Yang Wenfu’s face stiffened for a moment before returning to normal. In a cold tone, he said, “This has nothing to do with you. It was just a misunderstanding. If you want compensation, I can give it to you within reason.”
Those words thoroughly enraged Zhuang Hui. Without a trace of fear, she snapped, “Compensation? Do you think I’m a prostitute? Or that I’m dirty and not good enough for you?”
Seeing the fury on Zhuang Hui’s face, Yang Wenfu could only explain helplessly. “I didn’t say you were dirty. Yes, that accident was my fault, but I was drunk at the time, not in my right mind. What happened wasn’t my intention. I hope you can forgive me. As for the compensation, consider it my apology to you.”
To this day, he still believed that he had molested Zhuang Hui while out of his senses, and naturally, Zhuang Hui had no intention of telling him the truth.
“What’s so great about that woman? Is she prettier than me? You’ve been locked in a cold war with her for years, and now, just because of a little guilt, you want to get back together with her?”
Zhuang Hui simply couldn’t understand it. Logically speaking, after so many years of cold war without getting divorced, that was already merciful enough. How could he still harbor any lingering feelings for that woman?
At her words, Yang Wenfu fell silent for a moment. In the end, he decided to lay it all out and completely dispel her illusions.
“She’s prettier than you—that’s not just me brushing you off. Over these years, I’ve met countless women, but very few can even compare to her. But it’s not because of her looks…”
“She’s like a noble white swan, and I… I’m just a lucky toad who caught the fancy of a swan.”
Yang Wenfu’s gaze drifted into memory, as if recalling their distant university days—the time when he met his wife, came to know her, grew close, and finally entered the halls of matrimony.
Back in university, he had come from the countryside with a impoverished life. Confronted by the glittering prosperity of the big city, he often felt deeply inferior. He had to study diligently while juggling multiple part-time jobs to scrape together just enough for living expenses and tuition.
His first glimpse of Ruoxi hadn’t been at school, but at a hotel where he was working a side gig. At the time, his mother-in-law was discussing business with some associates, and Liu Ruoxi, bored, had wandered out to the balcony for some fresh air by herself.
Dazed and foolish as he was back then, he took one look at the elegantly poised and breathtakingly beautiful Liu Ruoxi and felt utterly unworthy in comparison. Lost in a trance while climbing the stairs, he accidentally shattered a plate. The food it carried spilled across the floor. The hotel manager spotted it and berated him harshly. That was when Ruoxi stepped in, speaking softly a few words to bail him out.
Their fateful connection began in that instant. He hadn’t merely resembled a toad back then—he had been one. That was why he now described himself without any hesitation as such.
Liu Ruoxi had been like a ray of sunlight piercing his dark, numb world. She had accompanied him through four years of university, illuminating his entire existence.
That was why, despite years of cold war with his wife—their marriage chilled to the freezing point—he had never once entertained the thought of divorce.
“After hearing you say all that, now I want to meet your wife.” Zhuang Hui hadn’t realized just how important her rival was to the man before her. Even she couldn’t help but feel a spark of curiosity.
Meanwhile, after finishing breakfast, Yang Haoran was about to head to school with his sister when his mother suddenly called out to him.
“Come here for a second.”
Liu Ruoxi showed him no warmth, issuing the cold command before turning and walking away.
Yang Haoran suddenly felt as if his legs weighed a thousand pounds. He was sure his mother was about to settle the score from that morning.
“Bro, Mom’s calling you,” Yang Mengyao said from the side, seeing her brother frozen in place with no sign of moving.
“Oh… okay, okay.” Yang Haoran wore a troubled expression as he reluctantly trailed after her at a snail’s pace.
Watching her brother’s dejected appearance, Yang Mengyao grew curious. What had he done wrong this time to upset Mom?
Yang Haoran shuffled slowly behind his mother, his mind racing as he brainstormed ways to sweet-talk his way out of punishment.
The two of them reached the second floor. His mother remained utterly silent all the way into her bedroom, leaving Yang Haoran increasingly on edge.
Once inside the bedroom, Yang Haoran watched as his mother went to the vanity, picked up something, and turned back toward him.
“Take this. Drink one bottle during class, and another when you feel the effect wearing off.”
Yang Haoran saw his mother handing him a small box resembling a makeup compact, while spouting words he couldn’t make sense of.
As long as she wasn’t settling scores, that was fine. Rather than puzzling over her instructions, his first reaction was one of quiet relief.
“What’s this?”
He took the box. It was flat, like a makeup case, only about the size of his palm—more than small enough to slip into his pocket.
“Open it and see.”
Liu Ruoxi shot him a sidelong glance but offered no further explanation.
At her words, Yang Haoran opened the small box. Inside, a layer of white cotton cloth resembling silk lined the bottom. Resting upon it were three glass vials filled with a clear liquid, each no bigger than one of his fingers.
“What the heck is this?” Yang Haoran stared at the glass vials in the box, utterly baffled as he looked to his mother for answers.
“Don’t ask so many questions. Take it and get to school.” Since it involved that Evil Game, Liu Ruoxi had no desire to explain further. Besides, even if she did, her son wouldn’t believe her.
All three bottles were Learning Potions she had exchanged from the System Mall. Each one cost 10 points and lasted for two hours.
Her total points from completing tasks had only been 160. The Dragon Extension Potion had cost 50, and those erotic costumes another 73, leaving her with just 37—barely enough for three Learning Potions.
She had poured most of her points into her son. The Learning Potion boosted the activity of neural cells in the brain. Though it only lasted a short two hours, it granted the user a hyper-accelerated thought process, like having cheats enabled.
Though still puzzled, Yang Haoran saw the impatience on his mother’s face. Reminding himself that she would never harm him, he felt reassured.
She had said to drink one during class, so he figured it must be some kind of brain-boosting supplement to sharpen the mind.
Yang Haoran slipped the small box into his pocket and headed downstairs. Yaoyao was already waiting for him there.
As on any other day, the siblings left the complex and made their way toward the bus stop.
Golden sunlight bathed the two of them, draping a shimmering veil of gold over their forms. Their long shadows stretched out ahead—now drifting apart, now drawing close as if in tender embrace.
