Manipulative Harem God

*Click*

The intimate moment between Xiong Rui and Zhang Wei was abruptly shattered by the sound of the main door clicking open.

Mrs. Li burst into the Xiong household, her voice carrying through the house. "Haha! Mrs. Xiong, where are you? My wonderful son-in-law is here, and I thought we'd show him around the village," she announced with a mocking laughter that seemed aimed more at impressing people than genuine hospitality.

Behind her trailed Li Jie, her discomfort masked by a practiced calm demeanor. She was all too aware of her role as a backup plan, having worked tirelessly to ensure Duan Yu's presence.

Duan Yu, a man of 35, followed with an air of arrogance, his eyes sweeping around the house with a look of disdainful pride. The self-assured tilt of his chin spoke volumes of his perceived superiority.

The trio's entrance, however, ground to a halt as they stumbled upon the scene unfolding in the living room. Zhang Wei, in a compromising position with Xiong Rui, was an image none of them were prepared for.

!!

Mrs. Li's laughter died in her throat, her face turning a shade of deep crimson. Recognizing the girl below Zhang Wei, she stammered, "W-We will come back later!" In a flurry of embarrassment and haste, she ushered Li Jie and Duan Yu back out the door.

'This is a disaster,' Li Jie, her face flushed with shock and confusion, allowed herself to be hurriedly pushed outside.

Duan Yu, however, paused for a brief moment, his frown giving way to a sly, unsettling smirk as he caught a glimpse of Xiong Rui's face. There was a predatory glint in his eye as he reluctantly followed the others out, his thoughts lingering on the unexpected scene he had just witnessed.

Inside, the sudden intrusion left everyone frozen.

Zhang Wei quickly moved away from Xiong Rui, his expression one of annoyance at the interruption.

Xiong Rui, on the other hand, was mortified, her mind racing with the implications of what had just happened and who had witnessed it.

'How could this happen? What will everyone think?' she thought, despair clouding her thoughts.

As the door closed behind the retreating guests, an awkward silence settled over the room.

Zhang Wei unwilling to deal with Xiong Rui anymore, went outside, "I would go and explain them," he spoke, closing the door behind him.

*Boom!*

The noise made by door made Xiong Rui flinch, but it did nothing to aid her panick and despair.

She was not a characterless woman!

But if the word spread out, it would be disaster for her family!

______

Outside, Zhang Wei's stride was purposeful as he approached Mrs. Li's house. The sleek S-class parked outside, likely belonging to Duan Yu, seemed out of place in the modest village setting. Zhang Wei paused, considering his next move.

[What now, host?] The system suddenly asked, curious.

Zhang Wei laughed, 'What now? You could have given me a heads up, but you just sat back and enjoyed the show, didn't you?'

The system responded with a cheeky laugh as well, [Come on, host, they're just normal people. Are you scared?]

"Scared is for your ancestors," Zhang Wei retorted with a sneer, pulling out his phone to call Leng Mei.

Her voice came through, slightly breathless from exercise. "What now?" she asked.

Zhang Wei got straight to the point. "Hey, according to martial arts rules, a cultivator can't attack normal people unless provoked, right?" His tone was casual, but there was an underlying seriousness to his question.

Leng Mei's response was immediate. "Yes, why? What did you do this time?"

"It's nothing major. Just wondering, what would happen if I eliminated everyone and there were no witnesses?"

There was a brief silence on the other end before Leng Mei chuckled, finding the question somewhat absurd. "Well, is a robber still a robber if no one sees him steal?"

Grinning, Zhang Wei replied, "Exactly." Without another word, he ended the call, leaving Leng Mei frowning in confusion. 'Such a strange man,' she thought as she resumed her exercise, focusing on maintaining her figure.

Back in the village, Zhang Wei contemplated his next steps. The situation with Xiong Rui had escalated beyond what can be controlled, and now he found himself facing a potential social scandal that could impact not just him, but Xiong Mei as well, and possibly spoil his plans for Xiong Rui, temprorily.

_____

Inside the Li residence, the atmosphere was tense. Mrs. Li, her daughter Li Jie, and Duan Yu were gathered in the living room, their conversation a mix of hushed tones and uneasy glances.

"I can't believe what we just saw at the Xiongs'," Mrs. Li whispered, her voice a mix of disdain and disapproval. "And to think, we thought so highly of them..."

Li Jie fidgeted uncomfortably, her mind racing with the implications. "Mother, maybe we misunderstood what we saw," she suggested, though her conviction wavered.

Duan Yu, lounging on the sofa with an air of indifference, chimed in with a sneer. "Misunderstood? It seemed pretty clear to me. The Xiongs' reputation will be in tatters after this."

*Boom!*

Before anyone could respond, the front door burst open, and Zhang Wei strode in, his presence commanding and unapologetic. The sudden intrusion caught everyone off guard, halting their conversation mid-sentence.

Mrs. Li stood up abruptly, her face a mixture of surprise and indignation. "What is the meaning of this?"

Zhang Wei's gaze swept across the room, settling on each of them in turn. "What's the meaning? So you can come inside our house without a knock, but I can't" he said, his voice calm but firm.

Li Jie's eyes widened, and she exchanged a nervous glance with her mother. Duan Yu, however, met Zhang Wei's gaze with a challenging look, as if daring him to justify his earlier actions.

Zhang Wei took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. "What you saw earlier was a misunderstanding," he began, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I would appreciate it if we could keep this matter within these walls. The reputation of the Xiong family is not something to be taken lightly."

Mrs. Li's sneer cut through the tension in the room. "Hehe, you better watch your tongue, boy. Weren't you Xiong Mei's boyfriend? We caught you red-handed with her sister! The whole Xiong family is tainted. How much did they sell themselves for?"

Zhang Wei shook his head, his expression a mix of disappointment and resignation. "I knew this would end like this. Why did I even bother wasting my words on you?"

Duan Yu, feeling ignored and slighted by Zhang Wei's dismissive attitude, interjected with a frown. "Hey Young man, what are you mumbling about!?"