Chapter 112: From a Scumbag’s Ex-Girlfriend to His Stepmom (11)

Thanks to Yu Liuxue’s sudden interjection, what was supposed to be a dramatic scene of catching someone in the act instantly turned into a one-woman stand-up comedy show. Even Song Linxian gave her a look that said, *I don’t even know where to begin.* Yu Liuxue shrank her neck sheepishly and decided to step back and leave the stage to the main leads—and to Wang Zhenqi, the unexpected backup male lead who’d just appeared out of nowhere.

The moment Chi Yang saw Liu Yan walk in, she panicked. She hadn’t expected him to show up here too. Although she already had her sights set on someone else, she hadn’t yet planned to break up with Liu Yan so soon. Still, after a brief moment of fluster, Chi Yang quickly composed herself and put on an innocent, pitiful expression. “Liu Yan, he’s my uncle.”

She said “uncle” with exaggerated politeness. Liu Yan’s face turned red with rage. Just an uncle? This man literally just declared in front of me—your boyfriend—that he was your destined one!

Liu Yan clenched his fists, ready to drag Chi Yang over to him, but she immediately ducked behind Wang Zhenqi. Wang Zhenqi quickly stepped in front of her, holding Liu Yan back with a frown and a displeased tone. “Young man, she’s pregnant. Whatever you have to say, calm down first, then talk it out, alright?”

“Of course I know she’s pregnant! She’s carrying my child!” Liu Yan was absolutely furious. He had suspected his stepmother, and he’d had doubts about his ex-girlfriend, but never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Chi Yang would cheat on him with a man in his forties!

Yu Liuxue felt genuinely sorry for the male lead. She tugged on Song Linxian’s sleeve. “Sis, your son just got cheated on right in front of you. Aren’t you going to do something?”

Song Linxian’s lashes fluttered slightly. “Are you still hung up on my son? Otherwise, why are you so concerned about him?”

Yu Liuxue: “……” *Dead.*

Wang Zhenqi already knew most of what Liu Yan had just said, but he still stood protectively in front of Chi Yang, refusing to let Liu Yan near her. “Young man, if you’re so full of regret now, maybe you should’ve treated her better in the first place. You two have been dating for a while, haven’t you? She’s been pregnant for quite some time, and yet you still haven’t given her any official status. If it were me, I wouldn’t be happy either.”

Liu Yan: “???” How was I not good to her? What more could I have done? I already convinced my parents to agree to our marriage! And you—homewrecker—what right do you have to say that?

He turned to Chi Yang, filled with righteous indignation. “Chi Yang, you tell him!”

Chi Yang blinked guiltily. In order to get close to Wang Zhenqi and win his sympathy, she had painted Liu Yan as a complete scumbag—someone who partied all day, abandoned her after getting her pregnant, and didn’t care about her or the baby. She said he was still obsessed with his ex, so much so that he couldn’t sleep at night, pining for her endlessly.

Afraid her lies would be exposed, Chi Yang cautiously peeked out from behind Wang Zhenqi, showing only half her face. “Liu Yan, you’re finally here. Let’s sit down and talk properly in a few days, okay?”

Liu Yan pressed his lips into a tight line, his expression cold. “Why wait a few days? Explain everything to me right now!”

Just as the situation was about to escalate, Song Linxian finally spoke up, her tone unhurried. “I was the one who didn’t approve of their marriage.”

Wang Zhenqi: “…?!” What?! You too, Senior Linxian? You’re part of this chaotic mess?

Chi Yang immediately tensed up. Song Linxian gave her a bland glance but still decided to spare her some dignity—after all, she was pregnant, and the baby was already quite far along. Song Linxian took Yu Liuxue’s hand and turned to Liu Yan. “Let’s go.”

Liu Yan was reluctant. His girlfriend had just gone on a date with another man right in front of him, and not only could he not confront her, he had to back off and watch her smile sweetly at someone else. His heart was growing colder by the second. He couldn’t help but reflect—had he really treated Chi Yang that badly?

