Chapter 178
Chapter 178: Big Golden Dragon’s Compliments Were Like They Cost Nothing
Cheng Mian waited until his mate finished, then sighed again as if pained. With sincere curiosity, he asked Lang Yin Feng and Lang Luo Feng, “By the way, Yin Feng, Luo Feng—do you have any tips for educating children? Teach us.”
“Our Xiao Ting doesn’t act like a wolf-clan child. He acts like a monkey—never serious. Say one thing to him and he answers ten back. I haven’t even gotten the chance to hit him with a stick—he climbs and jumps everywhere. I can’t even catch him.”
“You have over ten children and you raised them so well. Tell us how. We’ll learn. Maybe we can still save our Xiao Ting and make him as outstanding as your children.”
He leaned into the act again, repeating it like a desperate parent. “Tell us how. We’ll learn. Maybe we can still fix Xiao Ting so he can be half as good as your children.”
Before dawn, their own wolf cub had messaged them—warning them to keep an eye on the Lang couple and absolutely not let them go knocking on doors, especially Jiang Tea Tea’s.
As guardians, even if they disliked Lang Yin Feng and Lang Luo Feng, they had to cooperate with their cub. So they came here, exchanged flattery, and kept the couple occupied—keeping them from heading upstairs.
Lang Yin Feng and Lang Luo Feng, as White Wolf Clan Chief and Madam, had always compared themselves with the Black Wolf Clan in secret. Hearing Cheng Mian and Mo Jing Chun praise their children so highly made their vanity swell.
They laughed, pretending to be modest while basking in it. “It’s nothing, nothing. We don’t do anything special. We just set goals for them. If they meet the goals, we reward them.”
“They want the reward. With a reward on the line, of course they work hard.”
“Children need competition,” Lang Yin Feng continued, enjoying himself. “One or two have no competitive spirit. Five or six, eight or ten—then they compete.”
“Competitive children compare and compete. They chase the best in everything. That’s how you get excellence.”
Lang Luo Feng nodded eagerly, taking her turn. “Exactly, Sister Jing Chun. You just have too few children, so you spoil him too much. Have more. Don’t pamper them. Cut their pocket money. I guarantee they’ll become motivated and work hard to meet your ‘excellent goals.’”
Cheng Mian and Mo Jing Chun nodded as if enlightened. “So that’s how it is. We’ve learned. We’ve learned. We’ll do as you said, try it out, and see if we can—”
Lang Yin Feng’s lightbrain rang.
Cheng Mian and Mo Jing Chun stopped mid-sentence at once.
Lang Yin Feng smiled apologetically, answered, and when he saw the caller ID, he quickly stepped aside.
In less than ten seconds, he ended the call. He turned back to Cheng Mian and Mo Jing Chun. “Brother Cheng Mian, Sister Jing Chun—I need to step out for something.”
Cheng Mian and Mo Jing Chun nodded. “Go handle your business. We’ll look around ourselves.”
Lang Yin Feng nodded. “All right.” He gave Lang Luo Feng a few quick instructions, then hurried off toward the mountains.
Lang Luo Feng forced down her unease. She was about to return to praising her children when Cheng Xiao Ting’s voice called down from upstairs, bright and loud.
“Dad! Mom! Aunt Luo Feng—good morning!”
Cheng Mian, Mo Jing Chun, and Lang Luo Feng all looked up.
At a window on the upper floor, Cheng Xiao Ting leaned out, grinning like sunshine as he waved at them.
Cheng Mian and Mo Jing Chun couldn’t help thinking: our cub really is handsome—bright as the sun.
Lang Luo Feng’s gaze flicked over him. His smile was blinding—and irritating. It looked stupid to her. No discipline. No heart.
Cheng Mian and Mo Jing Chun waved back.
Then Jiang Tea Tea and Sui Xuan Chu and the rest leaned out too, grinning brightly and calling “Mom” in rapid succession.
Lang Luo Feng’s face darkened.
Their smiles were too bright. Too free.
If those were her children, she would never allow them to smile like that—like untrained wild kids with no manners.
Upstairs, Cheng Xiao Ting and the others finished greeting the adults, then gathered in Jiang Tea Tea’s room.
They pulled a small portal device from a storage button and set it up.
