Who Wouldn't Want to Be a Wealthy Stepparent? - Chapter 13

The bonus arrived just as Cheng Leyan was walking out of the police station with Zhuozhuo in his arms.

 

After witnessing the mess Auntie Zhang had left behind, both were feeling a bit down. Cheng Leyan was busy thinking of ways to cheer the boy up when he received a WeChat message from Assistant Chen: Madam Zheng had sent him a bonus.

 

Cheng Leyan tried to keep his cool, but he found it physically impossible. Still holding Zhuozhuo, he started jumping up and down, feeling like he could run an 800-meter sprint and knock out 50 push-ups right then and there.

 

A bonus! He had barely started the job, and he already had a bonus!

 

What kind of divine boss was this?!

 

She didn’t nag, she didn’t give useless orders, she provided ample pay and personal space, and she threw money at him the moment something went right!

 

The nursing home fees were 188,000 yuan a month—for eight months, that totaled 1,504,000 yuan! Over 1.5 million!!

 

The boss is magnificent!

 

Is there a better job than this anywhere in the world?!

 

He lifted Zhuozhuo high into the air and said emotionally, “Baby, Daddy is rich again! Come on, let’s go get a feast!!!”

 

The feast turned out to be…

 

Well, Pizza Hut.

 

Zhuozhuo was currently incredibly clingy toward Cheng Leyan, especially when it came to eating. Mostly because watching his step-father eat made everything look so delicious that he felt he could eat a few extra bites himself.

 

You could say the toddler had fallen in love with “mukbang” at a very tender age.

 

While they were eating, Cheng Leyan received a call from the scumbag Xiang Jingzhou.

 

Cheng Leyan spoke to 419 in his mind: What’s the deal? He couldn’t have found out about the 1.5 million and come to ask for money, could he?

 

System: Very likely. Your bank card was still linked to his phone; I just unlinked it for you.

 

Cheng Leyan: Holy crap! Ptooie! Scumbag, back off! My bank account is not a place his filthy hands can touch!!

 

He ignored the call, letting Xiang Jingzhou keep dialing.

 

Far away in a foreign land, Xiang Jingzhou was becoming increasingly irritable and restless.

 

His fundraising negotiations were going terribly; he likely wouldn’t get the new investment, and he was even worrying about how to pay his employees next month. One could say that the 1.5 million in Cheng Leyan’s account was vital to him.

 

But he couldn’t understand why Cheng Leyan wasn’t answering his calls!

 

How did he dare!?

 

The “special” feeling he had felt after their last call was quickly eroding, replaced by frustration and resentment.

 

He called a dozen times until finally, after 9:00 PM, Cheng Leyan picked up: “Hello.”

 

Xiang Jingzhou couldn’t suppress his rage: “Why didn’t you answer?! Do you know how many times I’ve called?”

 

Cheng Leyan didn’t even address it: “Zhuozhuo was almost kidnapped. Rong Wangzhi’s mom nearly screamed me to death.”

 

With that one sentence, all of Xiang Jingzhou’s previous emotions vanished, replaced by tension: “What? How did that happen? When? What about now? Ah! Was that 1.5 million that entered your account meant for the ransom?”

 

Cheng Leyan immediately felt relieved: Xiang Jingzhou clearly knew nothing about the kidnapping.

 

He had harbored some suspicion toward the man, but he dismissed it now.

 

He said, “We got him back. Sigh.” He let out a yawn, sounding like someone who had been busy and exhausted all day.

 

Xiang Jingzhou’s heart settled slightly: “That’s good, that’s good. His mother didn’t make things difficult for you, did she?”

 

Cheng Leyan: “Who knows. She currently suspects I was working with the kidnappers from the inside.”

 

Xiang Jingzhou asked tentatively, “That 1.5 million…”

 

Cheng Leyan said casually, “You want it? I’ll transfer it to you if you do. We can just take this haul and make a run for it. I’ll come find you in Singapore.”

 

Xiang Jingzhou said hurriedly, “No, that won’t do. Yanyan, remember what I told you? We have to look at the long term. You can’t burn bridges with the Rong family yet.

 

“I know you must have been very busy and tired today, which is why you couldn’t answer me. And that 1.5 million—it might even be a test from the old lady. We can’t touch it. You unlinked my phone from the account out of necessity too, right? Yanyan, you’ve been wronged…”

 

He then went on with another long-winded monologue to himself.