Was it because he hadn’t been good enough to her that she would rather go on a date with another man while carrying his child?

After everyone had left, Chi Yang finally let out a long sigh of relief. Just as she was regaining her composure, she heard Wang Zhenqi whisper in her ear, “That little girlfriend of Sister Linxian…”

Chi Yang lifted her head and smiled faintly. “She’s Liu Yan’s ex-girlfriend.”

Wang Zhenqi’s whole body stiffened, his face full of question marks. “???” Liu Yan’s ex-girlfriend is now Senior Linxian’s current girlfriend?!

So that means… Senior Linxian and her own son both fell in love with the same girl?! Even for someone like Wang Zhenqi, who had heard his fair share of outrageous gossip, this revelation completely shattered his worldview.

Liu Yan followed Song Linxian and Yu Liuxue into the room, dejected and silent, sitting in a corner without saying a word. Yu Liuxue blinked. Song Linxian didn’t seem the least bit inclined to comfort him. At this rate, was the male lead going to spiral into complete ruin?

“System, Liu Yan is technically my son now. Shouldn’t I go comfort him a little?” As Yu Liuxue asked, she was already slowly inching toward Liu Yan, wearing a gentle, motherly smile.

The System didn’t even hesitate. “Host, please… just don’t.”

But Yu Liuxue patted Liu Yan’s shoulder and said with heartfelt sincerity, “Liu Yan, try to see the bigger picture. If you want to get through life, sometimes you just have to wear a little green on your head.”

Liu Yan lifted his eyelids and stared at her blankly, saying nothing.

System: “……”

Yu Liuxue gave an awkward laugh. Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best way to comfort someone. She cleared her throat, and under the System’s despairing gaze, continued, “There are plenty of women out there. So what if Chi Yang wants to break up with you? Let her go—there’s always someone better, right, son?”

Liu Yan was so down that he didn’t even bother to argue about her calling him “son.”

Song Linxian shot Yu Liuxue a chilly glance. Yu Liuxue shivered and quickly scampered back to her side, looking obedient. “Sis.”

Liu Yan took in the whole scene, and a strange mix of emotions stirred in his heart. To be honest, the Mu Wan he remembered had always been aloof and proud in front of others, never letting her guard down. Only when she was with him would she show a softer, more girlish side—just like now, when she had dropped all her defenses in front of his mother.

At first, he really liked Mu Wan. He knew her family wasn’t well-off, so he secretly vowed that he would save up money and, after graduating from college, give her the biggest, most out-of-this-world surprise in front of the entire school. He planned to cover the ground with roses, light a ring of heart-shaped candles, and, in the flickering candlelight, drop to one knee and present a carefully chosen diamond ring—an unforgettable proposal of a lifetime. Back then, just thinking about it made his heart race like a lovestruck fool.

But later, whether it was the sharp edge of time or the slow erosion of habit, those feelings gradually faded—so subtly that even he didn’t notice. And then, somehow, he ended up with Chi Yang. He slept with Chi Yang. He had a child with Chi Yang…

Liu Yan suddenly realized with a jolt: he and Mu Wan had never officially broken up. Mu Wan had only, in a public setting, declared on her own that she was no longer his girlfriend, bringing their relationship to an abrupt end. Maybe she’d already been completely disillusioned with him by then.

Liu Yan couldn’t tell if he was feeling more regret or sorrow at that moment. All he could think about was—why would Chi Yang rather be with some old man than stay with him? He knew Wang Zhenqi. Was it just because Wang Zhenqi had money, a car, a house? So she couldn’t wait to throw herself into his arms, pregnant and all?

He clenched his fists. So what if he had money? The guy was over forty! Chi Yang was still so young. Wasn’t she just waiting for Wang Zhenqi to kick the bucket so she could inherit his fortune? And if she managed to give him a child or two before he died, her chances would be even better.

Liu Yan let out a bitter laugh. Sure, his life was comfortable, but at the end of the day, he didn’t actually own anything.

