MTLNOVEL Chapter 72:
Chapter 72: The Heroine Returns the Favor! A Massage from Her Daughter! Visiting the Heroine’s Home:
Xu Hao came out of the study room, and the two friends immediately felt more relaxed, no longer holding back.
“Hongjiao, tell me, how did Uncle Chen get the idea of writing a song for you?” Xiao Wanling asked eagerly, her curiosity piqued.
Xu Hao’s songwriting skills were clearly impressive. “You’ve never written songs before, so what made you decide to do this?” she added.
Hongjiao smiled warmly as she recalled the moment. “Dad noticed I was feeling down lately and didn’t want to see my dream of becoming a star fade away. So, he stayed up all night and wrote three songs to break Zhao Media’s hold on me,” she said, still touched by his gesture.
Xiao Wanling sighed with envy. “Isn’t your dad just the best? How about you let me have Uncle Xu since you don’t seem to need him?”
“You’re dreaming! When did I ever say I don’t care about my dad?” Hongjiao shot back, rolling her eyes.
Xiao Wanling was taken aback. “Wait, aren’t you usually reluctant to call him Dad? It sounded so natural just now,” she said in surprise.
“It’s always been natural,” Xu Hongjiao replied with a playful smile.
“Wow, your attitude sure changes fast,” Xiao Wanling said, her eyes narrowing. “Hongjiao, as your best friend, can’t you share some of your dad’s affection with me?”
“Love isn’t something you can divide up like that! Go cool off somewhere,” Xu Hongjiao laughed, gently pushing her friend aside as she returned to practicing her singing.
“Why not? If I become your stepmother, won’t that take away some of Uncle Xu’s love for you?” Xiao Wanling muttered under her breath.
She blushed as she remembered Xu Hao’s recent one-on-one coaching and the warmth she had felt. “I wonder if Uncle Xu noticed my little crush,” she thought.
That evening, Xu Shiqing and Xu Huayi, the two older sisters, came home, hearing the melodious voice of their younger sister, Xu Hongjiao, singing upstairs. They exchanged glances, appreciating how good the songs sounded, and went to investigate.
When they learned that Xu Hao had written all three songs, they couldn’t help but feel both admiration and a little jealousy.
“Sis, aren’t you done with your massage practice yet? It’s time to fulfill your bet,” Xu Huayi teased as she nudged her sister.
Xu Shiqing shot her an annoyed look. “It’s just a massage for Dad. Do you have to remind me every day?” she retorted.
Earlier, the sisters had made a bet: whoever made the most progress would win, and the loser would have to give their dad a massage. Xu Shiqing had lost, and though she didn’t know how to give a proper massage, she had been studying online tutorials ever since.
What really got on her nerves was that her sister made it a point to supervise her and remind her about the agreement every day.
By now, Xu Shiqing had learned enough about massage. But the idea of actually massaging her dad made her feel awkward. Still, a bet was a bet, and she had to go through with it.
As Xu Shiqing prepared to find her father, she hesitated, remembering how her sisters and stepmother had watched and laughed at her the last time she washed Xu Hao’s feet. She glared at Xu Huayi and warned her, “I’m going to give Dad a massage. Don’t you dare cause any trouble this time, or you’ll regret it.”
Xu Huayi laughed, quickly covering her sides, “Okay, okay, I won’t. You’re like a little kid, always so serious. Go ahead, I won’t follow you this time.”
Xu Shiqing clenched her fist, giving her sister a playful warning. “What does it mean to go ‘with peace of mind’? You can’t speak properly!” she muttered as she left for the study.
Surprisingly, Xu Huayi didn’t follow her, either out of fear from the last incident or simply disinterested in the massage. Instead, she caught up with Xu Hongjiao and asked her to teach her how to sing.
Xu Shiqing found her father by the pond in the courtyard, enjoying the sight of the fish swimming lazily in the water. When he heard her footsteps, he turned around with a smile.
“Shiqing, you’re back from school. How was your day? Anything interesting happen?” Xu Hao asked.
“It was alright, a little boring,” Xu Shiqing replied.
Both she and her sister were mentally mature beyond their years, and they often found their classmates too childish to relate to. The sisters also had excellent grades, so they didn’t worry much about schoolwork. The only thing keeping them engaged was their love for painting and the upcoming international art competition in three months.
