Chapter 17: This is not just a saint, this is a masochist!

The system continued in an excited tone:

“Although Zheng Sisi has a wealthy father, she has always been very low-key. She never flaunted her wealth in front of her classmates. Even when riding in a luxury car to school, she would get off and walk a block away from the school. This habit continued until college.”

“However, many things happen by chance. On the first day of college, as usual, Zheng Sisi got off the car and walked to school. Coincidentally, she was spotted by the scumbag, and he became very interested in her.”

“At that time, the scumbag had gained some fame. His paintings were recognized by professional mentors, but they weren’t selling for a high price because they were too niche. Meanwhile, his parents, who had invested all their savings to support his art career, began to worry as they saw no return on their investment, and subtly urged him to give up. This touched his sore spot, so he swore to make a name for himself.”

“So, he set his sights on the wealthy heiress, wanting to sell himself and live off her?”

“Tsk, dedicating oneself to art can’t be called living off others, so naive!”

Xu Yinyin: “……”

“I guess, the scumbag wanted to eat soft rice openly, but didn’t want to lower his status by pursuing her directly. So, he came up with the idea of creating a persona to raise his status and make Zheng Sisi pursue him?”

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“Eso, obyv yd lzycsayvl rzyu! Rq R’x dsv xkpvyjld, vbl pnwxcyt okzz dso cltkd vbl ynv sq ralvldekdt vs alflnv bla, aktbv?”

“Yes, exactly! You’re so sharp, as expected from my seasoned gossip partner. The scumbag will send mixed signals to Zheng Sisi, occasionally using the excuse that his family is poor and unworthy of her, implying that she should help him.”

“Zheng Sisi, true to expectations, quickly came up with a solution, using her father’s connections to get her husband’s artwork exhibited and gain some fame. At the same time, she used charity auctions to build his reputation as a caring artist, quickly giving him the notoriety he needed.”

“Let me take a wild guess: Zheng Sisi helped so much, but the scumbag will definitely not thank her. He will probably blame her for overstepping and not respecting him, right?”

“Yes, exactly! He complained that Zheng Sisi’s hype was tacky and that her “smell of money” tarnished his art, which was the greatest insult to him.”

“Wow, how can he say such shameless things when his rich wife is so good to him! My fists are clenched!”

All the female spectators clenched their fists, wishing they could punch the scumbag, thinking, “What trash!”

Even the male spectators were disgusted by his ingratitude and sighed, wondering why they couldn’t meet such a rich woman, tsk!

The crowd couldn’t help but look at Zheng Sisi, who had already lost her former vigor, their eyes filled with both pity and sympathy.

If this had happened before, Zheng Sisi would have felt humiliated. But after enduring five years of hardship with Gu Xiao, others’ sympathy had, instead, become a kind of comfort to her, while also intensifying her hatred towards her father for his cruelty.

Strangers could feel pity for her, yet her father only knew how to make her endure. How sad!

“Because of the scumbag’s reversal of blame, Zheng Sisi began to reflect on her own actions. After sincerely admitting her mistakes, she no longer dared to meddle in other people’s affairs.”

“Wait, doesn’t this contradict the scumbag’s original plan? Doesn’t he no longer want to “eat soft rice”?”

“Impossible. The scumbag is quite crafty. He pretended to reject his high ideals while drunk, cursing himself for being useless and not worthy of the kind and beautiful Zheng Sisi. In this roundabout way, he apologized and acknowledged his mistakes, which moved Zheng Sisi deeply. After he sobered up, he resumed his indifferent attitude, as if he had amnesia.”

“Damn, he’s too scheming! Don’t tell me that Zheng Sisi saw the scumbag admit his wrongs and fell for him again? And in order to protect his feelings, she only dared to help secretly from then on, like doing good deeds without leaving a name?”

“Yes, exactly. And the consequence of doing this became second nature: Zheng Sisi began to endlessly tolerate his unreasonable tantrums, even wiping his mess. All these concessions directly fueled the scumbag’s arrogance, which led to things like giving money to the mistress and helping her raise a child.”

“No, this isn’t just a “saintly” person; this is more like a masochist!”

“Actually, she didn’t want this. Several times, she wanted to divorce, but was stopped by Mr. Zheng, because when she married the scumbag, she didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement. If she divorced, she would have to give him half of her wealth.”

