Chapter 18

“Really?”

Sheng Xia spoke calmly, then suddenly burst into laughter.

Already beautiful, her eyes slightly lifted at the corner of her eyes. her laughter seemed like a swan breaking through ice, with a captivating charm that held people’s gaze.

However, Nanny Ye felt increasingly uneasy for no apparent reason.

Why was she laughing? Shouldn’t she be hysterically crying and making a scene like before?

“Chen Chen and Ran Ran, come here.”

In the gaze of everyone, Sheng Xia showed no intention of asserting dominance; she just gently beckoned to the two children.

Feeling the restless movements in her arms, Feng Jingxu bent down to let them down and watched as they ran towards Sheng Xia. Looking into Sheng Xia’s eyes, filled with a smiling charm, he suddenly lost the urge to turn away.

“Xia Xia, did Aunt Ye make you angry?”

Not knowing what had happened, seeing the usually gentle Aunt Ye shouting at Sheng Xia, Feng Xuchen couldn’t discern Sheng Xia’s expression. He ran hesitantly to Sheng Xia’s side, gathered courage, and said, “Don’t fight, I apologize to Xia Xia on behalf of Aunt Ye. Xia Xia, don’t be mad at Aunt Ye, okay?”

Feng Xuran vaguely understood that Aunt Ye had angered his brother for their sake, and Sheng Xia was helping her brother. She felt uneasy, subconsciously reaching out to grab her brother to stop him from speaking.

But just as she reached out, she saw her brother, with teary eyes, being lifted up by Sheng Xia. While Feng Xuchen was still stunned, she was also pulled into Sheng Xia’s arms by the back of her collar.

Due to the sudden imbalance, Feng Xuran instinctively embraced her neck, widened her eyes, and looked up at Sheng Xia.

… it’s strange; is she not mad at them?

“No fighting. As long as Chen Chen and Ran Ran answer Mommy’s question, I won’t be angry. How about that?” Sheng Xia gently pinched their soft faces, smiling as if she genuinely wasn’t angry.

Seeing this, Feng Xuchen couldn’t help but relax, leaning against her, and nodding quickly.

“Why did you always call me ‘wicked stepmother’ before?”

The twins suddenly paused, as if remembering something, and tried to shrink away. However, Sheng Xia firmly controlled them in her arms, making it impossible for them to escape.

But… it didn’t hurt.

Even though Sheng Xia was restraining them, she always maintained control, not causing them any pain. Moreover, her embrace, like that of a mother, was fragrant and soft, emitting a peachy aroma, and carried a reassuring presence.

Even the vigilant Feng Xuran, at this moment, couldn’t help but nestle in her arms, lacking any desire to escape.

“Not… a wicked stepmother, Xia Xia is not a wicked stepmother!” Feng Xuchen’s bright grape-like eyes were filled with tears as he shook his head repeatedly. He held onto her tightly, looking up at her with both anxiety and dependence, repeating with an inexplicable determination, “Xia Xia is not a wicked stepmother, No poisoned apples! Not forcing us to clean the room and live in the attic, not bullying us!”

Upon hearing these words, the expressions of everyone present changed instantly, and even Nanny Ye felt uneasy. She hurriedly spoke up, knowing it was not good, “Chen Chen, didn’t we agree—”

“Is there a place for you to speak here?”

Sheng Xia glanced lightly, different from her gentleness towards the twins. Her seemingly hazy black eyes revealed a chilling sharpness.

Nanny Ye subconsciously lowered her head, afraid to make eye contact. Her heart pounded rapidly, almost as if it would jump out, causing her panic and suffocation.

How could it be? Those few times before were not just illusions; Madam had indeed changed—

Clearly, she used to command them and throw tantrums when things didn’t go her way. After suffering a setback, she would either cry hysterically in the room or angrily seek the steward’s intervention.

When did she ever have this kind of oppressive aura?

Thinking of the steward’s previous warnings, Nanny Ye nervously glanced at him. Seeing his dark and stern expression, she broke out in a cold sweat on her back, and her heartbeat accelerated even more.

She had been low-key and avoided provoking Sheng Xia after the steward’s warning! Why wouldn’t this woman let her go, accusing her of sowing discord and wanting to drive her out?

No, the real troublemaker was clearly Feng Jingxu! It was all his fault!

This time, she didn’t do anything. She just followed the rules of the nanny and wanted to take the two children away.

Still, he deliberately caused trouble. Obviously, he wanted to use this opportunity to drive her away, then rely on his elder brother status to secretly control the twins!

She considered herself devoted to the twins, taking care of them meticulously for four years. Now, in the blink of an eye, she ran away with Sheng Xia, about to expose herself under her enticement—

Nanny Ye clenched her hand hidden in her sleeve, her expression slightly distorted, and her eyes uncontrollably revealed resentment. These two ingrates!

“So, is it because Auntie Ye told you bedtime stories?” Sheng Xia withdrew her gaze, observing the expressions of the two children as she spoke. “Snow White or Cinderella? Oh, it seems there’s more.”

Feng Xuran vaguely felt something was wrong, holding her hand anxiously and whispering, “It’s our fault. We shouldn’t have called you a ‘wicked stepmother.’ Please don’t be angry… It has nothing to do with Auntie Ye.”

