HAGLTP Chapter 15

Watching Xiao Yimei’s reaction, Xiao Lu’s lips curled slightly, then quickly suppressed it, mimicking Ye Qi’s expressionless demeanor.

Xiao Yimei was a woman who believed in “Why work hard when you can rely on a man?”

From a young age, she knew she was beautiful. At seventeen, she hit it off with a restless wealthy businessman, and by eighteen, she had given birth to Xiao Keyang, thinking she could use her son to push aside the original wife. Unfortunately, she didn’t know that the businessman was actually a son-in-law, relying entirely on his wife’s support, and he didn’t dare to get a divorce.

In a fit of youthful anger, Xiao Yimei took her son and left, only to face the harsh realities of life.

She was indeed beautiful, but beauty couldn’t be eaten. She had no education or skills to make a living, and with a child in tow, she quickly fell into an economic crisis.

Despite her predicament, Xiao Yimei still didn’t want to work hard herself. She constantly sought opportunities to get close to new men, cycling through one boyfriend after another, and her life became increasingly comfortable.

Even in a world turned upside down, it was the same.

Xiao Yimei was indeed a seasoned parasite; even in such an awkward situation, her reaction was extremely quick. She immediately reddened her eyes, looking pitiful.

“Why do you talk to your mother like that? Have you been suffering a lot lately, so you blame me for not coming to save you?”

“Mom didn’t want to either, but I’m not an ability user, I can’t go out to find you.”

“I’m sorry for not being the good mother you hoped for…” By the end of her words, Xiao Yimei was already choking up.

There were quite a few people passing by near the lounge. Yun City was originally a bustling entertainment capital, and the residents were keen on finding fun for themselves. Suddenly losing the media was quite an adjustment, and when they saw some excitement, many slowed their pace.

Countless gazes fell on Xiao Lu, the “rebellious” son.

“How could I blame Mom?” Xiao Lu shook off her hand, looking all too much like Ye Qi, “Don’t try to scheme against me; just push me out to serve whatever man you want.”

At this point, he seemingly unintentionally glanced at the “pig head” not far away.

The expressions of the onlookers became subtle; the plot had a twist, and this trip was not in vain.

Xiao Yimei: “…”

That earlier line, “He’s a filial good child, he can definitely help you,” felt like a slap in the face.

Though she had indeed considered it that way.

Xiao Yimei’s acting skills, tested by time, held up. Tears immediately fell, her tone sorrowful: “I knew you were blaming me.”

“Mom is doing this for your own good. Your Uncle Wang is in the logistics department at the White Dove; you can help him, and life in Yun City will be a bit easier.”

“You’ve always been an obedient child. I don’t know what happened to you during this time, but the situation is special now. Can you be a bit more understanding?”

She deliberately mentioned her new boyfriend’s position, both to showcase her own charm and to warn Xiao Lu that if he wanted to get by smoothly at the White Dove, he shouldn’t offend her.

It would be best if Xiao Lu obediently helped Old Wang. She could curry favor in front of Old Wang and have someone she could control at the White Dove. Plus, with Xiao Keyang doing well in the nightlife, even if she was just an ordinary person, most people in Yun City wouldn’t dare to offend her.

Unfortunately, Xiao Lu wasn’t buying it: “Mom should worry about herself.”

“You aren’t his first lover at the White Dove, right? If you could replace the last one, others can naturally replace you too.”

Xiao Lu’s mocking gaze fell on the pig-headed man, Wang, and then shifted to the man’s wrist: “That woven bracelet looks new, and it has a star charm. She probably can’t make that, can she?”

“A naive, skillful little woman? Not over 20 years old, can you really go for that?” Xiao Lu stared at the man’s expression.

“Dear…” Xiao Yimei’s sorrowful facade almost broke; she looked at her boyfriend in disbelief.

The pig-headed man, Wang, instinctively hid his wrist behind his back, but after a moment, as if remembering something, he confidently placed his hand back where it was.

Though Xiao Lu’s words were harsh, the logic was undeniable; he could replace Xiao Yimei just as easily as he had replaced the last one.

The onlookers’ eyes lit up, whispering among themselves like squirrels in a moonlit melon field.

“Old cow eating tender grass, a girl under 20, Old Wang is old enough to be a father!”

“Be bold; if he had a kid early, he could be a grandfather by now.”

“Fresh flowers on a pig’s head, playing with ugly flowers…”

“Hey, keep it down; don’t let them hear you.”

Xiao Yimei had no idea what to think.

