This chapter is brought to you by Peach, thanks for the ko-fi! ♡ ～(‘▽^人)
Chapter 17 – His Dad isn’t even dead yet, and someone already wants to be his stepfather?
A few boys glanced at each other, then sized up Lu Xi.
She was dressed rather maturely; if she said she was a teacher, they might believe her. Why, then, would she choose to tell such an implausible lie?
“What class are you in? Are you out of your mind?”
There were plenty of girls in the school who wanted to be Xie Heng’s girlfriend, but someone actually wanted to play the role of his mother?
Lu Xi didn’t have time to respond before hurried footsteps sounded behind her.
Xie Heng quickly appeared, grabbing Lu Xi by the arm and pulling her behind him. He glared at the boys, eyes fierce. “What’s wrong with you guys? You looking for trouble?”
“…”
Li Mingheng and his cronies were stunned.
So there really was something between her and Xie Heng? His… mother?
Could she be his godmother?
Xie Heng grew impatient. “Still staring? Get lost!”
“S-sorry…” The boys muttered as they backed away and fled.
Lu Xi : ???
Huh?
The schoolyard conflict was resolved just like that? She thought there would at least be a scuffle, with both sides trading insults.
Xie Heng really was the school bully. Was he that intimidating that four boys wouldn’t dare make a move against him?
Lu Xi’s emotions were conflicted.
Should she feel proud or twist his ear and scold him?
Xie Heng suddenly glared at her. “What were you thinking, running around like that? Good thing I followed! From now on, don’t wander off unless I’m with you.”
Lu Xi : ?
Why was he suddenly scolding her?
She wanted to roll her eyes but remembered what Xie Yizhao said and held back, only replying in a disgruntled voice, “This is a school, not a jungle. It’s not like a lion’s going to drag me off.”
Xie Heng knew he couldn’t win the argument. “Just don’t go wandering around.”
He was well aware of the situation at the school; despite being an elite institution, many wealthy students would use their family background to bully others.
Lu Xi looked delicate, an easy target.
Lu Xi didn’t say anything and just watched him, making Xie Heng feel a little uneasy.
Was she angry again?
“Are you okay? What did they say to you?” Xie Heng softened his tone.
“Nothing. They were trying to flirt, asking for my WeChat.” Lu Xi replied indifferently.
Xie Heng : !
Flirt?!
He clenched his jaw.
Those jerks—his Dad was still alive, and they were already eager to become his stepfather? He really should have kicked them twice.
He’d better not run into them again at school.
After this incident, Xie Heng kept an even closer eye on Lu Xi. Even when she went to the restroom before the performance, he waited outside the women’s restroom.
And unexpectedly, he ran into Ruan Tian and her friends.
Ruan Tian had a performance that night, a song-and-dance routine.
The student council president, who liked her, had given her the finale slot.
But these past few days, she had been downcast and hadn’t even attended rehearsals.
Ruan Tian stood at the sink with her friend, eyes red from crying. Her friend whispered words of comfort, “Come on, Tiantian, forget that jerk. He’s not worth it. There are plenty of people who like you.”
Ruan Tian lowered her head, looking heartbroken.
But she just couldn’t help liking that guy.
Even though he was harsh and didn’t know how to comfort anyone, only making her upset, he was different from other boys.
Those guys only hovered around her like flies, meek and fawning—she had no interest in such brown-nosers.
She thought that when Xie Heng came to school the next day, he might speak to her if they ran into each other, but he hadn’t shown up for so long.
In the restroom, Ruan Tian wiped her tears, unwilling to speak for fear that her classmates would hear and discover that their school’s beauty was crying over a boy—it would be too humiliating.
Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a figure in the mirror, quickly entering a stall.
Ruan Tian froze.
That profile—wasn’t it Xie Heng’s stepmother?
Wait… Today parents could come to the ceremony. If she came, could Xie Heng also be here!?
Ruan Tian knew it was unlikely. Xie Heng would definitely find such events boring and not bother coming; after all, he didn’t even attend school regularly.
But she couldn’t help hoping.
“Let’s go get something to eat,” her friend tugged her out.
