“What’s this supposed to mean?” Điền Ngạc Như looked at the pile of tonic gifts and raised an eyebrow at Đinh Trường Sinh.
“Sis Điền, I know everything already. Please don’t make things harder for yourself. This is my money—no strings attached. Women need proper care after giving birth, especially during confinement. If they don’t, it could lead to serious health issues.” Đinh Trường Sinh spoke with genuine concern.
“What do you know?” Điền Ngạc Như stared straight into his eyes, trying to see through him. But all she saw was pure sincerity, and that only made her more disappointed.
“Sis Điền, I honestly don’t know anything. I just know... this is the right thing to do.”
“The right thing to do? And you think a few measly gifts can buy me off?” Điền Ngạc Như gave a cold laugh.
“Well... name your price then. Whatever it is, if it’s within my means, I’ll take care of it,” Đinh Trường Sinh replied, a little uneasy but trying to save face.
“I want you. Whenever I want you, you show up.”
With that, Điền Ngạc Như casually stored the gifts in her cabinet, twisted her alluring waist, and sashayed out the door.
Đinh Trường Sinh stood there, eyes wide like a deer in headlights. What the hell just happened?
He couldn’t wrap his head around it. In his mind, sure, Điền Ngạc Như had that whole scandal with Khấu Đại Bằng, but she had a solid job, a decent husband—so why go and mess things up like this?
Shit. I’m toast. I’ve just been shackled to this woman’s bed. What the hell do I do now?
Just the thought of Hoắc Lữ Mậu and his ever-present pistol made Đinh Trường Sinh shiver.
Before heading home, he stopped by the city’s only jewelry store and dropped over four hundred grand on a necklace. He never actually planned how to spend that million yuan in his account, but he knew some investments were necessary. This necklace was going to Khấu Đại Bằng’s wife. He believed that this gesture would pay off tenfold—or maybe even a hundredfold—in the future.
After work, Đinh Trường Sinh tagged along with Khấu Đại Bằng back to his place. But when they arrived, he was shocked.
“You’re the town chairman, and you live here?”
“Just renting. My real house is in the city,” Khấu Đại Bằng chuckled.
“You’re home? Come wash up, dinner’s almost ready,” a woman called out as she stepped out of the house.
One look at her and Đinh Trường Sinh nearly cursed aloud. Damn it!
Khấu Đại Bằng had a wife this beautiful and still went chasing skirts?
The woman was around thirty-five or thirty-six, with fair skin, delicate features, and an elegant vibe. She wore a tight-fitting pink sweater, black leggings, and simple house slippers—yet nothing could hide her tall, curvy figure. Her full bust added a magnetic charm that screamed mature woman appeal.
Đinh Trường Sinh’s heart skipped a beat. Damn… this woman’s even hotter than Điền Ngạc Như.
Why the hell would Khấu Đại Bằng go after someone else?
Guess the saying's true—home flowers never smell as sweet as wild ones.
“Is this Auntie? Hello, Auntie.” Đinh Trường Sinh quickly put on his polite nephew act.
“Auntie?” The woman glanced at Khấu Đại Bằng, puzzled. “Who’s this?”
“Hinh Nhã, this is Đinh Trường Sinh, my cousin from Bàng Dục. Just recently reconnected. He’s here for dinner,” Khấu Đại Bằng explained.
“Oh, I see. Come in then.” Triệu Hinh Nhã smiled warmly, her perfect white teeth shining as she led them inside.
“Auntie, this is my first visit, so I brought a little something for you—a necklace.”
“What the hell, kid? Where’d you get the money for that? You didn’t steal it, did you?” Khấu Đại Bằng was more surprised than accusatory. His first thought was that Trường Sinh had used his money.
“Of course not! Just some unexpected income. Today’s all about showing appreciation,” Trường Sinh said, pulling out the necklace and handing it to him. “Uncle, help Auntie put it on, see if it suits her.”
Khấu Đại Bằng smirked. The kid was smooth. He took the necklace and turned to Triệu Hinh Nhã.
“Đại Bằng, this isn’t right. Trường Sinh just started working, who knows how much this cost. I can’t accept it,” she protested.
“Come on, don’t be so formal. Nhị Cẩu’s practically family.”
With that, she gave up resisting and let Khấu Đại Bằng clasp the necklace around her neck. Under the warm indoor lighting, it shimmered beautifully.
“Thank you, Trường Sinh. You two sit down. I’ll go bring out the food.” She smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.
“Be honest, kid—did you use my money?”
“Your money? What money?” Trường Sinh grinned. Which, of course, only confirmed it in Khấu Đại Bằng’s mind. But then again, if the money found its way back into his household, was it really a loss? He chuckled and gave the kid a playful smack on the head.
“Clever little bastard.”
“All thanks to your guidance!”
“Still... that situation with Điền is tricky. If anything goes wrong, I’ll be the first suspect. With Điền Gia Lượng gone, I’ve got the most to gain. That’s a problem.” Khấu Đại Bằng tugged at a beard hair, frowning.
“Leave it to me, Uncle. I’ll handle it in a way that keeps you squeaky clean. But if it all goes well, I’ve got one request.”
“A request? You haven’t even done it yet and you’re bargaining?” Khấu Đại Bằng narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t wanna be a cop anymore. I wanna join the town committee and work under you. How’s that sound?”
“You little punk, you don’t even have a diploma. What can you do?”
“I can do anything! And a diploma? Easy! I’ll just buy one up in the city. I’ve seen ads all over the place for fake degrees!”
“Haha, you’re insane, kid! This ain’t a game!”
