Chapter 6: She wished it could last… one hundred years!!!

Over the past few days, Sang Miao still hadn’t fully explored the entire villa.

A casual inquiry revealed that the estate covered at least 3,000 square meters, designed in the style of an English manor.

She even discovered a small horse stable.

Inside was an adorable little pony named Monday.

It stood just under a meter tall.

According to the caretaker, this pony was Meng Xici’s

A birthday gift he had received when he turned ten.

Since the horse was so small, only a child could ride it.

Imagining that scene, she thought it must have been quite adorable.

The villa’s dog was a merle Border Collie named Simba.

The dog was already five years old

Another birthday gift from Meng Xici’s childhood.

It had come with him from Hong Kong, and of course, the name had been his choice.

When Sang Miao heard the name Simba, she immediately thought

Lion King?

It was such a classic little boy’s name for a pet.

Were all these birthday gifts from Meng Peisheng, the ever-responsible father?

With no job to worry about, Sang Miao’s biggest daily concern was deciding what to eat.

The villa had multiple chefs and pâtissiers, each with their own specialty.

They were Michelin-starred and five-star hotel-level private chefs.

She could eat whatever she wanted.

If an ingredient wasn’t available domestically, it would be flown in fresh.

After years of living off instant noodles, canned food, and jerky

Meals that required minimal preparation

This sudden upgrade to gourmet dining was pure happiness.

She felt like she could forgive the entire world.

At this point, she started worrying

If she got used to this lifestyle, how would she ever go back after the divorce?

No wonder they say money can make anything possible.

Relying solely on a job?

That wouldn’t earn her this kind of luxury.

During her days of leisure, Sang Miao began thinking about the future.

Whether she left when the agreement ended, or if she was forcibly removed by the “plot,” she had to plan ahead.

She had no idea how the “vicious stepmother” character exited the story.

So, thinking about it was pointless.

No need to over-prepare for something she couldn’t predict.

Maybe because she had grown accustomed to a nomadic lifestyle, she thought

Once I’m free again, I’ll go back to traveling in my camper van, just like before.

She could explore the world, experiencing new places without much risk.

But that alone wouldn’t be enough.

Wandering constantly would get tiring.

She would need to settle down every now and then.

If she could buy villas in all the places she loved, she could simply stay wherever she pleased—

Living in a different place every year.

That would be perfect.

Although the assets Meng Peisheng provided in their agreement could support her current dream,

There was still the unpredictable “plot” to consider.

Nothing was guaranteed to be hers in the end.

She didn’t have much money in hand right now.

But soon, she would.

And it would be a waste not to do something with it.

Of course, this wasn’t something that could be rushed.

She had a plan.

Now, she just needed the right opportunity.

To pass the time, Sang Miao found herself a small project.

After spending so much time online, she found it interesting

So, she started an account.

She had grown up here, after all.

Though she wasn’t some artistic prodigy who had mastered every elegant skill,

She could draw and play a bit of music.

Her skills weren’t top-tier,

But after years of practice, she was no worse than some professionals.

In the post-apocalyptic world, there weren’t many entertainment options.

She had kept thick sketchbooks

Recording landscapes, people, animals, and even small comics about daily life.

Drawing had been both an amusement and a form of solace.

It was a shame she couldn’t bring those sketchbooks with her.

She did regret that a little.

Over the past few days, she occasionally remembered things from before

And instinctively sketched them out.

Those days had been tough, but they were also an experience few would ever have.

She didn’t want to forget them.

Maybe, on some subconscious level, she wanted a place to express those memories.

Something she couldn’t tell anyone

But still needed to store somewhere.

So, she started an online account.

A place to keep those untold stories.

At first, she named the account Youyou, after her cat.

But the real Youyou didn’t seem to approve.

He kept messing with her keyboard in protest.

So, she tweaked the name

Changing it to Youyou (spelled differently).

That seemed to satisfy him.

After playing for a while, he curled up and went to sleep.

