Chapter 2

Milk, you understand, was the foulest drink in the world.

Sure enough, Lu Zhou's face immediately filled with misery.

We went home hand in hand.

We ran into Lu Wang returning from tutoring.

At the handprint on his brother's face, his expression changed. He pulled Lu Zhou behind him.

“Did you hit him again?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I did. What about it?

“Want me to hit you too?”

With that, I turned and left, ignoring Lu Zhou's frantic explanations.

After hearing him out, Lu Wang remained skeptical and calmly analyzed the situation.

“Don't trust her.

“This must be another trick.”

I couldn't help nodding in agreement.

Another successful day in my wicked-stepmother role.

I planned to strike while the iron was hot and commit a few more bad deeds, reinforcing his impression of me.

Before I could act, the butler rushed in.

“Madam, something's happened!

“The eldest young master has been detained for fighting. The police station called and asked you to come!”

Lu Dog-Egg had been detained?

I secretly rejoiced.

An opportunity!

When I arrived, an officer was patiently asking why Lu Wang had fought.

Opposite him stood three bruised and battered boys.

My future brooding boss was living up to his reputation.

Three against one, and he hadn't come off worse.

I asked the officer for a few minutes alone with them.

Once he'd left, I turned and casually smacked Lu Wang's bottom.

“Feeling clever, are we?

“Fighting now? Get ready to be thrown out!”

He stared at me in disbelief, trembling with anger.

I glared even harder.

“Try glaring again!”

Snorting, I ignored his hateful look and turned to the three bewildered boys.

“Hello. I'm Lu Wang's stepmother. I've been sick of him for ages.

“Tell me exactly why you fought.

“Then I can report him to his father and have him thrown out!”

They exchanged glances and said nothing.

I beamed.

“How about this? Tell me why, and I'll give each of you five thousand yuan.”

Money soon weakened someone's resolve.

“He shouldn't have meddled.

“We were only joking with a girl, taking a few photos. He went crazy and attacked us.”

Still composed, I asked, “What photos? May I see?”

One boy objected. The other two, blinded by money, immediately took out a phone.

“Look, Auntie.

“Just a few pictures.

“If you ask me, don't throw him out. Send him straight to a mental hospital.”

I looked at the phone: upskirt photos and pictures of bullying.

I nodded in wholehearted agreement.

Then I opened the door and handed all the evidence to the officer.

“You heard them, Officer. My boy was standing up for someone.

“As for these little delinquents, I'd recommend a reform school for a proper education.”

Outside the station, Lu Wang gave me a complicated look.

“Lu Wang!”

A quiet voice called.

He turned and frowned slightly.

“Why are you here?”

The girl clutched her schoolbag straps, her voice as small as a mosquito's.

“I... thank you for helping me!”

He replied coldly, “I hit them because they were annoying. What did it have to do with you?”

She had no answer.

I rolled my eyes.

“What a poser.”

Lu Wang gritted his teeth.

The girl giggled, then bowed to me too.

“Thank you as well, Auntie!”

Watching her run off, Lu Wang finally asked, stony-faced, “Why did she thank you too? When did you two meet?”

“What the hell's it got to do with you?”

He fell silent.

Soon, his slightly awkward voice came again.

“Don't think I'll thank you just because you helped me.”

“Who wants your thanks? I'll settle with you when we get home!”

By the three hundred and eighth shrimp, Lu Wang finally cracked.

“This is what you meant by settling with me?”

“What else?

“Faster! You're not even keeping up with my eating. What kind of brooding boss are you supposed to be?”

Lu Dog-Egg said nothing. He quietly peeled faster.

Lu Iron-Pillar brought over the tea he'd brewed and carefully set it beside my hand.

I looked at the adorably vacant Lu Third-Girl.

“You. Come massage my back.”

Being a wicked stepmother was a piece of cake.

After the shrimp incident, Lu Wang hated me even more.

I'd brought Lu Zhou into obedient submission too.

Only Lu Xue remained.

With a sheet mask on, I was pondering how to torment her when someone knocked.

I opened the door.

The little girl looked up at me, clutching a doll bigger than herself.

...A little cute.

Not sure.

Further observation required.

“What?”

I made my voice as cold as possible.

Lu Xue shrank back, speaking in a tiny voice.

“I... I'm afraid to sleep alone...”

Outside, thunder and lightning raged. I was about to laugh at her cowardice when I remembered something.

“Come in.”

Her sparkling eyes lit up at once.

Poor Lu Third-Girl had no idea she'd stepped into my trap.

Once she lay obediently on the bed, I produced a book of terrifying fairy tales and began reading in my scariest voice.

Five minutes later, I'd successfully frightened her into tears.

Thoroughly refreshed, I poked the little huddled bundle.

“Don't drip tears on my bed, brat, or you'll get a beating.”

Finished teasing her, I went to wash.

But she clung to my leg, crying and pleading.

“Can I bathe with you, Auntie? I'm scared...”

I fell silent.

“Fine.”

I generously agreed.

But when I undressed her for the bath and saw the red swellings and bruises on her body, I frowned.

I hadn't even started mistreating her. What was this?

“Hey, kid. Where did these injuries come from?

“Have you been fighting at school behind my back?”

Lu Xue shyly hugged herself and shook her head.

“Mr. Liu gave them to me as a reward.

“He says only pretty, well-behaved girls in class get rewards.”

I had no words.

Looking at her innocent face, I gritted my teeth.

Fuck. A whole family of unlucky children.

The next day, I took her to school.

After meeting the Mr. Liu she'd mentioned, I returned to the car and switched on the listening device through my phone.

When I heard him coaxing Lu Xue to undress again, I picked up a baseball bat and headed straight into the school.

He visibly panicked at the sight of me.

“Lu Xue's guardian? What are you doing here?”