xu Zhenzhen was not far away, Song Wang shouldn¡¯t do anything inappropriate.


    Besides, even if he dared, she could break his legs instantly!


    ¡°Mrs. Song, I heard you¡¯ve been quite troubled recently about the child¡¯s matter?¡± Seeing Lu Zhaozhao obediently following him, Song Wang couldn¡¯t help but swell up with pride.


    Sure enough, even though she had married Song Sinian, her status in the Song family was still very unstable, she would always unconsciously listen to the Song family people, even if he was just a relative.


    Thinking about this, a lecherous smile slowly crept across Song Wang¡¯s entire face.


    Just thinking about soon taking down a beauty like Lu Zhaozhao, and one who had been with Song Sinian at that, he couldn¡¯t help but get excited.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows lifted slightly, and as she watched his increasingly lecherous expression, her eyes revealed a hint of displeasure, ¡°What do you mean by that? I don¡¯t understand.¡±

 Chapter 487: 485: Just Hit Him Anyway!

    Chapter 487: Chapter 485: Just Hit Him Anyway!


    It wasn¡¯t that Lu Zhaozhao was pretending; she genuinely didn¡¯t understand what this trash was trying to say.


    Song Wang thought Lu Zhaozhao was too embarrassed, so he took two steps forward, deliberately getting closer to her.


    Lu Zhaozhao stepped back with visible disgust, her eyebrows furrowing deeply.


    What on earth did this trash want to say?


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression, Song Wang couldn¡¯t help but sneer in his heart, though his face still wore a look of sympathetic understanding as he spoke to her, ¡°Mrs. Song, you don¡¯t need to be nervous. I¡¯m just trying to help you out of your troubles. Rest assured, I have always been on your side.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her eyebrows and looked at Song Wang with a cold face, ¡°What troubles do I have that I need your help with? Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±


    Although she said this, she stayed put and didn¡¯t walk away.


    Lu Zhaozhao was doing this on purpose.


    She didn¡¯t know what Song Wang was trying to convey, but judging by his demeanor, he probably had some new scheme up his sleeve. She might as well go along with it to see what game he was playing.


    Song Wang certainly noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ¡°little trick¡±; his smile grew even brighter, ¡°I know why Mr. Song had people from the side branches bring over children. I suppose that¡¯s a concern for Mrs. Song as well, after all. You and Song Sinian have been married for a while now, but so far, the two of you haven¡¯t had any children.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t speak, merely watching Song Wang quietly, wanting to see what else he had to say.


    But Song Wang mistook Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reaction as admission, becoming even more smug. He had never thought that Song Sinian¡¯s woman would have a day when she could be so easily manipulated by him.


    With a smug lift of his eyebrows, Song Wang said, ¡°Mrs. Song, have you ever considered that the reason you and Song Sinian can¡¯t have children might not be your fault...¡±


    He purposely left his sentence incomplete, giving Lu Zhaozhao ample room for imagination.


    Lu Zhaozhao, playing along, began to feign self-doubt on the side.


    Seeing this, Song Wang pressed on, ¡°I think it¡¯s more likely that Song Sinian is the problem. I¡¯ve heard plenty from the Song Family that Song Sinian has been sickly since he was young and has taken a lot of medication. Who knows if some of those medications might affect his fertility.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    If Lu Zhaozhao still didn¡¯t understand by now, she would be an idiot.


    This trash obviously wanted to use this as a means to make a move on her.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched. He really was full of ideas, not giving a thought to what he himself was worth!


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao remain silent, Song Wang thought he had persuaded her and decisively moved on to the next step, ¡°Actually, the Song Family might also be aware of this. They¡¯re probably just bullying you because you¡¯re a woman. If you really want to secure your position in the Song Family, you might want to think about having a child first.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire face turned ice cold, ¡°So, what do you want to do?¡±


    ¡°What can I do? Of course, I¡¯ve come to help Mrs. Song secure a firm standing in the Song Family, I... Ah!¡±


    Song Wang had just tried to reach out and touch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek when she fiercely kicked him in the stomach.


    He didn¡¯t have time to react before he flew off the corridor and landed next to the flowerbeds in the backyard.


    Xu Zhenzhen had been watching the pair from afar, but seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face grow uglier by the minute and then actually kicking someone away, she immediately rushed over.


    ¡°You should know your place... Ah!¡± His following words were cut off as Xu Zhenzhen landed a hard punch on his face.


    Regardless of why Lu Zhaozhao had a conflict with this trash, the right thing was clearly to beat him up!


    As for the rest, we¡¯ll talk after the beating.


    Song Wang was punched and kicked all over by Xu Zhenzhen, his whole body numb.


    Clutching his head in fury, he bellowed at the two women, ¡°You¡¯re beating me up like this, aren¡¯t you afraid Mr. Song will find out? When he does, I¡¯ll make sure to tell him how shamelessly you¡¯ve been seducing men here!¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen were both shocked by this trash¡¯s audacity.


    How could he have the nerve to accuse her of seducing him?


    Xu Zhenzhen, initially bewildered, now erupted with anger upon hearing Song Wang¡¯s words, ¡°Seducing you? Have you no shame?! With that face of yours, why don¡¯t you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? You, looking like a toad, dare to dream of swan meat? You¡¯re delusional!¡±


    As she spoke, she landed several more kicks on Song Wang.


    Song Wang, unable to fight back at all, could only curl up on the ground in pain.


    He glared at the two women before him, suddenly realizing that approaching Lu Zhaozhao had been a massive mistake.


    He should have waited for a time when no one was around to find her.


    Now, with others present, she was reacting furiously, but if they had been alone, a little threat or bribe might have sufficed.


    Regretting his decision, Song Wang could only curl up and wail miserably on the ground.


    Soon, his pathetic screams drew others to the scene.


    The first to rush over was Song Wang¡¯s wife, Qin Ling.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes and immediately started screaming at Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen as she ran over.


    Hearing the commotion, the two women stopped what they were doing.


    Qin Ling immediately threw herself at the man lying on the ground, ¡°What could he have possibly done wrong to deserve such a beating from you?¡±


    She glared at Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen with clenched teeth, certain of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s inflated ego ¡ª a princess who thought too highly of herself. But what right did they have to beat her man?


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Qin Ling playing the victim and couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°Why do we have the right to beat him? Simply because he harassed Mrs. Song Sinian at the Song Mansion. Tell me, doesn¡¯t he deserve it?¡±


    Not to mention a beating, even if he were chopped up, it¡¯s likely no one would question it.


    ¡°It must be you who wanted to seduce my husband!¡± Qin Ling glared fiercely at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°With your seductive fox look, it¡¯s obvious you wanted to lure my man! It¡¯s definitely because he refused you that you resorted to beating him!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen and Lu Zhaozhao were practically laughing at this woman¡¯s shamelessness. To think someone needs to seduce that kind of toad?


    How could she blatantly tell such lies with eyes wide open?


    ¡°If you¡¯re not planning on using your brain, donate it to someone in need. With his looks, thrown on the street, no one would spare him a second glance. Does our Zhaozhao need to seduce him? Besides, our Zhaozhao¡¯s husband is tall, handsome, and wealthy. What does your husband have?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°Not everyone has the same... unique taste as you.¡±


    Could someone actually treasure someone like Song Wang?


    What an eye-opener!

 Chapter 488: 486 Favoritism

    Chapter 488: Chapter 486 Favoritism


    It must be said, for Qin Ling, it truly was real love.


    Upon hearing these words, her face turned pale, ¡°You, you are going too far! I¡¯m going to fight you all!¡±


    With that, she tried to grab Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen, no stranger to conflict, saw Qin Ling lunge at her and kicked her aside. When Qin Ling lunged again, Xu Zhenzhen, without a word, swung her hands left and right across her face, creating a loud ¡°smack, smack¡± sound that stunned everyone present.


    Lu Zhaozhao, on the other hand, was unsurprised and quietly watched as Xu Zhenzhen dealt with Qin Ling.


    Song Wang, finally reacting, hurried over to intervene but was kicked back by Xu Zhenzhen.


    By the time Old Master Song arrived, he saw the scene where Xu Zhenzhen was beating both Song Wang and Qin Ling mercilessly.


    Old Master Song knew that Xu Zhenzhen was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s best friend, and he knew Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s character; she wouldn¡¯t beat them up without a reason.


    Besides, these two were worthless, what harm could it do to beat them up?


    Qin Ling, barely holding up, immediately crawled to Mr. Song when she saw him, ¡°Old Master, you must control this crazy woman; she¡¯s hitting us for no reason. Awang and I are almost dead because of her!¡±


    Seeing Old Master Song arrive, Xu Zhenzhen paused from continuing to beat them in front of an elder and gave Qin Ling another kick before stepping aside.


    Song Wang and Qin Ling, barely breathing, sat aside, but they still remembered to cast the blame first.


    ¡°Old Master, you have to control this woman; she¡¯s completely out of control in the backyard.¡± Song Wang looked pointedly at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Just now, I came to the back garden to clear my mind, but I was stopped by this woman. She was making eyes at me, trying to...¡±


    Song Wang didn¡¯t finish his sentence before he was kicked away by Lu Zhaozhao.


    Following that, she started punching and kicking him in front of everyone, and the screams from the backyard nearly split the sky.


    Seeing this, Qin Ling lunged again, helping Song Wang while shouting at the bodyguards beside Old Master Song, ¡°Are you blind? Why aren¡¯t you stopping that woman?!¡±


    Old Master Song¡¯s face immediately darkened, and he said to the bodyguards next to him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help?¡±


    The bodyguards of the Song Family clearly understood to who Old Master Song referred.


    They knew the taste of their lady well; they knew she would never be interested in someone like Song Wang.


    They wondered what in their minds prompted them to slander their lady in the Song Mansion, as they were clearly blind!


    They should realize whose territory this was!


    The bodyguards stepped forward, seemingly to drag Song Wang and Qin Ling away, but in reality, they cleverly trapped the two and made it easier for Lu Zhaozhao to continue her assault.


    Old Master Song, like a spectator, occasionally interjected to make himself heard.


    ¡°Those flowers in my garden are very precious; don¡¯t trample them!¡±


    ¡°That swing is Sinian¡¯s favorite; if you break it, I¡¯ll behead you.¡±


    ¡°That railing was just freshly painted! Don¡¯t scratch it off!¡±


    ...


    Listening to Old Master Song¡¯s perhaps genuine but mostly indifferent shouts, Xu Zhenzhen felt bolder and decisively joined the fray.


    *Crack!*


    ¡°Ah!!!¡±


    Suddenly, along with the sound of something breaking, a particularly tragic scream erupted from the group of people fighting.


    The bodyguards also appropriately stood aside.


    After all, they had all witnessed their young mistress stepping on something...


    And it made them all feel tightness across their backs.


    As the farce came to a halt, Mr. Song walked over with his hands behind his back.


    ¡°What exactly happened here?¡± his expression was indifferent, his tone was cold, looking at the two people lying on the ground, beaten beyond recognition.


    He then turned his gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen.


    ¡°Old Master...¡±


    The two on the ground were in too much pain, continuously gasping for air, let alone speaking a complete sentence.


    Xu Zhenzhen rolled her eyes at them and took it upon herself to explain, ¡°Zhaozhao and I just wanted to take a walk in the back garden, when we unexpectedly bumped into this man. He said he needed to speak with Zhaozhao, so he took her to the corridor nearby; I didn¡¯t expect him to start getting handsy with Zhaozhao.¡±


    Though she didn¡¯t see Song Wang physically harass Lu Zhaozhao, his filthy words towards Lu Zhaozhao gave away his intentions.


    Thinking back, Xu Zhenzhen felt bile rise in her throat, wishing she could break his arms and legs right then.


    Old Master Song¡¯s face grew even darker; he hadn¡¯t expected this distant relative, this scum, to dare lay his dirty hands on his precious granddaughter-in-law!


    And he did it without any reservation, even while Old Master Song was at home.


    It was like a slap in his face!


    Old Master Song became furious, he strode up to Song Wang and kicked him in the face, ¡°You heartless beast! How dare you lay a hand on a member of the Song family on our own turf?! I think you no longer wish to live!¡±


    Song Wang was already half dead from the beating, and now with Old Master Song¡¯s kick to his face, he cowered on the ground, desperately trying to defend himself.


    But before he could say something, the bodyguard behind Old Master Song picked him up.


    Qin Ling hurriedly spoke up to stop it, ¡°Old Master, how can you be so biased? It¡¯s clear that vixen seduced our Awang. You can¡¯t be fooled by that vixen!¡±


    As she spoke, she faced them with her face bruised like a pig¡¯s, sobbing pitifully.


    Old Master Song found her appearance painful to see, ¡°Do you even have the face to talk? Don¡¯t you know what kind of man your man is?¡±


    Their Zhaozhao, in both appearance and taste, was top-notch.


    Only someone like Qin Ling would take a liking to a piece of trash like Song Wang!


    She didn¡¯t think her man was out flirting around, and instead, she blamed it all on the woman, which was ridiculous!


    Qin Ling obviously didn¡¯t see herself as the problem, ¡°Old Master, our Awang is an honest man; he would never do such a thing! It was clearly that restless woman who seduced him first. Our Awang is being wronged!¡±


    Old Master Song was almost amused to anger by Qin Ling.


    ¡°You say he is wronged, and that makes it true? Do you think the surveillance cameras all over the Song Mansion are just for show?¡±


    He waved his hand at the butler, saying, ¡°Go and get the video for this area, I want to see who the liar is!¡±

 Chapter 489: 487: So Arrogant at the Song Familys Place?!

    Chapter 489: Chapter 487: So Arrogant at the Song Family¡¯s Place?!


    Qin Ling was not afraid, but that did not mean Song Wang wasn¡¯t scared.


    He knew exactly what he had just said to Lu Zhaozhao.


    He had only been so bold because there were no security cameras nearby, spewing filthy words at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Now, hearing Mr. Song¡¯s decisive words, he realized there must be security cameras around, ones he hadn¡¯t noticed.


    If this incident was confirmed, he¡¯d be dead for sure.


    He had thought that without any evidence, he could just insist till his death that it was Lu Zhaozhao who seduced him, and that would have been the end of it.


    The Song Family surely cared about their reputation, and in this matter, whether or not there was anything between him and Lu Zhaozhao, as long as he claimed Lu Zhaozhao seduced him, he could deflect much of the blame.


    As for whether Lu Zhaozhao actually seduced him, that wasn¡¯t important. What mattered was that as long as people doubted him, she, as a wife of the Lu Family, wouldn¡¯t be able to continue in her role.


    Once Lu Zhaozhao was no longer the wife of the Lu Family, she would have nothing, and wouldn¡¯t that make her easy for him to manipulate?


    Song Wang had already made his calculations ahead of time, never expecting a Cheng Yaojin to emerge out of nowhere.


    What was even more unexpected was that there were cameras in this garden?


    Song Wang immediately turned coward.


    Even if he was reluctant, he had to bite the bullet and apologize, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Old Master, I just lost my head just now, it was just a joke, I really didn¡¯t intend to do anything.¡±


    Song Wang wanted to downplay the incident, after all, the Song Family cared about face too. He was proactively stepping down, they wouldn¡¯t refuse to accept his gesture, would they?


    He was already thinking about what other methods to use against Lu Zhaozhao in the future, so that he could avenge the humiliation he had suffered today.


    Then he heard Mr. Song¡¯s exceptionally chilly voice ring out in the back garden, ¡°A joke? This matter isn¡¯t something you can get past with just a joke.¡±


    To bully a member of the Song Family to this extent and still expect to lift the matter high and set it down gently?


    What a joke, did they think the Song Family had no one left?


    Song Wang also realized the anger in Old Master Song, and knelt on the ground, knocking his head to the ground, ¡°Old Master, I really know I¡¯m wrong, please look at... look at how Mrs. Song adores Yuan Yuan, and spare me this once.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, already disgusted by Song Wang, was even more intolerant when she heard him using Yuan Yuan as a shield, and she kicked him to the ground.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Song Wang cried out in pain, falling to the ground.


    Qin Ling, watching her man being kicked around by Lu Zhaozhao, instantly exploded.


    She was about to leap at Lu Zhaozhao to fight when the bodyguards held her down, leaving her furiously powerless on the spot.


    ¡°Old Master, take a look at this woman! Our Awang was clearly apologizing, and she¡¯s attacking him again!¡±


    Qin Ling¡¯s venomous gaze was fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, wishing she could tear her apart right then and there.


    She was merely a marriage connection for Song Jia, and yet she dared to act so arrogantly in the Song Family?!


    She wanted to see how arrogant Lu Zhaozhao could be once she couldn¡¯t bear children and was discarded by Song Sinian!


    Mr. Song couldn¡¯t help but give Song Wang a disdainful look, if it wasn¡¯t for their Zhaozhao wanting Xia Wenyan¡¯s adoption of Yuanyuan to be aboveboard, he would¡¯ve dealt with these two a long time ago.


    What a disgrace to the Song Family!


    Even though these two were related to the Song Family¡¯s side branch, he still found it humiliating.


    ¡°I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If you two are fine, then don¡¯t run around everywhere. Now, get back to your rooms,¡± Mr. Song waved his hand at the butler and said, ¡°Find a doctor to check on these two in their rooms.¡±


    Qin Ling and Song Wang had thought they would be taken to the hospital, but never expected that Mr. Song wouldn¡¯t even allow them to go to the hospital. On second thought, however, the family doctor of the Song Family should also be a renowned one.


    There seemed to be no difference whether they went to the hospital or not, so both had to obediently return to their rooms.


    Nighttime fell over the Xia Family living room.


    The Xia Family members were sitting upright and gathered around the coffee table in a circle.


    ¡°Second brother, please tell everyone in detail what happened,¡± Wen Qingyu said, arms crossed, her entire demeanor was tight with anger, her brows deeply furrowed.


    Xia Nie gently rubbed her shoulders, trying to calm her down.


    But it seemed his comfort did nothing to soothe her.


    The eyes of the other Xia Family members were all focused on Xia Wenqing.


    They had originally gathered because of Xia Wenmo returning to the country, only to hear another explosive news related to Lu Zhaozhao as soon as they got home.


    Xia Wenqing felt a bit of a headache coming on, pressing his temples.


    The incident at the Song Mansion¨Che had only just learned about it, and it was Xu Zhenzhen who told him.


    He was so angry then that he forgot to tell Xu Zhenzhen not to spread the news to anybody else.


    To his surprise, before the second day even arrived, his mother already knew about it. She already felt guilty because she had taken Lu Zhaozhao out late at night, causing her to catch a cold.


    Now hearing that Lu Zhaozhao had encountered such an incident, Wen Qingyu¡¯s anger reached its peak.


    Xia Wenjue, with arms crossed, gave Xia Wenqing a sidelong glance, ¡°What exactly happened again? Why do you talk as if you¡¯re telling a riddle?¡±


    Ever since Xia Wenqing joined Song Group, he always felt that his younger brother knew much more than he did. If he knew earlier, he would have let his brother handle the XJ Group¡¯s affairs while he helped out at Song Group.


    Xia Wenmo, although he had just come back from abroad and wasn¡¯t interested in domestic affairs, realized the importance of the situation when he saw how angry Wen Qingyu was, suspecting it might be related to Lu Zhaozhao.


    He could ignore other people¡¯s issues, but when it came to his precious younger sister, he had to step in.


    ¡°Second brother, is this incident related to Zhaozhao?¡± Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t help blurting out.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes widened significantly upon hearing this.


    He had clearly visited the Song Mansion that afternoon. How could something have happened to his precious sister without his knowledge?


    Xia Wenyan suddenly felt a bit restless, as he had been too preoccupied playing with the adorable Yuan Yuan in the afternoon, seemingly paying no attention to anything else.


    As he thought this, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenqing felt the prickles of their stares on the back of his neck and had no choice but to let out a sigh of resignation and speak, ¡°Today, a member of the Song Family¡¯s side branch named Song Wang went to the Song Mansion, where he harassed Zhaozhao, and then he was beaten.¡±


    ¡°Is that harassment? That was clearly intimidation and bribery!¡± Wen Qingyu spat out through clenched teeth.


    She had originally wanted to ask Xu Zhenzhen about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition and find a chance to take her precious daughter out, only to hear such an infuriating incident.


    A mere member of a minor branch of the Song Family dared to run wild in the Song Mansion?


    And in front of her precious daughter!


    Almost instantly, the atmosphere in the entire living room of the Xia Family turned grim...

 Chapter 490: 488: People Who Have Been Through Great Trials are Extraordinary!

    Chapter 490: Chapter 488: People Who Have Been Through Great Trials are Extraordinary!


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s cold lips turned to Xia Wenqing and asked word by word, ¡°Did he just make a move on Zhaozhao with his mouth, or did he also lay hands on her?¡±


    He didn¡¯t believe that a man with dirty thoughts about a woman could restrain from using his hands.


    Xia Wenqing obviously felt the chilling aura around him and couldn¡¯t help but shiver a little.


    He realized that ever since Xia Wenmo took over their father¡¯s men, he had clearly become more unbridled.


    Always assuming the posture of, ¡®Dare to touch my sister and I¡¯ll kill you.¡¯


    The mob boss vibe was obvious.


    Xia Wenqing pondered for a moment, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen was also there at the time, how could she possibly let some trash touch our little sister?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s personal bodyguard, and this was something the Xia Family knew.


    They were also familiar with her skills, so Xia Wenqing thought this was the safest thing to say.


    But what he didn¡¯t expect was that as soon as these words left his mouth, Xia Wenmo¡¯s ominously cold voice came through, ¡°So, today just happened to be when Xu Zhenzhen was around. If Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t been there, then that trash would have touched our little sister...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This... Xia Wenqing suddenly found it very hard to refute his argument.


    It seemed that was indeed the case.


    He also despised that trash and was definitely going to teach him a lesson.


    But this was something that Xia Wenmo absolutely could not take into his own hands.


    He had been a bit too unrestrained lately, and given the chance, he could dispose of the man in 1200 different ways in a minute.


    Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t worried about how the trash would die; he was concerned that it might affect Lu Zhaozhao, as making a big scene domestically wasn¡¯t great.


    Especially when Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian were being closely watched by the Song Group¡¯s old shareholders.


    They couldn¡¯t be dragging them down, could they?


    Xia Wenqing cleared his throat, ¡°Song Wang and Qin Ling are Yuan Yuan¡¯s aunt and uncle. Lao Si has been collecting quite a bit of information related to them recently, including bribery, corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and the like. I have the materials ready and can send the two of them to prison in the next couple of days.¡±


    His insinuation was obvious ¡ª no need for additional complications.


    Just package them up and throw them in jail.


    Not to mention that these two had just been beaten by Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen; Xu Zhenzhen never held back, and it was likely the pair had significant injuries.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Where are those two pieces of trash now?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± For some reason, Xia Wenqing felt that his elder brother¡¯s last statement sounded scarier than Xia Wenmo¡¯s.


    He pursed his lips, his gaze shifting to Xia Wenjue, and seeing his usual expression, he dismissed the feeling.


    ¡°They are still staying at the Song Mansion, half-dead from Zhenzhen¡¯s beating. They probably won¡¯t be able to escape before being thrown in the slammer.¡±


    Xia Wenjue, recalling the sequence of events Xia Wenqing just mentioned, spoke calmly, ¡°I think there¡¯s a proper channel for grievances and debts owed. Since that trash wanted to commit a crime, it wouldn¡¯t be excessive to confiscate his ¡®tools¡¯, right?¡±


    It seemed as if a spark of inspiration had struck Xia Wenmo, his eyes suddenly brightening, ¡°This idea isn¡¯t bad.¡±


    ¡°I agree, we indeed need to annihilate him with a sense of humaneness,¡± Xia Wenyan chimed in. ¡°If I remember correctly, doesn¡¯t our third brother have quite a few doctors working for him?¡±


    Back in their father¡¯s heyday, he had a host of impressive figures from the medical world under his command.


    Xia Wenmo nodded slightly, ¡°There are indeed quite a few skilled doctors, but for this kind of trash, just calling a pig butcher will suffice; there¡¯s really no need for a doctor.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Whew, those who have weathered great storms really are something else!


    No sooner had his eldest brother started to have some ideas than his third brother was able to put them into practice, even taking things a level higher. The word ¡°impressive¡± was getting tiring for Xia Wenyan to say.


    Just waiting to see how that piece of trash would get his comeuppance!


    Song Wang and Qin Ling had stayed at the Song Mansion for only two nights before being taken straight to the police station.


    For crimes such as bribery, embezzlement, child abuse, and more, they were forcibly detained.


    Song Wang had been seriously injured, so he was placed in the hospital, but that very night, while he was still sound asleep, someone wheeled him into the operating room...


    When Lu Zhaozhao learned the outcome, Song Wang and Qin Ling had already become ¡°good sisters.¡±


    ¡°Who did this? It¡¯s so satisfying. Hahahaha...¡± Lu Zhaozhao, sitting on the couch and leaning into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, couldn¡¯t help but let out a light laugh.


    She was truly disgusted by Song Wang¡¯s greasy comments at that time, which is why she kicked him so hard.


    Unexpectedly, after being sent to the hospital, the thing he was most proud of was abruptly snipped off.


    Lu Zhaozhao had to admit, the job was executed beautifully.


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently pinched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, and seeing how exceedingly happy she was, the corners of his mouth curved as well, ¡°Does this make you happy?¡±


    He himself had almost ordered Song Wang to be finished off on the spot when he first learned of it from Zhao Xi.


    The audacity of that man to covet his wife, especially on his own turf, was nothing short of an insult!


    Now, seeing Lu Zhaozhao so delighted about Song Wang¡¯s misfortune, he suddenly felt somewhat relieved that he hadn¡¯t finished him off at the time.


    However, after he goes in, he wouldn¡¯t let him get off so easily.


    He liked coveting other men¡¯s wives, didn¡¯t he? Then let him spend several years as someone¡¯s ¡°wife¡± in prison.


    After all, since he no longer had the tools to commit the crime, it was only fitting that his role change accordingly.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t plan on telling Lu Zhaozhao about this.


    It wouldn¡¯t be good if it frightened the child.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head nuzzled further into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, ¡°Of course, the wicked receive their due, I¡¯m naturally happy. Yuan Yuan can also escape her torment and break away from any connection with them.¡±


    Everything was ready now, just waiting for Pei Huai to return from abroad.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes darkened when he heard Lu Zhaozhao mention Yuan Yuan.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t notice Song Sinian¡¯s expression, it was as if she had suddenly remembered something, ¡°Is my fourth brother really busy today? Why haven¡¯t I seen him until now?¡±


    Ever since he discovered Yuan Yuan was going to be his daughter, he had been coming here nearly every day, each time staying for a great while.


    Yuan Yuan¡¯s relationship with him had become exceedingly close, even surpassing her relationship with her.


    Lu Zhaozhao had never imagined her brother could be so charming to children.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped for a moment as he gazed quietly at Lu Zhaozhao, still not speaking.


    It wasn¡¯t until then that Lu Zhaozhao noticed something unusual about Song Sinian.


    Mr. Song from their family usually spoke his mind; this hesitancy was oddly frightening.


    She looked at him anxiously, ¡°Honey, has something happened?¡±

 Chapter 491: 489: The Thorn in Their Eyes

    Chapter 491: Chapter 489: The Thorn in Their Eyes


    Lu Zhaozhao asked Song Sinian while carefully recalling everything that had happened recently.


    But there was no clue at all.


    Lu Zhaozhao had no other choice but to look at Song Sinian again, ¡°What exactly happened? Can¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    She had a vague feeling that things weren¡¯t so simple, and her entire being became anxious along with her thoughts.


    Song Sinian had never intended to worry Lu Zhaozhao, and seeing her with such a furrowed brow, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, reaching out to embrace her.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything serious.¡±


    His large hand gently massaged her head and, soothingly kissing the corner of her eye, he slowly began, ¡°Today, Xia Wenyan and Yuanyuan were in a car accident when they went out, but Xia Wenyan has already been taken to the hospital. He has minor injuries, so you don¡¯t need to worry. Yuanyuan, because of Xia Wenyan¡¯s protection, was just scared. After spending another night in the hospital for observation, she can come back tomorrow.¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao heard the words ¡°minor injuries,¡± she immediately relaxed quite a bit.


    But she quickly noticed something odd about the incident.


    Her brows furrowed slightly, and after a moment, she slowly began, ¡°The car accident involving my fourth brother, is it not that simple?¡±


    Xia Wenyan, although sometimes careless, was still very attentive to driving safety.


    Especially since he had Yuan Yuan with him, he wouldn¡¯t take risks.


    Lu Zhaozhao guessed that Xia Wenyan¡¯s car accident might not be so straightforward.


    Song Sinian frowned slightly; he originally didn¡¯t want to let Lu Zhaozhao know about this, but she was still worried.


    If he didn¡¯t tell her the truth, she¡¯d probably go off and investigate on her own recklessly.


    Song Sinian sighed and rested his chin on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to investigate this matter. If nothing unexpected happens, it¡¯s likely related to something involving Pei Huai.¡±


    Not long after the incident with Xia Wenyan, he had leaked information to Pei Huai.


    He wouldn¡¯t normally concern himself with this sort of matter, but with issues arising with Xia Wenyan, he couldn¡¯t help but worry that if he didn¡¯t intervene, the other party might accidentally harm Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even if there was only a 0.1% chance, he was not willing to take the risk.


    Song Sinian had initially only intended to take preventative measures, but he didn¡¯t expect to discover a major scandal from Pei Huai¡¯s side.


    He had actually gotten into a conflict with someone from the Fengya Family and even disfigured the face of his arranged date. No wonder their people had come here to stir up trouble.


    However, he could understand; if a woman wanted to marry him against his wishes, he would also be tempted to put an end to her, disfiguring her face was just a minor operation.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face crumpled into a frown, ¡°There won¡¯t be any serious problems with Pei Huai¡¯s side, right?¡±


    The other party¡¯s people had already come to their own country, which was audacious indeed.


    She also wondered how Pei Huai would react upon learning about her fourth brother¡¯s injury.


    Song Sinian¡¯s nose rubbed against her shoulder, ¡°Pei Huai will definitely not have any problems, but as for whether the other side will encounter any, that¡¯s not so certain.¡±


    If Pei Huai initially disfigured the other person¡¯s face as a warning, then this time, their laying a hand on Xia Wenyan was like stepping on a landmine.


    If Pei Huai doesn¡¯t cause a bloodbath abroad, it would be unfitting of his personality.


    However, he didn¡¯t intend to inform Lu Zhaozhao of this, to spare her from worrying.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, vaguely piecing together the sequence of events from Song Sinian¡¯s implied words.


    She looked towards Song Sinian with a bit of worry and said, ¡°So does that mean my fourth brother has become a thorn in their sides?¡±


    Could the other members of the Xia Family be in danger too?


    Song Sinian saw through her thoughts in a glance, his large hand gently rubbing her head to reassure her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if Pei Huai can¡¯t return to the country, neither your fourth brother nor any other member of the Xia Family will come to any harm.¡±


    He still had the capability to protect them.


    Besides, Xia Wenyan was injured because he was unaware of the situation.


    Now that they knew Pei Huai¡¯s matchmaking partner intended to target them, things became much simpler.


    If they dared to make a move again, he would chop off all their hands.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but snuggle into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, ¡°Can I go to the hospital now to see my fourth brother?¡±


    Song Sinian hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded.


    At the hospital, in the VIP ward,


    Xia Wenyan lay on the hospital bed with one arm in a cast, suspended from his neck.


    Looking at the Xia Family members gathered around him, he felt a bit dazed.


    Since the car accident, where he had woken up in the hospital, he was always surrounded by his family.


    ¡°Does your arm hurt? Do you want me to call the doctor?¡± asked Wen Qingyu, who had been staring at Xia Wenyan for quite some time, seeing him lost in thought before finally speaking up.


    Xia Wenyan dazedly shook his head without saying a word.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows knit together as he couldn¡¯t help but reach out and rub Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°Did you get your brains rattled silly in the car accident, why are you looking so vacant?¡±


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°???¡±


    Xia Wenqing peeled an orange and stuffed it into Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand, ¡°Eat an orange first, then we¡¯ll have our family cook prepare some pig brain for you to eat, eat up¡ªsince you¡¯re not that bright to begin with, it¡¯d be troublesome if you got even dumber.¡±


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenmo stood with his arms crossed, sizing Xia Wenyan up and down, then added to Xia Wenqing¡¯s remark, ¡°Maybe throw in a couple of elbow joints, too¡ªgot to nourish everything.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes swept fearfully over the people around him, and he retreated backward a bit, ¡°I don¡¯t have some terminal illness, do I? Don¡¯t scare me, you guys! I just had a car accident...¡±


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s brow lifted as he looked at Xia Wenyan¡¯s shocked and scared expression, and a spasm crossed his lips, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, brat? What terminal illness would you have when you¡¯re fine?¡±


    Xia Wenyan, upon hearing Xia Wenjue¡¯s mild tone, immediately bristled, ¡°If I¡¯m not terminally ill, then why are you all being so gentle with me?¡±


    The idea of his three brothers typically being anything but gentle made their recently tender behavior seem all the more sinister to him.


    Unless something earth-shattering had happened, he couldn¡¯t believe that the word ¡°gentle¡± could ever be used to describe his three brothers.


    Of course, with the exception of their precious Zhaozhao.


    He, the most bottom-tier of the Xia Family¡¯s group bullying victim, was quite self-aware!


    With his lively nature since childhood and the regular chaos at home, he had often been disciplined by his three brothers. The concept of sibling love didn¡¯t exist for him.


    In his case, the four Xia brothers only knew the love of sibling rivalry!


    Therefore, being suddenly treated gently by them, Xia Wenyan¡¯s first thought was whether he had contracted some serious illness and was about to kick the bucket, which would explain their sudden kindness.


    Upon hearing Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo almost simultaneously looked at Xia Wenyan with disdain...

 Chapter 492: 490: This Time Its Not Worth the Loss

    Chapter 492: Chapter 490: This Time It¡¯s Not Worth the Loss


    How could they have such a dumb younger brother?


    Just looking at him gives me a headache.


    If Pei Huai hadn¡¯t repeatedly instructed them, saying Xia Wenyan was only attacked because of his involvement,


    He hoped they would help soothe Xia Wenyan and try their best to keep him from finding out about it.


    They had also been getting along well with Pei Huai lately, so they agreed.


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be fussing over this.


    Wen Qingyu lifted her foot and kicked Xia Wenyan off the hospital bed, ¡°I think you¡¯re just itching for a beating, not having been hit for three days leads you to tear off roofs.¡±


    Falling on the floor, Xia Wenyan instantly felt reassured.


    Indeed, group bullying suited him.


    Being the treasured favorite of the group was better left to his beloved sister.


    When Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian arrived at the hospital, they just saw Xia Wenyan being kicked off the bed by Wen Qingyu.


    She was immediately stunned.


    What had her fourth brother done wrong to have their mother kick him flying?


    The Xia Family heard the noise at the door and saw that it was Lu Zhaozhao, quickly gathering around her.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you came too?¡± Wen Qingyu looked somewhat guilty as she thought about her ¡°loving¡± kick that her precious daughter must have witnessed.


    Would this leave her with an impression of domestic violence?


    Lu Zhaozhao paused, then chuckled and hooked her lips, ¡°I heard fourth brother had a car accident, so I came to see him.¡±


    Wen Qingyu secretly sighed with relief, ¡°Cough cough... your fourth brother just has a minor injury. He was just itching because he felt uncomfortable under the care of the whole family. I gave him a little treatment.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s face immediately collapsed, looking pitifully at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°It¡¯s because you all are usually so harsh on me, then suddenly so gentle, who could think positively? Besides, I just have a minor fracture in my arm, and when I woke up, I found the whole family gathered here, wouldn¡¯t that scare me?¡±


    As he spoke, he even pathetically moved closer to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I even thought I was about to pass away!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, who was a bit nervous earlier, instantly felt relaxed by Xia Wenyan¡¯s words.


    Her silly sweet fourth brother was really adorable.


    No wonder Pei Huai was so persistent.


    The longer you stay in the darkness, the more you yearn for the sunlight.


    Her fourth brother, resembling a little sun, was indeed rare.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand and rubbed Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, and he immediately leaned in like a big dog, obediently saying, ¡°If they were even half as nice to me as they are to you, I wouldn¡¯t be so scared. I was really frightened just now, sob... little sister, I¡¯m truly pitiful...¡±


    Xia Wenjue: ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing: ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenmo: ¡°...¡±


    Wen Qingyu: ¡°...¡±


    Just now, who was it complaining about them being too nice to him?


    Now here he is, pitifully trying to gain sympathy in front of his sister, huh!


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo very tacitly glanced at each other, then each one grabbed an arm or a leg and decidedly carried him back to the hospital bed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, from today onwards, your big brother promises to take good care of you every day,¡± Xia Wenjue said as he ¡°tenderly¡± rubbed his head.


    At the side, Xia Wenqing stuffed the unfinished orange into Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth, ¡°From now on, your second brother will take good care of you.¡±


    ¡°From now on, I will supervise you every day to make sure you undergo proper post-surgery checkups,¡± Xia Wenmo said, casting a glance at his slung arm, his voice chilly.


    With his mouth full of orange, Xia Wenyan looked pitifully at his three brothers, who were watching him intently. He sought help from Lu Zhaozhao but was deftly blocked by the three.


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°...¡±


    Was it still possible to regret coming now?


    Whimpering, if he had known, he would have acted spoiled only when his sister was around.


    Now he was being watched by his three brothers.


    This had certainly backfired.


    Xia Wenyan blinked in annoyance, but unfortunately, no one paid him any attention.


    Wen Qingyu, because Lu Zhaozhao had been hospitalized and hadn¡¯t seen her before, now eagerly pulled Lu Zhaozhao for a walk outside the hospital since she had come on her own initiative.


    Although Song Sinian was somewhat upset, he still stayed in the hospital room.


    Wen Qingyu held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, her eyes gentle as she looked at her, ¡°Zhaozhao, how has your body been recovering? Have you felt any discomfort elsewhere after your cold?¡±


    The two were walking and talking in the corridor.


    Since Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian hadn¡¯t arrived early, Wen Qingyu planned to take her first to a nearby coffee shop to sit for a while and have some sweet treats.


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head softly, ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯ve long been well, I just didn¡¯t take care the other night, so I caught a cold.¡±


    Because Song Sinian had been overly concerned about her, her cold had made everyone else feel extremely alarmed.


    Lu Zhaozhao wished she could carve out a three-bedroom apartment right there with her toes.


    Wen Qingyu sighed softly, holding Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand and couldn¡¯t help patting it, ¡°Had I known you caught colds so easily, we should have switched our plans to daytime. It looks like our recent plans need some adjustment.¡±


    She kept talking to herself, unconsciously calculating in her mind.


    She hadn¡¯t noticed that when they left the hospital, they had already been followed by strangers.


    Lu Zhaozhao, already feeling a bit awkward, wished she could find something else to distract her attention.


    Then she inadvertently caught sight of a few odd people.


    Her brow furrowed, she couldn¡¯t help but take another glance and quickly noticed something was off.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze swept over Wen Qingyu, thinking of her mother¡¯s capabilities, it seemed... there was no problem.


    But if there were other people following them.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes, remembering that Song Sinian had mentioned that the people who targeted her fourth brother were influential in their country.


    Otherwise, Pei Huai wouldn¡¯t have found it so troublesome.


    She pursed her lips, her initial thought of risking herself promptly stopped.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately took out her phone and sent a message in the Xia family¡¯s group chat, ¡°Mom and I might be being watched downstairs.¡±


    The moment this message was sent, everyone¡¯s phones in the hospital room rang simultaneously.


    Nearly at the same time, everyone frowned, their expressions darkening the instant they saw the message.


    Xia Wenjue sneered coldly, ¡°They really dare, after picking up Wan Lao Si, they still dare to extend their claws toward our mom and Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°Since they¡¯ve come, let¡¯s not let them go back,¡± Xia Wenqing slowly stood up, straightened his collar, and exchanged a glance with Xia Wenmo.


    Xia Wenmo, holding his phone, had already sent out a message.


    He looked at the other two who had stood up and said softly, ¡°Let dad stay here to look after Lao Si, we¡¯ll be back soon.¡±

 Chapter 493: 491: Feel Wronged?

    Chapter 493: Chapter 491: Feel Wronged?


    ¡°I¡¯m going too!¡± Xia Wenyan muttered discontentedly.


    Just as he was about to stand up, he was pinned down by Xia Wenjue with one hand.


    His gaze was indifferent, yet his tone carried an undeniable authority, ¡°You stay put in the hospital. This matter isn¡¯t over; there will be a time for you to exert your effort later.¡±


    Seeing Xia Wenyan still wanting to struggle, Xia Wenmo added coolly, ¡°Once your arm is healed, you can fight to your heart¡¯s content.¡±


    Xia Wenqing also understood the intentions of the person who came, shrugging his shoulders, ¡°It seems my elective courses in international law will be of use again.¡±


    Hearing the words of the three, Xia Wenyan immediately understood their intentions.


    Was going to deal with those underlings merely a starter dish; were they planning to strike directly at their headquarters?


    Xia Wenyan, having just woken up from surgery, didn¡¯t even know that the people preparing to attack Lu Zhaozhao were the same ones who had previously targeted him.


    He didn¡¯t even realize he had been schemed against.


    But having just listened to what his older brothers said, he instantly understood everything.


    Xia Wenyan nodded gravely, ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t cause any more trouble then; I leave it all to you.¡±


    As he said these words, his gaze turned towards Song Sinian and he nodded, ¡°Please take care of Zhaozhao.¡±


    After all, if their little sister got scared, they would have to rely on Song Sinian to comfort her.


    Song Sinian also nodded in response.


    There had been bodyguards around Lu Zhaozhao all the time, but since she had been accompanying him at the hospital recently, the Xia family wasn¡¯t very clear about the situation.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t intend to explain, so the group headed towards the location of Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu.


    They did not plan to be merciful with those people today.


    It¡¯s unimaginable how stupid the Fengya Family must be.


    Having suffered a setback from Pei Huai, they were seeking a presence within the country.


    They didn¡¯t even inquire about the background of the people they were targeting, huh!


    They really must be used to acting like absolute lords in their own country, thinking they can behave obnoxiously everywhere?


    Meanwhile, Pei Huai, who had already learned about Xia Wenyan¡¯s car accident, stood in his study with an exceedingly unsightly expression.


    Behind him stood quivering people, all servants of the Rimu Family.


    Seeing the color of Pei Huai¡¯s face, none dared to breathe too loudly.


    They had thought that this heir, although brought in by them and seemingly easy to manipulate, turned out to act decisively, nearly destroying these seasoned old bones.


    The people of the Rimu Family now both respected and feared Pei Huai.


    They had initially thought of combining the Rimu and Fengya families through marriage, but who would have thought the Fengya woman would dare to drug Pei Huai?


    Drugging was one thing, but to also challenge them so brazenly?


    They started to doubt whether the Fengya family head, letting that woman lead, would even survive.


    With such intellect, it seemed all her skills were focused on sleeping with men.


    ¡°Today I¡¯ve called everyone here because I have matters to discuss,¡± Pei Huai turned around, his gaze colder than his expression scanning the servants.


    The servants exchanged glances, none daring to say much, quietly waiting for Pei Huai to continue.


    Suddenly, he gestured to a bodyguard who, in no time, dragged in a tightly bound man.


    The servants of the Rimu family silently watched as the bodyguard pushed the man to the ground. Seeing his tied limbs and covered eyes, a chill ran down their spines.


    Because this man was one of their own, a servant of the Rimu Family.


    Pei Huai slowly sat in the chair facing them, lightly tapping the chair¡¯s backrest, his tone as cold as his touch, ¡°Remove the cloth from his eyes and his mouth.¡±


    The bodyguards immediately complied, freeing the man¡¯s mouth and eyes.


    ¡°Family Head, I am innocent!¡± the man immediately cried out to Pei Huai as soon as his mouth was freed.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows slightly arched, his look sardonic, ¡°Innocent? Are you innocently involved in drugging me with that woman, or do you feel innocent in betraying your Family Head?¡±


    The other servants felt sweat form on their brows.


    This man truly dared, having colluded with a woman to drug their Family Head; did he no longer wish to live?


    What sort of person was Pei Huai? Hadn¡¯t they known enough about him recently?


    He might well be the most ruthless among all the past Family Heads.


    The bound man shivered as he looked at Pei Huai, ¡°Family Head, I was considering our family¡¯s future. A marriage alliance between the Fengya and Rimu families would definitely strengthen our family.¡±


    He thought the woman¡¯s approach was a bit radical, but considering her looks, he believed a man like Pei Huai wouldn¡¯t resist her charm, and thus he carelessly agreed.


    But who could have foreseen that instead of succeeding, she would end up with a scarred face, with the relationship between the two families now extremely tense?


    Now caught and brought here by Pei Huai, he had no choice but to stick up for himself.


    Pei Huai suddenly chuckled coldly, ¡°Considering the family¡¯s future?¡±


    He slowly stood up from the chair, approached the man, and then kicked him in the stomach. The man groaned, collapsing to the ground, vomiting blood.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re so considerate for the family, why don¡¯t you make a sacrifice and marry into the Yamamoto family?¡±


    His voice was chilling, causing a shiver to run through the attending servants.


    The Yamamoto woman was already 60 years old, often surrounded by young men ¨C typically those from impoverished families or in debt.


    That was because the old woman was excessively libertine, and ordinary men couldn¡¯t endure her; thus young men were frequently replaced by her side.


    The aftermath left by her hands had disabled more than nine out of ten men.


    Letting this man marry into the Yamamoto family was a clear message.


    Even for the sake of the Rimu family, the Yamamoto woman might not kill him outright, but his days in the Yamamoto household would not be pleasant.


    Thinking thus, the servants couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of horror.


    Hearing this, the man, enduring the pain, pleaded, ¡°Family Head, I was wrong; I shouldn¡¯t have collaborated with another family. Please forgive me this once.¡±


    ¡°Forgive you?¡± Pei Huai sneered, ¡°I won¡¯t let the Fengya woman off, why should I let you off?¡±


    The servants trembled, but hearing Pei Huai¡¯s words, they still couldn¡¯t help but speak.


    ¡°Family Head, our relations with the Fengya family are already poor; is it necessary to worsen them further?¡±

 Chapter 494: 492: Turning Big Issues into Small Ones and Dissolving the Small Ones...

    Chapter 494: Chapter 492: Turning Big Issues into Small Ones and Dissolving the Small Ones...


    ¡°The women of the Fengya Family have already been punished. If we continue to pursue the matter, won¡¯t it affect the reputation of the Rimu Family?¡±


    ¡°Feng Ya Meizi, after all, is the heir to the Fengya Family, and her status in our country is not to be taken lightly. Family Head, you haven¡¯t suffered a loss this time, so why not let big issues shrink and small issues vanish...¡±


    ...


    A group of house servants were all voicing their thoughts to Pei Huai, each of them considering the threats the Fengya Family might pose to the Rimu Family, completely dismissing the warning Pei Huai had just given.


    ¡°Since you all believe the Fengya Family holds such a crucial position in our country, then you all might as well defect to the Fengya Family and serve as their house servants. I have no need for those who betray their loyalties here.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s voice was indifferent, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.


    The house servants immediately became flustered upon hearing this.


    ¡°Family Head, please don¡¯t joke like this. Our loyalty to the Rimu Family is absolutely unwavering!¡±


    ¡°We are house servants of the Rimu Family; how could we possibly defect to another?¡±


    ¡°Family Head, we are all looking out for your best interest. This matter truly shouldn¡¯t be blown out of proportion, especially since the Fengya Family is also dignified and respectable.¡±


    ...


    Pei Huai¡¯s handsome face wore a smile that was not quite a smile as he observed the group of house servants before him.


    His lips curled coldly, ¡°You each claim to be looking out for my best interest and to be loyal to the Rimu Family, but what exactly have you done? You expect me to compromise with the Fengya Family, and for me, a Family Head, to swallow my pride? Do you trash really deserve to be house servants of the Rimu Family?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s words clearly made several of them shudder, but they thought about the fact that their positions as house servants of the Rimu Family depended not just on their brains, but also on the backing of their own families.


    Even if Pei Huai was furious, he couldn¡¯t possibly disavow their families as well. With this thought, the house servants felt a sudden surge of confidence.


    Even as Family Head, he would have to make compromises to balance various interests, especially not to stand in opposition to all his house servants.


    ¡°Family Head, we are indeed thinking of your best interest. After all, you are young and have only recently taken over the position of Family Head of the Rimu Family. There is much you still don¡¯t know how to handle.¡±


    ¡°As house servants of the Rimu Family, it is our natural duty to support the Family Head. We truly cannot afford to offend the Fengya Family.¡±


    ¡°Now that the heir of the Fengya Family¡¯s face is ruined, both sides should take a step back. If the Family Head feels it is a matter of pride, we house servants are willing to run errands on the Family Head¡¯s behalf.¡±


    ¡°As long as Family Head places the Rimu Family first, we as house servants will naturally support you with all our hearts.¡±


    ...


    Initially, the words of these house servants barely concealed a tremble, but as they continued, they found themselves speaking with increasing confidence.


    And their words to Pei Huai even carried a hint of defiance.


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but notice the subtle change in his house servants¡¯ tone.


    His lips curved imperceptibly into a mocking smile, the jest not reaching his eyes, ¡°Since you all claim to be acting for the Rimu Family, making some sacrifices is to be expected, right?¡±


    The house servants looked at each other, not understanding why Pei Huai would say such a thing.


    After exchanging glances, they nodded almost in unison.


    ¡°You¡¯re correct, Family Head. If it¡¯s for the Rimu Family, we should indeed be willing to make sacrifices.¡±


    ¡°Everything is for the future of the Rimu Family.¡±


    ¡°The family¡¯s interests are paramount, and the Family Head must thoroughly weigh the options.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Good, very good,¡± Pei Huai spoke softly, pacing slowly before seating himself in the same chair once again.


    He lifted his hand and clapped twice in the air.


    ¡°Clap! Clap!¡±


    The crisp sounds echoed loudly in the quiet room.


    Soon, several more people emerged from the partition.


    Only then did the house servants notice that these individuals were the younger generation from their own families, including some private bastards unable to make public appearances.


    After a moment¡¯s silent consideration, the house servants felt emboldened by Pei Huai¡¯s earlier words.


    Could it be that, after disfiguring the heir of the Fengya Family, Pei Huai intended to appease her by offering these relatives from their families as male concubines?


    Some were bastards, others were unfavored legitimate children; their loss would be of little consequence.


    No wonder Pei Huai had mentioned making sacrifices.


    They were only bastards and legitimate children with lesser standing; casting them out was just that.


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze swept over the newly entered individuals and then fell back on the house servants before him.


    He saw right through the disdain and contempt in the eyes of his house servants, and his lips curled slightly upwards once more, his smile absent from his eyes.


    ¡°These individuals have been selected from your families¡¯ households. I wonder if you have any thoughts on this?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s voice remained flat, showing little emotion, which made it even more difficult for the house servants to ascertain his true intentions.


    ¡°If the Family Head wishes to send them to apologize to the Fengya Family, then we house servants can only painfully let go.¡±


    ¡°As long as it is the decision of the Family Head, our families will, however reluctant, support it, because it is all for the sake of the Rimu Family.¡±


    ¡°As long as it can quell the storm between the Fengya Family and the Rimu Family, these younger members will have also made their contribution to the Rimu Family.¡±


    ¡°Being bastards and legitimate offspring with lesser standing, it is their fortune to be able to contribute to the Rimu Family.¡±


    ...


    Listening to the rising and falling voices around him, Pei Huai sneered at these house servants of the Rimu Family.


    They spoke fine words about acting for the Rimu Family, yet they were willing to discard anyone who wasn¡¯t vital to the family¡¯s interests.


    Pei Huai had grown up in the country and held no notion of illegitimacy or legitimacy, nor did he share others¡¯ disdain for bastards or private offspring.


    These people¡¯s very existence was due to the mistakes of the earlier generation.


    None of these bastards or private offspring wanted to be born as such, and nobody had consulted their opinion when they were conceived.


    And once born, they were discarded by the family like worn-out shoes.


    Unlike in the home country, most of these private offspring¡¯s mothers were forced by their fathers.


    Even though they could have married normal men, they were forced into being lesser wives against their will.


    Even if they resented it deeply, they endured for the sake of their small families.


    Pei Huai had initially rejected taking over precisely because of the corruption within the Rimu Family, but now, in this life, having chosen to take charge, he would not allow such things to continue.


    With a light tap of his fingertips on the back of the chair and a slight lift of his eyebrows, he raised his voice and declared, ¡°Since you all agree to support whatever decision the Family Head makes, then very well...¡±

 Chapter 495: 493: Determined to See If There Is Really Such Ability

    Chapter 495: Chapter 493: Determined to See If There Is Really Such Ability


    His casually uttered sentence sent a shiver down the spines of the house servants, who couldn¡¯t help feeling that his next words wouldn¡¯t be pleasant.


    ¡°From today onwards, be they of legitimate birth or bastards, as long as I, the Family Head, deem them capable of holding the position of house servant, their status will be disregarded.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s declaration shocked all the house servants.


    They couldn¡¯t believe their ears.


    For them, legitimate birth had always been a symbol of privilege since ancient times.


    Now he was saying that ability trumped status, how could that be acceptable?


    ¡°Family Head, please reconsider! This could undermine the very foundation of our Rimu Family!¡±


    ¡°Family Head, if you act alone, the entire Rimu Family will surely fall into chaos!¡±


    ¡°Family Head, you can¡¯t destroy the foundation of the Rimu Family just because you hold a grudge against the Feng Ya Family. By doing so, you could become known as the Rimu Family¡¯s sinner!¡±


    ¡°Family Head, you cannot continue to be so capricious! Prioritizing legitimate children has been the longstanding instruction and foundation of the Rimu Family.¡±


    ...


    Pei Huai looked at the restless house servants, a mocking smile curling up at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Just now, weren¡¯t you all claiming you¡¯d respect the decisions I make as Family Head, willing to sacrifice yourselves for the Rimu Family? Were those words just a joke?¡±


    Several house servants had been so scared by his actions that they were sweating profusely, no longer caring about sacrifice or respect.


    What mattered more to them now was their own interests; if legitimate birth was no longer important, the children they favored might very well be stripped of their positions.


    To have the children they had always looked down upon climb above them was intolerable.


    ¡°Of course we agree with the Family Head¡¯s decision, but we cannot consent to any decision that shakes the very foundation of the Rimu Family.¡±


    ¡°If we easily disturb the foundation of the Rimu Family, we would have no face to meet the ancestors of the Rimu Family.¡±


    ¡°We are willing to sacrifice ourselves, but only if the foundation of the Rimu Family remains unshaken.¡±


    ...


    Pei Huai listened to the house servants¡¯ reasoned arguments, his smile growing colder, ¡°You all make good points, but there¡¯s no need to repeat them. What I told you just now was not up for debate, it was simply to inform you of my decision.¡±


    Since he took over the Rimu Family, he had already considered revamping its entire mindset.


    The only difference was that Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s drugging had accelerated the process of reorganizing the Rimu Family.


    The house servants were instantly incensed.


    ¡°Family Head, if you persist in this headstrong course of action, you will alienate the hearts of these house servants!¡±


    ¡°Family Head, these bastards do not warrant your concern.¡±


    ¡°Family Head, do you really want to watch idly as the Rimu Family declines?¡±


    ...


    Pei Huai remained utterly unmoved by their alternately sycophantic and outraged utterances.


    ¡°I just realized I forgot to introduce you to these children. They are the ones who will replace you, meaning they are the future house servants of the Rimu Family.¡±


    The house servants before him trembled wildly with anger.


    You¡¯ve got to be kidding.


    These bastards weren¡¯t just replacing the heirs they had pinned their hopes on, but replacing them as well ¨C that was absolute nonsense!


    They had once just thought Pei Huai was highly capable, but now it seemed he had gone mad.


    Could the rules of the Rimu Family be so easily changed?


    And he had chosen to use those within the Rimu Family considered discarded.


    But they forgot something vital ¨C just because these children had been abandoned didn¡¯t mean they lacked ability.


    Especially not if they had been personally selected by the Family Head.


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t care less how shocked they were.


    To these old-timers, what he did was tantamount to challenging the very baseline of the Rimu Family.


    But what they didn¡¯t know was that, to Pei Huai, the Rimu Family meant nothing of significance.


    Thus, the rules of the Renmu Family were like a void to him.


    Those he had selected were ambitious and capable individuals who merely lacked an opportunity.


    He was willing to give them that chance, but he also needed them to deliver tangible results. Naturally, these oppressed people were more than willing to pledge their lives to him.


    ¡°Family Head, I disagree with your decision. If you continue to act on your own, it¡¯s very likely you will lose your position as Family Head. Are you not afraid of that?¡±


    Among the group of house servants, the eldest stepped forward to speak.


    He refused to believe that Pei Huai would risk losing his position as Family Head for his own interests, given that not just anyone could sit at the helm of the Rimu Family.


    Choosing to be the Family Head of the Rimu Family meant he should understand the choices to be made.


    This oldest servant, believing in his seniority and confident in the other house servants¡¯ refusal to agree so readily to Pei Huai¡¯s proposition, felt bold enough to confront him.


    After all, no Family Head could challenge the entire family¡¯s house servants based on individual power alone.


    Pei Huai scoffed at his words.


    ¡°Do you think if I were afraid, I would have shared these matters with you?¡±


    Resting his chin in his hand, he observed the old house servants at his leisure.


    Seeing them glare angrily at him, a smile crept across his lips again, ¡°It seems you didn¡¯t take my earlier words to heart, which is quite regrettable.¡±


    The eldest house servant was staring intensely at Pei Huai, asking in a serious tone, ¡°Family Head, what is your true intention here?¡±


    He felt a sudden unease seeing Pei Huai¡¯s composed demeanor.


    For some reason, he had a foreboding feeling.


    Pei Huai sneered, ¡°These young people are the future house servants of the Rimu Family, as I¡¯ve already stated. This isn¡¯t up for discussion, I¡¯m merely informing you.¡±


    The color drained from the face of the oldest servant, ¡°Whether they can become house servants of the Rimu Family is not something you alone can decide, Family Head!¡±


    ¡°Oh, is that so? Well, I¡¯m interested to see if I have that ability or not.¡±


    As Pei Huai spoke, the corners of his lips kept a slight smile.


    It seemed like an extremely ordinary matter he was discussing, yet the house servants present could feel an unprecedented chill.


    Suddenly, Pei Huai gestured into the air, and there were two sharp claps.


    A group of bodyguards immediately surrounded all the house servants present.


    ¡°Pei Huai, what are you planning to do?¡±


    Seeing the bodyguards closing in, the house servants no longer bothered with formalities, dropping the title ¡®Family Head¡¯ and showing their true colors.


    Pei Huai let out a sarcastic laugh, ¡°The Feng Ya Family took members of our family as a revenge for their youngest mistress, and you, as loyal Rimu servants, fought to the death. So... I will ensure your vengeance is duly served.¡±

 Chapter 496: 494: When You Say One, It Is One

    Chapter 496: Chapter 494: When You Say One, It Is One


    House servants shivered as they heard Pei Huai¡¯s words, suddenly feeling a chill run through their bodies.


    They hadn¡¯t expected that Pei Huai would use the Fengya Family¡¯s incident to trap them all like this.


    Even if they all disappeared, no one would find it surprising, as the Fengya Family indeed had such capability.


    Only then did the house servants realize that elevating Pei Huai was like nourishing a tiger for disaster!


    Now that the tiger had grown and wanted to bite them to death, they had no room to fight back.


    They deeply regretted their previous stance, wishing they had loosened their tone earlier; at least there would have been a chance to survive.


    Now that they knew Pei Huai¡¯s plan, they guessed he wouldn¡¯t spare any of them, causing everyone to tremble and look at Pei Huai in fear.


    Even many of the timid ones immediately knelt down on the spot.


    ¡°Family Head, we truly mean no harm. If you wish to reform the Rimu Family, we will support you wholeheartedly, please do not abandon us!¡±


    ¡°Family Head, we realize our mistake. Please give us a chance to correct it!¡±


    ¡°Family Head, we swear to loyally follow you. Whatever you command, we will unconditionally obey without any dissent!¡±


    ...


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows quirked up slightly as his gaze swept over the group of fence-sitters; he certainly knew they weren¡¯t sincerely begging for mercy.


    These people could only become house servants not merely by being smooth talkers and flatterers; sending them back would be akin to releasing the tiger back to the mountain.


    How could Pei Huai not understand this logic?


    He looked towards the group of younger men beside him, ¡°Take these people back and deal with them as you see fit. I hope you do not disappoint me.¡±


    The new house servants, who had been humiliated in various ways by these so-called senior servants, naturally wouldn¡¯t let them off easily.


    Sometimes, a fate worse than death is more painful than death itself.


    Since the Family Head had given them the chance for revenge, they certainly would not fail his expectations.


    ¡°Yes, Family Head!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    It was not until all the wailing people were carried out that the room quieted down again.


    Pei Huai sat quietly in his chair, his gaze empty.


    If only he hadn¡¯t delayed, Xia Wenyan wouldn¡¯t have had that car accident.


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t imagine, if Xia Wenyan had encountered some mishap due to the accident, he might have found himself unable to go on, just like in a past life.


    He was strenuously suppressing the urge to slaughter the Fengya Family and these damned house servants, all to return unblemished to Xia Wenyan¡¯s side.


    Soon, just a few more days of patience, and he could go back.


    Yanyan, you must wait for me.


    The afternoon breeze still carried a bone-chilling coldness, especially in the dark corners.


    Several bruised and swollen men timidly knelt in the narrow corridor.


    They were precisely the unidentified men who had previously followed Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, Xia Wenmo, and Song Sinian rushed over and, without asking anything, started beating up a few individuals surrounded by bodyguards.


    These individuals were clearly disoriented by the beating they received from the four men, as they pathetically huddled in a corner.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu stood under the sunlight, quietly watching the men take action.


    After all, with men in the house, there was no need for them to lift a finger.


    ¡°Speak, who sent you? What are you here to do?¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s grim voice resounded above their heads.


    Peering down from their superior height, they looked at the beaten men, their expressions icy.


    The men exchanged secretive glances, and finally, the leader spoke slowly. ¡°Gentlemen, is there some misunderstanding between us? We are new here and unfamiliar with the area. We just wanted to ask the ladies for directions but ended up being captured and beaten by you...¡±


    He tried his best to appear innocent, hoping to convince the men in front of him that they had no ulterior motives.


    After all, they were caught before they could even take action, and as long as they denied everything, there was nothing the others could do.


    Isn¡¯t this country known for its law-abiding citizens?


    Just as he was secretly pleased with himself, suddenly, someone yanked his hair.


    ¡°Tomson, do you really think you¡¯re a nobody? A renowned criminal on the international most-wanted list, and you expect me to believe you were just asking for directions? You¡¯re clearly trying to fool the dead by burning incoherent papers.¡±


    Xia Wenmo stared coldly at him, then kicked him aside.


    It was common for the Fengya Family to harbor such infamous criminals since their clan was never clean anyway.


    The foreigner, now called out by name, visibly changed his expression, yet he persisted, ¡°Sir, you must be mistaken. After all, we foreigners look alike. I¡¯m not aware of this Tomson you speak of.¡±


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°Since you¡¯re not Tomson, then he must not be Reshad, Carlet...¡±


    He proceeded to list several names, and with each name he mentioned, one of the foreigners twitched.


    They had thought these people easy to fool, but now it seemed they had encountered someone truly knowledgeable, complicating matters.


    ¡°Why would mercenaries, who are only moved by money, appear here? Shall I continue?¡± Xia Wenmo¡¯s frosty gaze swept over the men in front of him.


    At this, the previously vocal Tomson suddenly fell silent.


    Suddenly, a delicate voice rang out, ¡°They are mercenaries?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, having never interacted with the Xia Family in her past life, naturally wasn¡¯t familiar with what mercenaries should look like.


    Yet seeing these mercenaries swiftly taken down by the Xia Family, she felt it somewhat tarnished the reputation of mercenaries.


    Tomson and his fellows could certainly detect the disdain in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    Mercenaries were indeed armed combatants who participated in conflict for financial gains, loyal only to those who paid them well.


    But surely no one expected mercenaries to defeat hundreds single-handedly?


    They hadn¡¯t anticipated that trying to stage a few mishaps for their target in this country would lead them to such tough adversaries.


    Hearing the confusion in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice, Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but explain, ¡°There are various types of mercenaries, some are formidable, and others are rubbish.¡±


    ¡°But just now, third brother specifically said that person was quite renowned.¡± Lu Zhaozhao scanned Tomson, her face full of confusion.


    Wen Qingyu pursed her lips, ¡°He¡¯s notorious because of his heinous methods and his constant evasion overseas to countries without extradition treaties; that¡¯s why he¡¯s so well-known on the wanted list.¡±

 Chapter 497: 495 Hes Totally Satisfied!

    Chapter 497: Chapter 495 He¡¯s Totally Satisfied!


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked like she understood, her gaze towards Tomson filled with even more disdain.


    Who would have thought such trash only became infamous because there¡¯s no extradition treaty, tsk tsk.


    All of a sudden, Tomson and his men felt like Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ensuing silence was deafening.


    It would have been better if she had just cursed at them.


    When Xia Wenmo heard Wen Qingyu seriously educating Lu Zhaozhao, he patiently stood by, waiting for the two to finish speaking.


    Then, he turned his attention back to Tomson and the others, ¡°Do you plan to quickly confess, who sent you here? Or do you plan to say it after I¡¯ve tortured you?¡±


    They actually already knew these people were sent by the Fengya Family, but as long as the people in front of them didn¡¯t confess, they had no excuse to take care of Fengfeng Ya¡¯s men.


    Wanting a justifiable cause, these mercenaries served as their legitimate reason to take action against their adversaries.


    Tomson clenched his teeth, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want your sister to see your disgraceful side, right?¡±


    From the attitudes of these men just now, the woman named Lu Zhaozhao seemed to hold a very high status among them, and these men cared a lot about what Lu Zhaozhao thought.


    If he could do something about it, maybe he could break free from this passive situation.


    As soon as Tomson finished speaking, everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenmo pretending not to worry would be a lie, who wouldn¡¯t want to maintain a good image in front of their darling sister?


    If it weren¡¯t for worrying about damaging his image in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, he would have told Lu Zhaozhao everything when he went abroad to interrogate Lu Dagui.


    Now, brought up by Tomson, Xia Wenmo¡¯s face looked somewhat ugly.


    He was also worried his too fierce demeanor might frighten Lu Zhaozhao, concerned she might grow distant from him.


    The crowd watched Lu Zhaozhao, uncertain whether to attack Tomson at this moment.


    Tomson didn¡¯t expect this trick to work so well, a feeling of triumph flashed through his heart instantly.


    He lifted his chin slightly, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want your sister to know just how cruel you guys can be, right? After all, a young girl is so timid...¡±


    ¡°For trash like you, no amount of cruelty would be considered too much,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cool voice chimed in at the perfect time.


    Her gaze towards Tomson was indifferent, her eyes and brows filled with apathy.


    She was no longer the gullible sweet girl from her past life who was constantly deceived, how could she not understand, the Xia Family¡¯s actions were all for her sake?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but mockingly curve her lips, ¡°Even if I were to be the virgin mary, I wouldn¡¯t need to feel sorry for someone like you.¡±


    Tomson instantly panicked.


    Why wasn¡¯t this woman playing by the rules?


    Aren¡¯t they normally supposed to act weak and whimper by the men¡¯s side?


    Why did she have to stand up, acting fearless?


    Tomson secretly bit down on his teeth, his gaze shifting to Lu Zhaozhao as he tried to maintain his composure, ¡°Little beauty, do you really have the heart to watch your brothers beat up us innocent people? We¡¯re just doing our jobs for the money...¡±


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for having so many brothers, the one kicking and punching you would be me,¡± Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes.


    She really couldn¡¯t tell if these mercenaries were the naive ones or if they thought she was naive, their faces not even turning red when lying!


    What, did she look like she lacks intelligence?


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly felt like she was being looked down upon.


    Tomson tried to appear calm as he faced Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Little beauty, some things are completely different when said versus when done, you... Ah!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t wait for Tomson to finish speaking, she lifted her foot and kicked towards him.


    Her kick landed squarely on Tomson¡¯s abdomen, causing him to instantly curl up on the ground in pain.


    Lu Zhaozhao stepped on his face, looking down at him as she said word by word, ¡°Are my words and actions consistent now? Are you satisfied?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Satisfied my ass!


    He had intended to use Lu Zhaozhao to tear open a chance for Xia Wenmo not to attack him, but before the men could make their move, he ended up getting kicked by this woman instead.


    That kick from Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t light; he felt like she had kicked all his internal organs into a tangled mess.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fierce appearance, Xia Wenmo immediately felt at ease.


    The corners of his mouth curved slightly, mimicking Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s action, as he kicked Tomson too, ¡°Did you hear what my sister said?¡±


    Now, Tomson really felt like crying.


    If you want to ask something, just ask; why the need to kick me?


    Do I look like a ball? Why the incessant kicking?


    Seeing that Tomson didn¡¯t respond, Xia Wenjue followed up with another kick, ¡°We¡¯re asking you a question right now, why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡±


    Tomson gritted his teeth, making a grinding noise, and could only nod desperately.


    When wasn¡¯t he speaking?


    The pain was so severe he couldn¡¯t even make a sound; how could that be his fault?


    But unable to utter a word, he could only nod desperately to indicate he understood.


    The others around Tomson had come to a clear understanding; this woman named Lu Zhaozhao might not be as formidable as they had imagined, but they definitely should not provoke her.


    Otherwise, they might end up even worse...


    Because they needed to interrogate these mercenaries, they were worried that using special methods later might scare Lu Zhaozhao, so they made up an excuse for Lu Zhaozhao to go back and keep Xia Wenyan company.


    Song Sinian, just a member of the Xia Family, stayed behind.


    Listening to the continuous screams around him, he was completely indifferent.


    Tomson and the others naturally understood they had truly kicked an iron plate this time.


    Continuing to resist was no solution.


    They were mercenaries after all, paid to do a job, and since the mission had failed, they had to save their own skins, right?


    After exchanging glances, they ultimately decided it was crucial to save their lives.


    ¡°We¡¯ll confess everything, just stop hitting us,¡± Tomson said, spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva, his gaze fixed on the men before him.


    Xia Wenmo nodded slightly, ¡°Tell me, how much did the Fengya Family pay you to come to our country and make a move?¡±


    Tomson and the others were stunned upon hearing Xia Wenmo¡¯s words.


    Damn, they thought they still had leverage; it turns out they were already known.


    What were they holding out for all this time?


    Tomson couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth, still confessing everything as previously agreed, ¡°That woman gave each of us a million dollars and ordered us to deal with several people in the country who are close to Pei Huai.¡±


    After they came to the country and conducted some investigation, they found that the person with the best relationship with Pei Huai was Xia Wenyan, followed by Lu Zhaozhao.


    That¡¯s why after Xia Wenyan suffered a car accident, they turned their attention to Lu Zhaozhao...

 Chapter 498: 496: Experience What It Means to Have Financial Power!

    Chapter 498: Chapter 496: Experience What It Means to Have Financial Power!


    But who could have imagined that Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao were family?


    Even more outrageous was that all those who were on good terms with Pei Huai were from the Xia Family.


    Their original plan had been to start with Lu Zhaozhao and then take on the people of the Xia Family one by one.


    Unexpectedly, before they could even make a move against Lu Zhaozhao, they were caught by them.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo didn¡¯t feel surprised at all after hearing this.


    But what Tomson said next darkened everyone¡¯s faces.


    ¡°That woman said, if those close to Pei Huai are men, just let them get into car accidents to learn their lesson; it doesn¡¯t matter if they just get injured, but it¡¯d be best if they die.¡±


    Tomson clearly sensed that the atmosphere around these men had turned cold.


    He couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard, then added, ¡°That woman also said, if they are women, then slash their faces before selling them off to ZD country.¡±


    Hearing the initials ZD, everyone¡¯s brows furrowed almost simultaneously¡ªwomen had virtually no rights in that country.


    What Feng Ya Meizi was doing was tantamount to making the lives of any women close to Pei Huai worse than death.


    They didn¡¯t care what others thought; right now, they only cared about their sister!


    This damnable woman Feng Ya Meizi actually wanted to treat their sister this way!


    If they didn¡¯t settle this, they¡¯d truly be failing to justify the millions of dollars they¡¯d spent!


    Xia Wenjue raised his hand and patted Song Sinian¡¯s shoulder, looking resolutely at him, ¡°Brother-in-law, let¡¯s just declare war on the Fengya Family!¡±


    A good economic war¡ªfirst crush them financially.


    Do the women of the Fengya Family think their clan is rich?


    Let them experience what real monetary power is!


    ¡°Great idea, I agree,¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s shoulder joined in. ¡°A family like Fengya, entrenched at the top for generations, is bound to have loads of skeletons in the closet. Looking into all their dirty dealings should be quite entertaining.¡±


    Their own country¡¯s upper echelons probably turn a blind eye to them.


    If it were before, they might not be able to legally shake such a big family.


    But now things were different, as the heir to the Rimu Family, which stood shoulder to shoulder with the Fengya Family, was now Pei Huai.


    If he wanted to make a move, he could act much faster than them.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s gaze swept over the mercenaries before him, and a cold smile suddenly appeared on his lips, ¡°I suddenly have a rather good idea, but right now I need some simple cooperation.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Tomson and the others clearly felt the icy stare from Xia Wenmo, and they shuddered nearly in unison.


    Why did the gaze of this seemingly gentle man in front of them feel so terrifying?


    They had known earlier that coming to this country they would hit a snag; they would have been better off staying in the previous country honestly.


    Now it was too late for regrets.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept back and forth over them before he spoke in a detached tone, ¡°You may do as you please, but I have one condition: under no circumstances is Zhaozhao to be taken out of the country.¡±


    She had already had a difficult enough life domestically, and if she were taken abroad by the Xia Family, who knew what kind of trouble might break out.


    Their actions and behaviors were always unpredictable, and if Lu Zhaozhao were to get accidentally hurt, that would be problematic.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo naturally understood what Song Sinian meant, and the three of them nodded in agreement repeatedly.


    ¡°Of course, Zhaozhao¡¯s safety comes first, and this time we truly don¡¯t intend to take him with us, it¡¯s just...¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s speech trailed off hesitantly.


    He pursed his lips slightly, then continued, ¡°You are not unfamiliar with our little sister¡¯s character, we are worried that she might insist on following if she finds out.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow lifted slightly, given Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s personality, such a situation was not impossible.


    ¡°So...¡± Xia Wenjue laid his hand on Song Sinian¡¯s shoulder again, ¡°we¡¯re counting on you to deal with our little sister.¡±


    Now, the only person Lu Zhaozhao would listen to was Song Sinian.


    They were going to stay with Pei Huai for a few days, and as for Lu Zhaozhao, they would rely on Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over the people of the Xia Family, eventually nodding, ¡°Zhaozhao is my wife, her safety is my top priority, and that¡¯s something you don¡¯t need to worry about.¡±


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but scoff, ¡°We obviously wouldn¡¯t worry about Zhaozhao¡¯s safety, what we¡¯re really worried about is whether you would become softhearted from Zhaozhao coquettishly pleading with you and you end up letting her come along...¡±


    They were worried that they would change their minds in front of Lu Zhaozhao, and that¡¯s why they didn¡¯t dare to discuss this matter with her, choosing to sneak off instead.


    Thus, this difficult task now fell upon Song Sinian¡¯s shoulders.


    Song Sinian looked at Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo, who were watching him intently, and with a somewhat speechless expression, he said, ¡°You think you can¡¯t refuse Zhaozhao, do you really think I can refuse her?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The three of them suddenly fell silent.


    Indeed, with their Zhaozhao being so endearing, who could possibly refuse her?


    The more they thought about it, the more uneasy they felt, and in order to prevent themselves from becoming the culprits who took Lu Zhaozhao out, they stealthily went to see Pei Huai instead.


    Not even Xia Wenyan, who was lying in the hospital bed, was an exception.


    Because the XJ Group and Song Group had jointly purchased many companies in Country R, they were almost openly opposing the Feng Ya Family.


    Whatever industry the Fengya Family Head focused on, they were there to compete in the same.


    It was nearly declared openly in public that the XJ Group and Song Group did not get along with the Fengya Family.


    Fengya Ichiro, the Fengya Family Head, quickly learned through various sources the reason behind the XJ Group and Song Group¡¯s collective targeting of their family.


    That very day, he rushed to the hospital and slapped Feng Ya Meizi, who was resting there, across the face.


    Feng Ya Meizi, whose face was already scarred, was in the healing phase and was almost reverted to her original state by Fengya Ichiro¡¯s slap.


    ¡°Dad! What are you doing?!¡± Feng Ya Meizi looked at the man standing before her in utter disbelief.


    She had always been the heir to the Fengya Family, so her father had always been gentle to her.


    Not to mention hitting her, he had never even spoken a harsh word to his daughter before, or else Feng Ya Meizi wouldn¡¯t have been so arrogant everywhere.


    So arrogant as to drug the heir of the Rimu Family.


    Fengya Ichiro had been dealing with a tricky business outside, but the moment he heard Feng Ya Meizi was injured, he rushed back immediately.


    He could never have imagined that during his absence, Feng Ya Meizi could have caused such an earth-shattering incident!

 Chapter 499: 497: This Kind of Boldness is Rare

    Chapter 499: Chapter 497: This Kind of Boldness is Rare


    ¡°They, the Fengya Family, although they were considering an alliance by marriage with the Rimu Family, it still required the consent of both family heads, and they had a significant advantage.


    After all, because the previous Family Head of the Rimu Family had passed away so abruptly, their next Family Head had not yet succeeded, and the whole clan was practically a mess.


    The Fengya Family could have taken this opportunity to seek an alliance by marriage, but Feng Ya Meizi unexpectedly took an unconventional approach, opting for an aggressive takeover.


    She thought the heir of the Rimu Family was no different from the men she had under her control. That was her biggest mistake!


    Fengya Ichiro gritted his teeth, ¡°What am I to do? You should be asking yourself what you have done, why Song Group and XJ Group are blatantly targeting our Fengya Family? Other than drugging that person from the Rimu Family, what else have you done?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi clenched her teeth tightly, showing no sign of giving in.


    What else could she do?


    She was merely retaliating against that detestable man; she wanted to make him regret it, to submit to her!


    But these words, Feng Ya Meizi didn¡¯t dare say now.


    She could clearly feel that her father¡¯s anger was different this time, so Feng Ya Meizi could only swallow her grievances.


    Fengya Ichiro, seeing he wouldn¡¯t get an answer from her, shifted his gaze to the bodyguard beside her, ¡°Speak! What exactly has the young miss done recently?!¡±


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s voice was chilling, carrying a cold indifference that struck fear.


    It seemed that this time he was truly angry.


    The bodyguard looked at Fengya Ichiro tremblingly, opened his mouth, then hesitantly glanced at Feng Ya Meizi beside him. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to speak; he dared not.


    After all, one was the Family Head of the Fengya Family, and the other was the future Family Head.


    Regardless of whether he spoke or not, he would offend one of them, putting him in a dilemma.


    ¡°Speak when you¡¯re told to, or if you play mute here again, I will have someone pull out your tongue so you¡¯ll never be able to open your mouth again in your lifetime!¡± Fengya Ichiro spoke, and the pressure in the room instantly dropped.


    He was serious.


    In the Fengya Family, not to mention pulling out a tongue, even beheading him wouldn¡¯t raise any objections from anyone.


    The bodyguard shuddered visibly, gritted his teeth, and ended up spilling everything.


    ¡°The young miss, after suffering a loss at the hands of the Rimu Family heir, had someone inquire about his social connections in the country. Then the young miss...¡±


    His gaze darted towards Feng Ya Meizi, who was glaring at him with eyes full of fury; the bodyguard immediately retracted his gaze in fright.


    He bravely continued, ¡°The young miss hired mercenaries to target the friends of Pei Huai. It seems... they have already succeeded.¡±


    Fengya Ichiro listened to the bodyguard¡¯s words, and his brow immediately furrowed into a knot, ¡°Do you know the names of a few people who are on good terms with the Rimu Family heir?¡±


    The bodyguard pondered for a moment, seemingly struggling to provide an answer.


    Fengya Ichiro, impatiently massaging his temples, asked offhandedly, ¡°Among them, is there anyone with the last name Xia or Song?¡±


    He always felt that the encirclement by XJ Group and Song Group wasn¡¯t baseless.


    If they had no connection with the Rimu Family heir, then it must relate to the people Feng Ya Meizi had hired.


    While Fengya Ichiro was still contemplating whether to send someone to investigate further, the bodyguard promptly provided an answer, ¡°It seems the first target¡¯s surname is Xia, named Xia Wenyan, and the second target is most likely surnamed Lu, named Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    ...


    Well, that almost knocked Fengya Ichiro right out on the spot.


    Xia Wenyan?


    This name differed from the CEO of XJ Group by just one character, and Lu Zhaozhao was famous for her public identity tied to XJ Group, as well as her engagement with the CEO of Song Group.


    Fengya Ichiro was now certain that the mess was truly Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s doing.


    He clenched his fists in fury, wishing he could slap his troublemaking daughter right then and there.


    Who did she have to provoke? Why did she have to provoke someone so big?


    No, to be precise, she had provoked three persons not to be trifled with at the same time.


    Pei Huai¡¯s ruthlessness was something he had only heard about recently. The young man had taken over the Rimu Family not long ago, but had swiftly established a firm foothold within the family. He even went so far as to significantly empower a child born out of wedlock.


    Many people mocked this move, but Fengya Ichiro had to admit that because of Pei Huai¡¯s radical changes, the Rimu Family had undergone a complete transformation.


    Such audacity was rare.


    A man with such audacity naturally wouldn¡¯t want to be subordinate to his daughter.


    Fengya Ichiro couldn¡¯t believe he, smart for a lifetime, had produced such a foolish daughter.


    If it weren¡¯t for Feng Ya Meizi being his only bloodline, he would¡¯ve replaced her long ago.


    He was willing to nurture Feng Ya Meizi because she was ambitious and ruthless enough.


    He believed that, with proper guidance, she could eventually take on the heavy responsibility of becoming the Fengya Family heir.


    But who could have thought that she would cause such a disaster?


    Now, it wasn¡¯t just the Rimu Family eyeing the Fengya Family with hostility, but they also had XJ Group and Shengshi Group as enemies.


    Whether economically or otherwise, they were very likely to be continuously crushed by the opposition.


    Fengya Ichiro felt his head swell with worry.


    Seeing that her father remained silent, Feng Ya Meizi grumbled discontentedly, ¡°I am the real victim here, and yet you refuse to help me, Dad? You¡¯re siding with an outsider! You even hit me for an outsider!¡±


    Fengya Ichiro looked at Feng Ya Meizi with a cold gaze, ¡°Hit you? Right now, I wish I could kill you! Do you have any idea how much loss your reckless behavior has caused the Fengya Family?¡±


    He was the current Family Head of Fengya, and if the Fengya Family were to be ruined under his leadership, he might as well throw away his face!


    Feng Ya Meizi couldn¡¯t believe her ears, her eyes wide with shock as she looked at Fengya Ichiro, ¡°Dad, are you joking with me? Are we, the Fengya Family, really inferior to the Rimu Family? Besides, the current heir of the Rimu Family is just an actor here in our country, and most of his friends are from the film industry. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡±


    She had dared to attack Pei Huai precisely because she knew of his past in China.


    Fengya Ichiro raised his hand and slapped her other cheek, this slap almost throwing Feng Ya Meizi to the side with its full force.


    ¡°How can you have the face to say these things? Do you not know that Xia Wen is the little brother of XJ Group¡¯s CEO? And that Lu Zhaozhao, she¡¯s the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group!¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi was somewhat dazed by Fengya Ichiro¡¯s slap, but she had heard of the Song Group and XJ Group.


    How could this be such a coincidence?


    The people Pei Huai knew all came from families with profound backgrounds...


    No wonder he acted so brazenly! Daring to scratch her face!

 Chapter 500: 498: Simply Courting Death!

    Chapter 500: Chapter 498: Simply Courting Death!


    She wouldn¡¯t let him off so easily!


    Feng Ya Meizi gritted her teeth, ¡°How would I know that Xia Wenyan is the brother of the president of XJ Corporation? Moreover... hadn¡¯t your men said before that Pei Huai was just a domestic actor? How could he know so many wealthy and influential people?¡±


    It was clearly the fault of her father¡¯s subordinates, so why was she being blamed now? She had done things like this before without any reprimand from her dad.


    Now, faced with a tough opponent, her father was pushing all the blame onto her alone. Why should she accept this?


    Feng Ya Meizi spoke in such a way because she wasn¡¯t worried about what Fengya Ichiro would do to her.


    On one hand, she was the sole heir to the Fengya Family; on the other, they were father and daughter. No matter how you looked at it, her father would support her.


    This was also why Feng Ya Meizi remained fearless up to now.


    How could Fengya Ichiro not see what his daughter was thinking?


    He had always been concerned that his heir, being a daughter, would be looked down upon, so he turned a blind eye to Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s mistakes.


    He believed it wasn¡¯t bad for the heir of the Feng Ya Family to act recklessly to a certain extent. But who would have thought she¡¯d dare to mess with the Rimu Family Patriarch?


    Back when the two families were evenly matched, Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s behavior wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    But now, the Fengya Family was clearly no match for the Rimu Family, so of course, he no longer had the confidence he once had.


    Fengya Ichiro could only hope that the Rimu Family¡¯s Patriarch would not hold them accountable, considering the disfigurement of Feng Ya Meizi.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump.¡±


    While Fengya Ichiro was still deep in thought, someone suddenly knocked on the bedroom door.


    Irritated, he yelled out, ¡°Unless it¡¯s something important, get lost right now!¡±


    The noise outside the door suddenly quieted down. Just as Fengya Ichiro was about to say something to Feng Ya Meizi, the door was suddenly kicked open.


    Both Fengya Ichiro and Feng Ya Meizi were startled and looked at the door almost at the same time. They saw four men and one woman walk straight in.


    ¡°Who are you? Who let you in?¡± Fengya Ichiro looked at the aggressive group and his expression darkened.


    Feng Ya Meizi had offended someone from the Rimu Family; it wasn¡¯t impossible for them to send someone to deal with them.


    Xia Wenjue snorted dismissively, ¡°You don¡¯t even recognize us, and you dare to send someone to hurt my brother?¡±


    Hearing his words, Fengya Ichiro immediately realized something. They were from XJ Corporation!


    Knowing that Xia Wenjue claimed to be Xia Wenyan¡¯s brother, his expression became even uglier.


    He had never dreamed that the Xia Family would come to seek justice in person.


    ¡°I can explain this matter, and we can discuss the compensation,¡± Fengya Ichiro said, not intending to hide. He decided to be straightforward.


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, Xia Wenmo, Xia Nie, and Wen Qingyu swept a glance at Fengya Ichiro, their expressions remaining icy throughout.


    Xia Wenqing hooked his lips, ¡°Mr. Fengya Family Patriarch, do you think if we were here just to talk about compensation, we would need so many people?¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s gaze swept over the group with disdain in her eyes, ¡°If you don¡¯t want compensation, why come here? Don¡¯t tell me you want to beat me up?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve hit the nail on the head,¡± Xia Wenmo picked up her cue instantly, ¡°Our purpose in coming here is to teach a lesson to a woman who doesn¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth.¡±


    He said this while looking at Feng Ya Meizi with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, yet his expression was as if he was looking at a dead person.


    The fact that they had someone go after Xia Wenyan was one thing, but they were actually planning to target Lu Zhaozhao?


    What was utterly infuriating was that they intended to use such despicable methods against Lu Zhaozhao!


    Their own precious family members were not yet precious enough, and the people from the Fengya Family dared to play dirty with her, simply courting death!


    If it weren¡¯t for his mother spending these years cultivating her virtue at home, wanting to raise her daughter herself,


    his father¡¯s power would have probably dominated internationally by now.


    But even under the current circumstances, dealing with a minor Fengya Family was nothing to them.


    Feng Ya Meizi simply couldn¡¯t believe her ears, had these people gone mad?


    ¡°Do you think our Fengya Family is some place you can come and go as you please?¡± he said, pressing the alarm button by the bed. Almost instantly, the piercing alarm sound filled the entire room.


    Fengya Ichiro had originally intended to discuss further with the Xia Family members, but seeing their firm attitude, there seemed to be no intention of negotiating.


    Just when he was about to say something, Feng Ya Meizi had already pressed the alarm button, and Fengya Ichiro could only abandon the idea.


    But what surprised him was that, despite the alarm sounding for quite some time, not a single bodyguard appeared.


    Wen Qingyu curled her lips in disgust as she looked at Feng Ya Meizi, ¡°You really got that wrong. Your Fengya Family is indeed a place we can come and go as we please.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s hair and dragged her off the bed.


    Feng Ya Meizi, who was already injured, couldn¡¯t help but scream out in pain as Wen Qingyu pulled her down, ¡°What on earth do you want? It was just a minor car accident, right? Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t die! If you want to blame someone, blame Pei Huai for hurting my face!¡±


    Wen Qingyu had never been so speechless in her life; the person who had arranged the car accident to target Xia Wenyan was herself, and now she had the audacity to shift the blame?


    Not mentioning Wen Qingyu, even Fengya Ichiro standing aside was speechless.


    Although he knew Feng Ya Meizi was to blame, for the sake of his own dignity, he couldn¡¯t be too subservient.


    Fengya Ichiro cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem... Ladies and gentlemen...¡±


    ¡°Fengya sir, no need to hurry, we¡¯ll deal with you after we¡¯re done with her,¡± Xia Wenqing said with exceptional politeness, but his words were highly aggravating.


    Fengya Ichiro, nearly passed out from anger.


    What did he mean by don¡¯t hurry, we¡¯ll get to him after?


    No matter what, he was the respected Fengya Family Patriarch, and yet, was he to be scorned to such an extent?


    Fengya Ichiro bit his teeth fiercely, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of our Fengya Family¡¯s revenge? I advise you, spare people and spare yourself!¡±


    Xia Nie glanced coldly at Fengya Ichiro, ¡°To seek revenge, you must still be alive.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Upon hearing Xia Nie¡¯s words, Fengya Ichiro couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill; he had never considered that the group before him might actually want to silence them.


    He suddenly regretted speaking out of turn just now.


    If he hadn¡¯t angered them, he might have lived to take his revenge, but now, would they even leave him a way out?

 Chapter 501: 499: You Already Know?

    Chapter 501: Chapter 499: You Already Know?


    Fengya Ichiro couldn¡¯t help but resent Feng Ya Meizi.


    It was all because of her rash decisions that he, as the Family Head of the Fengya Family, also ended up being disgraced; and now, he might even lose his life because of his own daughter!


    But Fengya Ichiro was, after all, someone who had seen major ups and downs.


    For the sake of survival, he could bend and stretch.


    ¡°We indeed did something wrong in the Fengya Family. I can offer you a sincere apology, and even a public apology.¡±


    Comparing to one¡¯s life, what¡¯s an apology? It¡¯s just losing a bit of face at most.


    The Xia Family surely didn¡¯t want their lives, right? As long as his attitude was sincere enough, he could definitely negotiate some conditions with them.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows raised slight, and he looked at Fengya Ichiro with some surprise, he had to admit that this Family Head of the Fengya Family really had talent, able to weigh pros and cons in a short time and make the optimal choice.


    Xia Wenjue gave Xia Wenqing a look, the latter immediately realized something, and smiled at Fengya Ichiro, ¡°Since the Fengya Family is so reasonable, why don¡¯t we have a good talk now?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ...


    The next day, the headline on the domestic front page reported the news of the Fengya Family¡¯s change of heir.


    Even Lu Zhaozhao, who usually didn¡¯t follow entertainment gossip, saw this news.


    ¡°What are you thinking about here?¡± Song Sinian, who had just returned from the meeting room, saw Lu Zhaozhao in the office lying on the sofa with her phone, and his eyebrows couldn¡¯t help but raise.


    His tone was mild, but with a hint of tenderness.


    As soon as Song Sinian sat down on the sofa, Lu Zhaozhao immediately crawled over and laid her small head on his lap.


    She lifted her phone towards Song Sinian, saying, ¡°The Fengya Family has replaced their heir, did you know?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils slightly drooped, without answering.


    How could he not know?


    What exactly were the Xia Family doing at the Fengya Family, he knew better than anyone, but he dared not mention it in front of Lu Zhaozhao. He was afraid that Lu Zhaozhao would ask about the Xia Family.


    Otherwise, it might lead to a full disclosure of everything.


    Song Sinian had a bit of a headache and pressed his temples.


    He had thought that the news about the change of heir in the Fengya Family would be published after they returned, but he had not expected those people to be so impatient.


    The people of the Xia Family were still abroad, but the news had already spread domestically.


    Lu Zhaozhao poked her phone and then murmured, ¡°Did my parents and several brothers go abroad in these last few days just for this?¡±


    Her statement stunned Song Sinian on the spot.


    He almost instinctively asked, ¡°You already know?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian¡¯s bewildered face and almost couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    He really appeared quite clueless.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently nodded, ¡°Given my mom and my three brothers¡¯ temperaments, they couldn¡¯t possibly remain calm after me and my fourth brother were at a disadvantage.¡±


    Previously when she had been wronged, they were almost ready to tear down the Lu Family; now that she and Xia Wenyan had been schemed against, it was unreasonable for her dear mother and brothers to sit idly by.


    With the frequent visitors to the house suddenly disappearing, it was hard for Lu Zhaozhao not to think about it.


    Sinian sighed helplessly and gently ruffled her hair, ¡°You really understand your brothers.¡±


    His gaze swept back and forth across Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s delicate face before he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go abroad... to seek revenge with them?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to understand something and immediately climbed up from the sofa.


    ¡°So, the reason you¡¯ve looked so troubled these past few days is because you were worried I would go abroad with my three brothers to seek revenge on the Fengya Family?¡±


    His gaze was fixed on Sinian, trying to read something from his face.


    Sinian didn¡¯t beat around the bush, openly admitting it.


    He gently took Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to always be in danger, but I don¡¯t want to stop you from doing anything...¡±


    ¡°Our Mr. Song is really a fool.¡± Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, her small hand reaching up to hook around Sinian¡¯s neck, giving him a peck on the corner of his lips.


    The more she was with Sinian, the more she found him extraordinary.


    He thought of her in everything, yet he never restrained her thoughts, giving her the utmost freedom and respect.


    This left Lu Zhaozhao utterly defenseless.


    Her eyes twinkled, she leaned close to Sinian¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Mr. Song, how soundproof is your office?¡±


    Sinian was slightly stunned, then his eyes gleamed brilliantly as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    He promptly scooped Lu Zhaozhao up from the sofa, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are hardly any people on this floor.¡±


    He had just finished a meeting, and Zhao Xi was handling things related to the Fengya Family, so no one would come to the president¡¯s office for a while.


    Recently, due to his hospital stay, Lu Zhaozhao cared about the injury on his arm, so he always felt like he wasn¡¯t fully enjoying himself.


    Now, stimulated by Lu Zhaozhao, he suddenly felt as if all his cells were boiling.


    Lu Zhaozhao originally just wanted to tease the melancholic Sinian, but unexpectedly, he straightforwardly hoisted her up.


    Her face flushed completely red, and just as she was about to struggle, unaware of what she pressed, she heard the man holding her grunt.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately dared not move, allowing Sinian to carry her to the adjacent rest room.


    He laid her directly on the bed, and as Lu Zhaozhao was about to open her mouth, he leaned in.


    He bowed his head and pressed against her forehead, their breaths intermingling, effectively swallowing back any words Lu Zhaozhao meant to explain.


    The small hand between them was gently shifted by Sinian, unknowingly setting the pace.


    Sinian looked at her slightly dazed little face, her dark eyes deep as an undissolvable pool of ink.


    His fingertips gently caressed her waist, and with a gentle squeeze, she melted into his embrace, the sensation wonderfully pleasing.


    The time he had been together with Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t short, but it always felt insufficient.


    If it weren¡¯t for worrying about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body enduring, he would stick to her every day.


    He was typically most restrained while working, but this little one just had to provoke him.


    Having done everything before and with hardly any resistance to Lu Zhaozhao,


    A single kiss from her was like a spark falling into a haystack, instantly igniting a raging fire.


    He leaned forward, the soft mattress suddenly sank, and the surrounding temperature gradually rose...

 Chapter 502: 500 Should we tell the Madame about this?

    Chapter 502: Chapter 500 Should we tell the Madame about this?


    Song Sinian felt as though he was nearly drowning in the depths of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tenderness.


    The two of them stayed in the lounge for over two hours before Song Sinian, looking exceedingly content, returned to his office to resume work.


    As for Lu Zhaozhao, she fell into a deep sleep.


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    The timely knocking at the door rang out, causing Song Sinian¡¯s brows to furrow, his gaze almost instinctively shifting towards the door of the lounge.


    Thinking of the soundproof door¡¯s efficacy, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned his attention to Zhao Xi, who was entering.


    His eyes slightly raised in a questioning manner, as if to ask what the matter was.


    Zhao Xi placed the documents he had in his hands in front of Song Sinian and slowly began to speak, ¡°Recently, the third young master of the Xia Family met with Lu Dagui overseas and prised quite a lot of information about the past, some of which... is related to the Song Family.¡±


    Song Sinian was momentarily taken aback, as it seemed he hadn¡¯t expected Lu Dagui and the Song Family to have been connected for quite some time.


    However, he quickly composed himself, picked up the documents Zhao Xi had handed him, and began to carefully look through them.


    These were all details investigated in-depth after hearing Lu Dagui¡¯s words.


    Among them were also details of the car accident involving Song Sinian¡¯s parents.


    Since Feng Xixi and Feng Xiran were twins, Lu Dagui and his associates had planned to stage the car accident and then switch the two sisters.


    After marrying into the Song Family, Feng Xiran had led a reclusive life, barely stepping out of the house, and the Song Family members who knew her well were few, apart from Song Gu, who occasionally returned.


    Song Sinian was still young, and Old Master Song didn¡¯t live with them, making the switch with Feng Xiran indeed a viable plan.


    However, they had miscalculated the accident, resulting in only Feng Xiran dying at the scene and not even a complete body remaining to switch with Feng Xixi.


    Later, Song Gu¡¯s ambiguous relationship with Xiao Jinglan left even less opportunity for Feng Xixi.


    As Song Sinian¡¯s eyes moved over this information, for the first time, he began to seriously regard the people from the Feng branch of the family.


    He had not anticipated such ruthlessness from what he considered a minor Feng family.


    It could be said that his mother¡¯s death was orchestrated by Feng Xiran¡¯s own sister.


    Song Sinian may not have had strong feelings for his mother, but that did not mean he was willing to let his mother¡¯s killer roam free.


    His finger tapped the documents and he asked, ¡°Where is this woman named Feng Xixi now?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re still investigating that,¡± Zhao Xi reported earnestly the details to Song Sinian. ¡°Lu Dagui isn¡¯t clear about the woman¡¯s current whereabouts either.¡±


    Watching his unfazed expression, Zhao Xi cautiously added, ¡°Sir, there¡¯s another issue related to the madam.¡±


    As soon as Zhao Xi spoke, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze unconsciously drifted towards the adjacent lounge.


    His brow¡¯s furrowed slightly. He glanced at the documents before him and coldly asked, ¡°Is it about why she was switched with the Lu Family?¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment, wondering how their master possibly knew.


    He held the documents and slowly placed them before Song Sinian.


    The news had shocked him too when he first heard it.


    He had always believed that the mix-up between Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin was a mere accident, never imagining it to be a scheme by Feng Xixi.


    Feng Xixi went so far as to induce labor prematurely to have her child born and replace Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils narrowed, ¡°With the situation at the Xia Family, it¡¯s unlikely they¡¯d be so careless as to mistake the child, and even if the standards of the hospital 20 years ago weren¡¯t great, such a significant error wouldn¡¯t occur. It¡¯s just that the Xia Family and Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t paid it enough attention, so the matter wasn¡¯t investigated further.¡±


    It just never occurred to him... that someone else had been involved.


    That really hadn¡¯t crossed his mind.


    Song Sinian¡¯s voice remained neutral, betraying no hint of emotion to Zhao Xi.


    While their master usually bore little affection for others, he was undeniably devoted to his wife.


    For a moment, Zhao Xi wasn¡¯t sure of Song Sinian¡¯s thoughts.


    Zhao Xi hesitated, then asked, ¡°Sir, should we inform the madam about this?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was aware that she and Xia Wenjin had been switched, but she wasn¡¯t yet aware that Xia Wenjin¡¯s biological mother was the orchestrator.


    What¡¯s more outrageous is that this person was also Song Sinian¡¯s maternal aunt.


    Zhao Xi was somewhat worried that Lu Zhaozhao might blame their master for this.


    Zhao Xi admittedly had a personal stake in it; he felt that if Lu Zhaozhao were informed, it could potentially cause friction between Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao.


    Other than that, there wasn¡¯t much else the information could do.


    If their master didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to know, the best approach would be to first communicate with Xia Wenmo to align their stories.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s gaze turned towards Song Sinian, his lips pursed with a certain hesitation.


    Xia Wenmo had chosen not to tell Lu Zhaozhao immediately, opting to inform their master first, likely with this concern in mind.


    If their master wished to keep it from Lu Zhaozhao, the Xia Family would probably assist.


    After all, this matter bore no relevance to their master.


    Even though Feng Xixi was a relative of their master, he had never had contact with her from childhood.


    If there were to be any blame, it shouldn¡¯t fall upon their master.


    Song Sinian looked down, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when she wakes up.¡±


    Seeing that Song Sinian didn¡¯t intend to hide the truth from Lu Zhaozhao, Zhao Xi carefully reminded him, ¡°Sir, it wouldn¡¯t be good if the madam becomes upset with you because of this, would it?¡±


    ¡°This concerns her directly, and she naturally has the right to know,¡± Song Sinian answered almost without thinking. ¡°To deprive her of the right to the truth for the sake of my own emotions would be unfair to her.¡±


    In his eyes, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s feelings were paramount.


    ¡°...¡±


    As expected.


    Resigned, Zhao Xi sighed and let it be.


    He could only hope that their madam, as clear-headed as ever, wouldn¡¯t let this matter create a rift with their master.


    Song Sinian flipped through the documents in his hand and then slowly asked after a moment, ¡°How is the Xia Family handling their business in R-Country?¡±


    At this, Zhao Xi¡¯s lips twitched noncommittally, ¡°They went straight to the Fengya Family, disabled their bodyguards, and captured the Fengya Family Head. After that, it was as per the international news reports.¡±


    Fortuitously, this was overseas. Had it been in their home country, the legal consequences would have been severe.


    But in R-Country, a place historically entrenched with Mafia-like entities, they were somewhat lenient in certain aspects.


    Thus, even if the Xia Family went knocking on doors, they wouldn¡¯t cross any red lines.


    It wasn¡¯t like in their home country, where they were responsible for handling the aftermath.

 Chapter 503: 501: What do you want me to help investigate?

    Chapter 503: Chapter 501: What do you want me to help investigate?


    In R country, as long as you are strong enough, you can pretty much walk on level ground, even when dealing with ancient families like the Fengya Family.


    Song Sinian nodded slightly, seemingly not surprised at all.


    He pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°Did Xia Wenyan also go to the Fengya Family?¡±


    Zhao Xi immediately shook her head, ¡°No, it seems he stayed in the hotel, but he might go to the Rimu Family today...¡±


    As for why, they of course knew it all too well.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand was injured, and going to R country would not have been very useful.


    But since he insisted on going there, the Xia Family naturally had to arrange a safe place for him.


    With Pei Huai¡¯s status in R country, it couldn¡¯t be safer to place him there.


    Song Sinian thought for a moment, then took out his phone and composed a message.


    At the same time, Pei Huai, far away in R country, heard the notification sound from his phone.


    In the dim room, the phone screen slowly lit up.


    He irritably pressed at his temples. Because he had forcefully soaked in ice water to suppress the effects of drugs, his body was somewhat weak, and as a result, he developed a high fever the next day once the effects of the drugs wore off.


    Although his condition improved somewhat over the past two days, his symptoms of a cold were still rather severe.


    He reached for his phone, glanced over it, and just happened to see the words ¡°Song Sinian.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, but he still picked up the phone.


    ¡°Xia Wenyan is in R country, and he should go to the Rimu Family today. Be mentally prepared.¡±


    Pei Huai did a carp flip, sitting up straight from the bed.


    He picked up the phone and called Song Sinian without any patience to text back.


    ¡°Du du du...¡±


    After two rings, the call was picked up.


    Pei Huai¡¯s voice, heavy with nasal congestion, traveled through, ¡°Why has Yanyan come to R country? Where exactly is he now?¡±


    He ran his hand through his hair in frustration, the whole person agitated.


    He did want to see Xia Wenyan, but not under these circumstances.


    He had just started dealing with the Fengya Family, and although most of the Rimu Family had settled down, the hidden dangers lurking in the shadows were still significant. He was worried that Xia Wenyan might get hurt after arriving in R country.


    He had not escaped being affected when he was in Hua Country, let alone staying by his side now.


    The more Pei Huai thought, the more his head hurt, and even the tone of his speech carried a distinct irritability.


    ¡°Have you not had a chance to look at today¡¯s news?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice over the phone was unhurried and carried a hint of coolness, ¡°The Fengya Family has been dealt with, and their current successor has been replaced.¡±


    Pei Huai was slightly stunned and suddenly felt a throbbing in his temples, ¡°I... just woke up and didn¡¯t notice the situation with the Fengya Family.¡±


    Song Sinian naturally understood that Pei Huai was not the type to oversleep, and listening to his muffled voice, he knew that Pei Huai was either injured or had been calculated by others.


    He did not ask further but continued, ¡°Xia Family people personally sought revenge at the Fengya Family, and the aftermath will be handled cleanly. Under the dual pressures of both economics and power, the Fengya Family will not act rashly. You just need to take care of the Rimu Family¡¯s matters.¡±


    Listening to Song Sinian¡¯s voice, Pei Huai seemed to realize something, ¡°The economic pressure, wouldn¡¯t be without the involvement of the Song Group, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian did not confirm or deny, his silence practically an answer.


    Pei Huai blinked and was not offended.


    With the pressure from the Song Group and XJ Group, the Fengya Family indeed wouldn¡¯t dare to make any further moves. Perhaps that¡¯s how their heir was forced to be removed?


    Pei Huai squinted, thinking that without the threat from the Fengya Family, Xia Wenyan coming to R country would be much safer, and he instantly felt more at ease.


    He pursed his lips, ¡°For this matter, consider that I owe you one. If there¡¯s anything you need me to do in the future, I¡¯m ready anytime.¡±


    ¡°No need for anytime, just help me with one thing right now,¡± Song Sinian wasted no opportunity and said directly.


    Pei Huai had a moment of surprise but quickly recovered, ¡°Sure, tell me, what do you want me to investigate?¡±


    All his forces were practically in R country by now; whatever Song Sinian wanted to investigate was likely related to R country.


    After all, for domestic issues, he could find out by lifting a finger, no need for Pei Huai¡¯s help.


    Song Sinian pondered briefly on the other end of the phone, ¡°I heard that Fengya Ichiro previously had many lovers, including some from Hua Country. Check if there¡¯s a woman with the surname Feng.¡±


    He had just been reviewing files and noticed many of Lu Dagui¡¯s overseas orders were related to R country¡¯s Fengya Family.


    He didn¡¯t believe Lu Dagui had the courage to secure such orders, but if someone was helping him from the shadows, it was possible.


    He vaguely felt this matter might involve Feng Xixi.


    Even if the final investigation results were unrelated, it was necessary to eliminate this suspicious point first.


    Pei Huai agreed without hesitation, ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll have someone inform you of the results of the investigation as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Song Sinian had just responded when Pei Huai¡¯s hotel room door was knocked on.


    Song Sinian corners of his mouth lightly lifted, ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb your leisure time.¡±


    Saying this, the other end of the phone hung up the call.


    Pei Huai looked at the disconnected phone with a puzzled face and called out to the door, ¡°Come in.¡±


    A bodyguard-like figure entered, and upon seeing Pei Huai, immediately lowered his head, cautiously saying, ¡°Master, someone outside wishes to see you, claiming to be your friend.¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s instinct was almost to send them away, but remembering Song Sinian¡¯s recent call, he changed his words, ¡°Did he mention his name?¡±


    The bodyguard shook his head, looking somewhat uneasy at Pei Huai.


    Under normal circumstances, their master would have already lost his temper at the news of a so-called friend seeking him out.


    But now, their master had not only refrained from getting angry, but his attitude had even softened when asking questions, leaving the bodyguard feeling utterly befuddled.


    ¡°Does he look good?¡± Pei Huai pinched the bridge of his nose, leaning back on the sofa.


    Recently, since he became the Master of the Rimu Family, many people had come to him flaunting their past friendship.


    Usually, Pei Huai would tell these people to get lost, but Song Sinian had just mentioned that Xia Wen had come to R country, prompting him to ask a few more questions.


    If it was Xia Wenyan who had come to see him, it wouldn¡¯t be good to turn him away.


    The bodyguard was momentarily dazed but quickly caught on, ¡°That person... he¡¯s good-looking, just that his arm seems to be injured, he...¡±


    ¡°Let him in right away.¡±


    Pei Huai felt an urgent desire to rush downstairs and personally fetch Xia Wenyan.


    But all his actions in R country were now under the scrutiny of the old farts of the Rimu Family; he couldn¡¯t show too much special attention to Xia Wenyan publicly, or else he might become a target for those with ill intentions.

 Chapter 504: 502 Im scared

    Chapter 504: Chapter 502 I¡¯m scared


    Letting Xia Wenyan face danger was the last thing he wanted to see.


    He struggled to stabilize his emotions, but when he saw Xia Wenyan appear at the door, his heart couldn¡¯t help but pound uncontrollably.


    Pei Huai could only pretend to be calm as he looked at the bodyguard standing beside him and ordered, ¡°You guys go out first, I have something to discuss with him.¡±


    After saying that, Pei Huai pretended to be indifferent and turned to walk into the room.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    After the door closed, Xia Wenyan just blankly stared at Pei Huai¡¯s back.


    His complexion seemed somewhat unwell, and he looked much thinner than before, it seemed he hadn¡¯t fared well abroad.


    But was he... being too cold toward him?


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but frown, and his mood plummeted to the lowest point.


    Sure enough, since Brother Pei had come to Country R, he didn¡¯t like him anymore.


    He had previously said something about waiting for him to return, huh!


    What a liar!


    Annoyed, Xia Wenyan pursed his lips; if he would ignore him, then he wouldn¡¯t initiate any interaction either!


    Resigned, he followed behind Pei Huai, pretending to be nonchalant, just waiting for the moment Pei Huai turned around so he could show him an ¡°I don¡¯t love anyone¡± attitude.


    But just as he reached the bedroom partition, Pei Huai suddenly turned around and hugged him tightly.


    Xia Wenyan was caught off guard, stunned for three seconds.


    He opened his mouth, only to hear Pei Huai¡¯s muffled voice, ¡°Yanyan, I¡¯m so tired...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan felt his heart soften instantly.


    The person who had just vowed to give Pei Huai a hard time had all his anger dissipate instantly.


    His intact hand patted Pei Huai¡¯s back, ¡°You still remember me, I thought you had completely forgotten about me, relegating me beyond the highest clouds. Even when I came to look for you, I was left waiting outside for a long time. I thought given our relationship, I would be brought up as soon as I reached downstairs. But I didn¡¯t expect you to put on such airs, huh!¡±


    Although Xia Wenyan said this, he still gently hugged Pei Huai.


    He could feel that he was very tired; after all, he was quite clear about how Pei Huai used to be when they were together.


    Pei Huai nuzzled his head into Xia Wenyan¡¯s neck, then turned his head to explain, ¡°It was supposed to be like that, but the situation in Country R is unstable. You got implicated back home because of your relationship with me; I couldn¡¯t let them realize I had special treatment for you.¡±


    He gently pinched Xia Wenyan¡¯s cheek and smiled bitterly, ¡°Yanyan, I¡¯m scared.¡±


    Ever since he learned that Xia Wenyan had an accident back home, he had been scared.


    When he previously reorganized the Rimu Family, he was quite reckless.


    He felt that he understood the Rimu Family very well from his two lifetimes, so he never considered the word ¡°danger.¡±


    But it wasn¡¯t until the people of the Rimu Family and Feng Ya Family conspired against him with drugs, and even Xia Wenyan back home was affected, that he realized not everything was under his control.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid of these changes, but he feared the butterfly effect these changes could bring might hurt Xia Wenyan.


    He had already lost Xia Wenyan once in his past life; this time, he dared not gamble at all.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s heart trembled at the words he had just spoken, and he looked at Pei Huai with a moment of bewilderment.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time he had felt Pei Huai¡¯s care, but for some reason, a strange feeling was spreading within him.


    Especially when he saw Pei Huai leaning against his neck, that strange feeling became even more apparent.


    He didn¡¯t want to upset Pei Huai, and even wanted... to please him with some actions.


    Although Xia Wenyan¡¯s experience was not extensive, this strange feeling made him vaguely realize something was wrong.


    His ears turned red, as if he had realized something, and his whole body became stiff in an instant.


    Pei Huai, who had been holding him all along, could not possibly fail to notice Xia Wenyan¡¯s reaction.


    He slowly released the person in his arms, looked at Xia Wenyan with some concern, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I hurt your wound?¡±


    Xia Wenyan, hearing his voice, was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head, ¡°No, it¡¯s probably just because I¡¯ve been sitting on the plane for too long on the way here, feeling a bit unwell.¡±


    In fact, that was just an excuse from Xia Wenyan, as they had already arrived in the country and he had rested in the hotel for a whole day; there was no issue of sitting too long and feeling uncomfortable.


    But Pei Huai didn¡¯t know that.


    Upon hearing this, he naturally believed him.


    ¡°Come and rest for a while.¡± He said, grabbing Xia Wenyan¡¯s wrist and pulling him to the bed, ¡°Lie down here, and I¡¯ll have someone prepare whatever you want to eat.¡±


    Xia Wenyan glanced at the neat and clean bedspread, his face blushed again, ¡°I think I...¡±


    Before he could finish his words, Pei Huai pulled him over with one hand and lay down beside him on the bed.


    Xia Wenyan almost instinctively struggled, only to hear Pei Huai¡¯s faint and gentle voice rise, ¡°Yanyan, be good, I¡¯ll rest with you too.¡±


    He really hadn¡¯t rested well these past few days, especially after learning that Xia Wenyan had had an accident back home; he dreamed every night about receiving the news of Xia Wenyan¡¯s death in his previous life.


    Thus, these days he had stayed up as late as he could every night, hardly getting any proper rest.


    Although Xia Wenyan did not know about Pei Huai¡¯s situation, seeing the dark circles under his eyes up close, the originally struggling Xia Wenyan instantly calmed down.


    He carefully thought about his previous interactions with Pei Huai, and it seemed... there was nothing much.


    But just now, when he realized that his feelings for Pei Huai might not just be brotherly, he started to panic.


    Brother Pei, although part of the group that didn¡¯t want to marry, was just because he hadn¡¯t met a girl he liked.


    But him... in this situation, he probably wouldn¡¯t meet a girl he liked anymore.


    Xia Wenyan looked at Pei Huai, conflicted, and suddenly wondered if continuing to cling to Pei Huai like this would affect his chances of finding someone else in the future?


    Thinking of the words ¡°someone else,¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s chest felt tight.


    He remembered that when he had heard about Pei Huai going on a blind date in the country, he had felt this way too; he had thought it was because Pei Huai had promised to stay single with him but then tried to find a partner first, making him angry.


    But now that he thought about it, it seemed... that wasn¡¯t really the case.


    He seemed to be jealous.


    No, he was jealous.


    He even felt a bit angry at Pei Huai.


    Xia Wenyan turned his head to look at Pei Huai and, without thinking, lightly traced his fingers over his eyes and eyebrows, ¡°Brother Pei, will you continue to go on blind dates in the future?¡±


    Pei Huai, who had originally closed his eyes, suddenly opened them and frowned slightly, responding with a question instead of an answer, ¡°Do you want me to go on blind dates?¡±

 Chapter 505: 503: No Regrets?

    Chapter 505: Chapter 503: No Regrets?


    Xia Wenyan almost didn¡¯t think twice before he rejected the idea, ¡°I don¡¯t want to, I don¡¯t like you going on blind dates, nor do I like you liking someone else, you can only like me.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t planned to say it out loud, but under Pei Huai¡¯s questioning, his mind hadn¡¯t caught up with his mouth, and he blurted it out.


    Xia Wenyan: It¡¯s over.


    After he said those words, he became a bit nervous and didn¡¯t dare to look at Pei Huai.


    Meanwhile, Pei Huai was stunned by Xia Wenyan¡¯s sudden confession.


    His heart surged with emotion too intense to contain, yet he worried whether his fever over the past couple of days had fried his brain, causing him to misunderstand Xia Wenyan¡¯s meaning?


    Seeing that Pei Huai remained silent, Xia Wenyan paused before throwing caution to the wind, ¡°I don¡¯t care, I won¡¯t look for anyone, and you¡¯re not allowed to either, I¡¯ve decided not to look for anyone for the rest of my life, just accept your fate! Humph!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t say anything, but his figure visibly shook, and then he let out a quiet laugh.


    Xia Wenyan thought Pei Huai was mocking him, and slightly annoyed, reached out to push him away, but his wrist was caught in a firm grip, ¡°I accept my fate, Yanyan.¡±


    His voice was low, but it had never sounded so pleasant before.


    Xia Wenyan was slightly taken aback, as if he had understood his meaning, and his peach blossom eyes instantly shone brightly, ¡°No regrets?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, no regrets.¡±


    Now Xia Wenyan was completely happy, and his peach blossom eyes smiled especially beautifully, ¡°I knew Brother Pei was the best!¡±


    Pei Huai sighed helplessly and raised his hand to ruffle his hair, ¡°I hope you think so in the future too.¡±


    ¡°I will in the future!¡±


    Xia Wenyan, as if worried that Pei Huai wouldn¡¯t believe him, quickly added, ¡°Brother Pei, you must have confidence in me, I¡¯ve thought this through thoroughly!¡±


    His determined gaze made Pei Huai¡¯s heart flutter.


    ¡°Alright, I believe in our Yanyan.¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡±


    Xia Wenyan said and immediately rolled over onto the bed, relaxing quite a bit.


    Pei Huai¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed, ¡°Be careful with your arm, it¡¯s fractured, and yet you¡¯re acting so childish.¡±


    Just thinking about how Xia Wenyan¡¯s arm fracture was due to his own negligence, Pei Huai¡¯s brows involuntarily knotted.


    Xia Wenyan, on the other hand, didn¡¯t see it as a big deal, ¡°My arm is just cracked, not fully fractured, but...¡±


    It seemed something had occurred to him, and he turned to look at Pei Huai, ¡°This incident did get blown out of proportion, not only did they plan against me, but they also wanted to target Zhaozhao; my parents and brothers were angry, so they decided to come to Country R together.¡±


    ¡°With you?¡± Pei Huai suddenly felt a bit anxious.


    He was worried the Xia Family would be angry because of this incident, given that Xia Wenyan had indeed been affected due to his negligence.


    As for Lu Zhaozhao, fortunately, they found out early, as Pei Huai guessed it would have been more difficult to get along with Xia Wenyan if she had been injured too.


    Xia Wenyan saw through Pei Huai¡¯s worries and waved his hands, ¡°Brother Pei, don¡¯t worry about it, my parents won¡¯t blame you for this, after all, it wasn¡¯t you who did it, and my parents and brothers are reasonable people.¡±


    He blinked, playfully speaking, ¡°If they¡¯re actually unkind to you, I¡¯ve got your back! And if... if something special happens, I can call on my little sister, she will surely have my back, so you can be at ease!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    What else could Pei Huai say to Xia Wenyan¡¯s comforting words?


    He silently sighed and decided to take care of Xia Wenyan first before anything else.


    After all, there was no rush to discuss future matters, as today he had received the most satisfactory answer to the unfinished business of his past life.


    Even if he were to die right now, he would die without regrets...


    The next morning, the sky was misty, and a drizzle began to patter outside, occasionally mixed with hail hitting the window, making a ¡°tap tap tap¡± sound.


    Having spent the night at Pei Huai¡¯s hotel, Xia Wenyan simply decided to lazily sleep in.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, the phone on the bedside table rang.


    He groggily picked up the phone and answered, ¡°Hello?¡±


    His voice was already muffled, and it carried a bit of nasality.


    ¡°Big Brother, are you catching a cold?¡± The voice of Lu Zhaozhao suddenly came from the other end of the line, startling Xia Wenyan into a jolt, and he immediately sat bolt upright out of the covers.


    Pei Huai, who was just about to bring him breakfast, was also taken aback by Xia Wenyan¡¯s sudden movement.


    ¡°Zhao, Zhaozhao?¡±


    He looked at Pei Huai a bit panicked, his face pleading for help, while Pei Huai was just as confused, completely unaware of what Xia Wenyan was panicking about.


    Lu Zhaozhao on the other end, just like Pei Huai, sensed his panic but had no idea why he was panicking.


    She raised her eyebrows slightly, ¡°Big Brother, is something wrong over there?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing, I, I just have a, a bit of a cold, yes, just a little cold!¡± Xia Wenyan said, his gaze glued on Pei Huai even more intently.


    He paused for a moment and quickly added, ¡°I, I¡¯m a bit busy right now, let Brother Pei take the call, you wait a moment!¡±


    After speaking, he directly handed the phone to Pei Huai, then mouthed to him, ¡°Don¡¯t let Zhaozhao know I¡¯ve come to R country.¡±


    Pei Huai: ¡°...¡±


    Had this kid lost his wits from sleep?


    He was in R country, and the fact that he wouldn¡¯t be able to return anytime soon was something both Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao knew.


    The moment Xia Wenyan passed the phone to him, Lu Zhaozhao probably already realized Xia Wenyan was in R country.


    Now, if he were to help lie, it seemed a bit inappropriate.


    Pei Huai massaged his temples with a bit of a headache and casually took the phone, ¡°Hello, Zhaozhao, this is Pei Huai.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao on the other end didn¡¯t seem surprised at all, her tone remained steady, ¡°Brother Pei, is my Big Brother catching a cold? What¡¯s going on with you and my Big Brother? I heard him so panicky, you guys...¡±


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan and couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of his mouth, ¡°Mhm, it¡¯s just like you¡¯re thinking.¡±


    ¡°Oh~~~ I see, so, you must have caught a cold too,¡± Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly before continuing, ¡°The matters at home are nearly taken care of, now I rely on you to look after my Big Brother overseas. As for my parents and brothers... emmm... as long as they don¡¯t make too much trouble, you can leave them be.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao thought back to when the Fengya Family had abruptly changed their heir, and she knew her parents and brothers hadn¡¯t been idle.


    But they should be aware of the situation, right?


    They should be...


    For a moment, Lu Zhaozhao was also uncertain.


    Pei Huai cleared his throat, ¡°Mhm, I will have someone keep an eye on that matter, so you don¡¯t need to worry. Once I¡¯ve sorted things out here, I will bring your Big Brother back to the country.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then please take good care of my Big Brother on my behalf. As for my parents and brothers, I¡¯ll explain it to them, so my Big Brother can rest assured and recover at your place.¡±

 Chapter 506: 504: Escaped?

    Chapter 506: Chapter 504: Escaped?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice was soft and comforting to listen to.


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but curl up the corners of his mouth, the upward arc becoming even more pronounced when his gaze reached Xia Wenyan.


    After chatting briefly, they ended the phone call.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenyan came closer with a tense face and asked, ¡°Zhaozhao... she hasn¡¯t already found out about us coming to Country R, has she?¡±


    He remembered his parents saying that they kept the trip to Country R a secret from Zhaozhao as they worried that she would insist on coming to Country R as well.


    Previously, Lu Zhaozhao had caught a cold and was hospitalized after visiting Xiao Mo¡¯s house with his mother and Xu Zhenzhen, so they were really worried about her traveling overseas.


    Pei Huai lightly nodded, put down the breakfast he had brought on the bedside table, and handed him the milk before saying, ¡°It seems she has known for a while, she even knows what your parents are here in Country R to do.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand trembled as he drank the milk, looking somewhat frightened at Pei Huai, ¡°Zhaozhao knows? My parents won¡¯t think it was me who leaked it, will they?¡±


    Because of a fractured arm, he had just gained a tiny bit of standing at home; if his parents found out that Lu Zhaozhao learned this from him, he feared he would be beaten even worse.


    Maybe both his arms would end up in slings next time.


    Seeing his cowardly look, Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Zhaozhao already knew before she called. It¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡±


    If she knew before the phone call, then he could pin the blame on Song Sinian!


    A sister is dear to him, but a brother-in-law can be ignored.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan picked up his milk and drank obediently.


    Since he had cleared the air with Pei Huai, he found himself feeling more relaxed in his company.


    Xia Wenyan opened his mouth, about to say something, when suddenly Pei Huai¡¯s phone rang in the quiet room.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, he reached for the phone and answered it.


    ¡°Family Head, Meizi Feng Ya has escaped.¡±


    As soon as the voice from the other end of the phone reached him, Pei Huai¡¯s expression instantly darkened.


    He had known about the Fengya Family appointing a new heir and had assigned people to watch the Fengya Family.


    Since Meizi Feng Ya was now useless to the Fengyas, he naturally wouldn¡¯t let her go.


    Unexpectedly, the Fengya Family had let the woman go.


    His fist clenched involuntarily as he asked in a low voice, ¡°Where has she gone? Have people been sent to pursue her?¡±


    The person on the other end of the line was clearly a bit worried, stuttering, ¡°The, the family, Meizi Feng Ya was always kept within the Fengya Family, the specific details, we can¡¯t investigate.¡±


    ¡°Waste!¡±


    He scolded quietly, about to curse out loud when he noticed Xia Wenyan¡¯s shocked eyes. Realizing something, Pei Huai ruffled his head and then spoke again, ¡°First, investigate the places that woman might go to, and then look for our insiders within the organization to see where exactly she has gone.¡±


    He didn¡¯t believe Fengya Ichiro had no involvement in this.


    Although he was disappointed in his own daughter, he had indeed previously regarded Meizi Feng Ya as his sole heir and the affection couldn¡¯t be fake.


    Even if Fengya Ichiro detested Meizi Feng Ya, he wouldn¡¯t just watch her life be endangered.


    Therefore, Meizi Feng Ya¡¯s escape was highly likely linked to Fengya Ichiro.


    The person on the other end of the phone hadn¡¯t expected Pei Huai¡¯s anger to subside so quickly, and they were also stunned for a while, unable to speak.


    Pei Huai certainly knew why the other party hadn¡¯t responded for so long.


    He cleared his throat, ¡°Did you clearly hear what I just instructed you?¡±


    Only then did the person on the other end recall, ¡°Yes, Family Head.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Having said this, Pei Huai then hung up the phone.


    Xia Wenyan looked at Pei Huai, puzzled, and after a moment asked, ¡°Brother Pei, is there something wrong with the Feng Ya¡¯s side?¡±


    When he came to Country R, his parents and three older brothers told him not to interfere in Country R¡¯s affairs.


    So, he just laid low, and therefore he only knew about Feng Ya Meizi, nothing else.


    Having just heard Pei Huai mention that woman, the only person he could associate with was Feng Ya Meizi.


    Pei Huai nodded slightly, not planning to hide it from Xia Wenyan, ¡°The people watching over the Fengya Family say that Feng Ya Meizi has escaped.¡±


    ¡°Escaped?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes widened instantly, seemingly in disbelief, ¡°Why would she run?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly, ¡°She¡¯s probably worried that the newly appointed heir would see her as a threat, after all, that woman had a group of supporters when she was the heir. It wouldn¡¯t be too wrong for the new heir to move against her, wanting his own connections.¡±


    He intentionally skirted around the heavy topics, giving Xia Wenyan a brief primer on the Fengya Family¡¯s situation.


    Although he wasn¡¯t exactly lying, the real reason for Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s escape wasn¡¯t just this.


    After all, even if the new heir wanted to seize the initiative, they wouldn¡¯t make it look so ugly.


    Moreover, the chosen heir was appointed in such a rush; their position wasn¡¯t even stable, and it was not likely they would move against Feng Ya Meizi.


    She fled so hurriedly because she was afraid he would make a move.


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze slightly lowered, he indeed wanted to kick her while she was down, but he hadn¡¯t expected Fengya Ichiro, that old fox to be so vigilant and to have Feng Ya Meizi escape outright.


    It seems he appeared too benevolent, which might be why Fengya Ichiro dared to do so.


    Xia Wenyan picked up a sandwich from his plate and took a bite, casually asking, ¡°Brother Pei, does that mean this matter is over?¡±


    Since she had already fled, she probably wouldn¡¯t be flaunting her power in the country anymore.


    Now that the Fengya Family has changed heirs, they should be out of the picture, right?


    Pei Huai¡¯s lips curved slightly, casually taking his finished milk glass, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s more or less over.¡±


    Of course... that¡¯s just on the surface.


    Fengya Ichiro had suffered such a loss and definitely wouldn¡¯t let it go. He might not be as impulsive as Feng Ya Meizi, but what he would do next was unknown.


    He couldn¡¯t let Xia Wenyan be surrounded by such unpredictable dangers.


    So, his previous plan might have to be moved up.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Xia Wenyan, this messy situation shouldn¡¯t be his concern, he should just happily do what he wants.


    Meanwhile, Feng Ya Meizi, who had already escaped, had just gotten off the plane.


    As soon as she exited the airport, she saw the person who had come to pick her up.


    ¡°Meizi, you must be exhausted from the journey. I have already prepared a room at home; are you moving in today?¡±

 Chapter 507: 505: Where Do You Get the Right to Speak?!

    Chapter 507: Chapter 505: Where Do You Get the Right to Speak?!


    Feng Xixi chuckled as she looked at Feng Ya Meizi, her gaze drifting casually over her before noticing her face wrapped in gauze.


    She had been quite puzzled as to why Feng Ya Meizi would suddenly come to her.


    It wasn¡¯t until she saw the news about the Fengya Family changing their heir that she understood.


    Feng Ya Meizi glanced at Feng Xixi, the disdain in her eyes as evident as before.


    The smile on Feng Xixi¡¯s face stiffened momentarily, then she curved her lips upwards again.


    Back when she was with Fengya Ichiro in R-country, Feng Ya Meizi had looked at her with that same gaze.


    Back then, due to Fengya Ichiro¡¯s presence, and the fact that Feng Ya Meizi was the heir of the Fengya Family, she kept a low profile, never bothering to quibble with her.


    But now she was no longer the heir of the Fengya Family and still dared to be so arrogant toward her.


    Feng Xixi certainly didn¡¯t see herself as someone easy to manipulate.


    She knew Fengya Ichiro¡¯s temperament, he wouldn¡¯t announce a change of heir and then contradict himself, so Feng Ya Meizi was definitely out of the running.


    The fact that Fengya Ichiro arranged for her to stay with her indicated that her situation in R-country was worrying; otherwise, he would not have dumped her with a mistress like her.


    After analyzing the situation for a moment, Feng Xixi¡¯s attitude towards Feng Ya Meizi visibly changed.


    Since she didn¡¯t appreciate her care and concern, she didn¡¯t bother putting on an act anymore.


    So Feng Ya Meizi followed Feng Xixi¡¯s car to the suburban villa she now lived in.


    As soon as she entered, she saw Xia Wenjin, also with her face bandaged, sitting in the living room.


    Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s face immediately darkened, ¡°Feng Xixi, what do you mean by this? Knowing my face is injured, are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?!¡±


    Xia Wenjin was sitting in the living room scrolling through her phone, and she looked just as bewildered upon seeing Feng Xixi and the bandaged Feng Ya Meizi enter. But when she heard what Feng Ya Meizi said, her face also turned ugly.


    However, with her face wrapped up, no one could see the expression on her face.


    Feng Xixi¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°Jin has been staying with me all this while, her facial injury happened much earlier than yours, so there¡¯s no need for you to be so sensitive.¡±


    Not wanting to cater to Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s emotions, she went straight to the living room and took Xia Wenjin¡¯s arm, ¡°Jin, are you hungry? Did you eat well today?¡±


    Because Xia Wenjin had asked her to help with luggage and bank cards, she had secretly made a handsome profit, thus she was more cordial to her than before.


    Having spent the past few days in fear of being disfigured and chased, Feng Xixi¡¯s kindness was Xia Wenjin¡¯s sole redemption, and she naturally trusted her immensely.


    Xia Wenjin glanced at Feng Ya Meizi, quickly averting her eyes, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten, I wanted to wait to eat with you.¡±


    Having said that, her gaze returned to Feng Ya Meizi standing at the doorstep.


    She didn¡¯t know why Feng Xixi would bring back another woman much like herself, and judging by her appearance, there seemed also to be a problem with her face.


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly, wondering if Feng Xixi had a peculiar predilection for those with disfigured faces.


    Seeing her expression, Feng Xixi hurriedly introduced, ¡°She is...¡±


    ¡°Feng Xixi! You shameless whore! Don¡¯t think that just because my father isn¡¯t here you can do whatever you want! I¡¯m telling you, even if I, Feng Ya Meizi, am down on my luck, you, as a mistress, have no right to tread on me!¡±


    As she spoke, Feng Ya Meizi grabbed a vase from the living room and smashed it on the ground.


    Xia Wenjin and Feng Xixi were stunned by Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s sudden outburst and remained frozen until the vase shattered, causing its fragments to scatter.


    Feng Xixi¡¯s complexion immediately turned grim, ¡°Feng Ya Meizi, are you sick? It was your father who asked me to take care of you, do you think I want to take care of you?¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenjin, who had been taking shelter at Feng Xixi¡¯s home, naturally had little say, but from the back-and-forth between the two, she could roughly guess the nature of their relationship.


    Feng Xixi was Feng Ya¡¯s mistress, and even Feng Ya Meizi seemed reluctant to come here, having been forced by her father.


    Xia Wenjin had originally been worried that Feng Xixi might have some bizarre aesthetic preferences.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that the other was here against her will.


    The concerns in the depths of her heart vanished in a flash. Seeing Feng Xixi¡¯s unpleasant expression, she immediately came to her defense, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to stay here, you¡¯re free to leave at any time, no one¡¯s stopping you! Don¡¯t just lash out at Sister Feng!¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi already had a poor impression of this woman with bandages wrapped around her face.


    Now, hearing her dare to snap at her, she grew even angrier.


    She glared fiercely at Xia Wenjin, ¡°What the hell are you?! Who gave you the right to speak here?!¡±


    Startled by her shout, Xia Wenjin immediately feigned fear and hid behind Feng Xixi, ¡°Sister Feng, why is she so fierce? I just thought it was wrong for her to be rude to you, wuwuwu...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Back in Country R, Feng Ya Meizi had always been the heir, surrounded by people who wouldn¡¯t dare show this kind of ¡®green tea¡¯ behavior in front of her.


    She bit her lip angrily and yelled at her companions, ¡°Catch that bitch and smash her face up!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The bodyguards standing to the side remained completely indifferent.


    Being bodyguards hired by Feng Xixi¡¯s side, they naturally listened to Feng Xixi.


    As for Feng Ya Meizi, they simply ignored her outright.


    When Feng Ya Meizi saw that several people around her didn¡¯t move a muscle, she kicked one of the bodyguards in frustration, ¡°Are you dead or something?! I¡¯m telling you to do something; can¡¯t you hear me?!¡±


    Feng Xixi, listening to Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s rant, had even less patience, ¡°Your father sent you here so that you could recover properly. If you have an issue, go back on your own. It¡¯s no big deal ¨C I¡¯ll just explain it to your dad later, and you can go wherever you wish.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The look on Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s face immediately turned ugly.


    She knew why she had been sent here and obviously understood that returning to Country R wasn¡¯t an option.


    It was all because of that damned Pei Huai, who had forced her into her current predicament!


    Not only was her face ruined, but even her status as heiress to the Fengya Family was stripped away!


    What right did he have?


    Wasn¡¯t it just that she wanted to sleep with him for one night?


    Could this man really be so cruel to her?!


    She hadn¡¯t done anything excessive, just sent someone to deal with his good friend back in China. No one died. Was it necessary for him to hold such a grudge against her?


    The more Feng Ya Meizi thought about it, the angrier she became. When her gaze turned toward Feng Xixi and Xia Wenjin, it was filled with resentment.


    Just because she lost her status as heir, she was subjected to this kind of treatment.


    Hah!


    They really think she¡¯s easy to bully!


    It was only a temporary loss of status. Currently, most people in the Fengya Family were still loyal to her. Once this storm passed, she was certain she could return!

 Chapter 508: 506: Cant Help but Be Moved

    Chapter 508: Chapter 506: Can¡¯t Help but Be Moved


    When the time comes, she would definitely give these haughty bastards a piece of her mind!


    Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s malicious gaze swept over the two people before her, and she huffed coldly, ¡°Even if you tell my dad, he won¡¯t take your side, so you might as well stop deluding yourself!¡±


    After she finished speaking, she turned and left without a second glance.


    Completely denying Xia Wenjin and Feng Xixi any chance to respond.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed as she watched Feng Ya Meizi walk away, her gaze turning towards Feng Xixi with confusion, seemingly waiting for an explanation.


    Feng Xixi touched her nose, exhaled softly as she looked at Xia Wenjin, and comfortingly rubbed the top of her head, ¡°That girl is my friend¡¯s daughter. She... she will probably be living here from now on. If you¡¯re alone, keep your distance from her. You¡¯ve seen just now, she has a bad temper.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was clearly puzzled by this ¡°friend¡¯s daughter.¡±


    After all, Feng Ya Meizi had just yelled at Feng Xixi moments ago, claiming she was her father¡¯s mistress.


    Why would someone send their own child to live with a mistress?


    And besides, she had just mentioned that she had fallen on hard times. Could it be that Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s father had encountered some trouble?


    Xia Wenjin was filled with curiosity about Feng Ya Meizi; not because she was particularly interested in her but because she wanted to know if this person was important to Feng Xixi and whether she could trample her underfoot.


    If not, she would do everything in her power to prevent her from gaining any presence in front of Feng Xixi.


    The only person she could rely on now was Feng Xixi. If Feng Xixi focused all her attention on Feng Ya Meizi, Xia Wenjin¡¯s days ahead would be troublesome.


    Seeing that Feng Xixi did not intend to elaborate, Xia Wenjin could only lower her eyelids and nod obediently, ¡°Sister Feng, I surely won¡¯t provoke her. With such a terrible temper, couldn¡¯t she hurt you?¡±


    She pretended to be solely concerned for Feng Xixi¡¯s well-being when in reality, she did not want Feng Xixi to hold any good impression of Feng Ya Meizi.


    Despite her recent outburst at Feng Xixi, the influence of Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s father or Feng Xixi¡¯s lingering feelings for that man could not be discounted.


    Naturally, Xia Wenjin would throw as many obstacles Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s way as she possibly could.


    After all, between her and Feng Xixi, it was a competitive relationship: it was either her or her.


    Feng Xixi glanced down at Xia Wenjin and almost instantly perceived her attempts at stirring trouble.


    After so many years in the game, who didn¡¯t understand these tricks?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s tactics were not even sophisticated, but Feng Xixi had no intention of exposing them.


    Indeed, Feng Ya Meizi was quite brazen around here, and with Xia Wenjin covertly tripping her up, Feng Xixi herself could have some peace.


    So, Feng Xixi didn¡¯t care about Xia Wenjin¡¯s petty schemes at all.


    She raised her hand to pat Xia Wenjin¡¯s head and said, ¡°Little Jin, don¡¯t be afraid. She¡¯s here to take refuge and probably won¡¯t cause too much commotion. You just need to protect yourself, and there¡¯s no need to worry about me.¡±


    She deliberately acted as if she took Feng Ya Meizi seriously, just to make Xia Wenjin wary of her.


    Noticing the fleeting irritation in her eyes, Feng Xixi¡¯s lips curled slightly with a sense of satisfaction.


    After Xia Wenjin remained silent, Feng Xixi patted the back of her hand and left.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed, and after a moment of silence, she too returned to her own room.


    But she didn¡¯t just sit quietly; instead, she searched the internet for the name Feng Ya Meizi.


    It was merely a shot in the dark, but to her surprise, she actually found something.


    Xia Wenjin furrowed her brows as she looked at the webpage about Feng Ya Meizi, almost twisting them into a knot.


    She had initially thought that Meizi was just some rich family¡¯s young lady, but now it seemed that was not entirely the case.


    The Fengya Family was an extremely ancient clan in R-country, and their status there was not to be taken lightly. Meizi had once been the heir to the Fengya Family, which explained her arrogance.


    Xia Wenjin narrowed her eyes, remembering how the webpage stated that Meizi was no longer the heir.


    But looking at her, Wenjin guessed that Meizi didn¡¯t seem to be in a desperate situation.


    It seemed that even though the Fengya Family had stripped her of her inheritance, they had not decided to completely cast her out.


    Touching her own face, which had been disfigured, Wenjin thought back to having just seen Meizi. The two of them were of similar height and build, although Meizi seemed more robust.


    Both of them had been disfigured, but if she... underwent plastic surgery to look like Meizi, then... wouldn¡¯t she not have to suffer so much anymore?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed as she gazed at the photo of Feng Ya Meizi, her heart beating with temptation.


    But... she was currently reliant on others, and anything she wanted to do would definitely require Feng Xixi to be on her side.


    What could she do to get Feng Xixi on her side?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze deepened as she fell into contemplation...


    Since the Xia Family had all gone overseas, Yuan Yuan was following Mr. Song to Dr. Tian for psychological therapy.


    After having some free time, Lu Zhaozhao had originally intended to continue filming, but considering her upcoming wedding with Song Sinian, she whimsically headed to the bridal shop.


    Their wedding dress was being designed directly by Song Group¡¯s bridal brand. She had been planning to check it out, but that got put on hold because of the malicious attack by Sun Qian¡¯s fan.


    Lu Zhaozhao now had the time, so she went straight to the bridal shop.


    Due to her special status, Zhaozhao went directly to the VIP selection room.


    She flipped through the bridal recommendation album in her hands, which, apart from wedding dresses, also featured several beautiful evening gown designs.


    Zhaozhao was so enchanted that she began to consider ordering a few lovely evening gowns on the spot, which would also look great when accompanying Sinian to dinners and galas in the future.


    ¡°Cough, cough...¡±


    Suddenly, a coughing sound interrupted her thoughts, and Zhaozhao instinctively looked up, just in time to see a tall and statuesque woman walking in.


    She was dressed in a professional and sharp manner, clearly the attire of a workplace elite.


    ¡°Sorry, did I disturb you?¡± The woman in front of her covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughed lightly again, and then looked apologetically at Zhaozhao.


    Zhaozhao blinked and, upon seeing the person before her, couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows slightly.


    Because the woman was none other than Lawyer Liu Xiaozhen, who had been persistently pursuing her second brother.


    Seeing her approach as if nothing was wrong, Zhaozhao didn¡¯t expose her.


    She didn¡¯t say anything, just shook her head slightly at her.


    She had come to the bridal shop on a whim, so the likelihood of a precise accidental encounter was very slim.


    Zhaozhao thought back to asking Wen Qingyu to investigate Liu Xiaozhen. With her methods, having someone follow her and then staging a coincidental meeting wasn¡¯t impossible.


    After all, Lawyer Liu¡¯s schemes were no small matter, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to deceive her second brother so miserably, only recently coming to an understanding with Zhenzhen...

 Chapter 509: 507: This is Not the Result She Wanted!

    Chapter 509: Chapter 507: This is Not the Result She Wanted!


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her eyes, wondering what she wanted from her.


    She had thought that Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing were together now, so this Liu Xiaozhen should know her place. However, seeing Liu deliberately striking up a conversation with her indicated she might have other ideas.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao showed little reaction, Liu Xiaozhen moved closer and continued to chat, ¡°Are you also here to look at wedding dresses?¡±


    She smiled gently, exuding an elegant and mild temperament.


    Lu Zhaozhao followed along with her words and nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m getting married soon, so I came to look at wedding dresses.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°That¡¯s really wonderful, you must have found someone truly dependable.¡±


    Her demeanor was always gentle, seemingly very approachable.


    Having said this much, Lu Zhaozhao felt compelled to respond more convincingly to match her acting skills.


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly squinted her eyes and offered a polite smile, ¡°Thank you for your blessings. Are you also here to customize a wedding dress?¡±


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao took the bait, Liu Xiaozhen lowered her eyelids, looking quite aggrieved.


    She pursed her lips, ¡°I... I had hoped to marry the man I love, but I didn¡¯t expect...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Goodness, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but slightly raise her eyebrows.


    Had she not known what kind of person Liu Xiaozhen was, she might have actually fallen for her act.


    Truly, this was the woman who had deceived her brother and Xu Zhenzhen completely.


    Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath and then joined in on Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s act.


    Her brows furrowed slightly, she feigned confusion and asked, ¡°Did something happen to your partner?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s tone was filled with concern, as if she were genuinely worried.


    Liu Xiaozhen, hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased.


    After facing rejection from Xia Wenqing, she specifically investigated his connections within the country.


    She learned that Xia Wenqing had a sister whom he seemed to care about immensely.


    He nearly spoiled her to the skies.


    Liu Xiaozhen immediately decided to start with Lu Zhaozhao.


    After all, as long as she maintained a good relationship with her and led her to believe that Xu Zhenzhen was a mistress seeking to ascend through money, she surely wouldn¡¯t accept Xu Zhenzhen as her sister-in-law.


    For wealthy people, face is what matters most.


    Moreover, Lu Zhaozhao was now not only the heiress of XJ Group but also the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group.


    Her words carried considerable weight in the Xia Family. As long as she could win over her, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s path would be blocked for good.


    Then, as long as she could manage to get along well with Xia Wenqing and his mother through Lu Zhaozhao, wouldn¡¯t everything else fall into place?


    Thinking this made Liu Xiaozhen secretly elated, but she maintained a pained expression and sighed, ¡°Ah... I really can¡¯t blame my fiance?, our relationship has always been good, we¡¯ve been in love since college. Back then, there was a girl who always clung around him; I didn¡¯t mind much, but I didn¡¯t expect...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao watched as she struggled to produce tears and simply handed her a tissue, indicating for her to continue.


    After all, if you¡¯re going to act, you might as well play the part fully.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Liu Xiaozhen took the tissue, pretending to dab at the corners of her eyes before she continued, ¡°Later, my fiance? came to China. Unexpectedly, that woman took the chance when I was still abroad to climb up the ranks. My fiance? felt sorry for me, but he believed that since he had already had a substantial relationship with that woman and being a traditional and responsible man, we... wuu wuu wuu...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen began to cry as she spoke.


    Her tear-streaked face looked pitiful.


    Of course, if what she was saying was true.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat next to Liu Xiaozhen, not even reaching out a comforting hand, ¡°I think your fiance? is pretty lousy. Even though he has a girlfriend, he still gets involved physically with someone else...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen realized that Lu Zhaozhao was missing the point and hurriedly explained, ¡°No, my fiance? is a good person. He was manipulated by that woman.¡±


    It was all Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s fault! It had nothing to do with Xia Wenqing.


    Back in university, his focus was only on his studies. If not for Xu Zhenzhen seducing Xia Wenqing, how could she have succeeded?


    Liu Xiaozhen was convinced it was Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s fault!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°Does he know he was manipulated?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen visibly hesitated, ¡°He, he must know, I guess.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°If he knows that he was manipulated by that woman and still marries her, doesn¡¯t that make him a jerk?¡±


    ¡°He...¡± Liu Xiaozhen, clearly not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to say this, opened her mouth to argue.


    Before she could, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice came again, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t know he¡¯s being manipulated and still marries someone else, that¡¯s just cheating. Either way, he¡¯s a jerk, and you¡¯re definitely better off without him!¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen, utterly baffled, stared at Lu Zhaozhao, somehow dragged into her logic.


    Her eyebrows furrowed, trying to find another angle.


    After all, Xia Wenqing is Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brother; even if she knows he¡¯s a jerk, she wouldn¡¯t stop him.


    But if she knew his girlfriend was of bad character, she would definitely do something.


    Taking a deep breath and feigning sorrow, Liu Xiaozhen said, ¡°My fiance? and I were very much in love. If it weren¡¯t for her showing up, we would probably be taking wedding photos now.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes, cutting your losses is not a bad thing,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, handing her another tissue.


    ¡°...¡±


    Now, Liu Xiaozhen was truly infuriated.


    This was not the result she wanted!


    She wanted Lu Zhaozhao to share her hatred for the mistress, not to keep her away from the so-called jerk.


    Liu Xiaozhen clenched her teeth in secret but maintained a pitiful fac?ade. ¡°I just can¡¯t forget my fiance?; after all, we were already talking marriage...¡±


    She sniffed and made a pitiful face as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, then continued, ¡°If you were me, what would you do?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°If it were me, I don¡¯t think this situation would happen because my husband is very self-disciplined. There won¡¯t be any women getting close to him.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen choked.


    Her mouth twitched as she suppressed the urge to explode, ¡°What I mean is, if someone interfered like that, what would you do? Especially if you loved your fiance? too.¡±


    Seeing her beating around the bush, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t fall into traps. Liu Xiaozhen just set the question straight, saving her the hassle of beating around the bush!

 Chapter 510: 508: She Cant Understand, Nor Can She Accept!

    Chapter 510: Chapter 508: She Can¡¯t Understand, Nor Can She Accept!


    Even if Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know for a while that Xu Zhenzhen was the mistress she mentioned, she would inevitably find out sooner or later.


    As for before that, as long as Lu Zhaozhao spoke up, she could boldly take action against Xu Zhenzhen using Lu Zhaozhao as a shield.


    At that time, she only had to say that Lu Zhaozhao had told her to do this. Given Xia Wenqing¡¯s affection for Lu Zhaozhao, even if he were unhappy, he wouldn¡¯t say much.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s calculations were clicking loudly, but how could Lu Zhaozhao not notice?


    She propped her chin with one hand, seemingly troubled, ¡°If it were up to me... I¡¯d just choose to give up. If he can¡¯t even handle this, I don¡¯t think he deserves to be my boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen, listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, felt a suffocating frustration.


    She had thought of a hundred possible responses Lu Zhaozhao might have, but she never expected her to say this.


    It¡¯d be different for others, but she was the heiress of the XJ Corporation; getting any man she wanted was just a matter of pulling some strings.


    Moreover, her husband was the CEO of the Song Group.


    If her boyfriend were the CEO of the Song Group, no matter what kind of seductress the other party was, she would crush her.


    Not to mention surrendering without a fight.


    Liu Xiaozhen really wanted to grab Lu Zhaozhao by the shoulders and give her a good shake to bring her to her senses.


    But she couldn¡¯t.


    She had just pretended not to recognize Lu Zhaozhao, and if she spoke up now, it would seem like she had approached her with an agenda.


    Liu Xiaozhen raised her hand to press her temple, and smiled faintly, ¡°We¡¯ve talked so much, yet we haven¡¯t exchanged names. My name is Liu Xiaozhen, I just arrived back in the country. You can call me Xiaozhen.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°My name¡¯s Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    She didn¡¯t bother to introduce herself further, after all, Liu Xiaozhen already knew; making introductions was rather meaningless.


    Liu Xiaozhen thought Lu Zhaozhao was feigning modesty, so she pretended to be surprised with widened eyes, ¡°You are Lu Zhaozhao? You¡¯re even more beautiful in person than in the photos!¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao maintained a polite smile as she looked at Liu Xiaozhen, without much emotional fluctuation.


    Liu Xiaozhen forced a smile, ¡°If I had your background, I probably wouldn¡¯t let my fiance? be stolen away so easily.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly raised her eyebrows, ¡°I don¡¯t see it that way. With my current status, there are plenty of quality men who¡¯d want to marry me. I don¡¯t need to waste a whole forest over one tree, especially if... such things happen while we¡¯re dating. It only shows that the man¡¯s abilities are lacking. All I need to do is eliminate him and find a replacement.¡±


    When she said this, she was the very image of a spoiled heiress¡ªarrogant, willful, dazzlingly irritating.


    Liu Xiaozhen had no way to argue against her words, after all, Lu Zhaozhao did have the power.


    She managed to make the high and mighty CEO of Song Group personally admit he was lovesick.


    With the extent of the pampering she received, her arrogance seemed justified.


    Liu Xiaozhen clenched her fist, feeling even more irate.


    If she had the family background like Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s to back her up, would she need to follow Xia Wenqing around?


    She had been a lawyer for many years, and there was no shortage of men showing interest in her.


    But whether in terms of looks or family background, none could compare to Xia Wenqing.


    Since she had met the perfect match, she naturally felt nothing for the others.


    Besides, she had been by Xia Wenqing¡¯s side for quite some time, and she always felt that once Xu Zhenzhen left Xia Wenqing, her chance would come.


    Xu Zhenzhen had left, and to my surprise, Xia Wenqing had turned colder and more detached, even towards me.


    But I still had chances to interact with Xia Wenqing.


    I thought that if only enough time passed, Xia Wenqing would be able to forget Xu Zhenzhen and be with me.


    I¡¯d always believed that.


    But Xu Zhenzhen, like a persistent ghost, reappeared and even stole Xia Wenqing from me.


    I couldn¡¯t accept it!


    I was the one who had spent the most time with Xia Wenqing, so why wasn¡¯t I the one who ended up by his side?


    I didn¡¯t understand, and I couldn¡¯t accept it!


    Liu Xiaozhen forced a smile, but the anger in her eyes couldn¡¯t be hidden,¡±It might be because my fiance? is someone I admired in my youth, so I just can¡¯t let go.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Liu Xiaozhen a fake, polite smile, ¡°We must always look forward, mustn¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen didn¡¯t achieve her purpose with Lu Zhaozhao and was very frustrated.


    But since the conversation had reached this point, she had no choice but to let it go.


    ¡°You make a good point, I will try my best to...,¡± Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s words trailed off as she forced another smile towards her.


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t be bothered to continue indulging Liu Xiaozhen, so she simply fell silent too.


    Of course, Liu Xiaozhen didn¡¯t want to waste this opportunity, so she took out a business card from her bag and handed it to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m glad to have met you here, and I hope we can continue to associate in the future.¡±


    If she couldn¡¯t win over Lu Zhaozhao for now, she¡¯d just have to try more times.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s plan was simple, if she couldn¡¯t reach Xia Wenqing directly, she¡¯d take a roundabout approach.


    As long as Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t married yet, no, even if Xia Wenqing were married, what of it?


    Marriages can end in divorce; marriage is not the end of a relationship, it¡¯s just a new trial.


    Lu Zhaozhao held Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s business card between her fingertips, chuckling lightly in response.


    She was curious to see what kind of trouble Liu Xiaozhen would stir up in the future.


    Since Liu Xiaozhen had accomplished half her goal, she stayed a while longer in the bridal shop before leaving.


    Thinking she hadn¡¯t seen Xia Wenqing for several days, she took a document from the car and went straight to the Song Group building.


    To the security guards of Song Group, Liu Xiaozhen was a regular, so they let her in without question.


    Unfortunately, when she arrived at the Legal Department of Song Group, she didn¡¯t find the person she had been thinking about.


    Liu Xiaozhen frowned slightly and was about to inquire with the others in the office when she saw Xu Zhenzhen come in.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s expression darkened slightly, her eyes involuntarily searching behind Xu Zhenzhen, but Xia Wenqing was nowhere to be seen.


    Her expression slightly improved, she then pretended to be friendly and asked Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Zhenzhen, have you seen Lawyer Xia? I had an appointment with him, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be away from his office. Do you know if he had some emergency?¡±


    She deliberately made her words sound ambiguous, and her voice was loud enough for the other people in the office to hear.


    As expected, the people in the office couldn¡¯t help but glance in Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s direction.


    Xu Zhenzhen rolled her eyes and then looked at Liu Xiaozhen coldly, with a hint of disdain in her gaze.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia is abroad, how could you have arranged to meet him today? Lawyer Liu, you couldn¡¯t have gotten the date wrong, could you?¡±

 Chapter 511: 509: Huh? Withdraw from What?

    Chapter 511: Chapter 509: Huh? Withdraw from What?


    Her crisp voice was clear enough for everyone to hear.


    Liu Xiaozhen, who loved to manipulate public opinion, was now receiving a taste of her own medicine, hmph!


    Liu Xiaozhen was slightly taken aback; she hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenqing to have left the country.


    Her eyebrows furrowed as she asked in a low voice, ¡°Has he gone back?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged her shoulders, ¡°Isn¡¯t Lawyer Liu very close to our Lawyer Xia? How come you don¡¯t even know where he has gone?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s complexion immediately turned uglier.


    She had really underestimated this Xu Zhenzhen. Back in school, she had seemed so unremarkable.


    Yet somehow Xu had used some method to make Xia Wenqing treat her differently.


    Liu had thought that once she had driven her away, all would be well.


    But who could have foreseen that Xu would undergo such a transformation, come to the domestic scene, and become Xia Wenqing¡¯s assistant?


    Liu Xiaozhen even suspected that Xu had pretended to be heartbroken and leave, only to deliberately lure Xia Wenqing back to the country!


    Xia Wenqing might still be unaware that he had fallen into this woman¡¯s trap!


    The more Liu Xiaozhen thought about it, the more she found the situation frightening.


    Xu Zhenzhen actually had such scheming!


    If that was the case, her becoming Xia Wenqing¡¯s girlfriend might also be part of her calculations, which meant Liu had even more reason to save Xia Wenqing!


    She would absolutely not allow this woman to succeed.


    Liu Xiaozhen narrowed her eyes, ¡°Lawyer Xia must have had some urgent matter to attend to, which is why he couldn¡¯t inform me to reschedule in time. But as his secretary, you failing to pass on the message is quite an oversight.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was not at all surprised by Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s ability to adapt; after all, she was a lawyer who earned her keep through her words.


    If she could be silenced by a single retort from Liu, she wouldn¡¯t live up to her role as a lawyer.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Liu Xiaozhen with a fake smile, ¡°If it were work left by Lawyer Xia, I would have handled it all, but certain things...¡±


    ¡°Assistant Xu, since Lawyer Xia isn¡¯t here right now, let¡¯s just interface between us. Didn¡¯t Lawyer Xia say the same before?¡±


    Before Xu Zhenzhen could finish her sentence, Liu Xiaozhen cut her off.


    With Xia Wenqing absent, there was no need for her to engage in a tug-of-war with Xu Zhenzhen.


    Aside from lowering her image in the Legal Department of Song Group, it brought her no benefits.


    Having quickly glanced around and not seen Hao Jiayi, Liu Xiaozhen thought that the fire she had ignited earlier wasn¡¯t fierce enough, which had allowed Xu Zhenzhen some breathing space.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s eyes narrowed, and as her gaze swept over Xu Zhenzhen, she thought to herself that she would let her gloat for a few more days. Once she got closer to Lu Zhaozhao, Xu would be in for it.


    Xu Zhenzhen threw a glance at Liu Xiaozhen, wanting to send her packing right away, but now she was using work coordination as an excuse, and Xu couldn¡¯t just dismiss her outright.


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s head to the office to interface,¡± she said, nodding at Liu Xiaozhen before heading straight towards Xia Wenqing¡¯s office.


    Although Liu Xiaozhen was a bit annoyed, she had already put herself in this position in front of others and naturally had to follow suit.


    However, with Xia Wenqing not present, a mere Xu Zhenzhen shouldn¡¯t be too difficult to handle.


    It was the perfect opportunity to probe Xu Zhenzhen and find out when she had set the trap for Xia Wenqing.


    The two walked into the office, one after the other.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    As soon as the office door closed, Xu Zhenzhen dropped the act.


    She plopped down on the office sofa and, sitting cross-legged, looked toward Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°Lawyer Liu, what would you like to discuss today?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s brow furrowed, clearly displeased with Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s flippant attitude.


    She slammed the file bag onto the long table in front of Xu Zhenzhen, glaring at her with discontent, ¡°Does Xia Wenqing know this is your true face when you¡¯re behind closed doors?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrow quirked up, obviously letting out a scoff, ¡°Whether Lawyer Xia knows or doesn¡¯t, what business is it of yours? It¡¯s a private matter between the two of us.¡±


    A private matter?


    That means he doesn¡¯t know.


    Xia Wenqing was certainly fooled by her fac?ade!


    Liu Xiaozhen became even more convinced of her previous suspicion.


    She sneered at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°You think just because you snagged the title of Xia Wenqing¡¯s girlfriend, you¡¯re Mrs. Xia now? Don¡¯t be so naive. You and Xia Wenqing are simply not a match!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a match, and you are?¡± Xu Zhenzhen coolly retorted, ¡°Speaking of status, what exactly is yours? A lawyer who grew up in an orphanage? So who¡¯s nobler than whom, Lawyer Liu?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face visibly darkened.


    How did Xu Zhenzhen come to know about her being adopted from an orphanage?


    Her adoptive parents weren¡¯t extremely wealthy, but they had achieved some success.


    Her adoptive parents never disclosed her true identity to anyone, and not even her classmates knew about it.


    Thus, she always believed she was a hundred times better than someone like Xu Zhenzhen, who grew up in an orphanage.


    She never expected that Xu Zhenzhen, this despicable person, would tear off this veil of shame.


    Liu Xiaozhen even felt a bit relieved that she hadn¡¯t caused a scene with her earlier outside; otherwise, this woman would definitely have exposed her identity to embarrass her on purpose.


    Indeed, Xu Zhenzhen was so underhanded!


    Otherwise, Xia Wenqing wouldn¡¯t have been deceived that easily...


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face alternated between shades of green and white before she finally caught her breath.


    ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± Her eyes narrowed, a venomous gaze firmly fixed on Xu Zhenzhen.


    It was as if she harbored a deep and bitter grudge.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, looking at Liu Xiaozhen with disdain, ¡°I was just stating facts. Didn¡¯t you just try to raise the issue of suitability with Lawyer Xia? So I casually mentioned it. What? Does Lawyer Liu feel guilty? After all, your parents aren¡¯t your birth parents, tsk tsk...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen got Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s information from Lu Zhaozhao.


    At the time, she merely glanced over it and didn¡¯t think much of it.


    She believed that no matter one¡¯s background, as long as a person achieved success through their own abilities, their origins didn¡¯t matter.


    But as soon as Liu Xiaozhen took on that condescending attitude to imply something about her, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly became irritated.


    Neither was nobler than the other, yet Liu Xiaozhen had to use such groundless superiority to pressure her, so she would not be polite!


    Liu Xiaozhen pursed her lips, which had turned a bit pale, and her gaze remained locked on her, as if she wanted to bore a hole through Xu Zhenzhen with her stare.


    After a while, she almost hissed through her back teeth, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen, you¡¯re doing this on purpose. You think you¡¯ve got something on me and want me to bow out voluntarily, is that it?¡±


    ¡°Ha? Bow out of what?¡± Xu Zhenzhen looked perplexedly at Liu Xiaozhen.


    It took her a while to read between the lines.


    She was taken aback for a moment, then incredulity crept into her voice, ¡°You don¡¯t seriously believe you¡¯re still competing with me for Xia Wenqing, do you?¡±

 Chapter 512: 510: Its Gone, All Gone...

    Chapter 512: Chapter 510: It¡¯s Gone, All Gone...


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t originally think this way, but seeing Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s righteously indignant expression, she couldn¡¯t help but overthink.


    Liu Xiaozhen swept her gaze across Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face, appearing utterly unconcerned, ¡°Is that not the case?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen really felt defeated by Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s way of thinking.


    Is this even a human thing to do?


    Xu Zhenzhen gave Liu Xiaozhen a forced smile, ¡°Xia Wenqing is already my boyfriend, what¡¯s the point of your competition?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen sneered, ¡°Like I said just now, don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve become Xia Wenqing¡¯s girlfriend, you think you¡¯re already Mrs. Xia. It¡¯s still too early for that, who knows what might happen in the meantime?¡±


    She always believed that Xia Wenqing was just temporarily blinded, which is why he would let a woman like Xu Zhenzhen be his girlfriend.


    He would definitely regret it once he came to his senses!


    She waited for the day Xia Wenqing would come to his senses, waiting to watch the great drama unfold with Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Liu Xiaozhen, how come I never realized you were such a schemer? Pah! You wish you were, but our lawyer Xia won¡¯t let someone like you succeed.¡±


    If this was before, Xu Zhenzhen certainly wouldn¡¯t have such confidence.


    But ever since she and Xia Wenqing had opened up to each other, she knew that Xia Wenqing had liked her since their school days, and she was no longer anxious.


    Why should she be flustered if the man she loves also loves her?


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s brows furrowed sharply, seemingly very irritated by the term ¡°schemer¡±.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia isn¡¯t married yet, your current relationship isn¡¯t legally protected, if he wants to break up with you, then you are nothing. Xu Zhenzhen, stop being so nai?ve!¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s words seemed to be directed at Xu Zhenzhen, but in reality, they were more like a reminder to herself.


    She took a deep breath, staring fiercely at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°I said, you two aren¡¯t suitable, you weren¡¯t suitable before, and you¡¯re not suitable now, you¡¯re not good enough for him!¡±


    A man like Xia Wenqing should have a woman who is equally outstanding, not someone like Xu Zhenzhen!


    Xu Zhenzhen was nearly driven to laughter by Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s words.


    She always thought her mind wasn¡¯t right, but now it seemed, her brain had issues!


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt that arguing with someone whose mind was troubled like this would only lower her own intelligence.


    She simply chose not to fret over Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s issues and pulled out an exceptionally fake smile, ¡°If Lawyer Liu thinks I¡¯m not good enough, then so be it, but as soon as I and Lawyer Xia register our marriage, I¡¯ll definitely inform you first thing.¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen gritted her teeth in anger, ¡°I will definitely not let you succeed!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged indifferently, ¡°Then let¡¯s see who¡¯s more capable.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen, seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s impassive demeanor, glared at her fiercely before turning around and leaving.


    With Xia Wenqing not here, even if she wanted to say something, no one would listen; she didn¡¯t need to stay here to be mad at someone as insignificant as Xu Zhenzhen.


    She still had a chance, as long as she firmly grasped onto Lu Zhaozhao...


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Just getting out of the car, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly sneezed.


    She couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows and looked up at the still clear weather, feeling oddly strange.


    The weather had not changed, so why was there this sense of chill?


    Lu Zhaozhao, puzzled, suddenly heard a wail of agony.


    Startled, she quickly ran towards the source of the crying.


    The voice was just right coming from the main hall, and her heart grew even more anxious.


    Lately, with Xia Family members and Song Sinian around, she had obviously let her guard down quite a bit.


    She forgot that Xiao Jinglan¡¯s health was almost at its end, and if she went for a scorched earth move, running to the Song Family to harm Mr. Song, then... then it would be too late for regrets.


    Feeling a surge of panic, Lu Zhaozhao made her way to the main hall and only after seeing Mr. Song well seated on the sofa, did she secretly heave a sigh of relief.


    Her gaze shifted to the side, and that¡¯s when she saw the source of the pitiful crying was Hao Li.


    ¡°Old Master, you must stand up for our Jiaye, wuuu... Our family only has this one seedling, and to think, to think that dog-bred Xiao Mo, wuuu...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao watched her cry breathlessly, her brows involuntarily furrowing.


    Although Hao Li had not clarified the specifics, she had already let slip quite a few key words.


    It seemed Xiao Mo had discovered the clue they had left behind last time and quickly targeted the Feng family.


    Considering Hao Li¡¯s terrible crying, Xiao Mo must have played hardball?


    Lu Zhaozhao was not surprised at all; after all, he was the kind of person who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to sabotage his own wife, what would others even amount to?


    Any stumbling block on his path to advance, he would mercilessly clear away.


    Old Master Song listened with a headache, ¡°You firmly insist it was Xiao Mo who did this, but you need to have evidence, don¡¯t you?¡±


    The Feng family and Xiao Mo had been at odds, not just for a day or two.


    Before, he had thought that with people from both sides in the hospital, things would quiet down, but the situation had gotten even worse.


    Hearing this, Hao Li wept even more violently.


    ¡°Ah... wuuu... That thousand-damned Xiao Mo!!! He sent people to destroy the root of our Old Feng Family and even had the audacity to admit it! What other evidence do you need?!! Wuuu... The root of our Old Feng Family is gone, gone!! Wuuu...¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s mouth twitched, and his entire brow knotted together.


    The Feng family wasn¡¯t fighting over a throne; no big deal if it¡¯s gone, as long as the person is still alive.


    Even with Song Si, if he didn¡¯t want children, as an elder, he wouldn¡¯t dare to say much.


    At most, he would look for kids, try and probe, and even then, it must be done discreetly.


    Even though Song Group really needed a successor, he had never thought of forcing two people to have a child or anything like that.


    That¡¯s why Mr. Song couldn¡¯t empathize with Hao Li.


    He sighed lightly, ¡°I¡¯ll have the doctor take a good look at Jiaye¡¯s child; there might still be some hope...¡±


    ¡°Ah!!! No hope left, it¡¯s all gone, clean gone, where¡¯s the hope... wuuu... It¡¯s all gone, all gone...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Lu Zhaozhao felt it was somewhat inappropriate, she really almost couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    She knew exactly what a shambles Jiaye was.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Mo to be so ruthless, turning Jiaye, the sole sprout of the Feng family, into just... sprouts.


    No wonder Hao Li was falling apart.


    For so many years, she had been parading around the Feng family, flaunting that she had borne them a grandson.


    Now with the son suddenly turned into a... daughter, it indeed called for a period of adjustment.


    Especially for someone like Hao Li, who favored sons over daughters, it required even more time.


    ¡°Old Master, if you don¡¯t stand up for me today, I¡¯ll smash my head and die right here! Wuuu... I might as well be dead! Wuuu...¡±

 Chapter 513: 511 What Does She Want?

    Chapter 513: Chapter 511 What Does She Want?


    Hao Li, seeing that Old Master Song had no intention of punishing Xiao Mo, simply lay on the ground and began to throw a tantrum.


    Her son had become what he was now, and the Feng family would definitely not let her off easily.


    If she didn¡¯t stir up something now, she would have no hopes for the future.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Old Master Song¡¯s troubled frown and then walked over.


    ¡°Grandpa, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Her voice was light and soft, but with a soothing tone that was especially comforting to hear.


    Even Hao Li, who was throwing a tantrum on the ground, calmed down significantly.


    Her gaze circled around Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s figure, and suddenly, as if she thought of something, she lunged toward Lu Zhaozhao and hugged her legs.


    ¡°Wuu wuu... Zhaozhao, help your aunt, your cousin now... wuu wuu... Zhaozhao help your aunt...¡±


    Her crying was heart-wrenching, touching to those who saw.


    Of course, Hao Li was crying so miserably on purpose.


    Because she knew that in the Song family, Lu Zhaozhao was the most valued and if she softened up, Old Master Song would certainly comply.


    Plus, Lu Zhaozhao being younger, would definitely be softer-hearted than Old Master Song, this old fox.


    Hao Li could only pin all her hopes on Lu Zhaozhao, hoping that her pitiful appearance would move her.


    Old Master Song was clearly angered by Hao Li¡¯s behavior.


    He was already frowning, and his frown deepened in an instant, ¡°Do you still have the nerve to say you are Zhaozhao¡¯s aunt? Is this how an aunt behaves, clinging to someone else¡¯s legs and making a scene?¡±


    Old Master Song shouted outside the room, ¡°Someone! Take this woman out!¡±


    Hao Li panicked, she hadn¡¯t expected Old Master Song to get angry.


    She had just felt that as long as Lu Zhaozhao spoke up, it would be fine, completely overlooking the Song family¡¯s protective instincts for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Hao Li somewhat regretted her actions but didn¡¯t know what else to do.


    She could only look urgently at Lu Zhaozhao, wanting to seek her help but afraid of angering Old Master Song again.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand and patted Old Master Song¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m fine, there¡¯s no need for the bodyguards to come in, I think Ms. Hao has calmed down.¡±


    Where would Hao Li dare to make trouble, she immediately nodded repeatedly, ¡°Old Master, I¡¯ve calmed down, I won¡¯t throw a tantrum again, please don¡¯t have me thrown out...¡±


    She didn¡¯t even dare to cry loudly now.


    Afraid that Old Master Song would throw her out at the slightest displeasure.


    Their Feng family originally had no standing in the Shangjing Circle if not for the previous marital relationship with the Song family, they couldn¡¯t compete at all against Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo.


    Now their family¡¯s only hope had been crippled by Xiao Mo and his cohort.


    They had no substantial evidence, and their only hope was the Song family.


    If the Song family also turned their back on them, then they truly had no hope left.


    Thinking this, Hao Li could only sit on the ground pitifully.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°Ms. Hao, please sit on the sofa, let¡¯s have a good talk, shall we?¡±


    Hao Li looked at Lu Zhaozhao, then at Old Master Song, and seeing that he was no longer calling for her to be thrown out, she obediently sat on the sofa.


    Mr. Song, though unaware of what Lu Zhaozhao intended to do, decided to wait and see since she chose to keep Ms. Hao. After all, no matter what she did, he was her grandfather and could back her up, so he wasn¡¯t worried.


    Mr. Song immediately gave Lu Zhaozhao a reassuring look, signaling her to go ahead and do as she pleased without holding back.


    Lu Zhaozhao returned a slight smile to Mr. Song before turning to Ms. Hao and said, word by word, ¡°Ms. Hao, you just threw a tantrum on the ground, asking Grandpa to make decisions for you. So, what exactly do you want?¡±


    Ms. Hao was instantly dumbfounded, staring blankly at Lu Zhaozhao, at a loss for words.


    Knowing that Jiaye had been ruined, she had lost her mind.


    Originally, she had gone to confront Xiao Mo and others, but she was thrown out before even entering the gate.


    Having no other options, she came to create a scene at Old Master Song¡¯s place.


    When Lu Zhaozhao abruptly asked her what she wanted, she was taken aback.


    What did she want?


    She wished her son could return to his former self, but that was impossible!


    She wanted Old Master Song to have Xiao Mo killed, but that was unrealistic.


    The Song Family wouldn¡¯t commit murder and arson for someone who was barely considered a relative.


    Moreover, Xiao Jinglan was in any case considered the Song Family¡¯s daughter-in-law.


    Old Master Song wouldn¡¯t possibly do anything too extreme.


    Thinking of this, Ms. Hao collapsed onto the sofa like a deflated balloon.


    Lu Zhaozhao observed her reaction, it seemed Ms. Hao had come to a realization.


    Her lips slightly curled up before she slowly began, ¡°Ms. Hao, essentially you just want the person who hurt Jiaye to be punished. But currently, without evidence, you can¡¯t prove who harmed him. You understand that injuries that cannot be proven cannot be prosecuted, right?¡±


    Ms. Hao¡¯s expression stiffened, clearly understanding Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s point.


    ¡°However, you can rest assured that while Jiaye is hospitalized, our Song Family won¡¯t just stand by. We will certainly arrange the best doctor for him,¡± Lu Zhaozhao continued, then added, ¡°As for your accommodation, I will inform our butler to make arrangements, so you don¡¯t have to worry about your life in Shangjing for now.¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gentle voice, Ms. Hao couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful.


    Returning to the Feng family was probably a death sentence by Mr. Feng.


    After all, the foundation of the Feng family had left with her, and not securing a place in the Shangjing Circle was one thing, but she couldn¡¯t even bring back a whole person.


    Considering this, Ms. Hao couldn¡¯t help shivering.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze swept over Ms. Hao before she continued, ¡°Regarding Jiaye¡¯s situation, let¡¯s report it to the police first, and then you can slowly gather evidence. You haven¡¯t been in the Shangjing Circle for long and don¡¯t know many people, so it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to investigate. As long as you can find evidence, Jiaye won¡¯t have suffered in vain, and the culprit will receive the same punishment.¡±


    Her words made Ms. Hao¡¯s eyes brighten.


    As long as they found evidence, could Xiao Mo and his people receive the same punishment?


    Ms. Hao suddenly recalled what Lu Zhaozhao had said initially¡ªif they couldn¡¯t find evidence, despite being hurt, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to convict the other party.


    Did that mean if they retaliated using the same methods, Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t do anything against them?


    Ms. Hao thought of her son still lying in the hospital bed, becoming particularly irritable lately due to his condition, even lashing out at her.


    If she went back and discussed with Jiaye about dealing with Xiao Mo, she wondered if his mood might improve.


    At least it would be good to divert his attention and stop him from taking his anger out on her...

 Chapter 514: 512: Thats really mean...

    Chapter 514: Chapter 512: That¡¯s really mean...


    Hao Li clenched her fists and finally gritted her teeth, ¡°Wait, when Jiaye¡¯s health is better, could Mr. Song arrange a job for him or something? It would be good to give him a place to settle down...¡±


    Old Master Song remained silent but turned his gaze to Lu Zhaozhao as if to see how she would handle it.


    Seeing this, Hao Li naturally also turned her gaze towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    She was actually very nervous. After all, during her previous visits to the Song Family, she had assumed the attitude of an elder trying to pressure Lu Zhaozhao and didn¡¯t know whether Lu Zhaozhao held a grudge.


    If Lu Zhaozhao held a grudge, their future in the Beijing Circle would probably be very difficult.


    ¡°The job can be arranged after Feng Jiyue¡¯s health has improved. Let him see what kind of work he likes first; we can make arrangements later,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said with a particularly calm smile.


    She knew Feng Jiyue was extremely petty, and having suffered such a loss at Xiao Mo¡¯s hands, he certainly wouldn¡¯t give up easily.


    He didn¡¯t have the ability to contend with Xiao Mo now, but once he had the opportunity to do so, he would definitely spare no effort to agree.


    This was why she didn¡¯t directly promise Hao Li a fixed position but instead waited for Feng Jiyue to be discharged from the hospital so he could choose for himself.


    The company where Xiao Mo worked had actually already been slowly boxed out by the Song Group from the Song Group¡¯s industries.


    The reason he was so anxious now was because of these things.


    Xiao Mo may seem like a manager, but his actual power had pretty much been hollowed out.


    He was even less important than a department head at the main company.


    If the person he had always looked down upon suddenly emerged in his company and at the same level as him... tsk tsk, Xiao Mo¡¯s face would probably not look good.


    And now, with Feng Jiyue seeing Xiao Mo as an enemy, he would definitely not give him any loopholes to exploit; in the future, Xiao Mo would have cause for concern.


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, her expression softened even more as she looked toward Hao Li.


    Hao Li had originally thought Lu Zhaozhao would just give a perfunctory response, but she was surprised that Lu Zhaozhao had given them such a generous range of options.


    The tears Hao Li had been holding back fell in an instant, and she looked at Lu Zhaozhao with immense gratitude, ¡°Okay, okay. When Jiaye is better, I will bring him to thank Zhaozhao...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao waved her hand, ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. No matter what, he is still related to the Song Family. Even if I hadn¡¯t said anything, my grandfather wouldn¡¯t just watch you struggle. As long as he works hard to repay the Song Family in the future, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, our Jiaye will definitely work hard! Mr. Song, you can rest assured!¡± Hao Li wiped away her tears and stood up, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back now to tell Jiaye this good news and won¡¯t linger here any longer.¡±


    She nodded to Old Master Song and Hao Li and quickly left.


    She was actually still afraid that Lu Zhaozhao and the others would suddenly change their minds, as the conditions promised by Lu Zhaozhao seemed too good; even after she walked out the door, she still found it a little hard to believe.


    But at least she had a good explanation for Feng Jiyue.


    He probably wouldn¡¯t vent his anger on her for the time being.


    After Hao Li had completely disappeared from view, Old Master Song¡¯s gaze finally fell on Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, are you planning to use Feng Jiyue to check Xiao Mo?¡±


    As for Feng Jiyue, that good-for-nothing pampered by the Feng family probably wouldn¡¯t be able to do much.


    Old Master Song was worried that Feng Jiyue might not be able to perform the task Lu Zhaozhao had in mind to a satisfactory standard.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Grandfather, do you think Feng Jiyue, with his simple mind for business warfare, can outmaneuver Xiao Mo?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Old Master Song¡¯s eyes became even more puzzled, seemingly asking why she would arrange such a thing knowing that Feng Jiyue was ineffectual.


    Lu Zhaozhao propped her chin with one hand and winked playfully at Old Master Song, ¡°I just want Feng Jiyue to keep an eye on Xiao Mo, to block his moves and prevent him from doing anything openly and justly.¡±


    As long as Feng Jiyue is around, Xiao Mo can¡¯t freely develop his business.


    Though Feng Jiyue is foolish, he does know a thing or two about the twists and turns of the business arena.


    He only needs just a little bit of that knowledge, enough to keep an eye on the restless Xiao Mo.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s current projects, Song Sinian knew clearer than anyone, and the shareholders who had supported him had also been almost completely removed by Sinian.


    The ones who remain hidden in the shadows aren¡¯t worth fearing.


    Most of the current shareholders in Song Group are smart people, not willing to risk their necks for someone with no future.


    After all, businessmen value profit above all else, and won¡¯t be tempted by a deal that offers no gains.


    Mr. Song instantly understood Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s idea, ¡°Causing trouble for Xiao Mo is indeed a good idea, and quite damaging...¡±


    But why does it feel so satisfying, tch tch.


    At the same time, Hao Li had returned to the hospital.


    As soon as she entered, a dark shadow came flying towards her.


    Luckily, Hao Li dodged quickly and wasn¡¯t hit.


    With a crash, the object that had been hurled shattered on the floor into pieces.


    Only then did Hao Li see that the thrown object was a ceramic cup.


    Her heart skipped with residual fear, then promptly she approached the bedside with a smile on her face, ¡°Who¡¯s gotten you so angry again?¡±


    ¡°Angry? They all deserve to die!¡± Feng Jiyue¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, thinking of the nurse who had given him an injection with that cold, indifferent expression; he wished he could smash everything within reach.


    These people were all mocking him!


    Mocking him for no longer being a man!


    It¡¯s all Xiao Mo¡¯s fault!


    He ruined him because he feared he would compete with him for the Song Family¡¯s wealth!


    Thinking of Xiao Mo made Feng Jiyue¡¯s face contort with ugliness, wishing he could go out and strangle him with his own hands!


    ¡°Jiaye, calm down... you...¡±


    ¡°I told you to go to Old Master Song, what did Old Master Song say?! Did you actually go to Old Master Song?!¡± Feng Jiyue cut off Hao Li¡¯s words, gripping her wrist fiercely.


    His strength was already great, and with his entire being in a frenzied state, it seemed like he was about to break her arm.


    Hao Li broke out in a sweat from the pain, ¡°Jiaye, it hurts, let go of me first, I... I¡¯ve seen Old Master Song.¡±


    Upon hearing her say this, Feng Jiyue reluctantly released her wrist.


    But his sinister, mad gaze was still fixated on Hao Li, ¡°What did Old Master Song say? Is he going to deal with Xiao Mo?¡±


    Hao Li couldn¡¯t help shivering before muttering, ¡°Old Master Song said... said we have no evidence, and without the ability to prove such harm, it can¡¯t be prosecuted, and the police can¡¯t do anything to him.¡±


    In fact, they both were very clear about the situation.


    Just that Feng Jiyue was infuriated, believing that if he told Old Master Song, Xiao Mo would be punished.


    At that time, she was also panicked and rushed to Old Master Song¡¯s home after hearing Feng Jiyue¡¯s words...

 Chapter 515: 513 What on earth did you do?!

    Chapter 515: Chapter 513 What on earth did you do?!


    Thinking about it now, her mind must have been kicked by a donkey at that time.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t let Mr. Song throw her out but had a good talk with her, otherwise, after being thrown out by Mr. Song, she might have been beaten up by Feng Jiyue to release his frustration.


    Upon hearing Hao Li¡¯s words, Feng Jiyue immediately went into a rage.


    He grabbed Hao Li¡¯s hair with one hand and viciously yanked it toward him, ¡°I sent you to see Mr. Song just so Xia Mo that bastard would get a lesson! What have you done?!¡±


    As Feng Jiyue spoke, his fist was about to smash into Hao Li¡¯s face.


    She cried out in a hurry, ¡°I found them! They gave me a solution!¡±


    Hao Li knew no matter what she said to Feng Jiyue at this point, he wouldn¡¯t believe her, so she had no choice but to deceive him for the time being.


    Indeed, Feng Jiyue, hearing Hao Li say this, gradually relaxed his fist, but his hand gripping her hair did not let go.


    ¡°What solution?! Speak now! If you dare to lie to me, you¡¯re dead!¡± Feng Jiyue glared at Hao Li fiercely, like a demon that had just crawled out of hell.


    Hao Li visibly shivered and quickly began to speak.


    ¡°Mr. Song said that once you recover, he will arrange a position for you. You can choose any, and he can arrange for you and Xia Mo to be in the same company. Then you can deal with him however you want. Also, Mr. Song said that injuries that can¡¯t be proven can¡¯t be prosecuted. The police can¡¯t do anything, and we can use their own methods against them!¡±


    She blurted out her thoughts along with what Lu Zhaozhao had promised at the Song Family¡¯s place in one breath.


    Although these were not Mr. Song¡¯s words, he was present and did not object, so they should also count as his words, right?


    As for those solutions, she had thought of them on her way back.


    Since they couldn¡¯t trouble Xia Mo, then by doing this, Xia Mo wouldn¡¯t be able to trouble them either, right?


    After Hao Li said all this, she anxiously awaited Feng Jiyue¡¯s response.


    She was worried that Feng Jiyue, driven mad by his injuries, would completely disregard her words.


    Otherwise, the only thing waiting for her would be a beating.


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s bloodshot eyes stared at her for a long while, seemingly contemplating her words.


    Hao Li didn¡¯t dare to move an inch, fearing she might provoke him.


    After a moment, Feng Jiyue seemed to think of something, his gaze scrutinizing Hao Li suspiciously, then he asked, ¡°Can I really choose any position?¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s heart thumped several times as she steeled herself and said, ¡°Definitely not higher than Xia Mo, but equal... being on par should be no problem.¡±


    She felt Lu Zhaozhao might be more persuadable on this matter, and since Feng Jiyue was in this state because of Xia Mo, she probably could persuade them to give a position similar to Xia Mo¡¯s if she played her cards right.


    Upon hearing this, Feng Jiyue finally slowly let go of the hair he had been tightly holding.


    Hao Li collapsed directly onto the ground, not expecting to one day feel a sense of survival from her own son¡¯s hands.


    She took a deep breath, tremblingly crawled to the side, and was just about to stand up when she heard Feng Jiyue¡¯s voice again, ¡°Call Hao Jiayi over, I want to see her.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Hao Li pursed her lips, thinking of how Hao Jiayi had barely contacted her lately; her eyebrows involuntarily furrowed.


    She didn¡¯t know if this wretched girl would disobey her.


    But it didn¡¯t matter, they still had this wretched girl¡¯s photos in their hands; if she dared to disobey, she would pay for it!


    Hao Li nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll call her over in a bit. You rest well; from now on, let Hao Jiayi take care of you in the hospital.¡±


    ¡°I told you to call her over, not to have her come to the hospital to attend to me!¡± Feng Jiyue¡¯s voice suddenly turned cold.


    He stared at Hao Li with displeasure, his voice colder than before, ¡°Make sure she¡¯s cautious when she comes to the hospital, so that no one discovers her, and it¡¯s best if no one finds out about our relationship.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Li looked at Feng Jiyue, baffled. She could understand not letting people at the hospital recognize Hao Jiayi, but why should their relationship remain hidden as well?


    Seeing the confusion written all over Hao Li¡¯s face, Feng Jiyue¡¯s eyebrows knotted up instantly, ¡°Don¡¯t ask about things you shouldn¡¯t know.¡±


    Hao Li immediately nodded and left the hospital room.


    As long as Feng Jiyue didn¡¯t hit her again, she would do anything he asked.


    Once she stepped out of the hospital room, Hao Li called Hao Jiayi, but she did not answer.


    Hao Li¡¯s forehead furrowed instantly. Was that damned girl playing wild in Shangjing?


    She wasn¡¯t even answering her calls now¡ªperhaps it was time she showed her how formidable she could be.


    Hao Li was about to put away her phone and rush to where Hao Jiayi was working when she received a message from her.


    [I¡¯m at work, colleagues are around, it¡¯s not convenient to answer the phone.]


    [What is it? You can just message me.]


    Over where Hao Jiayi was, there wasn¡¯t a single person around her; she just didn¡¯t want to answer Hao Li¡¯s calls.


    She had just learned about Feng Jiyue¡¯s hospitalization.


    The incident had occurred at a club in the Beijing Circle and it was sensational; she couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware.


    The reason she didn¡¯t answer Hao Li¡¯s calls was that she was afraid of being summoned by Feng Jiyue at this moment.


    She knew that man all too well; cunning, with a hefty ego. Now that he¡¯d lost his virility, he was bound to take his frustration out on others.


    She certainly didn¡¯t want to be his punching bag at this time.


    [Mr. Jiyue is in the hospital, he wants to see you.]


    Soon, Hao Jiayi received Hao Li¡¯s text. Seeing the message, she wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    But how could she dodge this bullet?


    Hao Jiayi was unsure.


    She had originally planned to latch onto Xia Wenqing before Hao Li and Feng Jiyue became aware.


    Once she became his wife, she could let Xia Wenqing handle these matters and have nothing to worry about.


    But Xia Wenqing, unfortunately, had set his sights on Xu Zhenzhen, ruining her plans.


    Hao Jiayi had hoped to get close to Xia Wenqing and drug him, creating a bond that he would not be able to break easily, but Xia Wenqing had recently gone abroad, leaving her helpless.


    She anxiously stared at her phone, thinking if she refused Feng Jiyue¡¯s demand, this petty man might take all his anger out on her.


    For now, she could only bite the bullet and agree.


    Hao Jiayi could only pray that Feng Jiyue still found her useful, so that he wouldn¡¯t physically harm her.


    That way, she still had a chance to win over Xia Wenqing and then free herself from the clutches of the Feng family.


    Hao Jiayi took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and started replying to Hao Li...

 Chapter 516: 514: Zhaozhao is the Best Behaved, Right?

    Chapter 516: Chapter 514: Zhaozhao is the Best Behaved, Right?


    ¡°Can we meet a bit later today? Work¡¯s a bit busy.¡±


    ¡°If Brother Jiaye needs it, I can take leave right now and rush to the hospital.¡±


    Hao Li looked at the message Hao Jiayi had sent. Her brows, previously furrowed, relaxed considerably. It seemed this girl knew her place.


    She thought for a moment before typing out a message.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to rush, you can come later. Jiaye said to be cautious and keep the relationship between you two under wraps.¡±


    Hao Jiayi immediately breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the message.


    It seemed Jiaye wasn¡¯t summoning her to take her back but to continue using her. As long as Jiaye planned to use her, she still had a chance.


    Hao Jiayi quickly replied.


    ¡°You tell Brother Jiaye he can rest assured, I definitely won¡¯t let him down.¡±


    After receiving the message, Hao Li, finally satisfied, took her phone and went back to the hospital ward...


    As night fell, darkness gradually enveloped the sky.


    When Song Sinian returned, Lu Zhaozhao was sitting on the bedroom bed watching TV.


    ¡°Honey, you¡¯re back?¡±


    Upon seeing Song Sinian enter, Lu Zhaozhao immediately climbed off the bed and leapt into Song Sinian¡¯s arms with a flying jump.


    Song Sinian instinctively stretched out his arms to catch Lu Zhaozhao, looking at her with a mix of helplessness and indulgence, ¡°You, you¡¯re not even afraid of falling.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao grinned at Song Sinian, lowered her head, and kissed his lips, ¡°Of course, I trust Mr. Song¡¯s capabilities.¡±


    Song Sinian found his affectionate persona irresistible, his intended words getting stuck in his throat.


    He could only bow his head to find her lips, aiming to properly admonish his disobedient little wife from another angle.


    Under the dim yellow light, the person in his arms was petite and soft, stirring wild thoughts within him.


    ¡°Have you been good at home today? Hmm?¡± His deep voice carried a hint of seduction.


    Actually, Song Sinian could have asked the other servants at home what Lu Zhaozhao had been up to, but he preferred hearing it straight from her lips.


    Lu Zhaozhao, a bit dazed from his kisses, followed his question with a response, ¡°Mmm, I was good today.¡±


    Song Sinian, looking at her demeanor, couldn¡¯t help but kiss her on the tip of her nose, ¡°So, what did you do today?¡±


    He wanted to know everything about her; he was willing to listen as long as she was willing to speak.


    Thinking this, Song Sinian¡¯s nose gently nudged her delicate neck.


    Lu Zhaozhao involuntarily shrank her neck, answering his questions obediently, ¡°Today Hao Li caused a scene at the Song Mansion. Apparently, Xiao Mo crippled Feng Jiayue. Grandpa was so bothered by her that I helped out a bit.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s form stiffened at once, his brow furrowing slightly as his gaze fell on her petite face, ¡°What exactly did you do?¡±


    With Xiao Mo¡¯s mother nearing death, there was no telling what despicable tactics he might resort to. As for Feng Jiayue, if he really was crippled, he might be close to madness.


    Both parties represented great instability, and Song Sinian was deeply worried that Lu Zhaozhao might get caught up in their affairs.


    He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Lu Zhaozhao getting hurt under his watch, just as Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t stand him getting hurt.


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly came to her senses and, seeing Song Sinian¡¯s furrowed brows, suddenly felt a bit guilty. She had intended to keep it from Song Sinian, not expecting him to be so perceptive and immediately start probing.


    ¡°Just... emmm...¡±


    She didn¡¯t know how to start speaking to Song Sinian.


    At that moment of hesitation, she suddenly felt a sharp pain on her neck.


    ¡°Hiss...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao almost immediately gasped in shock.


    Song Sinian bit her?


    Her face immediately turned into a look of grievance as she looked at Song Sinian.


    Ever since they had confessed their feelings for each other, Song Sinian had stopped biting her, yet now he dared to bite her again!


    Hmph, love truly fades.


    Song Sinian seemed to notice Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts, his tongue gently brushing over the area he had bitten, a moist and soft touch, making her shudder involuntarily.


    ¡°Zhaozhao is the best behaved, right? You¡¯re going to tell me exactly what happened, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Song Sinian spoke softly, yet his voice carried a barely concealed hint of danger.


    It was as if she¡¯d end up unable to get out of bed tomorrow if she didn¡¯t honestly share the details with Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew Song Sinian was capable of doing just that.


    Thinking about this made Lu Zhaozhao a bit scared; she subconsciously shrunk back, but the next second, her lower back was firmly gripped by a large hand, leaving her with no escape.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t you want to properly talk to me?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice instantly resonated above her head.


    Lu Zhaozhao nervously swallowed, she tentatively looked up at Song Sinian, and as if resolving herself, she slowly began, ¡°Hao Li wanted grandfather to help Feng Jiaye get ahead, so I told her without evidence of harm, no charges can be made. Even taking it to the elders wouldn¡¯t work.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly lifted, ¡°Besides that, what else did you tell her?¡±


    Hearing his words, Lu Zhaozhao slightly annoyed rested her head against his chest, ¡°Mr. Song, must you be so astute? You really make it hard for me to hide anything...¡±


    Song Sinian leaned down and kissed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, ¡°Then don¡¯t hide anything from me.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lu Zhaozhao simply gave up, ¡°Hao Li also wanted grandfather to arrange a job for him.¡±


    This did not surprise Song Sinian at all, considering the Feng family had come to Shangjing specifically for the Song Group.


    Considering his current predicament, it was normal for him to seek Old Master Song¡¯s pity in the hopes of entering the Song Group.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly, ¡°So, you agreed?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded gently then felt even guiltier.


    ¡°It seems you didn¡¯t just agree, you probably said something like... he can choose any job he wants, right?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s hand gently caressed the back of her neck, clearly feeling Lu Zhaozhao tense up more.


    He had guessed right again.


    His little wife was indeed smart, knowing what the other side wanted and how to sweeten the deal appropriately.


    However, she still didn¡¯t grasp the treacherous nature of people¡¯s hearts.


    Song Sinian knew Lu Zhaozhao was doing this to enable Feng Jiaye to retaliate against Xiao Mo, to elevate Feng Jiaye to the same level as Xiao Mo through his ambition¡ªeven without offering Feng Jiaye any specific job, he would still keep close watch over Xiao Mo.


    Eventually, whatever Xiao Mo did, he would be hamstrung, ultimately becoming fully consumed by Feng Jiaye, leading both men towards mutual destruction.

 Chapter 517: 515 Great Risks

    Chapter 517: Chapter 515 Great Risks


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t considered that if Xiao Mo didn¡¯t fall for it, it might expose her instead.


    After all, there weren¡¯t many people Feng Jiyue could rely on to work at Song Group, and such an obvious clue could easily reveal Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s involvement.


    Listening to Song Sinian¡¯s analysis, Lu Zhaozhao hung her head even lower.


    She had to admit that Song Sinian had guessed everything correctly¡ªthat was exactly what she had been thinking.


    But she hadn¡¯t planned to tell Song Sinian everything.


    She hadn¡¯t even thought about bothering him with such trivial matters.


    Now that Song Sinian had asked, it made her feel somewhat guilty.


    Lu Zhaozhao lay sullenly in Song Sinian¡¯s arms without saying a word, and naturally, he noticed her silence.


    He gently patted her back with his large hand and said softly, ¡°I know you want to help share the burden, and I won¡¯t stop you, but you should at least let me know, okay?¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t intend to tell Lu Zhaozhao about the flaws in the plan; if she wanted to do something, he would support her. As for any oversight, she didn¡¯t need to worry about them.


