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

Xiao Wanling was truly a beginner.

Despite Xu Huayi's efforts to teach her swimming techniques and breathing control, she failed to grasp any of it.

Watching her two sisters and Xu Hao effortlessly glide through the water, she couldn't hold back her frustration.

As Xu Hao finished two laps and showed no intention of continuing, Xu Huayi immediately called out.

"Dad, I'm struggling! You teach Wanling instead!"

Xiao Wanling shot Xu Huayi a resentful look.

Didn't she promise to teach her in just a few minutes?

Not even a few minutes had passed, and she was already giving up.

Then, she recalled what Xu Huayi had said—about having Xu Hao teach her instead.

Her heart skipped a beat.

This was nothing like the tea-making lesson he had given her before.

At least, back then, she had been fully dressed.

Now, she was in a thin swimsuit.

If Xu Hao were to teach her… wouldn't that mean…

Strangely, she didn't feel as resistant as she thought she would.

Instead, there was a tiny spark of anticipation.

After all, she had already experienced something much deeper with him.

Having him teach her to swim didn't seem like a big deal.

With her eyes filled with expectation, she followed Xu Huayi's gaze toward Xu Hao.

Xu Hao pushed off lightly and swam over with ease.

He ruffled Xu Huayi's hair and smiled.

"Go on, I'll take over."

Xu Huayi cheered and ran off excitedly.

Xu Hao turned back to Xiao Wanling.

She glanced away shyly, her cheeks tinged with red.

"Wanling, I'll start by teaching you the basic movements. Let's begin with the breaststroke."

Xu Hao demonstrated the motions in place.

"Alright, just like that. Now, give it a try."

Xiao Wanling stared at the water below her, hesitating.

Her expression showed a hint of fear.

"Uncle Xu, I'm a little scared."

She was afraid that once she went under, she wouldn't be able to resurface.

She kept sinking and couldn't float properly.

"Don't worry, I've got you."

Xu Hao held her up, supporting her as she practiced.

Even so, her movements remained weak and uncoordinated, no matter how he guided her.

His hands had to constantly adjust their position to support her properly.

' [Ding…Xiao Wanling is overwhelmed with shyness! Emotional value +555…]

Once her movements looked decent, Xu Hao moved on to teaching her how to breathe properly in the water.

Starting from scratch, she had to submerge herself completely.

Hold a breath, then exhale.

He demonstrated once, and she mimicked him.

Xiao Wanling pursed her lips tightly and sank beneath the water.

A moment later, she emerged like a lotus rising from the surface.

Xu Hao couldn't help but feel a slight stir.

An amusing thought crossed his mind…

Teaching this little heroine how to swim—wasn't it fair to collect a bit of interest?

He glanced at his daughters in the deep end, still happily playing around, unaware of what was happening.

Just as Xiao Wanling surfaced for a breath and prepared to dive again, she suddenly felt something press against her lips.

And just like that, the two of them sank beneath the water together.

Her eyes widened in shock.

The water in the pool was crystal clear—she could see Xu Hao's face beneath the surface.

Was this even allowed?!

' [Ding…Xiao Wanling is utterly stunned! Emotional value +666…]

This time, they held their breath for a while.

When she finally surfaced, she gasped for air, her cheeks flushed red.

She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes at him, her gaze tinged with allure.

Strangely, she didn't feel the slightest bit repulsed.

Instead, she stole a glance at Xu Hongzhuang in the deep end and felt a sense of satisfaction.

"I still have to find Xu Hao and take my revenge. I don't have time to waste here. You have ten seconds."

"If you still refuse to talk, you won't have the chance anymore. I'll cut out your tongue, break your limbs, gouge out your eyes, pierce your eardrums, and throw you onto the streets, leaving you worse than a stray dog…"

As the enforcer spoke, a murderous aura filled the air, forcing Li Kun into submission.

The horrifying image flashed through Li Kun's mind—his mouth silenced, his vision taken, his hearing lost, and his limbs shattered, reduced to a beggar crawling through the streets.

A shiver ran down his spine, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

Betraying Xu Hao would mean facing his wrath later. But right now, these kidnappers were about to make his life a living hell.

Gritting his teeth, he made up his mind—once he got out, he'd escape overseas immediately.

No matter how powerful Xu Hao was, even with the Blood Slaughter Society under his command, he wouldn't be able to reach him abroad.

