At The Beginning Of The Novel, The Villain Forced The Protagonist’s Step-Mom To Bear His Children

Seeing Yan Wumei defeated and sent flying, the members of Red Rose panicked and rushed to her side.

Xiao Qi, the fastest among them, helped Yan Wumei up.

"Sister Yan, are you okay?"

"Boss, are you hurt…?"

"These bastards are despicable."

"They have no honor—ganging up on one person. What kind of skill is that?"

The entire Red Rose group seethed with anger, cursing the Tyrant Gang and Azure Dragon Hall.

The rival factions, however, didn't care.

To the victor go the spoils.

Their underlings stared eagerly at the women of Red Rose, unable to tear their eyes away.

Though none dared to lay a hand on Yan Wumei herself, the other members of Red Rose were just as alluring.

Trained in martial arts by Yan Wumei, their figures were impeccable.

Splits, crane stance—they mastered all kinds of techniques.

Many of the men fantasized about wooing a Red Rose member, but with Yan Wumei as their leader, they never dared act on it.

But now?

They had crushed Red Rose. The women inside were theirs for the taking.

The underlings trembled with excitement.

Even their bosses weren't much better, their eyes locked onto Yan Wumei as if they wanted to devour her whole.

"Charge! Capture every last one of them! Do whatever you want—just don't make it messy enough for the cops to get involved!"

Wang Long and Tie Batian roared with laughter as they gave the order.

"HAHAHA—!"

The underlings joined in the raucous celebration.

But just then—

WEE-OOO WEE-OOO—

The blaring of police sirens cut through the night, growing louder as they approached.

The men, who had been charging forward like wild beasts, froze as if doused in ice water.

Their blood ran cold.

Goddammit…

Just as they were about to claim their prize, the cops showed up.

Wang Long and Tie Batian snapped out of their excitement at the sound of the sirens and immediately ordered a retreat.

They exchanged uneasy glances.

Were the police here for them?

But this was the underground world's rule—

By day, they followed the law and kept their heads down.

After midnight, they settled their disputes without police interference.

So what the hell was this?

As leaders of their factions, they had contacts within the police department.

Yet they hadn't received any warning.

Was this a sudden crackdown? A purge of gangs and crime?

After a tense moment of deliberation, Wang Long and Tie Batian reluctantly ordered their men to withdraw.

Before leaving, they cast one last resentful glance at Yan Wumei.

Such a perfect opportunity—ruined.

All because of those damn cops.

Where the hell had they come from?

"Sister Yan, let's get out of here!"

Xiao Qi helped Yan Wumei into a car, and the Red Rose members fled in a hurry.

"They're gone?"

Sitting in the car, Yan Wumei felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Fate had given her a second chance.

Her determination to grow stronger burned fiercer than ever.

Red Rose was the organization she had built from the ground up.

Today, they had survived only because the police happened to pass by.

But what if the two factions came after them again?

She had to seize this opportunity to improve her strength.

She didn't need to reach the Transformation Realm yet—but at the very least, she had to break through to the peak of the Dark Force Realm to stand a chance.

Her thoughts turned to Xu Hao.

The fastest way to grow stronger was through his personal guidance.

Even if the training sessions were… embarrassing, what did that matter now?

A little shame was nothing compared to the destruction of Red Rose and the suffering of her sisters.

The Next Morning

The Xu family had just finished breakfast when Yan Wumei arrived in a hurry.

"Sister Yan! Long time no see!"

"Weren't you supposed to learn martial arts from Dad? You haven't come in days—did something happen to Red Rose?"

Xu Feiyan greeted her warmly, then thumped her chest proudly.

"Sister Yan, if Red Rose is in trouble, just tell me."

"I'm part of Red Rose too, and now that I'm stronger, I won't just stand by."

"And if I can't handle it, I'll ask Dad—he's even more powerful!"

In the past, Xu Feiyan would never have asked Xu Hao for help.

But now, she said it without hesitation.

She had fully accepted him as her father—as family.

