Who Wouldn't Want to Be a Wealthy Stepparent? - Chapter 11

Cheng Leyan took Mrs. Rong and Zhuozhuo to McDonald’s, where he passionately ordered two “Rich Lady Meals” referring to the Angus Beef Burgers that made his wallet ache and one kid’s meal.

It certainly wasn’t Mrs. Rong’s first time eating at McDonald’s, but she found the experience quite refreshing. Zhuozhuo, on the other hand, devoured his food like a whirlwind, finishing his entire meal before polishing off a pie, a box of nuggets, and an ice cream.

The toddler was perfectly satisfied.

Later, back at home, Cheng Leyan gave Zhuozhuo a bath, changed him into pajamas, blow-dried his hair, and tucked him into bed.

Zhuozhuo solemnly placed the Pikachu right next to his pillow.

His step-father had originally said he would take him to buy many toys today, but after everything that happened, they hadn’t bought a single one.

There was a trace of disappointment, but not much; it was overshadowed by a lingering, unbelievable sense of ecstasy:

Teacher Xiang was gone, and now, Grandma Zhang was gone too!

Grandma Zhang was no longer in this house!

Grandma Zhang could never hit him, scold him, force those sludges down his throat, or feed him things that made him sleep ever again!

Grandma Zhang… won’t come back, right?

What should I do if she comes back?

If she hires someone to kidnap me again, will my step-father still save me?

At these thoughts, the toddler’s heart tightened.

He told himself: I am a tin man, I must be brave, I am not afraid of her.

But his face had already scrunched up.

Just then, he felt his step-father sit down at the head of the bed, bringing with him that faint, reassuring scent that always put him at ease.

His step-father said, “Baby, do you already recognize a lot of words? Baby is so smart! Daddy hasn’t had the chance to talk to you about today’s events yet. Were you very scared when you were carried away?”

A surge of grievance welled up. Zhuozhuo thought: Yes, I was very scared.

His step-father continued, “Did Auntie Zhang do many terrible things in the past? But Zhuozhuo didn’t tell anyone because he was scared, or because he felt telling wouldn’t help?”

Zhuozhuo thought: Yes. I was really afraid that if I spoke up, it wouldn’t help, and no one would believe me—and then Auntie Zhang would hit me even harder, just like the old step-father used to.

His step-father said very gently, “Zhuozhuo is not a bad kid. Zhuozhuo didn’t cry on purpose, Zhuozhuo didn’t stay silent on purpose, and Zhuozhuo didn’t refuse food on purpose. Zhuozhuo didn’t want to fight against the adults, right?”

Zhuozhuo thought: That’s right. Zhuozhuo… Zhuozhuo is not a bad kid.

He felt like crying again and gave a soft sniffle.

He felt his step-father’s hand gently stroking his hair as he spoke slowly, “There are some bad people in this world, like Auntie Zhang, like today’s thugs, and like—the old step-father. I understand that you’re scared. Daddy gets scared too. Daddy understands.

“But Zhuozhuo, it won’t happen anymore. Because Daddy will protect you and stay by your side. This is a promise I made to you, and I will keep it. You aren’t a bad kid; you’re the best, most wonderful child in the world, a precious gift.

“You were very brave today. You did so well. You revealed Auntie Zhang’s true face to Grandma, and that was amazing. You have to promise me one thing: in the future, if anything happens—if someone bullies you, if you’re unhappy, or if you feel wronged—you must tell me, okay?

“Baby, nothing that happened in the past was your fault. From now on, do whatever you want to do; don’t be afraid. Daddy will always believe in you. Daddy will always be on your side.

“Go to sleep, baby. Sleep. Daddy will stay right here.”

Zhuozhuo thought: I am a tin man, I won’t melt, but I think I’m about to…

Melt.

He fell into a strange, peaceful sleep.

It wasn’t because of drugged food. It wasn’t the fake sleep he had grown used to. It wasn’t the lonely, terrified, hungry huddling with his mangy teddy bear, struggling through nightmares.

None of that.

He was full, warm, and safe.

He had the most beautiful “now,” and the most beautiful dream.

The moment Zhuozhuo fell completely asleep, 419 let off virtual fireworks in Cheng Leyan’s mind: His main quest, “Changing the destiny of the world and the villain Rong Jishi,” was 10% complete.

Zhuozhuo’s fate had already shifted by 10%.

Cheng Leyan was genuinely happy to hear this, not just because of the mission, but for Zhuozhuo himself.

He was changing this child’s life.

He was giving this child a chance at happiness.

In the future, Zhuozhuo would have more.

Everything he had wanted as a child but couldn’t have—toys, delicious food, hugs, companionship, the laughter of an amusement park—he would give it all to Zhuozhuo.

He would make Zhuozhuo very happy.

The reward for the first stage was only ten yuan. 419 sheepishly credited the amount to Cheng Leyan. Cheng Leyan was perfectly content; it was still money. He didn’t despise ten yuan, nor would he find ten thousand too much.

This was cold, hard cash!

The system added: *[There’s one more thing, Host. Because Zhuozhuo’s fate has shifted, the subsequent story has changed. Based on the current situation, the Will of the World has recalculated the fate of the entire world and provided a prediction a glimpse of a potential future for Zhuozhuo.