    He would take care of it all for her.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Song Sinian, whose deep-set eyes were like an ancient well¡ªone look could plunge someone into the depths.


    Without much thought, she nodded, ¡°I understand, I won¡¯t do this again.¡±


    As she spoke, Lu Zhaozhao raised her little head and gently kissed Song Sinian¡¯s chin.


    She blinked her beautiful eyes, looking at him with a hint of trepidation, igniting a fire deep inside him.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes slightly dimmed before he lowered his head and kissed her.


    Unlike before, Song Sinian didn¡¯t stop at a light peck. Instead, he kept brushing his lips against hers until she was lying softly in his arms, satisfied. Then, he placed her directly on the bed.


    Looking at the person with moist eyes in his arms, Song Sinian felt his heart fill to the brim, and he pressed her firmly onto the bed.


    He kept entwining with her for most of the night, and even though the person in his arms cried softly, pleading for mercy several times, he swallowed each plea.


    Not until he had thoroughly exhausted her to sleep did Song Sinian take her to the bathroom and cleaned her up.


    Watching Lu Zhaozhao lying on the bed, her peaceful sleeping face gave him a sense of immense satisfaction.


    He sat by the bed and looked at Lu Zhaozhao deeply for a while before standing up and walking toward the separate room.


    Sitting on the couch in the partitioned area, he dialed Zhao Xi¡¯s number, and soon someone picked up on the other end.


    ¡°Hello? Sir, what do you need?¡±


    Zhao Xi was clearly still groggy with sleep, as if he had just awakened from a dream.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as he said in a low voice, ¡°Keep a close watch on Xiao Mo and Feng Jiyue these next few days.¡±


    Zhao Xi was clearly startled; he was already keeping tabs on these two. Could there be some recent developments he wasn¡¯t aware of?


    ¡°Sir, have they done anything out of line recently?¡± Zhao Xi asked, puzzled.


    Song Sinian saw no need to hide anything from Zhao Xi, ¡°Hao Li came to the Song Mansion today.¡±


    This was something Zhao Xi and Song Sinian knew about first thing in the morning.


    That was why Song Sinian went straight to asking Lu Zhaozhao.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s brow instantly furrowed, ¡°That woman doesn¡¯t really think Old Master Song will actually advocate for her, does she?¡±


    They knew about Feng Jiyue being played by Xiao Mo.


    After all, that was originally the plan of their lady and the Xia Family.


    It just never occurred to them that Hao Li would be so foolish.


    With Feng Jiyue outmaneuvered by Xiao Mo, they lacked the strength to fight back and could only pin their hopes on Old Master Song.


    Song Sinian lifted his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, ¡°Hao Li and the others, they want Old Master Song to arrange a job for Feng Jiaye, and Zhaozhao has already agreed.¡±


    Zhao Xi almost instantly understood what Song Sinian meant.


    He contemplated for a moment, then said indifferently, ¡°Sir, should we also dispatch additional bodyguards for madam¡¯s side?¡±


    With Xiao Jinglan on Xiao Mo¡¯s end, who was close to death, the situation was already quite tricky¡ªafter all, a person on the brink of death doesn¡¯t have much to lose.


    Now that Feng Jiaye had been bullied into such a state, he probably was going to stir up trouble.


    Neither side could be handled lightly, as both were great risks.


    Given their sir¡¯s affection for madam, he would absolutely not allow anyone from either side to pose any threat to her.


    Song Sinian gently ¡°hmm¡±ed, ¡°Certainly, we should deploy more people; we must ensure that nothing goes wrong on Zhaozhao¡¯s end.¡±


    ¡°I understand, sir; rest assured. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll make the arrangements,¡± Zhao Xi replied.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ...


    The night was silent and desolate.


    In the brightly lit hospital corridor, a figure slowly appeared outside the VIP ward.


    The figure hesitated for a long time before entering the room.


    ¡°Jiaye? Are you asleep?¡±


    The person entering spoke softly, and seeing that the lights inside the ward were off, her voice became even quieter.


    The person standing in the doorway saw that there seemed to be no movement inside the ward; she took a light breath, about to step back out, when suddenly, a mocking voice came from inside the room.


    ¡°You actually remember to come to the hospital so late.¡±


    In the darkness, the person sitting by the bed revealed a pair of shining eyes, startling Hao Jiayi, who stood at the door.


    She had just walked over from the bright corridor and couldn¡¯t adjust to the dark environment immediately, let alone see clearly what was inside the room.


    She thought with the lights off, Feng Jiaye might have already been asleep.


    She intended to call out as a mere formality from outside; if Feng Jiaye didn¡¯t respond, she could just leave right away.


    That way, even if Feng Jiaye got angry later, he wouldn¡¯t be able to find any fault with her.


    That¡¯s what she had planned, but to her surprise, Feng Jiaye was still awake, even at this late hour.


    Hao Jiayi cursed inwardly, but she dared not show it on her face.


    She hurried into the room, forcing a slight smile, ¡°How could that be? Brother Jiaye, I will come over later today; I had already told Aunt Hao. I thought Brother Jiaye had already gone to sleep. I didn¡¯t want to disturb your rest, so I didn¡¯t dare to speak loudly.¡±


    In the dark room, Feng Jiaye¡¯s gaze upon Hao Jiayi grew even more gloomy.


    Hao Jiayi felt her heart sink.


    Back when Feng Jiaye was well, of course, she knew how to handle this man, but the methods she had for manipulating men were no longer effective on him.


    Because what he had lost was exactly what she could leverage.


    Seeing Feng Jiaye remain silent, Hao Jiayi continued to ask, ¡°Brother Jiaye, should I turn on the lights?¡±


    Feng Jiaye watched Hao Jiayi with cold eyes and gave a slight nod.


    Seeing Feng Jiaye¡¯s response, Hao Jiayi finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    As long as this man was still willing to communicate with her, the problem might not be too serious.


    She thought since Feng Jiaye still needed to use her, he probably wouldn¡¯t act rashly.


    Of course, Hao Jiayi was aware of Feng Jiaye¡¯s propensity for violence; she had been beaten by him more than a few times...

 Chapter 518: 516: I Really Tried My Best

    Chapter 518: Chapter 516: I Really Tried My Best


    He had only managed to escape the ordeal because she had later found the right method to grasp control over Feng Jiyue.


    Hao Jiayi turned on the light while thinking about how to deal with him.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    The moment the light came on, Hao Jiayi¡¯s wrist was violently seized, and tension gripped her heart as Feng Jiyue yanked her over.


    His already plump face looked even more bloated and ferocious after days of surgery and intravenous treatments.


    Hao Jiayi was yanked so close all of a sudden, she almost let out a shriek.


    Fortunately, she instinctively covered her mouth, swallowing down the surge of terror in her heart.


    Hao Jiayi saw the irritability in the depths of Feng Jiyue¡¯s eyes and hurriedly explained, ¡°Jiaye, you suddenly pulled me just now, I almost screamed. If the nurses come, it won¡¯t be good.¡±


    As she spoke, she even pretended to be shy, gently pushing against the hand clenching hers, showing no hint of disgust on her face.


    Feng Jiyue, seeing Hao Jiayi still looking frail and easily pushed over, had his chauvinism instantly satisfied.


    His hands pinched Hao Jiayi¡¯s arm, about to do something, when his expression suddenly turned uglier.


    Without a second thought, he slapped Hao Jiayi across the face, ¡°Slut! A lowly creature!¡±


    He glared at her ferociously as he cursed out loud.


    As only Hao Jiayi and Feng Jiyue were present in the room, she was knocked to the ground by his slap, her ears ringing from the powerful strike.


    Hao Jiayi had not expected Feng Jiyue to suddenly lash out, so she took the slap full on.


    Her face swelled up almost instantly.


    Hao Jiayi covered half of her face with her hand, shockingly looked at Feng Jiyue, tears of reflex spilling out of her eyes.


    If she could, she would have killed Feng Jiyue right there.


    How dare this bastard hit her face?!


    Even when he had been angry in the past, he never hit her face!


    Hao Jiayi clenched her fists tight, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.


    If not for the pain in her palms bringing back some sanity, she would have exposed him then and there, even gone so far as to grab his neck and fight it out with him.


    But she could not afford to be impulsive now.


    Her photos and videos were still in the hands of Feng Jiyue, and given his current crazed state, he would definitely release them if she acted out.


    Even going to the police wouldn¡¯t help at that point.


    Once the photos were out, she would have no chance of marrying a man of high status and power.


    Hao Jiayi was not willing to accept this.


    She was not willing to let her future be ruined by such trash, especially since she still had cards to play.


    Before, she could only throw herself at Feng Jiyue, but now that she had entered Song Group, there were plenty of quality men for her to choose from; she didn¡¯t have to keep demeaning herself.


    Hao Jiayi took a deep breath, neatly adjusted her disheveled hair, and then pitifully looked at Feng Jiyue, ¡°Jiaye, I know you¡¯re angry, and I feel bad for you, but... but these things weren¡¯t done by me, Jiaye, can you please not be so fierce?¡±


    Despite her words, she dared not move an inch closer to Feng Jiyue.


    She just sat on the ground pitifully, with no intention of standing up.


    She was not foolish.


    Feng Jiyue was emotionally unstable now, and she didn¡¯t need to go looking for trouble.


    Besides, she had already received a slap in the face just a moment ago.


    There was no need to rush over and get slapped again.


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s brows knotted instantly, his gaze fixed deadly on Hao Jiayi as if pondering whether what she said was true or false.


    Hao Jiayi was naturally aware of this too.


    Her lips pursed, and then she pitifully lowered her head.


    It seemed that Feng Jiyue, because he had lost his qualifications as a man, no longer planned to treat those who were usually bullied by him as human beings.


    If she continued with the previous method, she would probably end up in an even worse situation.


    Hao Jiayi pondered for a moment as if a thought struck her, and then she looked up at Feng Jiyue again, asking, ¡°Brother Jiaye, did you call me here this time because there is something you need me to do?¡±


    Feng Jiyue originally wanted to take a harsh lesson out on Hao Jiayi to make her understand who was her man.


    Even if he could no longer do anything to her in that regard, he had other means at his disposal.


    But when Hao Jiayi spoke, he remembered why he had called for Hao Jiayi.


    It was all because this bitch had just intentionally tried to seduce him, distracting him and nearly making him forget the important matter at hand!


    Feng Jiyue gave Hao Jiayi a cold glance, thinking that this woman was only useful for her body; his gaze became even more disdainful.


    He took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the urge to teach this woman another harsh lesson.


    Then he slowly started, ¡°How have you been doing recently at Song Group? Have you managed to seduce Song Sinian?¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s complexion immediately turned uglier.


    Her attention had been on Xia Wenqing recently, so how could she have paid attention to Song Sinian?


    Besides, someone like Song Sinian could not possibly be seduced by anyone.


    She had only seen Song Sinian from a distance before ¡ª his aura of ¡®stay away from me, even approaching me means death¡¯ was so strong that seduction was out of the question.


    She really worried that if she dared to do anything out of line, he would just kill her on the spot.


    Of course, Hao Jiayi did not dare to say this to Feng Jiyue.


    She sniffled gently, then said pitifully, ¡°Brother Jiaye, you know, although I hold the position of a secretary at Song Group, I can¡¯t even get through the door of the president¡¯s office. Song Sinian¡¯s secretary guards us female secretaries like we¡¯re thieves, let alone seducing him ¡ª I... I¡¯ve really tried my best.¡±


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s brows furrowed, but he didn¡¯t see any problem.


    He had inquired about Song Sinian¡¯s side too; indeed, other than Lu Zhaozhao, there were no other women around him.


    He originally thought that this guy had just never been interested in women, which explained his behavior.


    But after he met Song Sinian once, he understood why this man didn¡¯t have women around him.


    It¡¯s because he simply disdained having women appear around him.


    He didn¡¯t know how Lu Zhaozhao managed to win over Song Sinian, but ever since he met Lu Zhaozhao, he vaguely understood.


    Feng Jiyue pursed his lips, ¡°You don¡¯t need to try seducing Song Sinian anymore, even if you stripped naked, Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t give you a glance.¡±


    He had seen a stunning woman like Lu Zhaozhao, so he was completely uninterested in someone like Hao Jiayi, who was just a bland dish by comparison.


    At Feng Jiyue¡¯s words, Hao Jiayi felt a jolt in her heart.


    If Feng Jiyue no longer required her to continue trying to seduce Song Sinian, wouldn¡¯t that mean she could no longer stay at Song Group?


    Her heart suddenly panicked, and just as she was thinking of an excuse to remain at Song Group, she heard Feng Jiyue¡¯s voice resonate once more in the hospital room, ¡°I have a new target for you to seduce...¡±

 Chapter 519: 517: She Would Never Just Sit There and Wait for Death!

    Chapter 519: Chapter 517: She Would Never Just Sit There and Wait for Death!


    Hao Jiayi couldn¡¯t help but widen her eyes, ¡°Do we, do we need to change the target?¡±


    Although she was somewhat reluctant, the targets Feng Jiaye gave her to seduce were mostly beneficial to him.


    Maybe it was someone with high status and power; maybe she really could give it a try.


    Hao Jiayi pretended to be anxious as she looked at Feng Jiaye, a picture of difficulty.


    It was as if she were very unwilling.


    Seeing her expression, Feng Jiaye sneered coldly, ¡°What? Still unwilling? With that body of yours so worn out from sleeping around, do you think anyone else would want you?¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s face instantly turned pale, and her whole body shook with anger.


    Yet her resentful eyes dared not meet Feng Jiaye¡¯s gaze directly.


    If it weren¡¯t for a better life, would she have to sell herself?


    Hao Jiayi bit her teeth fiercely, thinking that what was wrong with using her advantages to live a better life?


    She didn¡¯t believe she was wrong.


    If there was a mistake, it was someone else¡¯s fault!


    Hao Jiayi took a few deep breaths in secret, finally calming down slightly.


    But her head was lowered the whole time, so of course, Feng Jiaye couldn¡¯t see her rapidly changing expressions.


    He just assumed she was unwilling and never thought she could stir up any big trouble in the palm of his hand.


    Feng Jiaye looked at Hao Jiayi with a cold gaze and spoke even colder, ¡°From now on, your target is Xiao Mo of Song Group. You must find a way to seduce him, make him obsessed with you, understand?¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°Xiao Mo of Song Group,¡± Hao Jiayi silently breathed a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, the person was still within Song Group, so she didn¡¯t need to struggle too much.


    She had thought Feng Jiaye would send her to some messy person.


    Hao Jiayi had some understanding of Xiao Mo.


    Although her time at Song Group wasn¡¯t long, she had familiarized herself with every man within Song Group worth seducing.


    Xiao Mo was, of course, on her radar, but he previously had the title of Song Group¡¯s young master; however, after getting married, that halo disappeared.


    It was Old Master Song who personally took it away.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s eyebrows lifted involuntarily, and she looked at Feng Jiaye with confusion, ¡°Does this man help Jiaye¡¯s future career?¡±


    She looked at Feng Jiaye nervously, seemingly not understanding why he wanted her to sleep with this man.


    Previously, Feng Jiaye had her go after Song Sinian in order to take control of Song Group in the future.


    Even though Hao Jiayi thought it was wishful thinking, the direction of targeting Song Sinian was at least correct.


    But Xiao Mo was just a department manager; what was it about him that could make Feng Jiaye care so much?


    Feng Jiaye bit his teeth fiercely, and his gaze towards Hao Jiayi grew even colder, ¡°Help? Ha! I wish I could send him to his death!¡±


    The reason he was having Hao Jiayi seduce Xiao Mo was, of course, to make him disappear more effectively from within Song Group.


    After all, knowing the enemy gives one the upper hand in every battle.


    Even if he could obtain the rights to enter Song Group from Old Master Song, he wouldn¡¯t be able to strike Xiao Mo effectively with one blow.


    He needed someone to cooperate with him from within.


    He and Xiao Mo had no dealings with each other, but that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t create someone who could have dealings with him.


    Upon hearing this, Hao Jiayi instantly understood what Xiao Mo meant.


    She clearly hesitated, and considering Feng Jiaye¡¯s current physical condition and his hatred for Xiao Mo, she knew very well to whom his predicament could be attributed.


    ¡°I, I understand, Jiaye brother. As long as it¡¯s what you want, I¡¯ll definitely help you achieve it,¡± she stammered, agreeing as she sat on the ground.


    Seemingly pleased with her submissive demeanor, Feng Jiaye¡¯s anger towards Hao Jiayi was not as intense as before.


    He gestured to her with a wave of his hand, signaling for Hao Jiayi to come over.


    Although Hao Jiayi was reluctant, she had no choice but to steel herself and walk over.


    Feng Jiaye touched her freshly swollen face with his hand, his voice much gentler, ¡°As long as you seduce Xiao Mo and help me pin this man down in Song Group, you¡¯ll be my hero. When the time comes, whatever you want, I¡¯ll give it to you...¡±


    He had doted on Hao Jiayi before because she was obedient and kept his bed warm.


    Now that he had no use for her, it was only natural to make her fully utilized.


    If you want the horse to run, of course, you have to let the horse graze.


    Feng Jiaye didn¡¯t mind giving her a little incentive, ¡°Once I¡¯m discharged, I¡¯ll be able to join Song Group directly. I¡¯ll have my pick of any position, big or small. I¡¯ll definitely not let you down, so... be a good girl, understand?¡±


    Upon hearing that Feng Jiaye would also be joining Song Group, Hao Jiayi clenched her fist tightly, yet forced a smile on her face, ¡°I will definitely listen to you, Jiaye brother.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    It was only after a moment that Hao Jiayi finally walked out of the sickroom.


    In the night, her face was even more sullen than the darkness itself.


    She could indeed use her body to achieve her goal, but that goal had to benefit herself, not just to help that good-for-nothing Feng Jiaye.


    Thinking about Feng Jiaye¡¯s arrival in Song Group after his recovery, she knew her time was running short.


    She had to get Xia Wenqing before Feng Jiaye¡¯s recovery; otherwise, she might lose her chance.


    She had wanted to progress gradually, but now with Xu Zhenzhen blocking her path, she had to make a risky move.


    Hao Jiayi glanced at the glass windows in the corridor, her swollen face extraordinarily glaring.


    She frowned slightly, cursing Feng Jiaye a hundred times over in her heart.


    This damned man wanted her to use her face to seduce Xiao Mo, yet he dared to lay a hand on her face?!


    Truly detestable!


    She absolutely wouldn¡¯t sit by and wait for death!


    The weather had warmed slightly as winter neared its end, but the following few days saw three days of hail.


    Lu Zhaozhao had no desire to go out in such cold weather, and besides, she had been doggedly pursued by Song Si in the past few days, to the point where she couldn¡¯t even leave her bedroom door, let alone go out.


    She had always thought Song Si was a restrained man.


    Now she realized that his previous restraint was all a pretense.


    Ever since they returned from the hospital, Song Si had opened the doors to a new world, hounding her daily like he was determined to expend all his energy on her without respite.


    Lu Zhaozhao was duly conquered by his vigor. Apart from eating meals in a daze during the day, she spent her nights whimpering as she was bullied.


    Fortunately, with the bad weather these days, she could catch up on sleep in her bedroom during the day without anyone commenting.


    ¡°Mr. Song, you can¡¯t keep this up!¡± Lu Zhaozhao was wrapped in a blanket, sitting on the sofa.


    More precisely, she was sitting in the arms of Song Si, who was on the sofa.


    These past few days Song Si had hardly let her set foot on the ground. Even during meals, he held her on the couch to eat, or she would sit at the edge of the bed while he fed her bite by bite.


    Song Si seemed to thoroughly enjoy the process of feeding her, and naturally, Lu Zhaozhao had stopped struggling...

 Chapter 520: 518: Tanking to the Bottom

    Chapter 520: Chapter 518: Tanking to the Bottom


    Since we¡¯re slacking off, let¡¯s follow through completely and slack off thoroughly.


    Song Sinian saw her puffed-up appearance, his eyes and brows filled with indescribable doting.


    His large hand gently caressed the corner of her mouth, casually responding, ¡°Mm, won¡¯t do that anymore.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, her small hands tightly gripping the blanket in her arms, but her gaze doubtfully fixed on Song Sinian, ¡°You said that yesterday too, but yesterday... you...¡±


    As she recalled what had happened last night, her ears involuntarily reddened.


    Song Sinian had become crazier each night recently. Her health was obviously excellent, yet she was exhausted by Song Sinian to the point of fainting; she was utterly speechless.


    Song Sinian¡¯s chin gently rested on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, and he silently shook, which only irritated her further.


    Her small hand reached out, lifted his chin, and she bit her little canine tooth resentfully, ¡°No laughing!¡±


    Her rebuke seemed to have no effect; on the contrary, Song Sinian laughed out loud.


    Lu Zhaozhao discontentedly tilted her little head and resentfully bit down on his chin.


    Though she called it a bite, the force was neither light nor heavy, and it didn¡¯t even leave a tooth mark.


    Knowing the little one in his arms was angry, Song Sinian could only suppress his smiling face and pretend to be serious, but it didn¡¯t last a few seconds before he broke down again.


    He had never thought that one day he would experience such rich and intense emotions with someone.


    Song Sinian was grateful that he had met Lu Zhaozhao, and he thanked heaven for sending her to his side.


    He took a deep breath, his nose filled with the fragrance from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body mixed with his own.


    Just like last night, his Zhaozhao was covered in his scent.


    Just the thought of that scene made Song Sinian¡¯s throat tighten.


    His nose brushed against Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s neck, after which he spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Today the Xia Family returns to the country. Do you want to go to the airport to pick them up?¡±


    It had been several rainy and icy days outside, but today had completely cleared up. Although it wasn¡¯t as warm as before, the clear weather was comforting.


    Of course, Song Sinian also knew that he had been clinging to Lu Zhaozhao in recent days, confining her to the room, which was tough for her. That¡¯s why he took the initiative to ask.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°They¡¯re already back? Then about my fourth brother and them...¡±


    The Xia Family¡¯s main purpose of going to Country R was to teach Feng Ya a lesson. She was still a bit worried about whether Pei Huai had managed to handle the situation there.


    Naturally, Song Sinian knew what she was thinking, and he gently brushed the stray hairs from her ears before speaking leisurely, ¡°Pei Huai and your fourth brother are coming back together; he has pretty much handled the situation there.¡±


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Feng Ya Meizi, who unexpectedly interfered, it might have been resolved even quicker.


    Moreover, since Xia Wenyan had gone to Country R, his actions were naturally more ruthless and decisive.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes brightened again, then she heard Song Sinian¡¯s voice gently floating down from above her head, ¡°Hurry up and eat, so we can go pick them up.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao obediently ate her meal, but she didn¡¯t head out to pick up the visitors as expected.


    Watching Song Sinian carry her toward the bathroom, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, suddenly feeling a tidbit of nervousness.


    But thinking that Song Sinian mentioned they still had to pick up visitors, he probably wouldn¡¯t want to do this and that during the day.


    So, Lu Zhaozhao bravely asked Song Sinian, ¡°Husband, aren¡¯t we going to pick them up?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand slowly clasped her lower back, and he responded in a muffled voice, ¡°Mm, we¡¯ll go pick them up in the afternoon. It¡¯s still early.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°!!!¡±


    She knew it would be like this!


    Lu Zhaozhao struggled, but ended up being held even tighter.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, be good, I promise it won¡¯t delay picking up from the airport...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s coaxing voice rang in her ear, causing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s watery eyes to instantly widen.


    Just as she was about to struggle, the words she was going to say were all blocked by Song Sinian.


    Outside, the sky was clear with clouds piling up and undulating, dyeing the blue sky with patches of beautiful white.


    By the time for pickup, Lu Zhaozhao just listlessly leaned into Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    Her dissatisfied little hands gave him a few hits in his embrace, but ironically like a kitten kneading, it wasn¡¯t threatening but rather extremely cute.


    Song Sinian¡¯s big hand gently held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, exceptionally doting as he stroked the palm of her hand, seemingly to comfort her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, though very unhappy, had scratched and kicked. Though it didn¡¯t make any difference, she had tried her best.


    Thus, after her struggle proved futile, Lu Zhaozhao simply continued to sulk and snuggled obediently into Song Sinian¡¯s arms, once again feeling sleepy.


    The Xia Family had just gotten off the plane, and saw this scene in front of them.


    They were actually quite worried that Lu Zhaozhao would directly question them on why they didn¡¯t take her to R country, each one getting off the plane with a heart full of unease.


    But seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s listless appearance, they couldn¡¯t help but feel pity.


    Especially Xia Wenyan, who still had his arm in a sling.


    ¡°Little sister, what¡¯s going on with you? Who bullied you? Why do you look so listless? You... hmm hmm I...¡±


    He hadn¡¯t managed to finish his words when Pei Huai covered his mouth.


    He whispered lowly into Xia Wenyan¡¯s ear, ¡°You were like this before too, think carefully.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and then his whole face turned bright red.


    Then, he instantly became speechless like a mute.


    Lu Zhaozhao was originally a bit listless, but seeing the atmosphere between Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai, she suddenly didn¡¯t feel sleepy anymore!


    My goodness, she hadn¡¯t paid attention for a moment and these two had become a couple?


    Tsk tsk, she had thought that with her elder brother¡¯s wooden head, Pei Huai would likely act impulsively.


    Never had she thought, ah, that a trip to R country would settle that!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Xia Wenyan¡¯s face, feeling it grow hotter.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to rub Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small head and said, ¡°Want to go talk to your elder brother?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Song Sinian, gently nodded her head, and then asked softly, ¡°Can I?¡±


    Song Sinian smiled noncommittally, ¡°Yeah, go ahead.¡±


    With Song Sinian¡¯s permission, Lu Zhaozhao immediately dragged Xia Wenyan off to whisper in earnest.


    For a moment, Pei Huai was left behind, looking somewhat plaintively at Song Sinian.


    This man really... only cares about his wife, unconcerned with anyone else¡¯s life or death.


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze followed Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan growing increasingly distant, and after some thought, he realized he wasn¡¯t much different from Song Sinian.


    He chuckled bitterly, shook his head, and then looked back at Song Sinian, asking word by word, ¡°So, President Song, what are your orders?¡±

 Chapter 521: 519 She Has Experience

    Chapter 521: Chapter 519 She Has Experience


    Lu Zhaozhao should go find Xia Wenyan and send these two people away on the way; he truly didn¡¯t believe that Song Sinian would do this for no reason.


    After all, some men are exceptionally clingy to their wives.


    As Pei Huai spoke these words, Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo also came over.


    After all, anything related to Zhaozhao was their affair!


    Song Sinian slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°Xiao Mo¡¯s people have recently been investigating the Xia Family, focusing primarily on Xia Wenyan and the aunt...¡±


    His implication instantly made everyone get it.


    Xia Wenyan was targeted probably because he was in the entertainment industry, an easy target to approach.


    As for Wen Qingyu, perhaps she appeared as the weakest link in the Xia Family, so Xiao Mo might have thought she would be easy to deal with?


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept over everyone before he continued indifferently, ¡°The reason why Xiao Mo wants to target the aunt might be to frame and set me up.¡±


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao was the Xia Family¡¯s cherished daughter, undoubtedly the greatest help to Song Sinian.


    If Lu Zhaozhao left Song Sinian, dealing with the Song Group would be much easier for Xiao Mo.


    To achieve this goal, Xiao Mo would likely target Wen Qingyu, even framing the incident on him.


    If the Xia Family knew it was because of Song Sinian that Wen Qingyu encountered trouble, they would vent all their anger on Sinian until they found the real culprit.


    Xiao Mo played a clever game, but little did he know that all his actions were under Song Sinian¡¯s surveillance.


    He even had many of his people around Xiao Mo as spies.


    They naturally learned this from Xiao Mo.


    He had Xiao Jinglan plant spies in the Song Mansion; naturally, he did the same by planting his own people around him.


    Everyone listened to Song Sinian¡¯s analysis with a speechless expression.


    Xiao Mo was not too bright, yet he thought of quite a lot.


    He even thought rather highly of himself.


    After all, Wen Qingyu was the wife of the chairman of ¡°XJ Group¡±. Could Xiao Mo, just a department manager, really think of targeting her?


    Was he out of his mind?


    However, Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo thought for a moment; their mother was too low-profile, usually keeping to herself without the habit of having bodyguards around.


    So, might that have given Xiao Mo the false impression that it would be easy to start from their mother¡¯s side?


    Only they, who grew up with Wen Qingyu, knew she was the most formidable presence.


    If their father wasn¡¯t the influential godfather, probably their mother would be the dominating one...


    The three of them still remembered their mother¡¯s terrifying reputation back in the day, tsk tsk...


    Xiao Mo was truly delusional.


    ¡°Let him fuss, my mom hasn¡¯t had enough fun in R country yet,¡± Xia Wenjue said nonchalantly, raising an eyebrow as he thought of his mother¡¯s demeanor abroad, which gave him a headache.


    If it weren¡¯t for their urgency to return, Wen Qingyu would have insisted on sorting out the entire Feng Ya family.


    He had been thinking about finding something to channel her excess energy after returning to the country, but now there was no need, as someone unafraid of death had delivered themselves to their doorstep.


    If their mom knew it was Xiao Mo, she would probably be thrilled.


    After all, some people are not satisfied just by being beaten up.


    Xia Wenqing also agreed, nodding her head, ¡°That¡¯s right, let¡¯s leave this matter to our mother, she has the experience.¡±


    The final wrap-up might be a bit complicated.


    But compared to their mother going on a rampage, cleaning up the mess wasn¡¯t considered a big deal!


    ¡°Yes, if mom thinks the waiting time is too long, President Song, you can have someone further provoke that Xiao Mo, to get him to act sooner.¡± Xia Wenmo also casually made a suggestion.


    The unanimous attitude of the three people made Pei Huai raise his eyebrows involuntarily.


    He had just heard that Xiao Mo had set his sights on Wen Qingyu, and he actually felt a tad nervous.


    After all, she was Xia Wenyan¡¯s mother, and if she was really hurt, Xia Wenyan would definitely be heartbroken.


    But listening to Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo¡¯s conversation, he suddenly felt that... Xiao Mo was very likely the one who would end up being the victim.


    Not only were they not worried about Xiao Mo targeting Wen Qingyu, but they all seemed to even hope that he would act quickly.


    Pei Huai had previously heard a bit about Wen Qingyu from Xia Wenyan, knowing only that their mother seemed a bit different from other mothers.


    He knew about her going with Xu Zhenzhen and Lu Zhaozhao to beat up the family of Xiao Mo, but with Xu Zhenzhen there, he always felt that Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu were just there to join in the action.


    But... it apparently wasn¡¯t so.


    Song Sinian was different from Pei Huai as he knew more, especially about Wen Qingyu¡¯s skills and capabilities.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been comfortable letting Lu Zhaozhao go with Wen Qingyu and Xu Zhenzhen to Xiao Mo¡¯s house.


    No matter how strong Xu Zhenzhen was, taking on two alone could still pose a problem.


    How could he possibly allow any danger to befall Lu Zhaozhao?


    Listening to the Xia Family people, Song Sinian nodded slightly, ¡°Regarding this issue, I¡¯ll have Zhao Xi get in touch with your side later.¡±


    As for what Wen Qingyu would do afterward, that would be her business.


    The group had a brief chat in the VIP lounge at the airport, and Lu Zhaozhao, who had disappeared with Xia Wenyan, ran back.


    Her face lit up with excitement, and seeing the Xia Family still waiting in the VIP lounge, she felt a bit embarrassed.


    Whether it was the Xia Family or the Song Family, they really pampered her too much.


    In this lifetime, Lu Zhaozhao had everything she had never possessed in her previous life, hence she cherished it even more.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao return, Song Sinian gently rubbed her small head, softly saying, ¡°Shall we go home together now?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao knew Song Sinian meant for her to go home with him, while naturally, the Xia Family would return to their own home.


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, her gaze sweeping over several people from the Xia Family, then as if suddenly remembering something, walked over to Xia Wenqing¡¯s side.


    ¡°Second brother, keep an eye on Liu Xiaozhen lately; she hasn¡¯t given up yet and I don¡¯t know what she might do to you. You need to be more vigilant, understand?¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s brow furrowed noticeably, his expression turning serious.


    He had been following the Xia Family to Country R recently, not bringing Xu Zhenzhen along.


    Though they were constantly in video contact, and their feelings were affectionate and sticky,


    he still felt somewhat apprehensive about Liu Xiaozhen. After all, because of this woman, he and his Zhenzhen had been separated for so many years before getting together.


    If it weren¡¯t for her, he might have already been together with Xu Zhenzhen much earlier.


    Xia Wenqing nodded solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t make the same mistake again, you have to have faith in your second brother...¡±

 Chapter 522: 520: What Will They Think?

    Chapter 522: Chapter 520: What Will They Think?


    When he said this, he even looked a bit pitiful.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but let out a light laugh, ¡°Alright, alright, whether your sister-in-law can stay or not depends on your skill!¡±


    ¡°Yup, mission guaranteed!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The next morning, Xia Wenqing went straight to the law firm.


    He hadn¡¯t seen Xu Zhenzhen for several days, especially since they had just confessed their feelings to each other not long before he left for Country R.


    Though video calls could alleviate the pain of longing, it was different from meeting in person.


    Especially when it came to kisses, hugs, and lifts.


    Xia Wenqing sat in his office, eagerly waiting for Xu Zhenzhen; he even hadn¡¯t told her he was coming back today to surprise her.


    He wanted to see the expression of surprise in her eyes the moment she saw him.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze towards the office door grew even more intense.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the office door.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s back tensed immediately, but when he saw who came in, his brows furrowed.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia.¡± Hao Jiayi stood weakly at the doorway, her voice so pitiful as she slightly bowed her head.


    Xia Wenqing frowned, his patience thinning with Hao Jiayi, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Hao Jiayi, holding documents in her hands, walked slowly over and placed them on Xia Wenqing¡¯s desk, ¡°Lawyer Xia, I need your help...¡±


    Xia Wenqing looked down at the papers on his desk and realized they were some medical reports, with Hao Jiayi¡¯s name prominently on them.


    His brows tightened as he looked up to say something, just to see that half of Hao Jiayi¡¯s face was slightly swollen, as if she had been hit.


    Seeing Xia Wenqing looking at her, Hao Jiayi immediately covered her slightly swollen cheek with her hand.


    In reality, the swelling from being hit by Feng Jiyue had gone down the day after, but in order to garner sympathy from Xia Wenqing, she had deliberately inflicted more pain on herself before coming to the office.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia, don¡¯t look, I must look very ugly right now...¡±


    Her pitiful voice fell on Xia Wenqing¡¯s ears, making his brow furrow even more.


    His dark eyes blinked, and he said indifferently, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s ugly; since you¡¯re aware of it, you shouldn¡¯t have come to work at this time. It could damage the company¡¯s reputation.¡±


    An employee of the Legal Department being abused, if known by the wrong people, how could that end well?


    Hao Jiayi was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Xia Wenqing to speak like that.


    She thought she was pretty and knew how to provoke a man¡¯s protective instincts, but what was wrong with this Xia Wenqing?


    Even in her miserable state, his concern was that her appearance could damage the company¡¯s reputation?


    Hao Jiayi wanted to curse outright.


    What kind of iron-hearted man was Xia Wenqing?


    But how could she know that this iron-hearted man only became warm and fleshed-out when he was with Xu Zhenzhen, showing genuine concern for his wife?


    Hao Jiayi bit her lip, continuing in a pitiful tone, ¡°Lawyer Xia, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t think it would be like this. I just wanted your help, I... I have no choice, I didn¡¯t know who else could help me... woow woow woow...¡±


    As she spoke, she began sobbing right in front of Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenqing coldly looked at Hao Jiayi, with impatience written all over his brows and eyes.


    He glanced at the wide-open office door, ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize to me, you should apologize to the company. If you truly feel sorry for the company, you can resign directly.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Hao Jiayi felt like she was going to cough up blood. Was Xia Wenqing the devil?


    She opened her mouth but before she could speak, he continued, ¡°You just said no one would help you because you sought help from the wrong person. Previously, Lawyer Liu Xiaozhen said she would help you for free, you should go to her directly. Also, it¡¯s almost time for work, we shouldn¡¯t waste office hours on private matters.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s intent to dismiss her was clear.


    He was still waiting for his beloved girlfriend, how could he have the time to deal with her?


    Besides, he had started from the grassroots when he was abroad, having seen plenty of domestic violence cases.


    Whether the scars on Hao Jiayi¡¯s face were self-inflicted or caused by someone else, he could clearly differentiate.


    Although Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t know why Hao Jiayi came to him with these issues, he was sure that staying out of their affairs was definitely the right move!


    Moreover, the smell on Hao Jiayi was really... unbearable.


    He didn¡¯t know what perfume she used, but from the moment she entered, the overly sweet scent made him feel nauseous.


    So whether physically or mentally, he just wanted Hao Jiayi to get lost at once!


    Taking a deep breath, Hao Jiayi¡¯s pitiful expression remained unchanged, ¡°Since Lawyer Xia has spoken, then I won¡¯t delay you any longer.¡±


    With that, she stepped back a few steps, then walked straight to the office doorway.


    When Xia Wenqing saw her walking towards the office door but not taking the documents with her, his frown deepened. He reached out to push the documents on his desk and said, ¡°Take your things with you.¡±


    Then he looked up only to see Hao Jiayi locking the door.


    Xia Wenqing instantly became alert.


    He suddenly stood up, ¡°You want to...¡±


    He hadn¡¯t finished his sentence when he felt a sudden sway in his body and almost lost his balance.


    His head throbbed, and he even saw things go slightly blurry.


    ¡°Lawyer Xia, I didn¡¯t want to be so direct, but you are really too unreachable,¡± Hao Jiayi said, beginning to unbutton the top buttons of her blouse.


    Given her secretarial role, a white blouse and a black pencil skirt were almost the standard uniform.


    The bottom was convenient, though the top was a bit problematic.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s gaze intensely watched Xia Wenqing, as if she saw prey that had fallen into a trap.


    Xia Wenqing stood still, trying to stay calm, but he clearly felt his blood boiling, finally realizing what the smell he detected earlier was.


    Almost instantly, Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes turned sharply colder.


    He had been cautious around Liu Xiaozhen and nothing had happened there, but he didn¡¯t expect to be plotted against by Hao Jiayi.


    Xia Wenqing bit the tip of his tongue fiercely, the intense pain sharply clearing his mind.


    Now in the office, if he could just dodge this woman and leave the office, everything could be resolved.


    Seeming to see through Xia Wenqing¡¯s thoughts, Hao Jiayi suddenly laughed triumphantly, ¡°Lawyer Xia, I¡¯d advise you not to struggle. Even if you leave this office, I can scream out loud to those outside. When they see us in such disheveled conditions, what do you think they will think?¡±


    What will they think?


    Xia Wenqing clenched his teeth furiously; he didn¡¯t care what others thought, he would do anything to protect Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s honor!

 Chapter 523: 521: Be Good, Wait for Me Here

    Chapter 523: Chapter 521: Be Good, Wait for Me Here


    He wasn¡¯t swayed by Hao Jiayi¡¯s words at all. As a lawyer, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to believe everything he was told.


    Xia Wenqing clenched his fists, and as Hao Jiayi approached, he grabbed a cup next to him and smashed it hard on the table. Ceramic shards scattered in an instant, startling Hao Jiayi into dodging hastily.


    But she still got cut by the shards.


    Xia Wenqing took the opportunity to grab a sharp ceramic shard in his palm.


    He needed to stay alert and was waiting for her to come close again so he could knock her down!


    Since she wanted to rush out and make things public, he absolutely couldn¡¯t give her that chance!


    Xia Wenqing stared intently at Hao Jiayi, waiting for her to approach again, when suddenly a loud bang came from the office door.


    Then, the office door was kicked open from the outside.


    And the person standing at the doorway was Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xia Wenqing, seeing Xu Zhenzhen descending like a heavenly god, almost teared up.


    His Zhenzhen had come!


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes were tightly fixed on Xu Zhenzhen, fearing that what he was seeing was just an illusion.


    He clenched the ceramic shard in his hand again, the blood in his palm dripping faster.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s pupils shivered, and she immediately walked towards Xia Wenqing, reaching out and grabbing his wrist.


    ¡°Xia Wenqing, let go,¡± she said, gently patting the back of his hand to signal him to open his palm.


    When she had first arrived at the office, she had felt something was off.


    Xia Wenqing hadn¡¯t returned yet, but the office door was locked.


    Since she usually managed his office, there weren¡¯t many important documents inside.


    She also didn¡¯t have the habit of locking the office door.


    So, seeing the office door locked, she subconsciously thought that Xia Wenqing might have returned.


    But when she heard the sound of a ceramic cup hitting the floor inside, her heart clenched.


    She didn¡¯t care about politeness anymore, she kicked open the tightly locked door, only to see the scene that filled her with furious indignation.


    The man she cherished so dearly was holding a piece of ceramic shard, his face a mix of vigilance and anger, staring at Hao Jiayi who was approaching him.


    Even a fool like Xu Zhenzhen could understand what had happened.


    ¡°Xu Zhenzhen, what are you doing? Don¡¯t you see who the real victim is?¡± Hao Jiayi, surprised by the sudden entrance, panicked for a moment, and blurted out.


    She intentionally raised her voice a few decibels, hoping to be heard by others outside.


    Xu Zhenzhen glared coldly at Hao Jiayi, ¡°If you want the entire Song Group to know how shameless you are, by all means, continue.¡±


    As she spoke, she was about to take the ceramic shard from Xia Wenqing¡¯s hand but suddenly found that he had clenched his hand tight again.


    Bright red blood dripped from his hand onto hers, looking particularly striking.


    Xu Zhenzhen had seen blood before, but seeing it flow from Xia Wenqing made her particularly agitated.


    Her brows furrowed and just as she was about to talk things through with Xia Wenqing, she saw him looking at her with a desperate expression, his voice hoarse, ¡°Zhenzhen, I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t do anything, I...¡±


    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t speak, I believe you,¡± Xu Zhenzhen said tenderly, raising her hand to stroke his head, ¡°Come on, give me the ceramic shard, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll take you home now.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen realized that Xia Wenqing¡¯s state was a bit abnormal right now.


    As for what the situation really was, she could only wait to discuss it when it was just the two of them.


    Xia Wenqing stared intently at Xu Zhenzhen, not seeing any hint of disgust in her eyes. He slowly opened his hand.


    Seeing this, Xu Zhenzhen immediately took a ceramic shard from his hand and then fiercely smashed it on Hao Jiayi¡¯s head.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Hao Jiayi let out a scream.


    She glared angrily at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°What are you doing? It was clearly Xia Wenqing who... Ah!¡±


    Before Hao Jiayi could finish her sentence, her face was struck again as Xu Zhenzhen grabbed a file box from the desk and smashed it into her face.


    The file box hit her squarely on the bridge of her nose, causing her to cover her face in pain immediately.


    Xu Zhenzhen had intended to leave with Xia Wenqing immediately, but seeing Hao Jiayi¡¯s arrogant demeanor made her unable to hold back.


    She took a deep breath, patted Xia Wenqing¡¯s large hand, and pulled him to an office chair nearby, ¡°Be good, wait here for two minutes. I¡¯ll take out the trash, and then we can leave.¡±


    Xia Wenqing tightly held Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s small hand, his somewhat confused mind spinning, still unwilling to let go of Xu Zhenzhen.


    Suddenly, he felt warmth on his lips, and Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes noticeably widened.


    Xu Zhenzhen had kissed him.


    And it was in the office.


    The last bit of sense left in Xia Wenqing¡¯s head made him slowly loosen his grip, ¡°You... make it quick.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be done in a moment.¡± Xu Zhenzhen, seeing Xia Wenqing reluctantly let go of her hand, felt a strange sensation hitting her chest, giving her an indescribable feeling.


    But it wasn¡¯t bad.


    However, she quickly suppressed that thought.


    Because she had more important things to do.


    As Xu Zhenzhen approached Hao Jiayi, who had just gotten over the pain and was about to stand up,


    The next second, before she could straighten up, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s slap fiercely landed on her face.


    ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Slap!¡±


    Hao Jiayi screamed, followed by several more slaps on her face.


    She didn¡¯t even have time to scream before the next slap hit her.


    Xu Zhenzhen was hitting Hao Jiayi purely out of spite, using full force, so after a few slaps, Hao Jiayi¡¯s face was unrecognizable.


    Even her molars were knocked out by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s slap.


    Hao Jiayi held her head in pain, but she was then kicked out of the office by Xu Zhenzhen.


    People who had come to the office to watch the commotion saw someone flying out and were all terrified.


    When they realized it was Hao Jiayi who had flown out, a few who felt pity even thought of helping her, but before they could bend down, Hao Jiayi was kicked into the corner of the wall by Xu Zhenzhen.


    The colleagues from the Legal Department had never seen such a scene before; they were all stunned.


    After all, Xu Zhenzhen was usually smiley and easy to talk to¡ªwho had ever seen this bloodthirsty demon in her?


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Hao Jiayi, whom she had beaten half to death, glanced around at her colleagues, and then coldly said, ¡°Call the police, and say that someone used their Song Group employee identity to poison a lawyer at the law firm.¡±


    After saying this, she turned and went back to Xia Wenqing¡¯s office.


    Just as everyone was still confused, Xu Zhenzhen half supported and half carried Xia Wenqing away right under their eyes...

 Chapter 524: 522: What Major Thing Have You Done?

    Chapter 524: Chapter 522: What Major Thing Have You Done?


    At first, everyone was confused about who Hao Jiayi had poisoned among her co-workers, but then it all became clear.


    She had actually poisoned Lawyer Xia.


    Tsk, tsk, it¡¯s true that you can know the face but not the heart.


    Those who initially felt some compassion for Hao Jiayi, now felt none whatsoever.


    They just hoped that this woman wouldn¡¯t drag them down with her eventually.


    After all, Song Group offered the best salaries and benefits in the industry.


    They wouldn¡¯t sacrifice their jobs just for a colleague who had not been there long.


    So, before the ambulance and the police arrived, Hao Jiayi just crouched in a corner, ignored by everyone.


    Meanwhile, Xu Zhenzhen, who had taken Wenqing away, drove quickly to her apartment near the company.


    Xu Zhenzhen had intended to take Wenqing to the hospital, but he adamantly refused to go.


    Without any other options, she had to take him back to her apartment first, and as for the rest, they would have to see how things played out.


    She knew Hao Jiayi had feelings for Wenqing, so if she had drugged him, it was likely that type of drug.


    Watching the clingy Wenqing, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly wondered if bringing him back to her apartment was really the right decision.


    Although she really liked Wenqing and admittedly wanted to have him right then and there, she wouldn¡¯t take advantage of him while his mind was unclear.


    Xu Zhenzhen still felt a shiver thinking about how Wenqing had just been holding a piece of ceramic with bloodied hands.


    Wenqing had resisted so much just now, he was probably suffering from PTSD regarding such things now, let alone being able to have a loving and normal relationship with her.


    Thinking this, Xu Zhenzhen felt she had been too gentle when she hit Hao Jiayi earlier.


    She settled Wenqing on the couch in the apartment and began treating his hand.


    Wenqing snuggled inside her arms, rubbing here and there, but otherwise did nothing.


    Xu Zhenzhen sighed helplessly, having no choice but to hold down his hand to treat it.


    ¡°Hiss...¡±


    Due to the disinfectant Xu Zhenzhen poured, Wenqing shivered in pain, and if she hadn¡¯t held on tightly, his hand would have jerked away.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move, it won¡¯t hurt after the medicine is applied, can you endure it a bit longer?¡± Xu Zhenzhen said, and then she blew gently into the palm of Wenqing¡¯s hand.


    When she looked up again, she saw Wenqing¡¯s beautiful eyes were now brimming with tears.


    Was he crying from the pain?


    Unable to help herself, Xu Zhenzhen swallowed, and because the room was so quiet, the sound was very distinct.


    Xu Zhenzhen: ...


    Wenqing said nothing, just looked at her with a face full of sorrow. Xu Zhenzhen could no longer mind the awkwardness and raised her hand to touch his cheek, ¡°Second Brother, can you be good, please? The medicine will be done soon.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    He remained unmoved, still looking at her with those pitiful eyes.


    Xu Zhenzhen felt as if her heart had been pierced by an arrow.


    Goodness, wasn¡¯t Wenqing just too adorable when he was confused?


    Want to squeeze him!


    Usually, Wenqing was always stiff and serious, but now suddenly so muddled, sporting a face full of sorrowful puppy-dog eyes, it really hit Xu Zhenzhen hard.


    She hated not being able to pin Wenqing down on the couch and kiss him thoroughly.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath; it took her a while to expel such a dangerous thought from her mind.


    ¡°Second Brother, shall I continue applying the medicine?¡±


    She looked a bit uneasy at Xia Wenqing, thinking of how he¡¯d just resisted and almost retracted his hand, not knowing how to soothe him.


    Then she heard Xia Wenqing¡¯s slightly nasal voice, ¡°Blow on it, it really hurts.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Good grief, the coquettish tone was almost enough to make her collapse on the spot!


    Xu Zhenzhen even felt her hands trembling as she applied the medicine, and she nodded solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will be very gentle, and I¡¯ll blow on it too, okay?¡±


    Xia Wenqing stared at Xu Zhenzhen dumbfounded for a long while, as if to make sure she was telling the truth.


    After a moment, he reluctantly nodded.


    But it was exactly this look that made Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s heart itch, wanting to tease her adorable boyfriend.


    Who would have thought her seriously composed boyfriend could also have such a cute side?


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath, her heart full of agitation as she continued applying the medicine to Xia Wenqing.


    During the process, whenever she saw Xia Wenqing furrowing his brow, she would immediately blow on it, finally finishing the application.


    For the first time, Xu Zhenzhen felt that a man could be so coquettish, yet... she really liked it.


    ¡°I feel so terrible...¡± As soon as Xu Zhenzhen finished wrapping Xia Wenqing¡¯s hand, he hugged her slim waist tightly once again, just like earlier.


    His head rested uneasily against her, completely unsure how to rid himself of this uncomfortable feeling.


    Xu Zhenzhen, feeling a bit overwhelmed, frowned and sent a message to Lu Zhaozhao on her phone.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, everything depends on you at Song Group. If President Song asks, you must protect me!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao received this message just as she arrived at the President¡¯s office with Song Sinian.


    Her eyebrows lifted, and she quickly replied to Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°What big thing did you do?¡±


    But the message went unanswered, like a stone sinking into the ocean.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brow furrowed even more now.


    Song Sinian noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s anxiety immediately, stood up, walked over to the sofa, and scooped her into his arms, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    His chin resting on her shoulder, he asked in a light tone.


    Lu Zhaozhao handed her phone to Song Sinian, ¡°Zhenzhen just sent me a bizarre message, and when I replied just now, there was no response.¡±


    Seeing her puzzled expression, Song Sinian chuckled lightly and called Zhao Xi in.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s message mentioned him, indicating it was related to Song Group; involving anything about Song Group, Zhao Xi was definitely the right person to consult.


    ¡°Sir, what can I do for you?¡±


    Zhao Xi was used to the intimacy between Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao by now.


    As long as the two of them didn¡¯t lose their minds, he felt he could handle it.


    Song Sinian glanced at Zhao Xi and asked indifferently, ¡°What happened with Xu Zhenzhen?¡±


    Zhao Xi was slightly startled, then quickly understood. He pulled out his phone, skimmed through it, and began to report, ¡°This morning after Xu Zhenzhen arrived at the Legal Department, she kicked open Lawyer Xia¡¯s office door, beat up Hao Jiayi, and then left with Lawyer Xia.¡±


    He scrolled through his phone again and added, ¡°She also had the other office staff call the police, claiming Hao Jiayi had poisoned someone.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked; she just remembered that when they arrived, that ambulance with the loud siren was indeed heading to Song Group.


    Suddenly, she snapped back to reality, looking at Zhao Xi with her whole body tense, ¡°Then, did my Second Brother get poisoned?¡±

 Chapter 525: 523: Are You Disgusted with Me?

    Chapter 525: Chapter 523: Are You Disgusted with Me?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice clearly carried a tremble.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed, and he patted the person in his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the real target of Hao Jiayi is to marry your second brother; she wouldn¡¯t use something truly poisonous.¡±


    As for what exactly she used, adults naturally understood.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao still seemed to be in a state of tension, he lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead. ¡°Your second brother was taken away by Xu Zhenzhen. If something really happened, do you think she wouldn¡¯t tell you?¡±


    This sentence by Song Sinian finally had an effect.


    That was true indeed.


    Xu Zhenzhen cared about Xia Wenqing more than she did; if there had been any problems, she would have notified them by now.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao quietly breathed a sigh of relief.


    However, thinking about Hao Jiayi, who had targeted Xia Wenqing, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s anger surged again. ¡°We can¡¯t just let this go.¡±


    Even though Xu Zhenzhen had already given Hao Jiayi a beating, the fact remained that she had attacked Xia Wenqing.


    Song Sinian nodded repeatedly. ¡°Mm, we definitely won¡¯t just let this go. Don¡¯t worry; whatever you want to do, I support you.¡±


    He had already witnessed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotional instability and rage, so as long she wanted it, she could do anything.


    Especially with Hao Jiayi courting death.


    Due to Song Sinian¡¯s promise, the hand that was originally clutching his clothes gradually loosened.


    It was only then that Song Sinian felt at ease, his gaze shifting back to Zhao Xi as he said, ¡°Handle this matter quietly, don¡¯t affect the reputation of the Song Family¡±.


    Hearing this, Zhao Xi thought he was hallucinating.


    Since when did their boss care about the reputation of the Song Group?


    His bewildered gaze met Song Sinian¡¯s profound black eyes, and he instantly understood.


    Their boss didn¡¯t care about the reputation of the Song Group per se; he simply wanted to seal off the news both internally and externally.


    After all, his lady was still to deal with Hao Jiayi, and if other interested parties found out, it could lead to trouble.


    He solemnly nodded and then quietly slipped out.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao took out her phone to send several messages to Xu Zhenzhen.


    [Leave the matter with the Song Family to me. Zhenzhen, take good care of my second brother.]


    [If there¡¯s any problem, poke me.]


    ...


    Unfortunately, Xu Zhenzhen could not see Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s messages at this moment, for her phone had been tossed aside under the sofa by Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°Why are you looking at your phone instead of me?¡± Xia Wenqing had thrown down the phone, and he felt aggrieved.


    He stared intently at Xu Zhenzhen with a pitiful voice, complaining, ¡°Am I less fun than your phone? Or am I not as good-looking as your phone?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, pinned down on the sofa by Xia Wenqing, was unable to move and looked at him with a mix of laughter and tears.


    Good heavens, who could come save her?


    Having such an adorable boyfriend, it would seem almost wrong not to devour him.


    Without getting an answer, Xia Wenqing bit her neck, causing Xu Zhenzhen to gasp in pain, ¡°Hiss... Second brother, why did you bite me?¡±


    She stared blankly at Xia Wenqing, also with a face of grievance.


    Then she heard Xia Wenqing¡¯s complaint, ¡°You¡¯re getting distracted while you¡¯re with me. Don¡¯t you like me?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen felt like crying, ¡°How could I not like you? I like you so much I could just eat you up!¡±


    As soon as these candid words left her mouth, she saw the tips of Xia Wenqing¡¯s ears instantly turn a crimson red.


    Xu Zhenzhen, as if she had discovered a new continent, looked up and kissed the corner of his mouth. ¡°What? You still don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    The more proactive Xu Zhenzhen was, the more intense Xia Wenqing¡¯s shyness became.


    He had seemed aggressive just a moment before, but now he was completely restrained.


    With a touch of exasperation, Xu Zhenzhen sighed and raised her hand to touch Xia Wenqing¡¯s cheek. ¡°Second Brother, do you want to take a cold bath?¡±


    Ever since she had finished applying the medicine, Xu Zhenzhen had noticed that Xia Wenqing¡¯s body temperature seemed even hotter.


    If he didn¡¯t take a cold bath, she thought Xia Wenqing might become even more muddled soon.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenqing rejected the idea without a second thought, and the docile expression he had briefly adopted exploded into anger again. ¡°Do you despise me? You find me dirty...¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was utterly baffled and had no idea how to begin addressing that remark.


    Ever since she had brought Xia Wenqing back, she had been incredibly careful with him.


    Where had she given him the impression that she found him dirty?


    Just as Xu Zhenzhen was about to speak, Xia Wenqing pounced on her, gnawing on her lips like a little animal.


    She could feel the scalding heat of his skin all over, holding him was like embracing a large furnace.


    Because of the drug, Xu Zhenzhen was going along with him as much as possible.


    But by doing so, she felt her shoulders were much cooler than before.


    Her back cooled considerably as well.


    Her eyes suddenly widened, and she reached out to push Xia Wenqing away, only to see his misty eyes looking at her, as if he would burst into tears if she dared to say ¡°stop.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen: ...


    With a resigned sigh, she gave up and lay flat to let him have his way.


    Xia Wenqing leaned down to kiss the corner of her eye, and seeing her lie motionless, he felt even worse. ¡°You really do despise me, you won¡¯t touch me...¡±


    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen really swore.


    Was that despising?


    She wished she could take the initiative, but she also feared that the next day Xia Wenqing would accuse her of taking advantage of the situation.


    Helpless, Xu Zhenzhen lay on the couch and looked at Xia Wenqing, saying, ¡°I really don¡¯t despise you; I swear, I really don¡¯t!¡±


    Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t believe her at all, just gazed at her with a look of melancholy, like an abandoned puppy.


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but rub her temples with annoyance. ¡°What do I have to do for you to believe me?¡±


    Xia Wenqing pursed his lips, looking pitifully at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Then show me proof...¡±


    His ears turned so red at those words they seemed as if they might start bleeding.


    Even if Xu Zhenzhen was naive, she understood exactly what Xia Wenqing meant by proof just now.


    She tilted her head to look at Xia Wenqing, but instead of starting, she extendeD her little hand to pinch his chin. ¡°I can show you, but you... you can¡¯t regret it tomorrow, and you can¡¯t accuse me of taking advantage of you, okay?¡±


    Xia Wenqing nodded, ¡°Mm, okay.¡±


    His voice was low, even a bit groggy.


    ¡°And you also can¡¯t be angry when you wake up tomorrow?¡± Xu Zhenzhen thought for a moment, adding another condition.


    Xia Wenqing looked at her with bright, shining eyes, agreeing to her additional conditions one by one.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze lingered on Xia Wenqing for a few seconds, finally she sighed silently, and then with a roll, she took the initiative...

 Chapter 526: 524: Tearing Her Apart by Hand

    Chapter 526: Chapter 524: Tearing Her Apart by Hand


    Who let their second brother be so good at acting spoiled?


    Have at it then!


    Who cares about face!


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s planned day of struggle had not been successfully implemented, as she was completely sobered and pinned down by Xia Wenqing halfway through.


    As a result, she was dragged and cajoled by him till the evening.


    At night, Xia Wenqing looked at Xu Zhenzhen nestled in the quilt, his eyes and brows filled with indulgence.


    He had never thought he would be with Xu Zhenzhen like this.


    Frustration was definitely there.


    But more than that, he was happy.


    Xu Zhenzhen now completely belonged to him, so he could now move forward with the things he had always wanted to do.


    Xia Wenqing leaned down and kissed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s forehead, his heart and eyes full of the person before him.


    Suddenly, the tiny head in the quilt moved, and then slowly opened her eyes.


    Xia Wenqing was momentarily stunned when he met her dewy eyes.


    Scenes from earlier that day in the room echoed in his mind.


    Her tender and tearful appearance made him can¡¯t help but want to tease her forever.


    In fact, that¡¯s what he did.


    Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t sure if Xu Zhenzhen would be angry, especially since he had been insisting on her agreement...


    It could be said that even if Xu Zhenzhen had slapped him right then, he wouldn¡¯t have found it excessive.


    Xu Zhenzhen stared dumbly at Xia Wenqing for a few seconds, then asked, ¡°Second Brother, are you all right?¡±


    ...


    Seeing he didn¡¯t reply, Xu Zhenzhen thought the effect of the drug hadn¡¯t worn off.


    She raised her small hand, intending to touch his forehead, but as she moved her body, her entire little face crumpled up.


    ¡°Hisss...¡±


    This kind of soreness, she really hadn¡¯t felt in a long time.


    Previously, it was something she¡¯d feel only after fighting someone for a day, but now she experienced it again because of Xia Wenqing.


    Xu Zhenzhen really didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.


    Xia Wenqing seemed so gentle, but in bed, he was anything but gentle.


    He was more like a starving wolf.


    However, Xu Zhenzhen reasoned that Xia Wenqing must have been under the influence of the drug, so she didn¡¯t take it to heart.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenqing was so scared he hurried to check on Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Zhenzhen, where does it hurt?¡±


    His anxious face was visibly pale.


    It was all his fault for being too reckless yesterday.


    It was her first time, yet he had insisted so much, wreaking havoc all day long.


    Even after the drug had worn off, he had been even harsher.


    Thinking of this, Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but despise himself.


    ¡°Tell me where it hurts, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital right now, just wait for me to put on...¡± He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Xu Zhenzhen grabbed him.


    Her entire little face was so red it seemed like it would bleed.


    If she were to be taken to the hospital in this condition, she probably would be laughed at by the doctors.


    Even if the doctor didn¡¯t die laughing, she would die of embarrassment socially.


    Seeing her state, Xia Wenqing dared not say much more; he could only gently hold her and lean against the head of the bed, ¡°You, you don¡¯t blame me?¡±


    When he said these words, he was first apprehensively looking at Xu Zhenzhen, fearing to see a look of disgust in her eyes.


    He knew that his actions today were excessive, but he did not regret them.


    However, he was afraid of seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s disdainful and resistant gaze.


    Fortunately, after staring at Xu Zhenzhen for a long time, he saw no sign of displeasure in her eyes.


    Xia Wenqing then secretly heaved a sigh of relief and held her even tighter.


    Xu Zhenzhen seemed to notice Xia Wenqing¡¯s anxious emotions and gently patted his arm, ¡°Why would I blame you? You didn¡¯t set this up; you¡¯re a victim too.¡±


    The blame should lie with Hao Jiayi.


    Thinking of Hao Jiayi, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt spirited.


    ¡°Brother, what exactly happened this morning?¡± Previously, she was only concerned about Xia Wenqing¡¯s physical condition and had not thought about why Hao Jiayi would attack him.


    If she remembered correctly, although Hao Jiayi was interested in Xia Wenqing, she hadn¡¯t been so blatant before.


    What could have triggered her to take such a risky action?


    Xia Wenqing thought of the morning¡¯s events and his expression turned a bit ugly.


    After a moment of silence, he slowly began, ¡°This morning when I arrived at the office, seeing that you hadn¡¯t come yet, I waited for a while. But the person who turned up wasn¡¯t you, it was Hao Jiayi...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen thought of the coffee cup in Xia Wenqing¡¯s office and frowned, asking, ¡°Did you drink the coffee she brought you?¡±


    ¡°How could I?¡± Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t even have to think before shaking his head. ¡°Ever since I knew she and Liu Xiaozhen were up to no good, I haven¡¯t touched anything they brought that I had to eat or drink.¡±


    Thinking about this made Xia Wenqing feel aggrieved.


    ¡°That woman seemed to have smeared some kind of aphrodisiac on her clothes. The moment she entered, I felt that the smell was particularly disgusting.¡±


    Now, thinking back to the morning¡¯s events, Xia Wenqing still felt some physical discomfort, and the thought of Hao Jiayi¡¯s face made his stomach churn.


    He could never have dreamt that Hao Jiayi would have the audacity to plot against him in the office.


    Such a sleazy plan disgusted him even more.


    Xu Zhenzhen gently patted his arm, and thinking about how he had hurt himself earlier just to escape Hao Jiayi¡¯s control, she felt a deep pang of heartache.


    After pondering for a moment, she said, ¡°Hao Jiayi doesn¡¯t seem bold enough to do such a thing on her own; there must be a reason behind her actions.¡±


    Hao Jiayi hadn¡¯t been in the Shangjing Circle long, and besides people from the Song Group, the only other connection she might have is with Feng Jiaye.


    Xu Zhenzhen thought carefully about her interactions involving Feng Jiaye.


    She remembered that recently, Xiao Mo had taken action against Feng Jiaye, even making him a eunuch.


    Could it be that after becoming a eunuch, he wanted to forcefully marry Hao Jiayi?


    Unable to think of a second possibility, Xu Zhenzhen, with her simple mind, couldn¡¯t possibly fathom the intentions of those scoundrels.


    After frowning, she relayed her thoughts to Xia Wenqing.


    He also began to ponder.


    ¡°If everything Hao Jiayi is doing now is related to Feng Jiaye, then she¡¯s sure to make more moves.¡± Xia Wenqing narrowed his eyes, and just mentioning ¡°Hao Jiayi¡± made his brows involuntarily knit together in displeasure.


    It seems they couldn¡¯t just deal with Hao Jiayi directly yet.


    But if they kept this woman in the Legal Department, he might not be able to resist tearing her apart himself.


    Xu Zhenzhen also didn¡¯t want Hao Jiayi to stay in the Legal Department, even if it was to find out her next plan, she didn¡¯t want to keep her.


    After all, everyone feels the pain of their own loved one.


    Xu Zhenzhen pondered for a moment, ¡°Maybe... move her to another department?¡±


    Xia Wenqing looked at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s conflicted expression, raised his hand to rub her little head, and chuckled softly, ¡°It¡¯s too early to think about this now. Let¡¯s wait for her to get out of the police station first...¡±

 Chapter 527: 525: Did Two People Secretly Collaborate Together?

    Chapter 527: Chapter 525: Did Two People Secretly Collaborate Together?


    Xu Zhenzhen heard Xia Wenqing¡¯s words and blinked, realizing there was still time, she could go and discuss the matter with Lu Zhaozhao.


    The thought of discussing it with someone else immediately relaxed her.


    Soon, she leaned against Xia Wenqing¡¯s chest and fell asleep without realizing it, she had been really exhausted today.


    Xia Wenqing, feeling the stillness in his arms, realized she had fallen asleep. He gently brushed her hair behind her ear and affectionately kissed her cheek before lying back down.


    Inhaling the familiar and comforting scent, he too fell asleep alongside Xu Zhenzhen.


    ...


    When Lu Zhaozhao saw Xia Wenqing again, it was two days later.


    Luckily, Xu Zhenzhen had messaged her after waking up and briefly explained the situation, which helped Lu Zhaozhao to wait patiently for two days.


    However, when Xia Wenqing appeared, she couldn¡¯t help but meticulously check him over.


    Since recognizing Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenqing had never been cared for so seriously by his younger sister.


    Previously, when Xia Wenmo was ill, Lu Zhaozhao had constantly hovered around him, and he, being the second brother, admittedly felt jealous.


    He didn¡¯t expect that now he was the one being closely watched, and he felt oddly elated for a moment.


    But remembering that he had been manipulated by Hao Jiayi, Xia Wenqing felt somewhat frustrated.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, do you think your second brother is useless?¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s mood dropped.


    He had never faced such a loss in many years in the legal field.


    Now, to almost be defeated by a woman, he certainly felt embarrassed.


    Especially on Song Group¡¯s turf.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes fixed on Xia Wenqing as she sighed helplessly, ¡°Second brother, don¡¯t overthink it. As long as you¡¯re fine, that¡¯s what matters most.¡±


    Her concern for Xia Wenqing stemmed from the seemingly unfortunate end of the Xia Family in her last life.


    Lu Zhaozhao worried history might repeat itself.


    Last life, the Xia Family was abroad, and she didn¡¯t know the specifics, but now that they were all in the country, the thought of something happening again was hard for her to accept.


    Xia Wenqing clearly noticed the change in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mood, raised his hand to ruffle her head, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I was unguarded before, that¡¯s why I was tricked. It won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Uh-huh, I believe in you, second brother.¡±


    She nodded toward Song Sinian beside her and then turned back to Xia Wenqing, ¡°Now, you guys talk, Zhenzhen and I have other things to discuss.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao winked playfully at them and then left the CEO¡¯s office with Xu Zhenzhen.


    As soon as they stepped out of the CEO¡¯s office, their expressions turned serious.


    Hao Jiayi had been taken to the police station for investigation because of what she did to Xia Wenqing; however, since they couldn¡¯t trace the drugs found on her and the drugs in Xia Wenqing¡¯s system had been metabolized, there was no evidence to incriminate Hao Jiayi.


    After being held by the police for 48 hours, she was released.


    The two of them certainly wouldn¡¯t let Hao Jiayi easily return to Song Group.


    ¡°Once I see that bitch Hao Jiayi, I¡¯ll knock her jaw off first, then drag her to the third-floor bathroom. I¡¯ve already scouted the place!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes sparkled as she shared her plans with Lu Zhaozhao.


    She had thought that after calling the police yesterday, Hao Jiayi would be locked up for a few days.


    Who knew she would be investigated for 48 hours and then nothing happened.


    Xu Zhenzhen was really furious.


    This trash didn¡¯t even receive any punishment!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°This trash really needs a good lesson, but before we hit her, we need to see if there are others around her watching.¡±


    Previously, Xu Zhenzhen had mentioned something odd about Hao Jiayi making a move against Xia Wenqing.


    She also suspected that Hao Jiayi¡¯s maneuvers had Feng Jiyue¡¯s handwriting on them.


    But how could letting Hao Jiayi assault Xia Wenqing benefit Feng Jiyue?


    Neither Lu Zhaozhao nor Xu Zhenzhen understood.


    Xu Zhenzhen pouted, ¡°Even if there are people around Hao Jiayi, they can¡¯t possibly be watching her inside the company too, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged noncommittally, ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why, after coming back from the police station, she took the initiative to transfer from her current position?¡±


    She always felt that Hao Jiayi¡¯s actions after returning weren¡¯t arbitrary.


    Xu Zhenzhen squinted in confusion, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because she felt that after ruining Second Brother, she couldn¡¯t stand in the Legal Department, so she transferred?¡±


    Hao Jiayi was not easily placed in the Song Group by the Feng family, she definitely wouldn¡¯t leave easily.


    Her moving to another department now is the optimal solution.


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her little head, ¡°I don¡¯t think so, there must be a problem on her side.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen thought until her head hurt, ¡°Whatever her purpose, let¡¯s beat her up first!¡±


    Saying that, she grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand and headed to Hao Jiayi¡¯s new department.


    But to their surprise, when they arrived at the marketing department, they didn¡¯t see Hao Jiayi at all.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows instantly knotted, ¡°Did Hao Jiayi detect something beforehand and run away earlier?¡±


    Otherwise, why did she disappear just when they arrived and not earlier or later?


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s vengeful expression, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as she hasn¡¯t left the Song Group, it will still be easy to find her.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen pouted, though reluctantly, she nodded.


    The two followed the path back, intending to go straight to the office.


    But it seemed like Lu Zhaozhao suddenly remembered something ¡ª if she wasn¡¯t mistaken... Xiao Mo should be in the sales department.


    Since they were already here, they might as well take this opportunity to probe Xiao Mo¡¯s situation.


    With this thought, Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Xu Zhenzhen beside her and whispered, ¡°How about we pay a visit to Xiao Mo now?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t oppose and nodded her head, following Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s steps.


    However, what they hadn¡¯t expected was, just as they reached Xiao Mo¡¯s office, they saw the previously unfindable Hao Jiayi.


    This caused both of their pupils to quiver almost at the same time.


    Could it be that Hao Jiayi and Xiao Mo were secretly collaborating?


    Just as Xu Zhenzhen was about to investigate further, she was pulled back by Lu Zhaozhao.


    Because right under their eyes, they saw the woman standing in Xiao¡¯s office beginning to take off her clothes...


    ¡°Good lord, these two must be having an affair!¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes widened, almost wishing she could switch to a higher magnification lens right there.

 Chapter 528: 526: It will definitely be very interesting

    Chapter 528: Chapter 526: It will definitely be very interesting


    Lu Zhaozhao looked on with a mix of laughter and tears at Xu Zhenzhen, who was brimming with enthusiasm. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed that Xiao Mo¡¯s expression seems a bit off?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Zhenzhen raised her eyebrows in slight suspicion.


    Her gaze slowly shifted towards Xiao Mo and she clearly noticed that his eyes were somewhat glazed over as he looked at Hao Jiayi.


    Almost instantly, Xu Zhenzhen understood.


    Hao Jiayi had repeated what she did in Xia Wenqing¡¯s office.


    Is this woman toxic or what?


    She was just released from the police station and now she¡¯s doing the same thing again. Does she think a trip to the police station wasn¡¯t thrilling enough, and she wants to experience it again?


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t comprehend her logic at all.


    But, seeing that her target this time was Xiao Mo, her anger wasn¡¯t as intense as the last time.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze scanned Xiao Mo¡¯s face before murmuring to Xu Zhenzhen beside her, ¡°I have a feeling that this might not be so straightforward.¡±


    The Feng family¡¯s Jiaye couldn¡¯t possibly be so foolish as to have Hao Jiayi provoke Xia Wenqing and then go after Xiao Mo.


    Lu Zhaozhao had a vague hunch.


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s because Feng Jiaye actually intended for Hao Jiayi to target Xiao Mo, but feeling resentful at being used by the Feng family, she took the risk and drugged my brother?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brow shot up at the thought; it... actually seemed plausible.


    But then thinking about how Xia Wenqing was caught in unwarranted disaster due to Feng Jiaye and scum like Xiao Mo, she couldn¡¯t help but seethe with anger.


    She snorted coldly, ¡°That Hao Jiayi really has some nerve.¡±


    She probably fancied Xia Wenqing¡¯s sincerity and responsibility, thinking that if she could sleep with him, she could get what she wanted.


    Xu Zhenzhen imagined if Xia Wenqing really had been violated by Hao Jiayi, he probably would have wanted to die.


    She knew Xia Wenqing was a man of responsibility, but also stubborn as hell.


    If he felt tainted, he might even have thoughts of self-destruction.


    The mere thought sent a shiver down Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s spine.


    If she had been any later yesterday, Xia Wenqing...


    The more Xu Zhenzhen thought about it, the more irritable she felt.


    Lu Zhaozhao naturally noticed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mood, blinked her watery eyes, and patted Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s head as she said, ¡°Since this was caused by the Feng family¡¯s Jiaye and Xiao Mo, why don¡¯t we... send them a big gift?¡±


    Xiao Mo currently had no way to shake Song Sinian¡¯s control over the Song Group, but she was worried that if Xiao Mo was taken down directly, Xiao Jinglan might self-destruct along with them.


    She now knew she didn¡¯t have long to live, and if her last belief collapsed, who knows what crazy things she might do.


    Like before, when they leaked just a hint that his beating had something to do with Feng Jiaye, he went as far as to change Feng Jiaye¡¯s gender.


    He really was a ruthless character.


    Without being absolutely certain of safety, Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t going to take any risks.


    Xiao Mo had made some noise in the Beijing Circle before over Xia Wenjin¡¯s incident.


    And now, with some connections still in his hand, making him disappear quietly would be a bit difficult.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes widened noticeably at the mention of a ¡°big gift.¡±


    She trusted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s abilities, so she naturally had complete faith in whatever she planned.


    ¡°Tell me, what do we do next?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Since they both play their games in the dark, let¡¯s help them lay their cards on the table...¡±


    Knowing what cards the other has, believing they understand each other¡¯s strategy, then getting their faces slapped by the other, tsk tsk...


    It¡¯s definitely going to be very interesting.


    Zhenzhen nodded repeatedly, ¡°No problem, leave this matter to me!¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    While Lu Zhaozhao and Zhenzhen were enthusiastically kicking off their plan, on the other side, Song Sinian and Xia Wenqing were also starting to talk about the incident involving Hao Jiayi.


    ¡°The instigator this time is Feng Jiaye, but it wasn¡¯t you who told Hao Jiayi to drug someone,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s gaze settled on Xia Wenqing as he briefly shared the information he had uncovered.


    With disdain, Xia Wenqing glanced at Song Sinian, ¡°Don¡¯t think that I¡¯m unaware of why Hao Jiayi showed up at the Legal Department.¡±


    He had simply thought Hao Jiayi was a spy planted by the Feng family, and he had found the Feng¡¯s method rather foolish.


    But now, upon reflection, he realized their intentions were grand.


    They didn¡¯t plant Hao Jiayi as a mere spy; their plan was to have her seduce Song Sinian.


    As for why this woman appeared at the Legal Department, of course, there was the handiwork of his brother-in-law involved.


    He certainly noticed the Feng family¡¯s intentions right away, which is why he placed her in the Legal Department.


    Song Sinian raised an eyebrow noncommittally, ¡°You also benefited from this incident for better or worse, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Suddenly, Xia Wenqing felt Song Sinian was quite shameless.


    He was obviously the one who got screwed over, yet Song Sinian had the gall to say he benefited from misfortune?


    With one hand propping his chin, Song Sinian said, ¡°Otherwise, do you think there were so many tasks that needed your and Zhenzhen¡¯s collaboration? With the sluggish progress between you two, would there have been any advancement in your relationship if it weren¡¯t for Hao Jiayi¡¯s appearance?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes widened significantly.


    He had no idea that all the times he and Zhenzhen worked together were orchestrated by Song Sinian!


    Xia Wenqing opened his mouth, unsure what to say, when Song Sinian casually responded, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Right, this man had a thick face.


    Feeling somewhat helpless, Xia Wenqing sighed, ¡°Zhenzhen and I are already together, so there¡¯s no need to keep this catalyst in the Song Group anymore, right?¡±


    Now, just thinking of Hao Jiayi¡¯s face would trigger his reflexive desire to punch her on the spot!


    ¡°This matter, I¡¯m afraid neither you nor I can decide,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s indifferent voice resonated once more in the office. ¡°Zhaozhao and Zhenzhen are probably out seeking revenge on Hao Jiayi as we speak. As for the outcome, I guess we¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Xia Wenqing stood up from the sofa immediately upon hearing this.


    He was somewhat concerned that Zhenzhen would be at a disadvantage.


    After all, Hao Jiayi was no saint.


    Even if it was for revenge, it would still dirty the hands of their dear Zhenzhen!


    Song Sinian gestured dismissively, ¡°There are people keeping an eye on Zhaozhao and Zhenzhen, so don¡¯t worry about it; just wait for the outcome peaceably.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily, as he suddenly felt he did not know Zhenzhen well enough.


    He was completely unaware of her plans to take Zhaozhao and seek revenge.


    Watching Song Sinian¡¯s calculating behavior, Xia Wenqing suddenly felt his concern for Zhenzhen was not enough.


    He definitely could not let his brother-in-law outdo him!


    What¡¯s the big deal about treating one¡¯s own wife well?


    Bring it on! He refused to believe he couldn¡¯t outdo Song Sinian!

 Chapter 529: 527: She Even Gave Him the Cold Shoulder!

    Chapter 529: Chapter 527: She Even Gave Him the Cold Shoulder!


    With his many years of learning experience, he was sure to grasp the essence and then mercilessly roll over him!


    By evening, before the end of the workday, Hao Jiayi and Xiao Mo were caught in the act of their office dalliance.


    Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t foolish. Being cornered in the office in broad daylight, he realized he had been set up.


    In fact, before being taken to the hospital, he had already regained quite a bit of consciousness.


    But because there were just too many people outside the office, he simply pretended to keep unconscious until he was taken to the hospital.


    ¡°Xiao Mo, how are you?¡± As soon as Xiao Jinglan pushed open the door of the ward, she ran straight to Xiao Mo.


    She was playing cards with the other ladies outside when she heard that Xiao Mo had had an accident at the Song Group. She almost didn¡¯t think before instructing her driver to take her to the hospital immediately.


    The recent events had made Xiao Jinglan feel very unsettled, and she always had the feeling that everything was spiraling out of control.


    On her way to the hospital, she was so anxious that if anything really happened to Xiao Mo, she would definitely perish together with others.


    She had been mingling in the Shangjing Circle for half her life, and this was her only son, whom she cherished so much. Now that she kept facing setbacks, how could she possibly bear it?


    When Xiao Mo saw Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mournful face, his eyebrows instantly knotted, ¡°I¡¯m not dead yet, no need for you to mourn here.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan heard Xiao Mo¡¯s unfriendly tone, and her already aggrieved face showed even more distress.


    She pursed her lips, looked at Xiao Mo, and said word by word, ¡°I heard outside that something happened to you, and I came here without a second thought. I¡¯m this worried about you, not for you to take your anger out on me at will!¡±


    Xiao Mo was also aware of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s health situation.


    Ever since she knew that she wouldn¡¯t live long, she had become particularly emotional. Even when he spoke, Xiao Jinglan would retort back at him, and this made Xiao Mo feel very uncomfortable.


    Moreover, he had just been a victim of a scheme, and now hearing Xiao Jinglan going on and on, his expression instantly turned sour.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say you had to come here. If you feel wronged, you can go back right now.¡±


    His voice was cold, making Xiao Jinglan feel even colder inside.


    Who was she to blame for becoming like this?


    If it were not for Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin messing around on the variety show and making it public, Xia Wenjin would not have married into their family and she would not have been poisoned by Xia Wenjin.


    In the end, she had become like this all because of her son, yet she couldn¡¯t believe that he not only failed to be grateful to her but was also treating her with cold and harsh words!


    As Xiao Jinglan thought this, tears started to flow down her cheeks.


    She looked at Xiao Mo almost in accusation, saying word by word, ¡°Since I am so expendable in your eyes, then I won¡¯t care about anything anymore. When I perish together with the Song Family, you can reside over the Song Group to your heart¡¯s content!¡±


    Saying this, she turned to leave, which genuinely frightened Xiao Mo.


    He wasn¡¯t worried about whether Xiao Jinglan would die; what concerned him was if Xiao Jinglan perished together with the Song Family, it might lead others to suspect that he was the mastermind behind it.


    After all, if the Song Family were gone, he would be the one with the most right to inherit.


    Xiao Jinglan was still his mother, after all. Anyone with a little bit of curiosity could easily investigate and find out.


    He didn¡¯t want to wait until Xiao Jinglan died to carry this burden. There was a simpler way, so why would he take such a risk?


    ¡°Get back here right now!¡± Xiao Mo almost gritted his molars as he yelled at Xiao Jinglan.


    But it seemed like Xiao Jinglan had no intention of stopping at all.


    Xiao Mo gritted his teeth and shouted at her again, ¡°If you walk out that door today, I won¡¯t acknowledge you as my mother anymore!¡±


    That sentence stopped Xiao Jinglan in her tracks.


    She looked back at Xiao Mo in almost disbelief. But then she thought about it; her son wanted to keep her from leaving, so he said such a thing. Her heart suddenly felt warm again.


    Indeed her son still cared for her. It was just that he was too angered by other matters and had spoken without thinking.


    But considering she had already made her harsh statement, if she was shouted back now, the words she had just said wouldn¡¯t seem to have any force.


    So Xiao Jinglan just stood rigidly in place.


    Xiao Mo, of course, had no idea what Xiao Jinglan was thinking, but right now, he absolutely couldn¡¯t let this woman ruin his plans.


    He took a deep breath to calm his emotions.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough trouble today as it is. Just spare me the headache, okay? Even if you went to help me find out who is working against me, that would be good enough.¡± Xiao Mo cast a forlorn glance at Xiao Jinglan, then deliberately turned away, not looking at her any longer.


    Seeing her son looking so aggrieved, Xiao Jinglan felt a surge of pain. Her precious son, whom she had treasured for so many years, was now being bullied by others¡ªhow could she stand for that?


    She sighed softly and walked slowly to Xiao Mo¡¯s side, speaking patiently, ¡°What exactly happened to you today? How did you end up doing such a thing in the office for no reason?¡±


    She remembered the last time Xiao Mo lost control was because Xia Wenjin had drugged him during a variety show. Could it be the same case this time?


    Xiao Mo pressed his temples with some irritation, ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly what happened. I just know a woman came into my office, and I can¡¯t remember clearly what happened after that.¡±


    By the time he was conscious, his office was already crowded with people, and there was a woman next to him, disheveled and weeping pitifully.


    Xiao Mo didn¡¯t know if this woman had been set up along with him, or if she was the one setting him up.


    He hadn¡¯t had a chance to investigate yet.


    Xiao Jinglan observed Xiao Mo¡¯s somber face and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°This incident has had a really bad impact within the Song Group. Have you thought about how you¡¯re going to handle it?¡±


    He had just recently been cast in a good light as a devoted husband because of Xia Wen¡¯s disappearance in the public eye.


    Now, if it became known that he had been involved with someone else in his office, his reputation would likely take another hit.


    Xiao Mo felt a headache coming on, too. He always had a feeling that someone was working against him; it was as if someone was ever-present, opposing him. He shouldn¡¯t be in this situation.


    His fist clenched involuntarily as he raised his eyes to look at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°You go investigate for me who that woman in my office today really was. I¡¯m stuck in the hospital and can¡¯t leave.¡±


    Hearing his words, Xiao Jinglan nodded repeatedly, ¡°You just leave this matter to me; focus on recovering in the hospital.¡±


    Even if Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t mentioned it, she had intended to look into that woman¡¯s background thoroughly...

 Chapter 530: 528: Do They Really Think Hes a Fool?

    Chapter 530: Chapter 528: Do They Really Think He¡¯s a Fool?


    She certainly didn¡¯t believe in coincidences.


    She was sure that woman had long coveted her son and had used such despicable means to try to get him.


    She absolutely wouldn¡¯t let this woman succeed!


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Not long after Xiao Jinglan had left, there was another knock on Xiao Mo¡¯s hospital room door.


    Xiao Mo looked skeptically towards the door, wondering who would visit his room at this time.


    The doctors and nurses had already been by, and there wouldn¡¯t be another visit so soon.


    As Xiao Mo pondered, the woman who had appeared in his office during the day slowly pushed the door open and walked in.


    His eyebrows furrowed immediately, and he watched the woman in front of him warily and said coldly, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    He didn¡¯t plan to have much interaction with this woman before he could determine whether she was friend or foe.


    Hao Jiayi pursed her lips, and her eyes instantly reddened, ¡°Manager Xiao, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I came here to apologize to you; I was forced into it...¡±


    She hesitated in her words, looking pitifully miserable, easily rousing the protective instincts in men.


    Added to the fact that she seemed very sincere when she spoke, Xiao Mo relaxed his guard a bit.


    His brows were deeply furrowed, but his eyes still intently locked onto Hao Jiayi, ¡°I¡¯ve received your apology. If there¡¯s nothing else, please leave.¡±


    Hao Jiayi twisted her hands nervously in her clothes, seeming to gather a great deal of courage, ¡°Actually, it was Feng Jiaye who made me do it. I didn¡¯t agree, but I had no idea he would be so despicable as to drug my clothes...¡±


    Her voice trailed off, her eyes reddening further as if another word would cause her tears to fall instantly.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyebrows lifted involuntarily; he hadn¡¯t expected the woman before him to reveal the news about the mastermind behind the scenes.


    Even though he now knew that Feng Jiaye was the mastermind, it didn¡¯t really affect him since it was only Hao Jiayi¡¯s word.


    Right now, he had no evidence.


    However, the woman before him could potentially be useful to him, Xiao Mo thought, softening his gaze towards Hao Jiayi.


    ¡°What is your purpose for telling me this?¡±


    He never trusted unprovoked kindness.


    Even if this woman came before him to apologize, he couldn¡¯t fully believe her.


    Hao Jiayi sniffed, ¡°I¡¯m actually an adopted daughter of the Feng family, always controlled by Feng Jiaye. I want to escape, but I can¡¯t get away.¡±


    Having said that, she swept her gaze over Xiao Mo¡¯s face, then continued, ¡°What he had asked me to do before wasn¡¯t too bad, but recently, since he was injured and hospitalized, he¡¯s become more excessive. Now, he doesn¡¯t even care about my wishes and has drugged me; I don¡¯t know what other terrible things might be waiting for me...¡±


    At this point, Hao Jiayi¡¯s face was filled with fear of Feng Jiaye.


    For a moment, Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t tell whether she was acting or truly afraid of Feng Jiaye.


    But it didn¡¯t matter; as long as Xiao Jinglan investigated a bit, it would be easy to determine the truth of her claims.


    Although Hao Jiayi had her head down, she had been stealthily observing Xiao Mo¡¯s expressions from start to finish.


    Having been by Feng Jiaye¡¯s side for so long, she had learned to read people well and had some understanding of how to handle healthy men.


    Xiao Mo, although wary of her because of the daytime incident, clearly felt pricked by her recent words, so even if he didn¡¯t believe her, he would still want to coax more information out of her.


    ¡°Do you come to me now because you want to join forces with me and take revenge on Feng Jiyue?¡±


    Xiao Mo watched Hao Jiayi with a poker face, his voice icy cold.


    He was certain that this woman was a lure sent by Feng Jiyue to his side, waiting for him to join hands with her so that Feng Jiyue would have sufficient evidence to turn the tables on him.


    Did Feng Jiyue really think he was foolish?


    Xiao Mo glanced coldly at Hao Jiayi and saw her shake her head decidedly, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to join forces with you against him. I just hope you can provide me with a sanctuary.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s behavior was somewhat beyond his expectations, yet Xiao Mo didn¡¯t speak. He wanted to see what Hao Jiayi was planning to do next.


    Hao Jiayi blinked her slightly reddened eyes, looked up at Xiao Mo, ¡°Feng Jiyue previously instructed me to seduce you and to remain by your side, to leak your whereabouts and actions at any time. I don¡¯t want to do any of that.¡±


    The look Xiao Mo gave Hao Jiayi seemed to grow more interested, ¡°Then what do you want to do?¡±


    Hao Jiayi pursed her lips, ¡°I... I just want to live a quiet life...¡±


    Her tears followed the corners of her eyes and flowed down, arousing pity in anyone who saw.


    ¡°If you are willing, I can cooperate with you to send false messages to him. I have no other demands; I only hope you can protect my personal safety.¡±


    Xiao Mo listened to her words and didn¡¯t find them excessive; after all, it was natural for a woman to seek someone to protect herself.


    He just didn¡¯t expect the pawn sent over by Feng Jiyue to defect so easily.


    But on second thought, it wasn¡¯t that surprising.


    After all, Feng Jiyue himself wasn¡¯t a very capable person, and anyone with a brain would know who to choose.


    Moreover, Hao Jiayi¡¯s words struck a chord with him, and since she posed no threat to him, Xiao Mo of course didn¡¯t mind lending her a hand.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze swept over Hao Jiayi and he couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips into a smile, ¡°Since you want my protection, there has to be a price to pay, right?¡±


    Although he lacked awareness in the office, his physical sensations were still very pleasant.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s intense gaze fell on Hao Jiayi; how could she possibly not understand what he wanted?


    Men really were all cut from the same cloth.


    However, this was actually a good thing for her. Without Feng Jiyue, she could be with other men.


    Hao Jiayi thought that since Xiao Mo was Feng Jiyue¡¯s arch-nemesis, even if he found out that Feng Jiyue had her photos and videos, he wouldn¡¯t mind.


    After all, by Xiao Mo¡¯s side, she would already be seen as the victim, and men instinctively care for and protect the vulnerable.


    Now it was just a matter of time until Xiao Mo would dispose of Feng Jiyue.


    Hao Jiayi felt a tinge of regret that she hadn¡¯t succeeded with Xia Wenqing a few days ago, but this Xiao Mo seemed to have some assets, too.


    At least she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her situation for a while.


    Hao Jiayi feigned difficulty as she glanced at Xiao Mo, and finally, as if she had made up her mind, she slowly walked step by step towards him.


    Approaching the edge of his bed, Hao Jiayi¡¯s eyes reddened again, ¡°So you¡¯ve agreed? You will protect me... right?¡±

 Chapter 531: 529 This Method Seems Too Stupid

    Chapter 531: Chapter 529 This Method Seems Too Stupid


    Xiao Mo looked at the woman before him with satisfaction, her eyes brimming with desire just enough to stroke his male ego.


    He grabbed her chin forcefully, flipping her around to press her against the office desk.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as you¡¯re with me, I can give you everything you want...¡±


    Hao Jiayi had long been accustomed to making deals with men, so when Xiao Mo spoke, she wasn¡¯t surprised. She felt that with her beauty, it would be odd if men weren¡¯t moved by her.


    Previously, when facing Xia Wenqing, she had felt almost completely certain, yet unexpectedly, she kept hitting a wall in front of that man.


    She even began to doubt herself at the time, yet with Xiao Mo, she hadn¡¯t faltered, which allowed her to regain some confidence.


    ¡°I have no other demands, just give me a stable environment to live in,¡± Hao Jiayi¡¯s head dipped slightly, feigning a pitiful look of wanting nothing more.


    When Xiao Mo saw her pitiable state, a rush of desire surged within him.


    Ever since Xia Wenjin disappeared, he hadn¡¯t vented in this regard much.


    Before he married Xia Wenjin, he used to pay professionals outside. After marrying Xia Wenjin, he always toyed with her at home.


    After Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance, he had wanted to pay to solve his needs, but he also feared that his every move could be used against him by others with ulterior motives, so he had to restrain himself.


    Now that someone readily presented herself, how could he possibly refuse?


    The corners of Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth curled up smugly, and he casually laid his hands on Hao Jiayi...


    ...


    It didn¡¯t take long for Song Sinian to learn about the affair between Xiao Mo and Hao Jiayi.


    Lu Zhaozhao had just returned to the office when Xu Zhenzhen eagerly shared the gossip with her and Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°You¡¯ll never guess who we found in Xiao Mo¡¯s office!¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement, full of eagerness to spout her gossip.


    Without a second thought, Xia Wenqing blurted out, ¡°Was it Hao Jiayi?¡±


    His remark caught Xu Zhenzhen off guard.


    She blinked her doe-eyes, staring blankly at Xia Wenqing and asked, word by word, ¡°Second Brother, how did you know? Did you have someone spying there?¡±


    Xia Wenqing exchanged a glance with Song Sinian before they both turned their gaze back to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s small face.


    With a touch of helplessness, he sighed, ¡°When you and Zhaozhao went out, it was to seek revenge on Hao Jiayi. Upon your return, you didn¡¯t mention Hao Jiayi but instead spoke of Xiao Mo first. There can only be one explanation¡ªthat Hao Jiayi was in Xiao Mo¡¯s office.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was evidently amazed by Xia Wenqing¡¯s deductive prowess.


    She gazed at him with admiration, ¡°Second Brother, you¡¯re so smart to have thought of that!¡±


    Song Sinian: ...


    Lu Zhaozhao: ...


    Lu Zhaozhao now finally understood why Xu Zhenzhen, who studied abroad, had been so easily deceived by Liu Xiaozhen. With such a simple mind, it was indeed very easy to be tricked.


    Xia Wenqing, flustered by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s praise, coughed lightly to change the subject, ¡°What was Hao Jiayi doing in Xiao Mo¡¯s office?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but pout, ¡°What she wanted to do in your office back then is the same thing she wants to do in Xiao Mo¡¯s office now...¡±


    Xia Wenqing instantly got Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s point.


    Yet at the same time, he was shocked, his eyes widening, ¡°What on earth does Hao Jiayi aim to achieve by doing this?¡±


    If she drugged him back then, it might have been because she saw his earnestness and dependability, and she knew he wouldn¡¯t mistreat a woman who had slept with him.


    Then her going to look for Xiao Mo now doesn¡¯t make much sense.


    Although Xiao Mo¡¯s wife, Xia Wenjin, had disappeared, the two had not divorced, which meant Xiao Mo was still a married man. Even if Hao Jiayi slept with him, she¡¯d still be a mistress.


    Even if she were desperate, she shouldn¡¯t be flinging herself at Xiao Mo¡¯s wall.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to catch on to Xia Wenqing¡¯s doubts. ¡°If Xiao Mo is really Hao Jiayi¡¯s true target, then doesn¡¯t that explain everything?¡±


    Xia Wenqing paused for a moment and immediately grasped her meaning.


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s body had been crippled by someone hired by Xiao Mo, so it wasn¡¯t impossible that he¡¯d sent Hao Jiayi to seduce Xiao Mo.


    But this method seemed too foolish.


    With a little investigation, Xiao Mo could easily discover the intricate relationship between him and Hao Jiayi.


    Adding to that was Xiao Mo¡¯s naturally suspicious nature.


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s brain simply wasn¡¯t equipped for such intricate scheming.


    Xia Wenqing snorted softly. ¡°Hao Jiayi is pretty cunning herself. Those two are quite a match.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged noncommittally; Hao Jiayi¡¯s thoughts were indeed not as simple as she appeared on the surface.


    She was even shrewder than Feng Jiayue.


    Her initial intent for bringing Feng Jiyue into Song Group was to irritate Xiao Mo, and she had never considered whether Feng Jiayue could outsmart him.


    After all, Feng Jiayue, with his indulgent vices, was no match for someone as crafty as Xiao Mo, especially when coupled with his hair-trigger temper, which was more a hindrance than a help.


    But now, with Hao Jiayi in the mix, the game seemed much more interesting.


    Xu Zhenzhen frowned with some annoyance. ¡°Are we just going to let Hao Jiayi go directly to Xiao Mo?¡±


    Although Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t anything decent, he was at least a department manager.


    Even if Hao Jiayi were only his lover, she wouldn¡¯t have a tough life.


    Xu Zhenzhen became angry just thinking about how Xia Wenqing had almost been insulted because of that woman. It was unjustifiable.


    There was no reason she should forgive her just because she¡¯d picked out a scumbag; after all, she was the one willing to rush in headlong.


    Why should Xu Zhenzhen forgive her mistakes just because Hao Jiayi was in a tough spot? She simply couldn¡¯t do it; she was a petty and vindictive person!


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head. ¡°Xiao Mo isn¡¯t a good sort, and although Feng Jiyue is a fool, he¡¯s rotten to the core. If both men find out that Hao Jiayi has betrayed them, don¡¯t you think that scene would be quite interesting?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen almost instantly understood Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s point.


    They didn¡¯t have to clean up Hao Jiayi themselves, but that didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t.


    If they can make Hao Jiayi¡¯s life a living hell with just a little effort from their lips and fingertips, why should they bother to get their hands dirty?


    Although beating her up would be more satisfying, just hitting her once seemed like letting her off easy.


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t want to let Hao Jiayi off so lightly. Since she thought she had the brains and the means, then let her struggle between these two men.


    Let her believe she¡¯s clever, fooling both sides.


    But little does she know that both parties are already aware of her motives, and the more Hao Jiayi tries to impress, the more likely she is to be resented by both.


    After all, both are scumbags, and Hao Jiayi¡¯s days ahead won¡¯t be easy...

 Chapter 532: 530: Didnt You Know Very Early On?

    Chapter 532: Chapter 530: Didn¡¯t You Know Very Early On?


    They only needed to quietly wait for Xiao Mo and Feng Jiyue to make their move.


    Xu Zhenzhen sat on the sofa, cocking her head, ¡°Xiao Mo is so suspicious. How can we make him believe what we say?¡±


    Xia Wenqing rubbed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s head, ¡°A suspicious appearance doesn¡¯t mean everyone around him is equally suspicious. We just need to find someone who is not too bright and not so suspicious.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows immediately knitted together, ¡°All the people around Xiao Mo are extremely cunning. Where can we find someone who is not only dim-witted but also not as suspicious?¡±


    The office suddenly fell silent, as everyone seemed to be considering this important candidate.


    In the end, it was Song Sinian who spoke first, ¡°There is someone who¡¯s not too bright and isn¡¯t very suspicious, but I¡¯m afraid Xiao Mo won¡¯t listen to her.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao also realized who Song Sinian was referring to.


    ¡°Song Keren indeed isn¡¯t too bright and doesn¡¯t have much suspicion, but it seems like she hasn¡¯t been returning to the Xiao Family much lately.¡±


    Even if he had objections to Xiao Mo¡¯s actions, Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t listen to him.


    Since Xia Wenjin disappeared, Song Keren had become much more obedient.


    It was said that she was recently pregnant, so it seems her relationship with Justin wasn¡¯t bad.


    If she could continue to be Justin¡¯s obedient wife, that wouldn¡¯t be a bad outcome.


    Song Sinian nodded slightly, ¡°There¡¯s indeed no need to make a move against Song Keren, but Xiao Jinglan is a good point of breakthrough.¡±


    Although she was quite cunning, her love for Xiao Mo was real.


    If she found out that such a big bomb had been planted right next to her son, she couldn¡¯t possibly remain indifferent.


    Instead of looking for other useless people, it was better to use Xiao Jinglan¡¯s concern for Xiao Mo and let her take the initiative to ¡°defuse the bomb¡± for him.


    Even if Xiao Mo was unhappy about it, he would likely investigate due to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words.


    By then, no matter how flowery Hao Jiayi¡¯s excuses were, they would probably be futile.


    Xia Wenqing pondered for a moment; it seemed this was the only option for now.


    He nodded lightly, ¡°There¡¯s also a spy placed by the Xiao Family in my office. In the next few days, Zhenzhen and I will pretend to let slip some information to him unintentionally. That way, when Xiao Jinglan brings up the matter, Xiao Mo will probably not be suspicious.¡±


    ¡°Good. Let¡¯s do it this way.¡±


    ...


    Hao Jiayi, having switched allegiances to Xiao Mo earlier, had been promoted to his personal secretary.


    Even if there was nothing important happening, Hao Jiayi would nestle in the office, being intimate with Xiao Mo.


    Every time she came out of the office, her hair would be somewhat disheveled, or her lipstick would be mostly gone, or sometimes her blouse buttons would be incorrectly fastened.


    Even if the people from the sales department were blind, they knew what this so-called secretary¡¯s role was to Xiao Mo.


    Therefore, whenever Hao Jiayi was in the office, everyone tacitly refrained from entering, or they would knock loudly on the door before entering, waiting for the people inside to invite them in.


    But not everyone who entered Xiao Mo¡¯s office had the perceptiveness of the sales department staff.


    Take Xiao Jinglan, for example.


    She gently knocked on the office door and walked in, only to see, a few steps in, Xiao Mo embracing Hao Jiayi on his desk, lavishing affection on her.


    ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Clenching her fists tightly, Xiao Jinglan glared at the two indulging themselves in the office, her brows almost twisting into a knot.


    Xiao Mo was obviously startled by the sound of the unexpected visitor, since people usually knocked before entering upon receiving his permission.


    So he would normally attend to the matter at hand first and only then would he allow the person outside to come in.


    But who would have thought that the person entering would be Xiao Jinglan.


    She would never wait for him at the door.


    Although Xiao Mo was quite annoyed, he slowly let go of Hao Jiayi.


    Hao Jiayi, noticing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s piercing gaze fixed on her, immediately lowered her head, adopting the appearance of a frightened delicate flower.


    Seeing this, Xiao Mo raised his hand and patted her on the back to reassure her, ¡°You go out first. I¡¯ll call you back in later.¡±


    As he spoke, his hand slowly moved down to squeeze her side, then he gave her a particularly flirtatious wink.


    He had been very pleased with Hao Jiayi these past few days.


    She was always so clingy around him, easily arousing his protective instincts, which is why he had been especially indulgent toward Hao Jiayi recently.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows furrowed even deeper at the sight of Xiao Mo¡¯s behavior.


    She had heard rumors of a woman named Hao Jiayi clinging to her son during her previous visit, though she did not believe them at the time.


    But now, faced with this situation, she had no choice but to believe them.


    Xiao Mo had always been very composed in front of her, the last time he was utterly bewitched by a woman was when he met Lu Zhaozhao.


    Back then, after several failed attempts, he finally gave up.


    Xiao Jinglan had particularly despised Lu Zhaozhao at the time because she thought she had a face that was too seductive, one that completely infatuated her son.


    It had even led to a conflict between them.


    She had wanted to tear Lu Zhaozhao apart with her bare hands.


    Fortunately, Xiao Mo later married Xia Wenjin, and they presented a united front.


    But that despicable woman had dared to poison her, and just the thought made Xiao Jinglan tremble with uncontrollable anger.


    ¡°How did you come here?¡± Suddenly, Xiao Mo¡¯s voice echoed in the room, pulling her thoughts back to the present.


    Xiao Jinglan, with a dark look on her face, fixed her gaze tightly on Xiao Mo and said word by word, ¡°You still have the nerve to ask? The things you¡¯ve done in this office have already become public knowledge. Why do you think I¡¯m here?¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s complexion suddenly shifted, seemingly quite displeased with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s manner of speaking.


    He had been pampered like a lord by Hao Jiayi these days, with everything going smoothly for him, so being confronted by someone else suddenly triggered his rebellious side.


    ¡°What I do in my office is none of your business. You are not the president of Song Group; why should you interfere?¡± Xiao Mo retorted without thinking, which really choked Xiao Jinglan.


    She looked at Xiao Mo with almost disbelief, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good. Aren¡¯t you afraid that the things you do with that woman in the office will be reported to Old Master Song by people with intentions?¡±


    Xiao Mo had always been very careful about his reputation within Song Group, all because of that despicable woman that he became so careless.


    Sure enough, that woman must have been sent by Feng Jiyue to harm her son!


    The more Xiao Jinglan thought about it, the angrier she became, glaring at Xiao Mo with venom.


    Yet she heard Xiao Mo say coolly, ¡°Old Master Song has been displeased with me for a long time. Whether I did these things in the office or not, he has never liked me, didn¡¯t you know that a long time ago?¡±


    In Old Master Song¡¯s eyes, Song Sinian was the only one that mattered; everyone else was nothing!

 Chapter 533: 531: Shes Out to Harm You!

    Chapter 533: Chapter 531: She¡¯s Out to Harm You!


    Xiao Mo had known since the day he married that Old Master Song, without any mercy, kicked him and Song Keren out of the Song Family.


    It was just that Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t accept it, so she simply didn¡¯t want to acknowledge it.


    The only reason Old Master Song allowed Xiao Jinglan into the Song Family was that he worried Sinian had no one to take care of him. After so many years in the Song Family, Xiao Jinglan had never received Old Master Song¡¯s approval.


    If Xiao Jinglan had won over Old Master Song early on, given Sinian¡¯s situation, Old Master Song could have potentially trained him as the heir instead of waiting for Sinian to grow up and then kicking him out of the Song Family!


    Thinking of this, Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze toward Xiao Jinglan carried a hint of blame.


    Xiao Jinglan felt so choked up by Xiao Mo¡¯s words that she almost couldn¡¯t breathe.


    Yet she couldn¡¯t find the words to retort, because what he said was true.


    Old Master Song indeed didn¡¯t take them seriously¡ªeven she, who had served the Song Family diligently for many years as its mistress, had never been valued by him.


    If he had even slightly considered her part of the Song Family, he wouldn¡¯t have driven his daughter and son away right in front of her.


    Although Xiao Mo was, at that time, under his nephew¡¯s name.


    But Old Master Song being so merciless was indeed a slap in her face.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression changed again and again, ¡°Even so, you shouldn¡¯t give up on yourself and get involved with that kind of woman!¡±


    Listening to Xiao Jinglan constantly bad-mouthing Hao Jiayi, Xiao Mo¡¯s eyebrows furrowed noticeably, ¡°I¡¯m already an adult, you don¡¯t need to manage what I do.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan felt a suffocating tightness in her chest, her frown deepening, ¡°Xiao Mo, do you know that woman is a spy sent by Feng Jiyue?¡±


    She thought that by saying this, even if Xiao Mo was still mad at her, he wouldn¡¯t easily let this woman go.


    But to her surprise, Xiao Mo merely snorted lightly, seemingly not caring at all.


    Xiao Jinglan exploded, ¡°Xiao Mo, are you bewitched by that woman? She¡¯s out to harm you!¡±


    She was truly frantic.


    She had learned from the spies she had placed in the Song Group that Hao Jiayi was involved with Feng Jiyue, and she had even seduced Xia Wenqing. How could Xiao Mo still want this kind of woman around!


    How could she accept that?


    Seeing Xiao Mo indifferent, Xiao Jinglan grew even more agitated, ¡°I just told you, that woman has something going on with Feng Jiyue, can¡¯t you understand? Just recently, you just dealt with Feng Jiyue, and then this woman comes to you, don¡¯t you find it suspicious?¡±


    Xiao Mo watched Xiao Jinglan earnestly, casually raising his eyebrows, ¡°I know all this; she¡¯s already told me.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan looked at Xiao Mo in disbelief, ¡°She¡¯s already told you? That woman? She told you her own intentions?¡±


    Her gaze scrutinized Xiao Mo, trying to ascertain whether his last words were true or false.


    Xiao Mo nodded, ¡°She told me the day she arrived that she¡¯s controlled by Feng Jiyue, so she had to work for him, but as long as I can guarantee her safety, she¡¯s willing to pretend to cooperate with Feng Jiyue.¡±


    Hearing this, Xiao Jinglan was almost angered to death on the spot by Xiao Mo¡¯s words; she couldn¡¯t believe her son could be so naive.


    She couldn¡¯t help but press her temples, feeling like Xiao Mo could infuriate her at any moment.


    ¡°You already know that this woman has impure motives, why not stay away from her?¡±


    Xiao Mo shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Why should I keep my distance from someone who can be of use to me? Besides, she wouldn¡¯t cause me any substantial harm.¡±


    At that point, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Ever since you walked in, you have been talking about Hao Jiayi. Who gave you the information that brought you here to trouble me?¡±


    Listening to Xiao Mo, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of her mouth, ¡°With the mess that woman has made, do I really need someone else to inform me?¡±


    She was almost amused by Xiao Mo¡¯s attitude.


    If this son weren¡¯t her own flesh and blood, she really wouldn¡¯t want to deal with him at all.


    Xiao Jinglan took a deep breath, ¡°Do you still remember the spy we planted in the Song Group before?¡±


    The person later accidentally ended up in the Song Group¡¯s Legal Department, where Xia Wenqing worked.


    Xiao Mo certainly knew, as several of his spies involved with directors had been ousted from the Song Group.


    He had once thought that Song Sinian had already grasped his deployment and had worried for a long time, thinking that if he had indeed found out, they would be at a complete deadlock.


    But unexpectedly, Song Sinian only suppressed a few directors and then did nothing more.


    He had also investigated those spies who were placed in key positions and discovered they had indeed done many shady things.


    This made Xiao Mo very frustrated.


    He had planned to make use of these people when the time was right, but he hadn¡¯t expected them to ruin his plans for their own selfish interests.


    He had laid out his plans for so long, and now it had all turned to sand!


    The more Xiao Mo thought about it, the more depressed he became, but eventually his gaze returned to Xiao Jinglan, ¡°What happened to that spy?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan met Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze and then slowly said, ¡°Hao Jiayi was previously in the Legal Department. Did you know that this woman once tried to seduce Xia Wenqing?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo didn¡¯t respond this time, because he genuinely didn¡¯t know about it.


    Seeing a slight change in Xiao Mo¡¯s expression, Xiao Jinglan knew there was an opportunity and immediately pressed on, ¡°Just a few days ago, a police car and an ambulance arrived at the Song Group, and the person taken away was Hao Jiayi. It was because she had drugged Xia Wenqing and was then attacked...¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°drugged Xia Wenqing,¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s complexion visibly darkened; he had always believed Hao Jiayi was, as she said, driven to it.


    Was it also a desperate act toward Xia Wenqing?


    And was he the second choice after Xia Wenqing¡¯s failure?


    Losing to Song Sinian was one thing.


    Xia Family¡¯s second young master had no real power in the XJ Group; he was just a lawyer, and yet Hao Jiayi had still ranked him ahead of Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo instantly felt insulted.


    He had always considered himself on the same level as Song Sinian, only he was unlucky to become an illegitimate child.


    But as a descendant of the Song Family, what was the difference between him and Song Sinian?


    So for Hao Jiayi to fail in drugging Xia Wenqing and then to try to drug him was a profound humiliation!


    Xiao Mo clenched his fists fiercely, his sharp eyes squinting slightly, ¡°Did Xia Wenqing and his people tell you all this?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan shook her head, ¡°Of course not, Xia Wenqing and his people wouldn¡¯t discuss this in front of so many people; it was the spy who overheard it.¡±

 Chapter 534: 532: Vixen!

    Chapter 534: Chapter 532: Vixen!


    Xiao Jinglan saw that Xiao Mo seemed to believe what she had said, so she continued, ¡°Xia Wenqing has a girlfriend, and after he was drugged, he immediately smashed the glass to save himself. He held out until Xu Zhenzhen arrived at the office. After Xu Zhenzhen beat up Hao Jiayi, the two of them left. Not many people know about this because Xia Wenqing felt embarrassed.¡±


    ¡°I will investigate this matter thoroughly, you can go back first.¡±


    Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with Xiao Jinglan anymore. At this point, all he wanted to do was to figure out if the woman named Hao Jiayi was playing him.


    If it really was as Xiao Jinglan said, he definitely wouldn¡¯t let her get away with it.


    Soon after Xiao Jinglan had left Xiao Mo¡¯s office, Hao Jiayi naturally ran over from the pantry.


    The two almost bumped into each other face to face; Xiao Jinglan gave Hao Jiayi a big eye-roll, and without any mercy, cursed, ¡°Vixen!¡±


    Far from being angry, Hao Jiayi looked back at Xiao Jinglan with a face full of pride.


    ¡°With my beauty, of course, I¡¯d play the vixen role¡ªhow else would I make men like me?¡±


    Her light words nearly drove Xiao Jinglan to rush forward and tear her apart, but she held back. After all, Xiao Mo had just taken her words to heart.


    He definitely wouldn¡¯t take Hao Jiayi seriously anymore¡ªthinking this, Xiao Jinglan was in no hurry.


    She tugged at the corners of her mouth and gave Hao Jiayi a feigned smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be too smug, you know very well what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    The color on Hao Jiayi¡¯s face changed slightly, but remembering that she had already informed Xiao Mo about her relationship with Feng Jiyue, she thought that even if Xiao Jinglan found out anything, she wouldn¡¯t be able to touch her.


    Thinking this, Hao Jiayi smiled back at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Aunty, rest assured, I am well aware of what I have done, there¡¯s no need for you to worry about me.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan glared at Hao Jiayi viciously, ¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡±


    Watching Xiao Jinglan¡¯s back as she walked away, Hao Jiayi sneered softly and turned to go to Xiao Mo¡¯s office.


    As soon as she entered, she went straight to Xiao Mo, looking at him with a tear-streaked face, ¡°Amo, does Auntie dislike me? She¡¯s so fierce, and she even called me a vixen before she left. I wanted to explain to Auntie, but she wouldn¡¯t listen... sob sob sob...¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze swept up and down Hao Jiayi¡¯s face.


    Previously, when he had believed Hao Jiayi, seeing her in tears always made her seem like an innocent flower victimized by circumstances, but now, he found her to be a cunning and manipulative schemer instead.


    Where was the tenderness in his eyes from a few days ago?


    Hao Jiayi sensed that Xiao Mo¡¯s attitude toward her had changed slightly from before, but couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it.


    She felt that in the past few days, her total subservience to Xiao Mo had made him lower his guard; he wouldn¡¯t just turn against her because of a few casual words from Xiao Jinglan.


    Sniffling, Hao Jiayi pitifully reached out and tugged at his sleeve, ¡°If I make Amo feel troubled, I¡¯d rather bear the hardship myself. It¡¯s all okay, really.¡±


    The corners of Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, curving into a small smile, ¡°How could I allow you to suffer?¡±


    His feigned smile lingered as he looked at Hao Jiayi, ¡°You are the one willing to cooperate and spread false information for my sake. With such deep feelings and serious intentions toward me, how could I possibly abandon you?¡±


    Hearing him say this, the tension in Hao Jiayi¡¯s heart instantly eased; indeed, men were easy to fool.


    Especially the ones who had slept with her¡ªthey were even easier to deceive.


    Xiao Mo reached out and gave her waist a hard squeeze before speaking in detail, ¡°Why don¡¯t you come home with me tonight? It¡¯s time you experienced my true capabilities...¡±


    His words were ambiguous, making Hao Jiayi¡¯s face flush instantly.


    Hao Jiayi didn¡¯t expect Xiao Mo to let her into the inner circle so quickly.


    Xiao Jinglan had just visited, clearly harboring hostility towards her.


    She thought that after Xiao Jinglan left, she would have to explain herself a few more times with her body, but surprisingly, Xiao Mo completely ignored Xiao Jinglan and even wanted to take her back to his home.


    This reversal was completely beyond Hao Jiayi¡¯s expectation. She had prepared for the worst, thinking that if she couldn¡¯t win over Xiao Mo, she would continue to play along with Feng Jiyue.


    Then, while taking the opportunity to be by his side, she would look for a few older men.


    Though it seemed like a loss for someone her age, it was certainly better than continuing to endure abuse from the Feng family.


    Who would have thought, not only did she secure Xiao Mo, he was smitten and crazy for her.


    Xiao Jinglan probably never imagined that her visit to the office would inadvertently serve as a catalyst for Hao Jiayi¡¯s entrance into the Xiao family.


    The more Hao Jiayi had disliked Xiao Jinglan just before, the more she now liked her.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s mind was consumed with the thoughts of Xiao Mo taking her back to the Xiao Family¡¯s home, completely unaware of the significant difference in the man¡¯s expression compared to his usual demeanor.


    And she was unaware of the hellish situation awaiting her...


    Xiao Mo watched Hao Jiayi¡¯s smug expression and couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips, though the emotion was quickly concealed in his eyes.


    She really wasn¡¯t the innocent flower she pretended to be in front of him.


    Ha! Very good, since she dared to deceive him, she was going to pay the price for her deception!


    Near the end of winter, the weather had warmed up from before.


    Song Sinian originally wanted him to start working after the New Year, but Lu Zhaozhao felt that staying at home all the time was too boring.


    Furthermore, during their last visit to Doctor Tian, they were explicitly advised that it was best for Lu Zhaozhao, with her emotional instability, not to brood at home.


    It was better for her to engage in interesting activities to distract herself and prevent a recurrence of her previous episode.


    Even though Song Sinian was reluctant, he had to compromise, as he never obstructed anything that was good for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Knowing of Song Sinian¡¯s kindness, Lu Zhaozhao naturally also took his feelings into account.


    In order not to impact the time she spent with Song Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao chose the role of the fourth female in a show.


    Her part wasn¡¯t large, she could go to work every day and still come home to cherish moments with Song Sinian.


    What Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t expect was for the male lead of the play to be Bai Qing once again.


    And he acted as if he was very familiar with her, sitting by her side, making Lu Zhaozhao wish she could roll her eyes until they fell out.


    She suddenly remembered that during the last production, this guy had issues with Sun Qian, which ended up making her a target, although they later got along fine. Still, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want to be around such a high-profile personality; it was too conspicuous.


    ¡°Teacher Lu, it¡¯s been such a long time,¡± Bai Qing said, as if completely oblivious to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s disdain, and started to greet her of his own accord.

 Chapter 535: 533: Who is this implying?

    Chapter 535: Chapter 533: Who is this implying?


    He had been in the entertainment industry for quite a while, but it was the first time he met someone like Lu Zhaozhao, who completely didn¡¯t want to use him for publicity or rather, she even seemed somewhat disdainful of him.


    Yet, it was precisely because of this that he found it very comfortable to be around Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although previously, in that crew, Sun Qian kept ¡°acting senior,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sharp tongue was unbeatable.


    He truly had a lot of fun.


    Later, he had his manager inquire about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s schedule, only to find out that she had semi-retired, which made him feel somewhat disappointed.


    In the entertainment industry, it would be difficult to find another person as interesting as her.


    Later, he devotedly joined a new crew seamlessly, and the moment he heard that the female number four in this crew was Lu Zhaozhao, he accepted the script invitation without a second thought.


    Sure enough, it was still the familiar her, the familiar dismissive glance, still the same lukewarm disdain for him.


    Bai Qing almost burst out laughing because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat reluctant, Bai Qing had taken the initiative to greet her, so she couldn¡¯t avoid him. Thus, she forced a smile that was both stiff and insincere, and said to him, ¡°Mr. Bai, nice to see you¡¯re well.¡±


    Bai Qing didn¡¯t care at all about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s disdain, instead he casually placed a bottle of water in front of her.


    Now, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t pretend to be unfamiliar with him anymore.


    Bai Qing, watching Lu Zhaozhao grit her teeth, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle inwardly.


    Indeed, this woman was different from others, collaborating with her always made him feel very relaxed.


    He rested his chin on his hand and murmured to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Teacher Lu, I need your help with something, I wonder if you could do me the honor.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted slightly, ¡°If it¡¯s work-related, I¡¯ll certainly do my best, but if it¡¯s a personal matter, I can¡¯t make any promises.¡±


    Her gaze moved up and down over Bai Qing, and her face showed no enthusiasm at all, if it weren¡¯t for the other staff around.


    She really didn¡¯t want to do him any favors.


    Though directly refusing Bai Qing wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, but who made him a top influencer?


    The slightest move, and it would stir up a storm outside.


    She didn¡¯t want to deal with all that hassle, and if Bai Qing¡¯s request wasn¡¯t too excessive, agreeing to it wasn¡¯t a problem.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s...¡±


    ¡°Brother Bai, where have you been? Why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡± Before Bai Qing could finish his words, the door of the room was pushed open by a woman from outside.


    This room was the meeting room used by their crew for script reading, usually off-limits to non-staff. At first glance, this woman was clearly not a staff member.


    Both her attire and jewelry were expensive, looking like the heiress of some investor family.


    Lu Zhaozhao was not surprised, as Bai Qing was a top influencer; plenty of young girls adored him, and it wasn¡¯t unlikely for some of these girls with resources to have their fathers invest in films starring Bai Qing.


    Seeing that someone¡¯s fan-chasing had reached the conference room, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want to be a third wheel. She stood up, intending to make room for the two.


    Then she heard the woman¡¯s sarcastic voice, ¡°I was wondering why Brother Bai left so quickly. Turns out he was hooked by this vixen!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao: ...


    I¡¯m just speechless.


    She left two minutes late and now all this blame is dumped on her?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes slightly lifted, and she almost cursed right then and there.


    She took a deep breath, slightly tugged at the corner of her mouth, and explained with a polite yet distant smile, ¡°Miss, I have absolutely no relationship with your Brother Bai, we are just ordinary colleagues, nothing more.¡±


    But the other party still refused to let it go.


    ¡°Ordinary colleagues, and you end up alone in a room together? Ordinary colleagues, and you sit so close? Do you think I¡¯m a three-year-old? That easy to fool?¡± The woman let loose a barrage of accusations, leaving Lu Zhaozhao utterly speechless.


    She actually believed she was a three-year-old, or at least that her intelligence was at that stage, maybe fluctuating by about a year or so.


    How could any normal person completely ignore someone else¡¯s explanation?


    She and Bai Qing weren¡¯t alone in a room; weren¡¯t the other staff members human?


    Who exactly was she insinuating?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze turned to Bai Qing next to her, hoping he would explain things to this unreasonable woman.


    She had nothing to do with him, so why should she suffer this unwarranted disaster?


    Bai Qing also looked embarrassed, and he said with some annoyance to the woman in front of him, ¡°Miss He, I¡¯ve already told you, I¡¯m not interested in you, and I hope you won¡¯t harass me anymore.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just blinded by this vixen, right? It¡¯s because of her that you¡¯re rejecting my advances, isn¡¯t it?¡± He Xintian completely ignored what Bai Qing had said, convinced that he was involved with Lu Zhaozhao and therefore rejecting her.


    Bai Qing¡¯s eyebrows furrowed deeply, ¡°Miss Lu is just a colleague, not what you¡¯re suggesting. I¡¯m not interested in you at all, and even if I weren¡¯t interested in someone else, I wouldn¡¯t be with you.¡±


    He Xintian acted like she didn¡¯t understand a word Bai Qing said, ¡°You¡¯re just covering for this woman, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not as foolish as you think, getting deceived by you two!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao stood by, almost speechless; did this woman have a screw loose?


    The more she tried to ignore her, the more the woman insisted on smearing her, and Lu Zhaozhao found it very hard to restrain herself, ¡°Lady, I have a husband, I really...¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t believe you¡¯d even cheat within marriage! You¡¯re already married, you simply don¡¯t deserve Bai Qing!¡± Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish, He Xintian again spouted a slew of nasty words.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows raised, her gaze turned to Bai Qing beside her, seemingly questioning what kind of trouble he had brought onto the set.


    Why bother him, and why should she also suffer?


    Bai Qing too looked helpless, his expression towards Lu Zhaozhao filled with a hint of apology.


    This He Xintian woman was a rich heiress from He Group, previously claiming she was his fan.


    Because his father had invested quite a bit in his dramas, his agent had arranged several meals with him and his father.


    Little did he expect that after those meals, He Xintian would consider herself his girlfriend.


    Wherever he went for filming, she would follow, utterly irksome.


    He had rejected her many times already, yet she, just like now, wouldn¡¯t listen to him at all, only forcing her perception onto others.


    Bai Qing was speechless but equally helpless.


    He had initially just wanted to walk, hoping Zhaozhao could help him shake off this woman, since she had proven quite formidable when confronting Sun Qian previously.

 Chapter 536: 534: Bite Off More Than You Can Chew!

    Chapter 536: Chapter 534: Bite Off More Than You Can Chew!


    So he thought that if he was in the same drama crew as Lu Zhaozhao, perhaps she could help him deal with He Xintian, but he didn¡¯t expect that before he could even speak, He Xintian had already started picking a fight with Lu Zhaozhao.


    He could tell from the look of disgust on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face that this matter had no hope.


    Lu Zhaozhao already couldn¡¯t wait to get away from him, and now that he was entangled by such a troublesome woman like He Xintian, Lu Zhaozhao would probably leave the crew on the spot.


    Bai Qing was clearly also annoyed by He Xintian¡¯s unreasonable words, ¡°What are you even saying? Teacher Lu already told you she has a partner, it has nothing to do with me, why do you insist on dragging the two of us into this?¡±


    This woman was simply beyond reason. Even if she was the investor¡¯s daughter, he couldn¡¯t continue to tolerate it!


    Lu Zhaozhao was originally planning to directly confront He Xintian, but she didn¡¯t expect that Bai Qing would suddenly stand up for her.


    She just pursed her lips and said no more.


    But to her surprise, instead of holding back, He Xintian became even more furious.


    ¡°You¡¯re just feeling guilty. I only said a few words to her, and you¡¯re already protecting her like this, claiming it has nothing to do with her! It¡¯s all because of this vixen, if it weren¡¯t for her, you wouldn¡¯t treat me like this.¡±


    He Xintian glared at Lu Zhaozhao resentfully.


    ¡°You...¡± Bai Qing was so angry he was almost jumping with frustration. What could he do with a woman he could absolutely not reason with?


    He felt helpless.


    Just as Bai Qing was about to lose his temper at her, he was stopped by Lu Zhaozhao who put her hand on his shoulder, ¡°Mr. Bai, there¡¯s no use in explaining.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao realized that the more Bai Qing tried to explain, the less the woman believed.


    This woman named He Xintian was just sticking to her ¡°I¡¯m not listening, I¡¯m not listening,¡± attitude, unmoved no matter how eloquently you spoke.


    Bai Qing looked at Lu Zhaozhao apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Teacher Lu, I never expected her to go mad like this, it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡±


    He Xintian saw Bai Qing being so intimate with Lu Zhaozhao, and she lost her temper again.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, you vixen! I must tear your face apart!¡± As she spoke, He Xintian lunged at Lu Zhaozhao.


    But before she could get close to Lu Zhaozhao, she was kicked in the stomach and slammed against the wall behind her.


    She spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot and then curled up on the ground in a miserable heap.


    Having been kicked hard in the stomach by Lu Zhaozhao, He Xintian was in so much pain she was gasping for air. The pain in her back was so intense she couldn¡¯t utter a word, only staring at Lu Zhaozhao with venomous eyes.


    The shocked Bai Qing, who stood by, had not yet recovered from the scene that had unfolded.


    He had always thought that Lu Zhaozhao was only verbally aggressive; who knew her martial arts skills were also outstanding?


    In that lightning-fast moment, he hadn¡¯t even reacted, yet Lu Zhaozhao had already kicked the person away.


    If he had the skills like Lu Zhaozhao, he could do without a stunt double when filming.


    Bai Qing¡¯s attention was solely on Lu Zhaozhao, completely ignoring He Xintian, who lay twisted on the ground.


    His eyes were extremely excited as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Teacher Lu, your skills are impressive, can you teach me? That way I won¡¯t be afraid of running into trolls when I¡¯m out and about!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched, and she glanced at Bai Qing and then at He Xintian lying on the ground.


    Was his focus a bit off at times like this?


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed helplessly, ¡°Even if you come across trolls, there¡¯s no need for you to deal with them personally, aren¡¯t the bodyguards around you there for more than just decoration?¡±


    Bai Qing sulkily shrank his neck, feeling as if the reasoning was actually sound.


    But he just thought that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s move just now was so cool.


    Just as he was about to say something else, He Xintian slowly got up from the ground, ¡°You damn woman! Do you know who I am?! Do you know who my dad is?! Do you know the consequences of treating me this way?!¡±


    She clutched her stomach angrily and yelled at Lu Zhaozhao, letting it all out in one breath, then held her aching belly again.


    Having been a pampered young lady her whole life, used to getting whatever she wanted, when had she ever suffered such humiliation?


    She was determined to make this woman pay!


    Lu Zhaozhao coldly glanced at He Xintian, ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, nor do I know who your dad is, but I know that if you dare to harass me on set again, I¡¯ll beat you so badly, even your own father won¡¯t recognize what you look like!¡±


    As she said this, she also raised her little fist at He Xintian.


    There was a sense that if she dared to continue being arrogant, Lu Zhaozhao would knock her head off.


    Of course, He Xintian was very unwilling to give in, but she wasn¡¯t a fool.


    It made no sense to recklessly charge forward knowing she couldn¡¯t win.


    She now regretted not listening to her dad when he said to bring bodyguards to the set.


    If she had known she would encounter a woman like Lu Zhaozhao, who was completely oblivious to others, she would¡¯ve brought a dozen bodyguards.


    By then, to beat Lu Zhaozhao until her own mother couldn¡¯t recognize her!


    Thinking this, He Xintian suddenly felt much better. When she returned, she would definitely tell her dad all about Lu Zhaozhao!


    Then have her kicked out of the production, hire someone to beat her up severely, and leave her to the local thugs!


    Maybe she would make the front-page headlines soon, and by then, this woman would be famous.


    Hah!


    This woman offended her, yet she would make her a sensation. People who wanted to film all kinds of sketchy movies would surely come to her.


    She had actually paved a golden path for Lu Zhaozhao to get rich!


    In the end, she was just too kind-hearted, leaving Lu Zhaozhao a way out.


    Seeing her smiling so sinisterly, Lu Zhaozhao knew this woman was harboring no good intentions.


    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about retaliating, you¡¯d better investigate thoroughly first, or else you might end up regretting it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice rose a few decibels, trying to make it clear to this idiotic woman what she was saying.


    Ever since her identity as Mrs. Song of the Song Group was revealed, her status in the entertainment industry became untouchable, and no one would dare provoke the wife of a major financial consortium.


    Especially since she also had the formidable XJ Group backing her up.


    Most people wouldn¡¯t dare to easily provoke her.


    Of course, idiots like Sun Qian were the exception.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt that after hinting as much to He Xintian, she would investigate her background to some extent. As long as she knew that she was Mrs. Song of the Song Group or the young lady of the XJ Group, if she had any brains at all, she wouldn¡¯t come looking for trouble again.


    Although dealing with a small fry like He Xintian wasn¡¯t stressful, she found it bothersome.


    He Xintian clearly didn¡¯t get Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s point, and she bitterly bit her teeth, ¡°The one who will regret it is you! If you know what¡¯s good for you, stop competing with me for Brother Bai, or else I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t be able to walk out of this!¡±

 Chapter 537: 535: Stupid to Death!

    Chapter 537: Chapter 535: Stupid to Death!


    Lu Zhaozhao listened to He Xintian¡¯s words, and her entire brain instantly turned into a mush, she now just wanted to grab his shoulder and shake it violently.


    She wanted to shake the water out of her head!


    Are you okay? Are you okay?? Are you okay???


    Could it be that He Xintian has some serious illness?!


    Weren¡¯t the words she said clear and explicit enough?


    Indeed, some sick people never care about what others say.


    They only care about what they want to say.


    ¡°Thump thump thump.¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the meeting room door again.


    The several people inside almost simultaneously looked toward the door.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you busy?¡± As soon as Xia Wenyan saw Lu Zhaozhao, he walked over to her with a beaming smile, and behind him, Pei Huai also walked in slowly.


    His eyes held only Lu Zhaozhao, so he completely failed to notice the awkward atmosphere in the meeting room.


    On the other hand, it was Pei Huai, following behind him, who noticed the disharmonious vibe among the people.


    He didn¡¯t say much, just quietly observing the few individuals in the room.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Suddenly, He Xintian, clutching her stomach, fixed her intense gaze upon Xia Wenyan.


    Her eyes, as if she wished to strip him bare right there, were especially salacious.


    Pei Huai was very displeased and stood to the side, blocking Xia Wenyan, cutting off He Xintian¡¯s lascivious stare.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression also turned quite unsightly.


    Because she knew that this stupid He Xintian must have set her sights on her Brother Four.


    Seeing the way He Xintian clung to Bai Qing just earlier, Lu Zhaozhao could feel how annoying she was.


    And now latching onto her Brother Four...


    Lu Zhaozhao felt terrible.


    He Xintian seemed oblivious to the expressions of others, and with a slight tilt of her chin, she said: ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I might consider letting you go, just let him and him both be with me, and I¡¯ll grudgingly spare you!¡±


    ¡°What the hell?!¡± Xia Wenyan simply couldn¡¯t believe the words coming from He Xintian standing in front of him, ¡°Are you out of your mind? Why should I be with you?¡±


    He Xintian¡¯s face turned unsightly after having her face slapped down again, she pointed at Lu Zhaozhao irritably and said: ¡°Based on the fact she just hit me! If you don¡¯t want me to kick her out of the cast, you¡¯d better behave!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t been this speechless in a long time.


    This was the first time he knew someone from the Song Family could be kicked out of a cast, damn impressive!


    Xia Wenyan looked at He Xintian as if he was looking at an idiot, ¡°If you¡¯re sick, go see a doctor fast, don¡¯t run out in broad daylight scaring people!¡±


    He Xintian, seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s fierce demeanor, frowned and shifted her gaze instead to the seemingly gentle Pei Huai.


    She couldn¡¯t handle this hot-tempered man, but couldn¡¯t she handle this refined man?


    Just like Bai Qing, such a man, no matter how clingy she got, he wouldn¡¯t be able to reject her.


    In the end, he would be seduced by her intense emotions and become more and more unable to live without her!


    Thinking this, He Xintian¡¯s gaze was tightly fixed on Pei Huai, ¡°Hey! If he¡¯s unwilling, then you make it up to Lu Zhaozhao! Otherwise, I will definitely kick her out of the cast!¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrow raised slightly as he glanced at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You... want to kick her out of the crew?¡±


    Although Lu Zhaozhao was set to play a supporting female role, it was not because of a lack of ability but simply because she disliked how the leading lady and the second lady had more screen time.


    He Xintian, that idiot, probably thought Zhaozhao was doing it because she had no resources, and that¡¯s why she was so arrogant, right?


    He Xintian also assumed that Pei Huai was more sensible than Xia Wenyan, and she lifted her chin even higher.


    Bai Qing, standing to the side, was somewhat speechless.


    Almost everyone in the entertainment circle knew about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s background.


    After all, when she was publicly acknowledged as the young miss of the XJ Group, it made quite a bloody stir.


    Especially the war between the true and false heiress, which set off a craze on the internet¡¯s hot search lists.


    Even he, who rarely followed gossip, knew about it.


    He¡¯d even worried at first that Lu Zhaozhao, given her heiress status, might be tough to handle, so he dared not get too close to her.


    But it turned out that Lu Zhaozhao was very amiable and approachable on set.


    If it weren¡¯t for Sun Qian in the crew, she probably wouldn¡¯t get irritated so frequently.


    Bai Qing found it entertaining whenever Lu Zhaozhao and Sun Qian clashed.


    He had always known that Lu Zhao was fierce, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be this fierce; his impression of her was once again refreshed.


    Bai Qing now greatly admired He Xintian, who had no clue about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s background.


    After being beaten, she didn¡¯t reign herself in but became even more arrogant than before.


    Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai, one an actor of strength, the other a top-tier celebrity, his fame far surpassed him, a high mid-tier celebrity.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising to him that He Xintian was interested in both men.


    What was surprising, indeed, was that she dared to take actual action.


    He really didn¡¯t know whether to call her incredibly bold or downright stupid!


    After hearing Pei Huai¡¯s words, He Xintian¡¯s attitude hardened even more, ¡°That¡¯s right! If you all don¡¯t cooperate with me, I won¡¯t let her off! I¡¯ll also have her kicked out of the crew! She shouldn¡¯t dream of getting any roles in the future!¡±


    Pei Huai nodded seriously, but his gaze turned to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, you can bear this?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao helplessly curled her lips, ¡°What else can I do?¡±


    ¡°Or... beat her up? Brother Pei and your fourth brother can keep watch for you?¡± Pei Huai¡¯s eyes gleamed brightly, looking at Lu Zhaozhao as if he were making a casual joke.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, ¡°That¡¯s a good idea!¡±


    He Xintian seemed shocked by their conversation, her incredulous gaze sweeping back and forth between the two, ¡°You, you... you¡¯re joking, right?¡±


    Pei Huai shrugged his shoulders and patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Keep going until you¡¯re happy, no need to hold back, your brothers have got your back.¡±


    Xia Wenyan also patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Brother Pei is right, just hit her without worry, whether you want to slap her face, you decide.¡±


    While he spoke, he winked at some of the staff members, who naturally knew to start heading out.


    As for Bai Qing, Pei Huai had directly dragged him out.


    Xia Wenyan, ever so thoughtful, even closed the door to the conference room for them.


    He stood at the door, all smiles as he addressed the staff members, ¡°Come on, everyone, go buy a cup of milk tea.¡±


    As he spoke, he handed out super big red envelopes to each person.


    Red envelopes generous enough to ensure each of them stayed mute.


    Bai Qing¡¯s face was full of shock as he looked at Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan, ¡°Doing this, is it really okay?¡±


    Xia Wenyan leaned on Pei Huai¡¯s shoulder with one hand, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? Just looking at that woman¡¯s head, it¡¯s clear something isn¡¯t right with her. She probably won¡¯t understand if you talk to her normally; better to let Zhaozhao handle it, make a lasting impression...¡±

 Chapter 538: 536: No One Gets Away!

    Chapter 538: Chapter 536: No One Gets Away!


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he couldn¡¯t hit a woman, he would have definitely done it himself!


    Bai Qing blinked, still shocked at the maneuvers of Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai.


    Pei Huai could clearly see Bai Qing¡¯s hesitation and placed his hand on his shoulder, ¡°Mr. Bai, sometimes being firm can be beneficial for you.¡±


    Bai Qing blinked again, still looking utterly confused.


    Seeing his impervious demeanor, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Think about it, hasn¡¯t that woman been pestering you for a long time? Have your appeals to emotion or reason worked?¡±


    Bai Qing shook his head, ¡°No, they haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Well then, that settles it. When normal methods fail, special measures are necessary,¡± Xia Wenyan spoke as if it were a matter of fact, making Bai Qing¡¯s originally dubious attitude waver slightly.


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan, then turned to Bai Qing, ¡°Between being taken down by that woman and watching her get beaten up and then slink away, which do you think is better?¡±


    Even if Bai Qing was naive, he knew the answer, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s better to watch her get beaten up and then slink away.¡±


    Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai exchanged a look and simultaneously revealed a triumphant smile, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, you just watch. Since you¡¯re already an accomplice in this with He Xintian, you might as well go all the way.¡±


    Bai Qing wanted to struggle a bit more, but then he thought about how Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai were a top-tier influencer and a superstar actor, respectively.


    Their words shouldn¡¯t be wrong, right?


    After thinking it over, Bai Qing eventually compromised.


    After all...better her than me...


    Additionally, since Lu Zhaozhao had taken care of He Xintian, he also benefitted by avoiding that woman¡¯s harassment.


    Bai Qing took a deep breath, and completely changed his stance, ¡°Then let¡¯s continue standing guard~¡±


    Half an hour later, He Xintian was thrown out of the conference room onto the street.


    Originally, she wanted to directly call and have her dad¡¯s bodyguards come over to teach Lu Zhaozhao a lesson.


    But regrettably, her face was swollen and bruised from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s punches, so even if she went to the set to redeem her reputation, everyone already knew she¡¯d been beaten by Lu Zhaozhao.


    So He Xintian could only return to the He Family first.


    And when He Wanshan found out his precious daughter had been beaten, he rushed home immediately.


    As soon as he entered the door, He Xintian immediately threw herself into He Wanshan¡¯s arms, ¡°Daddy, boo hoo hoo...¡±


    She cried pitifully, as though trying to cry out all the grievances she had suffered.


    He Wanshan felt heartbroken and gently rubbed her head, ¡°Tiantian, tell Daddy, who is the blind fool that hit you?¡±


    Usually, it was his daughter who bullied others, and he had to clean up the mess. This was the first time someone had dared to treat his daughter like this.


    He Wanshan had always been developing his businesses abroad, and only recently came back to China.


    His assets were mostly in R country, and recently, he had returned to China because He Xintian had taken a liking to a domestic celebrity.


    Fortunately, many domestic enterprises wanted to collaborate with them, allowing him to quickly secure a foothold in China.


    He had been friendly with the Rimu Family while overseas, and recently, the new Family Head of the Rimu Family was particularly impressive. Through alliances with the Rimu Family, he had reaped many benefits.


    That¡¯s why he was so wealthy and powerful.


    He Xintian wiped her swollen face and gnashed her teeth in anger, ¡°It was a female supporting actress on the set. That vixen was always hanging around Brother Bai. I exposed her, and she hit me out of shame and anger!¡±


    As she spoke, she became more infuriated, ¡°Dad, you invest in that film set and then kick that woman out of the set!¡±


    He Wanshan agreed without a second thought, ¡°Dad promises you, you, I¡¯ll have my people add more investment right away, and then I¡¯ll have that female supporting actress kicked out. As for her hitting you, I¡¯ll make sure she can¡¯t get away with it!¡±


    He saw He Xintian¡¯s entire face swollen and felt immense heartache for the ordeal his daughter had gone through.


    Back when He Xintian was in R country, she had always been domineering and had chased after numerous celebrities in R¡¯s entertainment circle.


    Once they knew she was the daughter of He Group, most of them compromised under her various investments and resource allocations.


    So, He Wanshan didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with his daughter¡¯s actions.


    After all, being liked by his daughter was their good fortune. His precious daughter was not only spending money but also resources on them. They were merely dating his daughter; what was there to lose?


    Ultimately, if anyone was at a disadvantage, it was more likely his daughter.


    He Xintian had never faced such humiliation in R country, so being hit by someone after arriving in China was something he, as a father, found hard to accept.


    ¡°Right!¡± He Xintian nodded furiously.


    But then, as if thinking of something else, ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you talk to the producer yourself...I want Lu Zhaozhao out of the film set! And I want Brother Bai to be my boyfriend!¡±


    Every time she thought of Bai Qing¡¯s attitude towards Lu Zhaozhao, she couldn¡¯t help but seethe.


    He was always harsh and blunt with her, yet so gentle like water with Lu Zhaozhao!


    Hmph! It was all that vixen¡¯s fault!


    He Wanshan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly; he had wanted to refuse since he usually couldn¡¯t be bothered with such trivial matters.


    These were always handled by his subordinates.


    But seeing his daughter¡¯s face bruised like that, he sighed helplessly and ultimately agreed.


    ¡°Also, Dad! I want the other two men around that woman too!¡±


    Since she was here, she wouldn¡¯t let anyone escape!


    Were they not all revolving around Lu Zhaozhao?


    She just had to steal them all!


    Just three men!


    Back in R country, she had had five or six boyfriends at the same time before.


    Ha!


    He Wanshan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he did not see anything inappropriate with her request. He got the producer¡¯s number from his assistant and called directly.


    Soon, the call was answered.


    Since the assistant had informed him beforehand, the producer, knowing it was an investor, was particularly enthusiastic.


    ¡°Hello? Hello!¡±


    ¡°Producer Wang, I am He Wanshan, President of He Group.¡± He Wanshan got straight to the point, ¡°I want to add an additional twenty million to your film set, but the female supporting actress can¡¯t stay any longer. Replace her with someone else.¡±


    Producer Wang was taken aback by He Wanshan¡¯s directness, clearly a bit stunned.


    He knew very well that the female supporting actress could not be replaced.


    She was the wife of someone from Song Group and the daughter of XJ Group. Even if they replaced the producer, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t be swapped out.


    However, adhering to professional principles, Producer Wang still asked politely, ¡°May I know what exactly the female supporting actress did to offend Mr. He? If I¡¯m aware, I¡¯ll know how to handle it...¡±

 Chapter 539: 537: Bullied?

    Chapter 539: Chapter 537: Bullied?


    He Wanshan scoffed, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know how you¡¯ve offended me. My demand is simple, replace that female lead number four, and I¡¯ll add twenty million more to your investment. Also, cultivate some affection between that Bai Qing and my daughter.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Geez, just twenty million and he expects me to pull off these two big tasks?


    How much does he think the domestic entertainment industry is like a kindergarten?


    Producer Wang was quite cordial at first because He Wanshan was an investor, but his attitude cooled significantly upon hearing that he wanted to get rid of Lu Zhaozhao...


    That ancestor is the last person in the entertainment circle anyone should mess with.


    Everyone knows that the president of the Song Group treats her like the apple of his eye.


    Her fourth brother is a top-tier celebrity, and her eldest brother is the president of XJ Group; whether it¡¯s Xia Wenjin or Sun Qian who had bullied Lu Zhaozhao before, they¡¯ve all disappeared without a trace.


    He was just a modest producer, and there was no need to court such big trouble.


    Besides, even if he could handle Lu Zhaozhao, he was powerless over Bai Qing.


    If Bai Qing were just some rookie who had just debuted, he could perhaps exert some pressure.


    But Bai Qing was already among the top celebrities, and even without relying on others to forcefully invest resources, he could land good scripts due to his popularity and fame.


    Moreover, he was a male artist with a long ¡°blossoming¡± period; there was no need to sell himself for just one or two investments.


    And besides... as a top celebrity who earns at least a billion a year, would he really date an investor¡¯s daughter for the mere twenty million extra investment in the crew?


    That¡¯s utterly preposterous!


    Either requirement was hell mode, and even if Producer Wang were foolish, he knew what he could and couldn¡¯t do.


    Although he wanted to earn more money, he had to have his life to spend it.


    ¡°Cough cough... Sorry, Mr. He, there¡¯s nothing we can do about the Bai Qing matter. His status in the entertainment circle is beyond our control as humble producers...¡±


    He didn¡¯t mention Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s issue and directly used Bai Qing¡¯s situation to test He Wanshan.


    Just as expected, upon hearing this, He Wanshan exploded, ¡°Twenty million in investments can¡¯t even secure me a mere top-tier celebrity?¡±


    Producer Wang couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. Twenty million could buy a top-tier celebrity, but is that how it works in your small sesame-size country compared to our domestic scene?


    But he didn¡¯t dare say this outright; after all, He Wanshan was one of their investors, and he didn¡¯t want to offend him too severely.


    ¡°Mr. He, erm... The situation in our domestic entertainment industry isn¡¯t quite the same as in R country. Bai Qing and their like are a bit more free in China; even if he doesn¡¯t shoot this movie, he has a stack of scripts waiting for him...¡±


    His implication was unmistakable: trying to get compliance with money was out of the question.


    ¡°If that person can¡¯t be dealt with now, then bring me those two men who often hover around the female lead number four.¡±


    He Wanshan saw nothing wrong with his thinking.


    If Bai Qing was out of reach for the moment, getting his hands on the other two would suffice to keep his daughter occupied and stop her constant tantrums.


    But as soon as He Wanshan uttered those words, Producer Wang on the other end of the phone was stunned, ¡°The two men often around female lead number four?¡±


    Was he talking about President Song?


    As Producer Wang puzzled over it, he heard He Xintian¡¯s voice coming through the phone, ¡°One is named Xia Wenyan, and the other is called Brother Pei...¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Good Lord!


    Pei Huai?! Xia Wenyan?!


    A top-tier celebrity and a superstar actor! Ha!


    He¡¯s supposed to lure these two with twenty million?


    Is this a joke?!


    Do I look like some kind of massive sucker?


    These two, let alone a twenty million investment, even if you give each of them twenty million, they wouldn¡¯t come.


    Do they look like they need money?


    Need money?


    Producer Wang couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes, ¡°Cough cough... Mr. He, these two individuals aren¡¯t part of our crew, there¡¯s nothing we can do...¡±


    He Wanshan¡¯s brows immediately knotted in displeasure, ¡°This won¡¯t do, that won¡¯t do, then just kick that female lead number four out of the production!¡±


    Producer Wang¡¯s eyes rolled again. That would be even less likely than convincing Bai Qing to date his daughter!


    He wouldn¡¯t dare to touch that ancestor Lu Zhaozhao.


    He took a deep breath and tried to maintain a calm tone, ¡°That female lead number four... it might not be easy to kick her out, she has her own resource backers too...¡±


    ¡°Heh! She has backers, do they provide more than the additional investment I¡¯m offering?¡± He Wanshan snorted coldly.


    He never lost when it came to splashing cash, and he couldn¡¯t believe a mere female lead number four would have such extensive resources.


    If her backer was really powerful, she wouldn¡¯t be stuck at the level of a female lead number four.


    So, he didn¡¯t believe someone would spend several tens of millions just for a female lead number four.


    Producer Wang¡¯s mouth twitched. Considering the Song Group¡¯s pampering of this little ancestor, not to mention twenty million... even if you doubled it, they probably wouldn¡¯t even blink.


    Not to mention, there¡¯s the support of XJ Group and a super top-tier brother on her side.


    It can be said that what Lu Zhaozhao least lacked was money.


    The only issue was whether she was willing to become an enemy of He Wanshan; thus, Producer Wang didn¡¯t dare give a definitive answer.


    If Lu Zhaozhao decided to ignore He Wanshan and simply left the production, he would contentedly take the twenty million. But if Lu Zhaozhao disagreed, and she talked to President Song about He Wanshan¡¯s behavior, wouldn¡¯t President Song surely take Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side?


    No matter how much additional investment came in then, the beneficiary would be them.


    Thinking this through, Producer Wang hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. He, don¡¯t be upset. I¡¯ll get you an answer about this situation as soon as possible. Is that okay?¡±


    Although He Wanshan was displeased, upon hearing Producer Wang¡¯s response, he didn¡¯t plan on losing his temper outright.


    After all, if they were to remove Lu Zhaozhao from the production, they would need to find a replacement, so requiring some time wasn¡¯t unusual.


    But what He Wanshan didn¡¯t realize was that Producer Wang wasn¡¯t planning on finding a replacement for Lu Zhaozhao at all.


    Instead, he planned to inform Lu Zhaozhao. Maybe if he got on good terms with the lady, he could benefit in the future too?


    With this in mind, Producer Wang hung up and decided to contact Lu Zhaozhao.


    But upon further reflection, he decided to contact someone else.


    Song Sinian received the news just as he finished his office work and was planning to pick up Lu Zhaozhao from the production site.


    ¡°Sir, there¡¯s a bit of a situation on the set involving the Madame, and it requires your attention,¡± Zhao Xi said as soon as he entered and saw Song Sinian, who was ready to leave work.


    Ever since their Sir had been discharged from the hospital, he had been punctual about leaving the office daily.


    He could believe if he were a minute late, he would miss seeing their Sir altogether.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows lifted, ¡°Has she been bullied on set?¡±

 Chapter 540: 538 How is that possible?!

    Chapter 540: Chapter 538 How is that possible?!


    Zhao Xi shook her head, ¡°No, it was Producer Wang from the drama team who called, said someone wanted to invest 20 million, and they want my wife kicked out of the drama team.¡±


    Song Sinian snorted, ¡°Where does this beggar come from? 20 million and they want my wife out of the production?¡±


    Zhao Xi, of course, also sneered at this matter.


    She immediately handed Song Sinian the materials on He Wanshan, ¡°This He Wanshan comes from R Country, is the president of the He Group. He had always done business relying on the Rimu Family, but recently, because of Pei Huai, the Rimu Family has grown, so...¡±


    After going round in circles, it ended up being Pei Huai¡¯s fault again.


    Song Sinian tapped his fingertips, ¡°Why does he want Zhaozhao to leave the production team?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had not been to R Country, and it was even less likely that she had any interaction with this He Wanshan.


    Furthermore, since He Wanshan was relying on the Rimu Family, if he knew that Lu Zhaozhao had a not-bad relationship with Pei Huai, he wouldn¡¯t make a move against Lu Zhaozhao.


    Zhao Xi sorted out the materials in her hands and placed them in front of Song Sinian again, ¡°This woman named He Xintian is He Wanshan¡¯s only daughter, spoiled since childhood. She had countless men at her beck and call in R country¡¯s entertainment industry before...¡±


    After that, Zhao Xi gave Song Sinian a brief introduction of how He Xintian used coercion and seduction in R Country to force male celebrities to become her lovers.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to rub the center of his brows, clearly disgusted.


    ¡°So, she fell for a domestic star, hence she directly came to the mainland?¡±


    His voice was flat but carried a hint of impatience.


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°Exactly, she¡¯s set her sights on your wife¡¯s lead actor Bai Qing, and then saw your wife as a rival, which led to their quarrel on set. Coincidentally, Fourth Young Master Xia and Pei Huai witnessed it, and then your wife beat her up.¡±


    A rare smile appeared on Song Sinian¡¯s face, ¡°As long as she didn¡¯t suffer a loss, that¡¯s good.¡±


    Zhao Xi had long become accustomed to Song Sinian¡¯s partiality towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    He nodded and said, ¡°According to Producer Wang, that He Xintian not only wants to get my wife out of the team, but also... wants Fourth Young Master Xia and Pei Huai to be her boyfriends...¡±


    Not only did Song Sinian find this woman disgusting, but so did he.


    From her profile in R Country, he knew her private life was a complete mess, and now she wanted three men at once...


    His values were shaken, it seemed their country really knew how to play, tsk tsk...


    ¡°Tell that Producer Wang, Song Group will add an investment of 40 million, then upgrade all of their security personnel, and from now on, throw out anyone from the He Family they see.¡± Song Sinian pondered for a moment, then simply instructed Zhao Xi.


    Zhao Xi nodded again and again, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir, I will handle this matter immediately, and I will definitely not let that woman go to the set to disgust my wife.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, hesitated for a moment, then added, ¡°Let Producer Wang hint to Pei Huai about the intentions of the He Family father and daughter.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    This was great!


    He wondered how He Wanshan would react if he knew the man his daughter desired was the Family Head of the Rimu Family?


    Tsk tsk... The thought itself was thrilling, and he suddenly felt an itch to deal with this matter right away!


    After all, he revels in handling such juicy scandals!


    In the evening, the sky gradually darkened.


    Pei Huai was in his study, looking at the information sent from R Country, when he heard his mobile phone vibrating in the room.


    He frowned slightly, seeing that the caller seemed to be the director from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s drama team, he pondered for a moment and still picked up.


    ¡°Hello? Director, what can I do for you?¡±


    Although Pei Huai wasn¡¯t working on the director¡¯s set, he had worked with almost every well-known director in the entertainment circle, so he was an acquaintance.


    Knowing the director wouldn¡¯t contact him for no reason, he patiently asked.


    Then he listened as the director coughed lightly, ¡°Um... Pei Huai, do you remember the woman you met when you last came to the set?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, he indeed had some memory of her¡ªafter all, she was a woman bold enough to covet his beloved.


    He did remember her.


    He hummed lightly, then waited for the director to continue.


    The director, hearing that Pei Huai didn¡¯t seem to intend to speak, quickly relayed everything Zhao Xi had instructed him to say.


    ¡°Pei Huai, that woman seems to be interested in you and Xia Wenyan. She got her father He Wanshan to invest 20 million in our drama team and wants you and Xia Wenyan both... both, to be her boyfriends.¡±


    Speaking of boyfriends, yet what difference was there to selling oneself?


    And it was coercive.


    Although the director wasn¡¯t a stranger to such things in the entertainment industry, someone like He Xintian who shamelessly sought three men at once... It was his first time encountering such audacity.


    It certainly was an eye-opener.


    Pei Huai¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°So, Director, you agreed?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± The director didn¡¯t even think before clearing himself of the matter.


    He might not be some super-famous director, but he still had integrity.


    Moreover, it was clear that the He Family father and daughter couldn¡¯t compete with Song Group, and there was no need for him to get involved in this mess.


    With Song Group already investing an additional 40 million, he could further optimize the equipment he had only dared dream of before.


    Including the wardrobe, makeup, and props, to make them as good and detailed as possible.


    Even though they used to have A-grade equipment, their generous benefactor, the Song Group, had nearly upgraded them to S-grade.


    How could he not be excited?


    If this script became a hit, his reputation in the industry would soar.


    He looked forward to working on S-grade scripts in the future.


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, ¡°Then, Director, why are you telling me all this?¡±


    The director sighed, ¡°I just want to remind you and Xia Wenyan to be more cautious. I heard He Wanshan is from R Country, you know the place, it¡¯s different from ours, they rely on these family and clan things, I hear he¡¯s some important minister to the Rimu Family... quite powerful!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Rimu Family?


    Important minister?


    Since when did this Family Head of the Rimu Family not remember having such a person?


    Pei Huai¡¯s dark eyes blinked in the twilight, ¡°I understand, Director, I¡¯ll be careful with this matter.¡±


    He had only been back in the country for a few days, and the Rimu Family already had a new ¡°important minister¡±?


    Pei Huai glanced at the documents on his computer desk, a sneer crossing his lips.


    The director, thinking he had completed his task, was about to hang up, but then he thought that the matter was, after all, instructed by Song Sinian¡¯s side.


    He pondered for a moment and then emphasized to Pei Huai again, ¡°Pei Huai, you¡¯d best stay as far away as possible from that He Family father and daughter. I¡¯ve heard that relying on the power of the Rimu Family, they¡¯re quite influential in our country, so... you understand.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai really wanted to say he didn¡¯t understand.

 Chapter 541: 539: She Really Dares to Think!

    Chapter 541: Chapter 539: She Really Dares to Think!


    Why would something he knew nothing about brazenly exploit the Rimu Family¡¯s name within the country?


    Pei Huai took a deep breath, glanced at his phone, and then said, ¡°Director, rest assured, I am aware of the pros and cons, and nothing will go wrong.¡±


    ¡°Ah, good, good.¡±


    Seeing that Pei Huai had indeed understood his intentions, the director then hung up the phone.


    At that moment, Xia Wenyan, who heard some noise from Pei Huai¡¯s room, entered carrying an oversized fruit bowl.


    The fruits inside were already washed, mostly strawberries and crystal grapes that Xia Wenyan loved.


    He sat next to Pei Huai, placed the fruit bowl on the computer desk beside him, and casually asked, ¡°Brother Pei, who was on the phone? Are you joining a crew soon?¡±


    As he spoke, he directly picked up a strawberry from the bowl and took a bite.


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze shifted, and he raised his hand to wipe the corner of Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth before casually popping the strawberry butt he had just picked up into his own mouth.


    He knew Xia Wenyan loved eating strawberries, especially the tips.


    So he didn¡¯t mind eating the less sweet parts for Xia Wenyan.


    Xia Wenyan seemed accustomed to Pei Huai¡¯s pampering and didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with their behavior.


    In fact, he quite enjoyed being pampered this way.


    Pei Huai looked into his clear eyes and said lightly, ¡°The director from Zhaozhao¡¯s crew just called and asked me to keep an eye on those two from the He Family.¡±


    ¡°The two from the He Family?¡± Xia Wenyan was taken aback, seemingly unable to recall who these people were.


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, raising his hand to rub Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°It¡¯s that woman who wanted you and me to follow her yesterday. Her surname is He, and her father¡¯s too.¡±


    Xia Wenyan suddenly seemed to realize something and twitched his eyebrows, ¡°What? Are they planning to forcefully recruit men here?¡±


    The thought of being targeted by that kind of woman had already displeased him, and now... that woman had taken a liking to his Brother Pei as well!


    That was really annoying!


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze fell on Xia Wenyan¡¯s puffed-up face and he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°They indeed intend to, but they weren¡¯t successful. The director called just to tell me about this.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes nearly popped out, ¡°What? They really dared? Tell me, what exactly happened?¡±


    Pei Huai hadn¡¯t initially planned to tell Xia Wenyan about He Wanshan and He Xintian, but seeing his interest, he sighed helplessly and decided to tell the truth, ¡°The director said He Wanshan is an important minister of Rimu Family from R country. He¡¯s got his eyes on us and told us to be cautious. He also said he¡¯s going to invest twenty million in the crew, expecting us to be playthings for He Xintian.¡±


    ¡°She really dares to think big!¡± Xia Wenyan rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. If they had been newcomers in the entertainment industry, they might have been tempted.


    But for people like them, who weren¡¯t short of money, this was nothing but an insult!


    However, Xia Wenqing soon caught onto a crucial point, ¡°Rimu Family? It couldn¡¯t be the Rimu Family I¡¯m thinking of, could it?¡±


    His eyebrows suddenly rose, ¡°Do you know them?¡±


    Pei Huai shook his head decisively, ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, ¡°So, you¡¯re saying... his so-called identity as an important minister of the Rimu Family is fake?!¡±


    After all, Pei Huai was the Family Head of the Rimu Family. If there were an important minister, he would definitely have met him.


    Pei Huai seemed to sense Xia Wenyan¡¯s thoughts and nodded slightly.


    Xia Wenyan immediately hooked his lips into a smile, ¡°That really will be something to see, an important minister of the Rimu Family wanting the Family Head to be his daughter¡¯s plaything. I wonder what the other house servants of the Rimu Family will think after hearing this?¡±


    As he spoke, his fingertips gently pinched Pei Huai¡¯s shirt collar, his face full of excitement.


    Pei Huai helplessly squeezed his fingertips, ¡°If you want those old guys to know, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Xia Wenyan chuckled softly and leaned in closer, ¡°Then you aren¡¯t afraid of losing face as the Family Head of the Rimu Family?¡±


    Pei Huai laughed along, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t despise me, there¡¯s no such thing as losing face.¡±


    Listening to Pei Huai¡¯s words, Xia Wenyan felt immediately satisfied.


    He winked at Pei Huai, ¡°Then I¡¯ll give Zhaozhao a call! You go and have a good chat with the people of the Rimu Family about this so-called important minister.¡±


    As he said this, he winked at Pei Huai again and left the study once more.


    Watching Xia Wenyan¡¯s manner, Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh and just let him be.


    Xia Wenyan, who had left the study, then dialed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone.


    Lu Zhaozhao, although she had scenes every day, also had plenty of rest time, considering the fourth female lead didn¡¯t have that much screen time.


    So when Lu Zhaozhao received the call from Xia Wenyan, she was just resting.


    ¡°Hello? Brother Four?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was a bit surprised that Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t come directly to the set but had called her instead.


    Upon hearing her voice on the phone, Xia Wenyan immediately got excited, ¡°Zhaozhao, did you see that annoying little bitch from yesterday?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly stunned before she realized Xia Wenyan was talking about He Xintian.


    She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, ¡°She probably won¡¯t be able to enter the set today. Mr. Song has upgraded the set¡¯s security. Seeing He Xintian will probably get her thrown out.¡±


    Xia Wenyan opened his mouth, the words he wanted to say suddenly stuck.


    After returning from the set yesterday, he had thought about how to deal with that woman named He Xintian, but was stopped by Pei Huai.


    Telling him that Song Sinian had already taken care of it and he shouldn¡¯t worry.


    He had thought that Song Sinian would help Lu Zhaozhao seek justice, but it now seemed Song Sinian had outright ignored He Xintian.


    This didn¡¯t quite fit Song Sinian¡¯s style of indifference to others¡¯ fates.


    As Xia Wenyan pondered this, suddenly Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice came from the phone, ¡°Brother Four, did you call just to talk about this?¡±


    Xia Wenyan snapped back to reality, ¡°No, no! I¡¯ve got a bombshell for you! The father of He Xintian, He Wanshan, is said to be from the Rimu Family over in R country... I heard he self-proclaimed as an important minister, but Brother Pei hasn¡¯t met him.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat shocked.


    People from the Rimu Family actually wanted to buy back the Family Head of the Rimu Family as a plaything for their daughter, tsk tsk...


    If this He Wanshan knew Pei Huai¡¯s true identity, she wondered whether he would still dare to buy?


    Lu Zhaozhao paused, ¡°Brother Four, what do you plan to do?¡±


    From the moment Pei Huai said He Wanshan was from the Rimu Family, she clearly sensed Xia Wenyan¡¯s excitement in his tone.


    If her Brother Four wasn¡¯t stirring up trouble, he wouldn¡¯t be called Xia Wenyan.


    Sure enough, Xia Wenyan narrowed his attractive, peach blossom eyes and slowly began to speak¡ª

 Chapter 542: 540: What Else is Complicated?

    Chapter 542: Chapter 540: What Else is Complicated?


    ¡°He Wanshan even appointed himself as an important minister, so at least the Rimu Family should be informed, shouldn¡¯t they?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but let out a light laugh, ¡°It seems you want to use Brother Pei to throw your weight around.¡±


    Xia Wenyan laughed it off as if it was nothing, ¡°Brother Pei said what¡¯s his is mine, so there¡¯s no harm in me pretending to ride on his coattails, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, Brother Pei is willing to indulge you, there¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face was full of smiles, feeling like she was being fed dog food.


    Seeing the two of them open their hearts to each other, Lu Zhaozhao naturally felt happy too.


    In her previous life, every member of the Xia Family lived unhappily, so in this life, if possible, she wished for every one of them to be happy.


    Suddenly, it seemed Xia Wenyan remembered something, and he lowered his voice to ask, ¡°Zhaozhao, when the time comes for He Wanshan to be slapped in the face, do you want to join in the fun?¡±


    Without even thinking, Lu Zhaozhao readily agreed, ¡°Of course, during Brother Pei¡¯s moment of glory, I¡¯ll definitely be there!¡±


    ¡°Great, great, I¡¯ll discuss it with Brother Pei in a bit, to decide when to notify the people from the Rimu Family. Muah muah muah~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    After Xia Wenyan finished the call, he went straight back to Pei Huai¡¯s office.


    At that moment, Pei Huai was wearing a pair of blue-light glasses, and as the sky darkened, the bright light from the computer reflected off the glasses, casting a tranquil glow.


    Xia Wenyan felt his heart suddenly start to beat a bit fast; he didn¡¯t understand why before, but now he knew.


    He also understood exactly what he wanted.


    He went straight to Pei Huai¡¯s side and sat down, his peach blossom eyes smiling cheerfully at him.


    Pei Huai slowly took off the glasses resting on his nose, his expression indulgent as he looked at Xia Wenyan and raised his hand to ruffle his hair, asking, ¡°Did you finish your call with Zhaozhao?¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes! I was initially worried that He Xintian would cause trouble for Zhaozhao, but I didn¡¯t expect Song Sinian to have stepped up the security on set. The moment He Xintian shows up, she gets thrown out.¡±


    That way she couldn¡¯t touch Lu Zhaozhao at all.


    Xia Wenyan naturally stopped worrying.


    He spoke up to this point, then as if he remembered something, turned his gaze to Pei Huai, ¡°Brother Pei, did you contact someone from the Rimu Family just now?¡±


    He had just assured Lu Zhaozhao with all his heart, so if there wasn¡¯t any action on Pei Huai¡¯s part, his image as a big brother might ¡®crash and burn¡¯ in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes.


    Watching his worried look, Pei Huai sighed helplessly, ¡°While you were making the call, I already contacted the current proxy for the Rimu Family, and had them send a house servant related to the He family.¡±


    Xia Wenyan frowned suddenly, looking a bit worried as he asked, ¡°But what if the house servant communicates with the He family father and daughter?¡±


    If He Wanshan knew the person acting against him was the Family Head, he certainly wouldn¡¯t be so arrogant anymore.


    He might even start slandering!


    Pei Huai chuckled lightly, pinched Xia Wenyan¡¯s nose gently, and reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the proxy won¡¯t leak any information, and the house servant informed by the proxy knows nothing about the current situation here. He¡¯s only been told it¡¯s a business trip.¡±


    Xia Wenyan finally let out a sigh of relief.


    But on second thought, it made sense. With Brother Pei being so smart, how could he make such a basic mistake?


    Seeing his face relaxing considerably, Pei Huai¡¯s large hand pinched his cheek, then he said, ¡°Yanyan, no matter what it is, as long as you want to do something, just tell me. You need to believe in my ability, understand?¡±


    Looking at Xia Wenyan¡¯s dazed expression, Pei Huai gently leaned in closer, and added in a low voice, ¡°Whether it¡¯s my ability from any faction.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s ear tips blazed instantly, turning beet red in a moment.


    He couldn¡¯t possibly misunderstand the implied meaning in Pei Huai¡¯s words.


    Ever since they returned from R-country, the pattern of their interactions shifted from him clinging to Pei Huai, to Pei Huai clinging to him.


    Or perhaps Pei Huai had been clinging to him before, but back then he hadn¡¯t noticed, and now...


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s entire being seemed about to blush as red as a shrimp ball.


    He tried to change the subject, his gaze inadvertently falling upon a few characters on the computer¡ªFeng Ya Meizi.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly widened considerably, ¡°You found Feng Ya Meizi?¡±


    Pei Huai came back to his senses, his gaze also shifting to the computer.


    His brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded nonetheless.


    Now Xia Wenyan immediately became excited.


    This woman had made a move against Pei Huai back in R-country!


    Pei Huai had clearly rejected her, and she even dared to drug him; just thinking of Feng Ya Meizi made Xia Wenyan grit his teeth in anger.


    Watching Xia Wenyan¡¯s sudden burst of irritability, Pei Huai¡¯s large hand gently tousled his hair, ¡°We have indeed located her, but the situation is somewhat complex.¡±


    ¡°Complex?¡± Xia Wenyan cocked his head, seemingly unable to comprehend what could be complex about finding Feng Ya Meizi.


    Could it be that Feng Ya Meizi was planning to make a comeback?


    Having lost her position as the Fengya Family heir, she surely harbored resentment against them. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if such a narrow-minded and arrogant woman sought revenge.


    What mattered to him was what the woman was planning to do.


    Pei Huai let out a soft sigh, opened the computer interface, scrolled down a bit, and pushed it towards Xia Wenyan sitting next to him, causing a visible change in Xia Wenyan¡¯s expression.


    Because in addition to Feng Ya Meizi, the computer also displayed information on another person.


    That was Xia Wenjin.


    Even though she had been disfigured, her exposed facial features still had a hint of familiarity.


    Especially since Pei Huai, reborn and on guard against Xia Wenqing ever since, could easily recognize her.


    Almost immediately after receiving this photo, he was sure the woman wrapped up in bandages was Xia Wenjin.


    He didn¡¯t know the extent of the damage to her face, but it appeared she had no intention of seeking treatment.


    Was she perhaps thinking that, with her face ruined, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Xiao Mo and the others trying to kill her?


    Or did she have some other plan?


    Pei Huai wasn¡¯t sure, so he planned to have someone investigate further.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenyan found out.


    Although Xia Wenyan detested Xia Wenjin, how could he not recognize someone he had lived with for 20 years?


    He pursed his lips, ¡°Xia Wenjin is toxic, right? How did she get to know Feng Ya Meizi?¡±


    It seemed Xia Wenjin could make connections with any unsavory character.


    He was somewhat speechless.


    Pei Huai shook his head slightly, ¡°We don¡¯t know how they met for now, but it probably has something to do with Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress. At that time, Feng Ya Meizi was sent to one of his mistresses overseas.¡±


    Although her inheritance as the Fengya heir had been revoked publicly, she was still Fengya Ichiro¡¯s daughter, so there would still be some care extended towards her.


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t find it strange...

 Chapter 543: 541 Why do I do this?

    Chapter 543: Chapter 541 Why do I do this?


    Fengya Ichiro might not be a good man, but after all, he¡¯s still human.


    He couldn¡¯t possibly be ruthless to his own daughter.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled that Xia Wenjin had indeed been missing abroad.


    He just hadn¡¯t expected it to be such a coincidence that Xia Wenjin was rescued by Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress.


    ¡°Brother Pei, do you think that with Xia Wenjin and Feng Ya Meizi together, they might do something to harm Zhaozhao?¡±


    As Xia Wenyan spoke, his eyebrows and eyes were filled with a touch of worry.


    After all, Xia Wenjin had caused so much trouble back home that it was only natural for Xia Wenyan to be on guard against her.


    When Xia Wenjin was still with the Xia Family, among the several Xia brothers, it was Xia Wenyan who had been deceived by Xia Wenjin the most.


    Others either kept a respectful distance from Xia Wenjin or remained on the sidelines as observers.


    Only Xia Wenyan, despite verbally expressing his disdain, actually helped her the most.


    Xia Wenyan was just that kind-hearted; even though he knew his sister Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t up to par, he still wanted to fulfill his responsibilities as a brother.


    Fortunately, later on, Lu Zhaozhao arrived and rescued Xia Wenyan from this perverse situation.


    Pei Huai chuckled and pinched Xia Wenyan¡¯s cheek, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I absolutely won¡¯t let anything happen. Besides, Feng Ya Meizi and Xia Wenjin won¡¯t cooperate with each other.¡±


    Both of them were selfish and self-serving.


    They each wanted to use others to accomplish their own goals, but now they saw no use for each other in their eyes.


    Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s face was ruined; she¡¯d lost her position as heir to the Fengya Family, and Xia Wenjin had already tarnished her reputation in the country; the Lu Family who used to support her was gone, and the family she married into only wished for her death.


    They had nothing to barter with each other, thus no value for mutual use.


    So, the likelihood of their joining forces was very slim.


    But since both had no bottom line, even just as a precaution, Pei Huai would continue to watch them.


    After hearing Pei Huai¡¯s words, Xia Wenyan finally felt at ease. Since Pei Huai¡¯s people were watching, there was no need for him to worry.


    He also hoped that after this incident, Xia Wenjin would learn her lesson and stop obsessing over things that didn¡¯t belong to her.


    If Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t been so fixated on money, she wouldn¡¯t have left the Xia Family for the Lu Family and wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.


    But then Xia Wenyan thought again, had Xia Wenjin not acted in such a way, she wouldn¡¯t be Xia Wenjin.


    Forget it, she was no longer a part of the Xia Family.


    He didn¡¯t need to worry about this anymore...


    Meanwhile, in the VIP resting room of a foreign hospital,


    Feng Xixi was leisurely drinking tea.


    ¡°Knock knock knock.¡±


    Suddenly, the door to the resting room was knocked from outside. Feng Xixi frowned and instinctively looked toward the door, only to see Xia Wenjin pushing the door open and walking in.


    Feng Xixi¡¯s eyes widened in shock, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in surgery? Why are you here?¡±


    Because both Xia Wenjin and Feng Ya Meizi had been disfigured, Fengya Ichiro had found a highly reputable surgeon to operate on Feng Ya Meizi, and Feng Xixi thought that if the surgeon could work on one, they could work on two.


    So she directly communicated with the doctor and had him perform two surgeries at once.


    One surgery was done personally by the chief surgeon sent by Fengya Ichiro, while the other was carried out by the hospital¡¯s surgeons under the guidance of the dispatched chief surgeon.


    Although the hospital¡¯s surgeons were not as skilled as the one sent by Fengya Ichiro, performing a simple cosmetic surgery was well within their abilities.


    She had thought that it would take at least a few hours before Xia Wenjin and Feng Ya Meizi would leave the operating room.


    But now, Xia Wenjin stood before her, how could she not be shocked?


    Xia Wenjin seemed to see right through Feng Xixi¡¯s thoughts and snickered, ¡°Are you disappointed to discover I¡¯m not lying on the operating table?¡±


    In fact, she had always trusted Feng Xixi until she overheard the conversation between Feng Xixi and Feng Ya Meizi.


    She had always thought Feng Xixi was actively treating her, only to find out that this woman was nothing more than Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s lapdog.


    Ever since Feng Ya Meizi appeared, she rarely stayed by her side, even suggesting that the chief surgeon should direct the hospital¡¯s surgeons in her operation!


    She, too, could have accepted the surgery by the dispatched doctor, but Feng Xixi showed no favoritism towards her.


    She didn¡¯t understand, what was so good about someone like Feng Ya Meizi, who would turn her nose up at her at the slightest inconvenience?


    Why should she favor her?


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t understand, nor did she want to.


    She had thought of taking her place before but never caught the right opportunity until this time when she and Feng Ya Meizi were undergoing surgery together.


    ¡°Jin, I truly mean well for you,¡± Feng Xixi said, noticing the odd expression on Xia Wenjin¡¯s face and suddenly feeling uneasy.


    Could it be that she found out about the money she secretly hid and also about the suitcase?


    Feng Xixi had thought about returning a portion of it or even using some as payment for her surgery fees, but she couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and gambled it all away.


    Unexpectedly, at the casino, not only did she fail to recover, but she also lost everything once again.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have sent Xia Wenjin to Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s chief surgeon.


    This surgeon had a high reputation in the industry.


    A maestro in cosmetic medical science.


    Once this chief surgeon made a move, at least half of the damage from their disfigurements would be eliminated.


    But who would have thought Xia Wenjin would escape without even getting on the surgery table.


    Xia Wenjin was too lazy to continue making small talk with Feng Xixi, so she forced a smile and said stiffly, ¡°If you really cared about me, you would keep what happens next a secret.¡±


    Feng Xixi was a bit confused, seemingly not understanding what she meant.


    But she had a vague feeling it wasn¡¯t going to be anything good.


    And sure enough, the next second Xia Wenjin spoke with a sinister tone, ¡°I had someone switch out the materials used for Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s surgery. No matter how skilled this chief surgeon is, she will get an infection afterward, you understand? Her face will be ruined, beyond saving. It will never recover.¡±


    Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t believe her ears, ¡°Why would you do such a thing?¡±


    If she remembered correctly, Feng Ya Meizi hadn¡¯t done anything too excessive after her arrival¡ªshe had, at most, just bickered with Xia Wenjin.


    Feng Ya Meizi had always been haughty and imperious; her temper worsened after her disfigurement, but even so, Feng Xixi found it difficult to understand why Xia Wenjin would destroy her face just because of these issues.


    This sent chills down Feng Xixi¡¯s spine. She had never thought Xia Wenjin could grow so twisted.


    Xia Wenjin snickered, ¡°Why would I do such a thing? Of course, it¡¯s so that I can live a better life in the future...¡±

 Chapter 544: 542 Absolutely Not Intimidating Her

    Chapter 544: Chapter 542 Absolutely Not Intimidating Her


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it an eternal truth that if one does not look out for oneself, heaven and earth will annihilate them?¡±


    She just wanted to live a better life. What was wrong with that?


    It was other people who were wrong, for they always tried to block her way, forcing her to protect herself.


    These had nothing to do with her, she was the real victim!


    Feng Xixi looked at Xia Wenjin¡¯s ferocious and distorted face, feeling a moment of fear.


    She had never thought that the Xia family could raise Xia Wenjin with such a character.


    But then, Feng Xixi suddenly understood why Xia Wenjin had ended up in her current situation.


    She always felt wronged by others and harbored envy, which is why she abandoned the Xia family for the Lu family, thinking only of immediate benefits.


    If only she had endured a bit longer, she wouldn¡¯t have lost the strong support of the Xia family.


    Feng Xixi frowned, suddenly feeling that Xia Wenjin was foolish.


    The Xia family had concealed their wealth, but they had always given her the best in terms of food and clothing.


    She really lacked foresight...


    But now that things had come to this point, even if she didn¡¯t want to sink to Xia Wenjin¡¯s level, there was no way out.


    With Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s temper, if she knew Xia Wenjin had harmed her, she would definitely throw a fit, and all the blame would fall on her head.


    Feng Ya Meizi already had a bad impression of her, and being arrogant and haughty, she would never listen to her explanations.


    The tension in Feng Xixi¡¯s brow increased as her gaze fixed on Xia Wenjin, ¡°What do you plan to do next?¡±


    She didn¡¯t believe Xia Wenjin had ruined Feng Ya Meizi out of simple revenge; there must be further schemes.


    True to form, Xia Wenjin saw that Feng Xixi had quickly accepted the reality and her expression had improved considerably.


    During her stay here, she had already understood the relationship between Feng Xixi and Feng Ya Meizi.


    The greater the discord between the two, the better it was for her.


    Indeed, she hadn¡¯t bet wrong!


    Feng Xixi was indeed wavering.


    However, what Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know was that Feng Xixi, like her, was a person who prioritized interests above all.


    If she didn¡¯t have to settle for less without the prospect of securing a wealthier, more powerful man, she wouldn¡¯t have become Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress.


    But she didn¡¯t have the protagonist¡¯s halo nor was she as lucky as Feng Xiran to marry into a wealthy family.


    Thus, she could only resort to all means to make her life comfortable.


    She had initially put most of her hopes on Xia Wenjin.


    She was just waiting for the original plot to begin, but Xia Wenjin had already doomed herself before that time had even arrived¡ª


    Literally doomed, soon to play herself to death!


    Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t help but press her temples, silently watching Xia Wenjin, waiting for what was to come.


    Xia Wenjin probably saw the displeasure on Feng Xixi¡¯s face and forced a smile, trying to reassure her, ¡°Sister Feng, don¡¯t be angry. Perhaps after hearing what I have to say next, you might even be happy.¡±


    Feng Xixi raised an eyebrow skeptically, clearly doubtful of Xia Wenjin¡¯s words.


    Xia Wenjin was not annoyed at all, instead, he looked at her with a beaming smile and said word by word, ¡°Soon, I will have the doctor alter my appearance to look like Feng Ya Meizi. When her father asks, I¡¯ll be Feng Ya Meizi, while she will be Xia Wenjin.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Feng Xixi could hardly believe her ears, her eyes wide in shock as she stared intently at Xia Wenjin.


    She now knew exactly what Xia Wenjin was plotting.


    Xia Wenjin assumed Feng Xixi was simply shocked and continued, ¡°If I become Feng Ya Meizi, I will control all the benefits associated with her. I won¡¯t lose my temper with Sister Feng anymore. Once I return to Country R, I¡¯ll certainly treat Sister Feng well on behalf of Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s father. Wouldn¡¯t that be good?¡±


    Feng Xixi¡¯s mouth twitched. If she hadn¡¯t been Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress before, she would definitely have been deceived by Xia Wenjin¡¯s honeyed words.


    She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before saying to Xia Wenjin, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to discourage you, but you really don¡¯t understand what kind of person Fengya Ichiro is.¡±


    As a father, he indeed appeared to pay little attention to Feng Ya Meizi, but since she was the heir of the Fengya Family, how could Fengya Ichiro not care?


    Even if Xia Wenjin¡¯s face was altered to look like Feng Ya Meizi, her habits and temperament were not things that could be completely changed.


    She couldn¡¯t even deceive her, how could she possibly deceive Fengya Ichiro and his kind?


    Feng Xixi¡¯s gaze swept over Xia Wenjin before she continued, ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to Country R. Just one meeting with Fengya Ichiro, and you¡¯ll be exposed!¡±


    She was definitely not trying to scare her.


    Xia Wenjin seemed to be indifferent, shrugging, ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll just stage a car accident and claim I lost my memory.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Feng Xixi was now completely astounded by Xia Wenjin¡¯s stupidity.


    She must have behaved like this when she was at the Lu Family too.


    If she remembered correctly, the situation of the Lu Family in the Beijing Circle wasn¡¯t bad back then, as Lu Zhaozhao had married Song Sinian, which should have landed the Lu Family a significant contract.


    Those contracts were enough to markedly elevate their status in the Beijing Circle.


    But the Lu Family was gone now...


    Feng Xixi had been puzzled initially about why, but now, seeing Xia Wenjin¡¯s complete disregard for others¡¯ intelligence, she was totally frustrated.


    She raised her hand to massage her throbbing temples. ¡°Jin, I just told you, this plan won¡¯t work at all. Fengya Ichiro is very smart and sensitive. Just one meeting with him, and you¡¯ll realize how absurd your idea is.¡±


    Feng Xixi¡¯s repeated warnings to Xia Wenjin stemmed mainly from her fear of being implicated.


    Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s face was now completely ruined, and there was no hope of salvaging it.


    In the past, she would have fled overnight and quietly spent the rest of her life in some small country.


    But Feng Ya Meizi was no longer the heir of the Fengya Family.


    Adding to that, her face was already destroyed, and even if it was damaged further, Fengya Ichiro would not blame her.


    As long as she didn¡¯t provoke death, Fengya Ichiro wouldn¡¯t touch her.


    But Xia Wenjin¡¯s current actions were undoubtedly like dancing in a minefield controlled by Fengya Ichiro.


    Xia Wenjin might be foolish, but that didn¡¯t mean she had to be foolish with her.


    Her current life was bearable; as long as she didn¡¯t gamble too big, she still had some money.


    Fengya Ichiro was generous to her, so she really didn¡¯t need to take risks with Xia Wenjin.


    Moreover, not only was Xia Wenjin¡¯s plan unreliable, but even the rewards she promised held no allure.


    She was already Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress; fighting desperately wouldn¡¯t change that¡ªshe simply had no chance to advance further...

 Chapter 545: 543: No Need to Take This Humiliation!

    Chapter 545: Chapter 543: No Need to Take This Humiliation!


    Fengya Ichiro had lost his reproductive ability due to a car accident engineered by his archenemy after his wife gave birth to Feng Ya Meizi.


    This was also why Fengya Ichiro had many mistresses, yet he didn¡¯t have another child.


    He couldn¡¯t have more children, so he could only let Feng Ya Meizi inherit the Fengya Family.


    But Feng Ya Meizi had offended the Family Head of the Rimu Family, so Fengya Ichiro had no choice but to abandon her.


    Xia Wenjin had initially thought that Feng Xixi stopped her because she was unaware of her intentions.


    She thought that if Feng Xixi knew she could gain Fengya Ichiro¡¯s favor through her in the future, she would definitely happily choose to help her.


    But contrary to her expectations, not only did Feng Xixi have no plans to help her after finding out, but she even thought about making her give up the idea.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face suddenly looked a lot uglier, ¡°Sister Feng, you are now in the same boat as me, do you think you can escape unscathed if Feng Ya Meizi finds out about this?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    She indeed couldn¡¯t.


    Even if she wouldn¡¯t admit it, Feng Ya Meizi probably wouldn¡¯t listen.


    Xia Wenjin chuckled lightly, ¡°She absolutely won¡¯t listen, and I will also tell her that it was all your doing...¡±


    Feng Xixi exploded instantly, her eyebrows almost knotted, ¡°Xia Wenjin, I saved you, is this how you repay me?!¡±


    Her voice raised quite a bit, she really felt like going up and slapping Xia Wenjin right there.


    How could she have given birth to such a creature.


    After such a long time without seeing her, not bringing her any power or money was one thing, but to actually plot against her?!


    If she had known earlier, she might as well have let her die in the river that rushed down, so she wouldn¡¯t have to suffer this humiliation!


    Feng Xixi cursed Xia Wenjin in her heart hundreds of times, her eyes staring at her fiercely out of anger.


    Seeing her angry expression, Xia Wenjin laughed lightly instead, ¡°Sister Feng, it¡¯s not that I haven¡¯t given you a choice, but if you insist on standing against me, you are my enemy. I¡¯m never lenient towards my enemies...¡±


    Even if this person had once saved her life.


    Anyone who tried to block her path, she wouldn¡¯t let them go!


    Though Xia Wenjin said no more afterward, Feng Xixi clearly sensed the implication of her words.


    Feng Xixi now regretted more and more that she had ever saved her.


    If not for herself, she might have survived anyway, only she wouldn¡¯t know what her life would have been like.


    That would still be better than her coming back to threaten her!


    Thinking this, Feng Xixi frowned for a moment, but eventually, she gave in, ¡°I can help you, but if anything goes wrong, I won¡¯t be able to fix it, you¡¯ll have to rely on yourself. And no matter what happens later, you can¡¯t sell me out.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    Xia Wenjin blurted out without thinking.


    As for the future, who could control that?


    As long as Feng Xixi agreed to cooperate with her now, the rest didn¡¯t matter.


    Xia Wenjin looked at Feng Xixi with satisfaction, ¡°Since Sister Feng has agreed, then I¡¯ll go ahead with the surgery. Soon, a brand-new Feng Ya Meizi will appear before you, I hope you like her.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Although Feng Xixi said this, her clenched fists betrayed her annoyed emotions.


    But Xia Wenjin was entirely absorbed in the victory she just had, how could she notice such a small detail?


    Soon, Xia Wenjin went to the operating room she had arranged beforehand.


    As soon as she was pushed into the operating room under general anesthesia, Feng Xixi immediately dialed Fengya Ichiro¡¯s number.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s indifferent voice came from the other end of the phone.


    Normally, Fengya Ichiro wouldn¡¯t answer calls while working.


    But Feng Xixi was not a thoughtless woman, and since Ya Meizi was with her right then, Fengya Ichiro, despite being displeased, still answered the phone.


    ¡°Ichiro, Meizi had an accident,¡± Feng Xixi said, gripping the phone so tightly her voice trembled.


    She knew that if she hadn¡¯t agreed to Xia Wenjin¡¯s proposition, she might not have resorted to anything drastic.


    But if she had let Xia Wenjin impersonate Ya Meizi, and Fengya Ichiro had found out, she would have been killed even faster.


    Thus, after much consideration, Feng Xixi decided to confess.


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed, showing little emotion.


    After all, Ya Meizi was no longer the Fengya Family heir.


    To him, she was merely one of his offspring.


    Children with a blood relation were indeed important, but those who could serve the family were even more significant.


    Hence, Fengya Ichiro was now more concerned about children from other branches of the Fengya Family being sent over.


    He hummed softly, then asked, ¡°What happened to Meizi?¡±


    No matter what had happened before, it never surprised Fengya Ichiro.


    After all, his daughter was prone to causing trouble; he felt it abnormal when she didn¡¯t.


    Now, with her face disfigured, her personality had become even more peculiar, which was within expectations.


    Feng Xixi, with a trembling voice, explained, ¡°Meizi was schemed against by someone, a child I had previously taken in from outside. I never realized that kid had such great ambition...¡±


    Afterward, Feng Xixi briefly explained how Xia Wenjin was rescued and what her plans were, sharing everything with Fengya Ichiro.


    Feng Xixi was betting that Fengya Ichiro, considering their many years of association, wouldn¡¯t lump her and Xia Wenjin together.


    Otherwise, her future would be even bleaker.


    After all, in Country R, the Fengya Family had autonomous rights; if they wanted to kill someone, they didn¡¯t need the approval of their country¡¯s laws.


    She truly didn¡¯t want to die.


    As for whether Xia Wenjin lived or died, it was no longer her concern.


    She originally saved Xia Wenjin, thinking she had some utility value, but who knew she¡¯d end up so destitute.


    Not only did Xia Wenjin fail to provide much use, she even planned to sell her out!


    Naturally, Feng Xixi wouldn¡¯t be lenient!


    Upon initially hearing Feng Xixi say Xia Wenjin schemed against Ya Meizi, Fengya Ichiro¡¯s brows nearly instantly knotted.


    He wanted the doctor to end Xia Wenjin¡¯s life during the surgery.


    However, upon hearing that Xia Wenjin planned to impersonate Ya Meizi, he suddenly dismissed that earlier thought.


    Being Ya Meizi¡¯s father, he undoubtedly knew her best.


    She was originally raised as the Fengya Family heir, and her demeanor was even more haughty and unbridled than the average boy¡¯s.


    For an heir, this trait was not an issue.


    After all, many affairs required the heir to possess enough presence to suppress subordinates.


    But as an ordinary person, or even as a tool for forming alliances through marriage, Ya Meizi¡¯s personality was not so convenient.


    The reason Fengya Ichiro still kept her after she lost her position as heir was precisely to have her form alliances with other families through marriage.

 Chapter 546: 544 Havent Returned Yet?

    Chapter 546: Chapter 544 Haven¡¯t Returned Yet?


    It seemed to be the last contribution she would make as a member of the Fengya Family.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have gone to the trouble of finding such a skilled plastic surgeon to send to Feng Xixi¡¯s side.


    But now that Feng Xixi had said Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s face might be ruined beyond repair,


    she would be of no further use to the Fengya Family, nothing but trash.


    Of course, Fengya Ichiro wouldn¡¯t feel it was a pity.


    Xia Wenjin naturally wanted to have surgery to become Feng Ya Meizi and was willing to live as her; he didn¡¯t mind taking advantage of her willingness.


    Previously, because Feng Ya Meizi was his daughter and had a defiant personality, he found it difficult to make her marry someone from R country of a certain age or someone with peculiar needs. She would definitely not agree.


    But Xia Wenjin was different.


    If she was willing to become Feng Ya Meizi, then she had to accept all that came with it.


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mouth curled into a smile, instantly forming a plan, ¡°Xixi, since Meizi¡¯s face can¡¯t be saved, let another person take her place. I am already aware of this matter, and I will not blame you.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Feng Xixi was surprised, she hadn¡¯t expected the matter to be glossed over so lightly?


    Fengya Ichiro even tacitly approved of Xia Wenjin having surgery to become Feng Ya Meizi?


    While Feng Xixi was still reeling in shock, the voice on the phone spoke again, ¡°Xixi, keep a close watch on that woman named Xia Wenjin for me, and you will naturally be rewarded handsomely.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I, I understand.¡±


    It took Feng Xixi a great while to regain her composure.


    Looking at the hung-up phone, she was in a daze, somewhat disbelieving that Feng Ya Meizi had been discarded by Fengya Ichiro just like that?


    Feng Xixi narrowed her eyes, glanced at her phone for a few seconds, and gripped it tightly.


    She became even more determined; she could not be deemed valueless by Fengya Ichiro, otherwise, her fate might be even worse than Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s!


    Feng Ya Meizi was his daughter, and he had abandoned her so quickly.


    Not to mention that she was just a mistress...


    Outside the film and television studio gate, He Xintian, who had been blocked from entering for several days, was in a terrible rage.


    She had originally believed that after her father spoke to the crew, Lu Zhaozhao would be kicked out, and she even swaggered to the set the very next day.


    After all, the three men she fancied were all in this crew.


    But unexpectedly, not only had she failed to win over the three men from the crew, she couldn¡¯t even enter the set!


    He Xintian was so frustrated that she brought four or five bodyguards with her the next day, only to be turned away again by the security at the entrance to the crew.


    She tried to force her way through, and then she, along with her bodyguards, ended up being taken to the police station.


    The reason was for causing trouble at the film crew¡¯s site!


    He Xintian was compelled to spend 48 hours in the police station, where all her patience had been expended.


    She simply sent someone to keep watch at the studio¡¯s entrance, just waiting for Lu Zhaozhao to appear.


    Since she couldn¡¯t enter the studio, she would wait for Lu Zhaozhao to come out and deal with her herself!


    So early in the morning, He Xintian was waiting by the entrance of the film crew, but no matter how long she waited, Lu Zhaozhao was nowhere to be seen, and this made her even more irritable.


    ¡°Does this Lu Zhaozhao live at the film set or something?¡± He Xintian¡¯s eyebrows were almost twisted into a knot.


    She didn¡¯t have many connections in Shangjing, and her ability to investigate was limited; she only knew that Lu Zhaozhao was the fourth female lead with not that many scenes.


    That¡¯s why she was certain Lu Zhaozhao would definitely leave the set, but after waiting for so long without a glimpse of her, she started to doubt it.


    The bodyguards nearby were nervously watching He Xintian and cautiously asked, ¡°Miss He, is it possible... that this person named Lu Zhaozhao left the film set last night and hasn¡¯t returned yet?¡±


    ¡°!!¡±


    He Xintian was clearly taken aback; she hadn¡¯t considered this possibility at all.


    She snapped back to reality and immediately yelled at the bodyguards, ¡°Go check the entrance! See if Lu Zhaozhao is there! If she is, stop her immediately!¡±


    He Xintian originally thought that as a fourth female lead, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t possibly have a house in the Beijing Circle, but then it occurred to her that Lu Zhaozhao might have a sugar daddy behind the scenes, making it plausible for her to frequently enter and leave the set.


    With that thought, He Xintian¡¯s expression grew even worse.


    What irritated her even more was that Lu Zhaozhao actually appeared at the entrance to the film studio!


    He Xintian angrily stormed over and glared at her, ¡°You shameless woman! Did you think that by hiding, I wouldn¡¯t be able to find you?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows raised slightly, ¡°Come on, you¡¯re not serious, are you? Are you sick? Do I need to hide from you? Who do you think you are?¡±


    These past few days, she had been entering and leaving the set at regular times.


    She hadn¡¯t paid any attention to He Xintian¡¯s affairs.


    If she hadn¡¯t seen her at the entrance to the film studio, she would have almost forgotten about the whole matter.


    Her fourth brother said he would handle things, and she naturally believed him, so she didn¡¯t plan to get involved.


    She didn¡¯t expect He Xintian to block her at the entrance to the film studio.


    He Xintian scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know about the little tricks you¡¯ve been playing behind the scenes! I¡¯m telling you, your days of being proud won¡¯t last long! Wait until my dad comes... you¡¯re going to be miserable! Do you know who my dad is? My dad is an important minister of the Rimu Family! If you anger him, it¡¯s the same as provoking the entire Rimu Family!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips couldn¡¯t help but twitch as she took out her phone and recorded He Xintian¡¯s words, right in front of her, ¡°You¡¯re such a big shot out here, do your parents even know?¡±


    Seeing this, He Xintian wasn¡¯t at all concerned, her chin was raised high, ¡°Of course my dad knows. He is an important minister of the Rimu Family, what doesn¡¯t he know? My dad is incredibly close with the Family Head of the Rimu Family, if you dare treat me this way, you¡¯re making an enemy of the Rimu Family!¡±


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you just impressive!¡± Lu Zhaozhao coldly stood aside and read along, her tone devoid of any emotion.


