Translator - Kate from dummytranslations
Editor - Chubby Dragon

1.14   Reaching age twenty
---


Following behind Father Yan, a look of schadenfreude flitted past Yan Yue’s face. She didn't understand why her parents treated Yan Qi so well. Even her older brother, who was in the same camp as her at first, wouldn't oppose Yan Qi, only becoming gloomy, causing her to become afraid of talking to him.

Now, she was pleased to see her dad lecture that guy, Yan Qi.

To her astonishment, before she could see Yan Qi’s pathetic appearance while being admonished, her mom rushed forward to pull her dad back, saying angrily, “How can you speak that way to the child? Just talk properly with him about spending the night away, do you have to speak this way and have the child think you’re rebuking him?”

Being told so, Yan Yongan suddenly recomposed himself. However, he wasn’t willing to lower his face and set aside his arrogance to apologize for this trivial matter, and merely snorted coldly, “Does he still know that there are people at home worried about him? As I see it, he’s having such a good time that he’s forgotten his home and duty. Forget about calling back, he doesn’t even answer his phone.”

The intention for compromise was evident.

Hao Ritian lowered his eyes, hiding the laughter inside them and like so, quietly watched the slag man and mistress’ performance. Whenever he saw the two people bumptiously think they had everything under control, he couldn’t help but feel hilarious and watch the play in higher spirits.

It wasn't that he didn’t have a more straightforward way to take care of this family, but firstly, he was limited by his age and couldn't get the equity. Secondly, he preferred to watch them suffer a critical hit when they thought they had everything in their grasp, rather than quickly ruining them.

Before that, these people who hated him, needed to carefully provide for him, unable to get angry at him nor make him leave the Yan House. They even had to cultivate feelings with him. This was enough to disgust them and for him to take revenge in place of the original host. He believed that this was more appropriate than decisively and directly solving them. After all, the original host had been torn apart like this—nibbled away bite by bite. Choosing this slow effectual method could also count as giving an eye for an eye.

Done being annoyed with Father Yan and upon hearing this compromise, Yuan Wenyu felt a lot more satisfied. For the sake of the company’s shares, hoodwinking Yan Qi for a mere year or so was totally worthwhile to her. She had remained a mistress for so many years, what was an additional year or so?



In the eyes of others, the way Hao Ritian was looking down made him appear wronged. After Father Yan moved away, Yuan Wenyu promptly rushed down the flight of steps, wanting to hold his hand, but was timely avoided by Hao Ritian.

Yuan Wenyu did not mind it very much. She merely thought that he was being childish. She gently persuaded, “Qiqi, don’t be mad at your dad. We called you so many times last night, but you didn’t answer any of the calls. Your dad was worried about what dangers you could have encountered, which is why his tone was a little strong. You too, even if you aren’t coming back, you should at least give us a call!”

Yan Yue glared with indignation. Why did her mom still treat Yan Qi so kindly at this time? Did she really regard him as her son?

Cheng Nian heard the noise and also came out of his room. He was pleasantly surprised to see Hao Ritian, “Qiqi, you’re finally back. We were all very worried about you. It’s good to see you’re okay.”

Hao Ritian raised his eyes and appeared as though he was relieved to see Cheng Nian. There was a slight change in his expression and he looked rather touched.

Yuan Wenyu looked meaningfully at him, then signaled Cheng Nian with her eyes. Cheng Nian soon went towards Hao Ritian and pulled him over to the couch.

Since it was a weekend today and it was noon, the whole family was there, even Yan Yang. He simply stood on the second floor, watching coldly at the scene below. There wasn't much change in his expression, still gloomy. He took notice of the different way Yan Qi treated Cheng Nian.

Look, Yan Qi treated an outsider he'd just gotten to know better than he did his mom. What was the point of his mom demeaning herself to rush up to him?!

