Volume One, Chapter 18: Not the Lady of the House, Yet Better Than One

After a short while, Cheng Yan came downstairs carrying bags filled with gifts.

Xia Mengjiao was taken aback and immediately stood up to greet her. “Miss Cheng, what brings you here?”

Cheng Yan smiled warmly. “Grandmother asked me to come over for dinner. Mengjiao, could you please have some staff help carry these? I bought quite a lot.”

Xia Mengjiao promptly arranged for some people to come and help with the load.

She stole a glance at Cheng Qian, who was sitting not far away, and felt a sudden unease.

Recently, Cheng Yan’s visits to the Li family had become more frequent. Moreover, the Li family had just invested ten billion yuan into the Cheng family. Now, Cheng Yan was using work as a pretext to maintain close contact with Li Zhinan.

A shiver ran through Xia Mengjiao’s heart; she sensed that something was amiss.

“Mengjiao, my car is blocking the way. Could you have someone move it outside for me?” Cheng Yan asked with a sweet smile.

Xia Mengjiao came back to her senses, thinking, what right do you have to order me around?

Yet, before she could refuse, a set of car keys was placed firmly in her hand.

Cheng Yan left no room for refusal.

Though anger welled up inside her—after all, even Cheng Qian, her sister-in-law, had never dared to boss her around like this—Xia Mengjiao still had the car moved outside the gate.

Cheng Yan first went upstairs to greet the matriarch, then came back down.

She greeted several familiar faces in a poised and gracious manner, earning much goodwill.

Finally, she pulled over a chair and sat beside Li Zhinan, watching him play cards.

Li Zhinan, feeling a bit annoyed with the game, offered her his seat. “You play for me.”

“Zhinan, I’m no good at cards,” Cheng Yan said modestly, but in truth, as a science prodigy, counting cards was her strong suit.

“I’m going to have a smoke,” Li Zhinan said.

Cheng Yan immediately took the seat, smiling meekly at the uncles and elders. “I’ll give it a try, please go easy on me.”

Li Zhinan lost a few rounds due to distraction.

Once Cheng Yan took over, she swiftly turned the tide, winning back the lost games.

Cheng Qian sat at the balcony, watching her son play with older children.

Occasionally, she glanced back to see Cheng Yan occupying the seat Li Zhinan had just vacated, deeply engaged in the card game.

Nearby, Li Zhinan leaned against the wall, cigarette in hand, watching his son play soccer. The little boy ran gleefully, while the older kids were polite and accommodating.

Li Zhinan’s gaze drifted from his son to Cheng Qian.

Dressed in a white coat with her long hair cascading behind her, Cheng Qian had an aura of purity, like fresh snow.

Irritation slowly crept into Li Zhinan’s heart. He stubbed out his cigarette and returned to the card table.

Cheng Yan noticed his return and rose to leave, but he pressed her back into her seat with one hand. “Keep playing.”

“I’m running out of beginner’s luck. Zhinan, why don’t you teach me?” Cheng Yan continued to feign weakness, her enchanting eyes shimmering with a captivating allure.

“Alright,” Li Zhinan said, sitting beside her to look at her cards.

Cheng Yan’s heart fluttered with delight. Her coquettish glance inadvertently swept toward the balcony.

She knew Cheng Qian must be jealous.

Li Zhinan sat by her side like her guardian and strategist, helping her dominate the game. When they won, Cheng Yan’s laughter was bright, her eyes often darting to Li Zhinan.

His expression remained calm and composed.

Xia Mengjiao, holding a child now, sat on Cheng Qian’s lap, nursing the baby while speaking. “Sister-in-law, why don’t you go play cards with brother? I remember you used to be quite good.”

Cheng Qian smiled faintly. “I don’t feel like playing anymore.”

“Oh? If you don’t play, Miss Cheng will be all the more enthusiastic,” Xia Mengjiao said, still simmering with anger over Cheng Yan’s earlier command to move the car.

In this family, only those with higher status than her could boss her around.

Not even her husband, Li Zhishi, had that privilege.

Yet, an outsider dared to disregard her entirely.

Cheng Qian glanced back just in time to see Cheng Yan smiling sweetly at Li Zhinan after winning a hand.

Li Zhinan returned her smile with gentle fondness, speaking to her as if doting on a beloved.

“A fox has snared our Li family,” Xia Mengjiao blurted out, unable to contain herself.

Cheng Qian looked at her in surprise. Why was Xia Mengjiao reacting more strongly than she was?

Oh, she’d heard that married women detested anyone who tried to come between them.

“Sister-in-law, why don’t you play? Don’t give the chance to an outsider,” Xia Mengjiao urged kindly.

“I don’t want to,” Cheng Qian replied calmly.

“But…” Xia Mengjiao grew more anxious.

At that moment, Cheng Yan stood up to draw cards but stumbled in her high heels and fell into Li Zhinan’s lap, letting out a delicate cry.

