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

Xu Feiyan stared at Yan Wumei in shock, as if she had just discovered a new continent.

Noticing Xu Feiyan's gaze, Yan Wumei felt a wave of embarrassment.

My image in front of my best friend is ruined.

But if it meant getting ice cream from Xu Hao, it was worth it.

And Xu Hao didn't disappoint.

He pulled out two more ice creams from his personal space.

"Thank you, Uncle Xu…"

"Dad, you're the best!"

The two women happily took the treats and walked away, savoring them with delight.

Xu Feiyan turned to Yan Wumei.

"Sis Yan, you looked so cute just now…"

The noble queen turned into a clingy, coquettish cutie.

The contrast is too adorable.

Yan Wumei blinked innocently, feigning confusion.

"Feiyan, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

"You were just holding Dad's arm and—"

Seeing Yan Wumei's continued "clueless" act, Xu Feiyan gave up.

This fox spirit is pretending nothing happened.

"Heh… Stop playing dumb, you sly fox. I saw everything."

Xu Feiyan smirked, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"If you dare bully me, I'll expose your little secret."

"What secret? You're not making any sense."

She's really going to deny it to the end, huh?

Xu Feiyan gritted her teeth.

"Fine, fine. Next time, I'll make sure to record it as evidence!"

After finishing their ice creams, both women felt their power noticeably increase, their eyes lighting up with excitement.

They immediately turned to Xu Hao, begging for more.

But this time, he firmly refused.

He winked at Yan Wumei, as if saying:

"I've got more. If you want it, you'll have to earn it."

Yan Wumei rolled her eyes but secretly relaxed.

Good, he still has some.

Well, I'm already visiting his study every day… What's a few more times?

Meanwhile—

Luo Yan clung to the wall, his eyes bloodshot as he watched everything unfold.

He had seen it clearly—Yan Wumei clinging to Xu Hao's arm, acting cute… all just to get ice cream.

Luo Yan felt like vomiting blood.

Are you a child?!

You compromised your dignity for a snack? Even resorted to seduction?!

Is that ice cream laced with something?!

Wait… laced with something?

A thought flashed through Luo Yan's mind.

He had been back in the city for half a year and had never seen Yan Wumei act so girlish.

If someone had told him before that Yan Wumei would ever act coquettishly, he wouldn't have believed it.

Yet here it was, happening right before his eyes.

So…

What made her throw away her pride?

Could it be… the ice cream?

A realization struck him.

He had never understood—how could Yan Wumei, with her queenly demeanor, grow so close to Xu Hao in just a few days?

It made no sense.

Unless…

She's been drugged.

Luo Yan's fists clenched, veins bulging on his arms.

[Ding… Luo Yan's mentality has collapsed. Emotional Value +951…].

As the sun set—

Marking the end of another day.

For Yan Wumei, the day had flown by in a blur of excitement over her rising strength.

But for Luo Yan, waiting outside, it had been pure torture.

Each second felt like a year.

Finally… it was over.

He needed to confront Yan Wumei—to ask her why she was with Xu Hao.

Was she being controlled? Blackmailed? Drugged?

He expected her to rush out as usual after training.

But she didn't.

Instead, she accepted Su Wanqiu's invitation to stay for dinner.

In the past, she would've refused out of awkwardness around Xu Hao.

But now?

After days of… everything but the final step with him, she no longer had those reservations.

Still, facing Xu Hao's wife and daughters left her uneasy.

After a warm, lively dinner with the family, Yan Wumei prepared to leave.

"Wumei, it's late. Why not stay the night?" Su Wanqiu offered.

(She was six months pregnant and needed to restrain herself. Lately, her daughter's best friend, Xiao Wanling, had been handling Xu Hao's… needs, but even she was struggling.)

Maybe Yan Wumei could help share the burden…

"N-No, I have things to attend to at home!"

Noticing Su Wanqiu's knowing gaze, Yan Wumei's heart raced, and she hurriedly excused herself before the woman could say more.

Once outside the villa, she patted her chest in relief.

That was close.

Did Su Wanqiu suspect something?