“I see, I don’t need to guess. She must have been afraid the scumbag would get angry and that wealthy people would guard against her, which would hurt her pride. That’s why she didn’t do any property notarization or sign a prenuptial agreement.”

“No kidding, the scumbag worked so hard to enter a wealthy family, how could he leave empty-handed?”

“But the scumbag already has an illegitimate child. This is solid proof of his infidelity during the marriage, and the guilty party should leave with nothing!”

Xu Yinyin quickly rebutted, and the crowd silently nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Zheng Sisi looked down with a painful smile.

“No, no. Mr. Zheng forbade her from getting a divorce because it would affect his reputation. The Zheng family is known for its strict family values, and it is unthinkable to allow a divorce or expose a scandal about infidelity. So, Mr. Zheng destroyed all the evidence Zheng Sisi had collected and even confined her when she made the biggest fuss.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd sighed in pity: What a tragic heiress of a wealthy family, it’s better to not be a daughter of a wealthy family!

“What kind of bizarre father is this? Is there really a father who would be so harmful to his daughter?”

“Sigh, many children of wealthy families are powerless. When Zheng Sisi pursued the scumbag, her father tried every means to stop her, fearing he had bad intentions. But she was so stubborn, so when Zheng Sisi finally saw through the scumbag and regretted it, Mr. Zheng ridiculed her, saying, ‘If you hadn’t listened to me, you’d see the consequences now.'”

“Ugh…”

“And to make sure she truly remembers this mistake, Mr. Zheng ordered that she couldn’t divorce and even warned divorce lawyers that anyone who took her case would be blacklisted.”

“This is too much! Even if a child makes a mistake, it’s not unforgivable. Everyone makes mistakes when they’re young and naive. Looking at it this way, Zheng Sisi is really pitiful. Ah, the scandals in wealthy families are always so bizarre!”

“Sigh, in the end, it’s all for the family’s face.” The system couldn’t help but sigh.

The crowd found it hard to judge, as it seemed both sides were at fault, yet neither deserved such a harsh outcome.

Zheng Sisi smiled sadly and then slowly got up, preparing to leave. But then she heard Xu Yinyin’s inner voice—

“If I were Zheng Sisi, I wouldn’t tolerate it anymore. The scumbag, relying on Mr. Zheng not allowing the divorce, uses revenge to disgust her, step by step trampling on her dignity and wearing down her love for him. Such cruel and shameless trash should be dealt with early, so it doesn’t become an eyesore.”

“Never challenge the limits of a trash person with your own composure, because they have none. Tolerating them will only encourage their arrogance. They won’t sympathize with you, nor will they feel guilty. On the contrary, they’ll inflate their self-importance, while taking advantage of you and complaining that you’re giving too much without dignity. They’ll insist that your submission isn’t sincere enough. They are the real trash, hiding their filthy hearts behind false sophistication!”

“Moreover, the one who caused Zheng Sisi’s misfortune and bad judgment is Zheng Rui. As parents, not teaching your children is the greatest sin, and not protecting them is the greatest failure. So, why should he criticize his daughter’s poor judgment? Why ridicule her? What right does he have to treat his daughter as a tool to enhance his own reputation? He doesn’t care about her feelings, so why should she care about his face?”

“Life is short. You must first learn to love yourself, reconcile with your past mistakes, and release the soul you’ve imprisoned. Only then can you welcome the future. Only by stepping out can you have a tomorrow.”

“Not just Zheng Sisi, but everyone who has been hurt by love should learn to forgive themselves. Don’t feel ashamed for making mistakes. It’s better to stop when you’re wrong than to persist in foolishness.”

Xu Yinyin’s words were like a great awakening to Zheng Sisi.

She had always been sacrificing herself, like when she pursued Gu Xiao and later discovered his many bad habits, yet she endured.

When she found out his talent was just empty, she still endured.

When she gave money for the mistress’s expenses, she continued to bear it, until the mistress, pregnant, came to her doorstep and told her the baby was about to be born. That moment was when she could no longer endure.

She immediately asked for a divorce, only to be harshly scolded by her father the next day.

Even when she placed the evidence of Gu Xiao’s infidelity in front of him, emphasizing that Gu Xiao would leave the marriage with nothing and not take even a needle or thread from the Zheng family, he still refused to agree.

He even went as far as to burn the evidence, and ordered all divorce lawyers in the industry not to take on her case, threatening to blacklist anyone who dared to.