Under Cheng Nian’s appeasement, Hao Ritian finally spoke, “Second master Wei took me to the Wei residence the previous night. I was with Wei Lin the whole night and  gave him my phone to play with. He might have muted it on accident so I didn’t hear your calls.”

He held no psychological burden with tossing the blame to Wei Lin. It was just an excuse anyway. The Yan family had no way of verifying it, that’s enough.



They had made so many phone calls originally in order to know if Yan Qi was involved with second master Wei. Now that they heard it was because of little young master Wei, Yuan Wenyu didn’t know whether to be relieved or worried. This showed that second master Wei still had an impression of Yan Qi. To even take him to the Wei residence, this—

She looked at Yan Yongan. Yan Yongan’s expression was also somewhat complicated. After thinking it over, he didn’t have much to say. He just sighed, “Since you couldn’t refuse last night, that’s fine. It’s better to have less dealings with people like them. We aren’t counting on you to climb up in the world. As long as you are the same as before, it is enough.”

As for superfluous words such as why he didn’t call home on his own last night, he didn't mention it. Hao Ritian was quite aware that it was because this wasn’t his main objective at all.

He had no desire to add more to this topic and cleverly responding at once, “I know.”

　　******

“Today is the eldest young master’s birthday banquet. You must take this seriously and be sure to show the outsiders our Qiqi’s graceful demeanor.” Yuan Wenyu explained to the stylist and others.

The people instructed naturally responded respectfully.

Their eyes fell on Yan Qi who was sitting in front of the dressing table. Today was this eldest young master’s twentieth birthday. Twenty is a very important age to people, of course it was a big deal. So the whole Yan House, from top to bottom, had been as busy as a bee since early on.

At twenty years old, it was no longer suitable to call him a teenager. He should be called a young man. The young man’s figure had grown a lot and was now 1.8 meters tall. There was no need to talk about his temperament. He didn't lack any of the svelte of a scion of an influential family, and his facial features had developed even more. Compared to this body’s prettiness when Hao Ritian just crossed over, it was not an exaggeration to use the word ‘handsome’ to describe him now.

Hao Ritian also looked at himself in the mirror. He always felt that this appearance had developed a little towards his own. Of course, it was only two or three parts similar. After asking the system, the system said it was the influence of his soul and wasn’t a big issue.

The corner of his lips suddenly curling, the originally handsome face became all the more attractive under this smile. But, this wasn't the reason he was happy. An unclear overtone within Hao Ritian’s eyes flashed past. After this birthday banquet was over, the excitement would officially begin.
　
Yuan Wenyu trained her gaze on Hao Ritian’s face. Darkness surged from within her eyes but was promptly quashed. Although she didn't want to admit it, compared with her children, this eldest young master Yan before her was far superior, which made her burn with discomfort inside.

In the end, she could only blame it on herself for not having her children receive family education from an early age.

This was not the time for these thoughts, however. Yuan Wenyu took in a deep breath and walked behind Hao Ritian with a happy smile plastered on her face. Looking at the person in the mirror, she spoke, “After today, Qiqi will be an adult. Auntie Yuan is so happy for you. Now, let the stylist fix you up first and when you’re ready, someone will take you to the drawing room for the banquet to find your dad. Auntie Yuan is busy; There are many guests coming today and they're all respectable figures. Auntie Yuan has to do the arrangements first.”

After that, she squeezed Hao Ritian’s shoulder and left.

After Yuan Wenyu left, Hao Ritian let out a chuckle. He’ll let her enjoy a few final days of glory.

The stylist was a bit baffled. Eldest young master was only laughing, why did it feel so horrifying? She shook her head. She must be thinking too much.

Yuan Wenyu, indeed, had a lot of matters to arrange, but bumped into the last person she wanted to meet, in the hallway. Her eyebrows started to twist at once.

As if he didn't notice her feelings, Cheng Nian immediately said, “Aunt Yuan, I’ve been a little short on cash recently, give me some money to spend.”

