Who Wouldn't Want to Be a Wealthy Stepparent? - Chapter 1

You really shouldn’t make random wishes at Yonghe Temple.

 

That was the last thought that flashed through Cheng Leyan’s mind the moment the car slammed into him.

 

Only a few hours earlier, he had been full of life, passionately praying at the temple: “I beg for wealth! I beg for a fortune! Let me have so much money! Please, please, Great Immortals, bless me! Let the money come from all directions!!”

 

To ensure the gods didn’t deliver the blessing to the wrong person, he had even piously recited his name, home address, and ID number.

 

But then again, considering the track record of Yonghe Temple.

 

There was the story of a girl who wished for a “soldier boy” boyfriend, only to have her own brother drafted into the army a few days later.

 

Another person wished to lose weight, only to be diagnosed with a health issue that required surgery and a recovery period that caused them to drop 20 pounds instantly.

 

Then there was the one who wished for a windfall of cash, only to be fired and receive a massive severance package.

 

One could only say that the temple’s responsiveness had a certain “disregard for human life” kind of efficiency.

 

Fearing a similar twist, Cheng Leyan had carefully added a disclaimer: “If becoming rich in this life is too difficult, don’t force it, Great Immortal. Making a fortune in my next life works too!”

 

He bowed three times, full of confidence. He sat back and waited for his wealth to arrive, but instead, he got hit by a car.

 

When consciousness finally returned, Cheng Leyan felt a splitting headache, as if his skull had been cracked open by a giant rock.

 

So, is this “windfall” just the insurance payout for the accident?

 

What a scam!

 

But… he had been crossing the street perfectly legally on the zebra crossing. The other party was clearly at fault. He wondered just how much the compensation would be.

 

The moment he thought of money, his heart began to itch with anticipation.

 

Years ago, Cheng Leyan had fallen into a massive debt of 3 million yuan. He was still 800,000 short of paying it off. After years of skimping, saving, and obsessing over cash, his desire for money had reached an almost irrational level.

 

While calculating the potential settlement in his head, he gathered his strength and slowly pried his eyes open.

 

He froze.

 

He wasn’t in a hospital. Instead, he was in a strange, opulent room. The decor was lavish and sophisticated; ancient vases stood with an air of history, and the crystal chandelier was bright enough to blind him.

 

The mirror opposite him reflected a vibrant face his own. Good, he wasn’t disfigured. He was currently leaning against a soft, comfortable sofa, holding a phone that was mid-call.

 

A deep, gentle male voice came through the receiver: “Yanyan, baby, I know you’ve been wronged. I know you’re unhappy; I understand everything. My favorite person was forced to marry a vegetable—how could I not be in pain?

 

“But this is all for our future. Even though we can’t be together openly right now, we’re both working toward the same goal. So, please, hold on a little longer. Stay in the Rong family, okay?”

 

Cheng Leyan listened at first, but his attention was soon completely hijacked by something on a nearby shelf.

 

It was a glittering, golden apple.

 

Having worked in a jewelry store before, his instincts told him this wasn’t some gold-plated silver or a cheap knockoff. It was real gold.

 

The voice on the phone continued: “Baby, can you give me another million? Don’t worry, once I get my returns in a few months, I’ll pay it all back. It’ll be the startup fund for our little family. Hello? Baby? Are you still listening? Hello?”

 

Of course he wasn’t listening. Cheng Leyan had already tossed the phone aside and scrambled over to the shelf. He picked up the golden apple, inspected it, and found the “999 Fine Gold” hallmark.

 

He gasped. Solid gold! It was actually solid gold!

 

And this thing weighed at least a kilogram!

 

With gold prices over 700 per gram, this apple was worth at least 700,000 yuan!

 

His headache vanished instantly. His back didn’t ache, his legs didn’t hurt, and his heart felt like a bird fluttering in his chest.

 

In his 25 years of being single, this was the first time he felt the profound, earth-shattering sensation of falling in love.

 

Love! This is true love!

 

Dad, do you see this? Dad, I’m in love!

 

If this is a dream, please never let me wake up!

 

Just as he was gazing lovingly at the golden apple, practically humming the “Wedding March,” the door beside him slowly creaked open.

 

Cheng Leyan turned his head and locked eyes with a man standing in the doorway wearing a butler’s uniform.

