Chapter 126: Conquered! I Treated You as My Best Friend, But You Want to Follow My Father:
"What?"
Xiao Wanling was stunned, staring at Su Wanqiu in disbelief.
Did she hear that right?
Su Wanqiu wasn’t upset about her being with Uncle Xu. Instead, she seemed to encourage it.
She even told her to stop worrying about her feelings in the future, essentially asking her to relax and enjoy the relationship with Uncle Xu.
Xiao Wanling was dumbfounded.
Su Wanqiu smiled knowingly. "You’re with Xu Hao. Do you have any idea how powerful he is?"
Xiao Wanling nodded hesitantly.
Powerful? That was an understatement. Xu Hao was beyond powerful.
Su Wanqiu sighed, recalling her own experiences. "Honestly, being with him every day is terrifying. I’m always on edge..."
Her words trailed off as memories surfaced. She thought about the sleepless nights, the overwhelming intensity, and the exhaustion that came with being with Xu Hao.
Xiao Wanling was stunned, suddenly understanding why Su Wanqiu wasn’t opposed to her and Uncle Xu.
It wasn’t that she approved—it was that she couldn’t handle him anymore.
Su Wanqiu continued, her tone light but meaningful. "You see, there was a time I couldn’t keep up with him. Now that I’m pregnant... well, Wanling, do you understand?"
Xiao Wanling wasn’t a fool.
She quickly pieced together what Su Wanqiu was hinting at. Before her pregnancy, she hadn’t been able to keep up with Uncle Xu’s intensity. Now that she was expecting, she needed help managing him.
Pulling Xiao Wanling into the fold seemed like the perfect solution.
Though shocked, Xiao Wanling nodded, her feelings mixed.
Su Wanqiu sounded sincere, and this reassurance gave her a strange sense of relief.
From now on, Xiao Wanling wouldn’t have to worry about being caught or feeling guilty about her relationship with Uncle Xu.
Of course, she’d still have to be cautious, especially around Xu Hongjiao, her best friend, and Uncle Xu’s daughters.
Su Wanqiu noticed Xiao Wanling’s hesitant expression and smiled gently.
"You’ll do fine," she said.
She was already planning further. Xu Hao’s strength was unmatched, and Xiao Wanling alone wouldn’t be enough to keep up. Su Wanqiu thought of Yao Xinrui, another potential candidate, though she didn’t mention her just yet. She didn’t want to scare Xiao Wanling away.
Someday, she thought, they could all come together—like playing mahjong or other games.
Su Wanqiu suddenly had another idea.
Though she wasn’t particularly close to her daughter’s best friend, today seemed like a good opportunity to bond.
"Wanling, you mentioned earlier that you had something urgent to handle at home. Were you really trying to sneak away?"
Hearing this, Xiao Wanling’s face turned red. It was true.
"In that case, why not stay here tonight? It’s getting late, and it’s not safe for you to go back alone," Su Wanqiu suggested, glancing at the darkening sky.
"There are plenty of rooms in the villa. Just stay."
Xiao Wanling’s heart skipped a beat.
Staying at the Xu household meant being close to Uncle Xu, and it certainly beat going home to an empty apartment.
But she hesitated. The reason she’d gone home every night before was to avoid facing Su Wanqiu.
Now that Su Wanqiu had given her blessing, there wasn’t much holding her back.
Still, she hesitated.
Sensing this, Su Wanqiu added playfully, "Stay the night. Once Hongjiao and the others are asleep, you can come to our room..."
"Ah?"
Xiao Wanling’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth forming an O shape. Her heart raced as she looked at Su Wanqiu, stunned by her boldness.
She hadn’t expected her best friend’s stepmother to be so... daring.
In the end, Xiao Wanling shyly agreed to stay.
When she returned to the living room and announced her decision, the Xu sisters were surprised but didn’t question it much. They even welcomed her warmly.
After all, having one more person in the house made things livelier.
The twins, Xu Shiqing and Xu Huayi, couldn’t help but lament, though.
No matter what they tried, their elder sisters—Xu Hongjiao, Xu Shi Yi, and Xu Feiyan—refused to return home.
The thought of their sisters betraying the “organization” made them wary. They were convinced Xu Hao was “poisonous” and avoided going home out of fear.
But their absence wasn’t just about Xu Hao. Each of the sisters had their own tasks to focus on, leaving them too preoccupied to return.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wanling sat quietly, sneaking glances at Xu Hao with her moist eyes.
Xu Hao noticed and exchanged a knowing look with Su Wanqiu, who raised her eyebrows slightly.
Xu Hao chuckled inwardly.
The stepmother of the protagonist had truly been conquered by him.
"Didn’t you have something urgent to deal with at home?" Xu Hongjiao asked her best friend, walking over curiously.
Xiao Wanling snapped out of her thoughts and quickly composed herself, pretending to be annoyed.
"What? Hongjiao, do you have a problem with me staying here tonight?"
