At The Beginning Of The Novel, The Villain Forced The Protagonist’s Step-Mom To Bear His Children

Chapter 52

[Ding! Chen Mo is furious, +666 emotional points] 

Chen Mo took a deep breath, calming the fury that surged within him. 

His rage wasn’t going anywhere; he would settle the score with Xu Hao—but not here, not now.

The place and time was wrong. 

Glancing at Wang Xueying, he felt a pang of regret, knowing that she was disappointed. He knew why: she had seen him associating with these men.

But what Wang Xueying didn’t understand was that not all people in the underworld were the same. 

The Brotherhood, the gang he was a part of, wasn’t about petty crimes. They didn’t rob, murder, or harm the innocent. They protected their own, but if someone crossed them, they weren’t afraid to retaliate.

As the group sat down and began ordering food, they discussed the latest developments, particularly their ongoing struggle with the Liu family.

“The Liu family’s really something, aren’t they? When they can’t win fairly, they use their money to get the authorities on our backs,” one man grumbled.

“If it were up to me, I’d kidnap that little brat of theirs and teach them a lesson,” another suggested.

“Don’t be impulsive. We’ve been badly hurt by Ah San and his crew recently. If we do anything illegal, they’ll jump at the chance to take us down.”

“Damn it, if I catch those rats, I’ll make them pay,” the first man snarled.

One of the men turned to Chen Mo, seeking his advice. “Xiao Mo, what do you think? You’re the boss’s apprentice and the strongest among us. We trust your judgment.”

Chen Mo barely heard him. 

After all, his attention was elsewhere—specifically, on Wang Xueying at the next table. 

Today, she wore a professional outfit that highlighted her graceful figure, and her long, silky hair was tied up, giving her an air of gentle elegance. She looked absolutely stunning, a beauty that made the men at Chen Mo’s table exchange knowing glances.

“No wonder Xiao Mo’s distracted. Looks like someone’s got spring fever,” one of them teased.

“Hey, Xiao Mo, don’t tell me you’ve never been with a woman before?” another joked, smirking.

A third man chimed in, “He’s got strength, sure, but when it comes to women, he could learn a thing or two from me. Women are like sand—you just need to add a little water, and you can shape them however you want.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re such an expert,” another scoffed. “Keep going to those massage parlors every day, and one day you’ll die on a woman’s belly.”

“Xiao Mo, you want some tips? I can teach you how to win that girl over,” another offered, winking.

Their loud banter didn’t go unnoticed. 

Wang Xueying overheard every word, her face darkening with embarrassment and anger. 

She was increasingly convinced that Chen Mo’s association with these men was a bad idea.

Chen Mo caught Wang Xueying’s expression and felt a wave of frustration. His friends thought they were helping him, but they were actually ruining his chances with her. He could only smile bitterly.

Meanwhile, Xu Hao, seated at another table, noticed Wang Xueying’s unease. He smiled and picked up a piece of tender fish, placing it in her bowl. “This dish is excellent, just like you,” he said with a nod.

Wang Xueying, flustered by the gesture, stammered her thanks, feeling a mix of emotions. 

[Ding! Wang Xueying is flustered, +567 emotional points]  

[Ding! Chen Mo is furious, +876 emotional points] 

Chen Mo’s fury reached new heights. 

He clenched his fists, barely containing his anger. He had always liked Wang Xueying, and seeing Xu Hao trying to get close to her was unbearable. 

If it weren’t for the wrong timing, he would have rushed over and beaten Xu Hao on the spot.

Throughout the meal, Chen Mo’s anger simmered, especially as he watched Xu Hao and Wang Xueying interact with growing familiarity.

After they finished eating, Xu Hao and Wang Xueying left the restaurant together. 

Wang Xueying walked with her head down, lost in thought, unsure of Xu Hao’s intentions. 

Xu Hao, on the other hand, was starting to show his true colors. 

When they first met, he had been cautious, not wanting to scare her off. But now that they were becoming more comfortable with each other, he was testing the waters with subtle advances.

“Xueying, do you want me to take you back to school?” Xu Hao offered.

“No… no, that’s okay. I don’t have classes this afternoon, so I’ll just take a taxi home,” Wang Xueying replied, her voice tinged with nervousness. 

She quickly hailed a taxi and left, eager to escape the confusing emotions that Xu Hao was stirring within her.

Xu Hao watched her leave, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, already planning his next move.

Just then, a voice laced with anger interrupted his thoughts. “Xu Hao, I told you to stay away from Teacher Wang. It seems you didn’t listen.”

Xu Hao turned around slowly, a slight smile playing on his lips. 

He wasn’t afraid of Chen Mo anymore. 

With his current strength, he felt confident he could at least hold his own. But there was no need to fight directly. If push came to shove, he could easily deal with Chen Mo’s lackeys.

“Last time, I invited Teacher Wang for lunch, and this time she returned the favor. Isn’t that reasonable?” Xu Hao said, his tone deliberately provoking.

“It’s not just about lunch. Why are you getting so close to her? Aren’t you worried that your facade will crumble?” Chen Mo shot back, barely containing his fury.

Xu Hao feigned ignorance. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Xueying and I are just friends…”

[Ding! Chen Mo is furious, +889 emotional points]

“You don’t get it, huh? Let me make it clear for you…” Chen Mo said, his voice low and menacing as he prepared to strike.

Before he could move, his gang members quickly intervened, realizing who Xu Hao was. Recognizing him as the head of the Xu Group, a company worth billions, they knew better than to let Chen Mo act impulsively.

“Xiao Mo, don’t be rash. Let’s talk this through,” one of them urged, trying to defuse the situation.

“I’m sure Mr. Xu is a reasonable man.” another added, hoping to avoid further conflict. They knew that provoking Xu Hao could bring disaster upon their gang, which was already struggling against the Liu family. 