 

They stared at each other.

 

The butler asked calmly, “Eldest Young Madam, what… are you doing?”

 

Cheng Leyan replied, “I’m getting married. Are you here for the ceremony?”

 

The butler: ?

 

A giant question mark practically manifested over the butler’s head.

 

Cheng Leyan was about to ask, “Hey buddy, what are you doing in my dream?” when a voice suddenly echoed in his mind. He blinked, his expression shifting, before straightening up and addressing the butler properly: “Ahem, what I’m doing isn’t important. What’s the matter?”

 

The butler said, “Apologies, Eldest Young Madam. I was about to knock, but the door wasn’t locked. It opened as soon as I touched it.”

 

Cheng Leyan: “It’s fine. Also, you can call me ‘Yan,’ or ‘Little Yan,’ or even ‘Boss,’ but please stop calling me ‘Eldest Young Madam.’ That title makes my chest hurt.”

 

The butler: “Of course, Eldest Young Madam. Understood, Eldest Young Madam. Madam is on her way and should arrive in about ten minutes. It’s her birthday today, and she’ll be returning to the ancestral home for a family banquet later. Time is tight, so please head downstairs to wait for her.”

 

Cheng Leyan: “Oh, okay. I’ll get ready and head down.”

 

The butler bowed respectfully and left. Once he reached a quiet corner, he frowned, sensing that something was off. The Eldest Young Madam seemed like a completely different person today. It wasn’t just a slight change—it was a total personality transplant.

 

The butler had only been transferred here a week ago, but he had already figured out the “Eldest Young Madam’s” temperament: fawning and sycophantic toward Madam, but arrogant and abusive toward the servants.

 

He was notoriously difficult to serve.

 

If he had accidentally pushed the door open like that in the past, he would have definitely been screamed at. How could he be so pleasant?

 

So, what was going on?

 

And “getting married”? Who on earth was he marrying?

 

Was he marrying that apple he was holding?

 

Has the Eldest Young Madam lost his mind?

 

Back in the room, Cheng Leyan sat on the sofa clutching his new lover—the golden apple and spoke in his mind: We’ve only got five minutes. Tell me what’s going on you said you’re what? A system?

 

In his head, a voice with a mechanical texture chirped somewhat timidly: [Yes, yes! Hello, Host! I am your system, Serial Number 419. I will assist you with your work in this world. I look forward to working with you!

 

It was this voice that had snapped Cheng Leyan out of his “wedding in a dream” fantasy.

 

419 quickly explained the situation, and Cheng Leyan soon grasped the reality.

 

His wish at Yonghe Temple had actually come true, albeit in a bizarre way. After dying in the car accident, he had transmigrated into a wealthy family drama as the “Eldest Young Madam.”

 

He had indeed become rich, but.

 

This…

 

Cheng Leyan nearly fainted.

 

It really was the “next life”!

 

Great Immortal of Yonghe Temple, even if my wish was hard to grant, you didn’t have to play me like this!

 

I’d rather have stayed hit by that car and taken the insurance money!!!

 

Just the compensation would have been enough!!!

 

As for the book he had entered, it was titled Prison of Love, an old-school melodrama. The story followed the toxic relationship between the main couple, with a villain constantly interfering.

 

That villain was obsessed with the protagonist. He was paranoid, ruthless, and twisted. After being rejected, he committed a series of illegal acts, eventually locking the protagonist in a dark room. He was a total psycho.

 

And the reason the villain was so unhinged was largely due to his tragic childhood. His biological father, Rong Wangzhi, was the eldest son of the Rong family and its intended successor. But when the villain was very young, Rong Wangzhi was involved in an accident and became a vegetable.

 

Because of his auspicious birth chart, the villain’s step-father was married into the family to “bring luck” chongxi. He was also tasked with caring for the boy. Unfortunately, the step-father was a piece of trash who subjected the villain to years of physical and mental abuse.

 

Once the villain grew up and took power, the first thing he did was lock his step-father in a dog cage.

 

It was a cramped cage, less than a meter high and half a meter wide. A person could only huddle inside, unable to move. The cage was thrown into a dark room, cut off from sunlight and the world. Eating, drinking, and everything else happened inside—it was pure torture. The step-father went insane and eventually bit off his own tongue, dying on the 137th day of his imprisonment.

