Chapter 113: From a Scumbag’s Ex-Girlfriend to His Stepmom (Arc End)

Looking at Mu Zizhe’s smug little face, Yu Liuxue felt a wave of complicated emotions. She consoled herself half-heartedly—after all, he was just a conveniently picked-up little brother, no need to be too uptight about it.

Still, Mu Zizhe’s performance had far exceeded her expectations—so much so that it was downright jaw-dropping. Back before his family troubles, even when tempted with pocket money to study a bit harder, his grades were only slightly above average, nowhere near this level of brilliance.

Later, when it was discovered that Yu Liuxue had been giving him pocket money, his parents gave him a brutal beating. That beating seemed to have jolted him into a new life. Not only did he stop being mischievous, he practically turned into a book-obsessed maniac. His eyes saw nothing but textbooks… oh, and money.

His first mock exam after transferring schools shocked everyone—he scored the highest in the entire school. The teachers in the office were so stunned they swarmed around his test paper, flipping it over and scrutinizing it like they were trying to find holes in it.

Everyone knew Mu Zizhe’s background. He was just an ordinary kid from a small town school, and only got into this elite school through connections. Based on his family background alone, he probably wouldn’t have made it. Who would’ve thought he was actually a hidden gem with top-notch grades?

When the results came out, even the principal personally reached out to Yu Liuxue, singing Mu Zizhe’s praises like he was the reincarnation of a prodigy.

Yu Liuxue turned her head, thought for a moment, then casually asked, “Zizhe, tomorrow’s Saturday. Are you going to visit Mom and Dad?”

Mu Zizhe’s expression stiffened slightly. His lashes lowered, hiding the disappointment in his eyes. He shook his head gently. “No… I still have to study.”

They both knew—studying was just an excuse. The real reason was the disappointment. Yu Liuxue smiled and gently patted his head. “Alright. We’ll go together during your break.”

After a pause, she added softly, “Zizhe, even though Mom made mistakes, you’re still her flesh and blood. I’m not asking you to forgive her.”

Seeing Mu Zizhe look up, Yu Liuxue continued calmly, “I just don’t want people to have anything to say about you. And I don’t want your growth or your future to be negatively affected.”

Mu Zizhe seemed to half-understand. He knew he could never forgive his parents for what they did. But if his sister wanted him to visit them, then listening to her couldn’t be wrong. So he nodded slowly. “When I’m on break, I’ll go see them… with my first-place award certificate.”

Yu Liuxue smiled. “Good.”

She thought, when Mu Wan’s biological mother sees how well her son has turned out under her care, she’s bound to panic. Knowing her personality, she’ll start overthinking, wondering if Yu Liuxue has been feeding her son all sorts of nonsense—like abandoning his birth mom, or refusing to acknowledge her.

And once she starts thinking like that, maybe even grabbing Mu Zizhe’s hand and saying those things out loud, then a boy who now knows right from wrong will realize: aside from the title of “the woman who gave birth to me,” she’s just an ordinary person.

The more desperately that woman tries to hold on to her son, the further she’ll push him away.

After all, who doesn’t like pocket money and access to top-tier education? That’s the kind of thing that determines whether your future is one of power and prestige, or obscurity and insignificance. Any smart person would know how to choose.

That day, Song Linxian was heading back to the Golf Garden villa, so Yu Liuxue brought Mu Zizhe along. Her own apartment had long been torn apart by Song Linxian—along with the lie she told that night. So now that the storm had passed, Yu Liuxue could move in openly and confidently.

The car came to a smooth stop in the upscale villa district where the wealthy lived. Just as Yu Liuxue was about to get out of the car, Mu Zizhe suddenly grabbed her sleeve like he’d seen a ghost, pointing ahead in shock and stammering, “Sis—Sister! Isn’t that the actress who blew up this year?!”

Yu Liuxue reflexively looked up and studied the woman carefully. “Is it? I don’t recognize her.”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Mu Zizhe’s face was flushed with excitement. “So many girls in our class like her! They even call her their wife! I really li—”

Just as he was getting into it, Mu Zizhe abruptly shut his mouth, glancing nervously at Yu Liuxue, clearly worried she’d catch on to something. Yu Liuxue raised an eyebrow. Oh?

