Chapter 13: Trying to Steal a Chicken but Ending Up Losing the Rice

The atmosphere in the living room was tense.

"Are you the one who made the headlines with Zhenyang?" Yao Zhenru couldn't hide her contempt as she glanced at the man at the other end of the sofa, bringing home this wild woman from the newspapers. Was he trying to anger the old master to death? Excellent!

Jiayi had already realized that the well-maintained lady before her was not Zhenyang's biological mother, but his stepmother.

The Huo family patriarch had yet to appear, and Yao Zhenru had come downstairs alone.

"Yes," Jiayi answered.

"Hmph," Yao Zhenru couldn't directly criticize Zhenyang, so she aimed her sarcasm at Jiayi, "Do you think Huo Garden is a vegetable market where anyone can come and go as they please? Over the years, there have been so many women trying to seduce my stepson... Miss, what makes you think you're worthy? You and Zhenyang were caught in a sneaky photo, and the old master is furious right now. Yet here you are, shamelessly stepping into our home. Are all girls these days so shamelessly cheap?"

Zhenyang looked indifferent, leaning back on the sofa with his hands on the arms, legs slightly raised, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest's satin surface. Although he didn't speak, a faint, barely noticeable sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Jiayi cast a sideways glance at the man next to her. What was he doing! Had he dragged her here just to have her scolded? As the crown prince, the corporation's CEO, his stepmother naturally wouldn't dare to scold him, but she could scold her.

Seeing Jiayi not speak, Yao Zhenru assumed she felt guilty and became even more pleased with herself, "A decent girl from a good family would have been too ashamed to stay after what the host said. You really have thick skin. What, are you waiting for the old master himself to kick you out?"

Across the sofa, the man's finger paused, and he finally spoke coolly:

"The person I brought here, who dares to drive her away? This house doesn't allow those who don't bear the Huo name to call the shots."

Yao Zhenru froze, then stood up swiftly, hearing the familiar footsteps coming from outside. Knowing the old master had arrived, she instantly shifted her expression to one of sorrow and loudly said:

"Zhenyang, what are you saying? I am your stepmother, after all. Besides, I'm only looking out for your best interest—who could that girl be to be of any worth? It's one thing to play around and spend money outside, but bringing someone like her home, do you want to kill your father with anger?"

Zhenyang gave Yao Zhenru, who was obviously putting on a show, a sidelong glance, "Sorry, but she is not some random woman from the outside. The reason I brought her home today is to tell dad that she's my girlfriend," he said, while lifting Jiayi's hand, his voice tinged with mockery, "What? Is there anything disgraceful about me being photographed with my upright girlfriend?"

Huo Tianpei, who had initially frowned upon hearing Yao Zhenru's words, now relaxed considerably and even looked a bit pleased. His son hadn't had a formal girlfriend for so many years, and now that he had brought one home, it must be serious.

"Zhenyang, why didn't you tell me earlier!" Huo Tianpei strode in.

"I'm not saying it now," Zhenyang replied, holding Jiayi's hand firmly, turning his handsome face to look at her as if he were gazing at a treasured artifact, his tone tender and affectionate, which gave Jiayi the chills. It was a stark contrast to a few days ago, when he threw her onto the bed and tore at her clothes like a tyrant.

Jiayi hadn't expected that the old master of the Huo family was the same person she had just encountered in the glass conservatory, and she was momentarily stunned.

"Good, good!" Huo Tianpei's anger dissipated, and he even seemed a bit excited.

Yao Zhenru hadn't anticipated such a turn of events. The wild woman from the newspapers was actually Zhenyang's official girlfriend. Now, instead of being reprimanded by the old master, Zhenyang had pleased him greatly. She clenched her teeth, "Tianpei, you've introduced so many ladies of high society to Zhenyang before, and he's always been cold to them. Now he casually brings a girl home, and you don't even ask? Who knows what kind of family she's from! There are so many models and those on the fringes eager to latch onto wealthy young men. Don't be fooled!"

Huo Tianpei's smile stiffened, and his gaze settled on the girl's face.

"She's from C City in the North, surnamed Luo, named Jiayi. She's a distant niece of the Luo family's butler, vacationing in G City, an only child. Her parents died early. Although she may not compare to the Huo family, she is certainly not as frivolous as some people describe," Zhenyang explained methodically.

Yao Zhenru's face turned even more purple with rage.

So it seemed he had already arranged his own identity details.

Jiayi took a deep breath, only to feel the man's palm tighten, gripping her hand even firmer.

"Really?" Yao Zhenru scoffed.

"I'll bring her identification proof tomorrow," Huo Zhenyang shrugged his shoulders.

"No need, I believe you!" Huo Tianpei's eyes twinkled with confidence as he stared at Jiayi. He had only spent a little while with this girl in the glass conservatory, but whether it was her demeanor, her speech, or her knowledge, she was nothing like those disordered women from outside, "I trust Zhenyang's judgment, and I trust my own as well." He then reprimanded Yao Zhenru, "The Huo family is surely not so petty as to investigate the girlfriend of a son. Aren't you ashamed?"

Yao Zhenru's face turned beet red.

Huo Tianpei, not wanting to scare the girl who was there for the first time, softened his tone, "This time, we should thank the paparazzi for their sneaky photos; otherwise, we would have no idea that Zhenyang had found such a wonderful girlfriend."

"It's not the paparazzi we should be thanking." The man's voice rose abruptly, breaking the light mood.

"Zhenyang, what do you mean?" Huo Tianpei sensed something was amiss.

Huo Zhenyang looked at Yao Zhenru thoughtfully, his smile carrying a hint of derision, "That's something you might want to ask Auntie's precious son."

"You—" Yao Zhenru faltered, feeling guilty.

The elder Mr. Huo was not clueless as to the implication, and his face soured immediately, "Call Zhenxuan back!"

"Tianpei, Zhenxuan would never harm his elder brother—" Yao Zhenru hurriedly tried to defend.

Huo Tianpei also looked at his eldest son, "Zhenyang, do you have any evidence?"

"There are many security guards and staff at Huanglong Mountain Villa; paparazzi can't easily sneak in," Huo Zhenyang's tone was chilling, "That paparazzo, I had Old Luo check him this morning. There was a sum of money deposited into his bank account the day before yesterday, and the money transfer was from the second brother." He turned his head, looking at Yao Zhenru with a mocking tone, "I wonder, what could possibly be the reason for the second brother to randomly transfer money to a paparazzo?"

"You—" Yao Zhenru's eyes widened in shock.

"Get out! What a 'good' son you've taught, scheming against his own elder brother of the same family? You and your mother will have a lot to answer for later!" Huo Tianpei, livid with rage, felt a pain in his chest.

Now, the situation had backfired completely. Not only had Huo Zhenyang gained more favor from the old gentleman, but Zhenxuan's chances of entering the company headquarters were probably dashed!

In a fit of anger, Yao Zhenru saw the murderous look from the old gentleman and had no choice but to stomp her foot and go upstairs first.

Jiayi was somewhat taken aback; this man really was decisive in action. With one counter-attack, he had crushed the stepmother and son's plot and even gained an advantage.

Indeed, there's no business without deceit! A man who navigates the business world must have unfathomably deep thoughts.

Considering this, could it be that he would let her off so easily?

Jiayi felt a chill and couldn't help but stealthily turn her head.

The man happened to be watching her, his eyes seeming to study a small prey caught in the palm of his hand, and then, his grip tightened, binding her silently, leaving her unable to move.