Wife Takes the Reins: The Calm CEO

Chapter 41: Turmoil at the Mansion

“All right! Sister Fen, I now deeply understand a time-honored saying: ‘We are the fish on the chopping block, and others are the butchers.’ As someone at the very bottom of the common people, I have no choice but to be at their mercy,” Li Xiaowan said sadly. Without Qi Xin'er by her side, only she knew just how lost and desolate she truly felt. “Miss Xiaowan, since you’ve opened up to me like this, let me offer you some wise advice in return: ‘Turn the other cheek, and the storm will subside; take a step back, and the sky will open wide.’ I’m sure you’re at least somewhat familiar with Young Master Lingzheng’s temperament. You must believe that in this world, even an enemy’s enemy can become a friend—and you and Young Master Lingzheng are certainly not enemies.” ” Housekeeper Mo whispered words of comfort to Li Xiaowan, glancing left and right from time to time—likely out of fear that Feng Lingzheng might suddenly appear! “Sister Fen, what you say makes a lot of sense. I’ll give your words some serious thought.” Li Xiaowan felt sincere admiration for Housekeeper Mo; she hadn’t expected her to understand such profound truths—perhaps because she’d been through it all herself! But Li Xiaowan had only voiced one of the reasons; the other—which she was unaware of—was this: regardless of which branch of The Feng Family a steward serves, they must be well-educated and well-mannered, and they must also possess genuine ability to meet The Feng Family’s standards for hiring stewards in order to have the privilege of entering The Feng Family. However, the benefits for a housekeeper were beyond what most people could imagine. Once selected, one would naturally never have to worry about food, clothing, or daily necessities for the rest of one’s life. Furthermore, if the housekeeper’s family members were also sufficiently outstanding, they would naturally be considered for positions within Fengyi Group. “All right, Miss Xiaowan, let me help you put together an outfit right away!” Housekeeper Mo resumed his usual composed demeanor. “Thank you, Sister Fen!” Well, so be it—she couldn’t argue with that, so she had no choice but to comply. “All right, Miss Xiaowan, please go take a look in the mirror first. Do you like this outfit? If not, I’ll put together a new one for you. Once you’ve developed your own sense of style, you can dress however you like—though, of course, when attending formal occasions, you mustn’t dress too casually.” ”Housekeeper Mo had to leave no stone unturned—not only because it was her duty, but also for Li Xiaowan’s own good. In her heart, she regarded Li Xiaowan more as her own younger sister. Li Xiaowan walked up to the full-length mirror and took a good look at herself from head to toe. Oh my goodness! Is this really me? From head to toe, she looked completely different—so much so that she couldn’t even believe it was herself. “Sister Fen, you’re such a master at putting outfits together! And the makeup is so subtle and elegant—not at all over-the-top. It’s exactly my style,” Li Xiaowan said, offering her heartfelt praise. “As long as Miss Xiaowan is satisfied, that’s all that matters. I put this outfit together based on my initial understanding of your personality—I was actually worried you might not like it!” Hearing Li Xiaowan’s praise, Housekeeper Mo felt deeply gratified. “I’m satisfied—one hundred percent satisfied,” Li Xiaowan said happily as she took out her phone, handed it to Housekeeper Mo, and continued, “Sister Fen, could you take a picture of me? I’d like to send it to my friends later.” “Sure, no problem. I’ll make sure you look absolutely stunning in the photo.” Housekeeper Mo actually had a sense of humor, though he rarely showed it. “Sister Fen, Miss Xiaowan, the car is ready. When would you like to leave?” Yi Ge, Feng Lingzheng’s bodyguard, walked over and asked. “Miss Li Xiaowan, are you ready?” Housekeeper Mo asked Li Xiaowan for her input, clearly showing his respect for her. “Sister Fen, I’m ready.” Although Li Xiaowan was extremely reluctant to go to the Feng Family Mansion, she didn’t want to put Housekeeper Mo in a difficult position. “All right, since you’re ready, let’s leave now. Xiao Yi, where is Young Master Lingzheng?” Housekeeper Mo affectionately addressed Yi Ge as “Xiao Yi.” “Young Master Lingzheng returned to the mansion early this morning,” Yi Ge replied, leading the two of them into the underground parking garage. “What? Another brand-new car? Sister Fen, Yi Ge, do you two even know how many luxury cars he actually owns?” Li Xiaowan blurted out. “Miss Xiaowan, I’m not sure about that, but Xiao Yi should know, right?” Housekeeper Mo passed the question on to Yi Ge. “I’m not exactly sure either, but everyone knows Young Master Lingzheng is passionate about cars. A few years back, he’d occasionally get together with like-minded friends for street races, and he even competed in Formula racing, winning awards. It’s just that over the past couple of years, he’s been so busy with work that he’s gradually cut back on his time spent with cars.” ” As soon as Yi Ge mentioned cars, his eyes lit up—it was clear he, like Feng Lingzheng, was a passionate car enthusiast. “How did he not crash and kill himself!” Of course, Li Xiaowan dared only to mutter this to herself. “Xiao Yi is right, Miss Xiaowan. Don’t let Young Master Lingzheng’s young age fool you—he’s had plenty of legendary adventures. When the time is right, I’ll have Xiao Yi and the others tell you all about them.” As Housekeeper Mo spoke of his young master, his eyes sparkled with an indescribable sense of