Chapitre 17: Wang Feng
Chen Xiang's features contorted with a mix of anger and disgust at the endearing form the man used to address her.
"Talk? What else is there to talk about, Wang Feng?" she spat out, her voice laced with a venomous edge.
Wang Feng's face contorted with guilt, his eyes pleading with Chen Xiang for forgiveness.
"Xiang'er, I know I messed up, but now I want to fix things. Please," he implored, his voice filled with desperation.
Chen Xiang's icy expression remained unchanged, her resolve unyielding.
In the midst of their tense exchange, Xiao Ming, oblivious to the brewing storm, walked back towards his mother and stood by her side.
Wang Feng's gaze shifted towards Xiao Ming, and a glimmer of realization crossed his face.
"He is--" he began, his voice tinged with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
But before he could finish his sentence, Chen Xiang cut him off with a sharp retort.
"He has nothing to do with you. You said so yourself," she snapped, lifting Xiao Ming into her arms and turning her back on Wang Feng.
Wang Feng let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he watched them walk away.
Not wanting to leave things on a sour note, he quickly put on a smile and waved towards Xiao Ming, who was watching him intently from Chen Xiang's shoulder.
Meanwhile, Liang Wei, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, stood there with a dumbfounded expression. His mind raced to process the unfolding situation.
'So... this dude is Xiao Ming's father?'
Liang Wei pondered silently, his eyes flickering between Chen Xiang, Xiao Ming, and Wang Feng.
His analytical side kicked in, and he began mentally piecing things together.
'Judging by his appearance and the fact that he was previously in a relationship with Sister Chen, it seems like she might eventually accept him, especially considering his wealth.'
Liang Wei's face contorted with concern.
'But that's not good for me...'
Deciding to take action, Liang Wei cleared his throat loudly, hoping to redirect Wang Feng's attention.
Wang Feng turned around, his eyes lighting up with hope as he saw Liang Wei.
"You! You were walking together with Xiang'er, right?" Wang Feng exclaimed, his voice filled with anticipation.
Liang Wei nodded, acknowledging the statement.
"Do you live in this apartment too?" Wang Feng inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes, I'm Sister Chen's neighbor. And who might you be?" Liang Wei responded, his voice laced with a hint of mischief.
Wang Feng's expression faltered slightly at the question, his cheeks flushed as he scratched his head.
"Um... I'm her husband," he admitted, his tone tinged with a mixture of embarrassment and hope.
Liang Wei furrowed his brow, pretending to contemplate the situation.
"Hmm... Sister Chen mentioned she was single, though," he commented, feigning surprise.
Wang Feng let out a bitter smile, his eyes reflecting the weight of past mistakes.
"Well, you see... there are some things that have happened in the past, and now I have the responsibility to fix them," he explained, his voice tinged with remorse.
"Ohhh!" Liang Wei exclaimed exaggeratedly.
Suddenly, Liang Wei awkwardly patted Wang Feng's shoulders, feeling the luxurious fabric of his shirt against his fingertips.
'That's a premium-ass shirt,' Liang Wei thought to himself, momentarily distracted by the material sensation.
But he quickly composed himself and adopted a serious tone.
"Well, Mister, I must tell you that you have no chance of fixing things," he declared, despite the comical sight of him wearing a flowery raincoat.
Liang Wei continued his words carrying a weight of authority.
"You know, Mister," Liang Wei began, his voice laced with a hint of sympathy. "Sister Chen has confided in me about her past struggles. She's shared how difficult it has been for her to move on from the past, especially when it comes to relationships. She's hesitant to open her heart again because she's afraid of getting hurt."
Wang Feng's guilt-ridden expression shifted to confusion as he attempted to make sense of Liang Wei's words.
"Are you saying..." Wang Feng started, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Liang Wei.
Liang Wei's eyes twitched slightly, but he pressed on with his fictional tale.
"Yes, that's right," Liang Wei replied, his voice dripping with implications that Wang Feng would not appreciate. "Sister Chen and I are... very close."
A provocative smile played on Liang Wei's lips as he stared at Wang Feng, his eyes filled with mischief.
'Come on,' Liang Wei silently urged, hoping to enrage Wang Feng.
He wanted the man to lose control and perhaps even lay a hand on him.
His plan was to provoke a reaction, a physical altercation that would allow him to play the victim, further enhancing his image in Chen Xiang's eyes while simultaneously sabotaging Wang Feng's chances of reuniting with her.
After all, would she truly want to be with a man who showed 'violent' tendencies?
Contrary to Liang Wei's expectations, Wang Feng remained silent, devoid of any emotion in his eyes.
The man simply shrugged off Liang Wei's hands from his shoulders and straightened his clothes with a nonchalant demeanor.
As confusion washed over Liang Wei, he couldn't help but wonder what had caused Wang Feng's sudden change in behavior.
Before he could voice his question, a chuckle escaped from Wang Feng's lips, catching Liang Wei off guard.
"What...?" Liang Wei began to ask, his voice trailing off.
Wang Feng's gaze fixed upon Liang Wei, his once handsome features transforming into a plain, cold, and emotionless countenance.
At that moment, Liang Wei felt an eerie sensation, as if he was facing something otherworldly.
However, the feeling quickly dissipated as Wang Feng spoke.
"Nice try, kid. But try harder," he declared, his words laced with a sense of mockery.
Without another word, Wang Feng turned and made his way back to his car.
The engine roared to life as he drove away, leaving Liang Wei standing there, perplexed.
__________
Wang Feng drove through the streets, lost in his thoughts.
"Chen Xiang... She'll be a tough nut to crack," he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, his mind drifted back to the encounter with the chubby kid, and a chuckle escaped his lips.
"Heh," He shook his head in amusement before calling out to his system.
'System.'
[Ding!]
[White Washing System Active.]
[Current Target: Chen Xiang.]
[Potential Rivals]
[1. Liang Wei: 18 (Martial Artist) Favorability with the target: 20]
Wang Feng snickered as he read the information on the screen.
"With a favorability of 20, he claims to be 'very close' to Chen Xiang?" Wang Feng scoffed.
Though he knew it was a lie, the audacity of the high school kid still bothered him.
However, as soon as he noticed the tag indicating Liang Wei's martial arts skills, he decided against making any rash moves.
After all, Wang Feng had only recently arrived in this world and hadn't had the time to train himself properly.
'Just wait, kid. You'll regret those words,' he thought, his expression turning cold.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone