The temperature in the mansion dropped instantly.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Spiritually.
Existentially.
Li Cheng turned his head slowly — like a robot running on 1% battery — and saw her silhouette appear at the end of the hallway.
Su Mengyu.
Still in her school uniform.
Still holding her bag.
Still looking like a goddess carved from pure frost.
But her expression?
Her expression said:
"Someone. Is. Going. To. Die."
And Li Cheng prayed to the heavens it wouldn't be him.
Yaling exhaled softly, amused. "Ah. Mengyu. You're early."
Mengyu stepped forward, heels clicking sharply across the marble floor.
"Mother," she said tightly, "I came home when I noticed your dinner guest never replied to my message."
Li Cheng almost collapsed.
YOU SENT ME A MESSAGE?!WHEN?!HOW DID I MISS IT?!
He discreetly fumbled for his phone.
There it was.
A single message from Mengyu:
"Is everything okay?"
Sent 15 minutes ago.
And his phone had been on silent.
He wanted to cry.
He was about to be killed by a misunderstanding.
Mengyu stopped right in front of him, her cold gaze locking onto his like a laser targeting system.
"You didn't reply."
"I—I—my phone was—system malfunction—my fingers—gravity—solar flares—" he stuttered.
He could feel his soul leaving his body in embarrassment.
She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"…You ignored me during a dinner with my mother."
Yaling chuckled softly. "Mengyu. Don't bully him."
"I'm not bullying him," Mengyu said calmly. "I'm asking questions."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Why are you here? Alone. With my mother. In her private lounge."
"HE'S HERE FOR BUSINESS," Yaling said instantly.
Mengyu folded her arms. "It's candlelit."
Yaling smiled gently. "Warm lighting."
Mengyu pointed at the table. "There were two wine glasses."
Yaling rolled her eyes. "Decoration."
"And you were sitting," Mengyu continued, "in that chair."
Li Cheng blinked. "W-What's wrong with that chair?"
Mengyu stared at him.
"That is my father's chair."
Silence.
A long, painful silence.
Li Cheng looked at Yaling.
"…You told me to sit there."
"I forgot," Yaling said without shame. "It's been three years."
Mengyu looked like she gained another reason to murder someone.
Li Cheng swallowed. "I—I'm sorry—I didn't mean to—"
She cut him off.
"Why are you blushing?"
"I'M NOT—IT'S—THE LIGHTING—YOUR MOM SAID—"
Yaling laughed softly, covering her mouth. "Stop terrifying him. He's already traumatized."
"I am NOT traumatized," Li Cheng said.
His voice cracked halfway through.
Yaling placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Come, Mengyu. Let's speak calmly."
Mengyu's eyes dropped to her mother's hand.
Then shifted to Li Cheng's face.
Then back to her mother's hand.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Her fingers curled at her sides.
"…Mother."
"Yes?"
"Please step away from him."
"Why?"
"Because you're making him look like a kidnapped prince."
Li Cheng nearly screamed.
"I AM NOT A PRINCE."
"You look like one," the mother and daughter said in unison.
He nearly passed out.
The Tense Lounge — Negotiations Begin
Mengyu exhaled slowly and sat down opposite her mother.
Li Cheng sat stiffly between them like a child caught between divorcing parents.
Yaling crossed her legs elegantly. "Mengyu. Why are you upset?"
"I'm not upset."
"You're frowning."
"It's my face."
"You're gripping your bag."
"That's because he didn't reply!"
Her voice cracked — not from anger, but something else.
Worry.
And that shocked Li Cheng more than anything.
"…Mengyu," he said softly, "I wasn't ignoring you. I swear. I was just… nervous. And distracted."
She blinked.
Then blinked again.
Her face softened — just slightly.
"…You were nervous?"
"I was sitting in your father's chair, Mengyu."
"Oh."
She looked away, embarrassed.
"…I see."
Yaling smirked. "If you're done glaring at him, come sit properly."
Mengyu reluctantly sat beside Li Cheng.
Not too far.
Not too close.
But enough for him to feel the cold aura radiating from her.
A very strangely comforting cold aura.
Yaling steepled her fingers. "Good. Now let's talk."
Li Cheng panicked internally.
TALK ABOUT WHAT?
BUSINESS?
FAMILY?
MARRIAGE CONTRACTS?!
The CEO continued calmly.
"Li Cheng, I want to formalize your partnership. Tonight."
Mengyu stiffened.
"…Mother."
"This is purely business," Yaling said smoothly. "I intend to support his company. Not adopt him."
Li Cheng nodded rapidly. "YES. BUSINESS. JUST BUSINESS. NOTHING ELSE BUT BUSINESS. WE ARE ALL BUSINESS PEOPLE HERE."
Mengyu looked at him.
"…Stop talking."
"Okay."
He shut up instantly.
Yaling smiled warmly. "As I said earlier, I believe in your potential. ChengTech has promise. I'm willing to give you an office, staff, legal support—"
Li Cheng nearly choked. "That's TOO MUCH."
Mengyu added, "You will overwhelm him."