It’s being given to you as a reward for reference, to help you adjust your future actions.

Cheng Leyan’s eyes lit up: This is great! It’s like a Prophet skill. Very useful!

He quickly tucked Zhuozhuo in, turned off the light, and went back to his room to study this “Guide to the Future.”

The Will of the World provided a passage of text, written in a style very similar to the original Prison of Love.

The text went like this:

When Jiang Weiran regained consciousness, he felt a splitting headache. He tried to reach up to press his temples, only to find his wrists bound tightly by steel shackles.

The smell of tobacco drifted over.

There was someone else in the room.

He lifted his head, peering into the corner, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw someone sitting in the shadows. The man was wearing a suit, legs crossed, with a glowing ember flickering between his fingers.

It was Rong Jishi.

He was smoking a cigar.

He was… he was actually smoking a cigar at a time like this.

“Rong Jishi, are you out of your mind?!” Jiang Weiran roared, struggling violently.

But it was useless. The metal shackles held him fast to the bed.

Rong Jishi watched him struggle, watching him fail to break free.

Finally, the cigar was finished. Rong Jishi stood up, walked over, and looked down at him with cold condescension. After a long pause, he reached out and gripped Jiang Weiran’s chin.

He said, “Ranran, just stay here.”

Jiang Weiran struggled fiercely, letting the skin on his wrists rub raw and bleed. He shouted, “Let me go, let me go! Rong Jishi, you’re a total psycho! I don’t owe you anything, why are you doing this to me?!”

Rong Jishi gave a faint smile. “You don’t owe me, but the world does.

“Ranran, you don’t know in my entire life, almost no one has ever been good to me. You’re practically the second. The first… that first person was very good to me, truly good. He made me realize that I wasn’t wrong, that I wasn’t alone.

“But he died.”

“I still remember something he said,” Rong Jishi said slowly. “I was three years old then. He told me, ‘Do whatever you want to do; don’t be afraid. Daddy will always be on your side.’

Rong Jishi reached out to stroke Jiang Weiran’s hair, his lips curling. “So… that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Cheng Leyan: “…”

A. Bolt. From. The. Blue.

Ah!

AHHHH!

What the hell! WHAT THE HELL!!!

Zhuozhuo, exactly what kind of things have you learned!

You aren’t smoking cigarettes, but now you’re on cigars!

I said so much, and the only thing you remembered was “do whatever you want”?!

Why couldn’t you remember my words of wisdom!

Did the dogs eat “Those who chase money thrive; those who chase love end up with nothing”?!

Besides, when I said “do whatever you want,” I meant facing life with courage, not becoming a criminal!

And “the world owes you,” “I am not wrong” have you been stuck in middle-school edgelord mode forever?!

So now you know how to act cool, you know how to talk tough, and you know how to be a criminal?? Who taught you all this, huh!?

Give me back my soft, sweet, cute toddler and get this greasy pervert out of here!!!

And why did I die young again? Why!?

Do I have to die so young every time!!

I can’t breathe!

Cheng Leyan began to seriously doubt his own educational abilities.

He even started wondering if simply giving a child unconditional love and acceptance wasn’t enough. Did he need to resort to “the rod” for it to be effective?

The system timidly mentioned that its little warehouse did have whips, but they weren’t meant for disciplining children.

Cheng Leyan: I don’t want to know what those things are for.

He had been lying in bed clutching his golden apple yes, the golden apple was now his sleeping companion, but he immediately scrambled up.

In the world of a Top Salesman, there was no such thing as “admitting defeat”!

He refused to believe he couldn’t prevent a kid from becoming a “legal-offender” brat!

And so, he stayed up all night reading various child education books, including Positive Discipline, Berk’s Development Psychology, The Awakened Family, The Irritable Boy, and so on.

The next morning, when Zhuozhuo woke up from his sweet, warm dreams and opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was his step-father—sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes crouched in front of him, staring at him gloomily.

The toddler jumped, blinking his big eyes in a daze, and instinctively grabbed the nearby Pikachu.

Cheng Leyan spoke gently, using his high-pitched baby voice: “Baby, you’re awake. Did baby sleep well? Baby, do you remember what Daddy taught you before?”

Zhuozhuo nodded earnestly. He remembered; Daddy said he wasn’t wrong, told him to be brave, and said to do whatever he wanted without fear. He had remembered it all perfectly.

Cheng Leyan: “Good. That’s right. What Daddy taught you was: ‘Those who chase money thrive; those who chase love end up with nothing.’ Money is the most important thing! Also, Daddy taught you that smoking makes your teeth yellow—and cigars are off-limits too!”

He then pulled up his iPad and showed Zhuozhuo dozens of pictures of the teeth of long-term cigarette and cigar smokers.

The toddler had never seen anything so shocking and scrunched up his little face.

He wasn’t finished. Cheng Leyan continued piously: “Baby, Daddy is going to teach you a new piece of knowledge today: The Law is solemn, sacred, and inviolable. Starting today, Daddy is adding a new course for you, and that is—”

With a loud thud, he pulled out an incredibly thick book from nowhere. Two words were printed on the cover: Criminal Law.

Zhuozhuo: Ah?

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