At that moment, for the first time, she felt her father was a stranger. He was no longer the gentle, loving father who would fulfill all her requests as he had in her childhood.

While maintaining the family’s honor was certainly important, she had endured for so long, and now, she wasn’t going to tolerate it anymore!

Xu Yinyin was right. Since life had been nothing but hardships for her, it was time to return the favor with even greater hardships.

When she had silently endured suffering to protect others’ dignity, who had ever considered her feelings?

No one. No one had ever cared about her!

To outsiders, her father’s overprotectiveness was just a shield to hide her own painful scars. It used to be masked by her brother, but now, she didn’t need it anymore. She was going to live for herself.

Taking a deep breath, she glanced at Xu Yinyin, then turned, lifted her chin, straightened her back, and walked away with purpose.

“Hey, why is she leaving again? Wasn’t she all fired up earlier, wanting to tear me apart?” Xu Yinyin asked, puzzled, having only been distracted by a few minutes of gossip.

“Who knows? Women’s hearts are like needles at the bottom of the sea,” the system commented.

Only the onlookers knew that when Zheng Sisi looked at Xu Yinyin, her eyes were full of relief.

And the way she walked away with her head held high clearly said—“From now on, I’m not Zheng Sisi anymore; I’m Zheng · Niuhulu · Sisi.”

Everyone’s gaze towards Xu Yinyin quickly filled with admiration, as the words that had deeply enlightened Zheng Sisi also shocked the crowd.

The simple, beautiful girl who had been quietly eating melons, always speaking with profound insights that pierced to the heart, had helped Zheng Sisi regain her strength, exposing hidden wrongs and bringing forth the light of justice!

If it weren’t for the risk of exposing themselves, Xue Weiwei truly wanted to lead the applause and whistle for the princess.

The princess was so powerful! Not only did she serve the melon, but she also pointed the way for the melon owner, truly a righteous figure in the human world!

It seemed that soon, there would be news from the Zheng family. Once the Zheng family encountered a crisis, it would surely trigger changes at Fengyi’s senior levels. It seemed like Fengyi was about to undergo a shake-up.

At this moment, the group who had once looked down on Xu Yinyin suddenly panicked, quickly gathering their stainless-steel trays, all wearing expressions as if they were facing a great enemy, fleeing hastily.

Xu Yinyin had finished her meal and was cleaning up her tray, preparing to leave.

As soon as she walked out, the crowd erupted. Everyone gathered to discuss the possible outcomes for the Zheng family and what Zheng Sisi’s final decision would be.

• As the end of the workday approached, Xu Yinyin finished the tasks assigned by Sun Min and finally had some free time to stretch her legs.

Her first stop was the tea room, where she planned to chat with Xue Weiwei and perhaps find some new gossip.

“Why did Secretary Sun have me watch business war movies? I don’t feel like I learned anything from them.”

“Don’t worry about it. You came to work to eat melons, so do whatever they ask. No need to think too much about the rest.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I only promised Grandpa I’d come to the company, do the work Aunt arranged for me, and I never said I wanted to achieve anything big. As long as I disappoint him, I can keep living my lazy, useless life. But thinking about it, that sounds a bit shameless.”

Xu Yinyin felt a little guilty.

“Tch, how can you say that about yourself? Your laid-back style is something to be valued in any rich family. Grandpa would be grateful for you, not think you’re shameless. Don’t worry about it!”

“Mm, alright.”

In the tea room, a large portion of the office had gathered, eagerly waiting to discuss the next phase of Zheng Sisi’s drama.

As soon as Xu Yinyin appeared, everyone turned to her with eager, gleaming eyes.

Luckily, the cafeteria’s treatment quickly made her feel at ease with the attention. After exchanging pleasantries, she was surrounded by the crowd and led to the comfy seating area, taking the coveted central position.

To avoid seeming too obvious about their gossiping intentions, Xue Weiwei kicked things off with some recent fun stories, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.

With the workday winding down, the managers were at their most relaxed, and such “paid leisure” moments were the most enjoyable, especially when there was a princess granting melons sporadically, adding a double relaxation effect. Everyone felt their fatigue from the day melting away.

“Yinyin, the follow-up melon about Zheng Sisi is here, want to hear it?”

Xu Yinyin mischievously glanced around at her colleagues, seeing them chatting among themselves, then hurriedly urged, “Of course, we have to eat it, let’s go!”

