HBWMA -Chapter 130 An Inescapable Calamity

The rear garden of the Shen residence was a private area; guests were usually received in the front courtyard.

Members from the Zhou, Su, and Yao families had arrived in large numbers. Aside from the three heads of the families who were invited into the main hall, everyone else was kept in the side hall for tea.

As a daughter-in-law of the Shen family, Yao Ge moved around Shen Garden as if she were back in her own home. Even the tea and snacks prepared by the maids were her usual favorites.

Yao Zilei sat half-paralyzed in his wheelchair, his eyes filled with malice. “Aunt, you have to avenge me for this.”

Yao Ge took a graceful sip of black tea, her expression calm. “What’s the rush? Just wait and see.”

As she spoke, she looked up at the maid pouring tea nearby. “Where is Shen Guiling? With elders present, how can he not come out to pay his respects? Go call him here.”

The maid’s hand trembled slightly, looking troubled. “Madam, Young Master A-Ling should be at school.”

Yao Ge narrowed her eyes and slammed the teacup down. “Even if he’s already sitting in the classroom, make him come back!”

The maid didn’t dare defend Shen Guiling any further. She acknowledged and hurried out.

On the sofa in the corner, Zhou Yanheng was playing on his phone. The group chat was filled with messages from his rowdy friends asking why he hadn’t shown up for military training—but their concerns were shallow, ranging from pretty girls in the next class to embarrassing photos of people during training.

After a while, Zhou Yanheng felt utterly bored.

At that moment, a maid approached with refreshments. “Young Master Zhou, what would you like to drink?”

Without a trace, Zhou Yanheng locked his phone. His eyes were gentle as he replied, “Plain water is fine, thank you.”

Who wouldn’t like a polite and well-mannered young man? The maid’s fondness for him instantly soared. “Warm water, is that okay?”

“Of course.”

“Aunt, and that little bitch too!! This whole thing was caused by her! You must find a way to vent my anger!”

Zhou Yanheng raised his brow slightly, pretending to drink as he quietly glanced across.

“You mean the eldest from the Jiang family?” Yao Ge had mainly come today to give Shen Guiling a show of authority; she didn’t even bother remembering the names of other irrelevant people.

Yao Zilei nodded, his face twisted with viciousness. “That’s right! That little bitch—Jiang Huashan! Aunt—”

“Enough!” Yao Ge shot him a glare, signaling him to shut up, while her gaze drifted lightly toward Zhou Yanheng.

Sensing her look, Zhou Yanheng raised his head slightly, appearing considerate. “Aunt Yao, do you need me to step out?”

The boy before her was the most favored eldest grandson of the Zhou family. Barring any surprises, he would be the future head of the family. Yao Ge understood the stakes and deliberately played along.

“I’m in a bit of a dilemma—it’s a family matter, after all, and we should leave them some dignity. But I’m also worried about neglecting you.”

Zhou Yanheng naturally understood. He stood up. “I’ve always heard that Shen Garden has beautiful scenery, but I’ve never had the chance to properly appreciate it. Since I have the opportunity today, I’ll go take a walk. Aunt Yao, no need to mind me.”

Yao Zilei frowned. Just as he lifted his head, Zhou Yanheng glanced at him. Startled, he quickly looked away.

Zhou Yanheng smiled faintly.

Yao Ge was quite pleased with the young man. She turned and instructed the steward in the hall, “Take Young Master Zhou around properly. Don’t neglect our honored guest.”

“Yes, Madam.” The steward immediately stepped forward to lead the way.

Only after Zhou Yanheng’s figure completely disappeared from the side hall did Yao Ge turn to the maid beside her. “Go call that girl over as well. I want to ask what’s going on.”

The maid froze for a moment. “Madam, do you mean Miss Jiang?”

Yao Ge raised an eyebrow. “What? Am I not allowed to summon her?”

The maid waved her hands quickly. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. I’ll go right away.”

It was obvious to anyone perceptive that Yao Ge was trying to support her natal family. During his time at Shen Garden, Shen Guiling had won over quite a few people—especially the maids, who were fond of the gentle and kind young master. They had originally worried that he would be bullied when he arrived, but upon hearing that Jiang Huashan was also being called over, they instantly felt relieved.

Miss Jiang was different—there was nothing she wouldn’t dare do, from reaching the heavens to catch the moon to diving into the seas to seize turtles.

This round was in the bag!

Watching the maid hurry off with unusual enthusiasm, Yao Ge looked puzzled. Since when had these people become so obedient to her?

Yao Zilei, thinking he now had Yao Ge backing him, grew smug again. “Aunt, whether I can regain my face depends entirely on you! You must make them kneel and apologize to me in front of the whole school!”

Yao Ge lazily leaned back against the sofa. “It’s nothing.”

A bastard son and an adopted daughter—could they really turn the world upside down?

Meanwhile—

As soon as Shen Mianzhi stepped out of the courtyard, she heard that the Yao family had come to the door to demand accountability. Unlike Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er, who were excited, she was instantly terrified, regretting her impulsiveness yesterday and worrying that she had brought trouble to the Shen family.