Cheng Yan immediately blushed deeply and stood awkwardly, while the men around exchanged knowing looks.

Li Zhinan glanced toward the balcony with what seemed like both intent and indifference.

The figure in white didn’t even turn her head.

Xia Mengjiao busied herself with dinner preparations. Cheng Qian offered to help.

Xia Mengjiao stopped her firmly. “Sister-in-law, why don’t you check if brother needs anything? I don’t need help here.”

Cheng Qian was stunned. Today, Xia Mengjiao seemed different.

Though she couldn’t contribute much, Cheng Qian stood and headed toward Li Zhinan.

Li Zhinan’s peripheral vision caught sight of the tall figure in white, his expression tightening.

“Go watch Xiaoye. I’ll help prepare dinner,” Cheng Qian said.

Li Zhinan thought she had something important to say but realized she just wanted him to look after their son.

“Zhinan, let me go. I’m a bit tired of sitting, and Xiaoye likes me,” Cheng Yan immediately got up.

“No need,” Cheng Qian’s voice turned cold. “A child belongs to his parents.”

Her blunt words left no room for misunderstanding. The onlookers sensed the tension, some even enjoying the drama.

Cheng Yan had been having fun moments ago, but Cheng Qian’s comment had slapped her face, leaving her feeling innocent yet wronged.

“Zhinan, you take care of Xiaoye,” Cheng Yan said with a knowing smile.

“Alright,” Li Zhinan stood and headed out.

Cheng Qian turned toward the kitchen to help.

Cheng Yan resumed playing cards as if nothing had happened.

Dinner was ready, and the matriarch came downstairs with several elders.

“Grandmother, you must be tired. Let me massage your shoulders,” Cheng Yan approached immediately.

Without hesitation, she sat behind the old lady and began to massage her muscles with techniques passed down from her ancestors.

The matriarch was delighted; after sitting for the whole afternoon, her old bones truly needed relief.

Cheng Yan’s sincere attitude and skillful hands made the matriarch compare her to Cheng Qian, who was stiff and awkward by contrast.

Everyone realized Cheng Qian couldn’t even compare to one finger of Cheng Yan.

The other elder ladies nearby looked on with envy. The matriarch chuckled proudly and ordered Cheng Yan, “Go, massage the other grandmothers. They’ll be your potential clients.”

Cheng Yan happily went to help, gaining even more favor.

Cheng Qian was in the kitchen slicing fruit under Xia Mengjiao’s direction.

Lost in thought, Cheng Qian accidentally cut her finger, causing it to bleed.

She cried out in pain.

Xia Mengjiao immediately noticed and said, “Sister-in-law, stop. These rough tasks aren’t for you.”

“I’m sorry. I just made things worse,” Cheng Qian felt guilty.

“It’s okay. You don’t do this often. Go get the first aid kit and bandage it,” Xia Mengjiao said, accompanying her out.

Xia Mengjiao went straight to Li Zhinan. “Brother, sister-in-law cut her finger. Please get the first aid kit and disinfectant.”

Li Zhinan was briefly surprised but stood up right away.

Cheng Qian went upstairs. “No need. I know where the first aid kit is. I can handle it myself.”

“Brother, it’s her right hand... Even if she knows, she can’t properly treat it,” Xia Mengjiao added quickly.

Li Zhinan picked up their tired son and followed her upstairs with heavy steps.

Cheng Yan, busy by the sofa, noticed this and pursed her lips coldly.

For such a small skill, Cheng Qian had already started playing these games—how shameless.

Upstairs, in the storage room, Cheng Qian found the first aid kit.

She first cleaned the wound, then disinfected it carefully.

“Mommy’s finger is bleeding,” Xiaoye saw and hurried over, grabbing her mother’s finger, blowing gently, “Mommy, it doesn’t hurt.”

Cheng Qian’s face softened as she looked at her son’s concern.

“Thank you, Xiaoye. Mommy doesn’t hurt anymore.”

The little boy smiled happily.

“I’ll help you bandage it,” Li Zhinan crouched down, reaching for gauze.

“No need. I’ll just use a band-aid,” Cheng Qian quickly applied it.

Then she stood up, tidied the first aid kit, and prepared to take their son downstairs.

But in the hallway, a large hand blocked her path.

“So many guests today, why are you throwing a tantrum? Want to make a fool of yourself in front of outsiders?” Li Zhinan’s tall figure loomed, his voice cold and menacing.

Cheng Qian adjusted the hair by her ear and sneered. “Only those with guilty consciences think others are a joke.”

Li Zhinan frowned. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

“I have nothing to say,” Cheng Qian replied and tried to push past him.

Li Zhinan grabbed her shoulders, pinning her against the wall.

Just then, he felt a kick to his shin.

“Don’t bully my mom! Let her go!”

The two-and-a-half-year-old boy’s spirit rivaled Li Zhinan’s.

After kicking him, the little boy planted his hands on his hips, his big dark eyes glaring fiercely. “Let go of my mom.”