“Why did you do such an embarrassing thing this afternoon? You never thought of telling us that?” Zhao Fengchun had an ugly expression when she asked that.

Wu Qiaoyin was shocked. She looked gloomy to begin with, but her expression turned even worse when she thought that Ruan Danchen was trying to make life difficult for her.

Zhao Fengchun got angry simply by looking at her daughter. She went and pinched Wu Qiaoyin’s arm immediately.

“OW! MOM! What are you doing?!” Wu Qiaoyin held her arm. Tears were pooling up in her eyes due to the pain.

“You’re asking me what I’m doing?! You did such a stupid thing in public but you came home and acted as though it didn’t happen?” Zhao Fengchun pinched her hard once more. “Did you think of our family when you embarrassed yourself in public just now? Huh? Did you think of us? You think it’s all right if you just hide it from us? Didn’t you ever think that we’ll learn about it when we go out in public? Did you think about how we’ll be clueless and friendly with everyone, but they’re actually despising us without us knowing? How did I even get such a stupid daughter like you! You could’ve chosen anywhere to embarrass yourself, but you chose the place that had the most people in our circle!

“Jixia Elementary brings together all of B City’s greatest families. If you embarrass yourself there, isn’t that the same as letting all those people know about it? If they knew about it, word will spread, and everyone in the circle would know. Other than being made the butt of jokes, how will you continue to socialize with them? How will you find someone to marry? You were scolded by someone’s legal wife in public and people are calling you a third party. Which family would want you now?” Zhao Fengcun got incredibly exasperated just by looking at Wu Qiaoying. She really wanted to slap the girl.

How could Wu Qiaoyin be so brainless!

Wu Qiaoyin’s father was an accomplished businessman while Zhao Fengchun herself was an astute person. How did they managed to give birth to such an idiot!

“What do you mean third party? Don’t say such nasty things. I went there to help! You heard what Big Brother Qi said in the office just now right? He said he had to work overtime and couldn’t pick up his son, so since I’m free, I went to pick him! It’s not like Youxuan never met me anyway, and I’m not a bad person too. I’ve no idea that Ruan Danchen would badmouth me like that. Is there any bad blood between us? Why must she accuse me like that? She’s just pretending in front of Big Brother Qi and in Auntie Guan’s house. She looks like a nice little girl, but no one knows how devious she is. I didn’t offend her, but she accused me of being a third party in front of everyone there! I’m the victim here, and you’re scolding me?!” Wu Qiaoyin was about to cry as she said that.

“Did Qi Chenglin say that to you? You selectively chose to listen to the first half. Didn’t you hear what he said after that? He asked Ruan Danchen to pick their son up. You didn’t hear that? That’s their son, why are you getting so involved for? If you’re really sincere and wanted to show yourself in a good light, you’d tell their family before going to pick Youxuan up, not go behind Ruan Danchen’s back to pick up the child. If that’s not having bad intentions, then what is? You’re the one who revealed that side of yourself and allowed people to use that against you. If you’re an idiot, don’t blame others for using similar methods to deal with you!” Zhao Fengchun was explosively angry. Her voice could be heard from downstairs.

Wu Chuanshu heard their bickering and looked at the housekeeper, hinting at the latter to hide. Wu Chuanshu then went up to see things for himself.

The two women’s arguing was so loud that it resonated through every corner of their villa. Despite going into her room, the housekeeper could still hear their arguments.

“MOM! I’m your daughter! Why are you scolding me instead of helping me?” Wu Qiaoyin wept, cried foul, and said, “I was just being kind! Ruan Danchen’s the one who treated my kindness as if it was a terrible thing. You’re Auntie Guan’s good friend, and Auntie Guan watched me grow up too. How could Ruan Danchen be so rude to me!”

“You really think I don’t know if you have good intentions or not? You should know better not to deceive yourself and others. Even a little kid like Qi Youxuan could see through you. You think Ruan Danchen wouldn’t? You can keep lying to yourself and saying that you went there purely to help, but the parents of Jixia’s students are all smart people. Do you really think they’ll believe you? You’re only fooling yourself,” Zhao Fengchun said tensely.

Instead of deceiving others, she deceived herself. What kind of fool was she?

“I don’t care if you want to get close to Qi Chenglin through Qi Youxuan, but be smart about it. Who the hell’s going to believe you if you do it so obviously? Letting his parents know is the smart and logical thing to do. Everyone knows that, so don’t tell me you didn’t know!” Zhao Fengcun was itching to squeeze her daughter’s brain and wring out some common sense.

