Grumpy Esports God Becomes a Wealthy Family’s Stepmom - Chapter 13

Zhuo Yin knocked on the door urgently. “I have something important to talk to you about—just between us.”

Zhong Lu folded his arms and stared at him through the video doorbell for a moment before letting him in.

As soon as Zhuo Yin stepped inside, he caught faint sounds of a game from the room and his face lit up with delight. This potential esports prodigy was clearly trapped by the expectations of his rich-wife identity. Just a bit of persuasion and he was sure to break free. There was no “corner” Zhuo Yin couldn’t pry loose.

Zhong Lu sat back down in his gaming chair, face expressionless, not even pretending to be a good host. “What do you want?”

Zhuo Yin took a seat on the opposite sofa and began his emotional pitch. “Wanna hear the story of Abandon?”

Zhong Lu: “…”

Why are you telling me my own story? What’s wrong with you?

“No.”

Zhuo Yin ignored the rejection. He planned to stir the esports soul buried beneath this trophy wife’s exterior by recounting the bitter, burning saga of the legend himself.

“Our Captain Zhong lost his parents at the age of two and was raised by his grandfather. At seventeen, the old man fell ill and he dropped out of school. At eighteen, he won the solo championship, using all the prize money for medical treatment but it wasn’t enough. That same year, he joined WN. At nineteen, he took the world title. Unfortunately, his health was poor. Heaven envies talent. Even his Abandon account was sold off by the club—his glory, gone.”

Zhong Lu’s expression was cold as he listened to this recap of his own life. He forced himself to stay calm. “So?”

Zhuo Yin clearly wasn’t telling this just to milk nostalgia—there had to be another reason.

Sure enough, Zhuo Yin’s eyes darkened. “Do you know why Captain Zhong lost his parents at two? Because he had an older brother who was kidnapped by traffickers. His parents only had him afterward. When Captain Zhong was two, they heard there was a boy in the southern mountains who looked a lot like Zhong Yun. They rode out to check—on an uninsured motorcycle—and crashed on a mountain road. Died on the spot.”

If not for that series of misfortunes, Zhong Lu wouldn’t have lived such a tragic life.

If the nineteen-year-old Zhong Lu had a home to return to, maybe he wouldn’t have died alone in that base that night.

Zhong Lu’s heart tightened. That pain—deep and raw—rose unbidden. His eyes reddened as he turned away so Zhuo Yin couldn’t see.

All of WN regretted not staying back that night. They knew the captain had nowhere to go, yet they each left to visit their families.

If there was even a sliver of a chance to fulfill Zhong Lu’s dying wish, Zhuo Yin wanted to chase it.

“There’s a chance you’re his brother. You’re the same age. You both have talent. And… I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you and Abandon are strikingly alike—in your eyes, your little habits, even your posture. From behind, it’s almost indistinguishable.”

Zhong Lu thought, That’s because I am Abandon.

Zhuo Yin was WN’s PR spokesperson for a reason—he could brainwash like no one else. Zhong Lu couldn’t help doubting a little.

Objectively speaking, he and the original Zhong Lu didn’t look alike.

But since he reincarnated into Zhong Lu’s body, was it fate? Was there some blood connection at work? He had never contacted Zhong Lu’s parents abroad, not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t know how. They had never reached out either.

Only adoptive parents would be that distant, right?

Zhong Lu lowered his eyes. He didn’t want the answer, because the original Zhong Lu had already died accidentally in the bathroom.

Even if he had found his brother, he still didn’t have a brother.

The only upside was that he might inherit his own estate.

Zhong Lu would rather not.

Zhuo Yin suggested pulling two hairs for a DNA test. Zhong Lu agreed. He didn’t believe they were related, but avoiding the question would only leave a thorn in his heart.

Seeing him agree, Zhuo Yin guessed there must be some suspicions on his part too. Maybe the odds of finding Zhong Yun were higher than he’d thought.

He pulled out a small sealed plastic bag and was just about to open it when he asked, “Still not interested in going pro? Your little brother really likes esports.”

Zhong Lu gave him a sharp look. “Let’s talk when it’s confirmed.”

Zhong Lu lowered his head, and Zhuo Yin reached for his hair—only to feel a death stare pierce his back.

“You have a guest?” A cold voice asked with no warmth at all.

Zhuo Yin turned and saw a tall, stern man standing at the door. His eyes were dark, unreadable—like low-pressure air before a storm.

Zhuo Yin cursed silently. That had to be the very scary husband and yes, he was terrifying. All Zhuo Yin had done was try to pluck two hairs, and the man looked like he was about to flay him alive.

Zhong Lu quickly looked up and spoke before Zhuo Yin could, “Yeah. A pro player from the youth camp. Zhuo Yin. He heard I caught a cold and came to visit.”

He turned to introduce them, “This is Huo Zhehan. And his son, Huo Yu.”

He deliberately changed the subject to avoid any mention of Abandon or the resemblance, afraid Huo Zhehan might get suspicious. “Why are you back?”

Huo Zhehan glanced at both of them, their slightly red-rimmed eyes making them look like reunited exes. He said curtly, “Flight was canceled.”

Huo Yu scratched his head.

Zhuo Yin, sensing the tension, quickly hid the plastic bag. “Nice to meet you.”

Zhong Lu immediately ushered him out. “If there’s nothing else, you should head back. I’ll walk you out.”

At the door, Zhong Lu pulled two hairs himself and handed them over discreetly. “Don’t bring this up until we get results.”

