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

Chapter 267: The Eldest Stepson’s Official Match

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“I am so sorry,” said Xie Wanyu. “I only met Li Zexuan a few times. There is nothing between us. That picture was from the time we met in the library because he needed my help with some questions. I was just explaining to him.”

Lin Wan reached out a hand and stroked her head comfortingly. Her eyes were also red. She was holding back tears. Xie Wanyu was like an injured bird that she wanted to help.

She was the daughter of a hero, not a criminal!

“Xuanxuan told me about you. He said he cherishes you as a friend. He doesn’t have many friends. So, when he says you are good, I believe him wholeheartedly. Do you also want to be friends with him?” Lin Wan was aware that Xie Wanyu was hesitant to be friends with Li Zexuan because she didn’t want her classmates to start rumors about them.

Xie Wanyu didn’t know what to say. She did want to be friends with him, but she was also scared of something like this happening again.

“I…” Xie Wanyu stammered.

“From today, no one will dare to spread such rumors about you. We are trying to find the person who posted that statement in the school forum.” Lin Wan knew that Xie Wanyu was the female lead from the original novel. She was also the love interest of the main lead, Li Zexuan. She wanted to help her. “My parents aren’t… good people,” said Xie Wanyu miserably. “People say I don’t deserve to have any friends because of that.”

“Don’t be fooled by them,” said Lin Wan. Her heart ached for this poor girl. “Xuanxuan may seem like a big star, but he doesn’t have any friends. That child is a loner. On my birthday recently, his two younger brothers invited their friends. The house was lively. But… Xuanxuan didn’t invite anyone. Can you believe that?”

Xie Wanyu was shocked. “He didn’t invite anyone?”

When Li Zexuan invited her and Luan Rongrong, he mentioned that he had no other friends. Xie Wanyu hadn’t believed him. He was a celebrity! Xie Wanyu thought he might have invited his other friends, including Lu Wenqian.

“Yeah,” said Lin Wan. “His brothers had fun with their friends, but Xuanxuan was lonely. Don’t misunderstand me. I think Xuanxuan likes being alone most of the time. He has never mentioned any of his friends before. I think you are the first person he genuinely wants to be friends with.”

Xie Wanyu wavered. “He… invited me and my roommate. I thought he would have many friends coming over, so I refused.”

Lin Wan sighed. “Well… the reality is different. That child has no friends. Wanyu, you can treat me as a friend if you want. I don’t think I am much older than you.”

Xie Wanyu had heard about Li Zexuan’s stepmother. She hadn’t expected her to be so easy to get along with. His stepmother wasn’t arrogant and strict at all. Instead, she was kind and gentle, just like an elder sister.

The two of them talked for a long while. Xie Wanyu felt comfortable with her. She even wrote down Lin Wan’s number and kept it with her.

When they walked out of the lounge, Li Zexuan and Li Yanchen were standing by the door.

Li Zexuan’s attention was focused solely on Xie Wanyu. “Wanyu, are you alright?”

“I am fine,” said Xie Wanyu. “Thank you, Sister Lin. Thank you so much, Uncle Li. I have to leave for class now. I am very grateful for all you have done.” She bowed to them and walked away.o

“Sister Lin?” Li Yanchen and Li Zexuan looked at Lin Wan in surprise.

Li Yanchen raised an eyebrow. “Sister Lin? Did you turn into an elder sister just to console her?”

Li Yanchen felt that Lin Wan had some sort of magic that could make people comfortable to talk about themselves.

Li Zexuan cleared his throat. “I am going to class, too. Thank you so much, dad. Thank you, Ms. Lin.” He followed behind Xie Wanyu.

Lin Wan pushed her bangs behind her ears. “What about it? Can’t I be Sister

Lin? I am still very young. Let’s go home.”

When they came out of the administrative building, Li Zexuan called out to Xie Wanyu.

“Wanyu, what did Ms. Lin say to you?” he asked. “Please tell me I haven’t caused more problems for you.”

Xie Wanyu stopped in her tracks. “No… she was very kind. She said that I am not my parents, no matter what they might have done. I am just… me.”

“That’s all?” asked Li Zexuan. “You were in there for about half an hour.”

“We talked about things, but, generally, that’s about it,” she said. “Li Zexuan, I am really envious of you right now. You have a good father and a kind stepmother.” These were her heartfelt words.

How she wished her parents were like that. She wished they would stand up and defend her and her grandmother when people badmouthed them. But they were nowhere to be seen.

As for her grandmother, she did nothing but advise Xie Wanyu to bear with whatever injustice they faced. As time passed, she became more and more cowardly.

Lin Wan had been so kind. She had advised Xie Wanyu to not take b*llshit from others. She had encouraged Xie Wanyu to be kind but also firm in rejecting the things that made her uncomfortable and openly accepting the things she wanted the most in life.

It was her first time meeting Lin Wan, and she had already inspired Xie Wanyu.

“Well… Ms. Lin is good,” said Li Zexuan with a smile. “But Mr. Li, he is… passable. Anyway, you can be friends with Ms. Lin. Most of her Night Talk livestream guests are young people.”

Xie Wanyu smiled. “Thank you. I think I will.”

This was the first time Li Zexuan had seen her smile. She had two dimples on her cheeks.

Not long after, the school realized that Lu Wenqian had been behind the whole debacle.

Xie Wanyu had the protection of the Li family, so nobody dared to mess with her. Even Lu Wenqian was wary.

The school acted as a peacemaker. An agreement was reached so that Lu Wenqian and Li Zexuan were advised to not interfere with each other anymore.

Li Zexuan was more than happy to abide by it. Meanwhile, Lu Wenqian took two days off and went home crying.

Mrs. Lu’s heart ached for her daughter. She asked Mr. Lu to do something about it.

“What do you want me to do?” asked Mr. Lu. “She has completely disregarded our names and humiliated us in front of everybody.”

Mrs. Lu could only advise ner daugnter to stop causmg unnecessary trouble.

It was winter. The fourth episode of “We Are Also Very Ordinary” was ready to be broadcasted.

The weather in Lan Village was a few degrees lower than in Yun City. It was too cold for the families. There was no automatic eating. This episode would really test the guests’ endurance.

Lin Wan had been learning to cook at home for the past two months. Finally, she had learned to make a dish that was… edible.

When Li Zexin learned that it was almost time for his family to head to Lan Village, he was dejected because he couldn’t accompany them this time as well.

Li Zexuan didn’t feel the excitement that he had felt every time it was time for a new episode in Lan Village. He now had someone he would miss at school.

After the whole online scandal, Li Zexuan and Xie Wanyu had become good friends. They spent time together at school, went to the library to study, and even watched basketball matches at school together.

Xie Wanyu maintained the first rank in the monthly exams. Li Zexuan also made it into the top three.

Their friendship was often cited by homeroom teachers as an inspiration for other students. “Look at Li Zexuan and Xie Wanyu. Instead of getting distracted, they help each other improve. As long as you help each other improve, I don’t think I mind you people being in relationships.”

Sun Mingtao still shared the room with Li Zxeuan. After the incident, he was much more careful with his words. No matter how much Lu Wenqian pestered or bribed him, he never let slip the whereabouts of Li Zexuan to her.

The week before the livestream at Lan Village, they had the month off. Li Zexuan finally managed to convince Luan Rongrong and Xie Wanyu to visit his house as guests..