She opened the car door, her heels clicking as she stepped out. Mu Zizhe followed. When the actress smiled in their direction, Yu Liuxue returned the smile. But the more Mu Zizhe thought about it, the more something felt off. Finally, his eyes widened in realization—

Didn’t his sister say she was poor? That she only made three thousand yuan a month? Then how could she afford to live in such a fancy place… and even be neighbors with a celebrity? And from the looks of it, she actually knew the actress!

He couldn’t help asking, “Sister, how much do you really make a month?”

When Yu Liuxue saw the look on his face—like he totally didn’t believe her—she broke into a cold sweat. Crap… has my secret as a rich woman been discovered by my cheap little brother?! She furrowed her brows in distress, then reluctantly held up five fingers. “Not much… just five thousand.”

Mu Zizhe: “???” Five thousand?!

But Yu Liuxue misunderstood his reaction. Seeing his blank, coffin-like expression as he silently watched her bluff, she felt a twinge of guilt. Then, trying to be a little more honest, she said, “Okay, fine, I lied. It’s actually fifty thousand.”

Mu Zizhe: *stunned.jpg*

For someone who only got one yuan a day in pocket money, fifty thousand was an unimaginable number. He was so shocked he couldn’t even react.

Seeing her brother’s expression shift from coffin-face to corpse-face, Yu Liuxue started to regret it. How did he know I was lying again? She frowned in frustration, then, with great reluctance, held out another hand. “Alright, since you’re so smart and can see through my lies, I’ll just tell you the truth… it’s actually a hundred thousand.”

Mu Zizhe: “!!!”

Mu Zizhe: “……” Sister, just how many lies have you told me?

I used to think we were poor—so poor we had to pinch every penny, splitting dimes in half just to make them last. Who would’ve thought your monthly salary is worth ten years of Mom and Dad’s hard work?! Mu Zizhe was now seriously questioning everything he knew about life.

Yu Liuxue noticed her brother staring at her with deep suspicion. She scratched her face awkwardly. Could it be that her cheap little brother had recently taken an interest in fashion magazines and realized that the shoes on her feet alone cost over a hundred thousand? Sigh… kids grow up so fast. They’re not nearly as easy to fool as they were when they were little.

Yu Liuxue did a quick mental calculation of a conservative estimate, then smiled sweetly. “Alright, Zizhe, to be honest, everything I said earlier was a lie. On a bad month, I usually make about a million. On a good one, maybe ten million.”

Mu Zizhe: “……” Maybe? Maybe?! *Just* ten million???

At this point, even if his sister told him she was worth billions and could buy the entire school, he wouldn’t be surprised. As that thought crossed his mind, Yu Liuxue looked at him with a smile and said, “Isn’t your school building a new library? I donated that building.”

Mu Zizhe: “!!!”

Damn!

Mu Zizhe died on the spot.

Yu Liuxue watched her cheap little brother’s face go through a rainbow of expressions with great interest, finding it all very amusing. She even felt like teasing him a bit more. So, she sat down slowly and asked, “If your sister gave you a thousand yuan in pocket money, what would you buy for the girl you like?”

“I’d buy her idol’s alb—!” Mu Zizhe clamped his mouth shut and looked up at his sister. Sure enough, her half-smiling, half-teasing expression met his eyes. He was instantly filled with regret and frustration. This half-sister of his was just too cunning, too sly!

He couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. What if his sister didn’t approve of him dating? He was about to promise her that he’d never let it affect his grades, but Yu Liuxue beat him to it.

“Five hundred yuan—will that be enough?”

Mu Zizhe stared at her blankly. “What?”

“For the album,” Yu Liuxue blinked. “If your future sister-in-law’s idol has been around for a while, that might not be enough… How about this, I’ll give you five thousand to chase after the girl you like.”

Mu Zizhe was so touched he nearly burst into tears. Wiping his eyes, he sniffled as he walked toward Yu Liuxue. “Sis…”

He felt like he was floating, wrapped in a warm, overwhelming sense of being spoiled and loved. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “Mu Wan-jie, don’t worry. I won’t let dating get in the way of my studies. I’m going to apply to Tsinghua and Peking University!”