Song Linxian wasn’t completely indifferent to her son either. The moment Liu Yan got cheated on, she gave him ten million yuan, telling him to go have fun with it—she wouldn’t say a word even if he burned through it all. Liu Yan stared at the ten million in his account, momentarily speechless. He’d never had that much pocket money in his life. If getting cheated on meant ten million each time…

The next day, his stepmother Xu Cen also heard the news and immediately transferred him another ten million. Liu Yan stared at the twenty million in his account, and a bold idea suddenly popped into his head: if every elder gave him money to comfort him after hearing he’d been cheated on…

A week later, Liu Yan looked at the fifty million in his account with a complicated expression. “…”

At this rate, the whole world probably knew he’d been cuckolded.

In this situation, he obviously wasn’t in the mood to go out and party. And wasn’t the reason Chi Yang left him in the first place because he had no money? Even though he now had a massive sum in hand, Liu Yan was incredibly frugal with every cent. Not only that, he suddenly developed a sense of ambition—buying property, making investments, and getting his personal business in order.

Yu Liuxue suddenly hit pause. “Why does this all feel so familiar?”

The System replied seriously, “The male lead is copying your homework, Host. Of course it feels familiar.”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Damn it, her starting capital was fifty million, and Liu Yan’s was also fifty million. No way she was going to let that punk outdo her! So Yu Liuxue began carefully studying Liu Yan’s strategy, then turned around and copied it herself. Before long, Liu Yan noticed her moves and was momentarily stunned. It was one thing for her to be his stepmother, but now she was copying his money-making model?

Fine, be my mom—but don’t you dare take my slice of the pie!

And so Liu Yan racked his brains, engaging in a fierce tug-of-war with Yu Liuxue. The commotion they stirred up wasn’t small. For a time, the entire investment circle was on edge—people would avoid Liu Yan and Yu Liuxue like the plague. Ah, in the end, all things in this world are just games played by the rich.

While Yu Liuxue and Liu Yan were locked in a battle of wits and resources, Chi Yang’s due date was drawing near. She and Wang Zhenqi got along well, sharing many common interests and hobbies. He often laughed at her jokes, and she often giggled at his. So when he found out she was feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Wang Zhenqi immediately pulled strings to secure her a hospital and a private room. Once Chi Yang was settled into the VIP maternity suite, Wang Zhenqi cleared his schedule to stay by her side and take care of her.

Chi Yang couldn’t help tearing up. “Uncle Wang, you’re just too good to me…”

Wang Zhenqi smiled dotingly. “Yangyang, you’re the woman I was destined to meet. If I don’t treat you well, who else would I treat well?”

Chi Yang was touched all over again. She never imagined she’d actually be the woman Wang Zhenqi was fated to be with. She gripped his hand tightly. “Uncle Wang, wait for me. I’ll marry you looking my absolute best.”

Soon, Liu Yan also heard the news that Chi Yang was about to give birth. He immediately called his birth mother, his stepmother, and even his little stepmom Yu Liuxue, and rushed to the hospital. When they arrived, Chi Yang had already gone in for a C-section, and Liu Yan couldn’t help feeling anxious.

During this time, he hadn’t reached out to Chi Yang, and as expected, she hadn’t contacted him either. Gradually, his feelings for her faded—until they were completely replaced by his obsession with out-earning his little stepmom, Yu Liuxue. But now, standing there, he realized that while he no longer loved Chi Yang, he couldn’t let go of the child in her belly—his first child.

Liu Yan silently made up his mind—no matter what, he had to fight for this child.

Even Yu Liuxue hadn’t expected that this mission would lead to her standing outside an operating room, waiting for the female lead to give birth. She craned her neck slightly, secretly wondering whether Chi Yang was having a boy or a girl.

Suddenly, Song Linxian leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Feeling baby fever?”

Yu Liuxue: “!!!”

She quickly forced a smile. “Of course not! Babies are such a hassle. I just want to spend my whole life enjoying our two-person world, just you and me, Sis.”

