Chapter 108: From a Scumbag’s Ex-Girlfriend to His Stepmom (Part 7)

Yu Liuxue almost fled overnight, laying down railroad tracks as she ran. After racking her brain for an excuse, a lightbulb suddenly lit up over her head! Instantly, she looked pitiful and pleaded with Chi Yang, “Chi Yang, please don’t tell anyone about our agreement, okay? I really didn’t do that kind of thing. You misunderstood. It wasn’t what you thought that day…”

Chi Yang: “?!!!” What does this have to do with me?!

Yu Liuxue deliberately stammered and refused to say more, stopping at a particularly ambiguous point, provoking everyone’s imagination. Liu Yan’s eyes widened, grief suddenly welling up. He turned to look at a bewildered Chi Yang, “Yangyang, you and Mu Wan…?”

Chi Yang had never wished so much for a hundred mouths to explain herself. She wanted to make it clear that this had nothing to do with her, but when she opened her mouth, she couldn’t find a place to start—because she truly was innocent! Her cheeks flushed with anger, but in the eyes of Liu Yan and Song Linxian, it meant something else entirely.

Liu Yan instinctively clenched his fists, his heart like falling into an ice cellar. In this world, who could he still trust?

Song Linxian narrowed her eyes slightly. Something to do with Chi Yang? What kind of agreement could Mu Wan have with Chi Yang? That kind of thing… Almost instantly, Song Linxian recalled how Yu Liuxue had waited alone in the villa next to her house last night for a 63-year-old man to return.

Lowering her lashes, Song Linxian quickly identified a match—an elder from the Chi family who just happened to be 63 this year.

No wonder when she caught Mu Wan last night, her first reaction was to plead with Chi Yang not to speak of it. If it weren’t connected to the Chi family, what link would Mu Wan have to Chi Yang? With her unyielding personality, why else would she lower herself and beg Chi Yang with such loss of dignity?

Song Linxian’s gaze turned cold. She stared unblinkingly at the terrified Yu Liuxue, her eyes scanning the hickey on her fair skin, recalling how she had cried and accused her last night. Song Linxian pursed her red lips and pulled Yu Liuxue into her arms. “Why didn’t you stay home?”

Yu Liuxue thought, isn’t it because you ran off after putting your pants back on and abandoned me? But when she looked up, she said sweetly and innocently, “When I woke up this morning and didn’t see you, I wanted to find out where you went.”

“I missed you.”

Song Linxian felt nothing. Missed me? That’s not what you said in bed yesterday.

Liu Yan and Chi Yang were dumbfounded. Though the situation felt wrong, they caught the key piece of information Yu Liuxue had deliberately revealed: Mom/Aunt Song had slept with Mu Wan!

Liu Yan was stunned. Did this mean that from now on, every time he saw Mu Wan, he’d have to respectfully call his ex-girlfriend “Stepmom”?

Chi Yang was furious. How was Mu Wan so fast? She was already with Aunt Song, and now she herself was pregnant. Getting engaged and married to Liu Yan was just a matter of time. If by then Mu Wan and Aunt Song hadn’t broken up, did that mean she’d have to hand tea to her love rival during the tea ceremony? And even worse—she’d have to respectfully call Mu Wan “Mother-in-law”?

Chi Yang and Liu Yan both pulled twisted expressions as if they had swallowed flies.

Song Linxian noticed their faces but had no interest in their thoughts. With her arm around Yu Liuxue’s waist, she gave a small smile and said to Chi Yang, “Send my regards to your family.”

Chi Yang froze, then quickly replied, “If you have time, Aunt Song, come visit us at home.”

Song Linxian nodded faintly. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Once that old man from the Chi family realized she’d taken his little lover, knowing how petty and vengeful he was, he’d definitely come back to stir trouble.

But Chi Yang misunderstood, thinking Song Linxian no longer opposed her marriage to Liu Yan. Overjoyed, she clutched Liu Yan’s hand, “Liu Yan, your mom—she doesn’t object to our marriage anymore!”

Liu Yan was still drowning in the grief of: my ex and current girlfriend have a strange relationship, my ex became my stepmom, and my stepmom has a thing for my current girlfriend. So he didn’t really hear what Chi Yang said, only nodded perfunctorily in response.

Chi Yang finally felt her long wait had paid off. She took a deep breath, letting out all the frustration in her chest. The idea that “a mother’s status rises through her son” wasn’t a lie. She looked down gently and touched her still-flat belly. She had to protect her baby, get engaged to Liu Yan, register their marriage, and after the baby was born, hold the wedding—becoming his rightful wife.

