The Useless Stepmom Brings Her Kids to Reality TV Shows to Photograph Them

105 The Cold Villa Had the Warmth of a Real Home

Lin Wan had read many novels about love after marriage. Even if she had never been in a relationship before, she could understand what Li Yanchen was saying.

Yang Ruoxi had always said that dating should only be given a chance if one really felt for a person and wanted to be with them genuinely, otherwise break-ups would hurt like hell. Lin Wan was scared of getting hurt. If she fell for him, it would probably be difficult for her to be separate from him till death.

“Let’s go home first.” Lin Wan did not want to think further.

At Yun Xi High School, Li Zexuan was studying in his dormitory. After finishing all the homework for this semester, he could have time off for the summer break. He was looking forward to the live broadcast they had in August.

In the inner compartment of his bag was his mother’s ID photo. His eyebrows furrowed as he touched it.

Li Zexin was also buried in the test papers. As the exam approached, he became a frequent guest in the teachers’ office to ask for more practice questions. This was so unexpected that all the teachers were in shock. They wondered if this was just a passing fancy for the troublesome kid, but they were willing to help him learn no matter how long his enthusiasm would last.

At the Mumu Time Café, Luo Xi looked at the group chat as a few people discussed the details of the reunion. They sent a picture of the commemorative album with the words, “Time may pass but the friendship will not fade.”

He felt that it was ironic.

Every day after closing his coffee shop, Luo Xi would always open Lin Wan’s moments, but there was no update.

After a few days of silence, Yang Youyou finally decided to stand up bravely at the class reunion to prove Lin Wan’s innocence and reveal what had happened in the past.

The number of fans in the Sweet Little Circle channel had reached almost a million in half a month. Lin Wan had been praised to the skies and had made it to the hot search many times but no one had been able to dig out her identity.

On the 1st of July, Assistant Qin and Secretary Han set off at the same time to pick up the two young masters from their respective schools.

In the past, Li Zexuan and Li Zexin had never looked forward to going home during the holidays. However, on that day, they packed their bags quickly and waited at the school gate, impatiently.

Lu Wenqian was puzzled to see Li Zexuan in such a hurry to go home. Lu Wenqian and Sun Mingtao got into their father’s car and repeatedly asked Li Zexuan if he wanted a ride home. Li Zexuan refused without hesitation until he saw Assistant Qin at the gate. Li Zexuan finally smiled.

“Young master, isn’t school supposed to be over at 11? It’s only 10:30.” Assistant Qin thought he had misremembered the time.

“Oh, the class matters are all over, so the teacher let us leave school early.” Li Zexuan got into the car.

“So, do you want to go directly home?” asked Assistant Qin.

“Are my dad, Jiejie, and the others at home?” Li Zexuan asked in a low voice.

“Yes. They are all home. But Madam has to go to work in the afternoon.”

“Work? Is it in Chenxin?” Li Zexuan was surprised. Lin Wan was so bad at everything that he could not believe she had a job. His first thought was that Lin Wan was filling up an easy position at his father’s company.

“No. She works at Ms. Xia Mo’s dessert shop. She works every afternoon and sometimes brings a cake when she returns. You will be able to have it tonight, if you’re lucky.” Assistant Qin had tasted the cake once and it had been so delicious that he had wanted to eat it again but Lin Wan rarely brought it home.

Li Zexuan was even more surprised. He knew from the show that Lin Wan and Xia Mo had a good friendship, but she had no need to work.

“Does Mr. Li know?”

“Of course. He picks her up when she gets off work when he is free. If not, I do it.” Assistant Qin saw Li Zexuan’s troubled expression in the rearview mirror.

“And Mr. Li just agreed? Is Ms. Lin not given any money to spend for herself? Does she need to work in a dessert shop?” He used to think that Lin Wan was very lazy and only wanted to spend his father’s money. However, now that he saw that she actually was earning her keep, Li Zexuan felt bad. He didn’t want her to work so hard.

“Young master, don’t you want Madam to earn her own money?” asked Assistant Qin “I think it’s a good idea. That way, your father’s money will only be for you.”