Liu Yan, who had been eavesdropping, suddenly felt like he’d been hit by a truck—from every direction.

The C-section ended quickly. When the doctor brought the baby out, both Liu Yan and Wang Zhenqi ignored the child and rushed straight into the room. Chi Yang was still unconscious, lying pale on the hospital bed. Wang Zhenqi sat beside her, gently wiping the sweat from her face with deep concern. Liu Yan unconsciously came to a halt, then silently turned and walked out, his expression dim.

The baby was handed over to Chi Yang’s mother. Yu Liuxue walked up to Liu Yan and blinked. “It’s a girl.”

Liu Yan studied her expression carefully and suddenly felt a surge of motivation—was his little stepmom hinting that he should fight for the baby too?!

Yu Liuxue blinked and saw Liu Yan walking resolutely toward Mother Chi, speaking earnestly and straightforwardly about the custody and upbringing of the child. She couldn’t help but think, “…Huh?” Did I say something?

When the Chi parents found out the child was a girl, their expressions already showed some displeasure. They had assumed that, at the very least, a baby boy could be used to get some dowry money back for Chi Yang. Who would’ve thought their daughter’s womb would be so disappointing? Now that their daughter was head over heels for Wang Zhenqi, bringing a child into the picture would not only ruin the mood but, over time, might stir dissatisfaction in Wang Zhenqi. It could even jeopardize their relationship.

So when Liu Yan volunteered to raise the child, the Chi parents responded with indifference, “Wait until Yangyang wakes up and discuss it with her yourself.”

After brushing Liu Yan off with that line, the moment Chi Yang woke up, Mother Chi rushed over and began her heartfelt persuasion. “Yangyang, you can’t keep this child. You’ve finally met such a good man like Wang Zhenqi. Don’t do anything foolish to ruin your own happiness!”

Chi Yang looked dazed. “But… she’s my daughter…”

Mother Chi pressed, “Don’t you want to spend the rest of your life happily with Wang Zhenqi?”

“I do!” Though Chi Yang was still in a daze, she answered without hesitation, firmly and decisively, “I do!”

Soon after, Liu Yan received the news that Chi Yang didn’t want the child and was handing her over to him. He was overjoyed, holding the baby with a grin so wide he could barely find his bearings. Even when the other side demanded an outrageous list of conditions—nutrition fees, physical damage compensation, emotional distress fees, a breakup settlement—he agreed to all of it without hesitation. As long as the child was his, everything else could be worked out.

Just as he was basking in his happiness, Yu Liuxue strolled past him slowly and sighed, “Sigh, it’s all because she’s a girl.”

The smile on Liu Yan’s face froze. Of course he knew why she said that. Mu Wan was one of those children abandoned by her own mother. If she hadn’t fought her way out of that remote mountain village through sheer determination, she might’ve already been married off, a mother herself, stuck in the mountains for life, maybe even being beaten to death by some man—just another pitiful village woman.

The thought that something like that could happen to his daughter made Liu Yan feel like he couldn’t breathe. He hugged the child tighter. No matter what, he could never give her back to Chi Yang! That stepfather, Wang Zhenqi, would never treat his daughter well. And if that beast ever dared lay a hand on her…

Yu Liuxue watched Liu Yan’s expression with satisfaction. Even though the male and female leads had already moved on to other people, that wasn’t enough. If she wanted to complete her mission perfectly, she had to sever any chance of them getting back together. You took my child? Then I’ll destroy your man’s career. Mutual destruction, mutual hate—how thrilling!

But while the leads were suffering, things weren’t exactly going smoothly for her either, given how closely her fate was tied to theirs. Despite Mu Zizhe’s best efforts to hide it, his secret stash of money was still discovered by his mother. Under intense interrogation from both his mother and stepfather, Mu Zizhe finally couldn’t take the pain anymore and, sobbing and sniffling, confessed where the money came from.

