Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 24.2 – It’s Time to Take Down Zhang Qiming! (II)

Seeing Xiao Feng furrowing his brows, Xia Mian snapped, “You’re hurting him!”

Zhang Qiming gripped even tighter, still with a smile, “Just let go, won’t you? Don’t worry; I’m his father, I’m not going to drop him.”

Xia Mian’s gaze turned cold, realizing Zhang Qiming was trying to use Xiao Feng to restore his image. With Huang Xiaojuan’s reputation beyond saving, he needed a new method to regain the neighbors’ goodwill, and Xiao Feng, whom Huang Xiaojuan had previously abused, was a perfect tool!

Xiao Feng began biting his lip. Xia Mian pretended to relax her grip, but then swiftly knocked on Zhang Qiming’s arm, making it go numb.

Zhang Qiming’s entire arm went numb, losing all feeling.

Xia Mian quickly caught the falling Xiao Feng, taunting, “Looks like you’re not used to holding him. I’ll do it.”

Xiao Feng clung tightly to Xia Mian’s neck, his voice frantic, “Auntie!”

Xia Mian felt very distressed, soothingly stroking his back, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Auntie’s here.”

Zhang Qiming glared at her with a gloomy look, but Xia Mian fearlessly met his gaze.

“Mianmian, don’t forget, Xiao Feng is my son. He has to stay with me.” Zhang Qiming suddenly smiled.

“Are you threatening me now?” Xia Mian retorted coldly, “They say don’t burn your bridges before crossing, but you’re burning it already?”

Zhang Qiming’s gaze fell on Xiao Feng, clearly signaling he had found her weakness.

Xia Mian scoffed—as if he had no weaknesses himself! If she didn’t tear off his facade this time, her surname would not be Xia!

As the two locked in a staring-down content, an overly sugary voice interjected, “Brother-in-law?! Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

Xia Mian turned around and saw Huang Xiaoxia running, looking panicked and anxious, “Brother-in-law, you have to help me!”

Zhang Qiming frowned, “What did your sister do this time?”

When Huang Xiaoxia saw his face covered in bruises and scratches, she paused, startled, “Brother-in-law, who beat you?”

Zhang Qiming subconsciously touched his face, his voice flat, “What’s the matter?”

“Brother-in-law, the hospital wants to fire me, probably because of Dr. Ning. Can you speak up for me? I meant well back then!”

“The hospital is going to fire you?!” He was on a business trip for merely a few days, yet Zhang Qiming felt like he had missed a century. Huang Xiaojuan being arrested was one thing, but now Huang Xiaoxia, who had previously been confident about Dr. Ning, was losing her job for offending him?!

He recalled seeing the police sucking up to Dr. Ning, and had even considered Huang Xiaoxia as his last trump card!

“What’s going on?” Zhang Qiming could no longer maintain his composure, and his voice was filled with anger.

“Someone tried to frame Dr. Ning a few days ago. I was trying to help, but in my haste, I said something wrong.” Huang Xiaoxia deliberately glossed over crucial details and presented her explanation in a manner that absolved her of any blame.

“Brother-in-law, can you help me? That wild girl from your house—”

“—I mean, Xia Mian… I heard she saved Dr. Ning’s nephew, so her word must count for something.”

“Brother-in-law, please humor her for now and get her to help me.”

Zhang Qiming glanced at Xia Mian in surprise.

Xia Mian scoffed in response and walked off towards the compound with Xiao Feng in her arms.

Huang Xiaoxia finally noticed her and exclaimed, “Who’s she? Why are you with her?” Then her face suddenly brightened, “Brother-in-law, you know Dr. Ning’s relatives? If we can ask her for help, we don’t need that wild girl Xia Mian!”

Zhang Qiming was completely confused, “What are you talking about?”

“Them!” Huang Xiaoxia flashed an ingratiating smile at Xia Mian, “I saw them when I visited Dr. Ning! You’re Dr. Ning’s relatives, right? Dr. Ning was holding that child when I came visiting; is he his nephew?”

Zhang Qiming’s face turned dark, “What did you say?!”

Huang Xiaoxia, seeing his displeasure, said softly, “Did I say something wrong? I really saw them. That girl was even holding Dr. Ning’s arm. You know how he is—unless they’re family, Dr. Ning doesn’t allow anyone near him.”

A light finally dawned on Zhang Qiming, his gaze shifting to Xia Mian. Frankly, when he saw this girl yesterday, he barely recognized her. He thought her drastic transformation could be attributed to the shock of the encounter with the thugs, or perhaps her family had compelled her to change, but according to Huang Xiaoxia, Xia Mian had already changed her appearance on the day he left on his business trip.

So those thugs probably hadn’t recognized her, and the same was true with Huang Xiaoxia…

He knew Huang Xiaoxia well. In addition to her fondness for boasting, she also liked to exaggerate and meddle in people’s business. If Xia Mian and Xiao Feng had been at Teacher Mi’s house at the time…

Zhang Qiming’s teeth clenched. The Huang family was too useless! None of them could do a single thing right!

His face darkened as he told Huang Xiaoxia, “Go home and explain everything to me. Also, don’t you know what happened to your sister?”

Huang Xiaoxia was confused, “Didn’t she return to our parents’ place? What happened?”

Zhang Qiming explained briefly, emphasizing the ‘good deeds’ Huang Xiaojun had committed.

Huang Xiaoxia indignantly complained, “My sister, really! My mom and brother sweet-talk her a bit, and she instantly jumps over the moon. She didn’t give me when I asked her for 300 yuan to buy a good belt for Dr. Ning, but she didn’t even blink at giving 10,000 to them.”

Hearing this, Zhang Qiming took another mental note against Huang Xiaojuan. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with Huang Xiaoxia, so completely dismissed her and continued walking ahead with his luggage.

But Huang Xiaoxia was not done, exclaiming, “Wait, Brother-in-law. Where did that vixen come from? Never seen her before. Is she here to seduce Dr. Ning?” She continued mockingly, “Look at how she’s fawning over Dr. Ning’s relatives, her face is almost split from smiling.”

Zhang Qiming realized he’d forgotten to warn Huang Xiaoxia that those two were Xia Mian and Xiao Feng. But seeing the scene ahead, he had no time to remind her. Xia Mian was talking with Dr. Ning’s sister!

Although he had been overwhelmed these past couple of days, Zhang Qiming was still aware of Dr. Ning’s sister and nephew coming to visit. The news of Dr. Ning being the heir to a multimillion-yuan fortune was the hottest talk of the neighborhood, spreading rapidly like wildfire. This morning, he’d even seen Teacher Mi’s family sending off Dr. Ning’s brother-in-law, their style was completely out of his league.

The neighbors crowded around the visitor, making lively greetings and cordial chitchats, but Zhang Qiming knew it was just for show—Dr. Ning’s brother-in-law responded with a warm smile, but he barely acknowledged anyone. Still, when this impressive figure gave Zhang Qiming a nod, a thrill ran through him, and he thought of Huang Xiaoxia right away.

Seeing Dr. Ning’s sister made him realize how far-fetched his hopes had been. For the first time, he saw the vast chasm that separated him from people who came from a completely different world. So he pinned his hopes on Huang Xiaoxia, hoping she was thick-skinned enough and underhanded enough to make a breakthrough, even if only temporarily. Just a single word from those people would be enough to transform their lives.

However, he had overlooked Huang Xiaoxia’s tendency to be self-righteous, which she demonstrated once again when she openly ridiculed Dr. Ning’s sister without an ounce of self-awareness.

But Xia Mian…

Zhang Qiming narrowed his eyes and hastened his pace.