    How did such a foolish person as He Xintian manage to strut around so arrogantly in Country R for so many years?


    Using the Rimu Family¡¯s name to sleep with men, and some people actually believed her, tsk tsk... It has to be said, the social customs over there in Country R, tsk tsk...


    If this were in her home country, she could only fool the newbies who have just entered the industry, after all, He Xintian is really wealthy.


    Her dad might not be some giant merchant in Country R, but he¡¯s also considered quite influential in the second tier.


    He Xintian is certainly very generous when it comes to spending money on men; no wonder she hasn¡¯t had a downfall in that aspect.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at He Xintian, too lazy to argue with her any further, and turned to enter the set, but He Xintian blocked her path directly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare leave!¡± He Xintian glared at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Did you understand what I said to you last time? I want those three men by your side! Send them out to me right now!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyelids twitched violently as she turned her head stiffly to look at He Xintian, as if she was seeing an enormous idiot.


    ¡°If your brain¡¯s not working, make a left turn out the door and go register at the hospital. If you don¡¯t want your brain, donate it to someone in need...¡±

 Chapter 547: 545: Just You Wait and See!

    Chapter 547: Chapter 545: Just You Wait and See!


    Lu Zhaozhao felt that if she continued to talk to her, she might catch her stupidity!


    Too horrifying!


    He Xintian was obviously infuriated by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sarcastic comments.


    She ferociously bit her teeth, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao! You dare to curse me! I¡¯ll tell my dad! I¡¯ll have him kill you, you slut, and I¡¯ll ask my dad... Ah!¡±


    He Xintian hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when her face was fiercely slapped by Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Always running to your dad for everything, are you a giant baby? If you¡¯re capable, why don¡¯t you do it yourself?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately rolled her eyes, looking at He Xintian¡¯s angry face and raised her hand again, slapping her cheeks evenly.


    At this, He Xintian couldn¡¯t hold back anymore; with a ¡°wa¡± sound, she sat on the ground and started crying.


    It was the first time that Lu Zhaozhao had ever seen such a weak woman who was also so keen on stealing from others.


    Watching her wailing on the ground, Lu Zhaozhao was completely devoid of any sense of guilt.


    He Xintian was already grown up and yet acted like a spoiled brat¡ªgrabbing what she wants, throwing a tantrum when she fails.


    Such brats are spoiled by their bear parents. To get a brat to behave, a beating is enough.


    If that¡¯s not effective, then beat them twice!


    Until she behaves!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly approached He Xintian.


    ¡°What, what do you want to... hic... do?¡± He Xintian was so scared that she started hiccupping, looking at Lu Zhaozhao in terror.


    When she was hit just now, she had sought help from several bodyguards around her.


    But those bodyguards hadn¡¯t had time to get closer before they were all pressed down and dragged away by people in black who suddenly appeared.


    Not even a splash was made.


    He Xintian couldn¡¯t help but swallow saliva, suddenly regretting not bringing more bodyguards!


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be sitting here getting beaten by Lu Zhaozhao!


    She would definitely hire a hundred bodyguards tomorrow!


    She didn¡¯t believe she would lose to Lu Zhaozhao then!


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t care what she was thinking. She squatted down, her fair fingertips pinching He Xintian¡¯s chin, ¡°Even if I kill you right now, do you believe that your dad will have no idea how you died, huh?¡±


    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, yet it sent a chill down He Xintian¡¯s spine.


    She had been used to being high and mighty in R country, where had she ever encountered someone as unyielding as Lu Zhaozhao?


    Unable to kick her away, and unable to move her with money!


    He Xintian cried even more fiercely, tears streaming down, almost dripping onto Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at He Xintian with disdain, ¡°You¡¯d better remember one thing¡ªthe less you mess, the less you suffer. I¡¯ll let you off the hook for today, but next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky.¡±


    Saying this, she slowly stood up and entered the film and television base.


    Lu Zhaozhao could have dealt with He Xintian directly, but she had previously promised her fourth brother to leave the matter to him, and naturally, she would not change this decision on her own.


    Besides, that He Xintian was just too weak.


    The bodyguards she hired were also incompetent, being dragged away without even making a sound.


    What were He Wanshan¡¯s standards when hiring bodyguards, just to look tall and strong?


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but despise He Xintian and her father He Wanshan a hundred times more in her heart.


    He Xintian, watching Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s retreating figure, with her already ugly crying face became even more twisted, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, I won¡¯t let you off! Just you wait and see!¡±


    She was unaware that her every action had been fully reported to Song Group by the upgraded bodyguards at the entrance of the film and television base.


    ¡°Sir, madam...¡± Zhao Xi received the report the moment it came in and planned to enter the office to brief Song Sinian.


    However, as soon as she entered, she saw Pei Huai sitting directly opposite Song Sinian.


    This man was a rare visitor.


    Normally, Pei Huai was always with Xia Wenyan, and this was his first appearance at Song Group without Xia Wenyan.


    He had just gone to process some documents and hadn¡¯t noticed someone had arrived at the president¡¯s office, which was an oversight in his work.


    Zhao Xi frowned slightly in self-reproach and walked toward the desk.


    Pei Huai naturally noticed her expression and lightly laughed, ¡°Assistant Zhao, there¡¯s no need for self-reproach. I only informed Song Sinian when I arrived, so it¡¯s normal for you not to know.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded slightly in agreement.


    Zhao Xi pursed her lips, ultimately remaining silent.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes blinked slightly, and he looked at Zhao Xi, asking, ¡°What happened to Zhaozhao when you just entered the room?¡±


    Zhao Xi snapped back to reality and immediately said, ¡°Today He Xintian went to the film and television base, blocked the lady, and even got physical with her at the entrance. Of course... it was the lady single-handedly thrashing He Xintian.¡±


    Although it was their lady who had thrown the punches, hitting someone can still hurt, right?


    Furthermore, being entangled by He Xintian was clearly an unwarranted calamity.


    Zhao Xi previously researched He Xintian¡¯s background. According to the investigation, the other party indeed had been pampered since childhood like a spoiled child.


    Often acting thoughtlessly.


    However, she had never encountered trouble in R country before, because R country harbored a deep-rooted fear of the Rimu Family.


    Anybody associated with the Rimu Family was considered frightening and formidable, let alone an important minister of the Rimu Family.


    They didn¡¯t even dare to investigate whether someone was indeed a house servant of the Rimu Family, thus defaulting to accommodate He Xintian¡¯s whims.


    But the Rimu Family had no such deterrent effect domestically.


    For He Xintian to still use this matter to her advantage was very likely to backfire.


    Not to mention she was a problematic spoiled child. Now, He Wanshan was rushing from R country to the domestic side, and he was entirely unaware that the person He Xintian had provoked was the Family Head of the Rimu Family.


    Tsk tsk... there will definitely be a good show to watch in the future.


    Having heard Zhao Xi¡¯s report, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze slowly shifted to Pei Huai sitting directly opposite him, ¡°If you can¡¯t handle the situation with the He Family, I don¡¯t mind stepping in to root them out completely.¡±


    His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.


    A minor He Family, daring to show off in front of his wife... what a joke!


    Pei Huai also sighed somewhat helplessly, ¡°Of course, I can handle it, but...¡±


    He slightly pursed his lips, pausing for a moment before explaining, ¡°Yanyan wants to play, so he has been waiting for He Wanshan to come domestically. If you¡¯re bothered by her flaunting in front of Zhaozhao, I can ensure she doesn¡¯t appear for a while.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t speak, but his displeased gaze never left Pei Huai.


    It seemed he was unsatisfied with the previous answer.


    Pei Huai shrugged helplessly, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s be understanding of each other. After all, wives need to be coaxed, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The corners of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth twitched, neither confirming nor denying his statement.


    After a moment of silence, ¡°As long as she doesn¡¯t threaten Zhaozhao¡¯s personal safety, she can strut around for a few days, but...¡±


    ¡°I understand, I get it. I assure you, I absolutely won¡¯t allow that foolish woman to have the chance to lay a finger on Zhaozhao!¡±

 Chapter 548: 546 Someone Hit Me!

    Chapter 548: Chapter 546 Someone Hit Me!


    Lu Zhaozhao was not only Song Sinian¡¯s darling, but also the darling sister of his family¡¯s Yanyan.


    If she really got hurt because of He Xintian, he would be the one in trouble.


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply in his heart.


    Ah, whoever¡¯s wife, whoever cares...


    In R country, at the He Family.


    He Wanshan hadn¡¯t finished work yet when he received a call from He Xintian.


    ¡°Daughter, you...¡±


    ¡°Wah! Ahhhhhhh!¡±


    Before He Wanshan could speak, He Xintian¡¯s loud cries came through the phone, startling him.


    He had never heard He Xintian cry so miserably, and the document he was holding fell onto the desk.


    ¡°My darling daughter, what happened to you exactly? What exactly happened?¡± He Wanshan¡¯s brows were almost tied in a knot.


    He glanced at his phone and said hurriedly, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, tell me what happened.¡±


    But He Xintian just kept crying, how could she have time to talk to He Wanshan?


    Ultimately, He Wanshan had no choice but to shout into the phone, ¡°Is there anyone else with you? Where are the bodyguards? Let them take the call!¡±


    He was worried about He Xintian getting into trouble in her home country, so he had brought along several bodyguards when she went there.


    Now that He Xintian was crying like this, he couldn¡¯t expect her to say anything.


    He could only pin his hopes on the bodyguards.


    Soon, someone else picked up the phone.


    ¡°Boss, this is Shanmu,¡± the bodyguard said nervously, looking at He Xintian crying beside him like she was about to gasp her last breath, he was somewhat speechless.


    He didn¡¯t want to answer He Wanshan¡¯s call at all, because no one knew how troublesome He Xintian could be better than these bodyguards who often followed her.


    Back in R country, relying on the reputation of the Rimu Family, she had been high-handed and never faced any problems.


    But she got into trouble in her home country, specifically with someone as tough as Lu Zhaozhao.


    Instead of paying attention to He Xintian, she slapped her twice.


    This made the bodyguards feel very relieved.


    Thus, facing He Wanshan¡¯s call, everyone pretended not to see it, and as the head of the bodyguards, Shanmu had no choice but to take the call.


    Who asked him to be the highest paid among the bodyguards?


    Ah!


    He took a deep breath just to hear He Wanshan¡¯s annoyed voice from the phone, ¡°What exactly happened to Tiantian? Who dared to touch my precious daughter?¡±


    Shanmu twisted his mouth, ¡°Well... the lady took a liking to a domestic celebrity...¡±


    ¡°No! Someone hit me!!!¡± While Shanmu was speaking, He Xintian suddenly yelled into the phone.


    Shanmu was really startled, but as He Wanshan waited to hear more, He Xintian started sobbing again.


    Shanmu¡¯s mouth twitched, then he heard He Wanshan¡¯s angry voice come through the phone, ¡°Tiantian was actually hit?! What kind of bodyguards are you? Why didn¡¯t you protect Tiantian immediately?¡±


    ¡°The other party is a wealthy lady from the Shangjing Circle with dozens of bodyguards, we...¡± Shanmu didn¡¯t finish, but he thought that He Wanshan should understand.


    However, Shanmu left out something¡ªhe knew that even if they had enough numbers, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat the other side.


    The other party¡¯s people were clearly experienced and battle-hardened, unlike them who only relied on appearance to intimidate.


    But he dared not say that, fearing that he¡¯d be out of a job after speaking.


    He Wanshan¡¯s face darkened, and he cursed loudly, ¡°You bunch of trash! Even so, you can¡¯t just watch as Tiantian is being beaten! What use are you to me? You bunch of XXXXX...¡±


    Shanmu simply tuned out the barrage of curses that continued, ignoring them.


    After a long time, when the cursing finally stopped on the other end, He Wanshan seemed to come back to his senses and asked, ¡°Did you find out who bullied Tiantian?¡±


    ¡°We already found out. The other party is the CEO¡¯s wife from Song Group, also the young lady of XJ Group... It¡¯s really not something a few of us can handle.¡± Shanmu¡¯s words were tinged with helplessness.


    At the time, He Xintian thought the other party was just a minor actress and bullied her, without realizing she was the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group.


    Someone with both money and power¡ªwho could be intimidated by a mere word from He Xintian?


    The bodyguard suddenly remembered the scene at the film studio¡¯s entrance, where Lu Zhaozhao slapped He Xintian¡¯s face without a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    Tsk, clearly not someone easy to provoke.


    But He Xintian¡¯s brain seemed to be empty, as she was still making a scene, wanting to show Lu Zhaozhao what¡¯s what.


    Anyone with eyes could see that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s status in the country was untouchable.


    They hadn¡¯t investigated Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s identity at the beginning and were completely unaware. Now that they had figured it out, the best course of action was naturally not to oppose Lu Zhaozhao anymore.


    If possible, it would be best to make a proper apology.


    But looking at He Xintian now, how could she possibly apologize?


    He Wanshan scoffed, ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s just a small domestic company, what¡¯s there to fear? The Rimu Family¡¯s business has now expanded into the domestic market, and I¡¯m going to China to attend a banquet hosted by the Rimu Family Master. With the Rimu Family¡¯s backing in China, do we have to fear what Song Group can do?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The bodyguard didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Even if the Rimu Family was powerful, they couldn¡¯t immediately build a large empire in China.


    If they were tripped up by Song Group or XJ Group in China, it would probably be hard for the Rimu Family to establish a foothold, right?


    Isn¡¯t there a saying, ¡®even a mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake¡¯?


    Moreover, He Wanshan wasn¡¯t exactly a mighty dragon.


    Behind him was the powerful Rimu Family, but the Rimu Family didn¡¯t carry his surname.


    The bodyguard pursed his lips and ultimately swallowed back what he wanted to say.


    After all, He Wanshan was the boss, what right did he have to argue?


    ¡°Daddy! Are you coming to China?!¡± He Xintian suddenly grasped the main point and stopped crying, shouting directly into the phone.


    Shanmu saw this and directly handed the phone to He Xintian, then silently stepped aside.


    Sure enough, when He Wanshan heard that the person on the other end of the phone had changed to He Xintian, his voice became much softer, ¡°Tiantian is in China, Daddy will definitely go to China to see you, especially since you¡¯ve been bullied! Daddy will definitely rush over to support you!¡±


    He Xintian raised her hand to wipe her tears, showing no intention of continuing to cry.


    She sniffed and took a deep breath, ¡°Okay! When the time comes, find that woman named Lu Zhaozhao and let me slap her hard a few times! See if she still dares to be arrogant!¡±

 Chapter 549: 547: Everyone Should Punish Them

    Chapter 549: Chapter 547: Everyone Should Punish Them


    Every time she thought of Lu Zhaozhao slapping her, she couldn¡¯t help but clench her teeth in hatred.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, daddy will definitely get revenge for you once he¡¯s in the country!¡± He Wanshan swelled with pride at the thought of the banquet being held in his home country.


    He had heard from insiders of the Rimu Family that the banquet would be attended by a host of important Rimu Family members, and he was the only one with Rimu connections who could attend.


    Did that mean his status within the Rimu Family was almost on par with that of the Rimu house servants?


    Thinking this, He Wanshan¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but surge with excitement.


    He Xintian¡¯s heart blossomed with joy when she heard He Wanshan was coming to the country to avenge her, ¡°Then, daddy, hire me a hundred or eighty bodyguards first. I want to go and deal with that bitch properly first!¡±


    He Wanshan sighed, ¡°Silly child, daddy will be in the country in the next couple of days. You just take care of your injuries, and then daddy will take you to meet the Rimu Family Master. My daughter is so pretty, who knows, you might catch the eye of the Rimu Family Master. By then, not to mention a Lu Zhaozhao, even the entire Song Group could be taken down for you!¡±


    He Xintian¡¯s heart was instantly moved.


    She didn¡¯t know what the Rimu Family Master looked like, but the Rimu Family was like a prince living in a castle from a fairytale for her.


    A noble existence.


    If she could be with a prince, nothing else mattered.


    He Xintian couldn¡¯t care less about going after Lu Zhaozhao for now, she needed to take good care of herself these next few days. When the banquet came, she absolutely had to face the Rimu Family Master in her best condition!


    ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t disappoint you!¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm!¡±


    ...


    Because He Xintian had ceased her aggressions, Lu Zhaozhao had a couple of quiet days too.


    Thanks to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s good fortune, Bai Qing also regained his tranquility.


    His agent had been worried in the previous few days that He Xintian could affect Bai Qing¡¯s career since he had inquired about this woman called He Xintian.


    He heard her family was powerful in Country R, and they seemed to have recently expanded into their home country. So he was worried that if Bai Qing didn¡¯t comply with this missy, he could be blacklisted.


    Unexpectedly, He Xintian had taken the initiative to kick the iron board that was Lu Zhaozhao, resulting in heightened security on the entire set.


    Bai Qing naturally received protection as well.


    The agent was so happy that he had his assistant buy milk tea for everyone on set, while Lu Zhaozhao prepared a rather expensive gift for Bai Qing.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat in the break room, staring down at Bai Qing.


    ¡°These items were prepared by my agent in thanks for you helping me out,¡± Bai Qing said, pulling awkwardly at the corner of his mouth.


    Although he hadn¡¯t known Lu Zhaozhao for long, he understood what kind of person she was.


    So, in addition to preparing an expensive gift, he also prepared some snacks and a cup of coconut milk coffee.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lackluster interest, he pointed at the coconut milk coffee and the snacks and said, ¡°Actually, these were what I prepared myself.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Bai Qing a sidelong glance and reached for the coconut milk coffee on the table, ¡°So this is your apology gift?¡±


    ¡°Er... if you want to call it an apology, sure,¡± Bai Qing chuckled dryly.


    To Lu Zhaozhao, a person like He Xintian was an undeserved disaster, wasn¡¯t she?


    He had originally wanted to seek Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s help, but He Xintian directly made Lu Zhaozhao her imagined enemy and launched an all-out attack.


    And then, she ended up kicking the steel plate that was Lu Zhaozhao.


    The amount of disdain Lu Zhaozhao felt for He Xintian was equal to the disdain she felt for him.


    He definitely had no way to deny the need to apologize.


    Seeing Bai Qing¡¯s completely uncomplicated demeanor, Lu Zhaozhao lost the interest to make things difficult for him.


    She propped her chin and looked at the opened snacks, feeling much better herself, ¡°Actually, Mr. Bai doesn¡¯t need to feel too guilty. After all, people with bad minds who like to cause trouble should be universally condemned.¡±


    ¡°Pfft...¡±


    Bai Qing couldn¡¯t hold it in and laughed out loud.


    His whole demeanor completely relaxed.


    Although He Xintian hadn¡¯t shown up at the set for the past two days, he still felt quite embarrassed for having caused such a big problem for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Fortunately, Lu Zhaozhao was still willing to talk to him.


    Lu Zhaozhao, of course, saw what Bai Qing was thinking and picked up a piece of snack while propping her chin, saying, ¡°Mr. Bai, don¡¯t you want to try some? They taste pretty good.¡±


    Bai Qing smirked noncommittally and reached out for a piece of snack and stuffed it into his mouth.


    He was quietly watching Lu Zhaozhao, just about to speak, when he heard someone knocking on the door of the lounge.


    The next second, Xia Wenyan pushed open the door and walked in.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you see what I brought...¡±


    His words were cut off midway, as Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t expected to find someone else in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s room, and so he was abruptly stuck.


    Bai Qing stood up, nodded at Xia Wenyan, and seeing that he seemed to need to speak with Lu Zhaozhao, tactfully said, ¡°Teacher Lu, I¡¯ll head back first, you two talk.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded and watched Bai Qing leave.


    After the lounge door closed, Xia Wenyan reverted to his gossiping, gleeful demeanor and looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, in a few days the Rimu Family is holding a dinner party in Shangjing. Do you want to go for fun?¡±


    His attractive peach blossom eyes sparkled with exceptional brilliance, clearly indicating he had some joyful news.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat on the sofa in the lounge, turned her head to look at Xia Wenyan, and said indifferently, ¡°Is it the Rimu Family holding a dinner party in Shangjing, or... Brother Pei?¡±


    Xia Wenyan playfully winked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Take a guess.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    She should guess?


    She guessed it was Pei Huai arranging for her older brother to properly deal with the He Family father and daughter, which is why he had people come to Shangjing, right?


    Almost all of the Rimu Family¡¯s business was in Country R, because Pei Huai was in the country, so they set plans for development into the domestic market.


    The house servants of the Rimu Family in Country R agreed, after all, their Family Head was in the country, and they couldn¡¯t let the Family Head have no support domestically.


    With Pei Huai¡¯s generation in the Rimu Family, the people who had talent and could shoulder heavy responsibilities were almost non-existent.


    The older generation clung to their rules, and the younger generation was not up to the task, one could say it was a critical transition period.


    If this continued, the Rimu Family would sooner or later decline.


    At this time, Pei Huai, who was capable of reorganizing the Rimu Family, seemed like a forcefully injected stimulant, allowing the Rimu Family to rise abruptly. That¡¯s why even if the other older generations didn¡¯t approve, they couldn¡¯t compete with his strength.


    Moreover, his identity more than qualified him to inherit the position of Rimu Family Master.


    So even if others had objections, they had to hold it in.


    Especially since Pei Huai¡¯s various actions had brought benefits to the Rimu Family, so the number of people questioning him became even fewer.


    Naturally, whatever he said, was what would happen.

 Chapter 550: 548 Suddenly Felt Uncomfortable…

    Chapter 550: Chapter 548 Suddenly Felt Uncomfortable...


    ¡°Don¡¯t just mention his desire to expand the industry domestically.¡±


    ¡°Even if he said he wanted to expand his business to the moon, the house servants would probably dare not have any objections.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao saw Xia Wenyan¡¯s beautiful, sparkling peach blossom eyes and swallowed back the teasing words she was about to say, ¡°I guess it¡¯s Brother Pei.¡±


    The smile on Xia Wenyan¡¯s face grew even brighter, ¡°Indeed, this banquet was requested by Brother Pei, but... there will be a good show to watch, so do you want to go to the banquet and enjoy the excitement?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t think twice and nodded, ¡°Yes, yes!¡±


    She hadn¡¯t ¡®eaten melons¡¯ for a long time besides acting and visiting Song Sinian.


    Now that Xia Wenyan mentioned it, of course, she was willing to join in the fun.


    ¡°Great, great, I will prepare the most dazzling evening gown for you, guaranteed to make you the star of the show!¡±


    His sister, of course, had to be the most beautiful protagonist in the entire hall!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched involuntarily as she reminded him, ¡°Big Brother, if I remember correctly, this banquet is the Rimu Family¡¯s domestic evening gala, right? Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate for me to steal the show there?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s head immediately shook like a bobblehead, ¡°How could that be? This banquet is just the perfect opportunity for people from the Rimu Family to see your status in the Rimu Family, to prevent any Tom, Dick, or Harry from bothering you!¡±


    Whenever he brought it up, Xia Wenyan felt really annoyed.


    That woman He Xintian dared to covet both his precious sister and Brother Pei!


    Intolerable indeed!


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Lu Zhaozhao rarely saw Xia Wenyan so puffed up with ire, she couldn¡¯t help but smile and ruffled his hair.


    With such an adorable brother, how could she not love him?


    On the day of the banquet, He Xintian dressed up elaborately to showcase her elegance in front of the Rimu Family Master.


    Even the gown she wore was from a top-notch brand.


    Though she wasn¡¯t very famous, her father was rich.


    If borrowing wasn¡¯t an option, buying surely was.


    A gown worth more than ten million that could only be worn a few times did pain He Wanshan.


    But when he thought about his daughter possibly gaining the Rimu Family Master¡¯s favor with this dress, he felt the money was well spent!


    Thinking so, He Wanshan watched He Xintian, who was dressed to the nines and adorned in expensive jewelry, with a smile brimming in his eyes.


    ¡°Once we enter the banquet hall, you can¡¯t fool around anymore, got it? This is the Rimu Family¡¯s banquet, and we don¡¯t know when the Family Head will appear, so you need to maintain a noble and elegant demeanor at all times, understand?¡±


    He earnestly advised He Xintian by her side.


    He had heard that the Family Head had not married yet and previously, people from both the Rimu and Feng Ya Families wanted to align through marriage, but the Rimu Family Master declined.


    Later, Feng Ya Meizi drugged the Rimu Family Master directly, angering him, and as a result, Feng Ya Meizi lost her status as an heir.


    This was a pretty significant blow to the Feng Ya Family.


    Such a cunning man; if his daughter could latch onto his high branch, his future prospects would be limitless!


    Whether his daughter could marry the Family Head, though, would depend on her own skills.


    He believed that since his daughter had managed to charm so many handsome men in the entertainment industry, surely the Rimu Family Master would fall under her pomegranate skirt as well?


    Thinking so, He Wanshan¡¯s gaze towards He Xintian grew even more affectionate.


    He Xintian, although she didn¡¯t like He Wanshan¡¯s nagging, upon thinking about the importance of this banquet, obediently nodded her head.


    However, this obedience didn¡¯t last five minutes before it fell apart upon seeing Lu Zhaozhao entering the banquet hall.


    ¡°Lu Zhaozhao!¡±


    He Xintian suddenly shouted, then rushed forward, in her evening gown, to block the woman who had stopped in her tracks because of her shout.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head to glance at He Xintian, her eyebrows involuntarily raising slightly, seemingly unsurprised to see her appear at this dinner.


    After all, her elder brother¡¯s intention was to embarrass the He Family father and daughter, and if they hadn¡¯t attended, it would have been pointless.


    He Xintian¡¯s gaze sized up Lu Zhaozhao, whose dress was a dazzling gold that shimmered spectacularly on her, making it hard for one to look away.


    Even though she was a woman, she couldn¡¯t help but be attracted.


    A beautiful and luxurious evening dress makes one look elegant and attractive, but on Lu Zhaozhao, it was she who made the dress appear even more luxurious.


    There was this sense... that she made the evening gown seem unaffordable for others.


    He Xintian couldn¡¯t help but clench her teeth, unwilling to be outshone by Lu Zhaozhao.


    She stared resentfully at Lu Zhaozhao, thinking of He Wanshan beside her, which suddenly gave her a confidence boost.


    He Xintian¡¯s chin lifted. ¡°Why are you here? Do you even know that this banquet is hosted by the Rimu Family Master!?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked slightly, looking at her as if she were a fool. ¡°Since you know this banquet is hosted by the Rimu Family Master, you should understand that it¡¯s open to the Shangjing Circle business community, right? With my status, why would it be strange for me to be here?¡±


    Her implication was clear.


    At a banquet open to the Shangjing Circle business community, the attendees were generally well-known figures within that community.


    As the owner of Song Group, a leading enterprise in the Shangjing Circle, didn¡¯t she have the right to attend?


    One could say that if she didn¡¯t qualify, then nobody in the Shangjing Circle did.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked lightly again, decisively confronting He Xintian with her status.


    Since the last time she had struck He Xintian at the film studio, they should have already investigated her status.


    So, Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t worried at all that they wouldn¡¯t know who she was.


    He Xintian clenched her teeth, just about to speak when He Wanshan held her back.


    Usually, He Xintian could create trouble however she wanted, and he would not intervene, but this time it was at a business banquet prepared by the Rimu Family Master.


    He didn¡¯t want to give the Rimu Family Master a bad impression right from the start.


    He Wanshan¡¯s eyes sized up Lu Zhaozhao and when his gaze landed on her strikingly beautiful face, he was instantly mesmerized.


    He had intended to deal with the person who bullied his daughter, but upon seeing the perpetrator¡¯s attractiveness, he found himself swayed.


    ¡°Dad, she...¡±


    He Xintian hadn¡¯t finished speaking when she saw a familiar figure approaching.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, why are you walking so fast? Sinian he...¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s words halted abruptly upon spotting He Xintian next to Lu Zhaozhao.


    He knew that the He family had received an invitation and would definitely attend the banquet, but he didn¡¯t expect to bump into them right at the entrance.


    Such bad luck!


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s disdain was visibly clear, which immediately irritated He Wanshan...

 Chapter 551: 549: Is This Woman Poisonous?

    Chapter 551: Chapter 549: Is This Woman Poisonous?


    When he was in R-country before, counting on his slight connection with the Rimu Family, many people were extremely respectful towards him. Where had he ever encountered someone who ignored him upon meeting?


    He Wanshan¡¯s brows suddenly knotted, recalling how He Xintian had mentioned that Lu Zhaozhao had three male actors around her¡ªcould this man be one of them?


    The CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group, He Wanshan had no way of dealing with her now, but that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t control a minor actor.


    He turned to look at He Xintian, asking, ¡°Tiantian, is this guy the actor you liked before?¡±


    As he spoke, his gaze disdainfully swept across Xia Wenyan.


    Seeing this, He Xintian nodded again and again, ¡°It¡¯s him!¡±


    But this was someone she¡¯d taken interest in later; Bai Qing, the initial object of her affections, hadn¡¯t come to the event at all.


    Hearing He Xintian¡¯s words, He Wanshan¡¯s view of Xia Wenyan soured even more.


    His daughter fancied just a minor actor, and yet he was so ungrateful!


    ¡°Dad, I want him right now!¡± He Xintian pointed at Xia Wenyan, suddenly speaking out.


    She already knew that Lu Zhaozhao was the Song Group¡¯s CEO¡¯s wife, so there was no way she¡¯d compete with her for a man in front of so many people.


    Otherwise, her husband would definitely kill her!


    Her husband probably wouldn¡¯t care how she behaved in private, but if this matter became public, he surely wouldn¡¯t save her face, right?


    He Xintian was certain that Lu Zhaozhao would never publicly compete with her, so she pointed at Xia Wenyan and provocatively even jutted her chin at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao twitched the corner of her mouth, her sight turning to Xia Wenyan beside her. As she hesitated whether to speak up, Xia Wenyan very disrespectfully beat her to it.


    ¡°You want me right now? Does your family never look in the mirror? Or are you too poor to afford one? If you can¡¯t buy one, you could at least pee and look at yourself in the reflection and see what kind of person you are. You want me? Do you think you¡¯re worthy?!¡±


    Xia Wenyan rolled his eyes in disgust, wishing he could spit right in her face.


    He Xintian¡¯s face flushed red in an instant, angrily pointing at Xia Wenyan, ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re rejecting a face-saving offer! You won¡¯t end up well with that woman! You...¡±


    ¡°You what? If you dare point that finger at me again, I¡¯ll break it right now!¡± Xia Wenyan said, and took a step forward, which scared He Xintian enough to make her retreat several steps back, hiding behind He Wanshan.


    Now He Wanshan was thoroughly enraged by Xia Wenyan.


    He glared at Xia Wenyan with a dark expression, coldly saying, ¡°This is the Rimu Family¡¯s turf. You think a minor actor like you can stir up trouble here? Do you have a death wish?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly lifted, her tone cool, ¡°He¡¯s not just a minor actor. He¡¯s the kind of influencer who could post your face on Weibo and have you cyberbullied to death.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    He Wanshan choked up; although he didn¡¯t know much about influencers, ¡°cyberbullying¡± was a word that still frightened him.


    R-country¡¯s population wasn¡¯t large, but that didn¡¯t mean cyberbullying didn¡¯t exist.


    And as for... in our country, with a population ten times larger, well, that goes without saying.


    He was definitely apprehensive.


    As He Wanshan was contemplating how to confront his opponent, Lu Zhaozhao added softly, ¡°Oh right, I forgot to remind you. This influencer is actually my biological brother, one of the heirs to the XJ Group.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    He Wanshan¡¯s eyes widened noticeably, and his complexion shifted dramatically.


    He had been unafraid of Lu Zhaozhao before because, although she was an XJ Group heiress, she was adopted into the family later on, and he did not believe Lu Zhaozhao had the clout to have XJ Group avenge her.


    As for her position as the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group, to him, it was negligible.


    He just needed to not openly disrespect Song Group, and Lu Zhaozhao, the so-called CEO¡¯s wife, couldn¡¯t do anything to him.


    After all, the one with the power and influence was her husband, not her.


    But Xia Wenyan was different, he was one of the real heirs to XJ Group, and even a portion of the company¡¯s real power far exceeded their family¡¯s.


    He Wanshan furrowed his brows as he looked toward He Xintian, lowering his voice to say, ¡°Tiantian, didn¡¯t you say before that the artist you fancied was just a minor one, without any background?¡±


    He Xintian pouted, ¡°The artist you¡¯re talking about is Bai Qing, not the one in front of us...¡±


    He Wanshan¡¯s face also shifted between red and green.


    Right now his assets indeed couldn¡¯t compare to XJ Group, but he felt that he had recently gained the attention of the Rimu Family, and his rise to success was just a matter of time.


    However, he hadn¡¯t yet reached a point where he could afford to make an enemy of someone from the XJ Group.


    He Wanshan¡¯s brows stayed furrowed for a long time, momentarily unsure of how to recover the situation.


    Xia Wenyan, upon seeing He Wanshan switching his expressions frantically in front of him, couldn¡¯t help but let out a light scoff, speaking with mockery, ¡°What¡¯s this? Your daughter wants to use one of the heirs of the XJ Group as a diversion? The He Family really thinks highly of themselves!¡±


    He Wanshan¡¯s complexion worsened.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, what are you doing here?¡± Suddenly, a cool voice came from not too far away.


    He Wanshan, He Xintian, Lu Zhaozhao, and Xia Wenyan almost simultaneously turned their gazes toward the source, only to see Song Sinian slowly approaching.


    He had just received a contract that needed immediate attention and, worrying that Lu Zhaozhao would be too cold in her gown inside the car, that¡¯s why Song Sinian had asked Lu Zhaozhao to head to the banquet hall first.


    After all, with Xia Wenyan present, he wasn¡¯t worried about Lu Zhaozhao being unattended.


    But when he finally arrived at the banquet hall after finishing the documents, he found that Lu Zhaozhao had been standing at the entrance the entire time.


    His brow unconsciously knitted together as he took off his suit jacket and draped it over Lu Zhaozhao.


    His gaze turned toward Xia Wenyan, seemingly carrying a hint of irritation.


    Xia Wenyan, even more so, focused on his own business, pretending not to notice.


    He had just been preoccupied with the argument and completely forgot that his dear sister was still in her thin evening gown.


    He really deserved to be beaten.


    But he didn¡¯t want to be hit by Song Sinian.


    Remembering how this guy had fought him and almost sent him packing, he couldn¡¯t help but get nervous.


    ¡°Cough cough... I...¡±


    ¡°Daddy! Him! I want this man!¡± Before Xia Wenyan could speak, He Xintian at his side had another bout of infatuation.


    Not just Lu Zhaozhao was speechless at this, even Xia Wenyan was lost for words.


    Was this woman, He Xintian, toxic or what?


    Did she have to have every attractive man she saw?


    Completely regardless of who the other person was?


    How on earth had she managed to live this long without crashing and burning?


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but criticize internally, but then thought about it, a small place like Country R... emmm, indeed there weren¡¯t that many attractive people around.


    He Wanshan was a bit bewildered, but remembering that he had just offended one of the heirs of XJ Group, he still wanted to make amends in his presence.


    So he directly spoke up, ¡°If you had said earlier that the man you wanted was this one, how would daddy have misunderstood that the person you wanted was this heir of the XJ Group?¡±

 Chapter 552: 550: This Really Isnt the One I Raised

    Chapter 552: Chapter 550: This Really Isn¡¯t the One I Raised


    He Wanshan spoke, then turned to look at Xia Wenyan and said, ¡°Young Master Xia, sorry, I didn¡¯t figure out which male artist my daughter wanted. Please excuse me.¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked at He Wanshan with an indescribable expression, ¡°Are you sure the man your daughter wants is him?¡±


    As he spoke, his gaze slowly glanced over at Song Sinian standing beside him.


    His expression remained unchanged, merely standing quietly beside Lu Zhaozhao, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.


    Thinking how the He Family father and daughter had been so oblivious not only in investigating Lu Zhaozhao but failing to even check the people close to her, they really deserved this mess!


    He Wanshan nodded seriously, ¡°Yes, this is the man!¡±


    When He Xintian saw He Wanshan backing her in front of so many people, she immediately perked up.


    She stepped forward to grab Song Sinian but before she could even touch his clothes, Lu Zhaozhao slapped her across the face with a raised hand.


    ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Smack!¡±


    He Xintian, caught off guard by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s slap, held her face and glared at her angrily, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, are you sick? What right do you have to hit me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°You openly act like a mistress right in front of me, and I can¡¯t hit you?¡±


    ¡°I... ah!¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Before He Xintian could finish her sentence, another slap from Lu Zhaozhao was delivered right in front of her face.


    Seeing this, He Wanshan immediately stepped in front of He Xintian, glaring at Lu Zhaozhao with almost gritted teeth, ¡°Even if you are the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group, you can¡¯t just do whatever you want!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao snorted softly, ¡°Under those circumstances, even if I weren¡¯t the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group, I wouldn¡¯t have gone easy on her!¡±


    Initially, He Wanshan didn¡¯t intend to antagonize Lu Zhaozhao, but if this woman insisted on picking a quarrel here, he wouldn¡¯t take the blame!


    Although he didn¡¯t want to upset the head of the Rimu Family over such a matter, it was different when it wasn¡¯t his fault.


    ¡°Miss Lu! I was being polite because I thought you were the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group. If you keep making unreasonable trouble, don¡¯t blame me for laying a hand on a woman!¡±


    Just as He Wanshan¡¯s words fell, he suddenly felt a chill at his neck.


    He distinctly felt several sharp killing intents charging directly at him.


    He Wanshan couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    He frowned, and his gaze instinctively turned to the two men standing behind Lu Zhaozhao.


    He saw both men staring at him with dark expressions, seemingly ready to finish him off if he dared to make a move.


    Song Sinian stretched out his arm and pulled Lu Zhaozhao into his arms, looking down at He Wanshan from a height, and asked indifferently, ¡°How do you plan to lay a hand on my wife?¡±


    His voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it struck He Wanshan¡¯s ears like thunder.


    His wife?


    Isn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group?


    Then who is this man in front of him...?


    Xia Wenyan watched He Wanshan¡¯s rapidly changing expression with a mocking look and couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°That¡¯s right, he is the CEO of Song Group, Song Sinian. Your daughter really has an eye for men of high status to play with~¡±


    He intentionally spoke in a mocking tone, causing He Wanshan¡¯s entire face to darken like the bottom of a pot.


    He had thought that it would be fine as long as he avoided Xia Wenyan, not realizing he had kicked an even more fearsome iron plate!


    Meanwhile, He Xintian, still absorbed in her fury from being slapped, didn¡¯t take Song Sinian¡¯s words seriously at all.


    She pointed her finger at Lu Zhaozhao and said angrily to He Wanshan, ¡°Dad, do something! This wretched woman, she... ah!¡±


    He Wanshan slapped her face without waiting for Lu Zhaozhao to make a move.


    The reason why the CEO of Song Group was present at the Rimu Family¡¯s commercial dinner was self-evident.


    The Family Head of the Rimu Family surely wanted to cooperate with the Song Group.


    In the Shangjing Circle, Song Group was a top-tier entity.


    It didn¡¯t matter if it was the CEO¡¯s wife, but the CEO himself was a different story.


    If he messed it up, the Family Head of the Rimu Family might have his head!


    Compared to his business, his daughter naturally wasn¡¯t that important.


    He Xintian had never imagined that she would be hit by He Wanshan.


    She covered her cheek in disbelief and stared at He Wanshan, ¡°Daddy, why did you hit me? Shouldn¡¯t you be hitting that shameless¡ªah!¡±


    He Xintian didn¡¯t even get to finish her unpleasant words before she was slapped again.


    She was genuinely stunned.


    Covering her face, she could only look at Lu Zhaozhao with deep resentment and bitterness.


    If it weren¡¯t for this woman, why would her father hit her?


    It must be that this woman had bewitched her father, otherwise why would her father hit her?


    Her father usually doted on her the most!


    The base of He Wanshan¡¯s palm was numb from hitting, but his gaze towards Lu Zhaozhao clearly carried a hint of displeasure.


    It was merely a conflict among kids, yet it had to be connected to business.


    His daughter hadn¡¯t really done anything to this woman, and now, after getting slapped so much for nothing, he naturally found Lu Zhaozhao very distasteful.


    Such a jealous woman, Song Sinian would probably discard her soon!


    The flash of disgust in He Wanshan¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t escape Xia Wenyan and Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian glanced at a figure slowly approaching from a distance, and his voice involuntarily rose several decibels, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to handle your dog, I don¡¯t mind taking care of it for you.¡±


    As he finished speaking, the tall figure came over and stood next to Xia Wenyan.


    Pei Huai helplessly curled his lips, ¡°This really isn¡¯t one whom I¡¯ve raised.¡±


    He naturally recognized the house servants of the Rimu Family; this person wasn¡¯t even an important minister, let alone a house servant.


    He had already discussed this with Song Sinian last time.


    But, this man was involved with the Rimu Family¡¯s servants and often acted under the banner of the Rimu Family, so blaming him was not entirely unreasonable.


    He Wanshan couldn¡¯t understand the silent exchange between Song Sinian and Pei Huai, but considering the recent encounter and the identities of Xia Wenyan and Song Sinian, he was somewhat wary of this man.


    Having been thwarted twice by Lu Zhaozhao, he felt somewhat intimidated.


    He always thought this woman named Lu Zhaozhao was toxic.


    He took a deep breath, and his gaze once again fell on He Xintian, whom he had slapped twice. He asked, ¡°Tiantian, do you know this man?¡±


    With tears rolling down her cheeks, He Xintian sniffled and yelled resentfully, ¡°How could I not recognize him? He is this bitch¡¯s lover! On the set, he¡ªah!¡±


    Before He Wanshan could react, Xia Wenyan rushed forward and landed several consecutive slaps on He Xintian¡¯s face.


    Completely dazing He Xintian.


    He Wanshan even thought that He Xintian¡¯s words must have been accurate, hence Xia Wenyan¡¯s intense reaction...

 Chapter 553: 551: Thats Definitely Death!

    Chapter 553: Chapter 551: That¡¯s Definitely Death!


    He hastily reached out to stop Xia Wenyan and also began to speak impertinently, ¡°Mr. Xia, are you saying that people cannot speak of the disgraceful deeds your sister committed?!¡±


    After all, slandering Lu Zhaozhao was all benefit and no harm to them.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao had a smudge on her reputation, Song Sinian would not cling to them relentlessly.


    He Wanshan thought this, and suddenly felt much more confident.


    ¡°Go to hell!¡± Xia Wenyan seemed to feel that beating He Xintian was not satisfying enough, so he grabbed He Wanshan and punched him twice.


    He Wanshan was originally a dignified person, and when he was in R country, he had relied on the power of the Rimu Family, was flattered by everyone.


    Now, suddenly receiving a few punches, how could he bear it?


    He fell to the ground in a sorry state, almost frothing at the mouth as he yelled at Xia Wenyan, ¡°This is a business performance organized by our Rimu Family, are you trying to make enemies with the Rimu Family?!¡±


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes and raised his elbow to nudge Pei Huai behind him, ¡°Am I making enemies with your Rimu family by doing this?¡±


    Pei Huai shook his head, ¡°Even if you did punch me twice, the Rimu Family wouldn¡¯t dare to be your enemy.¡±


    Xia Wenyan, satisfied, lifted his chin and then looked at He Wanshan, ¡°Did you hear that? Even if I beat up your Family Head, the Rimu Family wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything to me!¡±


    ¡°You... you are being hugely disrespectful to the Family Head!¡± He Wanshan glared venomously at Xia Wenyan, his whole being in turmoil.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenyan to look down on the Rimu Family so much.


    This was, after all, a business circle dinner prepared by the Rimu Family!


    He had to tell the Family Head! He must make the Family Head punish them!


    Pei Huai looked at He Wanshan, who thought he was considering the Rimu Family, and felt sick to his stomach.


    He raised his hand and waved towards someone not far away, and soon the person vanished behind him, then quickly reappeared.


    But this time, when he reappeared, he came with someone else.


    No one else reacted, but He Wanshan upon seeing that person looked like he had seen a savior.


    ¡°Lord Suzuki! Here is someone disrespecting the Family Head! You need to throw them out!¡±


    He shouted towards Suzuki, completely ignoring the significantly green complexion on Suzuki¡¯s face upon seeing Pei Huai.


    Suzuki had only heard that their Family Head had come to the country to expand the business.


    So he also came to attend this dinner.


    He had heard that only the important ministers of the Rimu Family had the opportunity at this gathering.


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t one, so he had just tried his luck by applying.


    But unexpectedly, the process went very smoothly, and he had come to the country with these important ministers of the Rimu Family.


    He was certainly quite proud of himself.


    That was until he saw He Wanshan.


    And when He Wanshan came over and clung to his legs, the house servants of the Rimu Family also slowly walked over.


    It was then that Suzuki realized, in this group of house servants, only he and He Wanshan looked like oddities.


    Suddenly, a bad premonition surged right to the top of his head.


    He suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Although he wanted to suppress this thought desperately, the terrifying notion kept bubbling up more crazily.


    Xia Wenyan looked at the man being called ¡°Lord Suzuki¡± and snorted lightly, ¡°Him, being called a Lord? The Rimu Family really has no hope now, does it?¡±


    Pei Huai, somewhat bemused, looked at Xia Wenyan and pinched his nose, ¡°If there really is no hope, then you¡¯ll have to support me when the time comes.¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded, ¡°Alright, if that time really comes, I¡¯ll begrudgingly go act in films to support you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Listening to the conversation between Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan, everyone went mute.


    They knew the stature of the Rimu Family very well, but they had also learned just what kind of standing this person in front of their Family Head held when they were in R country.


    It could be said that it was better to offend the Family Head directly on the spot rather than offend this Young Master Xia, otherwise their Family Head would definitely let them know what it means to be ¡®worse than death.¡¯


    These important ministers of the Rimu Family had all experienced this, so they were no longer surprised by the conversations between Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai.


    What they were afraid of now was that due to a single saying from Xia Wenyan, the Family Head might just call off all the years of foundation built by the Rimu Family.


    After all, compared to the Rimu Family¡¯s estate, the allure of being supported by Young Master Xia was greater.


    He Wanshan, not even counted among the house servants, certainly couldn¡¯t know these things.


    He didn¡¯t even know what the newly appointed Family Head looked like.


    ¡°You¡¯re making us enemies with the Rimu Family by saying such words at the Rimu Family¡¯s banquet, Lord Suzuki, hurry and tell the Family Head! Make them bear the consequences!¡±


    He Wanshan had a determined expression as he looked at Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai.


    He completely failed to notice that the surrounding house servants were all looking at him with faces that seemed to say ¡®watching a fool.¡¯


    And Suzuki, because of his words, just went weak at the knees and fell to the ground.


    He truly didn¡¯t expect He Wanshan to be so bold, to insult the Family Head¡¯s most precious treasure in front of the Family Head.


    Although he was not an important minister, as a house servant, he was well aware of the basic situation of the Family Head.


    He knew the status of Xia Wenyan in the Rimu Family.


    Suzuki had just arrived, originally oblivious to everything, but hearing He Wanshan repeatedly say such ugly words in front of the Family Head, he couldn¡¯t stand it.


    His legs gave out, and he directly knelt down.


    ¡°Lord Suzuki!¡± He Wanshan, not understanding, tried to reach out and pull Suzuki up but was angrily slapped away by him.


    He hurriedly crawled a few steps in the direction of Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai, ¡°Family Head! Young Master Xia, this has nothing to do with me! I just came to attend the banquet, I absolutely meant no disrespect towards the Family Head and Young Master Xia!¡±


    Suzuki, watching the two men before him, almost burst into tears right there.


    If he had known that He Wanshan dared to insult their Family Head directly, he wouldn¡¯t have supported their business for anything.


    Clearly, He Wanshan hadn¡¯t anticipated the situation before him either, his mouth twitching involuntarily, completely unable to believe what was transpiring.


    Had the man his daughter said was having an affair with Lu Zhaozhao really been the Rimu Family¡¯s Family Head?!


    His whole body trembled, and he also realized why Suzuki was so terrified.


    ¡°Thud,¡± He too knelt down with He Wanshan.


    He knew he was finished, and so was the He Family.


    Having offended the Rimu Family in R country meant living cautiously, but to offend the Family Head of the Rimu Family was a sure death!


    Pei Huai looked at the two kneeling on the ground, scoffing disdainfully, ¡°Boss He, you sure raised a good daughter, using my Rimu Family¡¯s name to gather wealth privately is not enough, but also using it to find a male concubine for your daughter?¡±

 Chapter 554: 552 Its all your fault, you dead girl!

    Chapter 554: Chapter 552 It¡¯s all your fault, you dead girl!


    The house servants of the Rimu Family standing aside had their eyes go wide when they heard this.


    Could their Rimu Family¡¯s name actually be used like this?


    Pei Huai ignored the astonished looks around him and continued to ask, ¡°Is the Rimu Family¡¯s name useful, huh? I didn¡¯t even know that the Rimu Family had gained such an important minister as you.¡±


    He Wanshan only felt a chill down his spine.


    Lingmu, who was already feeling weak in the knees, was now completely panic-stricken, ¡°Family Head, this really has nothing to do with me, my relationship with this He Wanshan is solely a partnership. If I had known he had the audacity to cause such a disaster with the Rimu Family¡¯s reputation, I would have never cooperated with him!¡±


    Lingmu could never have dreamed that He Wanshan would use the identity of the Rimu Family to make such a scene.


    He thought at most He Wanshan would just use the Rimu Family¡¯s name to attract investment. Who would have thought he¡¯d be so audacious?


    And to find a male concubine for his daughter?


    He really dared to!


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, ¡°Whether or not they truly harmed the reputation of the Rimu Family remains to be verified, but using the Rimu Family¡¯s name to seek a male concubine, and even reaching out to the Rimu Family Head, that¡¯s truly novel!¡±


    He Wanshan: ¡°...¡±


    Lingmu: ¡°...¡±


    The house servants of the Rimu Family: ¡°...¡±


    Well, what do you know, He Wanshan and his daughter really were impressive in this regard!


    Who is their Family Head?


    Even Feng Ya Meizi, the heir of the Fengya Family, had her face scratched up when she tried to lay hands on him.


    And He Xintian actually dared to entertain the idea of having their Family Head as a male concubine?


    Impressive indeed...


    The other house servants glanced sympathetically at Lingmu, who was sitting on the ground, utterly lifeless, if only for a second.


    After all, not taking the Rimu Family¡¯s reputation seriously was a grave crime in itself.


    It was utterly foolish to let someone like He Wanshan sully the family¡¯s name for a bit of money.


    He Xintian, standing aside, finally understood what was going on.


    She looked at Pei Huai with wide, shocked eyes. ¡°You, you¡¯re the Rimu Family Head? How is that possible? You¡¯re clearly just a celebrity in the entertainment industry, you...¡±


    He Wanshan already felt doomed, and now He Xintian jumped into the fray.


    There was no need to wait for He Wanshan to act; the security guards, who had been waiting around for a chance, quickly encircled them and pinned He Xintian to the ground.


    Just as she tried to struggle and speak, her mouth was stuffed with a cloth from the side.


    What complaints could He Wanshan possibly have now?


    He couldn¡¯t even save his own life now, let alone worry about his daughter¡¯s importance.


    Besides, all these troubles were brought about by He Xintian herself.


    If it weren¡¯t for her crazed insistence on finding men in the country, he would still be living comfortably in R country.


    Thinking this, He Wanshan immediately crawled forward. ¡°Family Head! This whole affair is the fault of my ignorant daughter, it¡¯s my fault for not teaching her well. Please, Family Head, be lenient for my sake, as I have only had my child¡¯s best interests at heart... As for my daughter, she indeed has displeased the Family Head, and I¡¯ll leave her fate to your discretion!¡±


    ¡°Wuuu!¡±


    He Xintian could hardly believe her ears.


    Her father, who had always been so good to her, was now so readily abandoning her?


    He Xintian struggled desperately, but she was held down by several security officers and couldn¡¯t get up.


    She looked at He Wanshan with hatred, as if she wanted him to explain.


    Why abandon her now?


    Pei Huai wasn¡¯t in the mood to pay attention to their father-daughter drama. He waved at the security staff, ¡°Throw them out. Lingmu will return to R country and face punishment from the Rimu Family. As for the others you¡¯ve brought in...¡±


    Seeing this, Lingmu hurriedly responded, ¡°I will handle these two properly! I will not let anyone tarnish the Rimu Family¡¯s reputation!¡±


    He knew his position as a house servant was likely lost.


    But being able to save his own life was already the greatest mercy from the Family Head.


    Lingmu didn¡¯t dare say more.


    He was also thankful that their family wasn¡¯t instantly crushed by this incident.


    As for the He Family father and daughter, not a penny of their wealth would be left to them, and whether they could live was now up to their own fate...


    Pei Huai glanced at the He Family father and daughter before turning his attention to Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Are you two satisfied with this outcome?¡± Pei Huai¡¯s voice was exceptionally gentle, a stark contrast to the cold Family Head image he had just portrayed moments ago.


    ¡°If not, I can make their plight even more miserable.¡±


    He said this with a faint smile on his lips, as if he was discussing what to eat later.


    Lu Zhaozhao had come to watch her fourth brother show off and smack faces. As for the He Family father and daughter, they were never good people to begin with, having relied on the fame of the Rimu Family to bully others.


    Now, they got what they deserved.


    Her gaze shifted to Xia Wenyan, who turned his charming, peach-like eyes towards her, ¡°As long as my precious little sister doesn¡¯t mind, I certainly don¡¯t either.¡±


    Having said that, his expression suddenly turned icy as he turned towards He Wanshan, ¡°However, I hope such trash never appears before my sister again.¡±


    Lingmu, as if he had heard an amnesty proclamation, nodded repeatedly, ¡°Rest assured, young master, I guarantee these two will not appear before the young miss ever again!¡±


    With his words completed, Lingmu saw Pei Huai gesture, signaling the security staff to throw out He Wanshan and He Xintian.


    Naturally, Lingmu didn¡¯t dare linger any longer.


    The more he had previously rejoiced at attending this business gathering, the more he regretted his decision now.


    He had overestimated himself.


    He nearly got killed by the He Family father and daughter¡¯s antics!


    Thankfully, the Family Head did not take out his anger on him or his family behind the scenes, otherwise he would have no idea how he¡¯d die in the future!


    Meanwhile, the He Family father and daughter thrown out of the door had already been locked up by Lingmu¡¯s men.


    He Xintian couldn¡¯t believe what had just happened; she was almost mad as she stared at He Wanshan, ¡°Dad, what those people said just now isn¡¯t true, right? He couldn¡¯t possibly be the Rimu Family Head, could he?!¡±


    He Wanshan was shaken by He Xintian pulling on his arm and grew irritable, slapping her across the face, ¡°You still have the audacity to talk? If it wasn¡¯t because of you, this wretched girl, why would I have angered the Family Head?! It¡¯s all your fault, you wretched girl!¡±


    With that, he began to beat and kick He Xintian.


    Gone was the father who used to cherish his so-called precious daughter.


    He Xintian watched the ferocious He Wanshan, her entire self going numb. At first, she stood frozen, taking the beating.


    It was only after she truly felt the hard blows that she belatedly reacted.


    He Xintian fiercely pushed He Wanshan away, ¡°How can you blame me?! It was you who pretended to be an important minister of the Rimu Family! What does that have to do with me?! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s wrong!¡±

 Chapter 555: 553: Atone for Your Sins with Death

    Chapter 555: Chapter 553: Atone for Your Sins with Death


    She had been doing just fine as a missy in Country R, it was He Wanshan who insisted on domestic development, could this be blamed on her?!


    And that Lu Zhaozhao, with such a high status, why did she have to be a mere fourth female lead?


    If it wasn¡¯t for her deliberately bewitching her with that fourth female lead role, how would she have ever kicked that steel plate?


    It¡¯s all her fault!


    It¡¯s all Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fault!


    It¡¯s all because of that woman that she has become what she is now!


    She wants her dead!


    He Xintian bit down on her teeth hard, making the excuse that she needed to go to the bathroom.


    Taking advantage of the guard standing at the door, she escaped directly from the bathroom window.


    Instead of choosing to go back to Country R, she used the jewelry on her person to buy a fruit knife at the convenience store, changed out of her gown, put on a mask and hat, and re-ambushed at the exit of the banquet.


    Lu Zhaozhao wanted her to have nothing, right?


    Then she would make her die!


    He Xintian, crazed, was guarding the exit, completely unaware that her every move had already been watched.


    ¡°This lady, what are you doing here?¡± Suddenly, a person looking like security appeared beside He Xintian.


    He Xintian¡¯s body shook, and the fruit knife she was clutching suddenly fell to the ground.


    Her panic intensified, ¡°I, I¡¯m not doing anything, I¡¯m just waiting for someone here.¡±


    Seeing her panicked state, the security personnel, even if not very bright, understood that this woman was probably not simply waiting for someone.


    He immediately tugged at the walkie-talkie on his chest and said to the inside: ¡°We¡¯ve found a suspicious person at the exit of the banquet hall, she...¡±


    Before the security personnel could finish, He Xintian turned and ran.


    At this point, she was only suspected of being a suspicious person; as a security person, he had no right to detain her.


    So even if she ran now, she wouldn¡¯t attract their attention.


    But He Xintian was wrong.


    The security personnel indeed wouldn¡¯t do anything to her.


    But Pei Huai¡¯s people had been watching her all along in the shadows.


    Ever since she and He Wanshan were thrown out from the banquet hall, Pei Huai¡¯s people had been following them.


    Even after He Xintian escaped, Pei Huai¡¯s subordinates kept close, never losing her.


    Now, after seeing her circle around and head back to the banquet hall, they notified the security personnel to drive her away.


    Seeing her running frantically to an uninhabited neighborhood, Pei Huai¡¯s subordinates immediately appeared, catching He Xintian red-handed.


    He Xintian¡¯s unfinished great deed was thus strangled in its cradle.


    Meanwhile, Lingmu was already impatiently seeking out Pei Huai to confess after He Xintian escaped from under his watch.


    Inside the resting room, he knelt in front of Pei Huai¡¯s sofa, shaking uncontrollably, ¡°Family Head, I really didn¡¯t expect that woman to think of escaping, I really didn¡¯t mean it, I, I¡¯ve already sent people to look for her...¡±


    He didn¡¯t know why he had come to Pei Huai immediately after the escape to confess.


    But he always felt that if he didn¡¯t notify Pei Huai immediately and something really happened, not even a hundred lives would suffice to compensate.


    Pei Huai¡¯s fingertips lightly tapped on the back of his chair, originally because of what happened with He Wanshan, Lingmu is definitely going to receive a severe punishment in the Rimu Family.


    But what he didn¡¯t expect was Lingmu coming over as soon as he lost track of her, crying a river of tears.


    His subordinates had actually reported to him long before.


    The moment He Xintian ran out, he received the message, even earlier than Lingmu¡¯s report.


    But this Lingmu actually amused him.


    At least, he was someone who knew the times, just... a bit foolish.


    But being foolish was good, the more foolish, the better they can be used.


    His gaze swept over Lingmu, and then he slowly began to speak: ¡°She has been found, standing at the entrance of the banquet hall with a fruit knife, I wonder who she planned to attack...¡±


    Lingmu almost fainted on the spot when he heard this.


    Was this He Xintian ill?


    Not going to let herself live, and now she doesn¡¯t plan on letting others live either?


    ¡°Family Head! All of these actions are He Xintian¡¯s own doing, absolutely nothing to do with me! I, I...¡±


    Lingmu now finally understood what it meant to be at a loss for words.


    He felt that he was already miserable enough being pitted by He Wanshan and his daughter.


    Who knew there were worse things...


    Lingmu felt that if this continued, he really would end up dying to atone for his sins, but just as he was considering how to make it right, he heard Pei Huai¡¯s cool voice slowly rise.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your last chance, you wouldn¡¯t disappoint me, right?¡±


    Lingmu was so moved he almost cried, he nodded his head repeatedly, ¡°Please rest assured, Family Head, I definitely won¡¯t make the same mistake again.¡±


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t even glance at him, lightly ¡°hmmed¡± in response, pretending to mention casually: ¡°If someone escapes from you again, you might as well die to apologize.¡±


    When he spoke, his tone was indifferent, making it difficult to detect his mood, but Lingmu involuntarily shivered.


    He realized that the Family Head was truly angry.


    Lucky for him, he had notified the Family Head the moment the woman escaped; otherwise, ten lives wouldn¡¯t be enough to make amends.


    ¡°Yes, yes, I guarantee they will never escape for the rest of their lives.¡± Lingmu hurriedly expressed his loyalty.


    Since Pei Huai disliked He Wanshan and his daughter so much, he definitely wanted to satisfy the Family Head.


    Seeing that he was on the right track, Pei Huai waved him away.


    Soon after, only Pei Huai was left in the room; he leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, He Xintian didn¡¯t get a chance to make a move; if she had really seen Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian definitely wouldn¡¯t take it lightly.


    He knew that Song Sinian would not be ruthless towards them for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sake, but with Song Sinian¡¯s vindictive nature, he wouldn¡¯t have comfortable days ahead.


    Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t kill him, but he had the power to prevent him from having time to spend with Xia Wenyan.


    The thought of this possibility gave Pei Huai a headache.


    Really, it¡¯s not scary to deal with swords and shadows, but sinister tricks are another story...


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Out of nowhere, Song Sinian, sitting in the bedroom, sneezed.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately turned with concern, ¡°Husband, are you catching a cold?¡±


    As she spoke, she walked over to Song Sinian and reached out to touch his forehead.


    There were no signs of fever; it should be just a simple cold.


    Song Sinian grabbed her hand and pulled her into his embrace, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I just feel a bit itchy in my nose, I¡¯m not sick.¡±


    Ever since his last hospitalization, Lu Zhaozhao had been extremely anxious about his health.


    Of course, Song Sinian understood, so he never blamed her for making a big deal out of it; instead, he tried his best to cooperate with her.

 Chapter 556: 554: Its her! Its this woman!

    Chapter 556: Chapter 554: It¡¯s her! It¡¯s this woman!


    Lu Zhaozhao furrowed her brows tightly, seemingly in disbelief, but after scanning Song Sinian¡¯s face several times and seeing that he didn¡¯t appear to be lying, she finally eased up.


    Song Sinian nearly burst into laughter, bowing his head to nuzzle against her neck, ¡°Zhaozhao, be good.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt a tickle on her neck and obediently sat in his arms, quietly watching Song Sinian work on the data on the computer.


    Suddenly, an email from Pei Huai popped up, causing Song Sinian¡¯s brows to furrow, but he still clicked it open with ease.


    The email contained a zip file with photos.


    He had just downloaded it when a message from Pei Huai appeared on the screen.


    [I found this while investigating Feng Ya Meizi, perhaps it will be useful to you.]


    Song Sinian raised an eyebrow in confusion, not understanding how the affairs of Feng Ya Meizi were related to him.


    But he still opened the photo.


    With just one glance, Song Sinian understood, for in the photo, aside from Feng Ya Meizi, there was someone they both knew well¡ªXia Wenjin.


    After Xia Wenjin went abroad with Xiao Jinglan, she had mysteriously disappeared.


    Xiao Mo capitalized on Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance to build a persona and earned a wave of sympathetic tears.


    Song Sinian fell silent for a moment, his fingertips flying over the keyboard, ¡°Why would Xia Wenjin appear there?¡±


    Soon, he received a reply from Pei Huai.


    [This woman was rescued by Feng Ya Ichiro¡¯s mistress and has been living in their house.]


    Had he not been investigating Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s situation, he probably wouldn¡¯t have stumbled upon Xia Wenjin.


    [Xia Wenjin has had her face ruined, but from her recent behavior, it seems she¡¯s not satisfied with her current life and has already started to fight back.]


    Following that, Pei Huai sent all the information he had gathered to Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian quietly looked at the material in his hands and fell into silence, and Lu Zhaozhao quickly noticed the change in Song Sinian¡¯s emotions.


    She subconsciously looked at the computer in front of Song Sinian, her eyes suddenly widening substantially, ¡°Is this Xia Wenjin?¡±


    When Song Sinian heard Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice, he quickly came back to his senses.


    He nodded gently, ¡°Yes, this was found by Pei Huai while he was investigating Feng Ya Meizi. She¡¯s now in the same place as Feng Ya Meizi, and she recently had plastic surgery...¡±


    Upon hearing the words ¡°plastic surgery,¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows immediately knotted.


    In her mind, anyone who had reconstructive surgery after being disfigured harbored thoughts of assuming someone else¡¯s identity.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s reputation was tarnished before she went abroad, and she did not get along with Xiao Mo¡¯s family, she... who did she want to transform into with the plastic surgery?


    Whose identity did she want to assume to return?


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao gently clenched Song Sinian¡¯s garment, saying hesitantly, ¡°She isn¡¯t planning to transform herself into someone close to us, is she?¡±


    Or perhaps to replace her and Xu Zhenzhen? Or even Wen Qingyu?


    After all, those were a few of the women familiar with Xia Wenjin.


    If Xia Wenjin wanted to return to the country for revenge, transforming into one of them would make it easier.


    But... replacing the three of them wasn¡¯t going to be easy, yet it wasn¡¯t impossible, which was precisely why Lu Zhaozhao was so nervous.


    Song Sinian, of course, understood what Lu Zhaozhao was worried about, and his large hand gently patted her back to comfort her, ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t worry, this woman¡¯s target isn¡¯t you guys this time, but Feng Ya Meizi.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly taken aback, ¡°Are you saying Xia Wenjin wants to have plastic surgery to look like Feng Ya Meizi? Hasn¡¯t she already lost her position as an heiress?¡±


    Now Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s face was disfigured, which indeed presented a good opportunity for substitution, but her status was no longer the same as before.


    Song Sinian raised his hand and gently brushed the tips of her hair, then explained with painstaking patience, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s precisely because Feng Ya Meizi is no longer the heiress that Xia Wenjin wants to have surgery to look like her.¡±


    A discarded piece that seemed insignificant, yet still lived a life of luxury, was indeed an attractive option.


    Xia Wenjin always prioritized profit; she knew crystal clear what would benefit her.


    It was just that sometimes she could be mistaken.


    Lu Zhaozhao fell silent for a moment, it appeared... that did seem to be the case.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao no longer speaking, Song Sinian then flipped through the remaining photos, but when he got to the last two, his brows almost twisted into a knot.


    Because aside from Feng Ya Meizi and Xia Wenjin, there was another woman in the photos¡ªone he was all too familiar with.


    This woman had a face identical to his mother¡¯s.


    If he remembered correctly, Pei Huai had mentioned before that this woman¡¯s identity was Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress.


    But his mother had died a long time ago.


    Only, later on, his mother¡¯s body mysteriously disappeared.


    For the Song Family, this had been a scandalous matter, so very few people were in the know.


    Song Sinian had also thought before, if his mother had faked her death, could she still be alive?


    However, after that, he gave up on these thoughts because that woman no longer mattered to him.


    Lu Zhaozhao noticed Song Sinian¡¯s demeanor seemed different from before, so she followed his gaze and looked back at the computer.


    When she saw that photo, she couldn¡¯t help getting agitated, ¡°It¡¯s her! It¡¯s this woman!¡±


    Song Sinian was startled by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s exclamation, but as he came to his senses, he saw Lu Zhaozhao pointing at the photo on the computer. As he wondered what was going on, he saw Lu Zhaozhao suddenly clutch her own head.


    Song Sinian was also frightened and quickly embraced Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°It hurts, my head hurts, really badly,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, covering her head, yet unable to stop shivering.


    Song Sinian suddenly recalled the woman Lu Zhaozhao had just mentioned and seemed to realize something, ¡°That woman who was with Lu Dagui, the one who pushed you down the stairs, is it her?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shivered severely, but still clenched her teeth and mustered the last bit of her strength to nod.


    Song Sinian had originally not wanted to delve back into those memories, but since they were related to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s amnesia, he had no choice but to take them seriously once more.


    His large hands held Lu Zhaozhao tightly, and he cooed gently in her ear, ¡°Zhaozhao, it¡¯s okay now, I¡¯m here, I¡¯ve always been by your side. Don¡¯t be afraid...¡±


    After a long while, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s condition slowly showed signs of improvement, and she calmed down in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, her whole body drenched as if she had been fished out of water.


    This clearly revealed the extent of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s resistance to the matter, as well as the emotional trauma it had caused her, which was greater than he had imagined.


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips lightly typed a line on the keyboard, and the message was immediately sent to Pei Huai.


    [Send me the information of the woman who took in Feng Ya Meizi. The more detailed, the better, preferably including when she appeared at Fengya Ichiro¡¯s side, as well as all the people she¡¯s come in contact with before!]

 Chapter 557: 555: Quite Alike in Seeking Death

    Chapter 557: Chapter 555: Quite Alike in Seeking Death


    Pei Huai hadn¡¯t expected that Song Sinian would be interested in Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress, and his gaze lingered on Feng Xixi¡¯s photograph for several moments.


    Almost instantly, he froze.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and he sifted through the documents at hand, finding more photos related to Feng Xixi.


    ¡°Brother Pei, what are you doing?¡±


    Xia Wenyan wiped his freshly washed hair and glanced at the busy Pei Huai, observing that he seemed to be focused on a woman¡¯s photo. Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow.


    However, knowing Pei Huai as he did, Wenyan didn¡¯t think he had any romantic interest.


    He sat directly on the chair next to Pei Huai and then realized that Pei Huai was looking at the photos previously taken while surveilling Feng Ya Meizi.


    If he remembered correctly, Pei Huai had been busy ever since they returned from the banquet.


    Although Wenyan didn¡¯t know what kept him so occupied, he hadn¡¯t disturbed him, only to find that he was still busy after taking a shower.


    Pei Huai glanced at Xia Wenyan and finally put down the photo he was holding, then gently started to towel-dry his hair.


    ¡°I just discovered something... quite interesting from the photos surveilling Feng Ya Meizi.¡±


    His voice was casual, as if making small talk, ¡°In the mistress circle where Feng Ya Meizi belongs, I discovered Xia Wenjin¡¯s presence.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Xia Wenyan could hardly believe his ears.


    After all, they were all too aware of Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance with Xiao Jinglan abroad; they had even thought that Xia Wenjin had been silenced by Xiao Jinglan overseas.


    He had not expected her to still be alive.


    Pei Huai pinched his shocked cheek before continuing, ¡°Xia Wenjin was saved by the mistress of Fengya Ichiro, but her face had been destroyed, so she has been recuperating there.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyebrows lifted, ¡°With Xia Wenjin¡¯s character, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she used her disfigured face as part of a ¡®Prince and the Pauper¡¯ play.¡±


    He didn¡¯t believe that Xia Wenjin was peacefully recuperating.


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t respond, which only made Xia Wenyan more puzzled.


    He turned to look at Pei Huai, only to find him watching him with a half-smile.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes went wide, ¡°No way? I guessed right!¡±


    If not for this, Pei Huai wouldn¡¯t have remained silent, unless Wenyan had just guessed correctly, so there was no need to continue!


    This thought made Xia Wenyan quite excited, ¡°Amazing, truly amazing. I have to say, only Xia Wenjin could think of such a dramatic scheme!¡±


    His thoughts were similar to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s; in his view, if Xia Wenjin, after disfiguring, considered plastic surgery, she would definitely choose to look like either Lu Zhaozhao or Wen Qingyu.


    If he had to choose between the two, it would definitely be Lu Zhaozhao.


    Her identity was unique, both domestically and internationally.


    Not only was she the CEO¡¯s wife, cherished by Song Sinian, but she also was the young miss of XJ Group, holding absolute control over the XJ Group.


    If Xia Wenjin could replace Lu Zhaozhao, she would definitely be a winner in life.


    But... with Song Sinian watching her so closely, Xia Wenjin barely had a chance to make a move.


    Even if the surgery made her exactly like Lu Zhaozhao, a fake was still a fake, too easily exposed.


    Xia Wenjin and Lu Zhaozhao were entirely different in temperament; even if their faces were identical, it would be hard to hide the inherent malice.


    Pei Huai of course knew what Xia Wenyan was thinking about.


    He rubbed the tips of his hair with his big hand and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the person she wants to replace isn¡¯t Zhaozhao, but Feng Ya Meizi.¡±


    Xia Wenyan was shocked again, ¡°Feng Ya Meizi?¡±


    emmm...


    In some ways, the two of them are quite alike in courting death.


    Their temperaments also have many similarities, and if Xia Wenjin were really to impersonate Feng Ya Meizi... there might actually be a play.


    But the prerequisite is definitely that she would not return to R-Country again.


    Feng Ya Meizi grew up in R-Country since she was young, and although Fengya Ichiro doesn¡¯t usually look after Feng Ya Meizi much, it doesn¡¯t mean he doesn¡¯t care.


    Those inheritors like them are always followed by a bunch of servants from childhood, with most servants existing to cultivate professional inheritors.


    It can be said that they know Feng Ya Meizi the best.


    Xia Wenjin could still pretend abroad, but once she arrived in R-Country, she would definitely be exposed without a doubt.


    Pei Huai nodded, ¡°Yeah, although Feng Ya Meizi was abandoned by the Fengya Family, Fengya Ichiro hasn¡¯t abandoned her, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have placed her with his mistress.¡±


    No matter what Fengya Ichiro thought, Feng Ya Meizi would still be arranged by him, it just depends whether he would arrange for Feng Ya Meizi or Xia Wenjin at that time.


    He hadn¡¯t planned on revealing this matter to Fengya Ichiro.


    After all, he had no good feelings for the Fengya Family, and knowing Xia Wenjin as he did, whether or not she could become Feng Ya Meizi, she wouldn¡¯t make it easy for the Fengya Family.


    So, just let her do it.


    As long as she doesn¡¯t provoke his Yanyan and the people from the Xia Family, he didn¡¯t need to make a move.


    Regarding Xia Wenjin, he naturally had to have someone keep an eye on her, so that some people don¡¯t get carried away, thinking they are truly the Fengya Family¡¯s young lady, and start bossing the Xia Family around.


    Xia Wenyan was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Pei Huai, ¡°Brother Pei, was the reason you were looking at the photos just now because of this?¡±


    Just now when he came out of the bathroom, he saw Pei Huai frowning deeply.


    If it was just this matter, it probably shouldn¡¯t have been such a headache for Pei Huai, right?


    Pei Huai chuckled lightly, ¡°Not this, I just passed the news to Song Sinian, and then he asked me to send over all the information about Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress, and then I glanced at Feng Xixi¡¯s information and found something interesting.¡±


    Saying this, he opened his computer and flipped through the photos one by one for Xia Wenyan to see.


    Initially, Xia Wenyan was also a bit unclear, but after looking at a few consecutive photos, even Xia Wenyan was silent.


    Although he was usually careless, he had a very good memory.


    ¡°This woman... does she look a bit like Song Sinian?¡± Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, unsure as he looked at Pei Huai.


    They knew that after Lu Zhaozhao married Song Sinian, they specifically investigated Song Sinian¡¯s information.


    His files naturally also contained messages about Song Sinian¡¯s parents.


    If he remembered correctly, Song Sinian¡¯s mother seemed to bear a very strong resemblance to this woman!


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan immediately logged into his account on Pei Huai¡¯s computer and found the information his older brother had sent earlier.


    As soon as they flipped to Feng Xiran¡¯s photo, Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyeballs almost popped out.


    ¡°Could this woman be Song Sinian¡¯s biological mother? Otherwise, why would she look so much like her?! But... Song Sinian¡¯s mother has been dead for so long...¡±

 Chapter 558: 556: Is that not so good?

    Chapter 558: Chapter 556: Is that not so good?


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but doubt himself when he said this.


    After all, they were not very clear about the matters of the Song Family, and the information they could gather might not represent the whole situation.


    Pei Huai shrugged his shoulders, ¡°I¡¯ve thought about this just now, but after all, it¡¯s the Song Family¡¯s affair. We better not get involved.¡±


    No one knew the affairs of the Song Family better than Song Sinian.


    He should be able to handle it.


    Xia Wenyan nodded, yet his expression remained serious.


    Seeing him like this, Pei Huai moved the towel he was using to dry his hair down to cover his eyes, ¡°Yanyan, I think you¡¯d better worry about yourself...¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I remember you¡¯re off work tomorrow, you can rest...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Late at night, Xiao Family.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    The sound of a teacup smashing on the floor was particularly loud in the room.


    The person in the room shivered suddenly, seeing an angry Xiao Mo still obediently crouched down to pick up the fragments on the floor.


    But the two people sitting on the sofa were completely indifferent.


    ¡°Is what you just said true?¡± Xiao Mo looked displeased at Xiao Jinglan, who was sitting opposite on the sofa, his eyebrows nearly knotted.


    Xiao Jinglan nodded slightly and took a few sips of the floral tea prepared on the table.


    As it was night, floral tea was prepared. Her gaze fell on Hao Jiayi, who was squatting on the floor picking up ceramic fragments, a trace of contempt flickering through her eyes.


    Just a cheap woman who climbed into Xiao Mo¡¯s bed using her body, huh!


    She put down the teacup in her hand and then spoke slowly and methodically, ¡°Of course what I said is true. Today¡¯s banquet has just ended, and there are already quite a few people spreading the news that the Song Group is going to collaborate with the Rimu Family of Country R.¡±


    Song Sinian, as the president of the Song Group, had just collaborated with the foreign XJ Group, making the Song Group an existence beyond reach for other companies.


    Now they planned to collaborate with the Rimu Family of Country R, was this aiming for the sky?


    Xiao Mo bit his teeth angrily, always feeling that Song Sinian¡¯s success was just too easy.


    He had been desperately working at the Song Group for many years, and had just achieved some small success, only to be instantly reduced to nothing by Song Sinian.


    Those old guys who had agreed to promote him were probably all wavering now.


    The thought made Xiao Mo irritable.


    He bit his teeth in annoyance, ¡°Why didn¡¯t I receive any notice of the Rimu Family coming to our country?¡±


    Logically, they should have been more sensitive to such business information.


    Why did Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao both finish attending the banquet, and he had only just found out?!


    This information discrepancy was extremely unfriendly to him!


    Xiao Jinglan pouted, ¡°The Rimu Family came to the country suddenly and sent invitations to many people, but they didn¡¯t send one to the Song Group, instead they directly invited Song Sinian personally, so it¡¯s normal for you not to know.¡±


    Typically, such invitations would be sent to the company and then delivered to the president¡¯s office by the secretarial department.


    But this invitation was sent directly to Song Sinian, so it¡¯s normal that their eyes in the company were unaware.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face looked even uglier, ¡°You mean, the people from the Rimu Family only value Song Sinian?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was swept by Xiao Mo¡¯s suddenly venomous gaze, causing her to shiver involuntarily.


    She furrowed her brows slightly and said lightly, ¡°This matter indeed shows the Rimu Family¡¯s lack of integrity, but I heard that Lu Zhaozhao caused quite a scandal at the banquet, and because of her, Rimu punished a house servant. It was quite a big scene.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression suddenly changed upon hearing this, ¡°Tell me more about it.¡±


    This might be an excellent opportunity to break the collaboration between Rimu and Song Sinian.


    The collaboration between the Song Group and Rimu Family probably hadn¡¯t been finalized yet, after all, the Song Group is a top player domestically.


    It was normal for Rimu to want to collaborate, but with whom they collaborate is still very important for the inside of the Song Group.


    If Rimu and Song Sinian fell out over a woman, and he happened to save the day, then his position inside the Song Group would be completely different.


    Thinking thus, a gleam of cunning flashed across Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes.


    Xiao Jinglan was slightly startled but seemed to understand Xiao Mo¡¯s intentions, so she briefly relayed the news she heard to him.


    ¡°I heard that the house servant¡¯s daughter from the Rimu Family took a fancy to Song Sinian but was beaten by Lu Zhaozhao, after which it seems that the Rimu Family Master gave face to Song Sinian by punishing that house servant...¡±


    She paused before adding, ¡°The news has spread like that, but the details probably need someone who attended the banquet to know.¡±


    Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t be bothered to investigate carefully now. He was eager to catch Song Sinian¡¯s vulnerability so he could disrupt the collaboration between Rimu and the Song Group before it was sealed!


    ¡°Go help me contact that house servant who was punished by the Rimu Family; I want to meet with him.¡± Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze narrowed, already formulating his plan.


    The house servant punished by the Rimu Family Master must certainly hate Song Sinian now. If he collaborated with this person at this time, disrupting the collaboration between Rimu and Song Sinian would be much easier.


    Xiao Jinglan frowned slightly, ¡°Xiao Mo, the Song Group already has a tentative intention to collaborate withString the Rimu Family. If you interfere now, might it not be a bit inappropriate?¡±


    At this stage, both the Song Group and Song Sinian were incomparable to the past, and Xiao Jinglan also felt the path to Xiao Mo¡¯s accession was difficult.


    During his time at the Song Mansion, he had still been able to collaborate with Xiao Mo insider-outsider.


    Moreover, they had implanted quite a few people inside the Song Group in the past, and many directors, because Song Sinian had no woman all along, felt that the Song Group might lack a successor in the future.


    Thus, they were willing to take some risks to support Xiao Mo¡¯s rise.


    But now... not only had Song Sinian gotten married, but he had also taken the Song Group to new heights. The people they had implanted had mostly been rooted out, and the cunning old foxes on the board of directors were even less likely to stand on their side now.


    Xiao Jinglan wanted to persuade Xiao Mo¡ªhis position in the Song Group, although not very high, was quite good for a person with an unrelated surname.


    If Old Master Song really knew Xiao Mo¡¯s identity, he would likely kick him straight out of the Song Group.


    Xiao Mo scoffed lightly, ¡°Not good? What¡¯s not good about it? I¡¯m already like this; do you think there¡¯s anything that could be worse than now?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan moved her lips, ultimately saying nothing.


    Actually, she didn¡¯t know.


    She just felt that she didn¡¯t have much time left and just wanted her son to live a stable life.


    But Xiao Mo, whom she had watched grow up, wouldn¡¯t stop until he got what he wanted...

 Chapter 559: 557: Shameless People are Invincible in the World

    Chapter 559: Chapter 557: Shameless People are Invincible in the World


    So Xiao Jinglan also understood that nothing she said now would make any difference.


    She suddenly felt a bit lost; was telling Xiao Mo that he was a child of the Song Family really the right thing to do?


    Because He Wanshan and his daughter had been dealt with, Lu Zhaozhao had been enjoying a lot more peace on set.


    Normally, except for Bai Qing occasionally coming over to practice lines with her, she was hardly disturbed by anyone else.


    Perhaps it was because of He Xintian¡¯s affair, but Bai Qing always seemed to wear a guilty look around her, bringing her little snacks from time to time.


    Lu Zhaozhao accepted almost everything without refusal; after all, she had indeed helped him out with the big trouble that was He Xintian. There was no point in turning down free treats.


    ¡°Thud thud thud!¡±


    Someone suddenly knocked on the door of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dressing room.


    Thinking it was Bai Qing again, she didn¡¯t pay much attention and waved her hand to let her assistant open the door.


    Unexpectedly, the person who entered was the second male lead of the production, Zhao Qingfeng.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows couldn¡¯t help but arch; she had heard that the second male lead had been delayed due his previous filming, hence he hadn¡¯t joined the group on time.


    Since the delay wouldn¡¯t be for too many days, the director simply postponed his scenes.


    So during her time with the crew, Lu Zhaozhao had indeed not seen Zhao Qingfeng before.


    ¡°Teacher Lu, hello, I¡¯m the second male lead in our drama, my name is Zhao Qingfeng, you can call me Qingfeng.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng greeted Lu Zhaozhao with a particularly bright smile, his eyes sparks with allure.


    Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes subtly, nodding in acknowledgment.


    She really didn¡¯t like the type of man that Zhao Qingfeng represented¡ªnot his looks, but the ¡°like me, take me¡± vibe he exuded wherever he went.


    If you put it nicely, you¡¯d say he¡¯s overflowing with charm; if not, you could just say... lecherous and cheap.


    Especially the way Zhao Qingfeng looked at her always made her feel uncomfortable.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew it was wrong to label someone based on their looks and aura, but... she truly felt uncomfortable interacting with Zhao Qingfeng.


    Zhao Qingfeng seemed completely unaware of this and took a few more steps toward her, ¡°I heard that our crew recently had a crazy fan, pestering Teacher Bai and Teacher Lu; it really made me feel concerned for you.¡±


    With that, he casually sat down next to Lu Zhaozhao, as if he were an old friend.


    Zhao Qingfeng indeed had an ulterior motive for his visit.


    Soon after confirming he would join the crew, his agent called him over, mentioning that a mysterious person was willing to pay money for him to seduce Lu Zhaozhao.


    Naturally, Zhao Qingfeng hesitated at first.


    After all, who in the Shangjing Circle didn¡¯t know of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reputation, wasn¡¯t aware of who she was?


    She was the CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group, the newly found little princess of XJ Corporation, with a status as solid as can be.


    But precisely because of these titles, there were no shortage of people around her trying to make their moves.


    However, Lu Zhaozhao was usually so elusive that even people in the showbiz rarely saw her.


    Most of what he knew was from what he¡¯d heard through performers from his last collaboration with Lu Zhaozhao.


    He¡¯d been told Lu Zhaozhao was incredibly approachable, unlike the high-profile figures one normally met.


    He¡¯d heard she was even more beautiful in person than in her photographs.


    He¡¯d heard that when Lu Zhaozhao was filming, she and her husband were living separately.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard...¡±


    He had heard a lot, but when he actually saw Lu Zhaozhao, he found himself struggling to walk away.


    Lu Zhaozhao indeed looked beautiful, even more so than any other female artists he had seen before.


    Plus, although she was an artist, she didn¡¯t wear makeup often, so her skin was exceptionally good.


    Even in the dressing room without any makeup, she was stunningly beautiful.


    Zhao Qingfeng had been considering whether or not to agree to his manager¡¯s suggestion, but he was swayed the moment he saw Lu Zhaozhao.


    What man wouldn¡¯t like such a beautiful woman with an extraordinary background?


    He knew he couldn¡¯t compare with Song Sinian in terms of status and position, but women don¡¯t necessarily favor men with high status and power. When they feel lonely and cold, they prefer the man who offers them warmth and concern.


    Having lurked in the entertainment industry for so many years, he was always lacking that explosive opportunity. If he secured Lu Zhaozhao this time, even if she carelessly shared a bit of her resources with him, it would be enough for him to swagger through the industry.


    Thinking of the many superficial marriages in the Shangjing Circle, Zhao Qingfeng was not worried that Song Sinian would cause him trouble.


    After all, as the CEO of the Song Group, he wouldn¡¯t want the news of being cuckolded to spread throughout the whole Shangjing Circle, would he?


    The more Zhao Qingfeng thought about it, the more feasible he found the plan.


    Perhaps Song Sinian had a bunch of mistresses and if he helped distract Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian might even be thankful to him.


    Lu Zhaozhao had never liked this overly familiar man, and her eyebrows nearly twisted into a knot when she heard him say the words ¡°concerned for you¡±.


    ¡°Thank you, Teacher Zhao, for your concern, but this matter is already in the past.¡±


    She was expressionless, leaving no room for soft talk for this man.


    Having mixed in the circle for so long, Zhao Qingfeng was shrewd. How could he not understand?


    But there¡¯s a saying that goes, ¡°One doesn¡¯t slap a smiling face.¡±


    He simply pretended not to understand Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, continuing with a big grin, ¡°I¡¯ve just joined the crew a few days ago. Could Teacher Lu do a scene with me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Zhao Qingfeng, ¡°I¡¯m just a female supporting role 4, and I don¡¯t have many scenes with the male lead 2. If you want to rehearse, you should find the female lead 2. After all, you are the ¡®ship¡¯, right?¡±


    ¡°Could Teacher Lu be jealous?¡± Zhao Qingfeng squinted his eyes, still keeping that shallow smile, exuding a sense of mockery and indulgence.


    It made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes hurt just to glance at him.


    Did this man leave his brain at home?


    Does he even think before he speaks?


    On what basis did he assume she was jealous?


    She barely even knew him; what was there to be jealous about?


    Zhao Qingfeng noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s complexion turning sour and immediately chuckled, ¡°I was just joking with you, Teacher Lu. Aren¡¯t we childhood sweethearts in the drama? I¡¯m just trying to practice some scenes in advance, please don¡¯t mind...¡±


    He spoke nonchalantly, as if it would be unreasonable of Lu Zhaozhao to blame him at this moment.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corners of her mouth, experiencing for the first time what ¡°shameless people are invincible¡± really meant.


    She slightly lifted her gaze, her expression unchanged as she looked at Zhao Qingfeng, ¡°Why would I mind? Teacher Zhao, your dedication is truly admirable.¡±


    As she said that, she picked up a cup of tea from the table, intending to splash it in Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face, when the door was knocked on again.


    This time, before the assistant could open the door, it was pushed open from the outside.


    The person who entered was Bai Qing. Seeing Zhao Qingfeng in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dressing room, his brows immediately furrowed, seeming quite displeased...

 Chapter 560: 558 Consciousness of Married Individuals

    Chapter 560: Chapter 558 Consciousness of Married Individuals


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Bai Qing¡¯s gaze measured Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face without concealing the disdain in his eyes.


    Yet Zhao Qingfeng just shrugged, seemingly unfazed by Bai Qing¡¯s hostility, ¡°I came to say hello to Teacher Lu, after all, we¡¯re in the same production, I came to run a few lines with her.¡±


    Bai Qing¡¯s expression turned even uglier, ¡°Teacher Lu doesn¡¯t have that many scenes with you, you¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng sneered, but quickly composed himself, ¡°I suppose Mr. Bai doesn¡¯t have many scenes with Teacher Lu either? Could it be that Mr. Bai is also here to run lines with her?¡±


    Bai Qing¡¯s face changed, ¡°I am friends with Teacher Lu, having a chat is perfectly normal.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m also a friend of Teacher Lu, aren¡¯t I, Teacher Lu?¡± Zhao Qingfeng said, winking at Lu Zhaozhao as if they were quite familiar with one another.


    He had always thought that Lu Zhaozhao had just joined the production and wouldn¡¯t have much of a relationship with the others.


    Yet, unexpectedly, Bai Qing had come to interfere.


    It was undeniable that Bai Qing¡¯s looks were something, but that didn¡¯t mean Lu Zhaozhao would like his type.


    After all, only men like him could win a woman¡¯s favor, with numerous wealthy female investors in the industry fond of his style.


    Especially after a round in bed, their fondness for him tightened even more.


    It wasn¡¯t a waste of the effort he put into exercising his ¡°stud waist¡± daily.


    Women like Lu Zhaozhao, who had married into wealth and seemed to lead comfortable lives, might have lacking husbands, thus keeping a capable ¡°pet wolf¡± was essential.


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned, already quite disliking people like Zhao Qingfeng who acted overly familiar and lacked boundaries.


    Especially after he came to her resting room and verbally harassed her.


    She was even more annoyed now.


    Since he had spoken up, Lu Zhaozhao was not planning to save him face.


    ¡°I am indeed friends with Mr. Bai and not familiar with you,¡± she said to the two men standing in front of her, leaving no room for Zhao Qingfeng to save face.


    Now Bai Qing felt refreshed.


    He lifted his chin, looking confidently at Zhao Qingfeng, ¡°Since Teacher Lu isn¡¯t close with you, you might as well leave now; Teacher Lu has always been wary of strangers and doesn¡¯t mesh well with overly familiar people like you.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s mouth twitched, but he managed to save face, ¡°Teacher Lu is just not familiar with me yet, we could become friends after getting to know each other in the future.¡±


    With that, he nodded at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Since Teacher Lu is busy right now, I¡¯ll visit some other time.¡±


    After saying this, Zhao Qingfeng left the resting room.


    Suddenly, only Lu Zhaozhao, Bai Qing, and a young assistant were left in the resting room.


    The room fell into an awkward silence.


    In the end, it was Lu Zhaozhao who broke the quiet, ¡°Did Mr. Bai have something to discuss with me?¡±


    While her question sounded uncertain, her tone was quite sure.


    Although Bai Qing would also visit the resting room, he had never been as harsh with an artist as he was now.


    Most of the time, he was unusually gentle.


    So Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat curious about the reason for Bai Qing¡¯s appearance.


    Bai Qing coughed lightly, ¡°I came to remind you to keep a distance from our production¡¯s second male lead, Zhao Qingfeng, but didn¡¯t expect he would have come to your resting room first.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but raise her eyebrows, ¡°Is there a problem with Zhao Qingfeng?¡±


    Bai Qing shrugged, ¡°You could inquire about his reputation in the industry. He¡¯s quite a playboy and highly favored by wealthy ladies, so... I¡¯m concerned he might set his sights on you.¡±


    ¡°Having designs on me?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Bai Qing, puzzled, ¡°Do I look like I fit his target? I am a married woman, you know.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Bai Qing couldn¡¯t help it and burst out laughing.


    The assistant beside them also couldn¡¯t hold back and started giggling.


    Now Lu Zhaozhao was annoyed.


    Why were they laughing?


    Was there something wrong with what she just said?


    Of course, Bai Qing understood what Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression meant, but he still couldn¡¯t help but laugh for a while longer before holding his stomach and saying, ¡°Teacher Lu, it¡¯s good that you have the self-awareness of a married person, just... not everyone has your kind of self-awareness, least of all Zhao Qingfeng.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng had been in the industry for a while and had become a well-seasoned player.


    He no longer cared whether he would become a star, instead, he played around a lot.


    As long as he took a fancy to someone in the cast, he didn¡¯t mind whether it was a day player or an artist.


    As for whether the other person was married, that was even less of a concern for him; on-set couples were a dime a dozen.


    While filming a single movie, he could even change partners several times, demonstrating a complete disregard for taboos.


    That¡¯s why Bai Qing really disliked Zhao Qingfeng.


    He pursued women for one of two reasons: either for their looks or for the resources they could offer him.


    Someone like Lu Zhaozhao, attractive and powerful, he would definitely drool over.


    Bai Qing had heard that the male co-lead had just arrived on set, and had rushed over without delay, but unfortunately, this kid had beaten him to the punch.


    Luckily, just now, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t seem to be at a disadvantage, which allowed Bai Qing to breathe a sigh of relief.


    The corners of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows involuntarily twitched as she listened to Bai Qing detail Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s ¡°great achievements,¡± her disdain plain in her eyes.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying, he¡¯s planning to use his looks to seduce me, to get me to supply him with resources?¡± As Lu Zhaozhao said this, her stomach churned.


    Lu Zhaozhao had just met Zhao Qingfeng and thought she might be overthinking things.


    Now it seemed that it wasn¡¯t her overthinking; it was Zhao Qingfeng peacocking in front of her, showing off his advantages and hurting her eyes.


    Bai Qing nodded, ¡°Whether it¡¯s for resources or your looks, you¡¯re pretty much within his target range, so I wanted to remind you to be extra cautious, and don¡¯t be dazzled by him.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°With his looks, if I fell for him, it wouldn¡¯t be because I was dazzled, but because I had shit smeared in my eyes.¡±


    She felt disgusted even considering the possibility.


    With Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s looks, she wouldn¡¯t go for him even if she was missing an eye, let alone the fact that she wasn¡¯t blind.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s palpable disdain made Bai Qing laugh.


    He really loved her clear-cut reactions.


    It seemed that being around her always presented a scene completely different from the rest of the entertainment industry; perhaps that¡¯s what made him feel relaxed?


    Bai Qing had also thought that spending a lifetime with such a woman might be quite nice.


    But in the end, he was a step too late; she already had a husband who adored her, and whether in terms of wealth or other aspects, he truly couldn¡¯t compare to Song Sinian.


    So Bai Qing quickly got over it.


    He found a comfortable place as Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s friend within the circle, which it seemed, would allow him to continue cherishing his admiration for her.


    He didn¡¯t need to cling to affections that weren¡¯t reciprocated; after all, not every affection is a two-way arrow...

 Chapter 561: 559: Tempting Lu Zhaozhao?

    Chapter 561: Chapter 559: Tempting Lu Zhaozhao?


    He liked Lu Zhaozhao, but that didn¡¯t mean she had to like him back.


    As long as she didn¡¯t hate him, that was enough.


    Bai Qing watched Lu Zhaozhao with a light laugh and said softly, ¡°He definitely uses little tricks on the people he likes. Be careful, and if you can¡¯t get rid of him, you can ask me for help.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was about to politely refuse, but then she remembered that they were on a film set, and if Zhao Qingfeng openly picked on her or did anything else, she could handle him.


    But if he did something sneaky, she really wouldn¡¯t be able to deal with him directly.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, thinking that if there was someone in the crew who could cooperate with her from inside and out, it would be easy to take down an actor.


    After a moment of thought, she nodded, ¡°Then when the time comes, I will rely on Mr. Bai to help resolve the difficulties.¡±


    Bai Qing saw her bright eyes blink in front of him and couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of his mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t let you be blinded by shit.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao and Bai Qing reached an agreement, but when Zhao Qingfeng left the resting room, he didn¡¯t return to his own.


    He took several turns and reached a corner of the film set that had no cameras or people around, and dialed a phone number.


    Soon someone on the other end picked up, ¡°That woman isn¡¯t easy to handle, tell that mysterious person that I need more money, otherwise if that woman¡¯s husband finds out, wouldn¡¯t I be in big trouble?¡±


    The agent on the phone frowned, ¡°We¡¯ve already taken a lot of money for this, asking for more might not be so good...¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? What¡¯s the identity of that woman? Naturally, her status means she is worth more than an ordinary actor. I saw that woman today; she¡¯s not easy to approach. Just now, Bai Qing also went to her resting room, but I don¡¯t know what their relationship is...¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng, remembering how Lu Zhaozhao had just told him in front of his face that Bai Qing was her friend and she wasn¡¯t close to him, couldn¡¯t help but narrow his eyes.


    Such a beautiful and energetic woman completely triggered his male chauvinism.


    He wanted to conquer her, then tame her, make her his woman, and have her willingly offer all her resources to him.


    Humph! He didn¡¯t believe that with his abilities, he couldn¡¯t achieve this.


    The agent on the other end, a bit worried, listened to Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s words, ¡°If Bai Qing has something with this woman, you could take the opportunity to capture it, even if you can¡¯t get Lu Zhaozhao, you¡¯ll still have leverage over her.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng suddenly chuckled, ¡°Since she dares to play within the circle, she definitely wouldn¡¯t be afraid of any affair with other actors coming to light, especially since the CEO of the Song Group is her husband. She has to consider the face between a husband and a wife.¡±


    Many people in the Shangjing Circle lead colorful lives, many of them married, whether men or women.


    Their marriages were not born of love but of business-like family alliances, so it was normal for them to have their own lives after marriage.


    As long as there was an heir between them to ensure the lineage of the two families, that was enough.


    As for how the couple played around normally, they really didn¡¯t care about each other.


    The agent had also been in the circle for a long time and naturally understood these intricacies.


    After all, marrying someone from the entertainment industry wasn¡¯t uncommon, and it was normal to pretend to show some affection for popularity.


    Song Sinian said openly that he was love-struck, which was just a public persona.


    With Song Sinian¡¯s status, what kind of woman couldn¡¯t he have?


    Lu Zhaozhao was indeed beautiful, but men always sought novelty...


    The agent hesitated, ¡°I¡¯ll need to talk with that mysterious sponsor to see if they¡¯re willing to pay more.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for your good news,¡± said Zhao Qingfeng before hanging up.


    He actually wasn¡¯t concerned about whether the mysterious sponsor would increase the payment or not.


    Regardless of whether more money was offered or not, he was set on having Lu Zhaozhao as his woman.


    Even without her identity as the Song Group CEO¡¯s wife, she still had the identity of the heiress of the XJ Group.


    Just a little investment could bring countless resources.


    He didn¡¯t need to dally with other wealthy women anymore, after all, those women were too old and not as appealing as young, beautiful women.


    Right now, he could only be counted within the third or fourth tier of the circle thanks to these wealthy older sisters, but if he managed to climb up with Lu Zhaozhao, he would at least start from the second tier.


    So, what he needed to do was clear.


    Zhao Qingfeng took out his phone, adjusted his hair in front of the camera, and then confidently strode back toward the resting room.


    Lu Zhaozhao, just you wait and see!


    At noon, in the hospital.


    Feng Jiyue lay in bed looking at the messages on his phone, his face terribly grim.


    Hao Li looked at Feng Jiyue with anxiety, carefully asking, ¡°Jiaye, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Ever since Feng Jiyue had lost his belongings, his mood had become increasingly strange.


    Although the doctor said his physical condition was now good enough for him to be discharged, Feng Jiyue had no intention of leaving the hospital yet.


    Hao Li was actually a bit anxious¡ªafter all, Old Master Song had already arranged a position for him in the Song Group.


    He was to be a department manager, on the same level as Xiao Mo.


    They were even in the same department, all this was requested by Feng Jiyue.


    Hao Li had thought Old Master Song would not agree but was surprised when he did.


    But Feng Jiyue stayed in the hospital, showing no signs of wanting to go the Song Group to work, and she worried whether he was having regrets.


    Her son had always been pampered at home, and what was happening now in Shangjing was like the darkest time in his life.


    Feng Jiyue looked at Hao Li coldly and said, ¡°These people are really greedy, trying to swallow more than they can chew!¡±


    As he said this, he threw his phone aside, and Hao Li saw the messages in Feng Jiyue¡¯s phone.


    It was his conversation with an agent.


    Hao Li¡¯s eyes widened dramatically as she read, ¡°You... you hired someone to seduce Lu Zhaozhao? This... this...¡±


    She didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Before, Feng Jiyue had seemed interested in Lu Zhaozhao, so why was he now hiring someone to seduce her?


    Feng Jiyue snorted coldly, ¡°Why do you think Song Sinian is now able to take the Song Group to a higher level?¡±


    Wasn¡¯t it because of the support of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s maternal family?


    The Song Group was only thriving domestically before, but now with the involvement of the XJ Group, they are thriving abroad as well.


    Now, for some reason, they were favored by the Rimu Family.


    He felt that these changes were all because of Lu Zhaozhao; it was her appearance that made the Song Group even more illustrious...

 Chapter 562: 560: Seen Oily, But Never This Oily

    Chapter 562: Chapter 560: Seen Oily, But Never This Oily


    He had always believed that some women possess the fortune to bring prosperity to their husbands, and clearly Lu Zhaozhao was one of them.


    He had previously considered winning over Lu Zhaozhao but didn¡¯t expect that woman to be so ungrateful.


    Now, given his situation, he definitely couldn¡¯t do anything to Lu Zhaozhao, so he had to let someone else benefit instead.


    Hao Li frowned deeply, seemingly still unable to understand Feng Jiaye¡¯s method, ¡°Even if Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s family has power, letting someone seduce Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t really harm Song Sinian, would it?¡±


    Unexpectedly, Feng Jiaye decisively shook his head. ¡°If Song Sinian were a normal person, indeed, it would cause him no harm, but he is not a normal person...¡±


    He had heard before that Song Sinian was particularly fixated on Lu Zhaozhao. If Lu Zhaozhao truly fell in love with someone else, Song Sinian would definitely be devastated.


    And the resources Lu Zhaozhao brought from XJ Group wouldn¡¯t fall into his hands either. In this way, Song Sinian would not be so indispensable to Song Group.


    If he took this opportunity to edge out Xiao Mo and then made some achievements, he would be even closer to the position of president of Song Group.


    Feng Jiaye briefly outlined his plan to Hao Li, which somewhat shocked her.


    Hao Li hadn¡¯t expected her son, who usually didn¡¯t seem reliable, to have become quite a bit smarter since he lost ¡°that thing¡±.


    She found it hard to make sense of the situation at the moment.


    She pursed her lips and pondered for a moment then looked at Feng Jiaye and said word by word, ¡°If everything goes as smoothly as you say, it will indeed hurt Song Sinian, but if they find out who was behind it, then wouldn¡¯t we be in trouble...¡±


    Hao Li didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but Feng Jiaye understood her implications loud and clear.


    If Lu Zhaozhao was lured away by someone, Song Sinian would definitely investigate thoroughly, and if it turned out that this matter was related to them, wouldn¡¯t they end up in hot water?


    By then, forget about getting a hold on Song Group; they might not even spare their lives.


    After all, they were not unaware of how crazy Song Sinian could be.


    Just thinking of Song Sinian¡¯s cold face made Hao Li shiver slightly.


    Feng Jiaye sneered, ¡°If Lu Zhaozhao really gets seduced by someone else, would Song Sinian still have the mood to worry about others? Besides, if he really flies into a rage, he¡¯ll first look into the man who seduced Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    He could take advantage of his illness, take his life, while Song Sinian¡¯s attention was elsewhere, end him.


    Feng Jiaye thought his plan was flawless.


    He couldn¡¯t help but smile with self-satisfaction.


    Hao Li was silent for a while and indeed couldn¡¯t find any flaws in the plan.


    Since her son had already made up his mind, what else could she do?


    Naturally, all she could do was support.


    Hao Li took a deep breath, her gaze firmly fixed on Feng Jiaye, ¡°Do you need me to help with anything else on your end?¡±


    Feng Jiaye waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s not you who needs to help; it¡¯s Hao Jiayi.¡±


    ¡°What could that little wretch possibly help you with?¡± Hao Li clearly disagreed with Feng Jiaye¡¯s approach. ¡°She¡¯s not on the same page as you; whatever needs doing, let Mom handle it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Feng Jiaye felt his statement wasn¡¯t wrong, thinking of the tasks previously given to Hao Li, which one hadn¡¯t been sabotaged by her?


    Regarding his mother, he really couldn¡¯t hold too much hope.


    If she didn¡¯t mess up the task, it was already a stroke of luck; he certainly wouldn¡¯t dare to entrust her with important matters.


    Feng Jiaye, feeling somewhat headache, pinched the bridge of his nose, then directly changed the subject, ¡°Just call Hao Jiayi over for me; she¡¯s been at Xiao Mo¡¯s place and hasn¡¯t contacted us yet.¡±


    Reminded by Feng Jiaye like this, Hao Li seemed to suddenly remember something as well, and couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°That little wretch, can¡¯t even handle a little task! Once I call her over, I¡¯m definitely going to scold her thoroughly!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Feng Jiaye needed to use Hao Jiayi and definitely wouldn¡¯t let Hao Li berate her randomly.


    But seeing her current stance, if he said so, Hao Li would surely hold onto it relentlessly.


    He was already so annoyed; where would he find the patience to cater to her emotions?


    Feng Jiaye casually waved his hand, ¡°Whatever, just bring her over first.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry about this matter; leave it to me.¡±


    Perhaps it was because Feng Jiaye was going to work at Song Group, but Hao Li¡¯s mood also improved a lot.


    She agreed quite cheerfully.


    Once he saw Hao Jiayi, that little wretch, he must thoroughly chastise her, making her understand who she belongs to.


    In the evening, as soon as Lu Zhaozhao returned to the hotel, she saw Song Sinian and, almost without thinking, lunged at him.


    Then she crashed into him, tumbling onto the sofa with Lu Zhaozhao ending up on top of him.


    Song Sinian gently patted her back, speaking softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did the shooting not go smoothly, or did someone upset you today?¡±


    In fact, Song Sinian knew all about the incidents Lu Zhaozhao faced on the set. Ever since her near-accident before, he had placed quite a few people around her.


    So he was well aware of Zhao Qingfeng going to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s resting room, it¡¯s just if Lu Zhaozhao decided not to tell him, he was planning to play deaf and dumb.


    As for those annoying people, he certainly took care of them privately.


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted slightly, ¡°There indeed was an annoying person who entered my resting room today.¡±


    Song Sinian watched her small face unflinchingly and continued to ask, ¡°Was that person a colleague from your crew? Do you need me to handle it?¡±


    His large hand gently pinched her cheek, seemingly comforting her.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°The person¡¯s name is Zhao Qingfeng, he is the second male lead in our crew, he¡¯s overly familiar, completely lacking any sense of boundaries.¡±


    Then Lu Zhaozhao told Song Sinian all about the incident in the resting room in great detail, ¡°If Mr. Bai hadn¡¯t entered at that moment, I would have already splashed the water on my table on his face. I¡¯ve seen slick people, but never anyone as slick as him.¡±


    As she spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but rub the goosebumps on her arms.


    Song Sinian, amused by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little expressions, ended up revealing something he hadn¡¯t initially intended to tell her.


    ¡°That Zhao Qingfeng was instigated by someone to approach you; his aim was to seduce you on set.¡±


    He sighed as he spoke, ¡°However, clearly, the mastermind behind this doesn¡¯t quite understand your tastes.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao eyes widened significantly, especially after hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, her face full of disbelief.

 Chapter 563: 561: Waiting for Her Here

    Chapter 563: Chapter 561: Waiting for Her Here


    ¡°Zhao Qingfeng was actually sent by someone else, and specifically to seduce me?¡±


    Her voice carried a clear uncertainty.


    Song Sinian nodded, once again sealing the conclusion for her, causing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire little face to collapse, ¡°No way, are they sick or something? Choosing such a person to seduce me, are they sure they¡¯re not trying to disgust me? If he had found a more refreshing man, I wouldn¡¯t feel so nauseated, he...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words had barely left her mouth when she distinctly felt a chill emanating from Song Sinian; she immediately clammed up, realizing she had misspoken.


    ¡°Husband, I... what I mean is no matter what kind of man he finds, none are as handsome as you. You¡¯ll always be number one in my heart, and I would never waver for any other man! You believe me, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, afraid that her earlier words had made Song Sinian uncomfortable, promptly began to shower him with exaggerated compliments.


    She had just been speaking off the cuff, completely forgetting her dear Mr. Song was a big jar of vinegar. If that jar were tipped over, she would not have a peaceful night.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze swept indifferently over her, his face showing almost no change.


    Only then did Lu Zhaozhao quietly let out a sigh of relief, smiling broadly at him and swiftly changing the subject, ¡°Mr. Song, how did you know that Zhao Qingfeng was sent by someone else?¡±


    She had only thought herself unlucky to have encountered such a greasy man, never suspecting he was actually sent.


    Lu Zhaozhao could not understand, what was the purpose of sending such a creature to seduce her?


    Her husband had looks, money; he cherished and tolerated her.


    She truly didn¡¯t understand where she would have room to cheat.


    Sinian¡¯s eyes blinked slightly before he slowly and methodically said, ¡°This man called Zhao Qingfeng has always mingled in the circles of wealthy women, and most of the resources he has now are because of these women¡¯s financial support. However, his sugar mamas aren¡¯t very stable, so he¡¯s only made it as far as a third or fourth-tier presence.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao obviously sneered a bit, ¡°Quite the young talent indeed, huh! Not that old, yet has such bad taste...¡±


    Hearing her evaluation, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips into a smile, ¡°Someone had been investigating you in secret, and it was discovered by my men. After a thorough investigation, it turned out that it was this Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s agent who did it. So, I had someone meticulously investigate him.¡±


    The result of the investigation turned out to be quite a revelation; this man had quite a bit of scandalous info on him.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s entire little face wrinkled in disgust, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t think of having me as a sugar mama, would he? How dare he even conceive such a thought? With his looks, I would have nightmares, okay! And that greasiness of his...¡±


    Just at the mention of it, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill.


    Thinking thus, Lu Zhaozhao instantly planted a few kisses on Song Sinian¡¯s face to soothe herself.


    Indeed, only looking more at their Mr. Song could cleanse her eyes.


    Before, Lu Zhaozhao had only found Zhao Qingfeng to be greasy, but now knowing his motive, she found him downright disgusting.


    Song Sinian¡¯s large hand gently rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°Do you need me to deal with him for you?¡±


    Their production¡¯s investment wasn¡¯t huge; adding some extra funds and replacing a few roles wouldn¡¯t be a problem for the director.


    After all, he was just the second male lead.


    Changing him wouldn¡¯t have too much of an impact on the production.


    As Song Sinian was mulling over this, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly shook her head, ¡°I should deal with this matter myself. Since they want to scheme against me, then I¡¯ll just return the favor and let them feel what¡¯s called a beating from society.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao worried that Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t agree, and coyly wrapped her small hands around his neck, pleading sweetly, ¡°Mr. Song, you¡¯ll support me, right? And you¡¯ll protect me too, won¡¯t you?¡±


    What could Song Sinian say?


    Just pamper one¡¯s own wife...


    He sighed silently, his large hand rubbing over his little head, ¡°As long as you¡¯re having fun, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    As for how much trouble Lu Zhaozhao would stir up, that wasn¡¯t important; it was something he needed to consider.


    His wife just needed to be happy and do as she pleased.


    Lu Zhaozhao happily rubbed her little head against his chin, ¡°Indeed, our Mr. Song is the best.¡±


    ¡°Now that we¡¯ve finished with the trivial matters, let¡¯s get to the main topic,¡± came Song Sinian¡¯s cool voice, suddenly filling the room.


    His large hand wrapped around her slender waist, not giving her any chance to escape.


    Lu Zhaozhao, as if sensing something, couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard and looked weakly at Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, haven¡¯t we been discussing serious matters all along?¡±


    For some reason, the look in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes made her inexplicably apprehensive.


    The corners of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth curved slightly, his handsome and deep eyes narrowed slightly, and then he said, ¡°Zhaozhao just said she likes men who are more refreshing. To what extent does a man have to be refreshing for you to accept his seduction?¡±


    Good lord, was their Mr. Song waiting for her here?


    She thought that matter had just passed.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrank her neck, almost scared out of her double chin, ¡°Mr. Song, believe me, I was just bluffing! Really!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°We¡¯ll see if you were just bluffing or not soon enough.¡±


    Saying so, he flipped over and pressed Lu Zhaozhao onto the bed, followed by soft lips descending and sealing her little mouth that wanted to explain.


    ¡°Uuuuu...¡±


    Was it still possible to explain now?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands pushed against him, but Song Sinian held them tightly over her head...


    ¡°Be good, you¡¯ll have plenty of chances to speak in a moment...¡±


    ...


    In the end, Lu Zhaozhao did have opportunities to speak, but not a single sentence could be strung together.


    Eventually, she gave up struggling, letting Song Sinian do as he wished.


    After that, she completely lost track...


    Through the long, cold night, the air outside was icy and biting.


    Hao Jiayi sat on the sofa in the bedroom, clad in thin clothing, her body covered in injuries big and small, except for the skin that was exposed.


    She clenched her fists tightly, filled with resentment as she listened to the man showering in the bathroom.


    But she was powerless.


    Hao Jiayi had been overjoyed when Xiao Mo said he would take her home, but she didn¡¯t expect that on her first day at the Xiao Family, he would lock her in a room and then there was nothing but darkness.


    She thought she¡¯d had her fair share of men, but she never expected to end up falling into the hands of a pervert.


    His previous outward decency was all pretense; inside, he was completely rotten.


    Hao Jiayi always thought Feng Jiaye was trash, but compared to Xiao Mo, he was far worse.

 Chapter 564: 562: Really Adorable

    Chapter 564: Chapter 562: Really Adorable


    She now regretted her past decision immensely, wishing she could jump out of the second-floor window to escape for her life, but she couldn¡¯t...


    Compared to dying silently, she wanted to live even more.


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Suddenly, her phone vibrated.


    Hao Jiayi slowly walked over to the bedside, picked up the phone, and saw the message Hao Li had sent her.


    ¡°Jiaye asked you to come back these days, try not to attract Xiao Mo¡¯s attention.¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s face darkened as she thought of the Feng Jiyue mother and son, her nails digging viciously into her palm.


    She did want to leave, but Xiao Mo simply didn¡¯t allow her the opportunity.


    Ever since Xiao Mo found out she had tried to seduce Xia Wenqing at the office, his attitude towards her had been extremely nasty.


    She was even forced to record some sickening videos during their encounters, each time it happened.


    Compared to him, Feng Jiyue seemed downright charming.


    While she was looking at her phone, the sound of water in the bathroom suddenly stopped, causing Hao Jiayi¡¯s entire body to shudder uncontrollably.


    She wanted to restrain herself, but...she couldn¡¯t control it.


    She couldn¡¯t control the fear that flooded her whole being at the thought of this man.


    ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡±


    The bathroom door suddenly opened in front of Hao Jiayi, and Xiao Mo, wearing a bathrobe, walked out, while Hao Jiayi immediately turned her face away.


    Xiao Mo appeared to be accustomed to this, as he continued to dry his hair while walking over to the bed.


    Seeing the phone in her hand, he asked casually, ¡°Who do you need to contact so late at night?¡±


    Hao Jiayi visibly shivered and quickly handed over the phone, ¡°Hao Li asked me to go to the Feng Jiyue residence recently. I guess she wants to inquire about the situation here.¡±


    She didn¡¯t think twice, instantly betraying Hao Li.


    After all, she had previously done so willingly just to please Xiao Mo.


    She wanted to gain Xiao Mo¡¯s trust with this and then climb the social ladder through him, but she had not expected it to end up like this.


    Hao Jiayi now regretted it more than anything.


    Xiao Mo glanced at Hao Jiayi¡¯s phone, appearing quite pleased with her proactive confession.


    He might play around a lot outside, but at home, he had only ever played with two people long-term.


    One was Xia Wenjin, who was pressured into marrying into the family and whom he didn¡¯t like, and the other was Hao Jiayi.


    She was submissive and compliant to him, which he found very comfortable.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she had seduced Xia Wenqing before sleeping with him, he wouldn¡¯t have been so harsh in his ¡®training¡¯.


    Xiao Mo raised his hand and touched Hao Jiayi¡¯s face, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Hao Jiayi shrank noticeably, yet dared not evade Xiao Mo¡¯s hand, ¡°I, I don¡¯t know. Whatever Amo says, I¡¯ll do. If Amo doesn¡¯t let me go back, I won¡¯t go back. I¡¯ll listen to Amo.¡±


    After saying this, she even pulled out a smile for Xiao Mo.


    Hao Jiayi found that as long as she acted absolutely obedient, Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t be too harsh on her.


    Naturally, she behaved extra obediently to avoid Xiao Mo¡¯s malicious tactics.


    It was as if she had been tamed by Xiao Mo.


    Sure enough, Xiao Mo smiled with satisfaction and even pulled her onto his lap, ¡°Since you¡¯re so well-behaved, I¡¯ll tell you the right answer.¡±


    Hao Jiayi didn¡¯t say a word, she just quietly leaned into Xiao Mo¡¯s embrace and then watched him with focused attention, as if he were her whole world.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s mood improved even more, the corners of his mouth curled up, ¡°Just make a trip to Feng Jiyue¡¯s place, see what exactly he wants to do, and then tell me everything.¡±


    Hao Jiayi nodded repeatedly, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to Amo, but what should I do if he asks about Amo¡¯s affairs?¡±


    While she spoke, she clutched Xiao Mo¡¯s lapel, seeming quite worried about him.


    Xiao Mo, on the other hand, shrugged indifferently, ¡°Just tell the truth. After all, he¡¯s got money now and might not only have you as an informant.¡±


    Hao Jiayi nodded, ¡°Amo is right, then I¡¯ll do as Amo says!¡±


    Only then did Xiao Mo release her with satisfaction and lay down on the bed.


    After being tossed around in the secret room for so long, he was feeling tired.


    If it weren¡¯t for the message Hao Li sent to Hao Jiayi, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered wasting time talking to her.


    Seeing Xiao Mo slowly lie down, Hao Jiayi let out a sigh of relief and picked up her phone to reply to Hao Li¡¯s message.


    ¡°I know, I¡¯ll come back when I find the time.¡±


    After sending that message, Hao Jiayi finally felt her whole body relax.


    She had held on for so long, and now she could finally leave Xiao Mo¡¯s house.


    She had long been sick of this twisted man but couldn¡¯t just leave his side without reason.


    Now Feng Jiyue and Hao Li had given her a chance, and she was definitely going to make good use of it.


    She must make sure not to arouse suspicion from either side...


    The next day, when Lu Zhaozhao returned to the set, it was already past 9 AM.


    She was so worn out from yesterday¡¯s events that she couldn¡¯t get up in the morning.


    Song Sinian originally wanted to ask for a day off for her, but Lu Zhaozhao refused.


    She just couldn¡¯t accept missing work over such an incident.


    Fortunately, the morning scenes weren¡¯t many; she only had one scene to show her face. Because Song Sinian had previously spoken with the director, her parts were mostly scheduled for the last few scenes.


    She nestled in a chair on the side, resting, while her assistant made sure to wrap Lu Zhaozhao in a thick blanket.


    Careful not to let their Mr. Husband¡¯s precious catch a cold.


    Lu Zhaozhao sat lazily to one side, quietly watching the lead actor and the second lead act their scenes.


    After a moment, Zhao Qingfeng, who had just finished his scene, happened to see the drowsy Lu Zhaozhao.


    He instructed his assistant beside him with a few words and then came over with two cups of coffee, ¡°Teacher Lu, would you like a cup of coffee?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s familiar attitude made it seem like he was very close to Lu Zhaozhao.


    If Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t just had an unpleasant encounter with Zhao Qingfeng yesterday, she might have believed it.


    Her sleepy eyes opened slightly, then she curled up again in the chair, ¡°No, thanks, I don¡¯t like coffee.¡±


    The assistant holding the coffee to the side shifted the cup in hand somewhat guiltily.


    Zhao Qingfeng, unconcerned, smiled, ¡°Teacher Zhao looks like she hasn¡¯t woken up yet, really adorable.¡±


    As he spoke, he once again presumptuously tried to sit beside Lu Zhaozhao.


    But he was directly blocked by the assistant, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, when our Teacher Lu hasn¡¯t woken up, she doesn¡¯t like unfamiliar people sitting beside her.¡±


    The assistant¡¯s words undoubtedly helped to clarify Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s not-so-close relationship with Zhao Qingfeng.


    However, Zhao Qingfeng acted as though he didn¡¯t understand at all, smiling cheerily at them and saying, ¡°I feel like with the relationship between Teacher Lu and me, it¡¯s no longer a matter of being familiar or unfamiliar.¡±


    He said this and winked at Lu Zhaozhao as if there was something unspeakably secretive about their relationship...

 Chapter 565: 563: Feeling Frustrated?

    Chapter 565: Chapter 563: Feeling Frustrated?


    Lu Zhaozhao was truly speechless because of his ridiculous antics.


    She was a bit sleepy initially, but now, stirred up by Zhao Qingfeng, she was wide awake.


    Lu Zhaozhao slowly stood up, looked at Zhao Qingfeng with a sarcastic smile, and said, ¡°I really don¡¯t know where Teacher Zhao and I are so familiar that I¡¯m unaware of it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng was clearly taken aback, not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to be so direct.


    He thought female celebrities usually cared about their image and, since they were from the same crew, Lu Zhaozhao would keep things civil even if she was unhappy. That¡¯s why he had the audacity.


    However, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t play by the usual rules, which left Zhao Qingfeng stunned.


    Lu Zhaozhao snorted lightly, ¡°I¡¯m not close with Teacher Zhao at all, nor do I plan to be, so please, Teacher Zhao, do as you wish.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face changed several times, struggling to keep his mask intact.


    ¡°Teacher Lu, we¡¯re from the same crew. Isn¡¯t this a bit inappropriate?¡±


    He tried to force a smile, but it turned out to be an extremely ugly grin.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged her shoulders, ¡°I don¡¯t see what¡¯s wrong. So what if we¡¯re from the same crew? I don¡¯t need to curry favor with anyone.¡±


    She had mingled with other actors in the past because they didn¡¯t pose much issue, unlike this man, who was such an eyesore.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face darkened, his gaze swept over her face, and then as if suddenly recalling something, he said, ¡°The person you like is Bai Qing, right? Is that why you¡¯re rejecting me?¡±


    When he said this, he looked at Lu Zhaozhao as if she were a betrayer.


    ¡°Ha??!¡±


    This is just outrageous!


    Lu Zhaozhao felt as if her intelligence was being furiously rubbed into the ground.


    What the hell was this?


    What sins had she committed to deserve watching this greasy man act in front of her?!


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes nearly rolled to the heavens, she raised her eyebrows slightly, showing no intention of explaining, ¡°Do you have any proof for what you¡¯re saying? It¡¯s one thing for you to say this about me, but if Bai Qing¡¯s hardcore fans hear this, they will tear you out of the crew.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng seemed not to understand human speech, ¡°Do you need proof? You want to be close to Bai Qing, but ignore my advances?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gently curved the corners of her lips, revealing a mocking smile, ¡°Is there a possibility that I just find you annoying?¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng had clearly never been so humiliated, glaring angrily at Lu Zhaozhao before leaving in a huff.


    However, the photo his assistant had taken when they were close had already been secured.


    He had made double preparations: either directly seduce Lu Zhaozhao and win her over, or use public opinion to tarnish her reputation.


    After all, people are not interested in how happily others live their lives; they are more intrigued by which wealthy woman couldn¡¯t bear the loneliness and cheated.


    As for scandalous news, women often receive more malignity, whereas men might lay low for a year or two and then everything blows over.


    Especially in the entertainment industry, whether true or false, female celebrities are affected much more severely than male celebrities.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s original plan was to seduce Lu Zhaozhao, make her head over heels for him, and then seize the opportunity to reap some benefits.


    He was sure that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s status was higher than all the wealthy women he had known before combined, so he was still looking forward to the resources he would get after wooing Lu Zhaozhao.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao turned out to be so ungrateful and even embarrassed him in front of others.


    Therefore, he decided not to spare her any face anymore.


    He planned to ruthlessly use Lu Zhaozhao first, and then abandon this woman!


    Thinking this, Zhao Qingfeng went on to shoot the remaining scenes.


    Although he was the second male lead, he had quite a few scenes.


    In addition to scenes with the lead actor, he also had many scenes with the lead actress.


    However, unlike before, his filming had been going smoothly before he talked with Lu Zhaozhao.


    But after talking to Lu Zhaozhao and then filming with the lead actress, his overall state was exceptionally bad.


    Since Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t paying attention to Zhao Qingfeng, she naturally didn¡¯t notice this, but Bai Qing as the ¡°senior¡± noticed something was amiss.


    He hesitated for a moment, but still sat next to Lu Zhaozhao with his assistant.


    Seeing her listless appearance, Bai Qing slightly furrowed his brows, ¡°Did a demon suck out your vital energy yesterday?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Bai Qing, suddenly wanting to punch him twice, but his words seemed to be not entirely wrong.


    She indeed felt drained by their family¡¯s ¡°male demon.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, thinking of Song Sinian¡¯s handsome face that she found irresistible, couldn¡¯t help but press her temples, ¡°Have you finished your scenes, so you¡¯re finding fault with me to practice?¡±


    Bai Qing waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°How could that be? I¡¯m just worried about your upcoming scene based on your condition.¡±


    His gaze shifted to the two people filming, and seeing the director impatiently shout ¡°Cut¡± again, his suspicions were confirmed even more.


    He squinted his eyes, turned to Lu Zhaozhao, and before she could speak, he warned again, ¡°Someone might try to take advantage of the situation to set you up, better be cautious.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked, confused, and followed Bai Qing¡¯s gaze to Zhao Qingfeng, who was also being called ¡°Cut¡± by the director again.


    This was already the third time.


    Her eyebrows involuntarily raised, not understanding what Zhao Qingfeng being called ¡°cut¡± had to do with her when she heard Zhao Qingfeng speak.


    ¡°Director, sorry, I just got a bit struck, and my emotions might not be quite right,¡± Zhao Qingfeng sincerely looked at the director, his face full of apology.


    Although the director was somewhat displeased by his constant issues, seeing Zhao Qingfeng apologizing, he was still willing to give him another chance.


    ¡°Then try to adjust your state; if this scene doesn¡¯t work, let¡¯s shoot the next one instead.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng, as if suddenly finding a vent, hurriedly said, ¡°Director, it¡¯s about emotional matters; could you let me shoot scenes that are unrelated to romance first? I think I might have been deeply hurt and need to push back the romance scenes.¡±


    The director was slightly taken aback, seemingly unable to react.


    If he remembered correctly, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s ensemble scenes with the lead actor and lead actress were just fine before.


    That was also an emotional scene requiring an outburst, and there were no issues.


    How could his emotions become so off after a short break?


    What exactly happened in such a short time that caused him emotional distress?


    The director, puzzled, looked at Zhao Qingfeng, only to hear him say softly, ¡°Director, this is a personal issue and has nothing to do with anyone else...¡±

 Chapter 566: 564: You hit me?!

    Chapter 566: Chapter 564: You hit me?!


    Although he said that, his gaze inevitably shifted toward Lu Zhaozhao and Bai Qing, who were sitting not far away.


    Even the director, who might have been considered naive before, now fully understood.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s mood was off because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    He saw Bai Qing speaking to Lu Zhaozhao, his expression growing even darker, as if trying to hide something, filled with pain.


    The director, as though he had stumbled upon some shocking news, was overwhelmed with disbelief.


    If he remembered correctly, Lu Zhaozhao was supposed to be married, and her husband seemed to be the CEO of the Song Group.


    What was the situation between Zhao Qingfeng and Lu Zhaozhao?


    He didn¡¯t even dare to think about it.


    He vaguely remembered that this morning, Song Sinian¡¯s assistant had called him, mentioning that Lu Zhaozhao was feeling unwell and would be arriving late, asking him to push back her scenes.


    The director¡¯s mind was in utter chaos.


    At that moment, Lu Zhaozhao looked up sharply.


    No wonder Bai Qing had reminded her to be wary of Zhao Qingfeng.


    Ha! She thought he was just sleazy, never expecting him to stoop so low.


    She had absolutely no relationship with him, yet he could still act like a wounded lover in front of others.


    Normally, Lu Zhaozhao would never engage with such a person.


    But... Zhao Qingfeng had really disgusted her!


    She had to retaliate, or else she¡¯d feel sorry for her eyes that had been sullied!


    Lu Zhaozhao threw off the small blanket she had on and walked straight over.


    Her gaze fixed intently on Zhao Qingfeng, she said coldly, ¡°Teacher Zhao, did I just affect your mood?¡±


    Her words were very straightforward, causing Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s brows to furrow instantly.


    Because of what Lu Zhaozhao had just said, he was somewhat wary that this woman might act unpredictably.


    He pulled at the corner of his mouth, feigning a bitter look, ¡°Teacher Lu, some things are better not discussed in front of so many people...¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s act was so convincing that the other artists and crew members standing around felt a bit awkward.


    It seemed they had uncovered something scandalous.


    The director standing by felt even more nervous.


    He had taken investment from the Song Group, and if Song Sinian¡¯s wife were caught cheating in his production, would his career be over?


    The very thought made him feel uneasy in his heart.


    He wanted to stop them from discussing this matter, but it was clear from Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s intent that if he forcibly stopped them now, it would only leave more room for speculation.


    If he didn¡¯t stop them, he feared the developments could catch him even more off guard.


    The director stood rooted to the spot, unable to advance or retreat.


    Eventually, it was Lu Zhaozhao who broke the awkward silence, ¡°Ha! I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything I need to discuss with you privately. Since yesterday, when we met for the first time and you suddenly came to my dressing room pretending to be familiar with me, I¡¯ve told you I don¡¯t want to associate with someone like you, so there is no need for you to act like you know me well or like you¡¯ve been hurt by me.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s expression darkened, but he still followed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lead and continued to make excuses for himself, ¡°Since Teacher Lu says we are not close, then we are not close, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    If it had been someone else, they would¡¯ve probably been hopping mad already.


    Lu Zhaozhao, however, curved her lips, her smile brightening even more, ¡°Zhao Qingfeng, I told you before, my identity doesn¡¯t require me to foster good relationships with others. If you bother me again, I guarantee you won¡¯t be able to mix in this circle ever again!¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s expression instantly stiffened terribly.


    It took him a long while to regain his composure, ¡°You... Teacher Lu, aren¡¯t you being a bit too overbearing?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Why don¡¯t I behave this way towards others, only targeting you? You should reflect on your own actions.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to give Zhao Qingfeng any face¡ªthis person had been indirectly slandering her in the crew and still expected her not to use her power against him?


    What a joke!


    As the prestigious CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group and currently the largest shareholder in XJ Group, why couldn¡¯t she wield her power?


    Damn it! It was about crushing trash!


    She didn¡¯t feel any guilt at all!


    Bai Qing, standing nearby, couldn¡¯t help but feel secretly thrilled seeing Lu Zhaozhao so dismissively mocking Zhao Qingfeng.


    Previously, when Bai Qing faced her blunt responses, it was just give-and-take; even when Lu Zhaozhao despised him, she never treated him like she did Zhao Qingfeng.


    Suddenly, Bai Qing felt like Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t truly dislike him, and his spine straightened up with this realization.


    Zhao Qingfeng, watching the disdain growing in the eyes of those around him, grimly gritted his teeth, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, is it because I found out about your affair with Bai Qing, and that¡¯s why you are targeting me?!¡±


    Bai Qing was enjoying the drama, suddenly called out, and immediately exploded, ¡°Zhao Qingfeng, are you insane? It¡¯s bad enough that your mind is dirty, but dragging others into it too? Have you no shame?!¡±


    Bai Qing, always perceived as gentle and refined, was now furiously pointing at Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s nose, cursively accusing him, which shocked everyone else.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face became even uglier.


    However, he quickly regained his composure, his gaze icy as he responded to Bai Qing, ¡°Your anger only proves my point! You¡¯re feeling guilty!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling guilty, I...¡±


    Just as Bai Qing was about to retort to Zhao Qingfeng, Lu Zhaozhao stepped in.


    Now, not only Bai Qing was anxious, but even his assistant was worried.


    If Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t explain anything, the rumors about them in the crew would probably start flying everywhere.


    Being Song Group¡¯s wife, Lu Zhaozhao was mainly just dabbling in the industry, but for Bai Qing, his position was hard-earned. If it were ruined by a scandal, it would be too great a loss.


    Bai Qing¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, about to say something, when Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand, delivering a resounding slap to Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face.


    The entire set went silent.


    Zhao Qingfeng, covering his face in disbelief, looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°You, you hit me?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips curled, and she struck his other cheek, ¡°So I did. What about it? You¡¯re allowed to slander me and Huang Yao, but I¡¯m not allowed to hit you?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng, furious beyond control, glared at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I¡¯m not spreading rumors! It¡¯s true!¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the evidence? If you can¡¯t present any evidence today, we¡¯ll see each other in the police station!¡± Lu Zhaozhao commanded the nearby assistant, ¡°Call the police now!¡±


    She scanned the crew and announced, ¡°If Zhao Qingfeng can¡¯t produce any evidence today, I will sue him for defamation. I will bear all the losses of today¡¯s shoot, and I hope everyone can testify for me later.¡±


    People who had originally come to watch the drama were shocked, not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to be so tough!

 Chapter 567: 565: Just Beat It!

    Chapter 567: Chapter 565: Just Beat It!


    However, when you think about it, she is the young miss of the XJ Group, there¡¯s definitely a powerful backing behind her.


    And let¡¯s not forget, she also has a husband who¡¯s helplessly in love and also a domineering boss, so of course, she stands tall and straight!


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao so resolute, Bai Qing decided to go all in as well, ¡°Go to the police station, I¡¯ll be the first to testify for you! I¡¯ll also sue him for slander!¡±


    Other artists witnessing this started to stand up one after the other.


    [I¡¯ll testify too! Slandering people without evidence, it¡¯s really time to put a stop to this!]


    [That¡¯s right, I¡¯ll testify too! Zhao Qingfeng was harassing people just a few days ago!]


    [I¡¯ve been harassed too, though it was in a previous drama crew, not sure if it can be used as evidence, but his character really is problematic...]


    [If all else fails, we can ask people from the previous drama crews to testify. With President Song¡¯s wife stepping forward, those who¡¯ve been bullied before won¡¯t miss this chance!]


    ...


    Suddenly, witnesses with various motives started to come forward.


    Some truly had been bullied by Zhao Qingfeng, while others hoped to make a good impression on Lu Zhaozhao at a time like this.


    After all, she is unquestionably from a wealthy background, and it would definitely do no harm to be on good terms with someone of wealth and influence.


    Moreover, since their drama¡¯s male lead, Bai Qing, was taking sides with her, they naturally wanted to follow suit!


    Zhao Qingfeng hadn¡¯t expected that his usual tactics, which were meant to throw Lu Zhaozhao off balance, would be turned against him.


    His face immediately turned the color of liver, considering he had, on the strength of the resources and power at his disposal, in fact, gaslighted quite a few minor actors in the drama industry.


    After all, most of the wealthy matrons he was involved with were no longer young and lacked passion, so he was only with them for the resources, selling his looks in return.


    So, when on set, he would seek out actresses or extras with good looks to spice things up.


    There were many extras on set, and he would cajole, deceive, or intimidate them; he had never suffered a setback.


    After all, no matter their status, these women cared about their reputation, choosing private settlements over public ones, even if it meant suffering in silence.


    But to meet someone like Lu Zhaozhao, who confronted issues head-on and followed through, was a first for him.


    If she really took this to the police station and found previous drama crew members to testify, then his acting career might well come to an end.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face was dark and gloomy as he hurriedly attempted damage control, ¡°Teacher Lu, we are colleagues from the same drama crew, there¡¯s no need to take this to a life-and-death situation, right? Besides... I was just confused by anger earlier, wasn¡¯t I? You wouldn¡¯t want the director and other actors to suffer delays in shooting because of you, would you?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng had managed to stand firm in this industry for so long not only because of the wealthy matrons backing him but also because of his ability to be flexible and resilient.


    Since he couldn¡¯t provoke Lu Zhaozhao at the moment, he wouldn¡¯t, especially since he still had the photos his assistant had just taken.


    He would have someone release them soon, let this damn woman feel the ¡°love¡± from the netizens, hmph!


    As Zhao Qingfeng spoke, the other artists who had sided with him couldn¡¯t help but glance towards the director.


    They did indeed intend to testify for Lu Zhaozhao, but if it would enrage the director, then it would not be worth it.


    Thus, the once formidable atmosphere was instantly halved.


    Zhao Qingfeng, seeing the situation, immediately said to the director, ¡°Director, I was just in a bad mood, so I spoke without thinking. Could you also persuade Teacher Lu for me? I promise I¡¯ll work hard on the filming from now on, and I absolutely won¡¯t cause any trouble for everyone...¡±


    He instantly lowered his posture, looking towards the director for rescue.


    At this time, the director was a bit dumbfounded.


    From the start, he had been worried that Lu Zhaozhao might have ¡°greened¡± Song Sinian in his crew, to just now being indignantly angry at Zhao Qingfeng for slandering Lu Zhaozhao, and now worrying whether his film¡¯s progress would be affected.


    You could say he had been completely led by the nose by Zhao Qingfeng alone.


    The director¡¯s gaze involuntarily shifted to Lu Zhaozhao, and just as he was at a loss for words, Lu Zhaozhao suddenly spoke.


    ¡°Director, you don¡¯t need to trouble yourself over this matter. This issue has already become a personal grudge between Zhao Qingfeng and me.¡±


    She was just short of saying directly that anyone who helped him would be her enemy.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s resounding words instantly made everyone around widen their eyes.


    Tsk tsk... Zhao Qingfeng has really kicked against an iron plate this time!


    Actually, in this crew, there were quite a few extras who went from place to place; everyone was in a group chat, and would more or less leak some gossip about the actors in different crews.


    There was naturally no shortage of gossip about Zhao Qingfeng, so many knew about Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s character, but nobody had the capital to defy him, so seeing Zhao Qingfeng being forcefully opposed like this, they also felt a dark satisfaction.


    ¡°Teacher Lu, as I¡¯ve said, I spoke without thinking. If you¡¯re unhappy, I can also apologize to you. At worst, you can beat me up to let off some steam.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng said this and even took a few steps towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    Bai Qing immediately stepped in to stop him, standing between Lu Zhaozhao and Zhao Qingfeng.


    He knew Zhao Qingfeng was shameless and would even blame the victim; having been undercut by him before, he naturally didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to suffer as well.


    Bai Qing¡¯s wary eyes stared at Zhao Qingfeng, ¡°If you know you¡¯re wrong, you should just apologize directly, instead of using your actions to threaten the other party.¡±


    He had some interactions with Zhao Qingfeng before, so he knew about his actions.


    He had thought with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s status and position, Zhao Qingfeng probably wouldn¡¯t cause trouble, but thinking of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s excessively pretty appearance, he couldn¡¯t help but offer a warning.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s thought process to be so different from normal people¡¯s, to actually directly harass Lu Zhaozhao.


    Of course, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch.


    Unexpectedly, his actions, seen through Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s eyes, turned into another meaning, ¡°Mr. Bai, you just said you have nothing to do with Teacher Lu, so why are you protecting Teacher Lu so much?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just spouting nonsense. Even if it wasn¡¯t for Teacher Lu, I would still stand up today,¡± Bai Qing frowned slightly, gaining a new understanding of Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s shamelessness.


    Seeing Bai Qing speak up, Zhao Qingfeng simply latched onto him and would not let go, making sure the focus of everyone wouldn¡¯t be on him, but rather on the scandal between Lu Zhaozhao and Bai Qing.


    ¡°Oh? Mr. Bai, I haven¡¯t heard...¡±


    ¡°What are you wasting your words on him for?¡± Before Zhao Qingfeng could finish, Lu Zhaozhao abruptly pulled Bai Qing aside and kicked Zhao Qingfeng away, ¡°Is this kind of trash even worth talking to?¡±


    Just hit him and be done with it!


    Zhao Qingfeng was kicked to the ground, in so much pain he couldn¡¯t even speak, only able to curl up on the ground and moan while clutching his stomach.


    ¡°Director, you just saw it, I was acting in self-defense!¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at the director with utter seriousness, not showing the slightest hint of lying.

 Chapter 568: 566: Dont You Care at All?!

    Chapter 568: Chapter 566: Don¡¯t You Care at All?!


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    If they hadn¡¯t seen Lu Zhaozhao kick him with their own eyes, they would have actually believed him.


    Bai Qing and the people around were stunned by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s actions.


    For a moment, the entire shooting site fell into a strange silence.


    Everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on Lu Zhaozhao, and then they looked at Zhao Qingfeng, who was lying on the ground, completely at a loss for words.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s forehead was almost sweating from the pain. He gritted his teeth viciously, not expecting that Lu Zhaozhao, this seemingly delicate woman, could strike so ruthlessly.


    He felt as if his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys had all been shattered by her kick.


    Every breath he took now felt excruciatingly painful.


    Zhao Qingfeng bit his teeth, ¡°Lu Zhaozhao, aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll expose what happened today? I¡¯d like to see how you survive in the entertainment industry then!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hugged her arms and looked down at him with a smirk, ¡°Survive? Of course, I¡¯d rely on my husband, my parents, and my brothers to survive!¡±


    ¡°Pfft...¡±


    Bai Qing couldn¡¯t hold back and burst out laughing.


    If it were an ordinary person, they might have really been intimidated by Zhao Qingfeng.


    But who is Lu Zhaozhao?


    With just a wave of her hand, whether it¡¯s the Song Group or XJ Group, it¡¯s easy to secure investments worth hundreds of millions.


    The top teams and directors all scramble for her, as not every artist can secure such large investments.


    But Lu Zhaozhao can.


    Who would care then whether she kicked Zhao Qingfeng or not?


    With the backing of the Song Group and XJ Group, and support from top influencer Xia Wenyan and Best Actor Pei Huai, there¡¯s nothing she can¡¯t whitewash.


    Someone insignificant like Zhao Qingfeng couldn¡¯t even stir a ripple before being suppressed.


    Bai Qing was a bit worried about Lu Zhaozhao at first, but seeing her now pulling rank left him suddenly unconcerned.


    Thinking about it, Lu Zhaozhao was not just any ordinary person; what he was worried about was nothing to her.


    Zhao Qingfeng obviously didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to speak like this; he was stunned.


    Why doesn¡¯t this woman play by the rules?


    He opened his mouth and it took him a while to find his voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of the rumors outside, aren¡¯t you afraid that your husband will know and leave you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help rolling her eyes, ¡°Then you clearly don¡¯t know that my husband is head over heels in love. Once he knows, he¡¯d deal with you, not abandon me.¡±


    At this, Zhao Qingfeng scoffed, ¡°You can only talk tough here. Men care about their pride. If he learns about what happened in the crew, it¡¯s still you who¡¯ll be unlucky. You better think carefully!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shot Zhao Qingfeng a glance and directly dialed a number on her phone.


    Now Zhao Qingfeng looked even more smug, ¡°What? Annoyed and looking for someone to shut me up? Let me tell you, Lu Zhaozhao, it¡¯s too late! You...¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Suddenly, a deep voice came from the other end of the phone.


    Since Lu Zhaozhao had put it on speaker, his voice was especially clear at this moment.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t even bother to look at Zhao Qingfeng, she directly complained on the spot, ¡°Husband, I¡¯m on set, and someone is bullying me!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, but he still heard the noisy background, ¡°Who is bullying you? You can talk directly to the director, let him handle it.¡±


    The director, who heard his name being mentioned, immediately broke out into a sweat.


    He wished he could go up to Song Sinian right now and explain that it wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t solve the problem, but that he simply didn¡¯t dare to!


    Lu Zhaozhao gave the director a glance and offered him an apologetic smile before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s just that the second male lead, Zhao Qingfeng, bullied me. He just harassed me unsuccessfully and then slandered me by saying I was involved with another male actor. He also said that after he would expose this, you would not want me!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Suddenly, the entire crew fell deathly silent.


    Everyone was in a state of shocked disbelief, and all the silence was deafening.


    Good lord, Lu Zhaozhao was really daring!


    She really dared to speak the truth!


    However, they were even more eager to hear what Song Sinian would say, considering this President of the Song Group was more of a legend turned into hearsay.


    No one really knew the first-hand news.


    Now that Lu Zhaozhao was making a call in front of them, they couldn¡¯t help but become excited.


    After all, nothing excited them more than receiving first-hand juicy gossip!


    But... this inexplicable low pressure really made it hard to breathe.


    ¡°He actually harassed you in the crew? Were you hurt?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s icy voice transmitted over the phone.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly added, ¡°I wasn¡¯t hurt. I just kicked him, and now he¡¯s sprawled on the ground.¡±


    Hearing this, Song Sinian¡¯s tone improved slightly, ¡°You did well to kick him, but don¡¯t touch such trash again. If you were hurt, he wouldn¡¯t be able to compensate you even if he went bankrupt.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± responded Lu Zhaozhao obediently.


    Soon, Song Sinian¡¯s voice was heard again, ¡°That bodyguard I arranged for you before, let them handle it. For follow-up matters, just hand them over to the Legal Department of the Song Group. As for the crew, a new actor will be arranged to go there today. You just wait for me to pick you up this evening, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay~¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The whole crew felt sour upon hearing Song Sinian¡¯s arrangements.


    From start to finish, Song Sinian never asked who Lu Zhaozhao was rumored to be involved with. Instead, his first concern was whether Lu Zhaozhao was harassed or hurt.


    Tsk tsk, how come such a good man never turns up for them?


    Thinking about Song Sinian¡¯s favoritism towards Lu Zhaozhao, their perception of her was refreshed once again.


    The surrounding actors and staff dared not even breathe heavily.


    They initially planned to testify for Lu Zhaozhao, but how did they end up being fed with public displays of affection?


    Tsk tsk...


    ¡°President Song! Your woman is flirting with other men in the crew, don¡¯t you care?!¡±


    Seeing that he might not escape unscathed, Zhao Qingfeng decided to go all out, ¡°I¡¯m helping you! To prevent you from being cuckolded, you definitely should not be deceived by this despicable woman!¡±


    His voice was so loud that it made Song Sinian pause for a moment over the phone.


    However, Song Sinian¡¯s voice soon transmitted over the phone again, ¡°Zhaozhao, besides this trash, is there anyone else around you?¡±


    Seeing this, everyone started to feel a bit uneasy, not knowing if President Song, knowing that many people were listening to his call, would explode on the spot.


    Even Bai Qing looked worriedly toward Lu Zhaozhao, fearing that her speaking the truth might upset Song Sinian.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao replied to Song Sinian without a second thought, ¡°Yes, I am at the shooting site. Apart from the staff, there are quite a few colleagues.¡±

 Chapter 569: 567: Three Men Make a Tiger

    Chapter 569: Chapter 567: Three Men Make a Tiger


    At this revelation, everyone else on set began to tremble in fear.


    Could they too be marked for revenge by Song Sinian?


    All they wanted was to enjoy the show... sobs...


    Unexpectedly, the next words out of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth took them by surprise, ¡°Anyone here, punch Zhao Qingfeng and get ten thousand each, no cap. Just let the bodyguards keep an eye out; just leave him breathing.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Wow, now that¡¯s motivation ¡ª they were wide awake now!


    Usually slaving away for a whole month for ten thousand yuan, and now just one punch to Zhao Qingfeng would do it!


    Those who already had their gripes with Zhao Qingfeng couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and rushed forward, landing a punch without another word.


    Seeing this, the others, worried they might miss out on the money, swarmed him too.


    Zhao Qingfeng didn¡¯t even have a chance to say another word before he started screaming in pain.


    Bai Qing was startled by the sudden turn of events, but had to admit that Song Sinian really did a great job at protecting Lu Zhaozhao.


    He stood firmly by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side even without knowing the full extent of the situation.


    He had some concerns about Lu Zhaozhao before, but now it seemed he was worried for nothing.


    With the situation resolved, Lu Zhaozhao naturally had no desire to stay on set any longer.


    After all, with beating up Zhao Qingfeng being so lucrative, everyone would probably be on a high for a while.


    Lu Zhaozhao simply took her phone and left the set.


    Leaving behind a scene of chaos...


    By the time Zhao Qingfeng was sent to the hospital, it was already dark.


    Though everyone was enthusiastic in their beating, they were also worried about killing him, so no one had thrown an exceedingly deadly punch.


    But... Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t exactly good either; by the time he reached the hospital, he had two broken ribs, a broken nose, five missing teeth, and someone had taken the opportunity for private retribution, breaking one of his calves.


    He lay on the hospital bed, his face contorted in agony.


    ¡°Qingfeng, what happened to you?¡± Upon hearing that he had been injured on set, his agent rushed to the hospital, only to find Zhao Qingfeng looking like a beaten pig.


    With his leg in a sling and his face wrapped in gauze, he looked particularly pitiful.


    Even his agent was shocked.


    Taking a few steps closer, the agent¡¯s gaze swept over Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°You didn¡¯t... get involved with Lu Zhaozhao and get caught by Song Sinian, did you?¡±


    In the agent¡¯s mind, only being caught in the act could result in such a severe beating.


    Although the call from the set claimed it was an accident, he didn¡¯t buy it.


    His suspicions only grew when he thought about Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s visit to the set and the expectations of that wealthy backer.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s entire face was severely swollen. Although he had been in the hospital for a day, his injuries showed no signs of improvement.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t touch that woman at all!¡± he said through gritted teeth, his voice filled with spite.


    But because he had lost many of his teeth, his words were somewhat airy.


    Just thinking about Lu Zhaozhao getting the set crew to beat him up made him seethe with anger.


    He had dominated the scene for so many years and this was the first time he had suffered such a loss.


    He was certainly not going to let that woman off the hook!


    He would make sure she didn¡¯t get off easy!


    And that Song Sinian, wasn¡¯t he just the CEO of Song Group?


    He really wanted to see if he could still be so arrogant after being cuckolded.


    Zhao Qingfeng, thinking back to the humiliation he suffered today, couldn¡¯t help but show a ferocious expression.


    The agent frowned slightly, looking at Zhao Qingfeng with some confusion, ¡°Since you didn¡¯t lay a hand on Lu Zhaozhao, how did things turn out like this?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng scowled instantly, ¡°It¡¯s all because of that cheap woman! She actually called President Song directly on set and accused me in front of so many people.¡±


    After that, he told his agent what Lu Zhaozhao had done on the set.


    The agent also sighed incessantly, as he did not expect that Song Sinian would not blame Lu Zhaozhao at all; instead, he vented all his anger on Zhao Qingfeng alone.


    ¡°I think you should avoid provoking Lu Zhaozhao for a while; after all, she is still the CEO¡¯s wife of Song Group.¡±


    Adding to that, with XJ Group as her maiden family, Sinian would not underestimate her in any way.


    Zhao Qingfeng sneered coldly, ¡°Not underestimate her? Ha! If she cuckolded him, would Song Sinian still be so nice to her?¡±


    He knew these rich people too well; what they cared about most was their own face, and as for women, weren¡¯t they just something they could easily get their hands on?


    Even if Lu Zhaozhao was the little princess of XJ Group, what of it?


    She had no inheritance rights; it was just an empty title.


    The agent¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, and his look towards Zhao Qingfeng noticeably paused for a moment, ¡°What do you plan to do?¡±


    The agent had been with Zhao Qingfeng for a long time and knew his nature well.


    Just hearing how he spoke just now, he knew the man was not likely to let Lu Zhaozhao go.


    But considering her high position and power, the agent wondered what he was planning to do.


    Actually, he rather hoped that Zhao Qingfeng would keep the peace.


    After all, the attempt to seduce Lu Zhaozhao was something others had paid them to do; at worst, if it didn¡¯t succeed, they would just lose a sponsorship fee.


    But if Zhao Qingfeng angered the CEO of Song Group, his career would be over.


    If he was blacklisted in the entertainment industry, the agent would lose a cash cow, hence the agent was rather reluctant and naturally wanted to hold him back.


    The agent watched Zhao Qingfeng remain silent and persuaded him gently, ¡°This matter has blown up so much, I think it¡¯s better to let it go.¡±


    ¡°Let it go? Why should I let it go, should I just take this beating for nothing? Do I no longer need face?¡± Upon remembering how he had been beaten by so many people, Zhao Qingfeng felt a surge of anger towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    When had he ever suffered such a loss in the entertainment circle?


    There was no way he could just slink away after taking such a loss!


    The agent tugged at the awkward corner of his mouth, ¡°But Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s background is really strong...¡±


    ¡°I know we can¡¯t directly ban her from the industry, but that doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t make her uncomfortable.¡± Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face darkenend, ¡°There must be plenty of people who would like to know the juicy news about her, right?¡±


    The higher one¡¯s position, the more interested people are in their gossip, especially the scandalous news about women. The more bizarre the stories, the more people listen.


    He knew those things were false, but that did not mean everyone else did.


    When three people say a tiger is in the street, people start to believe it.


    He didn¡¯t believe that, at that time, Song Sinian could continue to stand by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side as always.


    No man doesn¡¯t care about his face, especially a man of high standing and power like Song Sinian.


    Perhaps, he might even take it out on Lu Zhaozhao in private too.

 Chapter 570: 568: Who Made You Unhappy?

    Chapter 570: Chapter 568: Who Made You Unhappy?


    Zhao Qingfeng felt this way, and his whole being became even more excited.


    The agent also discerned his intentions, ¡°Are you planning to create a scandal for her?¡±


    Such tactics were very common in the industry, and this sort of malicious defamation wasn¡¯t considered a big deal.


    Zhao Qingfeng pulled at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Do these people from the wealthy families even need scandals made up about them? Any bizarre piece of news, as long as it¡¯s remotely related, triggers the paparazzi into action. There¡¯s no need for me to fabricate anything.¡±


    The agent fell noticeably silent.


    For some reason, he felt that if Zhao Qingfeng went through with this, there might be no turning back.


    Hesitating for a moment, he still opted to try and advise, ¡°Let¡¯s think this through for a bit longer. I¡¯ve heard that this Lu Zhaozhao is quite formidable. Those who openly opposed her in the past, whether it be Sun Qian or Xia Wenjin...¡±


    Both of those people had vanished without a trace, though one was said to have disappeared on an overseas trip and the other had retired from the industry.


    But he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was some unspeakable secret involved.


    He didn¡¯t dare to think further, yet he couldn¡¯t help but ponder.


    Zhao Qingfeng was one of the few profitable artists under his management, and he certainly didn¡¯t want a moment of hot-headedness to ruin his future prospects.


    Regrettably, Zhao Qingfeng didn¡¯t appreciate his concern at all.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind about this, and you don¡¯t need to persuade me any further. If you don¡¯t want to help me, at the very least, don¡¯t obstruct me.¡±


    The agent¡¯s brows instantly twisted into a knot.


    He had never felt Zhao Qingfeng to be as unreasonable as he seemed today.


    Before, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s minor scuffles with extras on set were one thing, but he was now clashing with the CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group¡ªit was completely out of his league.


    He really didn¡¯t know where Zhao Qingfeng got the guts to take on Lu Zhaozhao head-on, who gave him such confidence?


    He took a deep breath and looked at Zhao Qingfeng, speaking word by word, ¡°Since you¡¯re set on doing this, I won¡¯t stop you, but if anything happens to you in the future, don¡¯t blame me for not warning you.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng shrugged nonchalantly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take full responsibility for all the consequences of this matter.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s stubbornness, the agent simply gave up trying to convince him further.


    All he hoped for was that if Zhao Qingfeng really got into trouble, he wouldn¡¯t drag him down as well.


    Without his agent¡¯s help, Zhao Qingfeng could only contact some water army companies within the industry to carry out his plan.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that as soon as he made his move, Xia Wenyan received the news.


    Ever since Lu Zhaozhao had entered the entertainment circle, Xia Wenyan had been closely monitoring any news related to her.


    Whenever there was a relevant keyword or trend, he would receive a notification.


    Usually, the trends were about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attractiveness or shipping her with Song Sinian.


    But today¡¯s trend almost made Xia Wenyan so angry that he nearly flipped.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you so worked up?¡± Pei Huai, carrying a cup of milk, walked into Xia Wenyan¡¯s studio.


    Xia Wenyan had said he wanted to play games all night, so Pei Huai made him a cup of milk, only to find Xia Wenyan with a furious look on his face upon arrival.


    ¡°Who made you unhappy?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s voice was calm, but a shadow of menace flitted across his black eyes.


    He hated those who upset him the most; if only they would all just drop dead.


    Xia Wenyan glanced at Pei Huai and began to operate on the computer rapidly.


    While working on the computer, he also made sure to explain the situation in detail to Pei Huai, ¡°This afternoon, my second brother told me to keep an eye on Zhaozhao¡¯s recent trends, warning that she might become a target for retaliation.¡±


    He then informed him about the incidents that had occurred in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s drama set.


    After all, there were only so many ways to sabotage someone in the entertainment industry.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s warning was a means to prevent any problems before they could arise.


    But Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t expected that the keywords tied to Lu Zhaozhao would be so filthy, so vile that even he, as her older brother, could hardly refrain from cursing.


    Xia Wenyan showed Pei Huai what he had found as he spoke.


    Pei Huai¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, wishing he could just eliminate this man named Zhao Qingfeng on the spot.


    But they were in the country now, and he couldn¡¯t employ the methods he used in R country.


    After a moment, Pei Huai spoke slowly, ¡°You might want to discuss this with Zhaozhao and ask for her opinion. After all, these keywords have only just started trending, and it would be easy to track down the water army companies involved.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s network in the entertainment circle wasn¡¯t small, but compared to him and Xia Wenyan, it was nothing¡ªlike a mayfly shaking a tree, incomparable.


    To deal with one or two water army companies in advance was a piece of cake.


    Even without Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s knowledge, they could erase a man named Zhao Qingfeng from the entertainment circle, but now that Zhaozhao was aware, it was still necessary to ask for her view on the matter.


    Xia Wenyan nodded and immediately took out his phone to call Lu Zhaozhao. Since it was late at night, he was a bit worried that she might have already gone to bed.


    Contrary to his expectations, the phone rang only a few times before it was quickly picked up, ¡°Hello? Fourth Brother?¡±


    As soon as Xia Wenyan heard Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice, he couldn¡¯t wait to spill the beans, ¡°Zhaozhao, someone is slandering you online. Do you want your fourth brother to take revenge for you?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Qingfeng to act so quickly.


    She thought he¡¯d at least wait until the next day to strike back after being sent to the hospital.


    But his retaliation came unexpectedly fast.


    Unfortunately for him, he didn¡¯t have much time left to stir trouble.


    Lu Zhaozhao paused for a moment, ¡°Are these trending searches bought by Zhao Qingfeng?¡±


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t hold back at all, laying everything out clearly for Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°That¡¯s right, that scumbag. He bought quite a few trending searches, and each one is nastier than the last.¡±


    As he spoke, his fists clenched involuntarily.


    He had to inform his third brother to take Zhao Qingfeng abroad for a slice of revenge.


    Harassing his sister on set was one thing, but failing that, using such foul tactics to continue harming their precious sister?


    In his dreams!


    Lu Zhaozhao pondered for a moment, ¡°Fourth Brother, I know you have a wide network in the industry. This Zhao Qingfeng has a bit of notoriety in several drama sets; I¡¯ve also heard he has plenty of wealthy women as backers. Can you investigate and then release the information? Give him a big surprise.¡±


    After all, returning the favor in kind to Zhao Qingfeng, who went through such efforts to sling mud at her, was only fair, wasn¡¯t it?

 Chapter 571: 569 Why Dont You Speak?

    Chapter 571: Chapter 569 Why Don¡¯t You Speak?


    Since he had let others get caught in the rain, he surely wouldn¡¯t mind facing this torrential downpour himself!


    Xia Wenyan narrowed his eyes, instantly taking an interest, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already got plenty of dirt on Zhao Qingfeng. This time, I¡¯m definitely going to make him sizzle!¡±


    He paused, as if he suddenly thought of something, and asked, ¡°So... for such a big favor, aren¡¯t you going to reward your fourth bro?¡±


    When Xia Wenyan said this, his attractive peach-blossom eyes curved into a smile, like a big dog waiting for a bone.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t see it, but that didn¡¯t mean Pei Huai couldn¡¯t.


    His gaze darkened, looking at Xia Wenyan with a hint more danger in his eyes.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, able to sense Xia Wenyan¡¯s anticipation even over the phone.


    ¡°So... how about I treat you to a meal sometime?¡± Lu Zhaozhao thought for a moment, then added, ¡°I¡¯ll cook it for you?¡±


    Xia Wenyan was already delighted, but hearing that Lu Zhaozhao would personally cook, he became even more excited, ¡°I¡¯ll definitely be there to support you! I¡¯ll clean out all the dishes!¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright~¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was really at her wits¡¯ end with this fourth brother, her tone turning a bit softer.


    Xia Wenyan rested his chin on his hand, his peach-blossom eyes gleaming, ¡°Then when do we... um...¡±


    He didn¡¯t finish his sentence when suddenly the noise from the other end of the phone quieted down.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, and soon she heard Pei Huai¡¯s voice over the phone, ¡°Yanyan¡¯s stomach hasn¡¯t been very good lately, he might not be able to eat your cooking for now.¡±


    ¡°Who said I... um...¡±


    More rustling sounds followed, and Pei Huai¡¯s voice was noticeably different, ¡°Zhaozhao, your fourth bro is still busy with something, we¡¯ll talk another day.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked speechlessly at her phone, decisively hitting the red button on the video call that was still ringing.


    Tsk tsk... she had known before that Pei Huai was very possessive, now it seemed he matched Mr. Song from their family.


    Thinking about her fourth brother¡¯s personality, Lu Zhaozhao felt this was actually quite okay.


    At least in this life, he would be healthy and happy...


    Lu Zhaozhao had thought her fourth brother would be too busy at night dealing with Zhao Qingfeng, but she hadn¡¯t expected the dirt on Zhao Qingfeng to explode across the internet that very evening.


    [Famous Male Celebrity Clings to Wealthy Older Woman for three days and two nights!]


    [So explosive! Unveiling the soft-rice men of the entertainment industry!]


    [Revealing male star falls for wealthy woman 11 years his senior, hot figure, drives a 4-million luxury car back to villa]


    [Male celebrity in the circle openly shows off wealthy girlfriend!]


    ...


    The trending searches were filled with all kinds of explosive news and public declarations of relationships, making the already explosive trend even more so.


    In the hospital ward.


    Zhao Qingfeng swept a cup off the table with his hand, glaring fiercely at his manager, ¡°What the hell is going on? Why are the trending searches like this? Shouldn¡¯t it all be Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dirt?¡±


    The manager looked straight ahead, not in the mood to speak.


    What else could it be?


    Surely, it¡¯s Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s people fighting back!


    He was warned not to mess with Lu Zhaozhao. He didn¡¯t listen and insisted on exposing her dirt, and what happened? He tried to steal a chicken only to end up losing his rice.


    If he¡¯d just exposed a little bit of negative press, it wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal.


    After all, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s interactions with the rich ladies in the circle were very secret.


    But he just wouldn¡¯t believe it, and right after this dirt came out, he immediately tried to clear his name, saying he was dating the rich ladies, but then they released images of him with several different rich ladies.


    These rich ladies just happened to be the ones he was involved with at the same time.


    The press releases about his dating that he¡¯d washed white before now seemed like slaps in the face, all landing squarely on Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face.


    Those rich ladies who had previously wanted to support him all backed off.


    After all, they weren¡¯t the only ones he was dating, and what they hadn¡¯t expected was that Zhao Qingfeng was interacting with others while seeing them!


    People referred to as rich ladies in this circle obviously aren¡¯t short of resources or money, and certainly aren¡¯t lacking men.


    Without Zhao Qingfeng, they could still turn to Liu Qingfeng, Song Qingfeng, or Zhang Qingfeng¡ªthis circle is never short of handsome men.


    Especially the handsome men without resources who want to latch onto rich ladies.


    Seeing his agent remaining silent, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s expression grew even more grim, ¡°I¡¯m asking you something, why don¡¯t you speak?¡±


    The agent, who had long been fed up with his commanding attitude, looked at him coldly and indifferently said, ¡°What is there for me to say? I had already warned you not to provoke Lu Zhaozhao, but you insisted on doing so. Who¡¯s to blame for this?¡±


    ¡°Blame you, of course, for your incompetence! If you were capable, would I have been slandered like this?¡± Zhao Qingfeng was so enraged that he lashed out at his agent.


    He hadn¡¯t thought at all that this whole situation was because of his own capricious and reckless behavior.


    The agent, tired of arguing, said, ¡°You¡¯ve lost all your endorsements now, and all the resources for entering drama troupes have been distributed to other artists. You should think about how to compensate for the breach of contract.¡±


    He had just finished speaking and was about to leave when Zhao Qingfeng stopped him, ¡°What do you mean? Are you abandoning me? Don¡¯t forget the dirty things you¡¯ve done in the past. Do you want me to expose them all?¡±


    The agent¡¯s expression darkened immediately, ¡°Those things were your doing, and they have nothing to do with me.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng scoffed, ¡°They have nothing to do with you? You¡¯re my agent; everything I do is related to you.¡±


    The agent was speechless on the spot; if possible, he would have liked to punch Zhao Qingfeng to death.


    It was all him who had insisted on doing those things, and now he was pushing everything onto him.


    The agent looked at Zhao Qingfeng coldly and asked, ¡°What exactly do you want to do?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng pursed his lips unwillingly, ¡°I¡¯m ruined now, I have no resources or money, what do you think I want to do?¡±


    He had previously hoped that after Lu Zhaozhao was slandered, Song Sinian would abandon her. He didn¡¯t expect that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dirt would not be exposed, but instead, his own life was laid bare.


    Zhao Qingfeng knew that even if he wanted to clear his name now, there wasn¡¯t a chance.


    The people at Song Group wouldn¡¯t give him that opportunity. Since he had no future, he might as well prioritize saving his own skin.


    The agent had been with him for so many years; they knew each other inside and out. Trying to blackmail the agent was still something he could do.


    He didn¡¯t want to do this, he didn¡¯t have a choice, he was driven to it.


    If the agent wants to blame anyone, let him blame Lu Zhaozhao; it has nothing to do with him.

 Chapter 572: 570 Happy Collaboration

    Chapter 572: Chapter 570 Happy Collaboration


    No, to be precise, if he wanted to blame anyone, it should be the backer behind him. It was their idea in the first place to seduce Lu Zhaozhao.


    If it weren¡¯t for that suggestion, he wouldn¡¯t have seduced Lu Zhaozhao on set and none of this would have happened.


    Ultimately, it¡¯s the agent¡¯s greed to blame. All of this is their fault; he has nothing to do with it.


    The agent¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°You want money?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s demeanor didn¡¯t surprise him much.


    After all, having worked with Zhao Qingfeng for so many years, how could he not know what kind of person he was?


    He just hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Qingfeng to be so blunt, directly threatening him.


    The agent¡¯s cheek twitched slightly, and his gaze towards Zhao Qingfeng became severe.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to look at me like that. When disaster strikes, everyone¡¯s for themselves,¡± Zhao Qingfeng shrugged. ¡°You were the one who easily abandoned me just now.¡±


    The agent was almost amused by Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s audacity.


    He abandoned him?


    Wasn¡¯t this all his own doing? How did the blame get shifted onto him?


    When that mysterious person made the request, he had advised Zhao Qingfeng to think thrice before acting.


    But what did he do? Relying on his prior flawless play in the industry, he insisted on taking the job, and now who can he blame for screwing up?


    Even if he had listened to him the last time he advised him,


    He wouldn¡¯t have ended up with these consequences.


    At that time, Lu Zhaozhao had merely had someone rough him up. If he had swallowed that loss, the Song Group definitely wouldn¡¯t have retaliated like they are now.


    And what did he do? He went straight to the internet and slandered Lu Zhaozhao.


    Who can he blame for all of this?


    The agent sneered, ¡°How much money do you want?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng frowned slightly, as if seriously considering, ¡°I don¡¯t ask for much, just give me a billion.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just rob a bank?¡± the agent couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes.


    Zhao Qingfeng had only been in the circle for three to five years, rising from an eighteenth-tier to a third-tier actor.


    The most money he gets in a year is at most twenty million¡ªan already staggering amount.


    And now he¡¯s brazenly asking for a billion?


    Zhao Qingfeng seemed to discern the agent¡¯s thoughts as the corners of his mouth curved up slightly, ¡°I might not be worth that much money, but aren¡¯t you, as a prominent agent, worth this much? Isn¡¯t your future worth this money?¡±


    His implication was clear: if he didn¡¯t give him this money, he would ruin him too.


    Considering his career was already in ruins, he had nothing to lose¡ªa barefooted man isn¡¯t afraid of wearing shoes.


    Zhao Qingfeng was certain the agent wouldn¡¯t gamble with his future, so even if it meant giving him a billion, he would just eat the loss.


    This agent was only able to climb the ranks after getting in with a female executive at their company.


    As a leading agent in their company, he usually managed only artists with potential or those who were already popular.


    He had been in the entertainment industry for a long time, had experience managing people, and had resources at hand.


    The stars whom the agent had guided to fame were not just one or two, and he had much more money than he did.


    A billion was nothing, to the agent it might be a bit painful, but it wouldn¡¯t break him, which is why he dared to demand it.


    The agent¡¯s gaze at Zhao Qingfeng changed repeatedly, and finally, he gritted his teeth, ¡°Fine, I can give you the money, but you have to keep your word.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng looked at the agent contentedly, not at all feeling that he had agreed too easily.


    He even thought it was because he had asked for less money, which is why his agent had agreed so readily.


    The corners of Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s mouth curled slightly, thinking of the easy one billion soon to be in his hands. He waved his hand at his agent and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing for you here anymore, you can leave.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want the agent lingering around and annoying him.


    ¡°Alright, then you rest up,¡± the agent said with a deadpan face and left.


    As soon as he left the hospital, the agent took out his cellphone and dialed an unfamiliar number.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the call was answered.


    The agent¡¯s face remained grim, ¡°I agree to your terms, but you must assure me that Zhao Qingfeng never shows up in public again.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I never intended to let him appear in public again anyway. It¡¯s just that you, the agent, are soft-hearted¡ªwhich is why you haven¡¯t made a move until now, right?¡±


    The person on the other end of the line said this with a hint of mockery.


    But the agent couldn¡¯t find it in him to laugh.


    He had not agreed at the time because, after all, he had worked with Zhao Qingfeng for several years.


    He thought they could part on good terms, and since there hadn¡¯t been any major conflicts between them before, he didn¡¯t feel the need to kick a man while he was down.


    Who would have thought that Zhao Qingfeng didn¡¯t want to part on good terms?


    He even tried to extort him before leaving, so the agent couldn¡¯t be blamed for being ruthless.


    Not initiating harm didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t retaliate.


    The agent took a deep breath, ¡°This time my conscience is clear. Whatever you want to do, just go ahead, I¡¯ll cooperate.¡±


    As for whether Zhao Qingfeng lived or died, it didn¡¯t concern him anymore.


    He wouldn¡¯t feel any remorse for a backstabber.


    The person on the other end of the line didn¡¯t seem surprised at all, ¡°Good, since you¡¯ve made up your mind, I wish us a pleasant cooperation.¡±


    ¡°Pleasant cooperation.¡±


    The agent hung up the call, looked up at the hospital room where Zhao Qingfeng was staying, and then decisively walked away.


    Just when Zhao Qingfeng was waiting for the easy one billion to come his way, the hospital was besieged by the insane fans he had previously deceived...


    In the dead of night at the Song Mansion.


    Song Sinian looked at the message that came from Pei Huai on his phone, his expression indifferent.


    He also had many people watching the hospital, so he was very clear about what was happening there now.


    When Lu Zhaozhao called him that afternoon, he was a bit surprised, but he really liked the feeling of being relied on by Lu Zhaozhao.


    His fingertips tapped on the phone screen, replying to Pei Huai, ¡°It¡¯s just a meal; you don¡¯t have to be so nervous.¡±


    He had clearly arranged for someone to handle Zhao Qingfeng, yet Pei Huai had acted before him, dealing with the man with excessive brutality.


    He expected Pei Huai to use this incident to seek credit from Xia Wenyan, but instead, Pei Huai came to him with a request, asking Lu Zhaozhao not to have meals with Xia Wenyan for the next couple of days.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, feeling that Pei Huai was somewhat making a mountain out of a molehill.


    Soon after, Song Sinian received a message from Pei Huai.


    [Zhaozhao said she will cook personally for Yanyan.]


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes suddenly narrowed. He hadn¡¯t yet tasted Zhaozhao¡¯s cooking; why should Xia Wenyan?


    Thinking this, he decisively sent a message back to Pei Huai, ¡°Zhaozhao won¡¯t have time to have meals with Xia Wenyan anymore.¡±


    The food made by his beloved wife¡¯s own hands, absolutely cannot be given to other men!


    Even if it¡¯s her own brother, that¡¯s unacceptable!

 Chapter 573: 571: You Look So Cute When Youre Jealous

    Chapter 573: Chapter 571: You Look So Cute When You¡¯re Jealous


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, and soon another message from Pei Huai came through on the phone.


    [Not making a fuss this time?]


    Song Sinian immediately replied with a ¡°hehe¡± to Pei Huai.


    Both knew very well how possessive the other could be, so neither held back in their banter.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    While Song Sinian was looking at his phone, the bedroom door was opened.


    Lu Zhaozhao walked in with a smile in her eyes, still holding a cup of unfinished milk.


    Seeing the fresh milk foam on her lips, Song Sinian¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple involuntarily moved.


    But the words he spoke were as indifferent as always, ¡°Feeling hungry?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head and looked at Song Sinian curiously, ¡°Mr. Song, are you upset?¡±


    Although Song Sinian didn¡¯t show it, she just felt that he seemed... a bit upset.


    This feeling was strange, but she just knew.


    Song Sinian helplessly waved at Lu Zhaozhao, gesturing for her to come and sit beside him.


    Lu Zhaozhao obediently walked over with the cup of milk.


    Song Sinian embraced her, making her sit on his lap, and then he lowered his head and kissed the corner of her mouth, ¡°I just heard from Pei Huai that you are going to cook personally for Xia Wenyan.¡±


    He didn¡¯t say anything after that, but Lu Zhaozhao immediately realized that Mr. Song from her family was jealous.


    Her watery eyes blinked at Song Sinian, then suddenly she burst into a bright smile, ¡°Mr. Song, do you know how cute you look when you¡¯re jealous?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s ears instantly turned red.


    He awkwardly turned his face away, avoiding Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze, ¡°Don¡¯t think that by changing the subject, I¡¯ll let you off easily.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, how dare I change the subject?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s smile grew even brighter, and she shook with laughter while nestled in Sinian¡¯s arms.


    He raised his hand and gently rubbed Song Sinian¡¯s ear, causing his whole ear to turn red, and even his fair neck showed a faint blush.


    Lu Zhaozhao, suddenly feeling playful, traced her fingertips along the back of his ear and gently tapped downward, ¡°How about I cook for Mr. Song tomorrow?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, and then quickly shook his head, ¡°No, you might get hurt.¡±


    Although he really wanted to eat something made by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s own hands, he was worried about the indifferent nature of fire and water, and the kitchen was also filled with many sharp utensils.


    If Lu Zhaozhao got hurt while cooking, he would surely be heartbroken.


    Thus, the desire to have Lu Zhaozhao cook was ultimately overridden by his rational instinct to protect her.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Song Sinian almost in disbelief, about to say something, when she saw Song Sinian suddenly lean in and whisper, ¡°And you¡¯re not allowed to cook for Xia Wenyan either. If he wants to eat, he can go out; if not, there¡¯s always the housekeeper who can cook for him. Just stay out of the kitchen.¡±


    Listening to Song Sinian¡¯s authoritative words, Lu Zhaozhao did not feel uncomfortable at all.


    All his domineering behavior was a form of care for her, and Lu Zhaozhao found it hard to lose her temper with Song Sinian like that.


    She lifted her chin and gently kissed his lips, ¡°Because of Mr. Song, I might have to break my promise to my older brother.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, someone will help you make this meal,¡± Song Sinian said, looking at Lu Zhaozhao with an ambiguous smile on his face.


    Surely, some people would be very enthusiastic and more than willing to help.


    As night fell, a figure slowly appeared in the hospital corridor.


    However, her figure swiftly moved through the corridor and quickly entered a VIP ward.


    ¡°Jiaye brother, I¡¯m here.¡±


    As soon as Hao Jiayi entered, she sweetly called out to Feng Jiaye.


    Feng Jiaye didn¡¯t speak; instead, Hao Li from aside scoffed, ¡°I called you so many times, and now you show up, acting all affectionate. Who are you trying to deceive?¡±


    Two days had passed since Hao Li had messaged Hao Jiayi, and she was only arriving now; Hao Li was furious, and naturally, Feng Jiaye did not have a pleasant expression towards Hao Jiayi either.


    Hao Jiayi pursed her lips in grievance, ¡°It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to come; the hospital was locked down these past few days because a celebrity was admitted, and they had sealed all the entrances and exits. The hospital only opened up today, and I rushed over as soon as I heard.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Feng Jiaye raised his eyebrows slightly. He had been staying in the hospital these past days, and indeed there had been some commotion outside, but he had not paid much attention.


    He turned his gaze to Hao Li, who started speaking sarcastically, ¡°What does a celebrity coming to the hospital have to do with you? I think you just didn¡¯t want to come!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Hao Jiayi protested, tears suddenly falling as she hurried to explain to Feng Jiaye, ¡°Jiaye brother, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can look up the recent news. The lead actor named Zhao Qingfeng, he was caught dating multiple women, and the fans were so angry they smashed the hospital. It was a big mess...¡±


    Feng Jiaye immediately took out his phone and started searching. Indeed, just as she had said, the fans had not only smashed the hospital but had also beaten Zhao Qingfeng to a pulp.


    The incident had indeed occurred in the past few days; no wonder the hospital had been so chaotic.


    After reading the message, Feng Jiaye silently put away his phone, and his gaze towards Hao Jiayi softened considerably.


    ¡°How have you been staying at Xiao Mo¡¯s house these past few days?¡± Feng Jiaye eyed Hao Jiayi up and down and slowly asked.


    Hao Jiayi forced a smile, ¡°I am now Xiao Mo¡¯s personal assistant and secretary. I have access to all his work documents and materials.¡±


    Of course, she was lying; she had almost been staying at Xiao Mo¡¯s house recently, and even if she went to the company, it was merely as a mascot.


    Xiao Mo did not trust her nearly as much as he said; to Xiao Mo, she was nothing more than a novel toy.


    But she could not say this to Feng Jiaye, otherwise, she would lose her utilitarian value.


    She now wanted to break free from Xiao Mo; she had to gain Feng Jiaye¡¯s attention to do so.


    She was fed up with Xiao Mo; if she continued to stay with that man, she was sure to be driven insane by him, that man was a pervert, even worse than Feng Jiaye, who was trash!


    Feng Jiaye looked at Hao Jiayi pleased, seemingly not surprised that she had so easily gained an upper hand over Xiao Mo; after all, he was all too aware of what kind of seductress this woman was.


    But the thought of Xiao Mo, that man, darkened his expression once again.


    If it were not for that damned man, he would not have fallen to this state; he was determined to make that person suffer all the pain he had endured!


    Caught off guard by Feng Jiaye¡¯s intense stare, Hao Jiayi shivered, but then promptly spoke in a soothing tone, ¡°Jiaye brother, once you enter the company, I will definitely support you completely to take down Xiao Mo!¡±

 Chapter 574: 572: Stop Right There!

    Chapter 574: Chapter 572: Stop Right There!


    If he could, he really wished Feng Jiaye could bring down Xiao Mo, but with Feng Jiaye¡¯s brains, he didn¡¯t hold much hope.


    If she wanted to escape Xiao Mo, she¡¯d have to rely on herself.


    Be it Xiao Mo or Feng Jiaye, they both held leverage over her, so she needed to devise a foolproof plan; otherwise, she might be ruined in a heartbeat.


    But lately, she had been too exhausted staying by Xiao Mo¡¯s side and needed a change of environment to ease her stress.


    Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t let her leave voluntarily, and Feng Jiaye wouldn¡¯t allow him to leave, so now he needed to find the right opportunity.


    Hao Li looked at Hao Jiayi, who appeared all delicate and immediately couldn¡¯t suppress her anger when she dared to flirt with her son right in front of her.


    With a dark expression, she glared at Hao Jiayi, ¡°With my son¡¯s intelligence, does he need you? Stop flattering yourself. Just keep an eye on Xiao Mo and mind your own business!¡±


    When Hao Jiayi saw Feng Jiaye¡¯s face darken, she subtly curled up the corners of her mouth and then pretended to be very sensible by nodding, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Auntie, I know I was wrong. I¡¯ll definitely mind my own business in the future.¡±


    Hao Li glanced at Hao Jiayi and saw she looked much more subdued, a smug smile curling up at the corner of her mouth, ¡°That¡¯s right, do what you¡¯re told. You¡¯re just a dog for our Old Feng Family, you...¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Before Hao Li could finish flaunting her power, Feng Jiaye interrupted her.


    He had sent Hao Jiayi to seduce Xiao Mo to gather information from him.


    Now, the reason Hao Jiayi was on their side was because he had leverage over her. If Hao Jiayi could completely win over Xiao Mo, she would surely grow distant from them.


    But for now, she hadn¡¯t completely secured Xiao Mo, and apart from their Feng Family, she had nowhere else to go.


    If Hao Li pushed her to desperation at this time, the woman might do something drastic, and it would backfire on them.


    Hao Li wouldn¡¯t consider these things. All she knew was that her son had interrupted her and even sided with that woman while she was scolding Hao Jiayi!


    Her anger flared up, ¡°Jiaye, I¡¯m only thinking of your best interests. Without a good scolding, she won¡¯t even remember her own name!¡±


    Feng Jiaye¡¯s expression grew darker, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about these things!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Li wanted to say something more but was abruptly silenced by a sharp glance from Feng Jiaye. She opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.


    Yet her gaze spitefully glared at Hao Jiayi.


    That damn vixen!


    Once her son becomes the CEO of Song Group, she¡¯d definitely make her pay!


    But for now, she could only sit quietly to the side, listening as her son gave tasks to the woman.


    As the night grew deeper, Feng Jiaye finally allowed Hao Jiayi to leave.


    Seizing the chance, Hao Li immediately followed her out.


    To avoid being captured by surveillance, Hao Jiayi took the fire escape, not expecting Hao Li to follow her.


    Hao Jiayi was thinking about how to stay out and not return to Xiao Mo, and then... the opportunity arose.


    ¡°You little vixen, stop right there!¡± Annoyance turned the footsteps behind her into a shrill female voice.


    Hao Jiayi stopped right away, standing at the top of the staircase.


    Her gaze swept casually over the staircase steps behind her, not too high; it probably wouldn¡¯t cause any serious injuries.


    Of course... she definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the hospital anytime soon.


    The corners of Hao Jiayi¡¯s lips silently curled up as she looked provocatively at Hao Li and asked, ¡°Auntie, why did you ask me to stay? Weren¡¯t you just accusing me of seducing your son in front of you? What now? Regretting it? Or do you want me to stay and accompany Jiaye?¡±


    ¡°Shameless slut! All you talk about is men, can¡¯t you live without them?!¡± Hao Li glared furiously at Hao Jiayi.


    Thinking about how Feng Jiaye had contradicted her just now for this woman, she was seething with anger. Just because she couldn¡¯t lash out at Feng Jiaye didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t vent her anger on Hao Jiayi.


    Hao Jiayi snorted coldly, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, what¡¯s it to you if I can¡¯t live without men?¡±


    Her chin lifted slightly, her eyes full of defiance, ¡°Auntie, you haven¡¯t told the Feng family about Jiaye¡¯s injuries, have you? If the Feng family knew what Jiaye has become now, do you think you¡¯ll have an easy time?¡±


    Hao Jiayi had grown up in the Feng family and certainly knew Hao Li¡¯s status within the family.


    Her current fierceness was just an attempt to intimidate her.


    Back in the Feng family, Hao Li¡¯s status was even lower than hers.


    If she hadn¡¯t given birth to Feng Jiaye, her situation could have been even worse.


    That was one of the reasons Hao Jiayi was not afraid of Hao Li; after all, she was the woman favored by the Feng family¡¯s only heir.


    Protected by Feng Jiaye, she was fearless.


    At the Feng family, Hao Li had disliked her for a long time, but because of Feng Jiaye¡¯s face, she had never been able to act against her.


    But now it was different; Feng Jiaye was no longer able to protect her, and Hao Jiayi could only be a tool. Even if Hao Li took action against her, Feng Jiaye wouldn¡¯t be able to blame her.


    Thinking this, Hao Li advanced towards Hao Jiayi.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson today and show you your place!¡± Hao Li gritted her teeth and raised her hand to strike Hao Jiayi.


    Hao Jiayi immediately pretended to dodge and fell backward down the stairs, deliberately avoiding vital parts of her body, yet she still sustained scrapes, especially around her ankles.


    Moving them caused her excruciating pain.


    Her arm had just been cut by the broken stones at the staircase landing, bleeding quite a bit on the floor, a fierce sight at a glance.


    This sight instantly frightened Hao Li. She had only intended to discipline Hao Jiayi, not to cause her such severe injuries.


    She had thought at most to pull her hair and slap her a few times to show her who¡¯s boss.


    She didn¡¯t expect her to fall down the stairs.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± At the emergency exit door, Feng Jiaye appeared unexpectedly.


    He saw Hao Li standing aside, then looked at Hao Jiayi lying at the foot of the stairs, her face pale as death, and Feng Jiaye¡¯s face instantly turned livid.


    His body had mostly recovered, moving out of bed wasn¡¯t a problem.


    He had seen Hao Li leaving and knew she was going to find trouble with Hao Jiayi.


    Hao Jiayi was still of use to him, so he thought to play the hero while Hao Li was bullying Hao Jiayi.


    Perhaps that would make the woman even more devoted to him. He hadn¡¯t expected that as soon as he reached the emergency exit, he heard a loud crash.


    He hurriedly pushed open the door, only to see the scene before him.

 Chapter 575: 573: Presiding Over What Justice?

    Chapter 575: Chapter 573: Presiding Over What Justice?


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. She fell down by herself just now,¡± Hao Li was clearly frightened out of her wits. She did indeed raise her hand to hit her, but she didn¡¯t strike her. It was really an accident.


    Feng Jiaye looked at Hao Li with cold eyes, seemingly not believing a word she said.


    When they were at the Feng family¡¯s place, Hao Li always hit or scolded Hao Jiayi.


    He had thought of Hao Li as his woman before, so he would intervene occasionally, but even though he was now disabled, he still needed Hao Jiayi as a tool.


    He had purposely come a bit late, hoping Hao Li would discipline Hao Jiayi. He hadn¡¯t expected her to go so far.


    Feng Jiaye glared at Hao Li, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Call someone to take her to the emergency room. If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll make you pay!¡±


    Saying this, he directly went down the stairs to help Hao Jiayi.


    Hao Li wanted to say something else, but seeing the malicious look in Feng Jiaye¡¯s eyes, she shuddered with fear and hurriedly ran out through the fire exit...


    The next day, early in the morning, Lu Zhaozhao was woken up by a commotion before she was fully awake.


    Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she had just gotten up when she saw Song Sinian, already dressed, standing beside her.


    ¡°Sleep a little longer. The noise outside will soon stop.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows lifted slightly, her interest in what was happening outside piqued.


    She tilted her head and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on outside? Why is it so noisy?¡±


    Song Sinian sat on the edge of the bed, lifted his hand and rubbed her head, ¡°It¡¯s Hao Li. She¡¯s come to seek Old Master Song¡¯s help in settling a dispute.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brow furrowed deeper. ¡°Hao Li is seeking Old Master Song to settle a dispute?¡±


    The whole affair sounded abrupt.


    Hao Li had previously made a scene at the Song Mansion over something concerning Feng Jiaye, and after that, things had been quiet.


    What could possibly have provoked her this time?


    Seeing her curious expression, Song Sinian sighed helplessly, ¡°Since you¡¯re curious, get up quickly. You can have breakfast while you ¡®eat melon¡¯.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheeks turned red, but she quickly grabbed the clean clothes prepared beside the bed.


    In no time, she and Song Sinian appeared together in the dining room.


    At that moment, Old Master Song, harassed by Hao Li, felt somewhat relieved to see Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian arriving.


    ¡°Wuu wuu wuu... Old Master, do you think I have it easy? This little villain is bullying me so much, what will I do in the future, wuu wuu wuu...¡±


    Hao Li was crying miserably, snot and tears mixing together, as if she had been abandoned by the whole world.


    Old Master Song¡¯s brows knitted slightly, reluctant to deal with her, instead, he turned to Lu Zhaozhao who just entered and said, ¡°The porridge in the small kitchen is still warm. Zhaozhao, see what you want to eat and let Nanny Zhang prepare it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded obediently, her gaze sweeping over Hao Li, but she didn¡¯t speak.


    From the sound of it, it was unclear who had provoked her again.


    Hao Li was always unreasonable, especially regarding anything to do with Feng Jiaye. She was even more irrational.


    Hao Li noticed that Mr. Song¡¯s attention was captured by Lu Zhaozhao and then frowned slightly, about to say something, but she swallowed her words back.


    However, she changed her mind and turned her gaze toward Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, please help your aunt... ask Mr. Song to do me justice!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had no idea how the trouble had shifted to her; she looked at Hao Li with a blank expression, her eyes blinking dimly.


    ¡°What justice?¡±


    Whether what Hao Li had done was right or wrong was still under investigation. How did she have the courage to ask him to advocate on her behalf?


    As soon as Hao Li heard Lu Zhaozhao speak, she immediately started wailing dramatically, ¡°Isn¡¯t it all because of Hao Jiayi, that little wench? She came to the hospital yesterday to seduce my son! When I reprimanded her, she immediately pretended to fall down the stairs, causing Jiaye to now glare at me with disapproval! Mr. Song, you must help me, wuwuwu...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao felt somewhat speechless and pursed her lips.


    According to Hao Li, Hao Jiayi is now injured, and it seems Jiaye is quite upset about the incident.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s methods were something Zhaozhao understood well.


    What Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected was that Hao Li, as brazen as she was, would suffer a setback at the hands of Hao Jiayi.


    And what was this feeling of schadenfreude about?


    Lu Zhaozhao cleared her throat softly, ¡°You should go to the police for this kind of issue. If you feel wrongly accused, you can ask the police to prove your innocence.¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s face instantaneously shifted, and her gaze flickered uncertainly.


    Lu Zhaozhao had known that there was a lot of exaggeration in Hao Li¡¯s earlier words, but given Hao Jiayi¡¯s personality, it was unlikely she would let Hao Li injure her without recourse.


    What really went on between them, probably only they knew.


    Old Master Song saw how Lu Zhaozhao had handled Hao Li in just a few words and looked at his beloved granddaughter-in-law excitedly.


    Had he known Lu Zhaozhao could handle Hao Li so easily, he would have asked Song Sinian to bring Lu Zhaozhao over right away.


    That way, he wouldn¡¯t have wasted so much time on this woman.


    Old Master Song cleared his throat, ¡°I think Zhaozhao is right. Since you feel wrongly accused, just report it to the police, and they will give you satisfaction.


    Hao Li¡¯s face paled instantly, and she hastily waved her hands, saying, ¡°How can we, being family, take this to the police? That would be so embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°Since we¡¯re family, let¡¯s settle it behind closed doors. I, an old man, can¡¯t do much. After all, it is your domestic issue,¡± Old Master Song took the chance to pass the responsibility back.


    Hao Li wanted to say something else, but after thinking for a long time, she couldn¡¯t find a proper opening.


    Her mouth opened and closed, and ultimately, she fell silent.


    Seeing this, Old Master Song straightforwardly issued an order to leave, ¡°I see it¡¯s getting late. You should handle this matter as soon as possible, lest prolonging it affects Jiaye¡¯s job at the company.¡±


    At the mention of this matter affecting Jiaye, Hao Li immediately became uneasy; she stood up at once and hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Song, rest assured, I will handle this matter promptly and won¡¯t let it affect Jiaye¡¯s work.¡±


    Old Master Song nodded dispassionately in response, ¡°Mm, I hope you handle this matter promptly. Try to keep family issues within the family in the future, or I won¡¯t be able to help you if something serious happens.¡±


    Seeing Hao Jiayi fell for this, he quickly added a few more words.


    He certainly didn¡¯t want similar incidents caused by Hao Li to give him headaches, so taking this opportunity to solve the problem at its root seemed best.


    Indeed, Hao Li immediately nodded solemnly and then hurriedly left the Song Mansion.

 Chapter 576: 574: How on Earth Does Her Brain Work?

    Chapter 576: Chapter 574: How on Earth Does Her Brain Work?


    Mr. Song had not expected that Hao Li, who had been troubling him all morning, would be dealt with so easily. He looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a face full of affection.


    ¡°Grandpa, dial back your gaze a bit; Zhaozhao will lose her appetite.¡± Song Sinian looked at Mr. Song helplessly and sighed silently.


    Beside them, Lu Zhaozhao appeared as if she hadn¡¯t had her fill of the drama.


    She had finally crawled out of bed, only for Hao Li to just walk away like that?


    Was she too easy to send off?


    Song Sinian fed Lu Zhaozhao a spoonful of century egg and lean pork congee, having just pinched her cheek, and asked, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°I¡¯m wondering when Hao Li became so easy to dismiss, it doesn¡¯t quite seem like her...¡±


    Song Sinian was amused by her words, ¡°You look so clueless, yet your instincts are quite sharp.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face scrunched up, and she was about to pout and battle it out with Song Sinian when suddenly, she realized something.


    ¡°Mr. Song, are you saying she did it on purpose?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes narrowed as she deduced that Hao Li¡¯s visit to the Song Mansion was not to seek support from Old Master Song but had another purpose.


    Thinking this, she turned to Song Sinian, ¡°Husband, did you already know something?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded lightly, showing no intention of hiding anything, ¡°Last night, Hao Jiayi went to the hospital to see Feng Jiyue, and she fell down the stairs. To not raise Xiao Mo¡¯s suspicions, Feng Jiyue had to send Hao Li over to the Song Mansion.¡±


    Old Master Song couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes, ¡°Hmph! Really, everyone treats this old man like a tool.¡±


    He was harassed early in the morning just to be used as a pawn?


    The more Old Master Song thought about it, the less happy he became.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, pushing a little treat from the table towards Old Master Song, ¡°Grandpa, chill out a bit, eat something to calm down.¡±


    Old Master Song nodded, began to eat the snack pushed by Lu Zhaozhao, and finally seemed satisfied.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curled, and turning to look at Song Sinian, she continued gossiping, ¡°Feng Jiyue probably doesn¡¯t know that Xiao Mo has long been aware of their plans, tsk tsk... it¡¯s like trying to steal a bell with your ears plugged.¡±


    Seeing her schadenfreude, Song Sinian rubbed her head, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry about other people¡¯s business anymore. The wedding dress you had your eyes on should be ready. Do you want to go see it?¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡± Lu Zhaozhao agreed without hesitation.


    She knew Song Sinian had always cared about not having a wedding ceremony with her, so he was especially attentive to the preparations.


    He picked out everything with great care.


    Lu Zhaozhao, who was generally quite laid back, left everything except the wedding dress and rings to Song Sinian.


    In her words, she wanted to treat the wedding day as a surprise, and of course, Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t blame her for skiving off. Instead, he indulged her every request.


    So when Song Sinian made such a suggestion, how could Lu Zhaozhao refuse?


    Meanwhile, Hao Li, who had left the Song Mansion, immediately called Feng Jiyue.


    ¡°Hello? Jiaye, I did everything you said. Can I go back to the hospital now?¡±


    Hao Li¡¯s voice trembled faintly as she spoke.


    Just yesterday, shortly after Hao Jiayi had been hospitalized, Feng Jiyue grabbed her by the hair and took her back to the ward, then beat her fiercely.


    He only hit her where it wasn¡¯t visible on her face, so it wasn¡¯t very noticeable.


    Hao Li naturally became fearful after being hit by him.