As soon as she said this, everyone perked up, pretending to sip their tea as they listened attentively.

“Zheng Sisi cut off the scumbag’s tendons and then turned herself in to the police. When asked why, she confessed everything—his infidelity, the mistress bringing a bastard child to threaten her. It seems she’s no longer going to endure it.”

“I told you! No normal person could keep tolerating it. Zheng Sisi finally woke up. It’s not worth sacrificing her future for such a scumbag.”

The gossip crowd nodded in agreement, showing expressions of regret.

“Have you considered that she’s also retaliating against her father? After all, maintaining the family’s honor is what he wants, not her.”

“So, she’s using the most shocking way to end her tragic situation while also circumventing her father’s ban on divorce lawyers. If she’s already committed a crime, what does divorce matter anymore?”

“Exactly, that’s the logic.”

Xu Yinyin couldn’t help but sigh, “Well, how do we even judge this? It seems like both sides have their reasons, but it also seems like neither of them are entirely in the right. Looks like father and daughter are about to break completely.”

“Let it break, then. Anyway, the father doesn’t care about his daughter. It makes no difference whether she exists or not. Also, with what Zheng Sisi has done, the family reputation that old man worked so hard to build is crumbling, and he’s going to be furious.”

“The more someone advocates for something, the more they lack it. If Mr. Zheng’s family values were really strict, would they raise a psychopath like Zheng Yuan? Would they let Zheng Sisi destroy herself to drag her husband to hell? Would they allow a man living off his wife to bully her? All these crimes are the old man’s fault. He deserves the misery he’s facing!”

“Yeah, you’re right. The old man brought this upon himself!”

“If this blows up, it will definitely affect Zheng Rui’s position and reputation on the board. The old man’s not only losing his family, but also the power he held so tightly. It’s truly tragic!”

“I heard that now Zheng Yuan is also planning to sever ties with the old man because of his sister’s situation. He even held a press conference to accuse the old man of being cruel and inhumane, forcing his sister to become a murderer. All of the Zheng family’s suffering was caused by the old man. It’s all over the trending news now.”

The crowd of onlookers subconsciously reached for their phones, wanting to stay updated, but they held back, not wanting to disturb the princess—after all, they might not get more gossip if they did.

“Wow, wow, wow, the old man’s being sent to the ICU. The doctors have issued a critical condition notice. If nothing unexpected happens, it looks like things are about to change within Fengyi.”*

Just as the group preparing to enter and serve coffee felt a chill run down their spines, they realized this was a classic move—if Zheng Rui falls, the three top leaders will immediately collapse. After exchanging nervous glances, they rushed off.

They were all hurrying back to clear any evidence that could lead to them being fired or charged with conspiracy. They needed to keep a low profile to stay safe.

“Haha, I told you, isn’t the old man impressive? Look, he’s already taken down one of them. The three-legged golden crow has now become a two-legged chicken!”

“Hahaha, your description is spot on! I can picture it perfectly!”

---

Later, at Tang Wan’s office…

With a loud crash, the office was in chaos, the computer screen showing a shocking family scandal topping the trending news.

#Charity socialite cruelly cuts her husband’s tendons.
#Husband cheats during marriage; mistress brings child to force a coup. The Zheng family’s tragic events shock the world.”
#Zheng Rui’s son holds a press conference, condemning his father for ten major crimes.”

Looking at the explosive, uncontrollable negative news online, Tang Wan felt a headache coming on.

In just one day, Xu Yinyin had caused such a mess, and she was furious.

There was a knock on the door. Sun Min, cautiously, reported: “President Tang, there’s an urgent document.”

“Come in!” Tang Wan coldly replied.

As Sun Min entered, she stepped on broken pottery, causing her to tremble. Seeing the mess in the room only made her feel more uneasy.

After Tang Wan took the document, she immediately crouched down to clean up the mess.

“Go out, the cleaning crew will handle this.”

“Yes, President Tang.” Sun Min felt relieved and quickly left.

As she walked, she couldn’t help but think that Xu Yinyin, in just one day, had triggered these events. She couldn’t help but wonder if the Chairman had sent her here for this very purpose.

She could eliminate the people who were secretly plotting against the Chairman without lifting a finger.

Zheng Rui, one of the most stubborn founding members, had never been steady, especially during the old man’s hospitalization. He was constantly conspiring with Guo Cheng to cause trouble.

