Chapter 509: Chapter 174: The ’80s Drama Queen is Forced to Act as a Top Student (9)

But then Sheng Leyun said nonchalantly, "I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?"

Ren Xingchen snapped out of her daze and said irritably, "What’s there to eat? It’s this late—the pot’s already been scrubbed clean..."

Before she could finish, her eyes met Sheng Leyun’s cold, indifferent gaze, and the rest of her words caught in her throat.

"Oh, a kind lady invited me over to her place for dinner just now. Since there’s no food here, I guess I’ll just..." Sheng Leyun shrugged and said with a casual air.

Xiao Xuezhen quickly interjected, "Of course not! We just didn’t know when you’d be back and were worried the food would get cold, so we didn’t save you any. But don’t worry, Dad will take you out to a restaurant!"

His words were like poking a hornet’s nest. Xiao Hailan and Xiao Haiyang erupted.

"Dad, are you really my dad? When I didn’t get to eat dinner, didn’t you just tell me to have some crackers? How come when *this woman’s* daughter misses a meal, you feel so sorry for her that you’re taking her to a restaurant?"

"That’s right, Dad! You bought her so many things today, and we didn’t say a word, did we? But you must think we’re easy to push around, ignoring how wronged and upset we are while you keep fawning over this little country bumpkin!"

Tears welled up in the two children’s eyes as they spoke, their little faces etched with an unprecedented look of grievance.

’These are my own children, the ones I’ve spoiled since they were little. How can I bear to see them like this?’ Xiao Xuezhen couldn’t stand it.

He quickly said, "We’ll all go together..." frⅇe

Xiao Hailan huffed. "No, thank you! Dad wasn’t inviting us anyway. We’re not going to tag along like some pitiful eyesores. Besides, we just ate. What are we supposed to do at a restaurant, watch you all feast?"

Xiao Xuezhen was at a loss for words. He forced a smile and tried to coax her, "How about this? After Dad gets his paycheck, I’ll buy you that red dress we saw today, okay?"

Hearing this, Xiao Hailan reluctantly nodded. "Fine. But this is the only time. I’m not that easily bought."

Xiao Xuezhen nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, of course. Next time, Dad will definitely be more thoughtful!"

Her foul mood finally clearing after being placated, Xiao Hailan jutted her chin at Sheng Leyun. "Hey, you country bumpkin! You better remember, this is *my* dad. My *real* dad, the one who makes all the money!"

"This house belongs to the Xiao family. My dad’s salary has to support me, my little brother, himself, and my grandparents. There’s nothing left for you and your mother."

Xiao Haiyang, who never had a mind of his own and always followed his sister’s lead, waved his chubby fists. Gritting his teeth, he tried to look fierce as he threatened, "You hear that? You’re not allowed to spend my dad’s money, or I’ll beat you up!"

Sheng Leyun smiled smugly. "Oh, you two don’t know yet, do you? My real father is actually very powerful, you see, but my mother didn’t like that. So he... well, let’s just say he changed his whole appearance. And now, in front of everyone, *he* is my dad. He’s even more of a father to me than a biological one could be."

"After all, my father saved your father’s life. Tsk, tsk. Even though your dad is still here, he can’t dote on just the two of you anymore."

"All I have to do is hold out my hand, and he has to give me money. I just touch my stomach, and he has to take me to a restaurant. And sigh, when I said I wanted to go to school, he took care of it with the principal yesterday without a moment’s delay..."

Oh, those words. Hearing them, the Xiao siblings were so overcome with jealousy that tears began to stream down their faces.

They didn’t understand Sheng Leyun’s convoluted talk, but they understood that last part perfectly!

’Grandma and Grandpa were right. Once you have a stepmom, your dad becomes a stepdad, too. We’re just poor, unloved children now.’ It was all too heartbreaking.

A vein throbbed on Xiao Xuezhen’s forehead. He wasn’t good at placating children to begin with, and now Sheng Leyun was brazenly turning his own kids against him right to his face. And what’s worse, it was working...

"What’s the hold-up? I’m hungry. Aren’t we going?" Sheng Leyun asked, tilting her head. "I want to eat braised pork in soy sauce, sweet and sour spare ribs, braised carp, boiled prawns, Capital City roast duck..."

The long list of dishes made the two sobbing children stop in their tracks. They had just eaten, but their mouths were already watering.

Xiao Xuezhen gritted his teeth. "Can you even finish that much food? Wasting is shameful!"

"We’ll just order one or two things this time. We can order the others the next time we go out," he said, forcing himself to meet Sheng Leyun’s impassive gaze.

Sheng Leyun nodded, surprisingly not putting up a fight.

Just as Xiao Xuezhen was about to lead Sheng Leyun out the door, Xiao Hailan’s eyes darted before she clutched her stomach and let out a piercing scream of pain.

Everyone in the room, except for the simple-minded Xiao Haiyang, knew the girl was faking it.

Helpless, Xiao Xuezhen could only stuff a large bill into Ren Xingchen’s hand and tell her to take Sheng Leyun out to eat.

Once they were outside, Ren Xingchen kept glancing at Sheng Leyun. ’How did the little girl I watched grow up turn into this?’ she wondered. ’It feels like everything went wrong the moment we arrived in the Capital City.’

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