Family or group of strangers? (2)

Xinyue Zhilan paid no mind to Wang Xueying's ramblings, and with a small towel in hand, she gingerly wiped her fingers clean as she walked closer to Wang Xiao.

A faint smile danced upon her lips, accentuating her motherly aura that radiated from her very being.

It was inconceivable to imagine that she was once a lawyer in her previous life.

After the birth of her first child, Xinyue Zhilan bid farewell to her legal career and embraced the role of a devoted full-time housewife.

As she walked, her hips effortlessly swayed to an enchanting rhythm, harmonizing with the fluttering of her loose dress that teased her supple bosom. If Wang Xueying's lips were temptingly kissable, then Xinyue Zhilan—she was the epitome of allure. Her very presence seemed capable of submerging one's senses in a whirlpool of desire, akin to savoring the intoxicating essence of a fine, velvety red wine.

With her goddess-like figure and captivating face, Wang Xiao couldn't help but wonder if she was the catalyst behind their family's exceptional appearances.

His father paled in comparison, leaving no room to question that the genes responsible for their magnificence came solely from their mesmerizing mother.

Upon finally drawing near to Wang Xiao, she gracefully lowered herself, tenderly caressing his cheeks with her fingertips. "Have you eaten yet?" she inquired, her voice melodic.

However, Wang Xiao found himself momentarily entranced by the alluring aroma that exuded from her, momentarily forgetting to respond.

Only when she gently repeated her question did he manage a nod, his mind still swimming in the intoxicating fragrance that enveloped him.

Xinyue Zhilan's heart sank with slight disappointment as she had eagerly saved some special dishes for him.

Yet, she swiftly concealed her dismay, her mask of disappointment transforming into a caring expression as she fixed his already flawless attire. "Why did it take you so long?" she asked, concern evident in her voice. "You were out the entire evening. Don't you realize how unsafe the city can be at night?"

Wang Jiahao shook his head, frustrated at the apparent unfairness of the situation. Just moments ago, Xinyue Zhilan had scolded him for querying Wang Xiao about the same matter. in

Now, she herself was repeating the question.

How could this be right?

To address her query, Wang Xiao raised his hand, revealing the notebook he held tightly. "Tomorrow, we have an important assignment at school. I was with Chen Li," he explained.

Understanding dawned on Xinyue Zhilan as she nodded, her palm gently patting him on the shoulder.

Wang Xiao, however, seemed unresponsive to her actions, his face displaying indifference.

"Good, but don't stay up too late tonight. You have to be at school tomorrow, and you can't afford to slack off," she advised, a warm smile gracing her lips.

Assured by her words, Wang Xiao nodded in agreement. After a brief pause, he turned and made his way towards the staircase, ascending to the third floor.

As his figure disappeared into the distance, the two accompanying shadows seemed to dissolve into thin air, vanishing completely as if they had never existed at all.

Once his figure disappeared from sight, Xinyue Zhilan let out a sigh, her expression filled with a mix of emotions.

One of the reasons she adored Wang Xiao so much was his indifference towards her. Deep down, she longed for the day when he would reciprocate her care and affection.

Wang Xiao was well aware that his indifference towards her was the reason she was so relentless in pursuing him. However, he remained unaffected by it.

To him, the people surrounding him were nothing more than a group of strangers who conveniently favored his presence.

Well, except for Wang Jiahao, who had fallen from this position of favourable stranger and become nothing more than an unknown face.

Wang Xiao didn't spare him a second thought.

Regarding the notebook he held in his hand, it was nothing more than an excuse. He had borrowed it from his school friend, Chen Li, months ago. The truth was, he used studying as a pretext to loiter outside.

He had a deep understanding of the game, knowing that whenever the topic of study or school arose, his parents would become remarkably lenient.

With this knowledge, he had successfully employed similar excuses countless times before, and they never failed to work like a charm.

When it came to his slacking off from school, neither the institution nor his family seemed to bother much.

As long as he managed to achieve good marks, they were satisfied, and that was the extent of their concern.

In his eyes, the concept of family held no powerful bond; it was merely a collection of individuals who proclaimed to have an unconditional relationship, yet secretly attached conditions to it.

And heaven forbid if anyone dared to contradict their belief, even in the slightest manner, as it would send them spiraling into a state of crisis.

At the very core of their being, every human acted out of pure selfishness and solely for their own self-interest.

With these cynical thoughts swirling in his mind, Wang Xiao slowly approached the door to his room, his hand trembling as he made contact with the icy doorknob.

________________

"Zhilan, did you possibly take money from my wallet yesterday?" Wang Jiahao stormed into the kitchen, his tone dripping with suspicion.

Xinyue Zhilan paused her work and met his gaze, her eyes filled with confusion.

"Why would I take something from your wallet? Did you get pickpocketed?" she responded, her voice tinged with disbelief.

The dynamics between Zhilan and Wang Jiahao could only be described as ordinary.

Their marriage had been arranged by their parents, and once they had children, Xinyue Zhilan directed all her attention towards them, unintentionally neglecting her relationship with Wang Jiahao.

Wang Jiahao's face contorted into a frown as he recounted his discovery. "Yesterday, I placed 14,000 yuan in my wallet for the laborers' payment, but now 4,000 yuan is missing."

A weary sigh escaped Xinyue Zhilan's lips as she offered a suggestion. "You should be more vigilant at work. Perhaps someone stole it while you weren't paying attention."

Wang Jiahao nodded bitterly, a mix of frustration and disappointment etched across his face.

Earlier, he had earlier assumed Xinyue Zhilan to take out some money from his wallet for a task, but she had carelessly forgotten to inform him.

His heart sank further as he considered the current situation. Engrossed in a demanding project, he had been hoarding a considerable amount of cash lately.

Usually, he wouldn't pay much attention to minor thefts like this, but yesterday was different.

He meticulously counted every bill before stashing it away and, to his dismay, when he repeated the process later, he discovered a disheartening discrepancy.

Determinedly, Wang Jiahao clenched his fists. He reluctantly accepted the reality that he must exercise more caution, just as Xinyue Zhilan had wisely suggested.