Xu Cen had no children, Liu Yan was the heir of the Liu family, and Song Linxian had only one biological son. The Song family was prestigious, an old aristocratic family. The Xu family slightly less so, but still powerful. On top of that, her future father-in-law had built up the Liu family’s strength over years—now they couldn’t be underestimated.

Chi Yang could already imagine: once she gave birth to a son, endless riches and glory would await her.

The three families would surely treat her son like a treasure, spoiling him with everything possible, because he would be the only bloodline connecting the Liu, Xu, and Song families!

Chi Yang couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.

Liu Yan had just come to his senses and noticed his girlfriend beaming. He shivered. “…?”

Could it be that just because Mom agreed to visit the Chi family, Chi Yang was this excited to see Mu Wan, who might be tagging along with Mom?!

Yu Liuxue was led away by Song Linxian with an arm around her waist. Head lowered, she muttered, “System, didn’t you say Sister Song ran away after pulling her pants back on because she didn’t know how to face my accusations?! Why is she back?!”

And not only back—but nearly derailed her train of escape.

The system knew Yu Liuxue would question it, so it had already prepared an answer. As soon as she asked, it replied fluently, “Probably because Sister Song had a sudden pang of conscience.”

Yu Liuxue: “…” I’ll allow you a two-step head start before I draw my forty-meter broadsword.

Truthfully, Song Linxian had returned because of guilt. She thought, Mu Wan had just been sold to a 63-year-old man by her vampire birth mother—already devastated—and now she had claimed her for herself. The girl was still so young. No matter how tough she acted, she’d be fragile in the face of such things.

But then, while driving back, she overheard her son saying Mu Wan had bought a large villa next to her house.

Wasn’t that the same villa Mu Wan had been waiting in yesterday for the old man?

Song Linxian narrowed her eyes. Was Mu Wan lying to her the entire time, or had her son made a mistake and that villa was actually a gift from the old man to Mu Wan? She made a mental note of it but didn’t press Yu Liuxue right away. She planned to call her son later and have Xiao Zhi investigate thoroughly.

Leaning in, Song Linxian gently helped Yu Liuxue buckle her seatbelt, then unusually patted her head. “What do you want to eat?”

“With you by my side, I can eat anything.” Yu Liuxue just wanted to please Song Linxian and make her forget about the villa. So she pulled out all the stops, trying her best to act adorably obedient. Unfortunately, this only made Song Linxian more suspicious.

Yesterday, Mu Wan had been cursing her as a bully, scoundrel, and pervert in bed—how could she be so obedient today? Could she really have changed her mind that quickly?

But… maybe not impossible. Hadn’t Mu Wan wanted to be with her long ago?

Suddenly, Song Linxian’s expression stiffened. Could it be… this was all Mu Wan’s trap? She deliberately let herself be discovered getting sold to an old man, just to seduce her into taking her in and claiming her?

Yu Liuxue looked blankly as the oppressive aura around Song Linxian gradually subsided. She shivered on the spot, quickly and cautiously probing, “Sister Song, are you feeling unwell…? Wait, Sister! That’s my little brother over there!”

What perfect timing! Like someone delivering a pillow when you’re sleepy! Yu Liuxue excitedly unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the car door without a second glance, and said, “Sister, I’m going to talk to my brother for a bit!”

Her tool of a little brother, Mu Zizhe, quickly spotted her. His eyes lit up, and he ran over, holding out his palm. “Sister Mu Wan, where’s my pocket money for today?”

“I didn’t tell Mom that I ran into you today, Sister Mu Wan. You promised to give me one yuan every day.” Mu Zizhe spoke with a mix of nervousness and hope. Yu Liuxue felt like kissing him right then and there—under the current circumstances, forget one yuan, she’d happily give him a million!

Right in front of Song Linxian, Yu Liuxue crouched down slightly, furrowing her brow with a troubled look. “Zizhe, I’m sorry. I’ve let you down…”

Mu Zizhe immediately felt like he might not get his pocket money today. But they had clearly agreed yesterday! He had kept his promise—how could an adult like Sister Mu Wan go back on hers? So he made a fuss. “You can’t lie! You promised! If you lie, you’ll turn ugly!”

Yu Liuxue: “……” I’ll let you live for now since you’re still useful.

From Song Linxian’s perspective, Mu Wan’s younger brother was rudely demanding something from her. It didn’t take much brainpower to guess that, under their biological mother’s influence, he’d come to extort money from his long-lost sister.

Sure enough, Mu Wan’s expression looked troubled, and she even lowered her head painfully under his noisy demands.