Now that Xu Yinyin had arrived, she had taken Zheng Rui’s head in a single move.

With Zheng Rui’s illness, he could very well die, and his children had already abandoned him. This was a fatal blow to anyone.

It was impossible not to admire Chairman Xu’s swift and ruthless strategy. Xu Yinyin, as his magic weapon, was truly an unstoppable force.

With Zheng Rui out of the picture, who would be next? Would it be Tang Wan? As her most capable assistant, if she ended up taking the blame as Xu Yinyin predicted, it would be disastrous for her.

She had to prepare for what was coming.

---

At this moment, Guo Cheng was like an ant on a hot pan. The downfall of Zheng Rui affected him the most. Without the old man to hide behind, how could he proceed with collecting shares from individual investors?

He took out his phone to arrange a meeting with Wu Youde and Zhao Xing.

An hour later, the three met at a resort 20 kilometers away from the city center.

“Mr. Zheng suddenly has an accident. What should we do next?” Guo Cheng asked humbly, eagerly pouring tea for the two.

Wu Youde immediately raised his hand to cover his tea and laughed, “Manager Guo, we’re not in a rush. You’re you, and we’re us.”

Guo Cheng’s smile froze, and he poured tea for Zhao Xing, who immediately drank it all. “I’ve already drunk all the tea. If you want more, you’ll have to find someone else to pour it for you.”

Guo Cheng’s previously patient demeanor disappeared. Since they were no longer pretending, he didn’t either.

He placed the teapot down and sneered, “What’s this? The river isn’t even crossed, and you’re already tearing down the bridge?”

Wu Youde replied, “The river’s too deep and fast. No matter how many bridges we build, it’s useless. Mr. Zheng was a pioneer in the business, but he made a fatal mistake. Now that he’s gone, what are we supposed to do?”

Zhao Xing added, “Before, we were evenly matched with Tang Wan, but now with Mr. Zheng’s downfall, we’ve lost half of our power. Besides, Tang Wan still has a son. Even if the old man didn’t care for her, she can still rely on her son. We can’t beat her unless—”

Zhao Xing glanced cautiously at Guo Cheng, who immediately guessed the rest of the sentence: “Unless I can also have a son.”

Wu Youde clapped his hand down and smiled, “Although you are the son-in-law, Xu Yanyan is the youngest daughter the old man dotes on like a treasure. The grandson can definitely enjoy the same privileges as the direct grandson. When the time comes, we can discuss it further, but otherwise, it’s all pointless.”

Guo Cheng laughed after hearing this. Sure enough, the old fox had already planned this far ahead. Fortunately, he had already been considering having a child with Xu Yanyan, to avoid any doubts from her.

Having a child would help solidify the marriage. Even if the old man couldn’t stand him, he would be powerless.

Moreover, another child would add some pressure on the second family, so that Xu Yanrui wouldn’t become too arrogant.

“Having a child is no big deal. We’ve been trying for a baby this month, so just wait for my good news.”

The two exchanged a look, and Wu Youde said, “Then we’ll just wait for the good news.”

“If everything goes smoothly, our cooperation…” Guo Cheng trailed off, testing the waters.

“As long as our strength can rival Tang Wan, it’s not impossible to give it a try.”

With Wu Youde’s words, Guo Cheng felt reassured.

The two of them drank a cup of tea and then left together.

Shen Ling, who had been waiting in the next room, was called in.

She sat directly on Guo Cheng’s lap, playing with his tie, and sweetly asked, “How did the talk go?”

Guo Cheng spoke teasingly, “I never thought I, Guo Cheng, would have to rely on having a child to rise in status. It’s really pitiful.”

Shen Ling’s expression changed, and she sat up straight from his lap. “Aren’t they asking you to have a child with Xu Yanyan?”

“Mm-hmm, luckily, I was already planning to do so.”

Shen Ling unhappily slapped his hand away, pouting, “If you have a child with her, then what will happen to our child? Do you want our child to be a bastard?”

“We don’t have one yet.”

“Who says we don’t? He’s already three months old.”

“What?!” Guo Cheng hurriedly stood up from his chair, loosened his tie, and tried to calm the burning anger inside him.

Shen Ling was frightened by his reaction and timidly said, “A Cheng, I—”

“Get rid of it,” Guo Cheng’s voice was cold, his eyes even colder than ice.