Yu Liuxue inhaled sharply in surprise, then, under Mu Zizhe’s horrified gaze, she stood up happily and gave him a solid slap on the shoulder. “That’s my brother! Ambitious! I’ve decided to add another thousand to your dating fund! Go chase that girl! If you run out of money, come back to me!”

Mu Zizhe was in utter despair. Later, he would regret his youthful recklessness again and again—because that very day, his sister posted to her Moments: *My little brother said he’s going to get into Tsinghua or Peking University as the top student!*

All he said was that he *wanted* to get into those schools. Who said anything about being top of the class?

After that, Mu Zizhe didn’t even dare confess his feelings. He was either studying or on his way to study, living under the looming shadow of Tsinghua and Peking University for years.

Song Linxian, of course, didn’t miss out on such a monumental event as Yu Liuxue conning her little brother. Once she understood the whole story, she couldn’t help but give Mu Zizhe a sympathetic look. The moment he saw her, he bolted faster than a rabbit. Song Linxian started to wonder—just how many lies had Mu Wan told behind her back?

The moment Yu Liuxue saw the look on Song Linxian’s face, she knew trouble was coming. She tried to sneak away, but Song Linxian grabbed her and pulled her right back into her arms. With both hands around her waist, she said, “Mu Wan, have you ever thought about writing a book?”

Yu Liuxue blinked. “What kind of book?”

“*All the Lies You’ve Told, the People You’ve Fooled, and the Times You Crashed and Burned.*”

Yu Liuxue: “…” Sis, please. It’s been years. Can we not dig up old dirt?

Once again devastated by Song Linxian’s relentless accounting, Yu Liuxue clutched the bedsheets in despair. Song Linxian leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Come with me tomorrow to see Liu Yan.”

“What for?”

“It’s the baby’s first birthday party.”

Yu Liuxue suddenly understood. Liu Yan might not have been a good boyfriend—hell, not even a decent scumbag—but he was undeniably a devoted father. Everyone could see how much he adored his daughter. He would give her the world if he could. Because of that, even those who used to mock him behind his back had shut up, and some had even started discussing Chi Yang.

“Liu Yan treats his daughter so well. If Chi Yang hadn’t left him, she would’ve been a princess in his hands too.”

“Right? Who would’ve thought? After Chi Yang left Liu Yan, he actually made a name for himself—his career’s even better than her husband’s now.”

“Am I the only one who thinks Chi Yang actually had great taste? Both her ex and her husband are successful, talented men. Girls would throw themselves at either one. And she’s had both—and even had kids with both. Even if Liu Yan and Chi Yang don’t talk anymore, I bet he still hasn’t gotten over her…”

Chi Yang looked stunning today. Wearing white gloves, a beautiful dress, and carrying an expensive handbag, she walked past the whispering women with a serene grace. Her expression faltered for a moment, then she gave a bitter smile. As if. The moment she asked Liu Yan for emotional damages, their relationship was over for good.

Everyone thought Liu Yan still had feelings for her, but only she knew—he had never reached out, not once. Not even when she gave birth or during the baby’s one-month celebration. He just sent someone with a big red envelope. He didn’t even show up.

She hadn’t wanted to come today either. But the baby was her biological daughter. She wanted to see how she was doing.

Back when she was still with Liu Yan, her dream was to have both a son and a daughter. Now, that wish had technically come true—just that the two children were destined to have an awkward relationship when they met.

Yu Liuxue, as the child’s “grandmother,” was also dressed to the nines today. But she leaned against the railing with a look of utter despair. “Dating an older woman has this one big downside—messed up family titles. My ex-boyfriend, who’s the same age as me, calls me Mom. His kid calls me Grandma. And I call his mom—Wife.”

System: And whose fault is that, really?

Yu Liuxue let out a long sigh. No wonder this feels like a soap opera. It’s wild.

Suddenly, she noticed Liu Yan standing quietly in the corner, his gaze calm as he looked at Chi Yang. Her eyes widened slightly. Wait a second—could it be that the male lead still hasn’t gotten over the female lead? But she’s already married and has a kid!

