The Tycoon's Mysterious Darling Wife-Chapter 480 - 483. Endless Dispute
Guoguo was still inside getting her shot, sitting next to a father with a little girl, who was crying nonstop and yelling that she didn’t want to get the shot. Anan walked over to her and seriously said, "Stop crying. It’s no use, the adults will hold you down and give you the shot anyway." Her little face was very earnest. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
The little girl’s father couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle and said, "Wait until it’s your turn, you’ll probably cry too."
Anan tossed her little head with a face full of pride, "I won’t cry. I got my shot just now and I didn’t cry."
The little girl’s father was intrigued and asked him, "Didn’t the shot hurt?"
Anan nodded honestly, "It hurt, but crying doesn’t help. You’ll get the shot anyway, and crying is just a waste of tears. So better not to cry."
Standing off to the side, Shen Qinglan couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration upon hearing this. Anan had clearly picked up this line from what a child had said to their mother inside the room earlier.
The little girl’s father laughed heartily upon hearing the wisdom of Anan, then looked at Shen Qinglan, "Your child is quite adorable."
Shen Qinglan smiled thinly. Just then, Yu Xiaoxuan came out carrying Guoguo, who, for some reason, had a face full of smiles and didn’t look like a child who had just gotten a shot at all.
After leaving the hospital, Yu Xiaoxuan praised Anan, "Anan, you did great today. You didn’t cry getting your shot."
Anan’s little face beamed with pride, "Mommy says I’m a little man, and I can’t cry."
"Right, Anan is a little man, a real champ."
**
In the house where Lu Yaqin now lived.
Shen Junze formally resigned from Junlan Group today. Even though he had submitted his resignation letter long ago, it took some time to hand over his work. Today, after everything was settled, he left the company.
"Mom, why did you take so long to open the door?" Shen Junze asked. He hadn’t brought his keys today and had been pressing the doorbell for quite a while before she answered.
"I was in the bathroom just now and didn’t hear anything. Junze, why have you come back at this time? Shouldn’t you be at work?" Lu Yaqin looked at the person who had returned with a somewhat flustered expression. Shen Junze’s gaze grew sharp as he glanced at Lu Yaqin, not understanding why she was so flustered.
"I’ve resigned from my brother’s company and am planning to strike out on my own," Shen Junze said casually, placing the things he had bought for Lu Yaqin on the table. He didn’t mention that Shen Junyu had already prepared a company for him. For the past few years, he had been living alone, only occasionally going home to see Lu Yaqin, to support her a little financially or to buy her some food and drinks.
"What, you resigned?" Lu Yaqin was surprised, "You were doing just fine, weren’t you? Why would you suddenly resign? Did they bully you?" In her memory, the Shen Family was not friendly to her and her son, so it was entirely possible they had made things difficult for Shen Junze under the guise of work.
"The Shen Family went too far. After all, you are a descendant of the Shen Family, with Shen blood flowing through you. How can they treat you like this? This won’t do, I need to go argue with the Shen Family. They can’t bully people like this." Lu Yaqin grew more angry the more she thought about it and wanted to leave the house, but Shen Junze stopped her.
"Mom, what are you doing? Can’t you let me finish speaking?" Shen Junze’s face darkened, "My brother and the others have been good to me, and they haven’t bullied me." On the contrary, even when he had been such a screw-up, they had still helped him. He believed that without Shen Junyu and Shen Qinglan, there wouldn’t be a Shen Junze today; he might have ended up a complete mess.
"Then why would you resign? Junze, if they really did bully you, you must not hide it from mom. Even though I’m not powerful, you are my son, and I will always stand by you."
Shen Junze pulled Lu Yaqin down to sit on the sofa, "Mom, I want to be independent. I don’t want to work for someone else my whole life, so I resigned." He gave a reason, which was true, but it wasn’t the entire truth. He knew that in recent years, his mother had still been in touch with Lu Jincai behind his back, so there were some things he would not tell her.
"Junze, you listen to mom. It’s not so easy to go it alone. You don’t have any start-up capital; what will you use?" Lu Yaqin was still concerned.
"I have start-up capital. My brother has already given it to me," Shen Junze said indifferently. Shen Junyu had already handled the company registration and ensured the operating funds were in place, essentially solving all of the initial difficulties for him.
"How much did he give you? Is it enough? If it’s not, mom has some savings from these past few years; you can use them." To her, he was her own son. If Shen Junze was in need, she wouldn’t just watch idly. Although she didn’t have much money, it meant something.
"It’s enough, mom. Don’t worry about these things. I have plans. If it’s really not enough, I’ll apply for a loan from the bank. With my brother as a guarantor, the bank won’t refuse me. Just enjoy your old age. Mom, is there food at home? I’m hungry."
