Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Chapter 72 I'd Rather Die Than Be a Mistress

Watching Xiao Cheng turn and leave, Xiao Minghao felt a pang of guilt. His son was still so young, at an age when he needed his parents' company to grow up, yet he had suffered the pain of his parents' divorce. Although he now had a new wife and was rising rapidly in his official career, he could not forget his lovely, obedient, and sensible son.

Thinking of all this, Xiao Minghao's eyes welled up with tears. He turned back and stared at Zou Xiaoyan's face for several moments, lost in thought. How could his former wife, who had shared his hardships, now look so bright and beautiful? Was it because she had been carefully trained and pampered by Du Shiniang after entering Zixiang Pavilion? If that were the case, it would be no wonder that lecherous Gao Can would have taken a liking to Zou Xiaoyan.

The thought of his ex-wife being with Gao Can ignited a burning jealousy in Xiao Minghao's heart. He secretly tightened his grip on Zou Xiaoyan's hand, but Zou Xiaoyan sensed danger in his eyes and quickly withdrew her hand. She said sternly to Xiao Minghao, "Lord Xiao, what brings you here to spend time with your son today? Aren't you going home to be with your daughter from the Prime Minister's mansion?"

Xiao Minghao quickly reached out and hugged Zou Xiaoyan, pulling her into his arms and forcing her to look him in the eye. He said excitedly, "My wife, it's been almost a month since we last met. Have you missed me? I've missed you and Cheng'er, which is why I used this method to force you to come and meet me today."

Zou Xiaoyan pushed against Xiao Minghao's chest with her hand, her eyes red as she questioned him, "Who is your wife? Didn't Lord Xiao divorce his wife and remarry? Why are you still harassing me and Cheng'er? I beg you to let me and Cheng'er go."

“Back then, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination, but I had no powerful backing in the capital. The Left Prime Minister saw my talent and forced me to accept your and Cheng’er’s lives, while also tempting me with wealth and honor. My decision to divorce my wife and remarry was a temporary measure. But things are different now. I have become the Vice Minister of Revenue. I have money and power, and it’s no problem for me to hide you and Cheng’er and keep you safe.” Xiao Minghao said gently to Zou Xiaoyan, his tone tinged with grievance and guilt.

"I am clearly your first wife, why should I be hidden away and kept by you? This is an insult to me. Xiao Minghao, you can't be so greedy. Since you chose wealth and a bright future and abandoned your wife and children, how can you have the audacity to want me to be your mistress now? And Cheng'er, does he want to be a shameful illegitimate child for the rest of his life?" Zou Xiaoyan stared at Xiao Minghao with resentment in her eyes, her tone harsh, which made Xiao Minghao feel even more guilty.

"Hiding you and Cheng'er is only temporary. Once I regain the Left Prime Minister's trust and gradually transfer his power in court to my own hands, I will have nothing to fear or worry about. I promise that when that day comes, I will definitely bring you back to my mansion in style and make you my wife again. Yan'er, please forgive me just this once? Xiao Lang's heart has always belonged to only you." Xiao Minghao said these words of love while gazing into Zou Xiaoyan's eyes, and hugged the beauty in his arms tightly.

Despite Xiao Minghao's words, Zou Xiaoyan remained unmoved. She continued to struggle free from his embrace, shouting, "Xiao Minghao, let me go! No matter what you do, I will never forgive you. You're just trying to trick me into becoming your mistress. You only started having feelings for me again because you saw that I was living better in Zixiang Pavilion than before, and that I looked more beautiful. When I thought about suing you for abandoning your wife and children, why didn't you say you would hide me and Cheng'er away and raise us?"

“I had just married the Left Prime Minister’s daughter at the time, I couldn’t protect you. Yan’er, why won’t you believe me? I’ll prove it to you…” Xiao Minghao gritted his teeth, and before he could finish speaking, he lowered his head and captured Zou Xiaoyan’s lips, forcefully searching her mouth and forcing her to open her teeth. Zou Xiaoyan was overwhelmed by Xiao Minghao’s sudden, forceful kiss and couldn’t breathe. She bit Xiao Minghao’s lip hard, drawing blood.

Xiao Minghao felt a metallic taste in his mouth, but he refused to release Zou Xiaoyan's lips, continuing to passionately suckle and kiss them. His hands, which were holding Zou Xiaoyan, wandered restlessly under her skirt. Zou Xiaoyan was no match for Xiao Minghao's strength, but her eyes were filled with disgust as she tried to grab his restless hands.

At this moment, an angry voice came from afar: "Xiao Minghao, let go of Xiao Yanzi right now! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!" Upon hearing this voice, Zou Xiaoyan immediately increased the intensity of her struggle, forcefully pounding Xiao Minghao's chest with both hands.