With the mountain of evidence they’d obtained, they transmitted half to their superior leader and half directly to Commander-in-Chief Chong Ming.
Once the evidence was sent, the eight changed into loose, bright clothes and went downstairs for breakfast.
At the table, Lang Xin Yi, Lang Xin Wei, and Lang Xin An showed Jiang Tea Tea genuine goodwill. Jiang Tea Tea returned it, treating them with warmth too.
Lang Luo Feng watched with satisfaction—pleased with how “well-trained” her children were. Look at them. Obedient. Likable. Following orders perfectly. So much better than that big, carefree Cheng Xiao Ting.
After breakfast, Cheng Mian and Mo Jing Chun claimed they had remote work to handle, so they stayed at the Lang family estate. In truth, it was their own wolf cub’s instruction: sit tight and keep watch. If anything happened, notify him immediately.
Jiang Tea Tea’s group of eight was led out by Lang Xin Yi and the other siblings to tour the White Wolf Clan settlement and familiarize themselves with it.
Elsewhere, Lang Luo Feng found Lang Yin Feng and asked gently, “What happened? You’re so angry. Tell me.”
Lang Yin Feng’s voice was still tight with fury. “The Hope Institute’s electrical system failed. Everything shut down. The technician says it’ll take at least three to five days to fix.”
“Our newest clients are coming in the next two days. Everyone’s busy. But they’ll ‘make time’ to come fix a power system, and it still takes three to five days.” He sounded like he wanted to bite. “Do you know how much that delays me? How much money I lose? I could even have to pay compensation.”
Lang Luo Feng’s mind raced. She patted his back. “Don’t be angry. Don’t be angry.”
“Didn’t you say we’re holding a family banquet soon? We’ll introduce Tea Tea properly, right?”
“I’ll tell the clients our daughter is Tea Tea—Jiang Tea Tea—the galaxy’s only 3S-grade mutant plant-type healer. They’ll be too busy flattering us to demand compensation.”
Lang Yin Feng’s rage cooled slightly. Then doubt crept in. “What if Jiang Tea Tea refuses to attend our banquet—”
“She won’t,” Lang Luo Feng said confidently. “I’ll convince her. Don’t worry.”
Lang Yin Feng still looked skeptical. “Really?”
“Really.” Lang Luo Feng’s tone was firm, absolute.
Lang Yin Feng’s anger vanished as if wiped clean. He pulled her into his arms. “Luo Feng… you really are my virtuous helper.”
Lang Luo Feng leaned into him, her thoughts already spinning—how to speak to Jiang Tea Tea, how to steer her.
After spending midday outside with Lang Xin Yi and the others, Jiang Tea Tea’s group returned in the afternoon.
They each went back to their rooms.
Less than ten minutes later, Lang Luo Feng knocked on Jiang Tea Tea’s door, carrying a set of jewelry and a tray of pastries.
The moment Jiang Tea Tea opened the door, she turned into a harmless little white flower. Her voice softened, wary. “Madam Lang…”
Lang Luo Feng’s tears came instantly. Her eyes reddened on command. “Tea Tea… I’m your mom. I’m your mom—”
Jiang Tea Tea took two steps back. “You said you wouldn’t force me to call you Mom.”
Lang Luo Feng froze for a fraction of a second. “Yes. I did. I’m sorry—I couldn’t help it. Don’t blame me.”
She hurriedly pushed the tray forward. “I picked out a set of jewelry for you. Look—do you like it? And I made pastries myself. Please try them.”
Jiang Tea Tea lifted her hand, casual and expectant at once. “Come in.”
Lang Luo Feng’s heart leapt. She stepped in quickly, set down the tray, opened the jewelry box, and revealed a set: ring, necklace, earrings.
Jiang Tea Tea’s eyes swept over it.
Compared to anything she’d taken from their basement vault, this set was worthless. No fire. No brilliance. It looked cheap.
“Tea Tea,” Lang Luo Feng said eagerly, holding up the necklace, “Mom bought this for you. Do you like it?”
She reached to place it on Jiang Tea Tea’s neck.
Jiang Tea Tea dodged.
She’d tossed those vault necklaces into nutrient-fruit boxes like trash. This cheap thing? She didn’t even want it brushing her skin.
Lang Luo Feng’s hand hung in midair. Her voice turned choked. “You don’t like it?”