Unable to sit still, Shen Mianzhi turned and rushed toward the front hall.

Just then, Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er were climbing over a wall. As Shen Mianzhi passed by the corner and saw this scene, she immediately shouted—

“What are you two doing here?!”

Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er were so startled that they nearly tumbled off the wall.

“Are you trying to scare our souls out?! Want us to fall to our deaths?” Fu Sui’er snapped in a hushed but furious voice after steadying herself.

Shen Mianzhi knew she was in the wrong and shuffled to the corner of the wall, looking up at them. “There’s a front gate—why are you climbing the wall?”

Fu Sui’er rolled her eyes. “None of your business.”

Shen Mianzhi stared at the two of them for a moment, her gaze turning cold. “Don’t tell me you’re up to something shady again? The Yao family has already come knocking. If you don’t want to cause Grandpa more trouble, you should go apologize properly.”

“You’re seriously sick in the head. If you want to apologize, go yourself—don’t drag us into it,” Fu Sui’er shot back.

Knowing she couldn’t reason with her, Shen Mianzhi turned to Jiang Huashan. “You bear the main responsibility for this. Grandpa treats you so well—is this how you repay him?”

Jiang Huashan let out a laugh. “You can’t even convince Sui’er—what makes you think you can convince me?”

“You!” Shen Mianzhi didn’t expect them to be so stubborn. Lifting her chin, she confronted them head-on. “Fine. If you won’t listen, I’ll follow you. Don’t think you can go off and do anything bad.” With that, she ignored everything else and started climbing up along the corner steps.

Fu Sui’er grew increasingly irritated and leaned closer to Jiang Huashan. “What do we do? Should we just kick her down?”

Jiang Huashan glanced at her. “…What if she dies?”

Fu Sui’er pursed her lips. “Then it’s on me.”

Even so, as Shen Mianzhi nearly reached the top of the wall, neither of them made a move.

At that moment, someone on the other side of the wall heard the commotion and curiously walked over.

Jiang Huashan crouched on the wall, hesitating whether to hide, when the person’s voice drifted over.

“I think I heard something over there.”

Jiang Huashan froze. A flash of cold ruthlessness flickered in her eyes. Lowering her gaze, she quietly watched Shen Mianzhi climb up. After a moment of silence, she suddenly extended her hand.

“Grab on.”

Shen Mianzhi paused, but she had never been one to suspect malice. Without hesitation, she grabbed Jiang Huashan’s hand.

By the time she was pulled up onto the wall, the boy had already reached the bottom.

“Turns out it’s three little stray cats.”

From Zhou Yanheng’s perspective, he could only see three figures perched on the wall, unable to distinguish who was who.

“What do we do? We’ve been discovered?” Shen Mianzhi lay between Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er, looking completely at a loss.

Jiang Huashan lowered her head and called out, “Zhou Yanheng, catch!”

The moment her voice fell, she shoved Shen Mianzhi hard, sending her straight down.

Fu Sui’er was stunned. Before she could react, Jiang Huashan grabbed her and jumped down the other side of the courtyard wall.

Shen Mianzhi, completely unprepared, hadn’t even processed what was happening before she crashed into a warm embrace.

Zhou Yanheng was even more baffled. He looked up just in time for a girl to fall from the sky, crashing into him without warning.

Luckily, the wall wasn’t high—otherwise, he might have died.

“……”

Shen Mianzhi hurriedly scrambled to her feet. When she saw clearly the face beneath her, she froze, her cheeks flushing bright red. “S-sorry… I didn’t mean to.”

Zhou Yanheng felt like his organs were about to be crushed out of him. Fury surged in his eyes, on the verge of exploding, when the steward quickly rushed over.

“Miss Mianzhi, are you alright? Oh my—Young Master Zhou, thank goodness you reacted quickly, otherwise the consequences would’ve been unimaginable.”

Zhou Yanheng finally regained a bit of composure. His gaze lingered on Shen Mianzhi’s face for a moment. “Get off first.”

Only then did Shen Mianzhi realize she was still on top of him. The blush on her face spread all the way down her neck. Seeing her legs go weak from fright, the steward hurried forward to help her up.

Zhou Yanheng held his chest, calming himself for a few seconds. Just as he was about to stand, he caught sight of a pair of glasses nearby—they had been knocked off Shen Mianzhi’s face in the collision.

He glanced at her again. Seeing her avoiding his gaze, not daring to look at him, he seemed to realize something.

A teasing smile curled at the corner of his lips. Bending down, he picked up the glasses and deliberately stepped closer.

“Here.”

Shen Mianzhi felt utterly embarrassed. She stole a quick glance before looking away again. “Thank you.”

She murmured softly, about to put them on.

Zhou Yanheng smiled gently. “I think you look better without them.”

“Thump—”

Shen Mianzhi abruptly lifted her head, staring at the gentle, handsome boy before her. In that moment, the heartbeat she had been desperately suppressing fell completely out of rhythm.