The Useless Stepmom Brings Her Kids to Reality TV Shows to Photograph Them

Chapter 359: She Bargains At The Mall

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Tao Jingyuan is also a foodie. She usually didn’t indulge herself too much, but after tasting the cake made by Xia MO and Lin Wan on the show’s last episode, all other desserts had become flavorless.

When the guests took a walk around the village, no cameras followed them. The livestream ended early that day.

After walking for about two hours, everyone was tired. They went to their own houses to rest.

Li Zexuan sat in front of the stove. As the night grew quiet, he began to think about what he had seen in Lanwai Village.

“Ms. Lin, let’s help those people,” said Li Zexuan as he saw Lin Wan walk to the kitchen to get some water.

Lin Wan carried a small stool and sat down near Li Zexuan. “Mr. Li is going to take care of it.”

Li Zexuan smiled. “Well… I guess Mr. Li is quite efficient.”

Li Yanchen was sitting nearby. He pursed his lips when he heard that. Did his son think he was some heartless brute until now?

“Brother Xuanxuan, don’t celebrities like you have foundations? Don’t you have one?” Li Zexin asked as he sat beside Li Zexuan.

“Ms. Lin, give me your account number. From now on, you can have all my appearance fees for this show. You can spend it however you like. Just leave me a little for living expenses.” Li Zexuan had wanted to give his card to Lin Wan, but he needed to be present to authorize a withdrawal if a huge amount was being withdrawn at an ATM. He thought it would be better to just transfer money into her account.

Li Yanchen felt that something was amiss. He thought about it carefully.

When his son started making money, he thought that his son was still young and unable to handle his income. So, he volunteered to help him. However, his son had refused and gotten his own card!

Li Yanchen regretted not having tried to have an honest conversation with his son. And Li Zexuan felt that he should have given some money to his father as a sign of respect. They both didn’t lack money, but they could have done things better.

Li Yanchen didn’t know how much money and assets his son had. Now, Li Zexuan suggested giving his income to Lin Wan. He didn’t know how to feel about it. He didn’t mind, but he was the father!

Lin Wan, on the other hand, was reluctant. She wanted to earn her own money and achieve her own freedom. Her stepson was willing to give her his earnings. Wasn’t that too much?

‘Isn’t he afraid that I, as his stepmother, might squander his money?’

“Fascinating… Back then, when I offered to help you with managing your finances, you refused.” Li Yanchen wasn’t jealous, but he wanted Lin Wan to know what importance she held in his eldest son’s life.

He was the guardian and offered to manage his son’s income, but Li Zexuan refused, but he was willing to let Lin Wan do it.

“Ms. Lin is good with money. She spends money very responsibly,” said Li Zexuan. “I went shopping with her. She even bargained at the mall.”

Lin Wan felt as though her stepson was complimenting and mocking her at the same time.

“Bargaining at the mall?”

“Auntie Lin, aren’t the prices all fixed at the mall?” asked Li Zekai.

“I was just giving it a try to see if it worked. Money should always be spent wisely. I’m not stingy, but clothes costing about a hundred thousand yuan are just too much.”

When Lin Wan went to the grocery store or fruit store, she didn’t fuss about the price. Even while making a donation, she was very generous. But some things being exorbitantly priced didn’t make sense to her.

She rarely used the black card that Li Yanchen had given her.

“Ms. Lin only spends money where it’s needed,” said Li Zexin. “When I begin earning money, I’ll also let Ms. Lin manage my finances.”

“In that case, I’ll do it too! What about you, Dad? Will you do the same?”

Lin Wan sighed inwardly. She knew they meant well, but she couldn’t accept something like that. She wasn’t even their biological mother. She didn’t want to create any misunderstandings.

Li Yanchen pursed his lips. He was willing to give her everything. He had even thought of transferring the company to her name, but Lin Wan had refused. She didn’t even use the card he gave her. She would occasionally buy a few clothes for him and the children but hadn’t spent a penny on herself.

“Oh, come on! Assistant Qin is there to manage those kinds of things. There is Secretary Han too! Why bother a housewife like me? Are you all jealous of my free time?” said Lin Wan jokingly. “I don’t want your cards or your money. It’s just too much responsibility for me. If I keep them, I will feel stressed constantly. Just keep them to yourselves.”

“Ms. Lin…” Li Zexuan wanted to say something sweet like Li Zexin would. “Xinxin and Jiejie are young and don’t earn right now. I’m also young and stupid. Although I am careful with my money, I feel like I am naive enough to be tricked into losing it. You are smart and good with finances. My money will be safe with you. Besides, I don’t earn as much as my father. Don’t accept his money. It’ll be a headache for you. My money is not even enough to fix the gaps between my teeth.”

“Brother Xuanxuan, how can you call yourself naive? When we went out to hang out last time, we saw the old lady kneeling in front of the mall and trying to ask for a donation for her sick baby. You immediately realized that she was a scammer. We even found the exact same poster.” Li Zekai remembered the incident very clearly. He had been about to donate his pocket money, but his elder brother had stopped him.

“Really?” said Li Zexuan sheepishly. “I was about to give her my money. I only heard someone shout that it was a scam.”

Lin Wan sighed. “No. I’m going to go in now. I have to reply to Mama Bao. She texted me in the afternoon, but I couldn’t write back to her. You guys should sleep soon, too.”

Lin Wan hurried back to her room.

Seeing his wife go back to the room, Li Yanchen couldn’t sit still. “I should rest too. Tomorrow, who knows what tasks we’ll have to complete? You kids go to your rooms too. Don’t stay up too late. Otherwise, you’ll end up with dark circles under your eyes.”

“Huh?” Li Zexuan looked at the time. It was already 9 p.m.

Giving his income to Lin Wan was a big deal. He had scared Lin Wan away. Li Zexuan decided to give her some time to think about it. “Let’s go and sleep,” said Li Zexin

Li Zekai picked up his hot water bottle. “Time to sleep.”

At Doudou’s home, the little girl couldn’t fall asleep.

Li Meng tried telling her stories to help her sleep, but the moment she finished narrating them, Doudou would open her eyes.

“Mommy, I can’t sleep.” Doudou tossed and turned.

Doudou was unfamiliar with the new bed and the new environment. Li Meng had brought along Doudou’s blankets and pillows that she always used, but her daughter still couldn’t sleep.

Li Meng added an extra mattress. “Is this more comfortable?”

“Um… Mommy, you go to sleep first, ” said Doudou. “I’ll close my eyes and wait.

Maybe I’ll fall asleep soon.”

Li Meng lay down beside her daughter. “Mommy will stay right here, baby. Go to sleep..”