"Of course not!" Xu Hongjiao said, rolling her eyes.
"Actually, I’ve been meaning to tell you—it’s not safe for you to go back alone at night. And since you live alone anyway..."
Xiao Wanling thought to herself, If only you had persuaded me earlier...
It was Su Wanqiu’s invitation that gave her the courage to stay, not her best friend’s concerns.
As Xiao Wanling glanced at Su Wanqiu, she couldn’t help but reflect on the reasons behind her staying tonight.
Suddenly, Xu Hongjiao noticed something odd in her best friend’s gaze and asked suspiciously, "What’s with that look in your eyes?"
Xiao Wanling quickly composed herself, pretending to be calm. "It’s nothing. Really, it’s no big deal. Just something about a renter. I’ll deal with it later."
Xu Hongjiao raised an eyebrow.
If she had known what was really going through Xiao Wanling’s mind, she might have exploded on the spot.
I treat you as my best friend, but you actually want to be with my dad?
Unaware of the inner turmoil, Xu Hongjiao spoke cheerfully. "Wanling, let’s sleep together tonight. I’ve got so much to tell you."
Xiao Wanling hesitated. "Isn’t that... not appropriate?"
Xu Hongjiao blinked in disbelief, staring at her as if she’d grown a second head.
What had happened to her best friend?
When they were in school and rented a house together, it was always Xiao Wanling who suggested they sleep in the same bed, chatting late into the night to strengthen their bond.
And now, she was saying it wasn’t appropriate?
Of course, it wasn’t appropriate. Xiao Wanling silently cursed her predicament, ‘How can I sleep with you when I want to knock on your parents’ door later tonight?’
Noticing her hesitation, Xiao Wanling realized her response might have seemed odd.
She forced a laugh. "I was just worried about overhearing some of your sleep talk. You know, what if you have secrets?"
Her words seemed aimed at Xu Hongjiao, but in truth, they reflected her own guilty conscience.
What if, in her sleep, she mumbled something incriminating? Something like, "Uncle Xu, you’re so bad..."
She shuddered at the thought. Would her best friend chase her around with a knife?
"I don’t have any secrets," Xu Hongjiao said, rolling her eyes.
But then she paused, narrowing her gaze. "Could it be that you have some secrets you don’t want me to find out?"
Xiao Wanling’s heart skipped a beat. How did her best friend guess so accurately?
Feigning calm, she smiled. "Of course not! Let’s sleep together, then."
[Ding! Su Wanqiu is curious, emotional points +741...]
[Ding! Xiao Wanling’s face turns red, emotional points +852...]
…
While the Xu household simmered with undercurrents, the rental house where Xia Qingge and Li Yunshu stayed was also restless.
Xia Qingge, aware that Li Yunshu had taken the day off, had called her multiple times out of concern. When work ended, she rushed home to check on her friend.
When she arrived, she found that Li Yunshu had already prepared dinner and was waiting for her.
"Are you okay? What happened?" Xia Qingge asked.
Li Yunshu, feeling guilty, replied, "Oh, it was just a mild cold. Nothing serious."
Xia Qingge raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious.
Was a simple cold really enough to warrant taking the day off?
During dinner, her doubts lingered.
After they finished eating and started clearing the dishes, Xia Qingge noticed something strange.
Li Yunshu moved awkwardly, frowning as if in discomfort.
A realization dawned on her.
As someone with experience, Xia Qingge could instantly tell what had happened to her best friend.
Anger mixed with amusement filled her.
She had worried all day, thinking something serious had happened, only to discover this?
Rolling her eyes, Xia Qingge decided to tease her friend in return.
After helping clear the dishes, the two sat on the sofa watching TV.
Casually, Xia Qingge asked, "Yunshu, where were you last night? You didn’t come back home."
Li Yunshu tensed, her nerves instantly frayed.
"I didn’t go anywhere. I told you—I stayed home to rest."
"Really?" Xia Qingge tilted her head, feigning confusion. "But... when I went to your house, your parents said you didn’t come home."
Li Yunshu froze. Her mind went blank, unable to think of an excuse.
She hadn’t expected her best friend to have gone to her house.
Before she could fabricate a story, Xia Qingge leaned closer with a playful smirk. "Yunshu, did you do something naughty last night? Like going on a date with a certain man?"
Li Yunshu’s face turned pale. Panic set in as she stammered, "How... how could that be possible? You’re overthinking things."
Xia Qingge raised an eyebrow. "Yunshu, your reaction makes you look guilty. It’s hard not to think otherwise."
"No, no, no," Li Yunshu shook her head vehemently. "You know me—I’ve never even been close to anyone of the opposite sex."
"Really?" Xia Qingge replied with a teasing smile. "But I can think of one man you’ve been very close to."
"Who?" Li Yunshu asked, feigning confusion.
Xia Qingge’s playful smirk widened. "Uncle Xu."
