Rewinding time just a little, back to the math class.
Watching Meng Huange return to her seat from the podium, the three who had been fervently discussing suddenly fell silent in unison. They exchanged glances, then each picked up their pens and began communicating quietly on paper.
Wen Manman: So, Old Boss’s goal has been found out, but what exactly should we do?
Zhang Shiyu: Since both sides have that in mind, we just need to make a simple connection between them, right? After all, knowing Old Boss’s personality, she definitely wouldn’t say it outright!
Du Xinxin: Wait, we’re already helping make connections? What if that Meng Huange is some bad apple planning something suspicious against Old Boss?
Wen Manman: (0_o)2
Zhang Shiyu: Ah! That makes sense! Old Boss does have a lot of money, after all!!
Du Xinxin: And honestly, are you all really okay with this? Old Boss might get kidnapped by some stranger woman, then abandon us and stop talking to us forever…
Zhang Shiyu: That doesn’t really matter; Old Boss usually ignores us anyway.
Wen Manman: True that V
Du Xinxin: … You guys
Zhang Shiyu: But Potato Thunder is right, we can’t let Old Boss be taken away so easily by some shady woman.
Wen Manman: Hmph, to be honest, Old Boss isn’t always that sharp. It’s possible she could be fooled by a bad woman…
Du Xinxin: … Exactly! Even if we’re going to carry out Old Boss’s mission, we need to consider first whether Meng Huange really deserves the position of Eldest Sister-in-law!
Wen Manman: You make a good point, but how do we prove it? (._)
Zhang Shiyu: I know! Let’s check her romantic history. Bad women usually have a few men on the side!
Wen Manman: Hire a private detective to track her? That would take too long.
Zhang Shiyu: Then I’ll go seduce her and see if she falls for me!
Du Xinxin: … Are you all crazy!?! Especially you! Idiot.
Zhang Shiyu: Why are you cursing? Then what do you suggest we do?
Du Xinxin: Just… find a way to investigate her, something like that.
Wen Manman: Ah! I just thought of something, maybe we can do this!
Meng Wange silently observed the movements of Du Xinxin’s hand, lightly pressing down with her foot, ready to respond to any threat.
What did she have hidden in her sleeve— a deadly weapon? Or maybe some kind of irritant spray?
No, since they were still at school, it probably wasn’t anything that serious. Most likely just a small item to scare others, trying to make herself look bad in front of Su Wanli.
Moreover, just now, Zhang Shiyu and Wen Manman quietly moved behind her, probably to keep her restrained.
Meng Wange took a slow breath, keeping her body as tense as possible.
… Should she make a move?
No. Since this was her first day at school, she needed to avoid any accidents. If she really got into a physical fight with classmates, even if Su Xiaoli didn’t mind, the Head of the Su Family would definitely doubt her capabilities.
So right now, running away was still the best strategy.
Zhang Shiyu and Wen Manman were already beside and behind her. Du Xinxin’s side was empty. If she ran, they probably wouldn’t be able to react in time.
When Du Xinxin pulled something out to protect herself, Meng Wange would immediately circle behind her, using Du Xinxin’s own attack to restrain those behind her…
The moment came in an instant.
Du Xinxin pulled out something that looked like a sticky note from her sleeve, then, staring at the words on it, shouted loudly at Meng Wange—
“Meng Huange! I’m asking you, what does Miss Wanli usually like to eat!”
Made ready to exert force, Meng Wange was momentarily stunned by the question.
Wen Manman, standing to Meng Wange’s left rear, silently stepped forward.
“What’s the matter? Is this a question that needs a long time to think about?”
Zhang Shiyu also followed up anxiously.
“Don’t tell me you don’t even know that? Does Old Boss only mean this little to you?”
So that’s it.
Was this some sort of ritual to integrate into their little group?
Meng Wange silently sighed and rubbed her temples.
“Meat. More specifically, she likes steak with butter sauce. She prefers black pepper sauce.”
Du Xinxin exchanged glances with the two behind her, then a small discussion broke out behind Meng Wange.
“… Yeah, that sounds right.”
“Oh no, I forgot. What does Old Boss usually like to eat? I don’t think we’ve ever seen her eat steak.”
“There’s no steak in the school cafeteria, right? But I remember sometimes she’d have us pick out meat for her…”
Du Xinxin glared fiercely at them, lightly biting her lip, then flipped to the next sticky note.
“Alright, alright! Seems like you’ve at least eaten with Old Boss recently… Then I’ll ask you! Where does Old Boss usually like to hang out?”
“… Maybe the Amusement Park. If she’s under a lot of stress, she’d take me there to relax.”
Suddenly, two cold breaths came from behind Meng Wange.
“What? Old Boss actually goes to a place like that? Big Bro, you’ve seen her there before?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never bumped into Old Boss while waiting in line.”
“Potato Thunder, ask a question we all know, okay?”
Du Xinxin shook her fist threateningly behind Meng Wange’s back, then turned her gaze back sharply.
“Hmph, you’ve answered two questions in a row. Consider yourself lucky. Now the final question, Meng Huange, why are you close to Old Boss? What are you after?”
Having asked this, Du Xinxin crumpled up the sticky note, sneering coldly at Meng Wange.
The first two questions were just distractions. Even if Meng Huange answered them correctly, it only showed she was a clever, manipulative liar. The last question was the real climax today.
—If you say you’re attracted by qualities like Su Wanli’s gentleness, kindness, and virtue—which don’t even exist—then you’re finished.
If you sincerely answer that you’re after the Su Family’s money or power, then you might barely pass, but your position would still be beneath ours.
Come on, Meng Huange, how will you answer?
Meng Wange lowered her head, thinking for a moment, then finally smiled faintly at Du Xinxin.
“For her warmth.”
A victorious smile appeared on Du Xinxin’s face.
Heh heh, Meng Huange, it seems you’re just as expected…
But Meng Wange didn’t stop there.
“… Just like I said in class, I was taken from the orphanage to the Su Family. At first, I thought I was after Su Wanli’s money and power. But the more I got to know her, the more I couldn’t take my eyes off her.”
“She is a noble young lady from a prestigious family, and I’m just an orphan living in the Su Family. Even so, Miss Su never treats me with arrogance or coldness. She even invites me to share in the Su Family’s dinners, cooks with me in the kitchen, takes me to the Amusement Park to relax, and shares the warmth she has.”
“That is a kind of warmth I’ve never felt before, so I must repay Miss Xiaoli.”
After briefly recalling recent experiences, Meng Wange smiled slightly at Du Xinxin standing before her.
“This… is my scheme for approaching Su Xiaoli.”