Hearing Shen Junze say he was hungry, Lu Yaqin stopped pressing for answers and got up to make food, "Wait a moment, mom will cook right now."
Thankfully, among the things Shen Junze brought today, there were plenty of ingredients ready to use.
Food on the table, mother and son sat down to eat. Lu Yaqin eagerly served Shen Junze food, "Eat more, you’ve slimmed down. Living alone outside, you must not have eaten well. When you have time, come home more often, I’ll cook for you."
Shen Junze chuckled, "Mom, I’ve been working out recently, turning all the fat into muscle."
"Nonsense, you’re clearly tired and thin. Since you’re planning to go it alone, you’ll be even more tired. Just think about it, busy all the time. The salary you got from the Shen Family wasn’t low; it was fine for you to keep working there. Why resign and struggle on your own?" Lu Yaqin murmured. "You really think going independent is such an easy thing. If you’re not satisfied with your current salary, just talk directly to Shen Junyu about it. I think, considering your deceased father’s face, he wouldn’t refuse to give you a raise. Going out on your own, it just breaks mom’s heart."
The smile gradually faded from Shen Junze’s face, "Mom, I can’t rely on my dad’s reputation my whole life. Back in the day, my dad started from scratch and carved out a world for himself. Why can’t I do it now? Mom, the most important thing for a person is to rely on themselves. Others cannot support you forever."
"You also weren’t just collecting a salary for nothing at Junlan Group, you were working for them. Think about the past few years, how busy you were, sometimes working overtime late into the night." As Lu Yaqin spoke, she became more dissatisfied with Shen Junyu. After all, Shen Junze was a descendant of the Shen Family, your cousin, not a dog under your command. Working in your company, you should have at least given him a break, instead of treating him like a servant.
Lu Yaqin expressed her dissatisfaction with the Shen Family openly and between the lines. Shen Junze hadn’t realized it before, but as he grew more distant and came into contact with more things, he gradually began to see that his mother harbored resentment towards the Shen Family. She resented them for not accepting her, for looking down on her, and for neglecting them after his father’s death. His mother was now essentially a resentful woman, and in his view, her expectations were somewhat entitled, even bizarre.
Shen Junze knew it was wrong to think this way about his own mother. After all, she had treated him quite well, but there are some things that, once they take root in your heart, are hard to change.
"Mom, stop it," he said. "My brother has been good to me. He taught me a lot. Before, I was just a good-for-nothing. What else could I do besides eating, drinking, and playing? If I had any abilities back then, the company Daddy left me wouldn’t have been taken away by Lu Jincai. Even if I had just a little bit more brains, I could have seen through Lu Jincai’s wolfish ambitions and wouldn’t have been left in such a sorry state."
The mention of Lu Jincai made Lu Yaqin feel guilty, for he was her own brother. But she didn’t want to watch idly as the conflict between Shen Junze and Lu Jincai deepened, so she advised, "Jun Ze, your uncle was doing it for your own good at the time. The company was in such a state, and you didn’t have the ability to manage it. You couldn’t just watch it go bankrupt, could you? After all, it was your father’s hard work. Your uncle couldn’t bear it."
The smile disappeared from Shen Junze’s face as he put down his chopsticks. "First of all, he’s no longer my uncle to me, as I have cut ties with him. Also, don’t hide behind the pretense of doing something for my own good. Wolfish ambition is wolfish ambition, and speaking of it in grandiose terms serves no purposes but to disgust. Third, mom, if you want me to reconcile with him, it’s simple. He can kneel in front of me and offer the company back with both hands. Then, I might consider reconciling with him."
A look of rigidity crossed Lu Yaqin’s face, and she sighed inwardly, finding herself in this situation yet again. Every time Lu Jincai was mentioned, Shen Junze was particularly resistant. "Jun Ze, listen to me, I know you hate your uncle. Let’s not talk about the past for now. Consider the present, if you want to stand on your own, just fighting alone is futile. You need capital, talent, and resources, which you have to accumulate step by step. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone help you? These past years, your uncle has realized his mistakes and has been trying to make amends, but he couldn’t find the opportunity. This is the perfect chance. Let your uncle help you, so your new company can get on the right track sooner." She was truly speaking from the heart.
Shen Junze looked at his mother with an unprecedented sense of alienation. "Mom, if you still recognize me as your son, then break off your relations with Lu Jincai and never mention him to me again. Otherwise, our mother-son relationship might have to come to an end."
Lu Yaqin looked at him in disbelief. "Jun Ze, do you know what you’re saying? I’m your mother, the one who gave birth to you and raised you. Is this how you treat me?"