 

In the past, when Cheng Leyan acted like a lapdog, he found it annoying. Now that he was the one performing a one-man show, he was enjoying it immensely.

 

Finally, after hanging up, that sense of “lingering interest” washed over Xiang Jingzhou again, even stronger and more distinct this time.

 

He really didn’t want to hang up.

 

He couldn’t say why, but he truly wanted to keep talking like that forever.

 

He had paid far too little attention to Cheng Leyan in the past, and only now did he realize that Cheng Leyan seemed—changed. There were subtle differences from the person he had known for years.

 

And it was precisely these “subtle” differences that made his chest tremble.

 

He felt a sudden, urgent desire to return home and see the current Cheng Leyan.

 

His phone rang suddenly; he glanced at it, and his expression turned impatient again: “Mom.”

 

“What? Cheng Leyan sent recordings to Xiang Jinglin’s school? Well, it was Jinglin’s own fault for having problems in the first place! Who can he blame? He’d better not drag me down.

 

“You want to go to his house and make a scene? Mom, what are you thinking? Cheng Leyan is our family’s God of Wealth right now; your son is relying on him. What good would a scene do? Stop fixating on petty cash.

 

“I’m busy, goodbye.” He hung up.

 

Leaning back in his chair, he thought of the sound of Cheng Leyan’s yawn during the call.

 

It sounded like… a tabby cat he had raised in middle school.

 

---

 

Cheng Leyan couldn’t care less about the scumbag’s psychological shifts. He had used the 1 million yuan check Mrs. Rong gave him to pay off the credit card; this 1.5 million was perfectly timed and made him sleep with a grin on his face.

 

The “Wedding March” in his dreams had turned into a four-way ceremony between him, a golden apple, a check, and his mobile banking app.

 

He was literally laughing in his sleep.

 

Now that he had his bonus, Cheng Leyan took his job even more seriously, throwing himself wholeheartedly into Zhuozhuo’s education. The “Criminal Law” lessons were held regularly.

 

It got to the point where, when Zhuozhuo secretly contacted Gu Qin about it, Gu Qin suggested that perhaps Cheng Leyan’s expectation for Zhuozhuo’s future was…

 

To become a judge.

 

Zhuozhuo had a realization.

 

Step-father wants me to be a judge!

 

In that case, he had to study the Criminal Law well and strive to be an excellent judge in the future!

 

The toddler held deep expectations for this path.

 

Meanwhile, Cheng Leyan began preparing for Rong Wangzhi’s return.

 

He cleared out a suite next to the master bedroom, and various medical equipment began arriving like a flowing river.

 

Once everything was set up, Rong Wangzhi was moved back home from the hospital.

 

Mrs. Rong came along. She had hired two new live-in caregivers specifically for him, so she first took the butler and the caregivers aside for a meeting. Since Auntie Zhang was fired, Mrs. Rong felt her actions couldn’t have been hidden from the entire villa staff without help, so she simply transferred everyone back to the ancestral home. She replaced the entire staff here with new faces and wanted to meet them all at once.

 

In the room, only Cheng Leyan and Zhuozhuo remained. The big one and the little one crowded around the bedside, two pairs of large, dark eyes staring at Rong Wangzhi.

 

Having completed the “Pouty Lips” and “Eyelash Spirit” missions, 250 had accumulated some energy and used it all on Rong Wangzhi’s body. His health was much better; his legs were fuller, and his complexion had improved.

 

Cheng Leyan said joyfully, “Husband, is my ‘luck-bringing’ actually working? Don’t worry, now that you’re living at home, our luck-bringing will definitely be more efficient! I already have a new plan!”

 

Rong Wangzhi’s consciousness woke up with a start the moment he spoke.

 

Losing consciousness felt like imprisonment; being awake felt like freedom. After a few times, Rong Wangzhi began to feel a sense of greed for these rare moments of liberty.

 

So, my wakefulness really is related to Cheng Leyan, Rong Wangzhi thought.

 

Can this man really bring luck?

 

Fine, let’s see what your ‘new plan’ is.

 

The next second, the sound of Buddhist chanting suddenly echoed in the room, accompanied by a rhythmic Thud, Thud, Thud.