"I'll talk! Please, just don't do that to me…"

Without hesitation, Li Kun spilled everything he knew about Xu Hao's crimes, pouring out details like a bamboo tube scattering beans.

He talked for a full ten minutes.

Xu Hao sat nearby, silently watching it all unfold, unsurprised by the betrayal.

In the novel's storyline, Li Kun would have betrayed him two and a half years later.

The only difference now was that this betrayal was entirely under his control.

The enforcer glanced at Xu Hao, received a subtle signal, and continued.

"Good. I always knew Xu Hao wasn't a good person, but I didn't expect him to be this ruthless."

A chilling aura filled the room once more.

Li Kun, who had started to relax after spilling the secrets, immediately tensed up again.

"I… I've told you everything. Can I go now?"

"Not so fast. Even though what you said is true, words alone aren't enough. Without solid evidence, Xu Hao's brainwashed fans won't believe it."

"Oh, right…"

The enforcer grinned, revealing sharp intent.

"You've worked for Xu Hao for so long. You wouldn't have left yourself without a backup plan, would you? Hand over all the evidence against him."

Li Kun froze.

They knew.

The evidence he had collected was his last lifeline.

If he were ever caught, he had planned to use it to bargain for leniency.

But now, these people had found out.

With a sigh, his face, hidden beneath the hood, contorted.

"What's wrong? You don't want to give it up? Or are you afraid that once you do, we'll silence you?"

"Relax. I swear, as long as you hand over the evidence, we won't kill you."

"We'll even send you abroad. You don't actually think you can stay by Xu Hao's side after betraying him, do you?"

Li Kun shook his head repeatedly.

As soon as they let him go, he'd take his family and flee the country immediately.

"In that case, since you're leaving anyway, why bother holding onto the evidence?"

"Give it to us. Let us take down Xu Hao, and you can live without fear."

The enforcer's voice dripped with persuasion.

Hand over the evidence, and he'd be free, safe from Xu Hao's revenge.

Refuse, and he'd die here—and still face Xu Hao's wrath if he somehow survived.

Two choices.

Anyone who wasn't a die-hard loyalist would know what to do.

Li Kun had already exposed Xu Hao's crimes—clearly, he wasn't one of those die-hard followers.

Clenching his teeth, he spilled the location of the evidence hidden in a secret vault.

"You're sure it's only in the vault? You didn't store it anywhere else? Like on a hard drive?"

"To take down someone like Xu Hao, we need ironclad proof. Just one set of evidence won't be enough."

Li Kun let out a defeated sigh.

He had thought handing over one piece of evidence would be enough to secure his release.

But it seemed there was no way he could hold back anything.

So, he admitted that there was also a USB drive containing the same information.

Xu Hao's expression darkened slightly.

As expected, Li Kun had kept a backup.

Over the past few days, his men had already tracked down Li Kun's secret hideout and located the vault's evidence.

This interrogation was just a precaution.

And sure enough, it worked.

If one of the destiny-bound protagonists had gone looking for evidence against him, they would have found that USB drive.

Now that he knew about it, he could ensure its destruction.

With everything erased, no one would ever be able to expose him.

Besides, he always handled sensitive matters through enforcers, ensuring absolute secrecy.

"Aside from the vault and the USB, did you hide it anywhere else?"

The enforcer's gaze turned increasingly dangerous.

"No! I swear, that's all there is. Just those two copies, and they contain the same information…"

Li Kun spoke hastily.

"Are you sure? I'm giving you one last chance to organize your thoughts."

The enforcer flipped his wrist, and a dagger plunged into Li Kun's shoulder.

"Ahhh!"

A scream of agony tore from Li Kun's throat.

He hadn't expected them to attack so suddenly.

Terrified and gritting his teeth, he swore once more.

"No more! I swear! If I have any other evidence, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

"Hold on. Let me confirm something."

The enforcer then pulled out a phone and dialed a number.

On the other end was another enforcer stationed near Li Kun's secret hideout.

After a brief exchange, the voice on the other end reported,

"We've found the vault. The USB drive is here too."

Li Kun stiffened.

Wait…

He had only just revealed the evidence's location.

How had they already found it?

"You really deserve to die."

A cold voice rang out.

The hood was ripped from his head.

And Li Kun found himself staring into the amused, calculating eyes of Xu Hao—sitting leisurely in front of him.