The moment they heard it, their eyes lit up with glee. They immediately started asking around and managed to get Yu Liuxue’s phone number. Then they called her in a rush, demanding money. “Mu Wan, Mom didn’t expect you to be so grown up and capable now! I’m not asking you to do much for me, but Zizhe is your little brother, and he’s sick and needs surgery. You know I’m just a farmer—I don’t have that kind of money, so…”

Mu Zizhe lay in bed, tears streaming down his face. He had always known his mother was greedy. He’d even mentally prepared himself for the day she’d find his secret savings and take them. But he never imagined his parents would beat him so viciously over a few hundred yuan, or that they’d lie to his sister just to get money.

His sister had always treated him well. She promised to give him one yuan every day and never broke that promise. And she was a girl—so delicate. If she ended up like him, beaten and scarred by their parents, it would all be his fault.

He was the one who had hurt his sister.

Mu Zizhe cried his heart out in bed, but his parents didn’t spare him a single glance. They were too busy excitedly discussing how to trick Mu Wan out of her savings, and how much bride price they could get by marrying her off. The more he listened, the more hopeless he felt. His heart ached for his sister. After thinking it over again and again, he finally realized the root of the problem: he was too weak.

If only he were stronger, he wouldn’t have to watch helplessly as his sister was bullied and manipulated. If he were strong enough, he could stand up and protect her, instead of lying in bed crying like a coward. He would never forget how much that one yuan a day had meant to him. It let him sneak off to internet cafes to take online classes, learn things his schoolteachers never taught. He discovered that the world was vast and exciting—that there was more to life than just one street, one town.

Those few hundred yuan had changed the way he saw the world.

He finally understood why his sister, even after being abandoned by their mother, had fought so hard to study and escape this town.

Now, he wanted to escape too.

Mu Zizhe lay there, dazed and disoriented. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but suddenly, the pain in his body seemed to ease. There was a strange smell in the air. A wave of sorrow washed over him—had he died? Was this the afterlife?

He didn’t want to drink the soup of forgetfulness. In his next life, he still wanted to be siblings with that girl called Mu Wan.

After mentally preparing himself, he slowly opened his eyes. Yu Liuxue turned around and said cheerfully, “Zizhe, you’re awake.”

Mu Zizhe stared at her blankly, then slowly looked around. Several men and women in white coats were gathered nearby, occasionally glancing at him and discussing something. There were also several people in suits and police uniforms talking to his sister.

And standing behind his sister—was the woman from the car that day!

Mu Zizhe shuddered on the spot and quickly shouted to Yu Liuxue, “Mu Wan-jie! Behind you—!”

Yu Liuxue turned around and locked eyes with Song Linxian. Song Linxian blinked slowly. “?” Why is your brother so scared of me?

She leaned in toward Yu Liuxue. “Did you go bad-mouthing me to your brother and ruin my image?”

Yu Liuxue: “……” Oh crap! I totally forgot about that!

She quickly said, “Maybe it’s because you’re too pretty, so he was just startled. Wait here, I’ll go talk to him for a bit.” With that, she hurried over to Mu Zizhe and, with her back to Song Linxian, discreetly made a “shhh—” gesture.

Mu Zizhe immediately quieted down. Though he didn’t say another word, he kept casting terrified glances at Song Linxian.

Yu Liuxue felt a headache coming on. She sighed, “System, you were right. Lie too much, and one day it’s bound to blow up in your face.”

The System chuckled, “But didn’t you once swear up and down that as long as you lied fast enough, the fallout would never catch up to you?”

“Of course!” Yu Liuxue grinned with confidence.

The System fell silent. “……”?

Yu Liuxue lowered her voice. “Zizhe, don’t say anything just yet. That aunt is powerful and well-connected. I begged her for a long time before she agreed to help us. You absolutely cannot have any thoughts about her. If she notices, she won’t help us anymore.”