While Sang Miao enjoyed a few days of blissful relaxation,

Youyou was not having as much fun.

All because of the dog.

Like today, for example

Youyou had stolen Simba’s usual sunbathing spot.

And the cat and dog were at war again.

The merle Border Collie, with its silver-gray fur, looked shockingly similar to the Maine Coon.

Side by side, they could almost pass as siblings

And their level of handsome charm was about equal.

Luckily, Maine Coons were large cats.

The size difference wasn’t too dramatic.

They were practically evenly matched.

People said Maine Coons were gentle giants, with sweet temperaments and soft, chirping meows.

But this Maine Coon?

A little too feisty.

Of course, it could also be because the opponent was a dog.

Border Collies were absurdly smart

The kind of dog that could probably help a kid get into college.

And in just a few days, Simba had already tricked Youyou multiple times.

Naturally, Youyou held a grudge.

Winter days turned dark early.

As the sky dimmed, warm lights illuminated the garden, creating a cozy glow.

Meng Xici arrived home and immediately noticed something unusual.

In the garden beside the main path

A cat he had never seen before was fighting with his dog.

And standing nearby was a stranger.

A young woman.

Meng Xici wasn’t particularly interested in the opposite sex,

But he had basic aesthetic sense.

Objectively speaking, this was a very beautiful woman.

Her hair was loosely tied up, and she wore no makeup.

Under the warm lights, her features looked clean and delicate.

She stood quietly, watching the cat and dog without interfering

Giving off an air of detachment from the world.

The scene had an almost timeless tranquility to it.

It almost felt like there really was a mistress of the house.

But the fleeting thought vanished quickly.

Meng Xici didn’t dwell on it.

This must be the “guest” his father had mentioned.

He had expected to meet her today.

He had imagined a polite exchange of greetings.

A formal dinner at the table.

And nothing beyond that.

But now…

Standing at a reasonable distance,

Meng Xici shifted his focus back to the cat and dog situation.

But something seemed off.

Just a moment ago, Simba had the upper hand.

Yet now, for some reason, the dog seemed to hesitate.

Meng Xici: “…?”

This didn’t make sense.

Simba was trained.

There was no way he was being bullied by a cat.

The once-dignified Border Collie

For some reason, backed away a few steps.

Its ears drooped.

Its gaze lowered.

And now

Faced with the much smaller cat, which was still baring its claws

Simba flopped down, looking utterly defeated.

Meng Xici: “……”

You’re giving up??

Where is your pride as a dog??

What he didn’t know was

Whenever things looked bad,

Sang Miao would “cheat” on Youyou’s behalf.

After all, messing around was one thing.

But her cat?

Would never be bullied by someone else’s dog.

Tonight, Meng Peisheng came home on time for dinner.

The Maybach pulled up in front of the main building.

Lin Yanzhou got out of the car right after him, both of them spotting the two people standing in the courtyard

And the cat and dog beside them.

Uncle Zhou couldn’t help but feel that the scene was unusually lively.

What’s going on here?

Sang Miao and Meng Xici turned to look at the entrance of the villa.

The sound of the car was too loud to ignore.

Meng Peisheng, dressed in a black coat, glanced in their direction.

His tall, straight figure strode towards them.

Perhaps because he had just finished work, his presence carried a touch of cold authority.

He walked past them without hesitation and crouched beside the Border Collie.

His long fingers rested on its head, stroking it in a soothing manner.

Usually, Simba would have rushed over enthusiastically the moment he returned.

But today, something was off.

“What’s wrong today?”

Meng Peisheng’s voice was deep, elegant, and smooth

A rich, magnetic tone.

The sight of him speaking to a dog was unexpected.

Yet, from his tone, Sang Miao could surprisingly pick out traces of gentleness and patience.

The dog let out a small, sulky whimper

Like it had been bullied.

It lifted its head slightly, nuzzling against his palm.

Then, it glanced at Sang Miao

As if wanting to complain, but not daring to.

Sang Miao: … Ha.

I didn’t peg you for a drama queen.

