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

Chapter 324: He’s Not My Father!

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“I… don’t want him to come back to our lives,” said Xie Wanyu. “It wasn’t easy for Grandma and me to build a life. We never got any peace because of him!” Luan Rongrong hugged Xie Wanyu.

“Grandma told me that a good person takes accountability for their mistakes and works to be better. No matter how old I get, I don’t have to be afraid to share whatever I do with her. She’ll always understand and forgive me even if no one else can, ” said Luan Rongrong. “By that logic, our parents might have made a mistake in their lives too. Shouldn’t we give them a chance if they want to change?

Xie Wanyu envied Luan Rongrong for having such an optimistic grandmother, but she wasn’t like her. Her whole life had been one nightmare after another. She just wanted to study hard and become someone successful in her life so that she could leave everything behind and start over. It was hard to step out of the shadow her parents had cast over her. She wished her father would never come back.

He had called her and told her that he would be home soon. Xie Xiang hadn’t said anything else.

Xie Wanyu and her grandmother had moved houses a few times. She didn’t know how her father had found out about their current address.

“What if he doesn’t change for the better? He isn’t my father. He can never be my father because of the things he has put me through!” Xie Wanyu couldn’t help but tremble in helplessness at the thought of her father’s return.

“Wanyu, don’t be afraid. It’s alright. Everything will be okay.”

Luan Rongrong tried to comfort her friend. After a while, Xie Wanyu calmed down.

At the Royal Water Bay, the two aunties had made four dishes and a huge bowl of soup.

Auntie Bao and Auntie Huang had made shark fin soup, red braised abalone, lotus root, stir-fried spinach, and fried silver fish.

They were all Lin Wan and Li Yanchen’s favorites!

Lin Wan invited the two old women to sit down with them for lunch. She served them soup and rice. “Is this soup made by you, Auntie Huang? I can tell.” Lin Wan knew the taste of Auntie Huang’s food. She would be able to recognize it anywhere. She tasted each dish and could tell who had made it.

After lunch, the four of them went for a stroll in the neighborhood. Just then, they ran into Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang had something to discuss with Lin Wan, so she pulled her away.

Before Li Yanchen could even protest, Mrs. Wang turned around and said, “Mr. Li, please can I borrow Lin Wan just for a while? It won’t take long, I promise. I want her to look at the cake I made. I will send some back to your house.”

“Auntie Huang, Mrs. Zhou was asking about you in the morning. Oh… who’s this?” asked Mrs. Wang.

“This is Auntie Bao. She used to live in Lin Wan’s old house, but now, we have adopted her as our mother,” said Li Yanchen.

“Is that so? Hello, Auntie Bao, do you want to come to my house for a visit?”

In the end, both Auntie Huang and Auntie Bao followed Mrs. Wang and Lin Wan along and left Li Yanchen alone to take a walk by himself.

The man kicked at the stones on the ground as he walked.

At Mrs. Wangs house, there was Mrs. Zhou, too. She was delighted to see

Auntie Huang.

“Auntie Huang, what brings you here?” asked Mrs. Zhou.

“I invited her over, Mrs. Zhou. We happened to bump into each other just outside. You all can sit here and chat. Wanwan and I will head to the garden.”

Lin Wan was puzzled. ‘Didn’t she say she wanted me to check on the cake? Does she bake in the garden?’

Mrs. Wang took her to the sun room in the back garden.

“Wanwan, come in. The heater is on. It’s warm here.”

Lin Wan looked around. Other than a few flowerpots, she didn’t see anything else.

Mrs. Wang sighed. “I lied to Mr. Li. I used the cake as an excuse to bring you here because I want to ask you something.”

Mrs. Wang looked conflicted.

“Mrs. Wang, if there is anything on your mind, you can just tell me openly. We are familiar with each other now. You don’t have to feel awkward. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Li Yanchen anything.”

“Old Wang’s daughter is coming over this weekend. What should I do? Should I cook for her, or should I take her out to eat somewhere that she likes? Should I take her shopping or…”

Lin Wan thought that it was something terrible, but it was just her stepdaughter visiting on the weekend.

“You get along with Li Yanchen’s sons,” said Mrs. Wang. “I have tried my best to get along with my stepdaughter, but… it’s difficult. We don’t get along. Every time she comes over, she only finds fault in me. I really want to make it work.

She is Mr. Wang’s only daughter. I’m sure you must know a way.”

Lin Wan’s face darkened. Why did the women of the Royal Water Bay think that she was some kind of magician who could solve all their problems?

“Mrs. Wang, you overestimate me.”

“Just call me Wang. No need to be so formal. Wanwan… please, just tell me how you got along with Li Zexuan. You fought with three evils and tamed them,” said Mrs. Wang. “I’ve realized that when couples already have children from their previous marriages, it’s hard to make it work. I watched your show. Look at what happened to Xu Xiaoxiao. She drugged Tutu. She didn’t even try to get the approval of the Su family. But, look at you! You get along fine with everybody!”

“I’m not some magician, Mrs. Wang. I’m really not that amazing. All I can say is, be genuine with the children. They can sense when you try to play tricks on them or manipulate them in some way. But they feel your sincerity and your efforts. The children usually just lack love. They don’t care for gifts and all.”

“But if I don’t buy her a gift, how do I show my care for her?” asked Mrs. Wang.

“The children of people who can afford these types of villas don’t usually lack material things. So, gifts mean nothing to them,” said Lin Wan. She was thinking about her stepsons. Li Yanchen would instruct Assistant Qin to buy them whatever they wanted on their birthdays while he was never present. He thought that giving gifts and money would be enough to make the children

happy.

“That’s true. Little Wang has more money than me. I can’t really give her something that she can’t buy herself. But then, how do I show my sincerity? Should I just tell her about it? If I do, won’t she think I might not mean it at the end of the day?”

Lin Wan didn’t know how to explain it to Mrs. Wang..