Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 37.5 – Exposing the Duplicity of the Old Lady and Zhou Qianqian (V)

Suddenly, the sound of clapping echoed from the doorway. “Young Lady Zhou, did you study theater performance instead of business management? Such an amazing acting!” The young man who came in wore the latest trend from top to bottom: hair styled in a trendy side part, a floral shirt, and flared pants. His face was painted with a mischievous grin as he looked at Zhou Qianqian.

“I think I could sign you, and maybe, just maybe, we could cultivate the next Brigitte Lin.”

1

Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhou Qianqian covered her face in shock, whimpering aggrievedly, “Young Master Rong.” But when she noticed the person standing beside him, she exclaimed with joy, “Uncle Huo, you’re back!”

The old lady quickly stood up from the floor, instinctively tidying her clothes, her voice filled with joy, “Old Master, you’re back?”

Huo Pengyi, who appeared to be in his fifties, stood tall with a straight back, his refined demeanor and elegance were unmistakable even in a casual outfit. His every movement reflected the excellent upbringing he had received, embodying the ideal type that young women of his generation admired. It was no wonder his wife felt a sense of inferiority in his presence.

As Huo Pengyi surveyed the chaotic scene in the room, his face darkened. The old lady let out a pitiful sob, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I come from a poor background, which is why the Ning family looks down on me…”

“Shut up!” Huo Pengyi suddenly roared, “Go back to your room immediately, and don’t come out unless I tell you to!”

The old lady’s eyes widened in shock. During their marriage, Huo Pengyi had seldom raised his voice at her, especially in recent years when he had hardly spoken to her at all. Why was he so angry today…?

Before the old lady could figure out why her husband was upset, Zhou Qianqian quickly pleaded, “Uncle Huo…”

“You shut up too!” Huo Pengyi said coldly. “Zhou Qianqian, I’ve treated you well, but you come here to bring disaster to our family! From now on, don’t ever come to the Huo family again. We’ve repaid enough of your father’s kindness over the years.”

Both Zhou Qianqian and the old lady turned pale at his words.

“U-uncle Huo, did someone say something to you? You can’t just believe whatever you hear! You should trust what you’ve seen…” As she spoke, Zhou Qianqian realized something was off. Why did her voice seem to echo?

With a grin, Rong Xin raised a certain device, “Tsk tsk, Miss Zhou, do you know the one thing people should never trust? Their own eyes—because some people are really good at deception.”

His voice also echoed from the mobile phone in his hand.

Zhou Qianqian finally realized what was happening. “What’s this?”

“A mobile phone.” Rong Xin replied, smirking mischievously. “You put on quite a show, didn’t you? Fooled some people completely.” As he said this, he glanced meaningfully at a certain young man.

Huo Xuewen’s face was full of regret. “Xiao Yun, don’t say anything out of anger. I won’t agree to a divorce!”

Zhou Qianqian was too panicked to care about Huo Xuewen’s words. Her eyes darted the room, frantically looking for something.

Then she saw Ning Shaoyun holding up a small mobile phone, still displaying an ongoing call.

Xia Mian’s eyes widened. Ning Shaoyun had set up a live broadcast with a mobile phone? She hadn’t known about this, but damn—what a brilliant move!!

Huo Xuewen’s expression was a mix of emotions and deep remorse as he pleaded, “I’m sorry, Xiao Yun. I’m sorry, it’s my fault. From now on…”

Ning Shaoyun calmly interrupted, “There’s no need to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong; you just have more important things in your life.”

“I didn’t do this to clear up any misunderstanding—I just didn’t want to leave under false accusations. I am the eldest daughter of the Ning family, and my character was carefully nurtured by my parents. I won’t allow it to be trampled on.”

Huo Xuewen’s expression changed. “Xiao Yun, I never intended to divorce you!”

Hearing this, Zhou Qianqian panicked even more. “Brother Xuewen, she’s framing us! She set us up on purpose!”

“Shut up!” Huo Xuewen suddenly lost his temper, “Get out of my house, and don’t ever show your face here again!”

