Noblewoman

The car circled for a long time. It seemed Cheng Dongsheng was deliberately taking detours until they entered the mountainous area southeast of the city, at which point the route stabilized.

About two hours later, a cluster of buildings with blue tiles and white walls suddenly flashed past the car window.

The van detoured around the main entrance and stopped by a tree-lined path on the side.

When Li Wei pushed the door open to get out, she noticed an inconspicuous wooden door next to it, no more than a meter wide. A copper carp-shaped door knocker hung on the dark, aged door panel.

A short-haired woman in a sky-blue, modified qipao stood before the door, exuding a capable aura with a serious expression.

Upon seeing her, Cheng Dongsheng quickly got out of the car, bowed, took small steps, and extended his hand. "Oh my, how could I trouble Secretary Fan to come out here herself? It's a sin, a sin."

Secretary Fan nodded with reserve, their fingertips touching and immediately retracting.

Then, her gaze shifted to Li Wei, who had just alighted. She asked in a voice as clear and crisp as a cold spring, "Is it her?"

Cheng Dongsheng replied, "Yes, her name is Li Wei. She's my son's classmate. In all aspects..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Mr. Cheng, I'll take her in first. You can go back. Also, Mr. Liang said he will invite you to dine afterward." Secretary Fan's tone was businesslike, devoid of any emotion.

Cheng Dongsheng had been waiting for that last sentence. His face lit up instantly, and he nodded repeatedly, showing great awareness as he slipped back into the driver's seat.

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

Looking at the person he had admired for three years, Cheng Hao's eyes reddened, and he stammered, "Can... can you... not... not go?"

Seeing his son in such a state, Cheng Dongsheng's face turned pale with fright.

From his angle in the driver's seat, he could clearly see Secretary Fan frowning and her eyes becoming sharp.

This foolish son was going to ruin everything!

Just as Cheng Dongsheng was desperately thinking of jumping out to cover his son's mouth, Li Wei's action stunned everyone.

She handed Li Cheng out and placed him in Secretary Fan's arms.

This sudden move completely flustered Secretary Fan. Holding the small, thin child, the imposing aura she had just gathered instantly dissipated, and she seemed a bit lost for what to do.

With her hands now free, Li Wei turned to Cheng Hao, who was on the verge of a breakdown. Looking at his red eyes and tearful appearance, she felt a rare pang of guilt.

Ah, why does this make me seem like a scumbag... Even so, even if it's not my intention, I still owe him.

"Brother Cheng..." Li Wei extended her small hand and patted Cheng Hao's shoulder like a good buddy. "I'm sorry."

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

"I definitely have to go..." Li Wei pointed at the wooden door, her tone calm yet firm. "My younger brother doesn't have many days left. This is our last hope."

"Wuwu~ No..."

Cheng Hao's frozen tears finally broke free. Like a child, he sobbed uncontrollably, hunched over, his cries choked.

Just then, Li Wei suddenly opened her arms and gently pulled the still-sobbing Cheng Hao into a hug.

The movement was a bit clumsy, more like friends slinging arms around each other.

Cheng Hao froze instantly, subconsciously straightening up. The scent of laundry dried in the sun, faint and sweet, filled his nostrils.

He could feel the softness pressed against him, but his hands felt nailed in place, nervously clasped at his sides.

"You... you..."

"Cheng Hao, thank you, and thank you to your father," Li Wei's voice was soft, carrying a sincerity she herself didn't realize. "You helped me when I was at my most desperate, giving me a glimmer of hope."

She was truly grateful.

Seeing this silly boy crying so sadly, she instinctively wanted to comfort him. There was no romantic feeling, purely a sense of "brotherly loyalty" at play.

"N-no... that's not it... I..." Cheng Hao stammered, his mind a blank.

"Alright, Cheng Hao," Li Wei continued in that friendly tone. "You can hug me, pat my back, or even put your arm around my waist, but no touching my chest, and no touching my butt..."

As she reached the end, even Li Wei, with her thick skin, felt a bit embarrassed.

But she decided to "make a sacrifice."

This silly boy had pursued the original host for three years and hadn't even touched a little finger by the end.

Li Wei imagined it from his perspective. If she had been in such a situation in her past life, being a simp and getting nothing in the end, she would have been suffocated with resentment to death.

With this parting today, it was highly likely they would never meet again. She might as well help him make up for some regrets.

Of course, it could only be a "slight" compensation.

Although before transmigrating, she had often bragged to her rowdy friends that if she ever became a woman, she'd let her buddies have their fun first.

Unfortunately, her buddies were all on Earth. In this High Martial world, she hadn't made any such promises.

Little Cheng, this is all I can do for you. Who knew you weren't my close buddy from my past life.

"Waaah—!"

Unexpectedly, Li Wei's "frank" words didn't comfort Cheng Hao at all. Instead, he cried even harder.

He abruptly broke free from Li Wei's embrace, as if he had suffered immense humiliation and grievance. Covering his face, he turned and ran.

A Quasi-Martial Artist's speed was already quite fast. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared at the end of the road.