    She just wanted to teach Hao Jiayi a lesson, to make her obey in the future, never expecting things to end up like this.


    Had she known Hao Jiayi was such a scaredy-cat, who would be frightened enough to fall down the stairs, she wouldn¡¯t have laid a hand on her near the staircase.


    Now that little bitch was taking advantage of the situation.


    ¡°You better pray that Xiao Mo doesn¡¯t become suspicious of Hao Jiayi, otherwise it won¡¯t be as simple as just getting beaten up,¡± Feng Jiyue¡¯s voice sounded like a devil¡¯s whisper, making Hao Li shiver uncontrollably.


    She pursed her lips, ¡°But, but I did everything as you told me to, if they really become suspicious then...¡±


    It wouldn¡¯t be my fault.


    Although that¡¯s what Hao Li wanted to say, she didn¡¯t dare; she was afraid she¡¯d get another beating if she did.


    Feng Jiyue let out a cold snort, ¡°Did as I said? When I told you not to provoke Hao Jiayi anymore, why didn¡¯t you listen? If it weren¡¯t for you would Hao Jiayi be hospitalized? If Hao Jiayi weren¡¯t hospitalized, would she be discovered sneaking into the hospital? This is all because of you!¡±


    The more Feng Jiyue thought about it, the angrier he got, wishing he could drag Hao Li through the phone line and beat her again, ¡°You¡¯re just a good-for-nothing screw-up!¡±


    Hao Li cringed, quickly trying to make amends, ¡°Jiaye, don¡¯t be angry, maybe Xiao Mo doesn¡¯t care about that little bitch at all, maybe they won¡¯t find out?¡±


    Feng Jiyue clenched his teeth; if Hao Li were in front of him, he would definitely give her a harsh slap.


    How could her brain function like that?


    To harbor hope over such a matter, if this continued, he¡¯d be ruined by her sooner or later!


    It seemed he must not tell her his plans in the future; otherwise, she might cause everything to fall through because of her incompetence.


    Feng Jiyue gritted his teeth, ¡°You better come back soon. Leave the rest to me, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡±


    Hao Li heard that his voice seemed a bit displeased, she didn¡¯t dare say more, and could only reply with a yes.


    After hanging up, Feng Jiyue turned and went back to the ward. Looking at Hao Jiayi lying on the hospital bed, his gaze narrowed, and he walked over.


    ¡°Jiayi, send a distress message to Xiao Mo, saying you¡¯re trapped in the hospital and can¡¯t get out.¡±


    His gaze fixed on Hao Jiayi, although he phrased it like a suggestion, his scrutinizing eyes showed no relaxation.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s fists were at her sides, clenching involuntarily.


    It wasn¡¯t easy for her to stay in the hospital by faking a fall, away from Xiao Mo; she definitely didn¡¯t want to go back now.


    Hao Jiayi pursed her lips, ¡°Brother Jiaye, how should I explain my visit to the hospital yesterday?¡±


    Feng Jiyue¡¯s brows instantly knotted, ¡°Just say you were spotted by my mom on the street and forcibly brought here. You should be able to explain this kind of thing, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi knew she couldn¡¯t avoid the situation and could only nod reluctantly, ¡°I¡¯ll send the message to Xiao Mo now.¡±


    As she spoke, she took out her phone and sent a message to Xiao Mo.


    With Feng Jiyue in front of her, she drafted the message under his watchful eye, naturally not daring to say too much.


    Fortunately, she had already informed Xiao Mo the night before, so even if she didn¡¯t return today, Xiao Mo probably wouldn¡¯t suspect anything.

 Chapter 577: 575: Activated the Heavenly Eye?

    Chapter 577: Chapter 575: Activated the Heavenly Eye?


    And she wasn¡¯t afraid that Xiao Mo would expose anything in the message since Xiao Mo was suspicious and cautious; he definitely wouldn¡¯t leave her any handle to be grasped.


    Sure enough, not long after she sent out her message, Xiao Mo replied with one of his own, ¡°Take good care of yourself. I will visit you after work is over.¡±


    A proper sentence, devoid of any ambiguities.


    Hao Jiayi tugged at the corner of her mouth, sporting a slightly hurt expression as she looked at Feng Jiyue, ¡°Jiaye brother, this is the message he sent back to me. Do you think I need to say anything else?¡±


    Her demeanor was completely obedient and clever throughout, which Feng Jiyue greatly appreciated.


    Due to past events, he always felt many things were beyond his control, which was why Feng Jiyue tended to be especially irritable.


    But now, seeing Hao Jiayi¡¯s compliance, his prior anger had diminished quite a bit.


    He relaxed even more at the thought that Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t grown suspicious about the matter.


    ¡°You just rest well here. I¡¯ll take care of things with my mother. I won¡¯t let her touch you again from now on,¡± Feng Jiyue promised, as if giving his word to Hao Jiayi.


    Deep down, Hao Jiayi sneered at his promise. If a man¡¯s pledge was worth anything, pigs would climb trees.


    But on the surface, she still looked flattered and grateful toward Feng Jiyue, ¡°Thank you, Jiaye brother. You¡¯re so good to me; I don¡¯t even know how to repay you.¡±


    Her cheeks even flushed slightly as she said this, appearing very shy.


    Feng Jiyue was pleased with Hao Jiayi¡¯s attitude, ¡°You don¡¯t need to repay me for anything right now. Once I start working at the Song Group, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to repay me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to everything you say, Jiaye brother,¡± Hao Jiayi responded, her eyes slightly downcast, showing a submissive and obedient demeanor.


    Only then did Feng Jiyue nod and leave the hospital room with peace of mind.


    Watching Feng Jiyue leave, Hao Jiayi finally dropped the smile on her face. Her gaze lingered on the door of the hospital room as she let out a cold laugh before settling back onto the hospital bed.


    She needed a decent rest away from that idiot, that pervert, to make plans for the future.


    After having lunch at noon, Lu Zhaozhao went straight back to the film crew.


    Song Sinian sat in his office, looking at the documents Zhao Xi handed to him.


    ¡°Sir, your blood and hair samples have been compared with Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress. You are not mother and son, but you are indeed relatives. That woman¡¯s original name is Feng Xixi, the sister of your lady.¡±


    They hadn¡¯t expected to find Feng Xixi so easily, let alone that she would be Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress.


    At the time, Xia Wenmo had learned from Lu Dagui that Feng Xixi had schemed against Feng Xiran, and they had been investigating the woman¡¯s whereabouts ever since.


    But there had been no trace of her.


    Moreover, since Feng Xiran¡¯s body was indeed incomplete, Song Sinian had once wondered whether she might still be alive.


    Perhaps she chose to ¡°die¡± and hide away, unwilling to face the mess of the Song Family.


    But the results of this DNA test completely shattered that notion.


    Song Sinian lightly tapped his fingertips on the table and slowly began to speak after reviewing the documents in front of him, ¡°It seems that Feng Xixi¡¯s saving of Xia Wenjin was no accident, but rather a deliberate long-planned act.¡±


    He suddenly remembered the time when Lu Zhaozhao, as a child, had met Feng Xixi and nearly been silenced by murder.


    Was the childhood swap between Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin really an accident?


    If Feng Xixi deliberately swapped Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin, what was her purpose?


    Since she had latched onto Lu Dagui initially, why did she not continue to be with him but instead chose to disappear?


    There¡¯s also the fact that the Xia Family had never publicly revealed their XJ Group identity, so it was impossible for the Feng Family to know¡ªhow on earth did Feng Xixi find out?


    There were just too many mysteries here.


    Zhao Xi also furrowed her brow, ¡°For such a matter to be premeditated, Feng Xixi must really have opened the ¡®Heavenly Eye¡¯...¡±


    Opened the ¡®Heavenly Eye¡¯?


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, and a different idea began to form in his mind.


    He had been a firm materialist, but ever since the events with Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai, he felt his convictions weren¡¯t as strong.


    If both Lu Zhaozhao and Pei Huai could be reborn, then... could Feng Xixi also be someone who had been reborn?


    But even if she had been reborn, she couldn¡¯t possibly know so much insider information, could she?


    Song Sinian always felt there was something odd about this, but he already had a rough idea in mind; he needed something to verify it.


    Seeing Song Sinian remained silent, Zhao Xi coughed lightly, ¡°Sir, what should we do now? Should we bring Feng Xixi back?¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not yet convenient to spook the snake in the grass.¡±


    If he wanted clarity, he couldn¡¯t alarm Feng Xixi; otherwise, he might ruin everything.


    It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid of Feng Xixi, but rather, he was worried that this woman could cause harm to Lu Zhaozhao, so he had to proceed with caution.


    However, it was indeed time to share some of the burden with certain people.


    After some contemplation, Song Sinian pushed the documents on the table towards Zhao Xi and spoke word by word, ¡°Send a copy of these documents to Pei Huai and arrange a time to meet.¡±


    He¡¯s been spending so much time with Xia Wenyan lately, it¡¯s likely he doesn¡¯t have much time alone.


    Although Zhao Xi didn¡¯t know why their master wanted to do this, since her master had ordered, she would comply.


    As night fell, Hao Jiayi slowly woke up; she had been sleeping in the hospital for a whole day and found herself unable to sleep due to renewed vigor at night.


    Because her foot was sprained, she couldn¡¯t go out and had no choice but to stay in the hospital room.


    Hao Jiayi took out her phone and scrolled through it, hoping to find someone who could rescue her from her dire situation on her contact list.


    After all, she hadn¡¯t been shy about luring men during her time with Feng Jiaye.


    But flipping through her contacts, she realized there wasn¡¯t anyone she could use, which somewhat disheartened her.


    Suddenly, a sparse sound came from the entrance of the ward, making Hao Jiayi instantly tense up.


    Could it be that Xiao Mo, the pervert, had come to the hospital?


    He said he would come for her after work, but she hadn¡¯t seen anyone all day.


    The lights in the hospital had already been turned off; surely he wouldn¡¯t come at this hour?


    Thinking of the inhumane torture at the hands of Xiao Mo, Hao Jiayi couldn¡¯t help but tremble slightly.


    Then the noise outside quieted down, but the door to her room was opened.


    In the darkness, Hao Jiayi spotted the person entering; she wasn¡¯t very tall¡ªnot appearing to be a man, and certainly not Xiao Mo.


    Hao Jiayi let out a silent sigh of relief and was wondering who the visitor could be when the woman had already appeared in front of her.


    Her heart clenched, and just as she was about to scream, the other person covered her mouth, ¡°Shh! I know you really want to get rid of that pervert Xiao Mo. How about I help you?¡±

 Chapter 578: 576 What Benefits Can I Get?

    Chapter 578: Chapter 576 What Benefits Can I Get?


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s entire body suddenly stiffened on the spot, but she quickly came to her senses and began to struggle again.


    If Xiao Mo sent someone to test her, she was as good as dead.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, we have a common enemy,¡± the other person said persuasively, slowly releasing their grasp. ¡°Xiao Mo won¡¯t come tonight, nor will he harm you, let alone use the things in his secret room against you.¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°secret room,¡± Hao Jiayi shuddered uncontrollably.


    She looked at the person opposite her in shock, seemingly unable to understand how she knew about these things.


    That particular inclination, Xiao Mo had concealed it very well, hadn¡¯t he?


    Feng Jiyue had people investigate Xiao Mo before but never discovered this particular leaning of his.


    So how did this woman know?


    The woman across from her curved her lips and gently pulled open her collar, revealing the scars on her back, ¡°He treated me the same way, so I understand you.¡±


    Hearing this, Hao Jiayi¡¯s pupils shook.


    She didn¡¯t know enough about Xiao Mo and naturally didn¡¯t know how many women he had brought to that secret room.


    But the words of the woman before her made her realize this wasn¡¯t just a one-time occurrence with Xiao Mo.


    What she really wanted to know was how this woman had escaped from Xiao Mo¡¯s grasp in the first place.


    The women Xiao Mo took to the secret room must have all been filmed in those kinds of videos, yet she had never seen the woman before her...


    Her appearance looked very assertive; with her heavily made-up and intense features, she looked like the kind of domineering young lady.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why such a woman would be toyed with by Xiao Mo.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about,¡± the woman said as she played with her hair lightly. ¡°I was just young and naive before, and he tricked me. That kind of thing won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°By the way, my name is Feng Ya Meizi, from R country. If you have any doubts, you can look up my information online. This is also a sign of my sincerity to you.¡±


    Hao Jiayi furrowed her brows but still checked Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s details online as suggested, and to her astonishment, her eyeballs almost popped out.


    The heiress of the R country¡¯s Fengya Family, no, to be precise, the former heiress.


    Seeing that Hao Jiayi seemed to believe what she said, Xia Wenjin spoke leisurely, ¡°Although I¡¯m no longer the Fengya Family¡¯s heiress, I am, after all, the only daughter of the current Family Head of the Fengya Family, so naturally, I have plenty of resources at my disposal.¡±


    No sooner had these words left her mouth, Hao Jiayi fell into confusion again.


    She hesitated for a moment before slowly asking, ¡°If you have so many resources at hand, why don¡¯t you seek revenge yourself?¡±


    Xia Wenjin clearly stumbled upon hearing this, not expecting that this woman, who was close to Xiao Mo, actually had a relatively good brain.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth as she looked at Hao Jiayi, ¡°As you¡¯ve seen, the resources I have are all in R country; the only thing I can mobilize domestically is money, so I need to find a local partner to collaborate with.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi said nothing, seemingly deep in thought about Xia Wenjin¡¯s words.


    Before she could ponder too deeply, Xia Wenjin spoke up again in the hospital room, ¡°You also know that Xiao Mo holds a certain position in the Song Group. Even if I were foolish, I wouldn¡¯t dare to be an enemy of the Song Group outright. That¡¯s why I have to start with someone close to him.¡±


    Her gaze appraisingly swept over Hao Jiayi, you being the woman closest to him, naturally, you were my target.


    The frankness of Xia Wenjin¡¯s words falling on Hao Jiayi¡¯s ears ironically served as a sign of her candidness.


    She knew Hao Jiayi was clever; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to navigate between Feng Jiyue and Xiao Mo, let alone among many other men.


    She never had an accident, wasn¡¯t that proof enough of her capabilities?


    Xia Wenjin liked dealing with smart people. At least communication wasn¡¯t tiring, and they wouldn¡¯t drag down her plans.


    Hao Jiayi pursed her lips and said as she looked at Xia Wenjin, ¡°I can cooperate with you, but what do I gain from getting revenge on Xiao Mo?¡±


    Hearing her say this, Xia Wenjin knew Hao Jiayi was wavering.


    Her eyes narrowed to slits, ¡°If you help me deal with Xiao Mo and we succeed, I will give you a sum of money and help you arrange an identity in R country. There no one will know you, and you can live a good life on your own.¡±


    To Hao Jiayi, that was indeed a good offer, but it wasn¡¯t what she wanted the most.


    She never believed in verbal promises; only what was in her hand was reliable.


    ¡°No, you have to give me a sum of money now. I don¡¯t need any ¡®after the fact¡¯ business, because afterward, you¡¯ll still be the R country heiress, and I¡¯ll be nothing. I don¡¯t want to have to chase you for payment.¡±


    Xia Wenjin also didn¡¯t expect Hao Jiayi to put it so bluntly.


    After all, dealing with Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t something that could be done in the blink of an eye.


    It made sense that she wanted some money in hand now.


    But she was no fool either.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes dangerously narrowed, ¡°I can give you some money now. But if you take the money and don¡¯t do the work, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite.¡±


    ¡°No problem, as long as the money is in place, I guarantee the result will satisfy you.¡± Hao Jiayi¡¯s eyes and brows the bore a light smile as she spoke.


    She didn¡¯t care if the plan would be successful in the end; as long as the money was in her hands, she had new leverage.


    Even if they failed against Xiao Mo later on, the money would still be hers.


    She had given her effort, why shouldn¡¯t she get a return?


    The two in the room each had their own thoughts but quickly reached an agreement...


    For two days in a row, the temperature dropped, and it began to snow outside again.


    The outdoor scenes that Lu Zhaozhao and the others were supposed to film were all changed to indoors.


    Her own scenes weren¡¯t much to start with, and after being moved indoors, basically, they were shooting for a while and then resting.


    Xia Wenyan, holding a bunch of snacks, sat by and watched Lu Zhaozhao walk over in costume, immediately handing over the juice in his hand, ¡°Try this, it¡¯s superb.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t hold back and took it straightaway.


    Her gaze lingered on Xia Wenyan¡¯s face as she assessed him, then couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you with Brother Pei today?¡±


    If you were to say their Mr. Song was clingy, he honestly couldn¡¯t compare to the fourth brother Pei Huai Nian.


    The two of them either visited the set together or filmed together. Scenarios where only Xia Wenyan came to visit were indeed very rare.


    At the mention of Pei Huai by Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenyan propped his chin and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Ah! Brother Pei has been very busy for the past two days, it seems to be about some affairs in R country, so he has no time to accompany me.¡±

 Chapter 579: 577: Youre Such a Good Actor, Why Did You Become a Lawyer?

    Chapter 579: Chapter 577: You¡¯re Such a Good Actor, Why Did You Become a Lawyer?


    When he said this, his face had the look of a wronged woman, which really made Lu Zhaozhao find it a bit amusing.


    ¡°Who was it that promised so confidently before to focus on their career?¡± Her small hand couldn¡¯t help but poke Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been Pei Huai, you would have been digging wild vegetables for at least 18 years.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, ¡°Can¡¯t help it, it¡¯s a genetically inherited love brain.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, great, she felt impliedly insulted.


    While the two were messing around, a figure suddenly approached them. Lu Zhaozhao frowned, but her expression didn¡¯t change much.


    ¡°What a coincidence, Miss Lu, I didn¡¯t expect to run into you here.¡±


    When Xia Wenyan heard someone calling Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s name, he instinctively looked up and saw Liu Xiaozhen standing beside them.


    He recognized her at a glance, the green tea bitch from his second brother¡¯s side.


    The woman who could play his second brother like a fiddle.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t all Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s fault; his second brother was too much of a straight man, unaware of the twists and turns of green tea.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, not understanding why this woman would appear next to Lu Zhaozhao.


    If he remembered correctly, hadn¡¯t his second brother already dealt with this woman?


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan looked at Liu Xiaozhen with a bit of wariness in his gaze.


    Could this woman be plotting something in front of Lu Zhaozhao?


    Lu Zhaozhao also looked puzzledly at Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°It is indeed quite a coincidence, what brings Miss Liu here?¡±


    This place is a film crew set, and usually, other than the crew members, only friends or relatives of the actors come to visit.


    What was Liu Xiaozhen here for?


    ¡°I just happen to have a client here, and he asked to meet here. I didn¡¯t expect to run into Miss Lu; it seems we really are fated,¡± Liu Xiaozhen laughed lightly, exceptionally generous and proper.


    Lu Zhaozhao tugged at the corner of her mouth, if she hadn¡¯t already known Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s extraordinary methods, she would have believed her.


    Which actor in the crew needed a lawyer of her caliber for defense?


    If they really did, they wouldn¡¯t need to stay in the crew.


    She spoke as if she had already arranged to meet with other actors, but her attention was all on her.


    Clearly, it was just an excuse to draw attention to herself in front of her.


    Lu Zhaozhao pretended not to see her intentions and laughed lightly, ¡°Indeed, quite fated.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen seized the opportunity to continue the conversation, ¡°Since we¡¯re so fated, how about I treat you to lunch, and we can eat together?¡±


    She shifted her gaze to Xia Wenyan and added, ¡°Is this your friend? How about joining us for lunch too?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen had known from the beginning that the person beside Lu Zhaozhao was the fourth young master of the Xia family, Xia Wenyan, who was Xia Wenqing¡¯s brother.


    Gaining the favor of one person is working, gaining the favor of two is also working.


    Might as well work on both at once.


    Having one more person on his side meant one more helping hand.


    So when Xu Zhenzhen went to the Xia Family, it wouldn¡¯t be as smooth.


    Xia Wenyan originally wanted to know what kind of trick Liu Xiaozhen was pulling with Lu Zhaozhao, so he glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and nodded in agreement to Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s request, ¡°As long as Zhaozhao has no problem, neither do I.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes blinked, and she looked at Xia Wenyan with a slight raise of her eyebrows.


    He could not possibly not recognize Liu Xiaozhen, especially since he had contributed quite a few ideas to help turn things around when his second brother was scammed.


    So Lu Zhaozhao was also a bit curious about what this fourth brother of hers was up to.


    As she pondered, Xia Wenyan suddenly winked at her, ¡°When a friend invites you to dinner, you naturally have to bring me, your fourth brother, right?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen immediately put on a surprised expression, covered her mouth, and said, ¡°So you¡¯re Zhaozhao¡¯s brother, I thought you were just a friend. Since you¡¯re a brother, you should definitely join us.¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao, look, Miss Liu agrees, so take me with you,¡± Xia Wenyan said, clinging to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm and acting coquettishly.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at her coquettish fourth brother somewhat speechlessly and sighed helplessly, ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s all go out for a meal together.¡±


    As Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t have many scenes, the director, knowing she had plans with friends, even let her finish her morning work early.


    So the three of them found a fairly decent French restaurant not far from the set.


    Xia Wenyan was originally waiting for Liu Xiaozhen to take the initiative, but she kept beating around the bush without getting to the point, which immediately made Xia Wenyan lose his appetite for the meal.


    Suddenly, Liu Xiaozhen picked up the floral teapot on the table and poured a cup of tea for both Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan, then looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a smile, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you remember the first time we met? I didn¡¯t expect to meet you when I was feeling so down, you were like my little sun.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao: ??


    What did she do? Why didn¡¯t she know?


    How had she become the little sun?


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s words clearly piqued Xia Wenyan¡¯s interest; it looked like this was the entry point to everything!


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s attractive peach blossom eyes narrowed, ¡°What happened to Miss Liu that day to make her so sad?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Xia Wenyan a look, almost saying with her eyes, ¡°You and your questions.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen had been waiting for someone to ask her that question so she could continue.


    Luckily for her, Xia Wenyan caught the hint and let her carry on.


    She felt excited inside, but put on a somewhat hurt expression and said, ¡°At that time, Zhaozhao and I met at a bridal shop, and I suddenly remembered my fiance? who had broken up with me, which just made me feel sad.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Liu Xiaozhen, couldn¡¯t help but snicker inside, how could she let her perform this act alone?


    So, she kindly explained to Xia Wenyan, ¡°This Miss Liu previously had a fiance? who, according to her, was very close to her. They started dating from college, but during their relationship, there was a girl who always clung to her fiance?. Later, her fiance? came back to the country, and that girl took the opportunity to get involved with her fiance?, who is an old-fashioned and responsible man, so...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Xia Wenyan a ¡°you know what I mean¡± look.


    Xia Wenyan immediately got Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s point, so Liu Xiaozhen had twisted the story of his second brother, Xu Zhenzhen, and her own into a new tale.


    In this version, Xu Zhenzhen was even successfully painted as the mistress.


    If they didn¡¯t know some of the insider details, they would definitely be deceived by Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s rhetoric.


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but twitch his mouth; with her acting skills so good, why did she still choose to become a lawyer?

 Chapter 580: 578: Could It Really Be Her?

    Chapter 580: Chapter 578: Could It Really Be Her?


    Thinking about the loss his older brother had suffered, he couldn¡¯t entirely blame him.


    The woman¡¯s acting skills were indeed first-rate.


    According to Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s words, even though his older brother was a scoundrel, his actions were somewhat forgivable, tsk tsk... Liu Xiaozhen truly loved him without a doubt.


    It was just that King Xiang had intentions, but the goddess was heartless; even if she gave her all, she couldn¡¯t be his older brother¡¯s wife.


    As Xia Wenyan thought about this, he decided to go along with their act, ¡°So you¡¯re saying your fiance? is really terrible, huh? A good person like Lawyer Liu should be with a good man. This kind of lousy guy should be packed off on a train in the middle of the night!¡±


    Upon hearing Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s mouth twitched, but she still put on a pitiful look and said, ¡°But I love him, I can¡¯t blame him for the mistakes of others, that wouldn¡¯t be fair to him.¡±


    She was trying to trip up Xu Zhenzhen, not cause trouble for herself.


    All she wanted to convey was that Xia Wenyan¡¯s marriage to Xu Zhenzhen wasn¡¯t voluntary, as long as the Xia Family knew and stopped Xu Zhenzhen from entering the family, that would be enough.


    But Xia Wenyan wasn¡¯t playing along as she had hoped.


    He waved his hand dismissively, ¡°If that¡¯s the case as you say, then they should be locked down for sure! Lawyer Liu, you can have any kind of man you want, don¡¯t worry, your boyfriend¡¯s selection is on me, I¡¯ll introduce you!¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen took a sip of floral tea and almost choked upon hearing Xia Wenyan¡¯s words.


    ¡°Cough cough cough... but I...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao patted Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s back with just the right amount of force, ¡°Lawyer Liu, don¡¯t worry, the match my brother introduces to you will definitely meet your aesthetic standards, absolutely a match made in heaven!¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel embarrassed. Forget about that so-called predestined fiance? of yours completely, find a better man and show him you deserve better!¡± Xia Wenyan, loving the chaos, egged her on from the side.


    Listening to Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s coughs growing louder, he and Lu Zhaozhao nearly hurt themselves trying to stifle their laughter.


    Liu Xiaozhen was no better off, she hadn¡¯t expected the siblings to be so impervious.


    She was really having a tough time.


    Liu Xiaozhen coughed for a long time before she finally found her voice again, ¡°I think emotional matters aren¡¯t something that can be forgotten in a day or two.¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked at her with a smile, ¡°I understand, I do. How long it takes entirely depends on how good the new love is, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this! If the quality isn¡¯t up to par, I¡¯ll make up for it with quantity. Just because you¡¯re Zhaozhao¡¯s friend, I will make sure you¡¯re satisfied.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen felt like she was going to cough up blood.


    Was that what she wanted to express?


    She wanted to say that her love for Xia Wenqing was deep-rooted and irrevocable, that even if other women tried to disrupt their relationship, she wouldn¡¯t give up easily.


    But these two didn¡¯t give her a chance to express herself at all; instead, they were forcefully brainwashing her into considering a new partner.


    What¡¯s worse, she actually felt intrigued when Xia Wenyan mentioned ¡°making up the quantity if the quality isn¡¯t up to standard.¡±


    No matter what, Xia Wenyan was Xia Wenqing¡¯s brother, and there should be no shortage of outstanding men around him.


    But if that were the case, when her identity was revealed in the future, Xu Zhenzhen wouldn¡¯t suffer a significant blow!


    She would also lose the chance to win over Xia Wenqing.


    Liu Xiaozhen suddenly felt very conflicted, should she agree to the two people before her and let Xia Wenyan introduce her to someone, or should she continue to smear Xu Zhenzhen to make them have evil thoughts toward her?


    Lu Zhaozhao saw Liu Xiaozhen was silent, stole a glance at Xia Wenyan, and then turned back to Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°Lawyer Liu, I know you haven¡¯t pulled out of your last relationship yet, but you can gradually get used to it. After all, three-legged toads are rare, but there are plenty of two-legged men out there.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen was silent for a moment. When she looked up at Lu Zhaozhao, her face was full of sadness as if she was tormented by emotions, ¡°I really can¡¯t let go of him for the time being... Actually, my wish is very simple, just to have that woman leave my fiance?, so that he and I can go back to how we were before.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan were somewhat speechless.


    If they didn¡¯t know the true face of Liu Xiaozhen, they would just think she was love-struck.


    But once they understood the ins and outs of the situation, they couldn¡¯t help but admire Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s persistence.


    She would rather lose everything, just to make sure Xu Zhenzhen is tagged as a mistress; she really played a deep game.


    Lu Zhaozhao decided she didn¡¯t want to beat around the bush anymore and directly made it clear, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you just tell us about your fiance?, and what¡¯s the name of that mistress? Maybe we know someone who knows them.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen finally straightened her face as they finally seemed to be asking the right questions.


    ¡°That female classmate hasn¡¯t been in the country long, so not many people should know her.¡± Her eyes drooped as if gathering a great deal of courage, ¡°I only know that she¡¯s currently called Xu Zhenzhen and works at a law firm.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ha-ha!


    Nice, a ¡°currently called Xu Zhenzhen¡±.


    Really leaving room for endless speculation.


    Liu Xiaozhen is really intent on setting traps for Xu Zhenzhen at every turn, no wonder her second brother and Xu Zhenzhen, who clearly liked each other, almost missed out.


    Liu Xiaozhen absolutely takes the ¡°credit¡±!


    Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao looked at each other, their brows noticeably furrowed, both falling silent.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s mouth corner subtly curled up, it seemed they already had some ideas in mind.


    She pretended to be sad and dabbed at the corner of her eye, ¡°That girl always seemed so sunny, I never expected her to do something like that...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly lifted, shooting a look at Xia Wenyan.


    It¡¯s time to show off your impressive acting skills!


    Xia Wenyan almost immediately got Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s intention, his attractive peach blossom eyes squinting slightly, pretending to probe, ¡°Zhaozhao, if I remember correctly, doesn¡¯t the Legal Department of Song Group have a lawyer named Xu Zhenzhen?¡±


    He rested his chin in his hand and pretended to ponder, ¡°When I went to see my second brother before, I¡¯d met her, a fairly sunny young lady. Surely it can¡¯t be her?¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be, it doesn¡¯t look like it...¡± Lu Zhaozhao added to the acting troupe.


    Liu Xiaozhen didn¡¯t expect the drama at this gathering to turn the corner so fast, her whole heart skipping along.


    But she immediately pretended she misspoke, looking very troubled as she changed the subject, ¡°Let¡¯s... let¡¯s eat, otherwise things will get cold and won¡¯t taste good.¡±


    Xia Wenyan glanced at Liu Xiaozhen, seemingly on the verge of saying more but was very ¡°kindly¡± patted on the shoulder by Lu Zhaozhao, who then shook her head as if she couldn¡¯t bear to continue...

 Chapter 581: 579: Not Simple in Martial Skills

    Chapter 581: Chapter 579: Not Simple in Martial Skills


    Liu Xiaozhen grew even more excited.


    Both Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan had fallen into the trap, and now the path for Xu Zhenzhen to curry favor with the Xia family had been completely blocked by her. She was eager to see how Xu Zhenzhen would continue her relationship with Xia Wenqing!


    Whether a woman could marry the man she liked depended heavily on her family¡¯s influence.


    If half of her family were against it, even if Xia Wenqing wanted to marry, he would think twice.


    Besides, Lu Zhaozhao was his favorite sister...


    She refused to believe that Xia Wenqing could remain indifferent!


    Because of what Liu Xiaozhen had just said, the atmosphere at the dining table became somewhat eerie, awkwardly silent.


    Liu Xiaozhen deliberately kept quiet, merely eating in silence, watching how Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan exchanged glances without speaking. She knew it was time.


    ¡°Ahem...¡± She coughed lightly twice and then said, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a charity auction in Shangjing soon. Zhaozhao, are you interested?¡±


    She looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a smile, her eyes filled with a hint of scheming.


    That so-called charity auction was actually inviting mostly people from the legal circles, and if Xia Wenqing wanted to integrate into Shangjing¡¯s legal circles, he would surely attend.


    If he went, he would definitely bring Xu Zhenzhen.


    If she invited Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan to go, the scene would be quite interesting.


    Moreover, the charity dinner was this week, giving Lu Zhaozhao and her company no time to investigate the truth between Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing...


    When Xu Zhenzhen appeared, she would certainly be humiliated by Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan, and all Liu Xiaozhen would have to do was act like a good person in front of Xia Wenqing.


    The more Liu Xiaozhen thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, her eyes glued to Lu Zhaozhao, as if fearing she would refuse.


    Xia Wenyan rested his chin on his hand, watching Liu Xiaozhen pull out all the stops before them, and he couldn¡¯t help but inwardly marvel at her resourcefulness.


    They had just received the signal that Xu Zhenzhen was a mistress, and she swiftly arranged their schedules; indeed, someone unaware of the ins and outs would easily be manipulated by Liu Xiaozhen.


    Tsk tsk, if this woman put all her scheming into something else, she wouldn¡¯t just be a mere lawyer, right?


    Lu Zhaozhao appeared hesitant as she looked at Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°I might have to speak with my husband about this. If I go alone, it might not be... advisable.¡±


    Xia Wenyan held back a laugh, his lips curling into a smirk, ¡°Why not tell Song Sinian that you¡¯re going with Brother Si? He might just agree then?¡±


    What a tantalizing piece of gossip!


    How tempting!


    Could they really turn it down?


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes, looking at Xia Wenyan with a hint of speechlessness.


    Liu Xiaozhen was scheming right in front of them; if they agreed too smoothly, they might give themselves away.


    Yet Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t seem worried in the slightest.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but rub her temples. If this were Pei Huai, it would definitely be a high-level plot.


    Unfortunately, she was paired with her Brother Si, and they would have to make do with the act.


    It was fortunate that Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s attention was currently focused on smearing Xu Zhenzhen and had not noticed anything amiss between them.


    Liu Xiaozhen thought once Xia Wenyan gave the green light, Lu Zhaozhao would follow suit, but seeing her hesitant, Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s brow immediately furrowed.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao was the wife of the CEO of Song Group, and without a special reason, it indeed wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for her to attend alone.


    But if she didn¡¯t go, the effect of her plan would be greatly compromised.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, she hesitated for a moment, then slowly began, ¡°I recall that Wenqing also should be attending this charity banquet, after all, he¡¯s currently with Song Group, too. If he goes, President Song probably wouldn¡¯t mind, not to mention, you¡¯ll have Mr. Xia accompanying you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes lifted slightly, sweeping unintentionally over Liu Xiaozhen, then she lowered her gaze and pondered.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Liu Xiaozhen to reveal her own secrets to persuade her to go.


    Even showing that there was an acquaintance relationship between her and Xia Wenqing.


    Lu Zhaozhao pretended not to catch on and, after thinking it over, replied languidly, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll just go and join in the fun for a bit. If Mr. Song gets upset, I¡¯ll just sneak away.¡±


    As she spoke, she winked at Xia Wenyan, ¡°If I get caught by Mr. Song, Fourth Brother, remember to take the blame for me.¡±


    Xia Wenyan raised his hand and rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯ll always be a pot to shift to Brother Pei.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Brother Pei: Having you is truly my fortune.


    After the meal, Lu Zhaozhao went straight back to the film crew, while Xia Wenyan headed directly to the Legal Department of Song Group.


    When Xia Wenyan just arrived at Xia Wenqing¡¯s office, Xu Zhenzhen had just brought in coffee.


    ¡°Good afternoon, sister-in-law.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Xia Wenqing, who was drinking water, choked a bit, the water spraying out, almost hitting Xia Wenyan.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face also turned red, clearly a bit embarrassed.


    Xia Wenqing raised his hand and gave Xia Wenyan a slap on the back, ¡°What brought you here?¡±


    His face showed disdain, but he didn¡¯t deny what Xia Wenyan had just said.


    The romance between him and Xu Zhenzhen was already known to all in the Xia Family, but it was the first time Xu Zhenzhen had been called ¡°sister-in-law.¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked at the shy Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen with a cheeky face and sat down directly on the living room sofa.


    Xu Zhenzhen set her coffee down on the table, gave Xia Wenyan a nod, then ran out.


    Now, the smile on Xia Wenyan¡¯s face was even brighter, ¡°Big Brother, I didn¡¯t expect sister-in-law to be so shy.¡±


    Xia Wenqing gave Xia Wenyan a side glance, ¡°Indeed, shy, but she could punch you twice with one fist.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing never doubted Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s fighting capabilities, given that her taekwondo skills had been trouncing her peers back in school.


    Previously, when she went with Wen Qingyu and Lu Zhaozhao to thrash Xiao Mo and his family, his mother had even praised her martial skills upon returning.


    At that time, Xia Wenqing knew Xu Zhenzhen was no ordinary fighter.


    After all, not every day do you get someone who could earn praises from his own mother.


    The corners of Xia Wenyan¡¯s mouth twitched, suddenly feeling rather relieved that he hadn¡¯t pushed his cheeky teasing further, otherwise, he¡¯d likely have been thrown out the door by his sister-in-law.


    Tsk tsk, indeed, he should bring Brother Pei wherever he goes next time; with Brother Pei around, his safety factor would skyrocket.


    Seeing that Xia Wenyan remained silent, Xia Wenqing asked again, ¡°You aren¡¯t just bored to tears and came to bother me, are you?¡±


    Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai¡¯s affairs were naturally known to him. Usually inseparable, it was indeed surprising for Xia Wenyan to come over alone today.


    Xia Wenyan narrowed his attractive peach-blossom eyes, ¡°I¡¯m here, of course, because there¡¯s something important to discuss with you, and it¡¯s... about sister-in-law~¡±

 Chapter 582: 580: Definitely Wont Capsize

    Chapter 582: Chapter 580: Definitely Won¡¯t Capsize


    He looked at Xia Wenqing with a beaming smile, which inexplicably gave him the goosebumps.


    He always felt that his younger brother¡¯s visit this time was out of the ordinary.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, ¡°So... what exactly is it?¡±


    He crossed his legs and lifted his chin as he looked at Xia Wenqing, ¡°Big bro, I came here with first-hand news, isn¡¯t there something...¡±


    His eyebrows raised high, revealing a sly grin.


    Xia Wenqing pressed his temples with a bit of a headache, ¡°Out with it, what do you want?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s charming peachy eyes immediately curved up in a smile, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s that limited edition sports car you received earlier, you don¡¯t actually like to drive it, do you?¡±


    He remembered driving a very beautiful sports car when he was with Pei Huai in Country R. He thought that Pei Huai would like the car in his big brother¡¯s possession.


    He was going to tell Xia Wenqing about Liu Xiaozhen anyway, so picking up a car along the way didn¡¯t seem like a problem.


    After all, his big brother had taken him for a ride quite smoothly before.


    Now it was nothing more than returning the favor.


    How could Xia Wenqing not see through Xia Wenyan¡¯s little tricks?


    It was rare for their family¡¯s not-so-brainy Lao Si to show a bit of initiative, what could he do?


    Spoil him a bit?


    He sighed lightly, feigning a bit of reluctance, ¡°Fine, as long as the news you bring is worthwhile, I don¡¯t mind giving you the car.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenyan jumped up with joy, his beautiful peachy eyes sparkling brightly.


    Xia Wenqing nodded his head, shifted his body to create some distance from the desk, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Xia Wenyan leisurely,


    as if waiting for him to continue.


    Having already secured the car, Xia Wenyan naturally felt a bit embarrassed to keep hiding the truth, so he slowly started speaking, ¡°Have you been invited to a charity auction lately?¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly.


    In fact, he had only recently received the news, and attending such charity auctions to blend into the local legal circles was a good choice under normal circumstances.


    He was supposed to attend.


    But after hearing what Xia Wenyan said, he suddenly wasn¡¯t so sure anymore.


    He thought back on how he¡¯d been tricked by Liu Xiaozhen previously and hesitated for a moment whether to attend or not.


    Xia Wenqing pondered for a moment and then nodded slightly, ¡°Under normal circumstances, I would attend.¡±


    He paused and slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°Is there a problem with this charity auction?¡±


    Xia Wenyan was taken aback by his question, ¡°Uh... there¡¯s nothing wrong with the charity auction itself, it¡¯s just... the people attending that are the problem.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Now Xia Wenqing was even more confused.


    Xia Wenyan pouted, ¡°Zhaozhao and I ¡®coincidentally¡¯ ran into Liu Xiaozhen today at the film set where she was doing office work.¡±


    As soon as he heard the name ¡°Liu Xiaozhen,¡± Xia Wenqing¡¯s expression darkened instantly.


    He always felt that anything related to this woman didn¡¯t seem to bode well.


    He hadn¡¯t seen Liu Xiaozhen recently and thought that his entanglement with her was finally over.


    Unexpectedly... this woman wasn¡¯t causing trouble in front of him but was still causing it elsewhere.


    Xia Wenqing rubbed his temples. ¡°Are you saying Liu Xiaozhen is planning to cause trouble at this charity auction?¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded, ¡°Before, when she was beating around the bush in front of Zhaozhao and me, she said that she had a fiance? she¡¯s been in love with for many years. There has always been someone who adored him by his side. After her fiance? returned to the country, that woman slept with him using despicable means. As he is a responsible man, he ended up being with that girl.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes behind his glasses almost narrowed into a line.


    Why did he always feel that this story was a bit odd?


    Xia Wenyan saw Xia Wenqing frown and kindly added, ¡°Oh, and she told me and Zhaozhao that her fiance?¡¯s current partner¡¯s name is Xu Zhenzhen, who works in the Legal Department of Song Group.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Alright, he just knew Liu Xiaozhen couldn¡¯t hold back any good farts.


    She really could concoct anything!


    When did he ever become her fiance??


    How could that kind of trash, who abandoned his fiance?e after sleeping with someone else, be the same person as him?


    The veins on Xia Wenqing¡¯s temples throbbed. ¡°She approached you just to say all this?¡±


    He was still a bit confused and completely clueless about what Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s purpose was for doing this.


    Xia Wenyan squinted his peach-blossom eyes and said, ¡°Her intelligence might be a little off; she doesn¡¯t know that the second sister-in-law and Zhaozhao have long been acquainted. So, she did this to make Zhaozhao and me misunderstand the relationship between the second sister-in-law and you. Furthermore, she also invited Zhaozhao and me to attend this charity dinner. What do you think she¡¯s up to?¡±


    ¡°To make you embarrass Zhenzhen at the charity dinner,¡± Xia Wenqing quickly figured it out.


    He just hadn¡¯t expected Liu Xiaozhen to go through such a roundabout way just to make the Xia Family dislike Xu Zhenzhen.


    It showed how scheming this woman was.


    Xia Wenqing tapped his fingertips on the table. When his gaze returned to Xia Wenyan, he finally spoke softly, ¡°So... are you planning to attend the charity dinner?¡±


    Xia Wenyan nodded vigorously, ¡°Of course, we can¡¯t miss such a live drama. Besides, we are the main characters!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Alright then.


    Indeed, it was time to finally settle things with Liu Xiaozhen.


    He had previously thought that after Liu Xiaozhen knew Xu Zhenzhen was with him, she would give up wisely.


    It seemed he had been too optimistic.


    Xia Wenqing pondered for a moment. ¡°Do you think I should tell Zhenzhen about this?¡±


    ¡°The cast is already sizable, let¡¯s keep an audience for the show,¡± Xia Wenyan winked at Xia Wenqing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with Zhaozhao there, there¡¯s no way things will go wrong.¡±


    Xia Wenqing pursed his lips hesitantly, but eventually nodded.


    However, he couldn¡¯t just sit by and do nothing.


    If Liu Xiaozhen could secretly go to such lengths to target Xu Zhenzhen, there¡¯s no telling what kind of pitfall she might set for Zhenzhen while he¡¯s not around.


    He had to root out Liu Xiaozhen once and for all.


    Xia Wenqing studied law, so there were some things beyond the field of law that he had never considered.


    But once people like him, who studied the law intensively, wanted to get involved in such matters, they could be far more terrifying than ordinary people.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s dark eyes drooped slightly, and with a fleeting glance at Xia Wenyan, he asked succinctly, ¡°Do you know anything about Lao San¡¯s recent movements?¡±


    ¡°The third brother? He... seems to have gone to Lu Dagui again. I¡¯m not sure what for this time,¡± Xia Wenyan shrugged.


    He always felt that Pei Huai was also acting mysteriously lately, not knowing what he and Song Sinian were up to.


    But whatever those two were doing, it certainly wouldn¡¯t harm him and Lu Zhaozhao.

 Chapter 583: 581: A Good Way to Kill Two Birds with One Stone

    Chapter 583: Chapter 581: A Good Way to Kill Two Birds with One Stone


    He naturally didn¡¯t bother with it anymore.


    Xia Wenqing nodded, ¡°I understand.¡±


    He pulled open a drawer by the table, took out a car key, and tossed it to Xia Wenyan, ¡°Here, I am very satisfied with the news you brought this time; the car is now yours.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s smile grew even brighter, ¡°Thank you, Second Brother!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Outside the window, the sunshine was just right, casting a layer of golden light upon the windowsill.


    When Xia Wenyan relayed the information to Xia Wenqing, Song Sinian also received a similar message.


    Zhao Xi looked at Song Sinian, then at the intelligence report in his hand, and cautiously asked, ¡°Sir, should we let Madam attend this charity auction?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded noncommittally.


    This matter involved Xu Zhenzhen; Lu Zhaozhao would surely attend.


    Not to mention the involvement of Xia Wenqing and Xia Wenyan; even if he told her not to go, she would certainly find a way to be there, wouldn¡¯t she?


    Zhao Xi furrowed his brows, expressing his worries, ¡°Sir, there have been quite a few unidentified individuals appearing around Madam recently. Among them is a familiar face, Zhao Qingfeng.¡±


    Ever since he had his face ruined by crazed fans at the hospital, Zhao Qingfeng had disappeared.


    His face, once charming enough to deceive wealthy women, was completely destroyed.


    They weren¡¯t at all surprised that Zhao Qingfeng ended up this way; after all, he had offended too many people.


    His agent had initially wanted to help him out but didn¡¯t anticipate being backstabbed. The fact that the agent didn¡¯t kill him on the spot was already showing extreme mercy.


    Not to mention using some tactics to ensure he was completely cut off from the entertainment industry.


    Zhao Qingfeng probably still didn¡¯t realize that the person who had harmed him the deepest was actually his own greed.


    Had he listened to his agent, even if he could no longer continue as an artist, he would still be welcomed in the circles of wealthy women.


    Now... without his face, he lost everything.


    He had since put all the blame on Lu Zhaozhao, so he kept following and stalking her, presumably seeking an opportunity for revenge.


    Song Sinian had always provided bodyguard protection for Lu Zhaozhao, so Zhao Qingfeng never had the chance to make a move.


    Because of this, Zhao Xi was concerned that Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s behavior might become even more erratic, posing a potential danger to Lu Zhaozhao should she attend the charity gala.


    Song Sinian naturally understood what Zhao Xi was worried about and, after pondering for a moment, he asked, ¡°What has Xia Wenjin been up to lately?¡±


    Zhao Xi paused, puzzled by Song Sinian¡¯s sudden change of topic, but he nonetheless started to report faithfully.


    ¡°Xia Wenjin went to see Hao Jiayi recently and seemed to have reached some kind of agreement with her.¡±


    Now assuming the identity of Feng Ya Meizi, she used it with exceptional proficiency.


    It was as if she had truly become Feng Ya Meizi.


    Song Sinian was not surprised that Xia Wenjin went to find Hao Jiayi first; after all, the woman closest to Xiao Mo at present was Hao Jiayi.


    His fingertips gently caressed the coffee cup, ¡°Go and leak to Xia Wenjin why Zhao Qingfeng initially approached Zhaozhao. She surely won¡¯t miss this opportunity.¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s eyebrows instantly furrowed even more, ¡°Sir, are you suggesting that Xia Wenjin collaborate with Zhao Qingfeng?¡±


    Given that Zhao Qingfeng already posed a threat to Lu Zhaozhao, with Xia Wenjin¡¯s help, wouldn¡¯t that put their lady in even greater danger?


    If Xia Wenjin decided to support Zhao Qingfeng in assassinating their lady, that would be troublesome.


    Song Sinian gently shook his head, ¡°Xia Wenjin would certainly never contact Zhao Qingfeng directly.¡±


    If it were the Xia Wenjin of before, she might have used such a blunt approach, but having almost been killed by Xiao Jinglan abroad, she would have learned her lesson if she had not grown wiser, or she might as well have lived in vain.


    The frown on Zhao Xi¡¯s face didn¡¯t show any sign of relaxing. His gaze fixated on Song Sinian as if waiting for him to continue speaking.


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips curved slightly upward, ¡°Compared to Zhaozhao, who do you think he hates even more right now?¡±


    ¡°That would definitely be Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo,¡± Zhao Xi responded without needing to think, blurting it out.


    These two were almost directly responsible for ¡°Xia Wenjin¡¯s¡± death.


    Upon returning to the country, Xia Wenjin would definitely want to take their lives first.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°If she finds out that Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s initial reason for approaching Zhaozhao was due to Feng Jiyue¡¯s power struggle with Xiao Mo, what do you think she would do?¡±


    Zhao Xi pondered seriously, ¡°She would probably take advantage of that opportunity, right?¡±


    More precisely, take advantage of Feng Jiyue.


    Xiao Mo could never outmatch Song Sinian, and Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t reach Song Sinian either, so there aren¡¯t many chess pieces she can play with at the moment.


    Feng Jiyue was one of them.


    She had no chance of contacting Feng Jiyue, but this matter just happened to become an opportunity.


    If she could effectively leverage this, she could force Feng Jiyue and Xiao Mo into a fight to the death.


    And how could Xia Wenjin possibly miss out?


    Zhao Xi seemed to suddenly grasp Song Sinian¡¯s intention, ¡°That makes sense! Regardless of whether Xia Wenjin reveals this to Xiao Mo or Zhao Qingfeng, the one at a disadvantage will be Feng Jiyue. All she needs to do is subtly let Feng Jiyue know that it was Xiao Mo¡¯s doing, then she won¡¯t need to lift a finger in what comes next.¡±


    Indeed, it was an excellent strategy to kill two birds with one stone.


    Zhao Xi suddenly hesitated again, ¡°With Xia Wenjin¡¯s intellect, can she come up with such a plan?¡±


    After all, she once had a good hand but played it away to ruin. Zhao Xi really didn¡¯t have much hope for her.


    Song Sinian¡¯s cold eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°If she can¡¯t come up with that herself, we could find someone who could make her think of it, don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°I understand, sir.¡±


    Finding someone to guide Xia Wenjin is something he could still manage, particularly since they had planted many informants around her.


    She now only felt she had successfully replaced Feng Ya Meizi, completely unaware that she, too, was being manipulated by others, and not just by one faction.


    Suddenly, as if something had dawned on Zhao Xi, he flipped through the document in his hand and said, ¡°Xia Wenjin seems to be planning on making a move against Xiao Jinglan soon. Should we just stand by and watch, or should we do something?¡±


    Song Sinian, resting his chin on one hand, pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, ¡°Of course, we should do something within our capabilities. At the very least, when Xia Wenjin deals with Xiao Jinglan, we need to help her clean up the mess thoroughly, leaving no trace for Xiao Mo to find.¡±


    Zhao Xi was a bit surprised by Song Sinian¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sir, why should we help Xia Wenjin?¡±


    It was already fortunate enough that they weren¡¯t tripping Xia Wenjin up on her return to the country; why help that woman?


    Song Sinian nonchalantly curled his lip, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to give her the feeling of controlling the whole game, so that she won¡¯t be restrained when she moves against Xiao Mo later on. If she¡¯s chosen revenge, she should of course go big or go home; otherwise, wouldn¡¯t she be wasting the effort of coming all this way to assume such a new identity?¡±

 Chapter 584: 582: What do you think?

    Chapter 584: Chapter 582: What do you think?


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Xi was immediately speechless.


    Indeed, when it came to being scheming, their Mr. Song was the darkest.


    Make Xia Wenjin feel invincible, then strike her with a heavy blow.


    Wouldn¡¯t anyone be driven to despair?


    Naturally, Zhao Xi arranged everything as Song Sinian had instructed, and Xia Wenjin did not disappoint their expectations.


    Upon learning that Zhao Qingfeng had a grudge against Lu Zhaozhao and was planning to deal with her, Xia Wenjin immediately took action.


    When Zhao Qingfeng was brought in by several bodyguards, he was extremely cautious, ¡°I warn you, you better not mess around, this is a society governed by the rule of law!¡±


    He actually felt very guilty saying this, as the things he had done were not permissible by law either.


    Zhao Qingfeng had known before that anyone who crossed Lu Zhaozhao had disappeared.


    But recently, due to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s doing, he had become too wretched and was constantly fuming, wanting to go down together with Lu Zhaozhao.


    But now, after being mysteriously caught, he suddenly regretted his actions.


    He even felt that if he hadn¡¯t provoked Lu Zhaozhao initially, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up so miserable.


    Nor would he have been abandoned by his agent, nor chased for debts like a street rat.


    The more Zhao Qingfeng thought about it, the more he regretted it, but it seemed too late for regrets now; Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s people had captured him¡ªwas he about to disappear like the others?


    While Zhao Qingfeng was thinking about what to do, a woman dressed in an extremely enchanting manner appeared before him.


    His brows furrowed slightly; this woman didn¡¯t seem to be Lu Zhaozhao.


    But seeing the fierce and vicious bodyguards standing by her, she was probably one of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s people, even if she wasn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao herself.


    Zhao Qingfeng nervously watched the newcomer, wondering whether he should kneel down immediately to show sincerity.


    ¡°You must be Zhao Qingfeng. I have the same enemy as you, so I could lend you a hand,¡± Xia Wenjin said with a light laugh, looking at Zhao Qingfeng.


    Her words made Zhao Qingfeng suddenly pause but did not elicit a response from him.


    Zhao Qingfeng did not know which common enemy she referred to; after all, he had many enemies. He hadn¡¯t been in the entertainment industry for long, but he had offended quite a few people.


    He was self-aware of that much.


    He did not dare to speak, afraid that the name he might mention was not the one she expected, and then he would have learned her secret.


    And that would leave him with no choice but to wait for his end.


    For now, he could only respond to all changes with constancy, waiting for her to reveal this so-called common enemy.


    Xia Wen¡¯s brows lifted slightly as she looked at Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s silent demeanor and chuckled lightly, ¡°Relax, I¡¯m not with Lu Zhaozhao. I¡¯m approaching you specifically to deal with Lu Zhaozhao, so there¡¯s no need for you to keep secrets from me.¡±


    After hearing this, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s anxiety intensified. This woman was seeking him out to deal with Lu Zhaozhao?


    He hadn¡¯t even settled the score with Lu Zhaozhao yet, and now this woman was troubling him?


    It was then that he realized someone else was out to feed him a bewitching potion.


    Was his life really such a mess?


    Zhao Qingfeng thought about his bleak future with no prospects and his ruined face, which cast a shadow over his entire being.


    Xia Wenjin looked at the still silent Zhao Qingfeng and tried to bait him with an offer, ¡°I said I would help you. As long as you agree to work for me, I can give you money.¡±


    Money was probably what Zhao Qingfeng, who was currently being shunned by everyone, needed the most.


    Sure enough, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s gloomy eyes lit up considerably at the mention of money from Xia Wenjin.


    But he had his own calculations. He knew he could never afford to offend Lu Zhaozhao. If Lu Zhaozhao were that easy to deal with, this woman wouldn¡¯t have needed to find him.


    Zhao Qingfeng could tell that this woman had money, and it seemed she even had some power; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been so generous to him.


    This further proved that Lu Zhaozhao was an existence that even this woman couldn¡¯t shake, and that seeking him out was nothing more than asking him to be cannon fodder.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s past foolishness didn¡¯t mean he was still a fool.


    He could no longer make it in the entertainment industry, and the wealthy women who used to fancy him had long since grown tired of him. With his face ruined, he had no capital to make a comeback.


    That¡¯s why he had previously thought of self-destruction and taking Lu Zhaozhao down with him.


    Now, if this woman in front of him could give him money, with that money he could change his appearance and even return to the circle of wealthy women.


    Thinking this, why would Zhao Qingfeng still feel like dying alongside Lu Zhaozhao?


    He raised his eyes to look at Xia Wenjin and finally spoke, ¡°What exactly do you want me to do to Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Only by knowing what the other party intended could he think of a way to stall, at least... he needed to get the money first.


    Xia Wenjin saw Zhao Qingfeng seemed to be listening to her, and a radiant smile finally broke across her face, ¡°I can give you several capable assistants to help you capture Lu Zhaozhao smoothly. How does that sound?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng let out a cold huff, ¡°I thought you had a better offer. If it¡¯s this kind, you don¡¯t need to bother.¡±


    Even if he got the money, it would be useless if he had no life to spend it.


    Xia Wenjin was slightly taken aback, not expecting Zhao Qingfeng to refuse. She looked at him, puzzled, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to make a move on Lu Zhaozhao? I¡¯m offering help, providing financial and material support. Why won¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°If Lu Zhaozhao were that easy to catch, would you still need me? Just send your people to kidnap her,¡± Zhao Qingfeng said, his gaze toward Xia Wenjin carrying a hint of mockery.


    This almost made Xia Wenjin lose her composure. But thinking of Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s hatred for Lu Zhaozhao, she still felt it was worth the cost.


    After all, finding someone with a grudge against Lu Zhaozhao was exceedingly difficult. He had investigated the people around Lu Zhaozhao after returning to the country and had only found Zhao Qingfeng.


    As for Sun Qian, who used to have problems with Lu Zhaozhao, he had disappeared without a trace a long time ago.


    If she had any other options, Xia Wenjin wouldn¡¯t bother dealing with him.


    Seeing that Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t angry, Zhao Qingfeng was even more sure of his previous thoughts.


    The woman in front of him either couldn¡¯t act against Lu Zhaozhao at all, or she had the power to do so but couldn¡¯t harm her.


    Whichever it was, she needed an assistant.


    And Zhao Qingfeng seemed to be the most suitable.


    With this in mind, Zhao Qingfeng felt no rush.


    He had made his way in the circle of wealthy women mainly because of his sharp mind. If not for having to kick the iron plate that was Lu Zhaozhao, he would be living a comfortable life.


    Xia Wenjin took a deep breath, looking at Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s impervious demeanor, and sighed quietly, ¡°What exactly will it take for you to take action against Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wei to be so anxious. He didn¡¯t keep her hanging and gave her a good way out, ¡°I want to know who exactly it was that originally made me seduce Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    That person was the mastermind behind his downfall, and he definitely couldn¡¯t let them go!

 Chapter 585: 583: Pleasant Cooperation

    Chapter 585: Chapter 583: Pleasant Cooperation


    ¡°If this woman in front of me can help him out, that would be fantastic.


    He had risen in the entertainment industry by living off women before, so he had no problem living off this woman right now.


    It was all mooching anyway, what did it matter whose generosity he was taking advantage of?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, seemingly hesitant about whether to tell him about this matter or not.


    She was still counting on Feng Jiyue to go to Song Group and have a destructive showdown with Xiao Mo.


    If she told Zhao Qingfeng about this now, would he and Feng Jiyue destroy each other? What about her plans that followed?


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s eyes visibly narrowed, it seemed this woman really did know who had harmed him.


    After some contemplation, Xia Wenjin said, ¡°I can tell you who it is, but you can¡¯t touch him right now. How about... I tell you after some time has passed?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng suddenly laughed, ¡°Wait how long? Until you¡¯ve completely used me?¡±


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t expected this man in front of her to speak so rudely, her face immediately darkened, ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say that? Even if I tell you who it is, you can¡¯t touch him. His status and position are completely out of your reach.¡±


    Though Feng Jiyue was no longer part of the Song Family, he was still related by blood and marriage, and Old Master Song was willing to let him into Song Group, probably hoping he would counterbalance the side branches of the Song family.


    She naturally was not clear about these internal affairs of wealthy families.


    But she knew that with Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s current situation, he definitely couldn¡¯t topple Feng Jiyue.


    If he got himself in trouble trying to get revenge on Feng Jiyue, wouldn¡¯t her investment in Zhao Qingfeng end up in vain, both financially and otherwise?


    She absolutely would not allow such a situation!


    Zhao Qingfeng just sneered at Xia Wenjin without saying a word.


    He could actually guess that the person who had him lure Lu Zhaozhao was of no simple status.


    He had only said what he did to lay the groundwork for what would follow, not expecting this woman to take it so seriously.


    Seeing her anxious to explain but unable to clarify, Zhao Qingfeng couldn¡¯t help but laugh mockingly in his heart.


    This woman still wanted to use him as a pawn?


    Xia Wenjin realized that she couldn¡¯t easily win over Zhao Qingfeng, so she had to settle for asking, ¡°Besides this matter, is there anything else you want to know or do?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng crossed his arms and looked at Xia Wenjin coldly, ¡°Since you can¡¯t find my nemesis, can you fix this face of mine?¡±


    He gestured to his half-disfigured face, ¡°If you can heal my face, then I might consider helping you, otherwise why should I trust you? Why should I do your bidding?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin fell silent as she watched Zhao Qingfeng, feeling that what he said made some sense, but also feeling that something was off.


    Zhao Qingfeng, seeing her hesitation, added another comment, ¡°You want me to do your bidding, you should at least show me some sincerity, right? I just asked you a question which you clearly know the answer to but won¡¯t tell me, how am I supposed to trust you?¡±


    Xia Wenjin, cornered by his words and somewhat reluctantly, hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing to his demand, ¡°I can arrange for a surgeon to perform plastic surgery on you as soon as possible, but after that, you¡¯re going to work for me.¡±


    ¡°Just because you get my face fixed doesn¡¯t mean you own me; if you want me to follow your orders, you at least have to ensure my life is comfortable, right? After all, from the start of our cooperation, we¡¯re in this together,¡± Zhao Qingfeng seduced her with reason, his eyes fixed intently on Xia Wenjin.


    Finally catching such a big sucker, he would surely take as much advantage as he could.


    Perhaps this woman in front of him was even easier to control than the rich ladies he had seduced before.


    If he could take down the woman in front of him, that seemed not too bad, and even if he couldn¡¯t take her down, getting her money wouldn¡¯t be too shabby either.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Zhao Qingfeng for a few seconds before finally nodding, ¡°Fine, once you have completed the cosmetic surgery, I can assure you¡¯ll have what you need for living expenses. The rest of the details we can discuss at that time.¡±


    ¡°Good, then we have a pleasant cooperation.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Friday, the charity banquet.


    Lu Zhaozhao arrived at the charity banquet with Xia Wenyan at the time they had previously arranged with Liu Xiaozhen.


    Liu Xiaozhen was dressed in a black evening gown, which she wore with fitting elegance and poise.


    Her looks were not lacking, so as soon as she entered the banquet hall, many people gathered around her.


    Busy interacting with the lawyers from the Beijing Circle, Liu Xiaozhen naturally didn¡¯t have time for Lu Zhaozhao.


    If she wanted to blend into the Beijing Circle, she naturally needed to foster good relationships with others.


    Xia Wenyan watched Liu Xiaozhen from a distance, fluttering about like a butterfly, unable to help but curl his lip, ¡°Why does this woman insist on clinging to a man when she obviously has the ability to stand on her own?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Maybe she¡¯s truly in love with my second brother?¡±


    Xia Wenyan immediately shivered, rubbing his arms. ¡°Zhaozhao, you better not scare me. If that¡¯s what true love looks like... it¡¯s an insult to true love.¡±


    He remembered how Wen Qingyu had told him that Lu Zhaozhao had him investigate Liu Xiaozhen abroad. Curious, he naturally came across some materials related to her.


    Before meeting his brother, Liu Xiaozhen had her share of relationships with others.


    Each of her exes were closely related to her life and opportunities.


    One or two might be a coincidence, but when every single one fits the same pattern, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but be suspicious.


    Among all these men, his fourth brother was the only one Liu Xiaozhen hadn¡¯t managed to charm.


    Xia Wenqing was the man with the best family background Liu Xiaozhen could reach.


    According to Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s logic, taking down his second brother would be most beneficial for her.


    Having lurked around Xia Wenqing all this time, only to be outmaneuvered by someone else, she mustn¡¯t be pleased.


    Fortunately, she hadn¡¯t reached the point of destroying everything just because she couldn¡¯t have him; otherwise, his second brother would be truly unlucky.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan glanced around the banquet hall.


    ¡°When are second brother and sister-in-law arriving?¡±


    They better come soon, or they¡¯re going to miss the start of the charity banquet.


    Liu Xiaozhen had prepared such a big spectacle for his second brother; it would be a real shame if he missed it.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows lifted, teasingly smiling, ¡°You sure changed your tune quickly, Zhenzhen isn¡¯t even married to second brother yet, and you¡¯ve already settled on calling her sister-in-law?¡±


    ¡°Of course, second brother gave me a fee to make the change,¡± Xia Wenyan quipped, batting his attractive peach blossom eyes at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Just as he was self-satisfied and ready to show off the car Xia Wenqing had given him, a commotion ensued at the entrance of the banquet hall.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan both turned their gazes just in time to see Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen entering¡ª

 Chapter 586: 584: Are We That Close?

    Chapter 586: Chapter 584: Are We That Close?


    At this moment, Xu Zhenzhen looked nothing like her usual self at the law firm. She was dressed in a haute couture evening gown, a pure white that sparkled with an iridescent glint like glass.


    The whole person shone with a rippling light, as if a piece of fine jade under sunlight, being illuminated to a dazzling brilliance.


    ¡°Big brother¡¯s taste isn¡¯t bad at all, the evening gown selection is very attentive,¡± Lu Zhaozhao narrowed her eyes as she turned to look at Xia Wenyan standing beside her.


    However, Xia Wenyan just slightly tilted his chin up, ¡°You¡¯re not looking at who recommended it. Not a single one among those few dresses looked bad, if she managed to ruin the look with any of them, I¡¯d bow down to them!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but smirk, not expecting her fourth brother to have such a stellar performance when it came to fashion.


    Suddenly, Xia Wenyan seemed to have noticed something; he gently nudged Lu Zhaozhao with his elbow, ¡°Little sister, look quickly, Liu Xiaozhen is making her move.¡±


    Following Xia Wenyan¡¯s gaze, Lu Zhaozhao then noticed that as soon as Liu Xiaozhen saw Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing enter from the doorway, she began to move toward them.


    ¡°Wenyan, long time no see.¡± Liu Xiaozhen nodded towards Xia Wenyan, blatantly ignoring Xu Zhenzhen by his side.


    Her sudden approach made Xia Wenqing instinctively take a half step back and then instinctively tighten his grip around Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s waist, ¡°Zhenzhen, protect me.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen: ¡°...¡±


    Was she some kind of ferocious beast?


    Did Xia Wenqing have to act like this whenever he saw her?


    Yet Xu Zhenzhen really bought into Xia Wenqing¡¯s act, protectively using her arm to shield him just as a mother hen would guard her chicks.


    She lifted her chin slightly, her gaze filled with displeasure as she addressed Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    If she remembered correctly, Xia Wenqing had made things clear with Liu Xiaozhen a long time ago.


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t understand why she still tried to cozy up in front of so many people.


    Liu Xiaozhen took a deep breath, looking at Xu Zhenzhen as if she had been hurt by her, ¡°I¡¯m here naturally because I¡¯ve also received an invitation.¡±


    After sweeping her gaze over Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s figure, she gazed directly at Xia Wenqing, her face full of sorrow, like a desolate woman spurned.


    Both Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing felt a bit creeped out being stared at like that.


    If the two of them weren¡¯t sure about their relationship, they¡¯d even start to doubt whether there was any illicit affair between them.


    People around them, seeing the weird atmosphere among the three, couldn¡¯t help but gather around and sneak peeks.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows knotted up fiercely, she usually didn¡¯t care much about what others said, but she did not like the feeling of being exploited by Liu Xiaozhen.


    Moreover, now with Xia Wenqing by her side, it was clear that she was openly challenging her.


    She might have been oblivious to such petty ploys before, but now that she understood, she wasn¡¯t going to give her another chance.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Liu Xiaozhen with a forced smile and said word by word, ¡°Lawyer Liu, since you¡¯re invited here, stop staring at my boyfriend. No matter how much you stare at him, he won¡¯t take a fancy to you. You might as well find someone else early. There are so many men at the party, you can switch to someone else to pester.¡±


    With just a few words, she echoed back Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s shade, clearly establishing Xia Wenqing as her boyfriend and repeating the matter of her clinginess and setting her sights on her boyfriend.


    The onlookers were surprised while eating their melons.


    They hadn¡¯t expected the new lawyer in the Shangjing Circle to have a penchant for stealing other people¡¯s boyfriends.


    Looking at her decent appearance and temperament, tsk tsk... Who would¡¯ve thought she was a know-it-all wannabe.


    They were all lawyers, so they were no strangers to this sort of thing; after all, they had seen even the most bizarre cases.


    A know-it-all wannabe, that¡¯s just child¡¯s play.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s cheeks trembled slightly, but she still maintained a troubled expression as she looked at the two, ¡°Zhenzhen, I didn¡¯t expect you to hate me this much. We were school seniors and juniors from the same college, do you really have to smear my name in front of others like this?¡±


    When she said this, she took a deep breath as if she had just suffered a great injustice.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s sickly demeanor and raised an eyebrow in silence, ¡°Me, smear your name? Do you have any proof? After so many years as a lawyer, don¡¯t you even have this basic common sense? You seduced my boyfriend, and I have a pile of evidence. Don¡¯t blame me if you can¡¯t take the face-saving I¡¯m offering!¡±


    She originally went to the charity dinner with Xia Wenqing dressed to impress, with the simple plan of enjoying the food and drinks.


    Who would have thought she would run into Liu Xiaozhen here?


    Running into her was one thing, but then Liu Xiaozhen wouldn¡¯t stop badgering them like a lunatic¡ªXu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t stand it, and that was not like her!


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t soft; she never intended to save face for Liu Xiaozhen in the first place, so now that they were at each other¡¯s throats, she was even less restrained.


    Liu Xiaozhen frowned tightly, looking somewhat anxiously to Xia Wenqing for help, which made Xu Zhenzhen even more speechless.


    After all, Xia Wenqing was her boyfriend, she couldn¡¯t possibly side with Liu Xiaozhen, an outsider¡ªunless Xia Wenqing was out of his mind.


    A pity for Liu Xiaozhen, Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t.


    So Xu Zhenzhen was even more perplexed, what exactly was Liu Xiaozhen trying to sell here?


    She instinctively felt that Liu Xiaozhen wouldn¡¯t do such a thing without a reason; she must have had another move planned.


    Sure enough, as people around them started to gather closer, Xu Zhenzhen spotted two familiar figures. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Zhaozhao beat her to the punch.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Almost immediately, Liu Xiaozhen positioned herself next to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m fine, this matter...¡±


    She hadn¡¯t finished speaking when she swept her gaze over Xia Wenqing¡¯s figure, and with an expression of immense suppressed pain, she said to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I just haven¡¯t seen Lawyer Xia in a long time and came over to say hello.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen: ¡°???¡±


    When did Liu Xiaozhen get so close to Lu Zhaozhao?


    Even calling her Zhaozhao!


    Her brow furrowed noticeably. Was this some scheme concocted behind her back, stealing her home?


    How could her beloved Zhaozhao be spending time with such an annoying woman?


    Xu Zhenzhen was about to explode on the spot. She finally found a bestie who was right up her alley, and she absolutely couldn¡¯t let Liu Xiaozhen, that green tea bitch, lure her away.


    Just as she was about to speak up, she saw Lu Zhaozhao wink at her covertly, and Xu Zhenzhen got the hint. The words she was about to say were swallowed back down.


    Xia Wenyan, enjoying the commotion and not afraid to stir the pot, chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I could hear you fighting from afar¡ªdid the two ladies clash over my second brother?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°No, we were just exchanging simple greetings...¡± Just as Xu Zhenzhen opened her mouth to speak, Liu Xiaozhen immediately interrupted her.

 Chapter 587: 585: Throw the Evidence in His Face!

    Chapter 587: Chapter 585: Throw the Evidence in His Face!


    After she finished her words, she again cast that resentful, spine-chilling gaze toward Xia Wenqing.


    Anyone who saw it would feel that Liu Xiaozhen was helping Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen hide something.


    The more she pretended nothing was amiss, the more it seemed like there was something fishy going on.


    And this was exactly the effect Liu Xiaozhen wanted.


    She didn¡¯t care what others thought, as long as Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wen thought so, that was enough.


    As long as Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wen believed her, they would definitely dislike Xu Zhenzhen, and then Xu Zhenzhen would lose her chance to marry into the Xia Family.


    Xu Zhenzhen snorted coldly, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, it was indeed just a simple greeting, except for the fact that her eyes were constantly glued to my boyfriend, nothing special happened.¡±


    ¡°My second brother is your boyfriend, but didn¡¯t Lawyer Liu previously say that my second brother was her fiance?? Although I¡¯ve never heard my second brother mention it.¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen with a surprised expression, as if she had received a great shock.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Liu Xiaozhen speechlessly; previously, she had subtly made others mistake her as a couple with Xia Wenqing.


    Now, however, she had gone straight to claiming Xia Wenqing was her fiance?.


    Xu Zhenzhen was certain now that Liu Xiaozhen was desperate.


    Liu Xiaozhen hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to bring this up in front of Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing. She was taken aback for a moment, then quickly tugged at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm, ¡°Zhaozhao, let¡¯s not talk about this matter anymore.¡±


    ¡°How can we not talk about it? My second brother, a lawyer, doing something like this, he must be taught a lesson today!¡± Xia Wen also appeared indignant, as if he was preparing to direct all his anger at Xia Wenqing.


    Liu Xiaozhen was completely flustered.


    She intended for Xia Wen and Lu Zhaozhao to target Xu Zhenzhen, so why were these two acting without thinking?


    One was speaking directly, no matter if it embarrassed anyone, and the other was lashing out at her own brother.


    Didn¡¯t they know to help cover for their brother?


    Just as Liu Xiaozhen was trying to figure out how to mend the situation, she heard Xia Wen speaking earnestly, ¡°Lawyer Liu, don¡¯t worry, I will definitely make my second brother give you an explanation today! If he can¡¯t clear things up, I won¡¯t leave here today!¡±


    While speaking, Xia Wen even jabbed Lu Zhaozhao with his elbow, ¡°Little sister, I know you can¡¯t stand dishonesty, let¡¯s help Lawyer Liu all the way today, right?!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t expect Xia Wen to be so caught up in the act, but since he had gone this far, she definitely had to follow through.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, my fourth brother is right, if my second brother has really wronged you, he must give a clear explanation today!¡± Lu Zhaozhao, too, looked indignant, watching Xia Wenqing.


    Xu Zhenzhen seemed to be influenced as well, looking at Xia Wenqing in disbelief, ¡°Is what Lawyer Liu said true?¡±


    Xia Wenqing felt completely numb, wondering why his Zhenzhen was the last to know but could so accurately catch the hint from Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wen, and then single him out.


    He looked at Xu Zhenzhen helplessly, his voice full of doting, ¡°When I was in school, whether I dated or had a fiance?e, don¡¯t you know?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged noncommittally, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been in the same school as you, I might have believed it.¡±


    Xia Wenqing sighed helplessly, raised his hand to pat Xu Zhenzhen on the head, and then turned to Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°Lawyer Liu Xiaozhen, given that you also studied law, you should know what crime it is to spread rumors and slander others. You and I have never been lovers, let alone fiance?s. If you have evidence, present it instead of spreading rumors like this.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face turned from pale to flush, ¡°I, I don¡¯t have...¡±


    She shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears, appearing as if she had been bullied.


    As she spoke, Liu Xiaozhen took steps back, attempting to evoke sympathy from Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan.


    ¡°Wenyan, what the hell is going on? Is Liu Xiaozhen really not your ex-girlfriend?¡± Xia Wenyan stood aside, blocking Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s way.


    With a confused expression, he looked from Xia Wenqing to Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°Lawyer Liu, please speak up, present your evidence! We¡¯re not afraid of him!¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen didn¡¯t say much, just looked pitifully at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, I...¡±


    She was about to ask Lu Zhaozhao to take her away when Lu Zhaozhao abruptly grabbed her wrist, ¡°Lawyer Liu, rest assured, I¡¯m on your side. Today we¡¯ll throw the evidence in his face!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    All she had wanted was to cause Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao to misunderstand Xu Zhenzhen; where would she get any evidence?


    If she were really with Xia Wenqing, how could she possibly allow someone else to intervene?


    Liu Xiaozhen pursed her lips, not knowing what to say for the moment.


    Xia Wenqing saw that Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan had nearly finished their charade and decided not to give them any more opportunity to continue.


    ¡°I¡¯ve liked Xu Zhenzhen since our school days, but back then, Zhenzhen didn¡¯t like me, so I never dated anyone in school and was always single. Don¡¯t you know that?¡± Xia Wenqing glanced at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t know, our parents surely would, right? If I were really engaged, I would have definitely informed them.¡±


    Seeing Xia Wenqing looking to wrap things up, Xia Wenyan simply nodded, ¡°That does make sense. I, as your brother, didn¡¯t even know you got engaged!¡±


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes, ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯ve never been engaged at all.¡±


    His words barely finished when the crowd¡¯s glances toward Liu Xiaozhen clearly shifted.


    ¡°I never thought that some people would malign others in public...¡±


    ¡°I think she¡¯s delusional.¡±


    ¡°Poor Lawyer Xia, encountering such a crazy woman, and his girlfriend is unlucky too, just trying to date in peace and being called a mistress.¡±


    ...


    The swelling chorus of voices made Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face unbearable to maintain.


    She could only place all her hopes on Lu Zhaozhao.


    But unexpectedly, she found mockery in his gaze, ¡°So you¡¯ve been lying to me all along? Saying my brother¡¯s girlfriend is the mistress, when in fact, it¡¯s you who wants to be the mistress, right, Lawyer Liu?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s lips were tightly sealed, still wanting to struggle, but Lu Zhaozhao pulled away, creating distance, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be no different from those women who are eager for quick success and wanting to climb into my brother¡¯s bed. I was totally mistaken about you!¡±


    ¡°No, Zhaozhao, that¡¯s not what I meant, you¡¯re misunderstanding me...¡± Seeing that she had lost the trust of both Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan, Liu Xiaozhen could only focus on saving her own face.

 Chapter 588: 586: Truly Scheming!

    Chapter 588: Chapter 586: Truly Scheming!


    She feigned injury as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I never said before that my fiance? was Xia Wenqing. It just so happened that the mistress¡¯s name was also Xu Zhenzhen...¡±


    What she said to Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan, only the three of them knew.


    As long as she stubbornly refused to admit it, it wouldn¡¯t cause any unnecessary trouble.


    She could easily claim that Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan had misunderstood.


    If she couldn¡¯t marry into the Xia Family, being close to Lu Zhaozhao would be useless.


    After all, losing a tool of exploitation was better than losing her reputation in the Beijing Circle.


    Liu Xiaozhen had previously been abroad where the treatment wasn¡¯t bad, until she came to China where she discovered her commission had increased tenfold.


    Though she came to China following Xia Wenqing, she hadn¡¯t expected such a change in treatment.


    Most people in China were nai?ve with lots of money, and she didn¡¯t want to miss out.


    Lu Zhaozhao saw Liu Xiaozhen sacrificing her car to save her bishop, and very cooperatively gave her a look of being deceived.


    She could hardly control her trembling as she pointed at Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°At that time, you clearly said that person was my second brother. Why have you changed your story now? Didn¡¯t you also say you wanted me to help you teach Xu Zhenzhen a lesson?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen: ¡°???¡±


    When had she said that? Although she tried indirectly to lead Lu Zhaozhao to do so, she hadn¡¯t gone along with her at the time.


    Lu Zhaozhao ignored Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s shocked expression and immediately clung to Xia Wenyan¡¯s arm, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu, Fourth Brother, you were right. Lawyer Liu was really just deceiving me, and I trusted her so much!¡±


    Xia Wenyan, of course, knew Lu Zhaozhao was acting, but seeing her red eyes, his eyebrows still furrowed.


    ¡°Lawyer Liu, my sister is innocent and kind, and can¡¯t play your sophisticated games, but that doesn¡¯t mean the Xia Family and the Song Family will stand by and do nothing.¡±


    His face was ashen as he pulled Lu Zhaozhao into his arms, staring intently at Liu Xiaozhen.


    Originally, the onlookers nibbling on melons heard that the matter involved the Xia Family and the Song Family, and one by one, even if they wanted to eavesdrop, they immediately chose sides.


    [Can¡¯t believe it, a mere lawyer dared to play with the CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group. She¡¯s really bold.]


    [Heard that this Lawyer Liu also tried to slander the girlfriend of Xia Family¡¯s second son, wanting to play the mistress. But her ploy was exposed and then she targeted the Xia Family¡¯s little princess. She¡¯s so scheming!]


    [Looks like I need to remind my clients, don¡¯t accidentally invite wolves into your house. You might end up in a lawsuit and lose your home.]


    [You¡¯re right, steer as clear as you can from such morally corrupt lawyers!]


    ...


    Seeing Liu Xiaozhen had offended Lu Zhaozhao, everyone already wanted to distance themselves from her, as they had been in this industry so long and were sharp enough to see who really mattered to the Xia Family.


    Moreover, Song Sinian from the Song Group personally entered the fray labeling himself as love-struck, making the name Lu Zhaozhao resonate even louder in their legal circles.


    Offending anyone but this major patron was unthinkable.


    Liu Xiaozhen seemed not to have anticipated that her action of blaming Lu Zhaozhao would bring so much backlash upon herself.


    She wanted to salvage her reputation, so she hurriedly said, ¡°Zhaozhao, you misunderstood me earlier. I never thought that way. I just felt hurt by my fiance?¡¯s betrayal, that¡¯s all. I didn¡¯t mean to blame you...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face showed extreme distress, resembling a misunderstood victim.


    Unfortunately, the people she faced included an expert in detecting liars and a straight-shooting man freshly tutored by the expert.


    So, facing Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s weeping, everyone was completely indifferent, even feeling an urge to hit her.


    Xu Zhenzhen watched Liu Xiaozhen as if watching a play, suddenly realizing how foolish she had been in the past to be deceived by her.


    She scoffed coldly, taking the initiative to verbally stab Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°If I remember correctly, when I was abroad and not yet with Lawyer Xia, you used these same tricks on me.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen exploded upon hearing this, ¡°What are you talking about?! I already said it was a misunderstanding. Xu Zhenzhen, can¡¯t you stand to see me do well? Must you push me to death?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shrugged, ¡°Whether what I said is true can easily be known with a little investigation. Do you think everyone is a fool like I was?¡±


    Remembering the information Lu Zhaozhao had revealed to her, the corners of her mouth slightly curved up, ¡°All the honors you¡¯ve accumulated since childhood, how many did you get using these dirty tricks? And how many people have you hurt along the way? You might pretend to ignore it, but those you¡¯ve deceived are more aware than anyone!¡±


    She had always thought Liu Xiaozhen was merely pursuing Xia Wenqing, which was why she targeted her.


    But since reading the material Lu Zhaozhao had sent her, she realized that in Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s climb to her current position, many people, like herself, had become her cannon fodder.


    Some lost their relationships, others their money, and still others their lives.


    Xu Zhenzhen was curious if Liu Xiaozhen would have nightmares when she woke in the middle of the night?


    She had done such heartless deeds yet continued to act innocent in front of others.


    How could she dare?


    However, upon reflection, if it weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan, she would continue to be foolishly spun around by Xia Wenqing and Liu Xiaozhen.


    She might even despair, thinking it was her own unrequited love.


    Xu Zhenzhen had to admit that Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s tactics were indeed clever. She didn¡¯t get her hands dirty, often exploiting the information gap among those around her.


    Many people, even if they were hurt, would never guess that Liu Xiaozhen was behind it.


    Liu Xiaozhen felt a bit guilty from Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words.


    She thought she had only slipped up with Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing, but unexpectedly, Xu Zhenzhen brought up her past, which made Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s brows furrow involuntarily.


    Her past must not be dug up, especially not by those she had used as stepping stones!


    Liu Xiaozhen gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Don¡¯t make groundless accusations. Everything depends on evidence. If you continue to slander me, I won¡¯t hesitate to send you a lawyer¡¯s letter.¡±


    Xia Wenqing had been silently watching as a bystander, observing his sister and brother energetically act out the scene.


    Even when Xu Zhenzhen joined in, he was not greatly moved.


    It wasn¡¯t until Liu Xiaozhen threatened Xu Zhenzhen that he finally stepped forward, ¡°Didn¡¯t Lawyer Liu claim to be upright and just? Why are you so afraid of others¡¯ words? Could it be that you really have something to hide?¡±

 Chapter 589: 587 Now Its Really Troublesome...

    Chapter 589: Chapter 587 Now It¡¯s Really Troublesome...


    Whether she had any skeletons in her closet, Xia Wenqing knew better than anyone.


    At the time when Zhaozhao provided Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s investigative documents to Xu Zhenzhen, he had followed along and read them too; he hadn¡¯t expected that Liu Xiaozhen would be so ruthless.


    Since childhood, she had never let anyone who could be of use to her slip through her fingers.


    Anyone usable was used, and anyone who wasn¡¯t was destroyed by any means necessary.


    Those she couldn¡¯t use, she wouldn¡¯t let others use either.


    Even when she met him during her university days, she clearly noticed his affection for Xu Zhenzhen yet maliciously led Xu Zhenzhen to misunderstand that he liked someone else.


    If Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s feelings for him hadn¡¯t been so deep, she might have turned around and married someone else long ago; the mere thought made Xia Wenqing¡¯s chest feel particularly uncomfortable.


    Of course, Liu Xiaozhen had no idea what was going on in Xia Wenqing¡¯s mind, but her desperate desire to turn the tables was clearly written on her face.


    She couldn¡¯t possibly fail to win over the man and still afford to lose her career.


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s chin rose slightly, ¡°I¡¯m simply addressing the issues at hand. Xu Zhenzhen has slandered me; can¡¯t I fight back? Just because she is your secretary, must I let her off?¡±


    ¡°Ah, addressing the issues at hand,¡± Xia Wenqing snorted with derision, ¡°In that case, things will be easier to handle. Regarding the rumors spread by Lawyer Liu before, I don¡¯t mind sending you a legal notice after the party.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s complexion turned ugly in an instant, ¡°Lawyer Xia, must you push me to such a desperate situation for a woman? Back in school, we were clearly...¡±


    Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue, ¡°Our relationship back in school was merely that of ordinary classmates, you know this very well, and so do the classmates. If you continue to slander me, I don¡¯t mind adding another charge against you.¡±


    He knew that Liu Xiaozhen was now acting fearless, so he added another line, ¡°As for the incident mentioned by Zhenzhen, I will conduct a detailed investigation. If there are other victims like Zhenzhen, I wouldn¡¯t mind helping them with a joint lawsuit.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face went alternately pale and flushed.


    The observant attendees at the banquet had already sensed what was going on.


    They began analyzing it among themselves.


    ¡°Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s earlier words, if true, wouldn¡¯t that mean Lawyer Liu is guilty of fraud?¡±


    ¡°Fraud perhaps not. It should count as unjust enrichment...¡±


    ¡°No, it should be unfair competition...¡±


    ...


    The chatter was incessant, but everyone agreed on one point¡ªLiu Xiaozhen had indeed broken the law.


    As for the severity of her punishment, that would depend on what exactly her offenses were.


    Having offended both Song Group and Xia Family, it seemed unlikely anyone would dare to take her case.


    Fortunately for Liu Xiaozhen, she was a lawyer herself; it was up to her whether she could find a way to absolve herself.


    Yet, inside, Liu Xiaozhen was panicking.


    When she was younger, she had no knowledge of the law, so her schemes were clumsy¡ªthough, fortunately, they had never been discovered.


    After she had learned some legal knowledge, her actions became more cautious, but that didn¡¯t mean she hadn¡¯t left any loose ends.


    If it had been anyone else, she wouldn¡¯t have been so afraid, but her opponent was Xia Wenqing.


    He grew up in the same country as her, and with the power of the Xia Family, wouldn¡¯t it be a breeze for him to turn up some dirt?


    Liu Xiaozhen felt a headache coming on as she thought about this, regretting the way she had manipulated Xu Zhenzhen at the charity dinner.


    She should have been more cautious, at least waited until Lu Zhaozhao treated her like a close friend before making a move on Xu Zhenzhen.


    That way, even if she messed up, she would still have Lu Zhaozhao as a trump card.


    Now she was really in trouble...


    Liu Xiaozhen clenched her fists but still maintained the appearance of being oppressed. She looked up at Xia Wenqing, ¡°I admit I had other intentions towards you, and that¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t let go. If I¡¯ve irritated you, I¡¯m willing to apologize...¡±


    She couldn¡¯t afford to worry about her pride now, as long as she could get past this predicament, there would still be a chance.


    Sadly, though willing to lose face, no one was willing to give her any respect.


    ¡°I won¡¯t accept your apology, and it¡¯s not me you should be apologizing to anyway. There are many others you owe an apology to.¡± Xia Wenqing cut her off, not leaving her any dignity.


    He took Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s arm and said, ¡°This place is too noisy. Let me take you somewhere else for a stroll, to avoid staying here and getting upset by certain people.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing Xia Wenqing leaving, Liu Xiaozhen started to panic and hurriedly looked at Lu Zhaozhao standing not too far away, trying to use this naive and kind woman.


    By now, the crowd that had gathered to watch had mostly dispersed, and there was no need for Liu Xiaozhen to keep up her pitiful act.


    She was just about to rush over and cling to Lu Zhaozhao begging for mercy, when she saw her give a complex look and walk decisively towards Xu Zhenzhen, then hugged her arm, ¡°Sister-in-law, shall we go get some tasty food?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face turned red, and she lifted her hand to pinch Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, ¡°Zhaozhao baby, you can just call me Zhenzhen.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that she disliked the title ¡°sister-in-law,¡± but she and Xia Wenqing weren¡¯t married yet, making her a bit shy.


    Lu Zhaozhao cheekily winked at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Okay, sister-in-law.¡±


    ¡°You, you guys...¡±


    Even someone as naive as Liu Xiaozhen could now see the difference between Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen.


    They didn¡¯t act like people who had just met for the first time.


    Lu Zhaozhao feigned surprise, covering her mouth with her hand, ¡°Oops, looks like I let it slip.¡±


    Xia Wenqing observed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s smug little gesture and couldn¡¯t help but shake his head lightly, reaching out to mess up her hair, ¡°Alright, there¡¯s no audience left, no need to keep acting.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Zhaozhao immediately subdued her expression and calmly stared at Liu Xiaozhen, ¡°How does it feel to be played like a fiddle, Lawyer Liu?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen clenched her teeth bitterly, glaring at the few people in front of her. She had never dreamt that Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen already knew each other.


    Looking at their relationship, they seemed to get along quite well.


    She clenched her fists tightly, ¡°Miss Lu, I have no grudges against you. Why did you have to harm me?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but scoff softly, ¡°Lawyer Liu, you say ¡®no grudges¡¯ so lightly. You attacked my elder brother; do you think we wouldn¡¯t fight back?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen scoffed even more at Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s backpedaling behavior, ¡°Lawyer Liu, that¡¯s really funny, so it¡¯s okay for officials to set fires, but not for civilians to light lamps? Is that your rule?¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face turned even uglier, her expression almost tearful as she looked at them, ¡°I... I just like Xia Wenqing, that¡¯s all. I had no other intentions. You don¡¯t need to target me like this...¡±

 Chapter 590: 588: How Could They Be So Shameless?

    Chapter 590: Chapter 588: How Could They Be So Shameless?


    ¡°Stop right there. Save that act for someone else. Using the same trick over and over, isn¡¯t that annoying?¡± Xia Wenyan stood off to the side, blatantly mocking.


    He sized up Liu Xiaozhen with his eyes and scoffed without a word, ¡°After so many years of pulling the same stunt, has it become an advantage for you? Lawyer Liu, times have changed...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s mocking and sarcastic voice made Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s face go through a series of changes.


    She knew she had definitely screwed up this time, but she didn¡¯t want to just admit defeat.


    If there was any sliver of room to maneuver, she wasn¡¯t willing to let it go.


    Liu Xiaozhen took a deep breath and focused her gaze on Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Zhenzhen, I know that my past actions have hurt you, but I truly want to repent. I hope you can give me that chance. I promise I won¡¯t bother Xia Wenqing anymore, please let me off the hook.¡±


    She knew that a head-on confrontation was no good, but if she could just gain Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s forgiveness, maybe there was still a chance.


    After all, if the person concerned didn¡¯t pursue the matter, who else had the right to do so?


    She had known Xu Zhenzhen for a decent amount of time and understood her fairly well, or else she wouldn¡¯t have been able to drive a wedge between her and Xia Wenqing so easily.


    Xu Zhenzhen was a kind and easy-to-deceive girl in school.


    Because she was too honest and too bright, without a single stain on her character, this was one of the reasons why Liu Xiaozhen despised her.


    Whenever Xu Zhenzhen stood together with Xia Wenqing, she felt overshadowed by her, especially since she was also an orphan, yet unadopted, why was she so upright and positive?


    She couldn¡¯t and wouldn¡¯t believe it, she felt that human nature was inherently evil.


    It was just a matter of some people disguising it well, and others not so well, some being clever and some not¡ªit¡¯s just that everyone was wicked.


    But Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s very existence had always been a blow to her values.


    She detested people like Xu Zhenzhen who were active and positive, making her feel like a vile bug born in a drain.


    Yet now she needed Xu Zhenzhen to show her kind side more than anything.


    She believed that Xu Zhenzhen, being so kind, couldn¡¯t possibly reject her as long as her apology was sincere enough.


    The calculation flickering in Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t escape Xu Zhenzhen.


    The reason she turned a blind eye to Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s behavior in school was because she thought Yoo Xiaozhen was Xia Wenqing¡¯s beloved, and she was willing to back down for the one she loved.


    But now she knew Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t fancy Yoo Xiaozhen, and that all the misunderstandings between her and Xia Wenqing were caused by Yoo Xiaozhen.


    No matter how benevolent she may be, she was not going to show the slightest mercy to this vicious woman in front of her!


    Why should she repay evil with kindness, as if she was some sort of saintly martyr?


    Xu Zhenzhen blinked her beautiful eyes and said, ¡°I forgive you...¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen was about to respond when she heard Xu Zhenzhen speak again, ¡°You didn¡¯t think I was foolish enough to say that, did you?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Liu Xiaozhen, somewhat speechless, wondering what was going through her mind.


    She¡¯s offended them all once, and now expects to get off with a casual apology? What a joke!


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s eyes widened incredulously, ¡°Why can¡¯t you forgive me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was left speechless, and even Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenqing were stunned.


    Can some people really be so shameless?


    How did she have the nerve to say that?


    Lu Zhaozhao, on the other hand, was unsurprised, as she had encountered people like Yoo Xiaozhen before; there were the Lu Family, Wen Jin, and Song Keren ahead of her.


    Everyone thought of themselves as the favored children of heaven, only others owed them apologies, when did they ever feel they were in the wrong?


    For all Yoo Xiaozhen knew, she had already apologized and Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s refusal to forgive her was simply disdainful.


    Xu Zhenzhen was nearly brought to laughter by Yoo Xiaozhen¡¯s audacity, ¡°Just because you say I should forgive you, does that mean I must? I¡¯m not your mother!¡±


    As she said this, she couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°Oh right, I almost forgot, you¡¯re an orphan, with no mother.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen remembered how Yoo Xiaozhen had mocked her similarly before; she didn¡¯t mind it then, but that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t keeping score.


    Yoo Xiaozhen was so angry she trembled, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen, don¡¯t you go too far!¡±


    ¡°I wonder what you¡¯d do if I were? I could go even further!¡± she retorted, nodding towards the security staff, ¡°Throw this troublemaker out of the event!¡±


    The security staff, seeing this, immediately approached Yoo Xiaozhen.


    Now Yoo Xiaozhen was truly panicked. Being thrown out of this party would surely make her infamous in the Beijing Circle and it would be impossible for her to establish a foothold in Shangjing¡¯s legal circle afterward.


    Without a second thought, she struggled, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare touch me, or I¡¯ll sue you until you¡¯re penniless!¡±


    Yoo Xiaozhen¡¯s threatening words did have some effect, causing the security members who intended to grab her to hesitate.


    However, Xia Wenqing then spoke up, ¡°Rest assured, no matter how she sues, I¡¯ll take care of the aftermath for you! You can all come to the Song Group and find me, or President Song if you prefer, my assistant will leave you a contact number shortly.¡±


    ¡°Why are you doing this to me, Xia Wenqing?! You weren¡¯t like this in the past, is it because of Xu Zhenzhen that you¡¯ve changed?!¡± Yoo Xiaozhen wailed in agony, trying to draw the attention of others.


    But who would dare to get involved in such a situation?


    Xia Wenqing watched Yoo Xiaozhen with cold eyes, ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never seen the real me before. I¡¯m fiercely protective of those close to me, and if anyone tries to harm them, they should see if they¡¯re capable of handling the consequences!¡±


    His voice was indifferent, exuding a commanding presence, indeed a side of him Yoo Xiaozhen had never seen.


    She had always thought of Xia Wenqing as a gentle and somewhat old-fashioned man, but she had not expected him to be enraged for the sake of his beloved.


    ¡°...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Yoo Xiaozhen deflated like a punctured balloon, slumping to the ground. The security staff, seeing this, promptly picked her up and dragged her out.


    With a top lawyer backing them, who would fear her?


    Seemingly aware that struggling was futile, Yoo Xiaozhen completely gave up.


    Lacking the means to confront them, she could only avoid their sharpness and plan for another time.


    But Yoo Xiaozhen still felt indignant, she couldn¡¯t bear that such an ordinary woman as Xu Zhenzhen could stay by Xia Wenqing¡¯s side.


    She took note of everything Xu Zhenzhen did to her today!


    Sooner or later, she would make Xu Zhenzhen pay back everything with interest!


    She thought, let her be arrogant for a little while longer...

 Chapter 591: 589: What did you come to see me for today?

    Chapter 591: Chapter 589: What did you come to see me for today?


    Xia Wenjin naturally had heard about the incident at the charity banquet.


    When she was still with the Xia Family, she had met Liu Xiaozhen.


    At that time, Xia Wenqing was still attending university, and because of the previous campus bullying incident, she had to seek Xia Wenqing¡¯s help and had seen Liu Xiaozhen then.


    She remembered that woman, whose eyes and brows were full of calculations; she was clearly not someone Xia Wenqing would like.


    Xia Wenjin had not expected Liu Xiaozhen to pursue Xia Wenqing all the way to their home country.


    She had thought that Liu Xiaozhen had already won Xia Wenqing over abroad.


    Unexpectedly, after all this time, Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s efforts had still come to naught.


    Xia Wenjin narrowed her eyes and looked outside through the coffee shop¡¯s window.


    White snow lay on the ground, forming an endless expanse of white.


    She picked up her coffee and took another sip, then watched from a distance as a woman wrapped in a coat walked by.


    On snowy days, there were not many people outside.


    The coffee shop had only a few scattered patrons.


    ¡°What do you want with me today?¡± Hao Jiayi had been relying on her injured foot as an excuse to stay in the hospital these past few days.


    Although it was a bit boring, the absence of Xiao Mo¡¯s harassment was a welcome respite.


    Xia Wenjin gave a light chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m here, of course, about our previous deal. You¡¯ve already received the money, you¡¯re not having second thoughts, are you?¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s face changed slightly, ¡°Why would I? It¡¯s just that my leg has been inconvenient lately...¡±


    ¡°Your leg healed a long time ago, and you know the exact condition better than I do, don¡¯t you?¡± Xia Wenjin looked at Hao Jiayi with a smile that did not reach her eyes.


    Left with no excuses, Hao Jiayi simply hung her head in silence.


    Xia Wenjin was not annoyed, ¡°I know very well what you¡¯re thinking, and don¡¯t forget, from the moment you asked me for that money, you and I were tied to the same string. You can¡¯t escape now, so it¡¯s better to cooperate.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Hao Jiayi could only nod, ¡°Alright, tell me, what do you need me to do?¡±


    Just as Xia Wenjin was about to speak, Hao Jiayi quickly added, ¡°Let me make it clear in advance that if you want me to steal confidential materials from Xiao Mo¡¯s office or anything of the like, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you. That man doesn¡¯t trust me at all, he wouldn¡¯t leave such important things within my reach.¡±


    Hao Jiayi said this partly to dissuade Xia Wenjin from asking her to steal company secrets. After all, if Xiao Mo found out, she would be dead, not to mention that such an act was illegal and would result in imprisonment.


    Even if she was foolish, she wouldn¡¯t do such a thing for money.


    Xia Wenjin raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m not that bored.¡±


    The position Xiao Mo held as a department manager meant he did not oversee many major projects.


    Even if she had Hao Jiayi take his documents, it would not cause Xiao Mo much damage, so there was no need for her to take risks over such trivial matters.


    Hearing Xia Wenjin say this, Hao Jiayi secretly sighed in relief.


    ¡°I need you to leak Xiao Jinglan¡¯s whereabouts to me,¡± Xia Wenjin said with eyes narrowing like a fox, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be too stressful for you, right?¡±


    Hao Jiayi was slightly stunned, looking at Xia Wenjin with some confusion.


    Wasn¡¯t this woman out to get revenge on Xiao Mo?


    Why did she want the whereabouts of Xiao Jinglan?


    It seemed as if Xia Wenjin caught the confusion in her eyes and, propping her chin with her hand, she nonchalantly said, ¡°Just because Xiao Mo is my enemy doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll let Xiao Jinglan off.¡±


    Back then, it was both Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan who had tricked her into going abroad.


    Had it not been for her destiny to survive, she might have died abroad.


    After her disappearance, that fellow Xiao Mo even spread rumors about her. She would not let either of these two scumbags off the hook!


    Hao Jiayi didn¡¯t understand where Xia Wenjin¡¯s hostility towards Xiao Jinglan came from, but as long as it didn¡¯t come to a direct confrontation with Xiao Mo, she didn¡¯t see it as much of an issue.


    After all, the boss was the one paying, and what she said went.


    ¡°Also, take this, and when you get back, put it into Xiao Mo¡¯s tonic,¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s fingertips lightly tapped a transparent bottle.


    ¡°Inside is a slow-acting poison that won¡¯t be detected.¡±


    Hao Jiayi looked at the bottle in her hands with a heavy gaze, ¡°I won¡¯t do this sort of poisoning. It¡¯s illegal, don¡¯t you know that?¡±


    Xia Wenjin scoffed, ¡°When you were conning other men, why didn¡¯t you say it was illegal?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s complexion instantly turned both green and pale. She hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin to have thoroughly investigated her background.


    She clenched her fists but ultimately still grabbed the bottle of poison.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is slow-acting poison. If you don¡¯t trust it, you can try it yourself¡ªa dose or two, it won¡¯t have any effect,¡± Xia Wenjin smiled at Hao Jiayi, ¡°If you are capable, it¡¯s best to get some proof of your relationship with Xiao Mo. That way, when he dies, the Xiao Family¡¯s inheritance will be all yours.¡±


    She casually dropped this reminder, causing Hao Jiayi¡¯s previously resistant expression to fade significantly.


    Hao Jiayi had been set on leaving Xiao Mo, never considering marrying him¡ªafter all, the man¡¯s tastes were just too perverse.


    Being tormented by him to the brink of death every day, how could she possibly think about inheritance?


    But Xia Wenjin¡¯s words opened a new perspective for her.


    Hao Jiayi hesitated for a moment before raising her eyes to Xia Wenjin, ¡°If he really dies, won¡¯t this medicine be detected?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s fingertips lightly twirled a strand of hair near her ear, ¡°You can wait and see how things unfold after Xia Jinglan is dead...¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Her statement instantly made Hao Jiayi realize something.


    So Xiao Jinglan was currently taking this poison?


    She had always thought Xiao Jinglan looked a bit feeble because she was unwell.


    It turned out she had been poisoned!


    Considering Xiao Jinglan¡¯s usual arrogantly nonchalant demeanor, she probably didn¡¯t even know, did she?


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s hesitant gaze turned to Xia Wenjin, wanting to ask but not knowing where to start.


    Xia Wenjin was still leisurely twirling her hair, speaking indifferently, ¡°You don¡¯t need to doubt it, I am the one who poisoned Xiao Jinglan. As for how I knew about the poison, I have to thank Ms. Xiao Jinglan for her meticulous preparation of my food.¡±


    Hao Jiayi wasn¡¯t a fool; how could she not understand the implication behind Xia Wenjin¡¯s words?


    She had never considered that Xia Wenjin and Xiao Jinglan had any interaction.


    But then again, if the two had no history, how could Xia Wenjin harbor such hatred toward Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo?


    Thinking this, Hao Jiayi breathed a sigh of relief.


    As long as the poison couldn¡¯t be detected anytime soon, that was all that mattered.


    Once she married Xiao Mo, she could increase the dosage, and then... all the Xiao Family¡¯s wealth would be hers alone.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s mood improved considerably, and she looked at Xia Wenjin with much more warmth.

 Chapter 592: 590 Off the Mark

    Chapter 592: Chapter 590 Off the Mark


    Who would refuse someone who comes bringing money?


    Because Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan attended a charity dinner, Song Sinian and Pei Huai gathered together.


    ¡°The heir of the Rimu Family is really busy, only now finding time,¡± Song Sinian glanced at Pei Huai and quipped casually.


    He had been wanting to find time to talk to Pei Huai about Feng Xixi, but he was always elusive, barely showing up, making it impossible for them to have a chat.


    Moreover, this matter couldn¡¯t be discussed over a phone call, which left Song Sinian speechless.


    Pei Huai raised his eyebrows, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard that the CEO of Song Group is so picky, looks like your recovery is going well.¡±


    The two had already become friends due to their relationship with Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan.


    In addition, they were dealing with the same person and needed to cooperate from time to time, so they spoke quite frankly when they met.


    Song Sinian looked coldly at Pei Huai, ¡°The same goes for both of us, my illness is visible, but yours...¡±


    ¡°Stop, stop, let¡¯s talk about why you asked me to come today,¡± Pei Huai shifted the topic timely.


    He didn¡¯t want to be targeted by Song Sinian over this matter.


    This man held grudges even more than he did; it was better to be cautious.


    Song Sinian looked at Pei Huai wordlessly, picked up some documents from the table, and pushed them in front of him.


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows lifted as he flipped through the documents, but soon he closed them, ¡°Aren¡¯t these the files you asked me to investigate before? Is there a problem with these files?¡±


    He had verified all the information he sent; everything should be fine, Feng Xixi was indeed Feng Xiran¡¯s sister.


    That also made her Song Sinian¡¯s aunt.


    According to this logic, Xia Wenjin also had a family relation with Song Sinian.


    Tsk tsk... that was quite remarkable.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, his gaze landing on the documents in front, his tone light, ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with these documents, but there¡¯s one thing very strange among them that I¡¯m not sure about, so I wanted to discuss it with you.¡±


    ¡°You have something you¡¯re not sure about?¡± Pei Huai¡¯s mouth twitched slightly upward, a smile apparent as he looked at Song Sinian.


    He had thought this man was invincible.


    Song Sinian ignored Pei Huai¡¯s teasing and continued, ¡°Because I¡¯m not reborn, so I¡¯m not clear about it.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This statement immediately made Pei Huai¡¯s smile disappear.


    Only now did he realize that what Song Sinian wanted to talk about might be... more serious than he had imagined.


    He looked nervously at Song Sinian, ¡°What exactly have you discovered?¡±


    ¡°I suspect Feng Xixi is not simple, she could have secretly had a child with Lu Dagui and then swapped it to the Xia Family; don¡¯t you find that strange?¡±


    Song Sinian glanced at Pei Huai, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about how she managed to swap the child first, just the fact that she knew the Xia Family was expecting a daughter is very strange.¡±


    Pei Huai noticed this point too, ¡°You mean she was also reborn?¡±


    He had been reborn, Lu Zhaozhao had been reborn, then it wasn¡¯t impossible for Feng Xixi either.


    But Song Sinian shook his head outright, ¡°No, if it was just rebirth, she couldn¡¯t possibly know so much information unless she knew early she would be reborn and deliberately found out these things.¡±


    The Xia Family wouldn¡¯t have returned to the country if not for Xia Wenjin.


    That is to say, if their child was originally Lu Zhaozhao, she wouldn¡¯t have attended college in the country.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t have been bullied overseas out of school.


    With her capabilities, she might even have become a somewhat famous painter like Xia Wenmo.


    And she and him would never have intersected.


    Not to mention Feng Xixi.


    Song Sinian had actually suspected whether Feng Xixi was reborn before, but once he thought it through, he found everything eerily suspicious.


    It was as if... Feng Xixi was sure that everything had happened by design.


    As if she knew that swapping her daughter to the Xia Family would ultimately lead to Xia Wenjin marrying into the Song Family.


    This bizarre feeling made Song Sinian extremely uncomfortable.


    Pei Huai¡¯s brows twisted into a knot, ¡°Besides that, what other possibilities are there? Does she have a script in her hands?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t pick up his words, causing Pei Huai¡¯s eyes to widen suddenly; it wasn¡¯t impossible.


    After all, such themes had been common in novels and TV dramas.


    He had been able to be reborn; why couldn¡¯t others travel into a book?


    Realizing this, Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°So what, are we all emotionless NPCs?¡±


    If Feng Xixi really had traveled into a book, they were just characters set in the plot.


    Thinking about it was quite pitiful indeed.


    Song Sinian shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m more inclined to think that Feng Xixi wanted to break the original love line and make her daughter the protagonist; only... Xia Wenjin ran away before her time. And because of her rebirth, Zhaozhao changed the plot.¡±


    ¡°Good grief, this is more complex than the dramas I¡¯ve acted in, but... it makes sense,¡± Pei Huai had to admit, Song Sinian¡¯s thought process indeed surpassed that of ordinary people.


    His imagination was vast yet meticulous.


    However, he soon realized a critical point, ¡°If Feng Xixi really knows the script, then why didn¡¯t she just marry your dad? If I remember correctly, she and your mom were twins, right?¡±


    Although it might seem a bit inappropriate to ask, the possibility existed¡ªaltering the plot from the source was surely the correct course.


    Song Sinian shrugged, ¡°Is there a possibility that I am the male lead and had to be born from Feng Xiran¡¯s womb?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    What gave him the confidence to say such things without blushing?


    He had been the male lead in countless dramas, did he say anything?


    Pei Huai rolled his eyes helplessly, ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I be the male lead?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at him unapologetically, ¡°If you were the male lead, the genre would probably change.¡±


    ¡°This is discrimination against niche literature!¡± Pei Huai grumbled indignantly.


    Then he heard Song Sinian¡¯s solemn voice, ¡°What I mean is, the things you did in R Country were too criminal, really rough, very beheading.¡±


    Pei Huai looked at Song Sinian with a mix of laughter and helplessness, ¡°That¡¯s survival instinct in R Country, you can¡¯t compare domestic law to foreign situations, right?¡±


    If he didn¡¯t have iron fists in R Country, he probably would have been finished long ago.


    Then he wouldn¡¯t see his Yanyan again.


    Song Sinian slightly raised an eyebrow, ¡°Alright, stop joking, let¡¯s talk about the real issue.¡±


    The matter regarding Feng Xixi always made him somewhat uneasy; if it was really as he suspected, where had the plot reached now?


    Did she still have a chance to counterattack?


    ¡°Are you worried about Feng Xixi causing trouble, or are you worried... she has other abilities?¡±

 Chapter 593: 591 Not Impossible

    Chapter 593: Chapter 591 Not Impossible


    Pei Huai lounged on the sofa, seemingly unconcerned, which lacked the urgency that Song Sinian felt.


    This made Song Sinian furrow his brows slightly, not understanding why this man seemed less anxious after hearing the news.


    Seeing that Song Sinian did not respond, Pei Huai simply spilled all his thoughts.


    ¡°I think if Feng Xixi really holds the script, then after Xia Wenjin was tricked abroad, the script became a mess.¡±


    Song Sinian remained silent and did not deny the possibility.


    Pei Huai blinked and continued, ¡°Feng Xixi currently doesn¡¯t have reliable resources. Her biggest support right now is Fengya Ichiro. What do you think he would do if I showed a bit of hostility towards Feng Xixi?¡±


    As businessmen, Song Sinian of course understood how Fengya Ichiro would choose, especially since Feng Xixi was not his beloved woman but merely a mistress.


    He had even fewer reservations.


    Song Sinian nodded in agreement; this was probably the best approach for now.


    He pondered for a moment before speaking again, ¡°You better make sure Fengya Ichiro keeps an eye on Feng Xixi. If there¡¯s any trouble from her end, it¡¯s all on him.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°To speak of damage, you¡¯re really harsh, kid.¡±


    Song Sinian rolled his eyes, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you say why Fengya Ichiro is scared of you?¡±


    Because of what Feng Ya Meizi had done to him previously, he almost razed the Fengya family to the ground. For his own sake, Fengya Ichiro probably wouldn¡¯t want any more headaches.


    He could ruthlessly replace even his heirs, let alone a mistress.


    Perhaps, to show his loyalty, Fengya Ichiro might even take Feng Xixi out himself.


    If things really came to that, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad solution.


    With Feng Xixi gone, everyone would be happy.


    Yet, Song Sinian still worried about Feng Xixi having some special trump card.


    In that case, it would be better to have someone keep an eye on her.


    Fengya Ichiro was perfectly suited for that role.


    After discussing this with Song Sinian, Pei Huai quickly handled the matter.


    He saw Song Sinian still deep in thought at the desk, and so he took the initiative to break the silence, ¡°I heard that these past few days, Mr. Feng of the Feng family has joined Song Group?¡±


    He had learned this news from Xia Wenyan.


    The matter of Feng Jiaye joining Song Group was decided by Lu Zhaozhao, and Xia Wenyan was understandably very concerned.


    In his past life, he never heard of the Feng family making a name in the Shangjing Circle.


    Plus, after carefully reviewing Feng Jiaye¡¯s data, he had no good impression of this pampered son of the Feng family.


    Lacking abilities and yet aiming too high.


    He probably joined Song Group hoping to share in the spoils, not considering his own capabilities.


    Probably not even as good as Xiao Mo.


    Tch tch, thinking about it, there are really quite a few eyeing Song Group as a big fat piece of meat.


    Song Sinian noncommittally curled his lip, ¡°The man is indeed already in the company, and according to Zhaozhao¡¯s wishes, let him be in the same department as Xiao Mo, and at the same level too.¡±


    Of course, these were also demands made by Feng Jiaye himself.


    He now thoroughly hates Xiao Mo and naturally wants to try every possible means to deal with him, but his hostility is too obvious, not even knowing how to be indirect.


    He started nitpicking from the moment he arrived at the company, causing Xiao Mo to be bothered by his troubles.


    Looking at it is quite interesting.


    Pei Huai, upon seeing this, his eyes shimmered slightly, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s time for us to muddy the waters and help this brave Mr. Feng?¡±


    Song Sinian pondered for a moment, ¡°I suppose that¡¯s not a bad idea.¡±


    He also enjoyed the matter of adding fuel to Xiao Mo¡¯s fire.


    It saved certain people from being too idle in the company and causing mischief everywhere.


    With Song Sinian¡¯s words, Pei Huai¡¯s face brightened even more, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Meanwhile, in Country R, Fengya Ichiro received a message from Pei Huai.


    He was instantly not well.


    He hurriedly called his trusted subordinate, ¡°What mischief has Feng Xixi been up to recently?¡±


    The named Nantiao was stunned, ¡°Feng Xixi? You mean your former mistress, Feng Xixi?¡±


    Isn¡¯t she abroad?


    She had just sent Feng Ya Meizi there not long ago...


    Could it be that their Family Head wanted news about Feng Ya Meizi?


    He pondered for a moment and then asked another question, ¡°Family Head, do you want to know about Miss Feng Ya¡¯s situation?¡±


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s face darkened further, and he slammed the teacup on the table, ¡°I¡¯m asking about Feng Xixi! Can you not understand human speech?¡±


    Nantiao was frightened by him and involuntarily shivered, but he quickly recovered.


    He hurriedly wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, ¡°Feng Xixi has been in Country F recently, and the young mistress is also in Country F, but the woman impersonating the young mistress seems to have gone to the domestic...¡±


    Nantiao timidly looked at Fengya Ichiro, fearing he would throw another cup.


    Their Family Head¡¯s temper wasn¡¯t so volatile before, but ever since Feng Ya Meizi was disfigured, his temperament had become increasingly irritable.


    He wondered if it was because he was heartbroken over his only heir being lost, or... because he was worried about the future of the Fengya family.


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Go check what connections Feng Xixi has with Pei Huai?¡±


    ¡°Pei Huai?¡± Nantiao paused, ¡°Family Head, Are you talking about that person from the Rimu Family...¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, Fengya Ichiro glared at him harshly.


    Nantiao immediately fell silent, realizing he was correct.


    Only he could make their Family Head this irritable.


    It was also because of Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s stubbornness that they had offended the Rimu Family¡¯s Family Head.


    Now, many of Fengya Family¡¯s businesses were being suppressed by the Rimu Family, and even though Feng Ya Meizi was disfigured by the Rimu Family¡¯s Family Head, they didn¡¯t dare say much.


    After all, Feng Ya Meizi had brought it upon herself.


    Because of her actions, she had also dragged down the Fengya family.


    If Fengya Ichiro had not removed Feng Ya Meizi from the position of family heir back then, he likely wouldn¡¯t have been able to maintain control.


    Although the demands of the Rimu Family were aggressive, they also gave Fengya Ichiro a better way out.


    Nantiao hesitated, ¡°Family Head, do you want to bring Feng Xixi back directly?¡±


    Their Family Head cared so much about whether Feng Xixi had any dealings with Pei Huai.


    It was definitely not because Feng Xixi had provoked Pei Huai, but rather, it¡¯s unknown how she had offended him.


    Seeing that Fengya Ichiro did not speak, Nantiao continued, ¡°In such situations, the best course of action is to bring Feng Xixi back. If it¡¯s truly her who has offended Pei Huai, we also have ways to deal with it.¡±

 Chapter 594: 592: As If the Brain Is Online

    Chapter 594: Chapter 592: As If the Brain Is Online


    Feng Ya Ichiro listened to Nantiao¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but nod his head, the originally volatile mood also calmed down a lot...


    He narrowed his eyes, ¡°Have Feng Xixi roll back here now!¡±


    Every time Feng Ya Ichiro thought of Pei Huai¡¯s words, ¡°No matter what Feng Xixi did in the future, it would fall on his head,¡± he felt a tremendous headache.


    He had originally thought that the trouble Feng Ya Meizi was causing was already annoying enough, and now there was Feng Xixi. Was he destined to be brought down by women in his life?


    Suddenly, Feng Ya Ichiro seemed to remember something and looked up at Nantiao, asking, ¡°You just mentioned that woman went to the domestic?¡±


    Nantiao was stunned for a moment, then realized who the woman Feng Ya Ichiro was referring to.


    It was the woman who had undergone plastic surgery to become their young mistress.


    He nodded repeatedly, ¡°Right, the one called Xia Wenjin has already returned to the domestic. According to the bodyguard¡¯s report, she has already settled in and made contact with several people.¡±


    Nantiao said this while handing over the previously received information to Feng Ya Ichiro.


    He had also investigated this woman¡¯s past and heard that she was the real daughter of the Lu Family from the Shangjing Circle and used to be the foster daughter of the XJ Group.


    But she had managed to mess up a good hand, much like Feng Ya Meizi in that respect.


    He had thought that once Xia Wenjin was back in the domestic, she would immediately begin taking revenge on her former husband, but instead, she methodically found several helpers.


    As if her mind was in the game.


    Feng Ya Ichiro looked at the information in his hand and frowned tightly.


    If he remembered correctly, Pei Huai seemed to have an extraordinary relationship with the fourth young master of the Xia Family.


    He had also sent people to follow Pei Huai, hoping to find his weak spot to better control him.


    But search as they might, there was no one around him besides Xia Wenyan.


    And Xia Wenyan was not someone he could afford to touch.


    The Fengya Family did have some influence in R country, but compared to the multinational XJ Group, they were still lacking.


    He already had a powerful competitor in the Renmu Family, and now, to provoke the XJ Group was simply unnecessary.


    Thus, the plan that Feng Ya Ichiro had barely begun to conceive was stillborn.


    As he grew older, taking a little bit of risk was doable, but he couldn¡¯t dare risk his entire family being wiped off the map.


    After all, he couldn¡¯t let the family be ruined on his watch.


    Feng Ya Ichiro narrowed his eyes, ¡°Make sure your people are on their toes. If she tries to make a move on the Xia Family, you know what to do...¡±


    Nantiao nodded vigorously, ¡°Family Head, rest assured, I¡¯ve already briefed them on such matters in advance.¡±


    The unique importance of the Xia Family¡¯s fourth young master to the Rimu Family Head was something they had long heard about.


    Moreover, the Rimu Family Head never bothered to conceal it.


    They would have to try hard not to know.


    Back in R country, the Rimu Family and the Fengya Family were almost neck and neck, and they might not have feared anything, but now the Rimu Family had left them far behind.


    If they did not recognize the times, they were simply waiting to be replaced by others.


    Feng Ya Ichiro breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Nantiao¡¯s response.


    He hesitated for a moment, then took out his phone and sent several messages to Pei Huai, roughly explaining about Xia Wenjin¡¯s plastic surgery and, incidentally, promising to keep a tight leash on Feng Xixi.


    It was a gesture of goodwill towards Pei Huai.


    After all, Pei Huai had already shown him a clear path, and if he couldn¡¯t see that, he really was living in vain.


    Fortunately, Pei Huai replied to his messages quickly, and Feng Ya Ichiro breathed a sigh of relief.


    It seemed that the immediate threat of their family being obliterated by the Rimu Family was not a concern.


    He hoped that Xia Wenjin would keep her wits about her and not stir up unnecessary trouble.


    Unfortunately... Feng Ya Ichiro was overly optimistic.


    Before returning to the domestic, Xia Wenjin had already planned everything out, including seeking revenge against Xiao Mo and making Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s life a living hell, but Lu Zhaozhao was now Song Sinian¡¯s wife. To find a man in the domestic who could rival Song Sinian was extremely difficult.


    The best solution was to take down Song Sinian.


    Lu Zhaozhao was only favored by Song Sinian because of her appearance.


    She had indeed been inferior to Lu Zhaozhao, plus her style was somewhat similar.


    Comparatively speaking, she did not have the upper hand, but now things were different; Feng Ya Meizi had a mature style.


    With a hint of the vixen in her brows and eyes, she did not believe Song Sinian could resist being tempted.


    To a man, a woman was like food, even if they regularly eat lavish meals, occasionally they crave light porridge and pickles to change the taste.


    Ordinary men were like this; she believed that Song Sinian, after being in his position for so long, would have broader experiences than the average man, making it normal for his heart to change.


    Xia Wenjin looked up at the entrance of the Song Group, very confidently flipped her hair, and walked straight in.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here to see President Song.¡±


    When Xia Wenjin approached the reception desk, she blurted out to the two receptionists. The employees were slightly taken aback by Xia Wenjin¡¯s formidable presence and the two bodyguards standing behind her.


    Then, the two receptionists quickly reacted, smiling at Xia Wenjin and asking, ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am, do you have an appointment?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed sharply, ¡°I have business cooperation to discuss with your president, tell him I am the young mistress of the Feng Ya Family from R country, and I want to discuss business with him.¡±


    ¡°Uh... Well...¡±


    The receptionist was obviously a bit troubled.


    The other receptionist at her side gave her a tug and said, ¡°Sorry, ma¡¯am, we don¡¯t have the authority to call the president directly, but we can contact his secretary, please wait a moment.¡±


    Regardless of whether this woman was actually coming to discuss business cooperation, they had to maintain politeness.


    If this woman turned out to be a fraud, the secretary might only scold them, but if she was genuine, and they interfered with a potential cooperation, that would spell trouble.


    The two exchanged glances and called Zhao Xi directly.


    Zhao Xi was initially taken aback when he heard ¡°Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s¡± name but quickly composed himself and realized it was Xia Wenjin who had come to their company.


    His brow furrowed in confusion, wondering what Xia Wenjin was up to.


    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly as he saw Zhao Xi¡¯s solemn expression and couldn¡¯t help but slowly speak up.


    Zhao Xi was not the type to be easily flustered unless he encountered something particularly troubling.


    He hesitated as he looked at Song Sinian and hung up the phone he was holding, then said word for word, ¡°Sir, Xia Wenjin is here at our company under the name Feng Yamei, she¡¯s downstairs right now. Should we let her come up?¡±


    Zhao Xi was also hesitant; if they didn¡¯t let her come up, they wouldn¡¯t know why Xia Wenjin had come.


    But if they did let her come up, he was worried Xia Wenjin might pull some tricks.

 Chapter 595: 593: The Reaction Is So Overwhelming!

    Chapter 595: Chapter 593: The Reaction Is So Overwhelming!


    ¡°If they let their master get hurt by then, it really would be hard to absolve himself of the blame...¡±


    Zhao Xi said this with unease, his gaze constantly fixed on Song Sinian.


    He tried to find a solution in their master¡¯s eyes.


    Just as he hesitated whether to say anything more, Song Sinian suddenly broke the silence, ¡°Let Xia Wenjin come up. I want to see what tricks he¡¯s planning to pull.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Zhao Xi hesitated, but he finally nodded.


    He decided to have Xia Wenjin come up later and meanwhile arrange for the bodyguards to wait nearby.


    He absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow Xia Wenjin to harm their master in the slightest!


    Zhao Xi made up his mind, took a deep breath, and then continued, ¡°Sir, Shall I arrange a reception room?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Song Sinian responded succinctly, without saying more. Letting Xia Wenjin into his office really wasn¡¯t appropriate.


    After all, he didn¡¯t know what game Xia Wenjin was playing¡ªit was better to remain more vigilant.


    Soon, Xia Wenjin arrived at the reception room along with two bodyguards.


    The reception room Zhao Xi had prepared was spacious, yet the two bodyguards were stopped by Zhao Xi from entering.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t mind and walked straight in. Seeing Song Sinian sitting by the sofa, she sat smilingly directly across from him.


    Song Sinian¡¯s demeanor was calm and collected, ¡°I heard that Miss Feng Ya wants to cooperate with our company. I wonder what kind of cooperation you have in mind?¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s gaze measured Song Sinian¡¯s face. Surprisingly, during the time they hadn¡¯t seen each other, this man had become even more attractive.


    What shocked her more was that Song Sinian¡¯s previously unapproachable demeanor had softened considerably.


    At least now, when she faced Song Sinian, she didn¡¯t feel the same suffocation as before.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s heart raced briefly¡ªcould it be that his illness was cured?


    The Lu Family hadn¡¯t yet fallen when he accidentally heard Lu Dagui mention that Song Sinian seemed to have some emotional issues.


    They had even called him a monster. Back then, the rumors in the Beijing Circle were especially wild¡ªthis was also the reason they had forced Lu Zhaozhao to marry him.


    That woman had turned misfortune into a blessing.


    As Xia Wenjin thought about this, his fists tightened involuntarily¡ªit should have been him, this outstanding man. All that Lu Zhaozhao was enjoying now should have been his.


    Whether the resources of the Xia Family, or those of the Lu Family, or even the Song Family, should have been his.


    They should have loved only him; it was all because of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s appearance...


    Just by thinking this way, Xia Wenjin wished he could get rid of that thorn in his eye right now!


    But he held back this time because he knew that merely hurting Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t change the current situation. The best way now was to win over Song Sinian first. With Song Sinian on his side, the rest wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin took a deep breath to calm his emotions.


    Then he looked at Song Sinian with a smile and said word by word, ¡°The Feng Ya Family wants to expand business domestically, naturally, we see the Song Group as a great ship to ride. I wonder if I could have the opportunity to go a step further with President Song.¡±


    As he said this, he picked up the teacup on the table, poured a glass of water, and then pushed it toward Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian raised his eyebrows in puzzlement; if he remembered correctly, Feng Ya Meizi hardly had any real power.


    Xia Wenjin absolutely couldn¡¯t, under the guise of Feng Ya Meizi, carry out so-called business domestically.


    So what exactly was this woman selling?


    He pretended to casually reach for the teacup on the table, but Xia Wenjin suddenly grabbed his fingertips.


    ¡°President Song, this tea, I...¡±


    Before Xia Wenjin could finish her sentence, Song Sinian jerked his hand away.


    The cup in his hand directly smashed onto Xia Wenjin, and immediately a shriek echoed throughout the entire reception room.


    Zhao Xi immediately rushed to Song Sinian¡¯s side and saw him looking disgustingly at his own hand, as if he wanted to chop it off right there.


    He hurriedly took a disinfectant wipe and handed it to Song Sinian.


    The latter immediately started scrubbing vigorously, not sparing the woman across from him any face.


    Xia Wenjin originally wanted to test Song Sinian, but she did not expect his reaction to be so extreme!


    Even more outrageous, the tea was still very hot when it spilled on her, reddening her skin and she wasn¡¯t sure if it would blister.


    Just after Xia Wenjin screamed, before she could even speak, she heard Zhao Xi indignantly say, ¡°Miss Feng Ya, we treat you as a guest, and yet you attack our Mr. Song? Did you also intend to throw boiling water on him?¡±


    Xia Wenjin: ¡°???¡±


    It was clear that the person who got scalded by the boiling water was him, but to Zhao Xi, it seemed as if she had intentionally splashed Song Sinian.


    He didn¡¯t get a single drop of tea on him.


    Just as Xia Wenjin was about to defend herself, she heard Zhao Xi¡¯s icy voice once more, ¡°Considering that Miss Feng Ya has just come to our country and might not understand our customs, we can let this pass, but we reserve the right to pursue this matter! Please restrain yourself, Miss Feng Ya!¡±


    Whether it¡¯s scalding someone with boiling water or taking the opportunity to grope, even if charged, the punishment won¡¯t be severe.


    Zhao Xi said this merely as a warning to Xia Wenjin.


    And by now, he also figured out Xia Wenjin¡¯s intentions.


    He was truly speechless. Xia Wenjin previously relied on her own face to seduce their Mr. Song unsuccessfully, and now with a new face, the first thing she eagerly did was try to seduce him with it.


    She dared to try anything monstrous.


    Does she not have any awareness of her own appearance?


    Whether it¡¯s Feng Ya Meizi or Xia Wenjin¡¯s face, compared to their lady, it¡¯s like heaven and earth!


    How does she have the confidence to think that she could seduce their Mr. Song with her face?


    Who gave her such confidence? Liang Jing Ru?


    Zhao Xi felt like cursing, but to avoid being too obvious, he just indifferently watched Xia Wenjin.


    Xia Wenjin was clearly intimidated by Zhao Xi, but she quickly recovered and hurriedly explained, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything else, I just wanted to pour a cup of tea for President Song. Besides, we might be business partners in the future, a closer relationship shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡±


    When Xia Wenjin said this, Song Sinian nearly vomited on the spot.


    A closer relationship? In her dreams!


    If not for the fact that he still had a use for her, Song Sinian would want to finish her off right now!


    Thinking this, Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows furrowed and he picked up a new alcohol wipe, starting to wipe the hand that Xia Wenjin had touched.

 Chapter 596: 594: Convenient for Him

    Chapter 596: Chapter 594: Convenient for Him


    What bad luck!


    How did he let her grab him like that just now?


    Ah!!!


    This hand might as well be dead to me!


    Xia Wenjin apparently didn¡¯t expect Song Sinian to resist her so much, especially the way he wiped his hands with a disinfectant wipe right in front of her, not leaving her any dignity whatsoever.


    Her face looked extremely unsightly as she stared at Song Sinian, about to say something, when she heard Zhao Xi slowly begin to speak, ¡°Miss Feng Ya is overthinking it. Our Mr. Pei currently has no intention of expanding business overseas, and as for within the country, there are no plans to collaborate with the Feng Ya Family either. You should leave.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°Get out! Get out!¡±


    Before Xia Wenjin could finish her sentence, Song Sinian¡¯s cold voice rang out in the reception room, his sharp gaze sweeping over Xia Wenjin as if he wanted to flay her alive.


    Xia Wenjin visibly shuddered, quivering involuntarily.


    She didn¡¯t dare to say anything more and could only stand up obediently and walk out of the reception room.


    Xia Wenjin was very unwilling to leave, but thinking about Song Sinian¡¯s attitude towards her, she could only leave in a huff.


    It seemed that her plan to latch onto Song Sinian had failed, and she would need to find a new target.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed as she thought of the powerful men in the Shangjing Circle, her brow furrowing into a knot.


    If he remembered correctly, the powerful men in the Shangjing Circle, other than Song Sinian, were the four brothers of the Xia family.


    Other people were so far behind Song Sinian that they were almost negligible; after all, Song Group was unique in the Shangjing Circle.


    If it weren¡¯t for XJ Group coming in to collaborate with Song Group domestically, those Xia men wouldn¡¯t have been able to secure a footing in the Shangjing Circle so quickly.


    Xia Wenjin pondered for a moment and recalled her interactions with the Xia brothers; her expression grew even more sullen.


    Those Xia brothers were all cunning, especially the third one, who was almost devilishly clever.


    If she approached Xia Wenmo, she would likely be taken out before she even got close.


    As for Xia Wenjue, he was so busy with work every day that it was impossible to even find him.


    Although Xia Wenqing was also a workaholic, he was a lawyer and could adjust his workload.


    But Xia Wenqing, with his extensive experience and meticulous mind, could easily spot her deceit.


    After much thought, Xia Wenjin finally set her sights on Xia Wenyan.


    When she was at the Xia family, she had the best relationship with Xia Wenyan, who was a bit simple-minded and easier to deceive.


    Therefore, her plan would have to begin with Xia Wenyan. After she captured Xia Wenyan and legitimately married into the Xia family and bore an heir, she could start scheming to drive Lu Zhaozhao out.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin instantly felt much better.


    Xia Wenyan mixed in the entertainment industry where things were complicated and disorderly; it would be easy for her to meddle.


    If she couldn¡¯t win over Song Sinian, was Xia Wenyan out of her reach too?


    If Xia Wenyan turned out to be that unappreciative, she wouldn¡¯t mind resorting to extreme measures with him.


    Once a man broke his abstinence, wouldn¡¯t he become obedient to her?


    She thought that as long as the man wasn¡¯t a pervert like Xiao Mo, he would be easy to manipulate...


    Xia Wenjin narrowed her eyes at the thought and immediately ordered her subordinates to start investigating Xia Wenyan.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that as soon as she began her investigation, Fengya Ichiro leaked the information to Pei Huai.


    Inside the hotel, Room 226.


    Pei Huai sat quietly on the living room sofa, eyeing the burly bodyguard before him with a slight squint in his eyes.


    ¡°You said, Xia Wenjin asked you to investigate Xia Wenyan¡¯s whereabouts?¡±


    His gaze swept over the bodyguard¡¯s figure, his face betraying no sign of emotion.


    But the bodyguard inexplicably shuddered.


    Though he was ostensibly Xia Wenjin¡¯s bodyguard, in reality, he was someone Fengya Ichiro had sent to China to keep watch over Xia Wenjin.


    To all appearances, they were absolutely obedient to Xia Wenjin.


    But in reality, they reported everything Xia Wenjin did each day to Fengya Ichiro.


    Especially matters related to the Xia Family and Pei Huai, which they were to report back immediately.


    Therefore, under Fengya Ichiro¡¯s orders, he took this chance to inquire about Xia Wenyan¡¯s news and came directly to Pei Huai.


    He nodded repeatedly at Pei Huai¡¯s words, ¡°That¡¯s right, she said she wanted us to clarify the Fourth Young Master Xia¡¯s whereabouts in the next few days. As for what specifically to do, she hasn¡¯t instructed us yet.¡±


    The bodyguard could vaguely guess at Xia Wenjin¡¯s intention but didn¡¯t dare to speak it.


    If he guessed wrong, the consequences would be dire.


    He was just a bodyguard; whatever his master told him to do, he would do.


    As for the rest, naturally, they answered whatever the master asked.


    Pei Huai tapped his fingers lightly on the sofa back, pondered for a moment, and then asked, ¡°What did Xia Wenjin do before telling you this?¡±


    The bodyguard was visibly startled, but still told the truth, ¡°She... she went to Song Group today, saying she wanted to discuss a cooperation with President Song, but was then... thrown directly out.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°Thrown out?¡±


    The bodyguard nodded, ¡°It seems, she angered President Song. When we entered the reception room, President Song¡¯s face looked very bad.¡±


    Pei Huai fell silent for a moment, as if he had thought of something, but said nothing.


    For a time, the bodyguard standing in front of him also began to feel uneasy.


    He stole glances at Pei Huai from time to time but dared not say another word.


    But he had already been away for a long time and was worried that Xia Wenjin might become suspicious.


    The bodyguard thought for a moment, and eventually bit the bullet and said, ¡°Mr. Pei, about... Fourth Young Master Xia¡¯s matter, should I, should I tell her when the time comes?¡±


    If he didn¡¯t inform Xia Wenjin, he would need to fabricate a suitable reason.


    If Pei Huai was willing to let him tell Xia Wenjin, it would also ease his reporting back on the mission.


    Pei Huai looked up at the bodyguard, and after a moment of silence, he slowly said, ¡°You just tell her the truth, but if she has any plans, or any movements, you must inform me immediately.¡±


    Afterward, Pei Huai raised his hand to pick up a card and handed it to the bodyguard, ¡°This is my private number. If there¡¯s any movement, call me immediately, don¡¯t delay even for a minute.¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± The bodyguard took the business card from Pei Huai¡¯s hand with a sense of relief, feeling reassured.


    He had just prepared an excuse for Xia Wenjin and hadn¡¯t expected Pei Huai to agree to let him tell her about Xia Wenyan¡¯s whereabouts.


    This came as a surprise to the bodyguard.


    But this development was convenient for him, so naturally, he had no complaints.


    And with Pei Huai¡¯s support, he had even less to fear.


    All he needed to do was to promptly inform Pei Huai whenever Xia Wenjin stirred up trouble, and his mission would be complete.


    ¡°Mr. Pei, other than this, do you have any other instructions for me?¡± The bodyguard asked before leaving, not forgetting to inquire of Pei Huai.


    After all, he was someone whom their Family Head valued, and it never hurt to ask one more question...

 Chapter 597: 595: This Must Be Poisonous!

    Chapter 597: Chapter 595: This Must Be Poisonous!


    Pei Huai raised his eyebrow slightly, his gaze falling upon the bodyguard, he spoke indifferently, ¡°Tell your Family Head that I¡¯ve received his gesture of goodwill. As for what others have done, I won¡¯t blame it on the Feng Ya Family.¡±


    The bodyguard visibly shuddered.


    Had someone else said this, their Family Head would certainly have knocked the speaker¡¯s head off and then slaughtered him.


    But these words had come from Pei Huai, and that made all the difference.


    He was, after all, the Family Head of the Rimu Family.


    Previously, because of Feng Ya Meizi, their Feng Ya Family had nearly been destroyed by the Rimu Family in R country.


    Being part of the Feng Ya Family, they were naturally aware of the friction between the Feng Ya and the Rimu Families.


    Now, their Family Head was trying his best to show goodwill towards the head of the Rimu Family, all for the sake of ensuring the Feng Ya Family could continue to stand tall in R country.


    After all, in R country the Rimu Family could be said to be unrivaled, and there was no benefit to offending them.


    Their heir had previously offended the Rimu Family, and they had suffered the consequences along with him.


    Now, at last, there was an opportunity for easing the tension, and the bodyguard was naturally willing to pass on the message.


    The bodyguard nodded repeatedly, ¡°I will definitely convey this matter to our Family Head, and please rest assured, Mr. Pei.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Watching the bodyguard leave, Pei Huai then waved his hand, signaling the others to depart.


    After a moment, he took out his phone and dialed Song Sinian¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello?¡± A cool voice came from the other end.


    Song Sinian¡¯s voice was calm, betraying no hint of fluctuation.


    Pei Huai¡¯s brow raised slightly, ¡°I heard Xia Wenjin visited your office today. What did she do to you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    There was an evident pause on the other end of the line.


    This made Pei Huai even more curious, particularly because this matter was also related to Xia Wenyan, so after a pause, he asked again, ¡°Xia Wenjin went to your office, she didn¡¯t do anything inappropriate, did she?¡±


    ¡°What exactly do you mean by ¡®inappropriate¡¯?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s deep voice slowly came over the phone.


    Although his tone remained as level as ever, Pei Huai could still detect a hint of annoyance in his voice.


    Worried that Song Sinian might suspect him of planting spies in the Song Group, Pei Huai immediately explained, ¡°I just received word from the Feng Ya Family, they sent someone to follow Xia Wenjin to your company. I heard you threw someone out, and then immediately had someone investigate Yanyan¡¯s whereabouts, so that¡¯s why I called you.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s mood seemed to ease somewhat on the other end of the line, ¡°That woman Xia Wenjin came to the Song Group to seduce me. The reason I threw her out is because she touched me with her dirty hands.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai was left speechless.


    If Xia Wenjin went to the Song Group to seduce Song Sinian, then his investigation into Xia Wenyan¡¯s whereabouts was clearly for an evident purpose.


    Thinking this, Pei Huai¡¯s entire face darkened.


    Song Sinian naturally understood what Xia Wenjin was planning to do next.


    He scoffed coldly, ¡°Even with a changed face, her tactics are the same as before, completely disgraceful.¡±


    With the identity of Feng Ya Meizi, Xia Wenjin might indeed be able to turn the tables if she could make use of it.


    At the very least, in R country, she could still stir up some trouble.


    She didn¡¯t expect her not to use her brain at all, and even chose to come back to the country.


    Pei Huai also thought that Xia Wenjin¡¯s brain was messed up. If she just wanted a life of luxury, she could have lived all her life in R country or F country as Feng Ya Meizi.


    But instead of accepting a peaceful offer, she had to come back and muddle the waters in her own country.


    Every time Pei Huai thought about Xia Wenjin setting her sights on Xia Wenyan, he couldn¡¯t help but clench his fists tightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the follow-up of this matter.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Song Sinian didn¡¯t struggle and readily let go, leaving the matter for Pei Huai to handle.He believed in Pei Huai¡¯s capabilities to leave no loose ends since Xia Wenjin was now targeting Xia Wenyan.


    With Pei Huai¡¯s personality, he wouldn¡¯t give Xia Wenjin any leeway, so he naturally felt reassured.


    The two then exchanged a few brief words before hanging up the phone.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    As Pei Huai was deep in thought, someone suddenly knocked on the hotel room door.


    His brows furrowed slightly as he looked towards the door, not expecting the hotel room door to be suddenly opened from the outside.


    The person who entered was Xia Wenyan, and seeing his attractive eyebrows and sharp aura, Pei Huai relaxed.


    ¡°What, has someone upset you again?¡± Xia Wenyan asked as he walked in with a food container in hand.


    Seeing the expression on Pei Huai¡¯s face, vastly different from usual, he couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Pei Huai gestured with his hand for him to come and sit beside him, and Xia Wenyan obediently moved closer.


    Pei Huai originally didn¡¯t want to trouble Xia Wenyan with such annoying matters, but looking into his clear eyes, he couldn¡¯t hide it any longer.


    Pei Huai sighed helplessly and rested his head on Xia Wenyan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I received news from the Fengya Family today; Xia Wenjin has made another move.¡±


    Xia Wenyan suddenly perked up, ¡°Is she planning to take revenge on Xiao Mo herself?¡±


    Besides that, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t think of any new moves Xia Wenjin could make since, both in her previous identity and now, she was in no position to compete with the Song Group and XJ Group.


    So Xia Wenyan felt that if Xia Wenjin had any brains, she wouldn¡¯t confront the Song Group or XJ Group directly.


    Pei Huai shook his head directly, ¡°If she had that kind of ability, I would definitely see her in a different light.¡±


    His voice was low, but the sarcastic tone was still detectable to Xia Wenyan.


    He looked puzzledly at Pei Huai, ¡°Other than dealing with Xiao Mo, what else can she do?¡±


    If he remembered correctly, Xia Wenjin had just recently acquired Hao Jiayi and Zhao Qingfeng. With these two cards in hand and not using them, what was she holding onto them for?


    Pei Huai¡¯s gaze turned towards Xia Wenyan, ¡°Today, she went to Song Group to find Song Si...¡±


    ¡°Why is she looking for Song Si?¡± Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me she thinks that because she wasn¡¯t able to seduce Song Si as Xia Wenjin, she¡¯s now trying her luck with a new face?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s response was a nonchalant twist of his mouth.


    Xia Wenyan was a bit shocked, ¡°No way, is she sick in the head? She¡¯s changed identities but still follows the same old tricks? Xia Wenjin must be poisoned or something!¡±


    Seeing Pei Huai remain silent, he continued to criticize, ¡°She failed to seduce someone before and doesn¡¯t learn her lesson? A man like Song Si, besides my sister, who else could be in his eyes? Yet she dares to seduce him? If her brain isn¡¯t flooded, then what is it?¡±


    Pei Huai patted him on the shoulder, seemingly trying to calm his emotions.


    After all, a person like Xia Wenjin, who had a screw loose, was not a new occurrence, and there was no need to get angry over someone completely irrelevant...

 Chapter 598: 596: Each One More Outrageous Than the Last!

    Chapter 598: Chapter 596: Each One More Outrageous Than the Last!


    ¡°You were just in a bad mood, it wasn¡¯t because of Xia Wenjin, was it?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s attractive peach blossom eyes suddenly narrowed, sizing up Pei Huai from head to toe.


    Pei Huai was not the type to wear his emotions on his sleeve, under normal circumstances, he rarely showed his true feelings.


    Unless he was really pissed off.


    As Xia Wenyan thought this, his gaze fixed intently on Pei Huai, and he asked word for word, ¡°Aside from going to the Song Group, what else has he done that¡¯s significant?¡±


    Probably that was the actual reason Pei Huai was angry.


    Pei Huai raised his hand to rub Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, pondered for a moment, then still decided to tell him the truth.


    ¡°After Xia Wenjin left the Song Group, she had her bodyguard investigate your whereabouts, you understand what she wants to do, right?¡±


    The expression on Xia Wenyan¡¯s face visibly soured.


    He crossed his arms and looked at Pei Huai in shock, ¡°No way, she doesn¡¯t have those kinds of thoughts about me too, does she?¡±


    Seeing Pei Huai give him an affirmative look, Xia Wenyan felt a chill run down his spine.


    ¡°Damn, I¡¯ve only been acting like her resentful brother for 20 years, and she actually wants to sleep with me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Actually, not only Xia Wenyan, even Pei Huai felt speechless.


    His gaze turned to Xia Wenyan, ¡°I think she might resort to some extreme measures against you, she doesn¡¯t dare to offend Song Sinian, but that doesn¡¯t mean she won¡¯t dare to offend you.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m in danger? Mother, I feel dirty...¡±


    Pei Huai looked at Xia Wenyan somewhat helplessly, and couldn¡¯t help pinching his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be dirtied, I¡¯m here.¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t let this kind of thing happen again.


    If Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t want to live a good life, then he wouldn¡¯t be courteous either.


    Xia Wenyan nodded his head, then suddenly as if he remembered something, ¡°If Xia Wenjin doesn¡¯t succeed with me, do you think she will target my brothers?¡±


    After all, for Xia Wenjin, sleeping with any one of them would be about the same.


    Pei Huai opened his mouth, about to say it wasn¡¯t possible.


    Although Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t very smart, she still used her brain occasionally.


    Otherwise, after failing to seduce Song Sinian, she wouldn¡¯t have immediately shifted her focus to Xia Wenyan.


    The four Xia brothers, aside from Xia Wenyan, the eldest, Xia Wenjue, was nearly cunning as a demon, the second, Xia Wenqing, was staid but meticulous, and the third looked gentle but was the most ruthless.


    No matter which of the three Xia Wenjin messed with, she wouldn¡¯t end well.


    As for why she targeted Xia Wenyan, it was definitely because, in her eyes, Xia Wenyan was the easiest to trap, the easiest to deceive.


    Pei Huai knew that Xia Wenyan was always kind-hearted and didn¡¯t like to suspect others with the worst intentions.


    But that didn¡¯t mean he should play the sucker!


    Pei Huai saw Xia Wenyan¡¯s furrowed brows and really couldn¡¯t bear to tell him the blunt truth.


    He paused slightly, ¡°I do think it¡¯s necessary to notify your three brothers, just to be safe.¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin was unlikely to plot against them.


    Xia Wenyan, as if receiving a command, immediately sprung up from the sofa, ¡°Brother Pei, you go ahead and eat, I¡¯m going to notify my three brothers right now.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t even taken a step when Pei Huai grabbed his arm, ¡°You can call them, there¡¯s no need to run around, especially since you¡¯re still under Xia Wenjin¡¯s ¡®surveillance.¡¯ If you run around everywhere, you might arouse her suspicions.¡±


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, as if there was some truth to it.


    Seeing this, Pei Huai continued, ¡°So, for the next few days, you stay put with me, don¡¯t go anywhere. If you really need to go out, I¡¯ll accompany you, understand?¡±


    Xia Wenyan cocked his head but didn¡¯t give it much thought.


    After all, when he was in R country, he had been inseparable from Pei Huai.


    So he didn¡¯t find his request excessive; on the contrary, he even felt that Pei Huai was sacrificing his own time for him.


    ¡°Then I guess Brother Pei is going to be burdened. I¡¯ll send a message to my three brothers right now.¡±


    He thought that making a phone call would require repeating it thrice, which might affect his cheery mood, so he decided to drop this bombshell in the family chat!


    [Breaking News! Breaking News! @BigBrother @SecondBrother @ThirdBrother, Xia Wenjin is on the move again, watch out!]


    [Xia Wenjue: What could she possibly be up to? Even the Fengya Family can¡¯t turn the sky upside down, right?]


    [Xia Wenqing: What? Is she planning to rise up domestically?]


    [Xia Wenmo: Is she going to trouble Zhaozhao?]


    [Wen Qingyu: Have I lost internet connection? What Fengya Family? What returning to the country?]


    [Xia Wenyan: Mom! Mom! Wait a sec, we¡¯ll chat privately! Let me finish dropping this bombshell first!]


    Wen Qingyu looked at the messages on her phone, raised an eyebrow somewhat speechlessly, and turned to Lu Zhaozhao, who was sitting opposite her eating tea snacks. She couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you know about... Xia Wenjin¡¯s stuff? I heard she... seems to have returned to the country.¡±


    She knew that this name was not a pleasant topic for Lu Zhaozhao, but her curiosity had been piqued by Xia Wenyan.


    And this darn kid just had to keep people in suspense!


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly startled and looked towards Wen Qingyu, ¡°Mom, why are you suddenly bringing her up?¡±


    Wen Qingyu awkwardly pulled out her phone and handed it to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Here, it¡¯s a message from your fourth brother. You should be able to receive it too.¡±


    Because Lu Zhaozhao had come to accompany Wen Qingyu at the Xia Family, her phone was on silent.


    Song Sinian knew she was here, so if he really needed her, he could just call Wen Qingyu.


    As for anyone else needing to contact her, reaching out to Song Sinian would suffice.


    Thus, Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t noticed the messages in the family chat.


    By the time she saw them, Xia Wenyan¡¯s messages were bouncing out at her.


    [Xia Wenyan: Keep an eye on Xia Wenjin¡¯s movements! She just left Song Group, and even tried to seduce our little sister¡¯s husband!]


    [Xia Wenyan: She was just thrown out today and is already inquiring about our family! Brother Pei says she might be targeting us brothers!]


    [Xia Wenyan: I¡¯m hiding out at Brother Pei¡¯s for a few days! Good luck to you all!]


    [Xia Wenjue: Why do I feel like you¡¯re just here to flaunt your relationship?]


    [Xia Wenqing: Guess I¡¯ll have to stick with Zhenzhen for a bit too, just to be safe.]


    [Xia Wenmo: Dog food +1, luckily, my only love is my fans.]


    [Xia Wenjue: You guys better not be too outrageous!]


    [Xia Wenyan: Hey, hey, hey! Aren¡¯t you guys worried about Xia Wenjin targeting you? Let me tell you, she plans to use special means, and if you fall for it, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you!]


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows lifted at the last message from Xia Wenyan, focusing entirely on the bit about Xia Wenjin having just visited Song Group, looking for Song Sinian!

 Chapter 599: 597: They Dare Not!

    Chapter 599: Chapter 597: They Dare Not!


    How dare she?


    She even tried to seduce Mr. Song from their family for the second time!


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but rub her head, pondering whether to give Song Sinian a call to inquire about the situation, when Wen Qingyu¡¯s voice timely rang out.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t Xia Wenjin previously deceived by Xiao Jinglan and taken to country F? How did she come back? Isn¡¯t she afraid of being exposed in front of Song Sinian?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao came back to her senses and patiently explained, ¡°When she was in country F, someone saved her, but her face was disfigured. She has now had plastic surgery to look like the former heir of the Fengya Family, and has returned to our country.¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes instantly widened, ¡°She had plastic surgery?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she looks very different from before.¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded and briefly explained what she knew to Wen Qingyu.


    ¡°That Feng Ya Meizi is actually the Fengya Family heir who tried to force herself on Brother Pei back in R country.¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes suddenly widened even more. Why did she always feel like the more she heard, the more complicated it got?


    She was a bit overwhelmed for a moment and rubbed her temples, ¡°So you¡¯re saying Xia Wenjin has now had plastic surgery to look like Feng Ya Meizi, then came back to the country to try to seduce Song Sinian, and now that it has failed, she wants to use underhanded tactics to marry your brothers?¡±


    Wen Qingyu suddenly felt like Xia Wenjin¡¯s schemes were about to explode in her face!


    Her eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Didn¡¯t the head of the Fengya Family notice that his daughter has been swapped?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Mr. Song told me that Fengya Ichiro had known about it for a long time. He probably thought that his daughter¡¯s appearance could not be restored and wanted to make use of Xia Wenjin. After all, since it¡¯s not his own biological daughter, he wouldn¡¯t feel distressed using her ruthlessly.¡±


    She had also wondered why Fengya Ichiro was so ruthless toward Feng Ya Meizi.


    But upon thinking it over, this was also a kind of protection for Feng Ya Meizi.


    Although he had apparently abandoned her, in reality, he had let Xia Wenjin take her place, to serve as a woman of the Fengya Family.


    Fengya Ichiro probably had already planned to use Xia Wenjin for an alliance through marriage, hence he directly acknowledged Xia Wenjin¡¯s actions.


    After all, marrying his own daughter off to a nearly dead man, or to serve a pervert, would definitely be difficult for him to accept.


    But if it were some other woman, it wouldn¡¯t matter.


    Even if it meant using someone who bore his daughter¡¯s face.


    He didn¡¯t mind who he paired her with.


    As for the useless Feng Ya Meizi, he could still recycle her, find a man with good genes, and breed the next generation to cultivate a new heir for the Fengya Family.


    Wen Qingyu frowned and couldn¡¯t help but caution, ¡°Zhaozhao, you should also make Sinian be more cautious recently, make sure he doesn¡¯t get schemed against by Xia Wenjin. I feel that if her plans with your brothers don¡¯t succeed, she¡¯ll probably come up with other desperate strategies.¡±


    Xia Wenjin had grown up under her watch, and she knew her character all too well.


    She had always thought it was because of her own failure in upbringing that made Xia Wenjin always so selfish.


    Wen Qingyu had also thought of transforming her with love, but the result was truly her getting more and more presumptuous each time.


    Xia Wenjin had often resorted to any means necessary to achieve her goals.


    Before she had officially returned to the Lu Family, she had even gone as far as to harshly target her own brother.


    Now, with her coming back again, she naturally started worrying about Lu Zhaozhao too.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled lightly, reached out and patted Wen Qingyu¡¯s hand, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve placed quite a few of our people around Xia Wenjin, anything that happens there will be reported to us instantly, and you don¡¯t have to worry about the Fengya Family either, she can¡¯t borrow any power from them.¡±


    As long as Fengya Ichiro isn¡¯t foolish, he won¡¯t assist the tyrant.


    Moreover, Fengya Ichiro doesn¡¯t have the capital to assist the tyrant either.


    He must have wanted to use Xia Wenjin to curry favor with Pei Huai by now, shouldn¡¯t he?


    How could he possibly cooperate with Xia Wenjin?


    Wen Qingyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    When Lu Zhaozhao saw that Wen Qingyu was less tense, she slowly began to speak, ¡°Mom, I just saw that Fourth Brother said Xia Wenjin had approached Mr. Song today. I¡¯ll head back first to see what¡¯s happening.¡±


    ¡°Alright, go quickly, go quickly!¡±


    Wen Qingyu didn¡¯t plan on keeping Lu Zhaozhao there since this matter was not to be taken lightly.


    They were still unclear about the situation at Song Sinian¡¯s side, so it was better for Lu Zhaozhao to return as soon as possible.


    After sending Lu Zhaozhao off, Wen Qingyu created a group with Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, Xia Wenmo, and Xia Wenyan.


    [Wen Qingyu: Zhaozhao just roughly explained the situation to me. How do you plan to handle Xia Wenjin?]


    She furrowed her brows, remembering the recent discussions she had heard about Xia Wenjin¡¯s relationship with the Fengya Family, and added another line.


    [Wen Qingyu: Did the Fengya Family genuinely not support Xia Wenjin from behind this time? We need to investigate this thoroughly.]


    There was quickly some activity in the group.


    [Xia Wenyan: Mom, don¡¯t worry, the Fengya Family wouldn¡¯t dare!]


    [Xia Wenjue: Just to be on the safe side, I think it¡¯s necessary to tighten the noose around the Fengya Family¡¯s neck a bit more. Our family¡¯s business has been doing quite well recently in Country R, which could serve as a good practice for them.]


    [Xia Wenqing: Well done, I just happen to have some free time and will start collecting some legal evidence against the Fengya Family. They have been rising through the underworld, so it should be easy to dig something up.]


    [Xia Wenmo: The underworld is good, the underworld is a place to turn the tables...]


    [Xia Wenyan: Third Brother, don¡¯t be like that, I¡¯m scared!!!]


    His Third Brother used to be just an artistic young man who loved to paint, but ever since he took over their father¡¯s subordinates, he always felt like his Third Brother was a walking Grim Reaper!


    Everywhere he went, trouble followed!


    In Country R, where he had stayed for a few days, he learned quite a bit.


    Even Pei Huai had done some over-the-top things in Country R.


    But, like his Third Brother¡¯s rash actions, he found it difficult to accept.


    [Xia Wenmo: ...]


    He really would excel, not even Pei Huai acted so ruthlessly. Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t think about how Pei Huai managed to intimidate the Rimu Family in such a unique country.


    How he even helped the Rimu Family rise to a higher level?


    He was nearly at the point of wiping out the Rimu Family completely.


    It¡¯s just that Xia Wenyan, that fool, didn¡¯t know, or maybe, it was just that Pei Huai wanted to play the good guy and coddle his naive little brother.


    [Wen Qingyu: You guys need to put more effort into this and don¡¯t let your sister worry about everything, you hear?]


    Wen Qingyu grew tired of watching those few rascals quibble in the group chat; what she worried about the most now was Lu Zhaozhao.


    Although she had Song Sinian to protect her, she couldn¡¯t help but worry about her.


    The absence of the past 20 years had filled her with guilt for her young daughter and fueled her desire to make it up to her.


    That¡¯s why she had no objections when her sons had suggested transferring all the shares to Lu Zhaozhao.


    And having spent some time with Lu Zhaozhao, she felt that this child was worth it...

 Chapter 600: 598: Absolutely Daunting!

    Chapter 600: Chapter 598: Absolutely Daunting!


    The more she interacted with Lu Zhaozhao, the less she wanted the child to be hurt.


    [Xia Wenjue: Mom, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve already assigned additional bodyguards to Zhaozhao, we¡¯ll definitely ensure her safety.]


    [Xia Wenqing: Zhenzhen will be with Zhaozhao for the next few days, if anything comes up, I¡¯ll keep Song Sinian informed right away, don¡¯t worry.]


    [Xia Wenmo: If anything special comes up, I¡¯ll just take care of the person at the root of the problem, there¡¯s nothing that can¡¯t be solved by this approach.]


    [Xia Wenyan: Why do I feel so superfluous every time the three of you finish talking?]


    [Xia Wenjue: It¡¯s not an illusion, you could think about it some more.]


    [Xia Wenqing: Drop the ¡®seems like,¡¯ then mull it over.]


    [Xia Wenmo: Don¡¯t cause any trouble, and consider this a great contribution from you.]


    [Xia Wenyan: So very grateful to you all!!!]


    ...


    Xia Wenyan angrily put away his phone and stomped back into the living room.


    Seeing his state, Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter now?¡±


    Xia Wenyan plopped down on the couch, leaning on Pei Huai¡¯s arm, ¡°I was just kindly reminding my three brothers, and they laughed at me, hmph! They even said it would be helpful if I didn¡¯t cause any trouble! That makes me so mad! I¡¯m clearly the one with the most up-to-date information!¡±


    Pei Huai looked at him, his expression a mix of amusement and sympathy.


    His lips curled up as he reached out to ruffle his hair, which was soft and fluffy like a teddy bear.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, you have the most up-to-date information, so you¡¯ve already played your part. Let them handle the follow-up,¡± he said.


    As Pei Huai spoke, he couldn¡¯t help but add, ¡°As for what you need to do, I¡¯ll take care of it, because we¡¯re one and the same, aren¡¯t we? If I do well, it¡¯s as if you¡¯ve done well too, right?¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s ears suddenly turned red, he wanted to say something in rebuttal, but after thinking it over, it seemed he didn¡¯t have any argument.


    His Brother Pei was amazing, and if Brother Pei was amazing, that meant he was amazing too, no argument!


    Xia Wenyan felt as if all the fur he puffed up in anger was being smoothed down in an instant.


    His mood also improved by more than half.


    With his head resting on Pei Huai¡¯s shoulder, he continued, ¡°Then I can¡¯t drag you down, Brother Pei...¡±


    Pei Huai chuckled softly, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like you¡¯re dragging me down, and if you really feel bad, you could help me with something else.¡±


    He looked at Xia Wenyan with a serene expression, yet his words were tinged with an unspoken implication.


    This time, Xia Wenyan¡¯s ears turned even redder.


    ¡°Ahem... okay, I¡¯ll help you pick out a few good scripts, and I guarantee you¡¯ll make a killing!¡±


    When Xia Wenyan said this, he didn¡¯t dare to continue looking at Pei Huai.


    They were already the closest of people, but he still felt slightly uncomfortable about this kind of thing.


    Pei Huai chuckled again and reached out to ruffle Xia Wenyan¡¯s hair once more, ¡°I¡¯ve handed over all the money I made, it¡¯s not too much to ask for something else, right?¡±


    ¡°No, not too much at all...¡±


    Xia Wenyan really had no comeback and simply lowered his head, murmuring a subdued response.


    This made Pei Huai¡¯s smile even more radiant...


    Xia Wenjin had previously instructed his subordinates to track Xia Wenyan¡¯s whereabouts in hopes of taking action against him.


    But for several days in a row, Xia Wenyan¡¯s routine was fixed, either at the hotel with Pei Huai or on set with Lu Zhaozhao.


    This was a huge headache for Xia Wenjin.


    With Xia Wenyan staying at the hotel with Pei Huai, she definitely had no chance.


    At the filming site, if he clung to Lu Zhaozhao, she only had the brief periods when Lu Zhaozhao was shooting scenes.


    But Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t a big star, her scenes were few and sporadic, making them difficult to predict, let alone plan a move against Xia Wenyan.


    Xia Wenjin sat in the hotel, her entire being extremely agitated.


    Her gaze shifted to the two bodyguards standing in the hotel. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, ¡°You two have been following Xia Wenyan these past few days, is there any way you could help me get this man?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The bodyguards, upon hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, stood there dumbstruck.


    Get Xia Wenyan?


    That was a man protected by the Rimu Family Master; the reason they dared to inform Xia Wenjin of Xia Wenyan¡¯s whereabouts was because they had received grace from the Rimu Family.


    Where would they dare to come up with any ideas?


    If the Rimu Family Master found out, they wouldn¡¯t even know how they died.


    Xia Wenjin saw them all mute like dumb men, and her brows instantly furrowed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t pay you to stand in front of me like mute!¡± her face, displeased, she swept her gaze over the two bodyguards, her words carrying a hint of threat, ¡°If you can¡¯t even help me with such a trivial matter, I see no need to keep you around.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    That was absolutely not an option!


    Their primary purpose in following Xia Wenjin was to keep an eye on her, to prevent her from causing any trouble.


    Now, if they were to leave, and Xia Wenjin really caused some big trouble.


    Even if they apologized with their deaths, it probably wouldn¡¯t be enough.


    The two bodyguards exchanged a glance and hastily changed their tune, saying, ¡°Miss, it¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to offer suggestions, we just think that for a domestic actor, it¡¯s not worth sullying yourself.¡±


    The other bodyguard, upon hearing this, practically wanted to give his comrade a thumbs-up on the spot.


    That was a clever statement!


    It not only placated Lu Zhaozhao but also avoided her taking action against Xia Wenyan.


    Following suit, the bodyguard added, ¡°Miss, I feel the same way! These domestic people are unworthy of you! If you have someone you like, we could go to R country; any type of male star you like, aren¡¯t we able to pick at will?¡±


    For the moment, they were just swaggering with their talk.


    After all, once Xia Wenjin really returned to R country, whatever she did there would no longer be their concern.


    By then, whether Xia Wenjin wanted to find some fresh young meat or seasoned veterans, that would all be Fengya Ichiro¡¯s business.


    By that time, they just had to follow orders.


    But not now.


    Xia Wenyan was absolutely off-limits!


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s frown slightly tightened, but after hearing what the two bodyguards said, her face began to look much better.


    In fact, she had always been wary of these two bodyguards.


    After all, these two people were Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s bodyguards, and she feared that if her behavior deviated from Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s, it might attract their attention, so she usually only had them do some general tasks.


    This time, watching Xia Wenyan was the most secretive and arguably the most outrageous thing she had asked them to do.


    It was also a test for these two bodyguards.


    She had actually been a bit worried that Fengya Ichiro would inquire about the matter, so she had been uneasy for a long time.


    But to her surprise, these two bodyguards seemed not to have betrayed her.


    Or perhaps, even if they had informed Fengya Ichiro, there had been no reaction from him.


    Xia Wenjin had actually investigated Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s dealings in R country before.


    She knew that Feng Ya Meizi often used the Fengya Family¡¯s power in the entertainment circle in R country to find young men, so what she did domestically actually attracted less attention...

 Chapter 601: 599: Theres Actually a Limit

    Chapter 601: Chapter 599: There¡¯s Actually a Limit


    Xia Wenjin naturally did not know that her every move was under the surveillance of Fengya Ichiro and Pei Huai.


    Even she felt her act was seamless.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze swept over the two bodyguards, and she relaxed considerably.


    Her hand gently knocked on the back of the chair, ¡°I¡¯m fed up with the fresh meat from Country R, and now I¡¯ve set my eyes on this one domestically. Either figure out a way for me or get lost immediately!¡±


    Xia Wenjin put on the airs of the Fengya Family¡¯s young mistress, lifted her chin, and coldly watched the two bodyguards in front of her.


    This left the two bodyguards speechless.


    They had to admit that this woman did bear some resemblance to Feng Ya Meizi when she impersonated her.


    Especially when she was being annoying, she was particularly similar.


    The two bodyguards exchanged a glance and could only firmly say, ¡°As the young mistress commands, we will naturally do!¡±


    ¡°Yes! We are the young mistress¡¯s dogs, whatever the young mistress tells us to do, we¡¯ll do it!¡±


    Their words, both spoken and unspoken, were full of loyalty, but decidedly lacked any real suggestions.


    Joking aside, they could play dogs, they could go to their deaths, but that... was totally unnecessary!


    Xia Wenjin listened to their loyal words, and her mood greatly improved, ¡°Since you both are so sensible, then I¡¯ll assign a task to each of you.¡±


    Saying this, she pointed at one of the bodyguards, ¡°You go buy me some drugs, the kind that makes men insatiable, you understand?¡±


    The bodyguard¡¯s heart sank suddenly, and his whole demeanor shifted.


    This woman actually wanted to drug Xia Wenyan?


    My God, if he informed the head of the Rimu Family, who knew if he would be torn apart on the spot.


    But if he did not tell him, he figured he would die even faster.


    The bodyguard took a deep breath and nodded to Xia Wenjin, ¡°Understood, young mistress; when do you plan to use this drug?¡±


    Since Xia Wenjin was determined to drug Xia Wenyan, it was better for them to gather more information.


    The other bodyguard quickly got his intention and chimed in to help, ¡°Young mistress, although the activities of the young master of the Xia Family are fixed, the places he stays at are not easy to approach. Our plan must definitely be more meticulous.¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded, seemingly agreeing with what they said, ¡°That¡¯s right, it needs to be meticulous. I haven¡¯t decided yet when to use the drug. Buy it and keep it with you for now, and I will tell you when it¡¯s time to use it.¡±


    Her words, in turn, relaxed the two bodyguards quite a bit.


    Fortunately, they were to keep the drugs on them and would be informed when it was time to use them, so they wouldn¡¯t be too passive.


    With this reassurance, the two bodyguards appeared much more relaxed when they faced Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Whenever the young mistress has an idea, we will do our utmost to relieve the young mistress of her worries!¡±


    ¡°As soon as the young mistress commands, we will brave fire and water without hesitation!¡±


    Xia Wenjin, listening to the flattery of the two bodyguards, was very pleased.


    She crossed her legs and sat inside the sofa, looking extremely smug as she watched the two bodyguards, ¡°You two are quite loyal. Rest assured, when I return to Country R, I will definitely ask my father to reward you handsomely.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, young mistress!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, young mistress!¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Xia Wenjin waved her hand and seemed to suddenly remember something, ¡°Lately, help me investigate Lu Zhaozhao, see what dramas she has taken on recently.¡±


    Xia Wenyan usually visited the film sets to see Lu Zhaozhao. If she could be in the same drama as Lu Zhaozhao, she figured it would be easier to make a move on Xia Wenyan.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes unconsciously narrowed, as if she was confident her plan was foolproof.


    The two bodyguards fell silent for a moment, then promptly nodded, ¡°Young mistress, rest assured, we should be able to investigate this matter quickly.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, after you find out, help me find a way to get into the cast as well, preferably as a female supporting role, like number five or six,¡± Xia Wenjin instructed again.


    Now, the bodyguards were in a bit of a dilemma.


    One of them spoke with a somewhat unpleasant expression, ¡°Young mistress, if we were in Country R, this would not be a difficult task, but in our own country...¡±


    The bodyguard stopped short but was clear in his implication.


    That was that they couldn¡¯t manipulate the entertainment industry domestically.


    They couldn¡¯t secure her a role.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow immediately furrowed, ¡°It can be done in Country R but not here? Don¡¯t you have any brains? If you can¡¯t get in, can¡¯t you bribe your way in?¡±


    In the domestic entertainment industry, unless it was a big-budget production, for small-cost TV dramas or movies, a little bribery would go a long way. Not to mention a fifth or sixth female role, even the lead role was up for grabs.


    But in bigger productions, from lead to the fourth female lead, some value is typically expected.


    As for the fifth female lead and beyond, it¡¯s all about who has the harder connections and more money.


    Xia Wenjin primarily wanted to be in the same crew as Lu Zhaozhao. Any role would do except for an extra.


    But if she stated this, she was worried that the two bodyguards would not be dedicated to the task.


    Therefore, she said she wanted a fifth or sixth female role.


    Although the bodyguard did not know Xia Wenjin¡¯s thoughts, his reasoning was still present.


    ¡°Young mistress, although Lu Zhaozhao is not any best actor or actress, her popularity in the entertainment industry has always been high. The resources she can get into are all pretty good. Even if we throw money at it, we can probably only get a bit role...¡±


    The bodyguard knew that even if he dissuaded Xia Wenjin, she would still look for other means. It was better to set clear expectations now.


    Then they could also report back to the head of the Rimu Family as needed.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows twitched, not expecting the bodyguard to be so blunt.


    Her brow furrowed slightly, ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Young mistress, our expenses abroad are limited, and if we need a large sum, it probably needs to be explained to the family head,¡± the bodyguard began, not waiting for Xia Wenjin to finish.


    Xia Wenjin, who had opened her mouth to speak, suddenly closed it halfway.


    Previously she had been carefree with her spending, not paying much attention to this matter.


    She knew the identity her current face held was that of the Feng Ya Family young mistress, and the money that came with it was not insignificant.


    But she did not expect that even the young mistress of the Feng Ya Family had a spending limit.


    Xia Wenjin fell silent for a moment, eventually conceding, ¡°Then first go and find out what drama Lu Zhaozhao will be in next. If it¡¯s not a big investment, then give it a try. If it really isn¡¯t possible, just try to find a role with more screen time.¡±


    If the role was too much of an extra, she would not be able to get close to Lu Zhaozhao.


    Let alone use Lu Zhaozhao to lure Xia Wenyan.


    Hearing Xia Wenjin back down, the bodyguards also inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, although Xia Wenjin had taken their young mistress¡¯s appearance, she hadn¡¯t inherited their young mistress¡¯s temperament.


    If it had been their real young mistress, she would have smashed them in the face with a teacup for their words, cursing them as useless...

 Chapter 602: 600: Someone with insight

    Chapter 602: Chapter 600: Someone with insight


    If it weren¡¯t for Xia Wenjin being such a troublemaker, they actually felt that following her wouldn¡¯t be too bad.


    Still better than following the previous young miss, who had them on eggshells all day.


    After all, this fake one didn¡¯t dare to be so brazen yet.


    It¡¯s just that they didn¡¯t know how their Family Head planned to handle things moving forward...


    Lu Zhaozhao was actually quite shocked to learn that Xia Wenjin had infiltrated the drama crew under the guise of Feng Ya Meizi.


    Every time she thought Xia Wenjin had done something outrageous, Xia Wenjin managed to outdo herself.


    She looked at Xu Zhenzhen in almost disbelief, her eyebrows raised involuntarily, ¡°No way? Xia Wenjin, just to sleep with my fourth brother, is actually planning to get into the entertainment circle?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen also curled her lips in disdain, ¡°With that kind of determination, if she had put in some effort in R-country, slept with a few more men, she might have even become the president by now.¡±


    Even if not, leveraging the Feng Ya Family¡¯s influence to establish a career is not impossible.


    What on earth is going on with her thought process?


    To avoid all the right options and instead walk willingly into the dark?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, ¡°To think someone who has died once could still be so naively optimistic certainly isn¡¯t easy.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not naively optimistic; she¡¯s just plain dumb,¡± Xu Zhenzhen said unreservedly, starting her tirade, ¡°I just don¡¯t know how she¡¯s going to try to grab attention when she arrives later.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged nonchalantly, ¡°She may be posing as the young miss of the Feng Ya Family now, but if she wants to win over my fourth brother, she¡¯ll have to keep a low profile in the crew. I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll try too hard to stand out.¡±


    No sooner had she finished speaking than they heard commotion from the reading room not far away.


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen followed the noise with their gaze, and couldn¡¯t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.


    Xia Wenjin was seen entering the reading room with two bodyguards and six assistants in tow.


    She held her chin up high, walking proudly among her entourage, giving off the impression she was the leading lady of the crew.


    ¡°Damn, six assistants and two bodyguards, even the leading actress of your crew doesn¡¯t have that kind of entourage, right?¡± Xu Zhenzhen was stunned by Xia Wenjin¡¯s antics from a distance.


    Even Lu Zhaozhao was taken aback for a moment, ¡°I thought that if she were determined to make a move on my fourth brother, she would definitely act discreetly. It seems I was wrong...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s thinking simply cannot be fathomed by normal means.


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Who knows, maybe she¡¯s had a change of heart and isn¡¯t targeting your fourth brother, but other members of the crew, like the producer or director...¡±


    After all, Xia Wenjin¡¯s current identity wasn¡¯t too shabby.


    She could use it as a stepping stone to climb even higher.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged again, unconcerned, ¡°I think that¡¯s very unlikely. Even the big director of the crew is no match for my fourth brother¡¯s qualifications.¡±


    No matter how impressive a director is, they¡¯re still just a director.


    There¡¯s a qualitative difference from the heir to the XJ Group.


    If Xia Wenjin had had such awareness earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in her current predicament.


    Now she had switched to a new identity card, but... she was determined to tread the same old path.


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded in agreement, ¡°You know, you¡¯re right. Xia Wenjin¡¯s moves are indeed... baffling.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but smile, raising her hand to pat Xu Zhenzhen on the shoulder, ¡°Alright, no point guessing. Let¡¯s go to the reading room and see for ourselves, shall we?¡±


    Saying this, she and Xu Zhenzhen both entered the reading room.


    They were about to shoot a Fantasy Martial Arts script, an S-grade production. Lu Zhaozhao initially hadn¡¯t planned to take on more work.


    But after Bai Qing joined the crew, she called her for a favor. Apparently, an artist from H-country had doubled their asking price at the last minute, inciting the producer¡¯s anger.


    The crew was now short of an actor, and Bai Qing had strongly recommended her to the director.


    Lu Zhaozhao had looked over that character, in the drama she was a ¡®white moonlight¡¯ role, the scenes weren¡¯t many, but the character design was nice, and she was also set up to be a great beauty.


    The director had seen Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s acting and, with Bai Qing strongly recommending her, directly had the producer find Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s agent.


    Lu Zhaozhao naturally couldn¡¯t refuse, especially since the scenes really weren¡¯t that many, so she decided to join in the fun.


    Xu Zhenzhen had been following Xia Wenqing in the office for quite a while and hadn¡¯t been out on external duties for a long time.


    Now, accompanying Lu Zhaozhao on the film set, and even getting to watch the drama up close, she suddenly felt that her boyfriend Xia Wenqing wasn¡¯t all that appealing anymore.


    When Lu Zhaozhao walked in, Xia Wenjin immediately noticed her.


    Seeing that she came alone and brought only Xu Zhenzhen, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but squint her eyes.


    Ha! The CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group, yet she only brought one assistant, that¡¯s not embarrassing enough for Song Sinian.


    She clearly had so many good resources at her fingertips but just didn¡¯t know how to use them.


    Thinking about it, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but feel her teeth sour.


    But after pondering, she didn¡¯t really care, it didn¡¯t mean that if Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t enjoy it, she couldn¡¯t.


    When she would rise to become the Xia Family¡¯s daughter-in-law by relying on Xia Wenyan¡¯s status, wouldn¡¯t all those resources be easily within her grasp?


    And she currently also held the identity of the heiress from the Fengya Family of Country R.


    Once she and Xia Wenyan turned raw rice into cooked rice, she didn¡¯t believe that at that time the Xia Family would refuse an alliance through marriage.


    After all, all the wealthy families were the same in the end, they all aimed for marriage alliances.


    She would definitely be the best choice for the Xia Family at that time!


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the more confident she felt, and even a somewhat provocative look appeared in her eyes when she looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, do you know that woman over there?¡± Bai Qing bent down to get closer to Lu Zhaozhao and quietly asked.


    Ever since he entered the room, he had noticed that woman¡¯s gaze.


    Not that he meant to pay attention, but this woman, clearly a minor celebrity, actually brought six assistants and two bodyguards.


    This kind of setup would cause a stir in any film crew.


    Naturally, he couldn¡¯t help but pay a bit more attention to it.


    However, in the entertainment industry, it¡¯s quite normal for rich second-generation kids to come and film.


    It¡¯s normal for the families to worry about their children suffering in the film crew and to find a few more assistants and bodyguards.


    But what caught Bai Qing¡¯s attention was that this woman looked at him with a very eager gaze.


    As if he were a piece of streaky pork.


    But after Lu Zhaozhao walked in, that changed.


    He found that the woman¡¯s eyes looking at Lu Zhaozhao were filled with obvious hostility.


    Even a thick sense of enmity.


    Bai Qing subconsciously felt that these two might know each other, so he couldn¡¯t help but gossip with Lu Zhaozhao in a low voice.


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Bai Qing, the corner of her mouth twitching, ¡°Why do you think I would know her?¡±


    Bai Qing blinked his innocent eyes, ¡°Just felt like her gaze at you was a bit vicious, like... almost the same expression as if she had a vendetta for her father¡¯s murder.¡±


    ¡°Pfft...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold back and burst out laughing.


    She had to admit, Bai Qing was quite observant!

 Chapter 603: 601: Make Him Look Down on People with His Dog Eyes!

    Chapter 603: Chapter 601: Make Him Look Down on People with His Dog Eyes!


    Based solely on a glance, one could see the hostility Xia Wenjin held toward her.


    It was unclear whether Xia Wenjin was too poor at hiding her feelings, or if Bai Qing was just too perceptive.


    Bai Qing looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression and instantly seemed to understand something. ¡°Do you really know her? Then you¡¯d better be careful; that woman doesn¡¯t seem like good news.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao covered her mouth and giggled, ¡°I understand, but I think you¡¯re the one I should be more worried about.¡±


    Bai Qing, puzzled, raised his eyebrows. ¡°Why?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged helplessly, ¡°Boys, you need to take extra care of yourselves when you¡¯re out and about, otherwise, before you know it... you might end up marrying someone.¡±


    Bai Qing, terrified, immediately hugged himself. He looked at Lu Zhaozhao in shock, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I get scared easily; don¡¯t frighten me!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao propped her chin with one hand, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to scare you. That woman you mentioned earlier, her name is Feng Ya Meizi. Her favorite pastime is sleeping with young actors. If you¡¯re not familiar, you could look her up online.¡±


    Although she was talking about the real Feng Ya Meizi, for the current Xia Wenjin, it made no difference.


    If she truly couldn¡¯t take down Xia Wenyan and shifted her target to other key figures in the crew at the last minute, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible.


    The others, she couldn¡¯t control.


    But Bai Qing was somewhat a friend to her, so warning him would be fulfilling her moral obligations.


    Bai Qing¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Lu Zhaozhao.


    He took another look at Xia Wenjin and shrunk his neck, then turned and started giving instructions to his assistant.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know what Bai Qing had said, from the assistant¡¯s grave demeanor, she could somewhat guess.


    What Bai Qing and the others brainstormed was none of her concern.


    She was just giving a heads-up.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t realize that Lu Zhaozhao had already warned Bai Qing, effectively blocking every backup plan she had in case her original plan failed.


    At the moment, she pretended to look indifferently towards Lu Zhaozhao, seeing her cozy relationship with Bai Qing, couldn¡¯t help but sneer internally.


    Thinking that Lu Zhaozhao had no idea she had changed her appearance and showed up before her, Xia Wenjin felt a thrill of pleasure.


    Xia Wenjin even harbored thoughts of toying with Lu Zhaozhao, just waiting for her to eventually cry and beg for mercy.


    ¡°Bzzz bzzz bzzz...¡±


    Her phone suddenly vibrated.


    Xia Wenjin looked down and immediately furrowed her brows, as the message was from Hao Jiayi.


    What was this woman messaging her for at this time?


    She hesitated and then opened her phone, and a barrage of messages popped up.


    ¡°I¡¯ve returned to the Xiao Family. Xiao Mo hasn¡¯t returned yet, but the control in the kitchen is strict; I can¡¯t interfere at all.¡±


    ¡°What should I do now? If I can¡¯t access the kitchen, I can¡¯t act at all.¡±


    ¡°Are you there? I need to consult with you about something.¡±


    Xia Wenjin pressed her temples irritably, wishing she could call and scold Hao Jiayi right now.


    If it were so easy to just have Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo eat that poison, would she have needed to pay her?


    Since she had poisoned Xiao Jinglan, Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo had become extra cautious with their food.


    Even then, they would regularly conduct spot checks on their food; if Hao Jiayi were to meddle with the food in the kitchen directly, it would be a blatant move.


    This could very likely drag her down too.


    Xia Wenjin thought this, her expression immediately grew even gloomier.


    She immediately sent a message to Hao Jiayi on her phone, ¡°I¡¯ll contact you tonight, don¡¯t do anything before then.¡±


    Before, Xia Wenjin had thought Hao Jiayi had some skills in seducing men, but now it seemed she might have overestimated her.


    To avoid any unnecessary complications, she still needed to explain things more thoroughly to Hao Jiayi.


    ¡°Cough cough cough...¡±


    Just as Xia Wenjin was looking down at her phone, the director suddenly coughed a few times, ¡°Everyone should be familiar with the situation of our crew, and I hope that no matter what everyone¡¯s status is outside, we can all keep a normal mind in the crew...¡±


    As he said this, his gaze deliberately swept over Xia Wenjin.


    In the entire crew, she had the most bodyguards and assistants, and was a newcomer in the entertainment industry who didn¡¯t hold any title, importantly, someone who had gotten in by giving money.


    The director didn¡¯t want such a person messing around in the crew, so he hinted at her early during the script reading, hoping she would behave in the crew.


    The director¡¯s gaze was very direct, and Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t pretend to be oblivious even if she wanted to.


    Because of the director¡¯s gaze, the other crew members also looked over.


    At that moment, Xia Wenjin no longer felt like replying to the message, and could only sit stiffly at her place, pretending nothing had happened.


    The director glanced at her one more time, then continued with other matters that needed attention.


    Xia Wenjin also breathed a sigh of relief but still secretly noted down the director¡¯s slight against her.


    Once she made it big later, she would definitely make this director realize her worth!


    And show him his mistake in looking down on people!


    Meanwhile, just having received Xia Wenjin¡¯s message, Hao Jiayi¡¯s brow furrowed instantly.


    She had originally planned to follow Xia Wenjin¡¯s instructions, but hadn¡¯t expected it to be so difficult, she immediately felt hesitant, but now that she had returned to the Xiao Family, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to run away again.


    The only thing she could do now was to gain Xiao Mo¡¯s favor as quickly as possible, ideally marry this man first, then think of a way to deal with him later.


    ¡°What are you doing out here?¡± Xiao Mo looked Hao Jiayi up and down, who was standing on the balcony, his brow slightly furrowing.


    He had heard that this woman had been discharged and gone home, but since her return, there had been no news of her, so he decided to come home early to check.


    Hao Jiayi hadn¡¯t expected Xiao Mo to come back so early; she forced a smile, looking at him, ¡°Amo, you¡¯re back? How come you didn¡¯t tell me in advance?¡±


    She pretended to be affectionate and stepped forward to hug him, ¡°I¡¯ve been staying in the hospital these past few days, I haven¡¯t seen you in so long, I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s affectionate demeanor immediately improved Xiao Mo¡¯s previously irritable mood.


    Ever since Feng Jiyue had entered the Song Group, he had been causing trouble for him.


    He was about to be driven mad by this fool.


    Especially recently as Hao Jiayi had also been hospitalized, leaving him without a way to vent, he had grown even more irritable.


    Initially, he thought Hao Jiayi would try to run away, but unexpectedly, she obediently returned, which greatly satisfied Xiao Mo mentally.


    Seeing that Xiao Mo did not suspect anything, Hao Jiayi relaxed considerably.


    She took Xiao Mo by the hand and led him into the living room, ¡°Amo, let¡¯s sit down and talk today?¡±


    Hao Jiayi narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Xiao Mo with a smiling face.

 Chapter 604: 602: Does She Deserve It?

    Chapter 604: Chapter 602: Does She Deserve It?


    Xiao Mo always felt there was something indescribably eerie about her expression now.


    He didn¡¯t know if he was overthinking it, but he slightly furrowed his brow and looked Hao Jiayi up and down without saying anything.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s heart sank slightly, but her face maintained a shallow smile as always.


    Seeing that Xiao Mo was staring at her intently, she slowly said, ¡°These past few days in the hospital, I¡¯ve thought things through clearly. I am now yours and want to stay by your side devotedly from now on, so I am thinking...¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Xiao Mo raised his eyebrows as he looked at Hao Jiayi, suddenly having a bad premonition.


    Sure enough, what Hao Jiayi said next made his brow tighten even more.


    ¡°I want to marry you and truly become your person. Is that okay?¡±


    Her gaze towards him was filled with deep affection, looking completely love-struck.


    Xiao Mo kept his eyes on Hao Jiayi, trying to discern any clues from her gaze.


    Unfortunately, Hao Jiayi¡¯s acting was too good. Despite Xiao Mo¡¯s fixed stare, she still managed to look shy and timid as she gazed back at him.


    This only made Xiao Mo feel more troubled. He raised his hand and rubbed his temples, ¡°I...¡±


    He never had any intention of marrying her.


    Good grief, such a woman might be fine for a fling, but not worth marrying.


    Their Feng family was already of modest means, and Hao Jiayi wasn¡¯t even a blood member of the Feng family; she was just an adopted daughter.


    He would marry someone on the level of Lu Zhaozhao¡ªbeautiful and from a distinguished family.


    But he definitely couldn¡¯t say this directly to Hao Jiayi, so after a moment of contemplation, he said, ¡°You should know my current situation isn¡¯t suitable for marriage.¡±


    ¡°???¡± Hao Jiayi was clearly stunned. Why wasn¡¯t he suitable for marriage?


    She knew this man had certain unique predilections, but that shouldn¡¯t affect his ability to marry, right?


    Or did he have some sort of hidden illness?


    Hao Jiayi remembered the times she and Xiao Mo were intimate without taking any precautions, yet she hadn¡¯t gotten pregnant...


    Could it be that he was incapable of having children?


    Xiao Mo, seeming to read Hao Jiayi¡¯s thoughts, his face looking somewhat grim, changed expression and said, ¡°My body doesn¡¯t have any issues. It¡¯s just that I am currently in the process of marital continuation. I am not single.¡±


    ¡°You... are married?¡± Hao Jiayi looked at Xiao Mo in disbelief, her eyes widening significantly.


    She felt like she was hallucinating.


    Xiao Mo married?


    Wasn¡¯t he without a wife?


    How had he suddenly become a married man?


    She remembered that Feng Jiayue had him seduce Xiao Meng because Xiao Mo didn¡¯t have a woman.


    Seeing her stunned expression, Xiao Mo slowly explained, ¡°My wife is just missing; she¡¯s not legally dead, so I can¡¯t divorce her, much less marry someone else.¡±


    When he had married Xia Wenjin before, it wasn¡¯t out of mutual love, and now, unexpectedly, this woman had given him a perfect excuse.


    With Xia Wenjin as a shield, he didn¡¯t even have to worry about this excuse being exposed.


    Hao Jiayi was completely bewildered; she had been thinking about what that woman had told her before.


    If she married Xiao Mo, once he died, all of Xiao Family¡¯s wealth would be hers.


    But she had never imagined Xiao Mo¡¯s marital status was still in effect!


    Hao Jiayi was utterly caught off guard. At this rate, she couldn¡¯t even dream of getting her hands on the Xiao Family¡¯s wealth.


    She probably killed Xiao Mo and then benefited someone else by doing so.


    ¡°How come? Are you that concerned you can¡¯t marry me?¡± Xiao Mo saw her expression change rapidly, and he couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows.


    He was just playing with Hao Jiayi, never intending to marry her.


    Even before he married Xia Wenjin, he had many connections in their particular circle.


    But after marrying Xia Wenjin, he worried about Mr. Song¡¯s people watching him, so he stopped visiting that circle.


    As a result, after Xia Wenjin disappeared, it had been a long time since he¡¯d contacted anyone from there.


    If it wasn¡¯t for Hao Jiayi mistakenly coming to him, he might still be repressed.


    Thus, he now indulged Hao Jiayi quite a lot, and since she was good at pleasing him, he naturally wanted to keep her around for a while.


    He didn¡¯t expect Hao Jiayi would want to marry him, ha! Did she even consider her own worth?


    Is she worthy?


    Hao Jiayi was severely panicked inside, but she quickly recovered. ¡°I, of course, want to marry you. After all, both my body and heart belong to you; it would be abnormal not to want to marry you, right?¡±


    Her eyebrows and eyes drooped, showing a pitiful appearance.


    It seemed like not being able to marry him was like the sky falling for her.


    Although Xiao Mo didn¡¯t like Hao Jiayi, he didn¡¯t shun the admiration from women.


    This innate inferior trait of men was satisfied, swelling Xiao Mo¡¯s ego like never before.


    His long arm directly gripped Hao Jiayi¡¯s lower back, ¡°Since you like it so much, I should take good care of you...¡±


    As he said this, he swept Hao Jiayi off her feet and headed straight for the staircase.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s body stiffened suddenly, and she began to regret listening to that woman¡¯s advice and returning to the Xiao family.


    She should have investigated more thoroughly before coming.


    Xiao Mo seemed to notice the stiffness in Hao Jiayi¡¯s movements as well, he chuckled lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you just got out of the hospital, I won¡¯t let you get too tired.¡±


    Although he said so, the lewd smile on his face didn¡¯t look sincere.


    Hao Jiayi could only feign a smile, tugging at the corners of her mouth, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to everything Amo says.¡±


    As she said this, she buried her head in Xiao Mo¡¯s chest as if shy.


    Her hidden cheeks instantly turned grim, wishing she could curse Xiao Mo to death in her mind.


    Yet now, she dared not do anything.


    She knew Xiao Mo¡¯s twisted psyche and the need to have absolute control in such matters. In such situations, obedience would mean less suffering for her.


    The more she begged for mercy, the more horrendously she would be tortured.


    During her time with Xiao Mo, Hao Jiayi had figured out his habits.


    She knew what to do to endure the least pain; she had become quite proficient at it.


    But Xiao Mo was too perverse, and even with her efforts, she was still battered bruised.


    If this continued, she wouldn¡¯t have much life left.


    Hao Jiayi clenched her fist in forbearance, realizing she needed to consult that woman for a solution quickly.


    If she continued staying with the Xiao family, she felt she would either be tortured to death by Xiao Mo or go insane.


    Hao Jiayi even regretted why she had agreed with that woman to plunge into this situation and return to Xiao Mo.


    Had she not accepted that woman¡¯s suggestion, she might still be living in the hospital now.


    Although pretending to be sick was tough, at least she wouldn¡¯t be beaten!

 Chapter 605: 603: Do You Know Who I Am?

    Chapter 605: Chapter 603: Do You Know Who I Am?


    Hao Jiayi was gradually filling with regret at the bottom of her heart, wishing time could flow backward.


    Now, all she could do was pray that Xiao Mo, considering she had only been out of the hospital for a short while, wouldn¡¯t be too harsh on her...


    In the afternoon, at the ¡°Feixian¡± drama set.


    After lunch, Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen were strolling within the crew area to aid digestion. They hadn¡¯t expected to just reach the corridor when they saw Xia Wenjin, accompanied by her bodyguards and assistants, approaching boldly.


    With a helpless twist of her mouth, Xu Zhenzhen muttered, ¡°Is this what they call ¡®enemies often cross each other¡¯s paths¡¯?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, ¡°It¡¯s at least unlikely to be a coincidence.¡±


    Because as soon as they had stepped out of the rest room, she noticed someone sneaking away from the vicinity of their resting room.


    It was probably Xia Wenjin¡¯s spy, specifically waiting in the shadows to ¡®coincidentally¡¯ run into them on the set.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly grew curious¡ªwhat kind of temperament and character would Xia Wenjin present in this revamped guise?


    She and Xu Zhenzhen, arm in arm, walked along the corridor. As they were about to brush past Xia Wenjin, they were blocked by one of her bodyguards.


    Standing still, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Before she could speak, Xu Zhenzhen had already pulled her behind.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Xia Wenjin gave Xu Zhenzhen a glance, lifted her chin and almost looked down her nose at Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Of course, to say hello. What else would we be doing?¡±


    Her current identity was that of the Feng Ya Family¡¯s young lady¡ªshe couldn¡¯t afford to lose face!


    Xu Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, ¡°Your family¡¯s way of saying hi is to block someone in the hallway? That¡¯s certainly unique.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen never had much patience for such brainless behavior, and even if she wasn¡¯t Xia Wenjin, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s temper wouldn¡¯t be any better.


    What she hated most were those who bullied others by flaunting their power, and Xia Wenjin, whether as the daughter of the Lu Family or now as Feng Ya Meizi, accurately triggered her anger.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face changed color, and her eyes fixed threateningly on Xu Zhenzhen. Seeing no reaction from her, she stared daggers at Xu Zhenzhen again with annoyance.


    ¡°Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is? You dare to be so arrogant with me, watch out or I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t handle the consequences!¡±


    Her voice grew successively louder with each word, causing Xu Zhenzhen to cringe for her.


    Raising a hand to pat down the goosebumps on her arm, Xu Zhenzhen retorted, ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know who you are, and I know who your dad is, and so what if I¡¯m arrogant with you? If you can, do something right now to make me regret it!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen flawlessly blocked every retort, waiting for Xia Wenjin to explode on the spot.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin¡¯s astonished look, Xu Zhenzhen added insult to injury, ¡°Always comparing family backgrounds, you think you¡¯re still a nursing baby? If you¡¯re capable, have your dad come to me! I¡¯d really like to see how he makes me regret!¡±


    She knew that Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t truly the Feng Ya Family¡¯s young lady.


    The reason she dared to be so insolent in China was the belief that her country was too far away for anyone to care or control her.


    Moreover, since no one in China recognized her, she could afford to be a bit more arrogant without the risk of exposure.


    If Xia Wenjin were to truly seek out Fengya Ichiro, it would probably be a direct disaster¡ªshe certainly wouldn¡¯t do it.


    Xu Zhenzhen certainly understood Xia Wenjin¡¯s intentions, so she dared to confront her so blatantly.


    Sure enough, Xia Wenjin was instantly silenced. Her mouth opened and closed, but she couldn¡¯t utter a single suitable response for a long while.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked on with contempt, curling her lip, ¡°If you¡¯re not weaned yet, then hurry and roll back to your country. Don¡¯t come here looking for trouble.¡±


    Saying this, she grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand to push through the crowd.


    It wasn¡¯t clear whether it was because of her overwhelming presence, but even the bodyguards beside Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t dare to keep blocking their way, and they actively made room for the two women to pass.


    This made Xia Wenjin furious. She glared angrily at the bodyguards beside her, ¡°What are you even here for? Did I tell you to let them through?¡±


    Being unable to argue with Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t mean Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t take her frustrations out on these bodyguards.


    The bodyguards obviously understood that Xia Wenjin was just venting her anger on them.


    Xia Wenjin watched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s disappearing back from afar, her fists clenched tightly, making a ¡°crunch crunch¡± sound.


    That woman Lu Zhaozhao was absolutely detestable.


    And so were the people around her.


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the angrier she got. She raised her eyes and glanced at the bodyguard beside her, asking, ¡°Did you find out when Xia Wenyan is coming to the set?¡±


    When Lu Zhaozhao used to be on set, Xia Wenyan would always come immediately.