Yaling shot her daughter a dry look. "You sound jealous."
"I'M NOT JEALOUS."
Li Cheng coughed violently to hide the awkwardness.
Yaling smiled again. "Let me finish."
She opened a folder and handed it to him.
A sleek contract.
Clean terms.
A starting grant.
Equity split that actually favored him.
Li Cheng stared at it.
"This is… insane."
"This is an opportunity," she corrected softly. "Take it."
He swallowed hard.
"Can I… think for a moment?"
"Of course."
Mengyu watched him quietly.
Then whispered:
"…You don't have to accept immediately."
He looked at her.
She looked away again.
"You should do what feels right to you," she said softly. "Not what impresses someone else."
Li Cheng felt something warm in his chest.
"…Thanks."
She didn't reply, but her ears turned pink.
Yaling sipped her wine, amused. "Young people. So dramatic."
Before Li Cheng could reply—
Someone knocked on the door.
Three slow knocks.
Yaling frowned. "Strange. I told the staff not to disturb us."
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A chill ran up Li Cheng's spine.
Even Mengyu seemed uneasy.
"Mother… who else knew we were here?"
"No one," Yaling said slowly.
The knocks stopped.
Silence.
Then the door handle turned.
Li Cheng stood.
Mengyu stood.
Yaling stood.
The door opened—
And a woman stepped in.
A woman with long black hair.
Slim figure.
Sharp eyes.
A serious expression.
Someone they ALL recognized.
The school's vice principal.
Ms. Liang.
There was a brief, horrible silence.
Then she cleared her throat.
"…Good evening, Ms. Su. My apologies for arriving unannounced."
Yaling blinked. "Ms. Liang. Why are you here?"
Ms. Liang hesitated.
Her eyes shifted to Li Cheng.
Then to Mengyu.
Then back to Yaling.
"I came because," she said carefully, "there is a… complication."
Li Cheng froze.
Mengyu narrowed her eyes.
Yaling's smile faded. "Explain."
Ms. Liang reached into her bag.
Pulled out a document.
Placed it on the table.
"Li Cheng," she said quietly, "this concerns you."
He stared at the document.
Confused.
"What… is this?"
Ms. Liang inhaled slowly.
"It seems someone submitted a formal complaint against you."
Silence.
A thick, suffocating silence.
Li Cheng's stomach dropped.
His hands trembled.
Mengyu's expression turned dark instantly. "Who?"
Ms. Liang swallowed.
"…The faculty."
"…What?"
Mengyu's voice was icy.
Li Cheng felt his heart pounding.
Ms. Liang continued grimly.
"An investigation may begin tomorrow."
Li Cheng nearly fell back into his chair.
"What did I even DO?"
Ms. Liang looked at him with sympathy.
"You became… too popular."
Mengyu looked like she was ready to murder all of humanity.
Yaling's expression sharpened — dangerously sharp.
"Who authorized this?" she said, voice ice-cold.
Ms. Liang hesitated.
"I shouldn't say."
"Mengyu," Yaling said calmly.
Mengyu stepped forward immediately.
"Answer her," she ordered.
Ms. Liang flinched under the combined mother-daughter pressure.
"…The school board."
Li Cheng's blood ran cold.
"The—school board?"
Ms. Liang nodded.
"They… suspect you might be receiving inappropriate benefits. Due to your sudden change in lifestyle."
Li Cheng stared.
Then stared harder.
Then stared at the ceiling.
"INAPPROPRIATE BENEFITS?! FROM WHERE?! THE HEAVENS?!"
Mengyu grabbed his arm instinctively.
"Don't panic."
Yaling closed the folder with a soft click.
Her eyes turned razor sharp.
"Ms. Liang."
"Yes?"
"Tell the board something."
Ms. Liang swallowed nervously. "W-What?"
Yaling stepped forward, heels tapping like a countdown to destruction.
"Tell them," she said softly, "that if they want to investigate Li Cheng…"
She leaned in slowly.
"…they will have to investigate me as well."
Ms. Liang turned pale. "Ms. Su—please—wait—"
"Do it."
Her voice was absolute.
Commanding.
Terrifying.
Ms. Liang bowed shakily and left the room in a rush.
Li Cheng collapsed back into his chair.
Mengyu sat beside him quickly.
"Are you okay?"
He laughed weakly. "My life… is a disaster."
Mengyu's expression softened again.
"…Then I'll stand with you."
He froze.
Yaling smiled.
"Both of us will."
Li Cheng stared at them.
These two stunning, terrifying, intelligent women—
Both promising to protect him.
Both looking at him with something unspoken.
And his brain broke.
Because of ALL the moments for his system to chime—
It chose now.
A soft ding echoed in his head.
[New Achievement Unlocked: "Accidentally Forming a Mother-Daughter Alliance."]
[Warning: Host's reputation has reached dangerously absurd levels.]
[Side effect: Trouble will increase exponentially.]
Li Cheng whispered:
"I hate everything."
Mengyu whispered back:
"I know."
Yaling patted his shoulder gently.
"Welcome," she said with a smile,
"to the real battlefield."