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

172 The Happy Things Were No Longer Happy

Lin Wan had been in high spirits especially after doing something inappropriate in the luxurious president’s office. She had only seen such encounters on television.

However, as she listened to her stepchildren and Li Yanchen’s coaxing, egging her on to have a child, she no longer felt the joy.

At the Royal Water Bay, Auntie Huang had prepared supper and was waiting in the courtyard for the owners to return home.

The courtyard was filled with the aroma of corn. It was Lin Wan’s favorite. Finally, the car arrived in the parking lot. Auntie Huang quickly stood up.

!!

“Grandma Huang!” The three children jumped out from the back seat of the car and called out to her happily.

“You’re back!” Auntie Huang said, grinning from ear to ear.

Auntie Huang helped them with their luggage and ushered the children into the house.

Lin Wan picked up a delicious corn cob while Li Yanchen drank a cup of green bean soup and headed upstairs.

Half an hour later, Lin Wan was sitting in front of the dressing mirror and nibbling on her corn, deep in thought. Li Yanchen had just come out of the shower.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” he asked. He was wrapped in a towel from waist down.

“I don’t want to have children,” Lin Wan said.

Li Yanchen touched the tip of her nose. “Is that what’s bothering you? I will tell Xuanxuan and the kids not to bring it up again.”

“I’m going to take a shower.” Lin Wan finally stopped frowning.

Li Yanchen looked at her receding back and felt a little sad.

Outside Lan Village, Du Xing waited for Ji Hanzhi to contact her. She did not even receive a text. So, at around midnight, she gave Ji Hanzhi a call.

Ji Hanzhi, who was already staying in a hotel near Yun City Airport, finally remembered a certain someone’s “sister-in-law” who had sent her a message.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan had already fallen asleep. Ji Hanzhi answered the call.

“Sister, aren’t you guys leaving the village today?” Du Xing directly addressed Ji Hanzhi as “sister”.

“Yes. I already left. I am in a hotel near the Yun City Airport right now. I am flying to Chongzhou tomorrow afternoon.” After two consecutive days of setbacks, Ji Hanzhi could no longer find a better way to break Lin Wan and Li Yanchen apart. Hence, her attitude towards Du Xing was a little better.

“Have you forgotten about me, sister? I can prove that I’m Du Zheng’s sister. Can you tell me the location of the hotel? I’ll check out immediately and come find you.” Du Xing also felt the change in Ji Hanzhi’s attitude toward her.

Ji Hanzhi considered for a while then told her the name of the hotel. Du Xing checked out of her hotel and called a taxi.

Lan Village was more than 200 kilometers away from Yun City Airport. Knowing that Du Xing wouldn’t arrive for a long while, Ji Hanzhi went to sleep.

Du Xing arrived at the hotel at two in the morning. Although she couldn’t wait to meet Ji Hanzhi, she sent her a text instead of outright calling her. She wanted to show Ji Hanzhi that she was considerate of her and hence, could trust her.

[Sister Hanzhi, I arrived at the hotel. I am going to check-in. You should rest well. Please contact me in the morning around eight.]

It was already seven in the morning when the alarm went off. Ji Hanzhi sat on the bed and stared at the new message.

[My daughters aren’t awake yet. I can’t leave them in the room alone. My room is 806. Just come here directly.]

A younger sister fighting for an older sister wasn’t unreasonable. Since Du Xing called her “sister”, Ji Hanzhi didn’t doubt her motives.

Ji Hanzhi changed into a comfortable dress and put on light makeup as she waited for Du Xing.

At around half past eight, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan finally woke up. Ji Hanzhi took them to the dining room to have breakfast. She put on their favorite cartoon.

Du Xing carried the photo album with her and found Rom 806. It was almost ten when she reached.

Although it was her very first time seeing Ji Hanzhi in person, Du Xing recognized her from the photos and the show.

“Sister Hanzhi, you’re even more beautiful than how you look on camera.” Du Xing smiled brightly.

“Thank you. Please come in.” Ji Hanzhi’s lips curved up slightly into a smile.

The hotel didn’t have everything like her home. Ji Hanzhi le Du Xing to a sofa and handed her a glass of water.

Ji Hanzhi had once searched for Du Zheng’s photo on the internet. However, she hadn’t found a picture even though she was the wife of Li Yanchen and had co-founded the company with him. She carefully observed Du Xing.

Du Xing felt that Ji Hanzhi was still suspicious of her identity. She spread out the photo album on the table. “These are the wedding pictures of my sister and brother-in-law. Brother-in-law hasn’t changed at all in all these years.” Du Xing pointed at one of the photos.

Ji Hanzhi took a closer look. Li Yanchen, who was in his twenties, still looked the same in his thirties. A beautiful woman in a wedding dress leaned against him, smiling happily.

There was a group photo at the back. Other than the bride and the groom, there were many strangers in the photo. Du Xing stood beside the bride.

“That’s me! Back then, I had braids. I haven’t changed much, have I?” Du Xing took out the photo and held it up next to her face for reference.

There was something different about Du Xing. It wasn’t clear whether it was her face or her style of outfit. In the photo, she wore a floral dress. But now she was in a strapless sling dress. However, her general appearance had not changed.

“This is a photo of me and my sister. When she came to Yun City, I was still studying in Qingzhou, so our photos were basically taken when we were young.” Du Xing began to narrate the interesting things that had happened between him and his sister when she was young.

Ji Hanzhi kept staring at Du Zheng’s photo. Du Zheng’s beauty was different from Lin Wan’s. Whether it was her hair or her clothes, they all made her look very intellectual.

“Your sister is really elegant. I can see why she was a good match for Li Yanchen,” Ji Hanzhi said after a long pause.

“Yes, my sister graduated in 985. She was very outstanding from a young age. She was also a very kind and sensible person. After graduation, she stayed in Yun City. Brother-in-law always doted on her. Eventually, they got married and had three children. Whenever she called me, I could hear her happiness from her voice. During summer holidays, she would always invite me to live in her house.” Du Xing exaggerated everything.

“Sister Hanzhi, when I watched you on the show, I felt that you were somehow similar to my sister. You are both kind, intelligent and capable. When the media revealed that you were involved with my brother-in-law, I was quite happy thinking that he had found his match who was as beautiful and intellectual as my sister,” continued D Xing.

“Only a woman like you is worthy of my brother-in-law. What does Lin Wan have? Other than her youth, she has nothing else.” Du Xing slandered Lin Wan.

“Sister Hanzhi, my uncle and aunt are gone, and so is my sister. Xuanxuan and the other kids are my only connection to my sister now. How can I not worry about their future?” Du Xing sobbed.

Ji Hanzhi tried to place herself in Du Xing’s position. If her uncle and aunt, and her sister had all passed away, she would be worried about her nephews too.

“But your brother-in-law is married to Lin Wan. I can do nothing to help with that.” Ji Hanzhi bit her lips.

Du Xing was secretly happy because she felt that Ji Hanzhi believed her words.

Du Xing furrowed her brows. “Sister Hanzhi, you can record our conversation as evidence if you want. So, it is absolutely clear that I am the one begging you for your help to save my three poor nephews. Even if this gets exposed one day, everyone will know that you are not a mistress. You are doing a good deed.”