Chapter 70 Meeting with Zhao Hongyan! (1)

The world around them seemingly transformed as the black and white hues that had once dominated dissolved into an array of vibrant colors.

Time resumed its normal function, yet Zhang Wei remained in a state of confusion, still reeling from his earlier encounter with an unknown entity.

He had been trapped in that moment for what felt like an eternity, but still, time had stood still.

The entity had warned him not to reveal its existence to the system, so for now, Zhang Wei would remain silent, observing and analyzing his surroundings until he could figure out what was happening.

[The secret conversation between the unknown entity and Zhang Wei would be revealed in future.]

With a stoic expression on his face, Zhang Wei took hold of the steering wheel and closed the car door as Song Shoushan sat quietly next to him, occasionally giving him directions to her home.

He didn’t need her guidance though; he already knew the way to Mansion Row like the back of his hand.

Suddenly, he reached for his cigarettes and lit one inside the car, inhaling deeply as he rolled down the windows.

“Hey, don’t smoke while driving!” protested Song Shoushan, but Zhang Wei paid her no mind, offering a curt reply.

“The doors are unlocked. Jump down whenever you want.”

His sudden change in mien left Song Shoushan completely taken aback and unsure of how to react.

Zhang Wei wasn’t in the mood to argue with a high schooler.

His mind was preoccupied with something else, and he needed some clarifications from the system.

‘Hey system, is there a difference between manipulating someone and blackmailing them?’ he inquired.

For a moment, the system remained silent, causing Zhang Wei to feel impatient.

But then it responded, [What kind of difference are you talking about?]

Zhang Wei paused to gather his thoughts. ‘Well, in manipulation, we give someone what they want. But in blackmailing, we take something away from them and hold it ransom. So, is there a difference between the two?’

The system took a moment to process his query before answering bluntly, [Of course there’s a difference, host. In the first scenario, the person you’re dealing with would likely have a positive opinion of you. But in blackmailing, you’re doing something that is frowned upon, and more often than not, they would hate you for it. Just like Rong Meili or Leng Yan.]

Zhang Wei listened attentively, nodding as he realized the truth in the system’s words.

Then, the system continued, [Yu Lei is one of those cases of manipulation, where you give her what she wants emotionally, and she holds a favorable opinion of you despite that. But maybe you haven’t analyzed your behavior yet. Although you eye every beautiful woman on the road, your way of approaching them is different. For some, you take the brute force approach with blackmail and coercion, while for others, you prefer to manipulate them. You don’t seem to care about the opinion or hate of one category of women while being sensitive to the feelings of others.]

Zhang Wei raised his thick eyebrows in surprise, his eyes widening in realization.

He nodded slowly, his mind processing the truth that had just come to light.

“Why do you ask this out of the blue, host?” asked the system, its mechanical voice sounding slightly off, as if even it sensed that things were not as they seemed.

Zhang Wei didn’t bother to reply, his gaze distant as he focused on the road ahead. He knew he was the master here, not the system.

But the boundaries between manipulation and coercion became clear to him after talking to that unknown entity and the system.

He couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck that refused to go away.

He continued to drive, the wheels of his car screeching as he took a sharp turn.

The road ahead of him was deserted, the silence broken only by the sound of his car’s engine.

Finally, he arrived at a slightly secluded area within the mansion row.

His eyes widened in surprise as he took in the sight before him.

The mansion was neither too big nor too small, with a sleek, contemporary design that bespoke wealth and style.

But what surprised him was the fact that there were no more mansions nearby, and it was located in a secluded place.

It was as if it didn’t belong in this neighborhood, as if it had been transported by some magic to this spot.

For someone to own something like this, it was impossible that they would recommend such a design personally at the time of construction.

Even the construction of big cities wasn’t done by families like Song or Lin, rather by the influential big dogs in the capital.

Zhang Wei wasn’t surprised, considering Zhao Hongyan’s last name was ‘Zhao.’ His mind raced as he tried to connect the dots, wondering why someone from the capital would marry into the Song family.

It didn’t make sense, and his gut told him that there was more to this story than what met the eye.

‘Why would someone from captial marry in Song family…?’