Mu Zizhe blinked in confusion. Yu Liuxue continued, “Zizhe, do you want to escape from Mom and Dad forever? From now on, it’ll just be the two of us, brother and sister, relying on each other. I may not be much, but as long as I’m here, I promise I’ll never hit you, never let you go hungry or cold.”

Mu Zizhe was already wavering.

“If you listen to me and study hard, every time you get first place, I’ll give you a reward—money to buy whatever you like, do whatever you want. As long as it’s not illegal or immoral, I won’t stop you.” Yu Liuxue gave him a devilish smile. “Zizhe, are you in?”

It was everything he’d ever dreamed of! Mu Zizhe nodded furiously. “Sister Mu Wan, I’m in!”

“Good. Then later, no matter what the police officers ask you, you must answer honestly. No hiding anything, got it?”

Mu Zizhe nodded obediently.

When his birth mother and stepfather called demanding money, Yu Liuxue had already recorded the call. And the moment she heard that Mu Zizhe had been beaten nearly to death by his stepfather, she immediately called the police. Then she rushed over with the police, a doctor, and a lawyer in tow, had the man arrested on the spot, and rushed Mu Zizhe to a major hospital for emergency treatment.

The man had been vicious. If they’d been even a little later, Mu Zizhe might’ve lost a limb at his young age.

When Mu Zizhe later learned how much his sister had done for him, he was moved to tears. He swore to himself that he would be good to his sister for the rest of his life, that he would grow strong and protect her forever—especially from that woman… He had only glanced subconsciously at Song Linxian, but she immediately sensed his gaze and looked back at him coolly.

Mu Zizhe shivered on the spot. His sister was right—this aunt really did look just like one of those powerful villains on TV.

*Shivering.jpg*

After Yu Liuxue had spoken to the child, instead of easing his fear, it only seemed to make it worse. She thought for a moment, and when she got home, she immediately pounced on Yu Liuxue and pinned her to the sofa. “You told your little brother… that I’m a bad woman, didn’t you?”

Yu Liuxue: “!!!”

Her eyes welled with tears. She instantly regretted her decision. If only she’d come up with a different excuse back then…

Liu Yan and Chi Yang quickly reached an agreement on the child’s custody and future arrangements, and signed the documents on the spot with a notary present. Chi Yang was accompanied by Wang Zhenqi, who had no biological ties to the child and thus fully supported Chi Yang’s decision.

Xu Cen, who had come with Liu Yan, looked down at the little one in her arms with mixed emotions. Who would’ve thought—she hadn’t even had a child of her own yet, and here she was, not even forty, already holding a granddaughter.

After signing, Liu Yan and Chi Yang each went their separate ways.

Though Liu Yan was emotionally numb, he doted on his daughter like she was the most precious thing in the world. When Yu Liuxue accompanied Song Linxian to Liu Yan’s place, she saw how tenderly Liu Yan treated his daughter and felt like the sun had risen in the west. She herself remained completely unmoved—and even managed to snatch an investment opportunity right out from under Liu Yan’s nose. Liu Yan was so furious he could barely contain himself. Ever since he had a daughter, he couldn’t focus on making money like he used to, which gave Yu Liuxue the opening she needed.

He glared at Yu Liuxue, who looked smugly triumphant, then turned to Song Linxian and tattled, “Mom, I also bought a place next to the Golf Garden. You should come by often and visit your granddaughter.”

Immediately, Song Linxian’s sharp gaze snapped to Yu Liuxue. The Golf Garden property? Wasn’t that the very place where she had faked being sold off by her birth mother, just to get close to her? She had never confronted Yu Liuxue about that incident, choosing to let it go—but now…

Her birth mother had only recently been imprisoned for child abuse, abandonment, and attempted murder. So what was all that nonsense about being sold off? What brother had been ordered by their mother to come ask her for money? The more Song Linxian thought about it, the more wrong it all seemed. And when she finally pieced it together, she realized everything had been one elaborate lie from Mu Wan.

That little liar hadn’t told a single truth from the start. She’d planned to deceive her all along, playing her like a fool.

