The Useless Stepmom Brings Her Kids to Reality TV Shows to Photograph Them

103 Turtle Soup for Blood, Oysters for Good Liver, And Sea Cucumber for Beauty

Giving Du Xing a set of clean, dry clothes and letting her leave safely was already the best he could do. Seven years ago, Du Minqiang had witnessed his brother’s family getting killed in that storm. ‘Doesn’t his heart ever soften?’

Not even three years after her sister-in-law’s death, this so-called younger sister had come to his door and hinted at inappropriate things. It was as though she was in a hurry to replace her sister’s position.

Li Yanchen had suspected Du Xing’s motives even when Du Zheng was still alive.

He had blocked her number several times because of the explicit messages he received. However, Du Xing always changed her number and would appear again. It was only in the past four years that he had been at peace. Now, because of that variety show, she was here again.

Du Xing really didn’t expect her brother-in-law to be so dismissive. She stood in the rain, caught in a dilemma. When her sister was alive, she had lived in the villa for a few days. Du Xing was aggrieved. She called her father.

“Dad, aren’t you also like a father-in-law? I am at Royal Water Bay. It’s raining heavily here. Can you ask my brother-in-law to let me inside the house?” Du Xing didn’t care if she lost face in front of her father.

When Du Xing came to look for Li Yanchen, Du Minqiang had tried to persuade his daughter to not be reckless, but she had disobeyed his suggestions. Now that she had done as she pleased and embarrassed herself in front of Li Yanchen and his family, Du Minqiang had half a mind to leave her alone. However, her tears shook him. He told Du Xing to pass the phone to Li Yanchen.

“Brother-in-law, my dad wants to talk to you.” Du Xing passed the phone to Li Yanchen.

“Yanchen, I’ve always treated you as a son. Her sister isn’t around anymore, and you’re her only kin in Yun City. Xing might be a little willful, but that’s just because she wants to see you. How about this? You let her in first, and I’ll teach her a lesson when she comes back,” Du Minqiang said.

“Hello? I can’t hear you properly. The signal is bad.” Li Yanchen pretended that he couldn’t hear anyone. He placed the phone on the bench and turned to Lin Wan. “Wanwan, let’s go in.”

Du Minqiang sighed. “Xing, don’t embarrass yourself. Just come back.”

Du Xing could only drop the matter as she had no choice.

She felt disappointed. Li Yanchen had addressed Lin Wan as “Wanwan”. It was so intimate! Four years ago, when she had arrived in Yun City, she had always heard him address her sister by her name. ‘Why does he use a nickname for Lin Wan?’

Du Xing pulled her luggage and walked away in a huff.

“Ms. Du?” said Auntie Huang at Du Xing’s receding back. “I got you some clothes if you want to change.”

Du Xing walked out of the courtyard without looking back. The door to the villa was wide open now. Li Zekai ran to his father. “Daddy!”

Li Yanchen lifted his son in his arms. “How have you grown taller in just a few days?”

“You are lying, daddy! Where is your luggage?” Li Zekai’s face fell. “Are you going to go back on the business trip?”

It was only then that Li Yanchen realized that he had been in such a hurry to get home that he had left his luggage with Secretary Han.

“It’s in Uncle Han’s car. I will get it later,” he said. He put him down and walked to the dining table. “What smells so delicious?”

“Soft-shelled turtle soup, fresh oysters, sea cucumber, goji berries and white fungus soup,” said Auntie Huang.

Auntie Huang had shopped for the ingredients because Lin Wan had told her these were very healthy.

“There is stewed eggs and cornmeal for Jiejie, too,” added Auntie Huang.

“Turtle soup for blood, oysters for good liver, and sea cucumber for beauty,” said Lin Wan. She was an expert on ingredients that were good for health.

However, with every word, Li Yanchen’s face darkened. There was no excitement in his eyes when he looked at the dishes, only despair.

The atmosphere turned cold.

“Dad, Auntie said that this is very nutritious, but I’m a child and I can’t eat so much,” Li Zekai said in confusion.

“Really Auntie Huang?” Li Yanchen frowned.

“Sir, you really don’t look too good, and you’re very busy with work.” Auntie Huang noticed that Li Yanchen looked more and more haggard day by day. But sensing his resentful gaze on her, she didn’t continue.

These ingredients were indeed good for health. Lin Wan scooped a bowl of turtle soup. “Oh, please, stop pestering Auntie Huang,” she said. “This is delicious. Try it! There is even white pepper. The turtle soup is the best. Li Yanchen, go and wash your hands. It’s time to eat.”

After the meal, Li Yanchen was about to drive Lin Wan to The Sweetheart Inn, but she told him to take her to the Testing Agency first. Li Yanchen thought that Lin Wan might be helping Xia Mo test some ingredients for the shop. He did not know that Lin Wan had sent the milk powder which was scraped from her shoes for testing.

After receiving the test report, Lin Wan opened the document bag on the spot. There were indeed sleeping pills in it. She kept the document with her and walked out of the revolving door with a heavy heart. She didn’t know how to expose Xu Xiaoxiao now that she had returned to Yun City.

When they arrived at The Sweetheart Inn, Lin Wan showed Xia Mo the report. She had intended to reveal her identity in the livestream today but set the matter aside for the time being. This was more important.

She showed Xia Mo the video she had made at Tutu’s house in the variety show when they had asked Xu Xiaoxiao for some milk powder.

Xia Mo covered her mouth in shock. “Oh my god! How could Xu Xiaoxiao do something like that? Doesn’t she know that sleeping pills are too strong for children and it will harm them? It might affect Tutu’s development and his health! I wondered why Tutu was so inactive at that time. No one would do such a thing!”

“Su Wei is on Xu Xiaoxiao’s side. They won’t be participating in the next episode. I’m afraid that Xu Xiaoxiao might do the same thing again.” Lin Wan was distressed.

“You should discuss this with Li Yanchen, too. He might have a way. The matter can’t be delayed,” said Xia Mo.

“Alright. I’ll talk with Li Yanchen tonight.” Lin Wan nodded.

At Chenxin headquarters, Li Yanchen arrived at his office at three in the afternoon. He called for Secretary Han and Assistant Qin.

The two of them brought along their reports for this month’s sale because they thought their boss needed to check it. But they were shocked. Li Yanchen dragged two chairs for them and even poured them a cup of coffee.

Assistant Qin was unable to sit still. “Boss, are we in trouble? What are you doing?”

“What? No. I just… want to have a casual chat with you.” Li Yanchen cleared his throat. “Do you think I am old?”

Secretary Han and assistant Qin looked at each other and then shook their heads.

“Boss, you’re very young.”

“Tell me the truth!”

“The truth is that you don’t look old at all.”

“How do I look compared to Lin Wan?” asked Li Yanchen.

“I mean… Madam is in her twenties so there can’t be a comparison anyway,” blurted out Assistant Qin. He knew he had made a mistake because Li Yanchen’s cold gaze focused on him. “I didn’t mean it in that way…”

“You. Get out.” Li Yanchen pointed to the door.

“Secretary Han,” Li Yanchen turned to him. “What do you think?”

“I think… you look as young as Madam.” Secretary Han swallowed nervously.

“Lies. You, get out as well.”

After Assistant Qin and Secretary Han were kicked out of the office, they looked at each other and whispered.