No… If she knew about me and Xu Hao, she'd have kicked me out, not invited me to stay!

As she reached her car, a shadow suddenly emerged from the darkness.

Startled, Yan Wumei instinctively lashed out with a kick.

"Wumei—!"

Luo Yan hadn't expected an attack. With his powers sealed, he was sent flying before he could react.

Recognizing the voice, Yan Wumei frowned at the figure on the ground.

That was a heavy hit.

Luo Yan struggled to his feet.

"It's me! Were you trying to kill me?!"

"What are you doing here?" Yan Wumei's tone cooled.

Luo Yan stared at her, heartbroken.

"Wumei, I told you—Xu Hao is a scheming villain! Teaching you martial arts is just a front! He's only after you!"

"He's taking advantage of you! Why are you with him?!"

Yan Wumei remained unmoved.

Was Xu Hao after her?

Maybe. Maybe not.

After all, his "hands-on" teaching style wasn't exclusive to her—even his daughters received the same treatment.

They hugged and touched daily, yet he never crossed the line with them.

The only difference?

She wasn't his daughter.

And even if Xu Hao did have ulterior motives…

What could she do?

The Red Rose was her life's work, and its members were like sisters to her.

If the two major forces tore it apart, what would happen to them?

So…

For herself and for the sisters of the Red Rose, she had to grow stronger.

She needed to increase her power as quickly as possible to escape the Red Rose's predicament.

And when it came to gaining strength, the only hope she saw was in Xu Hao.

After eating the snacks he gave her, she felt even more confident.

Luo Yan spoke in a tone of exasperation, as if scolding someone for failing to meet expectations.

He had already told Yan Wumei about Xu Hao's true nature several times.

Yet she hadn't listened even once…

In the end, she still hadn't escaped Xu Hao's clutches.

Just as he was about to confront her, Yan Wumei coldly cut him off.

"I'm here to see Uncle Xu. What's it to you?"

Luo Yan froze, swallowing back the words on the tip of his tongue.

He stared at her, dumbfounded, wondering if he had misheard.

Did Yan Wumei just call Xu Hao uncle?

Was she serious?

She was the queen of the underground world—a goddess in the eyes of countless people.

And she was over thirty. Was calling him uncle really appropriate?

Yan Wumei also realized she had misspoken.

She had gotten so used to calling Xu Hao that over the past few days, it had slipped out without thinking.

Though inwardly embarrassed, she didn't show it and quickly changed the subject.

"I came to see Xu Hao for training. We have a normal teacher-student relationship…"

A normal teacher-student relationship?

Yan Wumei was still deceiving herself.

Luo Yan was furious.

"A normal relationship? One where you hug all day? Where you enter a villa together and come out with wrinkled clothes and smudged lipstick?"

"Is that what normal snack-eating looks like? Would a normal relationship involve clinging to his arm, acting coy and seductive?"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became, his heart aching with frustration.

This was the woman he loved.

The thought of her with another man made it hard for him to breathe…

Yan Wumei's expression darkened.

"You saw everything?"

No wonder Luo Yan claimed her relationship with Xu Hao had reached that stage.

He must have guessed what she and Xu Hao had done in the villa.

The thought of her secret with Xu Hao being exposed filled her with shame.

But since it was Luo Yan who knew, it didn't matter.

She had never liked him anyway.

Even if he knew, so what?

Taking a deep breath, she glared at Luo Yan with even stronger disgust.

"You actually spied on me…"

"And you call Xu Hao a villain? Isn't this the behavior of a true scoundrel?"

Luo Yan choked, scrambling to defend himself.

"I came to protect you! I didn't want Xu Hao taking advantage of you!"

"Oh? Really?" Yan Wumei sneered.

"When the Green Dragon Hall and the Tyrant Gang surrounded the Red Rose, where were you? When I was with Xu Hao all day, why didn't you show up then?"

Luo Yan fell silent.

Of course, he had wanted to rescue her when the Red Rose was in danger.

He had even wanted to storm in, beat Xu Hao up, and take Yan Wumei away…

But at the time, he had been severely injured, lying at home.