Chi Yang suddenly caught sight of Yu Liuxue. She slowly lifted her foot and walked toward her. It wasn’t until after she broke up with Liu Yan that Chi Yang realized her feelings toward Mu Wan were far more complicated than she had thought. She felt ashamed of her childish thoughts back then, and today, there were things she had to say—especially since she was about to move abroad for good.

Standing in front of Yu Liuxue, she said, “Mu Wan, it’s been a long time.”

Yu Liuxue gave a faint smile. “Yes, it really has been a while.”

Now, one of them was already a mother, and the other—already a grandmother. Chi Yang lowered her head slightly. “Mu Wan, you’re beautiful and exceptional. I’ve always admired you… and envied you. Even though I knew Liu Yan longer, he chose you. At the time, I thought he was just fooling around, but I never expected your relationship to last that long. So I kept wondering—what was it about me that couldn’t compare to you? Was it my figure? My looks? Or those seductive, captivating eyes of yours?”

Liu Yan instinctively stopped in his tracks.

Chi Yang’s heart was full of emotion. She let out a soft laugh. “So one day, I secretly swore to myself that I would surpass you. That’s why I decided to steal Liu Yan. Of course, I was only testing the waters… but I never expected it to actually work.”

Yu Liuxue had already sensed that Liu Yan was nearby and was about to stop Chi Yang, but Chi Yang raised her hand to halt her. “Mu Wan, what I did was wrong. I’m here to apologize.”

“Not just for stealing Liu Yan—but also for that time I faked the fall.”

Liu Yan leaned back against the wall, staring blankly at the ceiling. His stepmother had once mentioned something about it in passing, but he hadn’t taken it seriously. Now, hearing the words come directly from Chi Yang’s mouth, he finally realized just how badly he had misjudged everything back then.

Chi Yang was still speaking, but he could no longer hear a word. He was lost in his own world until her delicate silhouette entered his line of sight. Chi Yang gave him a gentle smile. “Liu Yan, I’m moving abroad—with Uncle Wang.”

A thousand thoughts flashed through Liu Yan’s mind. In the end, he swallowed all the words he wanted to say and asked the one question that mattered most to him. “Chi Yang… did you ever truly like me? Even if just for a moment?”

Though he hadn’t been in contact with Chi Yang, he had heard about her and Wang Zhenqi. He knew Wang Zhenqi treated her well, doted on her just like he once claimed he would. As a man, Liu Yan couldn’t help but compare himself to Wang Zhenqi. The result wasn’t flattering, but he still wanted to hear Chi Yang’s answer with his own ears.

Chi Yang hadn’t expected that question. She froze for a moment, then smiled. “Maybe… I did. Just a little.”

“I’m going to check on the baby.”

Chi Yang had come to attend the baby’s first birthday party—and to say her goodbyes. After the party, Liu Yan locked himself in his room for an entire week without stepping outside.

Yu Liuxue sat on the couch, worried. “Sister, do you think your son’s going to starve himself to death?”

Song Linxian glanced at her lightly. Calling him “your son” so naturally… could it be that Mu Wan actually liked this kind of provocative address?

Yu Liuxue instantly saw through Song Linxian’s little scheme. She jumped up from the couch. “Sister, Zizhe’s coming back soon. I’m going with him to visit our parents.”

She and Mu Zizhe had agreed to visit them today. Thanks to Song Linxian’s help in finding a top-tier lawyer, those two had paid a heavy price. Today’s visit was bound to stir up some drama.

Mu Zizhe’s heart was heavy. Though he had already promised Yu Liuxue, he still wasn’t mentally prepared. He didn’t know how to face the parents his own sister had sent to prison, nor how to respond to their questions and accusations.

He wanted to run, but his sister gave him an encouraging look. Mu Zizhe forced a smile that looked more like he was about to cry, then slowly stepped forward.

Yu Liuxue didn’t go in with him. She said to her “younger brother,” “Tell them how you really feel. Talk to them. Whether they accept it or not, I’ll be right here. I’ll always have your back.”

Mu Zizhe clenched his fists. “I understand, Sister.”

First, his father was brought out. The moment he saw Mu Zizhe, he became agitated and tried to hit him. Mu Zizhe instinctively flinched, but the man was quickly restrained and taken away again. Someone nearby comforted him, “Don’t be afraid, kid. The bad guy’s been punished. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Mu Zizhe let out a breath of relief.