“No, I don’t want to. Anyway, you’re going to divorce Xu Yanyan, so why can’t we keep him? The doctor said he’s very healthy. I’ll show you the ultrasound.”

As she spoke, she took the report from her bag. “He’s really cute, just a little bundle. He—”

“Get rid of it. Don’t make me say it again,” Guo Cheng’s voice was even colder.

Shen Ling looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. “A Cheng, he’s our first child. Can you really bear to get rid of him?”

“What’s the point of being soft-hearted? Right now, it’s a critical moment. I need to have a child with Xu Yanyan to stabilize the situation. Once your husband finds out, all of my plans over the years will be ruined. Not only will you go to jail for stealing secrets, but I will also be kicked out of the Xu family. By then, we’ll have nothing. How will we raise a child? Have you thought about that?”

“I—” Shen Ling suddenly felt a pang of fear, remembering that her stealing secrets was enough to put her behind bars for life.

“A Ling, please don’t make this harder for me. Listen, get rid of the child, and once I’ve taken the shares from Xu Yanyan, I’ll divorce her immediately. Then we can have a child openly. Wouldn’t that be much better?”

Shen Ling, tearful, looked at him with reluctance in her eyes.

Guo Cheng patiently continued to persuade her, and eventually, she agreed to go to the hospital tomorrow.

“I’ll contact the doctor for you. After the surgery, rest well at the hospital, don’t think about anything.”

He took out his spare card and handed it to her. “After you recover in a few days, take some friends and go abroad for a while. I’ll approve your leave. How about that?”

Shen Ling looked down at the credit card, which had both Xu Yanyan and his name on it, knowing it was a joint account.

Guo Cheng giving her this card was indirectly telling her that Xu Yanyan had no control over him. It was a reassurance for her.

Since Xu Yanyan couldn’t control him, perhaps she could—

She obediently took the card and said hesitantly, “A Cheng, you must remember what I’ve sacrificed for you. I hope you keep your promise and not disappoint me again. Okay?”

“Don’t worry, you’re so good to me, how could I bear to disappoint you? I swear, this is the last time.”

“Alright.” Shen Ling obediently hugged him, her tear-filled eyes no longer showing any weakness.

---

After dinner, Xu Hongtian went to his study to practice calligraphy. He had just finished writing the upper part of the character “An” when the butler, Lin Yu, knocked on the door and presented a document. “Sir, Zheng Rui’s lawyer has sent over the share transfer document.”

Xu Hongtian dipped his brush back into the ink and said, “Come in.”

Lin Yu entered, placed the document on the desk, and watched as the old man finished writing the rest of the character.

When the powerful, fluid “An” was completed on the rice paper, the old man smiled knowingly and placed the brush back in its holder. He slowly wiped his fingers, his gaze casually falling on the envelope, with no intention of opening it yet.

“See, I told you my granddaughter is the treasure of our family. Just the first day, and she caught the biggest fish. This exceeded my expectations by far,” Xu Hongtian said, pride gleaming in his eyes.

“Miss Yinyin is indeed exceptionally clever. Her straightforward personality, not competing or coveting, is rare and admirable. I must say, Young Master Yanwen is truly fortunate,” the butler said in a subtle manner.

His words made the old man laugh. “The eldest is indeed lucky. He’s so stupid and dull, yet he has a daughter with a brilliant mind. I guess that’s what they mean by ‘foolish people have foolish blessings.'”

“Ah, with Zheng Rui gone, the remaining ones are nothing to fear. If I’m not wrong, the company must be in chaos right now. A lot of people must be losing sleep tonight, right?”

“Your son-in-law met with Wu Youde and Zhao Xing this afternoon.”

“Without Zheng Rui as the anchor, the other two opportunists won’t cooperate with him anymore.”

Lin Yu hesitated for a moment and then looked at the old master.

“Speak your mind, don’t hold back,” the old master said.

“Your son-in-law’s secretary, that Shen Ling… she, she seems to be three months pregnant.”

Xu Hongtian’s face darkened. “Is the child Gu Cheng’s?”

Lin Yu nodded with difficulty. The old master grabbed a blue and white porcelain ornament and threw it to the ground in frustration, shouting, “What a bastard!”

“Please calm down, Master, you’ve just recovered. Don’t let your anger affect your health.”

Xu Hongtian took a deep breath to control the rage rising in his chest, then asked, “What was that bastard’s reaction?”