A cold bead of sweat trickled down Yu Liuxue’s forehead.

She glared furiously at Liu Yan. You scumbag. I helped you fight for your daughter, even let you copy my homework, and this is how you repay your savior? Fine, if that’s how it is, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Yu Liuxue forced a calm expression. “Liu Yan, I can’t believe you actually did it! You once told me, if we ever broke up, you’d buy a house bigger and better than mine right next to me…”

In an instant, Song Linxian’s sharp gaze turned on Liu Yan. “…”

She slowly sat down and picked up Liu Yan’s child. “Oh?”

Looks like she’d been giving her son too much pocket money and not enough homework. That’s why he had time to go around making grand declarations to women. Song Linxian smiled faintly. “Liu Yan, you’re not getting any younger. In a few days, get ready to start working at Old Liu’s company.”

Liu Yan: “…Mom?!” Work? What work? Isn’t taking care of his daughter more important?

Tears streamed down his face as he watched Song Linxian take his daughter and hand her over to Xu Cen. He immediately regretted ever picking a fight with Mu Wan. Liu Yan had inherited not only Song Linxian’s brains but also the high IQ of his other parent. So under Song Linxian’s orders, Old Liu, thrilled to get a free laborer, worked him like a mule.

The more Liu Yan thought about it, the more indignant he became. Finally, he struck back—by poaching Wang Zhenqi’s business.

Wang Zhenqi’s company suffered a significant loss. Chi Yang, alarmed, nestled into his arms and looked up at him worriedly. “Uncle Wang, Liu Yan, he…”

But Wang Zhenqi didn’t blame her at all. In fact, he looked downright excited, as if he’d met a worthy rival. “That kid’s got some skill! I underestimated him this time, but next time, he won’t be so lucky!”

Watching her newlywed husband go head-to-head with her ex-boyfriend, Chi Yang was utterly exhausted. On one hand, she blamed Liu Yan for being so petty and unable to let her be happy. On the other, she felt Wang Zhenqi was being far too reckless. He already had more than enough wealth—couldn’t he just enjoy his twilight years in peace? Why did he have to go and pick a fight with a young man like Liu Yan?

Amidst this whirlwind of emotions, one day, Chi Yang suddenly discovered she was pregnant again.

Wang Zhenqi was, of course, overjoyed. He immediately gifted Chi Yang a villa and a luxury car as a reward. Chi Yang was deeply moved. “Uncle Wang, you’re so good to me…”

When Liu Yan heard the news, he fell silent. Holding his child, he sat across from his birth mother, stepmother, and adoptive mother—three women who all turned their curious gazes on him at once. His temples throbbed violently. Sure, the whole world already knew he’d been cheated on, but being stared at like this… was really a bit much.

Yu Liuxue was genuinely itching to interview Liu Yan. She had covered countless stories, but few were as tragic as his. His ex-girlfriend had become his stepmother. Another ex had borne him a child, only to leave the baby with him and marry an old man nearly the same age as his father. Seriously—how big was the shadow in the male lead’s heart right now?

Liu Yan didn’t really have much to say. Everyone makes their own choices. Since Chi Yang had chosen to marry that man and have his child, all he could do was offer a polite “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.” There wasn’t much else to say.

While Wang Zhenqi was still busy competing with the younger Liu Yan, Chi Yang successfully gave birth to a son. Wang Zhenqi was over the moon—finally, he had an heir! He went on a shopping spree, buying Chi Yang dozens of designer handbags and gifting her ten million yuan in spending money, telling her to enjoy herself shopping with her girlfriends once she recovered from childbirth.

Chi Yang’s girlfriends were green with envy. They praised her for having good taste and finding such a great man, while throwing shade at Liu Yan behind his back. “So what if he’s a rich second generation? Still can’t find a wife.”

Liu Yan heard the news and once again fell silent.

Yu Liuxue was nearly knocked out by how ridiculously dramatic this world was. How could things be this absurd? Why did the female lead have to go and have a kid with someone else? Preserving another man’s bloodline? She started to genuinely feel sorry for Liu Yan.