    Her target was Xia Wenyan; naturally, she needed to understand his movements to better manipulate him.


    The bodyguard looked around, making sure there was no one else besides them, before slowly beginning, ¡°Recently, the Xia Family¡¯s Fourth Young Master has been staying in a hotel and hasn¡¯t come out much. He should probably be coming to the set in another couple of days, I guess?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®guess¡¯? ¡®Another couple of days¡¯? ¡®Should probably come¡¯? I want a definite answer, not vague replies!¡±


    Xia Wenjin stared fiercely at the bodyguard, ¡°It seems you¡¯ve been growing lax lately. Do you think you can be so arrogant just because my father isn¡¯t around? If I tell my dad about your conduct, do you think you¡¯ll get off scot-free?!¡±


    Both bodyguards immediately lowered their heads, seeming quite scared.


    But in reality, they had long been complaining inwardly, guessing that if they really told their Family Head, he¡¯d probably scold Xia Wenjin for being a fool.


    Seeing that neither of them spoke, Xia Wenjin figured her earlier words had intimidated them, and her mood improved slightly.


    Her gaze fell on the two bodyguards again, ¡°From now on, if Xia Wenyan makes any move at all, you must report it to me instantly, especially when he comes looking for Lu Zhaozhao. Make sure you inform me in time, got it?¡±


    The bodyguards kept their heads down, ¡°We understand, Young Miss. We will do as you say.¡±


    As for whether they would succeed, that wasn¡¯t their responsibility.


    Their real job was to keep an eye on Xia Wenjin, to prevent her from making any big moves against Xia Wenyan or Lu Zhaozhao.


    Xia Wenjin nodded with satisfaction, ¡°Next time we encounter Lu Zhaozhao, blockade that woman tight. Absolutely do not let her escape again, got it?!¡±


    Her voice even rose a decibel, as if afraid they wouldn¡¯t hear her.


    ¡°But, Young Miss, they all know your identity now. If this really blows up and the Family Head finds out, won¡¯t it be rather bad? After all, the Family Head has been quite angry lately...¡±


    The bodyguard feigned concern for Xia Wenjin, adding, ¡°If the Family Head gets upset again, I¡¯m afraid it might affect your support fund...¡±

 Chapter 606: 604: Second-Year Syndrome Speech

    Chapter 606: Chapter 604: Second-Year Syndrome Speech


    Xia Wenjin was able to live so comfortably in China mainly because Fengya Ichiro provided her with ample funds.


    Once these financial supports encountered issues, it was unlikely that Xia Wenjin could continue living as comfortably as she was now.


    Upon hearing these words from her bodyguard, Xia Wenjin also frowned.


    Indeed, she had no need to upset Fengya Ichiro because of Lu Zhaozhao. If he really cut off her funding, she¡¯d be the one at a loss.


    After pondering for a while, Xia Wenjin truly felt that the bodyguard¡¯s words made sense.


    Previously, she always thought that the bodyguards sent by Fengya Ichiro would unquestionably take his side.


    Unexpectedly, they were now choosing to stand with her, which was quite a surprise for Xia Wenjin.


    She squinted with satisfaction, ¡°Your loyalty has been acknowledged. As long as you obediently follow orders, I will surely not treat you poorly.¡±


    The bodyguards didn¡¯t immediately react and were completely unaware of what they had said to please Xia Wenjin.


    However, as long as they could gain more of Xia Wenjin¡¯s trust, their tasks would become easier in the future.


    Therefore, the two bodyguards hurriedly nodded, and immediately started currying favor in front of her again.


    ¡°Young Miss, rest assured! We are absolutely loyal, and whatever task you assign, we will strive to accomplish!¡±


    ¡°To go through fire and water for you is the least we can do! Your words, Miss, are like imperial edicts to us; just give the command, and we will face any danger for you!¡±


    Xia Wenjin knew their words were a bit exaggerated, but who doesn¡¯t like to hear such things?


    No one could resist being flattered.


    If they could, it surely meant the flatterer was doing it all wrong.


    Clearing away earlier gloom, Xia Wenjin held her head high, proud as a peacock, ¡°Very good, very good. Once the matters at home are settled, each of you will receive a bonus!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Young Miss!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Young Miss!¡±


    ¡°Bzzz bzzz bzzz...¡±


    Before Xia Wenjin could revel in her triumph, her phone suddenly began to vibrate. She took it out and saw it was Hao Jiayi.


    Hao Jiayi had already messaged her during the script reading session, and she had said that she would contact her later.


    Why couldn¡¯t she understand plain language?


    Annoyed, Xia Wenjin unlocked her phone and read the message.


    ¡°You must give me an answer today, or I am not going to work with you anymore. Xiao Mo is inhumane, I can¡¯t stand it anymore!!!¡±


    Seeing the three exclamation points in the message, Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows nearly knotted in irritation.


    She could somewhat empathize with what Hao Jiayi was enduring at Xiao Mo¡¯s end.


    After all, Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t been soft on her either when tormenting her back then.


    Xia Wenjin was genuinely worried that Hao Jiayi would be worn down, as she was not easy to find¡ªa chess piece she couldn¡¯t afford to waste!


    Hesitating for a moment, she sent a reply, ¡°Let¡¯s meet at Time Cafe tonight, we can talk about it when we meet.¡±


    After sending the message, Xia Wenjin was about to put away her phone when, just as she slipped the phone into her pocket, it vibrated again.


    With a slight lift of her brows, she opened her phone once more.


    ¡°I need to meet you right away, I can¡¯t wait until tonight! If I don¡¯t see you in a while, then our deal is off.¡±


    Seeing the message on her phone, Xia Wenjin wished she could smash her phone to the ground.


    This Hao Jiayi was just too arrogant!


    If she weren¡¯t still useful to her, Xia Wenjin wouldn¡¯t give her the time of day.


    Gripping her phone tightly, her knuckles whitened from the force.


    Seeing the state of Xia Wenjin, the two bodyguards by her side promptly asked, ¡°Who¡¯s angered you, Young Miss? Do you want us to take care of him now?¡±


    While saying this, one of the bodyguards made a slicing motion across his neck.


    The other bodyguard chimed in, ¡°Exactly, Young Miss, just tell us which blind fool has offended you. We guarantee they¡¯ll be begging for mercy and unable to find it!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Begging for life yet wishing for death!¡±


    Listening to their ludicrous exaggerations, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but press her temple, which was starting to throb, ¡°It¡¯s that bitch Hao Jiayi who wants to meet me now. She¡¯s threatening to call off our cooperation if I don¡¯t meet her right away.¡±


    She didn¡¯t plan to tell the bodyguards, but since she had to meet Hao Jiayi anyway, it seemed to make little difference whether she mentioned it or not.


    Moreover, she was truly irate with Hao Jiayi and needed to vent her discontent.


    Sure enough, the bodyguards were very cooperative.


    ¡°That bitch Hao Jiayi dares to threaten the Young Miss? As soon as we see her, I¡¯ll break her legs immediately!¡±


    ¡°This woman is so unappreciative, we can find another pawn to use, let her regret it!¡±


    As bodyguards to Xia Wenjin, they naturally couldn¡¯t come up with ideas smarter than their mistress. After all, if their master was foolish, they had to act even more foolish.


    It¡¯s not suspicious to make mistakes if one is foolish.


    One is fully trusted if seen as foolish.


    Especially in front of someone who thinks they are a predator, pretending to be a herbivore was shrewder.


    Xia Wenjin knew the bodyguards were expressing solidarity on her behalf, which smoothed her mood considerably.


    Of course, she wouldn¡¯t really do as these bodyguards suggested.


    After all, she still needed Hao Jiayi as her pawn.


    ¡°Nevermind, let¡¯s see what she really wants first,¡± Xia Wenjin waved her hand dismissively and instructed the bodyguards, ¡°Go get the car ready for me, I¡¯m heading to Time Cafe now.¡±


    Today was the first day of joining the crew, and there wasn¡¯t much filming, mainly everyone was getting to know each other, and normal filming would start on the second day.


    Leaving the set now would not affect Xia Wenjin too much.


    The two bodyguards immediately nodded, ¡°Rest assured, Young Miss, we will certainly handle this matter cleanly and clearly for you.¡±


    ¡°We will also continue to ensure your safety. If that Hao Jiayi attempts anything against you, we will be the first to disapprove!¡±


    Satisfied with their response, Xia Wenjin nodded and dismissed them.


    After sending the message to Xia Wenjin, Hao Jiayi left the Xiao Family¡¯s mansion directly.


    Xiao Mo had returned to his company by then and had no time to bother with her.


    It was a good time for her to meet with Xia Wenjin.


    After being discharged from the hospital, Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t as harsh with her as before, but who could endure being constantly beaten?


    While some might enjoy it, it certainly didn¡¯t mean she did.


    She grew up pampered by men, at most getting into relationships with them, but dealing with someone like Xiao Mo was a first for her.


    She was struggling to cope.


    Hao Jiayi had initially planned to endure a few more days, but thinking of the time when Xia Wenjin had approached her, mentioning that she was the closest woman to Xiao Mo...

 Chapter 607: 605 Which plan is not feasible?

    Chapter 607: Chapter 605 Which plan is not feasible?


    In other words, her existence was now irreplaceable, so she could potentially turn the tables and get a hold on Xia Wenjin.


    She had previously been so beaten by Xiao Mo that her reason was almost driven away.


    Fortunately, she had recently stayed in the hospital for a while, and her reason had returned.


    Hao Jiayi pondered for a long time before finally sending a message to Xia Wenjin.


    Her actions actually contained an element of gambling, but she felt her chances of winning were higher, so she went all in.


    Seeing the response ¡°Got it¡± from Xia Wenjin on her phone, she knew she had won this round.


    The chess pieces in Xia Wenjin¡¯s hands were no better than her; otherwise, Xia Wenjin wouldn¡¯t be so compromising towards her.


    Thinking like this, Hao Jiayi suddenly felt emboldened.


    She dressed herself up at home, and then reluctantly headed to Time Cafe.


    Sure enough, when she arrived, Xia Wenjin had been waiting in the cafe for a long time, and she couldn¡¯t help but curve her lips in triumph as she glanced at the several frantic calls on her phone.


    These little tricks of gaining an upper hand weren¡¯t only effective on men.


    She pushed open the cafe¡¯s door and walked to the coffee lounge where she had agreed to meet Xia Wenjin.


    Upon entering, she was greeted by Xia Wenjin cursing, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t this bitch arrived yet?¡±


    As soon as her words finished, the room¡¯s door was pushed open.


    When Xia Wenjin saw Hao Jiayi appear, especially her unhurried demeanor, she became infuriated.


    ¡°You had a set time, so why are you so late?¡±


    She glared with irritation at Hao Jiayi, her anger increasing as she recalled the attitude with which she had sent her messages.


    Hao Jiayi pushed her stray hair behind her ear and pulled up a chair to sit down close by, ¡°If I remember correctly, we are in a partnership, I¡¯m not your slave. There¡¯s no need for me to report everything to you, right?¡±


    Her lightweight words infuriated Xia Wenjin even more.


    ¡°Partnership? You took my money, so you need to do my bidding! Don¡¯t give me that partnership crap!¡±


    Xia Wenjin hated the feeling of losing control, especially since things had been going smoothly until they started to unravel midway.


    Her mood became uncontrollably irritable, and the two bodyguards standing by exchanged glances before one stepped forward and whispered, ¡°Miss, there¡¯s no need to stoop to her level. She¡¯s not worth your anger.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that the bodyguard was concerned for Xia Wenjin¡¯s welfare¡ªhe was worried that if she continued to be irate, Hao Jiayi, their chess piece, might slip through their fingers.


    If there were any changes to the ¡°game¡± set by the superior and it displeased him, it would spell trouble for them.


    Of course, they had to stop this fool from making any more stupid decisions.


    The other bodyguard also nodded in agreement, ¡°Exactly, miss. It¡¯s not worth harming your health over such lowlife.¡±


    Hearing her bodyguards¡¯ flattery, Xia Wenjin¡¯s mood softened substantially.


    Even her fledgling reason began to find its way back.


    She furrowed her brow and stared intently at Hao Jiayi, ¡°Since you¡¯re the one who asked to meet today, speak up. What do you want to discuss?¡±


    Xia Wenjin leaned back against her chair, the displeasure in her brows and eyes still exceptionally apparent.


    Hao Jiayi wasn¡¯t angry, though. Hadn¡¯t she seen enough cold shoulders during her time at the Feng family?


    As long as it was to her advantage, what did a few cold shoulders matter?


    Hao Jiayi lightly flicked her fingernail and slowly began, ¡°The plan you told me about before doesn¡¯t work at all, so I¡¯m considering whether I should cooperate with you or not.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was taken aback, ¡°Which plan doesn¡¯t work?¡±


    The plan for her to poison Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t viable?


    How did that become unfeasible?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows nearly twisted into a knot as she stared intently at Hao Jiayi.


    ¡°Xiao Mo has another wife, but you know that, don¡¯t you?¡± Hao Jiayi said, locking eyes with Xia Wenjin, who guiltily looked away.


    This made Hao Jiayi laugh scornfully. So this woman really did know. What was the reason for her hiding this?


    She didn¡¯t realize that Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t look her in the eye, not because she knew Xiao Mo had a wife, but because she was guilty and worried that somebody would discover she was Xiao Mo¡¯s wife herself.


    She had swapped identities with Ya Meizi not so easily, and she had no desire to revert to the bullied Xia Wenjin.


    Hao Jiayi cleared her throat softly, ¡°Since you know Xiao Mo has a wife, I obviously have no way of marrying him, so what you told me before doesn¡¯t count for anything.¡±


    Hearing Hao Jiayi¡¯s words, Xia Wenjin instantly understood her meaning; she hadn¡¯t picked up on any telltale signs of her identity.


    She breathed a sigh of relief. Her slightly tense heart immediately settled back down, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about Xiao Mo¡¯s wife. She¡¯s already dead. I can find evidence of his wife¡¯s death, but whether you can get a marriage certificate with him is up to your own abilities.¡±


    Hao Jiayi raised her eyebrows in surprise, ¡°Are you sure you can find evidence that his wife is dead, or are you deceiving me again?¡±


    She narrowed her eyes, sizing up Xia Wenjin back and forth.


    This woman had convinced her to agree to a fool¡¯s errand when her head wasn¡¯t clear, but now that she was more alert, these things became easier to see through.


    Xia Wenjin, hearing Hao Jiayi¡¯s utterly distrustful tone, frowned again, ¡°I always follow through on what I say, do you not believe me?¡±


    Hao Jiayi shrugged noncommittally, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe you, it¡¯s just that some things aren¡¯t as simple as you think they are.¡±


    Her words had an implied meaning, which irritated Xia Wenjin even more.


    ¡°Then just wait until I¡¯ve taken care of this matter, then we can discuss cooperating again.¡±


    Having said that, Xia Wenjin stood up, intending to leave, but was stopped by Hao Jiayi.


    She wanted to manipulate Xia Wenjin, not to reject the idea of cooperation.


    Her words just now were harsh but true. If Xia Wenjin gave her nothing but empty promises, she indeed had no need to continue cooperating.


    But she was in a dire situation, and couldn¡¯t find anyone else to help for the time being.


    The only person she could use right now was Xia Wenjin, so she couldn¡¯t just let her go easily.


    Xia Wenjin looked at Hao Jiayi, who blocked her way, and glared at her displeased, ¡°What? Do you have something else to say?¡±


    Hao Jiayi looked calmly at Xia Wenjin and spoke unhurriedly, ¡°The matter of Xiao Mo¡¯s wife probably won¡¯t be resolved anytime soon, I want to talk to you about something else.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Xia Wenjin was completely out of patience with Hao Jiayi.

 Chapter 608: 606 She Won This Game

    Chapter 608: Chapter 606 She Won This Game


    ¡°If I had known this woman was such trouble, I should never have contacted her in the first place.¡±


    Xia Wenjin thought about this and felt a surge of anger building inside her.


    Hao Jiayi seemed completely unaware of his expression as she slightly curved the corners of her mouth, ¡°There surely must be more than one way to inherit the Xiao Family¡¯s fortune, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjin momentarily paused, his gaze inexplicably moving up and down as he scrutinized Hao Jiayi, ¡°What are you trying to imply?¡±


    ¡°My intention is simple,¡± Hao Jiayi slowly began, her eyes fixated on Xia Wenjin. ¡°If I were to have Xiao Mo¡¯s child, then after Xiao Mo¡¯s death, my child could inherit his legacy.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t sure whether Xiao Mo¡¯s wife was dead or alive.


    But she needed to secure that assurance.


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, ¡°You think having Xiao Mo¡¯s child is a piece of cake? Do you still need my help for something so trivial? You¡¯re not suggesting I should kill Xiao Mo¡¯s wife, are you? Haven¡¯t I already told you? His wife is dead.¡±


    She was now adeptly using the identity of Feng Ya Meizi, and she was absolutely not going to abandon that identity to revert to being Xia Wenjin.


    So for everyone else, Xia Wenjin was already dead.


    Hao Jiayi shook her head, ¡°Whether Xiao Mo¡¯s wife is dead or not doesn¡¯t matter to me; I need you to publicly confirm his wife¡¯s death and also to protect the child in my womb.¡±


    Xia Wenjin glanced at Hao Jiayi, ¡°You¡¯re pregnant already?¡±


    Hao Jiayi shook her head, ¡°Not yet, but this is the condition I want to discuss with you, so of course, I had to mention it in advance.¡±


    ¡°If those are your only conditions, I can agree to them.¡± These tasks weren¡¯t difficult for her.


    She was now Feng Ya Meizi, with plenty of money and bodyguards at her disposal, so naturally, she was not worried about fulfilling Hao Jiayi¡¯s requests.


    Xia Wenjin slowly picked up the coffee cup from the table and took a sip before she finally spoke, ¡°When will you do what you promised me?¡±


    ¡°After you announce the matter about Xiao Mo¡¯s wife, I can take care of Xiao Jinglan for you,¡± Hao Jiayi answered leisurely, still appearing unhurried.


    This seriously offended Xia Wenjin¡¯s pride.


    Although she was annoyed, there wasn¡¯t much she could do to Hao Jiayi; she had to admit that she still needed Hao Jiayi, which made Xia Wenjin even more irritable.


    Biting the bullet, she slowly said, ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed as you suggested. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡±


    After saying this, Xia Wenjin left without looking back.


    For a moment, the coffee shop was left with only Hao Jiayi sitting there alone.


    Watching the retreating figure of Xia Wenjin, a smirk involuntarily formed at the corners of her mouth.


    She had won this round.


    At 5:30 PM.


    After finishing his work, Song Sinian went directly to the production set where Lu Zhaozhao was located.


    He had been uneasy ever since he heard that Xia Wenjin was in the same production crew as Lu Zhaozhao, even though her target was Xia Wenyan.


    But one could never tell if this woman would impulsively strike at Lu Zhaozhao.


    When Song Sinian arrived at the production site, Lu Zhaozhao was just shooting a scene, so the crew members took Song Sinian to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dressing room.


    He had just sat down for less than ten minutes when someone opened the door to the rest room.


    As it was just turning evening, the light had dimmed, and sitting inside the dark room, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t clearly see who had entered.


    ¡°Zhaozhao?¡±


    He called out softly, his voice filled with tenderness.


    The person entering the room heard Song Sinian¡¯s voice, her expression brightened, and it seemed he was in a good mood.


    So, she didn¡¯t speak but continued walking toward the room.


    Suddenly, Song Sinian smelled a strange fragrance that made his eyebrows furrow instantly.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    His voice was cold, yet his face turned slightly flushed because of the strange scent.


    This woman was not right; the scent on her was not right either.


    Song Sinian realized in an instant that she was trying to drug him.


    To be exact, she had already made her move, and the scent on her was the drug she intended to use on him.


    He immediately grabbed a piece of clothing from the sofa and covered his nose and mouth with it.


    The clothing belonged to Lu Zhaozhao, carrying her scent.


    Clearly, it helped him regain much of his rationale; ¡°No matter who you are, leave right now, or I will make sure you have no place to be buried!¡±


    The woman entering didn¡¯t expect Song Sinian to react so quickly.


    She had heard that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s husband was the president of the Song Group; she thought if Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s husband was really as good as people said, he would definitely visit the set.


    Even if he wasn¡¯t as good as rumored, for the sake of their public image as a couple, he would surely visit.


    This was her chance to get physically close to Song Sinian; how could she worry about not having a future?


    If she served him well in bed, perhaps Song Sinian would lavish her with resources, and if he lost interest in her, he would probably still throw a large sum of money her way to save face for their marriage.


    But she had another trick up her sleeve; thinking about this, she touched her stomach. She had specifically taken fertility drugs before coming to ensure a sure hit.


    Once she carried the bloodline of the Song Family, she couldn¡¯t believe they would mistreat the mother of his child.


    Yet, she never expected Song Sinian to react so quickly, which caught her somewhat off guard.


    ¡°President Song, please don¡¯t misunderstand, I just came to bring you a cup of coffee,¡± the woman said while continuing to walk into the room, showing no sign of stopping.


    Her opportunity was singular; if she missed this chance, what awaited her might indeed be a severe disaster.


    Although Song Sinian used Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s clothing to cover his nose and mouth, the unpleasant smell kept drilling into his nostrils.


    He felt nauseous and had little strength all over.


    He knew it was all the effect of the drug, and he had to get out of this situation quickly.


    Song Sinian saw the woman getting closer to him and grabbed something from the table, hurling it out.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    The woman was clearly frightened by Song Sinian¡¯s reaction and screamed involuntarily.


    Song Sinian seized the moment when she wasn¡¯t paying attention, swiftly picking up a shattered piece of glass and clutching it in his palm.


    The intense pain brought him momentarily back to his senses, and he gained some control over his body.


    The moment this woman stepped closer, he could use the shard of glass in his hand to end her life!


    At this point, the woman seemed to have also sensed the murderous intent in Song Sinian¡¯s eyes, causing her to shiver.


    But she still tried her best to remain composed and asked, ¡°President Song, do you feel uncomfortable somewhere? Do you need my help?¡±


    As she spoke, she planned to continue moving closer to Song Sinian...

 Chapter 609: 607: Stay Away from My Man!

    Chapter 609: Chapter 607: Stay Away from My Man!


    ¡°Jiang Peipei! Stay away from my man!¡±


    Suddenly, an icy voice came from behind the woman.


    Jiang Peipei shuddered unexpectedly.


    She hadn¡¯t anticipated Lu Zhaozhao finishing her scene so quickly; she distinctly remembered that the shoot was supposed to take longer.


    By then, even if Lu Zhaozhao had arrived, she and Song Sinian would have completed everything that needed to be done.


    It would have been too late for her to do anything; all she could hope for then was to keep the peace.


    But what now...


    Seeing she no longer had a chance, Jiang Peipei could only stiffen up and turn to Lu Zhaozhao to say, ¡°I¡ªI was just trying to bring President Song a cup of coffee, you¡¯re reading too much into it.¡±


    While speaking, she carried the coffee in her hands and attempted to leave the room.


    ¡°Xiao Zhao, grab her! Then call Zhao Xi, fill him in on what happened; he¡¯ll know how to handle it,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, walking straight into the resting room and, in passing, closing the door behind her.


    She had just seen Song Sinian seated in the room and something seemed off.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hygiene and self-respect were things she was well aware of.


    Under ordinary circumstances, faced with such a situation, he would have stood up and left, or told the person to get lost.


    But just now, she had only heard the sound of items being smashed, and didn¡¯t hear much from Song Sinian¡¯s voice, which felt wrong.


    ¡°Honey?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao walked in and softly called out upon seeing Song Sinian sitting on the couch.


    Then the next second, she saw a bright red color trickling down from his wrist.


    ¡°Song Sinian!¡± she rushed over anxiously and grabbed Song Sinian¡¯s hand, ¡°Let go of your hand!¡±


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao with somewhat hazy eyes and, after truly feeling her breath, he finally found the courage to slowly unclench his hand, which had been tightly holding a shard of glass.


    He had been planning to retaliate against that woman when he heard Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s voice.


    Only when he saw Lu Zhaozhao did his defensive posture relax slightly.


    Now, enveloped in a familiar scent, Song Sinian¡¯s tense heart completely relaxed, and the agitation he had been suppressing with pain welled up.


    He instinctively sought out Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips, seeking her comfort.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, holding his bleeding hand, felt his hot breath drawing near, and unable to resist him, she accommodated him while searching for the first aid kit.


    They always kept a first-aid kit in each person¡¯s resting room on the set in case of emergencies.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s room naturally had one as well.


    Fortunately, she usually kept it under the coffee table next to the couch, so even with Song Sinian clinging to her, she was able to reach the items in the first aid kit.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡±


    Suddenly, a low and slightly plaintive voice came from beside her ear, ¡°Nian Nian, are you angry with me?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s misty eyes looked at Lu Zhaozhao, filled with confusion and grievance, his eyes dewy as if he had been bullied.


    Seeing Song Sinian like this for the first time, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    She swallowed nervously, ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m not angry, I¡ªI just feel sorry for you getting hurt.¡±


    ¡°Hurt?¡± Song Sinian cocked his head, seemingly completely oblivious of his own injury.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately picked up his hand to show him how it was covered in blood.


    Song Sinian only took one glance before immediately hiding his hand behind his back, ¡°You can¡¯t look...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao: ¡°???¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao, don¡¯t look.¡± Song Sinian clenched his teeth hard, struggling to regain some rationality.


    He still remembered how Lu Zhaozhao had lost control when he was injured before. Now he was nearly losing control of himself. If Lu Zhaozhao became emotionally uncontrolled because he was hurt...


    He definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive himself.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaozhao felt a sourness in her nose.


    Song Sinian was obviously in terrible pain, yet his first thought was still of her. It would be a lie for Lu Zhaozhao to say she didn¡¯t feel inclined to act.


    She sniffled, slightly tugging the corners of her mouth, ¡°Husband, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m much better now. Let me help you bandage your hand, okay?¡±


    As she spoke, Lu Zhaozhao reached out a small hand to pull at Song Sinian¡¯s sleeve.


    Her movement wasn¡¯t big, just a gentle shake, with a hint of coquettishness.


    Song Sinian pursed his lips, seemingly pondering, but his thinking was slowed down by the drugs.


    He looked up at Lu Zhaozhao, stared at her for a few seconds, and it took him a long while to respond before he slowly extended his hand to her.


    His entire face was extremely red, his gaze at Lu Zhaozhao shimmering with emotion.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao then picked up the medical supplies from the box to tend to Song Sinian¡¯s wound.


    Yet the scars on his hand still made Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart ache involuntarily.


    Her eyes instantly reddened.


    ¡°Zhaozhao is not afraid, I¡¯m here,¡± Song Sinian, as if noticing her emotional state, pinched her cheek with his uninjured hand.


    But due to his reduced control, the strength in his hand was much greater than intended.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s originally fair cheeks turned a bit red from the pinch, which left Song Sinian even more at a loss, ¡°Sorry, I... um...¡±


    He didn¡¯t get to finish his words before Lu Zhaozhao pressed him down onto the sofa.


    She didn¡¯t know what Jiang Peipei had drugged Song Sinian with, but seeing his condition, she understood how much pain he was in.


    Had it not been for his hand injury, she would have relieved him already.


    Lu Zhaozhao leaned down and kissed his brows, ¡°You¡¯ve done nothing wrong, I¡¯m not mad, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    While speaking, she kissed Song Sinian¡¯s lips again, ¡°Now, just focus on feeling me and me alone. Don¡¯t think about anything, just follow my pace.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s voice was low, with a hint of tenderness that made Lu Zhaozhao unable to resist teasing him.


    Usually, when they were together, it was Song Sinian who took the lead. She would be entangled by him until she could only whimper, calling him husband until he was satisfied and finally let her go.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian, lying powerless on the sofa, and suddenly felt a tingling sensation herself.


    She controlled the rhythm between them, and at the tipping point, Song Sinian was tortured to the brink of madness.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m in pain...¡±


    His eyes were bloodshot, yet he was powerless to do anything but look at her pitifully and even act spoiled towards her.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt like an arrow had suddenly struck her heart, realizing why Song Sinian enjoyed teasing her in such matters.


    Because... it was truly itching her heart.


    Lu Zhaozhao leaned down and kissed the corner of his eye again, ¡°Sinian be good... it won¡¯t hurt soon.¡±


    With her hands on his chest, her waist slowly descended, and the sluggish movements almost drove Song Sinian mad...

 Chapter 610: 608: Complete Disgrace?!

    Chapter 610: Chapter 608: Complete Disgrace?!


    He was groggy at first, but as he moved, the drug effects in his body were metabolized away, and his mind cleared completely.


    Yet his entire body still felt soft and weak, watching Lu Zhaozhao struggling hard with him, Song Sinian simply let go and allowed her to fuss over him.


    Sweat beads slowly slid down her fair cheeks, Song Sinian indulged in wiping her little face for her and then kissed the tip of her nose.


    He liked the way Lu Zhaozhao looked at him with utmost attention and affection. He had never thought about this situation before, but the experience wasn¡¯t bad at all.


    After much turmoil, seeing Lu Zhaozhao lying soft in his arms, Song Sinian then gently stroked her back.


    ¡°You should bring Zhao Xi with you next time you come to the set alone,¡± Lu Zhaozhao nuzzled her head in Song Sinian¡¯s chest, unable to resist reminding him.


    It was lucky she arrived just in time, or their Mr. Song would have been taken advantage of.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes drooped slightly, and he couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, ¡°I know.¡±


    He had indeed been negligent about this matter.


    He never thought someone would be bold enough to drug him openly on the set, and with such a nasty substance at that.


    He had originally come to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s rest room, planning to leave after her shift ended; he didn¡¯t expect that even this small window of time would be used against him.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but snort quietly; he had publicly declared himself love-struck, and these people must have taken him for a fool.


    Even before he was married to Lu Zhaozhao, all news about him was negative.


    Of course, he owed thanks to Xiao Jinglan for that.


    Even if women were interested in him, they dared not approach him, fearing they would be abused by such a sadistic man.


    But now, because of Lu Zhaozhao, the outside world had changed its opinion of him and began to truly regard him as a man with a love-struck brain for women.


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao in his arms and couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    He simply didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to see his fierce side, so he left many matters to the Xia Family and Pei Huai to handle.


    He hadn¡¯t expected someone would target him, and even implicate Lu Zhaozhao.


    If he remained indifferent now, he would truly be a blockhead.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand gently caressed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back, noticing only now that the person in his arms had fallen asleep; his dark eyes then grew heavy.


    Because of the drug, he had made love to her many times, and Lu Zhaozhao, indulging him, had become this exhausted.


    Song Sinian gently settled her onto the couch and then slowly got up to get dressed.


    The tumultuous ordeal just passed had mostly dissipated the effects of the drug from his system.


    By the time he appeared in front of Zhao Xi, Jiang Peipei was already trembling and slumped on the ground.


    Before Song Sinian had arrived, Zhao Xi had already interrogated Jiang Peipei and flipped her whole background inside out.


    Upon seeing Song Sinian enter, Zhao Xi immediately approached, ¡°Mr. Song, are you feeling alright? Should I call a doctor over? They¡¯re right next door; you can have a checkup immediately.¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head, ¡°No need.¡±


    His gaze shifted toward Jiang Peipei behind Zhao Xi. Since this woman planned to drug him, the drug must be easily metabolizable.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have recovered his senses so quickly.


    Even now, if a blood test were done, there probably wouldn¡¯t be any trace left.


    Song Sinian thought of this, and his eyes grew even more sinister.


    Zhao Xi obviously felt the room¡¯s oppressive aura and couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    Ever since their lady married into the family, he hadn¡¯t felt this kind of mood from Song Sinian in a long time.


    If their sir reverted back to his old ways because of that dog, Jiang Peipei, he really would struggle to resist the urge to beat her to death with his bare hands!


    Their perfectly good sir, how did they manage to provoke him into becoming like this!


    Song Sinian withdrew his gaze from Jiang Peipei and turned to ask Zhao Xi, ¡°Did she say who put her up to it?¡±


    Zhao Xi placed the recently examined documents in front of Song Sinian, ¡°There¡¯s nobody behind her, she just thought it was easy to get close to sir on set, so she took a desperate shot, thinking that as long as she could be with sir... cough cough, so it was a rash act on her part.¡±


    Song Sinian looked at the interrogation documents in his hand, and his eyes lingered on Jiang Peipei¡¯s information, a cruel streak flashing through them.


    ¡°Since she took a desperate shot, she was prepared to burn all bridges. Then let her be ruined, let her family and life fall apart,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice was chilling, causing Jiang Peipei in the room to feel a bone-chilling coldness.


    At first, she thought that sleeping with Song Si would propel her to the heights of success, but now not only had she failed to get him, she thought being thrown out of the production and suppressed was the worst that could happen.


    Had she expected that Song Si would want her family destroyed, her reputation in shambles?!


    How could Jiang Peipei accept this?


    She lunged forward, trying to cling to Song Si¡¯s legs, but a bodyguard by her side noticed and kicked her back.


    Jiang Peipei curled up in pain like a shrimp, but even so, she endured the excruciating pain and pleaded through gritted teeth, ¡°President Song, I was wrong, please let me go! I was just blinded, please release me! I won¡¯t dare to do it again!¡±


    She was crying miserably, tears and snot mingling together, trying to stir up Song Si¡¯s compassion.


    But she had miscalculated Song Sinian¡¯s ruthlessness.


    He coldly watched Jiang Peipei, then suddenly let out a cold laugh, ¡°By what right do you request that I let you go? And where did you get the confidence to drug me and think I wouldn¡¯t do anything to you?¡±


    His icy voice caused Jiang Peipei to shudder all over.


    Previously, she had acted in the same drama as Lu Zhaozhao, though at that time she was just a background actor, not even close to the main cast.


    But it was then that she saw Song Si, a man who was tender and considerate towards Lu Zhaozhao, which was in stark contrast with his usual cold demeanor.


    After spending some time in the entertainment industry and climbing the ranks with her looks and body, she had obtained quite a few resources.


    Now she was in the same production as Lu Zhaozhao again and once again saw Song Si, she conceived the idea of replacing Lu Zhaozhao.


    She always thought all men were the same; as long as she satisfied them in bed, no matter what she did, they would turn a blind eye.


    But she was wrong, terribly wrong.


    Song Sinian was different from the men she had encountered before.


    Other men, drugged up, would see her as a starving wolf sees food, ready to devour her completely.


    But this man had forcefully restrained himself, not to mention rejecting her advances.


    Jiang Peipei regretted it so much her gut turned green. Had she known Song Si was such a clean and self-respecting man, she wouldn¡¯t have targeted him for the world.


    Helpless, Jiang Peipei could only kneel on the ground and kowtow desperately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Song, I¡¯m sorry, please be magnanimous and spare me this once...¡±

 Chapter 611: 609: Completely Finished

    Chapter 611: Chapter 609: Completely Finished


    She spoke while crying pitifully, as if not being forgiven by Song Sinian was a grave mistake.


    While Zhao Xi watched Jiang Peipei still playing the victim, he couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips and silently light a candle for her in his heart.


    He had to admit that when it came to infuriating their Mr. Song, this woman had some talent.


    She specially stepped on the landmines that were Mr. Song¡¯s triggers.


    Even if she smashed her head to pieces, Mr. Song would never soften his heart.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed, and he waved his hand at Zhao Xi, ¡°Drag her away, I don¡¯t want to see this eyesore ever again.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Jiang Peipei was completely panicked; she didn¡¯t understand why her little tricks, which always worked on other men, had no effect on Song Sinian.


    She struggled desperately, ¡°President Song! President Song! Please let me go! I am willing to do anything you ask, please!¡±


    Jiang Peipei¡¯s voice became increasingly wretched as the bodyguards lifted her away.


    The other members of the crew naturally saw what was happening.


    Seeing Song Sinian¡¯s indifference, Jiang Peipei started shouting at the others, ¡°Help me! Help! Someone is trying to commit murder! Call the police! Call the police!¡±


    She would rather be arrested by the cops than fall into the hands of Song Sinian.


    She now truly believed that when Song Sinian said ¡°ruined reputation and a broken family,¡± he meant it.


    She couldn¡¯t take that risk!


    But it was as if everyone turned a blind eye, busying themselves with other things and hastily leaving the scene.


    Jiang Peipei fell into complete despair.


    Suddenly, a voice echoed through the empty corridor, ¡°Wait a minute!¡±


    Jiang Peipei¡¯s gaze immediately swung toward the new arrival, just catching sight of Xia Wenjin standing before them.


    She recognized her at once as Feng Ya Meizi, someone widely discussed in the crew.


    Rumors had it her family in Country R was very powerful, a true heiress.


    If she wanted to save her, she definitely could!


    Thinking this, Jiang Peipei began to struggle even harder, ¡°Miss Feng Ya! Miss Feng Ya, save me! They are going to kill me! Please save me! Wuuu...¡±


    While calling out, she began to cry loudly, fearing the woman before her would ignore her like everyone else.


    When Zhao Xi saw Xia Wenjin standing in their way, he couldn¡¯t help but frown, but his gaze shifted to Song Sinian.


    ¡°Is this woman sent by you?¡± Song Sinian looked at Xia Wenjin with a chilling gaze, ¡°When you came to Song Group before, you didn¡¯t get to use your vile tactics, so you switched to another woman?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was utterly confounded by Song Sinian¡¯s words.


    But she quickly grasped the insinuation in his words.


    Was he implying that Jiang Peipei had just tried to seduce him in the dressing room?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression grew ugly, having thought that it was Jiang Peipei offending Lu Zhaozhao that led to Song Sinian¡¯s retaliation.


    She had hoped to use the incident to sully Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reputation.


    But who could have thought, the woman had offended Song Sinian himself?


    Xia Wenjin suddenly regretted that she hadn¡¯t asked for details before recklessly halting them.


    She now felt a bit of regret, but luckily she hadn¡¯t said much, so there was still time to change her stance.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s complexion twisted uncomfortably, ¡°I¨CI just wanted to ask why you were bullying a woman, but since it¡¯s her fault, then take her away. I don¡¯t want to deal with such trouble.¡±


    Jiang Peipei¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets upon hearing those words.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that Xia Wenjin had been dismissed by Song Sinian with just a few words.


    If she really got dragged away, it would have been the end for her.


    She absolutely refused to be dragged away like that!


    Jiang Peipei, thinking this, suddenly unleashed a surge of strength and lunged towards Xia Wenjin, then tightly wrapped her arms around her thighs.


    ¡°Feng Ya Meizi, save me, please! I really didn¡¯t mean to seduce President Song on purpose. It was just... just a moment of madness, please save me!¡± At first, Jiang Peipei thought the woman didn¡¯t want to save her out of jealousy because of her flirtation with Song Sinian.


    But now, she couldn¡¯t care less about that.


    If she let go, she didn¡¯t know if she would live to see tomorrow¡¯s sun.


    As Jiang Peipei had these thoughts, she wished she could dig her nails into Xia Wenjin¡¯s flesh, but it was winter, and everyone was dressed warmly.


    So Jiang Peipei clutched Xia Wenjin¡¯s legs, which were covered with leggings, for dear life.


    Her grip was so tight that, even through the leggings, Jiang Peipei clung desperately to her leg.


    The bodyguards nearby tried to pull Jiang Peipei off, but she clung to Xia Wenjin¡¯s flesh far too tightly.


    Jiang Peipei didn¡¯t show much reaction, but Xia Wenjin¡¯s scalp went numb with pain.


    She wished she could kick Jiang Peipei directly in the face, but alas, her legs were tightly held; she had no opportunity to lift her foot and kick her.


    Instead, helped by the bodyguards pulling on Jiang Peipei, Xia Wenjin grimaced in pain.


    ¡°Let go of me!¡± Xia Wenjin glared at Jiang Peipei through gritted teeth, pushed her away, and pinched her arm hard, trying to make her release her grip.


    But would Jiang Peipei let go?


    She would rather suffer in pain today than be left alone.


    Seeing this, Song Sinian sneered lightly, ¡°It seems this lady does indeed have some relationship with you. I didn¡¯t pay much attention to the Fengya Family before, but now it¡¯s time to take a good look.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenjin knew Song Sinian was going to cause trouble for the Fengya Family.


    She had used Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s appearance to seduce Song Sinian before, and although he flew into a rage, he didn¡¯t take it seriously afterward.


    But what was happening now?


    Was this man really venting his anger on her because of Jiang Peipei?


    Xia Wenjin looked on irritably, giving Jiang Peipei a fierce glare, ¡°Let go! Your problems have nothing to do with me. Don¡¯t drag me into this!¡±


    She gritted her teeth with such hatred that she wished she could kill her.


    Jiang Peipei, who was already feeling doomed, suddenly understood something when she heard Song Sinian¡¯s conversation with Xia Wenjin.


    She clung to Xia Wenjin¡¯s thighs and spoke to Song Sinian and Zhao Xi, ¡°I won¡¯t hide it any longer; it was her! She said she would pay me a sum of money if I managed to drug President Song. I was just blinded by greed at that moment... that¡¯s why I did it...¡±


    Xia Wenjin totally blew up then.


    She finally understood the saying about an uninvited calamity coming out of the blue.


    She had indeed thought about seducing Song Sinian before, but since he proved impervious, she planned to target Xia Wenyan instead.


    But before she could make her move, someone had already acted under her name.


    Xia Wenjin was utterly nauseated!


    The two bewildered bodyguards nearby were also confused. When exactly had Xia Wenjin contacted this woman to drug Song Sinian?


    They had been following all along and had discovered nothing?!

 Chapter 612: 610: How Dare This Woman?

    Chapter 612: Chapter 610: How Dare This Woman?


    Well, what a mess! Is the Feng Ya Family really going down for good?


    The two bodyguards watched as Song Sinian descended like a wrathful god, their hearts trembling nervously.


    Family Head!


    They really tried their best!


    But they genuinely had no idea how Xia Wenjin had found others to take action...


    Are the Feng Ya Family really done for?!


    Xia Wenjin was completely baffled; she truly hadn¡¯t asked anyone to harass Song Sinian.


    After realizing this man wasn¡¯t interested in other women, she had given up.


    But now this woman was actually throwing the blame on her?!


    Already agitated by the incident with Hao Jiayi, and now openly slandered, how could she possibly stand it?


    She swung her hand viciously at Jiang Peipei¡¯s face, ¡°You bitch! Am I someone you can casually slander like this?! Do you know who I am?! Do you know who my dad is?!¡±


    Enraged, Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand, smacking Jiang Peipei¡¯s face, lacked any restraint.


    Moreover, since Jiang Peipei wanted to play the victim, she didn¡¯t dodge at all, which resulted in a solid slap from Xia Wenjin, sending a sharp pain ringing instantly in her ears.


    At this point, she couldn¡¯t hold back, holding her ear and screaming tragically.


    Their commotion quickly attracted quite a crowd.


    Song Sinian furrowed his brows, ¡°If you guys want to make a scene, take it somewhere else. If you wake up Zhaozhao, I¡¯ll make sure none of you have a place to be buried.¡±


    Xia Wenjin shivered with fright; seeing Jiang Peipei writhing in pain on the ground, she quickly said to the two bodyguards, ¡°What are you standing there for? Hurry up and take her away!¡±


    Now is not the time to not run, then when?


    Xia Wenjin sobered up considerably, obviously realizing she had been impulsive.


    On Song Sinian¡¯s side, whether she had acted out or not, the Song Family could investigate and clear her name.


    She didn¡¯t need to prove her innocence or beat up Jiang Peipei in public, yet this commotion made it look like she was guilty.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin furrowed her brow in frustration.


    It was only when she got back to her hotel near the film studio that she thoroughly came to her senses.


    Xia Wenjin raised her hand again and slapped Jiang Peipei on the face, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! Slut! Who exactly sent you to slander me?!¡±


    Saying this, she didn¡¯t hesitate to kick Jiang Peipei hard in the stomach.


    Jiang Peipei was propped up by the bodyguards, unable to fight back at all. Her mouth was also gagged, denying her even the chance to cry out.


    Enduring Xia Wenjin¡¯s beating, she could only groan in pain.


    Seeing this, the two bodyguards finally breathed a sigh of relief¡ªit seemed that Jiang Peipei truly wasn¡¯t Xia Wenjin¡¯s doing.


    Thinking this, they couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Miss, do you know this woman?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows were tightly knit. She glanced at the bodyguards and shook her head flatly, ¡°Of course I don¡¯t know her, and I have no idea who sent this slut.¡±


    The bodyguard cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem... Miss, you indeed had...¡±


    ¡°Ha! I was indeed interested in Song Sinian back then, but he wasn¡¯t into me. I knew that, so of course, I wouldn¡¯t bother him anymore. Besides, what do I gain by sending this woman to seduce him?!¡±


    The more Xia Wenjin thought, the angrier she got, grabbing Jiang Peipei¡¯s hair and striking her face left and right.


    She had already offended Song Sinian before, but thankfully, her identity as the eldest daughter of the Feng Ya Family had saved her from being dealt with.


    Now, this woman explicitly used her title to harass Song Sinian, and what was more deadly, she had even drugged him!


    Just who is Song Sinian?


    He is a pervert!


    She herself dared not drug him, how could this woman dare?


    Not only had she done it, but why pin the blame on her?!


    How infuriating!


    The two bodyguards were now completely at ease, it seemed Xia Wenjin really hadn¡¯t been reckless this time.


    As long as she hadn¡¯t actually done anything, the rest would be easy to handle.


    ¡°Miss, since you haven¡¯t acted, we can handle this matter for you.¡± One of the bodyguards immediately spoke up, taking over the conversation.


    Xia Wenjin blinked, her gaze shifting to the bodyguard, ¡°How do you plan to handle this?¡±


    Although she was somewhat excited, she was worried that the bodyguard might not have the brains either and could make the situation more complicated.


    But now, she had no choice but to place her hopes on the two bodyguards.


    After all, both of them had always been with Feng Ya Meizi, serving the Fengya Family, and definitely had more experience than she had in dealing with such matters. Perhaps they really had a solution.


    The bodyguard chuckled lightly, ¡°Miss, you just need to report directly to the police to resolve this.¡±


    ¡°Report to the police?¡± Xia Wenjin was immediately stunned, ¡°Why report to the police?¡±


    The smile on the bodyguard¡¯s face grew even brighter, ¡°As long as the police confirm there¡¯s nothing wrong on your part, it will indirectly prove to President Song that you indeed haven¡¯t done anything. Moreover, the police have their own interrogation techniques, and no matter how tough this woman is, she will tell the truth in the face of the police.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin did not speak, not because she was unwilling.


    Rather, she had never considered this possibility.


    Her own identity was essentially shady, so she was also hesitant, fearing that if she went to the police station, her background might be revealed.


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, clearly hesitant.


    Seeing her expression, the two bodyguards also understood what she was worried about, after all, those with secrets wouldn¡¯t want to go to the police station.


    They had been with Feng Ya Meizi for a long time and were very mentally resilient. As long as they weren¡¯t subjected to unspeakably brutal interrogation methods, it was all manageable for them.


    ¡°Miss, you don¡¯t need to worry about this matter; we two bodyguards are enough to handle it, there¡¯s no need for you to make an appearance.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss, such a minor matter definitely doesn¡¯t require your personal involvement.¡±


    The two bodyguards echoed each other, causing Xia Wenjin¡¯s internal resistance to vanish instantly.


    Reporting to the police didn¡¯t require her to come forward, so it wasn¡¯t a problem.


    The concerns she had before didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    But outwardly, Xia Wenjin still feigned difficulty and said, ¡°Having you two replace me, would that be alright? After all, this matter has some significant influence domestically, what if my father...¡±


    With her hint, what more did the two bodyguards not understand?


    ¡°Miss, rest assured, we will definitely handle this matter well, and we absolutely won¡¯t let the Family Head worry!¡±


    One of the bodyguards immediately pledged his loyalty.


    The other naturally chimed in, ¡°Our duty in this country is to protect you, Miss. If we can¡¯t handle even this little thing, wouldn¡¯t it disgrace the Fengya Family?¡±

 Chapter 613: 611: Trapped Miserably

    Chapter 613: Chapter 611: Trapped Miserably


    Xia Wenjin breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the two speak like that.


    Luckily, these two were rather blindly loyal. Otherwise, if Fengya Ichiro found out, she would have been in deep trouble.


    She glanced indifferently at the two, then her gaze fell on Jiang Peipei, ¡°Then take this woman to the police station. I must explain everything to President Song. I don¡¯t want to take the fall because of some slut!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, miss. We¡¯ll handle this matter!¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    After the bodyguard said that, he immediately left the room with Jiang Peipei.


    For a moment, the room was left with only Xia Wenjin and another bodyguard.


    ¡°Miss, I have something else to report to you concerning Zhao Qingfeng,¡± the bodyguard blurted out as if he had just remembered.


    Xia Wenjin frowned, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him? Wasn¡¯t he at the hospital treating his face?¡±


    She had been negotiating with Hao Jiayi these past few days and hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Zhao Qingfeng. Had the bodyguard not mentioned it, she might have nearly forgotten him.


    The bodyguard nodded, ¡°Yes, he was indeed at the hospital to treat his face, but... not entirely...¡±


    His hesitant manner made Xia Wenjin¡¯s face grow increasingly grim.


    Her gaze swept over the bodyguard again before she slowly said, ¡°What exactly did he do at the hospital? Don¡¯t beat around the bush, just spit it out!¡±


    She was already frustrated enough these days; if the bodyguard added to her frustration, she would explode on the spot.


    The bodyguard cleared his throat, ¡°Cough... he... went for plastic surgery.¡±


    ¡°What?!!¡± Xia Wenjin could hardly believe her ears, ¡°Is he planning to run away?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Though the bodyguard said nothing, his silence was deafening.


    Now Xia Wenjin really exploded, ¡°How dare he? He...¡±


    Xia Wenjin wanted to curse out loud.


    She paid for his treatment, and he used her money for plastic surgery and even thought about fleeing?


    That was outrageous. If it weren¡¯t for her instructing the bodyguard to keep an eye on Zhao Qingfeng, by the time she found out, he might have already vanished!


    Seeing Xia Wenjin¡¯s furious demeanor was nothing new to the bodyguard.


    She wanted to use Hao Jiayi and Zhao Qingfeng as pawns, thinking that playing the savior would make them serve her.


    But she completely forgot that these two were not good people by nature; deceit and betrayal were second nature to them.


    To manipulate such people, one shouldn¡¯t show kindness, but instead, hold leverage over them to ensure their obedience.


    However, this was none of their concern. They just needed to watch from the sidelines, ensuring Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t mess with the people of the Xia Family or the Song Family.


    As for other matters, she was free to muddle through as she wished.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned shades of pale and flushed, taking quite a while to recover.


    Almost gnashing her back teeth, she enunciated every word, ¡°Has his plastic surgery been done yet?¡±


    The bodyguard shook his head, ¡°Because the surgery involves several areas, they are currently discussing the plan for the surgery.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression eased substantially.


    Luckily, the plastic surgery hadn¡¯t started yet, or else she would have been utterly ruined.


    Yet, upon further thought, she seemed to have an insight.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed as he pulled a photo up on his phone, ¡°Pay the doctor and have him change Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face to look like this. You know what to do afterward, right?¡±


    The bodyguard glanced at the photo on the phone, his eyes widening a bit, but he nodded, ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Then go and take care of it,¡± Xia Wenjin instructed, waving his hand dismissively. However, the bodyguard showed no intention of leaving.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed, his expression displeased as he looked at the bodyguard, ¡°What? Do you have objections to my plan?¡±


    His gaze swept over the bodyguard again, clearly annoyed.


    The bodyguard immediately shook his head, ¡°How could I? I¡¯m just worried about your safety, Miss. I¡¯m the only one here. If I leave as well, I¡¯m afraid someone might take the opportunity to harm you.¡±


    As he spoke, he looked at Xia Wenjin earnestly and added, ¡°Miss, you know that we¡¯ve offended President Song today. We must be cautious.¡±


    In reality, he was somewhat worried that once he left, Xia Wenjin might do something reckless that he wouldn¡¯t know about, and they would be the ones to suffer.


    Xia Wenjin originally felt a bit irritated, but when she heard that the bodyguard was concerned about her safety, the irritation she had just felt disappeared instantly.


    His words made Xia Wenjin think hard.


    She had indeed just offended Song Sinian. If they really decided to strike against her, she might not stand a chance.


    If the bodyguard were there, at least he could put up some resistance.


    Thinking back to the time she was chased in the forest abroad, Xia Wenjin still felt a chill.


    If she had had a bodyguard with her then... no, even just one more person to assist her, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up so miserably.


    Considering this, Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t let the bodyguard leave on his own.


    She took a deep breath, ¡°Then... let¡¯s handle this matter later...¡±


    The bodyguard nodded repeatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss. Our people are keeping an eye on Zhao Qingfeng. Nothing will go wrong. As for the plastic surgery to make him look like that man, that won¡¯t be delayed either.¡±


    ¡°Good, that¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Meanwhile, in a break room partition for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Song Sinian sat quietly next to the sofa, his fierce demeanor noticeably softened due to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s soothing.


    Standing by, Zhao Xi thought about the earlier events, and sweat threatened to break out.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for their madam¡¯s timely arrival, their master might have totally lost control.


    When he had just had someone clean up the room, he had found shattered glass and porcelain pieces on the floor.


    Seeing the bandages on Song Sinian¡¯s hands, he was almost certain what had happened earlier.


    Their master had been drugged and took measures accordingly.


    If Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t shown up just in time, he would likely be dealing with not Jiang Peipei, but her corpse.


    He still understood their master.


    Besides their madam, any other woman who tried to force their way with him met only a dead end.


    Right now, he didn¡¯t know whether to call Jiang Peipei lucky or unlucky.


    To say she was unlucky, well, she did get away with her life. To say she was lucky, she was alive, but was better off dead.


    After all, being marked by their master meant a fate worse than death.


    Zhao Xi pursed his lips. For a woman like Jiang Peipei, he couldn¡¯t muster any sympathy.


    If she hadn¡¯t been foolish enough to try something with their master, he wouldn¡¯t have targeted her.


    All said and done, it was Jiang Peipei¡¯s own fault!

 Chapter 614: 612: An Interesting Person

    Chapter 614: Chapter 612: An Interesting Person


    Song Sinian picked up the coffee that had been poured on the table and took a slow sip before opening his mouth, ¡°How is the investigation going?¡±


    Zhao Xi immediately snapped back to attention and spoke earnestly, ¡°The investigation into Jiang Peipei is clear. It was indeed a spur-of-the-moment act on her part, and it has nothing to do with Xia Wenjin.¡±


    After all, Xia Wenjin¡¯s previous target had become Xia Wenyan. There was no point for her to seduce anyone from their family.


    But it didn¡¯t rule out the possibility that she had lost her mind and wanted to cause trouble for their lady.


    Zhao Xi had this thought before, but it was quickly dismissed.


    Song Sinian, holding his coffee cup, narrowed his dark eyes slightly, showing no emotion at what he had just heard.


    But Zhao Xi, who knew Song Sinian well, could tell that their master was a bit annoyed.


    He cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem... Sir, I just received a message from Xia Wenjin¡¯s bodyguard. They¡¯ve sent Jiang Peipei to the police station. She¡¯s to be detained for a few days because she released dangerous substances. They¡¯re asking if we want to handle it ourselves?¡±


    Song Sinian raised an eyebrow, ¡°They had the guts to send her to the police because Xia Wenjin is unrelated to this matter, right?¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. They¡¯re mainly afraid of offending us and getting the Rimu Family involved.¡±


    Xia Wenjin is currently parading under the banner of Feng Ya Meizi. Since Fengya Ichiro allowed her to return to the country, he must take all responsibility.


    Song Sinian snorted with laughter, ¡°The head of the Fengya Family is an interesting person.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    That¡¯s for sure. Many ancient families in Country R don¡¯t care much about blood relations. As long as the family can continue and grow, they will stop at nothing.


    There aren¡¯t many like Fengya Ichiro, who pave the way for their daughters¡¯ futures.


    Even though it¡¯s a path that Feng Ya Meizi doesn¡¯t want to take at all.


    But he did fulfill his responsibility as a father.


    Zhao Xi pursed his lips, ¡°Sir, about Jiang Peipei...¡±


    ¡°Let them handle it. Since the Fengya Family wants to make amends, let them do it. Hopefully, they won¡¯t disappoint us.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s light words spread through the room, making Zhao Xi shiver unintentionally.


    Their master really despised Jiang Peipei.


    The legal consciousness in Country R has always been weak, and their methods of dealing with people can be quite ruthless.


    Jiang Peipei would suffer more in their hands than in her own country.


    Moreover, with the Fengya Family wanting to please them, they definitely wouldn¡¯t show mercy to Jiang Peipei.


    Tsk tsk... She¡¯s going to have a tough time ahead.


    Zhao Xi internally sighed and continued, ¡°Sir, does the lady still need to have a doctor come over to check on her?¡±


    He remembered the last time their master was injured, their lady completely lost it.


    With their master in such a critical condition this time, he was a bit concerned about Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotional state.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao took a long time to recover back to normal after the last incident.


    Song Sinian shook his head slightly, ¡°No need, she¡¯s all right this time...¡±


    He paused, as if thinking of something, ¡°Arrange in the next few days for Doctor Tian to check on Nian Nian.¡±


    When he was injured before, Lu Zhaozhao may not have shown it, but just to be safe, it was better to have Doctor Tian take a look.


    Zhao Xi also nodded, ¡°Understood, sir. I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, set down the coffee cup in his hand, and turned his gaze toward the bedroom off to the side.


    Lu Zhaozhao had already been resting for a while, and he thought about the way the two of them had just been together, lost in passion, and suddenly he really wanted to see her right now.


    Seeing this, Zhao Xi naturally had no intention of staying on as a third wheel.


    The crew had wrapped up work early because of the incident, and now even the area near the rest lounge was deserted.


    Except for the bodyguards he had sent to protect Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian.


    Zhao Xi was about to leave, but hesitated for a moment, then turned back and continued to report, ¡°Sir, Zhao Qingfeng wants to have plastic surgery, but Xia Wenjin intervened.¡±


    Song Sinian had just stood up when his eyebrows lifted slightly as he looked towards Zhao Xi, ¡°Who does she want Zhao Qingfeng to have surgery to look like?¡±


    Xia Wenjin had reaped the benefits of plastic surgery and naturally understood the advantages it offered.


    He just wondered whether Zhao Qingfeng would still listen to her after the surgery.


    Previously, Zhao Qingfeng had been quite the schemer in the industry; if he hadn¡¯t lost his mind trying to seduce Lu Zhaozhao, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen into such a predicament.


    Now that he had the chance to overhaul his appearance, it was uncertain whether he would continue to follow Xia Wenjin¡¯s orders.


    Zhao Xi forced a smile, ¡°She wants the plastic surgeon to make him look like Xiao Mo...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian fell silent all at once.


    He seemed somewhat puzzled by Xia Wenjin¡¯s maneuvers.


    Turn into Xiao Mo? For what purpose?


    She had already transformed into Feng Ya Meizi, so was she planning to return under the identity of Feng Ya Meizi eventually?


    Zhao Xi seemed to perceive Song Sinian¡¯s confusion and finally voiced his own opinion, ¡°I think Xia Wenjin probably feels that since Xiao Mo also carries the Song Family blood, there¡¯s a possibility for him to become the Song Group heir. She couldn¡¯t seduce you, sir, so she must have found a different approach.¡±


    In other words, Xia Wenjin had always had her sights set on the Song Group.


    She hadn¡¯t managed to get anything from their sir and couldn¡¯t possibly marry Xiao Mo using the identity of Feng Ya Meizi.


    After all, there was deep animosity between the two of them.


    So now, killing off Xiao Mo and finding someone to replace him had become an excellent plan.


    Song Sinian raised his hand to his temple and pressed, ¡°Her brain isn¡¯t that big, but she¡¯s pretty good at scheming.¡±


    If Xiao Mo were so easy to handle, she wouldn¡¯t have been outsmarted by Xiao Jinglan and almost died abroad.


    Xia Wenjin really hadn¡¯t learned her lesson, attempting to employ such a foolish scheme to pull off an identity switch.


    She really was quite the thinker.


    Zhao Xi shrugged noncommittally, ¡°Maybe she thinks, since she easily took over Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s identity herself, that taking over someone else¡¯s identity post-surgery is something particularly simple.¡±


    Little did she know, from the day she had her surgery her actions were already being tracked.


    Trying to use amnesia as an excuse to impersonate someone else¡¯s life was downright child¡¯s play.


    If it wasn¡¯t for Fengya Ichiro¡¯s intentional use of her, her disguise wouldn¡¯t have lasted three days.


    She couldn¡¯t even fool the bodyguards around Feng Ya Meizi.


    Seeing that Song Sinian didn¡¯t speak up, Zhao Xi asked another question, ¡°Sir, should we get involved in this matter?¡±


    They would certainly enjoy watching Xia Wenjin and Xiao Mo go at each other, but if Xia Wenjin was just serving herself up on a silver platter, it would be a bit too absurd.


    Song Sinian fell silent for a moment, ¡°There¡¯s no need for too much intervention, but if Xia Wenjin can succeed, it¡¯s not like we can¡¯t help her a little...¡±

 Chapter 615: 613: Looking at the Pot While Eating from the Bowl

    Chapter 615: Chapter 613: Looking at the Pot While Eating from the Bowl


    After all, that woman harbored substantial hatred toward Xiao Mo, and if Xiao Mo really were replaced, he wouldn¡¯t have any good days in her hands.


    They were willing to fight like dogs, and Song Sinian was more than happy to watch it happen.


    He had already given them the opportunity, now it was up to their abilities.


    For several days in a row, a report began fermenting in the Shangjing Circle¡¯s social and entertainment news.


    ¡°Suspected missing female artist shockingly confirmed deceased in Country F¡±


    ¡°Country F discovers female artist suspected to be Xia Wenjin¡±


    ¡°Reviewing Xia Wenjin¡¯s life: From debut to the pinnacle¡±


    ...


    Hao Jiayi looked at the message dominating the headlines on her phone, and couldn¡¯t help but squint her eyes.


    That Feng Ya Meizi was quite capable, having so swiftly managed to obtain news of Xia Wenjin¡¯s death.


    If the news was confirmed overseas, as long as Xiao Mo deregistered Xia Wenjin¡¯s identity domestically, then all she needed to do was marry Xiao Mo and it would be set in stone.


    Hao Jiayi stood in the break room, stirring her coffee while pondering how to discuss this matter with Xiao Mo.


    ¡°Hey, have you heard? Our Manager Xiao¡¯s wife seems to have died...¡±


    ¡°Oh my? Is it that Xia Wenjin? Tsk tsk... wasn¡¯t she reported missing earlier? How is she now confirmed dead?¡±


    ¡°I heard it¡¯s an investigative report from Country F, they¡¯ve even found the body, they say she accidentally fell into water, tsk tsk, so tragic.¡±


    Several colleagues gossiped excitedly in the break room.


    Hao Jiayi naturally perked up her ears and listened in.


    ¡°Do you think, considering how devoted Manager Xiao is, finding his wife lost for so long and now gone, that he might be very down?¡±


    ¡°Down... he definitely might be?¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk... our Manager Xiao is quite pitiable...¡±


    This level of gossip was still normal, but then a hushed voice arose in the crowd.


    ¡°Do you think, given Manager Xiao¡¯s poor emotional state right now, is there a big chance to take advantage of his vulnerability?¡±


    As soon as these words were spoken, the break room instantly quieted down.


    Everyone glanced at each other, suddenly feeling an urge stirring within.


    Even Hao Jiayi, secretly standing in the corner, felt a sudden ¡°thump¡± in her heart¡ªnot because she was intrigued by their words, but because she feared someone else taking her piece of the pie, Xiao Mo.


    After all, Xiao Mo usually presented himself as exceptionally gentle and good in front of others, but he was actually rotten to the core.


    But others didn¡¯t know that.


    If someone really thought of this, her position would be in serious jeopardy.


    Hao Jiayi squinted her eyes, her gaze secretly flitting to the woman who had just spoken the provocative words.


    She then sized up a few other female colleagues around her.


    She would have to treat these women as key subjects of observation and ensure they wouldn¡¯t succeed!


    Although she disliked Xiao Mo, marrying him would give her a legitimate reason to access his assets.


    As long as she cleverly managed him and his mother, everything of the Xiao Family would be hers!


    Thinking this, Hao Jiayi stirred her coffee again, feeling much more composed.


    The chattery female colleagues, after a few more inconsequential remarks, gradually left the break room one by one.


    Hao Jiayi stayed in the back, waiting until everyone had left, before she took her coffee and returned to Xiao Mo¡¯s office.


    ¡°Amo, take a break and have a coffee, you¡¯ve been working for a long time.¡±


    Hao Jiayi was especially caring the moment she entered.


    She looked at Xiao Mo sitting at his desk, smiling brightly at him, as if her eyes and heart were filled with only him.


    Xiao Mo had long been accustomed to her demeanor.


    Even because of Hao Jiayi¡¯s attitude toward him, he felt a twinge of superiority¡ªcertainly because he was so outstanding, which made her so infatuated with him.


    He took the coffee she offered, drank a few sips casually, and then leaned back in his chair.


    He waved Hao Jiayi over with a gesture.


    Hao Jiayi, of course, complied with him, walking over and even sitting on his lap.


    Her arms wrapped around his neck, she rubbed against him and cooed, ¡°Amo, I just heard in the pantry that someone said your wife has been found.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s hand, which had been trailing along her back to her waist, suddenly paused, and his brows furrowed.


    He had naturally heard about Xia Wenjin.


    The police in that country had found a severely disfigured female corpse downstream of the river where Xia Wenjin had had her accident.


    From the clothes and characteristics, it seemed to be Xia Wenjin.


    He had listened to Xiao Jinglan mention that Xia Wenjin had fallen into the river, and he had indeed thought that she might have died just like that.


    After all, since she had fallen into the river, there had been no news of her.


    It had indeed been very frustrating, living without seeing her and dying without a body.


    Now that the dust had settled, Xiao Mo¡¯s mood had obviously improved a lot.


    But Hao Jiayi bringing it up made Xiao Mo somewhat displeased.


    Xiao Mo knew too well what Hao Jiayi was thinking.


    He had no fondness for her ignorant attitude.


    A woman alone, without power, influence, or status, she should have been content being a canary.


    Yet she was insatiable, always coveting a position that did not belong to her.


    Xiao Mo glanced at Hao Jiayi, his voice also grew colder, ¡°Besides this, what else did they say?¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s fingertips traced a circle on Xiao Mo¡¯s chest, ¡°They also said they want to take advantage of your low spirits to sneak in, all dressed up like little vixens, hmph!¡±


    As she spoke, she playfully poked Xiao Mo¡¯s chest, seemingly jealous.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyebrow quirked slightly, indifferent to Hao Jiayi¡¯s attitude, but he quite enjoyed what she had said.


    The covetous looks from other women in the company pleased him.


    Being liked by so many people proved his charm.


    Seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s smug look, Hao Jiayi couldn¡¯t help but scoff coldly in her heart, men really are no good.


    Xiao Mo already had one in his arms, yet he was still thinking about other women.


    Previously, Hao Jiayi had thought, following Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s advice to drug them might be too cruel.


    Now it seemed she had been too naive.


    This man clearly looked at what was in the pot while eating from his bowl.


    Her eyes narrowed further, wanting to probe him a bit more.


    Thus, Hao Jiayi spoke up again softly, ¡°Amo, look, your previous wife is confirmed gone, and naturally, your marriage to her doesn¡¯t count anymore, we...¡±


    Hearing Hao Jiayi¡¯s words, Xiao Mo¡¯s brows suddenly tightened, and he said coldly, ¡°My wife just died, and now you want me to marry you, are you trying to kill me? What will people outside think of me?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Hao Jiayi immediately pretended to be frightened, shrinking into his embrace...

 Chapter 616: 614: Can I Please Take a Leave of Absence?

    Chapter 616: Chapter 614: Can I Please Take a Leave of Absence?


    ¡°I, I didn¡¯t mean that...¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s voice, thick with the tone of tears, driftled out as she hung her head low.


    Yet, there was not a single trace of tear stains on her face.


    She knew she couldn¡¯t rely on Xiao Mo!


    Sure enough, in the end, she had to depend on herself.


    Hao Jiayi had thought before that if Feng Ya Meizi truly released the news of Xiao Mo¡¯s wife¡¯s passing, she would take the opportunity to get Xiao Mo to register for marriage with her.


    If Xiao Mo agreed, then she would somewhat consider his life and death.


    After all, there was quite a difference between him alive earning money for her and him dead leaving behind a fortune.


    But his words just now had completely shattered her trust in him.


    Xiao Mo had never thought of marrying her, so there was no need for her to insist on keeping him alive.


    Next, she just had to find a way to get pregnant with Xiao Mo¡¯s child, then it would be enough to kill Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan.


    Before, Feng Ya Meizi had always urged her to get rid of Xiao Jinglan first, but her thoughts were different.


    If Xiao Jinglan was gone and Xiao Mo was gone too, and she suddenly turned out to be pregnant, the police¡¯s attention would definitely focus on her.


    At that time, if she gave herself away, it would be troublesome.


    If Xiao Mo was gone but Xiao Jinglan was still alive, even to protect her son¡¯s last bloodline, she wouldn¡¯t do anything to her.


    Maybe she would even constantly protect her and might even hand over Xiao Mo¡¯s property to her.


    When she had been living with the Xiao Family, she had noticed that Xiao Jinglan¡¯s health seemed very poor, as though she could pass away at any moment.


    So, Hao Jiayi was not in a hurry to deal with her.


    ¡°Alright, what¡¯s there to cry about?¡± Xiao Mo raised a hand and patted Hao Jiayi on the back. ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you? My public image is very important. If my wife just died and I marry immediately, what do you think people outside would think of me?¡±


    Hao Jiayi wasn¡¯t angry. She raised her hand and pretended to wipe the corner of her eye with her sleeve, then buried her head in Xiao Mo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I know I was wrong. I won¡¯t say it anymore, okay?¡±


    Xiao Mo curled his lip. Although he still had some dissatisfaction toward Hao Jiayi, seeing that she knew how to act appropriately for the time being, he didn¡¯t scold her further.


    After all, she was able to satisfy him both in everyday moments and in his particular tastes.


    He was being made weary by Feng Jiyue every day, where would he have the time to find a woman so willing to accommodate him?


    So for the time being, he couldn¡¯t break off with Hao Jiayi. This was also why, even though he was displeased, he would occasionally coax her.


    Luckily, this woman had some self-awareness and didn¡¯t continue to make a fuss.


    Otherwise, he might have really needed to abandon her directly.


    ¡°Amo, can I ask for a leave later?¡± She raised her hand to gently press on her temple, looking pitifully at Xiao Mo.


    Xiao Mo, having just reprimanded Hao Jiayi and seeing her act appropriately, asked with feigned concern, ¡°What do you want time off for?¡±


    Hao Jiayi let out a soft sigh. ¡°I think I caught a draft while sleeping last night, I feel like I¡¯m catching a cold, and my head hurts terribly, so I want to take a leave and rest for a while.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo did not respond to Hao Jiayi but kept his eyes firmly on her, as if pondering what her real purpose was for saying this.


    Hao Jiayi, of course, did not give him any gap to think, she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled against it, saying, ¡°Amo, my body hasn¡¯t been in good condition ever since I was discharged from the hospital last time, and I¡¯m worried that I won¡¯t be able to please you properly, so I want to have a good rest...¡±


    She linked her situation to Xiao Mo, and Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t directly ignore it anymore.


    After all, people prioritize their interests, especially a man as inherently selfish as Xiao Mo.


    Whether her body had issues didn¡¯t really matter.


    What mattered was whether it would affect him.


    Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes and reached out to pinch Hao Jiayi¡¯s chin, ¡°Then you better go back, no need to fake an excuse, just handle it as an external assignment.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Hao Jiayi immediately looked up and pecked Xiao Mo on the cheek, ¡°Amo, I knew you were the best to me!¡±


    She acted as if she had received some grand favor, winning even more of Xiao Mo¡¯s affection.


    With Xiao Mo¡¯s words, Hao Jiayi swaggered out of the company and headed straight back to the Xiao Family home.


    Xiao Mo had suspected that Hao Jiayi might collude with Feng Jiyue to fake being on leave, actually meeting with people from the Feng family¡¯s side.


    But to his surprise, the Hao Jiayi he had people watching went straight back to the Xiao Family home.


    The suspicions he initially had about her also dissipated quite a bit.


    Meanwhile, the completely oblivious Hao Jiayi¡¯s first action upon returning to the Xiao Family home was to head to the private room she shared with Xiao Mo.


    Inside were the things Xiao Mo usually used to torment her, and one item that was preventing her rise¡ªthe little birth control umbrella.


    Xiao Mo always practiced birth control when he was tormenting her, making it very difficult for her to get pregnant with his child.


    But now, she was planning to poke holes in all these items, and once she secretly got pregnant with Xiao Mo¡¯s child, she would silently get rid of this man.


    By then, only Xiao Jinglan would be left¡ªshe¡¯d have no choice but to leave all the assets to the child in her belly.


    Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t long for this world; soon enough, all these things would be hers.


    The more Hao Jiayi thought about it, the happier she became, her hand holding the needle trembling with anticipation as if she already saw the glittering inheritance beckoning her.


    All she had to do was hold on a little longer, and she would become a person of high status!


    Hao Jiayi had previously clung to men, thinking that as long as she had them wrapped around her finger, she could escape the sea of suffering.


    However, she soon realized that none of the men enchanted by her beauty was reliable.


    The more she strived to climb the social ladder, the more difficult it became.


    Luckily, now she had come across an opportunity that could take her to the next level¡ªhow could she possibly give up?


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Suddenly, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice came from the bedroom door, startling Hao Jiayi so much that she almost dropped the needle into the drawer.


    She quickly turned around, pretending to casually close the drawer behind her, then slowly walked out of the private room and shut the door behind her.


    ¡°Aunt Xiao, did you call me?¡±


    She smiled faintly, looking especially docile.


    Xiao Jinglan snorted lightly, ¡°What are you sneaking around for in the room?¡±


    She had intended to go shopping, but because her body couldn¡¯t take it, she had come back early, only to see Hao Jiayi acting stealthy in the room upon her entry.


    At this time, she should have been at work, not at home, so Xiao Jinglan immediately became suspicious of Hao Jiayi.


    After all, this woman was from the Feng family¡¯s side¡ªXiao Jinglan was never willing to trust her.


    Hao Jiayi pursed her lips innocently, ¡°Aunt Xiao, you¡¯re overthinking it. I wasn¡¯t sneaking around; I was just in mine and Amo¡¯s bedroom. I¡ªI wanted to surprise Amo...¡±


    ¡°Surprise?¡± Xiao Jinglan raised an eyebrow, her gaze holding a touch of disdain.

 Chapter 617: 615 Vixen

    Chapter 617: Chapter 615 Vixen


    Hao Jiayi nodded, her cheeks suddenly turning red, ¡°Aunt Xiao, as you know, Amo¡¯s tastes are different from the average person, and I just happened to see a nice little gadget recently. I wanted to share it with Amo, and uh...¡±


    She appeared coy and hesitant to speak further, a look that, when caught by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes, made her involuntarily sneer with disgust.


    Typical of the Feng family¡¯s vixen.


    Her mind was always filled with such filthy thoughts.


    Xiao Jinglan actually didn¡¯t like Hao Jiayi one bit. The last time she discussed this woman with Xiao Mo, Xiao Mo had even talked back to her because of her.


    Just thinking about it made her anger rise.


    She used to bear such things in the past, but ever since she learned that her life wasn¡¯t going to last much longer, Xiao Jinglan had had a change of heart.


    Why should she, a dying person, continue to indulge others?


    She had no power over Xiao Mo, but there was no need to baby Hao Jiayi.


    Xiao Jinglan raised her hand and slapped Hao Jiayi across the face with a ¡°smack,¡± and Hao Jiayi, caught off guard, fell straight to the ground.


    She didn¡¯t expect Xiao Jinglan to hit her, let alone fathom why she would.


    Could she possibly know what she had just done?


    Hao Jiayi covered her face, her thoughts in disarray, but she managed to feign a pitiful look.


    She wasn¡¯t clear on how much Xiao Jinglan knew, and saying anything recklessly would only make things worse.


    Better to wait for Xiao Jinglan to speak.


    Seeing her pitiable expression only fueled Xiao Jinglan¡¯s rage, ¡°Xiao Mo is not home right now, who are you trying to look pathetic for?! I won¡¯t fall for your tricks! Put away that seductive fox act of yours immediately!¡±


    Hao Jiayi then slowly raised her head to look at Xiao Jinglan, still with a pitiful air, ¡°Aunt Xiao, I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ve offended you. Why are you treating me like this? I just wanted to make Amo happy...¡±


    ¡°Happy? You cling to him all day long for that sort of thing, and if his health collapses, who¡¯s going to benefit from that, you think I don¡¯t know?!¡± Xiao Jinglan scoffed coldly, giving Hao Jiayi a fierce glare.


    Although she still wore a pitiful expression, she eventually relaxed completely.


    So, it was because she thought that she had seduced Xiao Mo that she was so furious.


    Hao Jiayi raised her hand to wipe away the ¡°tears¡± on her cheeks, then pretended to speak carefully, ¡°I... I didn¡¯t know it would tire Amo so much, I thought...¡±


    She didn¡¯t finish her sentence before Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hand was raised again, and Hao Jiayi quickly reached up to block.


    She had just been worried that Xiao Jinglan had discovered something, which was why she allowed Xiao Jinglan to vent her anger.


    Now that she knew Xiao Jinglan¡¯s motive, she was no longer afraid.


    Hao Jiayi pushed Xiao Jinglan away and turned to lock herself in her room.


    This completely set Xiao Jinglan off. She furiously banged on the door, cursing loudly, ¡°You little slut, how dare you treat me like this, just you wait, I¡¯ll skin you alive! I¡¯m going to call Xiao Mo right now and have him throw you out!¡±


    Her rant continued for a long while before it sounded like she left to make a call.


    Hao Jiayi was not the least bit afraid of Xiao Jinglan calling Xiao Mo.


    The more she made a fuss, the more Xiao Mo would take her side. What¡¯s more, her excuse just now was for Xiao Mo¡¯s comfort.


    Even if Xiao Jinglan complained to the heavens, Xiao Mo would not make things difficult for her.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s concerns meant nothing to Xiao Mo; in fact, they implicitly criticized his performance, as if he would be pleased.


    Sure enough, not long after, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice, filled with impotent rage, could be heard outside the quiet room.


    Xiao Mo completely ignored her intentions.


    Hao Jiayi narrowed her eyes and then, reassured, went to the bedroom partition and continued to meticulously puncture holes one by one.


    After doing all this, she seemed to think of something, and fiercely slapped the side of Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face in the mirror again.


    Now, even if Xiao Mo came back later, her swollen face wouldn¡¯t subside, and by then she would have an even greater advantage.


    ...


    Because Song Sinian almost encountered trouble while waiting on the set, Lu Zhaozhao specially asked Xia Wenmo for two personal bodyguards.


    When she wasn¡¯t in the dressing room, she would leave a bodyguard there to ¡°guard the fort¡± and prevent this kind of situation from happening again.


    When Song Sinian learned about this, he found it a bit amusing, but deep down he felt warm and touched.


    His Zhaozhao had always disliked having bodyguards around her, but now for his sake, she had taken the initiative to bring two bodyguards.


    How could he not be moved?


    In the evening, Song Sinian held Lu Zhaozhao in his embrace, quietly watching television.


    His lips gently brushed against her ear, ¡°Nian Nian, our wedding is only half a month away.¡±


    The couple had chosen to wed on a foreign island.


    Where it was spring year-round so that even if one was only wearing a wedding dress, it wouldn¡¯t be cold.


    This was one reason why Song Sinian wanted to have the wedding on a foreign island, another being that the island¡¯s environment was rather enclosed, with fewer outsiders and onlookers.


    He hoped that when Lu Zhaozhao married him, the attendees would only be people Lu Zhaozhao cared about and those who cherished her.


    As for any other riffraff, there was no need for them.


    Lu Zhaozhao curled up in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, her gaze shifting from the television to him.


    Her tiny hand gently pinched Song Sinian¡¯s cheek, and suddenly she let out a light chuckle, ¡°It¡¯s good it¡¯s not a dream.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved, her fingertips gently caressing Song Sinian¡¯s features.


    Ever since she was reborn, every day had been like living in a dream.


    Especially after she and Song Sinian exchanged their feelings and came together.


    She treasured every day spent with him, and now that they were about to have their wedding¡ªsomething that had never happened in her previous life¡ªshe couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous.


    Of course, Song Sinian noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts.


    His large hand gently massaged her head, ¡°Silly girl, how could this be a dream?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nuzzled into Song Sinian¡¯s embrace, ¡°Mhm, it¡¯s not a dream, but it¡¯s as beautiful as one.¡±


    Following that, Song Sinian let out a soft laugh and kissed her eyes, ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy, we can have a wedding every year.¡±


    ¡°Phhff¡ª¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold back and started laughing softly.


    However, she knew that Song Sinian wasn¡¯t just talking; if she liked it, he would indeed let her have a wedding every year.


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head gently, ¡°Who has a wedding every year? Besides, the preparations before the wedding can be exhausting...¡±


    Song Sinian, seeing her so affectionate and soft, couldn¡¯t help but kiss her lips again, ¡°I could hire a specialized wedding planning company; you would just need to look over the wedding plans.¡±


    ¡°Stop right there!¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand pressed directly onto Song Sinian¡¯s lips, ¡°One wedding is enough, and it should last a lifetime!¡±

 Chapter 618: 616 Obey, My Mrs. Song

    Chapter 618: Chapter 616 Obey, My Mrs. Song


    ¡°Having a wedding every year, is that okay?¡±


    Although she was looking forward to the wedding with Sinian, such a significant event was enough just once.


    Seeing that she was serious, Sinian finally gave up the idea of having a wedding every year, ¡°Okay, whatever you want, I will make it happen for you.¡±


    His voice was faint, yet it carried an unmistakable tone.


    Zhaozhao knew that Sinian¡¯s promises to her were never just empty words.


    Her nose tingled as if she had suddenly remembered something, ¡°Mr. Song, shall we have a child?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sinian visibly stiffened.


    A child with Zhaozhao?


    Sinian suddenly realized that he had never thought about this.


    When he first married Lu Zhaozhao, all he thought about was having her with him.


    He didn¡¯t even dare to hope that Lu Zhaozhao would fall in love with him, let alone bear his children.


    Now, suddenly brought up by Lu Zhaozhao, he was clearly bewildered.


    Watching his stunned expression, Zhaozhao suddenly found it amusing. Mr. Song was always so adept in business; she hadn¡¯t expected him to have such a dorky side.


    She was clearly hit by a wave of adoration and couldn¡¯t help but reach out to caress his face.


    ¡°Is that okay? Mr. Song.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao spoke again, her lips gently touching his earlobe, mischievously rubbing against it, causing Sinian to feel a burning passion.


    However, he worried, if they had a child, would Lu Zhaozhao care more about the child?


    Sinian vaguely remembered the two dogs he had brought home before, which were meant to teach him how to be affectionate.


    Those two dogs clearly stole Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attention.


    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t long before he had the butler send them away.


    Thinking of this, Sinian felt somewhat gloomy.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched his expression change and seemed to guess what he was thinking, ¡°Mr. Song, are you worried that once we have a child, I won¡¯t pay attention to you anymore?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Sinian didn¡¯t speak, but his silence almost spoke all his thoughts.


    He was a bit afraid to tell Lu Zhaozhao his true feelings; he feared she would disdain him.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand and rubbed Sinian¡¯s head, ¡°No matter when, you are always the most important one in my heart. The reason I want a baby is that it would be the fruit of our love, a continuation of our love...¡±


    Seeing Sinian¡¯s uneasy look, she couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, ¡°If you¡¯re really worried, then... after we have the baby, I¡¯ll just pay attention to you, and let you take care of the baby, how about that? This way, I look after you, you look after the baby, the baby looks after me, and we will be a stable family~¡±


    Zhaozhao didn¡¯t make it difficult for Sinian, but tenderly soothed his mood.


    Sinian reached out and embraced Lu Zhaozhao, pressing her firmly into his arms, ¡°Since you like the idea, then let¡¯s have one.¡±


    He really couldn¡¯t find any reason to refuse Lu Zhaozhao, his Zhaozhao had been too good to him; he couldn¡¯t afford to be spoiled anymore.


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly heard the grievance in Sinian¡¯s tone, her smile grew even brighter.


    Her little hand turned Song Sinian¡¯s head around, and she asked with a giggly smile, ¡°Have you ever thought about what if I give birth to a baby who looks exactly like me...¡±


    Hearing that the baby might look exactly like Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian¡¯s heart visibly fluttered.


    He had never considered such a possibility.


    If it were a little girl as soft and tender as Lu Zhaozhao, recalling her childhood face made his whole heart soften.


    It seemed... having more children was not so bad after all.


    Seeing Song Sinian obviously wavering, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but smirk slightly, yet she still pretended she hadn¡¯t persuaded Song Sinian and sighed helplessly, ¡°It seems my place in your heart really isn¡¯t what it used to be, sigh... I... mm...¡±


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could finish her words, Song Sinian pulled her into his arms and fiercely sealed her lips.


    After a moment, his husky, restrained voice slowly arose, ¡°You know I¡¯m not.¡±


    His nose rubbed against her neck, like a wronged big dog.


    ¡°In my eyes, nothing is more important than you, including my life,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s hoarse voice, wrapped in a scent of male hormones, enveloped her completely.


    His large hand gripped her slender waist, ¡°Whatever you want, I¡¯m willing to give it to you, as long as it¡¯s what you want and I have it.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, dizzy from his kiss, looked at him with dewy eyes and even a nasal tone in her voice, ¡°Right now, I want you...¡±


    ¡°At your command, my Mrs. Song.¡±


    The next second, Song Sinian¡¯s presence overwhelmingly swooped down on Lu Zhaozhao, not giving her any chance to catch her breath.


    The sky grew darker and more turbulent, with clouds rolling in the deep night.


    When Xiao Mo returned home, the house was completely dark, even his own bedroom was pitch black.


    His brows furrowed, thinking of Hao Jiayi who had left the office earlier that day, his expression darkened further.


    Although his subordinate had told him that Hao Jiayi had returned to the Xiao Family, why was there no movement at all?


    Could it be that Hao Jiayi had sneaked away?


    His steps made a ¡°tap tap tap¡± sound on the staircase of the second floor, and his face became increasingly grim as he approached the bedroom.


    Just as he was about to push open the bedroom door, the room door suddenly opened.


    ¡°Amo, you¡¯re back!¡±


    With a familiar voice, Hao Jiayi rushed into Xiao Mo¡¯s arms.


    Her sobbing voice even carried a hint of crying, making Xiao Mo furrow his eyebrows even tighter, ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    ¡°Cry, cry, cry! Other than knowing how to find a man and whine, complain, what else can you do?!¡±


    Suddenly, a stream of scoldings came from the living room.


    Xiao Mo looked down and caught sight of Xiao Jinglan walking into the living room in her pajamas, her head viciously raised to glare at the two people upstairs, her face exceedingly unpleasant.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, he glanced at Hao Jiayi, then at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°What¡¯s going on between you two?¡±


    He rubbed his temples with some irritability, seemingly tired of dealing with the current situation. Ever since Xiao Jinglan returned from the hospital, her mood had been quite unstable.


    She would occasionally stir up trouble at home.


    Sometimes even doing some extreme things, always leaving him to clean up the mess, to his great annoyance.


    Now that Xiao Jinglan had exploded, Hao Jiayi immediately hid behind Xiao Mo, trembling, appearing terrified.

 Chapter 619: 617: You hit me?

    Chapter 619: Chapter 617: You hit me?


    Xiao Mo, although unaware of what exactly had transpired between the two, instinctively sided with Hao Jiayi upon seeing their expressions.


    After all, men have an inherent flaw, always inclined to stand by those who appear weaker.


    Xiao Jinglan had been fuming since the afternoon, and seeing Hao Jiayi¡¯s pitiable demeanor only fueled her rage.


    ¡°What else can it be? Isn¡¯t it just this slutty fox always thinking of seducing you, just to divert all your attention, so you won¡¯t have the energy to deal with that bastard from the Feng family!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words were harsh, showing no regard for anyone¡¯s dignity.


    That included Xiao Mo¡¯s.


    His eyebrows furrowed, and as he listened to Xiao Jinglan¡¯s curses, he turned to Hao Jiayi with an ugly expression and asked in a deep voice, ¡°Why did you come back today?¡±


    Hao Jiayi hung her head, tentatively clutching Xiao Mo¡¯s arm, ¡°I... I just bought a few little trinkets, put them in that room at home. I... I didn¡¯t mean anything else, I just wanted to cheer you up, I¡¯ve seen you¡¯ve been in a bad mood lately. I... I shouldn¡¯t have bought them...¡±


    While she spoke, her eyes reddened, making anyone who saw her believe that Hao Jiayi was the victim.


    Xiao Mo, already irritated these days, found Hao Jiayi¡¯s reason to be more credible than Xiao Jinglan¡¯s.


    He recalled how Xiao Jinglan had been inexplicably picking fights recently, his brows knitting together once more, ¡°Enough, someone like Feng Jiyue can¡¯t do anything to me, so stop with the wild thoughts.¡±


    Upon hearing his response, Xiao Jinglan knew that Xiao Mo was going to protect Hao Jiayi.


    Her gaze at Hao Jiayi grew even more malevolent, ¡°You wretch, sooner or later, you¡¯ll end up like Xia Wenjin, that bitch...¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    Before Xiao Jinglan could finish her sentence, Xiao Mo yelled at her.


    Only then did Xiao Jinglan come back to her senses. Her eyes suddenly widened significantly, seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s nearly ferocious gaze, she belatedly realized what she had just said.


    If she had spilled the entire beans just now, Hao Jiayi might have guessed that Xia Wenjin¡¯s death was no accident.


    Her complexion shifted, yet she still glared fiercely at Hao Jiayi, ¡°This woman harbors no good intentions, you¡¯d better be more vigilant!¡±


    Hao Jiayi had been bracing herself for a confrontation with Xiao Jinglan, but after overhearing their exchange, she made a shocking discovery.


    Xiao Jinglan might have been responsible for the death of Xiao Mo¡¯s former wife!


    Hao Jiayi was startled, yet she pretended as if she hadn¡¯t heard a thing, tugging at Xiao Mo, her voice choked with sobs, ¡°Amo, I didn¡¯t mean that, please believe me.¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t know how Xia Wenjin had angered Xiao Jinglan, playing the innocent was definitely the right move now.


    Otherwise, if they realized she had picked up on the conversation, she might well follow in someone¡¯s footsteps.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s grim expression eased upon seeing Hao Jiayi¡¯s still tearful and pitiful state, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, Hao Jiayi wasn¡¯t too sharp; otherwise, with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s recent behavior, their secret would have been exposed long ago.


    It seemed he needed to find a chance to firmly deal with Xiao Jinglan, before she became even more unhinged.


    Thinking this, Xiao Mo glanced at Hao Jiayi, patting her on the back and said, ¡°I believe you, stop crying now, go take a bath, and get ready in the room, waiting for me, understand?¡±


    Hao Jiayi certainly understood what Xiao Mo meant; although she felt disgusted inside, thinking of her own scheme, she immediately nodded obediently.


    Then she gave Xiao Mo a lingering look and, with a reluctant three glances back, returned to her room.


    Showing not the slightest fear or panic that one might expect after overhearing a secret.


    Xiao Mo was now completely convinced that Hao Jiayi hadn¡¯t heard Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words just now.


    His gaze darkened as he went straight downstairs.


    Xiao Jinglan pursed her lips, knowing Xiao Mo was angry, but her words had already been spoken.


    What¡¯s done cannot be undone.


    All she could do was to steel herself and accompany Xiao Mo, going together to the tearoom on the first floor.


    As soon as the door closed, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face received a resounding slap.


    She was caught completely off guard and fell to the ground, utterly dazed.


    She looked at Xiao Mo in disbelief, her hand covering her face, ¡°You... you hit me?¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to say I¡¯m not annoyed enough?!¡± Xiao Mo completely ignored Xiao Jinglan¡¯s sorrowful eyes, glaring at her almost through gritted teeth.


    ¡°If Hao Jiayi really was, as you said, an undercover agent sent by the Feng family, what do you think the consequences of your words just now would be?! Do you feel uncomfortable with me still not being dead enough?!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was dumbfounded by Xiao Mo¡¯s rapid-fire scolding.


    Right after she learned of Xiao Mo¡¯s return, she knew that bitch Hao Jiayi would definitely tattle.


    It was bad enough that Xiao Mo sided with that woman, but to think he actually hit her for her!


    Although she was indeed at fault and shouldn¡¯t have exposed their involvement in Xia Wenjin¡¯s death.


    But as long as Hao Jiayi didn¡¯t pass the information to Feng Jiaye and the others, it didn¡¯t matter if she had spoken about it.


    She pursed her lips and looked up at Xiao Mo, ¡°The matter with Xia Wenjin has already been concluded overseas. Knowing anything about it now is pointless. Why are you so afraid? It¡¯s not like you did it.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan appeared completely indifferent, slowly getting up from the ground, her face looking terribly upset.


    Xiao Mo was trembling with rage, ¡°What exactly have you been thinking lately? Why do you always seek trouble? Do you realize how difficult it is for me to clean up the messes you¡¯ve made?!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was already furious, and after being scolded by Xiao Mo, she was also filled with grievance.


    Her eyes red with rage, she stared at Xiao Mo and roared at him, ¡°What do I want exactly?! I¡¯m dying! What else can I do?!¡±


    Xiao Mo was brought up short by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s outcry.


    It took him a long while to recover, ¡°What are you talking about? Who¡¯s dying?¡±


    ¡°Me! I was poisoned by Xia Wenjin, that bitch, and I¡¯m already close to death! I just wanted to help you get what you wanted before I die, what¡¯s wrong with that?!¡± Xiao Jinglan¡¯s emotions completely collapsed.


    It was very hard for her to accept that her son, whom she had devoted herself to completely, was looking at her with the eyes of an enemy.


    She had intended to keep this a secret forever, but now she felt there was no longer any point in hiding it.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s brow was knotted, his face a picture of shock as he looked at Xiao Jinglan, still unable to digest the reality.


    He stared at Xiao Jinglan in disbelief for a long time before slowly speaking, ¡°You, how much time do you have left?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan scoffed lightly, ¡°The doctor said, at most six more months.¡±


    ¡°Six months...¡± Xiao Mo murmured to himself involuntarily.


    Only now did he realize why Xiao Jinglan wanted to kill Song Sinian directly after getting out of the hospital...

 Chapter 620: 618: Whats Wrong with You?

    Chapter 620: Chapter 618: What¡¯s Wrong with You?


    ¡°If her days were truly numbered, certain special measures could be employed.¡±


    Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t help but narrow his eyes, swiftly calculating Xiao Jinglan¡¯s remaining value.


    Xiao Jinglan, seeing Xiao Mo silent, mistakenly thought he had a change of heart, feeling sympathy for her maternal role.


    She couldn¡¯t help but sigh, her feelings towards Xiao Mo cooled, ¡°Fine, don¡¯t worry about this matter; I¡¯m clear about my own situation.¡±


    Xiao Mo lowered his eyelids, ¡°If you feel unwell anywhere, make sure to let me know immediately.¡±


    Since she was doomed, he needed to make her as useful as possible while she was still alive.


    Otherwise, once she was dead, she would be useless to him.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes warmed, and she suddenly felt a sense of relief; she nodded, completely forgetting that Xiao Mo had just slapped her.


    She knew in her heart that her son cared for her...


    It was all Hao Jiayi¡¯s fault, that little bitch! She and Xia Wenjin were both seductresses, here to lure her son!


    She would not let them succeed!


    Just you wait and see!


    As a result of Lu Zhaozhao mentioning the desire for children to Song Sinian, he vigorously fulfilled his duties, which led Lu Zhaozhao to be completely worn out and unable to get up.


    Xu Zhenzhen had scheduled a lunch with Lu Zhaozhao but ended up having to reschedule it to dinner vigorously.


    ¡°Ts, your Mr. Song sure has good stamina.¡± Xu Zhenzhen, resting her chin in her hands, sat next to the private room¡¯s dining table, looking at Lu Zhaozhao with a smirk.


    Despite appearing tired, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s spirits were exceptionally high, clearly well-nurtured by someone.


    Xu Zhenzhen had just heard yesterday about Song Si being drugged on set, which had caused her considerable concern.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s previous emotional breakdown over Song Sinian was still fresh in everyone¡¯s minds.


    Not just her, but the entire Xia Family would love nothing more than to storm the set and beat Jiang Peipei half to death.


    Was that putting drugs in Song Sinian¡¯s drink?


    That was like sending a death warrant to their Zhaozhao!


    Song Sinian was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s life!


    And Lu Zhaozhao was their precious gem!


    How could they let someone bully her like this?!


    If they hadn¡¯t been worried about shocking Lu Zhaozhao with their sudden appearance, the Xia Family would have rushed over already.


    Unfortunately, they couldn¡¯t do that, so they sent her to take the lead.


    The Xia brothers didn¡¯t even dare to tell Wen Qingyu and Xia Nie about the situation; otherwise, the Beijing Circle would probably be facing another storm of rage and violence.


    Thinking this, Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    Fortunately, it seemed Lu Zhaozhao was not affected by this incident, and Xu Zhenzhen felt much more at ease.


    Thinking this, she quietly sent a message to Xia Wenqing, ¡°Zhaozhao¡¯s mood hasn¡¯t shown any abnormalities; as for the rest, I¡¯ll keep observing.¡±


    After sending the message, Xu Zhenzhen pushed a dessert toward Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Here, replenish your sugar levels.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen with a mix of laughter and tears, ¡°You just love to tease me.¡±


    Her cheeks were flushed, and thinking of Song Sinian¡¯s exertions last night, she suddenly found it hard to meet Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze.


    She had been with Song Sinian for quite some time, but like the madness of last night, that was a first.


    Song Sinian seemed tireless, tossing and turning her over and over.


    Whenever she grumbled, he would use the excuse of wanting to ¡°plant a seed¡± in her as a reason to redouble his efforts.


    Lu Zhaozhao suddenly felt that the words she had said before had unwittingly dug herself into a hole.


    And it was a massive hole at that.


    She could even imagine that before she got pregnant, Song Sinian would keep toiling so rigorously.


    Thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheeks turned even redder.


    However, she quickly shook her head, tossing that thought to the back of her mind.


    ¡°Zhenzhen, did you like any of the bridesmaid dresses I showed you earlier?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes twinkled with anticipation as she looked at Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen was her only best friend, so naturally, she wanted Zhenzhen to be happy with the choice of bridesmaid dresses.


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen also got excited, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, I saw several that are so pretty! Mr. Song really spares no expense, even getting international designers for the bridesmaid dresses¡ªit¡¯s outrageously extravagant!¡±


    Looking at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes sparkling with excitement, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh along, ¡°Alright, alright, alright, as long as you like them, we¡¯ll wear one in the morning, another at noon, and one more in the evening!¡±


    Saying that, she scooped up a spoonful of dessert and fed a mouthful to Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen was savoring it deliciously when she suddenly felt an itch in her throat followed by an upset stomach.


    ¡°Ugh~~~¡±


    She suddenly couldn¡¯t control the gagging.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, still holding the dessert spoon, froze momentarily.


    She subconsciously scooped another spoonful of the dessert and popped it into her own mouth, not noticing anything amiss.


    ¡°Zhenzhen, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows knitted in concern as she set down the dessert and quickly passed a glass of lemon water from the table to her, ¡°Drink some lemon water to settle your stomach first.¡±


    Obediently, Xu Zhenzhen took a couple of sips and felt much better.


    She forced a smile, ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe my diet¡¯s been a bit irregular lately, so I¡¯ve been having some stomach issues. It¡¯s been like this for the past few days. I¡¯ll see a doctor after we pick out the evening gown.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen wasn¡¯t too worried about it; her health had always been robust.


    Her yearly physical examinations were always extremely healthy, with no sudden illnesses cropping up.


    So she hadn¡¯t taken her recent bouts of gagging too seriously.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Xu Zhenzhen intently, pondering for a moment before carefully asking, ¡°Zhenzhen, when was the last time you had your period?¡±


    The question caught Xu Zhenzhen off guard, and she blanked out.


    ¡°My period...¡±


    She hadn¡¯t really paid attention to that.


    But thinking about it, it seemed like it had been over a month, hadn¡¯t it?


    She had thought it was just delayed, so she didn¡¯t mind it much, but then Xu Zhenzhen suddenly remembered what had happened with Xia Wenqing before, and her heart started to thump wildly.


    She looked up at Lu Zhaozhao, a tad nervously, ¡°I... seem to be delayed.¡±


    ¡°How about I go to the drugstore next door and get a pregnancy test? Let¡¯s give it a try?¡± Lu Zhaozhao asked gently, her gaze still fixed on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face.


    She, of course, knew about Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s relationship with Xia Wenqing, but she would definitely have no idea about more private affairs between the two.


    Yet, seeing Xu Zhenzhen in this state, she figured there was a high probability she might be pregnant.


    She had just been wondering when her second brother would marry Xu Zhenzhen, and now it looked like they might already have a baby on the way!


    Goodness, her second brother sure moved fast!


    It seemed that after her own wedding, it would be her second brother¡¯s turn, and she would soon get to officially call someone sister-in-law!

 Chapter 621: 619: What Misunderstanding Could There Still Be?

    Chapter 621: Chapter 619: What Misunderstanding Could There Still Be?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face blushed like a ripe tomato.


    She had just been teasing Lu Zhaozhao, but now the boomerang had come back to strike her own back.


    She felt so awkward that she wanted to dig a Barbie Dreamhouse with her toes right there and then!


    Xu Zhenzhen covered her little face and sighed helplessly, ¡°Well, alright then.¡±


    She had never imagined she would have a child with Xia Wenqing, not to mention dating Xia Wenqing; it all felt like a foggy dream, almost unreal.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t care less about Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s embarrassment. She went straight to the pharmacy next door to buy a pregnancy test, then took Xu Zhenzhen to the restroom and handed her the pregnancy test.


    Five minutes later, Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen looked at the two red lines on the pregnancy test and couldn¡¯t help but get excited.


    ¡°Zhenzhen, when do you plan to tell my second brother?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly; she couldn¡¯t wait to know what her old-fashioned second brother¡¯s reaction would be.


    After all, among the four men of the Xia Family, Xia Wenqing looked the most traditional and conservative.


    It never crossed her mind that he would be the first among the brothers to have a child and a wife.


    His eldest brother and third brother hadn¡¯t shown any prospects of marriage, and the fourth brother... it was impossible for him to have a wife now...


    Right now, what she looked forward to the most was naturally the relationship between her second brother and Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen held the object in her hand, still somewhat dazed. She hadn¡¯t expected that she and Xia Wenqing would have a child so soon.


    Of course, she was happy, but would Xia Wenqing feel the same?


    Thinking this, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows slowly furrowed, ¡°I want to wait a while before telling your second brother about this, Zhaozhao. Can you keep it from him for the time being?¡±


    She still had some issues to resolve; before that, she probably couldn¡¯t make any promises to Xia Wenqing.


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s serious expression, quickly asked, ¡°Zhenzhen, you don¡¯t think my second brother dislikes kids, do you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen paused, clearly startled.


    She had indeed considered this issue.


    Lu Zhaozhao chuckled at her expression and then spoke slowly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know my second brother better than anyone. If he finds out you¡¯re pregnant, he¡¯d probably wish he could marry you right away.¡±


    She added further, ¡°And it¡¯s not because he¡¯s responsible, but because he likes you. Even if you weren¡¯t pregnant, he¡¯d still wish he could marry you right away, so don¡¯t fret over whether he¡¯d marry you just because of the child.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was a bit worried; she didn¡¯t want Xu Zhenzhen and her second brother to get involved in a painful romance.


    After all, the two of them had not come together in the first place because Liu Xiaozhen had interfered.


    Lu Zhaozhao was concerned that, once together, they would again fail to communicate properly, so she decided to clear the air in advance.


    She couldn¡¯t believe they¡¯d still have any misunderstandings.


    Xu Zhenzhen had not expected Lu Zhaozhao to say such things and paused again.


    She had indeed been pondering this issue.


    Given Xia Wenqing¡¯s traditional character, it wasn¡¯t impossible for him to marry her out of obligation for a child.


    Mainly because they hadn¡¯t been together very long, she wasn¡¯t sure if the timing of the child¡¯s arrival was right.


    But Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words had dispelled her concerns.


    Thinking it over, she and Xia Wenqing had liked each other for so many years; she should be more confident, shouldn¡¯t she?


    With this thought, Xu Zhenzhen brightened up and chuckled, ¡°Zhaozhao, rest assured. I¡¯ll tell the second brother about the child as soon as I can. But I want to confront him after your wedding; otherwise, knowing the second brother¡¯s character, I¡¯m worried he might not let me attend the wedding.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded. ¡°I respect your thoughts; let¡¯s treat it as a surprise for him.¡±


    ¡°En En!¡±


    ...


    Xia Wenjin, having offended Song Sinian before on the film set, feared his retaliation and so holed herself up in the hotel for three days.


    However, after three consecutive days without any move against her by Song Sinian or any action to suppress the Fengya Family, Xia Wenjin finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, her scenes in the film set were not many, and even though she had taken three days off, it did not affect the shooting schedule.


    Once Xia Wenjin realized that Song Sinian did not hold a grudge against her, she immediately hurried back to the film set non-stop.


    She had just arrived at the studio that afternoon when she ran into Xia Wenyan, who had come to visit the set.


    When Xia Wenyan and Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes met, they both froze for a second, seemingly surprised to encounter each other here.


    ¡°You...¡±


    Just as Xia Wenjin began to speak, Xia Wenyan promptly pretended not to recognize her and turned to leave.


    He knew Xia Wenjin¡¯s motives, so without a second thought, he rushed straight to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s dressing room.


    There were bodyguards to protect Lu Zhaozhao; he would be much safer in the dressing room.


    Xia Wenyan was on guard against Xia Wenjin; this woman had dared to seduce Song Sinian at the Song Group before, so if she had made up her mind to seduce him, she would undoubtedly use some dirty tricks.


    He decided it was best to keep his distance.


    Xia Wenjin had not expected to encounter Xia Wenyan so soon on the set, and even less expected him to dodge her upon sight.


    Her brows furrowed involuntarily as she watched Xia Wenyan¡¯s retreating figure.


    She glanced at the bodyguard beside her and asked, ¡°Was Xia Wenyan just avoiding me?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The two bodyguards exchanged glances and chose to remain silent.


    With Xia Wenyan¡¯s actions so obvious, they found it unrealistic to say otherwise.


    The two bodyguards looked to the sky, speechless and somewhat exasperated with Xia Wenjin.


    After offending Song Sinian, she had been trembling in fear, but now that she saw Song Sinian hadn¡¯t made a move against her, she couldn¡¯t help but show off again.


    The bodyguards really couldn¡¯t understand her thought process.


    ¡°Cough cough... Miss, I think we should keep a low profile for now, especially since...¡±


    He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but the intended message was clear.


    She had just recently crossed Song Sinian, and if she caused any trouble now, things might become unmanageable.


    The thought of the way Song Sinian had looked at her earlier made her shiver involuntarily.


    She clenched her fists in frustration, her loathing for Jiang Peipei growing even more intense.


    It was all because of this damned woman; if she hadn¡¯t drugged Song Sinian and gotten her involved, she wouldn¡¯t be in such a passive position now.


    Xia Wenjin gritted her teeth in anger, ¡°I understand, I won¡¯t make any rash moves for the time being and will just focus on improving my rapport.¡±


    She had invested money in the film set with the aim of seducing Xia Wenyan. But before she could even attempt to do so, she became the subject of close surveillance.


    Anyone would find this situation intolerable.


    ¡°Miss, we need to plan this out in the long term, we can¡¯t be hasty,¡± the bodyguard advised just in time. ¡°Right now, the set is in disarray because of Jiang Peipei¡¯s incident; it¡¯s inconvenient for us to do anything...¡±

 Chapter 622: 620: Hope You Can Pull Back from the Brink

    Chapter 622: Chapter 620: Hope You Can Pull Back from the Brink


    Even if it was convenient, they could not simply stand by and watch Xia Wenjin blatantly challenge Xia Wenyan.


    Unless they no longer wished to live.


    Previously, they had been contemplating how to stop Xia Wenjin, but they hadn¡¯t expected the production team to bring in Jiang Peipei, who ended up doing everything Xia Wenjin had intended to do.


    Even if they didn¡¯t stop Xia Wenjin, she wouldn¡¯t follow in Jiang Peipei¡¯s footsteps now.


    The two bodyguards finally felt a bit more at ease, now they just needed to keep Xia Wenjin steady, and the matter would be considered under control.


    Xia Wenjin pursed her lips, and even though she was reluctant, she could only do as the two bodyguards said.


    Because she hadn¡¯t been to the production set for the past three days, not long after she returned, she began reshooting on the sidelines.


    She had thought that Xia Wenyan would keep avoiding her, but to her surprise, just after she had shot three consecutive scenes, she saw him sitting with Lu Zhaozhao in the actors¡¯ rest area, chatting and laughing.


    Xia Wenjin thought about how she couldn¡¯t make a move on Xia Wenyan during this period, but saw that gaining his favor was still very necessary.


    She straightened her costume and walked towards Lu Zhaozhao and the others.


    This time, they were shooting a historical drama, and although she wore layers inside and out, it was still quite chilly.


    So as soon as Xia Wenjin finished her scene, her assistant handed her a huge down jacket.


    She wrapped herself in the down jacket, approached Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan, and chuckled lightly, ¡°The weather is quite nice today, isn¡¯t it...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at her and nodded slightly as a form of response.


    Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t embarrassed, as her target wasn¡¯t Lu Zhaozhao, but Xia Wenyan beside her.


    After greeting them, she stared directly at Xia Wenyan and chuckled, ¡°Hi, my name is Feng Ya Meizi. I hope you don¡¯t mind getting acquainted?¡±


    Xia Wenyan looked at Xia Wenjin¡¯s face, struggled to calm himself for quite a while, and then forced a smile saying, ¡°No, I do mind.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was stunned by Xia Wenyan¡¯s words and took a long time to react.


    Regaining her composure, somewhat incredulously, she looked at Xia Wenyan, seemingly not expecting that this man would rebuke her in front of so many people.


    Did he not worry about how the public would perceive him as arrogant?


    With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Xia Wenyan finally calmed his irritated mood. ¡°Sorry, did I mishear you just now?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t mishear, I indeed said those words.¡±


    Xia Wenyan spoke coldly, word by word. If it wasn¡¯t for their worry about exposing their knowledge of Xia Wenjin¡¯s plastic surgery, he would have cursed her out right then.


    He had always known Xia Wenjin¡¯s thought processes were abnormal, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated they were completely out of the realm of normal human behavior.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s icy tone stunned the other actors nearby.


    In their memory, this top-tier star almost always had a smile on his face, gentle and polite in his speech.


    Especially when Lu Zhaozhao was nearby, they had never seen him lose his temper; this was the first time they witnessed Xia Wenyan being angry with someone else.


    Considering Xia Wenjin¡¯s recent behavior on set, they weren¡¯t surprised.


    They had also heard that Feng Ya Meizi and Lu Zhaozhao had some disagreements; it was no wonder Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t wish to engage with her.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s lips twisted into a forced smile as she watched Xia Wenyan, ¡°I think there might be some misunderstanding between us? I mean no harm, just wanted to chat a bit... I am actually a fan of yours, and I returned to the country just to get closer to you.¡±


    Seeing that Xia Wenyan had no fondness for her, Xia Wenjin decided to be straightforward.


    She knew Xia Wenyan¡¯s temperament; even if he didn¡¯t like the girl in front of him, he wouldn¡¯t let her be embarrassed in front of so many people.


    Especially as she was a fan of his.


    She had learned this while growing up together with him.


    Xia Wenjin had seen girls confess to Xia Wenyan before.


    No matter what those girls looked like, he always rejected them calmly and gently; Xia Wenjin even taunted him for it.


    She felt he was too soft in rejecting others, and being harsh enough would deter others from confessing to him in the future.


    However, Xia Wenyan had said that rejecting those who liked him was already making them sad enough, and he didn¡¯t want to inflict any further hurt on them.


    So Xia Wenjin was confident Xia Wenyan wouldn¡¯t speak harshly to her again.


    Unfortunately, Xia Wenjin had grossly miscalculated.


    She hadn¡¯t realized that Xia Wenyan and the others already knew her true identity; how could they possibly have a good temper towards her?


    Especially while she was still considering how to manipulate them.


    Xia Wenyan stared fixedly at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Miss Feng Ya Meizi, your declaration now has become a disturbance to me, and I don¡¯t like the type of girl you are. I hope you can pull yourself back from the edge.¡±


    With that, Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression turned utterly unpleasurable. She clenched her teeth in anger but could only adopt a hurt expression, looking at Xia Wenyan, ¡°Do I really not stand a chance at all?¡±


    She had thought Xia Wenyan was the easiest of the Xia siblings to deceive, completely forgetting he was overly protective of his sister.


    If she had known this, she would not have troubled Lu Zhaozhao when she first arrived on the set.


    Moreover, since Jiang Peipei had slandered her about attacking Song Sinian, Lu Zhaozhao was bound to keep his distance from her.


    Being overly protective over his sister, Xia Wenyan was even less likely to have anything to do with her.


    Thinking this made Xia Wenjin feel increasingly irritable.


    Could it be that she would have to compromise with Lu Zhaozhao now?


    She didn¡¯t want to stoop low before Lu Zhaozhao.


    But right now, if she didn¡¯t say something, Xia Wenyan¡¯s attitude towards her could become even worse.


    Before Xia Wenjin could figure out how to start, Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice calmly rose, ¡°As I¡¯ve said, I don¡¯t like your type, Miss Feng Ya Meizi, so please don¡¯t make things difficult for others or for yourself.¡±


    His skin crawled as he said this.


    Let alone Xia Wenjin being such a terrible person...


    Just the thought of it made him shudder.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s moment had come to this; how could it possibly end here? With a woeful expression, she looked pitifully at Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan.


    Finally, her gaze settled on Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, I really don¡¯t have any inappropriate thoughts towards your brother. I just wanted to get a bit closer to him. Could you help me by putting in a good word for me, please?¡±

 Chapter 623: 621 Cant Hold On Anymore

    Chapter 623: Chapter 621 Can¡¯t Hold On Anymore


    Her words sounded pitiful as if what she asked for was something utterly ordinary.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched; she had not expected to become the center of gossip herself.


    She had initially wanted to see how long Xia Wenjin would keep up her act, but unexpectedly, she switched styles instantly and started playing the victim with tears.


    Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow, ¡°Feng Ya Meizi, if I¡¯m not mistaken, your family is the Fengya Family from country R, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded, eyes fixed on Lu Zhaozhao without blinking, unsure what she was getting at.


    The Fengya Family held a notable status in country R but had little influence domestically.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be constrained at every turn within the country.


    However, Feng Ya Meizi immediately stepped forward and said, ¡°Are you suggesting that Xia Family form an alliance with our Fengya Family through marriage?¡±


    That wouldn¡¯t be impossible.


    She had planned to marry into the Xia Family all along, and Fengya Ichiro would find out sooner or later.


    Furthermore, with the Xia Family backed by XJ Group, they were a decent alliance candidate, and Fengya Ichiro would likely agree.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenjin felt her idea was highly feasible.


    She completely missed the disbelieving looks Xia Wenyan and Lu Zhaozhao were giving her after she spoke.


    Never mind that he was an impostor; even if he were the legitimate young miss of the Fengya Family, their Xia Family wouldn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Feng Ya Meizi, you misunderstood.¡± Lu Zhaozhao pulled her lips into a brief smile, ¡°I¡¯ve just heard something about the heir to the Fengya Family.¡±


    She paused slightly and added, ¡°related to the entertainment industry.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was taken aback too, then fell silent.


    Feng Ya Meizi didn¡¯t know much about the affairs of the Fengya Family.


    The bits she knew were gathered from bodyguards or online research.


    The Fengya Family guarded Feng Ya Meizi, their heir, very well; without spending a lot of money, it was impossible to dig up her past.


    So, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s implications remained unclear to her; she could only stare intently at her.


    Lu Zhaozhao, guessing the origin, kindly helped clear up for Xia Wenjin, ¡°Feng Ya Meizi, in country R, you once spent a lot of money on a star you fancied to start a relationship. You haven¡¯t forgotten that, have you?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face looked considerably worse, but she still maintained a smile, ¡°Everyone has their youthful indiscretions. I¡¯m no exception.¡±


    ¡°Oh... is that so.¡± Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, then continued, ¡°I heard, Feng Ya Meizi, that you fancied the head of the Rimu Family in country R and were expelled from the country for using some schemes on him? Is that true or false?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao deliberately adopted an inquisitive look as she spoke to Xia Wenjin.


    It seemed as if she genuinely doubted the truth of the matter.


    Of course, Lu Zhaozhao knew about this incident, but she wasn¡¯t the one who caused it, just like Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s previous hook-ups with various minor stars in country R.


    These things had nothing to do with her, so she was adept at deflecting the blame.


    The affairs between the Rimu and Fengya Families, I am a victim as well. As for the details, I can only say no comment, as it¡¯s a secret between the two families.


    Although the Internet was flooded with rumors about Feng Ya Meizi and the Rimu Family, since the Rimu side hadn¡¯t confirmed it, her playing dead and denying it didn¡¯t matter.


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat impressed by Xia Wenjin¡¯s composure.


    In such a situation, she could still calmly deflect blame, which was a talent itself.


    ¡°So, the incident of you going to Song Group and openly seducing my husband, are you a victim there too?¡± Lu Zhaozhao suddenly asked another question, which thoroughly darkened Xia Wenjin¡¯s face.


    ¡°I...¡±


    ¡°Right, I just forgot to mention, every guest room in the Song Group is under surveillance. If you feel you¡¯ve been slandered, I can provide you with the surveillance footage,¡± Lu Zhaozhao hastily added with faux kindness before Xia Wenjin could respond.


    Suddenly, Xia Wenjin went silent.


    She could deflect other issues since there was no substantial evidence, but things that happened within the Song Group... she was unsure.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s overly confident and definitive words had thrown her into a panic, forcing her to stiffly respond, ¡°At that time, I just thought Mr. Song looked nice... I meant nothing else...¡±


    ...


    Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenyan ignored Xia Wenjin, and the spectating crowd couldn¡¯t help but start a discussion.


    ¡°One heck of a woman from the Rimu Family, playing the field like that, keeping a few in the entertainment industry here and still eyeing a marriage alliance with someone else, just wow...¡±


    ¡°Thinks she can soar high by hooking up with some pretty boys in R country, now she wants to snag our top celebs here. What was she thinking?¡±


    ¡°Trying to marry their brother but hitting on their husband too, impressive, impressive!¡±


    ...


    Despite Xia Wenjin having thick skin, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    Her face darkened as she lowered her head and ran to her own dressing room.


    Xia Wenyan just shrugged and whispered to an aside Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°After what you just said, she probably won¡¯t show up again, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pouted, ¡°Not necessarily, knowing her personality, and you are not unfamiliar with it.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was never a good person, always ruthless and unscrupulous in getting what she wanted.


    Having lived with her for so many years, how could Xia Wenyan not know?


    It seemed he still couldn¡¯t let his guard down. As long as Xia Wenjin was on set, he needed to stay alert.


    Fortunately, there were people from his third brother and Song Sinian on the crew, so he didn¡¯t need to be too nervous.


    Just what might Xia Wenjin be planning now?


    Meanwhile, having left the set, Xia Wenjin had returned to her dressing room.


    She had bought her way in, and the dressing room was also secured with extra money.


    Although she wasn¡¯t a big star in the crew, because she was willing to spend money, the logistics staff treated her fairly well.


    Xia Wenjin had just returned to her room when she furiously started throwing things around.


    The two bodyguards were unfazed, but her assistant, terrified, shuddered and hid beside them.


    Seeing the indifferent expressions of the bodyguards, the assistant decided to hide behind them.


    Bodyguard:...


    ¡°Damn Lu Zhaozhao! Damn Xia Wenyan! Damn the Xia Family!¡±


    ¡°Die! Just die! All of you die!¡±


    ¡°Ah!!!¡±


    Xia Wenjin vented for a long while before calming down.


    She slumped onto the couch, her mind a mess from her failed attempt to seduce Xia Wenyan.


    She looked up at the two still-unmoved bodyguards, ¡°You two, tell me, how can I get Xia Wenyan¡¯s attention? Any ideas, tell me now...¡±

 Chapter 624: 622: Theres a Slight Wavering

    Chapter 624: Chapter 622: There¡¯s a Slight Wavering


    Xia Wenjin rubbed her temples irritably, trying to calm her emotions.


    Having just vented her anger, she felt no relief; instead, she was more frustrated than before.


    Both bodyguards looked at Xia Wenjin with a headache.


    After a moment of silence, they finally spoke.


    ¡°Miss, have you ever thought about changing your target?¡± one of the bodyguards cautiously glanced at Xia Wenjin and blurted out his thought.


    Seeing this, the other bodyguard quickly added, ¡°Yes, Miss, since that Xia fellow is so ungrateful, there¡¯s no need to indulge him. Why fixate on one flower when there are plenty of fish in the sea? Right?¡±


    Although they said this, inside they desperately wanted to stop Xia Wenjin from continuing to trouble Xia Wenyan.


    That guy was the darling of the Rimu Family Master, and if she kept this up, they would all be doomed sooner or later.


    Just now, when Xia Wenjin had tried to approach Xia Wenyan, their hearts had been in their throats. Luckily, Xia Wenyan hadn¡¯t given her any face and she now had no chance for further contact with him.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be throwing things around the room in a fit of temper.


    Xia Wenjin scanned both bodyguards and spoke, ¡°I asked you for advice, not to convince me to give up.¡±


    One of the bodyguards shrugged helplessly, ¡°Miss, we indeed are giving you advice. There are plenty of multinational corporate heirs in Country R too. If you like, the Family Head can help you choose one.¡±


    If she stopped bothering the Xia Family, Fengya Ichiro would likely be very willing to find someone to marry her off.


    Xia Wenjin hesitated for a moment. Stabilizing her footing in Country R wasn¡¯t a bad idea, but then again, she frowned, thinking that while others might not know Meizi in Country R, they certainly did.


    She had worried about her identity being exposed, which is why she hadn¡¯t returned to Country R and was fixated on Xia Wenyan.


    The bodyguard, seeing her concern, continued, ¡°Miss, whoever you approve of, the Family Head will surely make it happen for you. If you don¡¯t want to live in Country R, there are plenty of Country R businesses that deal with our domestic market. You can choose from their heirs.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, Miss, the locals here may not know your esteemed identity, but people in Country R do.¡±


    The bodyguards¡¯ alternating assurances stirred a tiny sense of uncertainty in Xia Wenjin.


    She had taken an interest in Xia Wenyan because of his status as the heir to the XJ Corporation; finding a suitable marriage prospect in Country R while still developing her interests back home wasn¡¯t unacceptable.


    Xia Wenjin slowly sat down on a nearby sofa, carefully considering the suggestions from her bodyguards.


    After pondering for a moment, she said, ¡°In that case, you can start by screening some candidates for me and then hand me their information.¡±


    Seeing her softening stance, the bodyguards eagerly nodded, ¡°Miss, if you have any specific requirements for that person, you can tell us in advance. We can help you screen them more effectively.¡±


    Xia Wenjin propped her chin, thinking, ¡°First, he at least must be good-looking, taller than 185 cm. He needs to be powerful, treat me well, be faithful, and he mustn¡¯t have other women, um, start with these conditions.¡±


    She thought some more; other minor conditions could wait until her subordinates sorted the data.


    Having been married once before, she was in no rush to marry again.


    What she cared about now was the quality of the man.


    Both bodyguards couldn¡¯t help but smirk after hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, ¡°Powerful and faithful, and he must treat her well alone?¡±


    What was she dreaming of?


    ¡°If there were such a man, he probably wouldn¡¯t like a woman like Xia Wenjin.¡±


    ¡°Just like Song Sinian and Pei Huai, their type isn¡¯t someone like Xia Wenjin.¡±


    ¡°Of course, the two bodyguards wouldn¡¯t say that in front of Xia Wenjin.¡±


    ¡°They let her shift her target partly to prevent her from making a move on Xia Wenyan and partly to stabilize her.¡±


    ¡°After all, it took a while to gather her information, and finding something else to distract her would buy them a couple of weeks.¡±


    ¡°The bodyguards had made their preparations and naturally felt much calmer.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just unknown how the Rimu Family Master plans to deal with Xia Wenjin?¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t dare to speculate and could only wait quietly...¡±


    ¡°Suddenly, Xia Wenjin seemed to remember something, ¡®Has there been any movement from Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s side?''¡±


    ¡°The taller bodyguard nodded, ¡®The doctor has finished the surgery. After the critical period is over, they¡¯ll just wait for the swelling to subside and remove the bandages.''¡±


    ¡°Xiao Mo¡¯s appearance wasn¡¯t too far off from Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s, so there wasn¡¯t much alteration needed on his face.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just unclear how Xia Wenjin plans to use Zhao Qingfeng.¡±


    ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s take a trip to the hospital,¡± said Xia Wenjin, waving at the two bodyguards to prepare the car.¡±


    ¡°The two bodyguards silently exchanged a look and immediately followed her.¡±


    ¡°As long as Xia Wenjin doesn¡¯t make a move against the Xia family or Song Sinian, they didn¡¯t care what Xia Wenjin ultimately wanted to do.¡±


    ¡°The group arrived at the hospital ward twenty minutes later.¡±


    ¡°Zhao Qingfeng didn¡¯t expect Xia Wenjin to appear at this time and was somewhat nervous as he stared at her.¡±


    ¡°He had undergone the plastic surgery behind Xia Wenjin¡¯s back.¡±


    ¡°Originally, he had just wanted to fix the scars on his face, but considering his now tarnished reputation, he thought of changing his face altogether.¡±


    ¡°After changing his name, he could transform himself and re-enter the entertainment industry.¡±


    ¡°Zhao Qingfeng had thought it through well but had forgotten that the woman funding his surgery was Xia Wenjin, and he hadn¡¯t gotten her consent before making his own decisions.¡±


    ¡°But remembering that his surgery was already finished, he felt a bit more emboldened.¡±


    ¡°Yet, considering this woman¡¯s power, he didn¡¯t dare say much for fear that she might get angry and lock him up, which could ruin his new face completely.¡±


    ¡°Zhao Qingfeng dared not take any risks and obviously did not dare to irritate Xia Wenjin easily.¡±


    ¡°He lightly touched his face with his hand, cautiously watching Xia Wenjin ask, ¡®Miss Feng Ya, what brings you to the hospital?''¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin snorted coldly, ¡®If I hadn¡¯t come to the hospital, wouldn¡¯t you have just changed your face and run off?''¡±


    ¡°His gaze shifted across Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face repeatedly, unsettling him tremendously.¡±


    ¡°¡®I didn¡¯t plan to run. I just thought that my previous face might cause you trouble, Miss Feng Ya, so I figured why not just change it all during the surgery...''¡±

 Chapter 625: 623 What are you looking at?

    Chapter 625: Chapter 623 What are you looking at?


    Before Zhao Qingfeng could finish speaking, Xia Wenjin laughed coldly, ¡°So you had plastic surgery for my sake?¡±


    When she said this, her eyes stared straight at Zhao Qingfeng, as if trying to see through him.


    Zhao Qingfeng already felt guilty, and upon hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, he felt even more guilty.


    He gave a sheepish laugh, but since his face had just undergone surgery, he couldn¡¯t even perform basic movements.


    A slight movement caused him to grimace in pain.


    Zhao Qingfeng sucked in a few breaths of cold air before finally regaining his composure and started explaining to Xia Wenjin again, ¡°I can¡¯t say it¡¯s all for Miss Feng Ya, it was also for myself. Only by completely changing my appearance can I return to the entertainment industry as quickly as possible and then repay Miss Feng Ya¡¯s kindness.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s smile grew colder.


    She knew that Zhao Qingfeng was not one to stay out of trouble.


    Even with his face ruined like this, he was still thinking about returning to the entertainment industry to seduce wealthy women.


    However, Xiao Mo¡¯s looks were indeed much better than Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s. If Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s current appearance really did change to that of Xiao Mo, he would indeed be popular among wealthy women.


    ¡°So what you mean is, once you¡¯ve made your comeback to the entertainment industry and repaid my money, you¡¯re going to part ways with me?¡± Xia Wenjin slowly approached the bedside, her eyes not quite following Zhao Qingfeng.


    She really couldn¡¯t imagine what Xiao Mo¡¯s face would look like filled with ingratiating expressions.


    Now that Zhao Qingfeng had changed his appearance to that of Xiao Mo, she might as well enjoy it a bit.


    ¡°How could that be? Miss Feng Ya¡¯s kindness to me isn¡¯t something that can be repaid in a short time,¡± Zhao Qingfeng said obsequiously, looking at Xia Wenjin.


    The woman before him had money and power; she was a juicy big fish, and how could he possibly give up on her so easily?


    He had used her money for the plastic surgery, just to give himself an extra layer of security.


    If Meizi Feng Ya was willing to have him, he would certainly be willing as well.


    His goal was simple: to live without worries, to have people give him money, and to not have to work could not be better.


    Meizi Feng Ya currently met his criteria, but he couldn¡¯t figure out what the woman really wanted to do, so he decided to act first and report later.


    Hearing Zhao Qingfeng say this, Xia Wenjin snorted lightly, ¡°At least you have some conscience left, but I¡¯ve already decided on how you¡¯re going to repay me, and you just need to do as I say.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng suddenly felt a sinking feeling in his heart and looked at Xia Wenjin with trepidation. Could it be that his unilateral decision to have plastic surgery had angered the woman?


    Did she want to strike back at him?


    Was she going to make things difficult for him before his face had even fully recovered?


    Zhao Qingfeng clenched his fists tight but still tried to maintain his composure as he looked at Xia Wenjin, ¡°I wonder what Miss Feng Ya wants me to do? As you know, I¡¯ve just had surgery and might not be able to help you so quickly...¡±


    He spoke hesitantly, as if he desperately wanted to help Xia Wenjin, but was sadly not up to the task.


    Xia Wenjin was no fool. Facing a person like Zhao Qingfeng, if she couldn¡¯t see through his act, then she would have lived all this time in vain.


    The corners of her mouth curved slightly, and she chuckled lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, although I need your help, I will, of course, wait until you¡¯ve completely recovered your appearance.¡±


    ¡°Uh... really?¡± Zhao Qingfeng hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin to be so easy to deal with, and for a moment, he was a bit disconcerted.


    He pulled at the corner of his mouth and chuckled lightly as he looked at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Then... once I¡¯ve recovered well, I will definitely go through fire and water, to the ends of the earth for Miss Feng Ya...¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s greatest skill was trash-talking. Now, by saying a bit more, he could make someone happy; what would he have to fear from her later on?


    Thinking this, his heart immediately returned to his stomach.


    Xia Wenjin saw through his little scheme, ¡°Hmm, just make sure to keep your word when the time comes. I don¡¯t need you to do anything as drastic as climbing mountains or crossing seas of flames.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingfeng nodded again and again, ¡°Yes, yes, Miss Feng Ya, rest assured, I will definitely keep my promise.¡±


    Since he didn¡¯t have to climb any mountains or cross seas of flames, what else did he have to fear?


    Zhao Qingfeng hadn¡¯t considered that some things could be terrifying, even without such extreme ordeals...


    After handling things at the hospital, Xia Wenjin left in high spirits only to spot a familiar figure at the hospital entrance.


    She almost instinctively hid herself, then saw a person in the distance turn into two.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes suddenly widened considerably, and she covered her mouth as she watched the two figures leaning into each other.


    The two bodyguards watching Xia Wenjin suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Because right then, Xia Wenjin had taken out her phone, ready to snap a photo of the pair.


    One of the bodyguards quickly pretended to casually block Xia Wenjin, ¡°Young Miss, what are you looking at?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was startled, her phone slipping out of her grip, clattering to the ground.


    The tall bodyguard behind her, pretending to be unsteady, moved forward, accidentally knocking over the other tall bodyguard.


    He fell directly onto Xia Wenjin¡¯s dropped phone without deviating an inch.


    The slightly shorter bodyguard also tumbled over, and the two, in a perfect understanding, smashed Xia Wenjin¡¯s phone to pieces in the guise of falling.


    ¡°You two idiots, you...,¡± she began to curse furiously, only to see the two other figures approaching closer.


    Xia Wenjin had no choice but to hide in the corner again, as if afraid of being discovered by them.


    It wasn¡¯t until the two people left that Xia Wenjin came out again. ¡°You, follow them. See what Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai are doing at the hospital, and take some photos of them together!¡±


    The two bodyguards exchanged a glance, and the tall bodyguard followed Wang¡¯s order, leaving the shorter one to ¡°protect¡± Xia Wenjin.


    Oblivious to being followed, Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai went to the hospital¡¯s emergency department together.


    ¡°Doctor, he has a fever. Please give him a shot.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brow was deeply furrowed, and his expression was particularly grim.


    After leaving the set, he went to look for Pei Huai, thinking he had just fallen asleep due to exhaustion, only to find that he had a fever!


    They always had a family doctor at home, so Xia Wenyan had never worried about how to handle being sick at home.


    Now, where Pei Huai and he lived, they had nothing. He thought about calling a doctor, but then he realized the hospital was very close to where they were staying.


    Driving directly to the hospital was faster than calling a doctor.


    All the way to the hospital, Pei Huai was leaning especially close to Xia Wenyan due to the discomfort from his fever.


    Xia Wenyan soothed Pei Huai with one hand, patting his back, while communicating with the emergency room doctor.


    Fortunately, there were still plenty of empty beds in the emergency room, so Xia Wenyan had the nurse take him to an emergency bed, where he stayed to keep him company while he received a drip.

 Chapter 626: 624 Release Your Hand!

    Chapter 626: Chapter 624 Release Your Hand!


    Pei Huai, feeling dizzy from the fever, still didn¡¯t forget to clutch tightly at Xia Wenyan¡¯s clothes, refusing to let him leave.


    ¡°Yanyan...¡± Pei Huai murmured unconsciously.


    Xia Wenyan watched Pei Huai with a bit of helplessness, really not understanding how such a grown man could still be so careless with his health.


    He was already burning up so severely, yet he didn¡¯t think to go to the hospital.


    His hand gently rubbed Pei Huai¡¯s head, touching his burning forehead, he silently sighed, stood up, and went outside to get some water, planning to physically cool Pei Huai down.


    Although Pei Huai had already been injected with medicine, physical cooling would make his body feel more comfortable.


    Just as Xia Wenyan left the ward, the tall bodyguard who had been quietly trailing the two of them finally snuck into the emergency room ward.


    He approached Pei Huai and softly called out, ¡°Mr. Pei Huai?¡±


    But the person lying on the hospital bed had no reaction whatsoever.


    His brow furrowed slightly, he called out again, ¡°Mr. Pei Huai?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Silent breathing was the only response he received.


    The tall bodyguard wanted to move closer, but at that moment, he keenly sensed someone approaching from outside the room.


    The tall bodyguard could no longer call out to Pei Huai and had to leave the emergency room ward directly.


    Xia Wenyan, returning with a basin and a towel, immediately spotted the shadow exiting the ward.


    His eyebrows furrowed, and almost subconsciously, he quickened his pace to Pei Huai¡¯s bedside.


    Knowing Pei Huai¡¯s identity in R country, he also knew how many external enemies he had.


    How foolish had he been to leave him alone in the ward?


    When Pei Huai was healthy, whatever happened, he would definitely be able to handle it, but now he was sick, and a fever had rendered him unconscious.


    And yet, he had left him alone in the ward.


    If something had happened, he would never forgive himself for the rest of his life.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan hurriedly checked over Pei Huai¡¯s condition in the ward, but still feeling restless, he called the doctor back to thoroughly examine Pei Huai once more before he could finally feel at ease.


    He let out a long sigh and tightly grasped Pei Huai¡¯s hand, ¡°Please, don¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡±


    Xia Wenyan, thinking the recent situation might have been a misunderstanding, still couldn¡¯t calm his emotions.


    Suddenly, the fingers of the person lying on the bed twitched slightly, and Pei Huai slowly opened his eyes, just in time to see a pitiful looking Xia Wenyan holding his hand.


    His eyebrows slightly furrowed, ¡°Did someone bully you?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s voice was hoarse, weakened by the fever, and he appeared somewhat listless.


    Even so, the look he gave Xia Wenyan was full of concern, exuding an uncontrollable hostility.


    It was as if he would immediately burst forth and tear apart anyone who had bullied Xia Wenyan.


    Xia Wenyan was not at all surprised that Pei Huai had this capability.


    When he was in R country, he had seen how the Rimu Family treated Pei Huai with utmost respect.


    The nature of the Rimu Family was something he had naturally learned about through a briefing from his elder brother.


    How could someone who stood his ground within the Rimu Family in R country be a simpleton?


    Xia Wenyan never thought there was anything wrong with a man like Pei Huai.


    His concentration and obsession toward him, however, made him cherish it all the more.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes reddened, and he gently shook his head, ¡°No, no one has bullied me. If anyone has, it would definitely be you. You¡¯re so seriously ill and yet you don¡¯t seek treatment at the hospital. Are you trying to piss me off to death?¡±


    There was an accusation in his words, but also filled with deep concern.


    Pei Huai could clearly hear it, and he looked at Xia Wenyan somewhat helplessly, seemingly at a loss for how to comfort him.


    He tentatively lifted his hand, hoping to pat Xia Wenyan on the back, but Xia Wenyan dodged away.


    A sudden sinking feeling hit Pei Huai¡¯s heart, and panic flooded his eyes in an instant.


    Did his Yanyan hate him now?


    ¡°Yanyan, I, I will get better soon, please don¡¯t be angry, don¡¯t...¡±


    Don¡¯t leave me.


    He gazed at Xia Wenyan, his eyes full of pleading, every bit of his aggressive energy almost turning tangible.


    In the past, if Xia Wenyan disliked him, he could stay by his side and silently protect him.


    But now that he¡¯d had such a wonderful person in his life, he couldn¡¯t control the fear of losing him.


    Even the thought of Xia Wenyan leaving him, of never smiling at him again, was like something blocking his heart.


    No, no, Yanyan was his; he couldn¡¯t lose him.


    In his panic, he grabbed Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand, wishing he could hold on tight enough to keep him by his side forever.


    Xia Wenyan was startled by Pei Huai¡¯s sudden movement.


    He had just dodged away because his hand was still hooked up to an IV, and now, because of Pei Huai¡¯s fumbling, his hand had started to bleed.


    ¡°Pei Huai! Let go!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s voice rang in Pei Huai¡¯s ears, causing him to freeze in place.


    Since they got together, Xia Wenyan had never called out his full name; it was always Brother Pei or something like that. It looked like he truly was out of favor now.


    He despondently let go of Xia Wenyan¡¯s hand, then lay back half-reclined, his face expressionless, like a death row inmate waiting for the final sentence.


    Xia Wenyan was about to burst out laughing at his expression, ¡°I told you not to move about, and now you feel wronged? Your hand has bled, don¡¯t you realize that?¡±


    He wanted badly to punch Pei Huai, yet seeing him with such a pitiful look stopped him.


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t know how to vent his anger anymore.


    Pei Huai, hearing his voice, froze. Turning to look at Xia Wenyan sitting beside him, he spoke up timidly, ¡°You... you didn¡¯t start to hate me, did you?¡±


    ¡°I...¡±


    Xia Wenyan wanted to angrily declare that he did hate him for not taking better care of himself, for letting himself get so ill.


    But seeing Pei Huai looking so tentative and fearful, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t bear to say it.


    He seldom saw Pei Huai so abject and pitiable, like a little dog abandoned in a cardboard box in a downpour.


    Apart from shivering miserably in the rain, it was incapable of even saving itself.


    Xia Wenyan sighed lightly and placed his hand on Pei Huai¡¯s head, ¡°I don¡¯t hate you, I never have. I¡¯m just heartbroken that you don¡¯t take better care of yourself.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, he looked at Xia Wenyan, and his entire demeanor changed from moments ago.


    Suddenly, as if remembering something, he quickly explained, ¡°I haven¡¯t been neglecting my health. When I felt a bit of a cold coming on today, I did take medicine, and I even went to sleep for a bit, but somehow it just got worse...¡±


    His voice dwindled as he spoke, and in the end, he could only look pitifully at Xia Wenyan, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t come to find me, would I never see you again, Yanyan?¡±

 Chapter 627: 625: Isnt This Affecting?

    Chapter 627: Chapter 625: Isn¡¯t This Affecting?


    Xia Wenyan was utterly bewildered by Pei Huai¡¯s tea-time chatter, even unconsciously embracing him and patting his back. ¡°That won¡¯t happen, with me here, how could such a thing occur?¡±


    ¡°Yep! I know Yanyan cares about me.¡± Pei Huai¡¯s lips curved gently, and had it not been for the pallor of his lips still being severe, Xia Wenyan would have thought he was feigning his illness.


    He sighed helplessly, ¡°Alright, lie down and rest well. I¡¯m going to call your men right now and have them arrange for a hospital room for you; the emergency ward is not safe.¡±


    Pei Huai keenly sensed the worry at the bottom of Xia Wenyan¡¯s heart.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked as if offhandedly, ¡°What happened just now in the emergency ward?¡±


    Xia Wenyan shook his head, ready to deny it, but after some thought, he decided it was better to tell Pei Huai.


    He always felt that what just happened was not his imagination.


    His intuition might not always be accurate, but since this matter concerned the safety of both of them, it was never wrong to be more vigilant.


    ¡°Just now I went to the water room to fetch water to cool you down physically, so I left you alone in the ward. But when I came back, I found someone hastily leaving. I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯d simply gone to the wrong place or had other intentions...¡±


    Xia Wenyan was still unnerved thinking about what had just occurred.


    After pondering for a moment, he asked, ¡°Brother Pei, have you offended any dangerous characters over in Country R?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°How could that be? I was just holding the title of Family Head in the Rimu Family; how could I offend dangerous people? It¡¯s probably paparazzi or something like that. After all, Brother Pei¡¯s popularity in the showbiz is not low, so it¡¯s normal for paparazzi to follow.¡±


    Although he didn¡¯t know if the person mentioned by Xia Wenyan was really targeting him, since it had caused their Yanyan concern...


    He had to investigate thoroughly. He absolutely couldn¡¯t let their Yanyan continue to worry.


    Xia Wenyan was a bit stunned; he¡¯d been so worried that he had completely forgotten that he and Pei Huai were public figures.


    Following what Pei Huai had said, it was normal for paparazzi to tail them when they went out.


    Xia Wenyan then quietly let out a sigh of relief, ¡°You¡¯re right, it seems I was just too nervous.¡±


    Saying that, he picked up the basin again, wrung out the towel in his hand, and gently wiped Pei Huai¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Mhm, you were too nervous just now. Rest for a while when Lingmu arrives.¡± Pei Huai looked at Xia Wenyan with gentle eyes, his voice still soft.


    But only he knew that ever since he¡¯d been together with Xia Wenyan, he had, using his identity from Country R, joined forces with the Song Group and XJ Group to put pressure on the media in the Shangjing Circle.


    Except for the normal promotion of works, they did not allow any exposure of personal privacy regarding Xia Wenyan and himself.


    That is to say, all entertainment reporters who were mixed in the circle knew not to tail him and Xia Wenyan.


    Because even if they captured something, they couldn¡¯t publish it.


    It would also bring a lot of trouble, so no sensible person would provoke that issue.


    What Pei Huai had said to Xia Wenyan just now was merely to put his mind at ease.


    As for who exactly had come to the emergency room, he would investigate thoroughly afterward.


    In the evening, when Song Sinian returned home, Lu Zhaozhao was still holding a laptop, flipping through various baby stores.


    ¡°Are you already starting to look at these things so early?¡± Song Sinian sat beside the sofa and directly scooped Lu Zhaozhao, who had the laptop, into his arms.


    He rubbed his nose against the back of her neck, causing Lu Zhaozhao to shrink her neck.


    Lu Zhaozhao distinctly felt the breath at the back of her neck growing warm. She squirmed uneasily, but Song Sinian¡¯s large hand firmly grasped her.


    His lips gently brushed against the nape of her neck, his tone airy, ¡°It seems I¡¯ll need to work even harder in the future.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao clearly sensed danger in his tone.


    Ever since Mr. Song heard from her that she wanted a child, in this regard, it was as if some strange button had been pressed.


    Every time, he wouldn¡¯t stop until she couldn¡¯t get out of bed.


    She felt like she was going to die at his hands almost every day.


    If Song Sinian worked any harder, would she even survive?


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought this, she couldn¡¯t help but shiver, stretching out her small hand to cover Song Sinian¡¯s lips directly.


    ¡°Mr. Song, listen to me, I¡¯m reading it for someone else,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, feeling the warmth in the palm of her hand and her heart starting to beat fervently.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t seem convinced, he raised his hand to hold Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s wrist and squeezed it, ¡°Alright, then continue reading, I won¡¯t disturb you.¡±


    Saying so, he kissed her wrist again.


    Lu Zhaozhao felt numb all over, is this what he called not disturbing?


    She could tell, Song Sinian didn¡¯t believe a word she¡¯d just said.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Song Sinian with a bit of an exasperated smile, ¡°It¡¯s Zhenzhen, Zhenzhen is pregnant, with my second brother¡¯s child.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian clearly paused for a moment.


    Immediately after, his eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°They¡¯re having a child so soon, does Xia Wenqing know?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°Not yet, Zhenzhen said she wants to tell my second brother personally. She doesn¡¯t plan to tell him now, she wants to wait until after our wedding, but... I reckon my second brother is going to be ecstatic.¡±


    In their past life, those two probably didn¡¯t end up together; this life, having pierced through that layer of window paper, Lu Zhaozhao was happy for both of them.


    Song Sinian nodded, pausing slightly, but a subtle change crossed his expression.


    Lu Zhaozhao noticed the change in his expression right away, ¡°Mr. Song, are you unhappy?¡±


    She didn¡¯t understand what Song Sinian¡¯s expression meant and looked at him with a bit of trepidation.


    They had been married for quite a while now, and they still didn¡¯t have any children, could it be that Song Sinian minded?


    Thinking of the eagerness Song Sinian had shown after she mentioned having a child, Lu Zhaozhao knew that Song Sinian also wanted a child.


    Maybe he¡¯d been restraining himself all this time, worried that she initially didn¡¯t want one?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought this and suddenly felt a bit guilty.


    She pursed her small lips, her eyes burning as she looked at Song Sinian, only to see him directly embrace her, ¡°I¡¯m not unhappy, I¡¯m just concerned that after Xu Zhenzhen is pregnant, you won¡¯t have someone close to protect you, and I¡¯m worried about that.¡±


    Originally, to prevent Lu Zhaozhao from being bullied at school, he had chosen Xu Zhenzhen to stay by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side for protection.


    Finding someone with suitable status and yet who wouldn¡¯t be discovered by Lu Zhaozhao had indeed taken quite an effort.


    Now, without so many restrictions, finding a capable person and then changing their identity should be a lot easier.


    Song Sinian thought for a moment, his expression immediately relaxed quite a bit.

 Chapter 628: 626: No, You Cant!

    Chapter 628: Chapter 626: No, You Can¡¯t!


    Zhaozhao was surprised that this was what Sinian cared about, and she couldn¡¯t help but curve the corners of her lips.


    She set her laptop aside and wrapped her small hands around Sinian¡¯s neck, ¡°Hubby~~~I¡¯m actually quite capable too, even without Zhenzhen¡¯s protection, I can still take care of myself.¡±


    ¡°Mm, I know,¡± Sinian replied to Zhaozhao, ¡°I¡¯ve always known you¡¯re capable, but that doesn¡¯t mean you don¡¯t need someone else¡¯s protection.¡±


    Just as Zhaozhao was about to protest, she heard Sinian continue, ¡°It¡¯s not just you, even I get caught off guard by sudden schemes sometimes. Can you guarantee that you¡¯d have the ability to fight back when someone schemes against you?¡±


    His dark eyebrows and eyes looked at her seriously, making her heart skip a beat unexpectedly.


    She had never really thought about this situation.


    Noticing she was listening, Sinian added, ¡°As you know, sometimes no matter how capable you are, you might encounter situations where you¡¯re outnumbered. In pressing situations, two are better than one at escaping danger, so please don¡¯t reject my kindness, okay?¡±


    His voice was slow and methodical, yet it carried an undertone of insistence.


    Zhaozhao pursed her lips thoughtfully, considering his words. They did make sense.


    After a moment of silence, she finally nodded, ¡°All right, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    Given the current situation, there were still some loose ends unaddressed. Although they were being watched, it¡¯s unpredictable when they might act out of desperation.


    If they did something reckless, the threat would still fall on them.


    Zhaozhao thought about the past life where Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan had always been secretive, causing trouble underhandedly.


    In this life, although she was aware ahead of time that they were not good people, both were very cautious in their actions, making it difficult to catch them red-handed and deal a fatal blow.


    That¡¯s why despite several clandestine skirmishes, they hadn¡¯t yet managed to bring down Xiao Mo and his mother.


    With these thoughts, Zhaozhao, clinging to Sinian¡¯s neck, proposed, ¡°Mr. Song, have you thought about how to deal with Xiao Mo?¡±


    Sinian¡¯s dark eyes flickered, a chill passing momentarily, ¡°Have they caused trouble for you?¡±


    Zhaozhao shook her head quickly, ¡°No, I just think they¡¯ve been causing trouble for too long, and I want to deal with them once and for all.¡±


    She spoke bluntly, sparing Sinian the need to guess in their conversation.


    Sinian sighed in relief inwardly, ¡°Have you come up with a plan?¡±


    Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°I think Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo are too vigilant; it¡¯s difficult to start with them, but we can try from Keren¡¯s side.¡±


    Recently, Keren had been taken abroad by Justin, and she was not having a pleasant time; she probably harbored thoughts of returning home.


    Zhaozhao only needed to give her an opportunity, and with Justin¡¯s involvement, they should be able to quickly deal with Xiao Mo and his mother.


    Previously, due to investing in a jade mine, Xiao Mo had already caused those self-important executives to incur significant losses.


    While they now doubted Xiao Mo¡¯s judgment, they had not completely given up on him.


    Sinian had been secretly curbing these two-faced executives lately.


    But it wasn¡¯t enough; a fatal blow that would leave them no chance of recovery was necessary.


    Sinian seemed to agree with Zhaozhao¡¯s perspective, ¡°Do you need my help with this?¡±


    His large hand gently caressed Zhaozhao¡¯s small face, his gaze filled with love when he looked at her.


    Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes instantly curved into a smile, ¡°Of course I need you. You¡¯re my husband, who else would I need if not you?¡±


    Sinian knew this plan would likely need to lure Justin into the scheme, and since Justin worked for XJ Corporation, it naturally required the Xia family¡¯s involvement.


    But Zhaozhao¡¯s words were very comforting to him.


    He clasped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand and kissed her fingertips. ¡°As long as you need me, I¡¯ll always stand by your side.¡±


    His words were like a promise, warming Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s whole heart.


    But the next second, Lu Zhaozhao could no longer feel warm.


    Because Song Sinian stood up and directly lifted her in his arms. Lu Zhaozhao was so startled she tightly wrapped her arms around Song Sinian¡¯s neck.


    ¡°What, what are you doing?¡±


    She looked up at Song Sinian, and only then did she see the burning desire in his eyes.


    She suddenly understood something and began to struggle in Song Sinian¡¯s arms, ¡°I, I haven¡¯t taken a shower yet!¡±


    The moment Lu Zhaozhao said this, she knew she had misspoken.


    What kind of excuse was not having taken a shower?


    Wasn¡¯t that indirectly implying that it would be fine after she showered?


    She should have just said, ¡°No!¡±


    Regaining her senses, Lu Zhaozhao hurriedly tried to speak, ¡°I... mmm...¡±


    But before she could finish her words, Song Sinian silenced her.


    His hand, originally on her back, moved to the back of her neck, clasping it as if seizing her lifeline, and pulled her close forcefully.


    Lu Zhaozhao had no space to struggle and was forced to let him draw from her.


    After a moment, when the two of them separated again, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes were watery, her eyelashes glistening with moisture.


    Song Sinian looked at her dewy expression with satisfaction, his lips curving unconsciously and then he leaned down to kiss her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you for a shower now, and soon you¡¯ll smell lovely,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice was muffled and husky, filled with the urges of desire.


    Lu Zhaozhao opened her mouth, at a loss for words.


    By the time she came to her senses, Song Sinian had already carried her to the bathroom.


    The words she wanted to say all dissolved in the warm steam, diffusing into the room¡¯s mist...


    Because Xia Wenjin¡¯s bodyguard was asked to track Pei Huai and his company, he initially wanted to inform Pei Huai but couldn¡¯t because Pei Huai was ill.


    He could only send a message to Pei Huai¡¯s subordinates on his way back.


    When he arrived at the hotel where Xia Wenjin was staying, Xia Wenjin immediately rushed up excitedly, ¡°How was it? Did you see what they were doing?¡±


    The tall bodyguard was a bit speechless, twitching his eye corner. What could they be doing at a hospital?


    He cleared his throat lightly, ¡°Saw them. It seems that the man named Pei Huai is ill, and the Fourth Young Master Xia took him to receive treatment.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed, ¡°What illness does Pei Huai have?¡±


    ¡°Uh... seems like a fever.¡± The tall bodyguard had rushed away in a hurry and had no idea what illness Pei Huai had contracted.


    Remembering Pei Huai¡¯s unconscious state on the bed, he simply made up an answer.


    After all, when Xia Wenjin decided to investigate later, she would either send him or another bodyguard.


    If something went wrong, the two of them could just collude and cover it up.


    Thus, there wasn¡¯t much of a problem.

 Chapter 629: 627: Just Complete the Task

    Chapter 629: Chapter 627: Just Complete the Task


    Xia Wenjin knew that as long as she didn¡¯t personally intervene, they felt little pressure.


    ¡°Do they not have any other aspects that seem a bit unusual?¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed as she subtly reminded the tall bodyguard.


    As her words escaped her, the tall bodyguard began to feel nervous too.


    His heart thudded wildly, and he looked at Xia Wenjin with unease.


    Had this woman discovered that they had secretly notified Pei Huai?


    The bodyguard pursed his lips, maintaining his silence.


    He didn¡¯t know whether Xia Wenjin had noticed anything, but it seemed more appropriate to keep silent at this moment.


    Seeing the tall bodyguard remaining silent, Xia Wenjin¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, didn¡¯t you hear me?¡±


    The bodyguard¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly, ¡°I heard you, but I don¡¯t quite understand what the young miss is saying...¡±


    Even if he understood, he planned to feign ignorance.


    As long as Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t explicitly catch him, he¡¯d play dead through and through.


    Xia Wenjin rolled her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m asking if there¡¯s anything unusual about how those two interact compared to others?¡±


    Her attention had always been on others; she never paid attention to Xia Wenyan.


    Today, she accidentally saw Xia Wenyan supporting Pei Huai and it struck her suddenly.


    Upon hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, the tall bodyguard somewhat understood.


    So, she was asking about that¡ªhe had thought their undercover actions had been revealed.


    Fortunately, they were not.


    The bodyguard sighed in relief and continued, ¡°There¡¯s nothing special about how those two get along. After Pei Huai was taken to the hospital room, Fourth Young Master Xia just went to fetch water.¡±


    Xia Wenjin, seeing his oblivious manner, couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes dramatically, ¡°I¡¯m asking if their interaction seems a bit too intimate?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Both bodyguards were at a loss for how to respond to Xia Wenjin.


    Too intimate?


    That didn¡¯t seem right.


    But to say they weren¡¯t that intimate also didn¡¯t seem right since indeed they did appear quite clingy.


    Xia Wenjin noticed their silence and slightly disdained, ¡°Had I known you were this careless, I would have asked someone else directly.¡±


    The tall bodyguard was clearly relieved internally.


    Fortunately, Xia Wenjin was easy to fool, otherwise, with their constant concealment, if it were someone clever, they would probably have been exposed by now.


    ¡°Miss, next time, I will be more attentive,¡± the bodyguard said, hanging his head in a very remorseful manner.


    Seeing his expression, Xia Wenjin waved her hand, ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve been troubled enough watching them. Just hire a private detective for this.¡±


    After all, professionals do what professionals do.


    Pei Huai and Xia Wenyan were both from the entertainment industry; them being clingy together and it going unnoticed was odd.


    Xia Wenjin furrowed her brows in thought.


    Could it be that the Xia Family had pressured the media, which is why they dared not report it?


    Xia Wenjin thought for a long time, but couldn¡¯t figure out the problem at hand, so she simply stopped thinking about it.


    If Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai were really what she thought, then it would be impossible for her to take down Xia Wenyan.


    However, none of that mattered anymore. She was only looking for a way to gain leverage over Xia Wenyan.


    Initially, she had thought about marrying Xia Wenyan to gain benefits from the Xia Family, but it seemed that seizing Xia Wenyan¡¯s vulnerabilities could achieve the same goal.


    As Xia Wenjin thought this, she unconsciously crossed one leg over the other while sitting on the sofa.


    Once she obtained something incriminating on Xia Wenyan, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her status being threatened by any potential marriage partners her bodyguards found for her.


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and she couldn¡¯t help getting excited, ¡°You two find me a private detective as quickly as you can, understand?¡±


    The two bodyguards exchanged looks, then stiffly nodded their heads, ¡°Yes, Miss.¡±


    It seemed Xia Wenjin was resolved to go after Xia Wenyan; she truly felt uneasy if she wasn¡¯t up to some mischief.


    The two knew that dissuading Xia Wenjin would be fruitless, so they simply played dead.


    What happened to Xia Wenjin was none of their business, after all.


    They just had to complete their task.


    Since Xia Wenyan was at the hospital taking care of Pei Huai, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t encounter him when she visited the Xia Family.


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t expected so many people from the Xia Family to be there; she felt slightly dazed while sitting in the living room.


    She sneakily glanced at Wen Qingyu, seemingly asking her silently what was going on.


    Hadn¡¯t they agreed it would just be the two of them?


    What was happening now?


    Wen Qingyu, feeling a bit guilty, looked away, ¡°Cough cough... It was supposed to be just us two, but I accidentally let it slip...¡±


    She wanted to have a private chat with her darling Zhaozhao, but unfortunately, when she heard Lu Zhaozhao had invited her over alone, she was too excited and everyone ended up finding out.


    What was supposed to be a small private meeting had now turned into a family meeting.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, I¡¯m so heartbroken you didn¡¯t come to your eldest brother first when you encountered issues...¡± Xia Wenjue said, clutching his chest with a pained expression.


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Xia Wenjue, scoffed, and then turned to Lu Zhaozhao, slowly saying, ¡°Little sister, next time you want to do something, just let us know in our family group. That way, we can directly assign tasks to help you out.¡±


    ¡°Second Brother is right, Zhaozhao, you should at least find someone capable of independently solving your problems,¡± Xia Wenmo also expressed his dissent.


    At that, Wen Qingyu burst out, ¡°You little brats, are you insinuating your old mom isn¡¯t reliable?¡±


    Seeing Wen Qingyu on the verge of exploding, Xia Nie immediately wrapped his arms around her slim waist, ¡°You kids, give some respect to your mother.¡±


    Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo shrugged their shoulders reluctantly, but they all spoke anyway.


    After all, their father had spoken.


    If they didn¡¯t pacify their mother, they would all end up getting a beating.


    ¡°Cough cough, Mom, well... we think you¡¯re at the age to enjoy some peace, and of course, it should be us, your sons, who help resolve our sister¡¯s issues, right?¡±


    Xia Wenjue said this, then nudged Xia Wenqing with his elbow and winked at Xia Wenmo, trying to get his brothers to back him up.


    Otherwise, if their mom really did lose her temper, it would be them who suffered.


    Xia Wenqing also nodded repeatedly, ¡°That¡¯s right, we¡¯re worried you¡¯re working too hard, Mom. We feel for our sister, and for you too, Mom.¡±

 Chapter 630: 628: Just Knows How to Annoy Me!

    Chapter 630: Chapter 628: Just Knows How to Annoy Me!


    Xia Wenmo saw that the conversation had been finished by the two of them, so he simply chimed in, ¡°Eldest brother and second brother are right, we all feel for you.¡±


    Wen Qingyu was almost amused by the perfunctory words of these brats.


    They all spoke so nicely, but weren¡¯t they just trying to snatch Zhaozhao from her, huh!


    Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°You brats, all you do is annoy me!¡±


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be angry, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Lu Zhaozhao, seeing that Wen Qingyu seemed truly on the verge of getting upset, quickly reached out and hugged her arm, comforting her, ¡°I¡¯m sure the brothers just wanted to help.¡±


    Wen Qingyu, realizing that she had just scared Lu Zhaozhao, sighed and reached out to ruffle Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll listen to you. I won¡¯t be angry at these brats, hmph!¡±


    Xia Nie, seeing that Wen Qingyu had been pacified by Lu Zhaozhao, spoke up again, ¡°Zhaozhao, tell us what brought you here this time; otherwise, they¡¯re going to start fighting again.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face blushed, ¡°I came today, actually just to ask Mom to pass on a message, asking my brothers to bring Justin back to the country...¡±


    ¡°Bring Justin back?¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, ¡°Are you planning to deal with Xiao Mo and his gang?¡±


    The one associated with Justin was his current wife, Song Keren.


    Since the two of them had been sent abroad and Justin was no longer limited by nationality, he married one woman after another, leaving Song Keren completely neglected.


    If she was in the country, she could still go to the Xiao Family for sympathy, but being abroad and controlled by Justin¡¯s side, she had no chance whatsoever to contact anyone back home.


    So once Justin was back in the country, Song Keren would definitely return to the Xiao Family.


    And as Song Keren, the one with the least clever mind in the Xiao Family, she indeed was the best chess piece to use.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°That is indeed the plan, but I don¡¯t know if Song Keren will cooperate when the time comes.¡±


    Xia Wenqing chuckled lightly, ¡°She hates Justin to death now. She¡¯ll probably look for Xiao Jinglan to help her divorce as soon as she gets back to the country. But Xiao Mo doesn¡¯t have much power supporting him by his side; he won¡¯t easily let go of Justin.¡±


    Once Song Keren couldn¡¯t get help from the Xiao Family, naturally, she wouldn¡¯t consider herself a part of the Xiao Family anymore.


    Her relationship with Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t great to begin with, so it was estimated that with just a little instigation, it would be easy to achieve their goal.


    Xia Wenmo nodded in agreement, ¡°Exactly, maybe Song Keren, in a fit of rage, will just get rid of Xiao Mo, and that will settle everything.¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes instantly became bright and gleaming, ¡°This method seems quite good! It¡¯s just not clear how feasible it is.¡±


    When she said this, her gaze was directed at the Xia brothers sitting next to her.


    In an instant, Xia Wenjue, Xia Wenqing, and Xia Wenmo felt the pressure coming from their own mother.


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing¡¯s glances almost simultaneously turned towards Xia Wenmo next to them.


    Their looks practically conveyed ¡°This is your mess, we¡¯re not carrying it.¡±


    And Xia Wenmo just shrugged nonchalantly, with a demeanor that said ¡°We share the pot and face the difficulty together.¡±


    In short, relying on his own strength to compete against all his brothers.


    Xia Wenjue sighed helplessly, ¡°Mom, we need to think long-term about this. We have to wait for Justin to come back to the country before we can proceed with the next step.¡±


    The likelihood of Song Keren getting rid of Xiao Mo was indeed there, but it wasn¡¯t great.


    If she were such a ruthless person, Justin would have been gotten rid of who knows how many times by now.


    Xia Wenqing of course understood this reasoning, so he chimed in to help, ¡°Song Keren and Xiao Mo aren¡¯t at the stage where it¡¯s do or die; she won¡¯t risk everything recklessly.¡±


    ¡°So, when Song Keren returns to the country, as long as we make her stand as much as possible against Xiao Mo, we¡¯ll just have to see who runs out of patience first,¡± Xia Wenmo said with interest, slightly narrowing his dark eyes.


    Make those who bullied his sister all go to hell¡ªthat was what he, as her brother, had to do!


    The gazes of several people unconsciously turned toward Xia Wenmo. Hearing his words, they seemed to no longer find it surprising.


    Ever since Xia Wenmo had undergone brain surgery, he had released his true nature.


    Especially after taking over his father¡¯s power, he was really in his element.


    They had always thought of the third brother, who used to have a more silent and solitary character, as now living in an increasingly bold and unrestrained manner.


    His very temperament was now completely different from when he was painting.


    If before, he used crisscrossing brushstrokes as cages to contain the beast within, then the now-unleashed Xia Wenmo resembled a god of slaughter incarnate.


    Fortunately, the Xia Family members weren¡¯t too shocked by Xia Wenmo¡¯s transformation.


    It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t care about Xia Wenmo, but from a young age, his exceptional talent and his somewhat lacking empathy had led them to foresee this outcome.


    This guy had once been so ruthless that he was prepared to part with his own eyesight.


    Now that Xia Wenmo prioritized Lu Zhaozhao above all else, they were already very satisfied.


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes shifted to Xia Wenmo. ¡°The specific plan for this task should be drawn up by the third brother. We can then have a family meeting to discuss it later.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that they doubted Xia Wenmo¡¯s capabilities, but rather, they trusted him too much.


    The reason they wanted a family meeting was not so much to discuss the plan, but primarily because with Lu Zhaozhao there, their third brother wouldn¡¯t come up with any crazy or terrifying schemes.


    Nowadays, Lu Zhaozhao was the only one who could keep their family¡¯s ¡°mad dog¡± at bay.


    Wen Qingyu quickly nodded in agreement, ¡°I second that. We¡¯ll have Zhaozhao come to our home again when the time comes.¡±


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, sensing an indefinable feeling among his older brother, second brother, and mother.


    But that didn¡¯t matter. What was important was that he now had control over his little sister¡¯s issues.


    He was determined to make the plan against the Xiao Family flawless.


    He would have at least three alternative strategies ready, along with predictions for all possible scenarios.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenmo suddenly felt the weight of his responsibility growing heavier.


    But his mood improved even further.


    Xia Wenmo chuckled softly, ¡°Mhm, by the next time Zhaozhao comes over, my plan will be ready.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the Xia Family finally let out a silent sigh of relief.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know why the Xia Family breathed a sigh of relief after Xia Wenmo finished speaking, she fully supported Xia Wenmo¡¯s planning.


    Her third brother was meticulous in thought; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have taken over their father¡¯s position.


    Her eyes sparkling with mirth, she looked at Xia Wenmo, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble Third Brother~¡±


    ¡°Your matters are never a trouble. It would only be troublesome if you didn¡¯t come to your third brother,¡± Xia Wenmo said, his expression extraordinarily gentle as he blinked at Lu Zhaozhao, once again assuming that harmless demeanor.

 Chapter 631: 629: Who is the Person Coming to the Hospital?

    Chapter 631: Chapter 629: Who is the Person Coming to the Hospital?


    His quick change in demeanor had even Xia Wenjue feeling spooked.


    Tsk tsk, one can only say it¡¯s worthy of their little sister.


    Only their adorable sister could manage to keep their crazed third brother in check.


    ¡°Got it, Third Bro!¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes sparkled with mirth, her whole demeanor exceptionally tender.


    After she had discussed things with the Xia Family, she felt considerably more relaxed.


    It was only after relaxing that she noticed... someone was missing from home.


    Lu Zhaozhao paused slightly, ¡°Mom, hasn¡¯t Fourth Bro returned?¡±


    Each time she visited the Xia Family, Xia Wenyan was always the most enthusiastic.


    All because he previously set himself up with the flag of ¡°the best brother in the whole world¡±.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t think that Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t want to be that great brother anymore, rather she was a bit worried something might have happened to him.


    She had spent not a short amount of time with Xia Wenyan and knew his character quite well.


    If he hadn¡¯t really run into some trouble, he absolutely wouldn¡¯t avoid seeing her when she visited the Xia Family.


    Xia Wenjue propped his chin with one hand and slowly sighed, ¡°That kid, heard he¡¯s now in the hospital...¡±


    ¡°Is he injured?¡± Lu Zhaozhao became anxious at once.


    Seeing this, Wen Qingyu glared at Xia Wenjue and gently patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand saying, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to your elder brother¡¯s nonsense, it¡¯s not your Fourth Bro, it¡¯s Mr. Pei who is sick and couldn¡¯t leave, that¡¯s why Lao Si hasn¡¯t returned.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao then secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    She knew her own thoughts were somewhat improper, but Mr. Pei, like her, was someone who had lived two lifetimes and with his capable handling, there certainly wouldn¡¯t be any problems.


    Her Fourth Bro was different.


    Xia Wenyan was essentially a sweet, naive type, and in his past life, he had been schemed to death.


    Lu Zhaozhao found it hard not to worry about him.


    This lifetime, although much had changed due to her rebirth, she still worried about the futures of her brothers.


    Everyone, seeing Zhaozhao¡¯s worried little face, naturally understood what their adorable sister was thinking.


    Wen Qingyu gently patted Zhaozhao¡¯s back, consoling her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s nothing wrong on your Fourth Bro¡¯s side. I heard he¡¯s been frequently bothering you at the filming site. If you find him annoying, I can get Third Bro to take him away for some training.¡±


    Xia Wenmo disdainfully pursed his lips, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll train him well, and when he returns to the country, he¡¯ll definitely be able to take on ten opponents by himself.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s skills were indeed a bit trash, and since Zhaozhao was so worried about him, as the third brother, he indeed needed to do something.


    Zhaozhao looked at Xia Wenmo and Wen Qingyu with a bit of tears and laughter, ¡°No need, no need, Fourth Bro still has plenty of work to do domestically. It¡¯s fine if he just exercises a bit whenever he has time. No need for the training...¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s all listen to our little sister. Once Third Bro finalizes the plan, we¡¯ll make a training schedule for Lao Si,¡± Xia Wenjue chimed in with a smile that was not quite a smile.


    Xia Wenqing also nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s settled then, Lao Si indeed needs some good training.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, and for some reason, she felt... like her Fourth Bro was being targeted by the other three brothers. What was going on?


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Suddenly, while keeping watch in the hospital room, Xia Wenyan sneezed out of the blue.


    He raised his attractive, peach blossom eyes, and tentatively touched his forehead with his hand.


    Could he have caught a cold as well?


    Pei Huai was already sick, and if he got sick too, who would take care of his Brother Pei?


    Pei Huai¡¯s fever had already subsided, and he seemed much better. Hearing Xia Wenyan sneeze, he also furrowed his eyebrows.


    ¡°Did I pass my cold to you?¡± he asked. Although it was a question, his gaze towards Xia Wenyan seemed to confirm that he was the one who had transmitted it.


    Xia Wenyan waved his hand, ¡°No, my nose just feels a bit itchy.¡±


    Saying this, his attractive, peach blossom eyes curved into a smile, radiant and bright, ¡°Brother Pei, is there anything you¡¯d like to eat? It¡¯s almost time for lunch; I¡¯ll go buy something for you. Just wait here for me, okay?¡±


    Pei Huai looked at Xia Wenyan with a doting expression and nodded, ¡°Okay, just buy some light porridge; no need to go through too much trouble.¡±


    Actually, Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t need to go himself for such things; sending a subordinate would have taken care of it in minutes.


    But Xia Wenyan liked doing things himself, and Pei Huai didn¡¯t want to dampen his spirits, so he let him fuss.


    Besides, he had other matters he didn¡¯t want Xia Wenyan to know about, so he didn¡¯t really stop him.


    Xia Wenyan nodded contentedly, raised his hand to ruffle Pei Huai¡¯s hair, then left the hospital room.


    Pei Huai watched Xia Wenyan leave, and the smile on his face almost instantly faded away.


    The subordinate standing at the door saw Pei Huai¡¯s expression, seemingly accustomed to it.


    All the love and gentleness of their Family Head were given to this Fourth Young Master Xia, and they, as subordinates, naturally had nothing to say.


    Lingmu entered the hospital room with documents in hand, seeing Pei Huai leisurely drinking water from a cup, then said, ¡°Family Head, someone indeed visited the hospital yesterday and it was an acquaintance.¡±


    After Pei Huai regained consciousness yesterday, he immediately ordered Lingmu to investigate the incident Xia Wenyan mentioned last night.


    It seemed they were indeed being followed.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, hinting at danger, ¡°Who came to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°It was a bodyguard who used to work with Feng Ya Meizi,¡± Lingmu replied respectfully as he passed the information gathered last night to Pei Huai.


    ¡°It seems he had something for the Family Head, but he left after hearing that Young Master Xia had arrived.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes narrowed again upon seeing the tall bodyguard hustling out of the hospital on the video footage.


    His eyebrows slightly furrowed, recognizing the two bodyguards as Fengya Ichiro¡¯s spies placed near Xia Wenjin.


    The reason he came to the hospital yesterday must have been to discuss something important with him.


    Thinking this, Pei Huai looked up at Lingmu and instructed, ¡°Bring my phone over, contact that bodyguard.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Family Head.¡±


    Lingmu, being Pei Huai¡¯s subordinate, promptly obeyed.


    He immediately took out the phone and contacted the tall bodyguard; the phone rang a few times before being quickly answered.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    As soon as the tall bodyguard answered the phone, he heard Pei Huai¡¯s voice coming through, ¡°Were you at the hospital yesterday?¡±


    The tall bodyguard, hearing Pei Huai¡¯s voice on the other end, became visibly excited, ¡°Yes, yes, Mr. Pei, yesterday we followed Xia Wenjin to the hospital and encountered you and the Fourth Young Master Xia at the entrance, then Xia Wenjin instructed me to follow you...¡±

 Chapter 632: 630: This Happy?

    Chapter 632: Chapter 630: This Happy?


    He said and followed up by talking about Xia Wenjin¡¯s suspicion that he had a more than usual relationship with Xia Wenyan.


    ¡°She even asked me to hire a private detective to follow you and the Fourth Young Master Xia. I was worried about how to notify you...¡±


    The words of the tall bodyguard were tinged with a sob.


    He was genuinely afraid that this incident would anger the Family Head of the Rimu Family, and it would be his bad luck.


    Worse still, if the Fengya Family was brought down, it could even cost him his life.


    Pei Huai raised his hand to press against his already slightly throbbing temples and said with a hint of irritation, ¡°I¡¯ll assign the matter of the private detective to someone else. If Xia Wenjin asks you for photos, you can just get in touch with Lingmu by then.¡±


    As he said this, he paused slightly, ¡°This phone number belongs to Lingmu. If anything comes up, you can reach him immediately.¡±


    The tall bodyguard nodded repeatedly but quickly realized that his nodding wasn¡¯t visible to the person on the other side of the call. So, he hurriedly spoke up, ¡°I know, I know, thank you, Mr. Pei!¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    He said nothing more and directly hung up the call, then passed the phone to Lingmu, ¡°Find someone with good photography skills to take pictures of me and Yanyan.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lingmu was clearly a bit stunned.


    He looked at Pei Huai with some surprise, ¡°Family Head, do you intend to reveal your relationship with Young Master Xia to the public?¡±


    Although within the confines of the Rimu Family, Xia Wenyan¡¯s status was already established, the acceptance of this fact was far lesser among the domestic population.


    He was a bit concerned about the Family Head facing gossip and slander back in the country.


    Of course, he was well aware of the Family Head¡¯s ability to endure, but the Fourth Young Master Xia looked delicate and tender, uncertain whether he could handle it as well as their Family Head.


    If he couldn¡¯t handle it and did something impulsive... it would be their Rimu Family¡¯s servants who¡¯d suffer.


    The thought of their Family Head in a rage made Lingmu shudder uncontrollably.


    In ancient times, it was said that the emperor¡¯s anger could leave a million corpses.


    Although their Family Head¡¯s anger wouldn¡¯t leave a million corpses, there would still be innumerable people living a fate worse than death.


    He didn¡¯t want to take the risk, so naturally, he sought to clarify things with the Family Head before any such incident occurred.


    Pei Huai quirked an eyebrow, ¡°I merely asked you to find someone good at taking photos; who said anything about going public?¡±


    Xia Wenyan, like him, was a public figure, and their relationship was doomed to not be widely reported within the country.


    How they acted abroad was one thing, and how they behaved domestically was another.


    He knew that the fans were crazy enough, and while shipping fictional relationships was one thing, reality could play out very differently.


    Even to protect Xia Wenyan, he wouldn¡¯t choose to go public within the country.


    The moment Pei Huai thought of Xia Wenyan, his whole heart softened.


    In his last life, he couldn¡¯t protect Xia Wenyan, which was a lifelong regret. In this life, no matter what, he resolved to do everything within his power to protect Xia Wenyan.


    All the dirty things should only concern him.


    His Yanyan needed to remain untainted.


    This life, Yanyan only needed to live happily by his side, carefree and blissful.


    As Pei Huai thought this, he seemed to remember something, ¡°How has Yuan Yuan been these past few days?¡±


    He had known that he was going to be a father when he was abroad.


    At first, he was somewhat concerned, but seeing how much Xia Wenyan liked that girl named Yuan Yuan, he was half annoyed and half resigned to the situation.


    But after seeing the young girl who had been sent to their home to be taken care of, he seemed to instantly understand why Xia Wenyan liked this girl so much.


    ¡°The adorably plump baby was indeed very difficult to dislike.


    He later learned more about Yuan Yuan from Xia Wenyan, and his heart instantly filled with anger towards those who had mistreated her.


    After all, the girl whom Yanyan took a liking to was naturally also his girl; how could their child be bullied by others?!


    So the two scumbags who were imprisoned, he made sure to have people ¡°look after¡± them properly.


    Yuan Yuan needed a psychologist due to her previous psychological trauma, so during their time abroad, she had always been staying with the psychologist.


    Since they had returned to the country only a few days ago, naturally, they had no idea how Yuan Yuan was doing now.


    Lingmu flipped through some paperwork and stated simply, ¡°Missy¡¯s physical checkup is not bad, and her mental state has greatly improved, she can now engage in brief conversations with others.¡±


    Pei Huai silently let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Mm, once I¡¯m discharged this time, I¡¯ll have Yuan Yuan brought back.¡±


    This way, his family¡¯s Yanyan would have less need to run around outside.


    Thinking this, he felt for the first time that having a child at home wasn¡¯t too bad.


    At least when he returned home every day, there would be two people waiting for him.


    As Pei Huai thought about this, the corners of his mouth slowly curled up, his expression softening.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in the hospital room.


    Xia Wenyan had returned with food.


    The hospital they were in had a cafeteria that provided meals for both the patient families and the patients themselves. Xia Wenyan merely had to queue up to buy the food directly.


    They had arrived late last night, so they hadn¡¯t managed to eat at all.


    The breakfast was also brought over by Lingmu, so this time Xia Wenyan deliberately bought a lot of delicious foods.


    He bought millet porridge for Pei Huai, along with some pickled vegetables.


    As for the other dishes, he bought them very light as well.


    He didn¡¯t know if Pei Huai would want to eat later, but if Pei Huai wasn¡¯t satisfied, what he bought would be enough for him.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes sparkled as he looked at Pei Huai, directly placing the food in his hands onto the table beside him.


    Lingmu, very observant, helped set up the small table on the hospital bed for the two of them.


    Then, after giving Pei Huai a look to confirm there was nothing else he needed to instruct, he left the hospital room.


    Looking at the food on the small table, Xia Wenyan then smilingly asked Pei Huai, ¡°What were you just thinking about, looking so happy?¡±


    ¡°Thinking about you,¡± Pei Huai chuckled softly, lifting his hand to pinch Xia Wenyan¡¯s cheek.


    His gesture was very gentle, causing Xia Wenyan¡¯s cheeks to instantly redden.


    He pursed his lips, though haughtily rolled his eyes at Pei Huai, ¡°Spouting such plain truths.¡±


    Pei Huai was amused by his cute appearance and slowly began to speak, ¡°Yuan Yuan is coming home. The doctor said her recovery is going well, and she can now have simple conversations with people.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly shone bright.


    During his time overseas, he had learned from Lu Zhaozhao that Yuan Yuan had been sent to a psychologist.


    He actually wanted to ask Lu Zhaozhao how Yuan Yuan¡¯s treatment was going, but he was worried that it¡¯d seem like he was hurrying her and didn¡¯t dare to ask.


    Now hearing what Pei Huai said, his entire being became much happier.


    His and Pei Huai¡¯s daughter, hmm, just thinking of this title filled him with joy.¡±

 Chapter 633: 631: How Could This Be?

    Chapter 633: Chapter 631: How Could This Be?


    ¡°Great, Brother Pei, after you¡¯re discharged from the hospital, can we go pick up Yuan Yuan?¡± Xia Wenyan¡¯s handsome peach blossom eyes quietly watched Pei Huai, joy apparent between his brows and eyes.


    Pei Huai nodded, ¡°After my discharge, Yuan Yuan can be brought back home, and you won¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡±


    Xia Wenyan, satisfied, nodded, ¡°Then let¡¯s eat first.¡±


    Saying this, he opened the bowl of white porridge that was in front of Pei Huai and added a bit of pickled vegetables to it.


    Pei Huai glanced at the white porridge in front of him and chuckled. After taking a spoonful, he spoke slowly and methodically, ¡°There¡¯s something I want to make clear to you.¡±


    Xia Wenyan froze slightly, seemingly seeing Pei Huai speak so seriously for the first time; he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous.


    He pursed his lips, looking at Pei Huai with a hint of anxiety. It couldn¡¯t be bad news, could it?


    At this thought, Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly.


    Pei Huai quickly noticed Xia Wenyan¡¯s mood. He lifted his hand slightly and patted his head, ¡°You haven¡¯t done anything wrong, what are you feeling guilty about?¡±


    Pei Huai knew that he was possessive, so usually, Xia Wenyan¡¯s every move was under his observation.


    Even some things that happened to Xia Wenyan that he himself did not know about, Pei Huai was more aware of them than he was.


    That¡¯s why he dared to say what he had just said.


    Xia Wenyan didn¡¯t feel anything was amiss; instead, he looked at Pei Huai still tense, ¡°So, what is it you want to tell me, Brother Pei?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s been some activity from Xia Wenjin, and it¡¯s related to you and me,¡± Pei Huai didn¡¯t intend to keep this matter from Xia Wenyan.


    After all, it was related to both of them, and naturally, he wanted to be clear about it.


    Hearing that it was Xia Wenjin, Xia Wenyan¡¯s previously tense mood eased considerably, ¡°What kind of trick is she pulling now?¡±


    This Xia Wenjin really can¡¯t seem to go a day without stirring up trouble.


    Thinking this, Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes exaggeratedly.


    Pei Huai was amused by his expression, and he pinched his nose playfully before continuing, ¡°She seems to have realized the relationship between us, so she¡¯s planning to have a private detective take photos of us, probably looking to make it public.¡±


    Xia Wenyan shrugged nonchalantly, ¡°Then let it be public, I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    He believed it wasn¡¯t a big deal; besides, his feelings with Pei Huai were real.


    True gold does not fear the fire!


    But to his surprise, Pei Huai shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not planning on making it public.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenyan immediately glared at him, ¡°What? You want to be a scumbag?¡±


    Xia Wenyan said this, with obvious anger in his brows and eyes, as if he was ready to flip the table in Pei Huai¡¯s face if he dared to agree.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s emotions were almost written on his face, truly easy to read, so this didn¡¯t anger Pei Huai.


    He chuckled softly and spoke slowly and precisely, ¡°I don¡¯t mean that. Abroad, you can come out however you wish, but not domestically. The acceptance level of fans here is low, and even though you and I have shippers, that won¡¯t withstand some people who dislike niche culture.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s reasoning was sound, but Xia Wenyan was still unhappy.


    No one wants to be an underground lover, however much they might be in love, they don¡¯t want to be kept in secret.


    Especially when he¡¯s the legitimate one!


    Xia Wenyan felt dejected, pursed his lips discontentedly, and fell silent.


    Pei Huai continued to coax gently, ¡°Actually, if it were just you and me, we could withstand it, but now we already have a child, so I have to consider more for the both of you. Even if there¡¯s just a little bit of risk, I don¡¯t want you two to face that danger.¡±


    Xia Wenyan fell silent for a moment, as if he had understood what Pei Huai was saying.


    He hesitated for a moment, then spoke slowly, ¡°So do we have to live our lives never mentioning it, whether in darkness or in light?¡±


    ¡°How could that be possible?!¡± Pei Huai¡¯s voice suddenly rose, and it even sounded a bit strained.


    Seeing Xia Wenyan¡¯s surprised gaze, he coughed lightly, ¡°Cough cough, I¡¯ve already thought about which country we could get a certificate in. You wouldn¡¯t abandon me just because I¡¯m not public in our own country, would you?¡±


    When Pei Huai said this, he looked pitifully concerned, as if he truly feared being abandoned by Xia Wenyan.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s brows jumped with helplessness, ¡°How could I? I was indeed feeling a bit unhappy about not being public in our country, but I¡¯ve thought about the reasons you just gave, and I can¡¯t disregard our safety just for the sake of being public.¡±


    The general environment in our country doesn¡¯t allow such minority matters to be exposed to the public eye, and he was not foolish, naturally understanding this once he thought about it.


    Although he was wealthy, that did not mean he found money too hot to handle.


    Pei Huai finally breathed a sigh of relief, reached out and embraced Xia Wenyan, ¡°That¡¯s great, that¡¯s great, I thought you were really angry and that you wouldn¡¯t bother with me anymore.¡±


    Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, ¡°You knew I would be angry, and yet you said that?¡±


    Pei Huai slowly let go of Xia Wenyan, shrugged his shoulders, ¡°It¡¯s the one thing I didn¡¯t want to hide from you.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, since you¡¯ve been so forthcoming, I won¡¯t make it difficult for you.¡± Xia Wenyan graciously tilted his chin, his eyes and brows holding a playful smile.


    And with that, Pei Huai also began to smile.


    Indeed, his Yanyan was the kindest to him.


    Meanwhile, in Country R.


    Fengya Ichiro sat in the living room, restlessly observing the view outside the window.


    Soon, a figure dressed in black walked in, ¡°Family Head, Feng Xixi has arrived.¡±


    Fengya Ichiro waved his hand at him, ¡°Let her in immediately!¡±


    Lately, he¡¯d been hearing from the spies who trailed Xia Wenjin that this woman was making daily changes to dance in Pei Huai¡¯s danger zones.


    He was really at his wit¡¯s end.


    If this continued, his heart condition would act up.


    He couldn¡¯t just sit around waiting for demise anymore.


    He had wanted to personally go to his home country and bring this woman back to Country R, but Pei Huai showed no intention of opening up.


    So this person, he couldn¡¯t bring her back now, and he didn¡¯t dare to tell Pei Huai that there would be consequences to bear if he didn¡¯t bring her back.


    He didn¡¯t have the guts for that.


    If this had been back when the Fengya Family and the Rimu Family were on equal footing, he would have had the confidence.


    But now, he didn¡¯t have the confidence, and he dared not even speak a word that was slightly assertive.


    The Fengya Family, because of Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s machinations against Pei Huai, was still reeling from the impact.


    He knew that Pei Huai had shown mercy; otherwise, their Fengya Family would likely have been ruined by his hand.


    Although a large portion of their industries had been affected, it was not to the point of complete desperation. They were merely under the control of the Rimu Family.


    If the Fengya Family had any other motives in the future, it¡¯s likely they would be completely suppressed by the Rimu Family, so he didn¡¯t dare...

 Chapter 634: 632 She Doesnt Want to Die Yet

    Chapter 634: Chapter 632 She Doesn¡¯t Want to Die Yet


    He now regretted more and more allowing Feng Ya Meizi such indulgence, even indulging her with Pei Huai.


    But it was too late for regrets now.


    He could only accept the reality.


    ¡°Knock knock knock!¡±


    Suddenly, the door to his room was knocked, and a graceful figure appeared in front of Fengya Ichiro.


    ¡°Family Head...¡±


    Feng Xixi entered with a sweet voice, her eyes looking at Fengya Ichiro with a hint of tenderness.


    If it had been before, Fengya Ichiro might have been a bit interested in Feng Xixi, but now he was in such a mess, he had even less interest in these matters.


    Moreover, Feng Xixi wasn¡¯t the only woman by his side, how could he possibly be interested in someone no longer in her prime?


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s brow furrowed and glanced at Feng Xixi, ¡°Sit over there.¡±


    Seeing the displeasure on Fengya Ichiro¡¯s face, Feng Xixi didn¡¯t dare say much and obediently sat across from him.


    But she sat for a long time without hearing Fengya Ichiro speak again.


    After a moment of silence and carefully scrutinizing Fengya Ichiro, Feng Xixi finally asked, ¡°Family Head, did you have something to instruct me with this time?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Fengya Ichiro still didn¡¯t speak, just quietly looking at Feng Xixi, as if pondering something.


    Feng Xixi felt uncomfortable under Fengya Ichiro¡¯s gaze.


    She pursed her lips, looking nervously at Fengya Ichiro, and spoke again, ¡°Family Head, do you want me to continue taking care of Feng Ya Meizi? Or is there some other important matter you wish to entrust to me?¡±


    Before coming, Feng Xixi thought that Fengya Ichiro wanted to see her, which was why he had called her here.


    She had even dressed up nicely for this occasion, but from that one glance, she knew Fengya Ichiro wasn¡¯t interested in her now.


    Since taking on the role as the Fengya Family Patriarch, he had always been restrained, even though he had many mistresses, never showing particular favor to any of them.


    In fact, he had even given many of his mistresses away as gifts to others.


    She was considered the most perceptive, and that¡¯s why she could stay by Fengya Ichiro¡¯s side until now.


    Of course, Feng Xixi didn¡¯t dare to be presumptuous and could only sit neatly across, waiting for Fengya Ichiro¡¯s next arrangement.


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s gaze swept across Feng Xixi¡¯s face and seemed to finally make a decision, ¡°Go back to your country for a while, stay by Xia Wenjin¡¯s side, watch her closely.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Feng Xixi was clearly startled by Fengya Ichiro¡¯s words, freezing in shock.


    Since Xia Wenjin had returned to her own country after plastic surgery, although Feng Xixi didn¡¯t understand why Fengya Ichiro would indulge Xia Wenjin, from her years of knowing him, he wouldn¡¯t do such thankless work.


    But Feng Xixi instinctively sensed that following Xia Wenjin would not lead to a bright future.


    Moreover, her face resembled the deceased Feng Xiran too closely, and she was worried that if she accidentally met the Song Family, her past deeds would be discovered.


    The Xia Wenjin piece was already a lost cause; there was no need for her to entangle herself further.


    Fengya Ichiro seemed to perceive Feng Xixi¡¯s resistance and showed displeasure, ¡°What? Are you questioning my decision?¡±


    ¡°How could I?¡± Feng Xixi didn¡¯t even think before shaking her head.


    Even if she truly felt dissatisfied, even if she really doubted Fengya Ichiro¡¯s decision, she couldn¡¯t possibly voice it out.


    She wasn¡¯t ready to die.


    Feng Xixi chuckled dryly, ¡°I just feel that this matter is a bit sudden, I didn¡¯t expect the Family Head to actually ask me to return to the country...¡±


    She put on an expression of being startled as she looked at Fengya Ichiro as if the words he had just said had greatly saddened her.


    The corners of Fengya Ichiro¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, ¡°I¡¯m asking you to return to the country to keep an eye on Xia Wenjin, after all, in her awareness, the only person who knows her true identity is you. So, I want you to restrain her actions to prevent her from opposing the Rimu Family Head too much.¡±


    ¡°Uh... the Rimu Family Head?¡± Feng Xixi was obviously startled.


    If she remembered correctly, the Rimu Family seemed to be an ancient family on the R country¡¯s side?


    When she was still serving as a mistress to Fengya Ichiro in R country, the Rimu Family was almost on par with the Fengya Family, a major clan.


    But now, as she listened to Fengya Ichiro¡¯s tone, it seemed like... he was afraid of the Rimu Family?


    Was she overthinking it?


    Feng Xixi pursed her lips, glanced at Fengya Ichiro, and asked indirectly, ¡°Family Head, shouldn¡¯t the Rimu Family Patriarch be in R country? How come he¡¯s in our country?¡±


    These ancient family descendants placed great importance on their heirs.


    Generally, they would not allow their heirs or Family Heads to go abroad.


    To prevent others with ulterior motives from taking actions against the Family Head or heirs.


    So when Fengya Ichiro mentioned the Rimu Family Head was in their country, she found it quite unexpected.


    Fengya Ichiro sighed, ¡°The current Rimu Family Head is actually a person from our country, named Pei Huai, now his relationship with the Fourth Young Master Xia is extraordinary.¡±


    ¡°Fourth Young Master Xia?¡± Feng Xixi repeated the words muttering to herself, then suddenly came to her senses, ¡°Family Head, are you talking about Xia Wenyan? Is he Xia Wenjin¡¯s previous foster brother?¡±


    Fengya Ichiro nodded, confirming her words.


    This revelation shocked Feng Xixi even more.


    She felt that the plot she knew had completely fallen apart.


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s relationship with Pei Huai was extraordinary?


    And Pei Huai had become the Rimu Family Head?


    Was it because she did not know the R country side of the story that such a scene occurred?


    Feng Xixi was completely distressed.


    Fengya Ichiro saw her dazed look and coughed lightly, asking, ¡°Do you have any other questions?¡±


    Feng Xixi snapped back to reality, recalling Fengya Ichiro¡¯s initial words.


    She pondered for a moment, ¡°Family Head, so in our country, I just need to stop Xia Wenjin from provoking the Rimu Family Head, and that¡¯s enough?¡±


    Fengya Ichiro nodded, then shook his head again, ¡°It would be better to keep her away from the people of the Xia Family as well.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    On this point, Feng Xixi was also not sure, given that Xia Wenjin had already clashed with Lu Zhaozhao before in the country.


    Now that she had returned with a new identity, she probably wouldn¡¯t easily let Lu Zhaozhao off.


    Although this daughter had never been raised by her, they had been living together lately, and she had gained some understanding of Xia Wenjin¡¯s character.


    She was too small-minded, yet lacked depth in strategy, and when she schemed against others, she always left significant risks.


    Just like the incident of her undergoing plastic surgery to become Feng Ya Meizi, if it weren¡¯t for Fengya Ichiro turning a blind eye, she reckoned that just after the surgery was done, she would have been chopped up and fed to the dogs by the Fengya Family.


    Not to mention still being able to flaunt Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s identity and throw her weight around in the country.


    Every time Feng Xixi thought about this daughter, she felt her temples throbbing violently.

 Chapter 635: 633: What Should She Do Now?

    Chapter 635: Chapter 633: What Should She Do Now?


    Thankfully, she wasn¡¯t raised by her side from a young age, or she would have probably been infuriated enough to throw her away by now.


    But then again, on second thought, it seems that she essentially ¡°threw away¡± the child shortly after giving birth.


    Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t help but press her temples, really a sin, indeed she shouldn¡¯t have been so impulsive when she was young.


    She had thought she was taking a big gamble in advance, never expecting the child to be such a pitfall.


    ¡°What, you¡¯re unwilling?¡± Fengya Ichiro¡¯s gaze swept over Feng Xixi, his expression suddenly darkening.


    The serious aura made Feng Xixi stiffen involuntarily.


    She waved her hands repeatedly, ¡°I am not unwilling. I¡¯m just worried that I won¡¯t be able to stop her when the time comes. You know how much Xia Wenjin likes to act first and report later, otherwise, maybe Ya Meizi¡¯s side...¡±


    While Feng Xixi said this, she felt somewhat guilty.


    After all, she had her own cross to bear regarding Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s disfigurement.


    If Fengya Ichiro found out that Xia Wenjin was actually her daughter, she would be the one in trouble.


    Of course, Fengya Ichiro also knew how much of a pain Xia Wenjin was.


    The scars on Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s face were already severe, and regaining her former beauty seemed unlikely. But he hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin to be so malicious, going as far as to have someone destroy his daughter¡¯s face.


    If Fengya Ichiro hadn¡¯t found Xia Wenjin to be of use, he would have definitely taken her life without a second thought.


    Who would have thought this woman would even go to the lengths of provoking the Family Head of the Rimu Family in their home country.


    Just the thought of it gave Fengya Ichiro a headache.


    He pressed his temples, annoyed, and after a moment of silence, ¡°You just do your best to stop her. As for the rest, keep a closer eye on her. Don¡¯t let her go overboard, otherwise, she won¡¯t even know how she died.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Family Head. I got it,¡± Feng Xixi said, looking down, not daring to meet Fengya Ichiro¡¯s gaze.


    But that didn¡¯t mean Fengya Ichiro would let her off easily.


    He fell silent for a moment again, then said, ¡°Since it was you who picked her up in the first place, if anything goes wrong, you¡¯ll take the responsibility too.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Feng Xixi could hardly believe her ears.


    Why should she take the blame for the sins committed by Xia Wenjin?


    Was it because she had avoided raising Xia Wenjin before, so now that she had grown up, she had to take the blame as well?


    Feng Xixi suddenly regretted why she had saved Xia Wenjin back then. If she had died, although her life wouldn¡¯t have been great, it wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this.


    Seeing the myriad of expressions flickering across Feng Xixi¡¯s face, the calculating eyes of Fengya Ichiro narrowed, and he patted her shoulder, ¡°Rest assured. As long as you manage her well, I definitely won¡¯t forget your contributions in the future. All your expenses in the home country will be covered by the Fengya Family, enough to guarantee you a life of luxury.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Feng Xixi pursed her lips, unsure of what to say at the moment.


