Lady of the House

The car wound around for a long while. Cheng Dongsheng seemed to be deliberately taking them in circles. Only after they entered the mountainous area southeast of the city did the route settle down.

After roughly two hours, a cluster of buildings with gray-tiled roofs and white walls suddenly flashed past the car window.

The van went around the main entrance and stopped beside a shaded path on the side.

Only when Li Wei pushed open the door did she notice an inconspicuous wooden gate beside them. It was less than a meter wide, and a bronze carp door knocker hung from its dark-painted door panel.

A short-haired woman in a sky-blue modified Qipao stood before the gate. She had a capable air and a stern expression.

The moment he saw her, Cheng Dongsheng hurriedly got out of the car. He nodded and bowed, took quick little steps forward, and extended his hand. "Oh, how could I trouble Secretary Fan to come in person? What a sin, what a sin."

Secretary Fan gave a reserved nod. Their fingertips touched and withdrew at once.

Then her gaze turned to Li Wei, who had just gotten out of the car. In a voice as clear and cool as a mountain spring, she asked, "Is that her?"

Cheng Dongsheng said, "Yes. Her name is Li Wei, my son's classmate. In every respect, she..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Mr. Cheng, I'll take her inside first. You can go back. Also, Mr. Liang said that he'll invite you to a meal afterward." Secretary Fan's tone was strictly business, without the slightest trace of emotion.

Cheng Dongsheng had been waiting for precisely that last sentence. His face instantly lit up, and he nodded repeatedly before climbing back into the driver's seat with great tact.

But just as he was about to start the engine, Cheng Hao, who had been sprawled in the passenger seat pretending to be dead, suddenly shoved open the door. He stumbled out and blocked Li Wei's path.

Looking at the girl he had admired for three years, Cheng Hao's eyes reddened. Trembling, he said, "C-can you... can you... not... not go?"

When Cheng Dongsheng saw his son like this, his face went white with fright.

From the driver's seat, he could clearly see Secretary Fan's brows draw together, and her gaze sharpen.

This stupid son is going to ruin everything!

Just as Cheng Dongsheng was frantic enough to leap out of the car and cover his son's mouth, Li Wei's actions left everyone stunned.

She pushed Li Cheng forward and stuffed him into Secretary Fan's arms.

The sudden move completely dumbfounded Secretary Fan. Holding the thin, tiny child, the imposing aura she had just gathered vanished in an instant, leaving her momentarily at a loss.

With her hands free, Li Wei finally turned toward Cheng Hao, whose emotions were on the verge of collapse. Looking at his reddened eyes and tearful expression, she felt a rare trace of guilt stir in her heart.

Ah, how did I end up looking like a heartless woman... Though, well, even if it wasn't my intention, I still owe him an apology.

"Brother Cheng..." Li Wei reached out her little hand and patted Cheng Hao on the shoulder like a good buddy. "I'm sorry, Brother Cheng."

"Huh?" Cheng Hao's tears froze in his eyes, leaving him looking slightly comical.

"I definitely have to go..." Li Wei pointed at the wooden gate, her tone calm yet firm. "My little brother only has a few days left to live. This is his last hope."

"Wuu~ No..."

The tears Cheng Hao had held back finally burst their banks. Like a child, his whole body jerked with sobs. He bent over and cried so hard he could not form words.

At that moment, Li Wei suddenly opened her arms and gently drew the still-sobbing Cheng Hao into her embrace.

The movement was somewhat clumsy, more like two brothers hooking their arms around each other's shoulders.

Cheng Hao instantly stiffened. He instinctively straightened, and the faint scent of the girl's body filled his nostrils, resembling bedding warmed beneath the sun.

He could feel the softness pressed tightly against him, but his hands seemed nailed in place, held tensely at his sides.

"You... you..."

"Cheng Hao, thank you. And thank your father too." Li Wei's voice was soft, carrying a sincerity she herself did not notice. "When I was at my most desperate, you two pulled me up and gave me a little hope."

She truly was grateful.

Seeing the foolish boy crying so sadly, she had instinctively wanted to comfort him. It had nothing to do with romantic feelings; it was simply "brotherly loyalty" acting up.

"No... It's not... I..." Cheng Hao stammered incoherently, his mind a blank.

"All right, Cheng Hao." Li Wei continued in that friendly, brotherly tone. "You can hug me, pat my back, or put your arm around my waist. But you're not allowed to touch my chest, and you're not allowed to touch my butt..."

By the end, even Li Wei, who usually had thick skin, felt a little embarrassed.

But she still decided to "give" him something.

That fool had pursued the original owner for three years, yet in the end had not even touched so much as one of her little fingers.

Putting herself in his place, Li Wei thought about it. If she had encountered this sort of situation in her previous life—licking someone to the bitter end and ending up with nothing—she probably would have died of frustration.

After today's parting, there was a high chance they would never meet again. She might as well help him make up for a little of his regret.

Of course, she could only make up for it "a little."

Before transmigrating, she had often bragged to her good-for-nothing friends that if she ever became a woman, she would first let her brothers have a good time.

Unfortunately, her brothers were all on Earth. Here in the High-Martial World, she had never made any such promise.

Little Cheng, this is all your big brother can do for you. Who told you not to be my ironclad brother in my previous life?

"Waaah!"

Who would have thought that after Li Wei's "frank" words left her mouth, Cheng Hao would not feel comforted at all? Instead, he cried even harder.

He suddenly broke free from Li Wei's arms as though he had suffered a tremendous humiliation and grievance. Covering his face, he turned and ran.