At the entrance of the restroom, Xie Heng stood by the railing. His sharp profile looked even more coolly composed under the night sky. When Ruan Tian saw him, her heart unconsciously sped up.
Xie Heng noticed her too but remained expressionless, looking back down at his phone.
“…” Ruan Tian bit her lip.
How infuriating.
No, she wouldn’t make the first move. He had to come to her.
Ruan Tian kept her gaze fixed and walked quickly with her friend.
“That’s Xie Heng! He must have come because he knew you were performing tonight!” Everyone knew Xie Heng loathed such occasions.
Ruan Tian lifted her pretty face with pride. “Even if he’s here, if he doesn’t apologize, I won’t speak to him.”
Her performance was at the end, so maybe he’d come backstage to find her then.
But…
Forget staying for the finale; Lu Xi was already bored after the first three performances of the evening.
She couldn’t help but stifle a yawn.
The principal’s speech, the youth duet—it was all painfully dull, especially Zhou Wenyuan’s poetry recitation, which was the epitome of awkwardness.
Xie Heng smirked gleefully. “I told you it’d be boring, but you insisted on coming.”
Lu Xi shot him a cool glance and asked icily, “So many people are performing. Why aren’t you? Such a waste of that face.”
“…What’s wrong with my face?”
“A waste of the great genes from me and your Dad.”
Xie Heng scoffed, touching his face before suddenly breaking into laughter.
She was truly narcissistic.
In the dim light of the audience, Xie Heng glanced at Lu Xi.
To be honest, she was genuinely beautiful, more vibrant and refined than in photos.
But her temper was awful, she was spoiled, prone to hitting—nothing like the gentle impression in pictures.
Finally, the poetry recitation ended, and the street dance performance began.
A group of four or five young boys danced energetically on stage, moving with a carefree spirit of youth. Each one was tall with long legs, exuding a blend of coolness and cuteness. Lu Xi didn’t know much about street dance, but she felt that every move they made struck a chord in her young (or rather, auntie) heart.
“So handsome!” Lu Xi exclaimed sincerely.
Xie Heng scoffed. Handsome, my foot. Just a chaotic mess—how could any of them be more handsome than him?
Lu Xi nudged him with her elbow, a mischievous smile on her face. “Hey, do you know the boy in the center? This is the kind of friend you should make. Invite him over for dinner sometime.”
“…” He doubted her motives were pure.
Xie Heng glanced at the boy in the center and froze. How could it be him?
He could street dance? That was completely out of character.
Lu Xi caught his look. “You know him?”
“Yeah, Xu Jiaming. Didn’t you pick out clothes for him last time?” His tone carried a hint of inexplicable jealousy.
Huh?
Lu Xi blinked. It really was that boy. But he had looked so refined that day, the perfect image of a model student. Who knew he could both excel in studies and dance?
This was truly the kind of child other people had…
Then she glanced at her own son. He was sulking as he sat watching the show with her, as if the world owed him something. If she had the chance, she definitely wanted to ask Yang Yihan for tips on parenting.
Lu Xi and Xie Heng sat in the second row, in an especially noticeable spot.
During the poetry recital earlier, Zhou Wenyuan had spotted them from the stage.
He hadn’t expected Xie Heng to show up today, making it a rare opportunity.
A few days ago, when he went to the Xie household, the building management blocked him at the entrance, saying the homeowner had forbidden entry.
It wasn’t hard to guess—it must have been Xie Heng trying to make things difficult.
Now, with his stepmother here and seeing his serious expression, it was obvious he’d been forced to come. Given these circumstances, provoking him would be even easier.
After the performance, Zhou Wenyuan rushed backstage to change clothes.
A classmate had saved him a seat near Xie Heng’s spot, in the third row.
Lu Xi watched Zhou Wenyuan as he came offstage, sensing that he was going to approach them—and sure enough, he did, sitting in the row behind them.
“Excuse me, could we switch seats? I want to talk to someone I know.”
Relying on his nice-guy persona, Zhou Wenyuan successfully swapped seats.
He turned to Xie Heng, speaking warmly. “Good evening, Classmate Xie. You finally came to school.”