“Dad, come with me. I need your help with something,” Xu Shiqing said as she took her father’s hand and led him to a nearby recliner. “You’ve worked so hard teaching us lately. I’ve learned a new massage technique and want to give you a massage.”
Xu Hao immediately realized that this was about the bet between his daughters. He felt a little disappointed, hoping it was something more, but still, a massage wasn’t a bad consolation.
He lay down as instructed, and Xu Shiqing began to work on the techniques she had learned. Her cold little hands pressed skillfully on his body, the pressure just right. It was unexpectedly soothing.
Xu Hao had thought she’d just give his shoulders a quick rub to fulfill the bet, but he was wrong. Shiqing gave him a full-body massage, and it was incredibly relaxing.
[Ding! Xu Shiqing is feeling shy. Her +849 emotional points]
[Ding! Xu Shiqing’s heart rate increased. Her +987 emotional points]
When the massage ended, Xu Shiqing suddenly blushed and dashed off, embarrassed, without even waiting for her father’s thanks.
Later that night, Xu Hao noticed his beautiful stepmother, Su Wanqiu, dressed professionally in a form-fitting outfit with black stockings and high heels. She looked stunning, and he couldn’t help but admire her beauty.
[Ding! Su Wanqiu’s +888 emotional points…]
The next day.
Xu Hao headed to a community, following the address given to him by Wang Xueying.
Wang Xueying had been waiting at the gate for him, feeling both happy and excited about seeing him soon. However, her mood was soured by the presence of an unwelcome visitor.
“Xueying, why haven’t you replied to my messages these past few days? If I hadn’t come here today, I wouldn’t have known your aunt was sick and in the hospital,” said a man beside her.
The man, Chen Zhou, was a young university teacher with gold-rimmed glasses. He was one of Wang Xueying’s many admirers, but unlike the others, he was persistent. While the other suitors gave up when they were rejected, Chen Zhou often showed up uninvited, bearing gifts to win over her family.
Today was no different. He had brought several health supplements after somehow finding out about her aunt’s illness. Normally, Wang Xueying refused gifts from her suitors, but Chen Zhou was clever enough to offer them directly to her mother, leaving her little choice but to accept.
Now, she was stuck with him, too polite to turn him away.
Just as Wang Xueying found that Xu Hao was coming, she went outside to greet him.
Unexpectedly, Chen Zhou followed her out without any shame. This put her in an irritable mood. Instinctively, she didn’t want Xu Hao to misunderstand her relationship with this man.
It was strange, because she knew Xu Hao was already a family man with seven daughters, and there was no possibility between them.
Perhaps it was because of what happened in the woods last time?
Thinking back to the embrace full of warmth and security, and the scent of him, she found herself lost in the memory.
“3%, 4%…”
Wang Xueying blinked and snapped back to reality, frowning as she saw a hand waving in front of her face.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“I was asking, who is the special guest you’re waiting for?” Chen Zhou replied. “He helped Aunt Wang while she was in the hospital. I need to thank him later.” His tone was so casual, as if he thought he was part of the Wang family.
Wang Xueying found it unbelievable. She had never seen such a shameless person before.
Thinking about Xu Hao’s identity, she couldn’t help but smirk. Her frustration disappeared, replaced by amusement.
“Are you sure you want to thank him in person?” She asked with a playful tone.
Sensing something was off, Chen Zhou nodded cautiously. “Of course.”
In his mind, if Aunt Wang had been discharged from the hospital so quickly, her illness must not have been serious. He assumed that, even if this “guest” had helped, it was likely just a small favor, like calling an ambulance or helping with hospital paperwork.
Chen Zhou thought his position with the Mother wouldn’t be threatened.
After all, he had been building a strategy—starting with the mother to win over the daughter. He needed to perform well in front of this guest to maintain his standing in her mother’s eyes.
Wang Xueying hid her smirk but laughed internally. She was curious to see how Chen Zhou would react when he met Xu Hao.
Time passed slowly, and from a distance, Wang Xueying spotted Xu Hao’s car. She had ridden in his car before and recognized it instantly.
As the car stopped, she stepped forward to greet him.