If dogs could talk, Simba was definitely about to rat her out.

Meng Peisheng patted the dog’s head in reassurance.

Just as he was about to stand, he noticed a cat staring at him with wide, curious eyes.

The Maine Coon let out a soft meow

A high-pitched, chirping sound.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, it cautiously took a step closer.

Seeing that the man didn’t react, the cat grew bolder

Circling around him twice, as if assessing something.

Then, it pressed itself against his coat, rubbing against the fabric

Leaving a layer of fur all over it.

Sang Miao: “…?”

This wasn’t logical.

This kind of behavior meant the cat liked him and was showing affection.

But Youyou was normally wary of strangers!

It rarely let people touch it, let alone snuggle up like this

And this was their first meeting!

But just as Meng Peisheng reached out to pet it,

Youyou suddenly flinched back and bolted.

Sang Miao felt a bit more balanced inside.

Good.

Still my good kitty.

Unmoved by mere good looks!

Meng Xici, meanwhile, was beginning to feel stupid for standing around watching a cat and dog fight.

He really should have just gone straight to his room.

Now, the situation felt awkward

Not exactly the best time for introductions.

Then again, there was no need for introductions at this point.

In just a short while, night had fallen completely.

Meng Peisheng straightened up, his expression composed.

“Let’s go in for dinner.”

Uncle Zhou had been with the Meng family for many years.

As an elder figure, he was often invited to join meals.

With four people at the table, it was slightly less awkward than three.

Though, judging by their personalities

None of the three seemed like they even knew what “awkwardness” meant.

Under the dazzling crystal chandelier,

Sang Miao finally got a proper look at Meng Xici’s face.

Although he wasn’t yet an adult, he was already over 1.8 meters tall.

In terms of height, father and son had that in common.

Meng Peisheng was probably around 1.88, maybe even 1.9 meters.

But when she examined their features closely

Their faces had completely different styles.

Meng Peisheng’s bone structure was sharp and defined

His features striking but intense.

Meng Xici, on the other hand, had a more elegant, refined look.

His father’s eyes were light-colored and distant,

While his were deep, dark, and clear.

His entire aura was clean and sharp.

The perfect school heartthrob, just as the novel had described.

Not only was he good-looking

He was top of his class, highly disciplined,

And an ideal child any parent would love.

But

Sang Miao wasn’t here to be anyone’s stepmother.

Whether he was a dream child or not had nothing to do with her.

That weekend, both Meng Peisheng and Meng Xici were at home.

But Sang Miao still woke up whenever she felt like it.

By the time she got up,

Meng Peisheng had usually already left for work.

They barely saw each other.

As for Meng Xici

She only saw him at meals.

They ate in peace.

When he finished, he would politely inform her,

“I’m done eating.”

All in all, he was a very polite kid

Just a little cold.

Most of the time, he stayed in his room.

Sang Miao figured he wasn’t playing video games.

He was probably studying.

If there were no surprises, he was likely the heir to the Meng family.

At such a young age,

He already seemed to accept that responsibility.

Whether it was because Meng Peisheng was strict with him,

Or simply because having a top-tier achiever as a father created too much pressure,

She couldn’t say.

Sang Miao downloaded a few survival and farming simulation games

As well as some shooter and strategy games.

Zombie apocalypse games had plenty of gore,

But compared to her real-life experiences with combat,

They weren’t that exciting.

She played a little and quickly lost interest.

But some of the survival games?

Those were addictive.

Unfortunately, there weren’t many good ones.

After a while, she burned through them and hit a gaming slump.

That day,

She finished drawing a post-apocalyptic landscape and uploaded it to her social media account.

She didn’t really care if anyone saw it.

Once posted, she didn’t bother checking again.

That afternoon,

Her phone buzzed with a bank notification.

Ding!

Her six million salary had been deposited!

At that moment

All her grand ambitions from the past few days were thrown aside.

With zero dignity, she thought

If I could decide the length of this contract…

I’d make it last…

One hundred years!!!