Arc 1.8

The Wicked Child of the Stepmother

Thanks to Old Man Xia’s authoritative decree, Nian Zhen and Xia Yanjing were moved out of the Xia’s family mansion the very next day.

It all happened so fast—so fast, in fact, that there wasn’t even time for that woman Du and her dutiful son to stage an emotional, heart-wrenching goodbye. Meng Zhenzhen was all but escorted into the car by Old Man Xia’s burly bodyguards.

Xia Yanjing sat across from him in the car, legs crossed and expression cold, but Nian Zhen could tell he was in a good mood.

Oh, so he’s already planning how to get back at me, isn’t he?

Nian Zhen thought, No matter how devious Xia Yanjing might be, there’s no way he’s as cunning as a white lotus like him.

[…]

“Big brother…”

Nian Zhen greeted the male protagonist out of courtesy, sitting as far as possible on the opposite side of the car, not daring to get too close to Xia Yanjing. Thankfully, this car was spacious and luxurious, with plush seats befitting its exorbitant price. Nian Zhen could keep a safe distance from this dangerous entity. Cough, cough—

Xia Yanjing turned to look at Nian Zhen, his dark eyes intense and unfathomable. For some reason, every time Nian Zhen was fixed under such an intense gaze from Xia Yanjing, he always felt as if Xia Yanjing saw right through all his actions—especially his pretense of being a white lotus. His heart began to pound—whether from fear or shock, he couldn’t tell.

And the dark aura surrounding Xia Yanjing was just too intense. Whenever he was alone with him—without others like the villainous father, Chairman Xia, or Du Yao, or even any school friends around, the male protagonist made no attempt to hide his oppressive presence. His aura was even more overwhelming than Xia Heng’s, and though not quite as powerful as that Old Man Xia’s, that was probably only because he was still young.

Xia Yanjing’s features were nothing short of divine. He was a true son of destiny. His face was flawless, free of any blemish—if one were to overlook the marks left by the wretched Chairman Xia. His sharp, profound eyes and sword-like brows enhanced his facial features, making them even more striking. His face was like a masterpiece chiseled by the gods themselves. Although Nian Zhen had met countless good-looking people in his life, Xia Yanjing was the first to make his heart race. That face was engraved in his mind in a way he couldn’t shake.

Yes, Nian Zhen was gay and had a soft spot for attractive men. Xia Yanjing might not be his type, but he was certainly good eye-candy. Nian Zhen preferred men who were more tan, big and tall, with a sunny, warm personality. Of course, attitude was the most important thing, and besides his handsome looks, Xia Yanjing was the polar opposite of everything Nian Zhen found appealing. He seemed more like the dark vampire prince in a novel. With such an intimidating demeanor, in real life, Nian Zhen would never voluntarily approach someone like him unless absolutely necessary.

As Xia Yanjing finally looked away, Nian Zhen released the tension he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Soon, their car turned into an upscale gated neighborhood, a luxurious enclave filled with mansions so pristine they looked like they were in another country entirely.

Whether Old Man Xia had really purchased a massive villa here wasn’t even the point. The car had barely come to a stop before Nian Zhen saw a butler and several housemaids lined up in front of the mansion, waiting to welcome Xia Yanjing.

…The dramatics of it all.

Nian Zhen’s lips twitched slightly as he followed Xia Yanjing out of the car, watching as the servants swiftly moved to assist, unloading their belongings and attending to Xia Yanjing’s every need. Xia Yanjing cast a cold, commanding glance over everyone, exuding such an aura of authority that Nian Zhen wasn’t even sure he wanted to step inside.

If I go in there, will I even make it back out?

The servants here seemed even more deferential to the male protagonist than the ones at the Xia mansion. Nian Zhen tried to comfort himself, thinking, Xia Yanjing is only eighteen…

How could someone so young have such an intimidating presence? They ate the same food at the Xia mansion, but Meng Zhenzhen was only gaining more cheek fat. No matter how much Nian Zhen exercised, it was still not working. Drinking milk every day hasn’t made him any taller either. Thinking about it, Xia Yanjing is really infuriating. Right now, he’s probably nearly 180 to 190 centimeters tall, with a physique that checked every box on the protagonist list. It was so enviable that Nian Zhen could only grit his teeth and sulk quietly in his heart.