Song Linxian rested her chin on her hand, thinking: how much does her little brother want? A kid around ten can’t possibly be asking for a million, right?

Mu Zizhe kept making a fuss. Yu Liuxue’s ears were aching, but her goal had already been achieved. She deliberately glanced back at Song Linxian, then subtly shifted her position to block her view. She quickly pulled a one-yuan coin from her bag. “Zizhe, keep this safe. Don’t let anyone see me giving it to you.”

She clutched the coin with a solemn expression. “Zizhe, do you see that aunt in the car behind us? After I was abandoned by Mom, I lived in her house. If she finds out I secretly gave you money, she’ll beat me just like she beats you.”

Mu Zizhe stared, stunned. But his sister looked so serious that he suspiciously glanced around like a thief, made sure no one was watching, and stuffed the coin into his pocket.

“And if anyone asks where you got the money, just say you found it on the ground, understand?” Yu Liuxue was dead serious. “You must never tell anyone I gave it to you.”

Mu Zizhe immediately put on a stern face. “Got it.”

Yu Liuxue gave him a sweet smile. “Good. Then go on back. Remember our agreement. Or I’ll have that aunt come beat you!”

Startled, Mu Zizhe clutched his pocket and ran off, shooting two wary glances at Song Linxian before disappearing.

Having gotten rid of her tool-brother for just one yuan, Yu Liuxue stood up with a helpless look and returned to the car, looking dispirited. She forced a smile as she buckled her seatbelt and said apologetically, “Sorry to keep you waiting, Sister Linxian.”

Song Linxian gave her a deep look and slammed on the gas. The car shot off like an arrow, making Yu Liuxue’s heart jolt violently.

Yu Liuxue tried her best to play the pitiful, tragic girl. She turned to stare silently out the window, occasionally sighing softly, her tea-colored eyes full of sorrow. That’s how she looked when Song Linxian got out of the car—a girl helplessly resigned to fate. Seeing her like this stirred an unfamiliar tenderness in Song Linxian’s heart, even softening her tone. “I asked Xiao Zhi to bring some snacks. Eat a little first.”

Yu Liuxue stretched out her leg, ready to hop out of the car. But unexpectedly, Song Linxian leaned over, gently picked her up, and softly set her down on the ground.

Yu Liuxue’s eyes widened in disbelief. “…?!”

“System, has Sister Song fallen for me? Is she head over heels in love already?!” she asked excitedly. “Turns out she likes this kind of pitiful act!”

The system gave a cold snort and posed a soul-piercing question: “Host, have you ever thought about what happens if all your lies get exposed one day…”

Before it could finish, Yu Liuxue shuddered violently, nearly dying on the spot. After a moment of serious silence, she confidently patted her chest and said, “It’s fine. As long as I lie enough, the truth will never catch up.”

System: “???” Who gave you this confidence?

As Song Linxian showed a rare gentle side, Yu Liuxue played her role of surprised and flustered girl perfectly. She clutched Song Linxian’s clothes helplessly. “Sister Song…”

Song Linxian’s throat bobbed. In broad daylight, those misty eyes were seducing her. She quickly made a call. “You don’t need to come anymore,” she told Xiao Zhi.

Xiao Zhi: “?”

A bad feeling slowly crept into Yu Liuxue’s heart. But she stood there dumbly, tilting her head and blinking pitifully. “Sister, what’s wrong?”

The moment she asked, Song Linxian scooped her up and carried her upstairs. As the big, unmade bed came into view, Yu Liuxue froze. Again?!

She wasn’t sure if Song Linxian had guessed something and was punishing her in this gentle way. Either way, Yu Liuxue ended up completely drained. She lay on the bed like a salted fish, waiting for Song Linxian to bring seafood porridge and feed her. Although being pampered like this was sweet, after a few days even she couldn’t take it anymore.

Taking advantage of Song Linxian’s distraction, she fled. Then she even texted her like it was all very proper: “Sister Song, I have to attend my brother’s parent-teacher meeting today.”

Meanwhile, Song Linxian propped her chin and slowly read through the investigation Xiao Zhi had conducted, the corners of her mouth lifting into a cold sneer. A parent-teacher meeting? Her brother went back to their hometown for summer vacation with their mom yesterday—what meeting?

“You can go,” she told Xiao Zhi.

Xiao Zhi gently closed the door. Standing outside, she was full of admiration for Mu Wan. She’d even used her pocket money to buy demolition property! And now several of those homes were getting demolished. With her investments on top of that, she could easily afford a luxury villa in the same neighborhood as the boss!