Chen Mo was held back by his own gang, unable to lash out at Xu Hao. His face was a mask of frustration and anger, but he couldn’t do anything. 

Seeing this, Xu Hao couldn’t help but sneer. “It’s amusing, seeing how powerless you are when you’re this angry…”

Chen Mo flinched, feeling the sting of Xu Hao’s words.

“Do you really think you can order what I do? I’ve been ignoring you because I don’t care, but don’t mistake that for weakness. If you dare to challenge me again, don’t expect me to go easy on you…”

With a final disdainful glance, Xu Hao turned and walked to his car, which his secretary had waiting for him. 

Chen Mo stood there, seething as Xu Hao drove away.

At this moment, Chen Mo realized how insignificant he still was. 

After years of hard work, he had hoped to return stronger, ready to take on anyone. But the reality was different. He had been unable to deal with the Liu family, let alone Xu Hao.

As Xu Hao drove off, Chen Mo’s anger and hatred only fueled his determination. He knew he had to grow stronger, to expand the Brotherhood until the day he could challenge anyone without fear.

[Ding! Chen Mo is furious, +987 emotional points]

Meanwhile, in the car, Xu Hao gazed out the window, lost in thought. He was already considering how to weaken the Brotherhood by using the Blood Slaughter Club. 

After all, it was his manipulation that had put the Brotherhood in a position to challenge the Liu family so early on.

The battle between the two forces grew increasingly intense, with the Blood Slaughter Society lurking in the shadows. Their goal was to weaken both sides and take advantage of the chaos.

The protagonist represents change, so the forces aligned with him couldn’t be completely suppressed.

…

As night fell, hidden evils unfolded behind the bustling city streets. 

In a slum located at the junction between the south and west parts of the city, a gang fight was taking place. 

On one side was Chen Mo’s gang of brothers, and on the other, a coalition of small forces from Nancheng, like the Little Sword Society and the Overlord Sect.

Chen Mo’s gang was known for their strict code of conduct. They were forbidden from killing, setting fires, or looting. After becoming the dominant force in Nancheng, they even spread this code to others: “If any group is caught doing evil, they’ll be eliminated immediately.” 

This caused the smaller forces in Nancheng to live in fear, knowing that defiance could mean death. 

Although they thought of resisting, the Brotherhood’s power was overwhelming. Even with their leader framed and imprisoned, they didn’t dare to act out. 

However, a clash between the Brotherhood and the Liu family gave them hope of overthrowing their oppressors. 

When the Liu family spent a large sum of money, the small groups gathered together. Though united, they were still no match for the Brotherhood.

Only one key member of the Brotherhood had been sent out to face them, and they were already holding their own. 

The Brotherhood had six core members, and the one sent this time was Lao Liu, the sixth-ranked member.

“Brothers, let’s kill these punks and remind them who runs Nancheng!” a man shouted, waving a bloody knife as he slashed an enemy before him. 

The battle cries, clashing blades, and screams filled the air, creating a scene of chaos and bloodshed. 

It was hard to believe such violence could occur in a city known for its rapid economic development. 

But this wasn’t unique to this city; darkness existed wherever there was light, and while it could never fully compete with the light, it had its own ways of surviving.

The authorities were aware of these underground conflicts, so they established a rule: “If you have grievances, settle them tonight. Fight as much as you want, but don’t disturb the lives of ordinary people.”

The fight between the Brotherhood and the alliance forces was brutal and chaotic. 

Old Liu had just finished killing an enemy when a tall, black-clad man attacked him. The man’s knife aimed for Old Liu’s neck, but Old Liu quickly blocked it with his sword. The man was unfamiliar, and with blood covering his face, it was impossible to see his true appearance. Although Old Liu didn’t recognize him as part of the alliance forces, the sight of his fallen brothers enraged him. Waving his long knife, he charged at the man.

The burly man blocked the attack but seemed to struggle. It felt like he had struck an iron wall. He tried to retreat, but Lao Liu pursued him relentlessly. 

As they fought, they gradually moved away from the main battlefield, heading towards a dead end. The burly man found himself cornered, with no way to escape. Old Liu grinned savagely as he swung his knife. “Why are you running? You’ll die along with my brothers.”

Old Liu charged, and by the man’s previous moves, it seemed he would lose his knife if he blocked this strike. But suddenly, the man’s aura changed. 

A triumphant smile appeared on his blood-stained face, and with a cold voice, he said, “You’re the one who deserves to die.”

The man easily blocked Old Liu’s powerful strike and kicked him hard in the chest.

The sound of bones cracking echoed as Old Liu was thrown back, his fighting spirit crushed. Struggling to stand, he saw the tall figure of the man approaching, holding a Tang sword high above his head.

Under the faint moonlight, Old Liu finally recognized the man—it was Butcher Mo. 

He wasn’t from the alliance, so why was he here? 

The thought crossed Lao Liu’s mind that perhaps the Brotherhood, the alliance forces, and the Liu family were all part of a larger scheme. 

But before he could process it, the knife came down, silencing him forever.

…

Meanwhile, a warm scene was unfolding at the Xu family villa. 

The family sat together on the sofa, watching TV.

Xu Hao and his beautiful stepmother, Su Wanqiu, were seated together, with a pair of twin daughters beside them. Xu Hongjiao sat on the other side, feeling a bit out of place in this cozy atmosphere.

Xu Huayi peeled grapes and fed them to Xu Hao, who ate them while patting his youngest daughter’s head in approval. Huayi looked up happily, then winked at her sister, signaling about a bet they had made. 

Xu Shiqing glared at her sister but acknowledged the signal.

As the family prepared for bed, Xu Shiqing pulled Xu Hao aside…