    She used to be Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress, but her life was very different from his. However, from what Fengya Ichiro said, it seemed she would have access to quite a bit of money in the home country, and that relaxed her quite a bit.


    Feng Xixi thought about the life of being a mistress abroad, always subject to others, and the possibility of spending lavishly in the home country seemed not too bad.


    With this in mind, she nodded solemnly, ¡°Family Head, you can rest easy. I will definitely do everything I can to stop Xia Wenjin.¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin is currently known as Feng Ya Meizi, she knew the truth, so even if Xia Wenjin was confused, she wouldn¡¯t brazenly go against her.


    She just needed to manipulate Xia Wenjin a bit, and then she could live a life of luxury in the home country.


    Feng Xixi thought of this and suddenly felt motivated again.


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve made your decision, let¡¯s set out tonight. I¡¯ve already arranged the earliest flight for you. Whatever you need, just tell your bodyguard beside you, and he will prepare it for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Family Head.¡±


    Saying this, Feng Xixi stood up and left.


    Watching Feng Xixi¡¯s retreating figure, Fengya Ichiro¡¯s eyes narrowed, hoping this woman knew her limits; otherwise, he¡¯d have to deal with both women together!


    By then, even if the Rimu Family Head got angry, it would be better than Xia Wenjin causing a serious disaster, burdening the Fengya Family...


    Early the next morning, Lu Zhaozhao received the plan from Xia Wenmo.


    Xia Wenmo even worried his plan wasn¡¯t good enough and made several backup plans.


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking at Xia Wenmo¡¯s plans, felt a mix of laughter and tears.


    She had to admit, her third brother was indeed talented, but she had clearly told Song Sinian before that this should be his task, and she would only briefly inform the Xia Family.


    Now her third brother had taken on all the work. What was she supposed to do?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought so, her brows furrowed with unease, pondering how to explain it to Song Sinian when she saw the bedroom door open.


    The person entering was Song Sinian, which surprised Lu Zhaozhao a bit.


    She almost blurted out, ¡°Why are you still at home?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows twitched, obviously displeased with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    His dark eyes dangerously narrowed, staring at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s fair little face.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly realized she had spoken wrongly, and hastily tried to make amends with a smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that, I was just surprised you haven¡¯t gone to work yet... Don¡¯t you usually go to work at this time?¡±


    She remembered how Song Sinian had kept her busy in the room yesterday; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have slept till now.


    Usually, when she woke up, Song Sinian had gone to work.


    She had been too lazy to get out of bed, usually lying there until almost noon before getting up.


    Lu Zhaozhao had thought Song Sinian would have gone out as usual today, which was why she asked.


    Song Sinian put the breakfast tray he was carrying on the bedside table next to Lu Zhaozhao, and slowly said, ¡°Aunt Qian told me you haven¡¯t been eating breakfast properly lately, so I wasn¡¯t in a rush to leave.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face turned red, not expecting someone to tell Song Sinian about her skipping breakfast.


    Even less did she expect him to stay because of it.


    Her mouth pursed, ¡°I... I just overslept, I just forgot to eat, that¡¯s all...¡±


    She would never admit that she couldn¡¯t get up because Song Sinian had been too intense with her.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t need to listen to her reasons; just by looking at her flushed ears, he knew exactly what was going through her little head.


    He had indeed been overindulging her lately.


    To be exact, it was only now that he was being his true self. Before, when he was with Lu Zhaozhao, he would restrain himself a bit, but now, knowing that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart and eyes were full of him, he had become a bit arrogant with affection.


    He had to have his share of fun every day before it was enough.


    Song Sinian thought of the Lu Zhaozhao who had been falling asleep exhausted recently, and touched his nose with a slightly guilty conscience.

 Chapter 636: 634: She Already Belongs to Him

    Chapter 636: Chapter 634: She Already Belongs to Him


    He had indeed been a bit too unrestrained lately.


    Song Sinian cleared his throat and placed the breakfast he had on the nightstand in front of Lu Zhaozhao, saying, ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard lately, but you still need to eat well in the morning. Otherwise, it¡¯s not good for your health.¡±


    His large hand pinched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, saying with a hint of heartache, ¡°You¡¯ve lost quite a bit of weight recently. You really need to nourish yourself and eat well every meal.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao gave Song Sinian a displeased glance, ¡°Why can¡¯t I eat properly? It¡¯s all because of you...¡±


    Her words trailed off as her entire little face turned red again.


    Song Sinian immediately admitted his mistake repeatedly, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, it¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯ve indeed made you exercise too much lately. I¡¯ll definitely be more careful from now on.¡±


    As he spoke, he brought the breakfast sandwich to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth.


    Seeing her begin to eat obediently, he finally heaved a sigh of relief.


    Song Sinian¡¯s hand brushed against the milk on the side, ¡°The milk is just the right temperature; would you like a sip?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao moved the sandwich in her hand slightly to make room, then obediently leaned over to drink the milk.


    Watching Lu Zhaozhao eat her food obediently, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze fell upon her puffy cheeks, his eyes filled with doting affection.


    His large hand rubbed her little head, feeling as if his whole heart was melting because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    His Zhaozhao was just too cute.


    No matter when he looked at her, he always felt he couldn¡¯t get enough of her.


    As Lu Zhaozhao ate her sandwich, she could clearly feel Song Sinian¡¯s bright gaze upon her and looked up at him with a sense of unease, asking weakly, ¡°Husband, have you had breakfast?¡±


    Song Sinian looked at her dewy little mouth, lowered his head, and pecked a kiss on it, ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten; you just eat yours.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded softly and then asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy with work today?¡±


    Song Sinian watched her with an almost laughable expression, ¡°What? Are you unhappy because you didn¡¯t see me go to work today?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head vehemently, ¡°No, no, I was just curious...¡±


    Afterward, she seemed troubled about something as she buried her head and took a few more bites of her sandwich.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t know how to bring up with Song Sinian the matter involving the Xia Family and Xiao Mo.


    She chewed on the sandwich with a gloomy expression, yet her gaze kept stealing glances at Song Sinian from time to time.


    ¡°If you have something to say, you can tell me directly,¡± Song Sinian lifted his hand to brush off a lettuce leaf from Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth, ¡°No need to hide anything. What would there be to conceal from your husband?¡±


    From the moment he entered the bedroom, Lu Zhaozhao looked strangely out of sorts. Although Song Sinian did not know what Lu Zhaozhao was thinking, he guessed it probably had something to do with him.


    Otherwise, Lu Zhaozhao wouldn¡¯t be hesitating so much.


    When Lu Zhaozhao heard Song Sinian say this, she immediately lost the desire to continue with breakfast.


    Her small hand gripped the sandwich tightly, hesitating for a long time, ¡°It¡¯s just... that matter I told you about earlier, I went home yesterday and talked to my parents and brothers about it...¡±


    She didn¡¯t need to finish her sentence, Song Sinian probably knew what she wanted to say.


    After all, the Xia Family almost treated Lu Zhaozhao as precious as the apple of their eye. Having shared her plan, and knowing that the Xia Family could do something about it, wouldn¡¯t each and every one of them be eager to help?


    Song Sinian had anticipated this long ago, but seeing the guilt and worry in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes, he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to tease her.


    Song Sinian let out a sigh, seemingly a bit hurt.


    Lu Zhaozhao now felt even less like eating breakfast. She placed the sandwich from her hand onto the plate and anxiously reached to grab Song Sinian¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Husband, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want you to help, really, I just didn¡¯t expect that my parents would take care of everything, I... my third brother even came up with several proposals...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao grew more and more guilty as she spoke, only able to look at Song Sinian with pitiful, pleading eyes, ¡°How about, how about I make it up to you in some other way, is that okay?¡±


    Her voice was soft and pleading, disarming even the angriest of objections.


    Moreover, Song Sinian wasn¡¯t angry at all.


    From the moment Lu Zhaozhao went to the Xia Family, Song Sinian was aware of the outcome. In fact, as soon as Xia Wenmo had made the plans, he hadn¡¯t reached out to Lu Zhaozhao, but to him instead.


    After all, they needed a flawless plan from both sides to deal with Xiao Mo.


    The Xia Family didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao involved either, they all wished for her to simply be well protected by them.


    So the plan from Xia Wenmo¡¯s side was essentially an optimized version they had prepared specifically for Lu Zhaozhao.


    As for the dirty tricks used in the process, those weren¡¯t for Lu Zhaozhao to know.


    Song Sinian had been aware of Xia Wenmo¡¯s plans all along, so he wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    But Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s facade, resembling that of an ¡°unfaithful lover,¡± amused Song Sinian greatly.


    His brow furrowed slightly as if he were seriously considering Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    After a moment, Song Sinian finally looked up at Lu Zhaozhao, asking with uncertainty, ¡°So... how do you plan to compensate me?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Lu Zhaozhao began, but suddenly found herself at a loss for words.


    Because she had no idea how to make it up to Song Sinian.


    Whatever she possessed seemed rather insignificant to someone like Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian had both money and power. She may hold shares in the XJ Corporation, but after all, that belonged to the Xia Family.


    She only got the shares because she was helping out her fourth brother...


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows quickly knotted up, and soon she couldn¡¯t help feeling dejected.


    With a pitiful little face, she looked at Song Sinian, ¡°I... I¡¯ve just realized, there doesn¡¯t seem to be anything that you want from me.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows slightly lifted, amused by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s disregard for her own charm.


    He took her small hand, kissing the palm gently, ¡°To me, you are the treasure I¡¯ve desired all along, the irreplaceable star that nothing else can match.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face instantly flushed, but she still replied in a very small voice, ¡°But... but I¡¯m already yours...¡±


    Her response clearly pleased Song Sinian.


    She was already his.


    His alone.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes curved into a smile, his lips slowly forming a beautiful arc, ¡°You¡¯re right, but you can make it up to me in other ways.¡±


    ¡°Other ways?¡± Lu Zhaozhao, still groggy from just waking up, couldn¡¯t quite wrap her head around it.


    Seeing her dazed look, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but pull her into his embrace, his nose nuzzling into her neck as he chuckled lowly, ¡°Just compensate me like you did last night, I really liked it, Zhaozhao, when you take the initiative, it gets my blood pumping...¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±

 Chapter 637: 635: What Should We Do?

    Chapter 637: Chapter 635: What Should We Do?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ears were so red they could have been dripping blood.


    She¡¯d encountered Song Sinian¡¯s ¡°flirty talk¡± before.


    But back then, Sinian had been emotionally challenged, barely able to feel various emotions, let alone know what shame was.


    But he was completely healed now, so how could he still manage to say such flirtatious things?


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao felt she was definitely at a disadvantage.


    Looking so cold and abstinent, how could he be so... so indulgent?


    She couldn¡¯t help but swallow, nervously shrinking her neck, ¡°I, I, you, yesterday, I...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was so shocked that she lost control of her mouth, stuttering for a long time without being able to utter a complete sentence.


    Song Sinian was nestled on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, and hearing her stutter, he was on the verge of laughter.


    How could his Mrs. Song be so adorable? Even though they were already the most intimate couple in the world, his lovely wife was still so easily embarrassed.


    Song Sinian felt his heart stir with excitement.


    The more she blushed, the more he couldn¡¯t help but want to tease her.


    Sinian rubbed his head against the nape of her neck, his slightly raised nose grazing her round earlobe unwittingly, sending shivers down her spine.


    Lu Zhaozhao shrank her neck, knowing that Song Sinian was teasing her on purpose, so she turned her head in annoyance and bit his pale, handsome face.


    Although she did it out of spite, she didn¡¯t dare to bite hard.


    As a result, her bite on Song Sinian¡¯s face was neither painful nor irritating, making Sinian laugh even harder.


    ¡°You, like a little kitten, can¡¯t leave any mark with such bites,¡± Song Sinian chuckled, finally patting her little head soothingly with his large hand.


    Feeling indignant, Lu Zhaozhao was suddenly overcome with annoyance and bit hard on his cheek.


    This time, she left a neat row of teeth marks.


    Lu Zhaozhao was stunned.


    When she came back to her senses, she hugged Song Sinian¡¯s face nervously, ¡°What, what should we do? There are marks now...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hands rubbed over the marks, only to realize she couldn¡¯t rub them off.


    At least these marks wouldn¡¯t fade quickly.


    She pursed her lips, suddenly feeling a touch guilty.


    While she had been a little angry just moments ago, leaving bite marks on Song Sinian¡¯s face was not something she had considered.


    With such obvious traces now, it was a lie to say Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t feel guilty.


    Seeing her distressed look, Song Sinian, on the other hand, appeared rather pleased, whispering, ¡°I really like your unique way of declaring ownership.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to...¡± Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, her little face flushed pink with urgency.


    Now Sinian¡¯s smile brightened even more.


    Of course he knew Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Although he wanted to continue teasing his Mrs. Song, he also knew not to push her too far.


    Otherwise, his adorable little wife might really end up crying from being bullied too much.


    He liked listening to her cry in bed, but at other times, he¡¯d rather not.


    He lifted his chin and pecked Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s cheek, ¡°I know Zhaozhao didn¡¯t do it on purpose, so kiss me, Zhaozhao, and the pain will go away.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s previously flustered mood instantly calmed down somewhat. Seeing the mark on his cheek, her heart couldn¡¯t help but ache.


    She leaned in and kissed Song Sinian¡¯s cheek and, seeing that his eyes still curved, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.


    Seeing this, Song Sinian raised his hand to rub her little head, his voice gentle, ¡°Alright, no more fussing, just eat your meal.¡±


    As he spoke, he brought the breakfast to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips.


    He really wanted to pin the little one down on the bed and bully her again, but seeing her pitiful look, he had to restrain himself a bit.


    After all, if he bullied her too badly, he would be the one who suffered.


    For the sake of a happy future, he should hold back...


    At noon, as Xia Wenjin was dining in the restaurant, a figure suddenly appeared before her.


    Her seat was by the window, so when the figure appeared, it just blocked out the sunlight in front of her.


    Xia Wenjin looked up displeased, only to see Feng Xixi standing opposite her; a flicker of panic crossed the depths of her eyes.


    She glanced at the bodyguards standing by and immediately said, ¡°You two wait outside for me.¡±


    The two bodyguards, expressionless, obediently walked out.


    Xia Wenjin watched the two depart, but her nerves didn¡¯t relax in the slightest.


    She eyed Feng Xixi with full vigilance, her voice almost accusatory, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    She had recently been enjoying a life she had never had before, under the identity of Feng Ya Meizi, having completely forgotten she was an impostor.


    If Feng Xixi hadn¡¯t appeared, she would have clearly forgotten this fact.


    The panic briefly in Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes was quickly replaced by a slightly dangerous look directed at Feng Xixi.


    She didn¡¯t know why Feng Xixi was in the country, but if she threatened her current comfortable life, she would definitely not show mercy.


    Even if this woman was once her lifesaver.


    Feng Xixi placed her handbag on the restaurant table and swept a glance over Xia Wenjin¡¯s body.


    If it weren¡¯t for Fengya Ichiro¡¯s strict orders, she wouldn¡¯t want to return to the country.


    Her face looked too much like the deceased Feng Xiran, making it inconvenient for her to move about in the country.


    Feng Xixi sighed lightly, ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m here? I¡¯m here because the Family Head of the Fengya Family ordered me to come.¡±


    She feigned nonchalance as she explained her reason for coming, observing Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression relax, and then continued, ¡°The Family Head of the Fengya Family told me to watch you in the country because Feng Ya Meizi did quite a few shocking things in R country. Now that Feng Ya Meizi has lost the status of the Fengya Family¡¯s heir, yet he¡¯s also worried his daughter might get up to more mischief here, so he sent me to keep an eye on things.¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t expect Feng Xixi to be so blunt about the purpose of her visit, and her heart was momentarily caught off guard before it relaxed completely.


    ¡°He only asked you to watch me, is there anything else?¡± Xia Wenjin carefully considered Feng Xixi¡¯s words.


    It seemed the two bodyguards around her didn¡¯t reveal what she had done in the country; could this be an implicit sign of their loyalty?


    It looked like she could safely let them handle future matters.


    As long as they weren¡¯t spies for Fengya Ichiro, things should be manageable...

 Chapter 638: 636: They Didnt Even Make a Sound?

    Chapter 638: Chapter 636: They Didn¡¯t Even Make a Sound?


    Feng Xixi saw that Xia Wenjin was no longer as cautious as before, and then she slowly began to speak, ¡°I know you came to China because you want to seek revenge on Xiao Mo and the others, as long as you don¡¯t provoke the Rimu Family Master, the Fengya Family won¡¯t have any dissatisfaction.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows twitched, ¡°The Rimu Family Master?¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Feng Xixi nodded, ¡°It¡¯s that Pei Huai who has a good relationship with your fourth brother, his identity in R Country is the Rimu Family Master.¡±


    Hearing this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up again.


    If Pei Huai was the Rimu Family Master, could she and Pei Huai enter into a marital alliance?


    Feng Xixi seemed to instantly grasp her thoughts and quickly spoke to remind her, ¡°Do you know how Feng Ya Meizi was disfigured?¡±


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know why Feng Xixi was bringing this up, her brows moved slightly, ¡°How was she disfigured?¡±


    She had seen Feng Ya Meizi before, and her face was already disfigured.


    How would she know why she was disfigured?


    As Fengya Ichiro¡¯s daughter, Feng Ya Meizi was pampered from a young age. Xia Wenjin really couldn¡¯t think of a reason for her disfigurement.


    Thinking this way, Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze involuntarily turned towards Feng Xixi. She always felt that there must be a reason for Feng Xixi to bring this up at this time.


    ¡°Previously, when Feng Ya Meizi was in R Country, she took a fancy to the new Rimu Family Master, that is, Pei Huai,¡± Feng Xixi slowly began, her gaze unintentionally sweeping over Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°At that time, the Fengya Family Head also thought about directly having the two families enter into a marital alliance.¡±


    After all, the alliance of the two largest families in R Country would be beneficial to both parties.


    ¡°Then what happened?¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze kept focusing on Feng Xixi restlessly.


    Seeing her not speaking for a long time, Xia Wenjin followed her own speculation, ¡°It couldn¡¯t be that Feng Ya Meizi accidentally disfigured herself, and that¡¯s why the marital alliance didn¡¯t go through, right?¡±


    Beyond this reason, she couldn¡¯t imagine any other.


    If that was really the case, Feng Ya Meizi was indeed quite unfortunate.


    No, to be exact, she wasn¡¯t unfortunate, just not blessed, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been swapped by her in F Country.


    Feng Xixi shook her head disapprovingly, ¡°The Rimu Family Master, from beginning to end, had never agreed to this marriage. After being rejected by him, Feng Ya Meizi felt that she had lost face, so during a meeting with the Rimu Family Master, she secretly drugged him.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes widened significantly, not expecting Feng Ya Meizi to be such a ruthless person.


    Of course, Feng Xixi didn¡¯t miss the flash of astonishment in her eyes.


    She curled her lips and said, ¡°This angered the new Rimu Family Master, and he smashed the drugged incense ceramic on the spot, then disfigured Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s face.¡±


    This was actually no secret in R Country.


    Whether it was people from the Rimu Family or the Fengya Family, they all knew it clearly, it was just that the Fengya Family, considering their reputation, had suppressed the news secretly.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s jaw nearly dropped in shock upon hearing this.


    ¡°So the Fengya Family just let the Rimu Family Master get away with doing that?¡±


    As far as she knew, the Fengya Family¡¯s status in R Country was not to be underestimated.


    Their own heir was bullied like this by the other side, and they just stayed silent?


    That was indeed baffling.


    Feng Xixi shrugged, ¡°The Feng Ya Family was in the wrong to begin with, and coupled with the vast influence of the Rimu Family in R-country, naturally, the matter just fizzled out.¡±


    Feng Xixi certainly wouldn¡¯t tell her that the Feng Ya Family had already rebelled, but was suppressed by the Family Head of the Rimu Family, grinding them into the ground so much that they were still in a state of chaos till now.


    Otherwise, how could Feng Ya Meizi, the heir, possibly have been sent abroad? Wasn¡¯t it all due to the pressure from the Rimu Family?


    But there was no need to tell Xia Wenjin all these details. Even if she were informed, she wouldn¡¯t understand the complexity of it all.


    Might as well let her continue playing the nai?ve and sweet girl.


    Right now, all she needed to know was that Pei Huai was someone she shouldn¡¯t cross, and that would be enough.


    Xia Wenjin furrowed her brows slightly, actually quite skeptical about what Feng Xixi had said, because in her heart, Feng Xixi held little weight.


    She naturally didn¡¯t plan to take her words seriously.


    But thinking about Feng Xixi¡¯s purpose for coming to the country, her brows furrowed involuntarily; she still wasn¡¯t sure whether Feng Xixi was on her side or Fengya Ichiro¡¯s side.


    As Xia Wenjin pondered this, her gaze drifted unconsciously toward Feng Xixi.


    Since she was uncertain whose side this woman was truly on, it would be better to strike first and push her.


    ¡°Sister Feng, let¡¯s cut to the chase. Are you on my side or on Fengya Ichiro¡¯s side?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s intense gaze fixed on Feng Xixi, as if trying to discern her real thoughts while she answered.


    Although she had no real emotional attachment to Feng Xixi, it was of course better to have more friends than enemies.


    Especially since she was sent by Fengya Ichiro to monitor her.


    If Feng Xixi turned against her, then his own position would also become extremely precarious.


    Therefore, one way or another, Xia Wenjin had to win her over and have her on her side.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes narrowed, observing her silence without speaking.


    As her gaze swept over Feng Xixi, it clearly carried a hint of ingratiating intent, ¡°Sister Feng, you understand that we are both in the same boat now. If we aren¡¯t careful, any slip-up could have a domino effect. You wouldn¡¯t want us to have no good days ahead of us, right?¡±


    How could Feng Xixi fail to hear the warning in Xia Wenjin¡¯s words?


    She suddenly felt a bit relieved that she had informed Fengya Ichiro about everything in detail when Xia Wenjin was undergoing plastic surgery; otherwise, with the current situation, she would definitely have a tough time.


    Xia Wenjin had ulterior motives and wanted to use her, but if she hadn¡¯t already received Fengya Ichiro¡¯s approval, she would have been at a loss in this situation.


    Feng Xixi forced a crooked smile.


    She didn¡¯t even need to trouble herself to make any expression, as she could easily pass through this obstacle.


    Because at this moment, she truly despised Xia Wenjin.


    She even regretted it a little; she had once given her such a good path to follow, yet she had ended up like this.


    And now, even worse, she had brought trouble right to her doorstep.


    For a while, Feng Xixi didn¡¯t know how to describe her fate with Xia Wenjin.


    Was it the kinship of bone-deep connection, or a complicated entanglement impossible to sever?


    Feng Xixi smiled a plastic smile at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Rest assured, I definitely won¡¯t divulge your secrets, but you also need to consider my position. After all, I have to report back to them about you regularly. Surely you wouldn¡¯t want to raise the Rimu Family Master¡¯s suspicions, would you?¡±

 Chapter 639: 637: Is it also because of this woman?

    Chapter 639: Chapter 637: Is it also because of this woman?


    Although Xia Wenyan had no privacy around Fengya Ichiro, she still had to keep up appearances.


    Xia Wenjin glanced at Feng Xixi and, hearing her veiled threat, seemed unconcerned.


    Their relationship had never been strong, and now it was merely held together by mutual benefits, so she naturally didn¡¯t mind Feng Xixi speaking to her this way.


    The corners of Xia Wenjin¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Then, let¡¯s hope our cooperation will be pleasant.¡±


    Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t help but admire Xia Wenjin¡¯s composure. They were nearly at the point of breaking off ties, yet Xia Wenjin could still smile and talk about pleasant cooperation?


    She became even more puzzled about how Xia Wenjin could have handled her good cards so poorly.


    Feng Xixi¡¯s scrutinizing gaze swept over Xia Wenjin, sizing her up. After a moment, as if remembering something, her gaze fixed on Xia Wenjin¡¯s face.


    ¡°You must remember what I told you before,¡± Feng Xixi repeated wearily, ¡°Do not provoke the head of the Rimu Family. After all, you¡¯ve already been disfigured once by him, and I doubt he would mind disfiguring you a second time.¡±


    Feng Xixi said this intentionally to make Xia Wenjin think twice before irrationally targeting Pei Huai.


    He was an insane critic that even the Fengya Family couldn¡¯t tolerate, and she did not want to be dragged down by Xia Wenjin.


    Listening to Feng Xixi, Xia Wenjin replied with some impatience, ¡°I know, you don¡¯t need to worry anymore.¡±


    She had indeed contemplated this when she heard that Pei Huai was the head of the Rimu Family.


    But hearing from Feng Xixi that Feng Ya Meizi had already suffered at his hands, she definitely couldn¡¯t repeat the same mistake.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was worried about facing another loss at Pei Huai¡¯s hands, but rather that such an action could arouse suspicion from her two bodyguards and from Fengya Ichiro¡ªespecially since she had just gained control over the bodyguards and definitely couldn¡¯t afford a slip-up on this matter.


    Hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s assurance finally made Feng Xixi relax.


    As long as Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t act recklessly, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her retirement life back home.


    Meanwhile, in Country F, where Feng Ya Meizi was getting facial surgery, she became suspicious when she discovered that Feng Xixi had left Country F.


    She glanced at the bodyguard standing next to her, ¡°Where did Feng Xixi go?¡±


    ¡°Miss, it seems that Feng Xixi was sent back to the homeland by the Family Head,¡± the bodyguard by Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s side replied with utmost respect.


    Although Feng Ya Meizi was no longer the heir of the Fengya Family, she was still Fengya Ichiro¡¯s daughter, and they naturally couldn¡¯t neglect her.


    Since she had asked, they naturally explained everything.


    ¡°Back to the homeland again?¡± Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s eyes narrowed, thinking of the woman who, like her, had also had her face ruined and had gone to the homeland.


    But since both had undergone surgery, that woman had disappeared from his presence, and she hadn¡¯t even seen what she looked like after her facial reconstruction.


    Feng Ya Meizi always felt there was something fishy about it all, especially since her father had even called back his mistress who was thrown abroad and assigned her a task in the homeland.


    No matter how she looked at it, the situation seemed exceedingly strange.


    The bodyguard, noticing Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s sharp gaze, immediately looked down. Indeed, Feng Ya Meizi was truly deserving of being the heir of the Fengya Family, possessing a strong sixth sense in certain matters.


    Had she not acted so recklessly, she wouldn¡¯t have lost her status as the heir of the Fengya Family.


    ¡°Did Feng Xixi go to the homeland to find that woman named Xia Wenjin?¡± Feng Ya Meizi almost asked subconsciously.


    She wasn¡¯t sure, but she always felt that these two women¡¯s frequent trips back to the homeland must be related.


    ¡°...¡±


    The bodyguard did not respond to her question, which only made Feng Ya Meizi more certain of her conclusion.


    Her eyes slightly narrowed, ¡°Investigate for me what these two women have been up to domestically?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The bodyguard still did not respond to Feng Ya Meizi.


    It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t know how to respond, but rather that the Family Head had instructed not to discuss such matters with Feng Ya Meizi.


    Even if he knew, he couldn¡¯t tell her.


    Feng Ya Meizi certainly understood why the bodyguard chose to remain silent.


    After hesitating for a moment, she waved at him and said, ¡°Help me call my dad, right now, immediately.¡±


    If answers could not be obtained from them, then they had to start with her father.


    Soon, the bodyguard dialed Fengya Ichiro¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello, Daddy, it¡¯s Meizi.¡± As soon as the call connected, Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s voice transmitted over.


    Fengya Ichiro seemed to realize something and slightly raised his eyebrows, ¡°Why are you calling? Are you short on money again?¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi ignored Fengya Ichiro¡¯s sarcasm and directly asked, ¡°Feng Xixi went to the domestic region, has it got to do with that disfigured woman from before?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Fengya Ichiro on the other end of the phone clearly hesitated, seemingly not expecting Feng Ya Meizi to call him so soon about this matter.


    He had thought that Feng Ya Meizi would eventually find out, but he didn¡¯t expect it to be this soon.


    ¡°Daddy, what exactly did those two women go to do in the domestic region?¡± Feng Ya Meizi didn¡¯t wait for Fengya Ichiro to finish and asked again.


    Fengya Ichiro sighed slightly, knowing that even if he did not tell her now, with Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s personality, she would definitely investigate thoroughly. When she eventually found out, who knows what radical actions she might take.


    ¡°I had Xia Wenjin, that woman, replace your identity and operate domestically.¡±


    When Fengya Ichiro¡¯s voice came through the phone, Feng Ya Meizi was completely stunned.


    She almost incredulously asked back, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®replaced my identity¡¯?¡±


    ¡°She...¡± Fengya Ichiro knew he couldn¡¯t avoid this issue and just put everything out frankly.


    ¡°During your plastic surgery, Xia Wenjin meddled and had her face altered to look like yours.¡±


    Feng Ya Meizi seemed to suddenly realize something, ¡°So, my failed plastic surgery, is it also because of this woman?!¡±


    Her question was indeed interrogative, but she was already very certain in her heart that this matter could not be separated from Xia Wenjin.


    Back in Country R, it was always her who schemed against others; she hadn¡¯t expected to be schemed against by someone else so soon after leaving the country.


    And especially by such a vile woman!


    Feng Ya Meizi felt like exploding on the spot!


    Fengya Ichiro softly hummed in agreement, ¡°It is indeed the case, but don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already arranged for a more authoritative doctor to repair your face...¡±


    ¡°I will make Xia Wenjin¡¯s life worse than death!¡± Before Fengya Ichiro could finish speaking, Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s teeth-gritting voice transmitted through the phone.


    She had no reason to let this woman continue to thrive under her name.

 Chapter 640: 638: By Any Means Necessary

    Chapter 640: Chapter 638: By Any Means Necessary


    Feng Ya Meizi couldn¡¯t help but seethe with anger at the thought of that woman enjoying life so freely in the country while using her identity.


    Fengya Ichiro certainly understood his daughter¡¯s feelings.


    But he couldn¡¯t let her act rashly, so he quickly assured her, ¡°She¡¯s hurt you, and I definitely won¡¯t let her off the hook, but now is not the time. She still needs to do some things while using your identity...¡±


    Fengya Ichiro himself was reluctant, but he didn¡¯t dare to disobey the request of that damn kid from the Rimu Family.


    The Fengya Family could no longer withstand any major turmoil.


    Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s complexion immediately turned even uglier, ¡°Am I supposed to let that bitch keep enjoying power and glory under my name? She...¡±


    Her words cut off abruptly. Suddenly, as if Feng Ya Meizi had an epiphany, a spark of sharpness flashed across her eyes.


    ¡°If Xia Wenjin has taken over my identity to live, doesn¡¯t that mean I could return to the Fengya Family using a different identity?¡± Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s eyes narrowed as she blurted out her thoughts.


    As long as she wasn¡¯t ¡°Feng Ya Meizi,¡± she could still inherit the Fengya Family¡¯s assets, right?


    Fengya Ichiro was also visibly stunned by Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s words.


    This... indeed seemed like a good plan.


    But he dared not do so.


    Defying Pei Huai in the shadows would surely bring no benefits.


    That man was too ruthless towards his enemies. His daughter simply wanted to sleep with him, yet he not only disfigured her but also nearly destroyed the Fengya Family.


    Had he not been aware of current affairs and submitted immediately, the entire Fengya Family might have been gone.


    Thinking of this, Fengya Ichiro couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply.


    If the Fengya Family continued with Feng Ya Meizi as the heir, the family probably wouldn¡¯t last.


    He had recently been planning to select a new heir, originally intending to choose from the collateral branches of the family.


    But he had unexpectedly discovered that, during his younger, carefree days, he had accidentally gotten a woman pregnant.


    That woman had left him after only a few days and, to his surprise, had given birth to and raised the child alone. Now the child had grown up and become a son.


    He had some reservations about how suddenly this child had come into his life, so before acknowledging him, he wanted to investigate thoroughly.


    Recent investigations had started to bring in quite a bit of information.


    The child had attended an ordinary school, but his grades were not bad. Although not exceptional, by comparison with Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s childhood, he was already considered excellent.


    He had also done a DNA test to confirm the child was indeed his offspring, and had already started to investigate the woman from that year.


    If she was willing to let the child return to the Fengya Family, he was willing to have a heart-to-heart with her. But if she persisted stubbornly and refused to let the child come back, he would have to adopt any means necessary.


    Therefore, the position of Family Head of the Fengya Family could absolutely not go to Feng Ya Meizi again.


    Fengya Ichiro took a deep breath before slowly speaking, ¡°Although Xia Wenjin can impersonate you, if you take on the role of the Fengya Family heir at this time, it would be easy to arouse suspicion. After all, as my daughter, you have the priority to inherit, but in the other branches, men are certainly favored for selection...¡±


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s meaning was clear¡ª as a woman, she had no advantage within the collateral branches.


    Feng Ya Meizi snorted in dissatisfaction, ¡°Then why not let the women from the collateral branches compete as well?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± Fengya Ichiro clearly hesitated, ¡°Meizi, you might have forgotten that you didn¡¯t like having other girls in the family before... so those girls from the collateral branches have never been involved with the Fengya Family¡¯s assets...¡±


    Of course, that meant they couldn¡¯t compete for the position as heir of the Fengya Family.


    Feng Ya Meizi clenched her teeth in frustration. At the time, she simply didn¡¯t want to see other women with a status similar to hers involved in the Fengya Family¡¯s assets.


    After all, if people from the collateral branches went to the company, she would no longer be the one and only Miss Fengya.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that her decision back then would become a stumbling block to her reclaiming power.


    Fengya Ichiro knew that agitating Feng Ya Meizi now would do no good.


    So he patiently said, ¡°Meizi, be calm. Even if you want to return as the heir of the Fengya Family, there¡¯s no rush. We need to wait until that guy from the Rimu Family stops paying attention to us.¡±


    Fengya Ichiro did have this intention, but not for Feng Ya Meizi, rather for his illegitimate son.


    The son was young and inexperienced, and likely not yet ready to compete with others in the Fengya Family.


    He planned to let Feng Ya Meizi shine and serve as a shield during her recovery time, to pave the way for her brother to become the future Family Head.


    ¡°Meizi, I will put your new identity among the potential heirs as soon as possible. Don¡¯t let daddy down, alright?¡±


    Fengya Ichiro earnestly consoled Feng Ya Meizi, sounding like a loving father to anyone who might hear.


    Only his affection was no longer for Feng Ya Meizi...


    Song Sinian had set his wedding date with Lu Zhaozhao for the first day of early spring.


    To facilitate the wedding ceremony, they specially went to the island where the wedding would be held three days ahead of schedule.


    Most of the wedding details needed the groom to finalize, so even though Lu Zhaozhao arrived on the island early, she just ate and drank leisurely there.


    ¡°Oh my God, Zhaozhao, I¡¯m so jealous of you. Song Sinian may be reserved, but he is truly good to you. Sister, I¡¯m so envious,¡± Xu Zhenzhen, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sole bridesmaid, had also been following Lu Zhaozhao around, indulging in food and drinks for the past two days.


    Lu Zhaozhao initially worried that Xu Zhenzhen would experience severe pregnancy reactions, but to her surprise, not only did Xu Zhenzhen show no such symptoms, she was unexpectedly robust and hearty.


    Lu Zhaozhao pinched Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheek helplessly as she said, ¡°If you¡¯re really envious, just get my second brother to prepare for you. Not to mention an island celebration, if you asked him to buy an island for you, he¡¯d be willing.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao also wanted to point out that her second brother was even more reserved.


    Among her four brothers, Xia Wenqing seemed the most serious and old-fashioned, but she never expected her second brother to hop on the bus before buying a ticket.


    It completely changed his image in her heart!


    Xu Zhenzhen blushed at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, glancing at her bashfully, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. How would my second brother get involved with such romantic stuff?¡±


    However, Xu Zhenzhen had no doubts about Xia Wenqing¡¯s kindness toward her.


    Although their relationship hadn¡¯t been long, her unrequited love for him had been long enough for her to know how outstanding he was.


    ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz...¡±

 Chapter 641: 639: He Cant Be Indifferent

    Chapter 641: Chapter 639: He Can¡¯t Be Indifferent


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s phone suddenly vibrated. She glanced at it and her expression instantly worsened.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost immediately noticed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s discomposure. With a slight frown, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?¡±


    She knew that pregnant women often felt uncomfortable. After all, having an extra little life in one¡¯s belly certainly wouldn¡¯t leave the body unaffected.


    It was nothing like those unrealistic stories where having a baby seemed as trivial as throwing something away.


    Xu Zhenzhen came back to her senses and chuckled lightly, ¡°No, I just suddenly thought of something, that¡¯s why I was distracted.¡±


    Although she said that, her facial expression didn¡¯t improve much.


    Seeing that Xu Zhenzhen was reluctant to speak, Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t press her.


    After all, everyone had their own privacy, and as an observer, you couldn¡¯t impose your own thoughts on others.


    Lu Zhaozhao subtly probed again before pushing the small cake in front of her towards Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Try some of these. If you like them, I¡¯ll have some sent to your room.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Zhenzhen forced a smile, then ate somewhat tastelessly.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but give her a glance, unable to ignore her friend¡¯s state.


    With a slight lift of her eyebrows, she slowly spoke, ¡°Zhenzhen, if you¡¯re dealing with something you can¡¯t handle, you must tell me, okay? Both my older brother and I will be your strongest support.¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t know what Xu Zhenzhen was going through, helping her was all she could offer at the moment.


    She hoped that whatever Xu Zhenzhen faced, she would be able to persevere.


    Xu Zhenzhen, slightly startled by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, noticed that her own expression had caused her friend concern.


    She tugged at the corner of her mouth and hugged Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arm, ¡°I know. No matter what happens in the future, I¡¯ll remember what you said. If I really encounter any trouble, I¡¯ll be counting on you to rescue me.¡±


    ¡°Of course, just say the word, and I¡¯ll be ¡®an arrow piercing through the clouds, with an army of thousands coming to your aid!''¡± Lu Zhaozhao playfully raised her eyebrows, successfully making Xu Zhenzhen laugh.


    Even the previously tense atmosphere became much more relaxed in an instant.


    Seeing that Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mood had improved, Lu Zhaozhao changed the subject, ¡°Zhenzhen, lately, when you¡¯re with my older brother, has that Liu Xiaozhen caused any more trouble for you?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen shook her head, ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen her since she was thrown out of the charity dinner last time. But I overheard some gossip at the company, it seems I caught a bit of something...¡±


    ¡°Oh? Are you sure it¡¯s just a bit?¡± Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow.


    With her understanding of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s penchant for gossip, her interest in Liu Xiaozhen must be more than just casual, right?


    Xu Zhenzhen, a bit embarrassedly, tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Cough, it¡¯s just a tiny bit more.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nonchalantly curled her lips, ¡°Gossip has to be shared! Come on! Let¡¯s hear it!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen almost laughed at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words; her earlier despair seemingly vanished as she slowly said, ¡°I heard them say that Liu Xiaozhen seems to have gotten involved with a big boss at their law firm, but... this big boss apparently has a wife. However, his wife seems to be in Country F, so maybe that¡¯s why he dares to mess around in the country?¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, this Liu Xiaozhen really is something. If she¡¯s not trying to intrude on someone else¡¯s relationship, she doesn¡¯t feel right. Does she just feel uncomfortable if she¡¯s not taking someone away from someone else?¡± Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but mock Liu Xiaozhen.


    She had previously tried to break up Xu Zhenzhen and her second brother, and although she hadn¡¯t succeeded, her actions were indeed very nauseating.


    Yet, because Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t married Xia Wenqing, others could at most morally condemn her.


    But Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s current affair with that big boss was different; he was officially married to his wife, protected by law.


    Liu Xiaozhen still dared to defy the law with her actions, making one wonder whether she was spurred on by previous events or if her mind really wasn¡¯t functioning properly.


    Xu Zhenzhen also twisted her mouth in disbelief, ¡°What a waste of her high IQ, to be so love-struck.¡±


    Not to mention ruining her own future, the man she snatched wasn¡¯t worth anything either.


    Xu Zhenzhen felt that being love-struck, if directed at the right person, signified mutual love and affection, but towards the wrong person, it was like digging one¡¯s own grave without a burial place.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°If Liu Xiaozhen were love-struck, she wouldn¡¯t have messed with you so horribly. She¡¯s never actually liked my second brother; all she cared about was his social status and position. It¡¯s not hard to understand why she chose her big boss now.¡±


    Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s goals were just too calculated, the chances of her second brother genuinely liking her were extremely slim.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t comprehend why Liu Xiaozhen didn¡¯t apply her scheming intellect to her career, but instead insisted on using it in romantic pursuits.


    Total inversion of priorities.


    Xu Zhenzhen propped up her chin, seemingly reminiscing, ¡°Back in the day, Liu Xiaozhen was quite famous in our school, called the aloof goddess of our major...¡±


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have left heartbroken just because Xia Wenqing and I became so close.


    Liu Xiaozhen indeed had a lot going for her, including strong business acumen, it¡¯s just puzzling why she insisted on playing her strong hand so poorly.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly, raising a hand to pinch Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheek, ¡°Regardless of whether she was your school¡¯s goddess or not, she¡¯s no longer involved with my second brother now, and that¡¯s enough.¡±


    As for who Liu Xiaozhen wants to wreak havoc on now, that has nothing to do with them.


    Lu Zhaozhao was actually quite surprised that someone with Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s personality would get involved with her big boss; she didn¡¯t believe this had nothing to do with her second brother.


    After all, men of the Xia Family always closed ranks. Her second brother had found out a while back about the underhanded way Liu Xiaozhen targeted Xu Zhenzhen.


    He couldn¡¯t possibly remain indifferent.


    Especially since she had openly plotted against Xu Zhenzhen before; he wouldn¡¯t just let it go after having her thrown out of the banquet.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s gaze swept inadvertently over Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face, noting her look of eager gossip, and knew Xu Zhenzhen was also in the dark about what had transpired between them.


    Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t lead the conversation in that direction. Whatever was happening between Liu Xiaozhen and her big boss was none of her concern.


    Right now, all she needed to do was eat and drink well, and then be a beautiful bride on her wedding day.


    As for the rest... after the wedding was over, she could always find out more.


    Listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but nod in agreement, ¡°Exactly, as long as Liu Xiaozhen doesn¡¯t strut in front of me and my second brother, I couldn¡¯t care less about her.¡±


    As long as it wasn¡¯t her being disgusted, it was fine.


    Regarding who Liu Xiaozhen¡¯s big boss was, that was beyond her ability to handle...

 Chapter 642: 640: No Way to Refute

    Chapter 642: Chapter 640: No Way to Refute


    ¡°Zhenzhen...¡±


    ¡°Thump, thump, thump!¡±


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to speak again, someone suddenly knocked on the door.


    Both of their gazes shifted towards the door, just in time to see the Xia Family members entering in a file.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned back towards Xu Zhenzhen and winked, muttering softly, ¡°Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, look my big brother has arrived~¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheeks reddened with laughter due to what Lu Zhaozhao said.


    Wen Qingyu saw Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen chatting merrily and slowly walked over, ¡°What are you two whispering about behind my back? Ah, in this family, it¡¯s just the three of us women. Do you really need to form a little clique and isolate me, the mother? Oh my, my heart is breaking...¡±


    ¡°Pfft...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t hold it in and burst out laughing.


    Xu Zhenzhen turned her face away, not wanting to laugh out loud like Lu Zhaozhao.


    However, Wen Qingyu¡¯s feigned pitiful voice was just too funny, and she couldn¡¯t help herself either.


    Wen Qingyu had long treated Xu Zhenzhen as her daughter-in-law, so she didn¡¯t care about her image.


    The elder men of the Xia Family watched the three women get along harmoniously, each of them smiling and looking at them cheerfully.


    ¡°When Zhaozhao married Song Sinian before, I thought my sister was at a loss, but I never expected that I would be able to attend my sister¡¯s wedding in my lifetime,¡± Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional from the side.


    He immediately received sharp glares from everyone present.


    Xia Wenyan shrank his neck in fear, instinctively seeking out Pei Huai for cover.


    Only then did he remember that although Pei Huai had come, he had been directly assigned to Song Sinian¡¯s side as part of the wedding entourage.


    After all, the guests at this wedding were all acquaintances of both Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao.


    On Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side were several members of the Xia Family, a powerhouse of her maternal family.


    But looking at Song Sinian¡¯s side, it appeared quite sparse.


    Even though Pei Huai was reluctant, he had no choice but to separate from Xia Wenyan and support Song Sinian.


    Otherwise, Zhao Xi would have been the only one there.


    Song Sinian, as the heir to the Song Group and due to his past emotional barriers, barely had any friends.


    Of course, even if there had been any, Song Sinian¡¯s condition at that time wouldn¡¯t have sustained them.


    After all, for Song Sinian at that time, his life consisted only of Lu Zhaozhao and work.


    Work was to ensure a better life for Lu Zhaozhao.


    So expecting someone like him to find close friends as groomsmen?


    Impossible.


    On the Song Family¡¯s side, aside from Old Master Song, they didn¡¯t allow the collateral relatives to show up.


    On such a joyous day, seeing those troubling elements would have been bad luck.


    Xia Wenmo glanced at Xia Wenyan and promptly sat down beside Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Don¡¯t mind Lao Si, he never thinks before he speaks¡ªespecially after hanging out with Pei Huai. His brains are practically stored with him.¡±


    ¡°Pfft... Hahaha...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, originally amused by Wen Qingyu¡¯s comments, could no longer contain herself upon hearing Xia Wenmo¡¯s words and laughed heartily.


    Xia Wenmo watched his sister affectionately, tapping Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head gently, ¡°There¡¯s something true in what Lao Si said; we should have found you earlier. That way, you wouldn¡¯t have had to marry that guy, Song Sinian, so soon.¡±


    Even though that guy was really good to Lu Zhaozhao, they still greatly cherished their sister.


    Because that annoying kid constantly monopolized their precious little sister, they often couldn¡¯t see her.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, we aren¡¯t done doting on our sister, and she¡¯s already getting married.¡± Xia Wenyan thought and felt a bellyful of grievances.


    Especially since previously because of Xia Wenjin, he had caused Lu Zhaozhao to suffer some grievances, so towards Lu Zhaozhao he not only had years of unrequited feelings.


    He also felt a portion of guilt.


    Listening to Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan¡¯s childish statements, Xia Wenjue couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You two dare say this, if little sister doesn¡¯t marry Song Sinian, could you find someone better than Song Sinian?¡±


    ¡°Although I also don¡¯t like Song Sinian, I have to admit that guy is really good to Zhaozhao.¡± Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but say a fair word.


    Song Sinian¡¯s character really isn¡¯t likable, but he genuinely treats their little sister well.


    Besides... with Song Sinian¡¯s status and identity, what can being unlikable do?


    A bunch of people willingly flatter him, but he only wants to please Lu Zhaozhao alone.


    That¡¯s enough.


    Who wouldn¡¯t want their loved one to favor them exclusively?


    Xia Wenmo and Xia Wenyan pursed their lips, unable to refute.


    However, soon Xia Wenyan couldn¡¯t help but blurt out again, ¡°If we can¡¯t find someone suitable, then I¡¯ll support my sister! I won¡¯t let her marry someone else!¡±


    Looking at Xia Wenyan¡¯s proud and spirited appearance, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud.


    Suddenly, Xia Wenmo coldly chimed in, ¡°Dare you say that when Pei Huai is around? See if he agrees with you.¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s handsome face instantly fell, looking woefully at Xia Wenmo, ¡°Third brother, aren¡¯t we on the same side? How could you desert me at the last minute?¡±


    Xia Wenmo shrugged, ¡°I have no common front with anyone who competes with me for my sister.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenyan was really about to be infuriated to death by Xia Wenmo.


    Right there he rolled his eyes at Xia Wenmo several times, ¡°Third brother, your sister complex needs to have a limit, at least leave some room for me as the older brother, right?¡±


    ¡°No room, people who are love-struck and sister-obsessed have no human rights.¡± Xia Wenmo mercilessly countered Xia Wenyan.


    Xia Wenyan: ¡°???¡±


    He was just about to retort when he was directly dragged away by Xia Wenqing covering his mouth, even so, the look he gave Xia Wenmo felt incredibly foul.


    Lu Zhaozhao watched her rowdy brothers, her eyes brimming with laughter.


    The warmth she didn¡¯t feel when she was younger, she had now.


    She had loving family members, best friends who shared her feelings, and a husband whose heart and eyes were filled with love for her.


    She had never been this happy before, so happy it felt somewhat unreal.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, are you okay?¡± Xu Zhenzhen noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes were a bit red and thought the Xia Family members had said something that made Lu Zhaozhao upset.


    She immediately gave Xia Wenqing a look, and the latter immediately nudged his eldest brother, Xia Wenjue, with his elbow.


    The previously playful group immediately stopped and almost in unison looked towards Lu Zhaozhao.


    Their concerned expressions spoke volumes.


    Lu Zhaozhao, belatedly realizing, discovered it was her sudden sentimentality that had everyone worried.


    She smiled lightly, her eyes still rimmed red, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I just feel like this life is wonderful, like I¡¯m dreaming.¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, her siblings couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of heartache.


    Their sister indeed had suffered too much...

 Chapter 643: 641: Make Them Bite Off More Than They Can Chew!

    Chapter 643: Chapter 641: Make Them Bite Off More Than They Can Chew!


    Xia Wenmo embraced Lu Zhaozhao with a heart full of pain, and the Xia Family members beside them followed suit, hugging her as well.


    Lu Zhaozhao, seeing the room¡¯s atmosphere turn a bit strange because of her, felt slightly embarrassed and blushed.


    ¡°I was just feeling a little sentimental, I didn¡¯t think too much about it, you all don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t actually given it much thought either, but once she spoke, the Xia Family¡¯s imaginations ran wild.


    She felt somewhat embarrassed.


    The people of the Xia Family did indeed dote on her too much.


    Wen Qingyu seemed to notice Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s discomfort and promptly changed the subject, ¡°Zhaozhao, now that you and Sinian are married, you¡¯ve brought a lot of his trusted people with you. There¡¯s no problem at the Song Group, is there? I¡¯m worried that some people might take advantage of your wedding to cause trouble.¡±


    After all, the news of their approaching wedding had been announced long ago, and Wen Qingyu was concerned that someone might use this period to meddle in the Song Group¡¯s internal affairs.


    Song Sinian, the person in power, wasn¡¯t at the company, Mr. Song wasn¡¯t there either, and his capable right-hand man, Zhao Xi, was also absent.


    Knowing what they did about Xiao Mo and his mother, it was possible they might use this time to stir up trouble.


    With Song Sinian being overseas and unable to protect her directly, if anything really happened, it would be Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian who would be put in a difficult position.


    Lu Zhaozhao was slightly stunned; she hadn¡¯t considered this aspect. She had thought that Xiao Jinglan no longer held any real power at the Song Mansion.


    The shareholders who supported Xiao Mo had been sidelined, and she assumed they wouldn¡¯t be able to make any significant moves for the time being. But Wen Qingyu¡¯s words had unexpectedly raised Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s own concerns.


    Her brows furrowed, and she almost instinctively wanted to reach out to Song Sinian to clarify the situation.


    Just as she was about to grab her cellphone, Xia Wenmo gently held her back, ¡°My silly Zhaozhao, Song Sinian is the kind of person who prepares ahead. If our mom can think of this issue, could he really not have considered it?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°But what if he hasn¡¯t thought of it?¡±


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at this.


    ¡°If he can¡¯t even consider such a small matter, then we really can¡¯t afford to marry you off to him.¡±


    Xia Wenjue gave Lu Zhaozhao a reassuring look before continuing, ¡°If he hadn¡¯t thought of these issues, why would he bring all those who appear to be his confidants with him?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t wanted to say anything, but seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s worried look, he felt compelled to give her a subtle hint.


    Song Sinian had said not to tell Lu Zhaozhao, but he didn¡¯t say she couldn¡¯t guess on her own.


    Besides, with his sister being so intelligent, how could she not figure it out?


    This wasn¡¯t really a betrayal of trust, was it?


    Xia Wenqing saw Xia Wenjue cleverly bending the rules and couldn¡¯t resist joining in, winking at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Little sister, think it over, take your time to ponder it.¡±


    Xia Wenyan listened to Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing¡¯s cryptic conversation, looking confusedly at the two and then at Lu Zhaozhao.


    Whether Lu Zhaozhao understood what the two were saying, he certainly didn¡¯t.


    But this didn¡¯t stop him from chipping in, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little sis, just because Sinian¡¯s confidants aren¡¯t there doesn¡¯t mean our family¡¯s and Brother Pei¡¯s confidants aren¡¯t present. Any slight movement on their part, we guarantee they won¡¯t get away with it!¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s words genuinely took Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing by surprise.


    He was the only one among the four brothers who was not aware of the true situation.


    Yet the words he spoke were almost exactly in line with their plans.


    ¡°As long as it wasn¡¯t just the three of them and Song Sinian in a room, they had even thought that Song Sinian had informed him alone.¡±


    Upon hearing Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, Lu Zhaozhao finally felt completely at ease.


    With big shots from the Rimu Family and the Xia Family backing the Song Group, not to mention Song Sinian still holding the position of president.


    Even if he didn¡¯t hold the position now, his brothers could still get him there.


    Meanwhile, in the Beijing Circle, Xiao Family.


    As soon as Xiao Jinglan entered the door, she picked up a cup and smashed it on the ground.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    ¡°Smash!¡±


    After a series of crashing and smashing sounds,


    footsteps slowly came from upstairs.


    Xiao Jinglan was startled, she looked up, and saw that it was Song Keren who was coming downstairs. She immediately frowned and asked, ¡°Why have you come back?¡±


    She had just assumed it was Hao Jiayi at home.


    After all, aside from Xiao Mo and herself, the only other person who frequently came and went was Hao Jiayi. She hadn¡¯t expected Song Keren to return at this time.


    She remembered that not long ago, Song Keren suddenly said Justin was going abroad, and so she had to leave with him.


    Naturally, Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t thought much of it, as her daughter had married Justin; moving abroad with him was a normal thing.


    Lately, all her thoughts had been on Xiao Mo; she didn¡¯t care that Song Keren had been gone for so long without calling her.


    Nor had she thought to call Song Keren.


    Seeing that Song Keren didn¡¯t say anything, Xiao Jinglan asked again, ¡°Since you¡¯re back home, why didn¡¯t you call me in advance?¡±


    Song Keren looked at Xiao Jinglan, snorted disdainfully through her nose, and let out a laugh, ¡°I¡¯ve been away from home for so long, and haven¡¯t you also not made a single call to me?¡±


    She thought of the humiliation she had suffered recently abroad, and the rage in her heart surged ferociously.


    Before her marriage, although she wasn¡¯t a Song Family member, she enjoyed treatment almost the same as a Song Family Miss because Xiao Jinglan had married Song Gu.


    But ever since Xiao Jinglan called her back to the country, her treatment had changed drastically.


    First, she was thrown out by Old Master Song in front of everyone, and then she was taken abroad by her new husband, living like a slave.


    If not for the person she had made a deal with, she would probably still be in the basement now, eating spoiled food and drinking dirty water.


    Thinking of all this, and that it was all because Xiao Jinglan favored Xiao Mo, Song Keren harbored deep resentment toward Xiao Jinglan.


    Listening to the veiled sarcasm in Song Keren¡¯s tone, Xiao Jinglan frowned noticeably with displeasure, ¡°You¡¯re already married, so could you expect to call me every day to complain as if you were still unmarried? You should grow up and learn how to charm your own husband.¡±


    ¡°Charm my own husband?¡± Song Keren sneered self-mockingly, ¡°Do you know how many wives Justin has?¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s words caught Xiao Jinglan off guard.


    She opened her mouth for a long while before she found her voice, ¡°How many wives does Justin have? Didn¡¯t he only marry you?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan completely failed to understand why she would ask such a question.


    She thought for a moment, as if she understood something, ¡°Are you saying that Justin has been finding mistresses and ¡®Little Fours¡¯ behind your back?¡±

 Chapter 644: 642: Everything is leaning towards that woman!

    Chapter 644: Chapter 642: Everything is leaning towards that woman!


    ¡°Mistress and Little Four?¡± Keren¡¯s smile on her face became even more sinister.


    ¡°Not only a mistress, Little Four, but there¡¯s also a Little Seven and Little Eight...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan felt a chill from Keren¡¯s expression but still tried to comfort her, saying, ¡°Men, they all have roving eyes. As long as you¡¯re the legitimate wife at home, nobody can get a hold on you.¡±


    Now, when Keren heard Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    She slowly walked down the stairs, coming to stand face-to-face with Xiao Jinglan.


    Only then did Xiao Jinglan notice Keren¡¯s skin was in terrible condition; her complexion was sallow, her figure had become alarmingly thin, her whole body was dried up and withered.


    She could hardly believe her own eyes.


    Keren had always loved beauty before she got married.


    Whether it was her attire or makeup, it was always impeccable.


    A condition like this was the first time Xiao Jinglan had seen it.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mouth opened and closed, her gaze circled Keren¡¯s body, then she asked with confusion, ¡°What happened to you when you went abroad with Justin? How did you end up looking like neither human nor ghost?¡±


    Keren¡¯s current state was completely different from how she was before marrying Justin, like heaven and earth.


    Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but let her mind wander.


    Although Keren was just a girl, she was Xiao Jinglan¡¯s own flesh and blood; she couldn¡¯t be indifferent.


    Especially now that she had appeared before her, Xiao Jinglan just couldn¡¯t ignore her any longer.


    Keren, as though she didn¡¯t see the way Xiao Jinglan looked at her, walked over to the living room sofa on her own.


    ¡°Keren, talk to me, what on earth happened?¡± Xiao Jinglan closed the distance in a few strides, seizing Keren¡¯s arm, only to realize that her wrist was almost all bone.


    She lifted Keren¡¯s sleeve in astonishment and saw her bony, emaciated arm.


    ¡°That scumbag Justin! Did he abuse you?¡± Xiao Jinglan bit her teeth in anger, the words almost hissing through her molars.


    She had thought that Keren would have a good life after marrying Justin.


    Never did she expect it to turn out worse than when she was in the country.


    How much had Keren suffered to have ended up like this?


    Xiao Jinglan simply couldn¡¯t imagine.


    Seeing the look on Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face, as if she was truly distressed for her, Keren couldn¡¯t suppress the mocking laughter in her heart.


    If she really cared about her, she would have noticed not long after she moved abroad with Justin.


    But now that she had already returned, Xiao Jinglan had to wait until Keren stood right in front of her to notice something was wrong. Could this even be called love?


    Keren withdrew her hand that Xiao Jinglan was gripping tightly and then looked at her with a smile that was more like a taunt, saying, ¡°Didn¡¯t I just tell you? That man married seven or eight wives outside, and I am just one of them.¡±


    ¡°Why could he marry seven or eight wives?¡± Xiao Jinglan felt increasingly frustrated the more she heard.


    Even in M country they practiced monogamy.


    Seeing clearly her confusion, Keren finally spoke word by word, ¡°Instead of asking me, you might as well ask him.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan fell silent for a moment, ¡°Is there some misunderstanding between you and Justin? If there is a misunderstanding between the two of you, it¡¯s good to just talk it out. As a woman, you don¡¯t need to be too stubborn, after all, he¡¯s your husband. Sometimes, it¡¯s necessary to turn a blind eye.¡±


    ¡°S...¡±


    Song Keren was slightly stunned but soon snapped back to reality.


    What had she been expecting anyway?


    Did she hope that Xiao Jinglan would stand up for her?


    She had always known that she was not as important to Xiao Jinglan as Xiao Mo, but now that she had faced such humiliation outside, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s first reaction was not to care about her but to ask if there was a misunderstanding with Justin?


    What could she possibly expect from such a mother?


    Song Keren had thought marrying Justin was a good choice, but she hadn¡¯t expected that after he went abroad, he would marry so many other women.


    Song Keren had considered asking Xiao Jinglan for help, but now it seemed her mother only had eyes for her son, Xiao Mo. What did that make her, the daughter?


    She guessed that Xiao Jinglan feared she would cause trouble with Justin, worrying that it might affect Xiao Mo¡¯s collaboration with him.


    Thinking of what someone had said to her before, the corners of Song Keren¡¯s mouth involuntarily curled up, and her gaze towards Xiao Jinglan softened considerably.


    ¡°Whether it¡¯s a misunderstanding or not is not important, the fact that he has married so many women is already a fact,¡± Song Keren took another look at Xiao Jinglan before continuing, ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t make a fuss about this with him, nor will I allow this matter to interfere with Xiao Mo¡¯s collaboration with Justin.¡±


    Hearing this, Xiao Jinglan visibly relaxed, ¡°Keren, you have finally grown up. You can handle such things yourself now without mother worrying.¡±


    Heh...


    Song Keren sneered inwardly. Sure enough, no matter how much she suffered, it didn¡¯t matter in Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes.


    As long as it didn¡¯t affect her precious son, whatever she encountered was inconsequential.


    Song Keren¡¯s gaze towards Xiao Jinglan grew colder, ¡°Yes, I can make decisions about many things myself now, I have to grow up eventually.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t detect the sarcasm in Song Keren¡¯s tone; instead, she began to complain, ¡°You have no idea how frustrated I¡¯ve been here since you left! Your brother, now that Xia Wenjin, that wretched woman is gone, found another wretched woman from the Feng family, and he even argued with me over her last time!¡±


    She was filled with rage at the mention of Hao Jiayi.


    That little mistress was even more troublesome than Xia Wenjin.


    Although Xia Wenjin was annoying, she didn¡¯t like Xiao Mo, so he wouldn¡¯t defy his mother for her, but Hao Jiayi was different.


    With her act of an innocent flower in front of Xiao Mo, he was utterly enchanted.


    Not only did he confront her for that woman, but he also sided with her in every issue!


    Xiao Jinglan gritted her teeth as she told Song Keren about it.


    But then she heard Song Keren say in a low voice, ¡°Big brother likes that woman, he must have his reasons. Mom, you are getting older now, and there are some things you should not meddle in, otherwise, you will only anger brother.¡±


    At these words, Xiao Jinglan was beside herself.


    Frowning tightly, she looked at Song Keren very angrily, ¡°I¡¯m his mother! Could I harm him? That Hao Jiayi is clearly no good, and he might even end up being sold out by her and counting the money for her!¡±


    Song Keren shrugged, ¡°But if brother likes her, your trying to stop it will only annoy him even more.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan opened her mouth to retort, but then she thought about it and realized that it did indeed seem to be the case.


    Whether it was last time or the time before, whenever she faced off against that woman, Hao Jiayi, she always ended up losing.


    Even when she told Xiao Mo that her days were numbered, that brat never said he would stand by her side...

 Chapter 645: 643: Arent These What She Deserves?

    Chapter 645: Chapter 643: Aren¡¯t These What She Deserves?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s heart burned with even more fury at the thought.


    That little bastard Xiao Mo had really broken her heart.


    Seeing her immersed in her own anger, Song Keren couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips.


    Is that all?


    Would her expression be even more brilliant if she knew that her son, whom she took pride in, would end up with nothing in the future?


    Song Keren thought maliciously to herself.


    After all, when she married Justin, Xiao Jinglan was only thinking about taking Xiao Mo to the next level.


    No one ever considered whether this man was reliable.


    No one cared about the hardships she endured after going abroad.


    How could she not hate them?


    Song Keren thought about how helpless and desperate she felt when she was locked in the basement, how much she wished someone would come save her.


    But what was the result?


    Her brother and mother, whom she had always trusted, hadn¡¯t noticed at all.


    If she showed even the slightest dissatisfaction, they would make her look for the reasons within herself.


    Song Keren scoffed.


    Now she was following their words, looking for the reason within herself.


    The biggest problem was that she had a mother like Xiao Jinglan, who favored boys over girls, and a brother who used his sister as a tool.


    What was her fault?


    They were the ones at fault!


    She wanted to retaliate against them!


    She wanted them to feel the same despair she did back then!


    Song Keren¡¯s thoughts bordered on madness. When her gaze fell upon Xiao Jinglan once more, her lips twisted into a sinister smile.


    ¡°What made you fly into such a rage just now? Was it because of your brother?¡± Song Keren feigned casualness, breaking the eerie silence within the room.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s train of thought was instantly pulled back by Song Keren. She blinked and seemed to recall something, her complexion changing on the spot.


    ¡°It¡¯s not because of my brother. It¡¯s because of those two, Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao.¡± Every time Xiao Jinglan mentioned their names, she couldn¡¯t help but grind her teeth.


    Every time she thought of them, she immensely regretted arranging the marriage for Song Sinian.


    Everything had been under her control before Lu Zhaozhao married into their family.


    But ever since Song Sinian married Lu Zhaozhao, everything began to change.


    Song Sinian began to improve, Mr. Song grew wary of her, and she and Xiao Mo were driven out of the Song Family.


    Just thinking about it made her clench her fists.


    She originally thought that when Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao were getting married, she could attend the wedding as an elder, which would indirectly prove her status within the Song Family.


    But to her surprise, Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao went to their private island to get married.


    They didn¡¯t even invite her to their wedding!


    Wasn¡¯t this like rubbing her face in the dirt?


    When Xiao Jinglan stepped outside, she was ridiculed by some high-status women from the Shangjing Circle, whom she had always clashed with, and she returned home in a huff.


    Thinking of this, she ground her teeth again, ¡°Not only was I not invited to Song Sinian¡¯s wedding, but even your brother wasn¡¯t invited! No matter what, we are his family, and yet he didn¡¯t even have the decency to remember this kinship!¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s mouth twitched. They had already been ousted from the Song Family; it was only natural they weren¡¯t allowed to attend Song Sinian¡¯s wedding.


    She really didn¡¯t understand how her mother couldn¡¯t see that.


    Could it be because of Xiao Mo?


    She felt that her son was the best in the world, and everything should belong to her son, so that was why she couldn¡¯t accept that Song Sinian got married without inviting them, right?


    Song Keren couldn¡¯t help but sneer inwardly.


    But on the surface, she still acted as if she shared Xiao Jinglan¡¯s enmity, ¡°The Song Family has already done what it did, what do you plan on doing? Taking revenge on them?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she was tempted by Song Keren¡¯s words.


    But when she thought of ways to get back at Song Sinian, her brows furrowed again.


    She did want to get back at Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian, but how could she?


    Their wedding venue was a private island owned by Song Group, and without the island master¡¯s permission, no one could get onto the island.


    Unless one could hire special mercenaries who could land on the island undetected.


    She wanted to trouble Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao, but the prerequisite was finding fearless mercenaries.


    People like that could only be contacted through the dark web, and she had no way to get in touch.


    To trip up Lu Zhaozhao was even more impossible.


    When she previously was the precious daughter of the Lu Family, she could throw her weight around, relying on being Mrs. Song.


    Even when she was outed as a fake heiress, she still had an advantage.


    But now, Lu Zhaozhao belonged to the Xia Family, and attempting to trip up her own family would be suicidal, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Her son was still trying to establish good relations with a branch of the Xia Family. If she truly did something on this end, Xiao Mo was likely the first person who would not let her off the hook.


    After mulling it over, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mood grew even worse.


    And how could Song Keren not realize this?


    This was exactly what she wanted.


    Sure enough that person hadn¡¯t been wrong; as long as she could grasp what Xiao Jinglan wanted, she could easily take control in the Xiao Family.


    ¡°The only reason you can¡¯t take revenge on Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao is that their backgrounds are too strong. If you could help my brother reach that standing, maybe... things could be different.¡±


    Song Keren spoke slowly, as if she was carelessly mentioning it in passing.


    She slowly began eating the prepared cubilose on the table.


    It was the cubilose she had asked the cook to prepare before coming to the Xiao Family.


    She had struggled to even have enough to eat while abroad, let alone such nourishing delicacies.


    But her mother didn¡¯t lack for such things, so naturally, she didn¡¯t need to be polite.


    Besides, weren¡¯t these rightfully hers?


    Xiao Mo had taken too many advantages in this family; now, she had to compensate herself as much as possible.


    She had to make up for all the grievances she had suffered abroad.


    Xiao Jinglan, looking at the cubilose in Song Keren¡¯s hand, her brows twisted into knots almost instantly.


    She remembered that when she poisoned Xia Wenjin, she had used cubilose.


    And Xia Wenjin had used cubilose to poison her as well.


    So the sight of cubilose reminded Xiao Jinglan of being poisoned.


    She no longer wanted to eat even the high-quality cubilose at home, even if it wasn¡¯t poisoned.


    Now, seeing Song Keren eating it, she still instinctively felt a physical discomfort.


    Xiao Jinglan glanced at Song Keren, suppressed the discomfort in her heart, and said, ¡°You make it sound easy, but such high positions are not so simple to climb. To get your brother a place in Song Group, I struggled for ten years...¡±


    Having mentioned this, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but feel sorrowful. Ten years of effort had dissipated in a single year.


    No one could remain indifferent to that.


    Song Keren¡¯s lips curled up, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible. I overheard Justin mentioning that he currently has a very promising project. He just doesn¡¯t plan to work with anyone from the Xia Family...¡±

 Chapter 646: 644: Dog Bites Dog, Thats Interesting

    Chapter 646: Chapter 644: Dog Bites Dog, That¡¯s Interesting


    ¡°Why?¡± Xiao Jinglan looked at Song Keren with incomprehension.


    But she heard her say in a melancholy tone, ¡°Because that¡¯s his private property, and among the wives he¡¯s married, there¡¯s a woman from G country. Her father is a chieftain in G country.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was instantly excited upon hearing this.


    She had thought that Justin had no inheritance rights to the XJ Group and at most would be a regional vice president.


    She hadn¡¯t expected his return to bring such a huge surprise. How could Xiao Jinglan not be thrilled?


    Recently, Song Sinian and his confidants were not around, so Xiao Mo wanted to take this opportunity to cause some trouble and make the Song Group people disappointed in Song Sinian.


    Afterward, Xiao Mo would create a storm of force and, by revealing that he too was a child of Song Gu, he would be able to secure his position as the president of the Song Group.


    The more Xiao Jinglan thought about it, the more excited she became, her gaze towards Song Keren became different too.


    She tightly grasped Song Keren¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Keren, you really have to help your brother this time. Just think, if your brother secures this big cooperation and establishes a firm foothold in the Song Group, he will become the biggest support for both of us. Then, your position with Justin will be even more stable. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Song Keren¡¯s smile stiffened as she looked at Xiao Jinglan, her smile insincere, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll try to talk to Justin about it. But whether it succeeds or not is up to my brother¡¯s capabilities.¡±


    ¡°Great, great, great, just you handle the matchmaking, the rest leave to your brother,¡± Xiao Jinglan agreed repeatedly, as if afraid that Song Keren would change her mind.


    Song Keren didn¡¯t expect Xiao Jinglan to be so easily fooled.


    She snickered inwardly, took a glance at Xiao Jinglan, and her smile became even more sinister...


    Ever since Xiao Mo learned about Song Sinian¡¯s impending wedding, he had started planning.


    But he didn¡¯t know that everything he was doing was under Song Sinian¡¯s surveillance.


    Even though Zhao Xi wasn¡¯t in the country, he had complete control over the company¡¯s situation.


    He placed the documents in his hand in front of Song Sinian, ¡°Sir, this is the list of shareholders Xiao Mo has been in touch with recently.¡±


    Song Sinian sat in the study, lazily reclining on the couch, savoring the tea in his hand.


    Since he was going to marry Lu Zhaozhao in two days, unfortunately, the Xia Family insisted that it was bad luck for them to see each other before the wedding, and they had to live separately.


    His mood was quite irritated, especially since ever since they acknowledged their feelings for each other, they had spent almost every day together.


    Especially lately, he felt an excess of energy every day.


    But recalling the words of the Xia Family, that ¡°seeing each other before the wedding is bad luck and also not good for the marriage,¡± Song Sinian had no choice but to compromise.


    He didn¡¯t want any problems to arise in his marriage with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Even if there was a smidgen of metaphysical possibility, he didn¡¯t want to risk it.


    After all, if something as mysterious as reincarnation could occur in life, Song Sinian felt there was nothing he couldn¡¯t accept.


    Song Sinian slowly put down his teacup and saw Zhao Xi sit down before picking up the list of personnel on the table.


    That certain people would make this choice wasn¡¯t surprising to Song Sinian at all.


    The Song Family held the largest share in the Song Group. Many shareholders who had built up the company with Mr. Song couldn¡¯t stand being secondary shareholders forever, so they wanted to struggle, right?


    As for why other minor shareholders would do such a thing, Song Sinian didn¡¯t care, since the shares they held weren¡¯t enough to cause any real trouble.


    Song Sinian flipped through several pages before tossing the documents back onto the desk, ¡°Has their plan started?¡±


    He had purposely taken away a few key confidants from the company to create such a good opportunity for them. If Xiao Mo still didn¡¯t make a move, then he¡¯d really be an idiot.


    Zhao Xi nodded and casually poured himself a cup of tea.


    ¡°Xiao Mo has indeed started to make his move, but things aren¡¯t going smoothly,¡± Zhao Xi said, unable to suppress a light chuckle, ¡°I bet even Xiao Mo never expected that a person like Feng Jiyue would become a stumbling block for him.¡±


    Xiao Mo had tried to take advantage of their boss¡¯s absence to strike at the Song Group, but he stumbled over Feng Jiyue, the roadblock, on the very first day of making his move.


    He had been watching Xiao Mo for a long time, not only having Hao Jiayi keep an eye on him, but he had even bought off other employees close to Xiao Mo.


    He wanted to catch Xiao Mo¡¯s wrongdoing while Song Sinian wasn¡¯t at the company.


    Although their intentions differed, their timing was remarkably synchronous, and they ended up clashing.


    Although Feng Jiyue had no idea what Xiao Mo was up to, he keenly sensed something was off about Xiao Mo. How could Feng Jiyue pass up such an opportunity?


    Song Sinian snorted lightly, ¡°Watching them fight like dogs is quite amusing.¡±


    Zhao Xi smirked noncommittally, ¡°Even though Feng Jiyue isn¡¯t the brightest, he¡¯s still more than Xiao Mo can handle.¡±


    At least their boss¡¯s overseas wedding wouldn¡¯t be affected.


    This was just like ¡®inviting the king into the urn,¡¯ just waiting for Xiao Mo to fall into the trap they had long prepared.


    Only by driving him to madness could he be plunged into deeper despair.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Leak a bit of Xiao Mo¡¯s plans to Feng Jiyue so he can have a good time playing with him in the next few days.¡±


    ¡°Sure, don¡¯t worry, sir. I¡¯m well-versed in this matter,¡± Zhao Xi said, with a slight smile on his lips.


    Letting Feng Jiyue compete against Xiao Mo in the ring ¨C he really wasn¡¯t qualified, but with the occasional help from their boss, it would be difficult for Feng Jiyue to lose to Xiao Mo.


    But how to get the two of them to fiercely clash during this period?


    Zhao Xi began to look forward to it.


    Because Song Keren had suddenly returned to the country and was staying at home, Xiao Jinglan went out of her way to please Song Keren, hoping to connect Xiao Mo with Justin¡¯s people.


    ¡°Keren, I¡¯m going to pick up my custom-made clothes today. Why don¡¯t you come with me to the haute couture store and have a look? We can also get some clothes made for you.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan took Song Keren¡¯s hand and they walked through the mall. With a beaming smile, she led her straight to the haute couture shop.


    But the moment they entered, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes instantly widened in disbelief, staring at the woman in the changing room, her entire face turning ghostly pale.


    Seeing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s wobbly appearance, Song Keren was clearly startled and hurried forward to support Xiao Jinglan¡¯s back, frowning slightly, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan came to her senses at the sound of Song Keren¡¯s voice, but her lips were still a bit pale, ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s nothing. I just suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. Let¡¯s sit down on the side and rest for a bit.¡±


    As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently swept over the woman being attended to...

 Chapter 647: 645: Isnt She Already Dead?

    Chapter 647: Chapter 645: Isn¡¯t She Already Dead?


    How could she ever forget that face?


    It was Feng Xiran, Song Gu¡¯s deceased wife!


    Wasn¡¯t she already dead?


    Why did she reappear?


    During her affair with Song Gu, she had secretly met this woman.


    She even haughtily sought her out, but this woman was completely indifferent toward her.


    It was as if no matter what she did, it wouldn¡¯t affect her at all.


    Xiao Jinglan thought of the way that woman had looked at her back then, as if seeing some unclean trash, and a rage welled up within her.


    Only after Feng Xiran¡¯s death had she spent so much time to make Song Gu agree to marry her.


    And now, the position she had been yearning for might very well have been something Feng Xiran had discarded.


    She even suspected that the accident that had happened to Feng Xiran years ago was orchestrated by herself.


    Thinking this way, the initial panic that Xiao Jinglan felt upon seeing ¡°Feng Xiran¡± subsided.


    She had thought that it was very likely that Feng Xiran had voluntarily left the Song Family, and now she was back to reenter the Song Mansion.


    But why?


    Surely it was because the life outside couldn¡¯t satisfy her desire for luxurious living anymore, right?


    Xiao Jinglan was already vexed by the Song Family slipping out of her control.


    She was thinking of finding a way to visit Old Master Song during this time, to brush up on her presence and return to the Song Mansion.


    But now, Feng Xiran¡¯s appearance had instantly set off her alarm bells.


    Being Song Sinian¡¯s biological mother, she had an advantage over her, the stepmother, when compared to Feng Xiran.


    Xiao Jinglan, nervous, nibbled at her fingernails beside her, looking quite mad¡ªSong Keren found it hard to ignore even if she wanted to.


    Her brows furrowed, and when she looked at Xiao Jinglan, she couldn¡¯t help but follow the direction of her gaze.


    Across from them was a well-maintained woman, whose every move suggested she was a wealthy lady.


    Keren couldn¡¯t fathom why her mother bore such animosity toward this woman.


    She gently tugged Xiao Jinglan¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Song Keren was discreetly inquiring, only to see Xiao Jinglan forcefully smile and struggled not to look at ¡°Feng Xiran¡± again.


    ¡°I am not unwell, just wondering what kind of clothes to buy for you, which is a bit troubling.¡± Song Keren, of course, knew Xiao Jinglan was lying, but she couldn¡¯t call her out on it.


    She changed the subject and whispered while looking at the woman nearby, ¡°Mom, look at that lady¡¯s clothes, they look so pretty. Do you want to get something in a similar style?¡±


    ¡°Why would I want to wear the same as her?!¡± Xiao Jinglan almost reflexively retorted, her voice raised with anger.


    Song Keren was visibly startled by her tone, and even Feng Xixi, who was inside the shop, was drawn by it.


    She glanced instinctively at a woman not far away, feeling a sense of familiarity.


    But Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t remember who this person was at the moment, yet that person¡¯s gaze suggested they knew each other.


    Feng Xixi pursed her lips, pretending as if she hadn¡¯t noticed anything, and continued trying on clothes nearby.


    Previously she had thought that there would indeed be people in her homeland who knew her, but after so many years, she felt that any impression they had of her must have long since faded.


    She had never expected such a coincidence, being able to bump into an acquaintance just by going out to buy a dress.


    Feng Xixi felt a bit panicked too, but she forced herself to stay calm and took her dress to the fitting room. After pondering for a long time, she couldn¡¯t figure out how to deal with the situation.


    Now, she could only wait for the person who recognized her to leave before she made her exit.


    Meanwhile, Xiao Jinglan inside the store had other thoughts on her mind.


    She was unsure why ¡°Feng Xiran¡± had shown up, but to prevent any unforeseen issues, she had to be cautious.


    With that in mind, Xiao Jinglan immediately made a phone call.


    After that, she stayed inside the store, waiting until a stranger approached not far from the store and nodded at her. Only then did Xiao Jinglan pull Song Keren along and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mom will take you to buy some other things...¡±


    Of course, Song Keren had noticed the interaction between Xiao Jinglan and the strange man.


    It seemed that this person must be the one Xiao Jinglan had arranged to tail that woman just now.


    Song Keren¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and even though she didn¡¯t know why Xiao Jinglan was wary of this woman, she was sure that the person must be of interest.


    After all, a woman who could make Xiao Jinglan cautious must have some leverage to be taken hold of!


    When Xia Wenmo received this message, the wedding of Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian had just begun.


    In the morning, when they went to receive the bride, they wore traditional Chinese wedding attire, and by midday, during the wedding ceremony, they had changed into Western-style wedding gowns.


    Song Sinian looked at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s flushed little face, gently squeezed her hand, and asked softly, ¡°Are you tired?¡±


    Because they couldn¡¯t meet before the wedding, Song Sinian could only relieve his yearning for her by sending messages and voice notes to Lu Zhaozhao.


    It was just a few short days, yet he felt like it was as unbearable as a century.


    Therefore, when he went to pick up the bride in the morning, Song Sinian wished he could immediately see Lu Zhaozhao as soon as the clock struck noon.


    Fortunately, the groomsmen by his side were reliable, firmly holding him back.


    Their excuse, of course, was the same old one, that it was bad luck to leave before the auspicious time.


    Thinking about all these wedding customs made Song Sinian, who usually didn¡¯t show much expression, frown slightly.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought Song Sinian must be tired from the hectic past few days and looked at him worriedly, ¡°I¡¯m not tired, but you, I heard from my fourth brother that you haven¡¯t been resting well. Is it because you¡¯re not used to the bed here? Should we go rest a while?¡±


    Song Sinian pursed his lips, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not used to the bed, I am...¡±


    His gaze circled her little face, and his handsome face started to look a bit aggrieved.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to immediately get his point, and her little face turned red all at once.


    ¡°Tonight, tonight we can, we can get some proper rest,¡± Lu Zhaozhao muttered under her breath, looking away guiltily.


    But she hadn¡¯t expected that when Song Sinian heard her words, his eyes curved into a smile, and he leaned in closer, saying, ¡°We really can¡¯t get a proper rest tonight, because it is our wedding night.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Good heavens, Mr. Song of their family really kept a low profile until he didn¡¯t¡ªwhen he did, it was earth-shattering.


    Where did her innocent little cutie from before go?


    How did he turn into a big bad wolf that devours without spitting out the bones?


    Two blushes drifted onto Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pretty little face, and her hand, which had been holding onto Song Sinian¡¯s, pinched down hard on it twice as if to punish him.


    But since she didn¡¯t really have much strength, and the way she bashfully pinched him was like she was coquettishly throwing a fit, it made Song Sinian¡¯s heart itch.


    Indeed, his Zhaozhao treasured him the most; even when pinching him, she couldn¡¯t bear to use too much strength...

 Chapter 648: 646 What Happened to You?

    Chapter 648: Chapter 646 What Happened to You?


    Lu Zhaozhao saw the smile at the corner of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth and unconsciously, her own lips curled up in response.


    For her, getting married to Song Sinian in front of so many friends and family was another kind of fulfillment.


    She accomplished in this life what she hadn¡¯t been able to in her last.


    Just as Lu Zhaozhao was about to say something, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.


    Song Sinian immediately noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reaction and his large hand gently encircled her waist, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Zhaozhao? Who did you see?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao watched the retreating figure, her brow slightly furrowed. Ultimately, she shook her head and said to Song Sinian, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, probably just my eyes playing tricks on me.¡±


    The person she had just seen was Xu Zhenzhen, who had previously mentioned that she would come forward to catch the bouquet when thrown.


    But the wedding wasn¡¯t even over yet, and she had already left. Was there some urgent matter?


    For some reason, the expression Xu Zhenzhen had as she left gave Lu Zhaozhao an ominous premonition.


    Lu Zhaozhao quickly dismissed the thought.


    It must have been her overthinking.


    On this small island, without the islanders¡¯ permission, it was impossible to enter.


    Even if Xu Zhenzhen wanted to leave the island, she would need someone to pick her up.


    So, after the wedding, she could find Xu Zhenzhen and ask her, it might just be a false alarm.


    The wedding march began to play, and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart started pounding again.


    This uneasy feeling made it hard for her to stay calm.


    After hesitating for a while, she tugged gently at Song Sinian¡¯s large hand and whispered, ¡°Mr. Song, could you have my second brother come over?¡±


    Though Song Sinian was puzzled, he did as she asked.


    Fortunately, Zhao Xi was quick and found Xia Wenqing before the wedding started.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Zhaozhao?¡± Xia Wenqing hastened over as soon as Zhao Xi told him Lu Zhaozhao needed him, his gaze filled with concern when he looked at her.


    Could it be that his sister suddenly regretted and didn¡¯t want to marry Song Sinian?


    Although it was unlikely, it wasn¡¯t impossible...


    Lu Zhaozhao patted Xia Wenqing on the shoulder and whispered, ¡°Second brother, I just saw Zhenzhen looking a bit unwell. Please take extra care of her.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t directly say she saw Xu Zhenzhen leaving.


    After all, she didn¡¯t know if Xu Zhenzhen was just temporarily away or had really left.


    So, all she could do was hint at it, letting her brother first look for Xu Zhenzhen. If he found her, he could take good care of her.


    If not, it would also be good to quickly find out where she had gone.


    Seeing it wasn¡¯t about Song Sinian that Lu Zhaozhao sought him out, Xia Wenqing silently breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely take good care of Zhenzhen.¡±


    He had been busy all morning handling things for Lu Zhaozhao with several Xia family brothers and hadn¡¯t had a chance to find Xu Zhenzhen yet.


    Now, with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s reminder, he also felt he had been neglectful.


    His gaze unconsciously swept over the wedding scene, but he didn¡¯t spot Xu Zhenzhen anywhere.


    Perhaps, as Lu Zhaozhao said, Xu Zhenzhen felt unwell and had left earlier.


    It seemed she must have gone back to her room.


    Wenqing thought this and decided he would go to Zhenzhen¡¯s room to find her later.


    Seeing Wenqing agree, Zhaozhao visibly relaxed quite a bit.


    At that moment, the host on stage had already started cueing the process, so even though Zhaozhao wanted to say more, there wasn¡¯t any time left. She could only nod at Wenqing, signaling him to find Zhenzhen as quickly as possible.


    Wenqing gave Zhaozhao an ¡°okay¡± hand gesture to reassure her, then left the stage.


    From a distance, Zhaozhao watched Wenqing¡¯s departing figure, feeling less anxious than before, but for some reason, an inexplicable emotion still lingered.


    After leaving the stage, Wenqing headed straight toward the dressing room where Zhenzhen was supposed to be. He knocked on the door but didn¡¯t hear anyone responding from inside.


    He stood at the door and dialed Zhenzhen¡¯s phone, but again, no sound came from within the room.


    His eyebrows involuntarily raised, wondering if perhaps she wasn¡¯t in her room.


    Since arriving on the island, Wenqing had arranged his room right next to Zhenzhen¡¯s.


    He chose not to share a room with Zhenzhen because he felt he would be busied helping Zhaozhao with the wedding these few days, and he worried it might disturb Zhenzhen¡¯s rest.


    Thus, he didn¡¯t stay in the same room.


    Thinking about the worried look in Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes just moments ago, Wenqing felt an unusual flutter in his heart.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment of thought, he decided to head back toward where the wedding had taken place.


    ¡°Second brother, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Wenqing had just arrived at the wedding venue when he met Wen Yan face to face.


    Seeing the grave expression on Wenqing¡¯s face, Wen Yan¡¯s brows also furrowed.


    Wenqing pursed his lips, ¡°Did you see Zhenzhen just now?¡±


    ¡°Zhenzhen?¡± Wen Yan was taken aback, ¡°Isn¡¯t she Zhaozhao¡¯s bridesmaid? During the bouquet toss, she even said...¡±


    His sentence stopped abruptly, realizing that there was a tacit understanding among the girls about this matter.


    It might not be good to talk about it at this moment.


    Thinking of when Zhaozhao and Zhenzhen discussed this earlier, with glowing eyes, Wen Yan could imagine how Zhenzhen, having caught the bouquet, might propose to his second brother.


    As if he had realized something, Wen Yan tentatively asked, ¡°Second brother, have you noticed anything unusual about Zhenzhen these past few days?¡±


    Like being sneaky, perhaps?


    He roughly knew Zhenzhen¡¯s personality from Zhaozhao, which might differ from the typical young lady.


    If his guess was correct, Zhenzhen might truly be secretly preparing some kind of proposal for his second brother.


    Thinking of this, Wen Yan¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    Pei Huai, standing beside him, couldn¡¯t help but raise his eyebrows high when he saw Wen Yan¡¯s expression.


    Although he didn¡¯t know exactly what was happening, he was sure it wasn¡¯t as simple as Wen Yan thought.


    Pei Huai glanced at Wen Yan, careful of his words before Wenqing could speak, preemptively asking, ¡°Why are you suddenly looking for Zhenzhen? Has something happened?¡±


    Wenqing was slightly taken aback, ¡°Zhaozhao said that she saw Zhenzhen feeling a bit unwell just now, so she asked me to check on Zhenzhen and take care of her. But when I went to her dressing room, there was no one there, so...¡±


    Despite not finishing his sentence, Pei Huai understood what he meant.


    What really concerned Pei Huai wasn¡¯t the words of Wenqing, but the reminder from Zhaozhao to Wenqing. If Zhenzhen truly felt unwell, she definitely would have advised Wenqing to bring a doctor along.


    But now, having Wenqing go alone was either to create a moment for just the two of them, or something else altogether...

 Chapter 649: 647: It Wont Be Anything Good

    Chapter 649: Chapter 647: It Won¡¯t Be Anything Good


    ¡°Could it be that Xu Zhenzhen wanted to give you a surprise, so she hid herself away?¡± Xia Wenyan seriously analyzed at the side.


    But the idea was quickly dismissed by Pei Huai.


    He gently shook his head, ¡°If it really was as you say, she would have gone after the wedding, after all, Xu Zhenzhen considers Zhaozhao her best friend and wouldn¡¯t sacrifice attending the wedding.¡±


    The reason why she¡¯s not here is either she¡¯s feeling unwell or...


    Pei Huai dared not continue that thought, always feeling it was nothing good.


    Thinking of this, Xia Wenqing also began to feel anxious.


    ¡°Lao Si, help me check the security monitors here, I¡¯ll go take a look in Zhenzhen¡¯s room.¡± Having said this, Xia Wenqing immediately turned and left.


    Xia Wenyan watched Xia Wenqing¡¯s retreating figure and also had a faint bad feeling.


    He pursed his lips, turned his head to Pei Huai, and asked, ¡°Brother Pei, Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t really be in trouble, could she?¡±


    When Xia Wenyan said this, his eyes were full of concern; Pei Huai silently sighed and raised his hand to gently rub Xia Wenyan¡¯s head, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen shouldn¡¯t be in any trouble...¡±


    At most, she left the island with someone else.


    As for why, that would be a question for Xu Zhenzhen.


    But from his understanding of Xu Zhenzhen, to take someone off the island without a fuss, it would only be possible if Xu Zhenzhen was willing to go; otherwise, they absolutely couldn¡¯t leave that easily.


    This matter was probably more complicated than imagined.


    Security on the island was handled by him, Xia Wenmo, and Song Sinian; it was virtually impossible for any ordinary person to wander in by mistake.


    And even less likely for someone to disappear without a trace.


    So, naturally, there were many complications involved.


    Pei Huai took a look at Xia Wenyan, knowing even if he explained, he probably would not understand.


    He silently sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s first go and check the monitors, we¡¯ll talk about the rest later.¡±


    If Xu Zhenzhen could be found, all these thoughts would be just that, thoughts, but if she couldn¡¯t be found...


    Pei Huai didn¡¯t want to think further.


    Seeing Pei Huai not as indifferent as before, Xia Wenyan understood that the current situation couldn¡¯t be explained in just a few words.


    It was best to do as his second brother had said for now.


    The rest would be dealt with as it comes.


    While Xia Wenyan and Pei Huai were asking someone to check the monitors, the wedding of Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian had already ended.


    As soon as the wedding was over, Lu Zhaozhao immediately came over.


    Seeing that Xu Zhenzhen was not among the people present, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s brows furrowed once again.


    Pei Huai, thinking about what Xia Wenqing said, faintly guessed something.


    ¡°Xia Wenqing went to find Xu Zhenzhen; he might be in Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s room right now.¡±


    The Xia Family members standing to the side heard Pei Huai¡¯s words and were slightly stunned, ¡°Zhenzhen? What happened to Zhenzhen?¡±


    Wen Qingyu was the first to speak, looking somewhat perplexed at the several people before her.


    After Lu Zhaozhao got married, she had been wondering when Xia Wenqing and Xu Zhenzhen would tie the knot.


    Xu Zhenzhen was a good girl; Wen Qingyu was very satisfied with the second daughter-in-law that Xia Wenqing found, so she paid extra attention to her.


    Xia Wenyan let out a soft sigh, ¡°Second Brother said he couldn¡¯t find Xu Zhenzhen, so he asked us to help check the surveillance, but... the footage seems to have been tampered with; after Zhenzhen left this room, she vanished into thin air.¡±


    So even if Xia Wenqing went to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s room, he wouldn¡¯t be able to find anyone.


    Their worst fears had come to pass.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart clenched suddenly, ¡°What do we do now? Does Second Brother have any leads? What should we do now?¡±


    Song Sinian, seeing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s panicked appearance, tightly grasped her small hand, ¡°We¡¯re here for you, so don¡¯t be so nervous, sweetheart.¡±


    As he spoke, he directly enveloped Lu Zhaozhao in his arms to comfort her.


    Xia Wenjue nodded, ¡°Sinian is right, with several brothers at home, there¡¯s no reason you should bear this burden. Besides, Zhenzhen is still the wife of our Second Brother; now that she¡¯s missing, it is naturally our unquestionable responsibility.¡±


    ¡°The Big Brother is right, but it takes guts to whisk someone away on the island without a peep. They¡¯re really bold,¡± Xia Wenmo sneered coldly, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes.


    Those bastards dared to cause trouble on his sister¡¯s wedding day. He wouldn¡¯t live up to his title as the Third Brother if he didn¡¯t make them pay.


    Xia Wenyan, standing on the side, also gently squeezed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zhaozhao, we¡¯re here. Let¡¯s go find Second Brother first and see if he¡¯s found any leads.¡±


    With that, the group immediately headed to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s room.


    But just as they entered, they saw Xia Wenqing sitting despondently on the bed in the bedroom, his eyes full of despair.


    He was holding a card in his hands, his entire being looking utterly defeated.


    ¡°Third Brother?¡± Lu Zhaozhao called softly.


    But Xia Wenqing showed no reaction, as if he had lost his soul.


    Seeing this, Xia Wenyan pushed Xia Wenqing, ¡°Second brother, what are you dazing off for? Where¡¯s Zhenzhen?¡±


    Xia Wenqing staggered from Xia Wenyan¡¯s push but took a while to come to his senses.


    He looked straight at Xia Wenyan for a moment before lowering his eyelids again. Finally, as if he had made up his mind, he laid the card in his hand in front of everyone, ¡°Zhenzhen left. She doesn¡¯t... doesn¡¯t want me anymore.¡±


    Xia Wenqing choked a little on the last few words.


    The people around him were equally stunned.


    [Second Brother, this is the last time I will call you Second Brother. From now on, we will be strangers. I was happy to be with you, but I¡¯m starting to feel a bit suffocated by these feelings. Perhaps it¡¯s best to desire what we can¡¯t have. Let¡¯s leave each other the last bit of dignity. I¡¯m leaving, don¡¯t come looking for me.]


    After reading the handwritten card, everyone was shocked.


    They all knew about Xu Zhenzhen and Xia Wenqing¡¯s relationship and that the couple had waited patiently for love to blossom. How could it come to such an abrupt end?


    Lu Zhaozhao clenched the card tightly, ¡°Zhenzhen is in danger!¡±


    Her statement instantly confused everyone; Xia Wenqing looked at Lu Zhaozhao with a complicated expression.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, let your brothers handle this investigation. The situation is not clear yet, and it¡¯s not good to make hasty judgments...¡± Wen Qingyu cautiously glanced at Xia Wenqing and tentatively soothed Lu Zhaozhao.


    She was more worried that her daughter would give Xia Wenqing hope, then dash it away.


    She knew exactly what kind of person her own son was, and with Xia Wenqing being so wooden, what if Xu Zhenzhen had dated him, discovered she really didn¡¯t like his temperament, and that¡¯s why she had left? What then?

 Chapter 650: 648: Not Letting Go of a Single One!

    Chapter 650: Chapter 648: Not Letting Go of a Single One!


    ¡°No, Mom,¡± Xu Zhenzhen shook her head decisively, ¡°I¡¯m certain that Zhenzhen didn¡¯t just leave for no reason. She must have encountered some dangerous situation that compelled her to go, she might even be in danger!¡±


    Although Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t want to worry her second brother, if Xu Zhenzhen really needed help and they did nothing, wouldn¡¯t that be harming her?


    In her previous life, Xu Zhenzhen had disappeared after going abroad.


    After her rebirth, she had always thought that Xu Zhenzhen had been involved in her second brother¡¯s affairs.


    But now, thinking about it, if Zhenzhen had really been involved in her second brother¡¯s affairs, after his car accident, it was impossible that she would remain indifferent or just vanish into thin air.


    So it¡¯s very likely that in her previous life, Xu Zhenzhen had encountered the same situation.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought this and became even more anxious.


    Xia Wenqing seemed to sense something and immediately grasped Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand firmly, ¡°Zhaozhao, have you discovered something?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded earnestly, ¡°Zhenzhen is pregnant. She said she would give you a surprise after my wedding, so the words on the card definitely weren¡¯t written willingly. Second Brother, you have to believe in Zhenzhen!¡±


    Her words immediately stunned everyone present.


    ¡°Second Brother, you... you¡¯re quite fast,¡± Xia Wenjue¡¯s mind twitched, and he blurted out before realizing the inappropriateness of his remark.


    Next to him, Xia Wenmo coughed lightly, ¡°Since Zhaozhao said so, this matter is probably not so simple. If Zhenzhen truly likes Second Brother and is willing to be with him, what situation could have forced her to write a breakup card and leave without a trace?¡±


    Xia Wenyan raised an eyebrow, ¡°With my many years of acting experience, it¡¯s usually to avoid being a burden. Whatever is making Xu Zhenzhen feel like she would be a drag on us, it¡¯s likely that the other party is not exactly squeaky clean.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Honestly, Xia Wenyan might be frivolous usually, but when it came down to his area of expertise, his mind suddenly seemed to work like it was switched on.


    Everyone pondered over Xia Wenyan¡¯s words, and it did seem to make sense.


    Xu Zhenzhen wouldn¡¯t have left in such a hurry if she hadn¡¯t encountered something serious.


    Even if she truly stopped liking Xia Wenqing, she would tell him in a straightforward manner.


    Not to mention that she was pregnant.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s rationality seemed to return, and he took a deep breath before turning to Song Sinian with a serious question, ¡°Sinian, how much do you know about Zhenzhen¡¯s background?¡±


    He knew that Xu Zhenzhen had been Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s bodyguard, introduced by Song Sinian, when they were together.


    He didn¡¯t know what had happened to Xu Zhenzhen after she came to China, and he never intended to probe, as he liked her regardless of anything.


    But he had never thought that these things would become the reason for their separation.


    Xia Wenqing, of course, had to take it seriously.


    He naturally knew everything about Xu Zhenzhen during her university days, but that knowledge was superficial.


    He didn¡¯t even know when Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s martial arts became so impressive, let alone what she had gone through after coming to China.


    There were just too many things he wanted to know.


    He didn¡¯t even know where to start.


    Song Sinian glanced at Xia Wenqing, then turned his gaze to Zhao Xi at his side. ¡°Send everyone here a copy of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s file. Let¡¯s discuss in detail how we¡¯re going to handle this.¡±


    He had hoped to spend a joyous wedding night with his wife.


    Now, it seemed all for nothing.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, and he harbored resentment in his heart against these shortsighted people.


    Once he identified these shortsighted individuals, he wouldn¡¯t spare a single one!


    As for Xu Zhenzhen, no matter what her situation was, the fact remained that it was because of her that his and Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s wedding was marred. When she returned, he wouldn¡¯t let her off easily either.


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Out of the blue, Xu Zhenzhen, seated on the airplane, sneezed.


    The people sitting beside Xu Zhenzhen nearly looked at her in unison.


    Xu Zhenzhen rubbed her nose and remained silent, seemingly intent on keeping her mouth shut.


    The individuals nearby exchanged glances, somewhat worried that Xu Zhenzhen might cause trouble.


    They looked at each other, coughed lightly, and said, ¡°You¡¯re not sick, are you?¡±


    Although they had been instructed to bring the person back by any means necessary before their arrival, they were also told they absolutely couldn¡¯t harm Xu Zhenzhen or she couldn¡¯t be missing any limbs.


    If she fell ill and wasn¡¯t treated, dying on the way, wouldn¡¯t they be in a terrible mess?


    Xu Zhenzhen raised her eyes and glanced at the people, a dark gleam flashing across her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a ticklish nose. If you¡¯re worried, you can detour and take me directly to the hospital.¡±


    Their expressions soured instantly. ¡°Miss, it¡¯s best you give up any thoughts of escaping. No matter how you run, you¡¯ll still be brought back. You might as well resign yourself to fate.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen snorted lightly. ¡°Indeed, instead of being brought back each time, it truly is a good plan to just return and be a good dog.¡±


    The looks on their faces grew ugly as they realized Xu Zhenzhen was mocking them.


    They didn¡¯t dare to say too much more. No matter what, Xu Zhenzhen was still that person¡¯s daughter. Even as an illegitimate child, she was still of that person¡¯s blood, which was probably why she was still alive despite her repeated escapes.


    Xu Zhenzhen ignored their expressions and looked outside.


    With Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cooperation, their party took almost a whole day to reach their destination.


    As soon as Xu Zhenzhen got off the plane, she was hurriedly ushered into a car and taken to a villa in E City, E Country.


    ¡°Know to come back?¡± As soon as Xu Zhenzhen walked in, she heard an older man¡¯s slightly aged voice.


    Sitting in the living room was a middle-aged man who, even just sitting there, exuded a terrifying presence.


    The black-clothed individuals immediately lowered their heads, whereas Xu Zhenzhen, with a look of indifference, took a seat on the sofa opposite the middle-aged man.


    She glanced disdainfully at the middle-aged man. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t sent people to find me, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered coming back.¡±


    The middle-aged man snorted coldly, ¡°You are, after all, my daughter.¡±


    Though he said these words, there was not a trace of fondness for this daughter on his face.


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t feel like beating around the bush and directly asked, ¡°Why did you have people bring me back this time? Just speak plainly.¡±

 Chapter 651: 649: Easier to Soften the Heart

    Chapter 651: Chapter 649: Easier to Soften the Heart


    She casually picked up a pastry from the table and began to eat it.


    That morning, to help Lu Zhaozhao with her wedding, she hadn¡¯t even had time to eat, and then she was kidnapped by this bunch of bastards.


    And she wrote so many heartbreaking words to Xia Wenqing.


    Thinking of this, Xu Zhenzhen unconsciously tightened her grip on the pastry.


    But in order to prevent harm to the Xia Family, that was all she could do.


    She might never see Xia Wenqing again in her life, but the bond between them remained.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyelids drooped, thinking of the little one inside her belly, unsure whether it was a boy or a girl.


    Her eyelids fluttered, and the slight bow of her head concealed her emotions from the middle-aged man opposite her.


    ¡°Of course, the reason I¡¯ve called you here is for your lifelong affair. You are of age now, and as a member of our family, you must contribute. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± the middle-aged man poured himself a cup of tea from a teapot on the table, then pushed it toward Xu Zhenzhen.


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced at the tea on the table and said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t like tea.¡±


    Then, she looked at the servant behind the middle-aged man and said, ¡°Go prepare some food for me, Chinese style. Cook some porridge and make a few light dishes.¡±


    The servant standing behind the middle-aged man trembled slightly, seeming reluctant to comply with Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s order and instead turned his gaze to the middle-aged man.


    It seemed that unless he spoke, the servant dared not even move.


    The middle-aged man¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, but he finally waved at the servant, ¡°Go ahead, do as she says. Remember, she is the young lady of this household.¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡ª¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but let out a mocking laugh, ¡°I never thought I¡¯d hear you say that one day.¡±


    Her chin lifted slightly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Your health failing you? Or have your court of women been unable to bear you a child?¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    The teapot was smashed to the ground by the middle-aged man, who seemed touched in a sore spot, his eyes fiercely glaring at Xu Zhenzhen, as if he would snap her neck if she spoke another word.


    Xu Zhenzhen hummed indifferently, continuing to disregard the middle-aged man.


    She knew this man, Pavel, had called her here to use her; since he wanted to use her, why should she be polite to him?


    Pavel smirked sinisterly, ¡°Since you¡¯ve put it that way, just stay here quietly for now. Just wait to be married, and soon you¡¯ll be the leader of the Mafia in Country E.¡±


    ¡°Oh? A Puppet Leader then?¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s expression became even more mocking.


    Pavel merely wanted an heir related by blood, someone to continue his legacy, regardless of her willingness. She was expected to stay here and become the so-called ¡°leader.¡±


    Then, like a marionette, prepare for the next Mafia leader.


    She did not want her life to pass in such a daze. If it had not been for Xia Wenqing, the moment they had delivered her to Pavel, she might have ended her own life right before his eyes.


    To let his whole scheming tumble down to naught.


    But she couldn¡¯t do that now, not when she carried Xia Wenqing¡¯s child in her womb. She had to protect the fruit of their love at all costs.


    Having spent so much time with Pavel, Xu Zhenzhen understood this so-called father quite well.


    He had a strong need for control but was also extremely arrogant.


    He would stop at nothing to get what he decided he wanted.


    And he would never consider others¡¯ thoughts.


    She would have had nothing to do with Pavel, but ten years ago, Pavel¡¯s son perished in an explosion set off by an enemy¡¯s revenge, and only then was she brought back as an illegitimate child.


    She wasn¡¯t the only one retrieved.


    That one reason she had managed to escape before turning 18 was due to the surplus of heirs; they wouldn¡¯t miss one like her.


    But there were far too many who coveted this position, and even though they were all Pavel¡¯s children, competition was fierce.


    She, the least interested in the position, ironically became the safest person.


    Pavel gathered all the illegitimate children together and let them fight each other like raising gu, and as a result... not one survived.


    If Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t run fast that year, she might have also met a violent end.


    Even Pavel hadn¡¯t anticipated this turn of events.


    So he had no choice but to send people to recapture Xu Zhenzhen.


    Pavel watched Xu Zhenzhen silently, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Aren¡¯t you satisfied? To be a real leader, you need genuine skills; otherwise, you¡¯re just a puppet.¡±


    He actually hadn¡¯t had high hopes for Xu Zhenzhen at the start, so when he learned that this girl had escaped during the infighting, he was quite disdainful.


    But who could have guessed that her escape would make her the final winner?


    Perhaps as others said, luck is also a part of strength.


    Even if Pavel disliked Xu Zhenzhen, for now, he had no option but to give it a try.


    After all, she was now the only one left of his bloodline.


    He had indeed considered having more children, but he was worried it might be too late.


    He needed to prepare for both possibilities.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows lifted, ¡°So you intend to make me this leader, then actually have your subordinates do the work?¡±


    She understood Pavel; he would never let anything escape his control. Even if he designated her as the leader, he would never truly cede power to her.


    To be exact, as long as he was alive, any real power would stay out of her hands.


    He wouldn¡¯t give a wolf the slightest chance to fight back.


    Even if that wolf seemed as harmless as a kitten at the moment.


    He needed to grasp some leverage or weakness of the other party before he¡¯d relax even a sliver of his wariness.


    Even if that person was his blood-related daughter.


    Pavel¡¯s lips curled up slightly, showing a rare smile of appreciation as he looked at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°If you were a man, you¡¯d definitely be no worse than the last heir, but what a pity...¡±


    Women are naturally more tender-hearted, especially this daughter who had no desire for leadership, making her even more prone to softness.


    What he could do now was to toughen her up.


    By capturing those bound to her, threatening her into submission, he¡¯d make her willingly take the throne of a puppet leader.


    As for whom to capture, he¡¯d decide after completing his investigation.


    His eyes narrowed, watching his daughter who always liked to oppose him. His lips quirked; it seemed he needed to expedite the plan.


    He was eager to see despair, resentment, anger, and bitterness in her eyes. Only someone filled with malice could sit in that position.


    Manipulate peoples¡¯ hearts? Engage in cutthroat competition?


    No, no, no, those were too weak¡ªin training a little white rabbit into a monster that devours without spitting bones was where the real sense of achievement lay...

 Chapter 652: 650 Eating Without Taste

    Chapter 652: Chapter 650 Eating Without Taste


    Pavel thought as his gaze shifted toward Xu Zhenzhen, his eyes carried a hint of obvious mockery.


    Xu Zhenzhen likewise looked up, meeting Pavel¡¯s gaze head-on, neither servile nor arrogant.


    Eventually, Pavel hooked the corners of his mouth, his interest deepening...


    It wasn¡¯t until Xu Zhenzhen had left that Pavel waved toward several men in black standing in the living room, ¡°Where is the information you were supposed to investigate?¡±


    The men in black immediately stepped forward and handed the documents to Pavel.


    ¡°According to our investigation, these individuals frequently associate with the young lady. This man named Xia Wenqing seems to be the young lady¡¯s boyfriend, and this Lu Zhaozhao is the young lady¡¯s best friend. As for the others, they are company executives and the like.¡±


    After finishing his statement, he analyzed seriously, ¡°We feel that currently, the most important for the young lady are Xia Wenqing and Lu Zhaozhao. However, since they both are heirs to the XJ Group, they¡¯re not easy to manipulate.¡±


    After all, both were public figures domestically, especially Lu Zhaozhao, who was also an actress.


    There was also the identity of the president¡¯s wife of the Song Group.


    The group couldn¡¯t help but admire that their young lady, even when abroad, associated with the rich and powerful.


    However, these people were not easy for them to manipulate.


    After all, if an heir to a large corporation went missing, they would definitely use all their resources to find them.


    If they were tracked down, it would be troublesome.


    The Mafia naturally didn¡¯t fear such trifles, but if something can be simplified, why invite trouble?


    Pavel¡¯s fingers closed together, tapping rhythmically on the documents. He slowly closed his eyes as if contemplating what the men had discussed.


    Soon, Pavel¡¯s eyes opened again.


    ¡°This document shows that Lu Zhaozhao was only recently reclaimed by the XJ Group as their daughter?¡± He cast his eyes on the several men in black before him.


    They nodded immediately, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s said that the Lu family and the Xia family had switched their children by mistake, and Lu Zhaozhao was raised in the Lu family.¡±


    Pavel¡¯s eyes, savvy, narrowed, ¡°Then why would the president of the prestigious Song Group marry a daughter from the Lu family?¡±


    According to the documents, the Song Group held a significant position domestically, and logically, such a man should have a wife of higher status.


    Now that Lu Zhaozhao was a daughter of the XJ Group, her status was indeed sufficient, but her previous status was not at all matching.


    The men in black flipped through their research data and then continued, ¡°It¡¯s said that the president of the Song Group had a bad reputation in public, and not many women wanted to marry him. The Lu family needed an investment, so they sent Lu Zhaozhao over. Later, the Xia family recognized Lu Zhaozhao back, and only then did they hold the wedding.¡±


    After the men¡¯s explanation, Pavel was even more convinced that Lu Zhaozhao, who seemed like a winner in life, was actually the least supported among them.


    She had married the president of the Song Group under a contract, but that was after she became the miss of the XJ Group.


    Initially, she wasn¡¯t a daughter raised by the Xia Family, even if she took on the identity of the XJ Group¡¯s young miss, it wouldn¡¯t change her core.


    Perhaps the XJ Group and the Song Group were just using her as a bridge to cooperate.


    His eyes narrowed, ¡°This time, let¡¯s start with this woman, bring in this Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± The men in black hesitated, clearly stunned. In such situations, shouldn¡¯t they kidnap the man the young lady liked and bring him back?


    Why were they kidnapping someone else¡¯s wife?


    Their bewildered expressions caught Pavel¡¯s attention, which irritated him.


    His sharp eyes narrowed, ¡°What? Are you questioning me?¡±


    The men in black quickly shook their heads, ¡°No, no, it¡¯s just that Lu Zhaozhao appears to be quite favored...¡±


    They worried that if Lu Zhaozhao was indeed important, capturing her would be very troublesome.


    Before the men could finish, Pavel cut them off, ¡°That¡¯s settled then, just do as I say.¡±


    Pavel disliked being questioned and disliked acting on others¡¯ suggestions.


    He had been an autocrat for so many years, not to soften his heart for anyone.


    Seeing this, the men knew they had no room to talk, and they simply silenced themselves, following Pavel¡¯s orders.


    Because Xu Zhenzhen had disappeared, the group that was originally planning to stay abroad for a while almost all returned home.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s information had been scrutinized several times by them and they found no clues at all.


    She seemed to have vanished suddenly.


    Lu Zhaozhao also couldn¡¯t taste her food these past two days because of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s disappearance.


    Song Sinian hugged her comfortingly, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault that Zhenzhen disappeared; you don¡¯t need to blame yourself.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°In my last life, Zhenzhen disappeared too. I always thought Zhenzhen¡¯s disappearance was because of my second brother, so... so I didn¡¯t take it seriously, and now Zhenzhen disappeared again...¡±


    Thinking about this, her emotions fluctuated violently, as if she was on the brink of exploding.


    Song Sinian thought about what Lu Zhaozhao said about her last life and held her tightly in his arms, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this life is different from the last one, many things have changed, so this matter will definitely turn out well in the end.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Song Sinian, her teary eyes flashing with hope, seeming to believe him as long as he nodded.


    Song Sinian patted Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back gently, ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. Although Zhenzhen has disappeared, she¡¯s definitely in a safe situation now. If those people had truly wanted her life, they wouldn¡¯t have taken her away so quietly, right?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, acknowledging Song Sinian¡¯s words.


    Song Sinian continued encouragingly, ¡°Besides, you also said that Xu Zhenzhen was pregnant with your second brother¡¯s child. She wouldn¡¯t joke around with your second brother¡¯s child, she¡¯ll definitely protect herself.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao agreed with this, but she was worried that Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t protect herself well.


    She had noticed the signs quite early on, so why hadn¡¯t she managed to prevent it?


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s emotions were practically written all over her face, hard for anyone to miss.


    Song Sinian sighed silently, hugging Lu Zhaozhao tighter, ¡°If you really feel guilty, then you can help think about anything odd about Xu Zhenzhen. Perhaps that could help your second brother and the others figure out where Xu Zhenzhen went.¡±


    He was actually just trying to distract Lu Zhaozhao from thinking too much, giving her something to do was better than her wallowing in self-blame.


    Lu Zhaozhao was already emotionally unstable, having had emotional breakdowns before, he dared not provoke her further...

 Chapter 653: 651: He Actually Knows Nothing

    Chapter 653: Chapter 651: He Actually Knows Nothing


    So I just had to find a suitable reason to distract her.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her little mouth, her eyebrows still tightly furrowed.


    She listened to Song Sinian¡¯s words, something flashed through her mind, and suddenly she seemed to remember something, ¡°The phone! The phone! Zhenzhen¡¯s phone!¡±


    Song Sinian was startled by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, ¡°What phone?¡±


    ¡°Before Zhenzhen left, she always looked pale. I originally thought it was because of her pregnancy, so she felt unwell, but now that I think about it, it¡¯s after every phone call that her expression would look bad...¡± Lu Zhaozhao carefully recalled her memories related to Xu Zhenzhen.


    During these days on the island, because Xu Zhenzhen was pregnant, she paid extra attention to her condition each time.


    Upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Song Sinian immediately understood her meaning, ¡°You mean the other party is probably someone who called or messaged Xu Zhenzhen if we investigate Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s phone call records, we could find clues, right?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly, thrilled that she finally could be of help.


    Seeing her cute reaction, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but stretch out his hand to ruffle her hair, ¡°Good girl, leave this matter to us. You just need to take care of yourself, and occasionally give us some ideas, okay?¡±


    He worried that Lu Zhaozhao might do something dangerous, so he reiterated his caution.


    Lu Zhaozhao also understood what Song Sinian meant, and nodded her head, extra obedient, ¡°Mr. Song, rest assured, I¡¯ll definitely behave. I won¡¯t wander around until Zhenzhen is found.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s go see Xia Family together. They should already have a plan by now. Later, you can tell them about this matter related to Zhenzhen, I think it can achieve twice the result with half the effort.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice was calm, yet inexplicably comforting.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s initially agitated heart was immediately soothed.


    She took a deep breath and tightly hugged Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re by my side, otherwise I really wouldn¡¯t know what to do.¡±


    Song Sinian pressed his lips to her forehead, ¡°Likewise, without you by my side, I would also feel lost. So we are indispensable to each other.¡±


    When he said these words, his eyes and eyebrows were filled with tender smiles that were hard for anyone to resist.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s nose suddenly felt sour as she hugged Song Sinian¡¯s hand tighter.


    Perhaps it was because she thought of a clue, Lu Zhaozhao felt much more confident.


    So, when she saw the Xia Family with their brows furrowed in worry, she was, on the contrary, the most emotionally stable among them.


    Xia Wenqing immediately noticed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s anomaly, and even with a bit of hope, he asked anxiously, ¡°Zhaozhao, do you have any leads?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, but still nodded, ¡°Yes, a little.¡±


    As soon as she spoke, almost everyone¡¯s gaze was focused on her.


    Lu Zhaozhao almost subconsciously gripped Song Sinian¡¯s hand tighter, worried that her idea might not be feasible.


    Song Sinian lifted his hand and patted the back of her hand, comforting her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if this clue doesn¡¯t lead us to Zhenzhen, no one will blame you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Zhaozhao, it¡¯s already great that you thought of a clue that we couldn¡¯t. No matter the outcome, your brother won¡¯t blame you,¡± Xia Wenqing also hurried to agree.


    He was going crazy trying to find Xu Zhenzhen, but no matter what methods they used, they couldn¡¯t find any more information related to her.


    Despite the resources they had poured into the search, they hadn¡¯t found a single clue.


    Xia Wenqing would be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t discouraged.


    His Zhenzhen was carrying his child, and yet he was completely helpless.


    He couldn¡¯t even find her when she was in danger.


    This was the most powerless Xia Wenqing had ever felt in his life.


    Seeing Xia Wenqing¡¯s demeanor, Xia Wenjue couldn¡¯t help but raise his hand to pat his back, ¡°Little sister, just say whatever clue you have. No matter what it is, we have to give it a try now.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, exactly, for the sake of our second sister-in-law and the baby in her belly, we can¡¯t give up!¡± Xia Wenyan affirmed with conviction.


    He had previously had no concept of a partner and child, but now that he had both, he understood even more how important it was to have a child with the person you love.


    Naturally, he didn¡¯t want to see his brother suffer the tragedy of losing his family.


    Lu Zhaozhao, looking at the encouraging gazes around her, took a deep breath and began, ¡°I had noticed that after Zhenzhen checked her phone, her complexion would clearly change, so I think if we start our investigation from Zhenzhen¡¯s call logs, we might find it easier to proceed.¡±


    ¡°Right! Zhenzhen¡¯s phone!¡± Xia Wenqing exclaimed. Ever since Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s phone became unreachable, he had nearly completely forgotten its other potential use.


    Now that it came to mind abruptly, he realized just how foolish he had been.


    Thinking this way, Xia Wenqing¡¯s gaze then directly turned to Xia Wenjue beside him, ¡°Big brother, you have to help me, check who Zhenzhen was in contact with before, and how exactly they took Zhenzhen away.¡±


    ¡°Of course, don¡¯t worry. Your issue is our family¡¯s issue too; I certainly won¡¯t stand by idly.¡±


    After all, the field of computers was his forte, and he definitely wouldn¡¯t let Xia Wenqing¡¯s hopes be dashed.


    The group sat in the living room exchanging information about what each had found.


    But still, there was no good news.


    Song Sinian looked at the living room that quieted down again, pondering for a moment before his calm voice slowly resonated through the room, ¡°I believe that the person who took Zhenzhen away is not likely to let second brother off easily.¡±


    Since Song Sinian¡¯s formal wedding with Lu Zhaozhao, he had started referring to the Xia Family in the same way.


    It was as if he had officially joined the Xia Family.


    Xia Wenqing raised an eyebrow in confusion, ¡°They won¡¯t let me off easily? What do you mean?¡±


    Song Sinian replied with a neutral tone, ¡°It¡¯s just speculation. If the person who took Zhenzhen away wanted to use her to manipulate others, the ones who could deter Zhenzhen would possibly be just you and the child in her womb. If she intentionally doesn¡¯t want the child to be discovered, then the most at risk would be you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    His words left everyone in the room in silence.


    Finally, as if realizing something, Xia Wenqing muttered to himself, ¡°So you¡¯re saying that those controlling Zhenzhen might come after me in the country? They might even kidnap me?¡±


    Song Sinian noncommittally shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s just one possibility. It¡¯s not certain whether they will do such a thing, but if I were them and I needed to control Xu Zhenzhen, I would definitely start with you.¡±

 Chapter 654: 652: Playing the Decoy Now?

    Chapter 654: Chapter 652: Playing the Decoy Now?


    ¡°What a way to consider others as oneself,¡± Xiao Jinglan thought, genuinely inspired with a surge of fighting spirit by Song Sinian¡¯s idea.


    If the other side really needed someone to threaten Xu Zhenzhen, he hoped they would come to him.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°No matter what, the second brother is one of the XJ Corporation¡¯s heirs; even if they want to pressure Zhenzhen, they wouldn¡¯t choose the second brother, would they?¡±


    Xia Wenmo propped his chin, pondering Song Sinian¡¯s idea for a long while, ¡°Is there a possibility that although he is one of the Xia Family¡¯s heirs, he has never been involved in the XJ Corporation¡¯s business operations, and therefore they automatically consider him an heir without any real power?¡±


    An heir without real power is like a pace-runner¡ªwithout any deterrence.


    If the other side really is powerful, they won¡¯t fear an heir without real power.


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s words instantly refocused everyone¡¯s gaze on Xia Wenqing.


    ¡°Otherwise... why don¡¯t we have our dad announce the heir publicly? And then exclude the second brother?¡± Xia Wenyan proposed his suggestion just in time.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s brows rose slightly, ¡°You seem to have forgotten that we¡¯ve given all our shares to Zhaozhao, actually none of us three are heirs.¡±


    Xia Wenmo nodded in agreement, ¡°Exactly, if an heir is to be announced publicly, it should be the announcement of Zhaozhao inheriting the XJ Corporation.¡±


    ¡°That would work! If I¡¯m no longer an heir of the Xia Family, they will definitely kidnap me too if they really want to pressure Zhenzhen, and that way I¡¯ll be able to see Zhenzhen!¡± Xia Wenqing thought of this, and his eyes brightened.


    Although Xu Zhenzhen had been gone for only a few days, it felt like a century to him.


    Every day apart from Xu Zhenzhen was undoubtedly torture for him.


    ¡°I object, doing this would make Zhaozhao the target of XJ Corporation, waiting for her to be targeted,¡± as soon as these words were spoken, Song Sinian immediately rejected their proposal.


    Although announcing an heir publicly and kicking Xia Wenqing out of the heir race was a good fishing tactic, the premise was that it could not harm Lu Zhaozhao.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t give face to anyone.


    Seeing this, Lu Zhaozhao reached out and tugged at Song Sinian, ¡°Mr. Song...¡±


    ¡°Not announcing that Zhaozhao is the heir, we still have many ways to prove that Xia Wenqing is not the heir of XJ Corporation, don¡¯t we?¡± Song Sinian, not caring what they said, fixed his piercing gaze on the Xia Family.


    He didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to be in jeopardy, and he believed the Xia Family felt the same.


    If they didn¡¯t think so, then he wouldn¡¯t mind making them think that way from now on.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dangerous gaze shifted to the Xia Family, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    The Xia Family naturally understood Song Sinian¡¯s meaning¡ªthey had only thought of finding Xu Zhenzhen as quickly as possible, never intending to sacrifice anyone for someone else.


    Xia Wenjue¡¯s voice matched Song Sinian¡¯s, ¡°We have the same thoughts as you; we absolutely will not implicate Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, even if we have to find Zhenzhen, we can¡¯t put Zhaozhao in danger,¡± Xia Wenqing pursed his lips, ¡°I can publicly announce my loss of heir status.¡±


    Xia Wenmo gave Xia Wenqing a look, ¡°Are you sure by doing this, you won¡¯t make them think you are doing it on purpose and thus raise their vigilance?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Everyone fell silent again because they really hadn¡¯t considered this point.


    They all thought that if Xia Wenqing could just simplify her identity a bit, perhaps it would lower the other party¡¯s guard, but no one had thought that suddenly stripping Xia Wenqing of her XJ Corporation identity might raise the other party¡¯s suspicions.


    After all, with Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s disappearance, any major move on their part would appear highly suspicious.


    Xia Wenyan slumped completely onto the couch, wearing an expression of utter despair, ¡°This won¡¯t work, that won¡¯t work, what the hell should we do then?¡±


    Xia Wenjue lifted his hand to pat Xia Wenyan on the shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, we have to take things one step at a time. We¡¯ve already got some clues on hand; all we need to do is expedite the investigation into the clues Zhaozhao has given us and then wait to see if their people will actually come to kidnap someone.¡±


    If they actually did this, it would save them the trouble.


    But just to be safe, they still needed to proceed on two fronts.


    With no other options available, everyone agreed to temporarily proceed with this plan.


    After discussing with the Xia family members, Lu Zhaozhao left with Song Sinian.


    As soon as the two reached the doorway, Xia Wenmo chased after them, ¡°Zhaozhao, I forgot to tell you, Xia Wenjin has made a move on Xiao Mo. I helped her capture him; he is at the abandoned factory in the Western Suburb.¡±


    ¡°Xia Wenjin captured Xiao Mo?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face was one of shock, ¡°She really dares to do what she thinks.¡±


    She had previously heard from Song Sinian that Xia Wenjin had made quite a few plans, and she thought Xia Wenjin just wanted Hao Jiayi to poison someone to death¡ªas revenge for herself.


    But who would have thought that after Xia Wenjin dealt with Zhao Qingfeng, her plan would change completely?


    Now she¡¯s playing a game of using one thing to substitute for another?


    Upon hearing Xia Wenmo¡¯s words, Song Sinian glanced at Lu Zhaozhao and asked, ¡°Do you want to go take a look?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Before Lu Zhaozhao could speak, Xia Wenmo immediately stopped Song Sinian¡¯s thought, ¡°That place in the Western Suburb might be an abandoned factory, but Xia Wenjin, in her thirst for revenge against Xiao Mo, filled it with some mind-shattering things. Better not soil your eyes.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Goodness, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corners of her mouth.


    Xia Wenjin, that woman, had refreshed her worldview yet again.


    She had not expected that after a trip abroad, Xia Wenjin would play so wildly.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows also twitched. He hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenjin¡¯s revenge to be staged quite so dramatically.


    Xia Wenmo naturally noticed their expressions and sighed lightly, ¡°This Xiao Mo seems like an upstanding person, but he¡¯s actually part of the letter circle, and he¡¯s a perpetrator of violence. Xia Wenjin must have been treated badly by him when she was married, which is why she¡¯s retaliated against Xiao Mo like this.¡±


    Xia Wenjin always was one to keep a strict ledger, how could she not pay Xiao Mo back for what he did?


    But as far as he was concerned, it didn¡¯t matter who won in this dog-eat-dog fight; to him, it was only a spectacle.


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t see it, Xiao Mo being that sort of morally corrupt person ...¡± Lu Zhaozhao mentioned the man, filled with revulsion.


    She remembered Xiao Mo¡¯s lecherous face from her past life, and now the news of him being part of the letter circle didn¡¯t seem too surprising.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhaozhao seemed to think of something, ¡°If Xia Wenjin has tied up Xiao Mo, then does that mean Zhao Qingfeng is temporarily taking his place?¡±


    Xia Wenmo nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, Zhao Qingfeng is currently assuming Xiao Mo¡¯s role at the company. However, he has chosen not to stay at the Xiao Family house, probably fearing his identity might be exposed by Xiao Jinglan, after all, she¡¯s Xiao Mo¡¯s own mother ...¡±

 Chapter 655: 653: Will It Affect Your Plan?

    Chapter 655: Chapter 653: Will It Affect Your Plan?


    Lu Zhaozhao listened to Xia Wenmo¡¯s words, her eyes filled with worry as they shifted toward Song Sinian at her side, ¡°Mr. Song, will the replacement of Xiao Mo with Zhao Qingfeng affect your plan?¡±


    She still remembered that the schemes planned by Mr. Song and her elder brother were mainly focused on striking at Xiao Mo.


    Now that it was suddenly Zhao Qingfeng, she was a bit worried about the plan changing.


    Song Sinian gave a light chuckle, raised his hand, and soothingly ruffled Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Xiao Mo was already weak, and now replaced by Zhao Qingfeng who is even weaker than him, how could they possibly turn the tables?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    As long as there was no impact, that was good.


    As for Xiao Mo, let Xia Wenjin handle him however he wanted; after all, this was what Xiao Mo deserved.


    Every cause has its effect, and his retribution was Xia Wenjin...


    Deep into the night, inside the West Suburb Abandoned Factory.


    Xiao Mo was bound by two iron chains at his wrists, completely immobilized.


    Dried blood still marked his forehead, his clothes were filthy, and he looked utterly wretched.


    His eyebrows were furrowed tightly, still pondering who had laid their hands on him.


    Song Sinian?


    He had found out what he¡¯d been doing?


    Impossible, even if Song Sinian had discovered it, he wouldn¡¯t have someone tie him up and bring him here.


    Then who could it be?


    He didn¡¯t remember offending any powerful figures recently.


    While he was lost in thought, a woman¡¯s figure slowly appeared before him, and Xiao Mo was stunned.


    Because he did not recognize the person at all.


    ¡°Why have you brought me here?¡± Xiao Mo forced himself to remain calm, still holding onto a sliver of hope that maybe the person had got the wrong person, and then he could be easily let go.


    Xia Wenjin looked at Xiao Mo, trying hard to maintain his composure, and scoffed, ¡°Why have you been brought here? Do you really have no idea? How many good deeds have you, Mr. Xiao Mo, done that I would need to jog your memory?¡±


    Hearing himself referred to as ¡°Mr. Xiao Mo,¡± his face instantly darkened.


    This meant the person had come directly for him and hadn¡¯t made a mistake or got the wrong person.


    But Xiao Mo stared at Xia Wenjin¡¯s face for a long time and could not find any information related to this woman in his mind.


    He had no choice but to stiffen his resolve and speak again, ¡°Miss, I have no quarrel with you; if I have offended you in some way, we can talk it out.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Talk it out? But I don¡¯t want to...¡± Xia Wenjin sneered, then waved at the two bodyguards beside her, signalling one of them to approach with a baton, while the other one took out a phone and aimed it at Xiao Mo.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s heart suddenly seized with nerves, and he instinctively tried to move back, but both his hands were chained, making it impossible to evade.


    As he saw the tall bodyguard approaching him with the electric shock baton, Xiao Mo yelled even louder, ¡°We can talk this out, whatever I did wrong, I can apologize! Truly! Just tell me where I was mistaken!¡±


    A wise man submits to the circumstances; whatever the other party demanded, he was prepared to agree.


    After all, his life was most important.


    Xia Wenjin saw his panic-stricken expression and suddenly remembered Xiao Mo¡¯s ferocious face as he used those disgusting things on her.


    He said he loved hearing her scream in agony, and now, she wanted to hear it too.


    Before Xia Wenjin could snap out of her thoughts, the tall bodyguard had already pressed the electric shock baton against Xiao Mo¡¯s body.


    ¡°Ah!!!!¡±


    A scream akin to that of a pig being slaughtered instantly filled the sky.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s lips curled slightly, and she suddenly understood why Xiao Mo loved listening so much, that trembling and desperate voice somehow sounded quite pleasant.


    Was this the legendary process of doubting someone, understanding someone, and then becoming someone?


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s gaze fell on the electric shock baton in the tall bodyguard¡¯s hand, and suddenly gestured for him to hand it over.


    Now that she had understood someone and become someone, her next step was to surpass that someone.


    To let him truly feel the despair she had experienced during that period.


    ¡°Enjoy it, Young Master Xiao Mo,¡± she taunted, ¡°after all, we will be spending a lot of time together in the future. You better behave...¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait a moment, I... AHH!!!¡±


    Before Xiao Mo could finish his words, he screamed out in agony once again.


    Xia Wenjin was in no hurry; every time Xiao Mo managed to say a word or half a word, she would shock him a few times, toying with him like a caught mouse.


    Letting him think he had a chance, yet entirely indifferent to his plight.


    This feeling of complete control over someone¡¯s destiny was particularly comforting for Xia Wenjin.


    It didn¡¯t take long before Xiao Mo was tormented into a sorry state by her.


    Having been tormented by Xiao Mo before, Xia Wenjin of course knew to what extent he could be pushed without serious consequences.


    This was indeed thanks to him, but she didn¡¯t want him to know that just yet.


    She wanted to keep having her fun with him.


    Xia Wenjin thought this and gave her bodyguards a look, instructing, ¡°Keep a close eye on him. Don¡¯t let him die. I still want to play with him in the future. After all, where else would I find such an entertaining toy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss,¡± responded the two bodyguards almost in unison.


    Although they were speechless about her actions, as long as she didn¡¯t harm anyone from the Xia Family, they didn¡¯t mind helping out.


    Moreover, since Xiao Mo was disliked by the Xia Family, they cared even less.


    Leaving the West Suburb Abandoned Factory, Xia Wenjin got straight into the car, and only once the two bodyguards were onboard did she speak up, ¡°How¡¯s Zhao Qingfeng doing?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± The conspicuous silence from the two bodyguards immediately gave Xia Wenjin a bad feeling.


    Zhao Qingfeng was an unstable man to begin with, which is why she didn¡¯t consult him before taking the liberty to give him plastic surgery to look like Xiao Mo.


    If she had discussed it with him, who knew what trouble he might have caused.


    So, she had to act now and explain later.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows knotted in an instant, ¡°Did he run away?¡±


    Both bodyguards shook their heads.


    ¡°No, Miss. It¡¯s just that he¡¯s currently staying at a hotel, and the people the hotel hires... are a bit of a mixed bag,¡± the tall bodyguard said, without looking at Xia Wenjin¡¯s face.


    After all, it was quite difficult to say such things, especially to a woman.


    The short bodyguard had a similar expression to the tall one, with a feeling of being at a loss for words.


    ¡°The good thing is the hotel staff are our people. If someone familiar with Xiao Mo saw him, chances are... it might give the game away.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face grew even more displeased, and though she didn¡¯t know the specifics of what the two were referring to, she knew it couldn¡¯t be good.


    Her expression changed and changed again, and she said in a serious tone, ¡°What exactly did he do in the hotel? I want the two of you to report to me in detail!¡±

 Chapter 656: 654: I wont hold back then!

    Chapter 656: Chapter 654: I won¡¯t hold back then!


    ¡°He...¡± The two bodyguards glanced at each other, still somewhat uncertain whether they should tell Xia Wenjin.


    After all, the matter was indeed a bit embarrassing to discuss.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed as she watched the two bodyguards¡¯ faces sink, ¡°No matter what he has done, if you tell me now, I definitely won¡¯t blame you. Tell me right now! Otherwise, if I find out on my own, I won¡¯t be so forgiving!¡±


    The taller bodyguard gave a look to the shorter one, and then they started to speak, one after another.


    ¡°After Zhao Qingfeng had plastic surgery to look like Xiao Mo, he met a woman who used to have a good relationship with Xiao Mo. Then the two of them went out for a meal and after a short while... they went to a hotel together.¡±


    What happened next went without saying.


    A man and a woman, after having a pleasant dinner conversation, go to a hotel room together; anyone would know what they did.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face soured. She truly hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Qingfeng to be so bold as to directly take a familiar person of Xiao Mo to a hotel room under Xiao Mo¡¯s guise!


    She rubbed her temples with a headache, ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that this woman is still at the hotel?¡±


    ¡°Um...¡± The shorter bodyguard pursed his lips, ¡°This... this was yesterday. Today he went to the company, and then saw an employee who looked okay...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face almost turned green on the spot.


    Seriously, is there something wrong with Zhao Qingfeng?


    He¡¯d only been pretending to be Xiao Mo for two days without a clear understanding of anything, and he was bold enough to take advantage of a subordinate?


    Isn¡¯t he afraid of getting caught outright?


    Thinking of what Zhao Qingfeng had done, Xia Wenjin suddenly wondered whether having Zhao Qingfeng undergo plastic surgery to impersonate Xiao Mo was a good or a bad idea.


    The taller and shorter bodyguards watched as Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression changed several times, and then asked softly, ¡°Miss, where to now? Do we go back, or...¡±


    ¡°Go to the hotel where Zhao Qingfeng is now!¡± Xia Wenjin bit her teeth angrily.


    She needed to properly teach that damned man a lesson and make him understand what he could and could not do.


    The two bodyguards obediently took Xia Wenjin to the hotel.


    However, they did not go straight up but waited for the woman from the hotel room to leave before they accompanied Xia Wenjin to Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s hotel room.


    They made a call to Zhao Qingfeng before going upstairs; otherwise, they might have had to wait downstairs all night.


    ¡°Miss Feng Ya, what brings you here?¡± Upon seeing Xia Wenjin appear, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s smile was particularly brilliant.


    At first, when he was inexplicably made over to look like someone else, he found it hard to accept. It was only after Xia Wenjin assured him that she would help him avoid being exposed that he agreed to impersonate this man called Xiao Mo.


    He just didn¡¯t expect this man¡¯s identity to be so advantageous, not only surrounded by beautiful women wanting to throw themselves at him but also a department manager at Song Group.


    A true winner in life.


    It¡¯s just that he didn¡¯t know what the relationship between this man and Feng Ya Meizi was, to the point of him taking over his identity.


    Luckily, there wasn¡¯t much for him to do at the company, otherwise, who knows what trouble he could have caused.


    Seeing his ingratiating expression, Xia Wenjin sneered coldly, ¡°Why do I have time to come here? Isn¡¯t it because you¡¯ve been fooling around under Xiao Mo¡¯s identity, almost getting caught, yet you¡¯re still so smug?¡±


    Xiao Mo didn¡¯t get involved with the women around him before, not because he was exceptionally chaste, but without special tricks, he simply couldn¡¯t do it.


    But this Zhao Qingfeng, he didn¡¯t seem to reject anyone who came to him.


    If she had discovered this a few days later, would he have slept with all the women who were interested in Xiao Mo?


    As Xia Wenjin thought about this, a nameless fire began to rise from the pit of her stomach.


    Especially when she saw Zhao Qingfeng wearing Xiao Mo¡¯s face, smiling at her with a grin, she couldn¡¯t help wanting to slap him twice.


    She remembered the times she was with Xiao Mo, every time he smiled like that, she would be severely ¡°taught¡± by him at night, ending up with bruises all over her body.


    Now, when she saw that kind of smile, she would still feel a chill running down her spine.


    Even though she had just beaten up Xiao Mo, it still hadn¡¯t changed how she felt about being tormented by him back then.


    Xia Wenjin took a deep breath, and her expression when looking at Zhao Qingfeng turned even uglier.


    Zhao Qingfeng, feeling a bit guilty, touched his nose; he knew that he had gone a bit too far.


    He could understand why Xia Wenjin was angry.


    In the past, all his resources in the industry were coaxed from all kinds of wealthy women. He was always serving others, flattering them, revolving around them.


    Now, having suddenly switched roles, it was natural that he had no resistance. Whenever someone flattered him a little, wanting to have something happen with him, he would go along with it like a duck to water.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that in just two days, he would have slept with two women who were both not bad in terms of figure and appearance.


    And it was the women who took the initiative.


    His vanity had been greatly satisfied, never once considering that there could be any serious consequences to his actions.


    Now, faced with Xia Wenjin, he felt a trace of panic.


    Fortunately, he had only slept with two so far, and these two, he had heard a little about them; they weren¡¯t anyone formidable.


    Moreover, the woman who had just left, needed something from him, which made things even simpler.


    He hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly and then sat down beside Xia Wenjin, his eyes full of entreaty, ¡°Miss Feng Ya, don¡¯t be angry, I just changed identities and haven¡¯t gotten used to it yet. As soon as you came, I immediately realized my mistake. Don¡¯t be mad, okay?¡±


    His voice was very soft and gentle, like the seduction between lovers.


    Zhao Qingfeng had no other skills, but his ability to sweet-talk women was definitely one of them.


    Especially when it came to women who seemed to be high above, he had acted submissive to them more than just once or twice, and he was naturally skilled at it.


    Xia Wenjin was slightly taken aback, her gaze fixed on Zhao Qingfeng, her expression a bit odd.


    She and Xiao Mo had been tricked into marriage, and if it weren¡¯t for his extreme treatment of her back then, just based on Xiao Mo¡¯s face, there wouldn¡¯t be anything wrong with having something going on with him.


    But that man had heavy tastes which she couldn¡¯t match. Now, with Zhao Qingfeng wearing Xiao Mo¡¯s face and speaking to her in such soft tones, she actually found it quite comforting.


    Zhao Qingfeng, a shrewd man, saw the easing of her expression and took note.


    Although he didn¡¯t know what the relationship between this woman and Xiao Mo was, it seemed in the end she was still a woman. No matter how fierce or foul-tempered, faced with a man¡¯s soft words, she couldn¡¯t produce much of a fiery response.


    Holding such a judgment, Zhao Qingfeng had even more ideas in mind.


    Having always relied on his face to make a living, he felt not the slightest shame in stooping to seduce women; he even took pride in it...

 Chapter 657: 655: Just Gave It Our All

    Chapter 657: Chapter 655: Just Gave It Our All


    Xia Wenjin glanced at him and sneered, ¡°What? You can¡¯t handle it for a day without causing trouble?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng quickly waved his hands, ¡°How could that be? With Miss Feng Ya here, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll adapt quickly.¡±


    He tentatively covered Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand with his, even intentionally or unintentionally caressing her fingertips.


    As if teasing Xia Wenjin.


    Although his movements were not very obvious, both bodyguards noticed.


    They silently exchanged glances, standing still as if they had seen nothing.


    Xia Wenjin had long ceased to be an innocent maiden, previously worrying about survival abroad.


    After returning to the country, she was focused solely on revenge, having never even paid attention to such matters before.


    Now provoked by Zhao Qingfeng, she unexpectedly wanted to do something.


    Xia Wenjin glanced at the two bodyguards beside her, gave them a look, and then said flatly, ¡°You two go out first, I need to have a good talk with him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss, we¡¯ll be in the lobby on the first floor.¡±


    ¡°Miss, if there are any issues, feel free to call us.¡±


    As they spoke, they still kept a wary eye on Zhao Qingfeng.


    After all, they were bodyguards and had to show it.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t mind at all, but Zhao Qingfeng was clearly dissatisfied.


    The Miss didn¡¯t care and these bodyguards still dared to glare at him?


    Hmph!


    Soon, when he had this woman obedient under him, he wanted to see who would end up at a disadvantage!


    With that thought, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s gaze towards Xia Wenjin turned even more intense, ¡°Miss, from now on, let me serve you. I guarantee I am better than anyone else...¡±


    While speaking, he grabbed Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand, then appeared very affectionate as he kissed it.


    In the art of flirtation, he had never lost. No matter how proud the woman, if there was even a small gap for him to exploit, he could make her his, one hundred percent of the time.


    Except for that woman, Lu Zhaozhao.


    That was his biggest failure in life, almost ruining him completely.


    He had even thought about avenging himself on Lu Zhaozhao.


    But that was when his face was ruined, he had no money, and no future.


    With nothing left to lose, he had nothing to lose.


    But now, he cherished his life dearly.


    He was now a department manager at Song Group, surrounded by women who fawned over him.


    As long as he didn¡¯t provoke Lu Zhaozhao again, his future days would surely be smooth.


    As for the woman before him, she seemed easy to please. As long as he whispered sweet nothings, his days would be good.


    Moreover, this woman now needed something from him.


    Xia Wenjin looked down at Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face, pinched his chin, then suddenly smiled, ¡°Then let¡¯s see how good your service skills are.¡±


    ¡°No problem!¡± Zhao Qingfeng said, and immediately advanced, pressing her onto the couch.


    Their clothes soon fell to the floor beside the couch...


    After a long time, the two had moved from the sofa to the bedroom.


    Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Qingfeng to actually be quite capable, and she came to view this man in a new light.


    After all, he was the first man she had been with since her transformation, so it was somewhat special.


    Moreover, since they now shared some common goals, Xia Wenjin felt a bit more tender towards him.


    She leaned against Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s chest, drawing circles on his chest with her hand before she slowly asked, ¡°Do you want to be the president of Song Group?¡±


    When she said this, Zhao Qingfeng stiffened, seemingly unable to believe her words.


    He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Xia Wenjin and chuckled lightly, ¡°Did I just hear that wrong? The president of Song Group?¡±


    The Song Group was a formidable company, well known throughout Beijing Circle.


    Being a department manager at the Song Group already felt like a dream to him, let alone being the president of the Song Group.


    Although he was quite ambitious, he was still down-to-earth; the position of president of the Song Group was far too out of reach for an ordinary person like him.


    He didn¡¯t dare to hope for that.


    Seeing his reaction, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but scoff, ¡°What? You think I¡¯m deceiving you?¡±


    Even if Zhao Qingfeng truly thought so, he wouldn¡¯t say it out loud in front of Xia Wenjin.


    He remembered that his position was given to him by this woman.


    He had previously investigated Feng Ya Meizi, heard that she was from the Fengya Family of R Country.


    As for the Fengya Family, they were said to be quite powerful in their own country.


    Whether or not she had the capability to secure the presidency of Song Group, he wasn¡¯t sure. He only knew that this woman¡¯s identity was extraordinary, and following her would definitely be better than scavenging on his own.


    But the position of president of Song Group...


    He still felt it was a bit too far-fetched.


    To speak frankly, even if he were placed in the position of president of Song Group, he wouldn¡¯t know what to do.


    He might just declare bankruptcy as soon as he got hold of the company.


    However, Zhao Qingfeng had a good mental fortitude; he didn¡¯t show much on his face and seemed quite indifferent, which Xia Wenjin liked.


    She raised her hand and ruffled Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s hair, then continued, ¡°The original holder of your current identity was the illegitimate son of the former president of Song Group, so as long as Song Sinian fails to become the president, you will be the next president.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s pupils shook.


    He had always thought that the original holder of his identity wasn¡¯t anyone important, which was why he could be easily replaced.


    Only now, upon hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, did he realize whom he had actually replaced.


    Zhao Qingfeng looked at Xia Wenjin nervously, ¡°What if the previous person comes back...¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t come back. Just focus on being Manager Xiao,¡± Xia Wenjin said, her hand brushing across his face.


    Watching his ingratiating smile, Xia Wenjin¡¯s emotions surged again. She flipped over and sat on top of Zhao Qingfeng, her gaze becoming fiery as she looked at him.


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s heart thumped under Xia Wenjin¡¯s intense gaze.


    Having entertained many wealthy women, he wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with women who had unsatisfied desires, but someone as demanding as her was a first for him.


    Normally, those women would be happy for a day after his services.


    But while Xia Wenjin was pleased, her demands clearly exceeded those of others.


    He had taken medication earlier because he was planning to meet another woman, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to last so long.


    Feng Ya Meizi was clearly a woman who had been starved for a long time...

 Chapter 658: 656: Only Need One Face

    Chapter 658: Chapter 656: Only Need One Face


    He thought he had appeased her with what had just occurred.


    But to his dismay, she wanted more!


    Who wouldn¡¯t feel weak at the knees in that situation?


    Zhao Qingfeng, though cursing inwardly, maintained his composure on the surface.


    After all, he couldn¡¯t afford to offend this woman; whatever she desired at the moment was going to happen.


    Zhao Qingfeng took Xia Wenjin¡¯s hand, pretending to ask casually, ¡°You mentioned you want me to become the President of Song Group, but relying solely on Xiao Mo¡¯s identity surely isn¡¯t enough, right? What else should I do?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was startled by his question, only then realizing the implications.


    She hadn¡¯t thoroughly considered this problem.


    When she had married Xiao Mo, he was entirely focused on securing the position of President of Song Group.


    Having worked in the Song Group, he was well-acquainted with the internal affairs of the company.


    But Zhao Qingfeng was different; as an actor, he was clueless about the inner workings of the Song Group, an oversight she hadn¡¯t previously contemplated.


    She had thought it would be simple to replace someone by just having a similar face, just as she had replaced Feng Ya Meizi.


    It only required a face.


    Although Feng Ya Meizi had been an heir to the Fengya Family, she lost her status due to offending a member of the Rimu Family.


    Otherwise, it would have been challenging for her to take over Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s identity.


    Reflecting on this, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but feel like a favored child of destiny, fortunate enough to have obtained Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s identity so conveniently.


    Seeing that Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t spoken for a while and made no further moves, Zhao Qingfeng secretly sighed with relief.


    ¡°I think we need to plan this carefully. I¡¯m currently a department manager at Song Group, but most of the work is handled by several secretaries, so I only need to briefly review the proposals submitted to me. But the position of President...¡±


    Song Group was certainly filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. His current position was partly because he had been connected to the Song family through relatives.


    He could still bluff his way through this role.


    Below him were employees willing to work hard for him, and above him were superiors capable of controlling the overall situation.


    No matter what issues arose, there were people available to take responsibility.


    But if he were placed in a decision-making position as President, he wouldn¡¯t have the skills to bluff his way through.


    Although he hadn¡¯t ventured into the business sector before, he knew a bit through his extensive interactions with business circles in the entertainment industry.


    Song Sinian was a ruthless figure in the business world.


    His ability to hold his position in Song Group wasn¡¯t merely because he was the oldest grandson of the Song Family, but because of his iron-fisted approach.


    The predators that Song Sinian could control as President of Song Group didn¡¯t mean he could do the same.


    Especially since he had no real skills to speak of, and even if he tried to learn now, it might be too late.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, surprised that Zhao Qingfeng was being realistic.


    She had thought that every man coveted the President¡¯s position in the Song Group, even Feng Jiyue from the Feng Family, who was utterly incompetent, dreamt of becoming President.


    They never considered that they were not suited for the role.


    Xia Wenjin pondered for a moment, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this. As long as you secure the position of President of Song Group, leaving the rest to me will be enough.¡±


    Although she lacked the talent in this area, Fengya Ichiro wouldn¡¯t miss such an excellent opportunity.


    It didn¡¯t matter if she was unqualified; she had support behind her and could hire those with the necessary expertise by spending money.


    Having the position and the money was sufficient.


    Zhao Qingfeng saw that Xia Wenjin had already made preparations, so he naturally stopped worrying.


    Why bother pushing himself when he could just live comfortably off a woman?


    Isn¡¯t it nice to lay low?


    Zhao Qingfeng thought like this, but suddenly felt that he still needed to take good care of Xia Wenjin.


    He subtly picked up the cup that was on the bedside table and took a few sips of the water inside.


    He had put medicine in it earlier, although he had drunk more than half of it at once, now only a part remained.


    But it should be enough to spice things up.


    He was determined to completely conquer this woman in bed today!


    Though the early spring was chilly, the afternoon temperature was quite warm.


    Lu Zhaozhao, constantly worried about Xu Zhenzhen, almost grew mushrooms waiting at home for news.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t stand to watch, so he had someone take her out to do some shopping.


    With Xu Zhenzhen away, he wasn¡¯t comfortable letting her continue shooting on the drama set.


    Lu Zhaozhao didn¡¯t like too many bodyguards following her, so Song Sinian had no choice but not to assign other bodyguards to her.


    Nor could he find a suitable female bodyguard on short notice.


    Therefore, he simply wouldn¡¯t let her go to the set.


    As Lu Zhaozhao was also troubled by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s situation, even if she had gone to the set, she probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to focus on her filming.


    She decided to listen to Song Sinian, take a walk, and clear her mind while shopping, maybe even stumble upon more clues concerning Xu Zhenzhen.


    Lu Zhaozhao, holding her milk tea, aimlessly walked around the mall.


    As she passed by a store, she subconsciously looked towards the shop¡¯s front glass window, which just happened to reflect her image.


    She reached up to adjust a stray lock of hair behind her ear, but suddenly noticed a figure swiftly moving from within the mirror to one side.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised. Was it a bodyguard sent by Song Sinian?


    She knew that after Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s disappearance, Song Sinian had also had bodyguards follow her.


    But she wasn¡¯t sure how close they actually were to her.


    Her lips pursed slightly, she didn¡¯t mind much, after all, Song Sinian was just being considerate, and there was no reason not to accept it.


    Yet soon, she began to suspect whether the person following her was truly a bodyguard.


    Because the man who looked like a bodyguard was always trying to get closer to her.


    Especially when she was alone, he would start moving closer to her, but if he noticed more people around, he would back off.


    Furthermore, from various mirrors and glasses she passed, the man clearly resembled someone from M country.


    Although there were many people from M country in China, having a person from M country follow her after the incident with Xu Zhenzhen, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but overthink.


    Thinking this, she pretended to see some clothes she liked, took a photo with her phone, and then called Song Sinian.


    ¡°Hello? Zhaozhao?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s voice came through the phone, laced with a trace of confusion.


    Lately, Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t been in a good mood, and even if she went out, she wouldn¡¯t enthusiastically share clothes with him, making today¡¯s situation a bit unusual.


    ¡°Honey, do you think this dress is pretty? If you think it¡¯s pretty, come to the mall, and I¡¯ll try it on for you to see?¡±


    Her voice was sweet, sounding rather coquettish.


    But Song Sinian immediately noticed the difference in her tone.


    He almost immediately stood up, ¡°Nian Nian, stay where you are. Don¡¯t move; I¡¯m sending someone to pick you up right now.¡±

 Chapter 659: 657: Treasured Like a Gem

    Chapter 659: Chapter 657: Treasured Like a Gem


    ¡°Mm-hmm! Okay, I was just planning to look at this outfit again; there are quite a lot of people in this store, so remember to come quickly,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said as she walked into the high-end fashion boutique.


    Inside, there indeed were many people, especially the wives from the Beijing Circle.


    Many of them recognized Lu Zhaozhao instantly and, thinking of her status with Sinian Song, they approached her to greet her eagerly.


    ¡°Mrs. Song, what a coincidence to see you here shopping for clothes!¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Song, which design caught your eye? I¡¯m also looking to buy a dress. Would you like to shop together?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Song, you look stunning today. No wonder Mr. Song treasures you so much...¡±


    The continuous stream of compliments made Lu Zhaozhao a bit uncomfortable.


    However, compared to her own safety, this discomfort was nothing.


    Lu Zhaozhao laughed softly and nodded to each, ¡°I just came to look around; since there were many people in the store, I thought I¡¯d browse.¡±


    Everyone didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhaozhao to be so approachable, and their boldness grew.


    The few people who had been following Lu Zhaozhao saw her enter a high-end fashion boutique and immediately frowned.


    They had planned to kidnap her when there were fewer people around.


    But as she moved, more people appeared, and their several attempts to seize her discreetly had all failed.


    Seeing so many people now inside the boutique, they knew that capturing Lu Zhaozhao would be unlikely for a while.


    Still, they weren¡¯t ready to give up such a perfect opportunity. After all, since they had set their sights on Lu Zhaozhao, this was the first time she had left the house.


    If they let her go back now, who knew when next she would come out.


    With this in mind, they decided to just wait outside the store.


    They couldn¡¯t believe she would stay in the high-end fashion store all day, could she?


    Unexpectedly, before they could act on their thoughts, they were suddenly dragged away silently.


    When Lu Zhaozhao stepped out of the high-end fashion store again, Sinian Song was already by her side.


    She held onto his arm, casting wary glances around, but what she didn¡¯t expect was the absence of any suspicious figures.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, ¡°Huh? Strange, there were a few peculiar-looking people around earlier...¡±


    Sinian Song¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, pretending to be oblivious, he raised his hand to rub her head, ¡°Is there anything else you want to buy?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t actually plan to buy anything, I just wanted to clear my mind. I didn¡¯t expect to encounter those sneaky people while doing so.¡±


    ¡°You did well, knowing to call me right away and to go to a crowded place to avoid them,¡± Sinian Song said, thoroughly approving as he pinched her cheek.


    He had arranged bodyguards for Lu Zhaozhao, but they were strictly for her safety.


    He hadn¡¯t considered whether they would be sufficient if someone attempted to kidnap her.


    Had Lu Zhaozhao not informed him beforehand, the bodyguards tasked with protecting her might not have done so well.


    The mere thought reignited a long-dormant ferocity within Sinian Song.


    He was never a good man; it was only Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s presence that made him feel the warmth of the human world.


    But that did not mean he had become a good man.


    He always despised the methods of the irrelevant, but if those methods were used against Lu Zhaozhao, that was a different matter entirely.


    ¡°Mr. Song?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small hand suddenly tugged at Song Sinian¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Are we going home now?¡±


    Song Sinian lowered his eyelids, his deep eyes glancing at Lu Zhaozhao before wrapping his arms around her.


    His chin rested on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, gently rubbing against her neck before he spoke languidly, ¡°Zhaozhao, I was terrified on the way here just now.¡±


    His pitifully coquettish demeanor really made it hard for her to resist.


    His mood still hadn¡¯t recovered by then, the whole person was cold, and even his coquetry carried a bit of confusion.


    It was unlike now, where he mastered the essence of being coquettish so accurately that it broke her heart.


    Lu Zhaozhao turned her head and gently patted Song Sinian¡¯s back, then kissed his ear.


    ¡°How do you want me to comfort you?¡±


    As she spoke, her small hand also tenderly patted his back.


    She knew well that he wasn¡¯t as shocked as he claimed, but she just loved to indulge him.


    Song Sinian rubbed his nose against her neck and said, ¡°Zhaozhao, you know.¡±


    As he spoke, he slowly parted his lips, revealing sharp canine teeth and gently bit her fair neck¡ªan invitation all too clear.


    Lu Zhaozhao was almost amused by Song Sinian¡¯s shamelessness.


    Due to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s issues these past few days, she hadn¡¯t been feeling up for it, so even their wedding night had been overlooked.


    Song Sinian had consistently nagged her about this issue recently, and she had been half-heartedly putting it off.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that now he would change his reasons, but Lu Zhaozhao still couldn¡¯t handle him any differently.


    She sighed silently, a bit helplessly stretching her hand to rub his head, ¡°All right, all right, I agree.¡±


    Song Sinian looked like he¡¯d heard some blockbuster news, his eyes gleaming brightly.


    He suddenly kissed Lu Zhaozhao on the cheek, ¡°Zhaozhao, you are really wonderful.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao covered her face¡ªno, she wasn¡¯t wonderful at all...


    Two hours later, Song Sinian looked at the now-exhausted Lu Zhaozhao sleeping on the bed, his eyes filled with tenderness.


    He slowly stood up, tucked the corner of the blanket around her, then left the bedroom.


    Downstairs, seeing Qian Hong, he nodded at her softly, ¡°Take good care of Zhaozhao.¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir.¡±


    Zhao Xi, who had been waiting on the first floor, immediately stood up from the couch upon seeing Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian¡¯s normally soft eyes were now a cold sheet of ice. He glanced at Zhao Xi and coldly asked, ¡°Have those people been caught?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°These people seem to have had professional training. Since they¡¯ve been caught, they¡¯ve shown no sign of talking. Do you want to interrogate them personally?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, ¡°Since they won¡¯t talk, let¡¯s loosen their muscles a bit.¡±


    Saying so, he slowly stood up and casually straightened the cufflinks on his wrist, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Uh, sir, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± Zhao Xi hurriedly followed Song Sinian, just about to report something.


    But Song Sinian had already opened the front door ahead of him, and someone was already standing there, as if they had been waiting for a long time.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed, turning to Zhao Xi and seemingly waiting for his explanation...

 Chapter 660: 658: Blocking the Door

    Chapter 660: Chapter 658: Blocking the Door


    Zhao Xi felt sweat forming on his forehead.


    The third young master from the Xia Family was so restless, barely minutes after he made a phone call, he was already at the Shen Family¡¯s gate.


    He coughed lightly, ¡°Sir, the third young master of the Xia Family had previously assigned bodyguards to follow the madam, so...¡±


    So when the madam was targeted, Xia Wenmo knew as well.


    Song Sinian hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenmo to find out so quickly, even going as far as to block their house¡¯s entrance.


    Xia Wenmo looked at Song Sinian standing at the doorway and raised an eyebrow, ¡°I heard that the people who wanted to harm Zhaozhao had all been captured by you. How about we check them out together?¡±


    The corners of his mouth slightly curved upward with a hint of a smirk.


    Just that casual glance revealed the malice in his eyes.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils narrowed, ¡°Have you also guessed who sent that group of people?¡±


    Xia Wenmo nodded, ¡°It¡¯s not hard to guess. The domestic weaklings don¡¯t have the time, the energy, nor the courage, but some ignorant trash from overseas is a different story.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was, apart from Xia Wenqing, the closest to Xu Zhenzhen.


    If they refrained from targeting Xia Wenqing because of his status as the heir to XJ Group, they would switch their target.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao was the CEO¡¯s wife of the Song Group and one of the heirs to the XJ Group,


    because she was acknowledged by the XJ Group later, they presumed that she was not crucial to the XJ Group.


    Song Sinian¡¯s public reputation had not been good, compounded with rumors of his aversion to women.


    They might think that Song Sinian married Lu Zhaozhao merely to improve his reputation.


    That was their thought when they first learned that Lu Zhaozhao married Song Sinian.


    If they hadn¡¯t seen with their own eyes how seriously Song Sinian doted on Zhaozhao, they would have found it hard to believe.


    It was even harder for outsiders to know the truth.


    So, when someone intended to harm Lu Zhaozhao, the first thing he thought of was the group that had taken Xu Zhenzhen.


    It seemed Xu Zhenzhen was quite useful to them.


    Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t risk coming to the country to kidnap a CEO¡¯s wife.


    Thinking of this, Xia Wenmo suddenly grew interested in the people who had kidnapped Xu Zhenzhen.


    He intended to personally pry their mouths open one by one, to let them understand who they could touch and who they couldn¡¯t.


    Song Sinian¡¯s motives were similar to Xia Wenmo¡¯s, but he was furious about their attempt to kidnap Lu Zhaozhao.


    Since they disregarded Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s status and tried to harm her, he was not going to be polite.


    The two men with aligned interests quickly arrived at the place where the kidnappers were held.


    It was a house in the suburbs, owned by Song Sinian. The basement had been specially remodeled and now served as an interrogation room.


    When Song Sinian and Xia Wenmo arrived, four men in black were each bound alone with chains and handcuffs in their respective small rooms.


    Their eyes were covered, leaving them only able to judge incoming people by hearing.


    ¡°Tsks, everything is quite well-prepared,¡± Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t help but comment as soon as he spoke.


    He had initially thought Song Sinian was paranoid, but it turned out the man was crazier than him.


    Tsk tsk... If it weren¡¯t for Zhaozhao deeply loving him, this guy would definitely not be fit to be his brother-in-law.


    Of course, Song Sinian did not miss the disdain and complexity in Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyes, he glanced at him lightly, ¡°There are four people in total, two for each of us. Whoever extracts a clue first will take command. How about that?¡±


    He knew Xia Wenmo was not a simple character, and if he got any leads on his own, he might act independently.


    ¡°Rather than beat around the bush, let¡¯s set some clear rules and save any trouble in between,¡± Song Sinian suggested, showing a slight discontent.


    However, the man was ultimately captured by Song Sinian¡¯s subordinates. He wanted to negotiate terms, but he lacked the leverage.


    He hesitated for only three seconds before compromising, ¡°Alright, if I manage to extract some clues, you better not back out later.¡±


    ¡°Mm, it¡¯s a deal,¡± Song Sinian slightly tilted his chin upwards, ¡°Out of these four people, you can choose two, and I¡¯ll take the rest.¡±


    Xia Wenmo raised an eyebrow, noncommittal about Song Sinian¡¯s approach.


    After he took over the group from his father, he removed many obstacles and had never lost in an interrogation.


    How could he possibly lose to Song Sinian, this brash young man?


    He slightly lifted his chin and pointed at the two rooms at the front, saying, ¡°Then let them be.¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll take rooms three and four.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he took Zhao Xi with him to room three.


    Zhao Xi also looked nervous. He was aware of his boss¡¯s methods, but competing against Xia Wenmo was something he had never anticipated.


    Once they entered room three, Zhao Xi saw Song Sinian sitting inside without any action and cautiously asked, ¡°Sir, are you planning to start the interrogation now?¡±


    As he spoke, he clearly saw the person inside with a blindfold slightly turn their head as if eavesdropping on their conversation.


    Zhao Xi didn¡¯t mind; after all, since their boss was here, he definitely had a plan.


    But hearing noises from a nearby room, he wondered if they would lose to Xia Wenmo if they didn¡¯t start soon.


    Damn, this competitive drive.


    Seeing Zhao Xi¡¯s anxious expression, Song Sinian nodded lightly, ¡°Mm, indeed, it¡¯s time to do something.¡±


    He stood up and directly pulled off the black cloth from the man in black¡¯s eyes, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance, tell me who is behind this.¡±


    ¡°Mmgh...¡±


    The man¡¯s mouth was gagged, but his ferocious expression made it clear he wasn¡¯t planning to tell Song Sinian.


    Observing the man¡¯s expression, Song Sinian wasn¡¯t annoyed. Instead, his lips slowly curled into a chilling smile.


    His smile seemed light, yet it somehow sent shivers down the spine.


    Naturally, the man in black was frightened by Song Sinian¡¯s expression.


    They had been instructed to kidnap Lu Zhaozhao.


    The order stated that Lu Zhaozhao was merely a nominal young lady of the Xia Family and also the CEO¡¯s wife for show in Song Group.


    In short, insignificant.


    So why were there so many people protecting this woman when they attempted the kidnapping?!


    Now they were captured, and the CEO of Song Group was personally interrogating them?


    What¡¯s going on?!


    At this moment, the man in black felt like crying; why was the situation they encountered nothing like the information they had?!


    Song Sinian¡¯s fingertips lightly tapped on the back of the chair, ¡°No rush, let me show you something to calm down, perhaps you¡¯ll remember something important soon.¡±


    Saying that, he casually turned on the surveillance of room one, only to see Xia Wenmo already manhandling the man in black in room one.


    He barely asked anything, simply moved his hands, making the other person experience a sensation that was neither alive nor dead.


    Careful not to clench their teeth too tight, loosen up their muscles, and their teeth would follow suit...

 Chapter 661: 659: He Wants to Survive!

    Chapter 661: Chapter 659: He Wants to Survive!


    For interrogating criminals, Xia Wenmo had never been in a hurry. He even enjoyed the process of interrogating these lawbreakers immensely.


    The smile of enjoyment on his face fell into the eyes of the man in black No. 3, making his scalp tingle.


    What kind of human aberration was this?


    They had simply been on a mission. Why did they have to endure all this?


    Song Sinian watched the scene before him with great interest, his tone casual as he explained to the man in black No. 3, ¡°The man you see is Xia Wenmo, the third in line of the Xia Family, you should have investigated him, right? One of the heirs of XJ Group.¡±


    The man in black watched Song Sinian, seemingly puzzled why he felt the need to tell him all this.


    Song Sinian continued to look at him leisurely, as if with particular patience, clearing up his confusion, ¡°The people of Xia Family, because they missed out on 20 years with my wife, are especially fond of her, and the one you see is the very one who holds the most affection for my wife.¡±


    The man in black No. 3: ¡°...¡±


    No wonder he was so ruthless with their people.


    It was their Achilles¡¯ heel.


    Messing with their darling, the consequences were indeed dire, he could feel it now.


    Seeing his ugly expression, Song Sinian continued evenly, ¡°Of course, even if my wife didn¡¯t have those people from the Xia Family, I wouldn¡¯t let off anyone who laid hands on my wife lightly. So, are you planning to take the punishment for the mastermind behind the scenes, or are you going to tell me honestly?¡±


    The man in black fell silent immediately.


    His mind was in utter chaos now.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhaozhao to be so important to the Xia Family, nor had he anticipated that they would fail in their mission outright and get caught by the people protecting Lu Zhaozhao.


    His gaze turned to the video where the man in black No. 1, tortured by Xia Wenmo, seemed to be on the brink of death, and he felt a chill run down his spine.


    Noticing the signs of faltering in his eyes, Song Sinian spoke again slowly, ¡°Rest assured, even if you don¡¯t talk, I won¡¯t hand you over to the Young Master of the Xia Family, because I will personally shatter your bones, inch by inch.¡±


    His tone was eerily calm, but it instilled terror.


    The eyes of the man in black No. 3 nearly bulged out, as if with his very life he questioned Song Sinian ¡°why¡±.


    Song Sinian naturally did not hesitate to give him the correct answer, ¡°My wife is the apple of my eye. You dare to harm her, naturally, you must pay the price. Just now I wanted to give you a chance, but upon reflection, you probably do not appreciate it, so...¡±


    ¡°Wuuu!!!¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, his foot cruelly stomped down on the man¡¯s right foot.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    A crisp sound of a bone shattering echoed through the room.


    But the man in black couldn¡¯t utter a single word as his mouth was gagged.


    He shook his head desperately, trying to attract Song Sinian¡¯s attention.


    They were just here to carry out a task. Although the pay for the job was not insignificant, their lives were far more important.


    Besides, the money offered by the other party wasn¡¯t enough for them to risk their lives.


    Man in black No. 3 thought of the scenes he had just witnessed, and looking at Song Sinian¡¯s deranged appearance, he couldn¡¯t hold out any longer.


    He was going to talk! He wanted to live!


    ¡°Wuuu wuuu wuuu!!!¡±


    As Song Sinian watched him shake his head desperately, he looked at the man in black No. 3 with an expression that said ¡°I understand,¡± ¡°Hmm, looks like you are a tough man, still unwilling to speak, then I won¡¯t be polite anymore!¡±


    ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Wuuu!!!¡±


    ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Wuu!¡±


    ¡°Crack!¡± ¡°Wuu...¡±


    Zhao Xi saw the man in black No. 3¡¯s cries grow weaker and weaker, and looking at their family¡¯s Mr. who pretended not to see, she coughed lightly, ¡°Sir, is it possible... he wants to speak, but he¡¯s gagged?¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Song Sinian asked nonchalantly.


    Then he watched the man nod his head desperately, as if afraid that a second slower would mean the end of his life.


    Which was almost the truth.


    This man before him was simply mad!


    A normal person catching them tracking and kidnapping would directly call the police, right?


    But no, they went ahead, captured them, and even applied extrajudicial punishment!


    Song Sinian leisurely took a towel and wiped his hands before sitting back down in his seat.


    Then he nodded at Zhao Xi, who promptly stepped forward and removed the gag from the mouth of the man in black, labeled number three.


    The next second, the man in black spit out a mouthful of blood.


    He coughed violently, ¡°Cough cough cough... I, I¡¯ll talk, we¡¯re mercenaries from Country E, we were hired to kidnap the woman named Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    He blurted out his purpose clearly and concisely.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brow raised slightly, not quite satisfied, ¡°Who is your employer?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The man in black, number three, hesitated, not seeming too eager to speak.


    But when he saw Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrow, he almost instinctively shrank, suddenly feeling that the pain from the recent beating by Song Sinian intensified.


    He spoke with a trembling voice, ¡°It, it¡¯s the Pavlov Family, we were employed by the Pavlov Family.¡±


    The Pavlov Family?


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°The Mafia from Country E?¡±


    Country E had a ferocious local culture, with some families born into the underworld. What puzzled Song Sinian was, what relationship did Xu Zhenzhen have with the Pavlov Family from Country E?


    Why would they kidnap Xu Zhenzhen and even go to the lengths of coming to our country to kidnap Lu Zhaozhao?


    As he thought this, Song Sinian¡¯s gaze returned to the man in black number three, ¡°Speak, what is the relationship between Xu Zhenzhen and the Pavlov Family?¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡± The man in black number three clearly did not expect him to jump straight to this question.


    He took a deep breath, realizing he had come this far, and if he didn¡¯t speak, he probably wouldn¡¯t endure what¡¯s next.


    ¡°Xu Zhenzhen... is, is the illegitimate daughter of someone from the Pavlov Family.¡±


    Zhao Xi: ¡°!!!¡±


    Damn, was Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s background that impressive?


    The Pavlov Family? In Country E, they really were a formidable presence, their status in Country E comparable to the Rimu Family of Pei Huai in the R country, but... R country and E country are not comparable at all.


    At least in terms of numbers, it was an insurmountable chasm.


    Song Sinian fell silent for a moment, propping his chin with one hand, and waved at Zhao Xi, ¡°Go and call Xia Wenmo here.¡±


    He glanced at the video and saw that Xia Wenmo was ¡°done playing¡± and would probably break open the mouth of the man in black number one soon.


    But it wasn¡¯t necessary anymore. The same question didn¡¯t need to be asked twice.


    Zhao Xi hesitated slightly as if he realized something, then nodded immediately, ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    As soon as his words fell, he immediately walked out of the room.


    Song Sinian eyed Zhao Xi and casually turned off the monitor in the room.


    Before long, Xia Wenmo appeared in room number three.


    He frowned slightly, a bit annoyed as he looked at Song Sinian, ¡°You got the answer?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded and motioned towards the man in black number three, ¡°Repeat what you just said, again.¡±

 Chapter 662: 660: Learn to Understand!

    Chapter 662: Chapter 660: Learn to Understand!


    The man in black number 3, upon seeing Xia Wenmo¡¯s murderous expression, thought back to how he had torturously dealt with the man in black from room number 1 without any change in demeanor, and he felt a chill run through his body.


    Where would he dare to keep anything hidden?


    He immediately spilled the beans, saying outright, ¡°We are mercenaries hired by the Pavlov Family of Country E, aimed at abducting Lu Zhaozhao to threaten Xu Zhenzhen into working for the Pavlov Family...¡±


    Xia Wenmo, listening to the words of man in black number 3, saw his expression darken evermore.


    At first, he had thought some short-sighted person had targeted his sister, but he hadn¡¯t expected these people to be related to Xu Zhenzhen.


    He had even less thought that Xu Zhenzhen might have connections with the Pavlov Family of Country E.


    Having been involved in this line of work, he naturally knew of the Pavlov Family of Country E, and was very clear about how ruthless their methods could be.


    The moment Xia Wenmo thought of Lu Zhaozhao being targeted by such people, his expression instantly turned grim.


    He glanced at Song Sinian, ¡°I¡¯ve lost this time, what do you plan to do next?¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for Song Sinian¡¯s alertness, getting to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side in the nick of time, who knows how many more tricks these people sent by the Pavlov Family would have up their sleeves.


    Although he had sent people to follow Lu Zhaozhao, it was only for her protection, and he had never considered the possibility that the Pavlov Family might take an interest in her.


    The more he thought about it, the colder he felt.


    If Song Sinian hadn¡¯t noticed something was off with Lu Zhaozhao, could she have been directly taken away by Pavlov¡¯s people?


    Just the thought made Xia Wenmo unable to suppress the violence surging from within.


    He had always assumed that only the Xiao Family, those bastards, were around Lu Zhaozhao.


    He never considered other lurking dangers.


    Indeed, he had been negligent as a brother.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly, somewhat surprised at Xia Wenmo¡¯s quick concession, but he quickly responded.


    ¡°Since we know it¡¯s the Pavlov Family that did this, what comes next is simple. Since they want someone who can threaten Xu Zhenzhen, let¡¯s give them just that.¡±


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s expression changed abruptly, ¡°Are you going to sacrifice Zhaozhao?¡±


    His fists clenched instantly, as if ready to smash into Song Sinian¡¯s face the moment he nodded his agreement!


    How dare he use his sister as bait? Was his brain filled with water?


    Song Sinian¡¯s complexion changed as well, ¡°Why would I sacrifice Zhaozhao?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say, ¡®just give it to them¡¯?¡± Xia Wenmo raised his eyebrows, showing no intention of whitewashing the situation for him.


    After all, those words were spoken by him. How could there be a mistake?


    Song Sinian gave Xia Wenmo a sidelong glance, ¡°I only said we¡¯d give them a handle to threaten Xu Zhenzhen with, but didn¡¯t say we¡¯d send Zhaozhao over. Even if I sent myself over, I would not put Zhaozhao at risk.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenmo¡¯s complexion finally eased a bit.


    Only then did he have a bit more patience to hear what Song Sinian had to say.


    ¡°These mercenaries, having already betrayed their employer, will have no place among the Mafia of Country E, so it¡¯s not impossible to make them work for us.¡±


    Song Sinian purposely discussed this subject in the presence of man in black number 3, giving him an inexplicable chill on the back of his neck.


    This man, who seemed to have done nothing, exuded an aura that could not be ignored.


    The oppressive feel emanating from him was even more terrifying than the boss of their own Mafia.


    He had already felt that Song Sinian was not someone to be trifled with. Now, hearing him casually planning to outmaneuver the Pavlov Family, he felt a chill down his spine.


    Especially when Song Sinian¡¯s gaze met his eyes, he felt even more panicked.


    With a slight upward twist of his mouth and a hint of a smile, Song Sinian looked at man in black number 3, ¡°If the Pavlov Family finds out not only did you fail your mission, but also leaked Pavlov Family secrets, do you think you¡¯ll still be alive?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Man in black number 3 fell silent.


    The answer was clear; they had no chance at survival.


    The Pavlov Family would never forgive their betrayal.


    Watching his expression, Song Sinian continued, ¡°Alternatively, you could choose to ¡®complete the mission¡¯, and then deliver the target to the Pavlov Family, so whatever happens subsequently has nothing to do with you...¡±


    Man in black number 3 watched Song Sinian quietly, his whole person not feeling good.


    How could he not hear the threat in Song Sinian¡¯s words?


    Him blatantly discussing their plans right to his face clearly showed he didn¡¯t consider them a threat at all.


    Man in black number 3 couldn¡¯t help but laugh bitterly. After all, it was only by cooperating with Song Sinian and his people that they stood any chance of survival.


    What choice did they have?


    Even if it was just for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s safety, Song Sinian and his people wouldn¡¯t harm them.


    But people from the Pavlov Family were different.


    The moment they were caught by Song Sinian and his people, they became expendable pawns, of no value to the Pavlov Family, and thus not necessary to keep alive.


    After returning to the Pavlov Family, they would either be thrown into a dog cage or promptly disposed of with a peanut-sized bullet.


    He wasn¡¯t a masochist, nor was he someone who would sacrifice his life for something with such abandon.


    They had joined the Pavlov Family for the sake of survival, or rather, to gamble for a dignified existence.


    Yet, who could have thought the mission they undertook would not make them winners in life but almost cost them their lives?


    Man in black number 3 sighed lightly, resigned to his fate, ¡°I... I¡¯m willing to cooperate with your plan, but afterwards, can you spare my life?¡±


    He said it with very little confidence.


    Back in Country E, if such a situation arose, they would likely be used and then immediately disposed of.


    He proposed this condition out of his will to live.


    Xia Wenmo and Song Sinian didn¡¯t find man in black number 3¡¯s words laughable at all. In fact, they even felt a bit more at ease after he spoke them.


    Only those who want to survive can be used by them.


    If he had no will to live and agreed too readily, Song Sinian would also worry that man in black number 3 might double-cross them.


    Then, not to mention striking back at the Pavlov Family, Lu Zhaozhao and Xu Zhenzhen might be in danger.


    Xia Wenmo gave Song Sinian a sidelong glance, and the two reached a consensus almost instantly.


    ¡°When the time comes, you can change your citizenship. After all, in our country, murder is a crime, and there¡¯s no need to ruin our own future for just one person, right?¡±


    Xia Wenmo looked earnestly at man in black number 3, ¡°Moreover, our goal is only to protect our family. We have no intention of making enemies with anyone. But since Pavlov¡¯s people touched our family, we have a right to retaliate, and you can understand that, right?¡±


    Man in black number 3 nodded, ¡°I understand, I understand.¡±


    Even if he didn¡¯t understand, he would make himself understand!

 Chapter 663: 661 Can You Handle It?

    Chapter 663: Chapter 661 Can You Handle It?


    After all, nothing is more important than one¡¯s life!


    Xia Wenmo glanced at the man in black number 3, his expression indifferent, ¡°Can you handle those three guys? If not, I can help you out.¡±


    The man in black number 3 opened his mouth and finally spoke, ¡°I appreciate both of your concerns.¡±


    If he were to try to persuade the others, he feared he might be treated as the main culprit. If any of them wanted to clear their names and sold him out, he would still be the unlucky one.


    Better to have all of them turned against each other. Then, everyone would be in the same boat ¡ª no one superior to others.


    Xia Wenmo and Song Sinian, of course, understood the man in black number 3¡¯s thoughts. Now that he had figured it out, that would make things easier.


    ¡°Rest assured, we will take good care of the other three too.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Night fell, and a light rain began, only stopping by the next morning.


    Zhao Qingfeng and Xia Wenjin had been stirring things up in the hotel for two days, and the atmosphere between them had markedly changed.


    They even looked a bit like a couple.


    They left the hotel one after the other.


    As soon as they reached the hotel entrance, they encountered Hao Jiayi.


    Her eyes suddenly widened significantly, especially when she saw the two of them holding hands so intimately; Hao Jiayi¡¯s eyeballs almost fell out.


    Xiao Mo cheating wasn¡¯t a surprise to her at all since none of the men she encountered had ever been faithful.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to seduce them so easily.


    What puzzled her was why Feng Ya Meizi would be together with Xiao Mo?


    Hadn¡¯t this woman said that they had a common enemy?


    How had they suddenly turned their swords into plowshares?


    Was Xiao Mo that skilled?


    Her eyes involuntarily narrowed. She had slept with Xiao Mo before and knew very well what he was like.


    She didn¡¯t believe he could charm someone into bed with his prowess alone.


    After all, this man couldn¡¯t perform without the aid of something special; how could he possibly have any remarkable skills.


    Xia Wenjin was also surprised to encounter Hao Jiayi at the hotel entrance, and she could certainly see the shock and amazement on her face.


    However, she couldn¡¯t tell Hao Jiayi that this ¡°Xiao Mo¡± was no longer the Xiao Mo of before.


    She pursed her lips, glanced at Zhao Qingfeng, and then turned to Hao Jiayi, ¡°Hello, Secretary Hao, are you here to see Amo for something today?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi, after hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, couldn¡¯t help but frown deeply.


    Zhao Qingfeng, seeing the unusual expressions on both Xia Wenjin¡¯s and Hao Jiayi¡¯s faces, especially thinking back to how compliant and sensible this woman named Hao Jiayi had been in the office.


    He naturally liked her, but in front of Xia Wenjin, he definitely couldn¡¯t show it.


    ¡°Cough cough... Secretary Hao, since we are outside, if it¡¯s work-related, let¡¯s wait till we are back at the office tomorrow.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng felt his tone was just right, not too distant yet highlighting the work-related issues.


    This way, Xia Wenjin wouldn¡¯t misunderstand, truly killing two birds with one stone.


    Yet, his words took on a different meaning in Hao Jiayi¡¯s ears.


    After all, Xiao Mo¡¯s attitude towards her was completely different now; he enjoyed her services but scorned her.


    Usually, even if they met, it was just a casual encounter, and he hardly spoke a few complete sentences to her.


    Let alone being this gentle.


    She had felt that Xiao Mo had been acting rather bizarre these past few days.


    Others might not have noticed.


    But as a woman who spent almost 24 hours a day with him, the changes in Xiao Mo were too significant.


    He hadn¡¯t even been coming home.


    Hao Jiayi thought of what Feng Ya Meizi had mentioned about wanting revenge on Xiao Mo, so she¡¯d already been harboring a bad feeling.


    Yet, she hadn¡¯t expected to witness such a scene.


    Knowing that staying wouldn¡¯t yield any useful clues, she simply nodded at the two people and turned to leave.


    As Xia Wenjin watched Hao Jiayi¡¯s retreating figure, her eyes narrowed, and she turned to Zhao Qingfeng, saying, ¡°The woman who just left is Hao Jiayi, Xiao Mo¡¯s former lover. Be careful around her.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng and Hao Jiayi had both been her pawns, but now that Zhao Qingfeng had cheered her up, she didn¡¯t mind considering him slightly more significant.


    Her words instantly made Zhao Qingfeng anxious, ¡°She, she didn¡¯t notice anything just now, did she?¡±


    Since he had started pretending to be Xiao Mo, he had hardly interacted with any of Xiao Mo¡¯s acquaintances outside the office.


    That was also why he was reluctant to return to Xiao Mo¡¯s house.


    He had always thought Hao Jiayi was merely his secretary, never suspecting that Xiao Mo was having an affair with her.


    It must be said, the wealthy sure knew how to play.


    In the office, they behaved as if they were strangers, but at home... Humph.


    Thinking of Hao Jiayi¡¯s figure just then, Zhao Qingfeng felt a tickle in his heart.


    When he had still been Zhao Qingfeng, he had tried his best to please various older women; now, having assumed a better identity, he could sit back and wait for women to throw themselves at him.


    How could he possibly control himself?


    He suddenly felt lucky that Feng Ya Meizi had found him before he started flouting the rules with his female employees, otherwise he would never have realized that high-end beauties surrounded his new identity.


    What was there to hurry for then?


    Just wait for these fat sheep to come knocking.


    It didn¡¯t matter whether it was Feng Ya Meizi or Hao Jiayi.


    He would take them all at their worth!


    Xia Wenjin glanced at Zhao Qingfeng, how could she not see the greed in his eyes?


    But fortunately, she was just playing around.


    After all, she intended to use the identity of Feng Ya Meizi to marry into wealth. How could she ever consider liking someone like Zhao Qingfeng, a loser?


    However... if he really did become the president of Song Group, marrying him wouldn¡¯t be out of the question.


    Zhao Qingfeng wasn¡¯t very ambitious, yet he was greedy.


    As long as she gave him enough money to keep him obediently under her control, it could work.


    That¡¯s why she couldn¡¯t let Zhao Qingfeng fall completely into Hao Jiayi¡¯s hands now.


    And she certainly couldn¡¯t let Hao Jiayi kill him.


    A calculative glint crossed Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyes; it looked like she needed to have a good talk with Hao Jiayi soon.


    Thinking this, she casually sent a message to Hao Jiayi and then reassuringly patted Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s shoulder saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle this matter. Just stay put here, and I¡¯ll sort out the rest.¡±


    Hearing Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, Zhao Qingfeng instantly felt relieved.


    But the next second, his heart tensed up again, ¡°However, you need to quickly get to grips with matters related to Xiao Mo. I can deal with the others, but Xiao Jinglan, Xiao Mo¡¯s mother, is beyond my help.¡±


    She knew Xiao Mo the best and was most likely to realize Zhao Qingfeng wasn¡¯t his son.


    Fortunately, Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t live long. However, Xia Wenjin had no plans to tell Zhao Qingfeng; why would she reveal everything when she still needed to keep him in check?

 Chapter 664: 662 Listen to You Well

    Chapter 664: Chapter 662 Listen to You Well


    ¡°Okay, I will definitely listen to you well,¡± Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s lips hooked slightly, revealing a face of appeasing smile.


    Just as expected, Xia Wenjin found it very pleasing and pinched his face, ¡°Alright, you can go back now. Just pretend to be busy with work and have no time to go home for the next couple of days.¡±


    When Wenjin had previously stayed at the Xiao Family¡¯s place, Xiao Mo also had times when he was too busy with work to be at home, so it was normal for him to do this.


    What Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t know was that Xiao Jinglan, having met Feng Xixi, had constantly been worried that the other party wanted to return to the Song Family to take over power.


    So, she wasn¡¯t feeling well, especially after trying to contact Xiao Mo several times without success; her condition had grown even worse.


    Xia Wenjin, naturally unaware of this, left the hotel and then met up with Hao Jiayi at a cafe?.


    By the time she arrived at the cafe, Hao Jiayi had been waiting at the coffee table for quite a while.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin approaching, she merely looked up at her and said nothing.


    She was waiting for Wenjin¡¯s explanation.


    The two sat across from each other without speaking, no one willing to break the silence, until finally Hao Jiayi couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and took the initiative.


    ¡°What exactly is your relationship with Xiao Mo? Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to take revenge on the Xiao Family? Is this your way of taking revenge?¡±


    She didn¡¯t know if the woman in front of her had told her the truth, nor was she sure if she could continue to trust this woman in the future.


    Xia Wenjin pushed back her hair behind her ears before speaking deliberatively, ¡°There has indeed been a slight change in my relationship with Xiao Mo, but it won¡¯t affect what comes next. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    She had already thought up her explanation while coming from the hotel to the cafe?, which is why she appeared unruffled in front of Hao Jiayi.


    Seeing Hao Jiayi¡¯s displeased expression, she chuckled lightly before continuing, ¡°Isn¡¯t your goal just to lay hands on Xiao Family¡¯s property? This doesn¡¯t conflict.¡±


    ¡°Not conflicted?¡± Hao Jiayi sneered, ¡°You two are in that kind of relationship, and it¡¯s still not conflicted?¡±


    Xia Wenjin shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m just playing around, and besides, I¡¯m not going to marry him in the future.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi looked at Xia Wenjin skeptically, clearly not believing her words.


    She didn¡¯t understand why Xia Wenjin, if uninterested in Xiao Mo, would engage in a relationship with him.


    Seeing Hao Jiayi¡¯s unyielding demeanor, Xia Wenjin slightly raised her eyebrows, ¡°Do you think I need to rely on my physical body to maintain any relationships? Xiao Mo¡¯s family background isn¡¯t worthy of me now, and besides, I¡¯m not interested in competing with you for anything. After all, I don¡¯t need to compete, do I?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi grasped the hidden meaning in Xia Wenjin¡¯s words¡ªthat Xiao Mo was practically in her grasp, and if she wanted to, Jiayi wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.


    Although it was true, these words indeed made Hao Jiayi feel a bit uncomfortable.


    This woman had clearly told her before that she would help her marry into the Xiao Family and clear the obstacles for her. It hadn¡¯t been long, yet now she¡¯s about to go back on her words.


    Indeed, she shouldn¡¯t trust anyone.


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s eyes narrowed, lucky that she still had one last card to play.


    Originally, she was planning to share some information with this woman, but since she had been betrayed, there was no need for civility anymore.


    Inhaling deeply, Hao Jiayi looked up at Xia Wenjin, ¡°So what you mean is, even if you slept with Xiao Mo, you will not marry him, is that it?¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded slightly. ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m the young lady of the Fengya Family. I can choose from families of any status. It¡¯s unnecessary for me to debase myself and marry some minor department manager.¡±


    Her words sounded light and dainty, yet they relegated Hao Jiayi to the dust.


    However, she herself seemed completely unaware of this issue.


    She even appeared somewhat proud of herself.


    Hao Jiayi glanced at Xia Wenjin, already striking her name from the word ¡°alliance.¡± A woman like her did not deserve to be her ally.


    Her eyes blinked slightly as she asked faintly, ¡°So, what should I do next to cooperate with you?¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s voice was very calm, seemingly not bothered anymore by what had just been said.


    Xia Wenjin was quite pleased that Hao Jiayi knew her place; her mood improved slightly.


    She curved her lips into a light smile and watched her. ¡°You just need to find ways to eliminate Xiao Jinglan. Without her, you will rightfully be the mistress of the Xiao Family in the future.¡±


    A shadow passed briefly across Hao Jiayi¡¯s eyes. Eliminate Xiao Jinglan?


    Ha, if she eliminated Xiao Jinglan, she feared this woman would just step over her to enter comprehensively.


    She would absolutely not be foolish enough to make wedding clothes for another.


    Hao Jiayi took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind, ¡°Alright, I understand. I¡¯ll deal with Xiao Jinglan quickly, but you must keep your word and let me sit as the mistress of the Xiao Family.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s certainly no problem.¡± Xia Wenjin¡¯s words floated lightly, as if she could make it happen just by opening her mouth.


    The lighter she made it sound, the more suspicious Hao Jiayi became of her.


    If initially, she just suspected that Xia Wenjin was using her to marry into the Xiao Family, by this moment, she was utterly sure of it.


    Although she did not know why the young lady of the prestigious Fengya Family would marry into the Xiao Family, but... she might just be foolishly in love.


    The more Hao Jiayi thought about it, the more she felt she could not sit idly by.


    She simply stood up abruptly, ¡°Since we have finished discussing, I should go back.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows lifted, ¡°Where are you going back to?¡±


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s heart sank, but she maintained a calm exterior. ¡°Back to the Xiao Family, of course. Didn¡¯t you just tell me to deal with Xiao Jinglan quickly? I must seize the opportunity.¡±


    Xia Wenjin nodded seriously, as if it made perfect sense, but thinking of Zhao Qingfeng, a man full of scheming, if he saw Hao Jiayi throwing herself at him, he definitely wouldn¡¯t hold back.


    She felt no real emotion for this man, but the thought of sharing him with another woman unsettled her a bit.


    Yet, she dared not show it too obviously.


    ¡°Cough cough... Recently, help me keep a close watch on Xiao Jinglan. See if she¡¯s up to something small. I heard that Song Keren has returned to the country, she might join Xiao Jinglan in her little schemes. Be extra vigilant, understand?¡±


    As Xia Wenjin said this, her gaze pretended to drift inadvertently toward Hao Jiayi before continuing. ¡°Xiao Mo might not often return to the Xiao Family recently, you should appropriately help cover the bases.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi was now too tired to criticize. She coolly watched Xia Wenjin, really unsure if this woman was genuinely foolish or just thought she was foolish?


    Such glaringly obvious intentions, was she afraid that others wouldn¡¯t notice?


    Hao Jiayi¡¯s fists clenched in secret, yet her face still bore a faint smile, looking exceptionally gentle...

 Chapter 665: 663: You Dare?!

    Chapter 665: Chapter 663: You Dare?!


    She seemed to have no aggressiveness at all.


    Normally, she relies on this innocent little white flower appearance to bewitch men, and now it seems to work wonders on women too.


    Xia Wenjin had completely failed to notice the hostility hidden in her heart and had let her leave just like that.


    As soon as Hao Jiayi left the cafe?, she immediately returned to the Xiao Family.


    Sure enough, Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t home.


    Just as she entered, she saw Xiao Jinglan sitting in the living room.


    Hearing the noise at the door, she looked over, and her expression immediately darkened upon seeing that it was Hao Jiayi entering.


    ¡°You still know to come home this late?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan glared at Hao Jiayi with annoyance before turning away and picking up the tea on the table to drink.


    Hao Jiayi looked around and didn¡¯t see Song Keren¡¯s figure.


    Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion before she sat down directly across from Xiao Jinglan.


    Xiao Jinglan glanced at her with a continued displeasure in her voice, ¡°What are you doing sitting here? Scram back to your room now.¡±


    Although Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t married to Hao Jiayi, since they were currently cohabiting, she obviously didn¡¯t have much to say.


    But she fairly disliked all the women who got close to Xiao Mo.


    Weren¡¯t they all just after her son¡¯s identity and status?


    Hmph! Every single one of them was a green tea bitch! A scheming bitch!


    Hao Jiayi didn¡¯t care at all about Xiao Jinglan¡¯s attitude. She raised her hand to touch her stomach, then slowly said, ¡°Aunt Xiao, I¡¯m here to tell you not to wait for Xiao Mo. He won¡¯t be coming home any time soon.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s fingertips pinching the teacup abruptly paused, but she pretended to be calm as she looked at Hao Jiayi and asked, ¡°What did you mean by that statement just now?¡±


    Hao Jiayi lifted her eyes, giving a light chuckle, ¡°It seems Amo has found a woman he likes outside, but that woman doesn¡¯t plan to marry him, so that¡¯s probably why he isn¡¯t coming home...¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?!¡± Xiao Jinglan exploded; if it weren¡¯t for worrying about the outsiders gossiping about her family, she would have thrown the hot tea in her hand right onto Hao Jiayi¡¯s face!


    How could her son possibly stay away for a woman?


    That¡¯s definitely not her son!


    Definitely, this woman is lying on purpose!


    Absolutely!


    Seeing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s explosive temper, Hao Jiayi unconsciously pursed her lips and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you might want to check Xiao Mo¡¯s hotel check-in details; that shouldn¡¯t be hard, right?¡±


    The hotels where Xiao Mo stayed were all under the Song Group.


    It would be very easy to find out who he was staying with and for how long.


    As long as Xiao Jinglan wanted, she could find out.


    Xiao Jinglan opened her mouth, but her complexion had already visibly changed.


    Recently, she had been distressed because of the meeting with ¡°Feng Xiran.¡±


    Although she was still unsure whether that woman was actually Feng Xiran, if she had appeared, it certainly wasn¡¯t just a simple appearance.


    If that woman returned to the Song Family, she would be completely out of the game.


    Thinking this way, Xiao Jinglan became even more panicked.


    She took a deep breath, pulled out her cell phone, and dialed Xiao Mo¡¯s number, only to be hung up by the person on the other end again.


    Hao Jiayi, noticing the restlessness in her eyes, finally spoke up to soothe her, ¡°Aunt Xiao, there¡¯s no need to call him; he won¡¯t answer. I¡¯ve already called him many times. If it weren¡¯t for me passing by the Song Group¡¯s hotel today and seeing him with that woman, I would still be in the dark...¡±


    Her words were soft and gentle, making it hard for anyone to get angry.


    Furthermore, Hao Jiayi was only saying things that were agreeable to her, so how could Xiao Jinglan possibly lose her temper at her?