She had once been intercepted by younger parasites, but this was the first time she had failed so quickly.

“You…” Xiao Yimei’s act of weakness was almost breaking down; she bit her lip, tears sliding down again.

“Who do you think I’m doing this for? Do you think it’s easy for a woman to raise two children?”

“I raised you with great difficulty, and this is how you repay me? Making me look bad in public, are you happy now? Xiao Lu, you make me so sad…” At this point, she swayed, almost fainting.

Seeing this, some people, though looking down on Xiao Yimei’s parasitic way of life, couldn’t help but empathize with a mother who had been hurt.

“Even if what your mom does isn’t honorable, you can’t treat her like this; she’s still doing it to support you.”

“Today’s young people are so ungrateful; they can’t compare to our time.”

“This kid’s heart is too hard.”

With public support, Xiao Yimei cried even harder, looking like a mother whose heart had been thoroughly broken by her child.

“Truly a white-eyed wolf!” Someone pointed at Xiao Lu indignantly.

“Better to give birth to a piece of char siu than to this thing!”

But there were also onlookers who remained detached, saying, “You can’t just listen to one side; how many events have had twists over the years?”

“Raising grace?” Xiao Lu laughed wildly, “You adopted me not for government subsidies and to help you raise your son?”

Xiao Lu was discovered by Xiao Yimei when she was too busy switching men to care for her son.

A child who had lost their memory was very easy to control, just right to help her handle the chores she didn’t want to do, so she wouldn’t be morally condemned if Xiao Keyang got into trouble.

Even better, under the laws of Xingzhou, adopting a child would earn a substantial monthly subsidy, just enough for her to buy another pretty bag or some clothes.

“You were born for your brother; you have to let him have the good things, you know?”

“The new clothes are for your brother; you can wear your brother’s old clothes. It’s fine if they’re a bit small.”

“Your brother can’t do housework; you do it for him.”

“Yang Yang doesn’t want to do homework; Xiao Lu, you do it.”

“How dare you ruin my clothes! Why don’t you just die, you jinx!”

In the original owner’s memories, childhood was all about him taking care of the household chores and looking after his brother, like a personal tool for the Xiao family.

“You… you know…” Xiao Yimei’s eyes widened, forgetting her expression management.

She had never told Xiao Lu about the adoption, just to have that familial bond she could use to manipulate him without restraint.

No matter what she did, she was still Xiao Lu’s biological mother, and he couldn’t completely turn against her.

“Drunk people always can’t keep their mouths shut.” Xiao Lu looked down at this woman, “Moreover, the adoption records can be checked.”

Even with careful maintenance, fine lines had appeared at the corners of Xiao Yimei’s eyes and mouth, and her eyes were no longer as clear as a young girl’s. This woman, beautiful only on the surface, had her inner hypocrisy and bitterness fully exposed after losing her most effective weapon.

Xiao Yimei’s lips moved, but she didn’t know what to say.

“Article 2, 107, Supplementary Regulation 47 of the ‘Xingzhou Adoption Law,’ Articles 16, 17, 18, 19 of the ‘Xingzhou Minor Protection Law’…” Xiao Lu counted the laws that Ivan had helped him look up.

“The government subsidy you used to buy luxury goods; since I was six, I’ve been responsible for all the household chores, sometimes not even having enough to eat, and I had to be your punching bag when you were in a bad mood or drunk.”

“If we really count it, do you think our relationship is one of grace or enmity?”

Huang Sansheng stood in the corner, though not affected by the battle, his mind was filled with gossip.

Wow, Xiao Lu actually had such a miserable childhood!

However, seeing Lu’s arrogant demeanor, like someone who would act without talking too much, he didn’t expect him to be so ruthless when confronting others, and so well-versed in the law. Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover.

“Deliberately adopting a child to cheat government subsidies? How many years did the last one get? Ten years, maybe?”

“A six-year-old child living like a child laborer, that’s too tragic.”

“I said you can’t get too emotionally involved when eating melons; otherwise, it’s easy to be led by the rhythm.”

“Acting like a loving mother, but who knew she was so ruthless!”

“Even after all this, she still has the face to talk about raising grace; it’s simply disgusting.”

The whispers around pricked at Xiao Yimei’s skin like needles.

She originally wanted to use public opinion and morality to suppress Xiao Lu, but unexpectedly, she was publicly exposed in her most disgraceful light, by the very Xiao Lu she had exploited since childhood, thinking she could completely control him!