With a smooth stop, the car came to a halt, and Song Shoushan unlocked the door before stepping outside.

However, just as she got out, her ears tuned in to the sound of a woman’s voice, sending shivers down her spine.

“Shanshan?” A slightly tall yet striking woman stood before the pavement, her frown evident on her face.

The woman’s figure was nothing less than captivating.

Standing tall with poise and elegance, her rosy cheeks shone against her glowing, milky skin, and her gaze penetrated endlessly into the horizon, shimmering like the water beneath the sun.

An aura of charisma and charm oozed from her well-endowed body, accentuated by her ample breasts and plump, rounded derriere that filled out her fitted black cotton dress with ease. With each step, her toned, slender thighs ensconced in beige stockings were revealed. The feet that shone in elegant crystal-colored high heels drew attention to her every movement.

She exuded nobility and sophistication, which was impossible to ignore.

Song Shoushan felt her mother’s sharp eyes piercing through her, instantly causing her expression to change to a look of terror.

“Mom, I…” But before she could say anything, her mother’s mature figure slightly bent and hugged her, startling Song Shoushan, who was not used to this show of affection.

“Huh?” Song Shoushan was surprised by the sudden change.

She and Zhao Hongyan used to have frequent fights, so it came as an unexpected surprise.

“Thank god, Shanshan, you’re home safe and sound. I was so worried that something had happened to you.” Zhao Hongyan’s voice was filled with genuine concern, causing tears to well up in Song Shoushan’s eyes.

Song Shoushan felt embarrassed and guilty for having skipped school and played games all day, but she dared not confess.

She extended her hand, whispering, “I’m alright, mom. Zhang Wei was with me…”

Her words were barely audible, and she felt even more guilty when she saw her mother’s expression of concern turn to relief.

Zhao Hongyan broke the embrace and smoothed down her hair, masking any hint of emotion with an air of nobility.

But then she suddenly remembered there was someone else in the car. “Who is this Zhang Wei, Shanshan?” she asked, her eyes peering through the car window.

?? 𝚘𝑣𝐥xt.𝗇𝓔t

Song Shoushan looked utterly bewildered, and the confusion was evident on her face.

She couldn’t wrap her head around why her own mother didn’t know Zhang Wei.

The puzzle pieces simply refused to fit together, leaving her feeling increasingly troubled and anxious.

She spent a few moments staring blankly into space, trying to come up with a way to explain the situation to her mother.

Meanwhile, inside the car, Zhang Wei was watching the unfolding drama with keen interest.

He couldn’t help but notice how much Zhao Hongyan valued her daughter, which only made his next move that much easier.

As he stepped out of the vehicle, he greeted her with a warm smile.

“Good evening, Ms. Hongyan. My name is Zhang Wei, and I happen to be one of Shanshan’s closest friends.”

Zhao Hongyan regarded Zhang Wei with a cautious eye, not entirely certain what to make of him.

She appraised him from head to toe, desperately trying to glean some insight into who he was and what he wanted from them.

“Well, hello there, Zhang Wei. It’s certainly a pleasure to finally meet one of Shanshan’s friends,” she said, her tone carefully neutral.

Zhang Wei purposely used the term”Ms.” for Zhao Hongyan, knowing that she lived separately from her husband and wanting to avoid any possible confusion or awkwardness.

Seeing that she hadn’t interrupted him, it futher confirmed that his choice was well on point.

Zhao Hongyan eyed Zhang Wei warily, unsure of his intentions. She hesitated before deciding to let him in, conscious of her daughter’s safety.

“Alright, come inside and let’s talk,” she waved towards the entrance. “Shanshan, take Zhang Wei to the living room while I make some tea.”

Song Shoushan reluctantly guided Zhang Wei to the living room, visibly uneasy about the situation. Sensing her discomfort, he attempted to put her at ease.

“Don’t worry, Shanshan. Your mother seems reasonable. I’m sure we can resolve things.”

But Song Shoushan’s countenance darkened and she spat, “You tricked me.”

Undaunted, Zhang Wei chuckled and replied, “Well, didn’t you also trick me to come here? We’re even now, girl.”

Song Shoushan fell silent, lips pursed in a pout. She braced herself for the scolding that she knew was coming from her mother later.