Khấu Đại Bằng had to admit—this brat had guts and smarts, bold but careful. If only he had a proper education and was a bit older...
“Dad, Mom! I’m home!”
A cheerful girl’s voice rang from the yard.
“Sweetheart’s home! Go wash up, dinner’s ready!” Khấu Đại Bằng beamed.
“Yes, sir! Wait—who’s the guest?”
“He’s not really a guest. This is your cousin, Đinh Trường Sinh, right?”
“Yup, that’s me! Full name Đinh Trường Sinh, but no one calls me that. Everyone just says Đinh Nhị Cẩu. You can call me whatever you like, little sis.”
“Haha! Nhị Cẩu? What kind of name is that?” she giggled.
Trường Sinh looked at the girl—then back at her parents—and thought: She doesn’t look a thing like her dad… definitely takes after her mom. Future heartbreaker, for sure.
Even in her school uniform, it was obvious—put her in stylish clothes and she’d be drop-dead gorgeous.
“Khấu Oánh Oánh, don’t be rude! Call him Cousin, or Brother Trường Sinh,” Triệu Hinh Nhã gently reminded her as she brought out the dishes.
Only now did Trường Sinh learn the girl’s name—Khấu Oánh Oánh.
“I didn’t say anything rude! He said it himself! Right, Nhị Cẩu bro?” she teased.
“You little rascal!” Triệu Hinh Nhã feigned scolding.
Oánh Oánh stuck out her tongue and darted into her room.
“Don’t mind her, Trường Sinh. She’s always like that—no manners at all.”
“No worries, Auntie. Honestly, I’m so used to being called Nhị Cẩu, I forget my real name sometimes!” He chuckled.
Triệu Hinh Nhã smiled, liking the boy more and more.
“Oánh Oánh goes to the middle school nearby?” he asked.
“Yes, ninth grade now. Next year’s high school. But all she does is mess around—never takes studying seriously. Even I, a teacher, can’t get through to her. Her grades are a disaster,” Hinh Nhã sighed.
Khấu Đại Bằng sipped his wine and nodded, “Yup, I’m at my wit’s end.”
They all sat down at the table. Oánh Oánh, hearing her parents complain about her grades in front of a guest, pouted.
“Dad, don’t worry! I will get into high school. Can we just eat? Leave me alone!”
“How can I not worry? Your mom’s a teacher, and she can’t even teach her own daughter. What kind of example is that?” Khấu Đại Bằng muttered, picking food for her anyway.
“You guys gonna let me eat or what?” Oánh Oánh mumbled. But then her eyes lit up. “Whoa, Mom! Are you rich now? This necklace is gorgeous! Who got it for you?”
Triệu Hinh Nhã instinctively touched her neck and realized—she forgot to take it off. A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face as she stole a glance at Trường Sinh.
“Oánh Oánh, right? I think you’re smart. Maybe you just haven’t found the right study method. Give me a couple months with you, and I bet you can get into one of the best schools in the city.”
He saw Hinh Nhã’s awkward reaction and got the message—she doesn’t want the necklace’s origin exposed.
“What? Are you joking? You think I can get into the city’s top school? If you can just get me into the county’s top high school, my parents will probably build you a shrine!”
“You little brat, watch your mouth!” Khấu Đại Bằng barked. He was starting to second-guess bringing this kid home. Still… the boy did seem to have a talent for winning people over.
“Oánh Oánh, do you know what I did before this?”
“What? Were you some kind of prodigy?”
“Not exactly, but you’ve heard of Hải Dương No.1 High, right? Top school in the county. I studied there. From tenth grade, I was number one in my entire grade—until I dropped out. Ask around if you don’t believe me.”
Everyone paused. Even Khấu Đại Bằng looked surprised—he’d never heard this part of the kid’s past.
“Why’d you drop out then?” Oánh Oánh asked hesitantly.
“Landslide last year. Lost both my parents. My world collapsed, and there was no one left to take care of me. I had no choice but to quit. I could’ve gotten into Peking or Tsinghua, but… now it’s all gone.”
He put down his chopsticks, poured himself a drink, took a sip, and added softly, “Long story. I’ll tell you sometime. But trust me—if you follow my methods, high school entrance won’t be a problem.”
Oánh Oánh pouted skeptically. “You sure? You think everyone’s a genius?”
“Not at all.” He grinned. “Just need the right method. Trust me and give it a try.”
Hinh Nhã nodded, “Oánh Oánh, if your cousin really is that capable, give it a shot.”
Khấu Đại Bằng chimed in, “Yeah. If it helps you improve, why not?”
“Fine, I’ll try for a week. But if it sucks, I’m out,” Oánh Oánh said with a shrug.
Đinh Trường Sinh grinned. The girl was stubborn, but maybe he could help her.
Triệu Hinh Nhã looked between her daughter and Trường Sinh, feeling hopeful.
Khấu Đại Bằng frowned in thought, then nodded. “Alright. If Trường Sinh can really help, it’s worth a shot.”
“That’s right, Oánh Oánh. Don’t waste this chance,” Triệu Hinh Nhã encouraged.
Oánh Oánh smiled sweetly, “Thanks, big bro! I’ll be in your care!”
“No trouble at all. If you ace the entrance exam, I’ll be a proud mentor.”
The atmosphere lightened. But Khấu Đại Bằng couldn’t shake a lingering suspicion—Đinh Trường Sinh wasn’t as simple as he seemed.
He had spoken lightly, but the weight behind his words left everyone deep in thought. Triệu Hinh Nhã’s eyes held warmth, Oánh Oánh’s held admiration… and Khấu Đại Bằng? He was certain of one thing now: this kid’s brain was a real weapon.