After a long silence, Liu Yan—for reasons unknown—suddenly went berserk and clashed head-on with Wang Zhenqi.

Though Wang Zhenqi was a formidable figure in his own right, Liu Yan had the combined buff of both his stepmother and birth mother. In this invisible battle, he ultimately emerged victorious. Chi Yang had barely begun to enjoy the good life when she was informed that her husband’s assets had shrunk by more than half. Her standard of living would now have to drop accordingly, as Wang Zhenqi was busy pulling strings and burning cash, preparing for a counterattack to crush Liu Yan completely.

Chi Yang burst into tears, holding her baby in a daze. What had she done in a past life to deserve this? Why did the heavens insist on shattering her dreams every time she got a taste of happiness?

But Wang Zhenqi was still full of ambition. He didn’t see this as a total defeat. Back home, he looked deeply into Chi Yang’s eyes. “Yangyang, will you wait for me? Will you stand by me as I rise again?”

Chi Yang had already married him and given him a child. Her entire life was now tied to Wang Zhenqi. What else could she do? With tears in her eyes, she slowly nodded. “Uncle Wang, go ahead and do what you need to do. No matter what you decide, I’ll support you.”

Wang Zhenqi immediately broke into a joyful smile. He pulled out a bank card. “Yangyang, I know I’ve wronged you and made you suffer. Here’s a million yuan—take it and go out with your friends, have some fun, lift your spirits. Don’t worry, even if I, Wang Zhenqi, starve to death, I’ll never let you suffer a single bit.”

Chi Yang was… somewhat moved.

Meanwhile, Yu Liuxue was on her way to pick up her “discount” little brother, Mu Zizhe. As usual, she gave him one yuan a day. Even after Mu Zizhe was discharged from the hospital and placed in the best nearby school thanks to Yu Liuxue’s arrangements, and even though he now understood that one yuan was such a trivial amount most people wouldn’t even bother picking it up off the ground, he still cherished that single coin like it was treasure. Every day, he eagerly awaited his daily allowance from Yu Liuxue.

Even after Yu Liuxue kept her promise and rewarded him with a hundred yuan when he transferred schools and scored the highest grade in the school’s history—causing a stir among the teachers—he still preferred that seemingly insignificant one yuan. Yu Liuxue was baffled. Did he hit his head or something?

Mu Zizhe never told Yu Liuxue the reason. Only he knew—that one yuan was his faith. His salvation.

He was endlessly grateful for his own greedy little nature. If not for that, his life might have been ruined.

When Yu Liuxue saw him, she greeted him warmly. She handed him his allowance for the day and casually asked Mu Zizhe, “I heard your school just had another monthly exam?”

Mu Zizhe nodded seriously. “Yeah. I think I did pretty well. Unless something unexpected happens, first place should still be mine. But, Sis, before the exam, a girl in my class tried to get close to me. I turned her down.”

Yu Liuxue’s interest was instantly piqued. “Oh? What happened?”

Mu Zizhe frowned, thinking it over. “That girl used to have good grades. Before I transferred, she was ranked first in the grade. After I came, she dropped to second. Right before the proctor came into the classroom, she suddenly poked me in the back and quietly asked if I wanted to go watch a movie and have dinner after school. But I needed to review and prepare for the next day’s exam, so I refused.”

“That girl must be holding a grudge because I surpassed her in grades. So she tried to tempt me with the sugar-coated bullets of the material world, trying to lure me into slacking off so she could overtake me and reclaim first place!” Mu Zizhe wore an expression that said he had seen through everything. “Sis, I would never fall for such cheap tricks!”

Yu Liuxue was speechless: “?”

She couldn’t help but sigh to the System, “Oh, this poor child! For God’s sake, I won’t kick his butt with my shoe—fine! I swear! If I weren’t wearing heels worth over a hundred thousand today, I really would’ve done it!”