“I… Big Brother Qi definitely won’t agree to it. Ruan Danchen wouldn’t have let me talk to Qi Youxuan,” the upset Wu Qiaoyin replied.

“Did you think that they won’t blame you or anything if you brought their child away without letting them know?” Zhao Fengchun was at wit’s end. “I’m saying you’re an idiot, but you refuse to admit that you’re one. If Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen doesn’t agree, couldn’t you have asked Guan Liya? You said it yourself that she’s my good friend and someone who watched you grow up. Do you think she’ll refuse you if you said you were going to pick up Youxuan and didn’t show any ulterior motives?”

“I…” Wu Qiaoyin’s upper lip trembled and she mumbled, “I didn’t think of…”

“That’s right. You didn’t think of that at all, so you did something stupid. Now look at what’s happened. Guan Liya came to our home and criticized you! Things were in your favor before this, but you squandered it all! Amazing!” Zhao Fengchun could no longer tolerate it anymore. Her restless fingers finally reach out and flicked Wu Qiaoyin’s head.

“If you went and informed Guan Liya, she’ll treat it as though you were her niece that cared about her grandson. You could even get close to her. Now? She thinks your behavior’s inappropriate and you were trying to exploit her grandson. Do you think she’ll think well of you when she only has one grandson? Whatever good impression is now gone simply because you dragged her grandson into this.”

“I…” Wu Qiaoyin felt regret too. She wanted to try and make a good impression, but in the end, she not only failed—she even managed to make herself look absolutely horrendous.

“I know you like Qi Chenglin, but he’s married. You can’t possibly be thinking of being a mistress and becoming his extramarital lover? Our family is not that low-class. Are you going to embarrass us publicly in the worst way possible? I never stopped you in the past because our family has a good relationship with theirs. If you had a good relationship with them, you’ll get into a good marriage too. It’ll help both our families. But you, you can’t think ahead. You insist on butting in and throwing all that away. If you really have what it takes to exile Ruan Danchen and let Qi Chenglin divorce her to marry you, then I’ll support you. Even if there’ll be a period of time where your reputation isn’t good, no one will remember after a while. You’re already his wife anyway, and what matters is the ending. Eventually, the only thing people will remember is who his wife currently is. No one will remember the past. It’s clear that you don’t have what it takes, so you’d better know your place.” Zhao Fengchun glared at her.

“Who said that I don’t have what it takes?” Wu Qiaoyin was getting anxious. She originally thought that it would be difficult for her to face the hardship alone, but after realizing that her mother’s mindset was such, she knew that her mother would support her as long as she did better. It was an opportunity she did not want to let slip.

Zhao Fengchun pursed her lips and kept quiet. Wu Chuanshu stepped in with a frown and glared at Wu Qiaoyin, before shooting Zhao Fengchun a glance. “Don’t you say anything that’ll put all those nonsense thoughts in her brain! Who in the world encourages their daughter to wreck another family! They’re a happy family, why must the both of you interfere?!

“You know her brain doesn’t understand things, but you still made statements that give her hope. There’s plenty of other good men in this world, so why must you do something as disgusting as going after a married man with kids? They’re enjoying their lives and yet you still think it’s reasonable for you to destroy that. Don’t you feel guilty?” Wu Chuanshu looked at his wife and daughter and felt angst. He wondered how the two of them became so unreasonable.

“BUT I LIKE HIM!” Wu Qiaoyin felt that her father did not understand the pains of true love.

“You like him, but his wife likes him too! Are you going to interfere in their marriage on the grounds that you like him? What right do you have? If you want to get close to his son out of love for him, she can also scold you in front of everyone out of love for her husband. You’re not even being rational here. How can you be so confident that you’re right?”

Wu Chuanshu still remembered his daughter’s embarrassing actions next-door. Due to those disgraceful actions, he did not speak much, as he was afraid that he could not control himself from scolding her if he opened his mouth.

When Guan Liya visited them that night and said all those things, Wu Chuanshu felt his internal organs twist up in pain.

“And you.” Wu Chuanshu looked at Zhao Fengchun in a very displeased manner. “Guan Liya’s your childhood friend, where’s the logic in allowing your daughter to pester Guan Liya’s son and daughter-in-law? Putting in another way, if a young girl runs to our family, cries out true love, and is determined to tempt me into divorcing you and be with her, would you be happy?”

Zhao Fengchun’s silence made him wonder if she was using her expression to show his dissatisfaction or whether she felt that he did not accord her enough respect in front of their daughter.

