The Tempting Educated Youth Married to a Rough Man-Chapter 199 - 195: Xiao Chendong’s Deranged Madness
Zhang Weihong and Zhang Shihua are truly persistent, and since Wen Ran hasn’t been a witness at a wedding before, she agreed out of curiosity.
"Alright," Zhang Weihong said cheerfully, "just remember to come to our house tonight."
"Okay."
Wen Ran agreed readily, turned to go back, but noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Xiao both looked rather serious.
"W-What’s wrong?"
Wen Ran asked curiously, "Is there a problem with the house?"
"No," Mrs. Xiao hesitated, "Forget it, this isn’t something that can be explained in just a few words. Let’s go home first, and then we’ll talk slowly."
"Alright."
Wen Ran followed Mr. and Mrs. Xiao home, and on the way, Xiao Chenxing was especially silent.
From this, she could roughly guess that this matter might have something to do with Xiao Chenxing.
Once home, as Mrs. Xiao soaked the dishes in water, she explained the whole situation.
Xiao Chenxing sighed, "Thinking back on it now, I’m still scared."
Xiao Chendong’s workplace is right next to Xiao Chenxing’s school. Although they’ve been in the same town for over a year, Xiao Chendong hasn’t visited once.
In a normal sibling relationship, he’d at least take his sister home for a meal every now and then.
"All along, we’ve kept to our own sides, but then he came looking for me in the morning, asking me to have dinner at his place.
He even asked when I’d be coming home this week. I got anxious and told the teacher I had a stomachache, then left early."
Mrs. Xiao was full of anger. These days, it’s hard to know who to blame.
You have to guard against strangers, but you also have to be wary of someone from the same womb.
"What do you think?"
Mrs. Xiao looked at Wen Ran, "Why don’t you give us some advice?"
"I think Star is very smart, knows how to act flexibly, and when to avoid confrontation."
If it were Wen Ran, with great physical strength, she could afford to play along a little and set a trap for Xiao Chendong.
But for Star...
If she really took the risk, she might end up trapping herself.
Xiao Chenxing looked hopeful, "But there are times when I’m alone; I can’t avoid him forever, right?"
"It’s okay; just rest at home for a few days. Did you bring your books and everything with you?"
"I did."
Wen Ran nodded, "Then you can study at home with Hongguo. I’ll talk with your fifth brother later and see what we can do about this."
"Alright."
Mr. Xiao frowned, "Maybe I should go instead."
"No need," Wen Ran said with a smile, "Uncle, you just keep an eye on the progress of the house construction. Leave gathering intel to me and Chenye.
It’s easier for young people to get information. Besides, Xiao Chendong’s workplace is full of young guys. A few cigarettes, and they can become buddies."
"Okay," Mr. Xiao nodded, "then I’ll leave it to you two to handle."
"No problem," Wen Ran said calmly, "We’re all family, no need to be formal about it, alright~"
It was still early, so gathering information wasn’t out of the question.
Wen Ran went out to find Xiao Chenye and rode a bicycle to the town.
Xiao Chendong worked at a local canning factory, an office job where he dressed sharply, but his pockets were as empty as his face was clean.
There was no helping it.
In Xiao Chendong’s house, women held sway.
The one who called the shots was Xiao Chendong’s wife, Zhong Xiaonan.
Zhong Xiaonan worked in the canning factory as the daughter of the fruit processing workshop director, Zhong Daqing.
Though a workshop director isn’t a big shot, Zhong Daqing’s brother-in-law is the head of the procurement department, and that head has wealthy relatives of his own.
Such intertwined relationships made Xiao Chendong’s family connections particularly complex.
He had no say in anything. Recently, from Zhong Xiaonan’s tone, it seemed she wanted to change their children’s surname.
The usually compliant Xiao Chendong couldn’t stand it anymore.
If they were changing the children’s surnames now, what about later?
Would he, Xiao Chendong, also have to change his surname to Zhong Chendong?
What a joke.
After much deliberation, he finally thought of a perfect solution.
That was to forge connections, to find a backing stronger than the Zhong family.
...
At the canning factory, Wen Ran and Xiao Chenye got off the bike and pushed it forward.
Thanks to bribing the gatekeeper with three cigarettes, Xiao Chenye and Wen Ran walked in grandly.
"What do we do next?"
Xiao Chenye chuckled, "No worries, I have a buddy here. Wait here, I’ll go ask around."
Wen Ran sat in a shady spot while Xiao Chenye walked off alone.
...
When Xiao Chenye came back with his buddy, he saw that there was another person squatting next to Wen Ran.
To be precise, it was a little chubby kid.
Xiao Chenye was dumbfounded, "What the heck!" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Seriously, how long had he been gone before someone started flirting?
Did they think Xiao Chenye was dead?
"Is it tasty?"
Wen Ran asked with an affectionate smile, speaking softly.
"Yes," the chubby child was fair and cute, smiling with dimples, "Thank you, Fairy Sister."
"Ah~" Wen Ran replied airily, "Good child, do you want more candy?"
"Yes, yes, yes."
The kid was silly but unbelievably sweet-talking, his words like honey, making Wen Ran feel utterly delighted.
If others called her Fairy Sister, Wen Ran would immediately get cautious, contemplating their intentions.
Was it sarcasm, or were they trying to flatter her?
But...
The little dumpling called me Fairy Sister~
Everyone knows, kids don’t lie. If they call Wen Ran Fairy Sister, it means Wen Ran is truly beautiful!
Yep, that’s how it is.
No room for argument.
"What happened?"
Xiao Chenye was quite composed. Even if he was raging inside, he didn’t push the chubby kid, just jumped up and down in front of Wen Ran, "Who is he!"
"I don’t know," Wen Ran grinned, "I was just sitting here, and he came over."
Wen Ran looked around, "Didn’t you say you have a buddy here? Where is he?"
"Right here!"
The so-called buddy was young, with a buzz cut, smiling in a way that showed two pointy canine teeth.
Very handsome and upright.
Wen Ran’s eyes brightened, Xiao Chenye’s eyes darkened.
Before they could say anything, the young man pointed seriously at the chubby kid, "Old Five, didn’t you just say you wanted to know why Xiao Chendong suddenly went to find Chenxing?"
"Huh?"
Xiao Chenye suddenly had a bad feeling, "What do you mean?"
The young man grinned, "It’s because of him."
The little dumpling looked up blankly, "Me? What about me?"
"Xiao Chendong has a connection through his dad, planning to get himself a triple promotion. But those of us in this line of work know that a triple promotion is impossible."
So...
Was this all a deal from the start?
