Chapter 6: Shu Yu's Journey to Er bai's home 

Finally able to move, Uncle Hu tied up the basket and eagerly urged the ox cart forward.

Along the way, the topic that Shu Yu heard the most about was Liang Shi. Even the locals who were not from the same village seemed to know a lot about her.

Since Liang Shi had said she lived in Shishi Village, Shu Yu couldn't help but pay a little more attention. She had been quiet all this time, but was now listening carefully.

However, these people rarely mentioned Shishi Village. Most of them talked about how stingy and shameless Liang Shi was, and how she only cared about her own interests.

Not only Liang Shi, but also her husband, Lu Laosan.

Both of them were of the same character, so their only son had also grown up crooked. Not only did he bully other children in the village, but he also played tricks on his own relatives.

Whenever Lu Laosan and his wife were mentioned, everyone would shake their heads and sigh.

While listening to the gossip, the ox cart arrived at Shishi Village.

A few women had already gotten off at the first two villages, leaving the cart mostly empty. Shu Yu was the only one getting off at Shishi Village.

As soon as Shu Yu was about to get off, she saw a man squatting at the village entrance.

Uncle Hu shouted at him unhappily, "Lu Laosan."

Lu Laosan quickly ran over after hearing this, holding a piece of grass in his mouth. He counted his goods one by one after seeing his own basket, and only when he was satisfied did he pick it up and leave without even saying thank you. He went straight home.

Hu Shu spat at his back and was surprised when Lu Laosan suddenly turned around as if sensing something. He glared at Uncle Hu fiercely and asked, "What do you want?"

Uncle Hu was obviously a little afraid of him, so he got on the cart and ran away.

Then Lu Laosan quickly ran away as well.

Shu Yu thought to herself, "You guys are quite funny."

She had originally wanted to ask Lu Laosan for directions, but he had disappeared. She could only carry her pastries and meat and walk towards the village.

There weren't many people at the intersection, but there were a group of children playing there.

Shu Yu walked towards them and waved, asking, "Can I ask you guys something?"

The children who were playing around suddenly stopped and looked at her curiously.

Immediately, their eyes all fell on the snacks and pork she was carrying in her hands, and they swallowed their saliva fiercely.

Shu Yu felt like the things in her hands were as heavy as a thousand catties. She took out a few candies from her sleeve and handed them forward, saying, "Whoever answers my question gets this candy."

The candy was a bag of taffy that she had bought from a pastry shop earlier, just for this kind of situation.

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, several children immediately jumped up and down, clamoring to answer her question. "I'll answer it! I know everything, you can ask me anything."

"You're talking nonsense. You don't know anything. I know it. I'm the boss."

Shu Yu quickly raised her hand and said, "Then can any of you tell me where the Lu Erbai family in Shishi Village is located?"

Lu Erbai?

The children looked at each other, and the names of the adults were still somewhat unfamiliar to them.

Fortunately, the names of the Lu family's adults were a bit easier to remember than others. Immediately, a bigger child called out, "I know."

Shu Yu looked at him.

The child immediately pointed not far away and said, "Lu Erbai is the father of that ugly little girl over there."

Shu Yu frowned and looked up to see a little girl walking slowly towards them. She didn't look very old, and she had a big basket on her back, filled with pig grass. She was walking very slowly and with great difficulty.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 5: Liang Shi 

Shu Yu had just taken a stroll around the area and had become quite familiar with the several shops nearby. She went into a pastry shop and bought two bags of pastries before heading over to the next stall to buy a piece of meat.

Carrying her two bags of goodies, she returned to the ox cart exactly half an hour later.

To her surprise, there was now another woman on the cart, making it even more crowded than before.

Well, at this time of day, it's not surprising that the horse-drawn carriages wouldn't want to take the road to Dashicun. After all, the carriages came from the county town and had to return there after dropping off their passengers. 

But the ox cart belonged to an old man from the village who was both taking Shu Yu to her destination and returning home afterwards.

Shu Yu had only been on the cart for a short time when the old man driving the cart was preparing to leave. Just then, another woman ran over to them, sweating profusely, calling out, "Uncle Hu, wait!"

The old man frowned when he saw her and Shu Yu could see that he was ready to leave immediately. However, the woman was faster and had already grabbed onto the edge of the cart, refusing to let go.

Uncle Hu sighed in resignation and told her, "The Lu family already took the last spot on the cart."

Liang Shi's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean there's no more room? Uncle Hu, this isn't right. We agreed earlier that you would save a spot for me on your cart for my return trip. I need to go back to Shishi Village on your cart."

Uncle Hu couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You said earlier that you weren't going to take my cart back."

"That's nonsense! I'm carrying all this stuff on my back. Am I supposed to walk back to Shishi Village on my own? You must have misheard me, Uncle Hu."

Liang Shi gestured towards the bamboo basket on her back.

"You..." Uncle Hu was so angry he could barely speak.

Shu Yu couldn't help but glance at the woman So, she's from Shangshicun?

Liang Shi pointed at Uncle Hu and said, "You're so unprofessional. I already told you I wanted to take your cart back, and now you've taken on an extra passenger. What are we supposed to do now? It's already so late, and I can't find another ox cart."

Shu Yu looked at her and then at the other passengers on the ox cart.

It seems that these women all followed Uncle Hu out in the morning, and she is the only newcomer. The person Liang Shi referred to as "extra" is her, right?

Shu Yu didn't want to continue squeezing on the cow carriage and said, pointing to herself, "How about I get off the carriage?" Thinking about it now, it seems more convenient to go tomorrow.

Who knew that Uncle Hu didn't say anything, but the woman waved her hand and said righteously, "No need, it's not your business. This is a problem between Uncle Hu and me. You can just sit there."

Shu Yu was taken aback by this unexpected answer.

Uncle Hu was obviously not good with words, and seeing that the villagers on the cow carriage were becoming impatient, he became a bit impatient and asked Liang Shi with a stern look, "What do you want?"

"What else can I do when the carriage is already full? Do you want me to squeeze with you at the front of the carriage?"

Other people laughed after hearing this.

Uncle Hu's face turned even redder. Liang Shi continued, "Forget it, forget it. I'm generous and won't hold it against you. I'll just walk back. But my basket is too heavy and I can't carry it. So, can you take the basket back to my house and give it to my husband?"

What could Uncle Hu say? He couldn't sit down, but there was no problem with the basket being tied to the side.

He nodded, "Okay."

"Let's be clear, you did something wrong, so I'm not paying for the travel expenses." Then she looked at the other women on the cow carriage and said, "I remember your faces. If there's anything missing from my basket, I'll come to each of your homes to find it."

(The end of this chapter.)

 Chapter 4: Heading to Shishi Village

Shu Yu left the city gate and took out the letter from the box again.

Written on it was the address of her biological parents—Shishi Village, Wenlan Town, Jiangyuan County, Dongan Prefecture.

She didn't know about Shishi Village in Wenlan Town, but she knew about Jiangyuan County. It was the farthest and poorest county in the entire Dongan Prefecture.

Shu Yu sneered. She didn't want to acknowledge her biological parents. Now that she had left the Shu family, she could go anywhere she wanted. Why should she tie herself to irrelevant people? She had no attachment to anyone in this world.

