A BMW X1 parked outside the grand villa, looking particularly shabby amidst the surrounding luxury cars worth millions.

A middle-aged couple and a young, beautiful woman stepped out of the car.

“I don’t know what sins I committed in my past life to end up with such a useless son-in-law. I asked him to get a decent car, and he brings back a broken BMW X1. What a useless person,” the middle-aged woman complained harshly.

“We only gave him a few hundred bucks. Getting a BMW X1 is already not bad,” the middle-aged man interjected.

“Don’t mention it. It just makes me angry. Other people’s sons-in-law earn millions annually, have villas and luxury cars. And ours? He doesn’t even have a job and still needs us to give him money,” the middle-aged woman spat, venting her frustration.

“He does all the housework and cooking at home, so he doesn’t have time to work,” the middle-aged man said.

“You’re useless too. You lost so much in business that you had to sell the villa and the Porsche. I was a beauty back in the day, with suitors lined up for blocks. Why did I choose you?” The middle-aged woman, in her anger, scolded her husband as well.

The middle-aged man was left speechless.

“Mom, it’s fine to say these things at home, but can you say less now that we’re outside?” the beautiful young woman couldn’t help but say.

“You’re useless too. I gave birth to such a beautiful daughter, hoping you’d find a good husband. But you brought home such a useless son-in-law. It’s infuriating,” the middle-aged woman criticized her daughter as well.

“Mom, is it my fault? Did I want to marry him?” The young woman felt wronged, her eyes almost welling up with tears.

Though the middle-aged woman had a bad temper, seeing her daughter like this, she couldn’t bear to continue and immediately shut her mouth.

“It’s my fault, all my fault!” The middle-aged man, full of pain and self-blame, pounded his chest.

A year ago, he suffered continuous business losses and ended up in debt.

He and his wife decided to consult a fortune-teller, hoping to change their luck.

The fortune-teller said he was facing a major calamity, and the business losses were just the beginning, with more misfortune to follow.

The couple was terrified and quickly asked how to resolve it.

The fortune-teller said their daughter’s fate clashed with theirs.

To resolve it, they needed to find a son-in-law with a specific fate to marry their daughter.

The couple believed the fortune-teller and, following his guidance, found a homeless man.

Then, against their daughter’s wishes, they forced her to marry this homeless man.

After the marriage, the family’s troubles indeed lessened. Although they didn’t become wealthy, life gradually stabilized.

However, over time, the middle-aged woman became dissatisfied with her son-in-law.

Because he was too useless, only doing housework and cooking, he was of no other use.

Such a beautiful daughter married to such a useless person was like a flower stuck in cow dung.*

“Dad, don’t do this,” the young woman hurriedly stopped her father from hurting himself.

“Let’s not make a fuss. We finally got an invitation to this high-end banquet. We must seize the opportunity. If we can meet someone influential, our family might turn things around,” the middle-aged woman said seriously.

Her husband was now a contractor, with many people under him, but he hadn’t secured any projects yet.

If they could meet someone in the industry at the banquet and secure a project, they might have a chance to turn things around.

The three of them entered the villa’s grand hall.

The hall was so large it almost rivaled a hotel’s ballroom.

“Look at that woman in the gown. The diamonds on her dress are blinding. She must be extremely wealthy. I’ll go introduce myself,” the middle-aged woman said to her husband and daughter, spotting a wealthy woman holding a wine glass.

“Hello, beautiful lady. Your dress is stunning,” the middle-aged woman complimented, trying to strike up a conversation.

Zhen Li, being shrewd, sniffed the woman’s perfume and judged her to be a minor character.

The perfume was of poor quality, likely cheap, costing only a few hundred bucks.

Anyone using such inferior perfume must be quite poor.

Dealing with such people would only lower her status.

“Step back. I don’t like the smell of your perfume,” Zhen Li said impatiently, waving her hand dismissively.

The middle-aged woman’s face froze, feeling particularly embarrassed.

“If you don’t want to talk to us, just say so. Why belittle people?” The young woman, seeing her mother being wronged, spoke up unhappily to Zhen Li.

“Do I need you to teach me how to speak? What’s your name?” Zhen Li snorted coldly.

The middle-aged man approached, and before his daughter could reply, he smoothly said:

“Boss, I’m sorry. My name is Yang Tai, this is my daughter Yang Jingwan, and this is my wife Li Manli. Sorry for the intrusion, we’ll leave now.”

With that, Yang Tai immediately prepared to leave with his wife and daughter.

At this moment, Wang Haoran returned from the restroom.

“Mom, who are these people?” Wang Haoran asked Zhen Li with a questioning look.

“Just some minor characters, don’t bother with them,” Zhen Li replied.

Wang Haoran didn’t respond but instinctively glanced at Yang Jingwan.

There was no other reason; he just found Yang Jingwan quite beautiful.

If the full score was 100, Yang Jingwan’s temperament could score 95, her looks 96, and her figure 97.

Overall, she was a stunning beauty with an average score of 96.

Seeing her son eyeing Yang Jingwan, Zhen Li called out to the family about to leave:

“Wait a moment.”

“Boss, is there anything else?” Yang Tai turned back, puzzled.

“Come over here. My son wants to meet you,” Zhen Li ignored Yang Tai and pointed at Yang Jingwan.

Wang Haoran withdrew his gaze from Yang Jingwan and looked at Zhen Li speechlessly.

Zhen Li winked at Wang Haoran, as if saying: “Son, no need to thank me. This is what a mother should do!”

Turning back to Yang Jingwan, who stood still, Zhen Li urged:

“Didn’t you hear me? Come over here.”

Yang Jingwan couldn’t help but glance at Wang Haoran. His handsome face naturally evoked a good impression, but she was a woman who adhered to her principles, so she directly said:

“I’m already married.”

Such a beautiful and young woman, yet already someone else’s wife… what a pity.

Wang Haoran sighed inwardly, feeling a normal man’s instinctive regret.

Subsequently, his interest in Yang Jingwan greatly diminished.

Seeing how beautiful Yang Jingwan was, he initially suspected she might be the female lead.

But she was already married. Could she still be the female lead?

Yang Jingwan wasn’t the typical ice-cold female CEO type.

Starting off married, besides the ice-cold female CEO type of novels, are there any other female leads like this?

Wait, there actually might be.

Wang Haoran suddenly recalled a clichéd trope in a certain novel genre.