A set worth over a million and she didn’t like it?
Was she too ignorant to recognize value?
Jiang Tea Tea gently pushed her hand back. “I can’t accept something so expensive without reason. Tell me what you want to say.”
Lang Luo Feng reluctantly put the necklace back into the box, then tried to reach for Jiang Tea Tea’s hand.
Jiang Tea Tea shifted away, sat down, picked up a pastry, and took a bite.
Lang Luo Feng’s hand caught nothing. But when she saw Jiang Tea Tea eating, her face lit up like she’d found the opening she needed. “Tea Tea, I made those pastries myself. If you like them, Mom will make them for you all the time.”
Jiang Tea Tea finished the pastry.
It was so sweet it was almost disgusting.
Still, she forced a lie with a soft smile. “They’re good. It’s my first time eating this kind of handmade pastry.”
Lang Luo Feng’s smile brightened instantly. “Good, good. That’s good…”
Jiang Tea Tea didn’t respond.
The room fell silent.
Half a minute passed.
Lang Luo Feng finally spoke again, careful and tentative. “Tea Tea… Mom has something she wants to discuss with you. Is that okay?”
Jiang Tea Tea’s expression looked like a mix of obedience, expectation, resistance, and conflict. “M-Maybe. Go ahead.”
Lang Luo Feng sat up straighter. “It’s like this—finding you is a joyful event. Even if you still haven’t acknowledged us, a joyful event is still a joyful event.”
“So Mom and Dad want more people to know you’re our daughter.”
“Dad and Mom plan to hold a family banquet. We’ll invite relatives, friends, and business partners. Everyone will come to meet you.”
“Once they’ve met you and know you, no matter what you do in the future, they’ll take Dad and Mom’s face into account and look after you.”
What shamelessness, delivered like kindness.
No wonder the fake heiress had been unlucky enough to have parents like this.
Jiang Tea Tea mocked them in her head, but aloud she went straight for the hook. “Madam Lang… is your business in trouble?”
Lang Luo Feng’s face shifted. “Who told you our business is in trouble?”
Jiang Tea Tea “blamed” it on someone else, lacing her words with temptation. “Today, when I went out with Xin Yi, Xin Wei, and Xin An, I saw they looked worried. I asked.”
“They said the family business has a small problem, but it’s not a big one.” Her voice softened. “I… I really like Xin Yi, Xin Wei, and Xin An. I want them to be happy.”
“And I thought… I’m a 3S-grade mutant plant-type healer. I haven’t officially treated outsiders yet, but after I treated Cheng Xiao Ting and the others, their ability ranks improved. Even Huang Da Zhuang—who hadn’t awakened at all—awakened dual-type abilities.”
She lifted her chin as if offering a gift. “So, Madam Lang—why don’t you invite your business partners? Pick eight or ten lucky people. I’ll soothe their ability backlash, comb their mental power, and guarantee each one rises one level.”
“That might help your family.” She smiled sweetly. “I want Xin Yi and the others to smile a bit more next time they take me out to play. What do you think?”
Lang Luo Feng’s eyes lit up like someone had handed a starving person a feast. She praised Jiang Tea Tea in a rush. “Good, good, good! Tea Tea, you’re so considerate. Mom is so happy.”
“You don’t know how hard business is now. Connections are hard to find. The White Wolf Clan has tens of thousands of mouths to feed. Everyone relies on your dad and me.”
“You’re so sensible. I’m going to tell your dad right now. He’ll be thrilled.”
Jiang Tea Tea put on a stubborn expression and reminded her, “Madam Lang… I haven’t acknowledged you. I’m only doing this because I don’t want Xin Yi—”
“I understand, I understand,” Lang Luo Feng cut her off immediately, all smiles. “You don’t acknowledge us yet, that’s fine. We’ll give you time.”
Jiang Tea Tea gave her a strained smile, didn’t correct her again, and let the misunderstanding grow—that illusion that she would eventually forgive them and acknowledge them.
Lang Luo Feng left, delighted.
The moment the door closed, Chong Ming’s voice came through Jiang Tea Tea’s earpiece—low, approving. “Jiang Tea Tea, classmate… good net.”
“Wide. Deep.”
“And to make it strong enough to catch more fish, I’m giving you the authority to mobilize the Barley Star garrison.”