Feng Xuchen looked at his sister in confusion, his delicate and cute face filled with fear.

Feeling that the host was truly angry, the system urgently reminded: [Host, character, character, be extremely careful! Character collapse will result in punishment, and your current body can’t withstand electric shocks!]

It was initially worried that Nanny Ye was a key character and should be prevented from being driven away by the host. However, now it seemed that the character had reached its limit.

Sheng Xia, seemingly indifferent, lightly coughed and looked at the housekeeper. Her tone was ethereal, “Did you hear that, Uncle Zhao? The children know they were wrong and want to apologize, taking all the blame upon themselves. However, some people only blame others and never reflect on themselves.”

“So, why keep someone like that around? Could it be…” She paused slightly, her long eyelashes drooping slightly. “Are you truly waiting for her to become the new mistress of the Feng family?”

The housekeeper suddenly froze.

Nanny Ye widened her eyes, her expression distorted as she hastily defended herself, “I don’t have that intention, Madam, you can’t unjustly accuse me like this! I’ve been taking care of Chen Chen and Ran Ran since the time of the young master—”

Realizing this strategy might not work, she immediately changed her tone and spoke sternly, “It was Mr. Feng who intentionally left me behind entrusting me to take care of the children. I haven’t made any mistakes. You can’t dismiss me without going through Mr. Feng! Besides, the children can’t do anything without me. If I leave, who will take care of them? Don’t you worry about the two children in the future?!”

The housekeeper, with a serious expression, hadn’t responded when suddenly Sheng Xia took a sharp breath, her black eyes filled with tears, expressing disbelief. “So, you mean my husband will abandon me because of you? I… I can’t take it; I’m going to faint…”

“Madam—quick, bring the medicine!”

Seeing Sheng Xia seemingly distressed, pale and on the verge of fainting, everyone rushed over in alarm. They brought water, administered medicine, and even prepared to call the family doctor, creating chaos.

Nanny Ye’s previously gathered momentum dissipated in an instant. Losing the bold courage she had just displayed, she stared blankly at the scene, feeling a sense of panic and confusion. “I… I didn’t mean to…”

How did things turn out like this…?

Equally perplexed, the system exclaimed: […?]

Wait, wasn’t it just issuing continuous warnings a moment ago? How did everything suddenly become safe?

“There’s nothing strange about it. I’ve always been good at making a scene for no reason, and I care about my husband’s opinion. Provoked by the nanny like this, I insistently pretended to be sick, trying to use the opportunity to drive her away and garner everyone’s concern. Isn’t that a normal thing to do?”

Sheng Xia enjoyed the care of everyone on the surface, explaining confidently in her heart, “Even if she appeared in the plot before, she isn’t an important character and won’t affect the plot points. Even if she’s dismissed now, it shouldn’t matter much, right?”

The system vaguely felt that something was off and hesitated, “Although that’s the case, it’s still better to try to—”

“Really? Things have come to this point, and you want me to endure it quietly?” Sheng Xia’s tone was calm but resentful, “Then, you might as well send me back. I can’t stand this!”

System: […]

Before fully understanding the situation, Sheng Xia’s questioning left the system bewildered, and it quickly apologized, “Yes, I’m sorry, Host. I didn’t consider your feelings.”

“So, can I proceed?”

Noticing Sheng Xia’s seemingly aggrieved tone underneath her excitement, and considering how difficult the host had been during this time, the system felt even more guilty and decisively said, “Go for it!”

Since it was just a small plot point, the absence of the nanny probably wouldn’t affect much. It was more important to comfort the host!

Sheng Xia’s eyes subtly revealed a hint of a smile.

Originally, she just wanted to test the system’s tolerance, but she didn’t expect—

Oh dear, the precious system seemed completely unaware that its position was gradually shifting towards her.

Well, from now on, they were accomplices, all of them.

So, she showed an expression of finally recovering, blinked gently, and gestured for the people surrounding her to stay a bit farther away, “I think first of all, you should understand something. Even if Shaoyu and little Xu don’t come back often, they are still the masters of the house, not temporary guests in the Feng family.”

There was a slight jump in Feng Jingxu’s heart, and he instinctively clenched his fists, looking at Sheng Xia’s eyes with a complex expression.

Since being adopted by Feng Yan and coming to the Feng family, the Feng house had always been quiet. Everyone went their separate ways, as if they had never considered this place as home.

Coupled with Nanny Ye’s secretive rejection, Feng Jingxu felt no sense of belonging to the Feng family.

He always thought that this was his younger siblings’ home but not his.

And now, Sheng Xia said he was the master of the house? He was family, not… a guest?

Feng Shaoyu was also slightly moved, especially seeing his nephew’s complicated expression, as if understanding something. He couldn’t help but pat his nephew’s shoulder sympathetically.

Since the incident with his elder brother and sister-in-law, his second brother had become emotionally distant and busy with work. His younger sister closed herself off, resisting any communication.

Feng Shaoyu, even when at home, couldn’t feel the warmth of a family. He chose to move out, thinking that he’d be happier living alone.