Cheng Dongsheng was stunned for a moment, then reacted, quickly starting the car and shifting gears. He slammed on the accelerator, chasing after them, cursing under his breath, "You brat! What an embarrassment!"

"Heh, youth..." Secretary Fan held Li Cheng, a faint smile seeming to press against the corner of her lips.

She didn't say anything more, nor did she have any intention of returning the child to Li Wei. She turned and pushed open a small door.

Li Wei shrugged, happy to be free. She put her hands in the pockets of her school uniform pants and followed her inside.

After passing through several moon gates and walking along a winding corridor for about ten minutes, they passed by rockeries, strange stones, and fragrant lotus ponds. The environment was exceptionally serene and elegant.

Finally, Secretary Fan stopped outside a waterside pavilion built by the pond.

She pushed open the door to the pavilion, stepped aside, and looked at Li Wei with a surprisingly respectful attitude.

"You may go in. I'll watch the child for now. A suitable meal and toys have already been prepared for him in the side hall, along with professional caregivers. You don't need to worry."

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

Li Wei was puzzled, but things had come to this point, and there was no reason to hesitate.

She met Li Cheng's gaze. The little guy winked at her, as if to comfort her.

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

The interior of the waterside pavilion was spacious, with extremely elegant furnishings and decorations that exuded understated luxury everywhere.

A large screen painted with ink-wash landscapes stood in the center, separating the inside from the outside.

Through the skylight, two figures could be seen behind the screen, one man and one woman, not very clearly.

Didn't they say I was meeting some Mr. Liang? Why is there a woman too?

Li Wei suppressed her doubts and, without needing to be prompted, walked directly around the screen.

What am I afraid of? As long as I can save Li Cheng, you can draw a line, and I'll accept it all!

However, the moment she saw the two people behind the screen, Li Wei couldn't help but freeze.

The man in the guest seat was around forty years old, refined and noble, with deep eyes. He should be the Mr. Liang that Cheng Dongsheng mentioned.

But what truly made Li Wei's heart tremble was the woman sitting in the main seat.

She had an oval face, petal-like lips, sharp eyebrows, and authoritative phoenix eyes.

She sat perfectly upright in a walnut armchair, her back straight, her hands clasped on her knees.

On her fair wrists, a pair of translucent jade bangles shone brilliantly, making her appear even more radiant.

Her new Chinese-style long dress had a black base, with gold thread embroidery of scrolling vines on the collar and hem, exuding both beauty and dignity.

Judging by her appearance alone, anyone would believe she was not yet thirty years old.

Yet, the demeanor and grace that time had settled upon her made her seem like a noblewoman in her late forties or fifties who had experienced the vicissitudes of life.

Li Wei's vocabulary was limited, and she couldn't think of any flowery words to describe her. If she had to say something, perhaps the word "Empress" finally had a concrete, vivid reference image in her mind.

She wondered what kind of divine family could raise such a beautiful elder sister.

Just as Li Wei was secretly marveling, she saw the beautiful elder sister subtly frown, her slender jade fingers tapping lightly on the tea table.

The refined and noble middle-aged handsome man immediately bowed and leaned in to whisper in her ear. His posture was not much different from how Cheng Dongsheng met Secretary Fan.

Then, the beautiful elder sister spoke, not bothering to avoid Li Wei.

Her voice was very unique, like sandalwood soaked in the first snow, cool and clear with a hint of mellowness.

"Yuchuan, she's too beautiful. Jiang Xue is only sixty to seventy percent as pretty as her."

His surname is Liang, and his name is Yuchuan? And he has Cheng Dongsheng, this real estate mogul, being so respectful? Wait, he's... the Chairman of the Education Coordination Committee of the Eastern Dongming Province Martial Arts Alliance! Analogous to my previous life, he's practically the head of the provincial education department! If he's this subservient, then who is this beautiful elder sister? The Empress Dowager?

Also, who is this Jiang Xue they're talking about? And they think I'm too pretty? What do they mean?

Li Wei was full of questions, but she maintained a proper smile on her face.

Then, she saw Liang Yuchuan, who ranked among the top figures in the Dongming Province Martial Arts system, smile obsequiously and explain, "Cousin, she's the most similar one... I can't just go around looking for photos, I have to rely on chance... Besides, the Eldest Miss Jiang has been abroad for four years. Girls change a lot when they grow up... If we wait any longer, time might..."

The beautiful elder sister remained silent for a moment, as if weighing the options. Finally, she nodded almost imperceptibly.

Her gaze returned to Li Wei, appraising her from head to toe. A flicker of astonishment suddenly flashed in her eyes.

She turned to look at Liang Yuchuan, "Didn't you say her Vitality was only 53? Why do I feel like her Muscles and Bones are Ringing in Harmony?"

Liang Yuchuan, a renowned sixth-stage Martial Artist, looked closely upon hearing this and was immediately stunned, "Ah, this?"

It's bad, I overdid it with the Stat Points and exposed myself.

Li Wei's heart skipped a beat. She knew it was bad, but she forced a slightly awkward smile and said earnestly, making up a story, "You two, have you ever heard of Immortal Emperor Reincarnation?"