She covered the box and planned to walk in any direction. However, she couldn't help but think of the nun's words. "If you have any doubts, look at the address on the letter."

Of course, she had doubts! For example, how did her master know about her birth? And how did the debt come about? Could it be related to her birth? Also, what did her master really think?

If she couldn't get answers to these questions and couldn't change her fate of being exiled in three months, she would never be able to solve them.

Shu Yu wasn't a procrastinator. Since she wanted to know, then she should...go and see for herself. She didn't want to be in the dark about anything.

Shu Yu had some silver coins with her, which she earned by going out when the Shu family wasn't paying attention in the past year. However, due to restrictions such as her identity, time and location, she didn't earn much. She had planned to accumulate more in the last three months before being exiled to ensure a comfortable life after arriving at her destination. But who knew that things would change abruptly and that she wasn't even a member of the Shu family.

She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to take the silver coins with her when she was exiled, so she hid them outside the prefecture. She had taken out the silver coins just now. There were only two silver notes, sixty taels in total. She pitied herself for two seconds and then rented a carriage and headed straight to Jiangyuan County.

It took her a day of fast travel to arrive. After arriving at the county, she paid the carriage fee and let the coachman go. She wandered around the county for a while. Although she had been in this world for a year, she had spent most of her time in the Shu Mansion. The farthest place she had been to was Dongqing Temple in the capital city.

Although Jiangyuan County is poor, it is very lively. 

Shu Yu, surprisingly, felt a sense of peace and tranquility here. 

Seeing that it was getting late, Shu Yu found a cow cart that was passing through Shishi Village at the city gate. Just as she was about to get on, she saw other villagers already on the cart. 

Most of them had large and small baskets taking up space. It was strange that she, on the other hand, was carrying only a small package on her back. The others looked at her and whispered to each other. 

Shu Yu had good hearing and could vaguely hear a few sentences. 

"Where did this girl come from? She doesn't look like she's short of money, why is she squeezing onto a cow cart with us?" 

Shu Yu looked at herself. She had already changed into a simple and lightweight dress. But compared to the other women in front of her, she still looked out of place. 

Shu Yu hesitated for a moment, then got off the cow cart and said to the old man driving it, "Sir, can you wait for me for half a moment?" 

"Sure, we'll leave at four and a quarter." 

It was nearly a quarter of an hour until four and a quarter. Shu Yu turned around and walked towards the county town. She wasn't going to change her clothes; she had seen what was in the baskets of those women and wanted to visit them to see if she should buy anything. 

Shu Yu had never thought of finding her biological parents. She didn't know who they were, and she had no feelings for them. Being alone was good for her now, why bother seeking trouble? 

Besides, she still didn't know if her biological parents were the ones who sold her to the Shu family. 

She was going to Shishi Village just to solve the doubts in her heart. 

But she couldn't just show up unannounced. She needed an excuse to visit, so she brought a gift. If she came with a gift, they wouldn't easily turn her away, and she could ask whatever she wanted in a simple and convenient way. 

In her past life, Shu Yu had climbed to the position of a top leader. These social relationships were clear to her. 

(End of Chapter)

 Chapter 3: Are People Really in Charge?

Previously, Shu Yu also believed in this way. She tried hard to win her biological mother's approval and always behaved obediently without crying or causing trouble, but it was all in vain. aunt Xue only grew more disgusted with her and not only physically abused her but also verbally humiliated her.

Now, everything made sense to Xiao Shu.

As she watched her family members leave, Xiao Shu quietly snuck to the shore and climbed out of the lotus pond.

Fortunately, the old lady didn't want to make a big deal out of this, so she sent everyone back and they didn't encounter anyone on the way.

However, because of the things she said earlier, the lights in their courtyard never went out and occasional arguments could be heard. Shu Yu could even faintly hear the old lady passing out.

Shu Yu smiled, returned to her own courtyard, changed into clean clothes, packed a few inconspicuous things, and then went out through the main gate of the Shu family, which she was quite familiar with.

By now, the sky was just starting to brighten and there were a few pedestrians on the road.

In fifteen minutes, the East Anfu City Gate would open, and Shu Yu planned to leave the city.

The Shu family wouldn't be able to find her body tonight and would definitely secretly send people to search for her. However, the Shu family was too preoccupied with their own problems now. The things she said last night were enough to cause chaos in the Shu family for a while.

Shu Yu was just about to set off when she saw a nun standing not far away.

The nun looked somewhat familiar and appeared to be dressed in the attire of the Dongqing Temple outside the city. Shu Yu was still puzzled when the nun walked up to her and handed her a box.

"Benefactor, this is something the head of our temple wanted me to give to you."

"Dongqing Master?"

A year ago, Shu Yu had accidentally fallen off a cliff while burning incense and praying for blessings with the Shu family at the Dongqing Temple. That was when her soul was exchanged with the person she was now.

As a result, she had stayed in the Dongqing Temple for more than half a month to recuperate before returning home. During her recovery, she had become acquainted with the head of the Dongqing Temple. Shu Yu could tell that this head wasn't an ordinary person and had some abilities, especially in face reading and fortune-telling.

Shu Yu was quite interested and had secretly called her "Master" a few times while learning to observe and interpret people's expressions and body language for half a month.

The nun nodded and said, "Our Master went on a pilgrimage and instructed me to wait here. If I saw you leaving, I was to give you this box."

Shu Yu was very puzzled and opened the box. Inside was a letter and a... household registration guide??

How did the Master know she needed this?

Shu Yu quickly opened the letter, and the handwriting of the Dongqing Temple's head was vivid on the paper.

"Ah Yu, by the time you receive this letter, our master has already left. Go find your biological parents, as some debts, if left unpaid, will burden you in the future. Here is the address where your parents live and their names. Take care."

Shu Yu's pupils contracted. She only found out yesterday night that she was not the daughter of the Shu family, and now her master knew who her biological parents were and where they lived.

Can fortune-telling really be accurate to such an extent?

Shu Yu felt something was amiss. She put away the letter and asked the little nun in front of her, "Did our master say anything else before leaving?"

"The master said that if you have any doubts, you will know the answer by going to the address on the letter," the little nun paused, then suddenly looked up at her and lowered her voice. "The master also said that the Shu family will know your identity, and it was she who revealed it. In fact, we have been waiting for you here for two days."

Shu Yu, "..."

What kind of person does this? Why couldn't they just tell her first? And what's up with revealing the news to the Shu family?

Shu Yu's face darkened, and she slammed the box shut with a "snap" before turning around and leaving.

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 2: She Is Not the Daughter of the Shu Family

Push her down? Into the lotus pond??

Shu Yu immediately took a step aside and frowned, "Wait, are you trying to kill me? Why?"

Her gaze swept across the people present, including her father and siblings, but not one of them stepped forward to speak.

Even the old lady refused to look at her, and it was the stewardess next to her who spoke, coldly saying, "Third Miss... oh no, you're no longer the third Miss of the Shu family. You're just a wild bastard who knows where you came from. Back then, Xue Yiniang bribed a doctor to pretend to be pregnant, and on the day of delivery, she brought a baby from outside to pretend to be the third Miss of the Shu family. That baby was you."

Shu Yu's eyebrows tightened, and a rare trace of surprise flashed across her face.

She was not the daughter of the Shu family?? But how come there was no mention of this in the book?

