Chapter 18

Chapter 18

She didn’t understand why Wei Heng was so hostile toward her. She saw right through his superficial civility.

In the original book, Wei Heng had treated the Original Yan Xue well… at least until he found out what she’d done. Even if he hadn’t loved her, he had at least been grateful.

That clearly wasn’t the case now.

And why had he come back so early?

Bringing so many people with him, completely out in the open?

According to the book, he wasn’t supposed to pick them up for another few months, not until he had taken full control of the Wei Family…

The questions spiraled in her mind, an endless loop with no beginning and no end.

She thought about it until her eyes drifted shut and she actually fell asleep. The cabin temperature was perfect, and the first-class seats were spacious. It had been a long time since Yan Xue had enjoyed such a warm, comfortable sleep.

After she fell asleep.

A probing gaze shifted toward her from the right.

Wei Heng set down his things. He studied Yan Xue’s face, his eyes lingering on her before shifting to Little Xiang, back and forth. Finally, he looked away, his thoughts drifting back to half a month ago.

Half a month ago, he had been in a car crash on his way to a negotiation with the Sheng Family.

An oncoming red truck had slammed his car straight into a wall. The vehicle had been completely crushed.

He knew he couldn’t possibly have survived.

Yet, after three days in a coma, he had woken up. Woken up to find himself three years in the past.

Three years ago. Right now. He hadn’t yet taken control of the Wei Family. His two boys were still in the countryside, Yan Xue wasn’t dead, and they were still legally married.

And worst of all, that woman was out in the countryside, freely abusing his children.

As soon as he woke up, he had accelerated all his plans and rushed back from abroad to get them.

Thank god he had come back a few months early…

Wei Heng opened his eyes. Exhaustion weighed heavy in his dark gaze.

The two boys had been entrusted to him by his older half-brother.

Back when they lived with their mother, his brother had always taken good care of him. He couldn’t believe he had been so stupid after his brother’s death, leaving his two biological sons to suffer like this.

But something was wrong. In his past life, as soon as the boys saw him, they whispered in his ear about everything Yan Xue had done to them.

Young Wei Siao had even said that he wanted Yan Xue to die a painful death.

This time, they hadn’t said a word.

The sky darkened. Guided by rows of orange runway lights, the plane descended from the clouds.

It was past ten o’clock by the time their large entourage swept out of the airport. Little Xiang was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open, but he refused to let anyone else carry him.

Yan Xue had wanted to avoid riding in the same car as Wei Heng, but she had no choice. She climbed in with Little Xiang in her arms. Wei Siao sat next to her, nodding off.

The car sped through tunnels and down the inner ring highway, streetlights strobing through the windows.

Wei Heng sat in the back left seat, his eyes half-closed.

His sharp, striking features were cast in shadow. Only when the moonlight caught him through the window did it reveal the flawless, handsome lines of his face.

Anyone else sitting next to a face like that would have been swooning.

But Yan Xue couldn’t care less. Wide awake, she stared out the window, memorizing the route and the surroundings so she could make her escape as soon as possible.

The stretch limousine eventually wound its way up to a quiet, secluded spot halfway up a mountain.

Several uniformed security guards bowed before slowly opening a massive motorized iron gate…

Yan Xue turned her head away, her face perfectly blank as if she saw this kind of thing every day… Then, safely out of sight, her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.

All the mental preparation she’d done during the drive instantly crumbled.

The understated luxury of the gates. The sprawling, massive courtyard. The three exquisite, imposing independent villas.

She really hadn’t seen enough of the world. When she read the book, she’d assumed the author was just exaggerating. Turns out, it was stark realism!

‘If only I hadn’t transmigrated into the wicked stepmother. If only I could actually stay and enjoy this…’ She wanted to cry.

But the estate was so huge that just running from the villas to the front gate would probably take half an hour.

She chewed on her fingernail. ‘Looks like I’ll only be able to escape when we go out.’

Her emotions had been on a rollercoaster for the last few minutes, her facial expressions shifting right along with them.

She had no idea that every little twitch of her face was reflected in the window glass, perfectly visible to Wei Heng on her left.

He frowned. A flash of impatience crossed his face, his dark eyes growing even heavier.

It took another ten minutes before the cars parked and everyone finally climbed out.

Amidst the sea of men in black suits stepping out of the trailing cars was a thin, nervous woman: Xiao Cui.

This was her first time in a city this big.

She kept her head down. She wrung her hands in insecurity, not even knowing where to look.

It really was her first time in a place like this. During the drive, she had been absolutely stunned by the dazzling, bustling night views outside the window.

She’d seen tall buildings on her phone and on TV, of course, but seeing them towering right in front of her was completely overwhelming.

And that didn’t even begin to describe wherever they were right now.

She peeked up through her lashes. Yan Xue’s house was probably bigger than their entire village.

But what was she supposed to do here? She was definitely going to be a burden to Yan Xue.

If Yan Xue didn’t want to keep her around…

She would go out tomorrow and see if anywhere was hiring waitresses, like back in the county town. She was a hard worker. So she could keep up with anyone.

She wouldn’t let herself starve to death here.

Up ahead, Yan Xue was already carrying Wei Siao up the steps. She turned back and saw Xiao Cui standing among the stone-faced bodyguards, staring blankly at her own toes.

“Xiao Cui, what are you spacing out for? Come on.”

Xiao Cui’s dark eyes snapped up, locking onto her.

Yan Xue smiled and waved her over.

If Xiao Cui had stayed home, the Wang family’s second son would have driven her to an early grave. Yan Xue wouldn’t have been able to help her from so far away, so she had just brought the girl with her.

Honestly, Yan Xue was feeling the pressure too. This wasn’t her home, after all.

Every step she took right now felt like walking on thin ice. She felt like Cao Zhi being forced to compose the Seven Steps Poem at swordpoint.

But she was the one who had brought Xiao Cui here. Yan Xue didn’t have many virtues, but she always took responsibility for her actions.

Besides, she knew that while the male lead, Wei Heng, was ruthless and vengeful, he never harmed the innocent. Even if he caught Yan Xue trying to run, Xiao Cui would be safe.

Xiao Cui hurried to her side, eyes fixed only on Yan Xue.

“Yan Xue, I… I can do anything. I’m not afraid of hard work.”

“Oh, don’t be like that. Relax. I’m not going to make you do hard labor. Honestly, I’m not even sure what we’re supposed to be doing yet. Let’s just go inside.”

A moment later, two servants pulled open the double doors of the central villa.