Seeing that Zhou Qianqian still wanted to cling to him, Huo Xuewen turned to Uncle Fu and roared, “Get her out of here. If you can’t, then don’t bother coming back tomorrow!”

The terrified steward hurriedly covered Zhou Qianqian’s mouth and dragged her out.

Ning Shaobai picked up Chenchen and said gently, “Go wait for us in the car outside, okay?”

The boy looked anxiously at his mother, and when she nodded, he frowned but obediently remained silent.

Xia Mian thought for a moment and then said to Xiao Feng, “Why don’t you go keep Brother Chenchen company?”

Xiao Feng nodded, and Ning Shaobai crouched down to pick him up as well, carrying both boys outside. The two little guys had never been taken together, so they were a bit surprised. Xiao Feng reached out to hold Chenchen’s hand and whispered, “Brother Chenchen, I’m with you.”

Chenchen’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly as he squeezed Xiao Feng’s hand in return.

After the children left, Huo Xuewen turned to Ning Shaoyun. “Xiao Yun, we won’t divorce. Please, give me another chance, I promise I’ll…”

Ning Shaoyun smiled bitterly, “But I’ve already given you all my chances. From the times you repeatedly broke promises to Chenchen to when you ignored them stealing my painting… I gave you countless chances.”

“No, Xiao Yun!” Huo Xuewen’s usual calm and composed demeanor had completely disappeared by this point, replaced by genuine panic. “I’ll fire Zhou Qianqian immediately and never let her into our home again…”

Tears suddenly welled up in Ning Shaoyun’s eyes. “You still don’t understand! It was never about Zhou Qianqian. Even if she’s gone, there will be Li Qianqian, Wang Qianqian…”

Huo Xuewen frantically tried to wipe away her tears. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Tell me what I did wrong, and I’ll change. From now on, I’ll…”

“There is no ‘from now on’!” Ning Shaoyun interrupted. “Huo Xuewen, stop making promises you can’t keep. Your words mean nothing to me anymore.” Regardless of his present sincerity, his words could no longer reach her.

Huo Xuewen was shaken, a deep realization finally dawning on him. He… might have lost something irreplaceable…

“Let’s go,” Ning Shaobai said as he returned after taking the children to the car. As if remembering something, he extended his hand to Xia Mian. “Hand over the check.”

“Oh,” Xia Mian almost forgot about this thing. Without asking what he intended to do, she handed it over.

Ning Shaobai took the check, walked over to the old lady, and pressed it into her hand. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, “Use this to buy the courtyard your daughter is living in now. It’s a great deal—almost double the price.”

The old lady’s heart pounded. “W-what do you mean?”

Ning Shaobai gave her a meaningful look. “Zhou Qianqian—you treat her like your own daughter, don’t you? Even making Huo Xuewen concede for her.”

“I—I don’t understand what you’re saying,” the old lady stammered, her face pale. Ning Shaobai’s piercing gaze made her feel as if he could see right through her deepest secret, and she clenched her hands tightly to avoid losing control.

Ning Shaobai scoffed. “If you don’t understand, Huo Xuewen and Old Master Huo will soon enough.” His voice lowered to a whisper, “After all, she looks so much like you…”

The old lady snapped her head towards Ning Shaobai, staring at the young man as if he were a demon.

“You have one week at the latest,” Ning Shaobai smiled. “Remember to transfer the ownership of the courtyard.”

“I…I can’t make that decision.”

“That’s not my concern,” Ning Shaobai replied. “I’ve already promised someone that I’d buy that courtyard. I believe you can handle it, especially since Uncle Huo doesn’t really want to see you, right?”

“Anyway, I’ve already given you the money. You can choose not to transfer it, but if people start hearing things…” Ning Shaobai let his words trail off with a smirk.

The old lady trembled all over.

Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia is a Taiwanese actress. She is regarded as an icon of Chinese language cinema for her extensive and varied roles in both Taiwanese and Hong Kong films.(source: Wikipedia)