Could it be that her arrival had caused the butterfly effect?

While Shu Yu was still puzzled, the stewardess beside the old lady spoke again, "You have enjoyed a life of luxury and privilege in the Shu family for fourteen years. Now that the truth is out, we naturally have to set things right."

Shu Yu suddenly looked up, "Your idea of setting things right is to push me into the lotus pond and drown me?"

The old lady finally spoke, "The Shu family cannot tolerate such a blemish."

Shu Yu thought to herself, 'hmmp, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.'

"So, the snake in my room just now was also your doing?"

The Shu family's young lady sneered, "Actually, being bitten to death by a snake is not as painful."

Shu Yu looked at everyone, and they all thought that the old lady's decision was correct. The face of the Shu family was more important than anything else. Besides, as a wild bastard who had been brought in from somewhere, no one cared if she lived or died.

Shu Yu now understood why the Shu family would end up being exiled. It seemed that even the female supporting character could not avoid their helping the tyrant and committing evil deeds.

The two stewardesses had already walked over, holding two ropes to tie Shu Yu's hands.

Shu Yu instinctively wanted to fight back, but she changed her mind and didn't move.

She couldn't change the outcome now. The Shu family members would all be exiled safely in three months' time, and she didn't need to waste her energy.

But she couldn't just calmly accept her "death" like this.

Shu Yu suddenly burst out laughing, her gaze scanning everyone present. "You want to kill me, go ahead. But before I die, can I say a few words?"

"You have last words?" Miss Shu sneered. "I'll give you a chance. Let's see what you can say."

Shu Yu's hands were bound behind her back, but her usual demeanor of keeping her head down like a transparent person was nowhere to be seen. People even felt like her figure inexplicably grew taller.

Shu Yu's gaze stopped on the person at the far left. "Master Shu, isn't the concubine in Jintai Lane beautiful as a flower? She's pregnant again, and she was sold by the First Lady. But then you took her back. It's true love after all."

Master Shu widened his eyes and faced the unbelieving gaze of the First madam, he was about to explain.

But then Shu Yu continued, "First madam, your nephew from your family has killed his second wife again. Recently, you've been discussing marrying your second sister, who is also a concubine's daughter, over to resolve the internal strife and give your family an explanation."

"Second Master Shu, didn't the old lady help you pay back the debt to the gambling house using her own savings? But if you continue to gamble, you'll have to use public funds."

"Second Madam, you gave Aunt Liu some medicine to abort her fetus, which hurt Second Master Shu's heart. No wonder he borrowed money to gamble at the gambling house to drown his sorrows."

"Big Sister, you..."

"Shut up, shut up. I tell you shut up!" The old lady fiercely tapped her cane. Seeing that the expressions of the people she mentioned changed, she immediately gestured to the two maidservants behind her, "Aren't you going to take action?"

Shu Yu sighed, "Didn't you want me to make my last words clear?" When the Shu family was exiled, she found out more than just these things. These things were all written in books.

"You're just talking nonsense. I underestimated you. You don't speak up on ordinary days, and now you're trying to sow discord and destroy the harmony of our Shu family on your deathbed. You're truly despicable." The old lady couldn't maintain her calm demeanor anymore and angrily pounded the ground.

The rest of the Shu family also echoed her words. The two maidservants didn't dare delay any longer, tying a large stone to Shu Yu's ankle and hastily pushing her into the lotus pond.

The old lady breathed a sigh of relief only when she saw Shu Yu's body sink to the bottom of the pond.

However, what she didn't know was that when Shu Yu sank, she had already untied the rope on her wrist. When she reached the bottom of the pond, she also freed herself from the rope and the stone.

She dived forward and quietly poked half her head out from under a lotus leaf. 

Several people on the pond had not yet left, seemingly confirming that she would not float up. 

The old lady instructed the two serving women who were to take action, "Tomorrow night, you will fish her out and say that third Miss came out at night to cool off and accidentally fell into the water, losing her life."

"Yes." The two women quickly agreed.

The old lady then said to eldest master Shu, "Deal with Xue Yiniang and publicly announce that she could not bear the pain of losing her daughter and passed away."

The eldest master also agreed without any objection.

However, Shu Yu remembered that in the book, Xue Yiniang did not die. She was also on the list of those banished. she did not know how she had escaped this disaster.

Just like that, Shu Yu understood why Xue Yiniang was so cruel to her own daughter back then.

Little Shu Yu had not only gone hungry and fought with dogs over food, but also had a high fever and was left in the room to die on her own. She had knelt under the scorching sun in the yard, apologizing until she fainted. She had even almost been beaten to death by Xue Yinian.

Everyone in the Shu family thought that Xue Yiniang was dissatisfied with Shu Yu being a girl, so she was resentful and not close to her. 

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 1: memories

"Bark, bark, bark."

Four-year-old Shu Yu lay on the ground, her frail body trembling in fear, but still fiercely barking at the dog in front of her, trying to scare it away.

The dog wasn't big and barked a few times before Shu Yu grabbed a stone and threw it at the dog.

The dog cried out and ran away.

Shu Yu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly picked up the steamed bun on the ground, patted off the dirt, and grabbed her growling stomach, wolfing it down.

After a couple of bites, she suddenly heard a reprimand, "Xiao Shuyu, what are you doing?"

Shu Yu turned her head and saw her own mother, Xue Yiniang, walks toward her with a dark expression, snatching the steamed bun out of her hand.

The small steamed bun rolled to the ground, and in just two rolls, it fell into the gap and disappeared.

Shu Yu swallowed, unwilling to look away, and staggered to her feet. "Aunt, I..."

"Smack." Aunt Xue slapped her across the face, sending the small figure flying.

"You are the third young miss of the Shu family, and you are fighting with a dog over food. Don't you have any shame? Don't you feel ashamed?" 

Shu Yu wiped her nosebleed and whispered, "I'm hungry." She hadn't eaten for two days.

"You still have the face to say you're hungry? If it weren't for you staining my clothes, would I be laughed at by the other Yiniangs? This is a lesson for you. You can't even withstand a little hunger. What use are you?" 

Shu Yu's tears were about to burst out, she quickly approached, grabbed Xue Yiniang's sleeve, and said urgently and carefully, "I'm sorry, Aunt. I was wrong. Xiao Shuyu is ignorant. I won't eat anymore. Aunt, please don't be angry." 

"Look at your hands, still covered in blood. My skirt has been dirtied by you again. Get out of here." Xue Yiniang pushed her away with disgust on her face.

Shu Yu took two steps back and fell to the ground. Aunt Xue told the maid next to her, "Lock her up in the dark room, let her go hungry for two more days, she doesn't even know how to repent."

Shu Yu curled up in the corner, holding her knees, silently crying. Her nosebleed had stained her clothes a bright red.

"Aunt, I was wrong. I won't do it again. Please let me out, okay? It's so dark here, and the bugs will bite my hands. I'm so scared, I'm not hungry anymore, really."

Xiao Shuyu wiped away her tears and looked down, only to see a snake that she didn't know when had come in, standing up half of its body and spitting out its tongue at her.

Shu Yu held her breath, widened her eyes and began to tremble.

The snake seemed to sense something and suddenly jumped up, rushing towards her.

"Ah..."