“He firmly insisted that she get rid of the child.”

Xu Hongtian raised an eyebrow in surprise, then Lin Yu continued, “He said it wasn’t the right time and that they needed to have a child with Miss Yanyan first to stabilize the situation.”

Xu Hongtian felt his vision darken, almost losing his balance. Lin Yu hurried over and helped him sit down.

Xu Hongtian sighed deeply, “How did I end up with such a spineless daughter? How long will she tolerate this? Yinyin already exposed that bastard’s true nature. I don’t believe she hasn’t suspected anything before. What is she holding back?”

Lin Yu replied, “Miss Yanyan has always been obedient and sensible. Her only rebellion was for your son-in-law. He was the one she gave all her courage and pride to pursue. If it turns out that he isn’t worth it, her pride and dignity will be destroyed along with it. Facing such a blow, Miss Yanyan will need to think carefully. Please give her some more time. I firmly believe she will make the best decision.”

Xu Hongtian had considered this as well. As a parent, he knew his child’s temperament, and he didn’t want to force her too much.

“As Yinyin said, that woman dared to deliberately leave traces at the family banquet when the bastard was present, so she must have the courage to use the baby in her belly as leverage with Yanyan. I hope, by then, Yanyan will come to her senses. Some pain, she must experience for herself.”

Xu Hongtian’s gaze suddenly darkened, “If she still remains indifferent, I wouldn’t mind helping her. Even if, in the end, she hates me, I will not let her continue to go down this path of self-destruction!”

“That shouldn’t happen,” Lin Yu said softly, trying to comfort him. “Your son-in-law dares to be so arrogant simply because he relies on Miss Yanyan’s love. But love can fade, especially with repeated disappointments.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Xu Hongtian gently touched a photo on the desk. In the picture, a little girl wearing a crown and a white princess dress smiled brightly, her eyes curving as she leaned against the young Xu Hongtian. They both looked at the camera, their smiles brighter than the summer sun.

“Yanyan, please don’t disappoint your father anymore, okay?”

Xu Hongtian murmured to himself, his sharp eyes, honed over the years, now filled with tears and regret.

If only he had been more forceful in stopping her back then, would Yanyan have been spared all this pain?

---

Xu Yanyan went to the hospital to collect Gu Cheng’s test results as scheduled. She was feeling anxious and uneasy along the way.

After returning home that day, she called Dr. Xu and asked him to call her first when he received the results, rather than calling Gu Cheng.

“Miss Xu, you should be mentally prepared. The report shows that your husband has congenital azoospermia, and your chances of pregnancy are close to zero.”

Xu Yanyan felt cold all over, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, shaking her to the core.

She didn’t even remember how she got back to the car.

Gu Cheng didn’t have sperm, which meant they would never have children in this lifetime.

All her efforts over the years, all the check-ups and hardships, suddenly felt like a self-indulgent joke.

If Gu Cheng had agreed to do the tests in the first year, she wouldn’t have had to endure the next two years of torment.

Every time she faced the cold machines in the clinic, she was filled with fear and helplessness.

She was so afraid it was her own problem. Each time she hoped, only to be crushed again, felt like adding straw to a camel’s back, unsure of when it would break her.

Now, the report clearly stated that Gu Cheng was the cause of their infertility.

“Ha, hahahaha–” Xu Yanyan laughed through her tears, trembling uncontrollably.

Was this heaven’s revelation to her? To let her let go of herself and also let go of Gu Cheng?

She had originally hoped that a child would smooth things over in her marriage, but now she realized that was a despicable and shameless approach.

Now, heaven had taken away her right to be a mother in the most cruel way, awakening her conscience.

Divorce!

A voice echoed in her head, urging her to make a decision.

But the tears blurred her vision. She couldn’t even remember Gu Cheng’s name, let alone his phone number.

She suddenly burst into inconsolable sobs, crying so violently that it felt like her heart was being ripped apart.

She kept wiping away her tears, but they wouldn’t stop, as if defying her.

“Knock knock–“

Someone was knocking on the car window. Xu Yanyan thought she had disturbed someone with her crying and was about to apologize and wipe away her tears, but when she turned, she saw a familiar figure.

Shen Ling was smiling and waving at her.

---

Sansukini: Hehe. The irony. He can’t have children, so who fathered of the mistress’s pregnancy?