After the Secrets of the Passerby Were Leaked, He Was Cherished by Villains

Chapter 14: What Kind of Mother

The two entangled figures were startled by the sudden shout, and their terror only multiplied when they turned to see so many people staring at them.

Simultaneously, the sound of "click, click, click" from the flashing cameras filled the air, the white light rapidly blinking and casting their flushed faces into a ghastly pallor.

Meeting Mrs. Xu's gaze, both of them panicked.

Xu Yao hastily began to straighten his clothes.

Mr. Xu, also known as Xu Hai, came to his senses and pushed Xu Yao away, his hands leaving his body. He didn't even have time to fix his own clothes before turning to look at Mrs. Xu, his voice trembling slightly, "Zhuang hua, listen to my explanation..."

Zhuang hua , who was Mrs. Xu, glared at the two with red eyes, her entire body trembling slightly from anger. "What... what do you still want to explain? Are you going to tell me that this is just a joke?"

"Xu Hai, do you take me for a fool?! Am I blind?!"

Xu Hai opened his mouth, his face turning from white to red, his neck flushed. He decided to change the subject, glaring at the reporters behind Zhuang hua. "What are you filming for?! Don't film!"

Ye Leyao blinked:

"He's panicking, he's panicking!"

Of course, the reporters wouldn't listen to Xu Hai. If it weren't for the inopportune timing, they would have already rushed forward with their microphones to conduct interviews!

The cameraman was pressing the shutter button so quickly that sparks seemed to fly. Such big news had to be captured entirely! Tomorrow's gossip headline must be theirs!

Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind. Ye Leyao turned around and saw Xu Yunzhi and Xu Chen rushing over.

Upon entering, Xu Chen first glanced at Xu Hai and Xu Yao. Seeing that neither of them looked good, he looked at Zhuang hua in confusion. "Mom, Dad, Brother, what's going on here?"

Ye Leyao gave Xu Chen an exasperated look:

"What's going on, your "eldest brother" really is like a father now, aren't you, Big Dopey Chun."

Huo Yan, who had just arrived, barely managed to suppress a smile.

Huo Ba and Huo Ma also had restrained smiles on their faces.

Due to drinking the spiked wine, Mr. Xu, or Xu Hai, was clearly still confused at this point. As more guests arrived, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

Xu Yao, however, calmed down faster than him. He knelt directly in front of Zhuang hua with a resounding "bang."

"Mom, it's all my fault, but now isn't the time to argue about this..."

"Still calling me Mom?"

"Isn't it inappropriate? Shouldn't you call her Madam now?"

Ye Leyao clicked her tongue.

Family ethics were thoroughly understood by Ye Leyao.

Qin Yao, standing behind Ye Leyao, found it hard to hold back his laughter.

But Zhuang hua couldn't hold back any longer. With a slap, she struck Xu Yao across the face.

This slap was delivered with full force, causing Xu Yao's head to snap to the side, his face immediately swelling.

Before he could say anything, Xu Chen, who was watching beside him, became agitated first. He hurriedly stepped forward to hold Zhuang hua back, his voice loud. "Mom, what are you doing?!"

In the next moment, Xu Yunzhi stepped forward and forcefully pulled Xu Chen away.

Staggering from the pull, Xu Chen almost fell, but he angrily lifted his head, ready to question Xu Yunzhi. However, he heard Xu Yunzhi's deep voice, "Mom came to catch the mistress, why are you stopping her?"

A sentence loaded with information left Xu Chen momentarily speechless. "Wha ...what?"

Ye Leyao, however, was excited:

"Indeed! Xu Yunzhi knew about it, which means Zhuang hua discovered it long ago."

"So whether it's today's banquet or the reporters who entered the wrong room, it was all planned!"

"Inviting the enemy into the pot, catching the turtle in the pot, the mantis catching the cicada while the oriole waits behind! Brilliant!"

The Huo family nodded in agreement.

Yes, yes, that's right!

The facade was mercilessly torn off by Xu Yunzhi. Seeing the various expressions on the surrounding people's faces, Xu Hai's expression turned ugly. Being someone who cared greatly about his reputation, he immediately lowered his voice. "Yunzhi, what nonsense are you spouting?! Hurry up and disperse the guests—"

"Slap—"

Before Xu Hai could finish his sentence, Zhuang hua's slap landed on him.

Xu Hai was stunned by the blow, looking at Zhuang hua with red eyes. "You—"

"What 'you'?" At this point, Zhuang hua seemed to be gradually regaining her composure. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone present to hear. "Xu Hai, when you and Xu Yao were having an affair, you didn't care about your shame. Now you know how to care about your face? You know to disperse the guests? Did you consider this when you were doing something shameful here with him? Did you think about me?!"

