Who Wouldn't Want to Be a Wealthy Stepparent? - Chapter 8

Cheng Leyan’s toes curled so hard he wanted to dig a hole and bury himself right there. 419, I really believed your nonsense!

419 felt very wronged: it was an R18 system, after all. Its little warehouse only contained these kinds of things…

Besides, this thing was quite effective. It was incredibly hard, indestructible, and practically as tough as a diamond. It was perfect for the task.

It was just that the shape was a bit…

Well.

But now was not the time to dwell on that.

Cheng Leyan asked: Where is Zhuozhuo now?

419: The GPS is moving. I’ll navigate, you follow. Quick, quick, quick, Host!

Since Cheng Leyan’s actions were so shocking, someone nearby started screaming. Cheng Leyan said rapidly, “My son has been kidnapped by thugs! That’s why I did that—I wanted to close the mall doors. Please help me explain to the police; I’m going after the child. I’ll pay for all the damages!”

With that, clutching the unidentified object, he ran gallantly in the direction indicated.

Zhuozhuo, wait for me! he shouted in his heart.

Zhuozhuo felt exhausted.

A few minutes ago, he had been following his step-father like a little tail, curiously watching the crowds in the mall. Then, his step-father had let go of his hand to help a pregnant woman.

He had stood obediently to the side to wait, but suddenly he was scooped up. Two arms clamped tightly around his legs, and someone else grabbed his hands to stop him from moving.

The strength was too much. Zhuozhuo was only three years old, after all; he couldn’t break free. He struggled with all his might, but it was useless—his strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

He wanted to scream, to cry “Help,” to shout “Cheng Leyan,” to yell “I don’t know you,” but.

He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t make a single sound.

The silent screams gathered in his chest but couldn’t pass his lips.

His heart was filled with pure terror: Who was grabbing him? What did they want? Was it… someone his step-father hired?

Just as Brother Gu Qin had said did his step-father think he was a burden, didn’t want him anymore, and wanted to sell him?

Where would they take him? Would he ever see his Daddy or Grandma again?

What would they do to him? Would they hit him? Would they break his legs and make him beg on the street like in the short videos Auntie Zhang showed him? Would he… die?

His heart sank further and further.

He watched as the kidnapper carrying him rushed toward a side exit of the mall. A motorcycle was waiting outside; the rider had already started the engine and was glancing back at them frequently.

Zhuozhuo knew that bike was meant for him.

Once they were out that door, everything would be over.

He used every ounce of strength to struggle, but as the distance to the door shortened, he sank deeper into despair…

However, just as despair was about to swallow him whole, the “closing doors” alarm suddenly rang throughout the mall. The glass doors locked instantly, and a rolling shutter door dropped down behind them.

They were trapped inside, separated from the motorcyclist outside.

It felt like they were a wall away from a different future.

In this moment, fate took a different turn.

The surrounding customers were whispering and pointing. One kidnapper rushed up to push the door, shaking it a few times. Realizing they couldn’t get out quickly, the two of them carried Zhuozhuo back into the mall.

The crowds were everywhere, chaotic and messy. The two kidnappers eventually ducked into a restroom with Zhuozhuo, hoping to escape through a window.

But the window was locked. As they were trying to force it open, Zhuozhuo suddenly heard a loud BANG.

Someone had kicked open the restroom door.

A person burst in against the light, looking as if they were surrounded by a halo.

In his hand, he swung a strange yet exceptionally majestic object.

The silhouette was very familiar—it was his step-father!

The object his step-father was swinging looked like a great treasure sword!

The two kidnappers were shouting, “Stay back or we’ll kill the kid!” but his step-father acted as if he hadn’t heard. He swung that “great sword” and smashed it down hard.

Zhuozhuo instinctively closed his eyes.

The next second, the hands gripping him let go. Zhuozhuo fell, landing in a warm embrace.

His nose was filled with a familiar, pleasant scent.

He opened his eyes and saw his step-father.

His step-father held him with one arm and the “great sword” in the other, mercilessly thumping the two kidnappers until they lay motionless on the floor.

Only then did his step-father breathe a sigh of relief, pressing the boy tightly against his chest: “Zhuozhuo, don’t be scared. It’s okay. Baby is fine now. Daddy came to save you. Daddy got you out. It’s over, you’re safe. Don’t be scared, Daddy will protect you.”