    She pursed her lips and finally looked up at Hao Jiayi, ¡°Did you see Xiao Mo today?¡±


    Hao Jiayi nodded, ¡°Yes, I did.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan took a deep breath and then asked, ¡°Did you see what that woman looked like? Do you know her name?¡±


    Hao Jiayi nodded again, ¡°The woman is Miss Feng Ya Meizi from the Fengya Family of Country R. I heard she came to our country to survey the market.¡±


    Of course, she didn¡¯t know what Feng Ya Meizi was really doing in the country, but she guessed Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t ask¡ªshe made something up casually, and that wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    Xiao Jinglan squinted her eyes. The Fengya Family from Country R?


    She frowned in disbelief, wondering if her son could have been scammed.


    If that was not the case, then did Xiao Mo have some other plan?


    Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t guess Xiao Mo¡¯s thoughts, so naturally she couldn¡¯t jump to conclusions.


    She sighed. It seemed she could only do what Hao Jiayi suggested and confront him at the hotel.


    Xiao Jinglan sighed and waved her hand at Hao Jiayi, ¡°Alright, I understand. As long as you behave yourself at home, Xiao Mo won¡¯t mistreat you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Hao Jiayi almost rolled her eyes to the sky. Behave herself at home and Xiao Mo won¡¯t mistreat her?


    Ha! Are you kidding me?


    She knew exactly what Xiao Mo was like. Did she look like a fool?


    Of course, Hao Jiayi wanted to curse right at Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face, but she had more important things to focus on right now.


    She cleared her throat, ¡°Aunt Xiao, actually there¡¯s something I¡¯m not sure how to handle...¡±


    She pursed her lips and slightly lowered her head, looking somewhat pitiful.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyebrows immediately furrowed, sensing that whatever Hao Jiayi was about to say wouldn¡¯t be good news.


    Still, she patiently looked at Hao Jiayi and said, ¡°What is it? Tell me, and maybe I can help you think of something.¡±


    She didn¡¯t really like Hao Jiayi, especially since she was from the Feng family.


    When Hao Jiayi was with Xiao Mo, she acted just like a vixen, always clinging to her son.


    Now that her son wasn¡¯t home, although irritated, she felt a bit of schadenfreude witnessing Hao Jiayi¡¯s plight.


    Hao Jiayi glanced at Xiao Jinglan and hesitated before slowly saying, ¡°I... I think I might be pregnant.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Xiao Jinglan¡¯s voice almost split the air.


    Hao Jiayi was pregnant?


    With her son¡¯s child?!


    Her eyebrows were deeply knotted.


    While Xiao Mo was indeed not young and having a child wasn¡¯t surprising, the idea of the child being Hao Jiayi¡¯s annoyed her.


    While it would be her son¡¯s child, it would also carry half of the Feng family¡¯s blood.


    The mere thought of them meddling in Song Group affairs due to this connection was distressing.


    But if they were to get rid of it, after all, this was her son¡¯s first child...


    Xiao Jinglan narrowed her eyes, lost in thought.


    ¡°What are you planning to do with the child?¡± Xiao Jinglan looked up, staring directly at Hao Jiayi.


    Only to hear Hao Jiayi reply after pursing her lips, ¡°Xiao Mo and I aren¡¯t married, we aren¡¯t husband and wife, so I was thinking, maybe... maybe just end it.¡±


    ¡°How dare you?!¡± Xiao Jinglan exploded, ¡°That¡¯s my son¡¯s child, what right do you have to make that decision?!¡±

 Chapter 666: 664: Awakening

    Chapter 666: Chapter 664: Awakening


    She had actually considered not wanting this child, but since Hao Jiayi had spoken the words first, it irritated her.


    What right did this woman have to not want her son¡¯s child?


    Hmph! Pretentious!


    When Hao Jiayi saw that Xiao Jinglan had taken the bait, she immediately pretended to be troubled and said, ¡°Aunt Xiao, I know you don¡¯t like me, and I¡¯m aware that Amo has no intention of marrying me right now, so this child... this child can¡¯t be kept. If he is born, he¡¯ll end up being illegitimate.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was slightly startled upon hearing this; she did raise a valid concern.


    Xiao Mo was already illegitimate, and if his first child turned out to be illegitimate as well...


    Her eyes narrowed, and her heart grew restless along with her thoughts.


    Her son was illegitimate and still hadn¡¯t acquired an appropriate status.


    Was her son¡¯s child destined for the same fate?


    In the past, Xiao Jinglan might have had the patience to scheme over this matter, but now... her days were numbered.


    If she could see Xiao Mo¡¯s child within her lifetime...


    As Xiao Jinglan thought this, her gaze towards Hao Jiayi grew much warmer.


    Initially, she followed Song Gu to become Mrs. Song, but after she had a child, her thoughts slowly started to shift.


    She wanted her own son to inherit the Song Family wealth.


    Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t see anything wrong with her desires.


    She might have started with a status that made it impossible to become Mrs. Song, but in the end, she had succeeded.


    Now, all she wanted was for her son to become the president of the Song Group.


    Her son was Song Gu¡¯s son, and it was only right for him to inherit the Song Group; she saw no problem with that.


    On the contrary, she even found Old Master Song, who had always hindered this matter, particularly annoying.


    If not for the fact that Old Master Song was currently the one calling the shots in the Song Family, would she need to curry favor with that old coot?


    A lightbulb seemed to go off in Xiao Jinglan¡¯s mind as she realized something.


    Her eyes narrowed, and she took Hao Jiayi¡¯s hand, ¡°This child must be kept. As for the issue of legitimacy, I will have a good talk with Xiao Mo. You just rest easy and focus on your pregnancy.¡±


    Hao Jiayi was slightly taken aback; she had thought it would take a few more tries before Xiao Jinglan would relent.


    She hadn¡¯t expected it to be this easy.


    Hao Jiayi was a bit incredulous.


    But she quickly recovered, and pretending to be flattered, she nodded, ¡°Aunt Xiao, I understand. I will take good care of him. After all, this is also my first child with Amo... If he can be born with a proper status, how could I possibly not want him?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s settled then. I¡¯ve said my piece, so don¡¯t you worry about it. Just take care of yourself,¡± Xiao Jinglan frowned displeased, glanced at Hao Jiayi, and added, ¡°I¡¯ll give you some money later for your care.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Aunt Xiao.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    The days of spring were much longer than those of winter, and although the early morning temperatures still held a chill, they were considerably warmer than in winter.


    Lu Zhaozhao rubbed her sleepy eyes before turning to look at Song Sinian beside her.


    Yesterday, as she was sleeping, she woke up to find Song Sinian gone.


    She guessed that Song Sinian had gone out because of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s situation, so she waited a while, but exhausted from the ordeal, she fell back asleep.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but sigh when she woke up to find it was already the next morning.


    A familiar voice came from beside her, ¡°Awake?¡±


    His voice was low and slightly nasal from just waking up; it tickled Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart.


    She turned around and snuggled into Song Sinian¡¯s arms, ¡°Mmm, I¡¯m awake.¡±


    She was about to say something when she felt a change in Song Sinian¡¯s body, and she tensed up suddenly, freezing in place.


    The memories of what happened yesterday had not yet faded, and now she was somewhat flustered by the situation at hand.


    Her mind even calculated a bit, wondering if she would be able to get up after another round of exertion.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t notice Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression and reached out to embrace her, but she blocked him with her hand, ¡°I, I haven¡¯t had breakfast yet.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian was also taken aback for a moment, then he instantly understood when he saw her blushing face.


    He chuckled softly, ¡°I just want to hold you, won¡¯t do anything else.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked her watery eyes but still didn¡¯t move.


    It was then that Song Sinian remembered that he had said the same thing before, and then did something regardless...


    A flicker of embarrassment crossed his eyes, and he cleared his throat, ¡°I promise, today I really won¡¯t.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao twisted a little where she was but eventually relaxed her hand and snuggled honestly into Song Sinian¡¯s arms.


    However, her movements were stiff, which amused Song Sinian.


    His wife had already married him, but she was still so shy, what to do...


    Thinking this, Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but kiss her lovely cheek.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body noticeably softened, and then she raised her head to ask Song Sinian, ¡°Husband, did you go out yesterday?¡±


    She was just tentatively asking, unsure whether Song Sinian would tell her the truth.


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips tightened slightly, considering yesterday¡¯s events, he naturally did not intend to tell her everything.


    But there was a part of it that he could mention.


    He nodded slightly and propped his chin on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head before speaking slowly, ¡°I did go out last night.¡±


    ¡°Does it have to do with Zhenzhen¡¯s matter?¡± When she thought of the suddenly missing Xu Zhenzhen, her brows instinctively furrowed.


    She wondered if paying more attention to Xu Zhenzhen at the beginning could have prevented this incident.


    Song Sinian saw through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts at a glance.


    His large hand stroked her back, soothingly whispering in her ear, ¡°It¡¯s related to Xu Zhenzhen, and it¡¯s good news.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, ¡°Really?¡±


    She had been restless these past few days because she was worried about Xu Zhenzhen. Otherwise, Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t always be engaging her in such activities, trying to tire her out.


    Song Sinian nodded lightly, ¡°Yes, we have identified the people who took Xu Zhenzhen away, and we know her current situation is safe. They don¡¯t plan to hurt her, so you don¡¯t need to blame yourself. Okay? You¡¯re not a god; you can¡¯t control everything.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes reddened slightly, ¡°What was the reason behind taking Zhenzhen away? What do they want?¡±


    She didn¡¯t understand why Xu Zhenzhen, living well in China, would be kidnapped. Song Sinian mentioned she wasn¡¯t in any life-threatening danger, but she was still a bit uneasy.


    ¡°Because Xu Zhenzhen is that person¡¯s child, and he needs an heir, so...¡±

 Chapter 667: 665: He Doesnt Want Regrets

    Chapter 667: Chapter 665: He Doesn¡¯t Want Regrets


    So Zhenzhen will not be in danger.


    Although Song Sinian did not finish his sentence, Lu Zhaozhao understood what he meant to express.


    She pursed her lips, ¡°Honey, I know the person who kidnapped Zhenzhen might be dangerous, but I still want to ask if there¡¯s anything I can do?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao knew she couldn¡¯t act rashly, as it would likely disrupt Song Sinian and her second brother¡¯s plan.


    If she ended up getting hurt, that would be trivial, but if they failed to save Xu Zhenzhen, she would blame herself for the rest of her life.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark pupils suddenly widened a bit, as if he was surprised that Lu Zhaozhao would say such a thing.


    However, he soon figured it out.


    His Zhaozhao was so smart, how could she not have thought of it?


    He sighed helplessly, raised his hand, and rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head. ¡°There is indeed something that requires your involvement, but it might be a bit harsh on you.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately shook her head, ¡°As long as I can help you and rescue Zhenzhen, I don¡¯t mind being put out a bit.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was now pregnant, and she didn¡¯t know if this would pose a risk to the rescue operation.


    Moreover, based on what Song Sinian had just said, although she felt more at ease than before, considering that the captors wanted Xu Zhenzhen to take over the family business and could have simply discussed it, they disregarded Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s wishes entirely and kidnapped her.


    Lu Zhaozhao had no good feelings for such people.


    This at least showed that they truly didn¡¯t value Xu Zhenzhen.


    They lacked an heir, so they just kidnapped someone in such a blunt manner.


    She couldn¡¯t understand it!


    Song Sinian, looking at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s serious face, sighed helplessly and held her directly in his arms. ¡°I need you to go into hiding, and if you need to go out, you might have to disguise yourself thoroughly. At least... you can¡¯t leave through the main door as you are now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s clear eyes blinked, and soon she thought of something.


    ¡°Honey, those people we saw outside the haute couture store last time... are they related to the ones who kidnapped Zhenzhen?¡±


    Song Sinian felt somewhat uncomfortable as he touched his nose. Looking into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s earnest eyes, he found it very hard to keep deceiving her.


    He sighed, unable to do otherwise, and nodded, ¡°Those people were indeed sent by the ones who kidnapped Zhenzhen.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao had already guessed as much, and now, hearing Song Sinian¡¯s admission, she frowned. ¡°They took Zhenzhen away, why do they also want to kidnap me? Do they think my existence could threaten Zhenzhen?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Exactly. They want you to become Zhenzhen¡¯s Achilles¡¯ heel. By capturing you, they can threaten Xu Zhenzhen more effectively.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao clenched her fists tightly, and her complexion turned particularly unpleasant. ¡°Honey, you¡¯ve caught those people, haven¡¯t you? Can we find out from them where Zhenzhen is?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so nervous,¡± Song Sinian said with concern as he patted her hand. ¡°We¡¯ve already found out exactly where Xu Zhenzhen is; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have told you to hide.¡±


    He felt somewhat distressed seeing Lu Zhaozhao so anxious over Xu Zhenzhen, yet he couldn¡¯t really do anything about it.


    He actually wanted to tire her out as he had done before, so she wouldn¡¯t have the energy to worry about others.


    But every time Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pretty face fell, he still felt unspeakable discomfort.


    To prevent his beautiful wife from feeling sad, the only solution was to completely deal with these bothersome people.


    Song Sinian tenderly touched Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face, ¡°You just need to cooperate with us, and we can bring Zhenzhen back sooner. So don¡¯t be unhappy anymore, okay? I guarantee we will bring Xu Zhenzhen back to you safe and sound.¡±


    As he uttered those words, he naturally intended to make it happen.


    They had already obtained crucial information from several men dressed in black; the rest of the plan was much simpler.


    Crushing the Pavlov Family or capturing Pavel. One of the two.


    If he were alone, this task might be somewhat complicated.


    But now, they were three teams: there was Pei Huai from the Rimu Family, Xia Wenmo who had taken over international forces, as well as his own men. They wouldn¡¯t let the Pavlov Family gain any advantage.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head nuzzled into Song Sinian¡¯s chest, feeling more secure.


    ¡°I trust you, honey.¡±


    After she said this and looked up at Song Sinian, she suddenly asked, ¡°By hiding at home, does that mean someone will take my place to be captured?¡±


    If the others intended to use her as Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s weakness, they surely wouldn¡¯t give up easily.


    If Song Sinian¡¯s team wanted to infiltrate quickly, the best strategy would be to play along and let her be taken.


    But given Song Sinian¡¯s character, he would never risk her safety.


    So, if the plan were to continue, someone would have to impersonate her.


    Seeing that he couldn¡¯t conceal anything from Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian simply laid out the whole plan. ¡°I did plan it that way. The person who will impersonate you has undergone special training. She can protect herself and won¡¯t encounter any problems. Plus, our people will be around to protect her. However, if you are unwilling...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not that self-sacrificing.¡±


    Since someone was willing to take on this task, they were obviously satisfied with the compensation offered by Song Sinian. There was no coercion. She didn¡¯t need to play the saint at such a time.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly, rubbing her head. ¡°You...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao reached up to smooth the tousled hair on her head caused by Song Sinian, then snuggled into his embrace again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I promise to obey this time. Unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary, I swear I¡¯ll stay home and not go out.¡±


    Song Sinian continued to caress her cheek along her hairline. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be that drastic. The people they sent last time have been turned by your third brother¡¯s men. As long as you don¡¯t show up in public, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡±


    He was saying those words partly to facilitate the rescue of Xu Zhenzhen and partly, of course, for her safety.


    Although those sent to kidnap her had been converted by them, the Pavlov Family might have other tricks up their sleeve.


    Failure to notice could result in loss all around.


    He didn¡¯t want to regret.


    So, naturally, he had to warn Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Mhm, got it,¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded solemnly.


    Her serious expression prompted Song Sinian to have a playful urge.


    He bent down and kissed her cheek lightly. Seeing no reaction, he kissed her again.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up in confusion, and just then, Song Sinian¡¯s lips landed on her mouth.


    It seemed she suddenly remembered something, and her small hands immediately covered her mouth. ¡°Mr. Song!¡±


    She coquettishly pushed him away with her other hand...

 Chapter 668: 666: Send Off on the Spot?

    Chapter 668: Chapter 666: Send Off on the Spot?


    But the more she resisted, the more Song Sinian wanted to tease her.


    The results of this teasing made the situation spiral out of control.


    Lu Zhaozhao simply couldn¡¯t withstand the clever Song Sinian; he was eager to employ every trick in the book on her.


    Her ankles were held by him, raised high, marked with red imprints of his fingers.


    Unable to endure, she scratched Song Sinian a few times, but it was futile and only spurred him on more.


    As a result, what should have been breakfast turned into lunch...


    The midday sun was bright.


    Yet Xiao Mo, confined in an old building, couldn¡¯t feel any warmth.


    These past few days, though that woman hadn¡¯t come to visit him, the bruises from his beating hadn¡¯t healed much.


    And his food had been scant as well.


    The person guarding him showed no signs of releasing him anytime soon.


    ¡°Clang, clang, clang...¡±


    A raucous noise broke the silence in the decrepit building, suggesting someone had approached.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, and he started yelling outside, ¡°Help! Save me!!!¡±


    He screamed desperately at the top of his lungs.


    The person guarding him, startled by his shouting, rushed over to cover his mouth but got bitten instead.


    Seeing this, the guard stuffed a rag into his mouth to silence him.


    He hurried to the window and saw that there were indeed people nearby.


    But these people seemed to have no intention of entering the old building and left after a brief wander around the vicinity.


    The guard frowned and ultimately decided to call Xia Wenjin.


    This old factory was usually deserted, but if it were discovered, they¡¯d be in trouble.


    He was only in it for some quick money and definitely didn¡¯t want to risk his life!


    Or end up in jail!


    Xiao Mo watched as the guard¡¯s tense expression faded, his hopeful eyes dimming instantly.


    He hung his head, gave up struggling, and listened quietly as the guard made a call.


    ¡°Beep, beep, beep...¡±


    The call was soon answered.


    ¡°Hello?¡± The person on the other end sounded impatient. ¡°What is it? Speak up!¡±


    The guard was startled but reported honestly, ¡°Miss, keeping this man in the old factory might not be safe. Someone was nearby just now; they didn¡¯t find the man, but just in case...¡±


    He trailed off, but he felt sure the person on the other end understood his point.


    Keeping Xiao Mo in the dilapidated factory was bound to lead to his discovery sooner or later.


    If they didn¡¯t want him found, the best solution was to move him to some residential location.


    And lock him up tight there.


    Xia Wenjin frowned, it took her a while to understand who the man on the other side was talking about.


    She had been busy with Zhao Qingfeng recently, pampered by his attentions, and had completely forgotten about Xiao Mo.


    Originally, she had intended to keep Xiao Mo around to torture him occasionally, allowing her to vent her resentment thoroughly.


    But if keeping him endangered her, she was naturally unwilling to continue.


    Xia Wenjin narrowed his eyes, ¡°I know. Go take care of him and then come back.¡±


    ¡°Take care of him?¡± The guard¡¯s eyes suddenly widened significantly.


    Even Xiao Mo, who was secretly listening, had his eyes widen in an instant.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that a single phone call from the guard would send him away?


    If he hadn¡¯t been shouting just now, would he not have to die?


    Xiao Mo was completely overwhelmed.


    His mind was a jumbled mess now.


    Although being tied up here was uncomfortable, if compared to dying, he¡¯d rather be tied up.


    Better to cling to a miserable life than to die, a principle he still understood.


    The guard seemed to realize he¡¯d gotten a bit too loud and quickly covered the receiver, lowering his voice and said, ¡°Miss, this is domestic territory; doing this sort of thing here can easily be discovered...¡±


    Moreover, he didn¡¯t want blood on his hands at all.


    Especially for a woman.


    Xia Wenjin, of course, saw no problem at all; to her, she was now the miss of the Feng Ya Family.


    She would do whatever she wanted.


    She didn¡¯t need to listen to anyone else; her word was law.


    Xia Wenjin snorted lightly, ¡°I know this is domestically. Just make it clean, and make sure nobody finds out.¡±


    ¡°But... but...¡±


    ¡°There are no buts!¡± Xia Wenjin interrupted before the guard could finish.


    She didn¡¯t have time to deal with him now.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression darkened, and even her voice grew colder, ¡°I told you to figure out a way to deal with him. If you can¡¯t handle it, then wait to be taken care of!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Great, why did he have to call this woman?


    His job was neither easier nor less risky.


    Hearing no response on the other end of the call, Xia Wenjin finally said, ¡°Do well, and when it¡¯s all over, I will send you a bonus. Now, do as I said.¡±


    The guard heaved a silent sigh and resignedly replied, ¡°I understand, Miss.¡±


    Then, he was ready to hang up the phone.


    The guard looked at Xiao Mo, seeing his defeated look and sighed helplessly, ¡°You know, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless; it¡¯s your bad luck to have encountered the miss of the Feng Ya Family. If you want revenge, seek her out after you die; don¡¯t come after me.¡±


    Xiao Mo violently shook his head, trying to prevent the guard from taking any action.


    But the guard harshly chopped him on the back of his neck, and Xiao Mo lost consciousness.


    Seeing this, the guard sighed again, ¡°This factory might be demolished anytime. Burying you here would be a trouble; I might as well drown you in the river. When you become a vengeful ghost, go and seek revenge on Feng Ya Meizi; just don¡¯t come looking for me...¡±


    Xiao Mo lay motionless on the ground, yet inside, his mind was in turmoil.


    He had just been hit, and he actually wanted to struggle a bit more, but considering the guard was prepared to kill him, there was likely a fallback plan.


    If he kept struggling, he might be killed right there.


    But if he played along, the guard might use other methods¡ª


    perhaps administer some drugs, or let him bleed out. As long as they had further plans, there might be a chance to escape.


    He was somewhat relieved to hear the guard mention drowning him; at least he wasn¡¯t being poisoned on the spot.


    Otherwise, no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn¡¯t think of a way out. But if it was just drowning, that worried him a bit less...

 Chapter 669: 667: Was He Schemed Against by His Own Family?

    Chapter 669: Chapter 667: Was He Schemed Against by His Own Family?


    ¡°He was an excellent swimmer, so even if he were trapped and sank into the river, as long as he handled it right, there was a possibility of rescue.


    Furthermore, he knew some of the rivers near the Shangjing Circle, so if someone wanted to dispose of a body, they would definitely find a secluded spot.


    As far as he knew, there were only two secluded rivers.


    Neither river was particularly deep, and the flow wasn¡¯t too fast, so his chances of surviving increased even more!


    The guard, of course, had no idea about Xiao Mo¡¯s thoughts.


    Right now, he just felt unlucky to be stuck with such a mess.


    With a sigh of resignation, he went ahead and let Xiao Mo down, since he was already bound anyway, so the guard didn¡¯t think to tie him up any further.


    He just hoisted him carelessly and placed him in the trunk of the car.


    He found a bag, filled it with stones, and tied it to Xiao Mo¡¯s feet, ensuring that even if he suddenly woke up when thrown into the water, he couldn¡¯t climb ashore.


    Thinking this, the guard relaxed quite a bit.


    He took a deep breath, stood outside the car, and took several puffs of his cigarette before finally getting into the car and driving towards the river.


    What the guard didn¡¯t know was that, in the time it took him to smoke and start driving, Xiao Mo, lying in the trunk, had found a relatively sharp object and almost completely severed the ropes around his wrists.


    The moment he was thrown into the water, he would be able to cut the ropes off his wrists in the next second.


    As for the rope tied to his feet, he had stealthily modified it to a slipknot.


    Now, he was just waiting for the guard to throw him into the water.


    He lay there in the trunk for a long while before he finally felt himself being hoisted up again.


    Xiao Mo dared not breathe too heavily.


    Fortunately, it was already dark outside, and it was nearly impossible to see anything, allowing him to stealthily open his eyes and take stock of his surroundings.


    As he had predicted, the man wanted to throw him into the nearby river.


    The area was remote with few people around, so no discovery was likely.


    Soon, the guard carried him to the riverbank and without any hesitation, threw Xiao Mo along with the bag of stones straight into the water.


    Seeing bubbles emerging from the river and then silence followed.


    The guard didn¡¯t dare stay long and drove away.


    Not until the rumbling sound of the car disappeared by the river did Xiao Mo clumsily crawl up to the riverbank.


    Although the early spring weather had warmed up considerably, the temperature was still bone-chillingly cold without sunlight,


    especially for Xiao Mo, who was soaking wet from the river.


    He gritted his teeth in anger, knowing that if the guard hadn¡¯t left quickly, he would have been frozen to death if not drowned.


    Shivering, Xiao Mo came ashore and picked up some tattered items along the road to wrap around himself before hastily walking onto the highway.


    Although this was a suburban area, cars occasionally passed.


    He had no money now, nor a phone to notify the Xiao Family to come find him.


    But he figured if he encountered passersby, they might be willing to call the police.


    As Xiao Mo walked, he pondered the recent events.


    Although he didn¡¯t know why that woman named Feng Ya Meizi wanted him dead, the fact that he had vanished for several days and yet no one had looked for him puzzled him deeply.


    He had been kidnapped from downtown and brought here, and with the current capabilities of Heavenly Eye, he should have been found quickly.¡±


    Several days had passed, and not only had no one rescued him, but he had almost been drowned in a lake...


    Could it be that he had been set up by his own family?


    Xiao Mo thought back to how Xia Wenjin had been killed abroad by Xiao Jinglan, and how the matter had just faded away.


    Could it be Xiao Jinglan again?


    As Xiao Mo thought this, he immediately shook his head. Impossible, he was her only son¡ªthe last thing Xiao Jinglan would do, even if it meant her own death, was let him die.


    But it had been so long, and no one had come for him; something must have gone wrong.


    Xiao Mo took a deep breath and decided to keep the peace for now.


    Fortunately, Xiao Mo was rather lucky. After walking for hours and nearly freezing, he finally managed to hail a car.


    Twenty minutes later, he was lucky enough to be dropped off at a police station.


    Because he harbored doubts about the Xiao Family, when Xiao Mo asked the police to inform Xiao Jinglan, he did not tell her his real name but instead used the name of his foster father.


    Although Xiao Jinglan was suspicious of how that man would appear at the police station, she rushed there immediately.


    But she had not expected that she would find Xiao Mo at the police station!


    ¡°Amo, what happened to you? How did you get so thin?¡± Xiao Jinglan touched Xiao Mo¡¯s cheek with heartache and bit her teeth in anger, ¡°I told you, those little temptresses are no good, yet you insisted on mingling with them. Now you see the consequences!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    As soon as Xiao Jinglan spoke, not only was Xiao Mo left speechless, but even the police officers found it awkward.


    With a bit of a headache, Xiao Mo pressed his temples and apologetically nodded to the two officers before saying, ¡°Sorry, there¡¯s something I need to discuss privately with my mother. Please excuse us.¡±


    Seeing that Xiao Mo was okay, the officers nodded back at him and left.


    Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Mo scrutinized Xiao Jinglan carefully before asking, ¡°What did you just say I¡¯ve been doing these past few days?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan raised her eyebrows and grumbled discontentedly, ¡°Apart from going to work, you¡¯ve been fooling around with that little temptress. What do you mean, what have you been doing?¡±


    Xiao Mo was slightly startled, ¡°You say I¡¯ve been going to work these days?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan nodded and noticing the odd expression on Xiao Mo¡¯s face, she muttered, ¡°Have you lost your memory? Or are you just playing a joke on me?¡±


    She grew angrier as she spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to discuss something with you these past few days, and you¡¯ve been avoiding me fast. But when those little temptresses call you, you just disappear!¡±


    It was only because she had met Feng Xiran that she felt so anxious.


    Yet, this damn boy didn¡¯t care about his old mother¡¯s feelings and insisted on leaving her to pamper those little temptresses.


    Just look at him now, likely tricked by one of those little temptresses.


    And seeing his miserable state, he was nearly drained dry by them.


    Xiao Jinglan was both angry and heartbroken, eventually sighing helplessly, ¡°In the future, you can have your fun, but take care of your health.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face grew even more unsightly.


    He had always thought that Xiao Jinglan had not reported him missing because someone had treated his disappearance as a business trip. But he was completely taken aback by what Xiao Jinglan said.


    During the days of his disappearance, ¡°he¡± had still been going to work on time?


    No wonder it hadn¡¯t aroused anyone¡¯s suspicion.


    As Xiao Jinglan continued to complain beside him, Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly before he asked again, ¡°When was the last time we met?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan glanced at Xiao Mo. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it just yesterday? I had something to discuss with you, but there you were, wrapping your arms around that wicked woman and just walking away! I can¡¯t even see what you find in her...¡±

 Chapter 670: 668 How Are You Sure Its Me?

    Chapter 670: Chapter 668 How Are You Sure It¡¯s Me?


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes suddenly widened, his mind unable to think fast enough.


    ¡°Are you sure that person is me? How can you be sure it¡¯s me?¡± His eyes stared unwaveringly at Xiao Jinglan, unable to accept the fact that someone had replaced him.


    Xiao Jinglan raised her hand and patted him on the shoulder, ¡°You¡¯re my son, how could I not recognize you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This statement left Xiao Mo completely silent.


    It seemed the person impersonating him looked almost exactly like him, even his biological mother couldn¡¯t tell the difference.


    He wished he could expose the imposter right now, but thinking of the person who had managed to harm him in secret, Xiao Mo did not dare to act rashly.


    He was silent for a moment before slowly saying, ¡°Mom, I have something to tell you, but... this isn¡¯t the right place to talk.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, about to object, but seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s grim face, she could only nod and say, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll take you home, and we can talk there¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Let¡¯s go to the hotel next door, my current situation isn¡¯t suitable for going home.¡± Xiao Mo said, gripping Xiao Jinglan¡¯s wrist tightly, leaving no room for refusal.


    Although Xiao Jinglan found it strange, she still followed Xiao Mo to the hotel nearest to the police station.


    All the way there, Xiao Mo kept covering his head, which left Xiao Jinglan rather puzzled.


    Though she wanted to ask for clarity, seeing Xiao Mo¡¯s gloomy face, she could only keep silent until they reached the hotel.


    Fifteen minutes later, Xiao Jinglan was sitting on the sofa in the hotel.


    By then, Xiao Mo had changed into a clean bathrobe, and had sent the server to buy clothes.


    Xiao Jinglan could no longer hold back and asked, ¡°Amo, what exactly do you want to tell me? Don¡¯t scare me...¡±


    Xiao Mo took a deep breath before finally saying, ¡°I¡¯ve been kidnapped these past few days.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t believe her ears, ¡°When were you kidnapped? Today? Then why didn¡¯t you say so at the police station just now? They...¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Xiao Mo put his hand on the frantic Xiao Jinglan, ¡°The things I¡¯m about to tell you might sound ridiculous, but it all really happened. Please, listen patiently until I finish.¡±


    At Wen Yan, Xiao Jinglan instantly quieted down.


    Her brows were tightly furrowed as she looked at Xiao Mo, ¡°Alright, speak.¡±


    Seeing that Xiao Jinglan was calm, Xiao Mo took a deep breath and casually picked up a sandwich from the table and took a bite.


    He ate a bit roughly¡ªclearly, he hadn¡¯t had a proper meal in days.


    Seeing this, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s heart ached. She raised her hand to pour him a cup of tea and set it beside him, ¡°Eat slowly, Mom isn¡¯t in a rush.¡±


    Xiao Mo nodded and quickly finished the sandwich in a few bites.


    After eating and drinking a whole cup of tea, he finally felt better.


    ¡°These past few days, I was kidnapped and held in an industrial building in the suburbs. During my disappearance, someone took my place.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes instantly widened, recalling the question Xiao Mo had asked her at the police station.


    Her mouth opened in disbelief, ¡°You¡¯re saying the person I¡¯ve been seeing recently isn¡¯t you, but someone impersonating you? But he...¡±


    ¡°Looks a lot like me, right?¡± Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes, contemplating this issue as well.


    If the person hadn¡¯t looked so similar, perhaps his mom wouldn¡¯t have been deceived.


    Xiao Jinglan opened her mouth, taking quite a while to digest the news, ¡°No, not just similar, he looked exactly like you.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan recalled the Xiao Mo she had seen earlier and felt overwhelmed.


    She had always thought that her son was infatuated with pleasures, which was why he ignored her.


    But unexpectedly, her son had been kidnapped!


    And it happened without her knowledge.


    Thinking of this, Xiao Jinglan immediately looked at Xiao Mo nervously, ¡°Those people who kidnapped you, did they do anything to you? What exactly do they want?¡±


    ¡°What do they want?¡± Xiao Mo scoffed, ¡°Of course, they wanted my life!¡±


    His expression darkened, and he then told Xiao Jinglan how he had escaped after being kidnapped.


    Such a thrilling incident left Xiao Jinglan chilling to the bone.


    She had never expected that in just a few days, she could have lost her son. What was more terrifying was that she hadn¡¯t noticed anything at all.


    Xiao Jinglan immediately reached out and held Xiao Mo tightly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, Amo, it¡¯s my fault, I didn¡¯t expect...¡±


    Initially, Xiao Mo didn¡¯t like Xiao Jinglan¡¯s touch, but at that moment, he deeply felt her care.


    However, it was merely a fleeting moment.


    He thought about how unreliable she was as a mother; he had been gone for so long without her noticing.


    If she had noticed any signs earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much.


    Thinking this, Xiao Mo felt indifferent towards Xiao Jinglan¡¯s apology.


    He subtly withdrew his hand and picked up the sandwich on the table, eating slowly.


    With the food he had earlier, he wasn¡¯t as hungry as before.


    Seeing that Xiao Mo didn¡¯t speak further, Xiao Jinglan cautiously asked, ¡°What are your plans now? Should we call the police right now to arrest the impersonator?¡±


    Xiao Mo, of course, wanted to capture that person and dismember them piece by piece but considering that someone else had kidnapped him, probably as a body double for the impersonator.


    His eyes narrowed as if he suddenly remembered something, ¡°Mom, do you know... who Ya Meizi is?¡±


    ¡°Ya Meizi?!¡± Xiao Jinglan was clearly startled, her voice becoming a bit shrill.


    Xiao Mo seemed to react as well, ¡°You know this woman?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan nodded repeatedly, ¡°I know, I heard about her from that woman Hao Jiayi...¡±


    She carefully thought about what Hao Jiayi had said.


    After a while, she spoke again, ¡°She said you were bewitched by Hao Jiayi, always sticking close to her.¡±


    Although Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t recall the exact words, she could still convey the gist of it.


    Xiao Mo frowned even more deeply, ¡°I don¡¯t know this woman named Ya Meizi at all, and... she was the one who had me kidnapped.¡±


    And even ordered someone to kill him.


    He didn¡¯t understand why Ya Meizi had any animosity toward him or why she needed someone else to replace her.


    Suddenly, Xiao Mo thought about how fiercely this woman had attacked him before; they must have had some interaction.


    As for what incident led to this woman hating him so intensely, he really had no clue.


    Xiao Mo thought for a moment and his eyes suddenly narrowed, ¡°Does the impostor not return to the Xiao Family often?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, ¡°He comes back occasionally, but he only sleeps at home and leaves. Sometimes, he even avoids talking to me.¡±

 Chapter 671: 669: Put Him in a Desperate Situation

    Chapter 671: Chapter 669: Put Him in a Desperate Situation


    If Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t discovered that Xiao Mo was an impostor, she might have thought his behavior wasn¡¯t problematic.


    But once she considered that this person was a fake, everything he did began to appear sinister.


    She had always assumed Xiao Mo was genuinely busy, since such things had happened before.


    But now, she suspected he was afraid of being exposed in front of her, which was why he dared not come home.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows furrowed again, and she looked up at Xiao Mo and asked, ¡°Amo, what should we do now?¡±


    She had figured out that Xiao Mo wasn¡¯t planning to call the police.


    Otherwise, when they were at the police station just now, he would have already reported the matter to the police.


    Xiao Jinglan also dared not rashly suggest anything since the other party was capable even of murder.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if they could handle a direct confrontation with the enemy.


    She had previously investigated the Feng Ya Family, which seemed to be an ancient family from R country, quite prestigious locally.


    For such people, if they had already taken over the Song Group and become its CEO, clashing with the Feng Ya Family wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    But at the moment, they were just a small shrimp within the Song Group.


    Going head-to-head with the Miss of the Feng Ya Family was like a mayfly shaking a mighty tree.


    Thinking this, Xiao Jinglan felt even more that taking over the Song Group was the best solution.


    Xiao Mo pondered for a moment and then said slowly, ¡°First, find a way to get the impostor to go home, then we can plan the rest slowly.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan nodded, ¡°Then... that Feng Ya Meizi...¡±


    Xiao Mo lifted his eyes, ¡°Get me the information on that woman and send it directly to me.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Xiao Jinglan pursed her lips and then asked cautiously, ¡°Then... when will you go home?¡±


    Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes, ¡°Of course, I will go back before you arrange for the impostor to come home. Remember, it must be when he is alone.¡±


    Although Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t know what Xiao Mo was planning, she would still follow his instructions.


    She nodded gently, still hesitating, ¡°Amo, what are your plans?¡±


    Xiao Mo looked up, his eyes slightly narrowed, ¡°Since they have replaced me with an impostor, I will set a trap for them.¡±


    If the impostor could replace him, then he... could also disrupt the fake with the real, couldn¡¯t he?


    He wanted to personally meet this Feng Ya Meizi, to see what kind of person she was and why she insisted on having an impostor replace him.


    And why she desperately wanted him dead.


    Xiao Mo didn¡¯t understand. If Feng Ya Meizi wanted to scheme against the Song Group, kidnapping Song Sinian and finding a replacement wasn¡¯t impossible.


    But they had specifically chosen him, which he couldn¡¯t comprehend.


    If he was still the former nominal young master of the Song Family, their targeting him wouldn¡¯t be so surprising.


    Coming to this realization, Xiao Mo¡¯s expression darkened. It seemed he would have to thoroughly investigate the man¡¯s background once he was captured.


    Xiao Jinglan nodded heavily, her only hope now being her son, who had nearly been killed by someone.


    How could she possibly let these instigators off the hook? Even if something went wrong, she would risk her life to take them down with her!


    After making up her mind, Xiao Jinglan became even more resolute, ¡°Amo, rest assured, I will definitely take care of this for you!¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    ...


    As the night deepened, the Song Mansion remained brightly lit.


    Song Sinian glanced at the document that had come through on his computer, raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, his expression showing signs of fatigue.


    Zhao Xi placed a cup of flower tea beside Song Sinian¡¯s hand, ¡°Sir, please take a break. With the Xia Family and the Rimu Family involved as well, you don¡¯t need to be so tense.¡±


    He knew that Song Sinian was doing this to reassure Lu Zhaozhao.


    But seeing how this situation was going, he was also worried about their master¡¯s health.


    Song Sinian nodded slightly, ¡°Do you have something to report today?¡±


    When he and Lu Zhaozhao came to the Song Mansion, Zhao Xi would usually not come directly unless there was something important, opting instead to call or send an email.


    Since he had come directly, it must mean that this matter couldn¡¯t be discussed over the phone.


    Zhao Xi nodded, placing the documents in his hand on the table, ¡°Xiao Mo has escaped from Xia Wenjin, this is the hotel he¡¯s currently staying at, and he has made contact with Xiao Jinglan. However, he didn¡¯t expose Zhao Qingfeng directly, and it¡¯s unclear what he is planning to do.¡±


    As much as Zhao Xi enjoyed watching the dogfight between Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin, he was worried about any complications that might threaten their master and madam.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows raised slightly, ¡°He managed to escape? It seems we underestimated him.¡±


    He casually flipped through the documents in front of him, stopping halfway through.


    ¡°What do you think... if Xiao Mo knew Fei Ya Meizi is Xia Wenjin, what would he think?¡± Song Sinian said, looking up at Zhao Xi as if merely suggesting a possible scenario.


    Zhao Xi was momentarily startled, ¡°A person he thought he¡¯d gotten rid of transforming into someone more powerful than him, Xiao Mo would probably be even more eager to finish her off.¡±


    After all, Xia Wenjin had already made her move on him, and he surely wouldn¡¯t let her go.


    Song Sinian, however, shook his head lightly, ¡°If Xia Wenjin just changed her identity and appeared before him, Xiao Mo would surely react that way, but with this new identity, it might actually be a good opportunity...¡±


    Zhao Xi paused, then quickly regained his composure, ¡°Sir, do you mean, he wouldn¡¯t kill Xia Wenjin but would use her newfound identity instead?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, given his understanding of Xiao Mo, he would definitely do so.


    ¡°He might also play the same trick, using one to replace another, and then it¡¯ll be seen whether Xia Wenjin is clever enough,¡± he sneered, thinking of Xia Wenjin¡¯s intellect, which would probably let her be outwitted by Xiao Mo again.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s scheming was profound; having been trapped by Xia Wenjin like this, how could he not exploit her to the fullest to quench the grudge in his heart?


    Yet letting them fight among themselves would certainly give him some relief.


    Zhao Xi, too, grew excited as he listened, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Song Sinian, ¡°Sir, rest assured, I will definitely be well-prepared for it.¡±


    He was also eager to see what Xiao Mo would do when he eventually learned Xia Wenjin¡¯s true identity.


    What sort of spectacle would it be when that venomous woman, Xia Wenjin, was targeted by the venomous serpent, Xiao Mo?


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Send a few more people to keep an eye on them, and monitor Xiao Jinglan¡¯s movements carefully to prevent any desperate actions.¡±

 Chapter 672: 670: Whats Wrong with This Sentence?

    Chapter 672: Chapter 670: What¡¯s Wrong with This Sentence?


    ¡°Alright, sir.¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded repeatedly, naturally not daring to slack off.


    Xiao Mo had previously operated in the shadows, but now, after being captured by Xia Wenjin and nearly losing his life, his actions likely wouldn¡¯t be the same as before.


    After all, Xiao Mo had ¡°died¡± once.


    ¡°By the way, sir, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± Zhao Xi seemed to suddenly recall something, ¡°The people who followed Xiao Jinglan reported that she and Song Keren ran into a woman while shopping, and she¡¯s been unsettled ever since.¡±


    Thinking of this, he handed his phone to Song Sinian, ¡°This is a photo of that woman.¡±


    After handing the phone to Song Sinian, Zhao Xi¡¯s gaze turned tentative.


    In fact, he felt the situation was a bit troublesome after seeing the photo, which is why he brought it up.


    Song Sinian narrowed his eyes, ¡°Haven¡¯t we already investigated this woman¡¯s background?¡±


    Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress.


    She looked almost identical to his deceased mother, the ¡®almost¡¯ because his mother had a very faint mole near the bottom of her earlobe, which nobody usually noticed.


    But as her son, he naturally remembered it.


    Hence, at the time, he specifically asked Zhao Xi to look into the Feng family, only to discover that his mother had an identical twin sister, which was somewhat unexpected to him.


    What was more surprising was that she had connections with Xia Wenjin.


    Therefore, Song Sinian had Zhao Xi investigate Feng Xixi¡¯s past to see what links she had with Xia Wenjin, but so far, there wasn¡¯t much information, and that¡¯s where the matter stood still.


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°Feng Xixi is currently in the country, and... it seems like she is now living with Xia Wenjin. Mr. Pei said that Feng Xixi was sent by Fengya Ichiro to keep an eye on Xia Wenjin. However, Xiao Jinglan saw her when she went out.¡±


    Others might be indifferent to Feng Xixi, but Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t be.


    She had made great efforts to marry into the Song Family and naturally knew all about her rivals, but she didn¡¯t know that the Feng family¡¯s daughter had a twin, hence her panic.


    Zhao Xi hesitated for a moment, and looking at Song Sinian, he asked, ¡°Sir, should we reveal Feng Xixi¡¯s identity to anyone else?¡±


    This matter was probably unknown even to Mr. Song. If Feng Xixi wanted to use this identity to enter the Song Family, there could be more drama within the family.


    However, it was likely just the ¡°solo performances¡± of these jesters.


    He wasn¡¯t worried, but it seemed better to give a heads up in advance.


    Song Sinian nodded in agreement, ¡°Inform the Old Master about this matter ahead of time, as for the others, there is no need for now.¡±


    ¡°Understood, sir.¡±


    After saying this, Zhao Xi prepared to gather his materials and leave, but before he could turn around, he was called back by Song Sinian.


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡±


    Zhao Xi looked up, puzzled, ¡°Do you have any other instructions, sir?¡±


    Song Sinian drummed his fingers rhythmically on the table before finally speaking up, ¡°Find a way to get Xia Wenjin¡¯s hair and compare it with Feng Xixi¡¯s...¡±


    He had felt that Feng Xixi¡¯s timing of going abroad was very strange when he had reviewed her information.


    She had disappeared not long after Lu Zhaozhao was born, and previous investigations had only revealed a close relationship with Lu Dagui.


    Coupled with the fact that Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenjin were switched at birth, he always felt that there was some connection between Feng Xixi and Xia Wenjin.


    But what he couldn¡¯t figure out was why the Xia Family, who had kept a low profile in the country at that time and even seemed to have less to offer than the Lu Family, would be chosen.


    If his guess was correct, why would Feng Xixi be willing to send her own biological daughter to the Xia Family?


    Or did she know from the beginning that the Xia family was no ordinary family?


    But how did she find out?


    There were too many mysteries about Feng Xixi, which made him further ponder.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s eyes suddenly widened a great deal when he heard what Song Sinian had ordered, ¡°Sir, do you mean to say that Feng Xixi might be Xia Wenjin¡¯s biological mother?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°It¡¯s just a guess, when Zhaozhao was little, she had met Feng Xixi, who even pushed her down the stairs.¡±


    If she had been caught cheating with Lu Dagui, Feng Xixi wouldn¡¯t go so far as to ensure the death of an innocent child.


    Unless the existence of that child was an obstacle to her from the outset.


    Linking all the events together, it was easy to come to an answer.


    But it was precisely this answer that made Song Sinian¡¯s logic start to blur.


    Zhao Xi had also noticed this point, ¡°Feng Xixi sent her own daughter to the Xia family and got the lady into the Lu family, even at the cost of the lady¡¯s life, what exactly is she scheming?¡±


    Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t figure it out for a moment either.


    Was it for the wealth of the Xia family?


    Counting Xia Wenjin, the Xia family had five children, and by common sense, it was known that the Xia family wouldn¡¯t possibly leave all their wealth to Xia Wenjin alone.


    In contrast, being an only daughter in the Lu family, she could inherit all of the Lu family¡¯s assets.


    Although it might not be as much as the Xia family¡¯s, still... how much the Xia family would actually give Xia Wenjin was also a question.


    Zhao Xi¡¯s brow furrowed into a knot, ¡°I really don¡¯t understand what Feng Xixi is thinking, why is she spending so much on something so uncertain?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°For Feng Xixi, this sort of thing is no different from buying a lottery ticket.¡±


    ¡°Just that, who would go all in without knowing the outcome? Unless they knew the winning numbers for that lottery draw, otherwise, no matter how much they invest, it¡¯s in vain.¡± Zhao Xi couldn¡¯t help but make sarcastic remarks on the side.


    Unexpectedly, what was said carelessly struck a chord with the listener.


    Song Sinian seemed to have a sudden epiphany, ¡°What, what did you just say?¡±


    ¡°Ah?!¡±


    Zhao Xi also startled, his mind immediately began to backtrack on what he had just said.


    ¡°I, I said... who would go all in without knowing the outcome?¡±


    ¡°No, the next sentence.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s brow was even more tightly furrowed by now.


    Zhao Xi was flustered as he weakly replied, ¡°Unless... unless they knew the final winning numbers of the lottery, otherwise investing more would be futile.¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Zhao Xi¡¯s expression grew even more bewildered.


    What about that statement?


    How was it not wrong?


    He stared dumbfounded at Song Sinian, seemingly waiting for their master to resolve his confusion.


    Naturally, Song Sinian did not disappoint his expectation and began to explain methodically, ¡°If Feng Xixi had known early on that the Xia family was very wealthy and powerful overseas, to the extent that they would spoil their daughter to the skies, wouldn¡¯t her actions then come as no surprise at all?¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°But with Feng Xixi¡¯s status, it would have been impossible for her to investigate that.¡±


    Even they had utilized quite a lot of connections just to uncover the tip of the iceberg, so how did Feng Xixi come to know?

 Chapter 673: 671: Buff Stacked to the Max

    Chapter 673: Chapter 671: Buff Stacked to the Max


    Song Sinian also agreed and nodded. Given Feng Xixi¡¯s situation in the Feng family, if she truly had such capability, she wouldn¡¯t be merely a mistress.


    After so many years by Fengya Ichiro¡¯s side, she hadn¡¯t managed to accomplish anything noteworthy.


    Therefore, her actions seemed even more strange.


    What Zhao Xi had just said made him feel that Feng Xixi must have learned of the Xia Family¡¯s situation through some channel, which was why she was throwing caution to the wind.


    But how she came to know of it, he feared, could only be pried from the woman¡¯s own lips.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and he felt an increased wariness towards Feng Xixi in his heart.


    Especially the thought that she was now staying by Xia Wenjin¡¯s side made him somewhat worried that she might join forces with Xia Wenjin to cause trouble.


    Song Sinian pinched the bridge of his nose irritably, and when he raised his eyes to look at Zhao Xi again, he slowly said, ¡°Have the people watching Xia Wenjin split off one or two to keep an eye on Feng Xixi. If she does anything strange, they must report it immediately.¡±


    Zhao Xi nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. I will make sure someone keeps a close watch on her.¡±


    Initially, Zhao Xi only regarded Feng Xixi as Fengya Ichiro¡¯s mistress, not paying her much attention. However, having listened to Song Sinian, warnings started to sound in his head.


    She was the prime culprit in the baby-switching incident years ago and is also Song Sinian¡¯s biological aunt, as their sir conjectured, she might also be Xia Wenjin¡¯s biological mother.


    Any one of those associations alone would be enough for vigilance, let alone the fact that this woman¡¯s ¡°buffs¡± were all stacked up.


    They couldn¡¯t afford not to pay attention...


    Due to Xiao Mo¡¯s reminder, Xiao Jinglan again feigned an urgent need to contact ¡°Xiao Mo¡± several times. Fearing that Xiao Jinglan¡¯s suspicions would be raised, the impostor had no choice but to reluctantly return to the Xiao Family.


    Zhao Qingfeng sat on the sofa, quietly observing Xiao Jinglan opposite him. Although he felt uneasy, the methods Xia Wenjin had taught him quelled his nervousness.


    Fortunately, as Xiao Mo was the apex of the Xiao Family¡¯s hierarchy, even if Xiao Jinglan mentioned something he was unaware of, it would be normal for him to show irritation.


    As long as he remained silent, it would be easy to gloss over the matter.


    Xiao Jinglan had previously known that the ¡°son¡± before her was an impostor.


    But when she saw the fake son again, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a poignant sense of similarity in her heart ¨C it was remarkably convincing.


    So convincing that she, as his mother, hadn¡¯t noticed he was a fake.


    However, she had just placed a dish of perfume lemons on the table and put one into the cup in front of Xiao Mo himself, and he had shown no reaction at all.


    He had even taken a few sips in front of her, confirming to Xiao Jinglan that the person before her was indeed not her son.


    Xiao Mo disliked the taste of lemons and would even lose his temper at the sight of such food.


    Not to mention eating it.


    It was only then that Xiao Jinglan slowly reined in the emotions at the bottom of her eyes and said with a light laugh, ¡°I heard from Hao Jiayi that you¡¯ve found a woman you like outside, are you planning to marry her?¡±


    Seeing that Xiao Jinglan¡¯s tone was gentle when speaking to him, any unease Xiao Mo had momentarily vanished entirely.


    He picked up the glass of lemon water from the table and took another sip, ¡°I... haven¡¯t decided yet. Women, well, I¡¯m not short of them. There¡¯s no rush to get married after I¡¯ve had my fill of playing around, especially since I¡¯m currently married.¡±


    These details were among the information Xia Wenjin had given him before.


    Though he hadn¡¯t taken them to heart, he still needed to memorize the basics.


    After all, he was facing Xiao Mo¡¯s own mother.


    He wouldn¡¯t take it even a bit seriously, or he might just crash and burn.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s expression almost instantly darkened when she heard this impostor mention that her son was still married.


    It reminded her of Xia Wenjin, who had already died.


    Her fist clenched tightly, and she almost punched Zhao Qingfeng right then and there.


    Both she and Xiao Mo knew what had truly happened to Xia Wenjin¡¯s disappearance, but this fraudster certainly didn¡¯t.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly¡ªit seemed that even if she hadn¡¯t planned to set a trap, this fool would eventually expose himself.


    Her brows furrowed slightly, but she continued speaking with Zhao Qingfeng, ¡°Although Xia Wenjin has been missing for so long, there was news from abroad saying she had met with a tragedy. If you have other intentions, you must tell mom, understand? After all, it has been quite a while since that happened.¡±


    Hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s tone, Zhao Qingfeng couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    Although Feng Ya Meizi was wealthy and powerful, he didn¡¯t want to marry a woman like her.


    Turning into this face had certainly had its benefits, but it was after being tricked by Feng Ya Meizi that he had ended up like this.


    If she had other plans at the beginning, it would definitely be him who would suffer in the end.


    Zhao Qingfeng certainly didn¡¯t want to spend his life with a viper in the guise of a beauty.


    Besides, he had served plenty of older female patrons before, but he had also found plenty of young actresses to indulge with.


    So he harbored absolutely no illusion about so-called marriage.


    Not to mention marrying someone he would have to revere like an ancestor.


    All he hoped for now was to keep her happy so he could continue to play joyfully outside.


    As for the rest... he held no expectations.


    Zhao Qingfeng cleared his throat, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about marriage later... I...¡±


    ¡°What exactly is Feng Ya Meizi to you?¡± Xiao Jinglan cut him off before he could finish speaking, hardly able to contain her impatience.


    She couldn¡¯t help furrowing her brows at the thought of that woman who had almost taken her son¡¯s life.


    Zhao Qingfeng was taken aback by her question, staring fixedly at Xiao Jinglan.


    He couldn¡¯t quite figure out what this older woman was thinking.


    Suddenly, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s phone vibrated. She casually took it out and glanced at it, seeing a new number from Xiao Mo, she knew he wasn¡¯t pleased.


    He was in Xiao Mo¡¯s room right now, and he could clearly see every movement in the living room through the camera.


    Plus, with the bug on the table, every word between the two was crystal clear to him.


    Xiao Jinglan knew she had been a bit too eager with her last question.


    That¡¯s why Xiao Mo had called her to remind her.


    Xiao Jinglan exhaled softly, ¡°Amo, as you know, the last issue with Xia Wenjin caused so much unrest at home, I was just worried you¡¯d marry another ancestor-figure, you know?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s eyes flickered, pondering for a moment upon hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words.


    Before he had a chance to speak, Xiao Jinglan spoke up again, ¡°Think about it, only by knowing the other person¡¯s background can we get a grip on them, right? We can¡¯t have another woman come in to bully you, can we?¡±


    Her expression of an old mother worried for her son indeed puzzled Zhao Qingfeng.


    Moreover, when he had been with Feng Ya Meizi before, she always had a hold over him, which made Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words stir waves in his heart.

 Chapter 674: 672 What Should I Do?

    Chapter 674: Chapter 672 What Should I Do?


    If Xiao Jinglan could indeed investigate Feng Ya Meizi and manage to hold sway over this woman, it seemed like a decent option.


    If she couldn¡¯t do it, he wouldn¡¯t lose anything.


    Thinking this, Zhao Qingfeng suddenly felt somewhat brighter.


    He cleared his throat lightly, pretending to not care much as he said, ¡°Since you care about this matter, you might as well look into it. She is the young mistress of the Fengya Family, investing domestically and apparently very interested in the Song Group.¡±


    As he spoke, he pretended to reveal unintentionally, ¡°She even said before that she would help me gain a foothold in the Song Group.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan clenched her fists tightly below, never expecting that the woman named Feng Ya Meizi had such intentions.


    She had thought that this imposter merely happened to look a lot like her son.


    Now it seemed that this imposter¡¯s arrival at their home was part of someone else¡¯s scheme all along.


    It was very likely Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s plan.


    She found an imposter to replace her son, and then involved herself with the imposter, specifically aiming to snatch the Song Group.


    Thinking about how her years of plotting were almost intercepted halfway, Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of anger in her chest.


    However, on the other end of the phone, Xiao Mo had other ideas.


    Hearing the imposter¡¯s sentiment, Feng Ya Meizi seemed quite confident about acquiring the Song Group.


    Her reason for creating an imposter was presumably to use his identity.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he suddenly had quite a few ideas.


    If he replaced this imposter and became Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s man, could he use her to obtain the Song Group?


    Regarding Feng Ya Meizi, after Xiao Jinglan told him, he also contacted people in Japan to inquire.


    Only then did he learn that Feng Ya Meizi was indeed from the Fengya Family, but she was no longer the successor.


    It was said she had offended the Family Head of the Rimu Family, which was why she was ousted from the position of successor.


    Initially, Xiao Mo felt somewhat disappointed in Feng Ya Meizi.


    If she were still the successor of the Fengya Family, then the resources she controlled would definitely be what he needed.


    But now that she was no longer the successor...


    He felt somewhat disdainful.


    But then he thought, the Fengya Family still had no new successor, and Fengya Ichiro only had a daughter like Feng Ya Meizi.


    Not letting her be the successor doesn¡¯t mean her husband couldn¡¯t be.


    His eyes narrowed as he thought that if he truly married Feng Ya Meizi, he might even take the position of successor to the Fengya Family directly.


    Then, with the Fengya Family behind him, taking down the Song Group might not be impossible.


    Thinking this, Xiao Mo¡¯s mood improved significantly.


    As for this imposter, once he clarified his affair with Feng Ya Meizi, this imposter would be utterly useless.


    Meanwhile, downstairs in the living room, Zhao Qingfeng, seeing that Xiao Jinglan still hadn¡¯t spoken, cleared his throat again and then picked up the lemon tea on the table for another sip.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you feel unsure about getting a hold on Feng Ya Meizi?¡± He gazed at Xiao Jinglan and then continued, ¡°If you find it difficult, we can also drop this matter.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan came to her senses upon hearing the words.


    She coughed lightly, ¡°No, I¡¯m just a bit surprised by Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s purpose. Why would she choose you...¡±


    Although Xiao Jinglan said it offhandedly, her mind was fully occupied with this question.


    Why did Feng Ya Meizi target Xiao Mo, even to the extent of having someone impersonate him?


    According to her investigation, Feng Ya Meizi had always been in Country R and had never been involved in domestic affairs, let alone knowing about a minor department manager within the Song Group.


    Thinking this, when Xiao Jinglan looked at Zhao Qingfeng, her gaze carried a hint of sharpness.


    Zhao Qingfeng had intended to make Xiao Jinglan lower her guard, but instead, his words made her more alert.


    He furrowed his brows slightly, casting an annoyed glance at Xiao Jinglan.


    This woman really knew how to make trouble.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Then what else could it be? It must be because your son is too outstanding, so he attracted her. What else could it be?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan: ¡°...¡±


    If it really were her son, she might actually think that way.


    But the person in front of her was a fake!


    How could she believe that?


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s lips twitched slightly, but she still pretended to be convinced and said, ¡°You do have a point, but I¡¯m not just worried about her using you. What if...¡±


    Although she did not finish her sentence, she was sure that Zhao Qingfeng understood what she meant.


    She wanted to create discord between the two.


    They dared to target her son openly, so stirring up some trouble between them shouldn¡¯t be too much, right?


    Moreover, Xiao Mo had not called her, which seemed to show that he agreed with her approach.


    Thus, Xiao Jinglan felt even more confident. Pretending to be worried, she looked at Zhao Qingfeng and continued, ¡°Mom is also worried about you. You know, Mom only has you, and I always put you first. Whatever you want, Mom will try her best to provide. But I¡¯m also worried about you being deceived by other sweet-talking women. Do you understand Mom?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng was initially annoyed by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s questioning, especially concerning Feng Ya Meizi.


    He did not really like this woman, but she was closely linked to his interests.


    But considering what Xiao Jinglan had just said, he couldn¡¯t help but think more about it.


    After all, Xiao Jinglan was Xiao Mo¡¯s mother, and she truly adored Xiao Mo the most; she wouldn¡¯t do anything that could harm him.


    Her worry that Feng Ya Meizi might be using him was not unfounded.


    The more Zhao Qingfeng thought about it, the deeper his brow furrowed. He thought about how he had become what he was now all because of Feng Ya Meizi.


    Although she had vowed in bed to elevate him to a high position, what if, like Xiao Jinglan said, she was just using him?


    He really had no conditions that made him indispensable to Feng Ya Meizi.


    Zhao Qingfeng was usually the type to live in the moment, and now being suddenly reminded by Xiao Jinglan, his already limited mental capacity was ¡°burned¡± out.


    After a moment of silence, he could only look at Xiao Jinglan with furrowed brows, ¡°Then what should I do?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was also startled by Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s question.


    However, she quickly regained her composure, coughed lightly, and said, ¡°Actually, this matter is quite simple. If she is really determined to push you to the top, she won¡¯t care about the money and resources in her hands and will prioritize you. Think carefully about how she has interacted with you...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan said this because she was sure that Feng Ya Meizi wouldn¡¯t give money or resources so easily...

 Chapter 675: 673: Its a Done Deal

    Chapter 675: Chapter 673: It¡¯s a Done Deal


    Sure enough, after hearing her words, Zhao Qingfeng thought seriously and then his expression became noticeably more solemn than before.


    Seeing his reaction, Xiao Jinglan knew she had succeeded.


    She cleared her throat and continued, ¡°Women, whether their hearts are truly with you depends on whether they¡¯re willing to spend money on you. You should know that a person¡¯s heart is made of gold. If they truly like someone, they¡¯ll be willing to spend money, to give resources. Think about it, aren¡¯t you the same?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan subtly doctored Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s perception, fearful that he wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge against Feng Ya Meizi.


    Zhao Qingfeng was inherently foolish, and now convinced by Xiao Jinglan¡¯s smooth talk, he believed every word she said.


    He even firmly believed that Feng Ya Meizi planned to use him and then kick him to the curb.


    By then, he would be left with nothing, neither money nor connections.


    He had served many wealthy matrons, and those who took a liking to him did indeed splurge on him, but only within the scope of their ¡°pocket money,¡± and even the connections some madams provided for him were only modest opportunities.


    Zhao Qingfeng was well aware of his actual standing. After all, he was originally no superstar, and his current fame was propped up by the resources these wealthy women had provided.


    He simply couldn¡¯t carry a drama series; even if he were handed the lead role in a big production, he wouldn¡¯t be able to pull it off, let alone have top actresses help boost his standing.


    Unless someone smashed one or two billion on him in one go, but who would invest so much in a minor celebrity?


    He had aspired to be A-list, but the thought of paparazzi following him everywhere after reaching that status made him automatically give up.


    He knew better than anyone what his private life was like and that it wouldn¡¯t withstand scrutiny.


    If by some stroke of luck he became an overnight sensation, his scandalous past would be plastered all over the headlines the very next day.


    He wouldn¡¯t just wait for matrons¡¯ affection in the entertainment circle; his scandals could get him blacklisted at any moment.


    Although he wasn¡¯t keen on becoming a top-tier celebrity and having his dirt exposed, that didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t crave better resources and wads of cash.


    But nobody was investing in him.


    He had known these wealthy women wouldn¡¯t really fall for a pretty boy like him, so he just worked as much as the resources they provided warranted.


    It was a mutual exchange.


    But now the situation was different!


    Feng Ya Meizi had grand designs on him, yet he hadn¡¯t received anything corresponding in return. What if this woman harbored other intentions in the future, wouldn¡¯t he still be the one to suffer?!


    The mere thought made Zhao Qingfeng frown involuntarily.


    He pondered for a moment and then said, ¡°You¡¯re making sense, that woman might not be sincere with me, but it¡¯s all come to this, I...¡±


    Of course, Xiao Jinglan could see his dilemma.


    She reached out reassuringly and patted Zhao Qingfeng, ¡°Silly boy, isn¡¯t your mom still here for you?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng, as if suddenly finding his backbone, looked at her intently, ¡°Right, right, I still have you!¡±


    In the past, when he was still mingling in the entertainment industry, he always listened to his agent.


    He seldom used his brain.


    Now, as ¡°Xiao Mo,¡± he always felt that just sitting in his position and coasting along was enough.


    After all, Feng Ya Meizi had provided him all the conveniences; he just needed to do as she said.


    He had never considered that Feng Ya Meizi might see him as a disposable commodity to be used and discarded.


    After Xiao Jinglan brought it to his attention, he was momentarily at a loss, but quickly refocused on Xiao Jinglan as his mainstay.


    His relationship with Feng Ya Meizi was physical, but Xiao Jinglan was different.


    He was now pretending to be Xiao Jinglan¡¯s son, and Feng Ya Meizi had told him that Xiao Jinglan doted on her son.


    So she wouldn¡¯t hurt her son, which meant that she wouldn¡¯t hurt him either!


    Thinking this way, Zhao Qingfeng suddenly felt emboldened, ¡°So what should I do next? What preparations should we make?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Qingfeng to be so gullible, and she was excited that he had shifted sides so quickly.


    Yet outwardly, she pretended to give tough love, ¡°I don¡¯t know what she might do to you, but if she really intends to harm you, we¡¯re powerless...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingfeng grew even more panicked.


    He suddenly felt that she was making a lot of sense, and after thinking it through carefully, if he were Feng Ya Meizi, he¡¯d certainly lay the traps in advance, waiting for him to become useless before using them to finish him off.


    Zhao Qingfeng thought back on his recent interactions with Feng Ya Meizi to see if he had left her any leverage.


    After rethinking several times and finding no such leverage in her hands, Zhao Qingfeng inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.


    But he felt even more that being with Feng Ya Meizi was a risky business.


    His current identity was already a fake, and there was no way he could stand up to Feng Ya Meizi.


    So Xiao Jinglan was the only ally he could turn to now.


    With this thought, Zhao Qingfeng became even more agitated, ¡°Mom! You have to help me think of something no matter what, I¡¯m your son, you wouldn¡¯t want me to be conned to death by this woman, right?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan sneered inwardly, but on the surface, she continued with a pained expression, ¡°I¡¯m your mother, I will certainly help you, it¡¯s just that I worry the solution might make you uncomfortable...¡±


    Her hesitating demeanor was not lost on Zhao Qingfeng.


    He quickly grasped Xiao Jinglan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Mom! Rest assured, no matter the method, let¡¯s discuss it first.¡±


    After all, he had no one else to turn to for ideas.


    Xiao Jinglan was his last lifeline, and even if the lifeline¡¯s method was lethal, he had to hear it out.


    Seeing how resolved he was, Xiao Jinglan dispensed with pretense, ¡°My suggestion is that you could wear a hidden camera on you, just in case she instigates you to do something dangerous, so you¡¯d have evidence. There¡¯s also... cough cough...¡±


    She hesitated and coughed awkwardly before continuing, ¡°And if you¡¯re intimate with her, and you happened to get a video of that something, then you¡¯d have something to hold over her, right?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng was braced for some explosive method but relaxed after hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words.


    He thought it would be something sensational, but it was just secret filming.


    Secret filming was nothing new to him; he was no stranger to such dirty tricks in the industry.


    Yet, out of fear, he hadn¡¯t thought of it earlier.


    Now, with Xiao Jinglan¡¯s suggestion, he nodded immediately, ¡°I think this is a good plan; I¡¯ll go arrange it right now!¡±


    ¡°Wait a second!¡±

 Chapter 676: 674: Made a Wedding Dress for Someone Else?

    Chapter 676: Chapter 674: Made a Wedding Dress for Someone Else?


    Before Zhao Qingfeng could even stand up, Xiao Jinglan had immediately blocked him.


    She couldn¡¯t help but give Zhao Qingfeng a disdainful look, ¡°Are you stupid? Who are you going to find to do this? Are you sure the person you find hasn¡¯t been targeted by Feng Ya Meizi?¡±


    Of course, Xiao Jinglan was just saying this offhandedly, her main goal was to take the matter of watching over Zhao Qingfeng and Feng Ya Meizi into her own hands.


    Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t her current suggestion just benefit someone else?


    Zhao Qingfeng was momentarily startled but quickly realized this issue.


    He really didn¡¯t have anyone useful at his beck and call.


    And he wasn¡¯t the real Xiao Mo, so he had no idea which of Xiao Mo¡¯s connections could be utilized or who they were.


    But Xiao Jinglan knew.


    Suddenly, he felt somewhat relieved that Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t let him find someone to handle it, or if it came to her attention that he couldn¡¯t find anyone, she might discover that he was an imposter.


    Zhao Qingfeng feigned thoughtfulness for a moment, then slowly spoke up, ¡°You¡¯re right, so... I can only ask you to take on this matter.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, can ¡®Mom¡¯ harm you? The people I¡¯ll find are all from our family, they¡¯ve been working so hard for you to take over the Song Group, don¡¯t you trust them?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng didn¡¯t dare to say anything, just forced a smile.


    Talking about trust?


    He knew absolutely nothing, alright?


    He hadn¡¯t been impersonating Xiao Mo for long and he was clueless about who supported Xiao Mo¡¯s rise to power, let alone determining whether they genuinely wanted to help Xiao Mo ascend.


    If he had that kind of discernment, he wouldn¡¯t be in his current miserable state in the entertainment industry.


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t speak up, Xiao Jinglan continued, ¡°After I make arragements, be more cautious when you talk to Feng Ya Meizi, try not to let her lead you into a trap, got it?¡±


    When she said this, she did have a bit of ulterior motive.


    Even though the person in front of her wasn¡¯t her son, he was using her son¡¯s identity, and if any embarrassing videos were accidentally leaked, it would ultimately be her son who suffered.


    But her words took on a different meaning in Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s ears.


    As someone without parents, how could he not be moved when he suddenly felt a mother¡¯s love in his lowest moments?


    Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, and even the look he gave Xiao Jinglan was filled with real emotion, ¡°I will definitely be more cautious and won¡¯t let that woman Feng Ya Meizi easily trap me!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan nodded, satisfied, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, now I can rest easy.¡±


    Then, patting Zhao Qingfeng on the shoulder, she said, ¡°Leave the rest to me. You should go to that woman sooner rather than later and make sure not to blow your cover. By tomorrow, I should have everything ready and then we can set up a time to meet.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng almost left with endless gratitude, completely oblivious to the calculating look in Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes as she watched him.


    After Zhao Qingfeng left, Xiao Mo descended from the second floor.


    He and Xiao Jinglan had prepared two plans originally. One was to detain Zhao Qingfeng as soon as he showed up and create confusion with the imposter.


    A ¡°do to him as he has done¡± sort of situation.


    The other plan was what Xiao Jinglan had just discussed with Zhao Qingfeng.


    Their side would prepare a miniature camera, convince the imposter to wear it, and make it easier for them to observe Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s every move, in order to figure out the woman¡¯s plan.


    And, incidentally, see if they could catch her in something incriminating.


    They actually leaned more towards the first method, because persuading this fake to carry a camera around was indeed not easy.


    But to their surprise, Zhao Qingfeng was so easily fooled.


    He even expressed his thousand thanks for Xiao Jinglan¡¯s suggestion.


    They had managed to drive a wedge between Feng Ya Meizi and the fake so easily that Xiao Jinglan herself felt it was a bit unreal.


    When Xiao Mo sat down in front of her, she visibly hesitated.


    Xiao Mo of course knew what was on her mind, and said directly, ¡°I¡¯m Xiao Mo, not that fake.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s tense expression instantly relaxed, she let out a sigh, ¡°I don¡¯t know if that fake was just humoring me earlier. Is he really that gullible?¡±


    She had just thought things were going smoothly and couldn¡¯t help feeling elated.


    But the fact that everything went so smoothly made her a bit worried instead.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s lips pursed slightly, ¡°That fake does seem like he¡¯s not very bright.¡±


    If he was any smarter, he wouldn¡¯t have been bamboozled by Xiao Jinglan.


    But that remained to be seen, depending on whether the fake would actually do as they had said tomorrow.


    What Xiao Mo really wanted to know was the exact nature of the relationship between Feng Ya Meizi and this fake.


    If he wanted to take the fake¡¯s place, he needed to understand their interaction patterns first.


    Otherwise... if any slip-up occurred, he¡¯d be the one to suffer.


    With this in mind, Xiao Mo raised his hand and patted Xiao Jinglan on the shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if he pays lip service, it¡¯s nothing to be afraid of; I have it all figured out.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Xiao Jinglan patted her chest, ¡°So I¡¯ll just do the rest as you said?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ...


    The weather of early spring had noticeably warmed up, and the noontime sunlight felt especially comforting.


    Lu Zhaozhao even came to Song Sinian¡¯s office wearing just a thin sweater.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, you¡¯re wearing so little, you¡¯ll catch a cold, don¡¯t you know?¡± Xia Wenyan just entered Song Sinian¡¯s office and was already frowning heavily.


    ¡°A girl must always keep warm. I¡¯ve heard from people in the circle that if you don¡¯t keep warm, you¡¯ll suffer from back and leg pains when you get older!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s mouth twitched and she silently looked down at her clothing.


    She felt warm enough given the day¡¯s temperature, but now... Xia Wenyan had just said that.


    Indeed, there¡¯s a type of cold called ¡®your brother thinks you¡¯re cold.¡¯


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes sought help from Song Sinian, but he only pretended to cough lightly and acted as if he hadn¡¯t seen a thing.


    He too thought Lu Zhaozhao was dressed too lightly; he had just asked his assistant to bring a blanket, but unfortunately, his wife didn¡¯t listen to him.


    Now that another person addressed the issue, Song Sinian, of course, took the opportunity to pass the buck.


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao look at Song Sinian, Xia Wenyan immediately put his hands on his hips and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter even if Song Sinian has objections! You need to keep warm in the spring, do you understand?¡±


    Saying this, he glanced at Pei Huai and then continued, ¡°I¡¯ll take Zhaozhao to put on another piece of clothing. You guys chat; we¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡±


    With these words, Xia Wenyan promptly led Lu Zhaozhao out of the office.


    Pei Huai watched Xia Wenyan¡¯s retreating figure, scratching the bridge of his nose. Indeed, both of them were untouchable...

 Chapter 677: 675: What Exactly Did You See?

    Chapter 677: Chapter 675: What Exactly Did You See?


    Listening to the footsteps of the two fading away, Pei Huai finally took a seat opposite Song Sinian, nonchalantly picked up the tea on the table, and began to drink it leisurely.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows raised slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me the two of you came here just to remind Zhaozhao to wear more clothes?¡±


    Pei Huai almost burst out laughing at his words.


    He cleared his throat, ¡°It¡¯s not quite that...¡±


    He had known since the incident with Feng Ya Meizi being swapped that someone had been keeping an eye on the Fengya Family.


    Fengya Ichiro, while claiming he wouldn¡¯t conflict with the Rimu Family and would keep an eye on Xia Wenjin¡¯s situation, was also to report back in real-time.


    But having lived through one life cycle, Pei Huai trusted no one.


    In these matters, he only trusted himself.


    Especially with someone like Fengya Ichiro, who was initially a competitor, it was even harder for him to feel at ease.


    Recently, however, the news from Fengya Ichiro was something he still had to share with Song Sinian.


    After all, whether it was Xia Wenjin or Xiao Mo, their ultimate target was Song Group.


    As long as Sinian was prepared, no one else could hope to shake them even slightly.


    Pei Huai, of course, understood this.


    He cleared his throat and said, ¡°I heard from Fengya Ichiro before that he received a message that Xia Wenjin wants them involved in the internal takeover activities of Song Group...¡±


    The implication of his words couldn¡¯t be clearer.


    Having finished, Pei Huai¡¯s gaze shifted back to Song Sinian, ¡°What do you plan to do about it?¡±


    As the CEO of Song Group, a bunch of people were trying to pull him down and take his place.


    Unfortunately, among this group, none could satisfy the shareholders of Song Group more than Sinian.


    Even Xiao Mo, who had previously united a number of shareholders, was only a drop in the bucket.


    Even if Sinian were no longer the CEO of Song Group, his shareholding would not diminish.


    He would still be the largest shareholder of Song Group.


    As for the position of CEO of Song Group, it was not something he absolutely had to have.


    After all, Song Group was nothing without him, but even without Song Group, he would still be President Song, the man who turned the business world upside down.


    Some people just couldn¡¯t see this, which is why they thought they could snatch away the position of CEO of Song Group.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows lifted slightly, ¡°Did they give you any specific plans?¡±


    His fingertips tapped lightly on the table; he seemed completely uninterested in the matter.


    Pei Huai looked at Song Sinian curiously but replied, ¡°The specific plan is basically to have the fake Xiao Mo find an opportunity to replace the real one.¡±


    Whether it was the fake Xiao Mo or the real one, there were very few shareholders they could shake, and he didn¡¯t even need to guard against them.


    Unless he was no longer there.


    Otherwise, there was absolutely no chance for them to rise to power.


    Whether it was Xiao Mo or Xia Wenjin, their current schemes could never involve taking over Song Group through the shareholders.


    Instead, they were trying to find ways to kill him.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes deepened, ¡°If that¡¯s their goal, then when the time comes, give them the opportunity to perform.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows shot up, ¡°You mean...¡±


    ¡°Zhaozhao wants to meet Zhenzhen, doesn¡¯t she? As the second daughter-in-law of the Xia Family, she should be picked up, right?¡± Song Sinian¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s a good time to take a nice break, treat it as a honeymoon trip. Won¡¯t you join?¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°honeymoon trip,¡± Pei Huai found it hard not to be tempted.


    Although it was a mission to rescue the second young master of the Xia Family¡¯s wife, with the collective power of their three factions, dealing with the Pavlov Family was not an issue at all.


    He pondered for a moment, then nodded, ¡°You have to make sure things are handled well domestically, and as for Feng Ya Ichiro, I can take care of that for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The two briefly exchanged words and quickly came to an agreement.


    ...


    The next day, Zhao Qingfeng sneaked back to the Xiao Family early in the morning and then, persuaded by Xiao Jinglan, equipped a micro-camera in the second button of his jacket.


    With this device, no matter what Zhao Qingfeng did at the company or in the hotel these past few days, Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan were completely aware.


    Zhao Qingfeng naturally didn¡¯t want to be under surveillance 24 hours a day, so Xiao Jinglan specifically told him that by gently tapping the camera twice, it would automatically turn off, showing a small, unobtrusive white dot when off, which would disappear when the camera was shut down.


    Only then did he feel at ease to wear the camera.


    But in reality, what shut down when tapped was not the camera, but a white dot switch next to the camera.


    Zhao Qingfeng was too foolish to guess that.


    So, Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan relied on the camera he carried to observe him for several days.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you find Feng Ya Meizi to have a familiar air about her?¡± Xiao Mo sat in the study, watching the woman on the computer who was having a sexual encounter with Zhao Qingfeng.


    He noted the details of Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s interactions with Feng Ya Meizi, secretly learning Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s behavioral habits and figuring out Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s preferences.


    But what he didn¡¯t expect was that the more he watched Feng Ya Meizi, the more familiar she seemed.


    It wasn¡¯t her face that seemed familiar; rather, her behavior seemed to resemble someone he knew.


    The Song Group indeed has a fair amount of business overseas, but he wasn¡¯t clear about the deals in Country R.


    So he shouldn¡¯t know anyone from Country R.


    Xiao Jinglan made a point of turning her face away, not looking at the content of the video.


    That Feng Ya Meizi had no shame; these past few days, whenever Zhao Qingfeng went to the hotel, she almost always wanted it several times a day.


    And Zhao Qingfeng was silly enough to take medication to cope with this woman.


    Xiao Jinglan couldn¡¯t imagine if this had been her son, wouldn¡¯t this little demoness have completely drained him dry?


    She thought of what Xiao Mo had just said and forced herself to look again at the woman still writhing on the bed, her brows furrowing, ¡°Where does she look familiar? Could she have been in those kinds of films before?¡±


    Then this Feng Ya Meizi really knows how to play around.


    Xiao Mo: ¡°...¡±


    He rubbed his temples with a slight headache, suddenly feeling as if he was trying to reason with the unreasonable when it came to Xiao Jinglan.


    He truly felt Feng Ya Meizi was very familiar, not in appearance, but in her way of acting, yet he couldn¡¯t recall it at the moment.


    It wasn¡¯t until he looked at the video again that his eyes suddenly widened significantly, his pupils dilating.


    His expression startled Xiao Jinglan somewhat.


    She looked at Xiao Mo, tugging at his hand, ¡°Amo, don¡¯t scare me, what did you see?¡±


    He hadn¡¯t watched so much that he got stye, had he?


    Or had he completely ruined her son¡¯s vision?


    Xiao Jinglan stared nervously at Xiao Mo, only to see him pointing at the woman in the video and saying, ¡°Her, she has a birthmark on her thigh.¡±


    ¡°Ah? What? What birthmark?¡± Xiao Jinglan looked at him bewildered.

 Chapter 678: 676: What Else Can Be Done?

    Chapter 678: Chapter 676: What Else Can Be Done?


    There are plenty of people with birthmarks, so what if Feng Ya Meizi had one on her body?


    Her brows furrowed, unable to grasp Xiao Mo¡¯s point.


    Xiao Jinglan could only endure the revulsion as she watched the video again, still unable to figure out anything.


    Xiao Mo probably realized Xiao Jinglan really hadn¡¯t thought of anything, so he could only sigh and continue, ¡°Xia Wenjin also has a birthmark identical to that one.¡±


    He had always been puzzled as to why Feng Ya Meizi, acting like a madwoman, insisted on killing him.


    They had no old grievances or recent disputes, and even if she was plotting against Song Group, she could have sought his cooperation first.


    But this woman insisted on having someone impersonate him and then planned to put him to death.


    That was going a bit too far.


    But if this woman was Xia Wenjin, then everything would make sense.


    Upon hearing the name ¡°Xia Wenjin,¡± Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes widened sharply.


    ¡°She, she¡¯s supposed to be dead, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    She looked at the video with disbelief, then turned to stare intently at Xiao Mo.


    The accident involving Xia Wenjin abroad was orchestrated by her.


    Even a hired soldier had died because of it.


    At the time, she felt a bit disturbed, but at least she was rid of Xia Wenjin and had been pleased for some time.


    But hearing Xiao Mo¡¯s words, Xiao Jinglan felt a chill down her spine.


    Could it be that Feng Ya Meizi had been possessed by Xia Wenjin?


    Xiao Mo, seeing Xiao Jinglan tremble, couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corners of his mouth, ¡°Xia Wenjin is likely not dead. For some reason, she has transformed into Feng Ya Meizi.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Xiao Jinglan could hardly believe her ears.


    Feng Ya Meizi was actually Xia Wenjin?


    How could this be?


    The identity of Feng Ya Meizi was that of a young lady from Country R, how could she possibly be Xia Wenjin?


    And their appearances were completely different.


    Xiao Jinglan simply couldn¡¯t comprehend.


    Xiao Mo naturally had the same doubts, but his mind was much sharper than Xiao Jinglan¡¯s.


    After pondering for a moment, he guessed part of the truth, ¡°Xia Wenjin must have had some interaction with Feng Ya Meizi; otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have become her. As to why she would change like this, it¡¯s likely due to plastic surgery. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have thought of having that imposter take my place.¡±


    Thinking this way, the previously elusive situation suddenly began to clear up.


    Xia Wenjin knew his identity all along, so supporting an imposter to take his place could not only strike back at him but also gain the benefits attached to his name.


    Her temptation was understandable.


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s brows were almost twisted into a knot, ¡°Xia Wenjin, she really dares! Is the Fengya Family that easy to deceive? Just wait until I expose her true face!¡±


    Thinking this, she wished she could immediately get up and go to the Fengya Family in Country R to expose Xia Wenjin thoroughly.


    And then let her reap the consequences of her actions.


    ¡°No way!¡± Before Xiao Jinglan could stand up, Xiao Mo grabbed her.


    Xiao Jinglan was startled, and when she came back to her senses, she looked at him incredulously, asking, ¡°You can¡¯t be going soft, can you? Don¡¯t forget, she wanted you dead!!!¡±


    At this moment, Xiao Jinglan had completely forgotten that she was the one who first moved to kill Xia Wenjin.


    Otherwise, Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t have been intent on killing Xiao Mo.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but facing Xiao Jinglan, he still showed a bit more patience. ¡°It¡¯s not that I won¡¯t interrupt the confrontation with Xia Wenjin, but there is a more reliable way.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan looked at Xiao Mo with a mix of belief and doubt, yet the anger in her heart somewhat subsided.


    Her gaze remained fixed on Xiao Mo, the skepticism in her eyes yet to dissipate.


    Xiao Mo sighed lightly. ¡°Regardless of how she became Feng Ya Meizi, what I value is the power she currently holds in the Fengya Family, which can indeed be mobilized. With the support of the Fengya Family, wouldn¡¯t it be a piece of cake to snatch the presidency of Song Group?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan hadn¡¯t considered this, but upon hearing Xiao Mo, she too blinked in surprise.


    She suddenly remembered that Xia Wenjin initially planned to support that impostor to become the president of Song Group.


    Thinking of it, it seemed to make sense.


    Although Xiao Jinglan was quite displeased with Xia Wenjin, even wishing she could Die a few more times,


    the thought of her current identity made her eyes squint inadvertently.


    ¡°You mean to take advantage of Xia Wenjin¡¯s current status in R country to climb your way up?¡±


    Xiao Mo nodded, ¡°Exactly, our position inside Song Group is very unstable, and with the idiot Feng Jiyue acting as a stumbling block, it¡¯s difficult for me to rise to the top.¡±


    But with the support of the Fengya Family, taking the presidency of Song Group would be much easier.


    He had also investigated the Fengya Family in the past few days and knew they had connections in both the underworld and legitimate businesses. He naturally understood that the Fengya Family could surely handle some matters that weren¡¯t suitable for the public eye efficiently.


    Just like how they had wanted to kill him before.


    With the power of the Fengya Family, he naturally wouldn¡¯t have to worry.


    Xiao Jinglan thought for a moment, ¡°So what do you plan to do now?¡±


    Is there no possibility of confronting Xia Wenjin, or should they just wait for that impostor and Xia Wenjin to take over the presidency of Song Group before they make a move?


    By then, would the president of Song Group still be part of the Song Family?


    There¡¯s no way someone as foolish as Xia Wenjin could possibly become the president of Song Group, so it would have to be that impostor.


    But Xiao Jinglan had experienced what that impostor was like before.


    As stupid as a pig.


    If such a person became the president of Song Group, it would damage her son¡¯s reputation.


    By then, it¡¯s feared that Song Group wouldn¡¯t bear the Song name anymore, right?


    It would be given away for nothing.


    Xiao Mo pursed his lips and after a moment slowly began, ¡°Of course, we follow the original plan, replace that impostor first, and then make use of the Fengya Family¡¯s power to take over Song Group.¡±


    He had just been worried about not being able to grasp Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s character and being discovered.


    Now that he knew Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s true identity, he wasn¡¯t worried at all.


    Although he didn¡¯t like the woman, he had at least slept with her for a while, was there any part of her he didn¡¯t know about?


    Moreover, in the past few days, he had understood the way Xia Wenjin interacted with the impostor.


    At first, he thought Xia Wenjin had become smarter ¨C it seemed he was overthinking it.


    Listening to Xiao Mo¡¯s words, Xiao Jinglan took a moment to think, then asked, ¡°Then... should we do something else to add a bit of insurance?¡±


    Xiao Mo did not object, instead, he nodded in agreement, ¡°Check if Xia Wenjin has ever been to F country before. After all, it was in F country that Xia Wenjin disappeared; it¡¯s impossible that she was washed away by water all the way to R country?¡±


    After all, R country and F country are tens of thousands of miles apart, without any connecting point.


    He wanted to know how Xia Wenjin found out about Feng Ya Meizi and successfully took over that identity...

 Chapter 679: 677 He Is Not Convinced

    Chapter 679: Chapter 677 He Is Not Convinced


    If he didn¡¯t clarify these things and rashly followed Xia Wenjin, he was afraid more trouble would await him later on.


    He didn¡¯t want to take the blame for Xia Wenjin.


    When Xiao Jinglan heard this, she nodded repeatedly, ¡°You¡¯re right; Xia Wenjin is so stupid that if there¡¯s a slip-up in this matter, it might even implicate you.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan had always had a dislike for Xia Wenjin.


    Otherwise, she would not have arranged for her to be sent abroad and killed.


    Now that Xia Wenjin had made a comeback, although Xiao Jinglan felt a moment of fear, she soon felt that not succeeding in killing her was her biggest regret.


    Thinking of this, Xiao Jinglan felt an increased resentment towards Xia Wenjin.


    ¡°Amo, rest assured, I will definitely help you investigate the matter in Country F.¡±


    She said, raising her hand and patting Xiao Mo¡¯s shoulder.


    In Country F, she knew quite a few people; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have chosen to take Xia Wenjin there to settle the issue.


    She just hadn¡¯t expected that after going to Country F, not only did Xia Wenjin fail to die, but she also found an opportunity to climb up the ladder.


    Thinking about it, Xiao Jinglan was seething with anger.


    Xiao Mo watched her reaction and merely hummed in response, saying nothing more.


    His current identity was not suitable for going out; he would have to wait until he replaced the impostor before he could leave.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s fist unconsciously clenched as he pondered how to trick the impostor back when Xiao Jinglan spoke up again.


    ¡°Amo, there¡¯s something else I forgot to tell you...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan stopped mid-sentence, causing Xiao Mo¡¯s brows to involuntarily furrow.


    He had a feeling that what Xiao Jinglan was about to say would not be good news.


    His brows twitched slightly before finally asking, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan coughed lightly, ¡°Do you remember Hao Jiayi?¡±


    Xiao Mo nodded; that woman had been staying at their house before Xia Wenjin abducted him.


    Since his return, his attention had been entirely on the impostor, so he hadn¡¯t paid any mind to Hao Jiayi¡¯s situation.


    Now that he thought about it, she hadn¡¯t shown up at their house for several days.


    Thinking of the impostor still working at the company, Xiao Mo wondered if Hao Jiayi could have...


    Just as Xiao Jinglan was about to speak, she saw Xiao Mo¡¯s face darken. She hastily said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that impostor wouldn¡¯t dare to mess around in the company, Feng Jiaye is watching him; he wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    ¡°Huh!¡± Xiao Mo hadn¡¯t expected that one day he would actually be thankful to the fool Feng Jiaye.


    If it weren¡¯t for him, the impostor probably would have already started affairs with other women at the company.


    By the time he returned to the company, he would have a lot of messes to clean up.


    It might even affect his reputation among the shareholders.


    Thinking of this, Xiao Mo¡¯s expression darkened further.


    It seemed he needed to swap back with the impostor as soon as possible.


    He couldn¡¯t allow him to continue tarnishing his reputation.


    Realizing this, Xiao Mo looked at Xiao Jinglan and asked, ¡°What was it you were about to tell me; what is it?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was taken aback, then remembered what she had been about to say, ¡°That... Hao Jiayi said she¡¯s pregnant.¡±


    She pursed her lips, looking uneasily at Xiao Mo, not knowing if he would be angry.


    She didn¡¯t really think highly of Hao Jiayi, but after all, the child she was carrying would be the Xiao Family¡¯s first child.


    This reminded her of when she had been pregnant with Xiao Mo.


    So she felt a pang of compassion.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s brows lifted slightly, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant?¡±


    He clearly remembered that he always wore ¡°that thing,¡± so how could she be pregnant?


    Xiao Mo fell silent for a moment, then looked at Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Are you sure the child she¡¯s carrying is mine?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan curled her lips, ¡°It should be, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t dare to wait for amniocentesis to do a paternity test.¡±


    Moreover, Hao Jiayi probably knew early on that Feng Jiyue was a good-for-nothing, which is why she wanted to latch onto her son.


    She could understand.


    After all, a woman¡¯s beauty is only for when she¡¯s young; once she ages and loses her charm, she still has to rely on a man.


    Xiao Mo pursed his lips, this child... came a bit... peculiar.


    But it didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he nearly got killed by Xia Wenjin while he was away, he would probably have had no hesitation in letting Hao Jiayi abort the child.


    But after that incident, he also regretted not having left behind a son or a daughter.


    Although he didn¡¯t want to die, he couldn¡¯t let all his efforts and assets just go to someone else.


    Xiao Jinglan wasn¡¯t going to live much longer, and Song Keren was an outsider.


    Everything he had now might just end up benefiting others.


    Now that Hao Jiayi was pregnant, someone would inherit his wealth in the future.


    He even had a child earlier than Song Sinian.


    Xiao Mo thought about how Song Sinian and Lu Zhaozhao had been married for so long without any children, and his eyes involuntarily narrowed into slits.


    He definitely wouldn¡¯t believe that Song Sinian could remain indifferent while married to such a beauty.


    As for why they didn¡¯t have children, there were only two possibilities: either one of them had a problem, or Song Sinian simply didn¡¯t want children.


    Xiao Mo lifted his hand to his lips, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking slowly, ¡°Then let her give birth to the child.¡±


    His family wouldn¡¯t lack for feeding another mouth.


    After Song Sinian dies, once he marries Lu Zhaozhao, that child would become unimportant.


    Xiao Jinglan was unaware of Xiao Mo¡¯s thoughts and said softly on the side, ¡°Amo, you know, when I gave birth to you, I had no status. This child, no matter what, is your firstborn... you... why not get a marriage certificate with Hao Jiayi first?¡±


    At least the child wouldn¡¯t be born illegitimate.


    Hearing Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words, Xiao Mo¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, seemingly reluctant.


    But then, thinking about the phrase ¡°illegitimate child¡± mentioned by Xiao Jinglan, he fell silent again.


    The fact that he was an illegitimate child of the Song Family had always been something he harbored grievances about.


    He was clearly also a child of the Song Family, but why could Song Sinian inherit the Song Group while he had to skulk about, even sneak into the Song Group to only become a minor department manager?


    He was not convinced.


    He was even more jealous of Song Sinian.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes narrowed, and after a moment he slowly said, ¡°Is this what Hao Jiayi wants?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan shook her head repeatedly, ¡°No, she... after she got pregnant, she wanted to get an abortion, but it wasn¡¯t convenient for her to ask for leave from the company...¡±


    She subconsciously made excuses for Hao Jiayi.


    That day, she had indeed been provoked by Hao Jiayi¡¯s words, which is why she insisted that Hao Jiayi keep the child. Afterwards, she understood.


    Hao Jiayi wanted to keep the child, but she was worried that Xiao Mo wouldn¡¯t want it, so she came to her.


    She had indeed been angry at the time, but thinking about the fact that the child in her womb was her son¡¯s flesh and blood, she let it go.


    It didn¡¯t matter that Hao Jiayi had impure motives, as long as she was pregnant with her son¡¯s child.


    She could get Hao Jiayi to register the marriage with Xiao Mo, and naturally, she could also throw her out.


    She was just a machine for bearing children after all.

 Chapter 680: 678: Annoying Him

    Chapter 680: Chapter 678: Annoying Him


    Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t take Hao Jiayi seriously at all.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s brows also furrowed noticeably; he hadn¡¯t expected Hao Jiayi to be considering an abortion.


    His expression unreadable, he looked at Xiao Jinglan. ¡°Has she been to the house these past few days?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan shook her head. ¡°I told her to focus on her work at the company recently and that I would discuss this matter with you properly, so...¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t finish her sentence, she felt that Xiao Mo should be able to understand the implied message.


    Xiao Mo nodded. ¡°I understand, I will consider this matter seriously.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Xiao Jinglan could hardly believe her ears.


    She had thought it would take a long time to persuade Xiao Mo to agree, but to her surprise, he had readily consented.


    She became visibly excited.


    Seeing her reaction, Xiao Mo raised his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ve only agreed to consider the matter. Don¡¯t get so worked up. Go investigate why Feng Ya Meizi has ties with Xia Wenjin as soon as possible; that¡¯s the most important thing, understand?¡±


    This was crucial for him to determine whether he could utilize Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s identity or not.


    If Xia Wenjin, that fool, was presenting himself, it made no sense for Xiao Mo not to take advantage of it.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze swept over the video again, noting the look of enjoyment on Xia Wenjin¡¯s face, revealing a trace of scorn in his eyes.


    Previously, he was desperate to kill him, and now, Wen Jin was still turning to a man with his face, back and forth.


    In the end, this woman still liked how he treated her this way and that.


    Heh, saying one thing but meaning another!


    ¡°Amo, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get you a result by tomorrow,¡± Xiao Jinglan promised, patting her chest.


    After all, dragging things out further wouldn¡¯t be good for them either.


    Xiao Mo nodded. ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Evening, at the Song Mansion.


    Lu Zhaozhao had just finished taking a bath and was sitting on the sofa, drying her hair.


    Seeing Song Sinian enter, her eyes sparkled. ¡°Husband, you came back early today.¡±


    A slight smile curled on Song Sinian¡¯s lips as he raised his hand to ruffle her damp hair. ¡°Coming home early obviously means there¡¯s a matter to discuss.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao slightly furrowed her brow, a bit worriedly asking, ¡°It¡¯s not bad news, is it?¡±


    She had been staying at home recently because of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s kidnapping incident, not daring to show her face.


    Pei Huai and her fourth brother also updated her from time to time on their progress in searching for Xu Zhenzhen.


    They were almost certain about Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s location by now.


    Moreover, since they had found a stand-in to be kidnapped in place of her, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s case was gradually coming under their control.


    These past few days, Lu Zhaozhao had been waiting for their next move.


    Naturally, her mood had considerably lightened.


    Now that Song Sinian had suddenly come home early, it made her unexpectedly nervous.


    Seeing her worried face, Song Sinian lifted her chin and reassured her, ¡°It¡¯s not bad news.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao then breathed a sigh of relief, pulled Song Sinian to sit on the bed, and obediently nestled into his arms.


    Song Sinian naturally, out of habit, took the towel to dry Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hair for her.


    Seeing that her fluffy little head was almost dry, he finally spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Xiao Mo probably already knows about Xia Wenjin¡¯s identity. Xiao Jinglan has sent someone to country F to investigate the connections between Xia Wenjin and Feng Ya Meizi. It won¡¯t be long before he may have to replace Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s identity.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, upon hearing this, looked at Song Sinian with some confusion, ¡°If Xiao Mo is going to replace Zhao Qingfeng, then his next target should be the Song Group, right?¡±


    More precisely, it was Song Sinian.


    In his past life, that¡¯s exactly what Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan did.


    Except back then, they got their hands on the rights to the Song Mansion, so they could make their moves on the necessities of Song Sinian¡¯s life.


    In this life, without the rights to the Song Mansion, they would probably have to start from somewhere else, right?


    As Lu Zhaozhao thought about this, her gaze toward Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but become full of concern.


    Song Sinian, although now vigilant against Xiao Mo and his group, was still a source of worry for her.


    After all, no one could make their defense absolutely foolproof.


    Song Sinian saw through Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s thoughts at a glance. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, saying, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about this. The person who will make a move on Xiao Mo¡¯s side can only be someone arranged by me. So, I can be pre-emptively severely injured, or go missing, to give them the freedom to exploit the opportunity.¡±


    Of course, Song Sinian didn¡¯t believe he had complete control over Xiao Mo.


    He wanted to use this opportunity to let Xiao Mo have his moment in the limelight at the Song Group. By then, it would be easy for him to catch all the small fry within the company in one sweep.


    It would prevent the occasional troublemaker from popping up, which was irritating to him.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, as if she had thought of something, and asked, ¡°You... you can¡¯t mean to take me to country E during this time, do you?¡±


    She had indeed discussed this matter with her brothers.


    Given her current situation, she was practically a persona non grata to the Pavlov Family of country E.


    Once in country E, a change of appearance was definitely in order.


    They all missed Xu Zhenzhen in country E, and therefore wanted to contact her as soon as they arrive in country E.


    But the Pavlov Family wasn¡¯t just any Tom, Dick, or Harry; their internal mechanisms were highly meticulous, so they needed to plan for the long term.


    Song Sinian held her in his arms and turned her around, ¡°You guessed right. I do have this idea.¡±


    Only if he concealed his identity within the country could he go to country E without arousing suspicion.


    Moreover, he really did want to have a relaxing honeymoon trip with his wife.


    Without the concerns of the Song Group and without worrying about people looking for them, a trip to country E was definitely his top choice.


    With the Xia Family¡¯s attention largely on Xu Zhenzhen, once they arrived in country E, with the Xia Family and Pei Huai leading the charge, he only needed to play a supporting role.


    As for domestic affairs, Xiao Mo would surely take advantage of the situation to gather the company¡¯s shareholders.


    He needn¡¯t lift a finger himself; waiting for the dust to settle and then purging the house was enough.


    And for daily affairs, with Zhao Xi around, he had even less to worry about.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian¡¯s unusually calm demeanor, her lips pursing slightly with pity, ¡°It¡¯s all because of me that you have to work so hard.¡±


    Her small hand gently caressed his brows and eyes, the pity in her eyes almost spilling over.


    During normal times, Song Sinian would certainly have retorted.


    But now, he was a grown man who was very good at securing benefits for himself.


    Song Sinian buried his head gently in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arms, ¡°If Zhaozhao feels sorry for me, then take good care of me, okay?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body stiffened slightly, as if struck by a thought, and her whole little face instantly turned red.


    The breath in her embrace grew hotter, making her entire being start to feel restless.


    Her small hand unconsciously stroked Song Sinian¡¯s hair, murmuring in query, ¡°What, how do you want me to take care of you?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips curved slightly, a hint of triumphant smile crossing his eyes...

 Chapter 681: 679 I Definitely Do Not Regret

    Chapter 681: Chapter 679 I Definitely Do Not Regret


    ¡°I want to try letting you control the pace...¡± His lips gently brushed against her ear, his breath hot, causing her body hair to shiver.


    His large hand gently held her small one, guiding her to feel.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s face turned even redder in an instant.


    Song Sinian looked at her, a slight smile curving his lips, his eyes and brows carrying a hint of lazy wickedness, ¡°After all this time, is my Mrs. Song still so easily embarrassed? What are we going to do later...¡±


    It seemed Lu Zhaozhao was provoked by his words, as she flipped him over onto the sofa with a swift movement.


    Her face was flushed, and as she looked at Song Sinian, she pursed her lips and quickly retorted fiercely, ¡°Who¡¯s embarrassed! I, I just didn¡¯t react in time, you, you better not regret it later!¡±


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t hold back and burst out laughing, ¡°Okay, I definitely won¡¯t regret it.¡±


    Seeing Song Sinian looking so leisurely, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s competitive spirit surged. She reached out, pulled off his tie, and blindfolded him with it.


    Song Sinian was slightly stunned, not expecting Lu Zhaozhao to do that. Soon after, his wrists were tied, and then he heard Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s ethereal voice, ¡°Don¡¯t move unless I agree.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips almost formed a straight line.


    He really didn¡¯t want to agree, because the person opposite was Lu Zhaozhao, and he had no power at all to make himself stay still later.


    Even if he wanted to, he couldn¡¯t control certain parts of his body.


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t speak, Lu Zhaozhao leaned down and kissed his forehead, ¡°Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian still showed no signs of relenting.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s lips continued downward, kissing his nose, then his cheeks, and then his ears.


    Song Sinian was worn down and could only beg for mercy repeatedly, ¡°Zhaozhao, I was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have teased you, please let me go?¡±


    He moved his tied wrists, trying to get Lu Zhaozhao to untie him.


    Actually, he could break free from the restraints on his wrists at any time, but since Lu Zhaozhao had tied them, he didn¡¯t want to go against her wishes.


    If she wanted, he was willing to be tied by her for a lifetime.


    But now, he felt he might not be able to last.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Lu Zhaozhao firmly held down his struggling hands, lifting them above his head. ¡°Mr. Song, you now have to pay the price for the words you¡¯ve spoken.¡±


    As she spoke the last two words, the warm breath swept across his earlobe, tickly and making his whole heart itch with it.


    He gave up struggling completely, letting Lu Zhaozhao straddle him, her hands roaming over him.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to sense her compromise; the corners of her lips slightly curled up, quickly achieving her goal amidst a muffled grunt from Song Sinian.


    His eyes completely covered by the tie, in this visually limited situation, his other senses unconsciously heightened.


    He could clearly feel the scent and warmth of Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body, and the places nearly melting from the heat.


    ¡°Zhaozhao...¡± His voice was deep and husky, seductively inviting.


    A pair of restrained hands softly held hers, slowly pulling them down to his chin, gently pressing her palm against his face, as if pleading.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart softened immensely.


    Yet, the teasing movements did not seem to stop.


    Song Sinian could only silently grit his teeth and rub his cheek against her palm, his muffled voice even carrying a hint of a sob, ¡°Zhaozhao, please stop tormenting me, okay? Let me move...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s forehead shimmered with fine beads of sweat as she bent down and kissed Song Sinian¡¯s forehead before biting off the tie that covered his dark eyes in the next second.


    Beneath the tie, those profound eyes shimmered with moisture, the corners tinged red.


    He looked particularly vulnerable.


    It was also the first time Lu Zhaozhao had seen Song Sinian like this, and her heart was filled with surprise.


    Seeing this, Song Sinian pitifully grabbed her hand and gently shook it, ¡°Zhaozhao...¡±


    Although he couldn¡¯t see Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression just now, he could sense her subtle changes elsewhere.


    They had been together for quite some time, and even through physical contact, he could detect any slight emotional change in her.


    He vaguely felt that his Zhaozhao seemed to like it when he showed weakness to her, especially when his cheek brushed against her palm, causing her to unconsciously tense up.


    That was a signal she enjoyed.


    That was why Song Sinian thought of persevering and continued to show vulnerability to his darling.


    Sure enough, as soon as he showed weakness, he felt Lu Zhaozhao tremble noticeably, then she softly collapsed onto his chest.


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but curl up the corners of his mouth, nearly cooing, ¡°Zhaozhao, let me take care of you, okay? I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied, and when you say stop, I promise I¡¯ll listen...¡±


    His tone was gentle, tinged with a touch of pitifulness.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back was already drenched in sweat from too much effort, and now, hearing Song Sinian¡¯s weak and ingratiating words, she simply nodded.


    Song Sinian¡¯s heart suddenly ¡°thump, thump¡± raced.


    He carefully loosened the ropes binding his wrists, then gently embraced Lu Zhaozhao, seeing that she showed no sign of resistance.


    Song Sinian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, wrapping his way around her, and by the time Lu Zhaozhao realized what was happening, all the words she had intended to say were sealed by Song Sinian¡¯s lips.


    Afterward, he pulled her into chaos...


    Because he had exerted himself too much the day before, Lu Zhaozhao woke up late at noon the following day.


    Lu Zhaozhao touched the now cold empty spot in the bed, her lips pressing together in annoyance.


    Indeed, she shouldn¡¯t have boasted in front of Song Sinian, for she had only wanted to regain her dignity yesterday, but it turned out he reclaimed it instead.


    Was she really without shame?!


    Lu Zhaozhao recalled how Song Sinian clung to her passionately last night, and her whole being flared up.


    She sighed helplessly, lightly patting her face with her hand, only then remembering that Song Sinian seemed to have mentioned something very important to her yesterday.


    She sat on the bed, lost in thought, then suddenly remembered that Song Sinian was planning to take her to Country E soon to find Xu Zhenzhen.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if Xia Family knew about this.


    After hesitating for a moment, Lu Zhaozhao decided to inform them.


    Just as she was about to pick up the phone, she suddenly thought of something and sent a message to Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian was sitting in the main hall of the Song Mansion when he received Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s message.


    Glancing briefly at Old Master Song across from him, he diverted his gaze and quickly replied to Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Is Zhaozhao looking for you?¡± Old Master Song lifted his eyes and glanced at Song Sinian.

 Chapter 682: 680: Let Her Be

    Chapter 682: Chapter 680: Let Her Be


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Yes, she wanted to tell the Xia Family what she learned yesterday, but the Xia Family had already received the news. It doesn¡¯t really matter whether Zhaozhao says anything or not.¡±


    He put away his phone, a hint of indulgence fleeting through his eyes, ¡°But since she wants to talk to the people of the Xia Family, let her be.¡±


    Mr. Song saw the worthless smile on Song Sinian¡¯s face and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°You, you¡¯ve really changed drastically from before.¡±


    Thinking about it, if it weren¡¯t for marrying Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian might still be the same as before, Mr. Song couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply.


    Song Sinian simply shrugged noncommittally.


    Mr. Song didn¡¯t continue to stir emotions; his gaze fixed on Song Sinian as he slowly picked up the teacup on the table and asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t come here just to drink tea today, did you?¡±


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°There is something I need to inform you in advance, and I need your cooperation.¡±


    Mr. Song picked up the teacup and took a sip before he slowly asked, ¡°Is it related to Xiao Mo?¡±


    Lately, the situation at the company was a bit complex, and he had heard a few things from the old butler, but he wasn¡¯t clear on the specifics.


    After all, he had already stepped down from that position, and with Song Sinian in the company, there was no need for him to intervene.


    Now that Song Sinian had actually come to the Song Mansion, it was most likely related to the company.


    Song Sinian, without any intention to conceal, said straightforwardly, ¡°Xiao Mo is likely to make a big move soon. I plan to use this situation to take Zhaozhao to a foreign country on our honeymoon. As for things at home, I¡¯ll leave them to you.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Mr. Song couldn¡¯t believe his ears; he hadn¡¯t even retired to travel yet, and this rascal was talking about taking his wife on a honeymoon.


    Although it was time for Zhaozhao to get out and about, the thought of this rascal going on a honeymoon at such a critical moment was somewhat irksome.


    Seeing the astonishment on Mr. Song¡¯s face, Song Sinian also picked up a cup of tea from the table and slowly began to drink, ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, Xiao Mo should already know that Feng Ya Meizi is Xia Wenjin. He wants to use the Fengya Family¡¯s influence to seize the position of president of the Song Group, so his only option is to make a move on me.¡±


    Mr. Song¡¯s brow furrowed immediately; of course, he understood this point.


    Xiao Mo was always ambitious, but too foolish, always wearing his ambition on his face, making it hard for anyone not to be on guard.


    Only someone like the old Song Sinian, who couldn¡¯t read other people¡¯s expressions, wouldn¡¯t notice.


    But thinking about it, even if he did notice, he would probably just ignore it, given his personality.


    The old Song Sinian hardly cared about anyone other than Lu Zhaozhao.


    If Lu Zhaozhao were not completely devoted to Song Sinian, he probably would have gotten hung up over it.


    Then, things could have gotten really messy.


    Mr. Song shook his head, trying to dispel these negative thoughts.


    He looked up at Song Sinian, ¡°Isn¡¯t this too risky?¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head, ¡°This whole thing will be handled by our people from start to finish. As for the outcome, of course, that will be left to the Fengya Family.¡±


    If he really went along with Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin¡¯s plan, he could indeed get away, but it might hurt Lu Zhaozhao either physically or emotionally, so he didn¡¯t plan to do that.


    With this in mind, Song Sinian shared his plan in detail with Mr. Song, who then breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°You mean, as soon as the news of your severe injury and disappearance breaks, I should pretend to be struck by this event and then languish in the hospital?¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly,¡± Song Sinian said gravely.


    It didn¡¯t make sense for him and Lu Zhaozhao to go on a honeymoon abroad and leave Mr. Song to clean up the mess at home. Besides, if Mr. Song was at the company, Xiao Mo might also not be able to ¡°stretch¡± his hand too far.


    Mr. Song looked at Song Sinian somewhat speechlessly, and finally sighed, ¡°Alright, good that you¡¯ve still got some conscience. Only making this old man lie in bed and act.¡±


    It would have really been a hassle for him to pretend to be a traumatized old man running around all day.


    Song Sinian chuckled lightly, ¡°Just take this opportunity to think about where you want to travel in the future while lying in bed. You might have to take care of your great-grandchild by the time you get back.¡±


    He believed that once Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan¡¯s issue was completely resolved, his Zhaozhao would be able to untangle her knots.


    Then she would be able to settle down and truly be with him.


    And they could safely have a child.


    He definitely didn¡¯t want his wife to give birth under dangerous circumstances, as it would harm both Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s body and mind.


    That¡¯s why he had delayed for so long.


    Now, the trash like Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan was finally going to be dealt with completely.


    Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, Mr. Song felt a rush of excitement; initially, he had thought Song Sinian¡¯s possessiveness over Lu Zhaozhao was too strong to tolerate the presence of a child.


    Plus, with the incidents involving the child sent over by a side branch of the Song Family last time, Mr. Song also felt somewhat guilty.


    He had already given up the idea of holding his great-grandchild, but unexpectedly, there was light at the end of the tunnel.


    Mr. Song suddenly became spirited, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when the time comes, I¡¯ll surely choose a beautifully scenic place to relax properly, and then come back to help take care of the child for you!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing Mr. Song¡¯s agitated manner, Song Sinian silently sighed.


    He really didn¡¯t know whether telling him early was a good or bad thing.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao had the driver secretly take her to the Xia Family.


    Ever since the attempted kidnapping, Lu Zhaozhao had been staying at home and not going out much. It had been a while since she had last met with the Xia Family.


    So when she appeared at the Xia Family, Wen Qingyu excitedly hugged her.


    ¡°Baby, why are you here? Is there something wrong at the Song Family?¡±


    Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes were full of worry as she said this.


    Her hand rested on Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s shoulder, scanning her up and down to make sure she wasn¡¯t injured, before she continued, ¡°Did you encounter any danger on the way here?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shook her head repeatedly. Seeing Wen Qingyu so nervous, she couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s nothing wrong with the Song Family either. I just felt bored at home, so I came here to visit and also to pass on a message from Mr. Song.¡±


    Wen Qingyu then breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡±


    She pulled Lu Zhaozhao to sit down beside her on the sofa. Only then did Lu Zhaozhao notice that Wen Qingyu seemed to be the only one at home, and asked curiously, ¡°Where has everyone else gone?¡±


    Wen Qingyu was startled for a moment, then came to her senses and said, ¡°These rascals are planning to go to Country E, saying they need to prepare something. I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re up to.¡±

 Chapter 683: 681: Its All That Womans Fault!

    Chapter 683: Chapter 681: It¡¯s All That Woman¡¯s Fault!


    Wen Qingyu certainly knew they were all going to Country E to rescue Xu Zhenzhen.


    But thinking about how Xu Zhenzhen was taken away at Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s wedding, she feared her daughter might be under psychological pressure, so she only made some casual remarks.


    Lu Zhaozhao, deep in thought, nodded, ¡°It seems they must know Mr. Song¡¯s plan.¡±


    ¡°What plan?¡± Wen Qingyu was confused.


    She gently held Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, tenderly asking, ¡°Are you and Song Sinian also planning to go to Country E?¡±


    Wen Qingyu had thought of this, but Song Sinian¡¯s identity was sensitive; if he were to go to Country E, it would definitely attract attention there.


    As for Lu Zhaozhao, as far as the Pavel Family was concerned, she had become invisible.


    Because the body double had already been kidnapped by them.


    So, there was no problem with Lu Zhaozhao going to Country E.


    Seeing the worried look in Wen Qingyu¡¯s eyes, Lu Zhaozhao raised her hand to pat the back of her hand and then soothingly said, ¡°Mr. Song said Xiao Mo and the others are to take action, so he plans to take this opportunity to pretend to be severely injured and disappear.¡±


    On one hand, it would allow Xiao Mo to be arrogant domestically so they could capture them all at once; on the other hand, it would make the people in Country E lower their guard so Song Sinian could go there with her.


    Wen Qingyu immediately understood the implied meaning in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words; it was indeed a good plan.


    She had been worried that Song Sinian wouldn¡¯t be able to accompany Lu Zhaozhao, but now there was no need to worry.


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation with Xiao Mo now?¡± Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but ask, guessing that faking Song Sinian¡¯s death must also be tricky.


    Lu Zhaozhao sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    Then Lu Zhaozhao explained how Xia Wenjin had found a body double to replace Xiao Mo and almost killed the person. Ironically, this let Xiao Mo know that Xia Wenjin had taken Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s identity. Therefore, he planned to proceed with an ulterior strategy, which he revealed to her.


    Wen Qingyu hadn¡¯t expected the situation to be so complicated and couldn¡¯t help but marvel.


    Xia Wenjin had been raised under her watch for 20 years; she knew she wasn¡¯t very clever and was jealous but never expected her to be so foolish.


    She thought replacing someone was too simple, not realizing her cover had been blown long ago.


    Not to mention replacing someone more complex like Xiao Mo?


    Perhaps she was too confident when she initially acquired Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s identity, and her domestic deeds were always monitored by Pei Huai, Fengya Ichiro, and Song Sinian.


    Although it looked smooth for her domestically, all her actions were influenced by these three men; she really didn¡¯t have any thoughts of her own, so it seemed so effortless.


    Wen Qingyu wasn¡¯t shocked by Xia Wenjin¡¯s new level of foolishness.


    It seemed like something she would do.


    ¡°Since the plan is already in place, let¡¯s go to Country E together when the time comes and find Zhenzhen!¡± Wen Qingyu grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, getting excited, ¡°We¡¯ll flatten the Pavel Family to avenge Zhenzhen!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao watched Wen Qingyu¡¯s excited demeanor and couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of her mouth, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do as Mom says.¡±


    She had never experienced familial warmth in the past, but in this life, she had experienced it fully, and she was thankful for the opportunity to be reborn.


    She was even more grateful that heaven had returned her family to her.


    As night fell, the sky gradually darkened.


    Having learned what was happening, Xiao Mo had once again asked Xiao Jinglan to invite Zhao Qingfeng to their house.


    The moment Zhao Qingfeng entered, he saw Xiao Jinglan mysteriously say, ¡°Amo, come to the room on the second floor, Mom has something to show you.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng was puzzled, but seeing her excited face, he couldn¡¯t help but follow her upstairs.


    Could it be that Xiao Jinglan left some family heirloom for Xiao Mo?


    If that was the case, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to take it.


    After all, he was now Xiao Jinglan¡¯s son, and it was only right for a son to take his mother¡¯s belongings.


    Xiao Jinglan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Zhao Qingfeng follow her directly.


    When she reached the room where Xiao Mo was, she pushed the door open and said, ¡°Walk further inside, to the center of the room. There¡¯s a surprise waiting for you.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng didn¡¯t suspect anything and walked right in, but as soon as he entered, he felt a hard blow to the back of his head.


    When he woke up again, he found himself tightly bound to a chair.


    He looked in horror at the woman sitting in front of him, ¡°Why have you tied me up? Let me go!¡±


    Had his identity been discovered?


    What should he do now?


    He thought he had played his part well, and Xiao Jinglan shouldn¡¯t have noticed. Yet, she had tied him up.


    Zhao Qingfeng took a deep breath, ¡°I am your son, what are you planning to do by making sure it¡¯s me?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan looked at Zhao Qingfeng coldly, ¡°You are my son? If you are my son, then who is he?¡±


    Only then did Zhao Qingfeng notice another man standing beside Xiao Jinglan. When he looked closely, he realized it was Xiao Mo himself.


    He shook violently, ¡°You... why are you still alive?¡±


    After saying that, Zhao Qingfeng immediately realized something was wrong. He hurriedly explained, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I didn¡¯t harm you! It was that woman, Feng Ya Meizi. She told me just to impersonate you, the rest has nothing to do with me. Believe me, I can confront her!¡±


    For the first time, Zhao Qingfeng regretted impersonating someone else.


    Being Xiao Mo had given him experiences he had never had before.


    But if those experiences could cost him his life, he would rather not have them.


    Zhao Qingfeng even thought that being mobbed by netizens seemed much better than his current predicament.


    He took a deep breath and stared intently at Xiao Mo, ¡°Call the police now, arrest me, and I can be your witness.¡±


    If he ended up in police custody, he might still have a chance to live, but if they didn¡¯t call the police, he might end up dead.


    Xiao Mo looked Zhao Qingfeng up and down and finally said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you die; I just want to know some information.¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng looked tentatively at Xiao Mo, not knowing whether to believe him or not.


    But at this point, he had no other option than to trust him.


    He steeled himself and replied, ¡°Whatever you want to know, I will tell you everything I know, leave nothing unsaid.¡±


    When you are under someone¡¯s roof, how can you not bow your head?


    Especially when you are tied up.


    Zhao Qingfeng was terrified, cursing Feng Ya Meizi countless times in his heart. If not for this woman, how would he have ended up like this?


    If he had just gotten a makeover, he might be living freely and happily by now.


    How could he be tied up here?


    It was all that woman¡¯s fault!


    Once he was back alive, he would definitely make her pay.

 Chapter 684: 682: Nothing Serious

    Chapter 684: Chapter 682: Nothing Serious


    Xiao Mo knew that Zhao Qingfeng was a coward who only responded to threats of force, but he hadn¡¯t expected him to cave so quickly.


    As soon as Xiao Mo thought about Xia Wenjin choosing such a man, his blood boiled with anger.


    Although he despised Xia Wenjin, she had once been his woman, after all, and they hadn¡¯t even gotten their divorce papers.


    At this thought, Xiao Mo kicked Zhao Qingfeng in the stomach. Zhao Qingfeng, in pain, tried to curl up, but his hands and feet were tied. He had no way to escape the pain, causing his entire face to contort.


    Biting back his pain, he glared at Xiao Mo, ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say it? Whatever you ask me, I¡¯ll tell you. There¡¯s no need for you to torture me.¡±


    Now, Zhao Qingfeng even felt like cursing. Hadn¡¯t he just said that?


    Why did this man still want to torture him?


    He looked up into Xiao Mo¡¯s eyes, and the sudden thought that he had been impersonating this man sent a chill down his spine.


    Indeed, if he found out someone had impersonated him and even wanted him dead, he wouldn¡¯t let them off either.


    With this thought, Zhao Qingfeng grew to hate Feng Ya Meizi even more.


    If it weren¡¯t for this woman, he wouldn¡¯t be facing such unprovoked disasters.


    But what he had forgotten was that the comfortable life he previously enjoyed was also all because of this woman.


    Alerted by Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s words, Xiao Mo looked down at him with a somewhat contemptuous gaze and asked, ¡°Have you made any recent arrangements with her?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng was taken aback, not expecting Xiao Mo to ask such a question. But he quickly regained his composure.


    ¡°You want to use my identity to deal with that woman.¡±


    He thought Xiao Mo, knowing about their affair, would make a move against her, but she was the Fengya Family¡¯s young lady, not so easily dismissed.


    Moreover, with Feng Ya Meizi previously promising him the position of CEO of the Song Group, he immediately understood Xiao Mo¡¯s intentions.


    He wanted to use Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s identity to help him become the CEO of the Song Group.


    If he spilled everything, would he still be able to live?


    Zhao Qingfeng shuddered involuntarily, his gaze towards Xiao Mo now filled with a degree of fear.


    How could Xiao Mo not see through this?


    He chuckled lightly, patted Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s face, and reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You still have other uses to me. I won¡¯t let you die so easily, and besides, we live in a society governed by laws.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng didn¡¯t dare to believe Xiao Mo¡¯s words, but he had no other choice.


    Right now, he was at Xiao Mo¡¯s mercy. If Xiao Mo let him live another day, he would live another day.


    If he was told to die now, he wouldn¡¯t see the sun of the second day. What could he do but obey?


    Sighing, Zhao Qingfeng resigned himself to nod, ¡°I understand. There haven¡¯t been any arrangements with that woman in the past couple of days. But every evening, she comes to the hotel to find me.¡±


    Xiao Mo nodded without saying much more.


    In fact, Zhao Qingfeng had been wearing a hidden camera these past few days. Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t be more aware of every move between him and Xia Wenjin.


    The reason he asked Zhao Qingfeng was primarily to lower his guard.


    Make him think he¡¯s still useful to you; that way, you won¡¯t end up in a situation where both sides lose.


    Xiao Mo slowly withdrew his hand and then asked, ¡°What do you do every day?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng thought carefully, responding, ¡°I just go to the company during the day, then at night I go back and wait for that woman. She has very... high demands in certain areas... You know, without preparing in advance, I can¡¯t keep up.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face immediately darkened upon hearing this.


    Xia Wenjin, that tramp!


    He felt a surge of rage at the thought of her playing around behind his back. He had truly underestimated her; it seemed the shady things he had done before paled in comparison to her antics.


    Xiao Jinglan could tell immediately that something was off with Xiao Mo, and she lightly pushed him. ¡°Feng Ya Meizi is a young lady from the Fengya Family; her amorous escapades are well-known. It¡¯s hardly surprising.¡±


    It¡¯s probably that Xia Wenjin knows about Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s reputation, and to fit into the persona he once portrayed, she¡¯s started to let herself go too.


    Such things weren¡¯t really a big deal.


    But she knew Xiao Mo, and she knew what his son hated the most.


    Even if he didn¡¯t like Xia Wenjin, he wouldn¡¯t allow her to cuckold him in public.


    Especially not when the cuckold proudly speaks of such matters right in front of him.


    Xiao Jinglan was worried that Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t restrain himself and would divulge everything, complicating the situation.


    Fortunately, Xiao Mo quickly picked up on the unspoken message from Xiao Jinglan¡¯s demeanor, and the expression on his face eased slightly.


    He cleared his throat, and when he looked at Zhao Qingfeng again, his face no longer showed the teeth-gritting fury of before. ¡°Besides this, do you have anything else to say?¡±


    Zhao Qingfeng thought carefully; there really wasn¡¯t anything else he wanted to say, but what if he said so and Xiao Mo killed him on the spot?


    He couldn¡¯t take the risk, so he could only pretend to ponder deeply.


    After a moment, Zhao Qingfeng pretended to be calm and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been quite shocked, and you¡¯ve suddenly asked me to think of many things. I can¡¯t think thoroughly in such a short time. Why don¡¯t you give me a few days to consider everything properly? Maybe if you ask me a bit each day, I¡¯ll be able to remember?¡±


    How could Xiao Mo not see through his stalling?


    Doing this was nothing more than fear of dying, judging from what he knew about Zhao Qingfeng recently.


    Knowing him as a coward who feared death made him easy to manipulate.


    Xiao Mo feigned agreement with his suggestion, nodding slightly, ¡°Alright, since you¡¯ve said as much, I won¡¯t make it difficult for you. I¡¯ll give you more time to think things over.¡±


    ¡°Great, great; I promise I¡¯ll tell all that I know, withholding nothing. As long as you don¡¯t intend to kill me, I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± Zhao Qingfeng basically gave up, spilling all his thoughts to Xiao Mo.


    Of course, he knew who his life depended on, and he didn¡¯t want this man to overthink anything because of one of his statements¡ªthat would only hasten his death.


    Seeing Zhao Qingfeng being so aware of his situation disgusted Xiao Mo even more, and he felt even more disdainful at Xia Wenjin¡¯s lack of judgment.


    When he sees Xia Wenjin tonight, he¡¯ll make sure to teach her a lesson; a woman like her is asking for it.


    ¡°Rest assured, as long as you keep out of trouble and cooperate well, I¡¯ll spare your life. Once all is settled, I¡¯ll let you go.¡±


    After finishing that statement, Xiao Mo turned to Xiao Jinglan, ¡°Leave this man to you. I¡¯m going to the hotel.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Before Xiao Mo could leave, Zhao Qingfeng spoke up again.


    Seeing Xiao Mo turn back, he hastily smirked flatteringly, ¡°Remember to order a bottle of red wine; it¡¯ll set the mood. It¡¯ll make things easier to do later.¡±

 Chapter 685: 683: What a bunch of blind fools!

    Chapter 685: Chapter 683: What a bunch of blind fools!


    He worried that Xiao Mo¡¯s first meeting with Feng Ya Meizi might expose him, after all, apart from this matter, that woman had no other interests when she was with him.


    He knew that men were different from each other, and he was aware that in this regard, he was extraordinarily gifted.


    Otherwise, he would not have charmed so many wealthy women into investing in him.


    If Xiao Mo lacked this kind of capital, he might really expose himself, which was why he made this suggestion.


    Xiao Meng¡¯s complexion didn¡¯t look good, but he still stood there and asked Zhao Qingfeng another question, ¡°Does she have any other hobbies in this regard?¡±


    Although he didn¡¯t want to please that woman, given the current circumstances, he still had to put on an act.


    Zhao Qingfeng had not expected Xiao Mo to care so much about his opinion, which invigorated him, ¡°This woman is very bold and likes trying new things, you should understand. So it¡¯s fine if things get a little fancy...¡±


    Listening to Zhao Qingfeng rattling off about him and Xia Wenjin, Xiao Mo¡¯s expression grew darker and darker.


    Clearly, he was Xia Wenjin¡¯s husband, yet he had to listen to another man tell him about what went on between them.


    It was incredibly frustrating.


    If he hadn¡¯t planned on taking Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s life before, from this moment on, he had his sights set on it.


    He absolutely couldn¡¯t tolerate a man who had cuckolded him continuing to live openly in his glorious times.


    This was a different kind of humiliation for him, how could Xiao Mo allow such a thing to happen?


    His lips hooked sinisterly; as soon as this matter was over, he would immediately send him abroad, then quietly snuff him out.


    By then, whether it was an accident or not, it would no longer have anything to do with him.


    Xiao Mo took Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s phone and left straight away.


    He had intended to prepare at the hotel, but just as he arrived, he was startled to see Xia Wenjin sitting on the sofa.


    Xia Wenjin watched his expression turn strange and slightly furrowed her brows, ¡°What have you done to feel guilty about outside?¡±


    Xiao Mo snapped back to reality, immediately putting on a full-faced smile as he looked at Xia Wenjin, ¡°How could I? What guilty thing could I possibly do?¡±


    Copying Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s previous behavior, he leaned into Xia Wenjin and directly wrapped his arm around her waist.


    As expected, this approach worked well on Xia Wenjin; she almost instinctively leaned on Xiao Mo¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Tell me, what did you do today?¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s eyelids drooped, feigning nonchalance as he said, ¡°Naturally, I went to the company during the day, but just now Xiao Mo¡¯s biological mother called him back...¡±


    ¡°What? That woman contacted you again? She didn¡¯t find out anything, did she?¡± Xia Wenjin immediately looked vigilantly at Xiao Mo, her brows almost knitting together.


    It seemed she was genuinely worried that Zhao Qingfeng might slip up in front of Xiao Jinglan, but her worries were somewhat redundant since Zhao Qingfeng had already been caught for his slip-up.


    Xiao Mo gently patted Xia Wenjin, reassuring her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she just asked why I haven¡¯t been going home often lately, I fobbed her off with a few words, and she believed it.¡±


    Xia Wenjin incredulously raised an eyebrow, ¡°You fobbed her off with a few words?¡±


    She was well aware that Xiao Jinglan was not so easy to deal with; that woman was full of schemes.


    It would be too great a loss if his few words of deception led to a major issue.


    So, Xia Wenjin was particularly concerned about what he had said.


    Her gaze was fixed intently on the man in front of her, as if waiting for him to continue.


    Xiao Mo knew that he couldn¡¯t just brush it off this time and had to say something. ¡°I said that I¡¯ve been planning to take over the position of president at Song Group, so I¡¯ve been busy socializing outside.¡±


    For Zhao Qingfeng, lying was a bit difficult because he wasn¡¯t familiar with Xiao Mo¡¯s social circle, nor did he understand these business matters.


    But for Xiao Mo, making up a lie was as easy as eating and drinking.


    Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t think much of it either; hearing him say that, she sighed with relief. ¡°Xiao Jinglan is quite cunning. Try to speak less in front of her when it¡¯s not necessary, understand?¡±


    Xiao Mo nodded, pretending to be obedient. ¡°I understand. So, how do you want me to secure that position?¡±


    Xia Wenjin held Xiao Mo¡¯s face with both hands, gently caressing it. ¡°What? Are you in a hurry, so eager for that position?¡±


    Xiao Mo slowly tightened his arms around her waist. ¡°I¡¯ve recently learned a lot at the company; isn¡¯t it to help you get that position as soon as possible?¡±


    Xia Wenjin wasn¡¯t surprised by his thoughts at all, for that position was something any man would desire.


    Her eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Then, do you have any good ideas?¡±


    Xiao Mo made no attempt to hide anything; he whispered into Xia Wenjin¡¯s ear: ¡°I heard at the company that President Song¡¯s wife has been kidnapped and hasn¡¯t been found yet. Almost all of Sinian¡¯s bodyguards are looking for her; I think it¡¯s the right time to make a move.¡±


    As for what kind of move, he didn¡¯t need to say it; Xia Wenjin would understand.


    To secure that person¡¯s position, the simplest way was to make sure that person disappeared forever.


    Hearing that, Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows rose sharply. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a surprise from your stint in the company.¡±


    Initially, she had Zhao Qingfeng go to Song Group to prevent anyone from realizing that Xiao Mo had disappeared. Zhao Qingfeng had performed well, not only addressing others¡¯ doubts but also relaying internal company news to her.


    It could be said to be a double surprise.


    However, she soon noticed another point that surprised her even more. ¡°You just mentioned that the president of Song Group¡¯s wife was kidnapped; is it Lu Zhaozhao?¡±


    She asked this question, her eyes twinkling.


    Lu Zhaozhao had been too smooth-sailing, towering over her from the time she married Sinian, whether it was in school or in the entertainment industry.


    She always outdid her, as if there was no way she could surpass Lu Zhaozhao, no matter what she did.


    Even her birth parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lu, thought Lu Zhaozhao was better than her, haha!


    How was Lu Zhaozhao better than her?


    She only looked a bit prettier than her, and was a bit luckier to have married Sinian. Other than that, in what ways was she better?


    Such a bunch of blind fools!


    Xiao Mo¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily, but his face remained calm as he looked at Xia Wenjin and said, ¡°The missing person is indeed Lu Zhaozhao. I heard she was kidnapped, and this information has been tightly kept within the company; I just happened to overhear others talking about it.¡±


    He, of course, wouldn¡¯t tell her that he had only discovered this after conducting his investigation.


    And very few people knew about it.

 Chapter 686: 684 When Will the Plan Be Implemented?

    Chapter 686: Chapter 684 When Will the Plan Be Implemented?


    He told Xia Wenjin those words because he wanted her to act against Song Sinian.


    In the country, if he moved against Song Sinian, Old Master Song could easily detect the matter.


    But if Xia Wenjin made the move using the power of the Fengya Family from Country R, even if Old Master Song wanted to investigate, he would find himself powerless.


    Moreover, with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s kidnapping, he felt it was the perfect opportunity to stir the waters.


    He then harbored the thought of inciting Xia Wenjin to action, unsure if she would take the bait.


    Based on his understanding of Xia Wenjin, being not very cunning, she should be persuadable.


    As expected, after a brief moment of contemplation, Xia Wenjin nodded in agreement, ¡°I need to discuss this with someone first, then I¡¯ll see the specific plan.¡±


    Xiao Mo, seeing there was hope for the plan, repeatedly nodded, ¡°Great, whatever you need me to do, I¡¯ll go through fire and water.¡±


    Hearing this, Xia Wenjin¡¯s eyebrows rose, and her gaze turned towards Xiao Mo, ¡°Your flattery has really grown sweeter, I do think a reward is in order.¡±


    Saying so, she leaned in and bit down.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s body stiffened suddenly, but seeing the commanding face Xia Wenjin had put on, he didn¡¯t feel the same disgust as before.


    It must be said, Ya Meizi¡¯s appearance indeed suited his aesthetic.


    Facing Xia Wenjin¡¯s face, he might have had some difficulty acting.


    Xiao Mo chuckled softly, following Xia Wenjin¡¯s movements, and they began to entangle...


    At night, the weather in spring had warmed up significantly, even the evening breeze wasn¡¯t as piercing as before.


    Song Sinian sat in Pei Huai¡¯s study, leisurely sipping his tea. His gaze moved to Pei Huai, who was furiously working on his computer, and then looked away.


    After a moment, Pei Huai put down his laptop and turned to look at Song Sinian, letting out a somewhat helpless sigh, ¡°Don¡¯t you think your plan is a bit too risky?¡±


    He had also heard about Song Sinian¡¯s plan through Xia Wenyan.


    He left the Song Group, let Xiao Mo¡¯s people take over, and then rooted out the worms within the Song Group.


    This operation had no apparent problems, but it could cause significant losses to the Song Group.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows arched slightly, ¡°Between Xia Wenyan and the Rimu Family, whom would you choose?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Yanyan, is it even a question?¡± Pei Huai didn¡¯t hesitate.


    It would be a waste of life to not see the obvious choice.


    He had always felt his return was meant for Xia Wenyan.


    Thus, in this world, nothing was more important to him than Xia Wenyan.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows arched again, ¡°The same goes for me. Even if the Song Group encounters any issues, they can be dealt with, but Zhaozhao is off-limits.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pei Huai was abruptly choked, suddenly realizing the stupidity of his own question.


    He silently sighed and pressed his temples, his look towards Song Sinian filling with a bit more patience.


    ¡°The Fengya Family will take the blame for this matter, and Xia Wenjin will also receive assistance from Fengya Ichiro, so you can go ahead with your actions.¡±


    He originally planned to have the Fengya Family take charge of this matter, but Song Sinian refused.


    Ever since hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words about her past life, Song Sinian had changed.


    In any matter concerning himself and Lu Zhaozhao, he needed to have absolute control before proceeding.


    He would never delegate it to another.


    He worried that even the slightest leniency could lead to significant change.


    That might cost him Lu Zhaozhao.


    Especially the act of feigning serious injury, if it were before, he would have definitely taken the field himself.


    Now...


    He planned to directly find a stand-in to spare his beloved Zhaozhao the worry.


    Although the stand-in also had the risk of getting injured, he had full confidence in his plan this time.


    So the stand-in would definitely be absolutely safe.


    Unless... there was an unexpected accident.


    Song Sinian nodded, ¡°Right, after I leave Song Group, you take the chance to suppress the Song Family, and don¡¯t go easy on them.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°I would like to go easy, but is Song Group the kind of company that can be suppressed just like that?¡±


    Moreover, Song Group had just recently partnered with XJ Group, which could be said to have solid foundations.


    It was certainly not some shoddy work that could be toppled by a bit of stormy weather.


    Hearing this, Song Sinian narrowed his eyes, ¡°You have a point, then set up several traps for Xiao Mo, let him lose again and again, then keep fighting, he should be able to rope in a good amount of money.¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyebrows arched, ¡°Are you talking about me, or Xiao Mo?¡±


    If Xiao Mo were smart enough, he would take this opportunity to pocket the money for himself.


    At that time, a well-fed Xiao Mo would definitely become a live target for Song Sinian.


    He smeared Song Group and lined his own pockets; such a person would only be completely kicked out of the game.


    Then, even if he shook out the identity of an heir to Song Group, it would be of no use.


    It had to be said, Song Sinian was a cunning man.


    Pei Huai also wondered how Song Sinian had been schemed against to death in his past life.


    His dark pupils narrowed as he carefully measured Song Sinian.


    Sensing Pei Huai¡¯s gaze, Song Sinian casually glanced at him and suddenly chuckled lightly, ¡°Whether it¡¯s you or him, isn¡¯t it all a good thing?¡±


    Pei Huai was momentarily at a loss for words.


    He nodded lightly, fixing his gaze back on Song Sinian, ¡°Leave this matter to me, then. When I¡¯ve emptied your company, you can just honestly be a kept man relying on Zhaozhao!¡±


    Song Sinian noncommittally shrugged, ¡°Then I would be living off my skills.¡±


    ¡°Right, right, right...¡±


    Pei Huai couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes.


    If he hadn¡¯t seen with his own eyes how Song Sinian had transformed from that cold and ruthless man into the emotionally stable man he was now.


    He really would suspect that Song Sinian had his core exchanged.


    Pei Huai actually wanted to ask Song Sinian how he had been doomed by Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan, those two incompetents, in his past life.


    However, thinking carefully about what Lu Zhaozhao had said earlier, he suddenly felt that if he were Song Sinian, whose only loved one harbored nothing but disgust for him,


    He might also decide to fulfill her.


    Especially if that person were Xia Wenyan.


    Although this thought was terrifying, it was indeed the most real one.


    Pei Huai finally sighed, ¡°When do you plan to put this plan into action?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes flickered slightly, ¡°The sooner, the better.¡±


    Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin had already connected, and planning this matter was just a matter of time.


    By the time it happened, whether Xia Wenjin had mentioned this matter to Fengya Ichiro or not, it would not affect his plan.


    After all, it was the Fengya Family¡¯s ¡°doing,¡± and even if Xia Wenjin had any issues, she wouldn¡¯t dare confront Fengya Ichiro.

 Chapter 687: 685: How is that Possible?

    Chapter 687: Chapter 685: How is that Possible?


    He was not at all worried about it.


    Song Sinian set his cup on the table before asking, ¡°How is the situation in Country E?¡±


    Pei Huai¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but widen as he said, ¡°I never thought you would care about anything besides Zhaozhao.¡±


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t want to shatter his good imagination but couldn¡¯t help reminding him. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that when I return, if Zhaozhao asks and I can¡¯t answer, she¡¯ll just call her fourth brother again.¡±


    Mentioning Xia Wenyan made Pei Huai feel as if someone had suddenly choked him.


    He had no choice but to give up resisting.


    Resignedly he nodded his head, ¡°We¡¯ve discovered exactly where Xu Zhenzhen is. She¡¯s just as we guessed previously, not in danger of losing her life, but... if Pavel finds out she¡¯s pregnant, it might be a different story.¡±


    Pavel had many children, but because of infighting many had died or were incapacitated, leaving only Xu Zhenzhen as his sole survivor.


    He guessed that Pavel would not let someone take away Xu Zhenzhen so easily.


    Furthermore, he might think Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s character unsuitable to be the leader of the Pavlov Family, so it was very possible he would make Xu Zhenzhen give birth to a child and use this child as a bond to keep hold of her.


    Either make Xu Zhenzhen into the person he wanted.


    Or force Xu Zhenzhen into becoming that kind of person.


    Previously, she had been alone, without leverage to be threatened with.


    Even though Lu Zhaozhao was just her friend, the little one growing inside of her was connected by blood to her.


    And was the child of the man she loved.


    Definitely a perfect pawn for Pavel.


    The implication in Pei Huai¡¯s words was clear to Song Sinian.


    His dark pupils narrowed, ¡°Pavel is not the kind of man worth negotiating with; pinpointing his weak spot is the only way to make him talk properly.¡±


    Pei Huai nodded along, ¡°Exactly, so our main task on this trip to Country E isn¡¯t just to secretly bring back Xu Zhenzhen but to find a way to cut off their relationship.¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head in disagreement, ¡°Cutting off their relationship may be difficult, but bringing down the Pavlov Family might be a bit simpler.¡±


    Pei Huai: ¡°...¡±


    Were both of them even talking about the same thing?


    Pei Huai looked at Song Sinian with disbelief, ¡°Do you know what kind of stature the Pavlov Family holds locally? Bringing them down would be extremely difficult.¡±


    Song Sinian shrugged his shoulders, ¡°No matter how powerful a family, there¡¯s always a few rebels, right? Rebels always have a few friends, right? Among those friends, there¡¯ve got to be a few who hold sway at home, right? If not... finding a few influential women will do the job too.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Wow, he really made counterintelligence sound so clear-cut.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried they might turn against us?¡± Pei Huai raised an eyebrow at Song Sinian, seemingly still somewhat skeptical of his approach.


    The Pavlov family¡¯s long-standing dominance proved they undoubtedly had a very solid internal system in place.


    Or rather, a severe punishment that discouraged betrayal.


    Song Sinian pursed his lips, ¡°Turning against us would just mean the incentives aren¡¯t strong enough. Do you think the others really don¡¯t want to be leaders? Is it because they don¡¯t like it?¡±


    ¡°How could that be?¡± Pei Huai felt there was a bit of sarcasm in that remark.


    The Pavlov family¡¯s position in Country E is not to be underestimated. Their family leader was highly sought after, but no one else dared to vie for that position, and there was naturally a reason for that.


    Just like he had previously seized the position of Family Head for the Rimu Family, once a system is formed, others dare not act rashly.


    The Pavlov family wasn¡¯t like the internally decayed Rimu Family.


    Of course, he worried about Song Sinian¡¯s plan.


    Yet unexpectedly, the man shook his head, chuckled lightly, and said, ¡°They dared not before because they lacked external resources and internal allies. If we personally deliver both, don¡¯t you think they would take the gamble?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ambitious people, they always take a gamble.


    After all, not being anything in life compared to the chance of transforming a bicycle into a motorbike with one gamble was definitely exciting enough.


    If Pei Huai had doubts about the feasibility of the plan before, now he was thinking about the best candidate for it.


    Because he was suddenly very aware that Song Sinian¡¯s plan was highly feasible.


    They hadn¡¯t rebelled before because they lacked support; now with the backing of Song Group, Rimu Family, and XJ Group, along with insiders, killing Pavel wouldn¡¯t be too difficult.


    Not to mention replacing their leader.


    Upon this realization, Pei Huai seemingly came up with a bold idea, ¡°Give me some time to set things up, I just had an audacious thought.¡±


    ¡°Okay, take your time arranging it, I¡¯ll head back now,¡± Song Sinian said, standing up and leaving Pei Huai¡¯s study directly.


    Having received a satisfying answer, he naturally didn¡¯t intend to stay longer; he needed to go back to accompany Lu Zhaozhao.


    These past few days, to keep her out of sight from the people in Country E, he had rarely made public appearances, probably driving the kid crazy. It was a good opportunity to take her out to get some fresh air.


    Thinking this, Song Sinian pulled out his phone and dialed Zhao Xi¡¯s number.


    It was quickly answered.


    ¡°Hello? Sir?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, the plan you prepared earlier can start in the next two days.¡± Song Sinian¡¯s calm voice transmitted from the other end of the phone, truly startling Zhao Xi.


    ¡°Already?¡± he asked incredulously.


    If he remembered correctly, Xia Wenjin and Xiao Mo had only just established contact, right?


    Even if they wanted to take over the position in Song Group as soon as possible, they would definitely plan it carefully.


    Was their boss so impatient to implement the plan that he didn¡¯t even want to stay another day here?


    Song Sinian felt nothing wrong with his thinking, ¡°If it can¡¯t be done tomorrow, then push it to the day after.¡±


    ¡°This...¡±


    Although the day after tomorrow was only one day later than tomorrow, it made no real difference.


    Zhao Xi had even thought this matter would need at least half a month or so.


    Considering that Xu Zhenzhen had been taken away by Pavel¡¯s family from their country several days ago, it was understandable that the Xia Family was worried about her, but why was their boss in such a rush?


    Hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s hesitation, Song Sinian¡¯s brows couldn¡¯t help but arch high, ¡°What? Is the plan not ready yet?¡±


    He clearly remembered that the complete blueprint for this activity had been finalized.


    He had personally approved it; why was Zhao Xi still hesitating?


    Zhao Xi immediately shook his head, belatedly realizing the other side couldn¡¯t see him, and sighed silently before saying, ¡°The plan is ready; it just feels so sudden, I hadn¡¯t caught on.¡±

 Chapter 688: 686: There is Still an Invisible Card

    Chapter 688: Chapter 686: There is Still an Invisible Card


    His boss, who was obsessed with work, suddenly couldn¡¯t wait to go on vacation, and he always needed a buffer period.


    Song Sinian, upon hearing Zhao Xi say this, visibly relaxed a lot more, ¡°Since the plan is already set, we¡¯ll prepare to implement it the day after tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Okay, sir.¡±


    ¡°After I go abroad, if there are any problems, just go directly to Pei Huai. Whatever he tells you to do, you do it.¡± Song Sinian, thinking of what he had just said to Pei Huai, simply decided to pass the buck to him.


    This plan caught Zhao Xi somewhat off guard; he was slightly stunned and asked subconsciously, ¡°Sir, aren¡¯t you afraid that Mr. Pei might sell off the company while you are away?¡±


    Although the likelihood of that was low.


    After all, Pei Huai was related by marriage to their madam¡¯s side and, even if he did not help Song Sinian, he wouldn¡¯t likely help anyone else.


    But was their boss really not worried at all?


    No sooner had Zhao Xi finished speaking than Song Sinian responded with a sigh, ¡°If I lose the company, then I will just have to follow our family Zhaozhao and live off her...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    For some reason, Zhao Xi felt that there was a hint of pride, even a hint of bragging, in that statement.


    Indeed, one couldn¡¯t use normal reasoning to understand their boss.


    Especially when it came to their madam, their boss¡¯s way of thinking had never been normal.


    Thankfully, their madam¡¯s way of thinking still seemed normal¡ªfor now, at least.


    Zhao Xi found it hard to imagine what chaos might ensue domestically, particularly within Song Group, once their boss and madam were both abroad.


    Xiao Mo and Xia Wenjin, these two troublemakers, were sure to turn the whole Song Group topsy-turvy, and with the crafty Pei Huai involved, there would probably be quite a spectacle.


    At that time, any demonic creatures within Song Group would most likely reveal their true forms.


    ...


    Xia Wenjin learned of Song Sinian¡¯s car accident at noon.


    ¡°What did you say? Song Sinian had a car accident and fell into the sea?¡±


    Xia Wenjin could hardly believe her ears; she had just spoken with Fengya Ichiro two days ago about supporting the fake Xiao Mo¡¯s rise to power.


    Was her fake father this decisive?


    Xiao Mo was also excited, although he hid it well, ¡°I just received the news, and there are already people at sea working on the recovery.¡±


    When he first heard the news, he thought it was somebody¡¯s prank, because no matter where Song Sinian went, he was always followed by bodyguards.


    But he recalled that two days ago, he had spoken with Xia Wenjin about the affairs of Song Group.


    So upon receiving the news, he rushed to find Xia Wenjin, only to find that she was also clueless.


    This made Xiao Mo, who had been excited to the max, suddenly feel his spirits dampen¡ªcould there have been some problem in the plan?


    Seeing his expression, Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow couldn¡¯t help but furrow, ¡°I¡¯ll go ask my dad and see what he has to say.¡±


    Actually, Xia Wenjin was also nervous.


    She was worried that if the incident had not been orchestrated by Fengya Ichiro, it could potentially disrupt their plan.


    After all, Lu Zhaozhao had just disappeared, and with Song Sinian running into trouble at this time, everyone would surely link his issues with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s disappearance.


    If the Fengya Family had been behind this, it would be reassuring, but if not, the power of the person behind the scenes couldn¡¯t be underestimated.


    With a nervous heart, Xia Wenjin placed a call to Fengya Ichiro, and Xiao Mo naturally listened attentively by her side.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Fengya Ichiro suppressed the frustration he felt for Xia Wenjin and spoke slowly.


    Fortunately, having been through tempests before, he managed to face Xia Wenjin without any perturbation.


    Xia Wenjin cleared her throat, ¡°Dad, do you know about Song Sinian¡¯s car accident?¡±


    She was extremely careful when asking this question, not knowing how Feng Ya Meizi and Fengya Ichiro interacted, but luckily, she had specifically inquired with Feng Xixi beforehand.


    So she could be confident she wouldn¡¯t mess up with Fengya Ichiro.


    However, the person on the other end of the phone wasn¡¯t her biological father, and that fact still intimidated her.


    There was a clear pause on the line before he suddenly remembered Mr. Pei¡¯s reminder from a few days ago.


    He had said that if something ¡°happened¡± to Song Sinian domestically, all the blame would have to be borne by the Fengya Family.


    Fengya Ichiro was no fool, and he immediately sensed the crux of the matter.


    He coughed lightly before speaking indifferently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you wanted to support a new CEO for the Song Group within the country? What¡¯s wrong? Are you not satisfied with the result?¡±


    Xia Wenjin did not expect Fengya Ichiro to admit it so readily and was momentarily stunned.


    Then she looked at the phone almost ecstatically, ¡°You mean, Song Sinian¡¯s incident was done by the Fengya Family? Where is Song Sinian now? I heard he¡¯s missing.¡±


    Fengya Ichiro hummed softly, ¡°Some things are better known to yourselves; there¡¯s no need to make phone calls about it.¡±


    Xia Wenjin immediately responded, ¡°What should we do next then?¡±


    ¡°Next? Next is to take power within the Song Group, of course, don¡¯t you still have an ¡®invisible card¡¯? I remember you saying before that Xiao Mo seems to be the Song Family¡¯s illegitimate son...¡± Fengya Ichiro casually dropped this hint, seemingly reminding Xia Wenjin.


    But this was useless for Xia Wenjin.


    She could handle small tasks, but when it came to plotting something major like this, she was completely at a loss on where to begin.


    She had thought that all she needed to do was to inform Fengya Ichiro, and then just follow his lead for the next steps. Still, it turned out that Fengya Ichiro merely started her off without any intention of intervening further.


    Xia Wenjin wanted to say something else but was pulled aside by Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo shook his head gently at her, signaling her not to continue communicating with Fengya Ichiro.


    Although Xia Wenjin did not understand why she had to do this, she instinctively followed his advice.


    ¡°Okay, Dad, I understand. I¡¯ll think over this matter more carefully.¡± After saying this, Xia Wenjin hung up the phone.


    Now she had the chance to look at Xiao Mo, ¡°Why did you just stop me from asking Dad further questions?¡±


    The corners of Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth curled slightly, trying to show a reassuring smile, ¡°My lady, your dad has already set things up for you to this extent. If you¡¯re still waiting for him to handle the rest, what do you think he¡¯ll feel?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brows furrowed. She didn¡¯t care what Fengya Ichiro might think.


    What she was contemplating now was how to secure the position of CEO of the Song Group!


    Only by taking over the Song Group would she be differently regarded in Fengya Ichiro¡¯s heart.


    But after calming down, Xia Wenjin¡¯s thoughts began to change slightly...

 Chapter 689: 687 Youd Better Walk the Talk!

    Chapter 689: Chapter 687 You¡¯d Better Walk the Talk!


    She had only thought about using the Song Group to please Fengya Lang, but had never considered that this action might very well expose that she was not actually Ya Meizi.


    Xia Wenjin, although unfamiliar with Meizi, could tell from her behavior that she was a woman with her own plans.


    Meizi, being groomed as the heir to the Fengya Family, surely wouldn¡¯t handle things like Wen Jin, requiring Fengya Ichiro to deal with every matter.


    Thinking this, Wen Jin felt a tremor of fear, grateful that Zhao Qingfeng had interrupted her just in time. Otherwise, according to her plan, she would definitely have pushed all the matters onto Fengya Ichiro.


    If that happened, Fengya Ichiro might question her identity.


    After all, previous matters could still be glossed over with the excuse of ¡°not wanting to deal with it herself,¡± but if Fengya Ichiro had to handle everything, he would definitely grow suspicious.


    Taking a deep breath, Wen Jin reached out and patted Xiao Mo¡¯s shoulder, saying, ¡°You¡¯re right. I really shouldn¡¯t let my father help with everything. It makes me seem like such an irresponsible daughter.¡±


    She awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth, not feeling that the lie she had just told was too far-fetched.


    After all, Zhao Qingfeng didn¡¯t understand the relationship between her and Fengya Ichiro, so she could say whatever she wanted in front of him.


    But Xiao Mo was not Zhao Qingfeng; he had brains and contacts, and he had investigated Meizi, naturally knowing that Meizi¡¯s character was definitely not like Wen Jin¡¯s.


    Luckily for Wen Jin, she had only stayed in her home country. If she had returned to R City, she would certainly have been discovered by Fengya Ichiro.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, and he had to admit that Wen Jin had a bit of luck on her side. Otherwise, with her acting skills, her deception would have been uncovered long ago.


    Previously, he had thought Wen Jin was of no use, so when he heard that she had been killed by Xiao Jinglan, he didn¡¯t think it was a pity. But now, her identity as Fengya Ichiro¡¯s daughter, was much more useful to him.


    With Song Sinian now missing, he could use Meizi¡¯s identity to seize the position of president of the Song Group.


    So, of course, he could not allow Wen Jin to fail so quickly, at least not until he had secured the position of president of the Song Group.


    Xiao Mo knew that Wen Jin said this to avoid arousing his suspicions, and of course, he was willing to play the fool.


    ¡°I certainly know that Meizi is a kind-hearted and filial girl,¡± Xiao Mo took Wen Jin¡¯s hand and kissed the back of it, enticingly saying, ¡°So, let me handle these troublesome matters.¡±


    Wen Jin was clearly stunned, ¡°Leave it to you to do? Do you know what the next step is?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that Wen Jin looked down on Zhao Qingfeng, but recently, apart from messing around with her, he had been idly whiling away time at the company.


    She really couldn¡¯t see any remarkable business talent in him.


    The corner of Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth lifted into a slight smirk as he said, ¡°These past few days at the company, aside from pretending to fish in muddy waters, I¡¯ve also been seriously observing the internal situation of the company. Plus, I know quite a lot from your previous investigations.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Wen Jin didn¡¯t say anything, only furrowed her brows and quietly stared at Xiao Mo, as if considering whether what he said was true or not.


    Seeing her reaction, Xiao Mo became even more earnest as he held Wen Jin¡¯s hand, ¡°I know you may not believe in my capabilities, so why not give it a try? After all, what man doesn¡¯t have ambition? Especially when he is your man...¡±


    The last of Xiao Mo¡¯s words delighted Wen Jin so much that she didn¡¯t care whether what he said was true or not and simply decided to let him handle it.


    After all, she didn¡¯t have a good solution to the situation; she wasn¡¯t cut out for it. Rather than using her brain, it was better to let Zhao Qingfeng do the thinking.


    When something actually happened, she would again push all the responsibility onto him.


    Even if Fengya Ichiro found out, at most, he would blame her for not judging people clearly and being seduced by lust, he would never doubt her identity.


    Thinking this way, Xia Wenjin relaxed even more. ¡°Then let¡¯s do as you say. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯re capable of. If you need anything else, you can always come to me. You know I¡¯ve always been generous with you.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Xiao Mo felt much better due to Xia Wenjin¡¯s ready agreement, and he didn¡¯t mind sweet-talking her a bit more.


    ¡°You are obviously the best to me, otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have followed you so loyally.¡±


    Xia Wenjin was so charmed that she flipped over and pounced on him, ¡°Since you¡¯re so happy now, it should be my turn to be happy, right?¡±


    Her intention was so obvious, how could Xiao Mo not see it?


    If it had been any other time, he would have thrown this woman to the ground without a second thought, but seeing her usefulness, he would let her have her moment of happiness.


    Xiao Mo reached out and pulled her down.


    A moment later, Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Did you go looking for another woman behind my back last night?¡±


    Xiao Mo was taken aback and instinctively shook his head. ¡°How could that be possible? You¡¯re the only woman for me, you watch me so closely every day, how could I possibly find someone else?¡±


    Xia Wenjin scoffed with disdain. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether you found another woman or not, your duty by my side is to serve me, not to be so useless!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xiao Mo seemed to realize something, and his face instantly darkened.


    He suddenly remembered what Zhao Qingfeng had warned him earlier, to take medicine in advance, which he had completely disdained.


    After all, as a man, he had always thought that he was quite good in this regard.


    He was very confident, to say the least.


    But unexpectedly, he was now disdained by Xia Wenjin, and it was after being compared to that previous Zhao Qingfeng.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face couldn¡¯t hold expression anymore, and he pounced again and started the whole thing all over.


    Unfortunately, until the end, the displeasure on Xia Wenjin¡¯s face did not fade, which made Xiao Mo even more irritable. Yet, he didn¡¯t dare to lose his temper in front of Xia Wenjin, so he could only quietly blame her in his mind.


    This woman, Xia Wenjin, was indeed a slut!


    He was so capable, yet she questioned him; this was intolerable!


    It must be because he had encountered too many things today, causing him to be incapable. It must be!


    Xiao Mo gnashed his teeth in anger, determined to teach her a good lesson next time, to let her know who was truly capable.


    Of course, Xia Wenjin was unaware of Xiao Mo¡¯s thoughts. She just kicked him with her foot and said with a cold face, ¡°I¡¯ll let you off this time. If there¡¯s a next time, you can just get lost.¡±


    The anger in Xiao Mo¡¯s heart grew fiercer. He lowered his head and bit his teeth hard, almost squeezing out the words from his back teeth, ¡°I know, it will never happen again. I promise I will serve you well next time...¡±


    Xia Wenjin rolled over on the bed and glanced at Xiao Mo, ¡°Hmph, you better keep your word!¡±

 Chapter 690: 688: Empower Her!

    Chapter 690: Chapter 688: Empower Her!


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression grew even darker...


    However, he didn¡¯t have time to contend with Xia Wenjin now, as Song Sinian had already gone missing, and he needed to make his next move.


    He got off the bed and headed straight for the bathroom. When he came out of the shower, Xia Wenjin was already lying in bed, asleep.


    Xiao Mo glanced at the person on the bed, reached for the mobile phone on the desk, and silently went to the next room.


    He stood in front of the spacious floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the endless night and the twinkling lights, a slow, pleased smile curving his lips.


    He took out his phone and sent a message to Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°Start contacting the shareholders of the Song Group now.¡±


    After he had finished instigating Xia Wenjin, he had shared his subsequent arrangements with Xiao Jinglan.


    At that time, he had prepared two plans, just so he could deal with the current situation when Xia Wenjin made her move.


    He had also considered what to do if Xia Wenjin failed, but unfortunately, that plan was no longer needed.


    He hadn¡¯t expected the Fengya Family to act so swiftly, leaving him no chance to use his backup plan.


    Leaning against the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, he felt great and opened the liquor cabinet next to the coffee table, taking out a bottle of fine wine to savor.


    He knew Xia Wenjin always indulged in luxury; the red wine she purchased was naturally expensive.


    Thinking that Song Sinian¡¯s fate was still unknown gave him a sense of satisfaction.


    However, recalling that Xia Wenjin had also disappeared before and then returned with a new identity, Xiao Mo¡¯s brow furrowed again.


    It seemed he needed to accelerate the takeover of the Song Group, so even if Song Sinian returned under another¡¯s guise, it would be too late!


    He was deep in thought when his phone suddenly vibrated.


    It was Xiao Jinglan.


    ¡°I started contacting the shareholders after hearing the uncertain news of Song Sinian¡¯s fate. I even have some good news! Old Master Song fainted and was hospitalized immediately upon hearing of Song Sinian¡¯s car accident!¡±


    This was her best chance to take control of the Song Mansion.


    Although Old Master Song had indirectly driven her out of the Song Family, her status as the Song Family¡¯s daughter-in-law was genuine.


    With Song Sinian missing and his fate unknown, and Old Master Song gravely ill in the hospital, who was left in the Song Family?


    If she could just manipulate Old Master Song, she would be able to seize control of the Song Family¡¯s power!


    Xiao Jinglan was stirred by this thought.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that as her life neared its end, such a significant turn of events had arrived!


    Indeed, her son was the chosen one; otherwise, that despicable Xia Wenjin, who had nearly perished, wouldn¡¯t have assumed a new identity to assist her son.


    Xiao Mo was clearly uplifted by the news as well.


    If Xiao Jinglan could regain control of the Song Family, she would represent Old Master Song externally!


    Their aspiration to secure the CEO position of the Song Group would be all the more effortless!


    ¡°Mom! Keep a close watch on Old Master Song; whether we can turn the tables depends on this!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan understood as well.


    She soon sent a reply.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will head over to Old Master Song today and ensure everything is taken care of!¡±


    If Old Master Song was already unconscious, she wouldn¡¯t need to resort to any measures.


    ¡°But if he had only temporarily fainted and tried to find Song Sinian, he couldn¡¯t blame him for being rude!¡±


    Xiao Jinglan looked at the message she received on her phone, and a fierce gleam briefly crossed her eyes.


    She quickly packed up and had her driver take her to the hospital.


    Having heard that Mr. Song had just been rescued, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyebrows almost knotted in tension.


    How could he have been rescued?


    She had just seen the grave expression on the doctor¡¯s face and thought that Mr. Song might not survive this time.


    What a pity...


    ¡°The patient¡¯s condition is not optimistic. He cannot withstand any major shocks. When communicating with the patient, try to consider his emotions...¡±


    The doctor¡¯s face was serious, and he looked at Xiao Jinglan with great solemnity.


    Xiao Jinglan knew it was not the time to reveal herself, so she pretended to be worried and looked at the doctor, asking, ¡°Can we go see the patient now?¡±


    As she spoke, she picked up the handkerchief in her hand and pretended to dab her eyes as if she was heartbroken.


    The doctor frowned slightly, pondered for a long time, and then nodded gravely, ¡°You may, but do not stay too long. The patient is old, and his emotions should not fluctuate too greatly.¡±


    ¡°I understand, doctor,¡± Xiao Jinglan nodded, her head lowered as she followed the doctor into the ward.


    Seeing Mr. Song lying on the hospital bed with a pale face, Xiao Jinglan was also taken aback.


    It was her first time seeing Mr. Song in such a forlorn state, as if his soul had departed.


    However, she quickly collected herself.


    Xiao Jinglan pinched her thigh hard and walked over with reddened eyes, ¡°Old Master, my condolences...¡±


    After saying that, she suddenly realized something and hastily corrected herself, ¡°No, I mean, Old Master, what I¡¯m saying is that Sinian hasn¡¯t been found yet, there is still hope. You must hold on, wait for Sinian to...¡±


    Wait for his body to be found, and then join him!


    She thought mockingly. Mr. Song had always adored his grandson, Sinian, since he was young, hadn¡¯t he?


    Now that Sinian was dead, wouldn¡¯t his grandfather follow?


    Fine, let them be together then! Humph!


    Mr. Song glanced at Xiao Jinglan covering her face, pretending to cry, and almost couldn¡¯t keep it in.


    Her acting was too fake; if he hadn¡¯t been through much bigger storms, her performance just then would have definitely made him laugh out loud.


    Glancing at his old friend standing next to Xiao Jinglan with a grave and bitter expression, Mr. Song tilted his head to the side and looked away.


    Ever since Sinian had told him about faking his death to go on a honeymoon in Country E, he had started making arrangements.


    This hospital had already been staffed by his people from the inside out, even the person who ¡°rescued¡± him was an old friend of many years.


    He was worried at the time that this old man might slip up and give them away.


    Unexpectedly, his acting was quite convincing. If he hadn¡¯t known it was all an act, he would have thought he was truly on his deathbed.


    Mr. Song took a deep breath and turned back to Xiao Jinglan, saying, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t go find Sinian myself while I¡¯m in the hospital. You¡¯ll have to oversee this matter.¡±


    As he spoke, he tried to look at Xiao Jinglan with hopeful eyes, ¡°Our Song Family is depending on you now, you must stand firm...¡±


    Xiao Jinglan was completely stunned; she hadn¡¯t expected Mr. Song to delegate responsibility to her!


    And to delegate it to her!


    She could hardly believe her ears!


    ¡°Old Master, rest assured, I will dedicate myself fully to the Song Family. Leave Sinian¡¯s matter to me!¡±

 Chapter 691: 689: Must seize this opportunity!

    Chapter 691: Chapter 689: Must seize this opportunity!


    This is Mr. Song himself handing the opportunity right to her!


    She must seize this opportunity!


    That¡¯s what Xiao Jinglan thought, and her whole being became excited.


    She left the hospital immediately, and without a second thought, she quickly sent the good news to Xiao Mo.


    Meanwhile, as soon as Xiao Jinglan had left, Mr. Song sat up from his sickbed.


    He didn¡¯t look the slightest bit frail, and the doctor standing by looked at Mr. Song with an exasperated expression.


    ¡°You just sit up right after she leaves; aren¡¯t you afraid of giving yourself away?¡±


    Mr. Song waved his hand dismissively.


    ¡°Do I not know Xiao Jinglan? When she heard that I was giving her the rights to the Song Mansion, she must have been overjoyed. How could she pay any attention to this old man?¡±


    The doctor just shrugged noncommittally.


    He certainly knew everything about the Song Family; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have helped Mr. Song deceive Xiao Jinglan.


    He sighed and then looked at Mr. Song, ¡°So what¡¯s the plan now? Are you just going to watch as she and Xiao Mo turn Song Group upside down?¡±


    Mr. Song shrugged, somewhat helplessly, ¡°Rather than letting them shoot us in the back, it¡¯s better to let them jump around openly within Song Group. It makes it easier to catch them and permanently deal with them in one go.¡±


    What they wanted was nothing more than the president¡¯s position of Song Group, as well as the power and money it brings.


    For Song Sinian, these were neither here nor there; even without Song Group, with Song Sinian¡¯s capabilities, he could build his own business empire.


    As for Xiao Mo, even if he became president of Song Group, the company would probably be on the decline.


    His true capabilities might be unclear to him, but that doesn¡¯t mean others can¡¯t see through him.


    The crafty old foxes on the board are not so easily fooled, unlike those shallow-eyed people who are swayed by a few provocative words and act as Xiao Mo¡¯s pawns.


    Thinking of this, Mr. Song suddenly remembered something; it seemed he hadn¡¯t yet informed Song Sinian about the situation here.


    Mr. Song directly picked up the cellphone beside his bed and dialed Song Sinian¡¯s number.


    ¡°Dial tone...¡±


    The phone was quickly answered.


    ¡°Hello? Where are you now?¡± As soon as the call connected, Mr. Song¡¯s voice couldn¡¯t wait to come through.


    The person on the other end was silent for a moment before answering Mr. Song truthfully, ¡°Zhaozhao and I have already arrived in Country E. Nothing¡¯s gone wrong at home, has it?¡±


    Of course, Song Sinian¡¯s words were just a formality. Zhao Xi was always in the country and naturally aware of the situation there.


    Especially regarding Mr. Song, he had specially assigned someone to keep watch, fearing Xiao Jinglan and her son might get desperate and target Mr. Song.


    Mr. Song snorted, ¡°You just ran off, leaving me, an old man, to deal with them back home, huh!¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to deal with them, just play unconscious and lie in the hospital bed,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s languid voice came through the phone, mainly to annoy Mr. Song.


    Here he was, sparring theatrically with Xiao Jinglan and her son, and this damn kid wasn¡¯t just unsympathetic but also offering up cold comfort.


    Mr. Song couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes dramatically. ¡°Forget it, sparring with them is exhausting enough for me, and now you want me to play unconscious? What a joke!¡±


    If he really played unconscious, he would have to stay in the ward 24 hours a day, which would be suffocating to him!


    He was already embarrassed enough not being able to go abroad with Lu Zhaozhao, now they wanted him to just lie in a hospital bed? No way.


    Song Sinian chuckled lightly, his voice lifting, ¡°So, what¡¯s the purpose of your call? It can¡¯t just be to complain, right?¡±


    This certainly didn¡¯t fit Mr. Song¡¯s usual style of doing things.


    He really liked his grandson, but not to this clingy extent.


    Mr. Song cleared his throat awkwardly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m calling about something else. Xiao Jinglan came to the hospital today... are you planning to just let them take control of the Song Mansion that easily?¡±


    Although there was a plan to catch them all at once, why did he feel somewhat annoyed?


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyebrows lifted, ¡°Letting them take the power of the Song Family so easily does seem a bit too generous...¡±


    Hearing this, a pair of wrinkled eyes lit up, ¡°I knew you had something up your sleeve! Come on, tell me what you¡¯re planning to do next.¡±


    Mr. Song was already eagerly rubbing his hands together.


    Song Sinian felt a bit of a headache coming on as he rubbed his temples.


    He didn¡¯t know if it was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s influence, but these once-staid family members were starting to act out of character.


    Song Sinian wasn¡¯t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.


    He sighed silently but slowly began to speak, ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for Pei Huai to handle this matter. You don¡¯t need to worry. In a few days, someone you¡¯re familiar with will appear; just don¡¯t get scared when the time comes.¡±


    Mr. Song scoffed at this, ¡°At my age, what can these little tricks do to scare me?¡±


    Song Sinian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Well, you can wait to say that until you meet that person.¡±


    Hearing Song Sinian¡¯s words, Mr. Song¡¯s brows nearly instantly knotted up; he had thought Song Sinian was joking, but from the tone of the youngster, this matter seemed serious.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell me in advance? Why make me guess?¡± Mr. Song grumbled discontentedly.


    There was silence from the other end, and all Mr. Song could do was sigh resignedly and ask, ¡°So... can you reveal just a tiny bit?¡±


    After all, he hadn¡¯t expected his eldest grandson to really tell him.


    He had figured it out; Song Sinian was probably worried he¡¯d be idle in the country, so he was providing him with some entertainment!


    Song Sinian, aware of Mr. Song¡¯s pitiable tone, couldn¡¯t help but snicker, then he reminded him, ¡°It¡¯s related to my mom, but it¡¯s not her.¡±


    He had originally intended to caution Mr. Song, worrying his grandfather might mistake Feng Xixi for his mother. If anything were to truly shock him, then it wouldn¡¯t be good.


    Mr. Song had never dreamed it would have anything to do with Feng Xiran; after all, she had been dead for so many years.


    He didn¡¯t have much affection for this daughter-in-law; her character was too soft, bullied by her family but never knowing to fight back.


    He had supported her in the past, but Feng Xiran just didn¡¯t get it, which was why Song Sinian had such a hard time growing up.

 Chapter 692: 690: It Would Be Strange Not to Be Moved!

    Chapter 692: Chapter 690: It Would Be Strange Not to Be Moved!


    Mr. Song couldn¡¯t possibly say he harbored no resentment toward Feng Xiran.


    So, after Feng Xiran had died, he didn¡¯t feel much of anything.


    Just now, when he heard Song Sinian mention Feng Xiran, he felt a jolt of concern, worrying that Song Sinian might be upset.


    Mr. Song pursed his lips, not knowing what to say for a moment.


    How could Song Sinian not guess what Mr. Song was thinking?


    ¡°Grandpa, once you meet her, just try not to be too surprised...¡± Song Sinian deliberately changed the subject, acting as if he didn¡¯t care about the issue at all.


    Song Sinian knew Mr. Song cared about him the most, and naturally, he didn¡¯t want him to worry.


    Mr. Song could only respond with a noncommittal ¡°Mm¡± before hanging up the call.


    Watching the ended call, Song Sinian raised his eyebrows slightly and sighed with a hint of helplessness.


    Lu Zhaozhao had been curled up next to Song Sinian the whole time.


    She had just overheard the entire conversation between Song Sinian and Mr. Song.


    ¡°Honey, are you planning on having Feng Xixi go to the Song Mansion to pit herself against Xiao Jinglan?¡± she asked, blinking her watery eyes as she speculated based on what Song Sinian had just said.


    But then she reconsidered, feeling there was an issue, ¡°Feng Xixi¡¯s current status, at best, is only as your aunt, isn¡¯t that a bit too distant?¡±


    Hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, Song Sinian let out a low chuckle.


    He rubbed her head gently, ¡°My silly Zhaozhao, with Xia Wenjin successfully masquerading as Feng Ya Meizi, and then creating another Xiao Mo, what do you think Feng Xixi will do?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes widened suddenly, ¡°You mean, she will pretend to be your mother?!¡±


    Looking at Song Sinian in disbelief, she had to admit that indeed this identity could match Xiao Jinglan.


    One was the former daughter-in-law, the other the current one.


    Either way, both were part of the Song Family.


    When they were all there before, Feng Xixi didn¡¯t dare, but now there was turmoil inside the Song Group.


    With Song Sinian missing, his life hanging by a thread, and Old Master Song in a coma in the hospital due to overwhelming grief, she¡¯d be unusual not to be tempted!


    Gently taking a towel from the table, Song Sinian wiped Zhaozhao¡¯s face before continuing, ¡°If Feng Xixi goes to the Song Mansion, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s focus won¡¯t be entirely on Grandpa.¡±


    He knew that Xiao Jinglan wouldn¡¯t harm Mr. Song as she wanted to secure her position, but he always felt it best to leave no stone unturned.


    Therefore, sending Feng Xixi was a necessary move.


    Zhaozhao nodded in agreement, ¡°Indeed, that woman Xiao Jinglan is too malicious, who knows what she might do to Grandpa. It¡¯s always right to guard against her.¡±


    Besides, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s health was failing, and with Feng Xixi as her sworn enemy, it might very well send Xiao Jinglan to her grave.


    Seeing Zhaozhao analyze these issues so seriously made his heart soften.


    He pulled her into his embrace, chuckling as he looked at her, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about these things. Let¡¯s focus on the main reason we came to Country E...¡±


    His words were light, yet suggestive.


    But Zhaozhao had been preoccupied with these messy concerns, so when Song Sinian asked her about their primary purpose, she almost instinctively responded, ¡°Didn¡¯t we come to Country E to find Zhenzhen?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s lips twitched, and he bit her lip in dissatisfaction.


    ¡°You little ingrate...¡± Song Sinian muttered lowly beside her ear.


    Following that, he slowly tormented her lips, seemingly punishing her for forgetting the agreement between them.


    Lu Zhaozhao winced in pain as if suddenly realizing something.


    Her eyebrows furrowed, and she pushed Song Sinian with her little hand, unsatisfied, ¡°You, you be serious! We, we came to Country E to do important work.¡±


    Song Sinian was lightly pushed by her and almost laughed out of irritation.


    He placed his hands behind him, leaning back against them, ¡°Your ¡®important work¡¯ probably can¡¯t be done in a short while. After all, Xu Zhenzhen has already been found by your second brother. Now, it¡¯s just a matter of finding an opportunity to meet her. Why not do something else, hmm?¡±


    When he said this, his attractive eyes and brows slightly lifted as if he were seducing Lu Zhaozhao.


    She almost reflexively asked, ¡°Then what, what should I do?¡±


    In the dead of night, with just the two of them, what else could they possibly do?


    The corners of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth curved upwards subtly, his gaze towards Lu Zhaozhao becoming especially brilliant, ¡°For instance, like with me...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao instantly fell speechless.


    She only now realized that Mr. Song from their family had been truly sly since coming to his senses!


    He used to be covertly sly; now, he was overtly sly.


    But whether covertly or overtly sly, she couldn¡¯t outwit him.


    After all, when men start acting sly, it¡¯s none of women¡¯s business.


    Moreover, Song Sinian was an incredibly handsome and high-quality man, leaving Lu Zhaozhao even more defenseless.


    ¡°You... you, what are you talking about?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little face instantly turned red, and she even started to stammer.


    Song Sinian was just teasing her, but seeing her like this, the fiery passion inside him could not be suppressed any longer.


    He simply picked her up horizontally, ¡°Since my Mrs. Song doesn¡¯t understand what I just said, then let me clarify things for you right now.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao instantly became agitated, her little hands struggling fiercely, only to find that she couldn¡¯t break free at all.


    How could she not understand what Song Sinian meant?


    Seeing his burning gaze, she felt that tonight, she would definitely be ravaged by him all night.


    Recently, because of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s situation, although they had had their wedding, Song Sinian had been considerate of her feelings and hadn¡¯t done much to her.


    But she clearly remembered what Song Sinian had done to her before the wedding.


    He¡¯d drive at the slightest disagreement, and once he started, he would go all night long.


    He didn¡¯t give her any chance to rest.


    It exhausted her so much that she would sleep during the day and still be forced to ¡°work¡± at night.


    She didn¡¯t understand where Song Sinian got all this energy from.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed to remember something and suddenly grabbed his collar, speaking earnestly, ¡°Mr. Song, do you know that at your age, you should take better care of your body? Shouldn¡¯t we do things in moderation?¡±


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed suddenly, and his gaze at Lu Zhaozhao paused, ¡°Are you suggesting... that I¡¯m old and in poor health?¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao was speechless. When had she ever said that? If his body was not good, then nobody¡¯s was!


    Seeing Lu Zhaozhao silent, Song Sinian laughed softly and kissed her forehead, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even though I¡¯m older than you, my body is still strong. Since Zhaozhao isn¡¯t satisfied, then I¡¯ll just try a little harder...¡±

 Chapter 693: 691: Do As You Said

    Chapter 693: Chapter 691: Do As You Said


    Lu Zhaozhao felt the urge to cry at this moment. Was this what she meant?


    She didn¡¯t mean it at all, okay?


    The only reason she said that was to prevent him from over-exerting himself!


    Now she had ended up with nothing, trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice!


    ¡°Mr. Song... um...¡± Lu Zhaozhao wanted to say something more, but tragically, Song Sinian didn¡¯t give her any chance at all.


    The night air in country E was cool, yet the temperature in the room began to gradually rise...


    The sound of water mixed with moisture was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.


    The darkness of the night grew even thicker.


    Xu Zhenzhen, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, wore a gloomy expression.


    With a ¡°click,¡± the door to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s room was opened from the outside, and Xu Zhenzhen merely glanced at the person entering before turning her gaze away.


    ¡°I heard from the servants that you haven¡¯t been eating well, what¡¯s that about?¡± Pavel looked at Xu Zhenzhen with a slight frown in his brow.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was his only remaining daughter, and because of the previous car accident he couldn¡¯t have more children, he wouldn¡¯t want to keep Xu Zhenzhen.


    This daughter was far too useless to him; he preferred an heir with ambition and ruthlessness.


    Xu Zhenzhen clearly did not meet his criteria for an heir, but she was the only one of his children left alive.


    He didn¡¯t even have a choice to make now.


    Pavel could only hope that she would quickly marry into the family he had chosen, ensuring that the next generation could be conceived as soon as possible.


    Raised from a young age, he believed he could certainly cultivate one who was suitable as the heir to the Pavlov Family.


    Thinking this way, Pavel¡¯s attitude toward Xu Zhenzhen softened considerably, ¡°If you don¡¯t eat properly, your health will definitely suffer. Do you want your friend to end up like you?¡±


    As soon as Xu Zhenzhen heard the word ¡°friend,¡± her face immediately showed expression.


    She turned her head and glared at Pavel, asking word by word, ¡°What exactly have you done to her? I tell you, if you dare to harm her, I¡¯ll end my life right now!¡±


    She knew what Pavel was most afraid of now.


    So, the only thing she could hold over Pavel was probably just this point, and of course, Pavel understood this as well.


    His expression clearly changed, and he said coldly, ¡°If you die, then your friend and her boyfriend won¡¯t need to live either.¡±


    As Pavel spoke, he slowly approached Xu Zhenzhen, continuing, ¡°You certainly don¡¯t want to see them all die a violent death, do you?¡±


    Given that the Pavlov Family was involved in some underworld dealings, if he said he could do it, he most certainly could. Naturally, Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t dare to gamble.


    She clenched her fists, bit her teeth in anger, and finally said, ¡°If you want me to eat, let me see Lu Zhaozhao.¡±


    Ever since Xu Zhenzhen learned that Pavel had abducted Lu Zhaozhao from their home country, she hadn¡¯t been well.


    She had originally returned secretly with Pavel¡¯s people to avoid implicating Lu Zhaozhao and Xia Wenqing, but it ended up that she had implicated them anyway.


    Xu Zhenzhen felt terrible inside. If it weren¡¯t for her, Pavel wouldn¡¯t have been able to threaten Lu Zhaozhao and the others.


    Pavel glanced at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°Don¡¯t try to negotiate with me by starving yourself. You should think about how to use your own abilities to make your demands.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face instantly turned uglier, and she sneered, ¡°You keep me locked up here every day, and yet you expect me to have the ability to negotiate terms with you?¡±


    Pavel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all, just looking at Xu Zhenzhen indifferently, ¡°If I didn¡¯t lock you up, do you really not know what you would do?¡±


    Pavel had always thought his daughter to be weak and unable to fend for herself, yet he hadn¡¯t expected her Martial Arts skills to be somewhat decent.


    However, she wasn¡¯t ruthless enough. Otherwise, she probably would have escaped from this place long ago, and it was because of this that he was able to recapture Xu Zhenzhen.


    He knew all too well how to exploit someone merciful, especially those who are soft-hearted towards their friends; they were even easier to control.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s complexion grew increasingly awful, ¡°I know what you want, you let Zhaozhao go, and I¡¯ll do as you say.¡±


    She was already carrying Xia Wenqing¡¯s child in her womb.


    She knew that this was what Pavel desired most, but she couldn¡¯t tell him that. If Pavel found out she was pregnant, Xia Wenqing¡¯s life might not be spared.


    When he first arrived in the Foreign Country, he noticed this issue¡ªalthough the people Pavel introduced to him were young masters from various families, one thing was strange: all these young masters he found were unloved illegitimate children.


    Xu Zhenzhen immediately understood Pavel¡¯s intention; he intended to leave a child without a father.


    Even people from great families with vast enterprises did not care about their illegitimate children.


    After all, not everyone was like Pavel, who ended up having nothing left but illegitimate children.


    Xu Zhenzhen had originally planned to escape from the Pavlov Family during this time, but she hadn¡¯t expected Pavel to actually kidnap Lu Zhaozhao.


    If she ran away now, Lu Zhaozhao would definitely face a tragic fate.


    Even the people of the Xia Family wouldn¡¯t be spared; she didn¡¯t trust Pavel¡¯s character.


    After all, he was a ruthless and cruel person, even willing to kill his own children.


    All the useless fools in the Pavlov Family before were all killed by his own hands.


    At the time, he felt he had plenty of children, that one or two less wouldn¡¯t matter, but he hadn¡¯t expected that, in the end, there would be only Xu Zhenzhen left.


    He couldn¡¯t have children anymore, which was why Xu Zhenzhen became important to him.


    Her importance was solely contingent on her ability to bear him a blood-related grandchild.


    Once Xu Zhenzhen had given birth to a sufficient number of children, she would no longer be of any use.


    Xu Zhenzhen was acutely aware of Pavel¡¯s intentions, so for now, she could only endure.


    Pavel sneered scornfully, ¡°I am a person who never trusts others; I only trust myself. You are now completely under my control. Why would I release your friend?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen knew that there was no point in continuing the conversation with Pavel. He was a narcissistic old bastard, and she would have to find another way.


    However, she currently had no help and no way to send messages out.


    Her eyelids drooped, and she eventually seemed to come up with an idea, speaking slowly, ¡°Fine, I agree to do as you say. Go make the arrangements.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s submission was within Pavel¡¯s expectations, but he didn¡¯t expect her to be so spineless, agreeing in just a few days.


    Pavel¡¯s brow furrowed, suddenly feeling that his daughter was really useless. But then he thought, if she wasn¡¯t this useless, he wouldn¡¯t have had to resort to such means to make her submit.


    ¡°You¡¯d better do as you say, or don¡¯t blame me for being unkind to you and your people.¡± Pavel didn¡¯t forget to warn Xu Zhenzhen as he left.

 Chapter 694: 692: No One Dares to Provoke Him

    Chapter 694: Chapter 692: No One Dares to Provoke Him


    He knew that Zhenzhen also wouldn¡¯t dare make any reckless moves, as long as she was in country E, all her affairs would be under his control.


    Pavel did not allow anything beyond his control to happen, and naturally did not permit Zhenzhen to do anything that would defy him.


    But he didn¡¯t know that Zhenzhen had long been planning to find someone who could help her during the gaps in the arrangements made by Pavel.


    Initially, she was worried that Zhaozhao and the Xia Family might be implicated, so she had quietly followed them to leave, but seeing Pavel¡¯s demeanor, it was clear he had no intention of letting them go.


    If she didn¡¯t resist now, Zhaozhao and the Xia Family might suffer because of her.


    Zhenzhen knew Zhaozhao¡¯s importance to the Xia Family members.


    Because of her, Zhaozhao had been captured and brought to country E, which definitely caused an uproar at the Xia Family¡¯s side.


    Song Sinian usually treasured Zhaozhao like the apple of his eye, and now that Zhaozhao had been captured and brought to country E, not to mention the Xia Family, Song Sinian would probably go crazy.


    What she needed to do now was to ensure Zhaozhao¡¯s safety as much as possible, and then wait for Song Sinian and the people from the Xia Family to find her.


    As for her and Wenqing¡¯s matter, she didn¡¯t dare to hope anymore; she was now a criminal of the Xia Family.


    Thinking of this, Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but redden.


    Pavel clearly saw everything and sneered disdainfully, ¡°At least you¡¯re sensible.¡±


    Having said this, he turned and left Zhenzhen¡¯s room.


    The next day, when Zhaozhao woke up, it was already noon. She faintly heard Song Sinian¡¯s voice.


    Zhaozhao got up from the bed, ruffled her somewhat disheveled hair, and then squinted towards Song Sinian, who was on the phone beside her.


    From his conversation, Zhaozhao could vaguely hear something about a ¡°Zhenzhen substitute.¡±


    Soon, Song Sinian hung up the phone, and when he turned around, he realized that Zhaozhao was already awake. He didn¡¯t know how much of the phone conversation she had heard.


    Song Sinian was about to speak, but Zhaozhao spoke first, ¡°Is there any news about Zhenzhen? When can I see Zhenzhen?¡±


    Every time Zhaozhao mentioned Zhenzhen, she looked extremely worried.


    It had been several days since she last saw Zhenzhen. She had heard from her elder brother previously that Zhenzhen¡¯s father was part of the Mafia in country E.


    Their organization committed many evils, and Zhaozhao knew that Zhenzhen, being such a kind person, would not be able to stand her father.


    Furthermore, she had also heard that Zhenzhen was originally an abandoned child of the Pavlov Family.


    Now Pavel was bringing her back simply because the Pavlov Family¡¯s bloodline only had her left.


    So even if Pavel didn¡¯t like Zhenzhen, he still insisted on taking her back.


    Zhaozhao had to admit, Pavel was indeed a bastard.


    If he was bringing Zhenzhen back because he wanted to make amends, she could have some sympathy for him.


    But hearing this reason, she really wanted to knock Pavel¡¯s head off!


    How could there be such a scoundrel of a father?


    Zhaozhao reflected for a moment ¨C Lu Dagui from the past seemed just as terrible, selling his own daughter in exchange for status and power.


    Song Sinian could instantly tell what Lu Zhaozhao was thinking. He walked to the bed, gently lifted her up, and placed her on his lap.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xu Zhenzhen is doing well now, no one is harming her. After all, she is Pavel¡¯s only heir, and he is also worried about her safety, so he has merely imprisoned her.¡±


    Song Sinian raised his hand to pat Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s back, trying hard to comfort this young woman.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked up at him with some disbelief, ¡°Are you telling the truth? Zhenzhen hasn¡¯t been hurt, has she?¡±


    She still remembered that Xu Zhenzhen was pregnant when she left the wedding and was genuinely worried about the child in her belly.


    Song Sinian nodded earnestly, ¡°If you¡¯re not at ease, once the situation stabilizes, I can arrange for you to meet Xu Zhenzhen. Then you¡¯ll believe what I¡¯m saying.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this.


    She had thought that infiltrating the Pavlov Family would take a long time and even prepared herself for a prolonged struggle.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Song Siyan to say that he would arrange a meeting with Xu Zhenzhen. Did that mean their people had successfully infiltrated the Pavlov Family?


    Seeing her expression soften, Song Sinian reached out and ruffled her hair, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll arrange this matter as soon as possible, okay?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded repeatedly.


    After a moment, as if something occurred to her, she asked, ¡°Will my second brother meet Zhenzhen first?¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head decisively, ¡°His emotions are too unstable right now. If we let him see Xu Zhenzhen rashly, our plan might fall through.¡±


    He had discussed this with the Xia Family, and Xia Wenqing himself understood it; thus, although he was very anxious, he hadn¡¯t demanded to see Xu Zhenzhen.


    He was worried that his unstable emotions would make Xu Zhenzhen suffer more.


    He could bear his own hardships, but not Xu Zhenzhen.


    She was already carrying his child, and he felt guilty for having her face such circumstances.


    He couldn¡¯t let his personal desires harm Xu Zhenzhen any further.


    Lu Zhaozhao fell silent for a moment, as if she understood something, ¡°Then how long until I can see Zhenzhen? Will it still be a long wait?¡±


    Song Sinian gently shook his head, ¡°It won¡¯t be. Xu Zhenzhen has already agreed to Pavel, promising to do as he says, so Pavel will relax his surveillance of her during this period.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian skeptically, ¡°Under normal circumstances, shouldn¡¯t he suspect that Zhenzhen might pull some tricks?¡±


    If she were the kidnapper, upon hearing such statements, she would suspect that the person kidnapped was just pretending to be compliant to make her lower her guard.


    Song Sinian, seeing her puzzled look, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°This must be a ruler¡¯s confidence. Pavel has nearly no rivals in Country E, so he is very confident in his own methods. He hasn¡¯t been challenged by anyone, so he also believes Xu Zhenzhen wouldn¡¯t dare to challenge him.¡±


    Pavel indeed had the grounds for such confidence. After all, the Pavlov Family could almost contend with the police in Country E; they were naturally fearless.


    As the leader of the Pavlov Family, the power he possessed was greater than that of most people.


    Moreover, Pavel, with his ruthless and merciless way of doing things, nobody dared to cross him.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Song Sinian, seemingly comprehending but then sank back into contemplation.


    ¡°It seems some people¡¯s arrogance might actually work in our favor...¡±

 Chapter 695: 693 Unable to Make a Decision

    Chapter 695: Chapter 693 Unable to Make a Decision


    Song Sinian rubbed her hair with a gentle smile, nodding as if in approval.


    Indeed, this was their opportunity, the chance for them to bring Xu Zhenzhen back from the Pavlov Family.


    ¡°Should I prepare anything?¡± Lu Zhaozhao became excited at the thought.


    She was determined to rescue her beloved Zhenzhen from the Pavlov Family.


    After all, she was still waiting for her to become her sister-in-law.


    Song Sinian sighed helplessly, ¡°Just wait a little longer. At the earliest tonight, and at the latest by noon tomorrow, you can get ready to meet Xu Zhenzhen.¡±


    In truth, Song Sinian didn¡¯t want Lu Zhaozhao to meet Xu Zhenzhen, as it was far too dangerous for her.


    Yet among all of them, the only ones who could meet Xu Zhenzhen were Xia Wenqing, Wen Qingyu, and Lu Zhaozhao.


    Their remaining acquaintances had decent relationships with Xu Zhenzhen, but none were exceptionally close.


    Moreover, now that Xu Zhenzhen was pregnant, the only ones who could truly calm her emotions were these three.


    Xia Wenqing was currently too emotionally unstable to go.


    Wen Qingyu was too impulsive, likely to disrupt the flow of the plan.


    So that only left Lu Zhaozhao.


    Lu Zhaozhao probably never imagined that she would one day become a spokesperson for emotional stability.


    For her, as long as Song Sinian was not the one in trouble, she could keep her emotions remarkably steady.


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s eyes curved as she looked at Song Sinian, noticing the trace of worry in his eyes. She reached out her little hand and pushed him gently, saying, ¡°Mr. Song, don¡¯t worry. When the time comes, I¡¯ll be obedient and follow your instructions. If you tell me to go east, I won¡¯t go west.¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    Song Sinian rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head helplessly.


    Even if he was reluctant, he had no choice but to agree.


    He realized he had been thoroughly defeated by Lu Zhaozhao in this lifetime, and he no longer intended to struggle.


    Meanwhile, back in the homeland.


    The Song Group conference room.


    Xiao Mo sat among the shareholders, with Xiao Jinglan presiding beside him.


    ¡°Could this DNA report be fake?¡±


    One of the shareholders scrutinized the paternity report on the table, his face visibly displeased.


    Song Sinian had just disappeared, yet someone was already openly questioning the identity of the Song Family¡¯s illegitimate child.


    What was more outrageous was that this individual had previously been known simply as Xiao Jinglan¡¯s nephew within the Song Family.


    It was evident that Xiao Jinglan had ambitious plans.


    The board was originally not fond of Xiao Jinglan, and now their feelings were even worse.


    Only a few shareholders who supported Xiao Mo had been aware of his identity for a while; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have supported him under the table.


    ¡°You¡¯re the heir to the Song Family? Are you daydreaming? Even if something has happened to Song Sinian, it¡¯s a matter between our Feng family and the Song Family. What business does a bastard like you have meddling in this?!¡± Feng Jiyue glared fiercely at Xiao Mo.


    There was nothing but resentment in his eyes toward Xiao Mo.


    With Song Sinian gone, the closest blood relation to the Song Family was supposed to be their Feng family.


    But who would have expected someone to come out of nowhere and stake a claim!


    He looked coldly at Xiao Mo, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if the disappearance of Song Sinian was your doing! Barely any time has passed since his disappearance, and you¡¯ve been in a hurry to jump out. Who else should be investigated if not you?¡±


    Feng Jiyue, despite being shameless, had to admit that there was logic in the accusation.


    After the disappearance of Song Sinian, Xiao Mo had the most to gain. If he became the president of the Song Group and anything was discovered,


    the Song Group would be the one to suffer. After all, who could accept a murderer as the president?


    The stock price of the Song Group was bound to plummet because of this incident.


    Those who sat in high positions were shrewd and certainly understood the risks of allowing Xiao Mo to ascend.


    Moreover, his lack of ability had already been apparent when he served as a manager.


    They didn¡¯t have any expectations of him making significant contributions as the president of the Song Group.


    After all, not everyone possessed the boldness and decision-making power of Song Sinian.


    Under Song Sinian¡¯s leadership, the Song Group¡¯s profits had been overflowing annually.


    Even if they were fools, they knew whom to choose.


    As for the small shareholders who supported Xiao Mo, they naturally wanted to benefit from him too.


    After all, the dividends they received from the Song Group were minuscule. If Xiao Mo handed over certain projects directly to them, they would earn just as abundantly as the major shareholders.


    That¡¯s why they wanted to support Xiao Mo.


    But if Xiao Mo was indeed a murderer, that was a different story.


    If they got too close to him, they might end up with nothing and even attract trouble for themselves.


    For a moment, the shareholders who had supported Xiao Mo were beginning to back down.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression instantly turned dark, and his gaze toward Feng Jiyue was filled with venom.


    Feng Jiyue sneered, ¡°The old man is still here, and you think you can just take over the Song Group? What wishful thinking!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Xiao Jinglan grabbed the teacup from the table and hurled it at Feng Jiyue, ¡°The old man has already given me full authority over the Song family matters, and I won¡¯t tolerate your babbling!¡±


    She had barely watched her son approach the higher ranks, and now someone was causing trouble. How could she bear it?


    Feng Jiyue had not expected Xiao Jinglan to suddenly lash out, and the teacup broke against his head.


    He immediately stood up from his seat and charged at Xiao Jinglan, ready to strike her.


    Xiao Mo had assumed the security guards would rush over to pull the two apart, but they merely stood still, without even a hint of intervening.


    How could Xiao Jinglan, a woman, possibly defeat Feng Jiyue, especially since her body was in poor condition after being poisoned by Xia Wenjin?


