Magical Girl Heavy Dependence

Chapter 74, Stepmother

"President Cheng!"

"Mr. Chu."

"Hahaha, seeing is believing! It's great to meet you in person today. Mr. Cheng is indeed a young and promising man!"

"Mr. Chu, you flatter me. I would be more than happy to have the opportunity to learn from a recognized expert like you in the industry."

"Not at all, we're just exchanging ideas and making progress together! This old man of mine will probably have a lot of new things to learn from you young people in the future."

"..."

Cheng Chen and Chu Kai clasped their hands tightly together and shook them vigorously up and down.

Both of them had smiles on their faces, as if they had known each other for a long time.

Zhong Ai followed quietly behind Cheng Chen, half a step behind, and met the gaze of the gentle and graceful beautiful woman standing next to Chu Kai, who always maintained a smile.

The woman's gaze lingered on her for a moment, and she seemed to think of something, her lips slightly parted.

"This is my wife, Shen Lianjing."

"Hello, Madam." Cheng Chen handed over an exquisitely wrapped handbag. "A small gift to mark our meeting."

Shen Lianjing quickly regained her composure and immediately put on a standard polite smile: "President Cheng, why did you bring a gift? I am truly flattered."

Chu Kai waved his hand dismissively, deliberately putting on airs, "President Cheng, please accept this gift. Our two companies are closely connected, we're family, there's no need for such formalities."

So Shen Lianjing thanked him and no longer declined.

Chu Kai invited Cheng Chen into the concert hall. As soon as the two turned around, Shen Lianjing's gaze involuntarily drifted back to Zhong Ai.

"You are..." she finally couldn't help but ask.

"Hello, Madam Shen."

Zhong Ai greeted her coldly, followed behind Cheng Chen, and brushed past her.

"My son has been learning piano from a renowned teacher since he was a child. At this age, he has made a name for himself in the classical music circle, performed at the Crystal Palace Hall, and won a few small awards. After returning to Yincheng, I wanted to prepare a birthday surprise for his younger brother, so I organized today's concert."

As Chu Kai walked, he explained, "It's just some decadent music; I hope it will catch President Cheng's ear."

As they were talking, the group entered the concert hall.

At this moment, Chu Junzhuo had already changed into his performance costume and was talking to someone at the backstage entrance. When they approached, he immediately stopped talking and took the initiative to greet them.

"Father."

He called out respectfully.

Chu Kai introduced Cheng Chen, saying, "This is President Cheng of Yin Fu Entertainment, and also an important business partner of yours. President Cheng is only a few years older than you, yet he has already achieved so much. You should learn a lot from him."

"Hello, Mr. Cheng."

Chu Junzhuo politely extended his hand, his gaze lingering on Cheng Chen's face for a moment before he quickly lowered his head.

Then he greeted Zhong Ai, who was behind Cheng Chen, "Zhong Ai, classmate."

"...Classmate Chu."

Zhong Ai's expression was somewhat unnatural, and she only gave a perfunctory nod in response.

Chu Kai looked around and spread his hands: "Oh? You two know each other?"

Cheng Chen also carefully examined Chu Junzhuo at this moment, raising an eyebrow.

"Zhong Ai and I are from the same school, and we've met a few times on campus," Chu Junzhuo replied politely. "It's an honor that you've come to my concert."

"I'm just with my brother."

Zhong Ai moved closer to Cheng Chen and took his arm.

Clang.

A commotion erupted backstage, as if something had been knocked over, and the staff rushed over to investigate.

Cheng Chen's eyes darted around, and he suddenly spoke, "Mr. Chu?"

"Oh, look at my brain! Let's not just stand here. Mr. Cheng, this way please."

"please."

After the group left, backstage, just a wall away, Yan Xi was pinned against the wall by Shen Caihua.

"Mmmmmm!"

Yan Xi broke free from the hand covering her mouth, her eyes wide with anger, "That bitch!"

How dare she hold the producer's hand so directly? Does she deserve it? There's absolutely no sense of distance between them!

"Calm down! Calm down!"

Shen Caihua was covered in sweat. "I know you and Zhong Ai don't get along, but she has nothing to do with us. We got in through connections, and we're doomed if she finds out."