Li Yunshu’s head buzzed, her mind going blank. She bit her tongue gently to regain focus, but guilt clouded her gaze as she looked away.
"You’re overthinking it," she muttered. "Uncle Xu is someone I deeply respect. How could I... how could we..."
Her words trailed off, unconvincing even to herself.
Guilt weighed heavy in her heart.
She remembered her best friend’s sharp words the night before, scolding her in her sleep, warning her to stay away from Uncle Xu.
Before the day was over, Li Yunshu had already been with Uncle Xu. If her best friend found out, would she really not despise her after two and a half years?
"Is that so? But I still don’t believe you," Xia Qingge said, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes.
"I’ve thought of a way to prove your innocence."
Li Yunshu’s eyes lit up with hope. She desperately wanted to keep her best friend from discovering the truth.
"What’s the plan?"
"Simple. A physical checkup," Xia Qingge replied, her gaze scanning Li Yunshu with exaggerated deliberation. "Just let me check you in the bedroom. Then I’ll believe you."
"What?!" Li Yunshu shrieked, her voice rising sharply.
"A body check? Are you kidding me? That would reveal everything immediately!"
Seeing her best friend’s panic, Xia Qingge held back a laugh. She could sense that pushing further would only make Li Yunshu bolt out of the house.
So, she waved it off with a grin. "Hahaha, relax! I’m just joking. I’m not a pervert, why would I need to check your body?"
...
(The next morning)
Xu Hongjiao woke up and noticed her best friend sleeping soundly beside her. She frowned in confusion.
That’s odd, she thought. Xiao Wanling always woke up early to make tea and enjoy the morning. Why was she sleeping in today?
"Don’t bother me. Let me sleep a bit longer," Xiao Wanling mumbled groggily, swatting away her hand before rolling over to continue sleeping.
Xu Hongjiao sighed, shaking her head, and got up to start her day. After she had breakfast ready, Xiao Wanling finally woke up, still looking drowsy.
Fortunately, the marrow-cleansing pill Xu Hao had given her had replenished her energy. Without it, she might have slept all morning.
After breakfast, they noticed Xu Hao and Xu Feiyan standing in the courtyard, facing each other in a tense standoff.
"What are they doing?" Xiao Wanling asked curiously.
Xu Hongjiao glanced outside and said, "It’s probably Feiyan challenging Dad again."
"Challenging? What’s going on?"
"Feiyan loves martial arts and thinks she’s invincible because of her strength. Dad humbles her, teaches her better techniques, and then she trains for a few days and decides she’s ready to challenge him again."
Xiao Wanling’s eyes sparkled with interest.
"Let’s go watch! How could we miss something this fun?" She grabbed her best friend’s hand and pulled her outside.
...
In the courtyard, a section of open space had been turned into a makeshift martial arts arena to accommodate Xu Feiyan’s training.
Xu Feiyan was no pushover—breaking rocks with her bare hands was easy for her.
To prevent her from destroying the house, Xu Hao had designated this area for her daily practice.
At the arena, the twins Xu Shiqing and Xu Huayi stood on either side, acting as referees.
"Old rules, Fifth Sister. If you want to challenge Dad, have you thought about your punishment yet?" Xu Huayi teased.
Xu Feiyan glared at her mischievous younger sister, feeling exasperated.
In the past, they used to frame it as a simple test of skill. Now, they directly asked her to decide on a punishment beforehand, as if she was destined to lose.
This time, however, she had come prepared. She was determined to prove herself and finally win against Xu Hao.
"I don’t need to think about it because I’m not losing today. Just wait and see," Xu Feiyan declared confidently.
Xu Huayi smirked. "Maid outfit, bunny girl, JK uniform... your choice."
Xu Feiyan rolled her eyes. Despite her bravado, her sisters loved to up the stakes with outrageous punishments. She had already endured such humiliations in the past and wasn’t afraid anymore.
But if she won this time?
The thought of Xu Hao dressed in a maid outfit, serving her tea and washing her feet, made her almost laugh out loud.
"Feiyan, do you really enjoy this that much?" Xiao Wanling asked, wide-eyed and shocked by what she was hearing.
She turned to her best friend for an explanation.
Xu Hongjiao sighed. "It’s just a game. The punishment is to wear costumes and follow the winner’s instructions—serving tea, giving massages, that sort of thing."
"Oh..." Xiao Wanling sighed in relief. For a moment, she had completely misunderstood.
She patted her chest to calm herself. Why did my mind even go there?
But then, her thoughts flashed back to the previous night when Su Wanqiu had opened the closet, revealing rows of dazzling outfits and QQ-style costumes. Xiao Wanling had been overwhelmed by the sheer variety.
...
Back in the courtyard, Xu Feiyan and Xu Hao squared off, the air thick with anticipation.
The sight of the lively crowd, the enthusiastic referees, and the determined combatants filled the space with excitement.
"Let’s see how this turns out," Xiao Wanling muttered, her curiosity piqued.