As he was looking around, Xia Yanjing suddenly stopped. Seeing that Nian Zhen had frozen in place, he turned to give him an expectant look. Startled, Nian Zhen quickly caught up, allowing Young Master Xia to continue on.

Before they could even inspect their rooms, the butler escorted them to the dining room, where a table was laden with food that looked like it might be Xia Yanjing’s favorites. As Nian Zhen’s gaze scanned over the spread, he noticed, Oh, they even have a few of his favorite dishes too. What a coincidence.

The dining table was modest in size, with Nian Zhen seated directly across from Xia Yanjing. The warm aroma of the freshly prepared food only heightened his hunger—it was already eight in the morning, and mealtime had arrived. The housemaids began serving, and when Xia Yanjing picked up his chopsticks, Nian Zhen began to eat as well.

Luckily, the chef here was just as skilled as the one at the Xia mansion, which pleased Nian Zhen greatly. For the moment, at least, there was a brief air of harmony between him and the male protagonist (for now).

After finishing their meal, a maid brought a glass of milk. Nian Zhen couldn’t help another slight twitch of the lips but obediently drank it. Afterward, the butler led them to their rooms, explaining the layout of the villa along the way. Nian Zhen managed a strained smile when he saw that his room was directly beside Xia Yanjing’s. This was clearly intentional—probably another one of Old Man Xia’s strategies.

Nian Zhen’s room was slightly smaller than his room at the Xia mansion but had an even softer bed, and all the amenities he might need were neatly arranged. The maid had already organized his belongings, and there was even a special shelf for his collection of novels.

…Isn’t this all a little too nice?

Nian Zhen started to feel a pang of wariness. But after thinking it over, he decided to let it go. The actions of the male protagonist were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Perhaps Xia Yanjing wasn’t even aware of these details. It was more likely all part of Old Man Xia’s meticulous plans.

At first, Nian Zhen had planned to milk his injuries and skip school for a week, using the time to hide away in his room and binge on novels. But now he couldn't do that anymore because Old Man Xia had shown up and ruined the evil plan that the white lotus like him had prepared. Nian Zhen took out his phone, only to see a slew of messages from Xia Yanjing’s friends, all asking about his well-being. A wicked smile played at the corner of his lips.

Perfect. Here are my loyal pawns, primed and ready to help me stir up the darkness in the protagonist’s heart. Hahaha.

Luckily, over the next two days, Xia Yanjing did nothing to bother him, so on Monday, Nian Zhen made it to school without a hitch. And naturally, Xia Yanjing walked him all the way to his classroom, leaving his classmates dumbstruck.

This was a way to put an end to the gossip about sibling rivalry—cough, cough. It was possible that the male lead had received orders from his conniving father, Chairman Xia. Outwardly, Nian Zhen gave Xia Yanjing a sweet smile and expressed his gratitude to Xia Yanjing, who still maintained his cool, rich, and aloof persona.  But inside, Nian Zhen thought to himself. Big brother, I’ll repay your kindness tenfold.

“Thank you, big brother.”

Nian Zhen flashed a sweet smile. Fueled by his inner actor, Nian Zhen was ready, once more, to step flawlessly into his role as the two-faced “innocent.” With an air of pure sincerity, he waved as Xia Yanjing left.

The air in Grade 11/1 grew tense with intrigue, but Nian Zhen paid no mind to the curious stares. He casually pulled out his homework, flashing a cheerful smile at the very classmate who’d left bruises on his face. That student went pale in response.

You dare lay hands on me? Prepare for the consequences.

Nian Zhen was someone who feared pain deeply. Of course, if he had to suffer, it had to be worth it. He would never allow himself to be hurt for nothing. And Nian Zhen had already received his reward for the pain: the growing hatred of Xia Yanjing. Now, he just had to wait to collect the profits... which hadn’t been settled yet.