 

And now, Cheng Leyan had become that—the villainous step-father.

 

Cheng Leyan:

 

Only four words echoed in his mind:

 

DOG. CAGE. WARNING.

 

Cheng Leyan: System, I have one question: Has this “Cheng Leyan” already started abusing the villain yet?

 

System: Host, let me check… Uh, he should have started already… I think?

 

Cheng Leyan: What do you mean “I think”?! Dammit, I hope I can run away in time! Divorce, I need a divorce right now! Then I’m fleeing to the ends of the earth to a place where nobody owns dogs!

 

The system panicked: No, Host! If you leave, you’ll… hang on, let me check what happens if you leave. Wait for me, just one minute!

 

Cheng Leyan was speechless: System, is this your first day on the job?

 

The system sounded crushed and desperate: I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn’t want this either! I was originally in the R-18 department! I only know how to write “spicy” scenes; I don’t know anything about plot! I don’t know why they moved me to the Drama department! I’m so sorry, Host!

 

Cheng Leyan was truly at a loss.

 

What kind of nightmare starting point was this?

 

“R-18 department”? He knew exactly what that meant, but he didn’t want to know. He only wanted to escape before the dog cage became his reality.

 

He looked down at his “first love.” The apple was still golden, radiant, and beautiful. But as great as it was, it belonged to the Rong family. It had nothing to do with him. This romance was destined to be fruitless. Alas.

 

He painfully put down the golden apple and rushed downstairs, heading straight for the butler standing in the lobby.

 

“Butler, listen, I just remembered I have some urgent business at the ends of the earth. I have to go. Please tell Mrs. Rong ‘Happy Birthday’ for me, and tell her I’ll be back to process the divorce.”

 

Before he could finish, a commanding, clear female voice rang out: “Divorce? Cheng Leyan, are you talking about a divorce?”

 

Then, accompanied by the sharp click of high heels on the floor, a woman walked in aggressively.

 

She looked to be in her 50s but was incredibly well-preserved. Her hair was swept up, and she radiated an air of absolute authority. Having worked in luxury retail, Cheng Leyan’s eyes were sharp—that jade bracelet on her wrist was top-quality “glass-type” green, worth at least ten million. Her bag was a rare-skin Kelly; even without the “pre-spend” requirements, it was worth 600,000.

 

This was undoubtedly Mrs. Rong.

 

Cheng Leyan said sincerely, “Mrs. Rong, I know you chose me for my birth chart to bring luck, but as you can see, I don’t actually have that ability. I don’t want to hold Young Master Rong back. A divorce would be best for—”

 

Once again, he was interrupted. A check was slapped onto his forehead as Mrs. Rong declared firmly, “This month’s allowance: one million.”

 

She tilted her chin up. “If there’s going to be a divorce, we’ll be the ones to bring it up. Since when is it your turn to decide?”

 

One million.

 

One. Million.

 

Cheng Leyan caught the check and stared. He looked, and looked, and looked again. He couldn’t tear his eyes away.

 

He thought: Is this love? It feels like I’ve met my soulmate again.

 

Dad, I’m in love again! Do you see this? Your son is in love!

 

Where is the priest? Where is the ring? Where is the bouquet? Where is the Wedding March!?

 

I want to marry this check right now! Immediately!

 

A few seconds later, when he looked up, he was a transformed man.

 

His eyes sparkled, his face beamed with a smile, and his entire being radiated “happiness,” as if the very air around him was filled with pink bubbles.

 

He said enthusiastically, “Mom! You’re here! Why did you bring a gift? You really shouldn’t have; it makes me feel so shy! Oh, they say one shouldn’t receive rewards without merit taking this money makes me feel uneasy! Here, come sit down. Let me bow to you first.”

 

Mrs. Rong:?

 

Mrs. Rong:?

 

She asked warily, “What are you doing? What bow?”

 

Cheng Leyan said joyfully, “A kowtow! Mom, you introduced me to such a wonderful marriage, gave me an unforgettable love, and provided a lifelong partner. If I don’t kowtow to you twice, my heart won’t be at peace!”

 

Mrs. Rong leaned back instinctively, taking two steps away. “Don’t come over here! What do you mean kowtow? Get up! And don’t call me Mom; I don’t have a son like you!”

