Wen Ying spent the whole night mulling over “emotional engagement.”
She had to admit that today’s print media editors had sharp eyes, even for youth magazines. Though many stories in those pages struck her, an “old auntie,” as melodramatic nonsense with flimsy plots, they were undeniably what young readers loved.
The immaturity of the writing and minor plot holes couldn’t overshadow the genuine emotions the authors poured into their work.
If she herself found such stories childish and couldn’t let her emotions rise and fall with her characters, what right did she have to move readers or expect them to pay for her dry tales?
Her two stories might’ve had a better shot at lesser-known youth magazines, but she’d aimed high, submitting to the industry’s top-tier Huahuo and Aige. Regardless of whether their content seemed juvenile, their status as leaders meant they had real chops.
From what Wen Ying knew, Huahuo had thrived for years, launching numerous bestselling youth novels. A decade or so later, those hits became lucrative IPs, adapted into films and shows. A platform that impressive rejecting her draft? Totally normal!
Wen Ying’s frustration gradually subsided.
There’s no shame in taking a wrong path, what’s shameful is refusing to admit it or reflect.
The next morning, Wen Ying began revising her stories. Seeing her glued to the computer, typing away, Chen Li called Deng Yaomei to go grocery shopping and took the two little terrors, Deng Jie and Deng Hao, along to avoid disturbing her.
Deng Yaomei chuckled under her breath, “Sister Chen, you just can’t stay mad at Little Ying.”
Chen Li shot her a glare, “Take Deng Jie and the boys for breakfast outside. I’ll make a call downstairs.”
Deng Shangwei hadn’t come home last night, claiming a business issue had him flying out with Boss Qin overnight. Chen Li suspected he was avoiding her.
By now, Deng Shangwei and Boss Qin should’ve arrived. Chen Li figured she’d call to check in.
She dialed, but Deng Shangwei’s phone was off.
Chen Li frowned.
A timid female voice spoke up, “Excuse me, are, are you Sister Chen?”
Chen Li turned to see a young woman she didn’t recognize standing beside her.
The young woman wore a floral dress and white flats, her hair loose. Barely any makeup, yet her skin was clear and fair, radiating youthful energy.
“Who are you?”
The young woman bit her lip, “Sister Chen, I’m with Brother Deng. I don’t want his money, I genuinely like him. And the child, I…”
Her words tumbled out chaotically. Chen Li instinctively sensed danger. Noticing the woman’s brows bore a faint resemblance to her own, and hearing her ramble about “liking” and “child,” a woman’s intuition set off alarm bells.
She wanted to walk away, to stop listening, but her feet felt rooted, immovable.
“Sister Chen.”
Deng Yaomei’s voice from across the street, with the two kids, snapped her back. Summoning strength from somewhere, Chen Li snapped, “Shut up! I don’t know you. What nonsense are you spouting this early in the morning?”
The young woman placed a hand on her abdomen, tears falling, “I’m pregnant. The child is Brother Deng’s.”
Chen Li turned and bolted toward the complex entrance, tripping halfway.
The young woman saw Chen Li’s panic, touched her belly, and smirked: This useless woman, had she not lucked into marrying Deng Shangwei before he made it big and tied him down with two sons, how could she be the boss’s wife?
Rumor had it she didn’t even get into college.
Not like her, a university grad.
Sure, she was pretty enough, but after two kids, her beauty was fading, nothing compared to youthful vigor.
Pan Li lingered a moment, then hurried after her.
Now, Chen Li feared her, not the other way around. Pan Li had nothing to lose. If Wen-ge hadn’t pushed her, she wouldn’t have confronted Chen Li, it ruined her chances with Deng Shangwei. Men didn’t like aggressive women. Pan Li wanted to play the victim, the devoted lover, to win his pity and then his heart.
That plan needed months of careful groundwork.
But Wen-ge couldn’t wait. He wanted Deng Shangwei’s family in chaos ASAP, so Pan Li had come this morning.
If Deng Shangwei knew her intent, he’d stop her, but Wen-ge said he’d left overnight, her perfect chance.
Pan Li knew the Deng household well.
A housewife, a teenage niece, a rural nanny, two kids, Deng Shangwei absent. Who could stop her?
She was confident she could tear this family apart!
Even if Deng Shangwei blamed her later, she wasn’t scared.
At worst, she’d lose a long-term future with him. He could resent her all he wanted, but he couldn’t touch her, not with her “protective charm” in her belly!
“Oh no, your mom fell! You two stay put, I’ll help her.”
Deng Yaomei saw Chen Li fall from across the street and panicked.
That was a hard tumble!
Deng Jie gripped his younger brother Deng Hao’s hand, “I won’t run, and I won’t let him either.”
“You two are so good!”
Deng Yaomei crossed the road as Chen Li struggled up.
“Sister Chen, are you okay? Oh, your knee and hand!”
Chen Li’s knee and elbow were scraped and bleeding, her expression frantic. Even simple Deng Yaomei sensed something was off. Chen Li shook her head wildly, “Just a clumsy fall. Where are Deng Jie and Deng Hao?”
Deng Jie and Deng Hao stood obediently under a tree across the street.
Following Deng Yaomei’s pointing finger, Chen Li’s heart nearly stopped, the woman who’d spouted nonsense earlier was now across the street, nearing Deng Jie and Deng Hao!
“Yaomei, forget me, go! That woman’s, she’s bad news!”
Deng Yaomei shouted, “Deng Jie, Deng Hao, run! There’s a bad person!”
Chen Li limped across the road. Cars screeched to a halt, drivers leaning out to curse her as a lunatic. Horns blared, drowning out Deng Yaomei’s yells.
Deng Jie saw a young woman approach. Her stare made him uneasy, and he tucked Deng Hao behind him.
Pan Li crouched to Deng Jie’s level, smiling, “You’re Deng Jie, right? I’ve heard your dad mention you. Auntie wants to tell you, you’ll soon have a new brother or sister.”
She patted her belly.
At nine, Deng Jie didn’t fully grasp her words, but he felt her malice.
What brother or sister?
This woman was weird. What did his wanting siblings have to do with her?
Seeing Chen Li charging over, Pan Li stood, smoothing her dress, “Little friend, next time we meet, it’ll be when your dad brings me home. I hope we can get along. Don’t worry, I’m not the kind of stepmom who hits kids. Be good, and I’ll like you.”
Stepmom?!
That word Deng Jie understood.
Before he could react, Deng Hao darted out from behind, slamming into Pan Li.
“We don’t want a stepmom! Stepmoms are bad!”