Yuan Wenyu’s eyebrows were so wrinkled it could kill flies. She looked around to make sure no one was listening, then led Cheng Nian to the tea room and locked the door. She met Cheng Nian’s eyes with an annoyed look, saying angrily, “Didn’t I give you half a million just last month?”

Cheng Nian squinted, “How can half a million be enough to spend? Give me one million this time.”

His tone was very willful, not at all thinking of one million as a lot.

Yuan Wenyu said with a look of cold rage, “I don’t have one million.”

Cheng Nian wasn't worried one bit, he drawled, “You don’t? Who are you kidding, aunt Yuan. You are now the matriarch of the Yan family. Let alone one million, ten million would just be the slight seam of a fingertip for you. Don’t be stingy!”

The person was still the same person, but his attitude and bearings was too different from when he first came to the Yan House. On the surface, Cheng Nian was still the young master, cousin of the Yan family, and Yan Yue was still close to him, to the extent that you could say Yan Yue who hadn't yet reached sixteen has a crush on him.

Yuan Wenyu was well aware of this and had made great efforts to pry her daughter away.

Cheng Nian was now a leech in her eyes. One that wished to suck all the blood in her dry, yet also had something on her and held a lot of sway over Yan Qi. If she didn’t give him the money, he would threaten her, practically squeezing her Achilles' heel. It wasn't that she didn’t regret leading the wolf into the house. In this short year’s time, Cheng Nian had extorted several millions of dollars from her. However, there was no way to put things right once and for all.

But she knew in her heart that it couldn't go on this way. She would rather not use this method to control Yan Qi. Besides, she could no longer take being threatened. Sooner or later, she would be sucked dry if this went on.

Cheng Nian saw that Yuan Wenyu didn't agree with him straight away and his eyes which had a somewhat murky light in them suddenly narrowed dangerously. He didn't get angry but said tritely, “Or else I’ll speak to Qiqi? I think Qiqi would be more than willing to give me a million dollars. Let alone one million, ten million wouldn’t be a problem either.”

The changes in the tender peach blossom eyes of the past were obvious. Dark circles were often under his eyes, like he had long-term sleep deprivation. In addition, when he narrowed those eyes, not only was it not gentle, it was full of gloom and there was a faint—not obvious, but very much there—madness.

Yuan Wenyu watched Cheng Nian get ready to find Yan Qi and hurriedly stopped him, “Don’t. You want one million, right, I’ll wire it to your account after the banquet is over.”

However, she finally made a firm resolution in her heart, after this time’s extortion, Cheng Nian had to be gotten rid of!

Cheng Nian immediately showed satisfaction, “There you have it. Thanks, aunt Yuan!”

After that, he opened the door of the tea room and left, inwardly sighing in relief as well. On the whole, he’s gotten the money. He'd simply been fooling Yuan Wenyu just now, and saying he could get the money from Yan Qi was just to deceive her. Certainly, Yan Qi wouldn't be stingy with giving him spending money, but he never gave it in cash or transfered it. No matter how much he hinted, it would be of no use. He could only conclude that Yan Qi’s brain was too foolish to get his meaning.　　

Moreover, in this past year, he never slept with Yan Qi and only maintained superficial intimacy. Yan Qi was truly close with him, but never asked to sleep with him. However, now, he no longer wanted to either. To be able to borrow his relationship with Yan Qi to get money from Yuan Wenyu was enough.

In the tea room after Cheng Nian left, Yuan Wenyu’s eyes turned thoroughly cold. Since Cheng Nian was too avaricious to satisfy and didn’t know good or bad, then he shouldn’t blame her for being ruthless.

Sorting out her expression, she exited the tea room and began to arrange her work in an orderly way, looking both elegant and noble. The household servants’ obedience towards went a long way in improving her mood. She was the matron of the Yan family. In view of her identity, Cheng Nian, that bloodsucker who was a threat to her, must disappear!

***