Shu Yu suddenly woke up from her bed, looking at the dim light flickering beside the bed, and slowly let out a breath.

Covering her chest, she thought of the dream she had just had and sighed.

It wasn't a dream, it was a memory from when she was a child in this body.

Shu Yu had transmigrated from modern times to the Shu family in Marquez Dong'an of the Da Su Dynasty a year ago, taking over the identity of Miss Shu Yu who was fourteen years old. Because of this, she didn't have a complete memory of the original owner's past and would slowly remember it in this way.

She didn't know where the original owner had gone, whether she had died completely, or had other experiences.

But Shu Yu knew the ending of this book very clearly.

As the illegitimate daughter of the Shu family's third young lady, her presence in the book was not high and had no relationship with the male and female leads.

However, the cannon fodder in the book was the eldest daughter of the Shu family, who was now her sister.

Her sister liked the male lead but had implicated the entire Shu family. Three months later, the whole Shu family would be exiled thousands of miles away, and she, as a character with not many appearances, was one of them.

Knowing the ending, Xiao Shuyu naturally didn't want to follow the ending in the book. Even if she wasn't valued in this family, she didn't want to be exiled to the border.

However, she quickly discovered that even if she changed the process, the powerful plot would still pull the ending back.

After trying twice, she stopped wasting her efforts.

Anyway, the ending of the Shu family in the book only wrote about their exile. The book didn't mention what happened after exile, whether it was good or bad, it was up to her to decide.

Since then, Shu Yu has been quietly serving as the invisible third young lady of the Shu family.

In her past life, Shu Yu's parents were persecuted by a certain organization because of their research results. Shu Yu endured humiliation and worked hard for more than ten years to become strong, filling up her skills, fighting through difficulties step by step, and finally climbing to the position of one of the indispensable confidants behind the boss, who was known as retired but actually had full control.

She then destroyed the huge organization all by herself and avenged her parents who had died tragically. But who would have known that the enemy had left a hand, and she also lost her life, becoming the third young lady of the Shu family today.

Compared with the life of calculating everything as if walking on thin ice in her past life, her current life was surprisingly good. She ate, drank, and slept, although there were occasional disputes, but as a little invisible person, she was unlikely to be affected, at least she didn't have to worry about her life being in danger.

As for her birth mother, Shu Yu and she were like two strangers, indifferent to each other.

In three months, she would be able to break away from the plot and find a way to sever ties with the Shu family.

Shu Yu had a nightmare and was thirsty. She got out of bed to pour herself a glass of water. Suddenly, she heard a hissing sound. She turned around and saw a snake swimming towards her.

Damn, the nightmare actually came true.

Shu Yu's face changed slightly. She grabbed the snake's seven-inch part and slammed it to the ground, smashing its head instantly.

The snake wriggled twice and then stopped moving.

Shu Yu frowned. How could a poisonous snake get into her room?

At this moment, she heard footsteps outside, and the door was slammed open.

Shu Yu instinctively grabbed a nearby piece of clothing and put it on. Then she looked at the two women who had barged into her room and frowned. "What are you doing here so late at night?"

The two women walked past the inner room and approached her coldly. "Third Miss, the Old Madam is looking for you. Come with us."

Shu Yu had a feeling that something was wrong. If the grandmother had something to tell her, she would have sent someone to inform her, but these two women had barged into her room directly.

Moreover, was the snake related to them?

She cautiously got up, nodded, and followed the two women out.

The three of them walked through the courtyard and the back garden without encountering anyone. Even though it was night, it shouldn't be so quiet.

They soon arrived at the lotus pond in the backyard of the Shu Mansion. The old lady of the Shu family was standing by the pond, along with the Eldest master of the Shu family, the second master, and several young masters and misses.

Such a big lineup?

Shu Yu was pushed in front of the old lady. Yesterday, the old lady had been kind to her, but now her eyes were filled with disgust, as if Shu Yu was some kind of filthy thing. She even took a step back and waved her hand, pointing at the lotus pond and saying to the two women, "Push her down."

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 37: He won't care about me until the day I die.

After checking her body, she found no wounds other than bruises.

Ning Qing didn't want to think too much about it and returned shakily to her bedroom on the second floor.

The familiar place made her feel a little warmer.

She was exhausted and terrified.

She lifted the corner of the blanket and crawled into it.

It was sunny outside, but she hid in the room with closed windows, wrapping herself tightly.

She fell into a deep sleep for a long time.

--

When Ning Qing woke up, it was already dark outside.

Her mind was fuzzy as she got out of bed, pulled back the curtains, opened the window, and looked at the night sky outside.

A cool breeze blew in, and she realized that she was soaked in sweat.

She hesitated for a moment before going to the bathroom.

After taking a shower, Ning Qing looked at herself in the mirror and saw that the bruises on her neck were even more pronounced.

She touched the bruises with her hand, and a sense of desolation overflowed from her lips.

The reflection in the mirror was pale and powerless, like a soulless doll.

Ning Qing went downstairs, planning to make something to eat and soothe her uneasy stomach, but she ran into Lu Zhui as soon as she went down.

"Madam."

She nodded to her and the bag in his hand looked familiar.

Ning Qing didn't have much energy left. "What's the matter?"

He only came because he was ordered by that person.

Lu Zhui said, "This is the meal Young Master ordered for you at Yu Gui Fang. Please eat it while it's still hot."

He put boxes of food on the table, opened the lids, and the aroma filled the air.

"And this." Lu Zhui took out a box of ointment from the bag. "This is the medicine for treating bruises. You can apply it three times a day to the bruises on your leg and..."

The bruises on her neck.

Lu Zhui did not say these words.

He put down the ointment and looked up at her.

Ning Qing's gaze swept over the exquisite dishes and replied coldly, "Understood."

Lu Zhui hesitated, wanting to speak but stopped.

She looked at him and asked, "Do you have something else to say?"

Lu Zhui hesitated again before advising, "Madam, don't be angry with Young Master anymore. This morning, he originally asked me to turn back and pick you up, but you followed Mr. Yan instead. Young Master cares about you, that's why he got angry with you..."

"He cares?"

Ning Qing's lips curved slightly, her gaze becoming sharp.

"Assistant Lu, you must be mistaken. Until the day I die, he will never care about me."

As she said, if he really cared about her, would he let her be surrounded by reporters under his nose? If it weren't for Yan Sichen's timely appearance, she might have been driven insane.

Ning Qing no longer spoke and picked up her chopsticks to eat, but the delicious food now tasted like wax to her.

Under Lu Zhui's gaze, she swallowed all the dishes.

Ten minutes later, she put down her chopsticks and looked at him with a chilly gaze.

"I'm done eating, you can go back now."

Lu Zhui knew she had misunderstood him but didn't know how to explain it.

Thinking about her almost self-harming eating speed, he hesitated and wanted to help her clean up the table.

Ning Qing stopped him, "No need, you can go."

Lu Zhui left.

Ning Qing couldn't stand the discomfort and fullness in her stomach and rushed into the bathroom to throw up.

She ate too fast just now, how could her empty stomach withstand it? Ning Qing had never thought that eating could be such an uncomfortable thing.

After she finished vomiting, her face was as pale as a female ghost.

Exhaustion swept over her heart, a fatigue she had never felt before.

She washed her face, her eyelashes trembling.

