The Wealthy Family’s “Stepfather”

Everyone in Qicheng's high society was saying that Zong Xiong had lost his mind.

Two years after his wife passed away, with his son Zong Yushan just turning eighteen, he hurriedly brought a new bride into the family.

The wedding was held at the old Zong family residence. It was brightly lit, yet the whole affair felt absurd.

Tan Zhixu stood beside Zong Xiong in a perfectly tailored suit. The guests raised their glasses, their eyes fixed on him as if inspecting a piece of merchandise.

"That illegitimate son who has to stay hidden from the world only has his face going for him."

"He's so frail he looks like a sheet of paper. I wonder how many rounds he can endure after Director Zong bought him."

The rumors and insults cut him to the bone. Tan Zhixu knew better than anyone why he was standing there.

This was nothing more than a two-year contract to sell his life. Zong Xiong had bought his mind to keep the covetous uncles and cousins in the clan in check, and bought his male body to shut out those outsiders eyeing the Zong family's fortune.

Tan Zhixu did the job beautifully.

Even when the pain made him retch in the restroom, even when cold sweat soaked through his shirt, the moment he stepped into the Zong Group tower, he became Zong Xiong's sharpest blade.

But Zong Yushan hated him. He hated this "stepfather" who had traded his looks for a marriage contract.

Until Zong Xiong passed away and the will was made public.

Tan Zhixu signed the agreement, tossed the whole thing back to Zong Yushan like a hot potato, and turned to leave.

Panicking, Zong Yushan chased after him and grabbed his slender wrist.

"Tan Zhixu, where are you going?"

"Young Master, the show is over. Time to go home."

[Reader's Guide]

1. The setting is wildly unrealistic and medically inaccurate. Don't scrutinize it for research or realism.

2. The recipient is in very poor health.

3. The leads are not related in any way. While they are both involved with the richest man, nothing that would fail Jinjiang's content review will happen between them.

4. Not suitable for readers who are devoted to either lead.

5. Before the story begins, I'll state whether the ending is HE or BE.

About the character design on the cover: The character art is licensed commercial material purchased by the designer, not an exclusive purchase, so the art may appear elsewhere. The cover is properly licensed, and the design itself is unique.

Synopsis written on June 24, 2026, and archived.

Theme: Stand in the mire without letting the dirt stain you.