Zhuo Yin was more convinced than ever that this was his captain—only Abandon gave orders like that. “Got it. I’ll head out.”

Zhong Lu gave a slight nod, then hesitated. “Any job openings at the base—”

“You’re coming back?!” Zhuo Yin asked excitedly.

“No. Just… five youth trainees looking for work. Forget it, they’re too useless. Might ruin the team’s feng shui.”

The base was small and fully staffed anyway. Plus, the manager wasn’t in Zhuo Yin’s faction. He couldn’t really arrange jobs.

“Who are they?”

“Doesn’t matter. Get lost.”

Feeling that lingering death glare, Zhuo Yin left without argument.

Zhong Lu turned around and found Huo Zhehan staring at him. He felt a little guilty for faking illness and also troubled—now that both father and son were back, he’d have to come up with a new excuse to sneak out.

He gave a half-hearted sneeze. “I’m gonna lie down a bit more.”

Huo Zhehan stared after him thoughtfully. He was more and more certain that Zhong Lu and Zhuo Yin were not just acquaintances from the youth camp.

Just met? And already letting the guy touch his head? No way. Zhong Lu flinched when he even talked near his ear.

He checked the doorbell footage and heard Zhuo Yin say, “Is your husband home?” His face darkened.

He rewound a few times, trying to see what Zhong Lu had handed over but not even the high-def camera caught anything. Looked more like… they’d held hands for a second.

“……”

Zhong Lu had sworn in the agreement that he wouldn’t pursue romantic relationships during the contract period.

With a grim expression, Huo Zhehan watched the footage again. He scrubbed too far back and accidentally pulled up the record of Zhong Lu leaving for the police station—almost at the same time he and Huo Yu had left the house.

Healthy and full of energy. He could’ve piloted a fighter jet.

“Dad.” Huo Yu appeared and saw his dad watching surveillance footage of Zhong Lu dashing off on his scooter.

Trying to make up an excuse, Huo Zhehan said, “He went to…”

“Wang Qun and the others got into a fight with a toddler and ended up in the police station!” Huo Yu laughed. “They even had your wife sign them out! I’m dying.”

Huo Zhehan closed the feed and guessed those five trainees Zhong Lu asked about must’ve been them.

Huo Corp was huge so why beg others for help?

“Give me Wang Qun’s contact info.”

One hour later—

Zhong Lu got a call from Wang Qun.

“Zhong Ge! We found jobs! Security guards at an office building—meals and housing included, benefits too. And we’ve got time to study other skills!”

At least now they could settle in the city for the time being.

“Work hard,” Zhong Lu said.

“It was Mr. Huo’s secretary who reached out to us. Thank you, Zhong Ge! We’ll make you proud!”

“……”

Huo Zhehan?

Maybe Huo Yu had brought it up to his dad?

Knock knock knock—someone at the door.

Zhong Lu opened it to see Huo Zhehan holding a cup of hot water, speaking politely, “Feeling any better?”

“More or less.”

Huo Zhehan stepped forward, but Zhong Lu suddenly blocked him.

“?”

Zhong Lu awkwardly took the water, nudged the door open with his foot, and stepped out to lean against the hallway wall. He sipped the water. “Thanks.”

Huo Zhehan chuckled. “You’re thanking me while keeping me outside? That’s not very sincere.”

Zhong Lu wanted to melt into the wall. What if… and he meant what if… the original Zhong Lu really was his brother? Then Huo Zhehan would be…

His brother-in-law?

Them being alone in a room would be inappropriate! Even the old man would shake his head at this messy situation.

“It’s just… the air in there’s not great. I’m sick, it’s full of germs.”

“Okay,” Huo Zhehan stood face-to-face with him. “Actually, it was Huo Yu who changed his mind at the airport. He said it wasn’t right to leave you home alone, so we came back to wait until you’re better.”

“…Huh?” Zhong Lu was stunned. That dumb kid had a conscience?

Huo Zhehan stepped closer, voice low and persuasive. “When will you be better? Tomorrow?”

Zhong Lu rubbed his ear, uneasy. On the one hand, he wanted to keep some distance so he could focus on training. On the other hand, Huo Zhehan had just helped him solve a major problem. The father and son even gave up their flight for him, and now were gently inviting him to join them. It felt cruel to say no.

He was bad at soft talk. Cornered, he stalled by sipping his water.

Huo Zhehan said, “Huo Yu wants to go skiing. I remember you’re pretty good at that.”

Zhong Lu blurted out, “I’m not going.”

He didn’t know the first thing about skiing—he could barely skateboard in an alley.

Downhill skiing? More like straight to the orthopedic clinic. He needed to protect his wrists for a few more years of gaming.

After two hard rejections, Huo Zhehan pressed his tongue to his teeth and stared at Zhong Lu. Slowly, deliberately, he said, “I want you to keep your distance from Zhuo Yin.”

Zhong Lu blinked. “Why?”

Was he worried Huo Yu might relapse into esports?

Huo Zhehan took Zhong Lu’s right hand and calmly pried the empty cup from his grip. His voice low, he said, “It’s your duty.”

He released the hand and returned the glass to the water dispenser.

Zhong Lu stood there for a full five minutes, stunned. Only then did he realize—wait, was Huo Zhehan misunderstanding something?

A stupid, ridiculous misunderstanding.

If Huo Zhehan was now talking about “duties” in their marriage… what other marital obligations might he bring up?

It was definitely time to get divorced.