Revealing her numbness and sadness.

Staggering, she came out of the bathroom.

When she passed the dining table, the leftovers were still waiting for her to clean up.

She unenthusiastically tightened the takeaway box and threw it in the garbage bag. When she saw the unopened box of medicine, Ning Qing paused.

The next second, she waved her hand and the ointment fell into the trash can under the table.

(End of this chapter)"

 Chapter 36: I Don't Like You Mentioning Divorce, Do You Understand?

Ning Qing was held tightly by Nian Lian's hand as he dragged her back to Yu Jing No.1.

As soon as they entered the living room, he pulled her and threw her onto the sofa.

"Ning Qing, are you ignoring what I said?" he warned her, reminding her not to have any contact with Yan Sichen.

Not only did she not listen, she even had a meal with him!

Ning Qing's head spun for a moment, and she retorted angrily, "Why should I listen to you?"

Nian Lian stepped forward, lifted one leg, and knelt beside her, holding her struggling hand.

His presence was overwhelmingly oppressive.

"I am your husband," he said.

Ning Qing sneered, "What kind of husband? A husband who flirts with other women and has rumors spread about him?"

"...," Nian Lian was speechless.

"I don't need you!" Ning Qing declared.

Nian Lian had always thought of himself as a rational and almost cold-blooded person. Even if someone angered him, he believed he could quickly calm down and resolve the problem calmly, just like he used to. He even thought so on his way home.

However, at this moment, when Ning Qing said she didn't need him as her husband, his calm heart was shattered once again.

The cold words that came out of her mouth were like the chill of deep winter.

"Say it again," he demanded.

Ning Qing looked at him with a grieving expression and repeated word for word, "I don't want to be with you, I want a divorce!"

His large hand suddenly attacked her neck.

Ning Qing widened her eyes in disbelief.

In the backlight, the man in front of her was still the same person, but he was so cold that it made her heart palpitate.

Nian Lian's expression was ruthless, devoid of any emotion, but his hand kept tightening.

Ning Qing frowned and used her free hand to grab his wrist, "Let go of me... Nian Lian, ah..."

The man's pitch-black eyes had no light in them, like a statue.

"I don't like you mentioning the word 'divorce', do you understand?" he warned her.

"...," Ning Qing fell silent.

The feeling of suffocation was slowly accumulating in her chest, becoming more and more apparent.

Ning Qing's face turned red, and she had almost no strength in her hands to resist him.

At this moment, she was like a tiny ant, and he could easily crush her with just a little force in his hand.

Fear and panic had finally crawled into her heart.

A tear slowly overflowed from the corner of Ning Qing's eye.

Her hand hung down.

Just when she thought she was going to die in his hands, Nian Lian suddenly let go of her.

"Cough cough..."

As oxygen entered her lungs, Ning Qing felt like she was reborn. She started coughing violently, and tears streamed down her face.

Hearing the sound of her intense coughing, Nian Lian regained consciousness. His trembling hand slowly fell to his side.

"From now on, don't see Yan Sichen again."

Ning Qing nodded while crying.

She was scared, really scared.

He was a lunatic!

At one point just now, she really thought he was going to strangle her...

Nian Lian's hand clenched into a fist. "If anyone from the old mansion comes again, don't go there."

Ning Qing covered her neck and couldn't make a sound. She could only nod again.

"... "

Nian Lian reached out towards her neck.

Ning Qing retreated in terror, tears hanging in the corners of her eyes, and she was in a mess, but still avoiding his touch.

His gaze darkened, and he couldn't force out a word from his throat.

His hand in mid-air retracted.

He turned around, took a step, and left.

Ning Qing watched his departing figure, and the sound of her heavy breathing slowly subsided.

For a long time, she stopped trembling and went to pour herself a glass of water from the table.

As she reached out her hand, she noticed red spots on it.

Where did the blood come from?

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 35: What is a Brother Without Blood Ties?

The sarcastic remark was directed at Ning Qing, but it easily threw Yan Sichen off balance.

He panicked and turned to look at the woman. "Qing Qing, it's not like that!"

"I believe you," Ning Qing replied calmly, not showing any signs of distrust.

She responded too quickly, and Yan Sichen's explanation got stuck in his throat.

Ning Qing stared hard at Nian Lian, retorting sarcastically: "Have you slept with fewer women than he has?"

Nian Lian gave her a cold glance and pressed the cigarette butt that was between his fingers into his palm.

It hurt, but he remained indifferent.

However, his silence was taken as an admission by Ning Qing.

Sarcasm was written all over her face, and her words were like a sharp blade. "Who are you to judge others?"

A cold laugh escaped Nian Lian's thin lips. "And what about you?"

"..."

"You just visited my mother in the morning and now you're with him," Nian Lian pointed at Yan Sichen, his eyes turning red.

"Ning Qing, I didn't know that your standards for judging people varied from person to person."

Ning Qing could not fail to notice his sarcasm. Her pale face tensed up. "Sichen and I haven't done anything. We don't care what others say. Unlike some people, who have dirty thoughts and see everything as dirty."

Who couldn't understand the metaphor?

Nian Lian's face was cold as ice. He was tired of arguing with her in front of a third person.

Otherwise, things would only get uglier.

He grabbed Yan Sichen's hand and forced it down with brute strength, inch by inch.

"Stop here, Yan Sichen."

"What do you want to do?" Yan Sichen's heart ached, stubbornly resisting him in secret. "I won't let you hurt Qingqing..."

Nian Lian narrowed his eyes. "And what gives you the right to stop me?"

"..."

Yan Sichen's angular jaw tightened. A sense of powerlessness emerged in his heart. This was his weakest point compared to Nian Lian. Regardless of anything else, Nian Lian was his legitimate husband. And he was nothing. But how could he be willing to accept this?

No! He couldn't lose to him!

The emotions of competitiveness and unwillingness intertwined. Yan Sichen once again tightened his grip on the man's wrist, concealing his inner dominance with composure. "I am her brother."

Nian Lian suddenly smiled lightly, turning things upside down, but also seemingly laughing at his foolishness. He spoke, piercing through his self-deception: "What is a non-blood-related brother?"

Something shattered in his heart and chest.

Yan Sichen's resistance weakened. Nian Lian lowered his head and lightly stroked his hand, causing Yan Sichen's grip to loosen and fall weakly.

Nian Lian easily pulled Ning Qing into his embrace. Yan Sichen's eyes stung. The pretense of peace was no longer necessary.

"Understand your identity clearly," Nian Lian coldly warned. "You'd better not look for her again. No matter what the reason."

With his indifferent words, Nian Lian ignored the struggling and resistance of the woman, forcibly embracing her and leaving.

Yan Sichen wanted to chase after them, but found that he couldn't take that step no matter what. The tense atmosphere just now suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a silent room.

He lowered his head, the pain in his eyes evident. His trembling hand reached up and touched his forehead, where cold sweat dripped down. He felt a tinge of redness in his eyes and fell into contemplation.

The trust she had blurted out just now, was it because she truly believed in him, or because she simply didn't care whether it was true or false? And yet she still relied on that man despite how badly he treated her.

Was it because he wasn't good enough that Qing Qing didn't like him? Were all these seemingly logical reasons not enough to hide the sorrow and sadness that emanated from the man?