During lunch, Nian Zhen was on his way to the cafeteria when he ‘just happened’ to run into Chun Long, one of Xia Yanjing’s friends.

“Zhenzhen, I heard you got hurt. Are you okay?” Chun Long asked with great concern, his voice filled with worry.

“I’m fine, Long-ge. I’ll be good as new soon.” Nian Zhen replied with a faint, reluctant smile, as though trying to act like he wasn’t affected.

“They went too far. This is all because of Yanjing—he’s always going too far with people!!”

“Please, Long-ge, don’t blame my big brother. It’s my fault. My brother and I aren’t close, and I accidentally touched him. It’s only natural that Brother would... react.”

Nian Zhen said with a tone of regret and sorrow, looking weak, but forcing himself to act like he was fine. Chun Long’s irritation toward Xia Yanjing only grew, and he placed a comforting hand over Nian Zhen’s.

“As a young master of the Chun family, I don’t despise you. Whatever others may think, if you’re ever bullied, come to me, and I’ll take care of it.”

“My brother doesn’t need the Chun family’s protection for my little brother, now does he?”

A cool voice sounded from behind, and Nian Zhen stiffened, turning to see Xia Yanjing standing there. Chun Long’s expression darkened, and his gaze held a flash of displeasure. Nian Zhen quickly withdrew his hand, looking visibly flustered.

“B…big brother.”

“Yanjing, you can’t go on bullying people like this. Zhenzhen may be your stepmother’s son, but he has nothing to do with her marriage to your father. There’s no reason for you to take it out on him.”

The Chun family’s young master certainly looked the part of a righteous defender, standing up for Meng Zhenzhen. But Nian Zhen knew better—this guy had always envied Xia Yanjing. Xia Yanjing was better than him at everything, untouchable, and never revealed a single weakness. Now that he had a chance to label Xia Yanjing as a petty bully who picked on the weak, of course he’d jump at the opportunity.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Xia Yanjing raised an eyebrow and glanced at Meng Zhenzhen, who was pretending to feel troubled. With a dangerous curl at the corner of his mouth, he said,

“Have I been bullying you, Xiao Zhen?”

“…”

Inside, Nian Zhen could neither speak nor cry. No, not at all, big brother. You’ve never bullied me. Not once!!

Even though Nian Zhen felt uncomfortable and troubled, or was truly bullied by Xia Yanjing, he couldn't bring himself to speak the truth.

“N…no, big brother, you never bullied me.”

Nian Zhen still tried to act like a white lotus, denying it with a slightly trembling voice, lowering his head and not daring to look at Xia Yanjing.

Chun Long saw this and grew even more certain that Xia Yanjing had indeed been bullying Meng Zhenzhen. But, convinced that Meng Zhenzhen was simply too scared to admit the truth, he urged him on.

“Zhenzhen, don’t be afraid. You can tell me the truth—I’ll protect you.”

“L… Long-ge, really, my big brother…he hasn’t bullied me.”

Nian Zhen glanced up at Chun Long with a pleading expression. Just then, he felt a light touch on his head—Xia Yanjing was patting him, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Good boy…come along now. Big brother’s taking you out for lunch.”

This sentence, of course, left no room for refusal. Nian Zhen had no choice but to follow Xia Yanjing obediently. Taking advantage of the moment when Xia Yanjing wasn’t paying attention, he turned to glance at Chun Long with a look of gratitude and appreciation.

Xia Yanjing led him to a private room (who knew he had access to one here?) where, oddly, the butler, who should have been in the villa, appeared, instructing two maids to bring in their meal.

“Eat up,” Xia Yanjing ordered, going so far as to place a piece of meat into Nian Zhen’s bowl.

“You’ll need your strength, Xiao Zhen, for all that acting you do.”

“…”

“Big brother really enjoys watching you perform. Don’t let me down. And if you perform well…big brother might even have a reward for you.”

“…”

You twisted demon. Bring back the old big brother I thought I had!!