 

Cheng Leyan said affectionately, “Husband, do you hear that? I’m tapping an electronic wooden fish for you, accumulating cyber-merit. Tap the electronic fish, tap away the worries and harm! Tap the electronic fish, tap in the joy and the charm!

 

“Don’t you worry, Husband. With the blessing of my electronic wooden fish, I’ll help you meet the Mechanical Buddha and reach Internet Nirvana soon!”

 

He then beckoned the boy: “Come on, Zhuozhuo, you come offer some incense to your dad—wait, I mean, you come tap the wooden fish for your dad too.”

 

Rong Wangzhi: “…”

 

I. Am. Not. Dead. Yet.

 

Every fiber of Rong Wangzhi’s being was screaming in refusal. He couldn’t imagine having to listen to this garbage every time he was awake in the future.

 

But… he was a vegetable. He could only be a passive recipient; he could do nothing.

 

A sliver of irritation blossomed in his mind.

 

At that moment, 250—who knew it was disliked and had been staying as quiet as a mouse let out an excited, high-pitched squeal: [Host! Host!!! Another mission completed! Let me see what it was… Uh, “Your entire body is filled with refusal, but you are powerless to do anything about it and are forced to accept it helplessly.”

 

Crap, this system is getting goosebumps… but whatever! Host, you are a genius at completing missions!!! You’re incredible! You’re the GOAT!

 

The system was jubilant, tossing virtual confetti inside Rong Wangzhi’s brain.

 

Rong Wangzhi’s mind went blank for a moment. Holding onto a final shred of hope, he asked: No weird buffs?

 

System: There is one. The reward is a buff called “Kazilan Big Eyes.” it’ll make your eyes look huge, beautiful, and alluring.

 

Rong Wangzhi actually felt a sense of relief.

 

Good. “Kazilan Big Eyes.” This was fine.

 

He wouldn’t open his eyes. As long as he didn’t open them, the buff effectively didn’t exist.

 

Excellent.

 

He would rather die than open his eyes.

 

Then he heard Cheng Leyan suddenly scream in shock: “Holy crap, what’s happening? What’s wrong with my husband’s eyes… Is someone crazy?! Who put eyeshadow on my husband and gave him eyeliner???”

 

A few seconds later, his shock deepened: “Tear bags! They even drew aegyo-sal tear bags for my husband!!!”

 

Then: “Mom! MOM!! Come quick! Zhuozhuo, go get Grandma!”

 

Rong Wangzhi: “…”

 

As someone whose emotions were usually rock-steady and who was called a “work machine” by his subordinates, he nearly snapped.

 

Rong Wangzhi: [250, right? 250. Fine. I’ll remember you, 250.]

 

His voice became increasingly gentle, which actually made it sound more dangerous.

 

It was a bit terrifying. The system silently curled into a ball.

 

But it still managed to add a tiny whisper: Um, Host, one more thing. This buff has another effect. It will make you… it will make you shed tears. After alleyes that can cry are the most beautiful eyes of all.

 

Rong Wangzhi: What? You said what? 250, say that again?

 

He found out very soon.

 

Because Mrs. Rong had rushed into the room.

 

She stared at the eyeliner, eyeshadow, and tear bags with a head full of question marks, marvelling in wonder. Her first reaction was to take out her phone and snap a photo for the record.

 

Finally, Ms. Zheng said with a motherly smile, “Wangzhi, when you were little, I wanted to put makeup on you and make you wear a dress, but you never let me. Well, well—in the end, you’ve fulfilled your mother’s long-standing wish.”

 

She then grew a bit sentimental: “Sigh, back then you could run and jump, but now…”

 

She felt a pang of sadness, but just then, she saw a single tear slowly, very slowly, roll down from the corner of Rong Wangzhi’s eye.

 

The teardrop was crystal clear and hauntingly beautiful. It slid down his cheek, past his chin, over his collarbone, following a path that practically defied the laws of physics, leaving a faint trail before disappearing into the depths of his clothing.

 

Ms. Zheng’s composure broke instantly: “Son! Why are you crying! Can you hear me? Do you miss me? It must be because you miss me! Waaaah, my son! I miss you too! Waaaah!! I’m right here; cry if you want to! It’s no sin for a man to cry!!”

 

Rong Wangzhi: I’m not! I didn’t!!!

 

I really didn’t!