Yan Wumei forced a smile.

She and Xu Feiyan were alike in many ways—both stubbornly independent.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have left her wealthy family in the capital to strike out on her own.

Red Rose was in trouble.

Two major factions were pressing down on them, led by two peak Dark Force Realm experts.

If she asked Xu Feiyan for help, Xu Hao's influence could resolve everything with a single word.

But she couldn't bring herself to say it.

She patted Xu Feiyan's head.

"Don't worry. It's nothing I can't handle. You know me—do you really think I'd lose?"

"Well… true."

Xu Feiyan nodded.

Despite her lazy, fox-like demeanor, Yan Wumei was an exceptional leader.

Every sister in Red Rose respected her.

"Then why are you here today, Sister Yan?"

Xu Feiyan tilted her head.

"To learn from your father, of course. I can't let you leave me in the dust."

"Speaking of which—is he free?"

Yan Wumei got straight to the point.

She needed to grow stronger—now.

She never wanted to feel that helplessness again.

"Not sure, but he's home. I'll take you to him."

Xu Feiyan led Yan Wumei to the courtyard, where Xu Hao was enjoying his morning tea.

"Dad, do you have time today? Sister Yan wants to learn martial arts from you."

Xu Feiyan naturally stepped behind him and started massaging his shoulders.

When Xu Hao saw Yan Wumei, a knowing smile flickered in his eyes.

Everything was going exactly as he had planned.

"No, I've left company matters to my subordinates."

"Then, Dad, can you teach Sister Yan? She's the one who taught me before…"

Xu Feiyan moved to his side, hugging his arm and shaking it playfully.

Xu Hao felt a warmth in his chest.

He glanced at her.

"I already taught you everything. You could teach her."

"But I don't know how to teach!"

Xu Feiyan pouted, shaking his arm even harder.

"Pleeease, Dad? Teach her?"

"Fine, fine. I'll do it."

Xu Hao Feigned Helplessness

Xu Hao sighed as if resigned.

Hearing this, Xu Feiyan brightened. She leaned in and planted a loud, cheerful kiss on his cheek.

"Mwah! Thanks, Dad! You're the best!"

She turned to Yan Wumei excitedly.

"Sister Yan, I convinced him! Just come whenever you're free."

"With Dad's teaching methods, you'll be as strong as me in no time—"

But Yan Wumei was momentarily stunned.

What was she seeing?

Xu Feiyan was practically glued to Xu Hao, clinging to his arm and shaking it like a child.

Their relationship seemed… too intimate.

And that sudden kiss? It caught Yan Wumei completely off guard.

Wasn't this… a little beyond normal filial affection?

Snapping back to reality at Xu Feiyan's words, Yan Wumei quickly composed herself.

"Thank you, Feiyan. And thank you, President Xu."

"Oh, come on! We're sisters, no need for thanks!" Xu Feiyan waved it off.

After Xu Hao finished his tea, the three headed to the training hall.

Xu Hao turned to Xu Feiyan first.

"Last night, you mentioned some doubts about your forms. Let's address those before teaching Yan Wumei."

"No need, Dad! Teach Sister Yan first—you can correct me later." Xu Feiyan glanced at Yan Wumei and refused.

Her insistence showed just how close they were.

Xu Hao saw right through her.

"Please. I know you—you'll overthink it for hours if I don't step in now."

"Don't worry, fixing your issues won't take long."

Yan Wumei chimed in with a light joke:

"Go ahead, Feiyan. I'm in no rush—I plan to stay here all day anyway."

"…Fine."

Xu Feiyan pointed out her confusion with the Tai Chi forms Xu Hao had taught her—some moves were too profound.

To help her grasp them faster, Xu Hao guided her hands-on, adjusting her posture from behind.

Watching the two embrace so closely, Yan Wumei's mind reeled.

Her gaze locked onto them, analyzing every detail.

She had always wondered—if Xu Hao's teaching methods affected her, what about his own daughter?

Had their relationship crossed a line?