    Feng Jiyue, though no longer possessing what made a man, was still an adult male and Xiao Jinglan naturally couldn¡¯t withstand the beating, quickly getting pinned down and roughed up on the ground by him.


    Xiao Mo couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and he shouted at the nearby security, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you pulling them apart?!¡±


    But the guards remained indifferent.


    Xiao Mo glared viciously at Zhao Xi and scolded loudly, ¡°Zhao Xi, what kind of assistant president are you? Are you going to just stand by and watch my mother being beaten?¡±


    Zhao Xi shrugged, ¡°What can I do? With the president not around, I don¡¯t have the authority to make decisions as the assistant president. Besides, I¡¯m not clear on who will end up being president, so supporting either side is problematic.¡±


    His words seemed to suddenly awaken the shareholders and security present.


    They had initially thought about whether to intervene and separate the fight, but hearing Zhao Xi¡¯s words, they too ceased taking action.


    What Zhao Xi said made sense. Whether it was Xiao Mo or Feng Jiyue, both had familial ties with the Song family.


    One was Song Sinian¡¯s half-brother from the same father, and the other was a close nephew on his mother¡¯s side; either of them could potentially become the president of the Song Group.

 Chapter 696: 694: Will Not Be Exposed

    Chapter 696: Chapter 694: Will Not Be Exposed


    Their situation, compared to Song Sinian¡¯s, could be described as extremely bleak.


    Neither of them had the demeanor of a CEO.


    In terms of abilities, they were completely outclassed by Song Sinian.


    The shareholders simply resigned themselves to wait and see, deciding to pick sides only after a clear outcome emerged.


    Xiao Mo noticed that the shareholders wanted to remain onlookers, and his expression immediately turned sour.


    However, it didn¡¯t take long for someone to disrupt the chaos in the conference room.


    Xia Wenjin, accompanied by Feng Xixi, suddenly appeared inside the conference room, shocking not only the shareholders but also Xiao Jinglan.


    She was so distracted that she even got slapped several times by Feng Jiyue.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Xiao Jinglan asked, her hair in disarray as she looked at the woman standing before her.


    She still carried herself with the same grace and elegance as before, making Xiao Jinglan feel even more out of place.


    A feeling of inferiority, absent for many years, madly surged within her.


    Some shareholders, who had joined the Song Group later, looked puzzledly at the seasoned shareholders beside them.


    At that moment, some of the older shareholders began to explain to the younger ones, ¡°This woman should be Feng Xiran from the Feng family. However, she supposedly died in a car accident years ago. How is she standing here, well and healthy now?¡±


    Not just the new shareholders, even the experienced shareholders were full of doubts upon seeing Feng Xiran.


    They had just been discussing the suspicious circumstances of Sinian¡¯s car accident mentioned by Feng Jiyue, and seeing Feng Xiran now made them even more certain that Sinian¡¯s car accident was no accident.


    As for who was responsible, that was for the police to investigate.


    The shareholders felt a profound regret, for although Sinian was difficult to get along with, he was undeniably a competent CEO who had helped them earn a considerable profit.


    With the two men currently in the foreground, whoever took over, the shareholders felt that the Song Group was not far from its downfall.


    For a moment, everyone was somewhat at a loss.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin appear, Xiao Mo¡¯s eyelids twitched, but he approached and asked, ¡°Meizi, why are you here?¡±


    He tried to make his expression appear more friendly, as he was still using Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s identity and it wasn¡¯t convenient to confront her directly.


    Unexpectedly, Xia Wenjin patted his hand and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll handle this matter, so you don¡¯t need to. Just stand aside.¡±


    Xia Wenjin had been worried that he might suggest Fengya Ichiro handle the remaining matters, which could have made him suspicious of her identity.


    But just two days ago, he had messaged Feng Xixi asking her to appear as Song Sinian¡¯s deceased mother.


    He even said it would not blow his cover.


    Supporting Xiao Mo then seemed the natural course of action.


    Hearing that, Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t think twice and agreed immediately; after all, since Xiao Mo was false, having one more imposter as Sinian¡¯s mother didn¡¯t matter.


    Old Master Song, distressed by Sinian¡¯s disappearance, was already bedridden¡ªwho would care whether this woman was real or fake?


    Even with a DNA test, she was the child of the Feng family; no one would doubt that.


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face again turned sour, not expecting Xia Wenjin to appear at this time.


    But if Xia Wenjin could help him secure the CEO position of the Song Group, he was also willing to listen to her temporarily.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen shareholders, everyone should recognize this person, right?¡± Xia Wenjin said, positioning Feng Xixi to the side.


    She was actually shocked when she first learned Feng Xixi¡¯s identity; she hadn¡¯t expected that Feng Xixi was the mother of Song Sinian, which practically made her jaw drop.


    Although she hadn¡¯t been in the country for long, she had investigated Song Sinian, and she knew that his mother had died in a car accident. So, when Fengya Ichiro made this request, she was also stunned.


    However, she quickly accepted this setup.


    After all, since she herself was a fake, having another fake Feng Xixi around wasn¡¯t entirely impossible.


    But Fengya Ichiro was smarter than her; he found a child from the Feng family, so even a paternity test wouldn¡¯t reveal any flaws.


    That¡¯s why Xia Wenjin was so confident in front of the shareholders.


    The shareholders, all silent, watched Xia Wenjin, then turned their gaze to Feng Xixi. Today¡¯s events were simply too much, and they were all numb.


    First Xiao Mo claimed he was the illegitimate son of the Song Family, and then the long-deceased mother of Song Sinian was resurrected?


    Could it be that Song Sinian would also be found after a while?


    The direction of events was too fantastical, and they felt somewhat overwhelmed for the moment.


    Feng Xixi seemed to read the shareholders¡¯ thoughts and lightly chuckled before saying, ¡°I also heard about the affairs of the Song Group only recently. I think the final decision still lies with Old Master Song. It¡¯s better to wait for his verdict.¡±


    With just one sentence, she tossed the issue directly to Old Master Song, rendering any fierce dispute between Xiao Mo and Feng Jiyue pointless.


    The decision lay with Old Master Song, and both sides needed to win his favor.


    Xiao Mo suddenly felt insecure.


    His identity was supposed to be revealed only if something happened to Song Sinian, a factor in his favor with the shareholders.


    But now, after involving Old Master Song, this factor could very well become a drawback.


    Feng Jiyue, although not blood-related to the Song Family, was still considered a close relative.


    If Old Master Song despised him for being an illegitimate son, his position as CEO might very well be in jeopardy.


    Xiao Mo found it hard to accept the situation, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, looking puzzledly at Xia Wenjin, seemingly questioning her motives.


    Although he had the identity of an illegitimate son of the Song Family, which made it easier for him to secure the CEO position of the Song Group, Xia Wenjin¡¯s interference had paradoxically made this position even more unattainable.


    The more Xiao Mo thought about it, the more distasteful it felt, and his gaze towards Xia Wenjin became sharper.


    Xia Wenjin, of course, noticed Xiao Meng¡¯s gaze. She didn¡¯t quite understand Fengya Ichiro¡¯s maneuvers either.


    This strategy was somewhat risky.


    While Feng Xixi was not easily exposed, Xiao Mo might very well fail to obtain real power.


    Wouldn¡¯t that be of no benefit to them?


    What if, in a fit of anger, Old Master Song appointed Feng Jiyue as CEO of the Song Group?


    Xia Wenjin gave him a reassuring look, signaling him to discuss it later.


    After all, such matters definitely needed to be discussed behind closed doors.


    Although Xiao Mo was dissatisfied, he had no choice but to temporarily accept the suggestion.


    But Xiao Jinglan didn¡¯t see it that way. She had always been wary of Feng Xiran¡¯s existence; if it weren¡¯t for the car accident, she would never have risen to prominence.


    So, upon seeing Feng Xiran, alarms went off in her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t think that just because you look like Feng Xiran, you are Feng Xiran, do you? What proof do you have that you are?¡± Xiao Jinglan almost screamed.

 Chapter 697: 695: Difficult to Describe in a Single Word

    Chapter 697: Chapter 695: Difficult to Describe in a Single Word


    It was as if only a loud enough voice could prove she wasn¡¯t Feng Xiran.


    Feng Xixi suddenly found it very humorous how she had known when she was still with the Feng Family, that Song Gu had a woman on the side.


    However, he treated all his outside women the same, merely toying with them, and Xiao Jinglan was naturally someone she had met before.


    She had never expected Xiao Jinglan to become Song Sinian¡¯s stepmother, especially since in this book, the male protagonist was a lonely star waiting for the heroine to bring warmth.


    Song Gu would die young, and Feng Xixi would also perish in a car accident.


    She had never thought that Song Gu would make Xiao Jinglan his second wife.


    But seeing her now, it was clear that Song Gu had married her for Song Sinian, hence why they had never had children.


    Feng Xixi suddenly felt a bit regretful. If she hadn¡¯t gone abroad back then, would Song Gu have possibly married her instead?


    If he could marry a woman like Xiao Jinglan, how was she any lesser?


    Moreover, she was actually Song Sinian¡¯s aunt. To a certain degree, she was more suited to taking care of Song Sinian.


    Feng Xixi gently clenched her fists, finding it difficult for a moment to accept the great opportunity she had missed back then.


    Without doing anything, she had allowed Xiao Jinglan to sit in Mrs. Song¡¯s position, messing up a good hand of cards until now.


    Thinking of this, Feng Xixi lost her patience with Xiao Jinglan, ¡°How can I prove myself? Of course, it¡¯s also through a paternity test. I can take a paternity test with the Feng Family at any time. Didn¡¯t you just want to use a paternity test to confirm that Xiao Mo is the Song Family¡¯s child?¡±


    Xiao Jinglan¡¯s face instantly turned a bit pale.


    Indeed, she was thinking the same, but if Feng Xixi used the same method, she couldn¡¯t stop her.


    Now, all she could hope for was that Old Master Song would favor her instead of Feng Xixi.


    The shareholders seemed to agree with their argument since this matter would ultimately be decided by Old Master Song.


    Thus, the initially lively shareholders¡¯ meeting just ended prematurely.


    Old Master Song almost immediately received the news after the cancellation of the shareholders¡¯ meeting.


    He hadn¡¯t expected the person Song Sinian mentioned before to be Feng Xixi.


    He knew a thing or two about his daughter-in-law having an older sister, as he had thoroughly inquired about the Feng Family when his son had wanted to marry Feng Xiran.


    He was completely aware of the initial attempts of Feng Xixi to seduce his son, but then the woman went abroad and vanished without a trace.


    According to the Feng Family, she had died abroad in an accident, and Old Master Song hadn¡¯t thought much of it.


    Unexpectedly, Feng Xixi transformed and now pretended to be his deceased daughter-in-law, appearing before him.


    Old Master Song was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Thus, he immediately called Song Sinian, only to learn even more shocking news.


    Feng Xixi was actually Xia Wenjin¡¯s biological mother, leaving him even more speechless.


    Indeed, like mother like daughter, both fond of usurping others¡¯ nests.


    However, it was fortunate that Feng Xixi was affiliated with Fengya Ichiro¡¯s side, even if she wanted to attack the Song Family, she was deterred by Pei Huai¡¯s status in Country R and dared not act rashly.


    This was also the reason why Sinian allowed Feng Xixi to come to the Song Family.


    Old Master Song sighed secretly when he heard the bodyguard say that someone wanted to see him, and then he resumed his previously frail appearance.


    ¡°Let them in,¡± Old Master Song¡¯s voice sounded very weak.


    If the bodyguards had not seen Old Master Song full of vigour, they really would have thought his life was nearing its end.


    Soon after the bodyguard went out to open the door, Feng Jiyue, Hao Lixiao, Xiao Jinglan, and Feng Xixi appeared in the hospital room.


    Old Master Song hadn¡¯t expected to find any gossip while lying in the hospital room, and he didn¡¯t feel bored for the moment.


    His gaze swept over the people in front of him, and suddenly fixed on Feng Xixi. He pretended to be surprised and widened his eyes, ¡°You, who are you?¡±


    Feng Xixi was slightly stunned; she had only thought about getting Old Master Song to recognize her identity at the hospital.


    She completely forgot that the identity of Feng Ranran was already considered dead to Old Master Song.


    Seeing Old Master Song startled, Xiao Jinglan¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°You, a person who has come back from the dead, shouldn¡¯t appear around Old Master Song. What if you scare him? Can you afford that responsibility?¡±


    Feng Xixi certainly would not give her the opportunity to send her away.


    She quickly stepped forward to Old Master Song, ¡°Old Master, I am Ranran, your daughter-in-law. Have you forgotten? I didn¡¯t die, I just lost my memory, and that¡¯s why I am only coming back now.¡±


    Old Master Song was stunned for a moment, his gaze fixed intently on Feng Xixi as if to confirm what she had just said.


    After a moment, Old Master Song suddenly seemed struck by a thought and his expression turned sorrowful, ¡°You have returned, but my beloved grandson hasn¡¯t come back.¡±


    Sweat began to form on Feng Xixi¡¯s forehead, ¡°Old Master, Sinian will definitely turn misfortune into a blessing, don¡¯t worry, look, after so many years, I have returned, and Sinian will definitely come back too.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan watched Feng Xixi empathize with Old Master Song and snickered inwardly, then said in a sarcastic tone, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because certain people appeared that Sinian went missing.¡±


    Xiao Jinglan knew how important Sinian was to Old Master Song, which was exactly why giving Old Master Song hope was the way to make him happy.


    Similarly, the way to make Old Master Song dislike someone was to let him know that this person was an ominous presence for Sinian.


    Old Master Song would certainly care about that.


    Even if he didn¡¯t care before, now that Sinian¡¯s life and death were uncertain, even a slight possibility would prevent Old Master Song from taking a risk.


    Feng Xixi naturally heard the implication in Xiao Jinglan¡¯s words and quickly explained, ¡°That¡¯s because Sinian and I have a mother-son bond, I wouldn¡¯t have come back if he hadn¡¯t been in trouble.¡±


    Old Master Song listened to their justifications, feeling a bit speechless, and pursed his lips. Didn¡¯t any of them remember that he was supposed to be a bedridden man?


    Although he was ¡°sick,¡± his mind was fine; couldn¡¯t anyone respect his intelligence a bit?


    Each of them was so blatantly lying before him.


    Old Master Song was really at a loss for words about these people.


    Such an important position in the Song Group, even if his eyes were dim, he could not possibly hand it over to such a foolish group of people.


    If it weren¡¯t for cooperating with Sinian¡¯s honeymoon trip with Lu Zhaozhao, he really wouldn¡¯t need to entangle with these people; he could easily handle them on the spot with a wave of his hand.


    There was simply no need for mutual accusations or vindications here because it was unnecessary.

 Chapter 698: 696: Does It Have to Drag on That Long?

    Chapter 698: Chapter 696: Does It Have to Drag on That Long?


    Everyone was excluded from the problem as soon as it arose.


    As a person in power, he would never allow his company to face such a huge risk.


    Since these people could be attacked by outsiders because of these issues and had no ability to fight back, there was no need for them to be in their current positions.


    If this had happened to Song Sinian, by the time he heard the news, he would have already resolved the matter.


    Why would it be like these people, who endlessly procrastinate and still brought the problem to him?


    Old Master Song thought more and more that his eldest grandson was worlds apart from these idiots.


    He simply didn¡¯t say another word, just quietly sitting there watching them perform their farce.


    He would speak only when they had finished performing; otherwise, it would be a waste of breath.


    A group of people were arguing noisily, and Feng Jiyue also joined in the fray.


    Although Feng Xixi was Song Sinian¡¯s mother, she was ultimately from the Feng family and would unlikely side with Xiao Mo and the others.


    Especially since there was also Xiao Jinglan, her rival in love.


    Seeing that things were becoming interminable, Xiao Mo gave Xia Wenjin a look, then he spoke up, ¡°Since we can¡¯t sort out this matter here and now, why not let Old Master Song handle it?¡±


    As he finished speaking, everyone quieted down and looked in unison at Old Master Song.


    Originally planning to stay out of it and observe, Old Master Song, feeling everyone¡¯s eyes on him, slowly lifted his eyelids to look at the individuals before him.


    He cleared his throat softly, ¡°What ideas could I possibly have? Sinian is not here, and this old body of mine is useless. If Sinian doesn¡¯t come back, I might as well follow him...¡±


    Old Master Song feigned sadness as he covered his face, afraid that he had momentarily let his real emotions slip.


    Seeing this, Xiao Mo hurriedly comforted him, ¡°Old Master, rest assured, I will definitely have people thoroughly investigate Sinian¡¯s disappearance. You just stay peacefully in the hospital, and leave the rest to me.¡±


    Feng Jiyue also declared his loyalty, ¡°Old Master, you should leave this matter to our Feng family, being as we are relatives through Sinian¡¯s mother. No matter what, we are better than outsiders, right?¡±


    Feng Xixi was not to be outdone, ¡°He is my own son, I definitely won¡¯t disregard him. Let me handle this!¡±


    Old Master Song glanced at the three of them, sneering inwardly. Were they really thinking about finding the person?


    Each one of them was here to seek power.


    But he felt no pressure at all.


    These three fools were barely a concern.


    In the past, when he took over the Song Group, what kind of storms hadn¡¯t he seen?


    If the three of them were all on Sinian¡¯s level, then surely he would be out of moves.


    But the three of them together didn¡¯t even have half the capabilities of Sinian.


    Moreover, since each of the three had different intentions, he respected them even less.


    ¡°Cough, cough...¡± Old Master Song feigned a cough as if angered by their words, ¡°If you all say you can find Sinian, then stop arguing. The three of you go and find Sinian for me. Whoever finds Sinian, in the future the Song family...¡±


    He paused there, as if struck by a sudden sadness, and then fell silent.


    However, the implication was immediately clear to everyone.


    Old Master Song seemed to have already resolved that Song Sinian might be dead, so he was essentially choosing the next president of the Song Group!


    As long as they found Song Sinian¡¯s body, everything of the Song family could be theirs!


    The three couldn¡¯t help but become excited, with no one questioning the veracity of Old Master Song¡¯s words.


    ¡°Old Master, don¡¯t worry. Amo and I certainly won¡¯t disappoint you; after all, you watched him grow up. Just wait for the good news!¡± Xiao Jinglan even forgot to pretend.


    She looked at Old Master Song with a beaming face, almost wishing she could send someone to fish Song Sinian out of the river right then.


    That way, her son could legitimately take that position.


    Feng Jiyue scoffed at her, but soon he couldn¡¯t laugh anymore.


    Because Hao Li, like Xiao Jinglan, blurted out her true thoughts, ¡°Old Master, in the future, you can of course rely on Sinian¡¯s maternal family. Now that Sinian isn¡¯t here, our Jiaye will definitely take care of you until the end. Just wait for the good news.¡±


    Afterward, Hao Li hurriedly pulled Feng Jiyue away, and Xiao Jinglan and Xiao Mo, not wanting to be outdone, quickly left as well.


    For a moment, only Xia Wenjin, Feng Xixi, and Old Master Song were left in the hospital room.


    Xia Wenjin frowned slightly, she had wanted to pull Feng Xixi away earlier, but Feng Xixi had decided to stay, which displeased her.


    But since Feng Xixi was on her side, she had no choice but to stand there and wait.


    Feng Xixi shot a glance at Xia Wenjin, almost speechless.


    Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li were brainless, but was Xia Wenjin as well?


    Thinking this, Feng Xixi couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly at the actions Xia Wenjin had taken, clearly not actions of a wise person.


    She forced a smile and looked at Old Master Song, ¡°Old Master, don¡¯t lose heart, Sinian might have been washed downstream and rescued by someone. Let¡¯s put in some effort, maybe there¡¯s still a chance.¡±


    Just now, Old Master Song¡¯s words had indicated he had little hope of Sinian still being alive.


    But Xiao Jinglan and Hao Li were so blatant in their reactions.


    Even if Old Master Song had accepted reality, he didn¡¯t want to see them taking pleasure in his misfortune.


    Thus, Feng Xixi took an unexpected approach, hoping to curry favor with Old Master Song.


    She wasn¡¯t aware of Fengya Ichiro¡¯s plans, but following his instructions generally went smoothly.


    All she needed to do was do her utmost and report the situation to Xia Wenjin regularly.


    Old Master Song slightly narrowed his eyes, unexpectedly finding someone not so foolish.


    His gaze swept over Feng Xixi, showing an ounce of recognition for her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got the spirit... Ah, if only we could find Sinian, however it¡¯s done would be good...¡± Old Master Song spoke, then covered his face with his hand.


    He portrayed a *visage of utter despair.


    Feng Xixi, seeing her remark had drawn unusual recognition from Old Master Song, also got excited.


    ¡°Old Master, rest assured, I will definitely have people search downstream. If Sinian is still alive, we will definitely get word of him.¡±


    Old Master Song nodded, but did not look at them again.


    Feng Xixi then gently tapped Xia Wenjin, leading her away from Old Master Song¡¯s hospital room.


    They hadn¡¯t gone far down the corridor when Xia Wenjin mumbled discontentedly, ¡°We could have gone to find Song Sinian¡¯s body earlier, why did you delay?¡±

 Chapter 699: 697: Im Here with You

    Chapter 699: Chapter 697: I¡¯m Here with You


    Feng Xixi suddenly felt speechless.


    It wasn¡¯t far from the hospital room, and if someone with ill intent heard them, her chances of clinging to Old Master Song¡¯s coattails were definitely going to be ruined.


    She furrowed her brows tightly, looked around, and then said in a low voice, ¡°Be careful, walls have ears.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s expression remained unchanged upon seeing Feng Xixi behave like this, her face looked even worse.


    She didn¡¯t understand how she, such a smart person, could have given birth to such an idiot like Xia Wenjin.


    She also knew that she herself had managed to ruin a good hand of cards, and it was purely by her own doing.


    Feng Xixi even started to feel like giving up on communicating with her, but now they were in this mess together, if she didn¡¯t warn her.


    They¡¯d be dragged down, and it would be too late to warn her by then.


    She took a deep breath, grabbed Xia Wenjin, and hurried through two long corridors.


    She tried her best to look normal before speaking slowly, ¡°Right now, we have two competitors, and if we displease Old Master Song, our plan will fall apart.¡±


    ¡°What two? Zhao Qingfeng is on our side, so we only have Feng Jiaye as a competitor. They¡¯re not of the Song family bloodline, what right do they have to compete?¡±


    Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes.


    From every angle, she felt she had the upper hand.


    ¡°Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s side only has that eyesore Xiao Jinglan, and she won¡¯t live much longer anyway. Worse comes to worst, we¡¯ll just stage another accident to make her disappear,¡± Xia Wenjin said, becoming more convinced of her plan¡¯s feasibility.


    She even excitedly looked at Feng Xixi.


    But she didn¡¯t expect to be met with a look that seemed to regard her as a fool.


    Xia Wenjin immediately felt annoyed, she frowned in dissatisfaction and stared at Feng Xixi, ¡°What? There¡¯s a problem with what I said? Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    Feng Xixi let out a snort, ¡°Why am I looking at you? Obviously, to see how you¡¯re going to continue to court disaster.¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face turned pale, ¡°What do you mean? Don¡¯t think that just because you know about my identity, you can show off in front of me. If Feng Ya Ichiro finds out, we¡¯ll both be done for!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if Feng Ya Ichiro finds out, the unlucky one will be only you, hmph!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s face immediately looked terrible. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Feng Xixi knew her real identity and was specifically sent by Feng Ya Ichiro to keep an eye on her from abroad, she would have already attacked her.


    So what if she was a lifesaver?


    She was nearly becoming a death warrant!


    She couldn¡¯t possibly lose her life for the sake of gratitude, right?


    Seeing that Xia Wenjin remained silent, Feng Xixi once again composed herself and said, ¡°Do you even have a clue whether Zhao Qingfeng harbors any ambitions? Right now, he¡¯s obedient to you, but if he got his hands on Song Group, do you think he would remain the same? Are you sure he will marry you to become Mrs. Song?¡±


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s originally angry face gradually calmed down, replaced by a complex expression.


    She hadn¡¯t considered this question, but she quickly caught on.


    ¡°My father is Feng Ya Ichiro, the heir to the Fengya family, he wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to me.¡±


    Listening to Xia Wenjin¡¯s words, Feng Xixi¡¯s eyes rolled so hard she almost blinded herself.


    ¡°Your father is Feng Ya Ichiro? Are you sick in the head? You...¡±


    Feng Xixi¡¯s mouth trembled, and she almost let the truth slip out.


    She still thought she was an amazing actress, not having given herself away yet?


    Completely unaware that her every move was being watched.


    Feng Xixi had no tolerance for what she saw and could only roll her eyes at Xia Wenjin, ¡°Everything has a limit, once it¡¯s exceeded, it¡¯s useless. Do you understand?¡±


    Just like her pretending to be Feng Ya Meizi.


    Fengya Ichiro indeed could not find her, but had she never thought that the disfigured Feng Ya Meizi herself would not take the initiative to contact Fengya Ichiro?


    She had come directly to China at that time and vanished in the blink of an eye.


    Completely ignoring the disfigured Feng Ya Meizi.


    How incredibly foolish!


    Even if she did not report Xia Wenjin to Fengya Ichiro, being discovered was just a matter of time.


    The more Feng Xixi interacted with Xia Wenjin, the more she thought her mother was an idiot!


    And hopelessly so!


    She was, after all, her biological mother, and she wanted to give her a slight nudge, yet she didn¡¯t know if she would even take the hint.


    If she was so foolish that she couldn¡¯t even understand these words, then there was no need to save her.


    ¡°As long as the Song Group¡¯s assets are in the hands of the Feng Ya Family, I reckon Zhao Qingfeng wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything,¡± Xia Wenjin still shrugged nonchalantly.


    Seeing her unresponsive demeanor, Feng Xixi gave up the intention to continue persuading.


    Some people are hell-bent on their own destruction and not even ten oxen could pull them back.


    As long as she doesn¡¯t drag her into it when she¡¯s courting death, Feng Xixi felt she could simply not care.


    Feng Xixi felt that she, as Xia Wenjin¡¯s mother, had already done more than enough.


    The rest was up to her own fate.


    In Pavlov Family¡¯s country, in the backyard.


    Xu Zhenzhen was sitting on a bench in the garden, quietly gazing into the distance, looking utterly soulless.


    ¡°Miss Zhenzhen, you should eat.¡±


    A crisp voice rang out, but Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t snap back to reality at all, merely sitting silently in her spot.


    Her attendant, seemingly unconcerned about her reaction, slowly crouched down and added, ¡°Miss Zhenzhen, if you don¡¯t eat properly, my second brother will be heartbroken when he sees you.¡±


    At the mention of ¡°second brother,¡± Xu Zhenzhen almost turned around in shock, just in time to see Lu Zhaozhao, who was looking at her with a smile.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, and she almost instinctively wanted to rush over and embrace Lu Zhaozhao, but she was worried that someone around might discover Lu Zhaozhao had escaped.


    So she nervously checked her surroundings.


    Lu Zhaozhao lifted a hand and gently patted the back of her hand, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s safe around here, and the person who was kidnapped isn¡¯t me. Otherwise, how could I be here to see you?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen sighed in relief upon hearing this, but soon after, anxiety gripped her again.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not kidnapped, then run away quickly. Don¡¯t show up here again. The Pavlovs are not good people.¡±


    Before, she had felt immensely guilty because it was for her sake that Lu Zhaozhao had been captured. Now, hearing that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t been caught, some of the burden of guilt she felt was alleviated.


    Lu Zhaozhao knew Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s worries and couldn¡¯t help but tighten her grip on her small hand, ¡°Even if we¡¯re willing to step back, I guess Pavlov wouldn¡¯t want to either, so we are already standing against him. So no matter what happens next, please don¡¯t blame yourself, alright? Sister-in-law?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes reddened even more, and she gazed at Lu Zhaozhao with a choked up look.


    The next second, she was tightly embraced in her arms.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently patted her back, comforting, ¡°If you want to cry, cry. I¡¯m here with you.¡±

 Chapter 700: 698: Inside and Out Coordination

    Chapter 700: Chapter 698: Inside and Out Coordination


    Xu Zhenzhen, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, was immediately frightened into silence upon hearing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s intention to stay with her.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t stay here, it¡¯s very dangerous.¡± Xu Zhenzhen, while speaking, tried to pull Lu Zhaozhao up, ¡°You need to leave quickly, and it¡¯s best if no one discovers you were here.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen, a bit amused, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if it weren¡¯t safe, Mr. Song wouldn¡¯t have sent me in. He must have been confident in getting me out safely, which is why he let me come.¡±


    Thinking of Song Sinian¡¯s regard for Lu Zhaozhao, Xu Zhenzhen felt much more at ease. After all, with her understanding of that guy Song Sinian, he absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow any danger to befall Lu Zhaozhao.


    Her silent sigh of relief caught Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s attention, causing her to smile involuntarily.


    Her small hand patted Xu Zhenzhen on the back, ¡°Pavel is away on a business trip and won¡¯t be back for a while, so we have plenty of time to talk properly.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips, ¡°What if... what if the servants discover us?¡±


    She knew the people assigned to watch over her were Pavel¡¯s informants and she suspected that her every move was being reported to Pavel, which is why she worried about Lu Zhaozhao staying here and attracting his attention.


    ¡°Relax, relax. If my several brothers can¡¯t handle this little matter, then they wouldn¡¯t have the face to call themselves my brothers,¡± Lu Zhaozhao said, playfully winking at Xu Zhenzhen.


    ¡°The one taking care of you today isn¡¯t one of Pavel¡¯s people. Otherwise, how could I possibly have come in?¡±


    She remembered questioning this when Song Sinian told her to follow the person tasked with caring for Xu Zhenzhen.


    It was later that Song Sinian clarified her doubts.


    He explained that inside Pavel¡¯s villa, there were quite a few informants from Pavel¡¯s side branches. These side branches had already started cooperating with them, so lending their informants was a mutually beneficial part of the arrangement.


    Lu Zhaozhao, worried that Xu Zhenzhen was still anxious about her situation, relayed most of what Song Sinian had discussed with her that night.


    Of course, this also included the fact that the person captured was a decoy, and that they intended to work with the side branches to overthrow Pavel.


    Although there wasn¡¯t a detailed plan, the mere feasibility gave her comfort.


    At the very least, it let Xu Zhenzhen know that there was a chance to break free from the Pavlov Family.


    As long as Xu Zhenzhen was hopeful and cooperated with them from the inside, it would make things much easier.


    Listening to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s simple explanations, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mind settled considerably.


    What moved her even more was that neither the Xia Family nor Xia Wenqing had given up on her.


    They didn¡¯t blame her for leaving without notice nor for involving the Xia Family in trouble.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes reddened uncontrollably again as she gently sniffled, ¡°Thank you, Zhaozhao, I really appreciate you all.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao, overwhelmed by her tears, could only hold her and gently pat her back.


    ¡°You¡¯re my future sister-in-law. If we don¡¯t come to find you, who will? So just ease your mind and look forward to marrying my second brother.¡±


    While speaking, Lu Zhaozhao used her sleeve to wipe Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s tears and seeing her break into a smile at last made her breathe a sigh of relief.


    They had previously prevented Xia Wenqing from visiting Xu Zhenzhen here to avoid the pair becoming overly emotional, but just her visit alone had already left Xu Zhenzhen somewhat overwhelmed.


    If she were to actually see her second brother, what then?


    Zhenzhen¡¯s crying was so dramatic, her second brother would probably kick her out that very night.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao also wanted to get rid of Xu Zhenzhen right away, she still retained her rationality.


    If she startled the snake by beating the grass now, their plan to gradually undermine the Pavlov Family might fall through.


    Zhenzhen¡¯s future life might become even more dangerous, and even the entire Xia Family and Song Family could be implicated.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to sacrifice the greater good for a small gain.


    Xu Zhenzhen raised her hand to rub her nose tip, then, with reddened eyes, asked, ¡°How is my second brother doing now?¡±


    As she spoke these words, her little face couldn¡¯t help blushing.


    Even though Xia Wenqing was now her boyfriend, asking Lu Zhaozhao so directly still made her feel a bit shy.


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°When you first went missing, my second brother nearly went insane, but luckily, they quickly turned their attention to me and we were able to trace the clues to find your whereabouts.¡±


    Hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen felt a pang of guilt, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zhaozhao, if it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t have been caught in such an undeserved disaster, and my second brother wouldn¡¯t have gotten so injured...¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? It¡¯s not your fault at all, it¡¯s clearly Pavel¡¯s fault. You don¡¯t need to blame yourself for that scumbag¡¯s mistakes,¡± Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen earnestly, speaking indignantly.


    ¡°Besides, if you hadn¡¯t taken the initiative to befriend me, my situation could¡¯ve been even worse. I¡¯m so grateful to you, how could I possibly blame you?¡±


    And Zhenzhen¡¯s previous disappearance had haunted her constantly; she had always blamed herself for not being able to stop her.


    Having been given a second chance at life, she was determined not to let Zhenzhen repeat the same mistake.


    This time around, she wanted all her friends and loved ones to have a good ending.


    Xu Zhenzhen, looking into Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s sincere eyes, didn¡¯t know what else to say besides hugging her.


    Her Zhaozhao was simply too wonderful, irresistibly drawing people closer.


    After sobbing in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s arms for a while, Xu Zhenzhen looked up again and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you. I promise to be the best sister-in-law.¡±


    ¡°Good! That¡¯s settled,¡± they agreed.


    ¡°Mhm!¡±


    In the evening, when Lu Zhaozhao returned, the Xia Family and Song Sinian were almost anxiously sitting in the hotel room waiting for her.


    On one hand, everyone was worried Lu Zhaozhao might have been harmed at Pavel¡¯s villa, and on the other, they were concerned about Zhenzhen¡¯s situation.


    So, when they saw Lu Zhaozhao return safely, they almost all breathed a sigh of relief in unison.


    It was only when they saw that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression was more relaxed that everyone finally felt reassured.


    Wen Qingyu was the first to step forward, grabbing Lu Zhaozhao and leading her to the sofa, where she asked, ¡°Zhaozhao, how are you? Did anyone give you a hard time? Are you hurt? How is Zhenzhen doing?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Song Si, who was restlessly grasping at nothing beside her, and couldn¡¯t help but snicker inwardly before slowly speaking to Wen Qingyu, ¡°I¡¯m fine, everything went smoothly.¡±


    After clearing her throat, she continued, ¡°Zhenzhen is a bit down, but she has recovered a lot since she knew we found her. Besides that, she and the baby are both very healthy. She¡¯ll be able to work with us from the inside when the time comes.¡±

 Chapter 701: 699: You Better Keep Your Word

    Chapter 701: Chapter 699: You Better Keep Your Word


    ¡°As long as she¡¯s safe, as long as she¡¯s safe,¡± Wen Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but mutter to herself, having encountered such a difficult situation for the first time in her life.


    Back in her days abroad, who would dare to make a move against her so easily?


    Even if someone secretly did, her husband had already taken them down.


    This Pawel Family really... is so troublesome!


    When Wen Qingyu thought about this, she gave Xia Nie a look, and he naturally received her signal.


    His eyebrows rose slightly, a complex expression fleeting across his eyes.


    After all, having gotten used to peaceful days, there was always some trouble that would come knocking.


    Her sons had never been tempered in special circumstances and indeed found such situations tough; however, that didn¡¯t mean it was tough for her.


    She originally wanted to see her sons¡¯ capabilities, but her husband and darling daughter were already upset.


    Then, as a husband and a father, he had to step up.


    He nodded slightly towards Wen Qingyu, offering her a reassuring expression.


    As long as she wanted it, he would do it.


    After asking Lu Zhaozhao, Xia Wenqing immediately went over, but he wasn¡¯t as quick as Song Sinian.


    By the time he reached Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s side, there was no place left next to her.


    Xia Wenqing could only sit opposite Lu Zhaozhao, nervously asking, ¡°Does Zhenzhen have anything she wants to tell me?¡±


    He was actually very anxious as he spoke, wondering if he had been more cautious, could Zhenzhen have not been kidnapped by the Pavels?


    He even felt he had been too careless, not knowing Zhenzhen was pregnant.


    And to think she had been taken abroad while pregnant by such vile people.


    Every time Xia Wenqing thought about this, his heartache was immense, blaming himself for not protecting Zhenzhen well. It was all his fault.


    Would Zhenzhen still be willing to forgive him?


    Or would she be very disappointed in him?


    Xia Wenqing was somewhat afraid for a moment, fearful that Zhenzhen had no message for him and worried about what Lu Zhaozhao might say, sentencing him to death.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at her second brother¡¯s hesitant demeanor and couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, ¡°Truly, Zhenzhen understands you better.¡±


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed, looking confusedly at Lu Zhaozhao, as if waiting for what she would say next.


    ¡°Zhenzhen asked me to tell you, she doesn¡¯t blame you for being kidnapped by Pavel. She and the baby are safe, so don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. She really looks forward to reuniting with you.¡±


    She had previously assured Zhenzhen confidently that her second brother, who was of the calm type, wouldn¡¯t overthink things.


    Now, seeing her second brother¡¯s reddened eyes, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional; the one who understood her second brother best wasn¡¯t someone else but Zhenzhen.


    Xia Wenqing clenched his fists tightly, struggling to control himself for a long time before managing to calm his emotions.


    He took a deep breath, his gaze softening significantly as he looked towards Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°If you see her next time, you must tell her. I will definitely listen to her, and I will definitely rescue her.¡±


    Xia Wenqing knew that the identity Song Sinian had arranged for Lu Zhaozhao wasn¡¯t temporary, so she would likely often appear in front of Xu Zhenzhen.


    Having her pass messages would not only soothe Xu Zhenzhen but also expedite the plans they had inside and out.


    Lu Zhaozhao patted Xia Wenqing¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, second brother, leave this matter to me. I will definitely protect my sister-in-law.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. Second Brother believes in you!¡±


    ...


    With Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s visit, Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt much more confident.


    Knowing that Xia Wenqing was waiting outside for her and her baby, and that both the Xia Family and the Song Family were working hard for her, how could she not pull herself together?


    Xu Zhenzhen thought about what Lu Zhaozhao had said to her before she left, urging her to follow Pavel¡¯s arrangements.


    Especially when he arranged for her to meet the matchmaking candidates outside, she must agree.


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t know why Lu Zhaozhao was doing this.


    But she decided to do as she was told.


    Initially, Xu Zhenzhen had planned to deceive Pavel in this way.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s plan had many similarities with hers.


    She didn¡¯t need to worry about Pavel suspecting her due to a sudden change in attitude.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock...¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen, lounging on the sofa and watching an old movie, heard someone knocking on the door.


    She glanced at the door, didn¡¯t say a word, and turned her attention back to the TV.


    Although Pavel had confined her, he generously provided her with things related to daily life.


    Except for confining her and preventing her from contacting the outside world, her daily life was well taken care of.


    When Xu Zhenzhen first arrived, she always thought about escaping, but after Pavel captured Lu Zhaozhao, she could only compromise.


    At that time, all her attention was on how to save Lu Zhaozhao, and she had never paid attention to the daily necessities Pavel had prepared for her.


    Now, after hearing about their plan from Lu Zhaozhao, she felt much more relaxed and prepared to proceed with deceiving Pavel as she had initially planned.


    A moment later, someone opened the door from the outside.


    Pavel¡¯s tall figure walked in, and seeing Xu Zhenzhen lethargically watching the movie, his brow twitched.


    He then remembered that Xu Zhenzhen had compromised because of Lu Zhaozhao.


    He cleared his throat and slowly said, ¡°I have found several suitable candidates for you. Dress up this afternoon and meet them. Choose one you find agreeable, and you can get married.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen ignored him, Pavel still quietly watched the movie, not even bothering to glance at Pavel.


    She couldn¡¯t appear too eager, so silence was the best approach now.


    Pavel, looking at her indifferent demeanor, suddenly sneered, ¡°Do you think you can just ignore me and this will go away? Xu Zhenzhen, I have already warned you. If you don¡¯t do as I say, your friend...¡±


    Before Pavel could finish his sentence, Xu Zhenzhen threw a magazine on the floor next to her.


    She coldly looked up, meeting Pavel¡¯s murky eyes, ¡°Randomly picking any Tom, Dick, or Harry to become my husband¡ªis that a tradition of the Pavel Family?¡±


    Upon seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s resistance, Pavel snorted, ¡°You carry my blood, and it is your duty to pass it on. Your task is to bear children. As long as you obediently fulfill your task, I will treat you well. If you don¡¯t listen to me, it will be your friends who suffer.¡±


    ...


    Xu Zhenzhen fell into silence again, seemingly intimidated by his words.


    She clenched her fists tightly and after a long while, looked up at Pavel, ¡°You¡¯d better keep your word.¡±

 Chapter 702: 700 I Am the Second Brother

    Chapter 702: Chapter 700 I Am the Second Brother


    As she spoke these words, she almost clenched her back teeth.


    Her gaze towards Pavel was as if she wanted to devour him.


    Pavel seemed quite pleased with Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s current expression.


    The corners of his mouth curled, ¡°Rest assured, I will keep my promise as long as you obediently listen to me.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen fall into silence again, Pavel simply sat down beside her on the couch.


    ¡°Did you hear clearly what I just told you?¡±


    He propped his arm on one side of the couch, slanting his face to look at Xu Zhenzhen.


    When Xu Zhenzhen had escaped from the Pavlov Family before, he hadn¡¯t cared much, but now, thinking back, her timidity had ironically become her life-saving charm.


    Pavel hadn¡¯t expected that all his hopes would have to rely on such a timid person.


    This contradiction made Pavel somewhat annoyed.


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced coldly at Pavel, ¡°Whether I listen clearly or not, you will arrange for me to meet the person you¡¯ve selected. What does it matter if I hear clearly or not?¡±


    Pavel¡¯s face immediately darkened, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Xu Zhenzhen speak again, ¡°There¡¯s no need to threaten me with Lu Zhaozhao anymore. I have already agreed to go, and I will. It¡¯s best if you just leave and stop being an eyesore.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pavel was clearly choked by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words.


    His eyebrows furrowed, and he couldn¡¯t find a reason to lose his temper anymore.


    Yet, inside, he bristled with anger at Xu Zhenzhen.


    According to his temperament, those who angered him were usually in for a severe lashing.


    But Xu Zhenzhen was his last child, and he couldn¡¯t have any more, so even if he disliked her, he couldn¡¯t vent his anger on her.


    He knew that Xu Zhenzhen had always been timid; if he truly scared her to death, the trouble would ultimately be his own.


    Pavel slowly stood up, withdrawing his gaze, ¡°You¡¯d best do as you¡¯ve said and obediently meet the suitor.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The response to Pavel was still Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s silence.


    Pavel, not wanting to make a fool of himself, simply left.


    Only then did Xu Zhenzhen secretly breathe a sigh of relief, grateful that Pavel hadn¡¯t suspected anything.


    He probably overestimated himself so much that he could so easily disregard her, right?


    Xu Zhenzhen suddenly felt a bit fortunate that she had always been seen as useless in his eyes.


    Otherwise, it would have been difficult for her to act mischievously.


    Thinking this, Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s gaze returned to the television.


    She knew that after agreeing to it, Pavel would immediately start arranging the suitors.


    It seemed like he was giving her a choice, but in reality, these men were all selected by him beforehand.


    Knowing she was Pavel¡¯s only child, they would surely be eager to curry favor.


    So Xu Zhenzhen had no interest in them whatsoever.


    Originally, she had wanted to use this status to take advantage of them upon meeting.


    But now that she had already established contact with Lu Zhaozhao and the others, Xu Zhenzhen felt completely indifferent about the upcoming meeting.


    She simply lay down on the couch and slowly closed her eyes.


    She just had to wait obediently, and someone would naturally wake her up for breakfast and to get dressed.


    Sure enough, before long, a servant came in, bringing a multitude of clothes, shoes, and bags.


    There was even a professional makeup team.


    Xu Zhenzhen simply sneered at the notion and was about to refuse when she saw someone wink at her.


    She was momentarily stunned before she realized that it was Lu Zhaozhao in disguise.


    Although her appearance wasn¡¯t as striking as before, those clear, bright eyes could not be someone else¡¯s.


    Xu Zhenzhen instantly felt much more at ease.


    She resigned herself to sitting still, letting them fuss over her as they wished.


    An hour later, Xu Zhenzhen felt she was about to fall asleep, when the people dressing her up finally left.


    Following Pavel¡¯s instructions, she went with the driver to a high-end cafe?.


    Looking at the cafe?¡¯s de?cor, Xu Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to the outside.


    Aside from a bodyguard who had followed the car, there was only the driver.


    Xu Zhenzhen was somewhat incredulous; how much was Pavel underestimating her?


    But then she thought, he currently believed he had captured her important friend, so she definitely wouldn¡¯t make a secret escape.


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but curl her lip; if Lu Zhaozhao truly were in his hands, she indeed wouldn¡¯t run away, but she wouldn¡¯t meekly accept her fate either.


    Pavel had underestimated her.


    She took a deep breath, glanced at the bodyguard, and said, ¡°Fine, you just wait here. I¡¯ll return after meeting with the person.¡±


    The bodyguard hesitated, ¡°Miss, the leader said you can spend some time with this gentleman to foster some affection.¡±


    If possible, it would be best for them to get intimate in a hotel room.


    But these words, he didn¡¯t dare speak.


    He was supposed to convey all of the leader¡¯s message to Xu Zhenzhen, but seeing her eyes suddenly sharpen, he swallowed half the words he was about to say.


    The leader had only said if possible... well, if she didn¡¯t go, that shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?


    The bodyguard comforted himself internally and decisively chose to abandon the words he was about to utter.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows arching, glanced at the bodyguard¡¯s hesitation, and without another word, pushed the door open and entered the cafe?¡¯s private room.


    She cast a faint glance at the person, then sat down opposite him, ¡°You should be aware of my identity.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen gave the person a look, continuing, ¡°Just sit here quietly, and I¡¯ll let you out when it¡¯s time.¡±


    The person on the other side chuckled, ¡°Miss Xu, I¡¯m afraid I might not be able to comply with your wishes.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen visibly froze for a second¡ª that voice...


    She looked up at the person across from her, who indeed matched the photograph given by Pavel.


    She pursed her lips, suppressing the surprise in her eyes, and said coldly, ¡°If you can¡¯t comply with my wishes, then I certainly won¡¯t comply with yours! You¡¯d better consider what you really want.¡±


    ¡°What I want, of course, is you, Zhenzhen. I am your second brother,¡± the man opposite her sighed helplessly, ¡°But this makeup skill, it¡¯s really tricky to recognize.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes suddenly widened at the familiar voice and his gentle expression.


    She could no longer hold back, and her eyes began to redden once again.


    Xia Wenqing moved hurriedly forward, embracing Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°This is why they didn¡¯t let me see you; they feared you¡¯d be too agitated, and they also feared I wouldn¡¯t have the heart to let you go. So, Zhenzhen, don¡¯t cry anymore, or I truly won¡¯t be able to bear you leaving me.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was amused by his earnest expression.


    Xia Wenqing saw her cry and laugh, kissed her forehead, and was just about to kiss her lips, but Xu Zhenzhen blocked him with her hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kiss me; otherwise, I always feel like I¡¯m cheating on you right in front of your face...¡±

 Chapter 703: 701 Whats on Your Mind?

    Chapter 703: Chapter 701 What¡¯s on Your Mind?


    ¡°???¡±


    Xia Wenqing hadn¡¯t expected their pleasant atmosphere to collapse so suddenly due to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words.


    He was startled for a moment, and then he couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly.


    ¡°What on earth are you thinking about?¡± Xia Wenqing rubbed her head with a hint of helplessness in his tone.


    His touch was gentle, as if he were petting a little cat.


    Xu Zhenzhen was quite pleased and smiled radiantly as if nothing had happened between them before.


    Xia Wenqing quietly looked into Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes, as though he had just thought of something, ¡°I heard from Zhaozhao that you¡¯re pregnant...¡±


    ¡°Um.¡± Xu Zhenzhen nodded, ¡°It¡¯s true.¡±


    A flicker of self-reproach crossed Xia Wenqing¡¯s eyes as he gently crouched down, embracing Xu Zhenzhen and resting his face against her belly, ¡°I failed to protect you both. I should have tried harder.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen ruffled Xia Wenqing¡¯s hair with her hand. His somewhat prickly short hair felt sharp against her palm, ¡°Are you being silly? No matter how much you protect me, that won¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m Pavel¡¯s daughter.¡±


    She had once thought that escaping E Country would sever her ties with everything here.


    Unfortunately, fate had other plans. All of Pavel¡¯s children, except for her, had died in the power struggles.


    She wondered if this was Heaven¡¯s punishment for Pavel.


    But shouldn¡¯t such punishment be inflicted upon him alone?


    Why must it entail others?


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Her mother too had been a victim, a mere foreign student who caught the eye of Pavel, the leader.


    At first, he beguiled her with sweet words, then cast her aside once she was pregnant.


    Truly the scum of the earth!


    Just thinking of Pavel made Xu Zhenzhen feel sick.


    Xia Wenqing looked up at Xu Zhenzhen, noting her uneasy expression, and his brows furrowed, ¡°Shall I take you to the hospital for a check-up? You¡¯re pregnant, after all.¡±


    He was now somewhat regretful that he hadn¡¯t brought his second elder brother who could have examined Zhenzhen¡¯s condition.


    After all, she had been away from him for several days, surely fraught with worry for the child.


    Xu Zhenzhen gently shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m fine, and besides, if we go to a hospital, Pavel will probably find out soon.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t risk it.


    She couldn¡¯t let Pavel know she was pregnant now.


    Xia Wenqing, of course, understood Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s concerns. He took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and then had an idea.


    ¡°After you go back, I¡¯ll arrange for a reliable doctor to check on you, okay?¡±


    His hands held Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s tightly, filled with tender concern.


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of her mouth slightly, nodding gently, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do it your way.¡±


    She knew her disappearance had greatly alarmed Xia Wenqing, so she wanted to make it up to him.


    Watching her, Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart stirred uncontrollably again.


    But recalling what Xu Zhenzhen had just said, Xia Wenqing simply raised his hand to cover her eyes, and then lowered his head and covered her lips with his.


    The familiar scent lingered at the tip of her nose, and Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s heart also began to ¡°thump thump¡± pound wildly.


    She wrapped her arms around Xia Wenqing almost instinctively, wanting to keep this familiar scent close by.


    Xia Wenqing had the same thought, his large hand clasping the back of her neck, seizing the moment when she barely opened her mouth, his warm breath brazenly making its way inside.


    Although the two had not been apart for too long, these heart-stopping days had deepened their feelings for each other.


    Xia Wenqing wished he could simply flatten the Pavlov Family, then safely bring Xu Zhenzhen back with him.


    But the consequences of such actions were not something they could accept in a moment¡¯s notice.


    The entire Pavlov Family wielded significant influence in Country E; replacing a leader of the Pavlov Family was an entirely different matter from eradicating the whole Pavlov Family.


    If they were to truly act, there would likely be internal strife within Country E as those with vested interests would join the fray.


    The situation would only become more complicated.


    So, he could not do that.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s reason was still intact, and naturally, he could not do such a thing.


    The two¡¯s breaths intertwined for a long while before slowly coming to a stop.


    But Xia Wenqing still couldn¡¯t bear to let go of Xu Zhenzhen, so he simply held her tight, burying his head in her neck.


    His breath against her neck, lightly nuzzling her earlobe.


    Xu Zhenzhen hugged Xia Wenqing tightly as well, taking a deep breath and especially cherishing his scent.


    They had already missed each other for such a long time at the school, both cherishing the days they could spend together more than others, yet they had not expected such a mishap now.


    In Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart, besides pain for Xu Zhenzhen, there was only more pain.


    He wished that for the rest of his life, he could take good care of her, so she would never have to endure such suffering again.


    Xu Zhenzhen took a deep breath, patted Xia Wenqing¡¯s shoulder, and then asked, ¡°How exactly did you become like this? Is there a time limit? Do we need to leave soon?¡±


    Xia Wenqing, looking at the worry in Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes, chuckled lightly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. In the eyes of your bodyguard, I¡¯m the person you¡¯re here to have a blind date with. It doesn¡¯t matter how long I stay.¡±


    As for how he became like this, they had to thank Pei Huai for his well-informed news; they had heard early on that the Pavlov Family was looking to form an alliance through marriage, so they inquired about the potential marriage partners.


    Just so happened, a few of these marriage candidates were illegitimate children from some collateral branches of families.


    So with a little planning, they replaced these individuals¡¯ identities and appeared in front of Xu Zhenzhen, legitimate and aboveboard.


    Xia Wenqing briefly relayed the process to Xu Zhenzhen, which made him secretly heave a sigh of relief.


    It was good that they hadn¡¯t simply knocked these people out and assumed their places; otherwise, things indeed would have become very tricky.


    ¡°Zhenzhen, don¡¯t worry. We have pretty much arranged everything outside. As soon as we find the right moment, we¡¯ll be able to rescue you,¡± Xia Wenqing said, his hand gently stroking Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s head, as if to soothe her; yet in truth, compared to Xu Zhenzhen, he was feeling even more anxious.


    Every day spent away from Xu Zhenzhen was like a nightmare for him.


    He could not bear the days without her for one bit longer.


    Xia Wenqing thought that if it hadn¡¯t been for the Pavlov Family wanting to capture Lu Zhaozhao to threaten Xu Zhenzhen, they would have had no clues to find her.


    This sense of panic still had him in its clutches, holding Xu Zhenzhen tightly, always feeling as if the person in his arms was illusory, never truly experiencing a sense of reality.


    Xu Zhenzhen, feeling the slight trembling of the person in her arms, felt her heart sink halfway, and hugged Xia Wenqing tight, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for this incident, Brother, I should have come clean earlier...¡±

 Chapter 704: 702: How Ridiculous

    Chapter 704: Chapter 702: How Ridiculous


    If she had confessed earlier, Xia Wenqing would not have been frightened by her sudden disappearance.


    After all, she was the real cause of this mess, the one who disturbed Xia Wenqing¡¯s peaceful life.


    Xia Wenqing saw her slowly lowering gaze and knew that this little woman was letting her thoughts run wild again, so he couldn¡¯t help but kiss her lips.


    ¡°You have nothing to do with this. You couldn¡¯t choose your own birth,¡± he said.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes reddened again, so Xia Wenqing quickly kissed her eyes to change the subject and said, ¡°Stop worrying about all that nonsense. If you have time, think about what we should name the baby in your belly. I didn¡¯t expect to be so amazing, to have a child so quickly....¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen was stunned by Xia Wenqing¡¯s words. The man, who always seemed reserved, stiff, and dull, was actually... so, so... shameless.


    Her cheeks flushed, and she felt unable to look at Xia Wenqing for a moment.


    Although the two of them had indeed become intimately close, even conceiving a child, Zhenzhen still felt embarrassed to speak of such matters.


    Seeing the change in Zhenzhen¡¯s expression, Xia Wenqing secretly heaved a sigh of relief.


    Now she was pregnant, and thinking about these messy issues would not be good for her mood.


    His wife should be happy, and he could take care of the rest of these troublesome matters.


    Xia Wenqing stayed with Zhenzhen for another hour before leaving reluctantly.


    Xu Zhenzhen was then escorted back to Pavel¡¯s house by bodyguards.


    As soon as she entered, she saw Pavel waiting in the living room for the result, and her originally gentle expression immediately turned cold.


    Pavel, as if he didn¡¯t notice, looked up at Xu Zhenzhen and asked, ¡°How do you feel about the person? Does he meet your preferences?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips and eventually spoke up slowly, ¡°Just so-so.¡±


    Hearing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s evasive response, Pavel chuckled lightly, ¡°I know he¡¯s quite different from your boyfriend back home, but you don¡¯t have to worry. Among the other gentlemen you met here, I can pick a few who are similar to your boyfriend.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s fists clenched almost instantly.


    Pavel spoke as if he cared for her, but in reality, he was covertly threatening her¡ªif she did not obediently go on the arranged dates, he would make a move against Xia Wenqing next.


    Truly despicable!


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face changed, and as she looked at Pavel, her smile was forced and insincere as she responded, ¡°Thank you for your consideration, even thinking of finding someone who is similar to my previous boyfriend.¡±


    She let out a barely audible sneer, her eyes filled with resistance.


    But she didn¡¯t voice her defiance.


    Pavel didn¡¯t care at all about Zhenzhen¡¯s level of resistance.


    It didn¡¯t matter how much she resisted; as long as he held Lu Zhaozhao as leverage, she would still obediently go on arranged dates, wouldn¡¯t she?


    She had dutifully spent an hour in the coffee shop with a prospective match.


    So Pavel was not the least bit worried about Zhenzhen losing control because he had Lu Zhaozhao; this leverage was firmly in his hands.


    He took a deep breath, ¡°Now that you¡¯re back, let¡¯s have dinner.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced at Pavel, ¡°I want to eat in my room. I¡¯m very tired and have no energy left to play these childish games with you.¡±


    She had lived in this villa before, but apart from Pavel, there were many of Pavel¡¯s children living there too.


    Each of them sat properly at the large oval table, like a large family.


    Yet so many people looked askance at one another, always scheming behind the scenes.


    Xu Zhenzhen actually preferred meal times the most, since it was only then that Pavel would appear, and the usually noisy, backstabbing crowd would calm down.


    She could then eat her meal in peace.


    As a child, Xu Zhenzhen would even show up at the dining table early to avoid being dragged into the skirmishes of other little cliques.


    Yet Pavel had taken this as a sign she liked having meals with the family¡ªa truly laughable idea.


    Pavel, seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s refusal, wasn¡¯t surprised; he waved his hand, giving a signal to the servants not far away.


    The servants automatically went to the kitchen to prepare the meal.


    Xu Zhenzhen had barely sat down, and the meal she wanted was already arranged on the table.


    ¡°You stay and attend to me, the rest of you may leave,¡± she said, leaning back into the sofa. Pointing to the table, she instructed, ¡°Ladle out the soup for me.¡±


    The other servants, seeing that attending to her was the task at hand, naturally hurried out quickly.


    Everyone knew Xu Zhenzhen was the rightful young lady of the house.


    But her temper was nothing nice; she didn¡¯t offer a friendly face when being served.


    Naturally, they didn¡¯t want to get on her bad side.


    Even though she was confined here, her treatment was still top-notch.


    Even if it wasn¡¯t at the highest standard, if she wanted to make life difficult for a servant, it would be a breeze.


    So they were all quite afraid of the new mistress, doing their best to minimize contact with her whenever possible.


    Soon, only Xu Zhenzhen and one servant were left in the room.


    ¡°What would you like to eat, Miss?¡±


    The servant that was left sat down next to Xu Zhenzhen, looking at her with a beaming smile.


    Hearing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mocking tone, she sighed with a hint of resignation and leaned against her, ¡°I don¡¯t really want to eat anything, I have no appetite.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao frowned in disapproval, ¡°You¡¯re eating for two now; you need nutrients, and it would be a hassle if you passed out.¡±


    She had been cautious since arriving at the Pavlov Family yesterday, subtly inquiring about Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s situation and hearing that she often neglected her meals.


    She also frequently lost her temper, which made the servants quite wary of getting close.


    Additionally, she hadn¡¯t been resting well due to constant worry about being captured.


    Lu Zhaozhao, feeling sorry for her, gently stroked her head, ¡°Just pick something you like to eat, then sit back and enjoy the show.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows lifted, not understanding the meaning behind Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words.


    Then in the next second, she saw Lu Zhaozhao pick up an empty bowl and toss it to the side.


    ¡°Clash!¡±


    ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t be angry, I was wrong, I was wrong... Please don¡¯t be mad.¡±


    Then Lu Zhaozhao grabbed another bowl and smashed it.


    The corner of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mouth twitched; she had a feeling this scene was vaguely familiar.


    Her cheeks flushed, she coughed a bit helplessly, and then said fiercely to play along, ¡°Can¡¯t you even steady your hand when serving a dish! What can you actually do?!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Miss! I was wrong; I will serve you well from now on!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s pitiful voice carried out from the room, causing the people who hadn¡¯t gone far outside to feel even more fortunate that they had fled quickly.

 Chapter 705: 703: Are You Injured?

    Chapter 705: Chapter 703: Are You Injured?


    Otherwise, they would be the ones having plates and bowls thrown at their faces right now.


    Hearing that the footsteps at the door had faded away, Lu Zhaozhao moved to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s side and started serving her some dishes.


    ¡°My second brother made me promise to take good care of you, and I intend to keep that promise!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao said as she winked at Xu Zhenzhen, and then asked, ¡°Did your mood get any better after seeing my second brother today?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen nodded, ¡°Yeah, I feel quite a bit better.¡±


    She picked up some food from her bowl, as if suddenly reminded of something, and also served Lu Zhaozhao a chicken wing, ¡°Here, you should eat some too.¡±


    It¡¯s not easy to find authentic Chinese food in country E, and it was only because Pavel had specifically found some people who could cook Chinese food that she was able to enjoy it.


    If she didn¡¯t know how ruthless and merciless Pavel could be, she might actually be won over by these small acts of kindness.


    Thinking of this, Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    She seemed to think of something, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid Mr. Song will worry, being here every day?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao shrugged, ¡°Actually, he came here with me.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Xu Zhenzhen almost screamed in surprise.


    Luckily, she managed to muffle her voice in time, looking at Lu Zhaozhao in disbelief, ¡°Are you saying that Mr. Song is also in this villa? He¡¯s not acting as a bodyguard, is he...¡±


    She knew that Song Sinian was very protective of Lu Zhaozhao and normally wouldn¡¯t allow her to take any risks.


    So Xu Zhenzhen was also curious as to how Song Sinian would allow Lu Zhaozhao to be here.


    However, since their last meeting had been too brief and the environment not secure enough, Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t asked in detail.


    Now hearing what Lu Zhaozhao said, she was quite shocked.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s astonished face and felt a little awkwardly as she tugged at the corner of her mouth; in fact, she only found out when she returned yesterday.


    When she first came to the villa, Song Sinian had told her someone would meet her here and later escort her back.


    She had never imagined that the person to take her back would be Song Sinian himself.


    Lu Zhaozhao gently shook her head, ¡°You might not believe it if I told you... he¡¯s helping out in the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Wow, this just got even more fantastical.


    The president of the Song Group slumming it in the kitchen?!


    That just feels so out of place the more you think about it!


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s shocked expression, Lu Zhaozhao continued, ¡°Mr. Song said that the kitchen is the last place Pavel would go.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen paused for a moment, then started to laugh, ¡°What your Mr. Song said is definitely true.¡±


    With Song Sinian¡¯s stature and demeanor, he would stand out like a sore thumb among the bodyguards.


    He could be discovered by Pavel almost immediately, but in the kitchen, dressed as a chef, even someone with an otherworldly appearance could be overlooked amid the hustling staff.


    Besides, he was just an inconspicuous kitchen helper.


    Moreover, since the cooks in the kitchen were brought in temporarily, Song Sinian had chosen his timing to infiltrate perfectly.


    Thinking of this, Xu Zhenzhen felt much more at ease, and even her appetite improved.


    They took turns eating, casually chatting about light-hearted topics, and before long, the meal was finished without a trace left behind.


    Zhaozhao saw this and, with a smile, began to clear away the bowls and chopsticks. It was then that she spoke softly, ¡°Zhenzhen, I have some good news for you. Pavel should not have time to bother you after this week.¡±


    ¡°This week?¡± Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes widened abruptly.


    Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Yeah, this week. Brother Pei and Sinian have found quite a bit of evidence of tax evasion by the Pavlov Family. They¡¯ve already sent this information to the Pavlov Family¡¯s arch-enemy, and they¡¯ll be ready to act soon.¡±


    Zhenzhen¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she couldn¡¯t help but remind, ¡°The Pavlov Family has deep roots in Country E. They¡¯re not so easily taken down with just some tax evasion evidence.¡±


    Zhaozhao nodded her agreement, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s why they¡¯ll have to make a move on their other businesses too, show them some color.¡±


    ¡°Uh...¡±


    ¡°As long as things get chaotic outside, the inner turmoil of the Pavlov Family will intensify. When Pavel is attacked from both sides, we¡¯ll see which side he values more.¡± Zhaozhao winked at her, then pushing the cart, she added, ¡°You rest well today. I¡¯m going to take these things away.¡±


    She had come today partly to inform Zhenzhen of the plans and partly out of concern that Pavel might give Zhenzhen a hard time upon her return.


    Seeing that Zhenzhen had eaten her fill and looked much better, Zhaozhao finally felt at ease and pushed the cart out.


    As soon as she reached the corridor, she came face to face with Pavel. Without even thinking, Zhaozhao instantly lowered her head.


    Noticing the devoured meal and the shattered portion of the plates, Pavel frowned and asked Zhaozhao, ¡°Did the young miss have her meal?¡±


    Zhaozhao¡¯s head sunk even lower, ¡°She has, she has.¡±


    She pretended to be a little afraid in her reply to Pavel.


    She had practiced this while at Pavel¡¯s house, drilled by the Xia Family.


    All the servants in Pavel¡¯s house acted deathly afraid of him, so her behavior was not out of place at all.


    Pavel grunted in acknowledgment, ¡°Go back then, and serve the young miss well in the future.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± After responding, Zhaozhao immediately pushed the cart away and ran off.


    Pavel watched Zhaozhao for a moment, then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, quickly followed.


    He just happened to see the woman with the cart turn a corner and meet up with other servants.


    ¡°Zhao, have you been mistreated, did you get hurt?¡± One of the male servants glanced at Zhaozhao, asking with a note of concern.


    Zhaozhao shook her head immediately, ¡°No, the young miss was just in a bad mood at the start, and then she didn¡¯t pay me any more attention.¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯d better hang in there, Zhao.¡± A female servant nearby stared at Zhaozhao earnestly, as though terrified she would give up and leave.


    Zhaozhao was a bit stunned but understood their fear that if she left, Zhenzhen would take out her anger on them.


    Although it was their scheme, it fit perfectly with her own intentions, so Zhaozhao nodded.


    A few female servants exchanged glances, then one handed a fruit to Zhaozhao with a smile, ¡°Then we¡¯re counting on you, Zhao!¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡± Zhaozhao responded with an exceptionally radiant smile.


    Pavel¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, observing Zhaozhao¡¯s ordinary little face, her eyes seemingly pure and clear.


    Despite being played, she could still smile so brightly.


    Pavel never expected such a nai?ve creature to appear in his villa.


    The other female servants, wary of his reputation outside, would have probably scrambled to get into his bed by now.


    However, despite having many women over the years, he never touched a single maid in his house, to prevent people from getting ideas about that.

 Chapter 706: 704: Could it be Exposed?

    Chapter 706: Chapter 704: Could it be Exposed?


    This was the first time he took an interest in a female maid in the house.


    Perhaps there were too many self-proclaimed clever people around him, making this seemingly foolish woman particularly noticeable.


    Pavel thought so, walking directly towards a group of servants.


    Almost all the servants present lowered their heads almost in unison, standing aside to make way for Pavel.


    What puzzled them, though, was that Pavel stopped right in front of them, with no intention of passing by at all.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Suddenly, a voice came from above.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought the question was meant for someone else, so she kept her head down.


    As for the others, when they heard the voice, they subconsciously looked up at Pavel, only to see his gaze fixed on Lu Zhaozhao.


    Thus, the person closest to Lu Zhaozhao nudged her with an elbow.


    Startled by the poke, Lu Zhaozhao blankly looked up, only to meet Pavel¡¯s inquisitive stare.


    Almost immediately, she lowered her head again, her entire demeanor becoming a bit flustered.


    Damn!


    She couldn¡¯t have been discovered, could she?


    A brainstorm erupted in her head; Mr. Song had said that if she were ever found out, she should just deny everything staunchly.


    If Pavel became suspicious, he might have her locked up, and then she could be rescued.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, looked up again, and seeing Pavel still staring at her, could only muster an especially rigid smile in response, ¡°My, my name is Zhao.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a nice name. I¡¯m entrusting the young miss to you from now on,¡± Pavel said with a corner of his mouth curled into a kind smile.


    Lu Zhaozhao instantly got goosebumps, ¡°Understood.¡±


    She quickly lowered her head again.


    Seeing her timidity, Pavel did not continue to press the issue.


    Since she was already on his turf, what was the rush?


    Pavel¡¯s dark eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°You¡¯ve all been working hard recently. Starting this month, everyone¡¯s salary will increase by 10%.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, leader!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, leader!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, leader!¡±


    ...


    Upon hearing about the pay raise, everyone forgot their fear, one by one excitedly looking up at Pavel, except Lu Zhaozhao, who maintained her lowered head.


    However, hearing the commotion around her, she dared only to peek up quietly, then, like a rabbit emerging from its hole, she quickly withdrew her little head.


    He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to other women before, but seeing Lu Zhaozhao act this way intrigued him.


    Wouldn¡¯t it be fun to have someone so cute and adorable around him?


    Pavel¡¯s mouth curled up slightly as he turned and left.


    Lu Zhaozhao had no idea Pavel had developed this disgusting interest in her; she was just relieved he hadn¡¯t discovered her.


    Once Pavel had left, she also quickly left to find Song Sinian...


    By the time she got to the kitchen, she saw Song Sinian, who seemed to be on the phone.


    She sat obediently at the side, waiting for him to finish his call before she approached and asked, ¡°What happened? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    They were now in Country E, and the only ones who knew Song Sinian was fine and could still call him were Mr. Song, Zhao Xi, and Pei Huai.


    She was worried that something had happened in the country, which was why someone had called Song Sinian.


    Song Sinian lifted his hand to pinch her nose tip and said, ¡°What are you worrying about? Do you not trust Pei Huai¡¯s ability, or do you doubt grandfather¡¯s acting skills?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ah, this...


    She suddenly did not know how to respond to Song Sinian¡¯s words.


    Whether it was Pei Huai¡¯s ability or Mr. Song¡¯s acting skills, both seemed fine.


    She blinked her puzzled eyes, causing Song Sinian to involuntarily curve his lips, ¡°It was Pei Huai just now. He said that because of my disappearance, the Song Group has already turned into a tripartite stand-off internally.¡±


    ¡°A tripartite stand-off?¡± Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡°Besides Xiao Mo and Feng Jiyue, who else wants the Song Group?¡±


    Song Sinian shrugged, ¡°Feng Xixi, I guess.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    If she remembered correctly, that was the person from their household whom he had previously planted in the Song Group.


    She even harbored such thoughts; it seemed neither Feng Jiyue nor Xiao Mo would settle down.


    Lu Zhaozhao, on the contrary, was no longer worried.


    After all, with Pei Huai in charge, there definitely wouldn¡¯t be any issues.


    ¡°By the way, Mr. Song, when I was coming out just now, I saw Pavel. He actually stopped me to ask my name, I thought my cover was blown!¡± Lu Zhaozhao said this, still with a bit of lingering fear patting her chest.


    Upon hearing this, Song Sinian instantly became alert, ¡°You mean, he just spoke with you alone?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded ceaselessly, ¡°I came out from Zhenzhen¡¯s room just now and happened to meet him in the corridor. He asked me how Zhenzhen was doing, and then he went to the servants and asked for my name, incidentally giving the servants a 10% pay rise.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Song Sinian instantly fell silent, faintly feeling that this matter was not that simple.


    He had originally thought that Lu Zhaozhao, disguising as such a plain and unremarkable figure, would not attract the attention of others, but apparently, she was still noticed by Pavel.


    Song Sinian¡¯s gaze fell upon Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s small face; those eyes as clear as spring water were indeed hard to ignore.


    He felt a bit of a headache pressing his temples. It seemed he had to pay attention to whether Pavel had set his sights on Lu Zhaozhao or not.


    If that was the case, he feared he might have to find a way to get Zhaozhao to leave the villa early.


    Otherwise... he always felt that something bad was waiting for him.


    Seeing Song Sinian not speaking, especially since his complexion had also worsened, Lu Zhaozhao became tense as well, ¡°Mr. Song, I haven¡¯t been exposed, have I?¡±


    Song Sinian shook his head, ¡°If you had been exposed, you would have already been taken away by Pavel¡¯s men and locked up in a dark room.¡±


    ¡°Is there a possibility that he¡¯s playing the long game to catch a big fish?¡± Lu Zhaozhao asked, still not reassured.


    The corners of Song Sinian¡¯s brow twitched slightly. He had to admit that Pavel indeed had the potential of playing the long game to catch a big fish.


    But if there were any fishing to be done, it would be for Lu Zhaozhao, the beautiful siren.


    He pursed his lips, ¡°Just to be on the safe side, try not to be alone with him, alright?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, absolutely!¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded again and again. She did not want the plan to save Xu Zhenzhen to fail because of her own errors.


    Song Sinian rubbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s little head, ¡°Shall we go back, then?¡±


    ¡°Mm,¡± Lu Zhaozhao nodded again as if recalling something, then she asked, ¡°So... as for the situation back home, do you still need to deal with it?¡±


    She had just seen him finish a phone call and was a bit worried that he still had urgent matters to handle.


    Song Sinian shook his head, ¡°No need anymore. Those fools back home are all busy courting the Song Group¡¯s shareholders, with no time for mischief. So there¡¯s really no need to worry.¡±

 Chapter 707: 705: Has the Situation Changed Over There?

    Chapter 707: Chapter 705: Has the Situation Changed Over There?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about how, with Pei Huai holding the fort domestically and Zhao Xi assisting, Mr. Song was certainly safe and sound.


    There really was nothing to worry about.


    She just didn¡¯t know what plan Xiao Mo and Xiao Jinglan were planning to use this time.


    The current situation was somewhat reminiscent of right after Song Sinian¡¯s death in her previous life.


    Only, last time the object of their coercion and bribery was her.


    Now, all that remained was Old Master Song. They couldn¡¯t marry him, so she guessed they were plotting some mischief.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°We must keep a vigilant watch on Grandfather around the clock, including his food, clothing, lodging, and travel. We can¡¯t neglect anything. I don¡¯t know what methods Xiao Jinglan and the others might use, so I¡¯m a bit worried.¡±


    Song Sinian cast a glance at Lu Zhaozhao, thinking about the past life she had mentioned before.


    Looking at Lu Zhaozhao, still with a look of concern on her face, his gaze grew deep, and he raised his hand to rub her little head as he said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry anymore. None of the outcomes of your past life will ever happen again. You just need to stay by my side with peace of mind, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart trembled at his words. It seemed Song Sinian had seen through her thoughts.


    She felt a momentary panic, but quickly regained her composure. What was there to feel panicked about between her and Song Sinian?


    His heart only had space for her.


    And her heart only had space for him.


    She could trust this man before her wholeheartedly.


    Lu Zhaozhao reached out to wrap her arms around Song Sinian¡¯s neck, ¡°Mm, I understand, husband.¡±


    This life, although everything had qualitatively changed for her, deep down she was still subtly influenced by her past life.


    She couldn¡¯t change that, but Song Sinian was doing everything in his power to change it all with his actions.


    A sour feeling rose in Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s heart, this feeling of being enveloped entirely with love, which healed the wounds of her past life every time.


    Even if it was just a little bit each time, one couldn¡¯t overlook the persistence and intensity of this man, Song Sinian.


    She nuzzled her face against his cheek, with a hint of red in her eyes, she said, ¡°Husband, shall we go back?¡±


    Some of the servants at the Pavel villa were live-in.


    But more than half of the servants would return to their own homes after their shift ended.


    Both Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian were able to leave directly after completing their tasks.


    Although Song Sinian was helping in the kitchen, the chefs only had some cleaning up to do after finishing their work, and then they could leave.


    The reason he left late, of course, was to wait for Lu Zhaozhao.


    Now, hearing Lu Zhaozhao say this, of course he agreed without a second thought.


    ¡°Is there anything you¡¯d like to eat later? I¡¯ll have the chef prepare it so it will be ready when we get to the hotel.¡±


    After leaving the Pavel villa with Lu Zhaozhao, Song Sinian drove away.


    The terrain they drove through was quite complex.


    It was precisely because of this that they could exchange cars with dummies in an unoccupied tunnel.


    Then they went to the address they had reported to the Pavlov Family.


    When Lu Zhaozhao first went to the villa where the Pavlov¡¯s house was located, Song Sinian had made these arrangements.


    The purpose was to prevent the Pavlov Family from investigating the identities of Lu Zhaozhao and him and possibly having someone follow them.


    If their whereabouts were exposed, they might be in danger.


    So from the very first day, there had always been one man and one woman living the life of ¡°Pavel¡¯s house servants.¡±


    This was also why Song Sinian felt at ease taking Lu Zhaozhao to the hotel to rest.


    Because Lu Zhaozhao mentioned that Pavel spoke to her, Song Sinian became even more careful.


    No matter what Pavel¡¯s current intentions toward Lu Zhaozhao were, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to harbor thoughts of harming her.


    Of course, Lu Zhaozhao had no idea of Song Sinian¡¯s thoughts, so after a simple tidy up back at the hotel, she went off to have dinner happily.


    Song Sinian watched her carefree appearance with much relief.


    So when Lu Zhaozhao and Wen Qingyu left, he stayed alone in the hotel room¡¯s restaurant.


    The Xia brothers were almost simultaneously staring at Song Sinian, looking at him with serious expressions.


    All this was because Song Sinian had sent them all a message before dinner.


    [Change of plan, come quickly after your meal.]


    So the Xia brothers couldn¡¯t care less about ¡°after the meal¡± and directly came to the hotel before dinner, deciding to just join Lu Zhaozhao and Song Sinian for the evening meal.


    Among them, Xia Wenqing was definitely the most agitated one.


    He had just been talking to Xu Zhenzhen and felt that if things continued, it wasn¡¯t exactly a sure win, but it was quite close to a sure thing.


    Now suddenly receiving Song Sinian¡¯s message, it was strange if he wasn¡¯t nervous.


    ¡°Sinian, has something happened on Zhenzhen¡¯s side, or has there been a change with Pavel?¡± Xia Wenqing didn¡¯t wait for Song Sinian to speak and asked the doubt buried deep in his heart first.


    The first question, in fact, he had an answer to in his heart too.


    If something had gone wrong on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s side, Lu Zhaozhao probably wouldn¡¯t be so calm.


    So the issue definitely lay with Pavel.


    As for what the issue was, they would have to wait for Song Sinian to speak for himself.


    The other Xia brothers, hearing Xia Wenqing¡¯s question, also fixed their gazes directly on Song Sinian.


    Although they had made ample preparations, they could not withstand unforeseen circumstances.


    Song Sinian gently shook his head and then nodded, ¡°Xu Zhenzhen is fine, it¡¯s Pavel¡¯s side that has shown some movement.¡±


    ¡°Movement?¡± Xia Wenmo¡¯s eyebrows lifted a bit. Thinking of Song Sinian¡¯s usual code of conduct, he tentatively asked, ¡°He couldn¡¯t have figured out that our little sister is undercover, right?¡±


    Or was Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s identity discovered?


    As soon as Xia Wenmo said this, Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes suddenly widened a lot, ¡°If Zhaozhao is in danger, then don¡¯t let her continue to go to Pavel¡¯s villa.¡±


    The other Xia brothers did not speak out, but their serious and somber expressions almost simultaneously agreed with Xia Wenyan¡¯s words.


    Song Sinian shook his head again, ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no way to have Zhaozhao leave Pavel¡¯s villa immediately because Pavel has indeed set his sights on Zhaozhao, but... it should not be to question her identity.¡±


    Speaking thus far, he then told everyone present about what Lu Zhaozhao had told him that day.


    The eyes of the Xia brothers all bulged, one by one, followed by the urge to curse out loud.


    ¡°Damn it! That old jerk Pavel doesn¡¯t even consider his own age, how dare he even think about my little sister?!¡±


    Xia Wenyan was the first one who couldn¡¯t restrain himself, cursing out loud.


    What a chap; he had never been so speechless in his life!


    Xia Wenqing was also extremely troubled, his wife being Pavel¡¯s daughter, and now this Old Beden actually took a liking to his sister?


    Isn¡¯t this equivalent to coveting a young girl nearly the same age as his daughter?


    Xia Wenmo¡¯s fists were already clenched hard, ¡°I don¡¯t think we should wait for any side branches, let¡¯s just send in the assassination squad and clear out the entire Pavlov Family!¡±

 Chapter 708: 706: You should be able to do it, right?

    Chapter 708: Chapter 706: You should be able to do it, right?


    ¡°That disgusting old thing actually dared to harbor such filthy thoughts about his own sister.¡±


    ¡°He deserves to die!¡±


    Thankfully, there is still one person in the Xia Family whose IQ and patience are up to par.


    His brows almost knotted as he looked at Song Sinian and asked, ¡°Based on previous investigations of Pavel, he never lays hands on the maids in his own villa.¡±


    There were even quite a few women who, in their desire to climb into Pavel¡¯s bed, schemed within the villa.


    However, after Pavel killed a few to set an example, nobody dared to do so again.


    This wasn¡¯t a rule that had been established over a mere day or two, but a rule that had been unbroken since Pavel became leader, up until now.


    He shouldn¡¯t be the kind of person who would easily break his own rules.


    Of course... if that person was his sister, then it might be a different story.


    After all, his sister is so beautiful and so well-behaved.


    But Xia Wenjue completely forgot one thing, that Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s appearance in Pavel¡¯s villa was a disguise.


    She looked just like an ordinary pretty girl.


    Lu Zhaozhao had even intended to dress down even more, but was informed that the maids in Pavel¡¯s villa were all of exceptional beauty.


    If she looked too plain, it would be conspicuous.


    Naturally, she had to be beautiful, but not too beautiful.


    Song Sinian shrugged his shoulders, ¡°This information is indeed reliable, but it¡¯s not impossible for the other party to change the rules, or... he could find a way to get Zhaozhao out of the villa.¡±


    That way, he wouldn¡¯t spoil his own rules, nor would it affect his prestige.


    Upon hearing Song Sinian say this, Xia Wenjue¡¯s eyes flashed with a sharp light.


    ¡°Does Zhaozhao know about this now?¡±


    He sank into thought, his gaze once again turning to Song Sinian.


    The latter shook his head, ¡°She doesn¡¯t know yet, she¡¯s just a little worried that she may have blown her cover.¡±


    Xia Wenjue quietly breathed a sigh of relief, glad that his sister was so innocent; otherwise, she might have been utterly disgusted by that old thing Pavel.


    Upon hearing this, Xia Wenqing countered with a different opinion, ¡°Should we let Zhaozhao know, so that if he really harbors any ill intentions, she can stay out of his way in advance?¡±


    Xia Wenmo scoffed, ¡°The best method is to make it impossible for him to have such crooked thoughts!¡±


    Xia Wenyan¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this, ¡°Let¡¯s elaborate on that idea!¡±


    Direct, clean, and final!


    Xia Wenjue and Xia Wenqing were somewhat speechless looking at Xia Wenyan, at a loss for how to express their feelings.


    Sure enough, being overly protected can turn one into a naive sweetie.


    They suddenly felt it was a mistake to let Xia Wenyan participate in their small-scale meeting.


    It would have been simpler to let Pei Huai join the video conference directly.


    Xia Wenqing and Xia Wenjue¡¯s disdain was not concealed, and of course, Xia Wenyan saw it all clearly.


    He pouted discontentedly, ¡°I¡¯m just curious, you guys don¡¯t have to look down on me like that. If it comes down to it, I can ask Brother Pei for help too. We solve the problem at its root, and isn¡¯t that all?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xia Wenqing and Xia Wenjue were once again at a loss for words.


    On the contrary, Xia Wenmo calmed down a bit, reached up to rub Xia Wenyan¡¯s head and said, ¡°Alright, we were just speaking out of frustration. If we take action against Pavel, even if we take care of his intentions from the root, trying to strike a second time to save our sister-in-law will become much more difficult.¡±


    Better to wait until they rescue Xu Zhenzhen; then they could roll up their sleeves and go all out!


    As for now, they still needed to wait for Song Sinian to finish explaining the specifics, so they could figure out a plan.


    Xia Wenyan pursed his lips, reluctantly reining in his thoughts, let out a helpless sigh, and rested his chin in his hands as he observed the few people across the table.


    ¡°What should we do now? Pavel won¡¯t give up on my little sister easily.¡±


    They should be clearer about this matter than him.


    They had also been collecting information about Pavel over the past few days.


    As for his evil deeds, they were too numerous to document.


    As for his mistresses, there were simply too many to count.


    Otherwise, Pavel wouldn¡¯t have so many children, nor would he stand by and watch them fight each other to the death without intervening.


    To him, children were easily acquired possessions.


    So he never cherished them.


    To him, children were more like expendable items, with just a little investment, he could have a hoard of them.


    Why would he cherish them?


    He liked children who were fierce and intelligent, so when he saw them competing with each other in secrecy, he never got involved.


    Even unsophisticated tactics had arisen in front of him numerous times, and he completely ignored them.


    And he had lost the ability to have more children due to a car accident.


    That¡¯s when he remembered he had quite a few offspring, but by the time he came to his senses, he found that Xu Zhenzhen was the only child left by his side.


    Otherwise, with Pavel¡¯s character as a playboy, he wouldn¡¯t care so much for Xu Zhenzhen.


    Song Sinian¡¯s dark eyes narrowed, ¡°Since he has set his sights on Zhaozhao, then let¡¯s just make sure he¡¯s too busy to look for Zhaozhao, I think... you guys should be able to do that, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Song Sinian¡¯s comment was phrased as a question, his entitled attitude silenced them all.


    Dare they say they couldn¡¯t do it?


    This mess was originally their fault, and if their beloved sister got hurt now, not only they wouldn¡¯t forgive themselves, but their parents wouldn¡¯t either.


    So, the brothers of the Xia Family exchanged looks and quickly nodded in agreement.


    Creating some trouble for Pavel in business wasn¡¯t a big issue, as his archenemies had already started to encroach on his turf.


    As long as their men disguised themselves as his archenemies and helped snatch some territory, it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem.


    As for other aspects, they could also shift the blame onto his archenemies.


    As for the internal affairs of the Pavlov Family, it was time to push some emerging figures to the surface, putting some pressure on Pavel wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    In short, they had to keep him anxious every day so he wouldn¡¯t have time to pay attention to Lu Zhaozhao!


    The men quickly came to a consensus, and the plan that followed was even simpler.


    So, before late night, the group left one after another.


    Only the night continued on.


    Back in the country.


    Outside the Four Seasons Bar.


    A man blocked a woman¡¯s path, ¡°Meizi!¡±


    Xia Wenjin frowned and turned to look at the man blocking her, her brows nearly knotting.


    She didn¡¯t expect Zhao Qingfeng to come looking for her directly, and her expression inevitably darkened.


    Since coming back from the hospital, Feng Xixi had forbidden her from further contact with Zhao Qingfeng.


    She didn¡¯t understand why, but Feng Xixi told her that if she wanted to take over Song Group, she had to listen to her.


    She had never been one to bother with thinking too much, and now with Feng Xixi in charge, she naturally felt even more at ease.

 Chapter 709: 707: Isnt it Good to Have Money?

    Chapter 709: Chapter 707: Isn¡¯t it Good to Have Money?


    But without Zhao Qingfeng to warm her bed at night, she could only look for other young men.


    This search surprisingly opened a new world to her.


    Previously, she had always been with the Xia Family, and although the men there seldom looked after her, they were unusually unified when it came to her interactions with other men.


    If a man showed affection towards her, he would either disappear the next day or dare not come close to her again.


    At first, she thought it was an isolated case, but seeing that the people around her were all in relationships, she remained alone.


    So, she broke the jar, deciding to seek a man she fancied, hoping to take things further, but she was quickly rejected.


    He even told her the reason the boys in school were unwilling to be intimate with her was because of her several brothers.


    She returned to China, once again becoming the privileged daughter of the Lu Family, a notable figure in the Shangjing Circle, and naturally, she couldn¡¯t act recklessly for the sake of her image.


    But Feng Ya Meizi was different.


    When she was in Country R, she changed boyfriends as frequently as she changed clothes.


    She slept with whomever she wanted, without regard to the person¡¯s background or status.


    That was why she dared to scheme against the Rimu Family Master.


    But she hit an iron plate.


    So, back in China, it was incredibly easy for her to find men.


    She just had to act according to Feng Ya Meizi¡¯s character, and she could have as many men as she wanted!


    Although Xia Wenjin hadn¡¯t sought Zhao Qingfeng these past few days, she still met a few handsome young men in the bar, who were quite impressive.


    Thus, she frequented several major bars in the Shangjing Circle for a few days and was completely captivated.


    She didn¡¯t expect that today, just as she was about to leave with a handsome young man, she was caught by Zhao Qingfeng.


    Xia Wenjin looked a bit guilty at Zhao Qingfeng, feeling as if she was caught cheating.


    But thinking about her current identity, she lifted her chin slightly and asked the man in front, ¡°Is there something you need from me?¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s expression darkened as he looked at the man next to Xia Wenjin, wanting nothing more than to slap her face.


    Could this woman be any more shameless?


    Right after she left the hospital, he went to find her and couldn¡¯t!


    He had inquired repeatedly afterwards, only to find out that this despicable woman had been seducing men outside all these days!


    Xiao Mo wanted to kill her on the spot.


    But now, her public identity was Feng Ya Meizi, and he naturally couldn¡¯t lay a hand on her.


    Xiao Mo had no choice but to stiffly say, ¡°I want to talk to you about the Song Group.¡±


    Xia Wenjin frowned and responded, ¡°I can¡¯t do anything about that matter. I didn¡¯t know Aunt Feng was Song Sinian¡¯s mother. Now that she¡¯s with the Song Family, I don¡¯t have a say. We might as well sit back and watch the fight between Xiao Jinglan and Feng Xiran, then reap the benefits afterward!¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s mouth twitched, wishing he could kick this woman to death.


    Are you asking him to battle Song Sinian¡¯s mother to death?


    She really dared to think!


    He had thought that by impersonating Zhao Qingfeng, he could quickly conquer Feng Ya Meizi.


    With Song Sinian¡¯s fate uncertain, this was a perfect opportunity.


    He could use this foolish woman and the influence of the Feng Ya Family to ascend to the president¡¯s position of the Song Group.


    But now, not only had he not secured that position, but Song Sinian¡¯s biological mother had also appeared out of nowhere!


    He had secretly had someone perform a DNA test on this woman; she indeed shared a blood relation with the Feng Family.


    Xiao Mo was also a bit shocked when he received this result.


    He had always thought that Feng Xiran was a fake sent by the Fengya Family, just like Xia Wenjin and Zhao Qingfeng.


    He even thought about seizing control of this fake, thinking the rest would then be easy to handle.


    He never expected her to be real!


    With no other option, Xiao Mo had to seek out Xia Wenjin.


    He never expected to see such a ruthless side of her, and Xiao Mo was almost biting his teeth in anger.


    ¡°Meizi, we must talk about this, and I¡¯ve noticed that the Feng family has already started making moves, if we don¡¯t prepare, I¡¯m afraid the Song Group will fall into the hands of the Feng family...¡±


    He deliberately lowered his voice, making the situation sound a bit more severe.


    Xia Wenjin¡¯s brow furrowed as she glanced at the handsome young man beside her, hesitating for a moment.


    ¡°Meizi, you can go out and have fun anytime, but if this thing fails...¡± seeing that her thoughts were still on someone else, Xiao Mo suppressed the impulse to lose his temper and slowly began persuading her.


    The handsome young man next to Xia Wenjin was also a bit unhappy.


    He had been eyeing Xia Wenjin these past few days, knowing she was a generous spender.


    The men she had taken out before all came back with a lot of money.


    Today was finally his turn, and now someone was competing with him!


    The handsome young man¡¯s face darkened, and he stepped forward, draping his arm over Xia Wenjin¡¯s saying, ¡°Oh, sister, who is this big brother, why is he stopping you, I¡¯m so scared, will the brother hit me?¡±


    Seeing this, Xia Wenjin quickly patted him reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he... he¡¯s a friend of mine. I have some things to deal with today, but I¡¯ll come find you after.¡±


    As she spoke, she directly handed her card to the handsome young man, ¡°Here, go buy something you like for today, I¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡±


    These past few days, she had tasted the company of several handsome men, but this one especially struck her fancy.


    How could she give him up easily just because of Zhao Qingfeng?


    But the matter of the Song Group really was a hot potato; if not handled properly, her comfort in the days ahead might suffer.


    Considering this, Xia Wenjin stuffed another card with her contact information into the handsome young man¡¯s hand, ¡°Here, remember to contact me, be good.¡±


    The handsome young man originally just wanted to cling to this woman for money, and now that he had the money and didn¡¯t need to serve her, he was naturally happy.


    ¡°Then alright, don¡¯t forget about me, otherwise I will be so sad I could die crying,¡± he said, shaking the black card, ¡°And... if I accidentally spend too much...¡±


    Xia Wenjin was not one to fret over money, she waved it off generously, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you are my darling now, buy whatever you want.¡±


    The handsome young man then nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Then thank you, sister. See you~¡±


    With that, he waved at Xia Wenjin and immediately turned to indulge in his shopping.


    Having the card in hand and not spending it would be foolish.


    This woman was clearly just for fun, who knew when she would tire of him.


    If he didn¡¯t spend now, he might not have the chance later.


    He wasn¡¯t naive enough to expect this woman to settle down and marry him.


    Is money not nice?


    Tsk tsk...


    Xiao Mo watched the handsome young man take Xia Wenjin¡¯s card and leave, his face so ugly it could drip water.


    He had been with Xia Wenjin for so long and had never seen her be so generous with him.


    Instead, when Zhao Qingfeng was with her, she had coaxed him and bought him quite a few things.


    And him...

 Chapter 710: 708: Just How Powerful Is He!

    Chapter 710: Chapter 708: Just How Powerful Is He!


    When Zhao Qingfeng was around, Xia Wenjin couldn¡¯t wait to see him every day, but after he turned into him, that woman actually went to find other men?


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face darkened considerably at the thought of this differential treatment.


    Could it be that he really doesn¡¯t cut it?


    Xiao Mo would never admit it!


    Definitely not!


    It¡¯s all because Xia Wenjin is too flirtatious!


    She went to find another man because she was tired of Zhao Qingfeng, and it had nothing to do with his skills!


    Xia Wenjin saw the handsome young man leave, glanced at Xiao Mo, and tilted her chin up at him, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s talk about this matter at my hotel.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xiao Mo¡¯s face brightened up just a bit.


    See, he knew this woman was flirtatious.


    Now that the handsome young man was gone, she still wanted him to go to the hotel.


    Ha! Women!


    Xiao Mo drove Xia Wenjin to her hotel, and as soon as they entered the room, Xia Wenjin sat down on the sofa and looked up at Xiao Mo asking, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What exactly is the situation with the Feng family now?¡±


    Was she really just asking him about the Feng family¡¯s situation, not wanting to do something with him?


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face soured quite a bit and he coughed lightly before asking, ¡°The man who was with you today isn¡¯t here. Do you need me to do something?¡±


    He certainly didn¡¯t have a man¡¯s pride in that respect; after all, who he slept with didn¡¯t matter.


    But to his surprise, Xia Wenjin looked at him with disdain and then quickly masked her expression.


    This Zhao Qingfeng, she didn¡¯t know what was going on with him. Before, he had served her quite well. Since he got involved with the Song family business, he could never fully satisfy her.


    She didn¡¯t have the patience to accommodate such a man. She was paying for Zhao Qingfeng; why should she put up with him?


    ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood today. Just talk about the Feng family, alright?¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s face turned even darker.


    He hadn¡¯t expected his previous suspicion to become reality; Xia Wenjin really did despise him in that aspect.


    And to dismiss him by saying she wasn¡¯t in the mood?


    How dare such a strumpet like Xia Wenjin compare herself?


    He sat down next to Xia Wenjin with a cold expression and began slowly, ¡°Feng Xiran is Feng family¡¯s daughter, and I¡¯ve heard she always followed the Feng family¡¯s orders to the letter. Now that the Feng family¡¯s grandson has come to Song Group to claim the inheritance, how could she not stand by her own nephew?¡±


    Xia Wenjin was clearly taken aback. Feng Xiran was on Fengya Ichiro¡¯s side, and they would definitely take over Song Group using her identity.


    As for whether Song Group should be managed by Xiao Mo or Feng Jiyue, Fengya Ichiro probably hadn¡¯t mentioned.


    If Feng Xiran really had her own agenda, she might indeed choose the Feng family.


    So, his concerns were not unfounded.


    Seeing Xia Wenjin deep in thought next to the sofa, Xiao Mo knew she hadn¡¯t yet reached the point of being hopelessly foolish.


    He had to seize the moment while she still had a bit of sense left, to spur her into helping him fight for the Song Group¡¯s assets.


    ¡°If you¡¯re on good terms with Feng Xiran, you could beat around the bush and ask her what she¡¯s really planning to do. If she really intends to strike at Xiao Jinglan, it¡¯s pretty much the same as kicking me out of the line of succession. After all, I¡¯m currently recognized as Xiao Jinglan¡¯s son, but in reality, I¡¯m your man. Don¡¯t you want to get your hands on the assets of the Song Family?¡±


    Xiao Mo gently and skillfully enticed her, attempting to link her interests with Xia Wenjin¡¯s.


    After all, this woman was foolishly naive, and he knew she would only side with him if he talked about issues directly related to her.


    Otherwise, it would be a complete waste of effort.


    At this point, Xia Wenjin also came back to her senses, ¡°You¡¯re right, you are my man. If Feng Xiran lays a finger on you, she¡¯s picking a fight with me!¡±


    She had simply wanted to make things easy for herself by letting Feng Xiran deal with the mess at the Song Group.


    But now it seemed that she and he were not on the same page, and it was possible that the real Feng Ya Meizi was scheming behind Feng Xiran¡¯s back.


    Then in the end, her efforts would be all for naught.


    The more Xia Wenjin thought about it, the more anxious she became. Meeting Xiao Mo¡¯s gaze, her frown deepened, ¡°So, what do you have in mind right now?¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s lips slightly curved up in a shadow of a smile, then he spoke slowly and deliberately, ¡°I am, after all, your man, and I¡¯ll definitely stand by you. Besides, only you know my true identity, so it¡¯s just the two of us tethered together.¡±


    He continued to brainwash Xia Wenjin, trying to draw her over to his camp.


    After pondering for a moment, Xia Wenjin nodded repeatedly, ¡°You¡¯re right, what¡¯s your plan then?¡±


    ¡°Just like I said before, find out what exactly Feng Xixi plans to do, so we can be prepared. While she still trusts you, we can¡¯t fight an unprepared battle,¡± Xiao Mo shared his thoughts with Xia Wenjin.


    Seeing that her expression remained grave, he raised his hand and patted her back, saying, ¡°You don¡¯t want the Song Family¡¯s big fat asset to fall into somebody else¡¯s hands, do you? If the Feng family gets their hands on the inheritance of the Song Group, they¡¯ll definitely kick me out right away, and then you won¡¯t benefit either.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Although Xia Wenjin didn¡¯t speak, she subconsciously felt that what Xiao Mo said made sense.


    Her relationship with Feng Xiran was one of mutual use. Aligning herself with Fengya Ichiro, it was impossible to let real power fall into her hands.


    Perhaps Feng Xiran might even play a double game with Fengya Ichiro, claiming it was all Xia Wenjin¡¯s doing, while she herself stood by idly.


    In the end, all the gains would be Feng Xiran¡¯s, and all the blame would be hers, it wasn¡¯t without possibility.


    Seeing that Xia Wenjin had fallen silent, Xiao Mo knew she had taken in what he had said, and he couldn¡¯t help feeling a surge of triumph inside.


    But he kept a calm appearance on the surface.


    ¡°Meizi, I¡¯m saying all this for the sake of our future together. You know, I am completely devoted to you now.¡±


    Xiao Mo spoke as he reached out to grasp Xia Wenjin¡¯s wrist and caressed it with underlying intentions.


    Xia Wenjin, of course, understood Xiao Mo¡¯s implications but, considering that their previous interactions hadn¡¯t been all that satisfying, she was somewhat reluctant.


    The joy on Xiao Mo¡¯s face paused, and he gritted his teeth; unwilling as he was, he still took out what Zhao Qingfeng had recommended to him from his pocket.


    After swallowing it, he felt the fire within him burn even fiercer.


    ¡°I know I¡¯ve been a bit neglectful of you lately, caught up in outside matters, but don¡¯t worry, tonight I¡¯ll make sure you get more than your money¡¯s worth.¡±


    Xiao Mo¡¯s words were loaded with meaning. After a moment of silence, Xia Wenjin still stretched out her hand in a half acceptance and placed it in Xiao Mo¡¯s palm.


    Together, they proceeded to the bedroom where Xiao Mo, caring not for a shower, pushed Xia Wenjin onto the bed and vented the frustration that had been building up for days.


    He was determined to show Xia Wenjin just how formidable he could be!

 Chapter 711: 709 Hard to Move an Inch?

    Chapter 711: Chapter 709 Hard to Move an Inch?


    E country, at noon.


    For several days, Pavel had been very irritable.


    He had been out handling business recently, and repeatedly, some short-sighted people had offered him women.


    Especially those from the collateral branches, whom he usually regarded as insignificant ants, dared to try to please him using women.


    Did he look like someone desperate for sex?


    The more Pavel thought about it, the more irritated he became, especially when facing those women who wanted to climb into his bed, their eyes full of scheming.


    He could not muster any interest in them, so after finishing his work outside, he returned to the villa.


    This place was usually where Xu Zhenzhen was kept; he seldom came here unless it was to find her, to make her submit.


    But inexplicably, he really wanted to come here.


    So, he did.


    As soon as he entered the villa, his gaze began searching all around.


    But when one maid after another passed by him, and he still had not seen the person he wanted to see,


    his frown deepened even more.


    ¡°Where is the young lady now?¡± Pavel¡¯s expression darkened as he casually grabbed a passing servant and asked.


    If he remembered correctly, he had asked that young maid to take care of Xu Zhenzhen.


    Perhaps the two of them were together now.


    Thinking this, Pavel¡¯s expression visibly lightened.


    The surprised maid, grabbed by him, assumed he had urgent business with Xu Zhenzhen, so she hurriedly replied, ¡°The, the young lady is having afternoon tea in the back garden, and she, she doesn¡¯t want to be disturbed.¡±


    Afternoon tea?


    And doesn¡¯t want to be disturbed?


    Pavel grew even more curious and leisurely walked toward the back garden.


    As expected, he saw the figure he had wanted to see on the corridor of the back garden.


    She was happily eating a small cake, her beautiful eyes curving into smiling arcs.


    And Xu Zhenzhen, sitting opposite her, obviously appeared to be in much better spirits.


    Both were smiling at each other, leisurely enjoying their cakes.


    The relaxed atmosphere made him unable to resist approaching.


    Unconsciously, Pavel moved forward, seemingly wanting to join the two women for afternoon tea.


    Xu Zhenzhen, however, had noticed someone watching them the instant Pavel appeared in the corridor.


    When she turned her head back, she saw Pavel approaching them and her brows furrowed immediately, the smile on her face vanishing in an instant.


    Lu Zhaozhao, not knowing why, followed her gaze, and then realized that Pavel had appeared.


    She had thought her brothers had already found a way to keep him preoccupied.


    But the present situation wasn¡¯t too bad; at least Pavel hadn¡¯t appeared in the past few days.


    She quickly got up and bowed her head, ¡°Leader.¡±


    Hearing this address, Pavel visibly frowned, appearing somewhat displeased.


    Xu Zhenzhen still thought Pavel was displeased with Lu Zhaozhao eating pastries with him.


    After all, he had emphasized to her before, how noble people in the Pavlov family were, and how could they sit together with those lowly people?


    She almost subconsciously defended Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°It was my own suggestion to have her join me for cake, if you have any problem, direct it at me, not her.¡±


    Pavel¡¯s contemplative expression suddenly turned even uglier.


    However, he immediately clarified to Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°I didn¡¯t actually mean to lose my temper at her; I just thought the atmosphere of you two girls enjoying pastries was nice, so I wanted to join.¡±


    As Pavel said this, he turned his gaze directly toward Lu Zhaozhao and earnestly said, ¡°You have to believe me, I truly didn¡¯t mean any harm. You don¡¯t need to be so nervous or afraid of me.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Zhenzhen looked at Pavel with a face as if she had seen a ghost.


    No way, is he sick?


    That gentle demeanor he just put on, who is he trying to disgust to death?


    Just as Xu Zhenzhen was about to mock him, something suddenly occurred to her, and her face instantly turned pale.


    Was this old lecher Pavel taking a liking to their Zhaozhao?


    Her eyebrows couldn¡¯t help but furrow. Even though Zhaozhao had concealed most of her beauty, this old thing still took an interest?


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t deny it, notably, their Zhaozhao did possess charm, especially those expressive eyes that were quite mesmerizing.


    Taking a deep breath, she pretended not to understand and placed herself in front of Lu Zhaozhao, staring directly at him, ¡°She¡¯s timid and not used to being around you. If you have something to say, say it quickly.¡±


    Upon hearing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words, a clear hint of displeasure crossed Pavel¡¯s face.


    What does she mean, not used to being with him?


    Isn¡¯t this something that gets easier the more they get used to each other?


    His expression darkened, and he spoke as if consulting with her, ¡°You have been staying at home these past few days and haven¡¯t continued to meet the matchmaking candidates I¡¯ve arranged for you. Prepare in the next few days and go see some other excellent men, and see if any suit your taste.¡±


    Although Pavel said this, his eyes remained fixed on Lu Zhaozhao.


    Watching her standing next to Xu Zhenzhen, panicked and frightened, completely different from earlier.


    He simply pulled a sincere-looking smile, and said, ¡°I saw you eating cake earlier. Do you really like sweets?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s lips twitched, wishing she could slap him across the face.


    Beside her, Lu Zhaozhao was going through a fog, but from what Pavel just said, was he just trying to please her?


    An old man nearly her father¡¯s age... trying to appease her with material things?


    Lu Zhaozhao thought about his ultimate goal and almost vomited on the spot.


    Fortunately, she kept her head down, or she really couldn¡¯t ensure that she wouldn¡¯t vomit directly in Pavel¡¯s face.


    But a man like Pavel, accustomed to being in a high position, hardly considered other people¡¯s thoughts.


    As long as he was happy, naturally, he would have whatever he wanted.


    Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips, took a step back, and shook her head.


    Now, she had to pretend to be a dead person, so he would think she was just like any other maid, and he would likely stop thinking these unnecessary thoughts.


    But ironically, this very avoidance by Lu Zhaozhao piqued Pavel¡¯s interest. Previously, if any maid in his villa heard him speaking nicely, they would try to make their presence felt in front of him.


    Now he was giving this young woman a chance, waiting to see how she would seize it.


    Watching Pavel¡¯s determined expression, Xu Zhenzheng¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°If I agree to go out to meet other matchmaking candidates, does that mean you will stop meddling in my affairs?¡±


    Pavel, whose attention had finally returned from Lu Zhaozhao, looked back at Xu Zhenzhen, ¡°What? You think I¡¯m meddling in your affairs? I¡¯m obviously concerned about you. Do you realize how prestigious your status is as the sole young lady of Pavel¡¯s house?¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but snort coldly, ¡°No matter how prestigious, I¡¯m still locked in a villa and can hardly take a step outside, am I not?¡±

 Chapter 712: 710: Must Not Sacrifice the Greater Good for Small Gains

    Chapter 712: Chapter 710: Must Not Sacrifice the Greater Good for Small Gains


    Pavel¡¯s expression darkened instantly, ¡°If you had stayed in Country E like you were supposed to, would I have gone through so much trouble to bring you back?¡±


    ¡°If you had obediently stayed put and been a good daughter, would I have locked you up?¡±


    ¡°Now you live in luxury and still want so much, Xu Zhenzhen, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being excessive?¡±


    Every sentence he said seemed like an explanation, but in fact, they were all questions accusing Xu Zhenzhen, blaming her for being unreasonable.


    He was obviously trying to employ PUA tactics on Xu Zhenzhen, wanting to coerce her into being a good daughter under his threats.


    He even wanted her to feel like this inhumane confinement was a form of endearment.


    Lu Zhaozhao listened with a frown, thinking to herself that indeed, every bully has their own twisted logic.


    She silently sighed and continued to hide behind Xu Zhenzhen, pretending to be a maid who was shocked by the situation.


    She would avoid attracting Pavel¡¯s attention as much as possible right now.


    Xu Zhenzhen, on the other hand, was quite adept at resisting PUA tactics.


    She sneered, ¡°Back then, with so many children around you, one more or one less made no difference. If I had stayed here, I might already be buried here by now. You¡¯d probably be out of children entirely.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pavel¡¯s face turned even uglier.


    Because he couldn¡¯t deny it, what she said was quite possibly the truth.


    Seeing this, Xu Zhenzhen became even bolder, ¡°You say you want me to obediently listen and be your good daughter, but you¡¯ve never treated me as one. Have you ever seen a father who locks up his own daughter at home and has so many people watching her?¡±


    Her voice was full of sarcasm, not leaving Pavel any dignity at all.


    What a joke! Why should she save any face for him at a time like this?


    If she gave him any more credit, he¡¯d be showing off in front of her best friend!


    Lu Zhaozhao was her precious treasure; a scumbag like her father didn¡¯t deserve it!


    He didn¡¯t even deserve to have those sorts of thoughts about her!


    Someone like Pavel, the scum of the earth, should be disposed of directly.


    Leaving him in this world was a waste of air.


    Xu Zhenzhen thought about how she could have been living peacefully in her own country, but because of his selfishness, she and Xia Wenqing had to endure being separated by distance.


    If he hadn¡¯t made a move on Lu Zhaozhao again, she might have had to watch Xia Wenqing be torn from his flesh and blood with her own eyes.


    ¡°If being locked in a prison with food and drink is your idea of luxury, then why don¡¯t you try it out yourself? Not everyone is as shameless as you!¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen mercilessly tore away Pavel¡¯s fig leaf, looking at him arrogantly, ¡°If you¡¯ve got no further business, please leave now. I don¡¯t want to see you at the moment, and I will take care of the matters you mentioned earlier. Just don¡¯t force the issue of familial affection in front of me anymore.¡±


    Pavel¡¯s face turned exceedingly ugly due to Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s taunts.


    He had originally wanted to show off his personal charm in front of Lu Zhaozhao, but he didn¡¯t expect to end up so defeated.


    Since she was his only daughter and he wanted her to bear a worthy heir, he still needed time and her healthy body.


    So, even though Pavel was incredibly annoyed, he could only glare at her fiercely.


    His gaze turned towards Lu Zhaozhao, and he slowly said, ¡°Since the young lady is not in a good mood, come with me and leave.¡±


    He just happened to be able to talk to the little maid alone.


    He felt that with his personal charm, she would soon be throwing herself into his arms.


    When that happened, all he had to do was find an excuse to dismiss her, then have her reappear by his side in a different identity.


    As long as the little woman was willing, he wouldn¡¯t mind, playing with her for a while longer, after all, it had been quite some time since he had taken such a liking to someone.


    Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat speechless and pursed her lips. It was absurd meeting someone even more absurd, utterly speechless.


    Xu Zhenzhen had told him to get lost, yet he still wanted to drag her into this?


    What kind of international joke was this?


    ¡°I just said that I wanted you to leave, and didn¡¯t say to make the maid leave; she serves me well and will continue to be my personal maid,¡± Xu Zhenzhen deliberately provoked Pavel, ¡°You just said that you regard me as a daughter, surely... it¡¯s not that your daughter can¡¯t even have her own personal maid, is it?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pavel¡¯s expression darkened even more.


    As the young mistress of the Pavlov Family, wanting a maid was naturally as easy as lifting a finger.


    But her insistence on this little maid in particular, clearly because she saw his interest, was an obvious attempt to provoke him.


    So immature!


    However, her childish behavior only proved that she was easy to control.


    Easily swayed by emotions.


    Therefore, Pavel didn¡¯t take it too much to heart; after all, he was certain to get that little maid, it was just a matter of time.


    Pavel forced a stiff smile, ¡°Since you like her so much, let her be your personal maid. Though you can¡¯t play this kind of childish game many times.¡±


    ¡°Not many times is fine, as long as it works,¡± Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s unyielding attitude only caused the corners of Pavel¡¯s mouth to curve up slightly.


    Such a tough spirited attitude was truly characteristic of his Pavlov blood, just still a bit too weak.


    The heir he wanted needed to have a wildness like his own; only someone bloodthirsty could deter the Pavlov Family.


    He didn¡¯t want to see, after his departure, the Pavlov Family become a mess, and he certainly didn¡¯t wish to see the empire he had painstakingly built fall into the hands of others.


    Pavel glanced at Xu Zhenzhen indifferently, ¡°I advise you to recognize your status early on, and not to do things that would disgrace the Pavlov family.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen didn¡¯t care about his words in the slightest and instead retorted coldly, ¡°The things you have done, aren¡¯t they disgraceful enough to the Pavlov Family? There¡¯s probably nobody in the entire Pawar Family quite like you, right?¡±


    Of course, Pavel knew what Xu Zhenzhen was hinting at, referring to the incident where his illegitimate children nearly didn¡¯t survive.


    He originally didn¡¯t care, but after being repeatedly pointed out, he started to get annoyed, especially by Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s provocations, which irritated him even more.


    Pavel¡¯s expression suddenly turned grim, and he sneered, ¡°You seem to have forgotten that I still have your good friend in my grasp. With you so carried away, aren¡¯t you afraid of what I might do to her?¡±


    The sarcastic smile on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face immediately faded; she had almost forgotten about that.


    Although Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t been caught, there was still someone impersonating her who was confined by Pavel. If she annoyed Pavel, he might very likely take it out on the impersonator.


    If anything was discovered at that time, it would still eventually be Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s misfortune; she absolutely couldn¡¯t let a small advantage lead to a great loss.


    Pavel saw her expression change drastically and thought that his warning had taken effect.


    The corners of his mouth lifted in satisfaction as he slowly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I always keep my word. As long as you behave, I definitely won¡¯t give her a hard time.¡±

 Chapter 713: 711 Its Up to You

    Chapter 713: Chapter 711 It¡¯s Up to You


    Xu Zhenzhen couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes internally, ¡°I trust you my ass.¡±


    Well-behaved or not, he would not treat her any better.


    After all, to Pavel, she was nothing more than a tool.


    Xu Zhenzhen knew she couldn¡¯t afford to anger Pavel, so she just furrowed her brows, ¡°When exactly do you plan to let her go?¡±


    Pavel chuckled lightly, ¡°That depends on you, not me.¡±


    He knew he couldn¡¯t maintain a friendly image any longer in front of the little maid, so as a man with high status and power, it was time to showcase his authority and capability.


    If all else failed, coercion and bribery seemed good too.


    Xu Zhenzhen glared at Pavel, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean. Am I not already here? Could I possibly run away?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. I¡¯ve never been one to trust verbal agreements. I¡¯m more concerned with what kind of leverage I hold,¡± Pavel said, laughing lightly as he completely disregarded her words.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brow furrowed further, unable to imagine¡ªif Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t discovered the people Pavel had sent early on, she would have been the one suffering in Country E.


    She pursed her lips and spoke again, ¡°To what extent do you expect me to comply?¡±


    Her tone was no longer as aggressive as before, and Pavel, seeming much more pleased now, raised his eyebrow.


    ¡°Just find a suitable husband to marry and have a child, then I will let your friend go.¡±


    His voice carried a hint of disdain, as if he was granting her a great favor.


    Xu Zhenzhen snorted in contempt deep down, wanting to punch this old fool on the spot.


    But they had to keep a low profile now, so she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I still need to be selective...¡±


    She didn¡¯t know the plans of the Xia Family and the Song Family at this point, so she could only try to delay for as long as possible.


    If she agreed too quickly, Pavel might suspect something, so her response served dual purposes.


    Since Pavel wouldn¡¯t suspect she had other motives and thought her incapable and desperate, struggling in vain, it would also buy her some time.


    She looked up at Pavel and saw a hint of smugness on his face, as expected.


    ¡°Fine, take your time choosing, but remember, the longer it takes for you to complete these tasks, the longer your friend will have to stay in Country E...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    This bastard threatened her again!


    Pavel, seeing that Xu Zhenzhen had stopped talking, smirked and his gaze shifted to Lu Zhaozhao standing behind her.


    ¡°Zhao, come here, I...¡±


    ¡°Buzz buzz buzz...¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, his phone in his pocket started vibrating frantically.


    Pavel frowned in displeasure, glanced at the caller ID, then turned away to answer the call.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    The call was from his trusted subordinate, Niezuo, who usually handled most of his affairs.


    Niezuo was capable and skilled.


    Pavel had always been confident in him.


    Normally, he wouldn¡¯t call him unless it was something complicated.


    So, seeing the caller ID, Pavel didn¡¯t hesitate to answer right away.


    ¡°Leader, our group¡¯s largest entertainment company has been exposed with negative publicity, and now the scandals are flying everywhere. A lot of people are attacking our group,¡±


    Niezuo¡¯s voice seemed anxious over the phone.


    This made Pavel furrow his brows, ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time such a thing has happened. It¡¯s just some scandals being exposed, what¡¯s there to panic about?¡±


    He was clearly unhappy about being interrupted while dealing with other matters, so Pavel¡¯s tone was not very pleasant.


    Niezuo, not having much choice, continued, ¡°Leader, it¡¯s different this time. Our company¡¯s website was hacked, and internal documents have leaked...¡±


    Of course, they were all scandals.


    Pavel¡¯s eyes widened instantly, ¡°What are the group¡¯s network security engineers being paid for?! Have I spent all that money on their training just for the firewall to be this vulnerable?!¡±


    Thinking of the internal scandals being dug out, his expression grew very grim, ¡°Let the PR department handle it first, then spend money to suppress the publicity. Also, find some shocking news from other companies¡¯ popular celebrities to distract from this situation!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Niezuo¡¯s expression looked even worse, ¡°Leader, these emergency measures have already been taken, but now the netizens have issues with our group, and reducing the heat is having no effect...¡±


    Pavel grew even more irritable, ¡°I don¡¯t care what the netizens are whispering, I want these trending searches to disappear from the list! What the netizens say doesn¡¯t matter to me, I couldn¡¯t care less!¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°But what? Can¡¯t you just get to the point in one go?¡± Pavel was especially annoyed, especially hearing Niezuo always hesitating.


    The man who used to handle things so boldly, how could he be so hesitant now?


    Niezuo, sensing that Pavel was truly angry, finally began to speak slowly, ¡°After the scandals were exposed, the authorities began to investigate the authenticity thoroughly, and now netizens are paying close attention, making it difficult to divert their focus.¡±


    ¡°If it can¡¯t be diverted, then stall! In the meantime, deal with all those who pose a great threat to the group.¡±


    He irritably rubbed his temples, as if suddenly remembering something, then continued to instruct, ¡°Make sure it¡¯s clean, don¡¯t let anyone catch any more leverage.¡±


    Niezuo was now even more hesitant to speak.


    Pavel irritatedly gestured, ¡°Pavel, did you not hear what I just said?¡±


    Niezuo quickly responded, ¡°I heard, but the people who went to ship goods haven¡¯t returned yet.¡±


    He actually wanted to wait a bit longer before reporting this to Pavel.


    But he couldn¡¯t help linking all these incidents now that so many had occurred in the group; he always felt like their group was being targeted.


    He couldn¡¯t believe that someone would dare to openly target the Pavlov Family.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Pavel couldn¡¯t believe his own ears, ¡°What do you mean, those who went to ship the goods haven¡¯t returned yet?¡±


    In the Pavlov Family, dealing with this kind of illegal yet profitable business was entrusted only to a few trusted subordinate, each of them brave, wise, and capable.


    Pavel found it hard to believe that they would all disappear simultaneously.


    If such a thing really happened, that could only mean one thing¡ªthey had been double-crossed.


    The thought made Pavel¡¯s expression even grimmer, was there someone daring to mess with his people on his turf?

 Chapter 714: 712: Dont Let the Fire Burn Him

    Chapter 714: Chapter 712: Don¡¯t Let the Fire Burn Him


    This is simply preposterous, an insult to him!


    Niezuo steeled himself and continued, ¡°Ever since the last trip to the trade location, there hasn¡¯t been any sign of them.¡±


    He had his suspicions but dared not express them directly. Understanding Pavel¡¯s temperament, if something unfavorable was self-conjectured, it was bearable, but if reported by a subordinate, that subordinate might also face misfortune.


    That¡¯s also why he hadn¡¯t outright mentioned the double-crossing before.


    Niezuo wasn¡¯t worried about Pavel blaming him for not reporting the truth since those who were captured hadn¡¯t returned yet, and whether they could return at all remained uncertain.


    Moreover, once they did return, Pavel would likely not use them again, so Niezuo was not the least bit panicked.


    Their leader had always been ruthlessly iron-fisted, discarding the useless as effortlessly as putting on shoes.


    As his close subordinate, he was all too aware of this.


    All he hoped for now was that Pavel¡¯s wrath wouldn¡¯t extend to him¡ªthe rest was out of his control.


    ¡°Have there been any moves from the side branch recently?¡± Pavel¡¯s eyes narrowed, his face displeased as he glanced at his phone, his voice growing colder.


    He didn¡¯t believe this was leaderless, just unsure whether it was someone inside or outside.


    Nevertheless, it would be best for all concerned if he didn¡¯t catch them, or he would make them wish for death!


    He would make them regret scheming against him!


    After a moment of thought, Niezuo slowly said, ¡°There¡¯s been frequent activity among the people from the side branch recently, but I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s related to this matter.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t sure either, but if Pavel decided to pin this on the side branch, it wasn¡¯t a bad option.


    As long as he wasn¡¯t blamed, anyone else would do.


    Because of what Niezuo said, Pavel already focused his suspicion on those particularly active guys from the side branch.


    He had planned to find an opportunity to deal with these arrogant fools.


    He hadn¡¯t anticipated that they would dare strike at the core of the Pavel Group!


    ¡°I¡¯m going there now, take me to the scene immediately,¡± Pavel said, not believing these people could just vanish, there must be someone interfering.


    Even if the people couldn¡¯t be found, that batch of goods must be recovered, or their losses would be severe.


    Pavel was no longer in the mood to toy with the young maid.


    He glanced at Xu Zhenzhen, then hurried off, leaving Zhenzhen inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, Pavel had left; she was worried if he continued to stay, she might not be able to keep up her act.


    Xu Zhenzhen patted her chest, still shaken as she looked at Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°Zhaozhao, you must find a way to leave here quickly, do not stay in the villa anymore. I am safe here, so don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    She knew Lu Zhaozhao had stayed because of her, but she couldn¡¯t let her presence become a threat to her.


    Especially with someone as unpredictable as Pavel, who knows what heinous acts he could commit.


    Lu Zhaozhao patted Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s shoulder, reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s already left, hasn¡¯t he? All of this is within the plans of our second brother. Just focus on your pregnancy.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen visibly froze, seemingly uncertain of the meaning behind the words she had just said. Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but lightly laugh, ¡°Didn¡¯t you think Pavel looked really unwell when he just left?¡±


    It was definitely the handiwork of his older brothers taking effect.


    Although she didn¡¯t know the details of the plan, she was aware of the overall direction.


    What they needed to do now was to first destroy the self-perceived invincibility of the Pavel Group, and only by delivering critical blows in all respects could they make this man so irritable that he lost all reason.


    Having just seen the dark look on Pavel¡¯s face, they were already halfway successful.


    Xu Zhenzhen blinked for quite a while before she came back to her senses, ¡°You mean Pavel was so angry just now because of what the second brother did...¡±


    She paused slightly, immediately asking a bit nervously, ¡°What did they do? Is there any danger?¡±


    She knew that the businesses Pavel ran involved many shady dealings, and if they had done something, it certainly must be connected to this affair and would be very dangerous.


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at her wrinkled little face and sighed helplessly, patting the back of her hand, ¡°They must have thought through their plans thoroughly, on how to get out safely, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    In fact, Lu Zhaozhao had a vague idea that what her third brother had taken over from their father was no ordinary matter.


    And in some aspects, it wasn¡¯t much different from the Pavlov Family.


    But she didn¡¯t want to tell Xu Zhenzhen, fearing she would worry, especially since she was pregnant and couldn¡¯t handle too much stress, so it was better to talk about gentler things.


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Lu Zhaozhao half-believing, half-doubting; her gaze was so sincere that Xu Zhenzhen found it hard to question further.


    Seeing Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s mood still low, Lu Zhaozhao, as if suddenly remembering something, took out her phone from her pocket and offered it to her, ¡°Zhenzhen, let me show you something interesting.¡±


    Xu Zhenzhen glanced up, not wanting to spoil the atmosphere, and looked along Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s phone.


    On her phone screen was a map, which also displayed a small red dot that moved farther away from the villa, causing the map scale to increase continuously.


    Xu Zhenzhen clearly stunned, and it took her a while to realize belatedly, ¡°This... is this Pavel?¡±


    She spoke softly, wary, and she cautiously scanned the surroundings.


    She had been worried that there would be cameras prepared by Pavel here, but Lu Zhaozhao had assured her that Pavel was very confident in himself.


    He believed he had grasped her weakness, so he disdained the use of surveillance.


    Additionally, since Pavel used to stay here, he disliked it when his privacy could be exposed in his own residence.


    After all, what he trusted most was never his subordinates, but himself.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded, ¡°Right, this is his movement track, so you needn¡¯t worry.¡±


    Her oldest brother¡¯s hacking skills were simply too powerful.


    Lu Zhaozhao had only learned since they came to Country E that her oldest brother was actually an incredibly talented hacker.


    What surprised her even more was that the hacker friend who had helped her in her previous life turned out to be her oldest brother.


    She had regretted not having made contact with the Xia Family in her previous life, yet unbeknownst to her, they had already been helping her from the shadows.


    She was extremely grateful that she had a chance to be reborn. If it weren¡¯t for this, she wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to meet such endearing people from the Xia Family.


    Thinking this, Lu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, and her gaze towards Xu Zhenzhen softened even more, ¡°Like I said before, they have their ways, so don¡¯t worry. Just prepare to become my sister-in-law~¡±

 Chapter 715 - 713: They Stabbed Him in the Back?

    Chapter 715: Chapter 713: They Stabbed Him in the Back?


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face turned red, and she felt a bit embarrassed by what was said.


    She had actually been most worried about implicating the Xia Family and Lu Zhaozhao.


    Now, even if she didn¡¯t want to implicate them, they had been pulled into this whirlpool by her.


    Since she had involved them, she needed to cooperate fully; she couldn¡¯t drag them down any further.


    Having made up her mind, Xu Zhenzhen felt calmer.


    Meanwhile, Pavel and Niezuo had arrived at the previous transaction site.


    Other than some dragging marks on the ground, there were no signs of a struggle.


    Pavel became instantly enraged.


    This meant someone had leaked their whereabouts, and his men hadn¡¯t even had the chance to fight back before they were taken.


    There was no blood at the scene, which indicated they hadn¡¯t intended to kill his men.


    But with both goods and people taken, he couldn¡¯t figure out their ultimate purpose.


    Pavel¡¯s face grew uglier, and Niezuo by his side felt a chill.


    "Leader, what should we do now? There¡¯s no clue left at the scene, and it will likely take a while to find out who did this," Niezuo said tentatively, his head stiff with fear that Pavel might pin the blame on him.


    Unexpectedly, Pavel let out a cold laugh, "No clues mean we can¡¯t find out who did it? Heh!"


    Did they really need an investigation to know who was responsible?


    At this moment, who else knew their business well enough and had the means to quietly resist him?


    Other than those restless side branches, who else could it be?


    Pavel didn¡¯t even need to think to know who was behind this.


    What were they trying to do?


    A show of force?


    Or were they trying to take advantage of the chaos for their own gain?


    Whichever it was, he would not permit it!


    He would not allow his men to harbour any disloyalty towards him!


    Even if they did, they had better act loyally!


    Open defiance against him led only to a dead end!


    Pavel cast a cold glance at Niezuo, who stood by silently not daring to speak, and said indifferently, "Go fetch the several most troublesome leaders from the side branches recently."


    Niezuo: "???"


    Why were they bringing in people from the side branches?


    Though he didn¡¯t voice his question, his confusion was written all over his face.


    The smile on Pavel¡¯s face became colder, "Do you think anyone else could quietly disappear those at the rendezvous without inside information? How could they possibly have known about the meeting location?"


    Niezuo¡¯s eyes suddenly widened in realization. He initially thought Pavel would rage at the lack of clues and order him to find the culprits within a certain timeframe.


    He was worried about what to do but didn¡¯t expect Pavel to have already bypassed that phase and identified the mastermind behind the scenes.


    How else could one call him the leader?


    His mind was sharp!


    "Alright, leader! I¡¯ll take care of it immediately!"


    When Niezuo appeared before Pavel again, he had already apprehended the three most rambunctious leaders of the side branches.


    They all knew about Pavel¡¯s car accident and that he couldn¡¯t have children anymore.


    They were each waiting for Pavel to step down, each believing they were likely to be the next leader, so they had grown quite arrogant.


    They all thought that with a little effort, they could be the next leader.


    Now that they had been brought to Pavel, they were full of resentment, but when they looked at him, none dared even breathe too loudly.


    They didn¡¯t want to end up dead at Pavel¡¯s hands before getting their chance at the position.


    "Aleksey, Danil, Vladimir, do you three have nothing to say for yourselves?" Pavel¡¯s deadly gaze swept over them, his face was as still as water.


    Just the thought of these three betraying him ignited a fury within him.


    These three were indeed promising figures within Pavel¡¯s organization, as they had made some achievements as minor leaders. But this did not mean they could overstep their bounds!


    Aleksey, Danil, and Vladimir were all momentarily stunned, not understanding Pavel¡¯s intent.


    Aleksey pursed his lips and took the initiative to ask, "Leader, did you bring us here just to turn around and ask us what¡¯s going on? We don¡¯t understand what you mean."


    Danil and Vladimir beside him nodded in agreement, "Yeah, leader, why did you call us here today? We truly have no clue."


    Pavel¡¯s expression darkened even further, convinced that it was they who had done it, and not just by themselves.


    So as they unanimously denied it, Pavel was almost amused by their audacity, "Do I really need to be the one to say what you¡¯ve done behind my back? I¡¯ll just ask you directly: where have the goods and people gone?"


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    Now the three of them looked even more confused.


    What goods? What people?


    They hadn¡¯t been up to anything lately!


    Even Niezuo was starting to think that Pavel might have made a mistake this time, but Pavel didn¡¯t believe he was wrong.


    He just thought they were putting on a good act, trying to deceive him, but he would not be fooled!


    "If you don¡¯t come clean today, then be prepared to face the consequences of this affair!" Pavel waved his hand, signaling the other men to come closer.


    Aleksey, Danil, and Vladimir couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    They understood what Pavel meant by "consequences."


    With him, it was always a ruthless policy; he would resort to force rather than debate.


    Seeing that they were unwilling to confess, he was ready to coerce a confession.


    The faces of Aleksey, Danil, and Vladimir turned a bit unsightly.


    "Leader, no matter what, we are your trusted subordinates, is this really the right way to treat us?" Aleksey was the first to speak; he didn¡¯t want to be eliminated by Pavel over some trumped-up charges.


    Someone had previously approached him, proposing to support him as the future leader of the Pavlov Family, but he felt it was unnecessary.


    He just had to wait for Pavel to step down, and then he could take over.


    With many people from the side branches, his abilities were outstanding; he didn¡¯t think Pavel would waste such a promising prospect.


    But that person had said Pavel had found a daughter, he planned to let this daughter have children with someone else, and then raise that child to be the leader of the Pavlov Family.


    As for them, they would be disposed of by Pavel under some pretext.


    He had thought that was just talk, aimed at getting him to cooperate.


    But then he actually found out Pavel did have a daughter, though what he planned for her, he did not know.


    Now he realized that person¡¯s words were true, and moreover, Pavel was using any excuse to kill them.


    Pavel had the nerve to say they were stabbing him in the back?

 Chapter 716 - 714: Aren’t We Just Waiting to Die?

    Chapter 716: Chapter 714: Aren¡¯t We Just Waiting to Die?


    If he and Danil, Vladimir were to stab him in the back, they would have directly had someone kill him instead of dealing with some goods and people.


    What¡¯s the difference between that and exposing themselves?


    Would Pavel not know?


    He wouldn¡¯t even bother making up a plausible reason to get rid of them.


    Aleksey felt deeply desperate.


    However, he thought that since Pavel, due to the concerns of other branches, wouldn¡¯t kill all three of them at once, there was still a chance for him.


    Danil and Vladimir, standing nearby, soon realized that something was amiss.


    Danil quickly spoke up, "Leader, shouldn¡¯t we investigate this matter further? There is no evidence showing that we¡¯re involved in this affair. If you proceed like this, it may be against the rules."


    These words "no evidence" truly infuriated Pavel.


    He walked up and kicked Danil, startling both Aleksey and Vladimir.


    They hadn¡¯t expected Pavel to take matters into his own hands and could only watch helplessly as he was beaten.


    When Pavel finally let go, Danil was taking more breaths out than in.


    Pavel frowned, "Useless. Take him to a doctor."


    Niezuo quickly waved at some people nearby, signaling them to take Danil away.


    Aleksey and Vladimir exchanged looks. It seemed that they were next.


    Now, they either had to take a beating like Danil and then leave,


    Or they would be detained here indefinitely.


    Both furrowed their brows and almost simultaneously chose to take a beating and leave.


    "Leader, we really didn¡¯t partake in this matter. If you don¡¯t trust us, then take it out on us," they said.


    "Leader, my conscience is clear. If beating us will make you feel better, then have at it."


    In reality, both Aleksey and Vladimir were gambling, betting that Pavel would not do anything drastic because of their indirect exposure.


    But this subtle exposure turned into a provocation in Pavel¡¯s eyes.


    Pavel scoffed, "Fine, since you¡¯ve made your choice, I won¡¯t hold back."


    He gestured to the people around him, "Get to it. Beat them until they can no longer speak."


    It seemed they had no intention of spitting out the goods.


    If they were killed here, chaos would erupt within the Pavlov Family.


    Pavel already suffered losses and saw no need to stir internal strife, which would present opportunities to others.


    But if this incident was settled too quickly, they might not learn their lesson, so Pavel decided to subdue them thoroughly with a beating.


    Thinking this, he waved at Niezuo, "This is your job now. You know what to do, right?"


    "..."


    Niezuo visibly shuddered, realizing any thought of leniency faded with Pavel¡¯s presence.


    He nodded earnestly, "Rest assured, leader, I will handle it as you wish."


    Pavel cast a cold glance at Niezuo before leaving the scene.


    At this point, Aleksey and Vladimir were cursing out of fury, but compared to their lives, nothing was more important than surviving.


    They would take the beating, as long as they lived.


    But both harbored a deep hatred for Pavel now.


    The glimmer of hope that was once there crumbled in an instant.


    It seemed now impossible to safely await Pavel¡¯s retirement.


    He might purged them all before stepping down.


    If Pavel truly intended to groom his daughter¡¯s child, from this moment on, anyone showing potential in the Pavlov Family faced risk.


    The child Pavel wanted to support was still young; by the time the child grew up, they would have established their own power within the family.


    It would be difficult for Pavel¡¯s chosen child to control them.


    But if they were slowly dealt with now, there¡¯d be plenty of time to prepare new subordinates for the next leader of the Pavlov Family.


    Aleksey glanced at Vladimir, both seeing the unwillingness in each other¡¯s eyes.


    Without a word, they both lowered their gaze, awaiting the approaching enforcers.


    Soon, the room was filled with their cries of pain.


    By the time Aleksey and Vladimir were carried back, they were too battered to move.


    Aleksey and Vladimir had always got along well, so when they were previously located, Aleksey had made a particular effort to inform Vladimir.


    Their initial thoughts were alike, but Pavel¡¯s series of actions forced them to accept the harsh reality.


    "Aleksey, what do we do now?" Vladimir lay in his hospital bed, clenching his fist tightly in anger.


    They had just been brought in by Pavel¡¯s men, so he didn¡¯t show his true feelings.


    Now that their own people surrounded them in the hospital, he let his emotions erupt.


    Aleksey furrowed his brow and sent a message to his own trusted subordinate.


    Soon enough, a man arrived with a computer and entered the hospital room.


    Vladimir didn¡¯t understand Aleksey¡¯s intentions and just watched him silently, waiting for his next move.


    The trusted subordinate stood aside, helping Aleksey with some basic operations before standing back.


    Vladimir watched as Aleksey¡¯s subordinate found a person on the computer and then initiated a video call.


    In almost no time, the call connected.


    A man with cold eyes and an ordinary appearance sat on the other end of the video. Despite his common looks, the oppressive aura of someone in power was not easy to fake.


    This cemented Aleksey¡¯s belief that the man was someone of significance.


    Although he didn¡¯t know the man¡¯s ultimate goal, if he could help him escape a deadly predicament, who cared what the man ultimately wanted to do?


    Aleksey could be killed by Pavel at any moment. What good would caution do him then?


    It was still just waiting for death.


    Right now, all he wanted to do was survive, even if it meant handing over the Pavlov Family to this man.


    Whether or not he could take it back from this man¡¯s hands later was a worry for another time.


    His priority was survival.


    "Mr. Aleksey, have you decided to cooperate?" The man on the video, Song Sinian, spoke calmly and slowly.


    His side¡¯s data had been processed by Xia Wenjue, making his appearance on camera significantly different from his real self, so he had no fear of being exposed.


    He was especially composed as the informant planted near Pavel had already informed them of Pavel¡¯s actions against Aleksey, Vladimir, and Danil.


    Aleksey, Vladimir, and Danil were, after all, the rising stars of the Pavlov Family, young and full of vigor.

 Chapter 717: 715: Is It That Simple?

    Chapter 717: Chapter 715: Is It That Simple?


    They are now demeaned by Pavel to this extent, their dignity wouldn¡¯t allow it.


    Thus, the tiny seeds that Song Sinian had planted in the minds of Aleksey, Vladimir, and Danil took root and began to sprout at this moment.


    Aleksey quietly watched the man on the video slowly speak, ¡°Does the matter you mentioned last time still stand?¡±


    He never liked to beat around the bush; he wanted what he desired immediately.


    Now that he had decided to take the leader¡¯s position in the Pavlov Family, he naturally wouldn¡¯t hesitate.


    Song Sinian¡¯s eyes narrowed with a slight chuckle, ¡°Of course it still stands, just not sure if Mr. Aleksey has the courage?¡±


    Aleksey scoffed coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t try to butter me up here; just tell me, what do you want me to do?¡±


    He was now also trying to survive from Pavel¡¯s hands, so other matters became unimportant.


    Song tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, ¡°What I need you to do is simple, and for the rising stars of the Pavlov Family like you, it is entirely beneficial. Have someone from Pavel¡¯s collateral branch incite everyone to separate Pavel from the Pavlov Family.¡±


    Aleksey frowned slightly, looking puzzled at Song Sinian, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    The corners of Song Sinian¡¯s mouth curled up, ¡°Isn¡¯t it clear enough what I said? The Pavlov Family is the Pavlov Family, and Pavel is just him. Whatever he does in the future, he represents only himself, not the Pavlov Family.¡±


    ...


    Aleksey almost immediately understood what he meant.


    To sideline Pavel, they must first dissociate him from the family interests.


    This way, those who are loyal to Pavel would not struggle as much when they have to make a choice later.


    If they turn against Pavel now, it would be equivalent to opposing the family. If Pavel¡¯s interests are separated from the family¡¯s, then turning against Pavel would merely mean betraying him alone.


    It has nothing to do with the family, much less a betrayal of the family.


    This method would be very useful for some stubborn old fellows.


    Thinking this, Aleksey had to admit that the man opposite was indeed talented. If they followed his method, taking over as the leader of the Pavlov Family might not be impossible.


    But what did he truly want?


    Was it the Pavlov Family?


    Aleksey¡¯s gaze drifted unconsciously to the man on the video, who, as if understanding his thoughts, chuckled lightly, ¡°I have no designs on the Pavlov Family.¡±


    His voice paused slightly, ¡°I am simply harboring a grudge against Pavel, wanting to avenge myself on him, to see him fall from grace, to see him live a life worse than death. Do you see any problem with that?¡±


    Aleksey¡¯s mouth twitched, and he didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment; what could possibly be the problem?


    With all the vile deeds Pavel had carried out over the years in Country E, and the enemies he had made, anyone could line up from Country A to Country B. Wasn¡¯t it utterly normal for some to wish him dead?


    Because Song Sinian was too blunt, it made Aleksey feel a bit embarrassed.


    Aleksey coughed lightly, ¡°Then, once we take over the Pavlov Family, do you have any other conditions?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I want Pavel himself, alive is enough, whether he is missing limbs or lying immobile in bed, I don¡¯t mind at all,¡± Song Sinian¡¯s haunting voice transmitted from the video, making Aleksey shiver slightly.


    He almost subconsciously asked, ¡°If you hate Pavel so much, why not just kill him?¡±


    Unexpectedly, Song Sinian suddenly laughed, ¡°Mr. Aleksey, we are law-abiding citizens; killing Pavel directly... that would cost extra.¡±


    ...


    ...


    Aleksey had never felt so speechless in his life.


    What kind of ruthless statements were these?


    What kind of law-abiding citizen could be so ruthless?


    Aleksey cleared his throat, ¡°Let¡¯s discuss some other methods.¡±


    Although they were considered up-and-coming in the Pavlov Family, their available funds were limited.


    Besides, it¡¯s likely Pavel was already eyeing them. If there was any movement in their funds, it might provoke Pavel to wish them dead.


    If they didn¡¯t manage to eliminate Pavel by then, their lives would probably be in jeopardy.


    He didn¡¯t want to make bridal clothes for others.


    Song Sinian didn¡¯t seem annoyed, but continued along Aleksey¡¯s lines, ¡°The other methods are much simpler, you just need to rally support when Pavel is most irritable, and leave the rest to me.¡±


    ¡°Is it that simple?¡± Aleksey could hardly believe his own ears.


    Pavel was usually ruthless and would lash out at his subordinates; winning over hearts from him was just too easy.


    Song Sinian chuckled lowly, ¡°It¡¯s indeed quite easy, but you still have to make the people of the Pavlov Family disenchanted with Pavel¡±


    This task was much more difficult than the previous one.


    Aleksey naturally understood this, and after a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, ¡°The people of the Pavlov Family will not easily betray Pavel unless he does something to harm the family¡¯s interests.¡±


    Song Sinian gave a noncommittal nod, ¡°Recently, the film companies under Pavel¡¯s name will continue to cause scandals, and the public has already started to resent the Pavlov Family. After a few more days, Pavel is likely to take even more ruthless actions; at that time, you just have to mediate and it will be sufficient.¡±


    As long as the disgraced name of the Pavlov Family was sustained, Pavel would be forced to carry the blame. If they wanted to salvage the reputation of the Pavlov Family, they needed to sever Pavel from the family.


    Listening to Song Sinian, Aleksey couldn¡¯t help but feel excited; he didn¡¯t expect all the recent turbulence faced by the Pavlov Family to be his doing.


    How powerful could this man be?


    He had somewhat suspected that this man wanted to take over the Pavlov Family thus cooperating with him, but now he suddenly found this idea laughable.


    This man had the power to destroy their family, yet he chose to change their family leader.


    If he aligned with his intentions, he would definitely secure the leader¡¯s position of the Pavlov Family.


    As for why this man wished to act this way, he guessed the truth would emerge once he assumed the position.


    Regardless of the outcome, it would be beneficial for him, and he had no need to oppose this man.

 Chapter 718: 716: What Exactly Does It Mean?

    Chapter 718: Chapter 716: What Exactly Does It Mean?


    Aleksey thought so and nodded directly, ¡°Fine, I agree to cooperate with you. I will do as you say, just wait and see.¡±


    ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll await the good news.¡± With that, Song Sinian hung up the video call.


    For a time, the hospital room became quiet again.


    Lying on the side, Vladimir, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the two men, finally spoke slowly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid this man might have ulterior motives?¡±


    Vladimir usually had the best relationship with Aleksey. If Aleksey could become the leader of the Pavlov Family, it would be more advantageous than not for him.


    He didn¡¯t care much about the position of leader, so letting Aleksey take the lead didn¡¯t bother him.


    Of course, that was one reason why Aleksey dared to let Vladimir stay by his side.


    Aleksey shrugged, ¡°Today, Pavel attacked us out of the blue, as you saw. If he wanted to kill us, it would have been incredibly easy. The reason he didn¡¯t kill us today is probably because he¡¯s afraid of how to explain it to the others within the Pavlov Family.¡±


    After all, killing off three rising stars at once would definitely raise suspicions among the old diehards in the family.


    That was also why Pavel didn¡¯t strike them down.


    But once he announced the news that he had a daughter alive in this world, they would probably lose their value as the new rising stars.


    Vladimir, of course, understood this as well. He just didn¡¯t trust the man on the other end of the video.


    He couldn¡¯t understand what kind of deep hatred would make someone want to pull Pavel down from his position as the leader of the Pavlov Family.


    And from the conversation Aleksey just had with that man, it was clear that the person had the ability to deal with Pavel.


    But why didn¡¯t he act on his own?


    Vladimir thought this and blurted out his thoughts.


    ¡°That man should have the power to destroy the Pavlov Family directly, so why does he insist on using such a complicated method?¡±


    Aleksey had also considered this question. He fell silent for a moment, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s to make Pavel suffer more?¡±


    ¡°To destroy the Pavlov Family would also make him suffer,¡± Vladimir couldn¡¯t resist replying, which left Aleksey a bit puzzled.


    The two pondered for a long time and came to no conclusion.


    So, they simply stopped thinking about it.


    As long as their goal wasn¡¯t them, what happened to Pavel didn¡¯t matter.


    Meanwhile, Pavel returned to the villa. But this time, he didn¡¯t go to see Xu Zhenzhen; instead, he summoned Lu Zhaozhao to his presence.


    Lu Zhaozhao, standing in front of Pavel seated on the couch, remained silent, head bowed as if frightened to speak.


    Pavel frowned, ¡°Lift your head.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao cursed inwardly, but obediently lifted her face, glanced at him timidly, and immediately cast her eyes down again.


    Pavel was almost amused by Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s behavior; she practically had her fear of him written all over her face!


    He wondered what he had done at the villa to scare this little woman so much.


    Could it be that other servants had told her something?


    It seemed she got along exceptionally well with the other servants.


    Only when she saw him did she always appear terrified.


    As Pavel thought about this, his brow furrowed deeply again, ¡°Rest assured, I don¡¯t intend to hurt you. I just want to know how Zhenzhen has been doing recently.¡±


    He masked his true intentions, secretly observing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s expression.


    Upon hearing his words, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and became noticeably more composed.


    ¡°Miss Zhenzhen has been eating well lately, and she has a good appetite. She...¡±


    ¡°Pour me a glass of wine and sit beside me as you speak,¡± Pavel cut off her report. He didn¡¯t want this little woman to finish reporting on Xu Zhenzhen and then scamper off; he wanted to prolong their interaction.


    Lu Zhaozhao seemed taken aback by Pavel¡¯s request, freezing in place with an incredulous look towards him.


    Watching her dumbfounded expression, Pavel couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°What? As a servant in this villa, am I not allowed to give you orders?¡±


    His words sounded like a reprimand, but his tone was light, almost teasing.


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately bowed her head again, shook it frantically, and proceeded to pour a full glass of vodka for Pavel from the bottle on the table.


    Pavel: ...


    This was vodka, and she had poured such a full glass¡ªwhat was she thinking?


    Afraid he¡¯d ask for another pour, so she filled it up in one go?


    Pavel couldn¡¯t help but laugh, feeling his foul mood significantly improved.


    Sometimes, one indeed needed to find a way to lighten the mood, to find interesting little women like the one before him, so lively and amusing.


    Pavel slowly picked up the glass and took a sip before speaking again, ¡°How have you been getting along with Zhenzhen recently? Has she been throwing tantrums or making things difficult for you?¡±


    He seemed to be inquiring about Xu Zhenzhen, but every word was actually probing Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s feelings, causing her eyebrows to knit unconsciously.


    But since she was always looking down, it was difficult for Pavel to read her facial expressions.


    Keeping his own daughter confined and now flirting with a girl about his daughter¡¯s age¡ªPavel was truly a man without limits.


    Lu Zhaozhao spoke in a subdued voice, ¡°Miss Xu is very kind. She doesn¡¯t easily lose her temper with us servants. Sometimes, when there¡¯s good food, she even shares it with us. She¡¯s a nice young mistress.¡±


    Pavel wasn¡¯t interested in whether Xu Zhenzhen was a good mistress or not; he just wanted to use Xu Zhenzhen as a means to get closer to Lu Zhaozhao.


    He leaned back on the couch, holding his glass, and quietly watched Lu Zhaozhao, ¡°How old are you this year? Who else is in your family?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated briefly, glanced up at Pavel, and then earnestly replied, ¡°Leader, I¡¯m 20 years old this year. It¡¯s just me and my elderly grandmother left at home.¡±


    This was the identity that Song Sinian had helped her fabricate before she came to the villa.


    The servants working at the villa seemed to come of their own accord, but in reality, they were screened based on their background.


    Those who made it to work for Pavel generally had exploitable vulnerabilities.

 Chapter 719: 717 All Jerks Believe

    Chapter 719: Chapter 717 All Jerks Believe


    So when Lu Zhaozhao said she still had an elderly grandmother, he wasn¡¯t surprised at all.


    Pavel scanned Lu Zhaozhao from head to toe before slowly opening his mouth, ¡°Do you want your grandmother to live a good life?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao blinked, ¡°Thank you, leader, for your concern, my grandmother is already living a good life, thanks to the leader for hiring me.¡±


    As she spoke, her tone carried a hint of gratitude, which Pavel rather enjoyed.


    After all, everyone wanted to be the hero in a damsel in distress story.


    Pavel nodded solemnly, ¡°Since you want to thank me, sit here and listen to me vent a little.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment but eventually chose to sit on the nearby couch.


    Pavel was pleased with her choice and then picked up his glass of wine again, ¡°As the leader of the Pavlov Family, you must think I have the power to summon wind and rain, but actually, being in my position is not as glamorous as it seems, no one really wants to understand me...¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes internally.


    If she were truly a little maid of the Pavlov Family, she might be moved by his seemingly gracious attitude.


    After all, in Country E, the Pavlov Family was a name to be reckoned with.


    For the most powerful man in this family to chat with a lowly maid was like a dream for those living at the bottom.


    But Lu Zhaozhao was different, she knew what kind of trash Pavel was, so when he pretended to be so injured, sitting in front of the couch, her disdain for him was maxed out.


    Did he think he looked especially rugged, manly, and attractive to the opposite sex by being this way?


    Indeed, garbage men like him, no matter their status, always seemed overly confident.


    Seeing that Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t spoken, Pavel pushed the snacks on the table towards her, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be nervous, nor do you need to think about how to respond to me, just sit here quietly, eat some food, and listen to me talk.¡±


    He tried hard to appear gentle and understanding.


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded lightly.


    Since he wanted to play this persona, she would indulge him, not wasting her breath, and there were snacks to eat, so why not, though her ears might not be so peaceful.


    Lu Zhaozhao thought of the suffering her ears would endure soon and decisively started eating the snacks on the table.


    No harm in eating for free, she supposed. Consider it compensation for her mental distress.


    Pavel watched Lu Zhaozhao eat and couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly.


    This little maid was quite interesting, trembling in fear just now, and now unabashed in her eating.


    Indeed, food-loving girls were always extra cute.


    Pavel hadn¡¯t felt this way before, but since meeting this little maid, he felt his opinions on many things had changed.


    He took a deep breath, picked up his glass of wine again, and continued drinking, his eyes still fixated on Lu Zhaozhao, as if she were an appetizer.


    The two conversed sporadically.


    Virtually all the talking was done by Pavel, while Lu Zhaozhao occasionally nodded or said a word or two, spending most of her time eating snacks.


    After a while, Pavel suddenly leaned on the adjacent couch, seemingly passing out drunk.


    Lu Zhaozhao ate two more pastries, looked at Pavel who was motionless, and slightly furrowed her brow.


    ¡°Leader?¡±


    She instinctively called out, but the other party did not respond to her. She called out again, ¡°Leader?¡±


    Silence was still the only response.


    Zhaozhao¡¯s eyebrows twitched; if she remembered correctly, the files Song Sinian had given her previously showed that Pavel had a high alcohol tolerance.


    The glass she had just poured him was less than half of his usual intake, so there was no way Pavel could be drunk.


    So what did his act of pretending to be drunk mean?


    Was he trying to see what she would do while he was ¡°drunk¡±?


    Thinking this, Zhaozhao slowly stood up and tiptoed toward the door.


    Sure enough, Pavel¡¯s bodyguards were still stationed at the doorway. She waved her small hand at one of them and murmured softly, ¡°The leader fell asleep. Please take care of him; I¡¯ll be heading back first.¡±


    After nodding to the two men, Zhaozhao immediately took off.


    By the time the two bodyguards came in, Pavel had slowly opened his eyes.


    He indeed wanted to test what this little maid would do when he was ¡°drunk.¡±


    After all, other women would take the chance to strip their clothes off and either lie on the sofa or throw themselves at him.


    What surprised him was that she had run off the moment he pretended to be drunk, though thankfully she still had the decency to ask the bodyguards to look after him.


    The bodyguards, seeing that Pavel showed no signs of being drunk, were confused. Had the little maid who just dashed off lied to them?


    One of the bodyguards cautiously said, ¡°Leader, it¡¯s because the little maid said you were asleep and asked us to come in to take care of you, so we just...¡±


    ¡°Uh, I was just pretending to be asleep,¡± Pavel knew what the bodyguard meant and gave a straightforward answer.


    The bodyguard sighed in relief, but then he was immediately shocked.


    The leader had been pretending to sleep, especially in front of that little maid; his pupils shook with the realization.


    Pavel didn¡¯t notice the bodyguard¡¯s expression but merely curled his lips slightly, ¡°Indeed a child, pure and cute.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, and the two bodyguards almost simultaneously walked toward the doorway.


    The door quickly opened, and Niezuo entered.


    He was surprised to see both bodyguards standing in front of Pavel¡ªhad something happened right before he entered?


    Usually, these two would either be stationed at the doorway or sent by Pavel to do other tasks.


    It was rare for both of them to be in the room at the same time.


    Seeing Niezuo enter the room, Pavel raised an eyebrow and gestured for the bodyguards to leave.


    Once the bodyguards respectfully stepped outside, Niezuo stepped forward and reported, ¡°Leader, Aleksey, Damir, and Vladimir went to the hospital and since then, there¡¯s been no noise from them. Their trusted subordinates haven¡¯t made contact with anyone else either.¡±


    From the investigation, it seemed that these three could essentially be cleared of suspicion, but whether the leader chose to believe that was his own business.


    As expected, Pavel¡¯s brow furrowed upon hearing what Niezuo had said.


    Besides those three, who else would dare to tamper with his goods?

 Chapter 720: 718: Im Afraid This Wont End Well

    Chapter 720: Chapter 718: I¡¯m Afraid This Won¡¯t End Well


    Niezuo, noting Pavel¡¯s displeased expression, quickly changed the subject.


    ¡°Leader, there are several thorny issues that need your attention,¡± he said. ¡°Due to the film company scandal, many of our completed TV shows have been leaked. Several co-production companies are demanding compensation for their losses.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t taking sides with Aleksey, Damir, or Vladimir; instead, he was worried Pavel¡¯s anger might be directed at him.


    After all, the three of them were in the hospital and couldn¡¯t bear the brunt of Pavel¡¯s wrath any longer.


    Besides, the sums involved were substantial, and Niezuo was at a loss; he had no choice but to consult Pavel.


    Pavel¡¯s expression turned sour; he had only just complained to Lu Zhaozhao to spark the young maid¡¯s protective instincts.


    After all, only by feeling pity for someone does a relationship begin.


    But he had no wish to encounter such a mess of issues.


    Annoyed, Pavel furrowed his brows, ¡°Leave this matter to the company¡¯s public relations department to handle.¡±


    Niezuo tentatively continued, pressing his tongue against his molars, ¡°Leader, I¡¯m afraid public relations may have a tough time handling this. The collaborating companies have stated that if our company does not compensate them, they will take legal action. And... the revelations about our company are ironclad and cannot be whitewashed, and the public is already enraged. It¡¯s not likely to be easily settled.¡±


    He hadn¡¯t expected such a turn of events in Pavel¡¯s companies.


    Having done all sorts of dirty work under Pavel¡¯s wing, doing something and having the public know you¡¯ve done it were entirely different concepts.


    If before many were deterred by Pavel¡¯s intimidation from rebelling,


    now, the tide of dissent was growing, drop by drop, into a sea.


    Even the powerful Pavlov Family couldn¡¯t fight the whole world; it was the same principle.


    Now, the best strategy was to pin the blame on a few scapegoats, lay low, and try to suppress the trending topics online.


    But for those film companies collaborating with the Pavlov Family... if they didn¡¯t get their money, they¡¯d never let it go quietly.


    Especially now, with Pavel as the leader of the Pavlov Family, thrust into the limelight.


    The public was waiting for his statement.


    Niezuo felt that, while other matters could be managed, Pavel¡¯s stance with the public and compensating the various companies were probably the trickiest.


    Recently, their shipments had been hijacked, already resulting in financial losses.


    If they also had to shell out a hefty sum in compensation to the film companies now, the Pavlov Family would hardly have any liquid assets left.


    Pavel, ever calculating, narrowed his eyes, clearly understanding Niezuo¡¯s implication.


    He took a deep breath and said, ¡°As for the compensation, instruct the public relations to follow up and assess the exact amount needed. As for the media, try to withdraw the trending topics as much as possible.¡±


    He paused then added, ¡°If that¡¯s not possible, find some other sensational news to divert public attention. The public relations team knows what to do.¡±


    ¡°All right, leader,¡± said Niezuo as he wiped the sweat off his forehead, relieved that Pavel hadn¡¯t vented his frustration on him.


    But thinking about the next report he had to give, the sweat beads on his forehead densified.


    Niezuo cleared his throat, ¡°Leader, there¡¯s another matter...¡±


    Pavel knew without a doubt there wouldn¡¯t be any good news coming from Niezuo¡¯s mouth.


    Under normal circumstances, he would¡¯ve immediately silenced Niezuo, but the current situation was different. If he didn¡¯t listen, things could worsen.


    So, Pavel had to swallow his irritation and said, staring directly at Niezuo, ¡°Just how many more issues have you left unspoken? Speak all at once.¡±


    Upon hearing Pavel¡¯s words, Niezuo let out a silent sigh of relief and hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing else, just one more matter. About the last shipment that got double-crossed, the other side didn¡¯t get their money and suspects that we might be deliberately sabotaging the partnership. So, they¡¯ve decided to stop supplying us.¡±


    Pavel¡¯s complexion became truly grim this time.


    The Pavlov Family¡¯s primary business was in the underworld.


    The entertainment company was mainly a front to launder their money. Without their main business, there was no need for the entertainment company to exist.


    Pavel massaged his temples and finally said, ¡°Get me in touch with their person-in-charge; I want to meet with him personally.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already negotiated with them, but they refuse to meet and even suspect we might be attempting to entrap them,¡± Niezuo replied helplessly. This was his first time facing such a bizarre situation in his long tenure with the Pavlov Family.


    However, the ordeal sparked a new thought in him. Was it really those young masters from the side branch behind this?


    If so, they were practically cutting off their own path to survival.


    The Pavlov Family¡¯s fortunes rested on these dirty dealings, and if they tampered with it to climb the hierarchy, it was sheer folly.


    For a moment, Pavel too was silent, for he¡¯d never encountered such an infuriating situation.


    Thinking this, he suddenly felt that merely hospitalizing those three was letting them off easy¡ªthey should be killed and hung on the wall as an example!


    The idiocy of their actions was almost driving the Pavlov Family to ruin!


    Niezuo could see Pavel¡¯s irritation and tentatively asked, ¡°Leader, will you still reach out to them?¡±


    ¡°Get in touch. Give me their contact; I will personally handle it,¡± Pavel replied, downing the glass of whiskey on the table in one gulp.


    He was utterly frustrated, as though frustration itself had flung open the door and settled in his home.


    He had meant to find solace with the young maid, not to be overwhelmed with such vexing troubles.


    Now, if the merchandise wasn¡¯t recovered soon, the situation would only become more difficult to resolve.


    And those so-called rising stars from the side branches needed a serious warning¡ªit was time to make an example of them to teach the rest a lesson.


    They should think twice before entertaining any internal schemes within the Pavlov Family.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhaozhao, having left Pavel¡¯s study, had found Song Sinian.


    With her entire face filled with panic, Song Sinian didn¡¯t pry and quickly led Lu Zhaozhao away.


    Fortunately, it was the end of the workday, and their departure wouldn¡¯t draw any attention.


    They retraced their steps back to the hotel without bringing any tails with them.


    At Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s request, Song Sinian had gathered the Xia Family members in the hotel room before returning, so upon entering, they saw the Xia Family sitting inside.

 Chapter 721: 719 Do You Think You Can Persuade?

    Chapter 721: Chapter 719 Do You Think You Can Persuade?


    ¡°Sinian, is there a problem?¡±


    As soon as Xia Wenjue saw the two enter, he couldn¡¯t help but scrutinize Lu Zhaozhao, fearing that something might have happened to her.


    Song Sinian¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Today, Zhaozhao was called away alone by Pavel.¡±


    She had told him this in the car.


    Had the car not already been halfway there, he would have definitely gone back and killed that old bastard Pavel himself.


    When the other Xia Family members heard Song Sinian¡¯s words, their brows also knotted, dismayed that Pavel had the audacity to make a move on Lu Zhaozhao so soon.


    ¡°Zhaozhao, did he do anything to you?¡± Wen Qingyu nervously grabbed Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s hand, her face tense as she asked again.


    She knew that with Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s capabilities, it was unlikely that she would suffer at Pavel¡¯s hands, but what if she was harmed for the sake of Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s safety? What then?


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at the concerned faces of the other Xia Family members.


    With a somewhat helpless sigh, she said, ¡°Pavel was just testing me, but I think this is an opportunity, at least he has let his guard down around me now.¡±


    ¡°No, absolutely not! Even if it¡¯s for Zhenzhen, you can¡¯t do this!¡± Xia Wenqing was the first to reject Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s suggestion; he believed that even if Xu Zhenzhen were present, she would never agree to Lu Zhaozhao taking such a risk.


    Xu Zhenzhen and Lu Zhaozhao were best friends, and she would not sacrifice Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s safety for her own.


    Xia Wenjue frowned and nodded in agreement, ¡°Zhaozhao, there are still opportunities for this matter, we don¡¯t need to rush.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Zhaozhao, Pavel is already in a mess, we don¡¯t have to be so aggressive,¡± Xia Wenmo also advised Lu Zhaozhao, worried that she might recklessly throw herself into danger.


    They had only one precious sister, and they absolutely could not let her take such risks.


    Having her go to Pavel¡¯s villa was risky enough; they wouldn¡¯t give her another chance to be at a disadvantage.


    Seeing the growing dissent among everyone, Lu Zhaozhao made a stopping gesture, ¡°Everyone, listen to me first. I didn¡¯t mean to throw myself into the net, I just think him lowering his guard is a good thing, as we can take him down with the least cost.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think using you as bait is the least cost, that¡¯s an exorbitant price, okay?¡± Xia Wenmo couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge in his heart; his precious sister was the only one they had, and yet she was suggesting going into the lion¡¯s den?


    Xia Wenqing and Xia Wenjue nodded continuously, ¡°Exactly, using you as bait is a huge loss!¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao looked at her three brothers with a mix of amusement and helplessness; they really were...


    Before Lu Zhaozhao could speak again, Song Sinian spoke up before her, ¡°I agree with Zhaozhao¡¯s approach on this matter.¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao immediately looked at Song Sinian with surprise, while the Xia Family members directed cold gazes at him.


    Song Sinian simply ignored their stares, raised his hand to ruffle Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s head, and said, ¡°However, you must follow my arrangements for this matter, wait until the opportunity is right, and I will tell you, okay?¡±


    The Xia Family members almost instantly understood Song Sinian¡¯s intentions.


    Thinking about it, Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s personality was also very stubborn; convincing her would likely be difficult.


    But following Song Sinian¡¯s logic, it would be easy to slow down Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s plans, allowing them to wipe out the Pavlov Family before she could proceed with her strategy.


    With this idea set, the Xia Family members weren¡¯t as anxious as before.


    Wen Qingyu cleared his throat, ¡°Zhaozhao, have you eaten yet? I had your second brother buy a cake, it¡¯s still in my room, would you like to try some?¡±


    Lu Zhaozhao nodded but still glanced at Song Sinian, who gave a slight nod in approval, before she followed Wen Qingyu out.


    The hotel room door had just closed when the Three Xia Brothers immediately came over.


    ¡°Song Sinian, you wouldn¡¯t really agree to let Zhaozhao implement that plan, would you?¡± Xia Wenjue asked the question with some trepidation.


    He knew that Song Sinian was extremely fond of Lu Zhaozhao, and he was worried that Sinian might impulsively help Lu Zhaozhao carry out the plan.


    A slight arch to Song Sinian¡¯s brow, he looked at Xia Wenjue as if seeing someone foolish, ¡°Do you think I would let her take that risk?¡±


    Especially since the other party was a lecher like Pavel. Just thinking about how Pavel looked at Lu Zhaozhao made him feel sick.


    Not to mention letting him be alone with Lu Zhaozhao.


    Wasn¡¯t that like sending a lamb right in front of a wolf?


    Xia Wenqing glanced at Song Sinian, ¡°Not sure now, but you might have in the past.¡±


    After all, in their eyes, being lovestruck was almost synonymous with Song Sinian; they felt that every word Lu Zhaozhao said was like an imperial edict to Sinian.


    And she only needed to speak, and Song Sinian would act.


    They were truly worried that Song Sinian, acting impulsively according to Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s words, would completely overlook the dangerous element of Pavel. Fortunately, both Song Sinian¡¯s emotions and intelligence were in check now.


    Otherwise, they would really have a headache.


    After all, stopping Lu Zhaozhao was something they could do with clenched teeth, but stopping Song Sinian was sheer madness...


    Because Song Sinian was a madman; nobody could stop him when he was determined to do something.


    So, they suddenly felt a bit relieved that Song Sinian had taken the initiative to stop Lu Zhaozhao.


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t want Zhaozhao to continue with her plan, then pick up the pace with the tasks at hand,¡± Song Sinian raised an eyebrow, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t need me to prompt you on that, should you?¡±


    For some reason, they always felt that Song Sinian¡¯s words had an underlying implication when he said this sentence, suddenly feeling like they were being challenged.


    Xia Wenjue nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the new member of the Pavlov Family has already distanced himself from Pavel¡¯s house, we just need to keep pressing their business and continue to influence public opinion, that should be enough.¡±


    He glanced at Xia Wenqing, ¡°As for the legal aspects, let the second brother handle it. Analyzing the situation from a lawyer¡¯s perspective will make the public more likely to believe it.¡±


    And it would also deal a fatal blow to the Pavlov Family, hastening the separation of Pavel from his family.


    This way, they moved a step closer to their plan.


    Song Sinian nodded, showing his agreement with their points.


    ¡°Pavel has already met with Zhaozhao alone, should we ask for leave for Zhaozhao?¡± Xia Wenjue thought for a moment, still somewhat worried about Lu Zhaozhao, he couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Song Sinian narrowed his eyes, ¡°I¡¯d like to, but do you think you can convince her?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    He couldn¡¯t.


    Especially with Xu Zhenzhen still around.

 Chapter 722: 720: Why Do You Ask Her?

    Chapter 722: Chapter 720: Why Do You Ask Her?


    Even Song Sinian had no solution, so they were even more powerless.


    Several men heaved deep sighs, silently resolving that they must quickly eliminate the Pavlov Family!


    Pavel, completely unaware that Lu Zhaozhao had already returned, appeared in front of Xu Zhenzhen again. Zhenzhen¡¯s brows furrowed with dissatisfaction at his arrival.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked coldly, watching Pavel. But she saw his gaze sweep around her, feigning nonchalance as he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s that little maid who¡¯s often with you?¡±


    Hearing Pavel inquire about Lu Zhaozhao, Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes immediately became vigilant. ¡°What do you want with her?¡±


    Pavel didn¡¯t feel the slightest embarrassment. His gaze passed over Zhenzhen, ¡°Why else would I be looking for her? Of course, I want her to do some work for me. She¡¯s a maid in my villa. What, can¡¯t I use her?¡±


    He spoke with conviction, but Zhenzhen would not have believed him if she didn¡¯t know what kind of person he was.


    She couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. ¡°Do you even believe your own words? You¡¯re fully aware of why you¡¯re looking for Zhao, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Pavel didn¡¯t flinch when Zhenzhen called him out, his expression unchanged. ¡°So what? Am I not good enough for a maid with my status?¡±


    ¡°You really aren¡¯t worthy of her. With your age, you could be her father,¡± Zhenzhen said, repulsed by Pavel¡¯s confidence.


    Although he was her biological father, this fact didn¡¯t make her feel any fondness for him.


    Not to mention Pavel¡¯s age was so much greater than Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s, even if their ages weren¡¯t that far apart, Pavel¡¯s deplorable behavior alone would make him unworthy of a girl like Zhaozhao.


    Pavel was clearly agitated by Zhenzhen¡¯s words, his brows instantly knotting.


    He knew Zhenzhen had a good relationship with that little maid, and if Zhenzhen spoke ill of him in front of her... that little maid might start to keep her distance from him.


    That was something he did not want to see.


    Pavel didn¡¯t understand why he felt this way, but he just did not want Zhenzhen to speak ill of him in front of the little maid.


    He watched Zhenzhen with a cold gaze, ¡°You¡¯d better not spout nonsense in front of her. Don¡¯t forget that your friend is still in my hands. If you defy me, I¡¯ll let you know what happens when you defy me.¡±


    Pavel¡¯s voice was icy, carrying an indisputable warning.


    His actions surprised Zhenzhen.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Pavel to care so much about her opinion of him in front of Lu Zhaozhao.


    Zhenzhen¡¯s brows raised in disbelief, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re serious about the little maid?¡±


    She could believe this in someone else, but she couldn¡¯t believe it at all if it was Pavel.


    Yet Pavel¡¯s behavior was incredibly strange, which made Zhenzhen particularly concerned.


    She wasn¡¯t worried that Pavel might truly fall in love with Lu Zhaozhao, but she feared he might do something extreme to her.


    After all, Pavel was not a good person to begin with, his actions were even worse than those of animals.


    Pavel suddenly fell silent, having never considered these matters before.


    Previously, he simply found the little maid intriguing, wanting to see more of her. As for what came next... he hadn¡¯t thought that far.


    Now, confronted by Zhenzhen¡¯s probing, a sudden frown creased his brow, as if he just realized that his attitude towards the maid was indeed different.


    This feeling made him inexplicably panic.


    He was the leader of the Pavlov Family, yet he found himself feeling differently towards such a young girl.


    This was not good; such emotions were unnecessary for a leader.


    However, he quickly suppressed his panic.


    What was it to have different feelings for a young maiden?


    Once he grew tired of her, those feelings would be gone.


    Thinking so, Pavel¡¯s heart settled.


    At worst, when his feelings became uncontrollable, he¡¯d have her eliminated.


    Once the person no longer existed, those different emotions wouldn¡¯t exist either.


    He looked frankly at Zhenzhen, nodding slightly, ¡°Indeed, I am quite serious about the little maid. But it remains to be seen if she can continue to be capable enough to keep my interest.¡±


    Zhenzhen looked at Pavel¡¯s shamelessly brazen face, wishing she could slap him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t agree. She is now my friend, and I don¡¯t consent to you being with my friend,¡± Zhenzhen¡¯s eyes bore fiercely into Pavel, ¡°I distinctly remember you, as the leader, never touch the maids!¡±


    Pavel¡¯s expression darkened instantly, feeling his authority challenged, especially by his own daughter.


    Even though he didn¡¯t see her as his daughter, just a tool to continue his lineage, her opposition still enraged him.


    Pavel¡¯s eyes, calculating and shrewd, narrowed nearly word for word as he stared at Zhenzhen, ¡°What I want to do is none of your business, just remember your duties. Don¡¯t forget the other friend you have still in my hands. Would you really sacrifice another friend for this one?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Pavel knew Zhenzhen would never give up Lu Zhaozhao, whom he had captured, so he spoke with such confidence.


    He watched with satisfaction as Zhenzhen ceased speaking, then lazily added, ¡°This week you¡¯ll meet a new matchmaking candidate. Make sure you put on a good performance and don¡¯t disappoint me.¡±


    Zhenzhen snorted coldly, not responding, but her icy gaze remained fixed on Pavel.


    Pavel didn¡¯t care about her silent protest; since the little maid wasn¡¯t there, there was no need for him to stay any longer.


    For several succeeding days, the trending searches about the Pavlov Family filled the skies.


    The stock price of the Pavel Group continued to plummet, and public trust in the Pavlov Family fell to rock bottom.


    The elders within the Pavlov Family could no longer sit idly by, so they convened an elder meeting, and Pavel naturally was among the attendees.


    Pavel looked at the elders seated around the table, his face dark and ominous.


    ¡°Speak, why have you called me here today? I¡¯m very busy and have no time to listen to your lengthy lectures.¡±


    At the outset of Pavel¡¯s words, the elders erupted.


    ¡°Do you know how the outside world views the Pavlov Family now? Do you know the reputation of our family has been damaged?¡±


    ¡°The stock price of the Pavel Group has plummeted¡ªcan¡¯t you see?¡±


    ¡°Why are the trending searches about the Pavlov Family still up? As a leader, don¡¯t you care to handle it?¡±

 Chapter 723 - 721: Living with Your Tail Between Your Legs

    Chapter 723: Chapter 721: Living with Your Tail Between Your Legs


    "Now that rumors are flying everywhere outside, how can you remain so indifferent? Do you even care about the Pavlov Family at all?"


    ...


    Listening to the voices of accusation from the elders in the meeting room, Pavel¡¯s brows were nearly knotted.


    This was the first time such a situation had happened during his tenure as the leader.


    Typically, these old farts wouldn¡¯t show their faces, but now they had all appeared together to blame him, causing Pavel¡¯s face to grow darker and darker.


    "What¡¯s trending outside right now, don¡¯t you all understand why? Are you accusing me one by one, isn¡¯t it because the course of events is already clear?"


    His response was a counter-question, with a tone even more excessive than that of the elders before him.


    "When I did so much for the Pavlov Family before, I didn¡¯t see any of you speak up. Now that the family has encountered a bit of trouble, you all can¡¯t wait to jump out. What? Have I been letting you all live too comfortably, so now you all have nothing better to do?"


    Pavel threw every word in the elders¡¯ faces without sparing any of their dignity, leaving these usually haughty elders unable to save face.


    Among them, some hot-tempered elders almost slammed the table and stood up, "Don¡¯t think that just because you are now the leader of the Pavlov Family you can do whatever you want. Don¡¯t forget, the reason you could become the leader of the Pavlov Family is because we, the elders, supported you!"


    Hearing these words from the elder, Pavel burst into laughter, "I ascended to the leader¡¯s position because you all supported me? Haha."


    He had become the Pavel Leader entirely through his own iron-fisted policies. If he had relied on these useless people to become the leader, the Pavlov Family would have been finished long ago.


    But some of these old fools had no self-awareness at all.


    Everything he held now had been fought for by himself; even without the elders of the Pavlov Family, he was still the Pavel Leader.


    There was no doubt about this, and no one could find any fault with him, no matter who it was.


    The elders of the Pavlov Family were naturally aware of this, so when discussing these issues with Pavel, they deliberately avoided this point.


    But now that one of the elders had made it explicit, there was no need to keep playing dumb.


    "Pavel, the current rumors outside are all related to you, don¡¯t you think you should take responsibility for this?"


    "Yes, the outside world now needs the Pavlov Family to give an explanation. If we don¡¯t provide one, it¡¯s doubtful the Pavlov Family will continue to shine in E country."


    "Yes, although these issues are related to the Pavlov Family, the decisions were all made by you. You¡¯re not planning to shirk responsibility, are you?"


    ...


    Pavel suddenly sneered. His gaze swept over the elders before him, and only then did he slowly speak in an icy tone.


    "What do you mean by these words? Do you want me to take the fall alone?"


    The elders, with their motives exposed, clearly had a hard time maintaining their composure.


    "What does it mean to ask you to take the fall? Aren¡¯t all these issues led by you? The Pavlov Family has never faced such issues before. Shouldn¡¯t you take responsibility?"


    "It¡¯s the Pavlov Family, so why has it become so infamous now? It¡¯s all because of your inexplicable decisions."


    "The public¡¯s disdain now is all created by you; you can¡¯t think of shirking the responsibility!"


    "If these incidents weren¡¯t caused by you, then calling it taking the fall might make sense. But since each and every issue originated from you, how can it be called taking the fall?"


    ...


    Listening to their words, Pavel¡¯s smile grew colder, "If every issue is of my doing, are you all so innocent? Who among you is not a beneficiary of those incidents? Now that there¡¯s trouble, you want to make me take the fall alone. You talk as if it¡¯s only right and proper."


    The elders originally wanted to reason with Pavel calmly, but his every word was laden with sarcasm.


    This made the elders unable to stay seated either, and both sides started quarreling with each other back and forth.


    Eventually, Pavel couldn¡¯t bear to listen any longer. He waved his hand at his subordinates and they got into a fight.


    The elders were beaten to a pulp by Pavel¡¯s men, ending up sitting dejectedly on the ground.


    "You¡¯re still too green to take me down from the position of leader of the Pavlov Family. I would advise you all to behave, or else don¡¯t blame me for being impolite," said Pavel, before indignantly storming off with a flick of his sleeve.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that his every word and action had been caught on the camera installed in the meeting room.


    Shortly after Pavel had left the office, the footage of him ordering his men to beat up the elders and his last threatening words were circulated online.


    Subsequently, a statement was released by the elders within the Pavlov Family to the public.


    They declared their disapproval of Pavale himself, along with a disavowal of any relation to Pavel¡¯s actions.


    By the time Pavel found out, the matter had already fermented too far, leaving him with no chance to reverse the situation. Gnashing his teeth in fury, he didn¡¯t expect that he had been duped by these old farts.


    He had just left the company when he was besieged by journalists at the company¡¯s entrance.


    "Mr. Pavel, did you really have the elders within the Pawar Family beaten up?"


    "Regarding the video circulating online about you ordering the beating of the elders within the Taville Family, is it authentic?"


    "Mr. Pavel, now that you have split from the Pavlov Family, what are your plans?"


    ...


    Pavel¡¯s face was especially grim as he looked at the reporters surrounding him. He glanced at his bodyguards and signaled them to handle these journalists.


    But there were simply too many reporters; even the bodyguards were powerless.


    Hesitating for a moment, they only managed to clear a path next to the reporters, allowing Pavel to temporarily leave.


    After all, they couldn¡¯t lay hands on so many journalists; otherwise, the headlines the next day might be even more heated.


    Once Pavel got into the car, he became even more agitated. He turned to Niezuo and asked, "What exactly is going on lately? Have the elders of the Pavlov Family gone mad?"


    He had previously dealt with the various offshoots within the Pavlov Family and the so-called rising stars.


    In the past, they should have quietly retreated back to their nests, behaving themselves with their tails tucked, but this time they had banded together to confront him.


    He had the eerie feeling that someone was deliberately targeting him.

 Chapter 724 - 722: Enough to See That Person’s Ability

    Chapter 724: Chapter 722: Enough to See That Person¡¯s Ability


    This individual had even rallied the up-and-comers within the Pavlov Family to go against him; otherwise, the situation wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this.


    Who exactly was he?


    He had the capability not only to unite these mongrels against him but to also pull strings in other places.


    Having grown up amid various storms, Pavel initially treated their actions as mere trivial disturbances and paid them no heed.


    Little did he realize that someone was exploiting these trivial disturbances to set him up. He had to uncover the person behind the scenes; otherwise, the situation could become even graver.


    Niezuo watched Pavel cautiously, briefly reporting recent developments.


    "The other day I felt something was amiss, so I sent my men to investigate the situation, but none have returned."


    At the time, he hadn¡¯t been concerned, assuming those he¡¯d sent were simply embedding deeper to investigate.


    But after three days with no one returning, he started to feel a sense of panic.


    Upon hearing this, Pavel furrowed his brow tightly, "Are you saying that none of the people you sent out have come back, as if they have vanished into thin air?"


    Niezuo didn¡¯t dare hide anything and could only nod honestly.


    Even he found it bizarre, considering the status of the Pavlov Family in Country E, which hardly anyone was unaware of.


    Yet now, someone had managed to spirit away their people right under their noses, and silently at that.


    It was enough to show the person¡¯s capability.


    Their leader had likely met with serious trouble this time.


    Pavel, of course, realized this situation too, his eyes narrowing slightly, "Besides that, have there been any other strange occurrences?"


    "There haven¡¯t been any other strange occurrences, but many matters now, especially those that need to be handled internally by the Pavlov Family, have been put on hold."


    This situation had started after Pavel had someone beat up the family elders, at which point he thought that the elders were deliberately causing trouble to make things difficult for Pavel.


    He even thought that things would resolve themselves after some time, but now it seemed things were escalating, making those matters even more challenging to handle.


    Pavel¡¯s position was becoming increasingly dire, and it was likely that even those in the company who supported the leader would begin to be divided.


    Either they would be turned against him, or, like those he¡¯d sent out, they¡¯d be spirited away silently.


    He had also received a message from a mysterious person, but he was unable to tell Pavel.


    It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t loyal, but the person had left him no room to maneuver.


    After receiving the messages, he immediately took photos as evidence.


    But 5 minutes later, all the messages and evidence related to this matter disappeared from his phone.


    This meant the person could monitor his phone and even all the electronic devices in his house without his knowledge.


    He didn¡¯t know how long this person had been watching him, but he knew if he spoke out to Pavel, he would likely be the next to disappear.


    He wasn¡¯t ready to face death so soon.


    Thus, he could only keep this matter buried deep in his heart.


    He actually wanted to weigh the pros and cons, contemplating whether to agree to the person¡¯s demands.


    Although working under Pavel was terrifying, having served him for a long time, he could see some logic in it.


    But now, it was clear that Pavel had fallen into the person¡¯s trap with no way out.


    Moreover, Pavel was no longer a member of the Pavlov Family, and even the family members had betrayed him, so what did he have to fear anymore?


    Every day, that inquiry message would appear once on his phone interface.


    Probably because he hadn¡¯t told Pavel, the person still harbored the intention to win him over.


    Niezuo quietly watched Pavel, secretly determined in his heart.


    By tonight, he would accept the person¡¯s demands.


    Pavel took a deep breath, "Make note of those ungrateful curs. When I have time, I¡¯ll make sure they pay."


    He planned to feed them to the sharks.


    These opportunistic, scornful individuals would eventually pay the price they deserved.


    "Alright, leader, where shall we go later? Back to the villa?"


    Upon hearing Niezuo mention the villa, Pavel thought of Xu Zhenzhen and the young maid.


    He pondered for a moment, then slowly asked, "Does Xu Zhenzhen have any plans to go out today?"


    Ever since he had captured Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s friend, he had loosened his control over Xu Zhenzhen considerably.


    He knew this child valued loyalty and wouldn¡¯t leave people at the villa to escape by herself, so he had granted her more freedom.


    Niezuo quickly reviewed Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s schedule before slowly saying, "The young lady should currently be outside on a blind date, meeting Smier this time."


    Hearing this name, Pavel¡¯s brows twitched slightly, "Then let¡¯s go to their current blind date location."


    He usually didn¡¯t care whom Xu Zhenzhen met for blind dates.


    But now, with the outside situation being complicated, he could only trust his own bloodline.


    He was eager for Xu Zhenzhen to settle down quickly so he could hold his grandchild as soon as possible.


    He wanted to meet this Smier, and if his overall qualifications were decent, he would let the two of them get married quickly.


    Or have Xu Zhenzhen marry the previous blind date candidate¡ªin any case, he wanted her to get married soon. Only by marrying quickly could they have the child he desired.


    Thinking this, Pavel instructed the driver to turn around and head to the cafe where Xu Zhenzhen was on her blind date.


    Meanwhile, at the cafe Xu Zhenzhen, currently on her blind date, was being sweetly fed delicious strawberry cake by Xia Wenqing.


    As her future husband, how could he allow Xu Zhenzhen to meet other men for blind dates?


    Thus, Xia Wenqing had naturally come in disguise again.


    With makeup that leaned more towards a mixed-race appearance this time, although his facial features retained their original look so that, despite their closeness, Xu Zhenzhen wouldn¡¯t feel as though she were cheating.


    While eating the strawberry cake, Xu Zhenzhen looked at Xia Wenqing somewhat worriedly, "Second brother, isn¡¯t it dangerous for you to appear like this?"


    Her first blind date was him, and the second as well; she worried that the bodyguards following her would recognize him.


    Xia Wenqing smiled indulgently at her, "Don¡¯t worry, the bodyguards following you probably won¡¯t talk too much."


    Now that Pavel was overwhelmed, even if the bodyguards noticed something amiss, they wouldn¡¯t dare to chatter in front of him.

 Chapter 725 - 723: Lackey

    Chapter 725: Chapter 723: Lackey


    "Furthermore, since his elder brother had already turned many of Pavel¡¯s subordinates, even if the bodyguards reported it, someone on that side would intercept it, so he didn¡¯t need to worry at all."


    Xu Zhenzhen gently nodded, then slowly began to speak, "Has Zhaozhao... told you about the situation at the villa?"


    She worried Lu Zhaozhao would conceal the matter of being targeted by Pavel.


    After all, with Song Sinian¡¯s intense possessiveness, if he knew about Pavel¡¯s intentions towards her, he probably wouldn¡¯t let her stay in Pavel¡¯s villa.


    Yet now, Lu Zhaozhao was still here, and she was a bit worried that perhaps Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t told them in order to stay.


    Xia Wenqing¡¯s actions paused, "Are you talking about Pavel taking an interest in Zhaozhao? The family knows about it, and Song Sinian knows too, so you don¡¯t need to worry."


    The mention of this made Xia Wenqing very angry, thinking that Pavel was old enough to be Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s father and he still harbored such despicable thoughts towards her!


    However, remembering that Pavel was Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s biological father, he restrained from saying anything too harsh.


    Xu Zhenzhen pursed her lips, "I know you might care that he is my biological father, but this person means nothing to me."


    He never felt any affection for Pavel; if there was any emotion between them, it was hatred¡ªhe despised the man who brought him into this world.


    Had she not escaped from there, she likely would not be in this world anymore.


    Xu Zhenzhen had no interest in anything related to Pavel, nor did she want to inherit his properties.


    If possible, she wished she had never met this man.


    Seeing the unpleasant expression on Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s face, Xia Wenqing immediately spoke reassuringly, "I know you don¡¯t want to be associated with him. Pavel is Pavel, you are you, and that¡¯s how my family and I feel."


    Unexpecting Xia Wenqing to say this, Xu Zhenzhen was surprised for a moment and could not help but smile slightly, "How lucky must I be to have met you and your family? Maybe all my previous misfortune was saving up luck to meet you?"


    "I would prefer you to lead a simple life, without being hurt, and just wait for me to come to you." The thought of the hardships Xu Zhenzhen faced as a child made Xia Wenqing¡¯s heart ache.


    This feeling was somewhat similar to the distress he felt for Lu Zhaozhao¡¯s suffering, yet it was different.


    Why did his dear sister and lovely wife have to endure so much pain?


    Thinking thus, Xia Wenqing reached out and embraced Xu Zhenzhen, "Stay with me from now on, I will absolutely prevent you from getting hurt again, and I won¡¯t let such situations arise ever again, I promise you."


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Xia Wenqing with a bittersweet smile.


    He clearly knew that it wasn¡¯t his fault, but he still blamed himself for it.


    She looked at Xia Wenqing tenderly, lowered her head and kissed his eyes, "Okay, I believe you. From now on, the baby and I will depend on you."


    "Okay!"


    His words had just finished when they heard a noisy commotion outside the door; both of them almost instantly became alert and separated, then each sat on opposite sides of the table.


    The noise soon approached the door which was then opened by someone.


    Xu Zhenzhen frowned slightly, not expecting Pavel to appear before her at this moment. She quickly glanced nervously at Xia Wenqing opposite her, but to avoid giving herself away, she forced herself to look away.


    "Why are you here?" Xu Zhenzhen stared at Pavel in confusion, her expression displeased.


    Pavel merely glanced at Xu Zhenzhen dismissively before fixing his gaze on Xia Wenqing.


    Xia Wenqing immediately stood up and greeted Pavel with an extremely ingratiating smile, "You must be the leader of the Pavlov family. I¡¯ve heard much about you from long ago, and I greatly admire you. I never imagined I would be arranged to meet your daughter; it¡¯s truly a great fortune."


    His sycophantic demeanor stunned Xu Zhenzhen; she hadn¡¯t expected Xia Wenqing¡¯s acting to be so convincing.


    Pavel glanced at Xu Zhenzhen, interpreting her shocked expression as amazement at his prestigious status.


    Xu Zhenzhen had reviewed her prospective match¡¯s background and knew his family was somewhat prominent in Country E, yet his reverence for Pavel surprised her, so his reaction was within Pavel¡¯s expectations.


    Pavel even felt a bit proud. He slightly tilted his chin up and said to Xia Wenqing, "Have a seat and talk, how¡¯s the conversation between you two going?"


    "Leader, I really like your daughter and hope you will marry her to me! I know I¡¯m not yet worthy, but I will strive to meet your standards," Xia Wenqing played the role of an obsequious suitor to the hilt.


    At first, Xu Zhenzhen was a bit nervous, but seeing Pavel revel in the flattery, the corners of her mouth involuntarily twitched.


    She put on airs, looking coldly at Pavel, "Didn¡¯t you say I could decide entirely on my own about the matchmaking? Why intervene now?"


    Pavel completely ignored Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s words, patting Xia Wenqing on the shoulder and saying, "Young man, I have a good opinion of you. If you can win my daughter¡¯s heart, I¡¯d be happy to marry her to you. So, do your best."


    Xia Wenqing nodded repeatedly as if inspired by some great encouragement, his eyes looking fervently at Pavel, "Yes, yes, yes! I¡¯ll listen to everything you say, leader! I won¡¯t let you down."


    As he spoke these words, his gaze shifted stealthily toward Xu Zhenzhen.


    This made Xu Zhenzhen furrow her brow into a knot once again.


    Frankly, she found it hard to imagine Xia Wenqing¡¯s handsome face being so servile toward Pavel.


    The look of disdain on her face was very genuine, not because she despised Xia Wenqing, but because she despised the act of using Xia Wenqing¡¯s handsome face to curry favor with Pavel.


    She knew Xia Wenqing wouldn¡¯t, but this legendary matchmaking candidate definitely would.


    After all, he was an illegitimate son with no real power, so the only opportunity he had was with this matchmaking candidate.


    There was nothing wrong with him ingratiating himself with the father of his matchmaking candidate.


    Especially when the father was the renowned leader of the Pavlov family.


    Xia Wenqing stole a glance at Xu Zhenzhen, seeing that she had not blown his cover. He smiled even more obsequiously at Pavel.


    Before arriving, he had thought about what to do if he accidentally met Pavel while posing as any matchmaking candidate.


    Although he was not much of an actor, it was manageable with a brother in the entertainment industry and an Oscar-winning partner. Acting came easily to them.

 Chapter 726 - 724: This Boyfriend is Really Great!

    Chapter 726: Chapter 724: This Boyfriend is Really Great!


    Xia Wenqing suddenly felt fortunate that he had the foresight earlier, otherwise, at this moment, he really wouldn¡¯t know how to pretend to grovel.


    Pavel was naturally very pleased with Xia Wenqing¡¯s compliments, especially his obedient demeanor, which had dissipated all the anger he previously held towards the elders.


    He looked at Xu Zhenzhen again, "I think this child is not bad, you should also get along well with her, understand?"


    Although Pavel said this, in reality, he was knocking on Xu Zhenzhen, forcing her to make a choice.


    Previously, he still tolerated letting Xu Zhenzhen choose, but now, with the situation of the Pavlov Family being complicated, he didn¡¯t have so much time for her to continue choosing.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s brows furrowed again, "Didn¡¯t you previously say to let me consider it properly? How come now you are going back on your word?"


    Pavel¡¯s face turned slightly cold, "You¡¯ve already met two, what more do you want? If you find him unsatisfactory, choose the previous one, I have no objections. I said, it¡¯s up to you to choose."


    Xu Zhenzhen was almost amused by Pavel¡¯s anger.


    Choose on my own?


    Choose one from the options he¡¯d picked out?


    Previously there were more than a dozen on the list, and now it¡¯s whittled down to two?


    Xu Zhenzhen looked at Pavel with a quasi-smile, truly experiencing what Lu Zhaozhao had told her before.


    Pavel must have been really pushed into a corner, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be so eager to settle things.


    She had also heard a bit about external matters, although not much, but enough to let her know that there indeed was a problem within Pavel¡¯s house.


    As for who was responsible, that was obvious.


    The actions the Xia Family had covertly taken against Pavel had already taken effect.


    "Since you¡¯re letting me choose, should you not at least give me some time to consider?" Xu Zhenzhen still didn¡¯t directly answer Pavel, which fit with her persona of always dragging things out.


    Sure enough, Pavel just glanced at her a bit displeased and was about to say something when Xia Wenqing spoke up again.


    "Leader, the young lady is of noble birth, it¡¯s only right to leave her some time to test me, and I will definitely try my best to make the young lady happy."


    Pavel, listening to his flattery, showed an increasingly satisfied expression, "Alright, you two continue talking, I, this old man, won¡¯t disturb you young people in love."


    He automatically referred to the matchmaking pair as being in love, indicating his satisfaction with the man in front of him.


    Xu Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Pavel leave.


    She turned her head towards Xia Wenqing, a bit amused, "Brother, I didn¡¯t expect your acting to be so good. Just now was really enlightening, I thought you were going to give us away."


    Xia Wenqing chuckled, raising his hand to pinch Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s cheek, "This time I was definitely well-prepared, and I won¡¯t drop the ball at such a crucial moment."


    Unable to help herself, Xu Zhenzhen leaned in and kissed him, "Seeing how amazing you are, this is your reward."


    He said this while winking at Xia Wenqing, whose face instantly turned crimson.


    He and Xu Zhenzhen hadn¡¯t been together for long, and such intimate actions were usually initiated by him; now, with Xu Zhenzhen suddenly being so proactive, he felt a bit shy.


    The two of them, oblivious to others, were affectionate, completely unaware that Pavel, who had already left, had come back and just happened to see Xu Zhenzhen taking the initiative to kiss that man¡¯s cheek.


    Pavel¡¯s face instantly darkened, and he quietly left again, descending to the cafe¡¯s ground floor before saying to the person beside him, "Go check out this man, I want results as soon as possible."


    He had recently started feeling targeted and thought it was just an illusion; little did he know that the person targeting him was right by his side.


    He had even thought that Xu Zhenzhen had chosen a loser for a boyfriend back in China; even when she disappeared, he hadn¡¯t noticed; now it seemed that it was he who had been played all along.


    Thinking of the recent events filled Pavel with a murderous intent.


    Very good.


    Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s boyfriend is exceptionally good!


    Niezuo observed Pavel¡¯s face shifting in expressions and hesitantly asked him, "Didn¡¯t the leader also like the young lady¡¯s matchmaking candidate just now? Did he do something wrong?"


    If he remembered correctly, didn¡¯t Pavel want the young lady to quickly find a suitable person to marry?


    The relationship between the young lady and that man seemed to be good now, so why was Pavel so angry?


    Pavel looked coldly at Niezuo, "Are you sure the person who was with the young lady just now was the matchmaking candidate and not her boyfriend back in China?"


    His words immediately made Niezuo¡¯s eyes widen.


    The young lady¡¯s previous boyfriend in China?


    He realized that since they were planning to bring Xu Zhenzhen back from China, they naturally gathered information about her social circle and life trajectory.


    He only knew that Xu Zhenzhen¡¯s boyfriend was named Xia Wenqing, the second young master of the XJ Corporation.


    He was well-known in the legal world abroad, and they hadn¡¯t investigated further.


    Now, Pavale suddenly mentioning this name threw him into disarray; was that man, who behaved like a fawning dog just now, really the second young master of XJ Corporation?


    If that were true, then he was indeed terrifying.


    To be able to quietly infiltrate Country E and then replace the matchmaking candidate Pavel had picked for Xu Zhenzhen.


    And to keep his composure before Pavel, pretending to be the matchmaking candidate.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Pavel¡¯s sudden whim to go back for Xu Zhenzhen, this issue wouldn¡¯t have come to light.


    "Should we send someone to follow him?" Niezuo said after a pause.


    Pavel sneered, "Once their matchmaking session is over, have someone watch him closely; if there¡¯s a good opportunity, capture him and bring him to the villa."


    "Yes, leader."


    Niezuo didn¡¯t dare to defy Pavel¡¯s decision and could only silently lament for Xia Wenqing in his heart.


    That very night, Lu Zhaozhao learned of Xia Wenqing¡¯s disappearance.


    Because after Xia Wenqing finished his meeting with Xu Zhenzhen, he vanished.


    When Xu Zhenzhen returned, Lu Zhaozhao hadn¡¯t left Pavel¡¯s villa yet, so she naturally knew that Xia Wenqing and Pavel had met during their matchmaking session.


    So, when she returned to the hotel that night and heard that Xia Wenqing hadn¡¯t come back yet, she almost instinctively confirmed that Pavel had discovered Xia Wenqing¡¯s real identity.


    "Second Brother must have been captured by Pavel, I just don¡¯t know if he has been taken to the villa or somewhere else."


    Lu Zhaozhao said this with her brows furrowed deeply, her worried little hands tightly gripping Song Sinian¡¯s large hand.