Even now, he hadn't fully recovered—he was no match for Xu Hao.

"Back then, Xu Hao beat me—"

He tried to explain, but Yan Wumei cut him off with a wave.

"Enough. What I do is none of your concern."

"I don't want to see you again. Starting tomorrow, disappear from my sight. Get as far away as possible."

With that, she had no more words to waste on him.

She got into her car, slammed the accelerator, and roared off in a cloud of dust.

Luo Yan stood frozen, his face a picture of devastation.

[Ding… Luo Yan's mentality has shattered. Emotional value +999…].

[Ding… Luo Yan's spirit has been damaged. Emotional value +1000…].

Elsewhere, on a mountain outside the city…

In a small courtyard—

"Master, Master! I've finally mastered the Taiyi Divine Needle technique!"

A stunningly beautiful girl with an ethereal aura rushed out of the house, excitedly grabbing the hand of an elegant, mature woman sipping tea.

The woman, whose grace resembled that of a celestial being, reluctantly set down her cup.

"Alright, alright… So you've learned the Taiyi Divine Needle. Is it really worth this much excitement?"

Despite her words, she couldn't help but smile.

Before Xu Qingxue became her disciple, she had already taken in three apprentices.

Each had their own strengths—her first disciple was much like her and had inherited her true medical expertise.

Her second disciple had a talent for martial arts, to whom she had passed down all her skills.

The third had inherited her musical gifts.

With these three, she had been content…

But then—

Xu Qingxue, who had sought her out through the first disciple, proved to be an even greater prodigy.

Her medical talent was astounding.

Her martial arts potential surpassed the second disciple's.

And her musical sense was exceptional.

It felt like stumbling upon a priceless treasure…

For years, she had taught her with care.

And now, on this day, her youngest disciple had finally completed her training.

With a gentle smile, the celestial beauty spoke.

"As I promised, once you mastered the Taiyi Divine Needle, you could leave the mountain."

"Pack your things. Tomorrow, you return home."

"Master…"

At the thought of parting, Xu Qingxue's excitement faded, replaced by reluctance.

She had lived on the mountain for nearly two years.

She had grown attached to every plant and tree here.

If she could, she would stay with her master forever…

But she had to leave.

Her sisters at home were in trouble—

Led astray by Xu Hao.

She had to go back and save them.

Meanwhile, on another mountain…

In a dimly lit room—

A young man was flipping through a few booklets, his eyes gleaming under the moonlight streaming through the window.

BANG!!!

Suddenly, the window slammed open.

Startled, the youth swiftly hid the booklets and scowled.

"Old man, aren't you supposed to be sleeping? What's with the ghost act in the middle of the night?"

Outside the window stood an old man with sharp, beady eyes that gleamed with mischief.

"I knew you'd be up to no good! I hid all those dirty books, and you still found them!"

"Your medical skills are already better than mine—don't you know reading that stuff is bad for your health?"

"Who said I was reading dirty books?" the youth retorted.

"I was reviewing them with a critical eye! And you call yourself a 'Sacred Hand of Medicine'? Don't you know about the balance of yin and yang?"

"And your hands are the ones balancing yin and yang?"

The old man's face darkened. He waved a hand dismissively.

"Enough. You've surpassed me. Tomorrow, you leave the mountain."

"Stop annoying me, go bother your junior sisters in the city instead."

"Old man, are you serious about the four junior sisters? And they're really beautiful?" The youth's eyes lit up.

"Of course! Would my shimei(junior sister)  have poor taste?" The old man puffed up proudly.

"Really? You've always bragged about how stunning your shimei was, like a fairy…"

"But you spent decades chasing her and never caught her. Were you lying?"

The youth eyed him skeptically.

"When have I ever lied to you?" the old man huffed.

Then his expression twisted in outrage.

"And who said I chased her for decades without success?!"

"Heh… You got drunk once and talked in your sleep. I heard everything."

"You brat! Don't spout nonsense! I did no such thing!"

Fuming, the old man lunged to grab him, intent on teaching him a lesson in respecting one's elders.

But the youth was faster, darting away and leaving chaos in his wake.