reverence and admiration. “If Miss Xiaowan ever wants to hear those stories, she can come find me anytime.” Yi Ge stopped putting on that cold expression; he was much friendlier now than when Li Xiaowan first met him. “Sure thing!” Li Xiaowan replied with feigned enthusiasm, though inside she was utterly repulsed. With Yi Ge—a seasoned driver—at the wheel, even the most complicated traffic conditions were easily navigated. Before Li Xiaowan could figure out how to handle the situation, the car had already pulled up in front of the Feng Family Mansion. Just like the first time she’d visited, it was Feng Yan who came out to greet her. “Sister Xiaowan, we’ve been waiting for you for ages. Second Brother was already pacing around like a cat on a hot tin roof. By the way, Sister Xiaowan, you look absolutely stunning today—I was afraid I’d mistake you for someone else just now.” Feng Yan enthusiastically opened the car door for Li Xiaowan and helped her out, which made Li Xiaowan feel quite uncomfortable. “As if anyone would believe that—as long as he doesn’t unleash a torrent of abuse on me the moment we see each other, I’ll count myself lucky,” Li Xiaowan thought to herself. “Is that so? Yi Ge’s driving skills are top-notch—it didn’t seem to take too long, did it?” Li Xiaowan said nonchalantly, automatically ignoring Feng Yan’s compliment. A flash of displeasure crossed Feng Yan’s face, but she immediately broke into a broad smile: “Sister Xiaowan, I’m just teasing you. You’re right on time—not too early, not too late.” After saying that, Feng Yan turned back to Housekeeper Mo: “Sister Fen, you don’t need to head back just yet. Stay here with Yi Ge and have lunch with us before you go.” “Thank you, Miss,” Housekeeper Mo replied respectfully. “Thank you, Miss.” Yi Ge’s gaze toward Feng Yan was filled with tenderness—anyone with eyes could see it, though the person involved chose to look the other way. “Let’s go, Sister Xiaowan. I’ll take you inside. It’s been ages since the mansion was this lively.” Feng Yan led Li Xiaowan up to the second floor of the mansion. The closer they got to the second floor, the more anxious Li Xiaowan felt. What exactly was going on today? Why had she been made to dress up so carefully before leaving the house? “Feng Yan, is something big happening today?” Li Xiaowan couldn’t help but ask. “Sister Xiaowan, don’t worry—you’ll find out soon enough!” Feng Yan kept Li Xiaowan in suspense, making her feel even more uneasy. As soon as they reached the second floor, several pairs of eyes turned toward them at once. However, most were people Li Xiaowan had met before, and almost without exception, they were all staring at her. Feng Lingzheng was no exception this time either; the moment his gaze fell on Li Xiaowan, he was instantly transfixed. They say clothes make the man—or woman—and Li Xiaowan was no exception. dressed like this, she seemed worlds apart from the “her” he remembered—one was charming and alluring, the other fresh and ethereal. “Grandpa, Grandma, look who I’ve brought you!” Feng Yan ran over, bursting with excitement, to the two elderly people who looked to be around sixty and were radiant with health. “Yan'er, you really need to work on that impulsive nature of yours!” the old lady said affectionately as she looked at Feng Yan. “That’s right, Yan'er. You’re the only precious granddaughter of The Feng Family—we can’t spoil you rotten,” the old gentleman said, his words sounding like a gentle rebuke, but his expression was full of tenderness as he looked at Feng Yan. “Grandpa, Grandma, Yan'er was wrong. I shouldn’t have upset you two right after you got back,” Feng Yan instantly looked like a child who’d done something wrong, lowering her head and stealing occasional glances at the elderly couple. “My precious granddaughter, all right! Stop pretending. Hurry up and bring the girl over so we can take a look at her!” The old lady said affectionately as she gently stroked Feng Yan’s head. “Oh, right, I almost forgot.” Feng Yan hurried back to Li Xiaowan’s side and led her over to the elderly couple. “Grandpa, Grandma, this is my second older brother’s fiancée. Her surname is Li, and her given name is Xiaowan. We all call her Sister Xiaowan,” Feng Yan introduced happily. The two elders carefully scrutinized Li Xiaowan from head to toe, then exchanged a glance. The Old Lady spoke first: “Good—very good. She’s a perfect match for our Zheng Er. Zheng Er, come here—come to Grandma.” The Old Lady looked kindly at Feng Lingzheng, who was seated across from her. “Grandma.” After Feng Lingzheng reached the old lady’s side, she clasped her hand tightly. Could this be the grandmother Feng Lingzheng had mentioned earlier at the bar—the one who didn’t have much time left? She looked perfectly healthy. Could it be that he’d said that on purpose back then? But given Feng Lingzheng’s character, it was simply impossible for him to joke about his own grandmother. Sigh! What a kind-hearted elderly woman—how could she... Li Xiaowan was a kind-hearted person herself, and at this thought, a pang of sadness washed over her. “Zheng Er, even though she and... well, you haven’t disappointed me after all.” The old lady’s eyes were brimming with tears. Feng Lingzheng was the one she cared about most. The incident between Feng Lingzheng and his ex-girlfriend had occurred before her health began to fail. Back then, she worried about Feng Lingzheng every single day, terrified that he might do something reckless in a moment of despair. Deep down, she knew her grandson wasn’t the type to be fragile or act on impulse, but she simply couldn’t bring herself to stand by and do nothing.