How could it be unrelated? That's my producer!

Yan Xi was so angry that her chest heaved, and she made a struggle, but she quickly calmed down.

"wrong."

She suddenly fell into deep thought, and reason regained control of her intelligent mind.

Cang Qing was just sneaking around spying on things, but how come she suddenly changed into a well-behaved little sister and openly entered the venue with Cheng Chen?

Could it be that the producer instructed her to investigate first?

"wrong."

Yan Xi shook his head and muttered to himself.

The producer wouldn't give that kind of order, because it's pointless.

Judging from what Chu Kai said earlier, the producer was there on behalf of the company, probably to discuss some business with Chu Kai. Cang Qing shouldn't have been there at all.

Perhaps... she ran into the producer outside the theater after she finished spying, so she kept pestering him to come along?

"That's right, that's exactly it."

Yan Xi believed she had discovered the truth.

From the very beginning, she felt that Cang Qing's approach to the producer was definitely malicious, but she was unable to expose her disguise due to a lack of evidence.

But today was an accident. If Shen Caihua hadn't dragged me here to make up the numbers, I wouldn't be here at all, let alone witness her sneaky behavior!

Yan Xi suddenly looked up, realizing that this was an opportunity.

She was going to investigate secretly and find out exactly what was going on behind Cang Qing's back!

The producer who was deceived is now in my hands to be saved by my chief assistant!

"L...Lulu?"

Shen Caihua watched Yan Xi's expressions shift from serious to thoughtful to silly grinning at the air, and she was very worried about her friend's mental state.

"Oh? I'm fine, sorry, sorry."

Yan Xi snapped out of her daze and waved her hand dismissively.

Like a wary little hedgehog, she peeked towards the audience. The venue was too large, and there were many people; she couldn't find Cheng Chen.

"Caihua." Yanxi turned her head, staring intently at her best friend.

"What's wrong?" Shen Caihua felt uneasy under her gaze.

"Is there a better spot here, offering a panoramic view of the concert hall, yet also one that's not easily spotted?"

Shen Caihua suddenly became smug: "Hmph, seeing how distracted you were just now, I thought you weren't interested in my idol's performance at all. To be able to perfectly appreciate my idol's stunning good looks while playing the piano, I did my research beforehand. Come with me!"

……

"Are you secretly investigating Chu Junzhuo?"

After taking their seats, Cheng Chen casually asked Zhong Ai.

At this moment, Chu Kai and his wife were still greeting other guests, and there were only the two of them in the row of seats.

Zhong Ai stiffened slightly, then lowered her eyes and chose to remain silent.

"He's a half-demon, which is very interesting. I've never seen such a hybrid before. If he were at Sky Dome University, he could have his own biology lab."

Cheng Chen continued speaking to himself, an interest evident on his face, "Did you know? Although demons and humans look similar and speak the same language, they are not actually the same species, and they cannot reproduce."

"Although we say that the Calamity Beasts are all offspring of 'Nightmare,' they do not actually have the ability to reproduce, a trait that has been passed down to the Demons. The only way for a Demon to have offspring is to mate with a magical girl who also belongs to the 'magical creatures.'"

He glanced sideways at Zhong Ai and said, "Chu Kai is able to sit firmly as the CEO of Xianmeng Group. Although I am very curious as to why Fairy Demoness would allow a demon to help her manage the company, it is not surprising that he is a demon."

"If Chu Junzhuo is his biological son, then it means that his wife, Shen Lianjing, was once a magical girl, did you know that?"

Cheng Chen looked at Zhong Ai's face and suddenly chuckled softly.

"You know."

Zhong Ai's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she didn't know what expression to make.

She suddenly felt a little flustered, as if all the little secrets in her heart, all the things she wanted to do and was preparing to do, had been seen through by the man beside her, leaving her nowhere to hide her little thoughts.

This was followed by even greater fear.

Does he... know more?

Does he already know... that he is actually a despicable traitor?

He glanced at Cheng Chen's face out of the corner of his eye, but couldn't make out anything.

"actually…"

She spoke with difficulty.

Cheng Chen turned to look at him, and Zhong Ai paused before continuing, "Actually, Shen Lianjing is Chu Junzhuo's stepmother, and I know her."

……