“Xiao Lu—” Xiao Yimei’s beautiful face twisted as she pointed her freshly manicured finger at Xiao Lu, intending to scold him like before, behind closed doors.

“What are you blocking here for?” A cold, slightly hoarse female voice rang out, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

The crowd turned to look at the source of the voice, and it was MIKI leading the treated Ye Qi.

She walked briskly, her hair flying wildly, her brows and eyes sharp as if chiseled, showing no signs of being delicate or soft, the very demeanor Xiao Yimei had once looked down upon.

In her eyes, why live so hard and strong? Isn’t it better to rely on a powerful man and live comfortably?

But now she saw that even Old Wang, who was cheating, was bending down.

His waist was so thick, like an oak barrel, unable to exert strength every night. Yet at this moment, Old Wang was trying very hard to bend down, wanting to appear a bit more humble.

The onlookers who had been laughing at her had changed too; their gazes towards MIKI were filled with awe and admiration, and the idle chatter immediately ceased, completely different from how they acted in front of her.

Xiao Yimei’s nails dug into her palm; why?

MIKI looked at Xiao Lu in the crowd: “Are you in trouble?”

Xiao Lu scanned the two people nearby who had tensed up at this question, his tone relaxed: “It’s nothing, just a small matter.”

Glancing at the pig-headed man, MIKI’s eyes held a hint of suspicion.

This guy was responsible when working, but there seemed to be quite a bit of gossip about his personal life.

Old Wang had managed to reach this position, so he wasn’t blind; seeing this, he immediately rubbed his hands together with a big smile: “I get along well with Xiao Lu, so I came over to say hello. I must say, he’s quite the talented young man; he definitely has a bright future ahead.”

Not mentioning the previous mess at all.

Xiao Yimei’s face darkened further; Xiao Lu’s little brother?!!

What kind of generation is this?! One was her man, the other was her son; what had she become?!

Casually glancing at Xiao Yimei, MIKI had no interest in this woman whose face was written with “parasite” and directly skipped to the point: “Ye Qi’s hidden injury has been treated by Teacher Mo; just pay attention to resting afterward.”

She turned around but found that Ye Qi was no longer behind her.

Looking again, good heavens, Ye Qi had quietly slipped behind Xiao Lu, standing there like a stabilizing force, as if he had been there since ancient times.

MIKI: “…”

She suddenly remembered not long ago, to get Mo Yisheng to treat Ye Qi, she had to use her ability to seal the treatment room’s door.

It wasn’t that their treatment was unsightly, but if she didn’t do that, the big star Ye would immediately rush out to find Xiao Lu.

So exhausting.

·

MIKI even specially arranged a place for the three to stay.

Huang Sansheng looked at the exquisite two-story villa bathed in the sunset, excitedly saying, “Wow, a luxury house!”

Ye Qi showed no reaction.

Xiao Lu, however, seemed to be deep in thought. This was a chaotic time of order collapse; finding a place to stay in a safe zone wasn’t easy, and the safer the place, the more cramped the living space.

This kind of standalone villa, situated within the protective zones of the three major forces—White Dove, Divine Punishment Society, and Night—might not usually be considered a luxury house. But in this time, it was not just any kind of luxury.

Was it really just for taking care of a friend that such a big deal was made? Although Mo Yisheng was charming, he was definitely not someone who would give without reservation to everyone; otherwise, he wouldn’t have built up a force like the White Dove.

Perhaps there were other motives.

For example, to win over and show goodwill.

Xiao Lu recalled the scene at the city gate this morning; there were quite a few people from the White Dove, and perhaps someone had seen it and reported it. With a display of strength and Ye Qi’s past connections, Mo Yisheng would treat them with extra courtesy.

At this moment, the door across opened.

“Keyang, look how amazing you are; it hasn’t been long, and you’ve already moved into the A-grade area, enjoying a captain-level treatment. What does it matter that Xiao Lu came to Yun City? What does it matter that someone from the White Dove is hosting? Look at that row of A-grade properties belonging to the White Dove—”

Xiao Keyang stepped out the door, just in time to meet Xiao Lu’s gaze.

“—he still can’t move in…” Chai Yige instinctively lowered his voice.

At this moment, he really felt like he had a touch of the “crow’s mouth” syndrome; how come every time he mentioned Xiao Lu, he appeared?

Is this person a summoning beast?

Huang Sansheng’s melon-eating gaze switched back and forth between Xiao Lu and Xiao Keyang, wondering if after the kind mother-son scene, they were about to start the brotherly mode again?