Admiration and envy swelled in Xiao Zhi’s heart. No wonder the boss would rather fall out with her own son than give up on Mu Wan—Mu Wan was too impressive!

Song Linxian smiled faintly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes—it felt cold. Buying houses? Demolitions? Investments? And then even buying a villa right next to hers?

She suddenly threw the papers back on the table and rubbed her temples, a headache creeping in. She had underestimated Mu Wan’s determination. All that nonsense about being sold by her vampire mom and some sixty-three-year-old man—just a web of lies crafted by Mu Yan.

And she, who thought herself so experienced, had walked right into the trap.

Song Linxian couldn’t help but feel conflicted. Why would Mu Wan go to such lengths to have her? Was it revenge for Liu Yan’s abandonment and betrayal? Or was it a sign of twisted morals and a warped sense of love?

She sighed softly. It was her own decision, and she had chosen this path herself. She could already imagine that if she ever tried to break up with Mu Wan, the tears would come pouring down like free beans, uncontrollable.

Song Linxian closed her eyes and emptied her mind.

After Chi Yang found out she was pregnant, Liu Yan, worried, took her for another hospital checkup. The results confirmed it—he was finally going to be a father! It should have been a joyous occasion, yet his heart felt heavy, unable to rejoice.

Even though he was the one who couldn’t resist temptation that night and ended up sleeping with his friend, now his girlfriend’s relationship with his ex and stepmother was all tangled and unclear. If they really got married, and Chi Yang acted the least bit out of line, then the green hat on his head…

He was deeply troubled. He was still just a young man in his early twenties.

Liu Yan first took Chi Yang home, told her to rest well and drink more hot water, and then, under her reluctant gaze, left the Chi house. After thinking long and hard, he decided to test his stepmother’s attitude. If his stepmother had feelings for his girlfriend, she’d definitely react abnormally to news of the pregnancy.

Liu Yan braced himself and approached Xu Cen, who was leisurely getting her nails done. She gave the girl doing her nails a look, and the girl sensibly excused herself. Once they were alone, Liu Yan blurted out like a steel-boned straight man, “Mom, Yangyang is pregnant with my child. She’s almost four months along.”

Xu Cen sharply looked up, her brow furrowed ever so slightly, and a trace of displeasure appeared on her face.

Liu Yan mulled over her reaction—it resembled a man who’s just realized he’s been cheated on by a loving wife for years. Worried she might do something irrational, he quickly added, “Mom, you know how it was on Grandpa’s birthday. I drank too much, and then… things just happened with Yangyang. Who knew she’d get pregnant the first time…”

The more he spoke, the less confident he became. Xu Cen’s gaze was enough to slice him to pieces. Terrified, Liu Yan wished he could pick up a railway track and run away right there and then.

Could Mom actually have feelings for his girlfriend? Why else would she be this angry?

“I don’t approve of your marriage,” Xu Cen put down her arms and folded them, her stance resolute. “I don’t care if she’s carrying your child or your father’s—so long as I’m around, there’s no room for discussion!”

Liu Yan’s eyes widened slightly. Could—could Mom really have inappropriate feelings for his girlfriend?

He slumped into a chair, overwhelmed with grief. After a long while, he looked up with a dry mouth and asked hoarsely, “Mom, why? Why don’t you want me to marry Yangyang?”

Xu Cen let out a cold laugh. “Sleeping with a man before confirming the relationship? That’s called being indecent and not respecting herself.” She paused, then stared at Liu Yan coldly. “Besides, you were overseas for three months. Who knows if that child is even yours?”

Following her logic, Liu Yan thought, “…?” Why do my tears feel so green?

He instinctively argued, “But Yangyang said she’s only done that with me…”

Under Xu Cen’s overpowering presence, Liu Yan gradually fell silent. He stared at the floor in confusion—no way, right? He and Chi Yang had been best friends for years. He knew she wasn’t a liar. Besides, once she gave birth, they could do a paternity test.

A paternity test would clear everything up, wouldn’t it?

Xu Cen had raised Liu Yan since he was little. She could read him like a book. She scoffed coldly, “Even if the child turns out to be yours, your girlfriend got pregnant before marriage and while you were away. How do you think people who don’t know the full story will see you? Do you think they’ll trust Chi Yang the way you do?”

“Though your mother and I had considered matching you with Chi Yang, she was never our first choice. There are plenty of refined, outstanding socialites out there. Her family is just a bunch of nouveau riche. How could she ever be worthy of my son Xu Cen’s lineage? Or the Song family bloodline?”