You’re okay.

You’re safe.

Daddy will protect you.

Zhuozhuo was cradled in those arms, firmly held and surrounded by warmth.

It took the toddler another ten seconds to fully process everything. Buried in Cheng Leyan’s chest, he began to cry silently.

Outside, the police arrived.

Mrs. Rong never expected the day would come when she had to bail someone out of the station.

Especially not her so-called “son-in-law.”

In the past, she wouldn’t have cared if Cheng Leyan lived or died, but this time, she walked out of an important meeting.

Then, in a small room at the police station, she saw Zhuozhuo. The toddler was curled up in Cheng Leyan’s lap, his eyes swollen from crying, occasionally sobbing as if he were completely traumatized. Mrs. Rong couldn’t hold it back anymore; tears began to flow instantly.

Cheng Leyan handed her a tissue. “Mom, Zhuozhuo is fine. I’ve checked him. Do you want to hold him?”

Mrs. Rong shook her head, wiped her nose, and said in a muffled voice, “My birth chart clashes with Zhuozhuo’s; holding him isn’t good for him.”

Finally, she looked at Cheng Leyan and asked somewhat awkwardly, “Are… are you okay too?”

Cheng Leyan said, “Don’t worry, Mom, I’m fine. I used to practice golf; the ones in trouble aren’t me.”

Actually, he had worked part-time at a golf course. Thinking back, he felt that the “Flying Giant D*ck” was actually quite handy for hitting people; it had a lot of stopping power.

Mrs. Rong wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and managed to restore her usual dignified image. “I know everything. I’ve brought a legal team; they are meeting with the police and the mall. I will cover all the damages. Don’t worry, it’s not a big problem.”

“You did it to protect Zhuozhuo. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Cheng Leyan’s eyes curved. “Thanks, Mom. I knew you wouldn’t leave me hanging.”

Sweet talker, Mrs. Rong thought, but Cheng Leyan’s eyes were as bright as stars, his pupils clean and incredibly clear.

Zhuozhuo was huddled in his lap, clutching Cheng Leyan’s clothes, clearly very dependent on him.

Cheng Leyan held the toddler firmly, as if he could help him resist the whole world.

This scene left a deep impression on Mrs. Rong.

She thought absently: Regardless of anything else, when it comes to Zhuozhuo, Cheng Leyan is a good person. He saved him.

Why did I hate him so much before?

Why did I suspect he was bad, suspect he was abusing Zhuozhuo, and send Butler Li?

Why did I think he was crazy?

A minute later, two police officers entered, carrying an evidence bag. Inside was a rubber version of the Flying Giant Dck very large, very “flying,” and very much a dck.

The officers asked with an awkward yet professional expression, “Just to confirm, Mr. Cheng, you’re saying you used this… object to smash the mall’s glass door and knock out two suspects?”

Cheng Leyan: “Yes, that’s the one, exactly!”

Mrs. Rong: “…”

Cheng Leyan, are you actually insane?

What on earth is that!!! My eyes are burning! Why would you carry such a thing with you!!!

And cover Zhuozhuo’s eyes!

Don’t let him see that!

PLEASE!!!

The two officers glanced at each other. One asked, almost jokingly, “For real? Just with this thing? Mr. Cheng, how did you manage that?”

Mainly, they had checked it—it was just an ordinary rubber product. Very ordinary. It didn’t have the capacity to shatter glass doors. But the surveillance and witnesses confirmed that Cheng Leyan was indeed swinging this object.

They didn’t know that Cheng Leyan had used 419 to perform a switch. The indestructible “Flying Giant D*ck” was back in the system warehouse; this was just a regular version.

The system’s original words were: If they don’t ask, don’t say. If they do ask, look surprised.

Now that he was asked, Cheng Leyan put on a look of shock: “I don’t know either; I’m stunned myself. I guess… it was just a miracle of brute force. The situation was so urgent, and for my son’s sake, I had an unprecedented burst of energy. Honestly, I didn’t know my potential was this great. Maybe this is the power of paternal love!”

He began to talk nonsense with a straight face.

