Manipulative Harem God

509  The Withered Flower is blooming again (1)

"It was always green," Zhang Wei retorted dryly, correcting her.

"..."

Murong Jinxiang remained silent for a moment, her features composed into an subtle smile.

"By the way, whose side are you on exactly? Mine or your cousin's? Are you already advocating for her abandoning me?" Zhang Wei's eyes hardened, his piercing gaze locked onto Murong Jinxiang with pointed scrutiny.

Her response was a slow, deliberate blink, and with a playful yet sensual twist of her wrist, she pointed her long and straight elegantly towards the wall. "Definitely yours," she murmured, her voice laced with a hint of mischief.

Zhang Wei's brow twitched in confusion. "Then why are you pointing at the wall?"

Suppressing a smile that threatened to curve her lips, Murong Jinxiang gracefully pivoted on her heels, her waist twisting as if to emphasize the shake of her hips.

"I'll bring some food and drinks, whatever is left," she declared, her tone light yet resonant. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As she walked away, her hips swayed rhythmically, each movement accentuated and perhaps slightly exaggerated.

Zhang Wei watched, a part of him suspecting that her graceful demeanor was not entirely without intent.

Regarding her identity, she was more than just Yu Lei's cousin—a fact Zhang Wei had only come to understand over time.

He first met her during his middle school years, a time when his own character was less complicated and more straightforward.

She was Qi Xiang's wife, and age seemed only to enhance her allure, deepening her charm rather than diminishing it.

Despite her being in her early thirties, she held a presence that was hard to distinguish from someone younger like Lisa, yet the mature, captivating aura she exuded was unmistakable.

This was not the aura of a young girl; Zhang Wei recognized a similar essence around Zhao Hongyan, though it was considerably less pronounced.

The mystery of her seemingly ageless beauty had puzzled him until today when he finally learned the truth upon discreetly checking her status.

The discovery was a pleasant surprise, though he maintained a composed facade, his face betraying none of his inner thoughts.

"Brother Wei, is this new fish in your pond?" Qi Xiang asked, his eyebrows arching in surprise as his gaze settled on Xiong Mei, who sat gracefully atop a stool.

Despite both Qi Xiang and Murong Jinxiang being well aware of Zhang Wei's less than honest reputation, this was the first time they had seen him bring a companion here since his marriage.

Xiong Mei's attire, tasteful and refined, certainly didn't fit the mold of an escort.

In fact, her striking appearance stood out distinctly, suggesting that in a few years, her charm might have the power to sway the hearts of nations.

"Not new, she just came out of her cage," Zhang Wei responded with a subtle smile, reaching out to gently pinch Xiong Mei's cheeks as she sat there with composed elegance.

"Hmm!" Xiong Mei's cheeks puffed up in subtle indignation, her eyes flashing briefly with restrained annoyance.

Gudong...

Observing the scene, Qi Xiang swallowed.

He allowed a wry smile to creep across his face.

He glanced around to ensure Murong Jinxiang was out of earshot before leaning in closer to Zhang Wei. "Damn man, I never imagined you'd evolve into such a renowned player. Haha... why don't you share some of your secrets with me too?"

Though a decade older, Qi Xiang's camaraderie with Zhang Wei bridged the age gap, allowing them to address each other as brothers.

In fact, after arriving in Xueshan city, Zhang Wei spent two aimless years, meandering through life and residing in dorms, paralleling the time when Qi Xiang was diligently working a corporate job.

Together, they would often indulge in nights filled with smoke and drink, while Qi Xiang would cap off their gatherings with trips to local clubs.

At that juncture, Zhang Wei wasn't particularly interested in romantic pursuits.

He was merely existing, drifting without direction after his escape from Hufeng.

Then, when Qi Xiang had accumulated enough savings to open his restaurant, which started as a quaint establishment, he somewhat coerced Zhang Wei into the rigors of middle school education.

The tuition fees were paid three years in advance, effectively trapping Zhang Wei in an educational commitment he couldn't evade.

As Zhang Wei gazed at Qi Xiang's grinning face, a reflective smile tugged at his own lips internally; he harbored no real animosity or rivalry towards Qi Xiang.

After all, those were times when he had been well cared for.

Even Murong Jinxiang, once she married into Qi Xiang's family, took it upon herself to wash his dirty clothes, providing a domestic touch to his then-chaotic life.

Murong Jinxiang was one of those women who stirred a peculiar discomfort in Zhang Wei.

Her tender smiles and gentle demeanor initially irked him, not matching with his cynical view that women harbored no genuine motives or virtues.

This perception, however, he would later revise internally.

He came to understand that every individual is driven by good motives, every action aimed at achieving what they believe is good...

The irony, he realized, was that this 'good' was often solely prioritised for themselves.

Later, at the age of sixteen, Zhang Wei departed for Qingyun City, leaving the couple, Qi Xiang and Murong Jinxiang, to their own devices.

Although they still met occasionally, there were a few untold mishaps during those times, now faded and forgotten by the passage of time.

He had maintained a good relationship with Murong Jinxiang and Qi Xiang even before he met Yu Lei.

This was one of the reasons Murong Jinxiang didn't overly concern herself with Zhang Wei's behaviour, as long as he didn't seriously neglect Yu Lei.

In fact, Zhang Wei felt it was pointless to pretend to be virtuous in front of Murong Jinxiang; his reputation, after all, had been tarnished in her eyes long ago.

Looking up at Qi Xiang's patient face, Zhang Wei couldn't help but add, a smirk playing on his lips. "Tricks? Why don't you try being handsome?"

Qi Xiang's expression shifted between suprise and speechlessness, conversation ebbed and flowed, touching on a variety of topics over the next ten minutes.

Then, with a lean towards Zhang Wei, he lowered his voice, adopting a hushed whisper. "Brother, could you possibly spare some change?"

"Hm? For what?" Zhang Wei's eyes narrowed, his suspicion barely veiled as he scrutinized Qi Xiang's suddenly sheepish demeanor.

Qi Xiang glanced around nervously, his voice dropping further into a quieter tone. "Well, I might have promised a girl at the club I'd meet her today."

Zhang Wei was left speechless, his eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion.

After a moment's hesitation, he sighed, pulled out his phone, and tapped a few times on the screen.

The amount of thirty thousand yuan was swiftly transferred.

As Qi Xiang sprang to his feet, a broad grin spread across his face. "Thanks, brother! I'll see you later then. And, uh, could you maybe not mention this to Jinxiang? I'd owe you one."