Liu Yan was left speechless. He opened his mouth. “But Chi Yang and I are truly in love…”

Xu Cen raised a hand to cut him off. Love? Love is a lie. “Say no more. I won’t agree to this marriage, no matter what you say.”

Liu Yan left home utterly dejected. Sitting on a bench by the road, he couldn’t figure out if his stepmother was really objecting for the reasons she claimed, or if it was due to some unspeakable hidden motive he suspected.

His head ached. The situation with his ex wasn’t resolved yet, and now his current girlfriend’s side was a mess too.

Although Yu Liuxue planned to break up the leads, she never expected Xu Cen to become her MVP ally. She was moved to tears. “I’m no longer fighting this battle alone. System, you’re finally acting like a decent person!”

The System slowly popped up a line of question marks: “?”

“Aunt Xu’s straightforward personality is just my style. To ensure her resolve remains unshaken for a hundred years, I plan to bring her some nice gifts and deepen our bond,” Yu Liuxue said, and immediately hit the mall. She bought designer bags and shoes without batting an eye.

Song Linxian suddenly received a photo. “Linxian, you’re so lucky! Your little girlfriend just came to my shop and bought loads of nice stuff. Planning a surprise for you?”

Song Linxian’s lips curved. “Well, it’s not a surprise anymore now that you told me.”

“Oh oops, my big mouth!”

Still, Song Linxian couldn’t help feeling a bit of anticipation. Being deceived by Mu Wan was one thing, but if she’d secretly gone out and splurged on gifts to cheer her up, maybe she’d let it slide. Too bad she waited from noon till nightfall and never saw a trace of those luxurious gifts.

She chuckled softly and casually picked up her phone. “Where is Mu Wan?”

Xiao Zhi had no idea what was going on, but since the boss asked, she answered honestly. “Boss, Mu Wan went to the young master’s house. She said she’s staying there for dinner tonight…”

After buying her gifts, Yu Liuxue strolled around a bit more and even bought two new shopfronts to rent out. By the time she finished, it was already late. When she arrived at the Xu house, it was even later. Fortunately, Xu Cen was home, though she looked a bit strange. Yu Liuxue assumed she might not be feeling well, or maybe she was just surprised to see her, so she didn’t think too much of it. With a big smile, she handed all the luxury shopping bags to Xu Cen.

“Aunt Xu, I’ve missed you so much since the last time we met. I picked these gifts just for you—hope you don’t mind!”

Her sweet smile was disarming, so Xu Cen accepted the bags without thinking. She figured Mu Wan was trying to win her over to avoid future awkwardness, so she half-heartedly accepted gifts worth tens of thousands.

She thought that was the end of it—until Yu Liuxue suddenly clasped her hands behind her back, twisted coyly, and said, “Aunt Xu, you’re such a good person. Can we always be this close from now on?”

Yu Liuxue blinked adorably and added, “No—Sister Xu, as long as you’re willing to open your heart to me…”

Song Linxian, hearing this line, sensed something was off. She stopped in her tracks and lazily leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, casually watching Xu Cen.

You stole my man twenty years ago. Now, twenty years later, you’re going after my woman too?

Xu Cen’s instincts flared, and her sixth sense immediately told her Song Linxian was there. She took two steps back to distance herself from Yu Liuxue. “It’s not me! Linxian, don’t misunderstand. She said all that on her own!”

Yu Liuxue’s mind went blank the moment she saw the enchanting Song Linxian.

I’ll just drop dead right here on the spot!

“Sister Song, I, I…” Yu Liuxue broke out in a cold sweat. She couldn’t think of a good excuse and eventually lowered her head, sobbing. “I’m sorry, Sister Song. I was blinded for a moment and couldn’t resist Aunt Xu’s temptation, that’s why I did something so outrageous…”

Her plan was to drag Aunt Xu down with her, make Sister Song believe they had a thing, and then threaten Xu Cen: if she ever agreed to let Chi Yang in, Yu Liuxue would cry to Sister Song and say it was all under duress.

If Xu Cen still wanted to maintain her fake harmony with Song Linxian, she’d definitely comply. That way, Yu Liuxue’s first mission would be permanently complete!

What a clever little fox she was.

Xu Cen immediately caught the sharp look her former bestie threw at her.

She was full of question marks: “???”

What the hell is Mu Wan babbling about now?!

Unwilling to back down, she declared, “Linxian, do you really think I’m the kind of woman who seduces girls, competes with her own son, and steals her friend’s lover?”

Yu Liuxue looked completely innocent. “But Aunt Xu, you clearly seduced me just now…”

Song Linxian let out a low chuckle and casually interrupted the mud-slinging Yu Liuxue. “Are you two done talking?”