Xiao Minghao glanced behind him and saw that the person who came was Gao Can, his current rival in love. Thinking that Gao Can had stayed overnight at Zixiang Pavilion, Xiao Minghao's jealousy intensified. So he restlessly placed his hand on Zou Xiaoyan's chest, pressing hard and making her groan. His lips, however, remained on the red lips of the beauty in his arms, still as passionate as ever.

Seeing Xiao Minghao relentlessly pursuing Zou Xiaoyan, Gao Jian was truly enraged! He drew his sword from Lu Minggu's waist and forcefully thrust it towards Xiao Minghao's back. Xiao Minghao was not skilled in martial arts, but he was very quick-witted. Sensing the sword's killing intent and cold glint, he quickly bent down to dodge, but he refused to let go of Zou Xiaoyan, turning her around half a circle and bending down with her slender waist.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zou Xiaoyan forcefully pushed Xiao Minghao away. Once free, she immediately ran to Gao Can for help. Gao Can threw his sword to Lu Minggu, pulled Zou Xiaoyan into his arms, gently patted her back, and whispered a few words of comfort: "Don't be afraid! Little Swallow, I, the young master, will definitely protect you and Cheng'er here."

Xiao Minghao turned and stared at Gao Can and Zou Xiaoyan, his eyes filled with malice and coldness. He calmly pulled a silk handkerchief from his robes and gently wiped the corner of his lip that Zou Xiaoyan had bitten. He then licked the wound with his tongue as if savoring the memory before speaking to Gao Can:

“Lord Gao, my ex-wife and I were reuniting, and we couldn’t help but get intimate. Is that any of your business? It seems you’ve been quite idle lately. So, Lord Gao, have you taken care of the matter with the Song Kingdom women’s football team?” Xiao Minghao said to Gao Can with a sarcastic tone.

Gao Can released Zou Xiaoyan and walked up to Xiao Minghao, saying with a stern face, "My duties are none of your concern, Lord Xiao. As for Lady Zou, she is no longer your wife. She is now my woman kept in Zixiang Pavilion. I hope you will not bother her anymore. I will take good care of her and Cheng'er, so please rest assured, Lord Xiao!"

Xiao Minghao pursed his lips and said to Gao Can with a hint of sarcasm, "What do I have to worry about! I've long heard that you, Lord Gao, like to seduce other men's wives and steal other women's flowers. Now that you, Lord Gao, want to take care of my ex-wife and help raise my son, what do I have to worry about?"

“But Cheng’er is ultimately my flesh and blood, and he’s entered into my family genealogy. I’ll naturally spend time with my son whenever I have the chance. Yan’er has no official status following you, which is no different from following me. I really don’t understand why she’s so resistant to me. Once Lord Gao’s novelty wears off, remember to let me know so I can come and pick her and her son up.” After saying this, Xiao Minghao ignored Gao Can and walked straight to Zou Xiaoyan.

Lu Minggu quickly stepped between Zou Xiaoyan and Xiao Minghao, but Xiao Minghao forcefully pushed Lu Minggu aside, grabbed Zou Xiaoyan's sleeve, and pulled her close. He whispered in her ear, "Yan'er, Gao Can is no good person. Sooner or later you'll come back to me. I know you want to join Lin Chong's women's football team, but I won't let you have your way. I'll do everything I can to sabotage it and force Gao Can to turn against Du Shiniang. Once you have no one to rely on, I'll be your only support!"

Zou Xiaoyan felt a little flustered after hearing Xiao Minghao's words. She said to Xiao Minghao in a trembling voice, "You...you can't possibly ruin our women's football team. Lord Gao and Du Shiniang will definitely not be afraid of you."

"Is that so? I'd like to see how capable Gao Can and Du Shiniang are, daring to fight against me and my father-in-law. You have no idea what kind of backing my father-in-law has; it's beyond your imagination." Xiao Minghao said confidently, then, ignoring the murderous glares from Lu Minggu and Gao Can, he lowered his head and gently kissed Zou Xiaoyan's forehead, leaving behind the final words, "Wait for me," before departing.

Gao Can quickly stepped forward, took Zou Xiaoyan's hand, and comforted her, saying, "Little Swallow, how are you? It's all my fault for arriving too late, and that scoundrel Xiao Minghao bullied you. I will send people to secretly protect Cheng'er and you from now on, and I will never let today's incident happen again."

"Lord Gao, I believe you. But Xiao Yanzi would rather die than become someone's mistress, whether it's you or Xiao Minghao," Zou Xiaoyan said firmly to Gao Can. Gao Can was somewhat taken aback. He thought to himself, when did he ever say he wanted Zou Xiaoyan to be his mistress? He just didn't want to see Zou Xiaoyan being bullied by Xiao Minghao. Besides, he had already told Zou Xiaoyan that he couldn't possibly focus his attention solely on her.