“I didn’t say I wanted my father’s money. Who would want Mr. Li’s money anyway? He is so old. He can keep the money to enjoy his retirement.” Li Zexuan’s first advertisement had already earned him a million dollars. Even before he graduated, he had already received many offers from big companies. His path to stardom was clear and bright, and Li Yanchen did not have to worry about his future at all.

Assistant Qin smiled. “Young master, you and your brothers are good kids.”

At the Royal Water Bay, Auntie Huang was excited that the kids were coming back home so she prepared a lot of their favorite dishes.

Lin Wan always said that with the children coming back, her peaceful days were coming to an end, but secretly, she was looking forward to seeing them again.

She asked Auntie Huang to buy some fresh fruits when she went grocery shopping. She had made some fruit tea early in the morning. Instead of the tea bags she had used in Lan village, she used Biluochun and white Dragon Tea this time. She ground them into fine powder and boiled them to make the tea base. She filled an entire pot of fruit tea.

At Yun Xi Middle School, Li Zexin, who had just finished his exams, rushed back to his dormitory. He got his luggage and ran out to see Secretary Han’s car pulling over.

“Hello, Uncle Han.” Li Zexin’s face was full of smiles. He got into the car in a hurry.

“Good to see you again, young master,” said Secretary Han. “Oh… your friend is calling you.”

Li Zexin rolled down the window of the car and saw his roommates waving at him.

“Why are you running away so fast?” asked chubby Jiang. “We haven’t even decided on a day or a time to meet in the break!”

“I will call you when I get home. We can decide then,” said Li Zexin. “Goodbye!”

Li Zexin’s heart had already flown back home.

Along the way, Li Zexin leaned back in his seat. But when he saw the large sign with the words “Royal Water Bay” flash by, he sat up straight.

“Young master, why are you in such a hurry to get home? You’ve been looking outside the entire time.”

“I know my dad is home. He will leave on a business trip soon and I won’t get to see him again. I also want to get my phone back and text Xiao Yi. I want to tell him I did well in my exams.”

As soon as the car stopped in front of the house, Li Zexin ran back with his bags.

“Dad! Grandma Huang!” Seeing his father and Auntie Huang in the living room, Li Zexin happily greeted them.

“Brother, you’re back! Did you see big brother? He’s not home yet.” Li Zekai put down the remote control and ran to hug Li Zexin.

Li Zexin hugged his little brother and then looked around. “Where is Ms. Lin?”

Lin Wan came out of the kitchen with a pot of fruit tea.

“Ms. Lin, you actually cooked?” Li Zexin walked to her.

“Obviously not,” said Lin Wan and raised her chin.

“Well… that confirms that this is the original Ms. Lin from the Lan Village. I was almost worried that you had turned domestic,” said Li Zexin, reaching out to help her with the teapot. “What is this? I am so thirsty from the drive.”

“Wait for Xuanxuan,” said Lin Wan.

“Who is talking about me behind my back?” said Li Zexuan as he pushed the main door open and walked in.

“Big brother!” Li Zekai ran up to his brother for a hug.

“Everyone’s here! I came back just in time. Li Zexin, have you been infected by Ms. Lin?” said Li Zexuan. “You want to eat everything all by yourself?”

“Can we start eating already?” said Li Zexin.

...

It was so rare to see the Li family this harmonious. Auntie Huang’s eyes were almost tearing up with happiness.

For the first time, the large dining table held all the family together for a meal.

Li Yanchen wanted to sit next to Lin Wan, but Li Zekai and Li Zexin beat him to it. They sat on either side of Lin Wan. Li Zexuan occupied the seat across Lin Wan. Li Yanchen had no choice but to sit next to Assistant Qin.

In the past, whenever they ate, they would be in their own worlds. Nobody would ever speak with each other. However, for the first time in a long time, everyone ate and chatted enthusiastically. Even Secretary Han and Assistant Qin felt more like a part of the family and less like employees at that moment. The cold villa had the warmth of a real home.