“If you won’t be happy about it, then why would you let our daughter go around disgusting others like that?” Wu Chuanshu then pointed at Wu Qiaoyin. “You’ll follow me to work tomorrow and learn. You’ll sit in my car when we go to work and when we leave. If you have nothing to do, don’t go and stir up trouble!”

After saying that, he hauled Zhao Fengchun out without bothering about Wu Qiaoyin’s dissatisfaction.

Wu Qiaoyin’s room door was slammed shut, and she could hear her father chastising her mother outside. “Don’t talk nonsense in the future. If this mess affects our family business, both of you will be the ones crying in the future!”

Wu Qiaoyin did not hear a reply from Zhao Fengchun and was unable to see the latter’s expression. Then, she heard Wu Chuanshu say, “Stop your ridiculousness with Qiaoyin. If you anger the Qi family, do you think your friendship with Guan Liya will count for anything? Today is a clear sign that she protects her daughter-in-law. If she wasn’t unhappy with Qiaoyin, she wouldn’t have visited us to tell us all that. Angering them will only cause problems for our business. I’ll leave you to cry yourselves if you ruin our family by doing all those vile things in the name of love! Why are you still doing all that when you know the feelings won’t be reciprocated!”

…

Ruan Danchen was in the dark about what happened to the Wu family. She had already prepared the fruit and refreshments, while the water had been boiled and she had rinsed the tea leaves once already.

Everything had been prepared and all that was left was for the Ruan family to come.

Ruan Danchen was nervous and had a nagging feeling that something was not right. She went to and from the kitchen numerous times but found nothing unusual. She then went to take a look at the mirror and tidy up her already-tidy hair.

“How about I have a change of clothes?” Ruan Danchen turned to look at Qi Chenglin. She was breathing erratically due to her anxiousness.

Qi Chenglin looked at her fidgetiness. He was just about to let her go have a change of clothes so she would feel at ease, but her phone rang at precisely that time.

He went to get her phone for her and seeing Ruan Zeer as the caller, Ruan Danchen picked it up immediately. “Zeer, are you here yet? I’ll go down and open the door.”

“No, we… We got into a car accident. We’re at the hospital now so we can’t make it tonight. So sorry for troubling you,” Ruan Zeer’s guilty voice was heard through the phone. “And we’ve already agreed to come over too.”

“Car accident?” Ruan Danchen’s heart jumped to her throat. She asked frantically, “How’s everyone? Are the injuries bad? Is the accident severe? Which hospital are you at right now? We’ll go visit.”

Ruan Zeer did not expect Ruan Danchen to be so worried. Evidently, it was different from Ruan Keshan’s expectations that she would be unhappy because they did not look for her all those years.

Ruan Zeer’s mouth remained agape. Although he did not show it, he was very worried about Ruan Danchen’s reaction. He would be very sad indeed if Ruan Danchen did not care about him again after the incident.

Relief finally set in, causing his eyes to redden. “Big… Big Sis, don’t worry. It’s a minor injury. Mom and I are okay. Dad suffered the impact because he didn’t want us to get injured, but luckily, it’s only some abrasions on his arms and legs. Everything else is alright.”

On past occasions, Ruan Danchen felt that him addressing her as ‘Big Sis Ruan’ was merely forging a closeness between them. She did not think much either when Ruan Zeer called her twice earlier that night.

When she heard him address her as Big Sis again, the feeling was completely different. Ruan Danchen finally understood the significance behind the way he addressed her during the earlier phone call.

Ruan Danchen asked which hospital they were at, but Ruan Zeer felt that it was too late. It was not good to let her rush over, as they had already troubled her a lot that night. Nevertheless, he divulged the information under Ruan Danchen’s insistence, as well as Qi Chenglin’s action taking the phone over and telling Ruan Zeer that Ruan Danchen could not sleep well if Ruan Zeer did not tell her.

After hanging up, Qi Chenglin said without being prompted by Ruan Danchen, “Let’s go. It’s cold at night, so wear a few more layers. I’ll take you there.”

Ruan Danchen nodded. She did not want to change into any other clothes, so she merely put on a thick overcoat and left with Qi Chenglin.

He held her by the waist and frowned. “Take it easy. I know you’re anxious, but you need to adjust your state of mind. You’re pregnant.”

Ruan Danchen nodded and took a few deep breaths. She covered her stomach and finally calmed herself down. “Okay.”

…

Very soon, the couple reached the hospital. Ruan Zeer waited at the entrance as he knew they were coming.

Catching sight of Qi Chenglin and Ruan Danchen, he ran over, but just before he went up to Ruan Danchen, his footsteps slowed down, as if he was lacking courage.

