Volume One, Chapter Ten: A Threefold Resemblance?

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Xiao Kaixin was lifted down from the horse by Shu Zijun, tilting her head with curiosity as she studied the five elegant young women approaching. The five women were simultaneously scrutinizing Xiao Kaixin as well. On their way over, Song Xianger had told them that although this little girl had staged a dramatic act to claim Shu Zijun as her father, it was likely just a ruse to cover up the possibility that she truly was Shu Zijun’s biological daughter. After all, Shu Zijun’s reputation was already quite tarnished. If he were unmarried and suddenly had a recognized illegitimate eldest daughter, his prospects for marriage would become even more difficult. Take them, for example—if it weren’t for their infatuation with Shu Zijun’s handsome face, none of them would have so defied their families’ objections to eagerly approach him, right?

Yang Chenghe’s younger sister, Yang Chengzhi, spoke first: “Why do this child’s features look somewhat familiar? I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before.”

Song Xianger’s face turned cold as she snorted, “She bears a striking resemblance to Brother Zijun. Isn’t it natural that she looks familiar?”

“A striking resemblance?” The women studied her earnestly.

The eyes, no match.

The nose, no match.

The mouth, no match.

Yet, when these features were combined, the face was undeniably beautiful, with a subtle, indescribable hint of similarity. If one didn’t know better, and you told them they were father and daughter, no one would doubt it.

Zhou Chong’s young wife stepped forward, raising her hand to offer a handkerchief to Shu Zijun, admonishing him gently, “Big men are so careless. Look at the sweat on the little girl’s head, and you don’t even think to wipe it off. A breeze could easily make her catch a cold.”

Shu Zijun instinctively took the handkerchief and began wiping Xiao Kaixin’s sweat.

Zhou Chong’s young wife frowned in displeasure. “Look at you, all clumsy. Don’t poke the child too hard. Let me have it.”

She reached out to take Xiao Kaixin.

Xiao Kaixin snuggled deeper into Shu Zijun’s arms, protesting, “I want Daddy to hold me.”

Immediately, Zhou Chong’s young wife withdrew her hand, smiling warmly and gently. “Alright, alright. I know Xiao Kaixin is closest to you, Daddy. Grandmother won’t hold you; I’ll just wipe your sweat, okay?”

Xiao Kaixin studied her curiously and asked, “You’re even younger than my mother—why do I have to call you Grandmother?”

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Zhou Chong’s young wife immediately beamed with childlike pride, lifting her hand to point at Zhou Chong and Zhou Zhen, Zhou Chong’s sister. “I married their father. Now both of them call me ‘Mother,’ but since I’m younger than both of them, they only call me ‘Young Mother.’ Not because I’m a concubine, but because I’m genuinely younger. Ha ha ha… So, don’t you think you should call me Grandmother?”

Xiao Kaixin was curious. “Young Grandmother, how old are you this year?”

“Thirteen!” Zhou Chong’s young wife never thought her youth was anything shameful. Instead, she took pride in it.

Her expression was utterly innocent and pure, so much so that no one would harbor suspicion against her.

But everyone present, except Xiao Kaixin, knew that this little girl, despite her innocent appearance, was cunning in at least eight hundred ways. Even Zhou Chong’s father—an unyielding, hard-hearted brute—was completely taken in by her and had gone against all reason to formally welcome her as his second wife.

Back then, when nineteen-year-old Zhou Chong learned he would have a twelve-year-old stepmother, he felt as if the sky were falling. He smashed a room full of porcelain and went on a three-day hunger strike against his father. Yet, after meeting the little girl just once, he resigned himself and agreed to this absurd marriage.

While Zhou Chong was secretly lamenting, Xiao Kaixin, who had just clung to Shu Zijun, slipped down quietly, reaching out her chubby little hand to hold Zhou Chong’s young wife’s, smiling sweetly. “Young Grandmother, I’m thirsty. Will you take me to get some water?”

Standing aside, Song Xianger, Yang Chengzhi, Zhou Zhen, and Lin Mingzhu all wore puzzled expressions.

What exactly had this young wife done? How had she so easily gained the girl’s trust?

She hadn’t done anything, obviously!

Only Shu Zijun looked on anxiously: was his daughter too trusting of strangers? Was she too unguarded?

Just as he was about to step forward, Yang Chengzhi pulled him back, admiringly asking, “Brother Zijun, this is the King of the Grasslands. How did you manage to tame her?”

Shu Zijun immediately rolled up his sleeve, stepped back, and kept a respectful distance. “I haven’t tamed her. I’m going to see my daughter now. Ladies, please make way.”

Yang Chengzhi bit her lip, looking aggrieved.

However, Shu Zijun acted as if blind to her, bypassing them and walking away.

“Brother Zijun, wait!” Lin Mingzhu stepped forward to block him, her tone firm. “Brother Zijun, do you not trust Zhou Young Mother? It’s just going to the side room to give the child some water. Rushing in like this is too disrespectful.”

Shu Zijun frowned. “What do you want?”

Lin Mingzhu hesitated for a moment. “N-nothing.”

Young Mother said that peaceful days and simple coexistence never stirred strong emotions. Without strong emotional fluctuations, their relationship could not progress.

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Therefore, even if there were no incidents, they had to create some.

For example, the child going missing.

At such a time, Brother Zijun would surely be frantic. Whoever could draw closer to him then would depend on each of their own efforts.

“Ah—help—” Before their thoughts could fully turn, Zhou Young Mother in the side room suddenly screamed shrilly.

The sound seemed genuinely like she was hurt.

The young women were all deeply impressed by Zhou Young Mother’s performance.

“Xiao Kaixin—” Sure enough, the next moment, Shu Zijun’s voice cracked with urgency as he dashed toward the side room.

Song Xianger led the charge, lifting her skirt and following closely. The other three girls quickly caught on and hurried after them.

Yang Chenghe bumped Zhou Chong’s shoulder anxiously. “Is your young mother reliable? Do you think she might have gone too far?”

Zhou Chong was inexplicably confident in his young wife. “Don’t worry. If anyone messes up, it won’t be her.”

Song Qing was uneasy and pulled him along. “Come on, let’s go see.”

Shu Zijun was the first to rush in, his scalp tingling with dread at the scene inside.

Seven or eight black-clad, masked men lay sprawled across the room, while eight guards tightly surrounded Xiao Kaixin and Zhou Chong’s young wife. Another eight guards were locked in combat with the remaining three black-clad men.

Zhou Young Mother was pale, drenched in cold sweat, and slumped weakly against the wall, murmuring repeatedly, “Stop fighting, stop fighting. Spare lives! Spare lives!”

Xiao Kaixin remained calm, her little face serene as she quietly observed the bloody scene before her.

The three black-clad men, seeing Shu Zijun at the doorway, immediately turned their swords toward him.

But Xiao Kaixin’s guards were no pushovers. At the slightest movement, they blocked all exits tightly.

The three black-clad men charged left and right but could not break through the encirclement.

Only then did Shu Zijun seize the chance to reach Xiao Kaixin and scoop her safely into his arms.