Mrs. Rong’s mouth twitched, and the police didn’t believe a word of it, but Zhuozhuo, cradled in his arms, took the words to heart, and his nose felt tingly again.

Step-father… Step-father called me ‘son.’ Step-father had a burst of energy for me.

So this is the power of paternal love.

The officer asked again, “What were you doing carrying this thing around?”

Cheng Leyan said casually, “I feel I can’t just rely on family money, so I wanted to start a business maybe an adult novelty shop or something. This is a sample from our store.”

Mrs. Rong: …What kind of business is that?

Officer: “Where did you buy it? Do you have a link?”

Cheng Leyan: “Bought it from a street stall with cash. I can’t find the vendor now.”

The police were very suspicious of this “murder weapon,” but since the chain of evidence was complete, they couldn’t do much. It was impossible to use torture to get a confession. They were just having a headache about how to write the report.

They added: “Mr. Cheng, those two suspects have multiple skull fractures and are receiving treatment in the hospital. Since your child was being kidnapped at the time, we have preliminarily determined that your actions qualify as ‘justifiable self-defense.'”

Mrs. Rong asked urgently, “Those two with the fractures—who are they? Why did they kidnap our Zhuozhuo?”

The officer explained, “Those two are currently unconscious. Through their phones, we’ve caught two other suspects. One was on a motorcycle at the mall exit, and another was waiting a kilometer away in a large van for the transfer. The pregnant woman Mr. Cheng helped is fine; she really did just fall.

“This was an organized kidnapping. The two suspects we caught have confessed that they were hired; someone paid 200,000 yuan for them to carry out the kidnapping. But the specific communication with the employer was handled by one of the unconscious kidnappers. They don’t know the details, let alone who hired them.”

The other officer asked, “We are looking for more leads. We also wanted to ask you both—do you have any suspects? For example, someone with conflicting interests, or someone familiar with your daily life? Mr. Cheng, those kidnappers seemed certain that you would be bringing the child to this mall today.”

Mrs. Rong frowned, muttering to herself, “There are many people with conflicting interests, and even more who are after money. But actually, not many people know about Zhuozhuo. Besides Cheng Leyan, why are you looking at me? What do you want to say?”

Cheng Leyan: “I do have something to say.”

With that, he leaned in closer, looking very mysterious.

Mrs. Rong felt it was bizarre, but she leaned in to listen anyway. She heard Cheng Leyan whisper darkly in her ear: “There’s a mole! Abort the trade!”

Mrs. Rong: …Why do I really want to hit him?

But on second thought…

Ah.

A mole.

After finishing his sentence, Cheng Leyan looked back at the police: “Officer, the surveillance video of my son being kidnapped today—could you show it to my mom?”

The police then showed Mrs. Rong a clip of the mall surveillance. The distance was a bit far, and the quality wasn’t great, but the process of Zhuozhuo being carried away was clear.

Mrs. Rong was heartbroken seeing Zhuozhuo struggle. Cheng Leyan said, “Mom, look. Those two kidnappers were pinning Zhuozhuo’s hands and legs to stop him from struggling, but surprisingly, no one covered his mouth. That’s actually not normal—unless they knew Zhuozhuo couldn’t talk and wouldn’t call for help.”

Mrs. Rong suddenly stiffened.

Zhuozhuo’s status was special; he wasn’t Rong Wangzhi’s biological son. Coupled with his young age, the Rong family hadn’t hidden him away, but they had never taken him to any public events.

Not to mention the fact that Zhuozhuo never spoke. Very few people knew about that.

It was—it was someone close to Zhuozhuo.

Mrs. Rong’s face went pale. “Could it… could it be… him!?”

Cheng Leyan slapped the table: “Mom, you finally thought of it! It’s her!”

Mrs. Rong murmured to herself, “Was it really Butler Li? This happened only a week after he was transferred to your place… Was it really him? How could it be him!? Butler Li clearly looked like such an honest, reliable man…”

Cheng Leyan nearly fainted: “Yeah, I’d like to know how someone as honest as Butler Li would betray the revolution—it couldn’t possibly be him, okay!”

He said directly, “Mom, have you never suspected Auntie Zhang? I feel like she’s practically a ‘hard-jumping’ werewolf!”

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