Many guests who hadn't been aware of the situation had just arrived and heard this sentence packed with information, their eyes widening in shock.

Having an affair?

Who with who?

Xu Hai and Xu Yao?!

Weren't they adoptive father and son?!

The guests' gazes toward Xu Hai and Xu Yao instantly carried a mix of gossip and disdain.

Unbelievable. Xu Yao, such a fine young man, had actually gotten involved with his adoptive father?

And Xu Hai... to be able to make a move on his own adopted son, how despicable! How shameless!

Xu Chen was even more shocked, his mouth agape.

What illicit affair?

His older brother and their father?

Was this some kind of joke?

Xu Chen shook his head, looking at Zhuang Hua. "Mom, could you have made a mistake..."

"Whether I've made a mistake or not, I know better than you," Xu Yunzhi interrupted Xu Chen.

Xu Chen felt as if someone had forcefully clamped a hand around his throat, muttering, "Impossible, Mom... Big Brother isn't that kind of person! I trust them, you must have made a mistake!"

Ye Leyao shook her head in disapproval:

"If I were Aunt Zhuang, I'd definitely slap Xu Chen. What a headache he must be."

"Smack—"

As if hearing Ye Leyao's thoughts, Zhuang Hua's slap landed on Xu Chen's face the next second. As if unsatisfied, she delivered another slap to his right cheek.

Ye Leyao was instantly gratified. "Perfect, perfectly symmetrical. It's a relief for those with OCD! Flawless!"

The Huo family members around her lowered their heads.

It wasn't that they didn't want to watch the drama unfold; it was just that they couldn't hold back their laughter any longer.

Looking at Xu Chen's face, swollen like a pig's head,

it was indeed quite symmetrical.

And even funnier!

Dazed by the two slaps, Xu Chen covered his face, staring at Zhuang Hua in disbelief. "Mom, you hit me?"

Zhuang Hua didn't even want to look at Xu Chen anymore, turning instead to glare coldly at Xu Yao, who seemed about to collapse, and Xu Hai, whose face was ashen.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, they had already lost all face. More guests were approaching, including the Huo family, and they were thoroughly panicked.

This matter would surely spread after today. After it did, how could they ever hold their heads high again in front of acquaintances?

Xu Yao looked at Zhuang Hua, his eyes filled with pleading: "Mom, please..."

"Don't call me 'Mom'," Zhuang Hua said coldly. "You disgust me. I don't deserve to be called your mother!"

Tears suddenly welled up in Xu Yao's eyes.

The onlooking guests could no longer contain themselves.

They were all influential figures in the business world and no strangers to scandal, but something so outrageous was truly a first.

"How shameless!"

"Truly shameless!"

"Poor Zhuang Hua, raising an ungrateful brat for twenty years."

Each word pierced Xu Hai and Xu Yao's hearts.

Xu Hai could no longer hold back his anger, roaring, "What are you all staring at?! Stop taking pictures! All of you, get lost! Scram—"

Ye Leyao couldn't help but take a step back:

"Is he going crazy?"

"Just don't involve me!"

Qin Yao and the Huo family also cautiously took a large step back.

When eating melons, safety came first.

Xu Hai stepped forward and began shoving the surrounding reporters. The reporters couldn't retaliate physically, so they could only retreat repeatedly. Soon, a group of them was pushed into the corridor.

After pushing the reporters away, Xu Hai went for Zhuang Hua, but she stood her ground, immovable. He couldn't close the door, and his temper flared. He was about to resort to violence.

Just as others were about to step in to help, Xu Yunzhi moved quickly, shielding Zhuang Hua with one arm while grabbing Xu Hai's arm and wrenching it backward with the other. A crisp crack echoed through the air, and Xu Hai erupted in agony. "Ahhhh—Pain! Pain! Xu Yunzhi! Have you gone mad? I'm your father..."

Xu Chen, startled by Xu Hai's scream, finally snapped out of his daze and stepped forward. "Brother... let go of Dad..."

Ye Leyao frowned at Xu Chen's baffling actions:

"What's wrong with Xu Chen's head?"

"Not helping Aunt Zhuang is one thing, but he's going to care for the scoundrel and his stepfather?"

Huo Father and Huo Mother nodded in agreement.

Someone in the crowd remarked, "Xu Chen is known to take sides unfairly."

"Looks like Zhuang Hua raised two ungrateful brats."

The discussions were unreserved, and Xu Chen's face turned bright red.

Xu Yunzhi turned to glance at Xu Chen, his voice deep and heavy. "At a time like this, you're still going to protect them?"