 

Cheng Leyan wasn’t offended at all. He remained exuberant and full of life. “A mother for a day is a mother for life! I’ve decided—you are my real mother! Mom, why are you still standing? Come, sit down quickly.”

 

He warmly ushered Mrs. Rong to the sofa.

 

Within minutes, a cup of floral tea and several plates of snacks were set before Mrs. Rong. A stick of incense was lit nearby, and a steaming hot towel was placed in her hands. Her high heels were replaced with a pair of soft, comfortable cotton slippers, and a plush pillow was tucked behind her back.

 

As he did all this, Cheng Leyan’s expression was warm but not exaggerated, affectionate but not oily, caring but not fawning. It was perfectly natural, making one feel like he truly cared.

 

But he wasn’t done. Cheng Leyan immediately began giving Mrs. Rong a massage.

 

Yes, a massage. He stood behind her, skillfully kneading her shoulders.

 

As he worked, he chatted, “Mom, you must be exhausted, right? Let me work those knots out. Oh, Mom, you have some tension in your neck! Don’t worry, I’ll fix it. You work too hard. As your child, the least I can do is show some filial piety. It’s only right.”

 

Mrs. Rong was dazed. She had no idea how any of this had happened.

 

The butler, the servants, and even 419 in his head had no idea how this had happened.

 

The system was floored. It finally managed to whisper: Host… you… you aren’t planning to run away anymore?

 

Cheng Leyan replied lazily in his mind while continuing the massage: System, let me tell you a story.

 

Once there was a kid named Xiao Ming. His parents gave him very little pocket money, so his biggest wish was: “If only I could have 100 yuan every day, that would be great.”

 

Ten years later, Xiao Ming grew up, and his dream actually came true! He really did have 100 yuan coming in every day!

 

The system was confused: Huh?

 

Cheng Leyan: He became a man with a monthly salary of 3,000 yuan.

 

The system couldn’t help it and burst out laughing.

 

Cheng Leyan: So you see, System, there are plenty of people making 3,000 a month. But me? I’m currently making one million a month. Why would I run away? I’d have to be insane to quit. One million! One million!!! Hahaha, hahahahaha!

 

He laughed like a maniac.

 

The system fell into a pensive silence.

 

This host… seemed to really love money.

 

It had handled many R-18 protagonists before; how much money did their points convert to again?

 

It asked: So what do you plan to do now?

 

Cheng Leyan: Secure my job, of course. My ‘Mom’ came here looking fierce; she probably intended to kick me out. Luckily, I used to work in a massage parlor and a butler cafe—I haven’t forgotten my skills. I’ve managed to stabilize her for now, hehe.

 

System: Host, exactly how many part-time jobs have you had!?

 

Cheng Leyan: Too many to count. At my peak, I worked five jobs a day. System, there is no such thing as “easy” in the adult world. Oh, wait! I actually had a job that might be useful right now.

 

System: What was it?

 

Cheng Leyan: Haidilao! I worked at the hot pot place, and I learned two ultimate skills!

 

He immediately turned to Mrs. Rong with an eager smile: “Mom, it’s your birthday today, right? I didn’t prepare a gift, so how about I perform a song and dance for you?”

 

Mrs. Rong was so relaxed from the massage she was half-asleep. She murmured, “What? Sing what?”

 

Cheng Leyan: “The song! ‘Say bye-bye to all your worries, say hi-hi to all your joys! Dear, dear, happy birthday, may every day be wonderful~!'”

 

After finishing the line, he added excitedly, “Just singing is boring; I have to add the dance to get the atmosphere right. I’ll do the whole routine for you!”

 

Mrs. Rong’s eyelid twitched. “Stop. I’ll give you ten thousand yuan if you stop right now.”

 

Cheng Leyan was instantly delighted. I can get paid for this too?! Is there really such a wonderful thing in this world?? Is it really this easy to make money from rich people??

 

He quickly added, “Mom, I can also do the flying noodle dance! I’ll perform it for you right now and make you some longevity noodles!”

 

Mrs. Rong and the system were both speechless. One in reality and one in his head, they both screamed at the same time: “Are you really trying to squeeze money out of this?! Stop acting like you’ve discovered a secret wealth cheat code!!”