Yan Sichen smiled bitterly and sat down slowly, as if in slow motion. Like a statue, he remained motionless for a long time.

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 34: Wife, Your Husband is Here

Nian Lian stood at the door, his dark eyes flicking over the hands of the two people inside who were holding each other. His expression was cold and his heart was in turmoil.

"... "

Outside the door, Manager and Lu Zhui were both there, looking at the scene inside, but no one dared to speak.

The atmosphere froze, almost turning into ice.

"Lu Zhui."

The man shook, immediately understanding, and stood in front of the manager, not letting him interfere with the conversation between the three.

The door was closed.

Nian Lian strode forward with his long legs, his tall and slender figure towering over the two sitting figures in front of him.

Ning Qing trembled with her lips, wanting to say something, but Nian Lian spoke first.

He glanced at the dishes on the table, his face filled with a cold and distant air, as if warning strangers to stay away.

"You seem to be in a good mood, Mr. Yan."Yan Sichen naturally let go of Ning Qing and placed his hand, which was adorned with a delicate watch, on the edge of the table, lightly grasping it.

He tilted his head slightly and met Nian Lian's gaze.

His tone was not inferior.

"Mr. Nian is also quite young."

Nian Lian grabbed a chair and pulled it over, sitting down and crossing his long legs naturally, leaning back against the back of the chair.

"Mr. Yan is an old acquaintance of my wife, so you are naturally my friend as well."

"... "

He lit a cigarette, holding it between his fingers, and exuded an air of authority and coldness like an emperor.

Ning Qing leaned towards him, but she could not feel any warmth or friendliness coming from him.

His cold eyes glanced over her face, and Ning Qing unconsciously lowered her eyelids to avoid his gaze.

The coldness emanating from Nian Lian became even more frigid.

"What were you two talking about just now? Speak up and let me listen."

His arrogant attitude made Yan Sichen unsure how to react for a moment.

Ning Qing disliked his attitude, her clear eyes filled with a chill. "Don't talk to us in that tone."

"Us?"

The tone lifted slightly, and Ning Qing's back tightened.

Nian Lian sneered, "Wife, have you mistaken the person? Your husband is here."

"... "

Ning Qing trembled uncontrollably, not because of the sweet term "wife" but because she heard his threat and warning.

The cigarette butt burned halfway, the ash fell on the wooden ground, shattered into dust, and disappeared.

A thin, cold smile hung on Nian Lian's lips. "No more to say? Then come with me."

He changed his face so quickly, stood up, crossed the distance, and grabbed Ning Qing's arm with a rough, merciless movement.

Ning Qing's face turned pale.

Yan Sichen suddenly stood up and grabbed Nian Lian's arm, firmly stopping him. "Nian Lian!"

"... "

"You hurt her!"

Nian Lian's smile became even stronger, and a slight madness flickered in his deep and beautiful features, even a bit twisted.

"She is my woman, and whether she is hurt or not is my concern. Does Yan Young Master have nothing better to do than interfere with my wife?"

Ning Qing was shocked. He... how could he say such offensive words!

"Nian Lian, what are you saying?"

While feeling suffocated and wronged, tears welled up in her eyes.

"In your eyes, is everyone who gathers together for that kind of shameful thing?" Ning Qing gave a wry smile, "That's right, if you even doubt your own wife, who else can you trust?"

He said harshly, "If you really consider yourself my wife, you should know your place."

Ning Qing retorted, "Did you consider yourself my husband when you were having numerous affairs outside?"

Nian Lian clenched his teeth, and anger turned his black pupils red. "Then what do you think of him?"

"A good person," Ning Qing defined firmly, "better than you."

"... "

Nian Lian closed his eyes tightly.

He knew that if he continued speaking, he would not be able to control himself.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with coldness.

He looked at Yan Sichen, who remained silent, and said maliciously, "He was meeting with several women in a hotel in the morning, and now he is meeting you here. Ning Qing, you have excellent taste."

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 33: Qing Qing, Do You Want to Divorce Nian Lian?

Jing Yue

Inside a private room.

The environment is elegant, with a table full of exquisite and delicious dishes.

Ning Qing and Yan Sichen are both silent, and the only sound in the room is the occasional clinking of dishes and chopsticks.

Yan Sichen looks at Ning Qing, who is unusually calm, and gets up to use his chopsticks to pick up a shrimp and put it in her bowl.

Ning Qing suddenly looks up, her eyes filled with waves of surprise.

Yan Sichen's heart is suddenly touched, and he softens.

He speaks softly, "What's wrong? You still seem absent-minded."

Ning Qing doesn't want him to worry and tries to smile, but she can't seem to force one out no matter how hard she tries.

A soft sigh is heard.

Yan Sichen says, "Qing Qing, you don't have to force yourself like this."

"..."

"Laugh when you're happy, cry when you're sad. You've always been like this. Why is it that now that you've grown up, your emotions are not as pure as they used to be?"

Perhaps it's because he mentioned the past, or maybe it's because of the barrage of questions from the journalists earlier, or maybe it's because when she was alone and helpless, the first person that came to mind was Nian Lian...

She finds it absurd, and feels deeply helpless and sad because of it.

The fact that she would think in her subconscious that he would suddenly have a change of heart and come to her aid in that embarrassing situation made her ashamed of her own delusions.

"..."

Her hand trembles slightly as she grips her chopsticks tightly, leaving marks on her fingers, but she doesn't seem to feel the pain.

Yan Sichen notices her hand on her thigh as if she's about to stop herself from hurting herself, but in the end, he gives up trying to stop her.

The atmosphere, once quiet, becomes heavy.

Ning Qing puts down her chopsticks, her eyes turning slightly red. "I'm sorry, Brother Sichen, I've made a fool of myself again."

Facing her casual tone, Yan Sichen forces out a smile.

"It's okay for me to see it."

"..."

Ning Qing lowers her gaze, avoiding his eyes.

Yan Sichen expression darkened, and his voice was very soft: "Qing Qing, it seems like every time I see you, you don't seem to be doing well."

Some freshly buried sorrow surged up, almost suffocating Ningqing's nose and mouth.

Her breathing was light and slow.

"Yes, since I woke up, the whole world has changed. My sister is gone, and everyone thinks I killed her."

Ning Qing spoke softly, her words ethereal.

"My parents blame me, reporters who don't know the whole story blame me, even my husband blames me..."

She smiled, full of sadness and heartbreak, yet also very captivating.

"Actually, sometimes I also think that if it weren't for me, my sister wouldn't have died."

"... "

Yan Sichen clenched his fists tightly, his eyes slightly red.

The woman's guilt, sorrow, and despair were expressed vividly in her few words.

But she used to be an angelic presence.

Now, she's been destroyed like this.

And he has a part in it.

His heart felt as if it were being twisted with a knife, his face pale. The woman's soft words shattered his last line of defense.

"If she hadn't died, or if I was the one who died, everything might be different..."

"No, it wouldn't!"

Ning Qing was stunned, looking at the man who spoke vehemently.

Yanshi Chen restrained himself, his eyes turning red. Gritting his teeth, he asked: "Qing Qing, do you want to divorce Nian Lian?"

Ning Qing was surprised by his words.

"Brother Shichen..."

"I can help you."