“Big Sis,” Ruan Zeer greeted.

Addressing her as so was not too out-of-place since he had been calling her that anyway.

With Qi Chenglin however, he was afraid to be presumptuous by addressing him as elder brother-in-law. Ruan Zeer moved his lips, but in the end, he did not know how best to address him.

“I… I’ll bring you both over,” Ruan Zeer said. He looked down and walked straight up ahead.

After the three of them entered the elevator, and Ruan Zeer looked at Ruan Danchen a couple of times. She looked like she wanted to say something but was afraid to do so. If it were any other time, Ruan Danchen would be amused if he gave her that expression, but in her nervousness, all she could do was smile warmly at him.

She would always feel like vomiting if she got anxious.

A few deep breaths later, she managed to calm herself down again. Following Ruan Zeer out from the elevator, she turned and gave Qi Chenglin and anxious look.

“What are you afraid of? You’re meeting your family,” Qi Chenglin said softly and held Ruan Danchen’s hand.

Ruan Zeer was walking with them, and although Qi Chenglin’s voice was low, it was not like those words were whispered into Ruan Danchen’s ear. Ruan Zeer could hear everything clearly.

He looked at the Qi Chenglin in shock and his jaw was left hanging. He asked sheepishly, “You… You know about that?”

Qi Chenglin did not answer him, but simply cocked a brow and asked in a crisp voice, “We’re not there yet?”

Looking at his calm character, Ruan Danchen took a deep breath and eased her worries.

Ruan Zeer went blank, he looked around red-faced and said, “We’re here.”

He nearly walked past it.

It was a single-bed ward, and Ruan Danchen stood by the door and felt Qi Chenglin squeeze her hand a couple of times. She looked up at his calm and tranquil demeanor, then turned to Ruan Zeer. The boy did not open the door immediately but stood by the door. With Ruan Danchen’s nod, he pushed the door open and entered himself.

Hearing sounds by the door, Ruan Keshan looked over in anticipation but was somewhat disappointed to see his son only.

“Dad,” Ruan Zeer greeted and moved aside.

Ruan Danchen’s heartbeat quickened as she walked into the ward with Qi Chenglin.

Nervous, she opened her eyes wide, making them look even bigger than before and displaying a restlessness that could not be helped.

Ruan Danchen did not know how to address the two people in front of them. She opened her mouth but did not know what to say.

Before her eyes, she saw Ruan Keshan cry the moment he laid eyes on her. His thick glasses were clouded in tears. Ruan Keshan took them down, but his fuzzy eyesight forced him to put them on again.

He blinked a couple of times and looked at Ruan Danchen, exclaiming in between sobs, “Minxia, she’s really Keyu’s daughter! She is! She looks just like Keyu! She looks just like him! Exactly like him! There’s… There’s no proof, but I know she’s Keyu’s daughter!”

Chen Minxia was stunned as well. She did not expect Ruan Danchen to be the woman she encountered that fateful day in the mall!

No wonder she felt that Ruan Danchen looked very familiar back then. At that time, she was unable to recall who Ruan Danchen resembled, and since they were both strangers, Chen Minxia would not put too much thought into figuring out who a stranger looked like, much less connect the dots to her deceased brother-in-law.

Ruan Keshan’s mention of it made her realize that Ruan Danchen shared similar features with Ruan Keyu.

Ruan Keyu had delicate features, and even his daughter took after him rather beautifully. Ruan Keshan need only look at Ruan Danchen’s nose, eyes, and mouth, to see that they were completely similar to Ruan Keyu

Chen Minxia wiped her tears and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, she looks just like Keyu. She’s definitely his.”

Ruan Keshan took off his glasses and cried even harder, sobbing uncontrollably even. It was a terrible sight to see when grown men cried, but no one there thought less of him for doing so.

Ruan Danchen’s heart was crumbling to pieces. Other than the Qi family’s elders, it was the first time she truly received familial love.

Despite having little conversation, Ruan Danchen could see Ruan Keshan’s deep emotion through his cries. He was someone related by blood to her—her family.

Seeing Ruan Keshan cry like nobody’s business made Ruan Danchen realize that she could rely on him without any reservations and that he would treat her unequivocally well too.

“Child, we weren’t good enough, you suffered so much when we weren’t beside you,” Ruan Keshan cried and said.

Ruan Zeer was the reason that they paid attention to news involving Ruan Danchen. When the explosive allegations surfaced, they knew it was biased, and at the same time, they were aware that Ruan Danchen would not have had a good life with a person like Liu Ronghua by her side.