She scrutinized them for clues.

But Xu Feiyan showed zero reaction.

Even with an audience, her breathing stayed steady, her face unflushed.

No telltale signs appeared.

Yan Wumei relaxed.

"I must've imagined it."

She scolded herself for her dirty thoughts and gradually let her guard down around Xu Hao.

If he were truly that kind of man, she'd never have agreed to learn from him—no matter how strong he was.

While teaching his daughter, Xu Hao's peripheral vision tracked Yan Wumei's every micro-expression.

This pretense was deliberate—to dispel her suspicions and create alone time with her later.

After a single demonstration, Xu Feiyan mastered the problematic moves.

Xu Hao dismissed her to practice solo, then turned to Yan Wumei.

"Miss Yan, shall we begin?"

Yan Wumei instinctively glanced around, her face flushing instantly.

She forced a smile.

"President Xu, I'll be troubling you from now on."

Xu Hao waved casually.

"No trouble at all. As long as you don't mind…"

His tone carried a hidden edge.

Yan Wumei stiffened briefly before recovering.

"You're too formal. Since Feiyan and I are like sisters, just call me 'Wumei.'"

Xu Hao pretended to ponder.

"Very well, Wumei. Then drop the 'President Xu'—call me 'Uncle Xu'… or 'Brother Xu' if you prefer."

"Brother Xu?"

Yan Wumei hesitated.

At over 30, she should call the older Xu Hao "Brother," but that felt too intimate.

Given their… unconventional training, what if his wife or daughter misunderstood?

That left only one option:

"Un… Uncle Xu."

The title tasted absurdly embarrassing on her tongue.

Xu Hao smirked.

The session started smoothly—until Yan Wumei noticed something amiss.

Her lips pressed together, cheeks burning as she fought to suppress her reactions.

Her emotions churned.

Why hadn't this happened when he taught Xu Feiyan?

Was she… more tempting than his daughter?

[Ding! Yan Wumei's heartbeat spikes! +777 Emotional Points!][Ding! Yan Wumei's shame surges! +888 Emotional Points!]

By noon, Yan Wumei fled without staying for lunch.

Yet she returned that afternoon—in fresh clothes—determined to grow stronger despite the humiliation.

Xu Hao, equally determined, continued his "lessons," reveling in the steady stream of [Emotional Points] as he held her.

Even in conservative attire, Yan Wumei struggled to endure.

Before long, she was a trembling mess—yet she gritted her teeth and persisted.

By day's end, Xu Hao was satisfied; Yan Wumei, exhausted, collapsed into her subordinate Xiao Qi's car.

"Sister Yan, you look… weird." Xiao Qi eyed her through the rearview mirror.

Yan Wumei jolted upright.

"Nonsense. Focus on driving."

She couldn't let her queenly image crumble!

Xiao Qi persisted. "No, really! Like in those movies where—"

"Xiao Qi!" Yan Wumei cut in sharply. "What's the latest on the Tyrant Gang and Azure Dragon Hall?"

The diversion worked.

"They're still scheming. With the anti-gang crackdown, they're attacking us in the shadows now."

Yan Wumei's face darkened.

"So they haven't given up."

She had to reach peak Dark Force Realm before the crackdown ended.

Little did she know—the crackdown itself was Xu Hao's doing, a ploy to manipulate her desperation.

Yan Wumei had grown strangely accustomed to Xu Hao's methods.

Sometimes, she even felt… unsettled when he wasn't holding her.

Though mortifying, her skills had skyrocketed—she could now crush her past self effortlessly.

Xu Hao, observing her progress, decided it was time for the next phase.

That afternoon, as he guided her through another "lesson," his voice dropped to a devilish murmur near her ear:

"Wumei… your allure is too much. Teaching you like this… harms my health."

Yan Wumei's breath hitched.

"Uncle Xu, don't look at me like that! We can't…"

"You misunderstand." Xu Hao's gaze lingered on her lips.

"There's another way you can… help me."