Xu Chen's eyes flickered for a moment as he recalled the shocking news he had just heard. A hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "But they are still Dad and Eldest Brother. As a family, we can discuss matters slowly..."

Ye Leyao commented, "Can't see the forest for the trees!"

Mr. Huo: That's right!

Ye Leyao: "If Mr. Huo dared to treat Mrs. Huo like that, I'd definitely be the first one to rush up and beat him up!"

Mr. Huo nodded: Right! Wait!!

Mr. Huo: ?????

No! Who asked you to compare me!

Can something like this be compared randomly?

I'm a million times better than that scoundrel Xu Hai!

Mr. Huo clenched his jaw.

Mrs. Huo, however, smiled in relief.

Indeed, their Leyao was the most considerate!

Huo Yan glanced at Mr. and Mrs. Huo, unable to resist imagining what would happen if Mr. Huo really betrayed Mrs. Huo... Cough cough!

He would definitely side with Mrs. Huo!

Beating up one's own father might feel awkward the first time, but it would become easier the second time! And by the third time, it would be like riding a bike!

Fortunately, only the Huo family could hear Ye Leyao's thoughts, otherwise if Huo Yan's thoughts were revealed, there would truly be a great mourning.

Then it would be Mr. Huo's turn to feel awkward the first time, smooth the second time, and masterful by the third!

"Let him go," Zhuang Hua suddenly spoke. The situation had escalated as she had anticipated, with more and more guests gathering around. She was now somewhat exhausted, casting a faint glance at Xu Chen as her final act.

Xu Chen felt a chill from Zhuang Hua's gaze, suddenly sensing an ominous premonition.

Ye Leyao understood:

"Oh, it seems Xu Chen will indeed have two fathers from now on."

"Zhuang Auntie's calm gaze shows no trace of hurt, clearly indicating she's been utterly disappointed by Xu Chen."

"Zhuang Auntie must have hit him earlier as his last chance. Unfortunately, Xu Chen didn't seize it."

Ye Leyao's voice was cheerful; he enjoyed watching Xu Chen, who couldn't see the forest for the trees, suffer!

Xu Yun released Xu Hai, who stumbled. Xu Yao and Xu Chen hurried to support him.

Zhuang Hua watched the scene coldly, her heart strangely calm. Looking at this "filial piety" display, she actually laughed and said, "Xu Hai, I'll have the divorce papers drawn up and sent to you soon. According to our previous agreement, if you cheat, you leave with nothing. From now on, live well with your two 'sons'."

Xu Hai froze, momentarily forgetting even to cry out in pain.

Xu Chen suddenly lifted his head, looking at Zhuang Hua in disbelief. "Mom, you don't want me anymore?"

Ye Leyao was speechless:

"Your mom has been humiliated by your dad and your stepdad, yet you were still taking sides earlier."

"Now you have the nerve to ask if your mom wants you. I said it before, Xu Chen is mentally ill!"

The Huo family nodded in agreement.

Ye Leyao, the spokesperson for their entire family!

Zhuang Hua looked at Xu Chen as if he were a stranger, not wanting to say anything more. She simply told Xu Yun beside her, "Let's go."

With Zhuang Hua leaving, the others naturally didn't linger, turning to depart.

At that moment, Xu Yao suddenly shouted fiercely, "You—you did it on purpose!"

Zhuang Hua paused in her steps. "I don't understand what you mean."

Xu Yao had been trapped in panic, so he hadn't realized that the spiked drink he had placed on the tray himself hadn't affected Xu Yun, but instead, Xu Hai, who usually had a decent alcohol tolerance, had dragged him into this room.

In a flash, Xu Yao understood everything.

Zhuang Hua had known all along!

She had known all along!

A chill ran down Xu Yao's spine, his voice trembling. "You knew about my plan, you turned it against me...just so Xu Hai would leave with nothing?"

Zhuang Hua scoffed lightly, not turning back. "I don't understand what you mean."

Xu Yao instantly lost all strength, collapsing to the ground.

Seeing this, Xu Chen rushed to help. "Eldest Brother, you..."

As the crowd dispersed, Ye Leyao, who had been watching the commotion from inside, had not left yet, suddenly coming into Xu Chen's view.

Xu Chen trembled, glaring at Ye Leyao in shame and anger. "You—"

Just as Qin Yao was about to step forward, Ye Leyao delivered the final blow. "Congratulations, now you only have one Eldest Brother."

Xu Chen choked, the words stuck in his throat. "You...you, you—"

Ye Leyao blinked, giving him a polite smile. Sorry, but he just liked settling scores on the spot!