Yan Sichen no longer restrained himself, grabbing her wrist, as if he wanted to say something earth-shattering.

"As long as you really want to divorce him, I can help you!"

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 32: From now on, there's no need to report her affairs to me.

Yansichen turned towards the voice and saw a female journalist in her twenties.

As a final gesture of politeness, he smiled at her warmly.

"Qing Qing is an old acquaintance from my youth. In my heart, she is like a younger sister to me."

The female journalist was surprised by this revelation and lowered her head without saying a word.

The crowd fell silent.

Yansichen maintained an appropriate distance from Ning Qing, neither being too ambiguous nor too distant.

He supported her and asked gently, "Can you walk?"

Ning Qing mechanically nodded, but her eyes remained colorless.

She took two steps with Yansichen, but couldn't seem to find her footing.

Yansichen frowned in concern and said, "Blame me when we get back."

Ning Qing's wet eyelashes fluttered, but she didn't object.

He lowered himself and lifted her up in his arms.

In the midst of the astonished crowd, he placed her on the back seat of the car and, after suppressing his urge for a long time, finally placed his hand on her head.

Soft words of comfort were whispered, "It's okay, Qing Qing."

Ningqing's eyelids drooped, looking like a soulless puppet.

He sighed and said, "Wait for me," before leaving the car.

Behind him, a bodyguard held an umbrella.

Yansichen watched as another person ran over from the crowd and asked, bowing his head, "Young Master Yan, how should we handle this?"

He stared at the restless group of people, his usually gentle features showing an unusual hostility.

However, he still needed to be rational.

He said, "There's no need to conceal what I announced. Remind them not to write too much about today's events, and not to write anything that isn't true."

If they didn't write the truth, they wouldn't dare to do anything to him, but it might not be the same for Ning Qing.

He couldn't help but think of her.

"And the photo..."

Yansichen's calm eyes looked at a car on the side of the road, the closed windows hiding the emotions of the person inside, whether they were happy or angry.

His lips tightened as he said in a low voice, "I don't want to see any ugly scenes."

His subordinates understood and went towards the crowd.

Yan sichen returned to the car, and Ning Qing's mood had improved a lot.

She hoarsely shouted, "Brother Sichen."

Yansichen sat next to her, a fist's distance away. "Scared you?" he asked.

Ning Qing lowered her head and remained silent.

Yan Sichen didn't want her to overthink, so he changed the subject, smiling gently. "The timing is just right."

Ning Qing didn't understand his meaning, so he raised his hand and pointed to his expensive watch.

The hour hand pointed to twelve o'clock.

"Perfect, we can have a meal together," Yansichen said.

Ning Qing hesitated.

Yansichen said, "If you go back alone, they might still follow you."

"Them," referring to the group of reporters from earlier.

Ning Qing was still trembling and clutched her clothes.

Yansichen saw this and his heart ached. "Go to Jingyue," he said.

The driver responded, "Yes."

Ning Qing hurriedly asked, "What about those people?"

"Don't worry, I'll handle it," Yansichen assured her.

Ning Qing's nerves finally eased a little. "Thank you, Brother Sichen," she said.

Yansichen looked at her tenderly. "If you want to thank me, let's do it after we finish eating."

The car slowly left the scene of the commotion.

Outside the supermarket, the crowd gradually dispersed.

Inside a certain car on the roadside, the temperature suddenly dropped, and the cold was overwhelming.

Lu Zhui dared not breathe, looking at the man's face on the back seat, which was freezing. "Young Master, all major media outlets have been notified. There won't be any news about Madam being chased in the future."

"..."

Nian Lian's icy gaze followed the car that the woman was riding in until it disappeared.

"Young Master, Madam has been taken away by Mr. Yan again," the man said.

The corners of the man's lips curved into a mocking smile.

His chilly words echoed. "From now on, you don't need to report anything to me about her." 

(End of this chapter)

 Chapter 31: Is there a special relationship between Young Master Yan and Madam Nian?

The sunlight overhead gradually grew more intense, creating a halo around everything.

Ning Qing's legs had already started to ache from walking for who knows how long.

People passed by her occasionally, and she glanced over at the seats outside the supermarket before slowly making her way over there.

Finally getting some shade, Ning Qing took a deep breath.

She looked at the water bottles on the supermarket shelves, her dry throat slightly hurting.

However, before she could even move, a group of people with microphones suddenly swarmed towards her and crowded around her.

"Excuse me, are you Madam Ning Qing, the wife of the Nian family's young master?"

The microphone was pushed towards her face, and unfamiliar men and women squeezed in around her.

Ning Qing was stunned for a moment, immediately raising her hand to cover her face and avoiding eye contact with the camera.

She denied it: "You have the wrong person."

She wanted to leave, but the path was blocked and there was no way through the crowd.

These people seemed to have come prepared and had no intention of letting her go.

"Miss Ning, it's been said that your life with the young master has not been a happy one, and that he doesn't like you. Do you have anything to say about that?"

"With the young master's status, how did you manage to marry him two years ago?"

"The elders in the Nian family don't like you. What are your plans for the future in the upper echelons of society?"

"Someone who claims to know has said that you have a biological sister who died in a car accident three years ago, and that some people say you deliberately caused her death. Is that true?"

"Why did you kill your own sister?"

One sharp question after another hit her like a blade, relentlessly cutting into her heart.

Ning Qing's face was devoid of color, and the faces of the people in front of her were cold and sinister, savage enough to want to tear open her heart and look inside.

"Miss Ning, please answer our questions!"

"I didn't do it..."

Ning Qing shook her head, avoiding the microphone that was being shoved in her face.

Ning tilted her head and avoided the microphone that was held up to her. She wanted to escape, but there was no way out. In the chaos, someone pushed her and she stumbled and fell. The crowd murmured in shock, but no one was willing to help her up. The sound of camera shutters filled the air as everyone recorded her embarrassing moment, hoping to get tomorrow's headline. No one cared if she was hurt or not.

She wanted to shout and deny everything. She didn't use any tricks to make Yan Lian marry her. She didn't intend to harm her sister. But she knew that these people had already made up their minds and wouldn't believe her.

Ning forced a bitter smile and dug her fingers into her palms. She felt empty inside, powerless to escape this predicament.

"Excuse me, please move aside."

In her moment of helplessness, a serious male voice came from the crowd.

Tears blurred Ning's vision as she looked at the path that was cleared for her.

The man approached her and crouched down in front of her. She couldn't see him clearly and her heart was numb. In a near unconscious state, she blurted out, "Nian Lian..."

The man in front of her trembled. Yan Sichen looked at her dazed expression, his heart heavy with mixed emotions.

He reminded her softly, "It's me, Qing Qing."

With his words, Ning's vision gradually cleared. She murmured, "Brother Sichen."

The four words made Yan Sichen's heart flutter.

He held onto her arm, and although it was a sunny day, her skin was cold to the touch. Yan Sichen tightly pursed his lips, unable to hide his worry.

His gentle face suddenly turned serious, but his tone remained gentle as he said, "The ground is cold. Stand up first."

He helped her up and glanced at the reporters who were being stopped by the bodyguards and no longer taking photos. He felt a chill in his heart.

"I didn't know that your job was to interrogate a powerless girl," he said.

The reporters looked at each other in confusion.