Xie Heng had no interest in responding.
What bad luck. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have sat there.
“Aunt, I’m so sorry for bothering you when I visited last time. Are you feeling better?” Zhou Wenyuan’s voice was full of concern.
If Lu Xi hadn’t heard his system prompt, she might have believed him.
[Host, your chance is here. You still need 20 points of luck; please act quickly.]
[The 30 points of luck from last time can only be held for one more day. If not exchanged for a reward, they will reset to zero.]
Lu Xi pursed her lips lightly.
This reward to be exchanged must be the ‘Goddess’s Favor’ she heard about last time.
Imagine if Zhou Wenyuan used this system to steal Xie Heng’s luck, and through points, he could exchange them for items. These items could offer all kinds of benefits.
Friendship, wisdom, love, money, and fame.
She had seen many protagonists in novels possess a system as a cheat tool. It made for thrilling storylines, but if such a thing happened to someone close to her, she couldn’t just watch as an indifferent bystander.
Having a cheat tool was a good thing.
But using it for self-gain at the expense of others was villainous behavior.
In her overly imaginative mind, she felt like wielding a fairy wand to punish villains in the name of love and justice, shouting, “No villainy allowed!”
But in reality, Lu Xi maintained a calm smile, “Hello, you’re Zhou Wenyuan, right?”
Zhou Wenyuan : “Aunt still remembers me? That’s great, I thought I upset you last time.”
Aunt, my foot, you’re older than me… Lu Xi’s inner girl couldn’t help but complain.
Anger +5.
Lu Xi’s voice grew softer, her tone colder : “Why would I? Adults don’t hold grudges against children1.”
Zhou Wenyuan’s smile froze on his face.
And Xie Heng, who had initially turned away with a pouty cat-like expression at seeing Lu Xi chatting with this nuisance, was startled when he heard this and suddenly found it amusing!
Haha, and she called him illiterate. She’s the one who should be drinking walnut milk.
That wasn’t how the idiom should be used!
Meanwhile, Zhou Wenyuan’s smile became strained.
He thought Lu Xi probably meant that as an adult, she wouldn’t argue with a child, but was it really what she meant?
Besides—
[Host, no negative emotions were detected from Xie Heng. On the contrary, he is very happy now.]
“…”
D*mn it.
Of course, Xie Heng was happy to see Zhou Wenyuan make a fool of himself.
Zhou Wenyuan secretly gritted his teeth, frustrated inside, but kept a harmless smile: “That’s good. I thought I had offended Classmate Xie and that’s why I wasn’t allowed to come in that day.”
What a subtle dig.
Xie Heng almost wanted to pour this cup of spoiled tea down the toilet.
But adults loved hearing such words.
A week ago, before overhearing that conversation between his father and Lu Xi, Xie Heng might have thought the same.
But she was different.
She wouldn’t side with outsiders, right…?
The teenager touched his blue-dyed hair anxiously, his face expressionless.
Even this punk hair of his she had praised as looking good; only a motherly filter could explain that. She wouldn’t let him down.
Lu Xi : “Yes, you did offend my Xie Heng. He dislikes you very much. So you knew?”
Xie Heng : “…”
Why did she have to say it like that, making him seem so childish!
Zhou Wenyuan also froze for a moment.
His clenched hand was slightly sweaty; he couldn’t quite gauge what this stepmother meant.
Was she just putting on a show for others? Or deliberately setting up enemies for Xie Heng?
“Classmate Xie wouldn’t be so petty, would he? I just wanted to visit his house to apologize and help him with his studies, to repay Mr. Xie…”
“You’re strange.” Lu Xi interrupted him directly.
She turned back, eyebrows furrowed deeply, and looked coldly at Zhou Wenyuan: “He’s the Young Master of the Xie family. If he closes the door on guests, why is that petty? Is your home always open to everyone?”
Zhou Wenyuan : “No, I didn’t mean that…”
Lu Xi didn’t have the patience to let him finish his sentence. Her words, like her thoughts, were clear. “As for tutoring him, there’s no need for you to bother.”