A Quasi-Martial Artist was already quite fast. In the blink of an eye, he had vanished at the end of the road.

Cheng Dongsheng froze for a moment, then quickly reacted. He started the engine, shifted gears, and roared after him, cursing as he went. "You little bastard! What a disgrace!"

"Heh, youth..." Secretary Fan murmured, holding Li Cheng. The corners of her lips seemed to suppress a faint, elusive smile.

She said nothing more, nor did she show any intention of returning the child to Li Wei. She turned and pushed open the small gate.

Li Wei shrugged, glad to have it easy. She put both hands into her school-uniform pockets and followed her inside.

They passed through several moon gates and walked along a winding corridor for about ten minutes. Along the way were ornamental rocks, fragrant lotus ponds, and scenery so secluded and elegant it was almost otherworldly.

At last, Secretary Fan stopped outside a waterside pavilion built beside the pond.

She pushed open the pavilion door and stepped aside. When she looked at Li Wei, her attitude was unexpectedly respectful.

"Please go in. I'll look after the child for now. We've already prepared suitable food and toys for him in the side hall, along with professional attendants. You don't need to worry."

Hmm? What's going on? Where did that arrogance this woman showed in front of Cheng Dongsheng go? Why is she suddenly being so polite to me?

Li Wei was puzzled, but now that things had come this far, there was nothing left to hesitate over.

She exchanged a glance with Li Cheng. The little fellow blinked at her, seemingly trying to comfort her.

Li Wei took a deep breath, steadied herself, and walked inside.

The waterside pavilion was spacious inside, with extremely elegant furnishings and arrangements. Every corner exuded understated luxury.

A huge screen painted with ink-wash mountains and rivers stood in the center, separating the inner and outer areas.

By the daylight, she could see two vague figures behind the screen, one man and one woman.

Wasn't the person I was meeting some Mr. Liang? Why is there a woman too?

Li Wei suppressed her doubts. No one needed to urge her on; she walked straight around the screen.

What's there to fear? As long as you can save Li Cheng, whatever line you draw, I'll take it all!

Yet the instant she saw the two people behind the screen clearly, Li Wei still froze involuntarily.

The man in the guest seat looked to be around forty. He was refined and noble, with deep-set eyes. He was probably the Mr. Liang Cheng Dongsheng had mentioned.

But what truly shook Li Wei's heart was the woman sitting in the principal seat.

She had an oval face, petal-shaped lips, brows sharp with spirit, and phoenix eyes filled with authority.

She sat upright in a walnut armchair without a wrinkle out of place, her back straight and her hands folded over her knees.

A pair of translucent jadeite bracelets shone brilliantly around her snow-white wrists, making her appear even more radiant.

She wore a new-Chinese-style long dress with a standing collar, black as its base. Gold thread embroidered curling-branch patterns along the lapels and hem, adding dignity to her beauty.

Judging by her features alone, anyone would believe it if told she was not yet thirty.

But the poise and grace settled into her by the passage of time made her seem like a noblewoman in her forties or fifties who had weathered the storms of life.

Li Wei did not have much literary talent and truly could not think of any ornate words to describe her. If she had to put it one way, then perhaps it was this—the word "Empress" had finally taken on a concrete, vivid image in her mind.

She really had no idea what kind of divine family could raise a beautiful elder sister of this level.

Just as Li Wei was secretly marveling, she saw the beautiful elder sister furrow her brows almost imperceptibly and lightly tap the tea table with her slender jade finger.

The refined, noble middle-aged handsome man immediately bent down and leaned close to listen. His manner was barely any different from Cheng Dongsheng's before Secretary Fan.

The beautiful elder sister spoke without avoiding Li Wei.

Her voice was very distinctive, like sandalwood moistened by the first snow—cool and clear, yet carrying a trace of mellow richness.

"Yuchuan, she's too beautiful. Jiang Xue only has five or six parts of her beauty."

The Liang family, and his name is Yuchuan? And Cheng Dongsheng, that real-estate tycoon, treated him with such respect? Wait, he's... the chairman of the Education Coordination Committee of the Dongming Province Martial Arts Alliance! Compared to my previous life, he's practically the top official of the provincial education bureau! If even he's this obsequious, then who is this beautiful elder sister? The Empress Dowager?

And who is this Jiang Xue they mentioned? They think I'm too beautiful? What does that mean?

Li Wei's mind was filled with questions, but she continued to maintain a proper smile.

Then she saw Liang Yuchuan, one of the leading figures in the Dongming Province martial arts system, smile ingratiatingly and explain:

"Cousin, she's the closest match... I couldn't exactly carry a photograph around and search for her. I could only rely on chance... Besides, Eldest Miss Jiang has been abroad for four years. Girls change as they grow... If we wait any longer, time-wise, I'm afraid..."

The beautiful elder sister fell silent for a moment, as if weighing the matter. In the end, she gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Her gaze returned to Li Wei. After looking her up and down, a trace of astonishment suddenly flashed through her eyes.

She turned to Liang Yuchuan. "Wasn't it said that her qi and blood were only 53? Why do I feel that her muscles and bones are ringing in harmony?"

Liang Yuchuan was a long-renowned sixth-rank martial artist. Upon hearing this, he focused his eyes on her, then froze. "Ah, this..."

This is bad. Spending Stat Points was too satisfying, and now I've exposed myself.

Li Wei's heart gave a thump. She sensed trouble, yet forced an awkward smile onto her face and began spouting nonsense with a perfectly serious expression.

"Have either of you heard of Immortal Emperor Reincarnation?"