Everyone in the industry knew that the Yan family had always kept a low profile and lived overseas for most of the year. Although Yan Sichen had only recently returned, everyone knew he had a good temper. For him to be angry for Ning, their relationship must not be simple.

Someone risked asking for the sake of news, "Does Young Master Yan have a special relationship with Mrs. Nian?"

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 30: You Don't Need to Act So High and Mighty

On the other side, Ning Qing was dragged out of the old mansion by Nian Lian.

The man walked fast and angrily, and she stumbled behind him, unable to keep up.

"Nian Lian... Nian Lian, let me go!"

His grip was too strong, and she couldn't break free.

As they approached the car, Ning Qing suddenly felt dizzy and was pressed against the car door.

Nian Lian lowered his head, getting close to her and asked menacingly, "Who let you come to see her?"

Ning Qing felt his questioning was unfounded. "She sent someone to pick me up, and I didn't have a chance to refuse..."

His deep, dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Is it that you didn't have a chance, or you simply didn't want to refuse?"

Ning Qing frowned, looking at the face that doubted her, and a sense of powerlessness emerged in her heart.

In his eyes, right or wrong, she was always in the wrong.

She actually tried to argue with him...

Ning Qing suddenly pulled up the corners of her lips, her face turning cold. "Think what you want."

This attitude only increased Nian Lian's discomfort and repulsion.

"You don't need to act so high and mighty."

Ning Qing remained silent.

"A woman who thinks about divorcing me every day comes to see my mother. It can't be for the sake of building a good relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law."

Nian Lian's eyes were filled with anger, and sarcasm poured out of his lips, making Ning Qing feel chilled.

Her expression was too indifferent.

In that moment, he was disgusted by her cold and indifferent appearance.

He forcefully grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.

"Ning Qing, my mother just mentioned divorce. Can you honestly say you didn't feel a thing?"

Nian Lian noticed her momentary confusion, and his body was filled with coldness. His handsome face was full of malice and his narrow eyes flashed with a cold light.

He sneered, and pushed her away.

Ning Qing was caught off guard and tripped, falling to the ground.

The injury at her knee was still aching, she touched the wound and heard the sound of the door closing.

Inside the car, the man's cold voice sounded, "Go back to the company."

"But what about the Young Madam?" she asked.

"...," the man's eyes closed with no desire to continue the conversation.

Luzhi's face was tense. "Yes."

The car reversed direction and drove away from her as she watched.

Ning Qing clenched her fingers tightly and her stiff back collapsed at that moment. She lowered her head and everything became blurry.

Her dignity was once again trampled under his feet, shattered to pieces.

She painfully bit her white lips, slowly stood up from the ground.

Looking at her empty hands, Ning Qing weakly smiled.

Once again, she had no money and no phone. She never seemed to learn her lesson.

Looking ahead, Ning Qing took a glance back. The mansion in the sunlight appeared even more majestic and grand.

She turned around numbly and took a step, walking down the road.

Around the corner of the street, a black luxury car was parked inconspicuously.

A fragile figure of a woman moved slowly and painfully across from the car. A few tails appeared behind her, incongruously and slyly, making her feel disgusted.

Inside the car, in the dim shadow, the man's eyes flickered, his emotions difficult to read.

Between his slender fingers was an unlit cigarette.

Luzhi leaned over from the front seat and lit it for him.

"Young Master, do you want me to handle it?" he asked as the white smoke rose.

The man's eyebrows furrowed in a cold manner.

Through the car window, he could see the woman's figure about to disappear, followed closely by the tail.

After a while, a bitter taste filled his mouth.

In the rising mist, the man finally gave the order, "Follow them."

(End of chapter)

 Chapter 29: To divorce or not, it's not up to anyone else

Mother Nian smile froze, and her fingers curled lightly on the desk.

"Mom doesn't want to control you, but she thinks that when you married Qing Qing, she didn't know about it. Now that she's awake, she should have the right to choose whether to be with you or not."

"I didn't know my mother could be so kind as to care about others' right to choose."

Sarcasm dripped from his icy words, and Mother Nian's smile faded.

Her smile had seemed only polite, to maintain her gentle demeanor.

She reminded him coolly, "Lian'er, I am your mother."

His cold lips curved upward, and the chill that surrounded him grew thicker.

"You should be grateful that you are still my mother."

Finally, Mother Nian's smile disappeared completely under his threat.

The gentle façade vanished, and her elegant face showed indifference and authority. "Nian Lian, you know you should divorce her."

"What do you mean, 'should'?"

Mother Nian held her breath, trying to remain calm. "She has been married to you for two years. Regardless of whether you had feelings for each other before, she has been awake for over three months and your relationship is still on thin ice. Since that is the case, separation is the best choice for both of you."

At this point, a hint of a sneer appeared in Nian Lian's eyes.

"You still like to play these tricks."

Mother Nian understood her son well. He was sensitive and meticulous in his thoughts and knew that they had someone watching him and Ning Qing. She wasn't surprised at all.

She lifted her chin and spoke firmly, "We're doing this for your own good."

Nian Lian pursed his thin lips and looked around. The simple pavilion couldn't hide anyone.

He asked, "So, where is he hiding this time to watch the results?"

Mother Nian's voice grew louder, indicating her protective intentions.

"He's your father!"

Nian Lian wasn't afraid of her anger at all. His sharp eyes gleamed with a frigid light. "Let me guess, is he over there?"

The carved window on the second floor of the nearby building was closed tightly, but it was the perfect vantage point to observe the entire courtyard.

If he lowered his head slightly, he could see and hear everything that happened there.

His gaze seemed to penetrate through the window, meeting the cold and merciless eyes inside.

Ning Qing followed his gaze and her heart skipped a beat. Wasn't his father supposed to be sick?

In that instant, Ning Qing realized that his mother always had other motives.

She withdrew her gaze and looked at the elegant woman in front of her with clear, cold eyes.

Mother Nian knew what she was thinking and her eyes flickered imperceptibly before changing the subject.

"This is what I mean. Don't always try to guess your father's thoughts with bad intentions."

"And why are you always guessing my thoughts?"

Mother Nian's lips curved slightly.

Nian Lian's expression was solemn and emotionless, yet seemed to be full of surging emotions.

"Whether we divorce or not, no one's opinion matters."

"Except for mine."

With that, he tightened his grip on Ning Qing's hand and walked away.

Despite the distance between them, Mother Nian's words were unusually clear and warm.

"You know what you're doing is unfair to her."

The man didn't pause, nor did he turn back.

In the quiet pavilion, a beautiful woman stood alone.

On the stone table, a celadon teapot emitted a slight amount of steam.

Butler Lu stepped forward. "Madam, Young Master and Miss Ning have left."

The woman's face showed anger and she waved her slender hand. The precious bird's nest in the porcelain pot fell to the ground and shattered, scattering all over.

Water stains splattered onto her black skirt, but quickly disappeared.

Butler Lu face turned slightly pale. "Madam, you mustn't get angry."

Mother Nian skin was tight and smooth. She lowered her head to brush off her wet skirt, her eyebrows lightly furrowed, as if she was angry because of this incident.

She looked towards the end of the path in the garden where the two had disappeared, then composed herself and waved her hand at Butler Lu.

"Get someone to clean it up."

"Yes, Madam." 

(End of this chapter)