Zhou Wenyuan was a bit upset and couldn’t help but retort, “But his grades are terrible. Don’t you care? He’s always at the bottom of the class during exams.”
Xie Heng’s fists clenched.
D*mn.
What was going on? Zhou Wenyuan couldn’t win an argument against his family’s Ms. Lu, but did it have to escalate to personal attacks? Was this targeted just at him?
Did poor students not deserve any dignity?
He glanced at Lu Xi, suddenly feeling a bit nervous.
Every parent wanted their child to excel, just like his Dad did.
Lu Xi probably disdained him too, or else she wouldn’t keep handing him walnut milk all the time.
Zhou Wenyuan, that cunning jerk, knew just where to hit him where it hurt…
Yet Xie Heng suddenly felt a bit ashamed. If only his grades were better, no one would even have a chance to say such things.
He had skipped classes and turned in blank exam papers just to spite his Dad.
Xie Yizhao was disappointed in him, and he took pride in that, never intending to change… But now, for the first time, the boy felt a twinge of regret.
Lu Xi smiled, glancing at Xie Heng’s annoyed expression, and pressed her lips together. “But my Xiao Heng is rich.”
Zhou Wenyuan : “…”
Xie Heng blinked in shock.
Showing off wealth? Could it be done this brazenly? It was so simple yet effective!
Zhou Wenyuan was stunned.
But d*mn, there was no way he could refute that!
The Xie family was wealthy, so wealthy that even if they raised Xie Heng as a wastrel… no, even if they raised a hundred of Xie Heng, they could afford it.
The poor children like Zhou Wenyuan could’ve had worked hard in school, graduated, and got a job, yet all their efforts couldn’t match the pocket change of these rich kids.
That’s why Zhou Wenyuan felt resentful.
Luckily, he was fortunate enough to have bonded with this good fortune system after a night’s sleep.
The system told him to find a way to get close to Xie Heng, transfer to Mingli, and steal his luck points.
As long as he reached the target score, he could get everything he ever wanted.
Why should Xie Heng be born with everything? Zhou Wenyuan also deserved all of that!
Things were progressing smoothly. Xie Heng was transparent, easily provoked, and could be angered with just a few words.
This cheat-like system was so handy.
But this time, nearly five minutes had passed, a performance was almost over, but Zhou Wenyuan hadn’t managed to steal a single point.
Lu Xi continued, “Of course, money can’t buy everything, but it can buy plenty of trial and error and opportunities to pursue dreams.”
She paused, as if her mouth was dry, sipped her milk tea, and then went on, “Who said life is only about exams and college entrance? He can study sports, learn art, or even become a gaming streamer. His Dad and I support him. Xie Heng, did you hear that?”
Lu Xi set down her milk tea, gazing at Xie Heng slowly. Just then, a beam of light swept across the stage, highlighting her snow-white skin and refined features, only lightly made-up, making her seem even more regal. Her voice was cool and powerful.
She said, “If anyone maliciously criticizes your grades again, say it back to them. Push back hard. Don’t let boring people ruin your mood. They’re not worth it.”
Xie Heng’s eyes shone brightly, and his face flushed; he was so delighted he could almost wag his tail.
But she had said quite a lot just now, and he’d been too happy to catch all of it. If he asked her to repeat it, would she get mad?
[No negative emotions detected in Xie Heng. On the contrary, his mood and confidence have significantly improved.]
[Mission failed, 30 points reset to zero. Please accept your punishment.]
Zhou Wenyuan started to panic.
Punishment? The system had never mentioned any punishments before!
- the raw is 大人不记小人过 (dà rén bù jì xiǎo rén guò) which literally translates to ‘an big person (/adult) does not hold grudges against a small person (/child). It is a Chinese idiom that says “a noble person does not hold grudges against those who are petty.” It means that a person of high status, wisdom, or moral character should not stoop to the level of holding on to resentment or taking offense at the actions of smaller-minded or less virtuous people. It’s often used to encourage tolerance and forgiveness. However, in this context, Lu Xi is using the idiom sarcastically to say that she is superior than Zhou Wenyuan and doesn’t care about him. ↩︎