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

Chapter 241: Lying And Running Back Home

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Even though Auntie Huang tried to console Li Yanchen by telling him that his children just didn’t know how to express themselves but loved him all the same. But the truth was that the children never asked about him when he wasn’t at home.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell him. I was just asking,” said Li Zexin.

“Ms. Lin, Preserved Egg and the others are coming here again tomorrow. I tried my best to refuse, but they keep pestering me,” said Li Zexin while chewing his food. “They are as annoying as flies, whining in my ears. So, in the end, I had no choice but to accept.”

“Madam, Xuanxuan is also coming home tomorrow. He called last night. He said he would be here for dinner. He asked me if I could make him pig trotters, too,” said Auntie Huang.

“What? Why is my brother coming here? Isn’t he supposed to be in boarding school?” said Li Zexin.

“He is working very hard,” said Auntie Huang with a smile. “He is coming to get some study materials.”

Li Zexin scowled. He smelled a conspiracy. His brother hadn’t moved his stuff into this house. His room was empty. His desk was cleaner than his face.

“Grandma Huang, please don’t make excuses for him,” said Li Zexin. “He just can’t bear the fact that Ms. Lin is nice to me, and she is helping me study. He has to come up with a way to interrupt every time!”

It had been less than a month since school started, and Li Zexuan had already visited several times to either get his blanket or his clothes. Li Zexin knew those were all excuses.

It was true. Li Zexuan had never visited home this often when they were at the Royal Water Bay. Who wouldn’t doubt him?

Lin Wan knew that, of course. She picked up a piece of meat and placed it in Li Zexin’s bowl. “Even Preserved Egg and the others feel like coming here for homemade food. Maybe Li Zexuan misses the food at home too, right?”

“Well… if he does, he can just say it honestly. Why does he have to make excuses?” said Li Zexin. “My brother has so many fans who love him, and still, he competes for love at home. Jiejie is better. He is obedient and does his own thing. He doesn’t lie every time.”

Lin Wan flicked her second stepson’s forehead. “It’s not like I will be only nicer to one of you who is home the most. I care for you all the same amount, alright? Hurry and finish your food. We will have to go through the chapter on vocabulary today.”

“Xinxin, don’t be so upset. Madam treats you better than anyone else. Every night, she tells me what groceries to buy, so that you can have a healthy and balanced meal the next day.”

Lin Wan glanced at Auntie Huang.

“But don’t mention that in front of Jiejie and Xuanxuan,” said Auntie Huang hurriedly. “If they find out, it will make things difficult for Madam. It’s hard to be her.”

Although Auntie Huang took care of all the children in the same way, she was also a little bit partial toward Li Zexin from the time he was very young.

Li Zexin’s scowling face relaxed into a smile as he looked at Lin Wan. “Really? I will not mention it. In fact, I didn’t even hear you, Grandma Huang! Let’s eat. We have a lot to study today!”

“Oh… I brought this, ” said Li Zexin as he took out a few crumpled 100-yuan notes from his pocket.

Lin Wan was speechless. So was Auntie Huang. “Grandma Huang, you can buy groceries with this. Preserved Egg and the others were embarrassed that they ate a lot last time. They pitched in and contributed a bit of money to give back for the food. They asked me to give them to you.” Li Zexin spread out the notes one by one.

“There is no need for that,” said Auntie Huang. “Sir always gives me money for the groceries.” She pushed the money aside.

“Your friends only came once for a meal and you took their money?” said Lin Wan

“They insisted. I didn’t even ask for it. They didn’t want to eat for free,” said Li Zexin. “Blood brothers should have clear accounts.”

Li Yanchen had taught him that.

The Li family wasn’t short of money. Every month, Li Zexin would take lots of

snacks for his friend. Once he had brought home four packets of the same snack. Li Yanchen had asked him why he was bringing snacks back every time. Li Zexin had told him that he got it from his friends.

“You know, you should never take advantage of others, and never let others take advantage of you. You have to return the favor, too. No matter how okay they are with this, it’s not good to keep taking stuff for free from others.” Li Yanchen had taught him that on that fateful day.

Lin Wan was convinced by Li Zexin’s explanation. Even in her own world, she and Yang Ruoxi had taken turns paying for meals when they ate together.

“Auntie, please accept it,” Lin Wan said.

Auntie Huang still felt reluctant. The Li family’s monthly expense for food was always kept in a wooden box for her to use. That was more than enough. “Grandma, you can calculate it. If it is not enough, I will tell them.”

“That is more than enough. How much can a child eat anyvvay? I will put this in the wooden box,” said Auntie Huang as she accepted the money.

After English class, Li Zexin happily went back to school. Preserved Egg and others were waiting for him at the school gates.

The moment they saw him, they rushed with their questions.

“So, can we go with you tomorrow?”

Li Zexin pretended to be sad. He sighed. “My brother is also coming tomorrow.

There will be too many people at home. Grandma Huang will be too busy. Maybe next time…”

The smile on their faces froze. “Well… we can just eat porridge, I guess.”

Li Zexin smiled radiantly. “I am just teasing you. You can come tomorrow!” They all laughed happily.

Preserved Egg put his arm around Li Zexin’s neck. “Will you die if you don’t crack a joke for once? You scared us.”

Big Mouth and Chubby Jiang joined in. They all carried Li Zexin back to their dorm.

At Yun Xi High School, Li Zexuan walked to the wisteria flower rack. He told himself that he was just going there for a quiet self-study session, but he couldn’t help looking around for Xie Wanyu.

He didn’t see her. He was a little disappointed. He lowered his head in sadness and returned to his dorm. Sun Mingtao hadn’t followed him around today.

Li Zexuan sat down at his desk, his head hung low. He was very confused with the way he felt. ‘Is this what Sun Mingtao meant?’ he wondered.

Li Zexuan made sure to stay away from Lu Wenqian as much as he could. He never mingled with her or her female friends. He was always annoyed by her. Sun Mingtao always said he was being too cold and aloof.

Li Zexuan always retorted by saying that he just wanted to study hard and not get distracted. Sun Mingtao had once looked at him and told him that when he found a person he liked, he would break all his principles without even knowing.

Li Zexuan wondered now whether this was what he meant. He kept wanting to see Xie Wanyu. He wanted to ask Sun Mingtao why he was feeling this way, but he didn’t dare do it.

In the girls’ dormitory, after an evening of self-study sessions, Xie Wanyu and

Luan Rongrong took turns showering. They then continued with their revision.

They turned their lights off at ten and got into their respective beds. Rongrong talked to Xie Wanyu in hushed tones.

“Wanyu, I want to tell you a secret,” she said.

Xie Wanyu stared at the dark ceiling above. “Yes?”

“I like senior Wu Yan,” said Rongrong. “He is in Year 3. He is so smart. I think he is already guaranteed a place in some university. I don’t feel like I am good enough for him. Do you think I should confess to him before he graduates and leaves? Otherwise, he might not even know I exist..”