Then came his mother. Just like his father, she immediately tried to stand up when she saw him, but was forced back down. Her expression twisted, and she screamed hysterically, “What did that little slut Mu Wan say to you? What did she use to bribe you? Mu Zizhe, how dare you falsely accuse your own mother and send her to prison! People like you will be cursed for life!”

Mu Zizhe clenched his fists tighter. He pressed his lips together. “Mom, Mu Wan never said anything to me. She didn’t offer me any kind of bribe. You’re overthinking it.”

The woman sneered. “Impossible! She has money! She made a fortune behind our backs. You greedy, ungrateful brat—she must’ve…”

Mu Zizhe suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. He slowly placed the certificate he’d been holding onto the table in front of her. “Mom, I got first place in the entire school.”

“Mu Wan sent me to a good school. She paid for my education. She never hit me, never yelled at me. She supports me unconditionally. Even when I wanted to date early, she guided me the right way—instead of beating me half to death like you and Dad did, crushing my spirit.”

The woman stared blankly at the certificate on the table. Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t find the words.

“Mom, I’m doing really well with Sister Mu Wan. You and Dad don’t need to worry about me. When you’re released, I’ll come pick you up. When I start working, when you grow old, I’ll take care of you. I’ll make sure someone looks after you…”

She interrupted him instinctively. “Zizhe… you’re not planning to live with us anymore? You’re not going to see us again?”

Mu Zizhe picked up the certificate. “Mom, I’ll be just fine. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

Outside, Yu Liuxue heard the woman’s heart-wrenching wails. She rubbed her ears, then snapped her fingers. “Mission accomplished.”

Though the System often complained about its Host, it couldn’t help but admire her too. She had managed to complete the mission perfectly without ever directly confronting the client’s biological mother. Not only did she avoid incurring any hatred, she even earned Mu Zizhe’s heartfelt gratitude.

This woman was maddeningly brilliant.

When Mu Zizhe came out, his expression was much calmer. He smiled at Yu Liuxue. “Sister, you were right. They’re my parents—I needed to see them. Forgiving them is also a way of letting myself go. I understand now, Sister. I really do.”

Yu Liuxue nodded happily. “I heard you’re planning to take care of their retirement and funeral expenses. In that case, when I get old, shouldn’t you also give me ten thousand a month so I can have afternoon tea with my girlfriends and go on little trips?”

Mu Zizhe: “…?!”

Ten thousand?! Why don’t you just rob a bank?!

After pestering and sweet-talking Mu Zizhe into making yet another promise he’d regret for the rest of his life, Yu Liuxue cheerfully drove home. Just as she arrived, Liu Yan finally emerged from his room, looking like he hadn’t seen a shower or a comb in days. He didn’t even glance at her, completely ignoring her presence.

Yu Liuxue put her hands on her hips. “Liu Yan, are you trying to make your mother die of anger? Do you have any idea that because of your unreasonable behavior, Sister Song is going to have to coax me in bed for hours later?”

Liu Yan finally looked up at her, then called out flatly, “Mom.”

Alright, alright, I get it—you love your real mom. Fine!

Right on cue, Song Linxian appeared and pulled Yu Liuxue into her arms, shooting her biological son a warning look. “You’re a father now. Show some respect to your mom.”

Liu Yan silently chose death.

Song Linxian looked down at her, and Yu Liuxue quickly hugged her tighter, flashing a flattering smile. “Sis, didn’t you say you wanted to go see the snow? I already bought the plane tickets. From now on, wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you.”

Song Linxian was genuinely touched that she’d go so far, and in her delight, gave her a playful scolding. “You’re still trying to trick me.”

Yu Liuxue was practically in tears, completely innocent. “Sis, I’ve turned over a new leaf ages ago! You have to believe me!”

“I don’t.”

“Then what will it take for you to believe me?”

Song Linxian thought for a moment, then slowly leaned in, narrowing her eyes. “No matter what, I won’t believe you.”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Looks like the road to winning over Sister Song is long and arduous. But she’ll keep going, step by step, and grow old with her—spending a lifetime proving the truth:

She just wants her body.

(Arc End)