Chen Zhou noticed her excitement and thought inwardly, “That guest must be someone important to Xueying.” He followed her cautiously. But when Xu Hao stepped out of the car, Chen Zhou froze. He blinked, not trusting his eyes.
That’s Xu Hao—the CEO of Xu Group and one of the school directors!
Chen Zhou suddenly felt numb. He had planned to impress this guest and show off, but now he realized how small and insignificant he was next to Xu Hao.
Wang Xueying approached Xu Hao with a joking tone. “Teacher Chen, didn’t you say you wanted to thank him? Well, Director Xu is here now.”
Chen Zhou felt his face burn with embarrassment.
How could he thank him now?
He wasn’t really part of the Wang family. If he tried to pretend otherwise, Xu Hao might even fire him.
“Hello, Director Xu,” Chen Zhou said, forcing an awkward smile.
“…?” Xu Hao glanced at Wang Xueying, puzzled by the situation.
Wang Xueying continued, “His name is Chen Zhou, a finance teacher at our school. Director Xu, I wanted to thank you for helping my mother get treatment from top heart specialists at the First Hospital.”
Chen Zhou cringed.
He had thought Xu Hao had merely arranged for an ambulance, but Xu Hao had gone so far as to call top experts and professors! Chen Zhou couldn’t compete at that level. He was feeling more uncomfortable by the second and worried that Xu Hao would think poorly of him.
Suddenly, Chen Zhou remembered an excuse. “I just remembered I have something urgent to do at home. Director Xu, Teacher Wang, please excuse me.” He turned quickly to leave.
To be honest, Chen Zhou was horrified. The last thing he wanted was to stick around after the embarrassment he had just faced. He quickly made his escape. As he hurried away, Wang Xueying smiled—a bright, beautiful smile that Chen Zhou missed seeing.
Xu Hao, noticing Wang Xueying’s expression, looked at her with curiosity.
Wang Xueying, feeling a little shy under his gaze, explained, “That guy is just so annoying,” and went on to describe all of Chen Zhou’s antics.
“Do you want me to help you get rid of him?” Xu Hao offered.
“No, it’s fine,” Wang Xueying said, shaking her head. “I’m sure after this, he won’t bother me again.”
“If anything comes up, just let me know,” Xu Hao said, his voice gentle but firm.
Wang Xueying’s heart skipped a beat, and she nodded quietly.
They arrived at Wang Xueying’s house. Her mother, who had just recovered from her operation, was doing well and was even cooking in the kitchen.
Wang Xueying’s mother wasn’t very old, having given birth to her daughter at a young age. She still looked lively and charming.
Hearing the door, she looked over and saw Xu Hao, the man who had helped her so much during her hospital stay.
“Take good care of Mr. Xu, Xueying. I’ll finish up cooking soon,” her mother called out.
Before long, a whole table of delicious food was ready. As they sat down to eat, Wang Xueying’s mother expressed her deep gratitude to Xu Hao. “Director Xu, I don’t know how to thank you enough for helping me get in touch with the hospital’s top doctors. It was just a small health issue, but you went out of your way for me.”
Xu Hao smiled humbly. “Xueying is my daughter’s teacher, and we are friends. It was a small favor.”
Wang Xueying’s mother couldn’t help but admire him.
She had heard that Xu Hao had seven daughters but looked as young as a man in his thirties. She noticed the way her daughter looked at Xu Hao and sighed.
She knew that with Xu Hao’s large family and children, any hopes her daughter had would be impossible. Even if there weren’t the family matters, there was still a large age gap. It could never work. But then a thought suddenly crossed her mind—what about her? If she were twenty years younger, she would have pursued a man like Xu Hao without a second thought.
After the meal, Wang Xueying’s mother retired to her room to rest, leaving Wang Xueying to entertain Xu Hao. She poured him a cup of tea and thanked him once more. “Director Xu, I really appreciate what you did for my mother that day.”
Before she could finish, she felt an arm wrap around her waist, pulling her into a familiar embrace.
“If you really want to thank me,” Xu Hao whispered, “it can’t just be with words.” His face drew closer to hers, and in her wide-eyed shock, Wang Xueying felt the familiar warmth spread through her once again.