His expression indifferent, Shen Junze replied, "It’s precisely because you are my mother that I’m saying this to you. I’ve been asking you to stay away from him for years, but have you listened? You only see him as your brother, following whatever he says, completely forgetting what he’s done, even forgetting the harm he’s caused me. Tell me, do you really consider me your son, or in your heart, am I just a worthless mess, unable to provide for you or give you a wealthy life, so you cling to his legs?"
These words were indeed harsh. Lu Yaqin’s face turned pale, with no trace of color, her lips trembling. Shen Junze, unable to bear it, yet steeled himself and said, "I’ll say it once more, and for the last time. In this home, it’s him or me. If you want me as your son, break off with him; otherwise, I will sever my filial ties with you." His mother had been brainwashed by Lu Jincai, and unless he made his point strongly, she wouldn’t realize the severity of the situation. Now that he planned to make his own way, a confrontation with Lu Jincai was inevitable, and he couldn’t have anyone connected to Lu Jincai by his side, not even his mother.
It would be best if his mother could come to her senses, but if not, he might have no choice but to act unfilially in the end.
"Jun Ze, is that any way to speak?" Lu Yaqin’s tears fell instantly. "You’re pushing all your uncle’s mistakes onto your mother, severing ties with me? Hah, this is the good son I raised. I think you’ve been brainwashed by the Shen Family. Do you also look down on me now, thinking that my status as a hostess is an insult to you?"
"Mom, I’ve never said such a thing." He had never felt that his mother’s lowly background was a disgrace to him. Never.
"Shen Junze, no matter what, even if I have made a huge mistake, I gave birth to you and raised you. Are you going to cut ties with me now? Where is your conscience, was it eaten by a dog?" Lu Yaqin was somewhat hysterical.
Shen Junze did not retort and let Lu Yaqin scold him. In his heart, he only felt weariness. His intention was clear: he wanted Lu Yaqin to sever ties with Lu Jincai, not to sever her mother-son relationship with him.
"Mom, if you think what I just said was wrong, then I apologize, but I’m not joking. I won’t allow you to have any more contact with Lu Jincai’s family. I’ve provided you with a lot for your living expenses over the years, ensuring your quality of life. We don’t need his charity. If you have any dignity left, stay away from him. I’ll also be frank with you – this time, I intend to fight him to the bitter end. I will take back the company Daddy left for me. Whatever Lu Jincai did to me back then, I’ll return in kind. I’m saying it here and now. You can tell him exactly what I’ve said. Mom, you’re my mother, the closest person to me in this world. Is a Lu Jincai more important to you than I am?" At the end, Shen Junze’s eyes brimmed with sadness. He did not want to fall out with his own mother like this. Each word he spoke that hurt his mother, his heart bled too.
Lu Yaqin had tears streaming down her face. Shen Junze stood up, walked over to her, and softened his tone, speaking gently, "Mom, I’ll take care of you in the future. We won’t have to look at anyone’s face. I’ll definitely work hard to make money and give you a better life than before. Can you break off relations with him for good?"
"Can’t we work things out properly? Your uncle... he really knows he was wrong. He wants to make it up to you," she implored.
"Mom, do you still not understand? He’s just placating you. If he really knew he was wrong, he would have returned the company to me by now. But look, is Shen Real Estate still Shen Real Estate? It’s been renamed to Lu Real Estate. Don’t these facts speak for themselves? Mom, you know very well in your heart, so why turn a blind eye?"
"Jun Ze, your mother has only two relatives left in this world. Please don’t force me, okay?"
Shen Junze’s gaze darkened slightly. He really didn’t understand what kind of spell Lu Jincai had cast on his mother to make her defend him like this. "Mom, you still have me. In the future, I will get married and have children, and your relatives will include my future wife and your grandchildren. You are never alone."
In the end, Lu Yaqin nodded her head. "Okay, I won’t see him ever again. I no longer have him as a brother."
Shen Junze embraced his mother. "Mom, rest assured, I will definitely take good care of you." He knew the words he had said today were too hurtful, but sometimes drastic measures needed to be taken for serious ailments. Over the past years, he had often discussed these issues with his mother, coaxed and argued, but to no avail. Lu Yaqin had remained unchanged, which greatly troubled Shen Junze.
"Clang." Suddenly, a loud noise came from the bedroom. Shen Junze’s expression changed, and he stood up abruptly, "Who’s in there?"
Lu Yaqin stood up in a panic, her expression flustered, "There’s no one, just me."
Shen Junze’s gaze lingered on Lu Yaqin’s face, his eyes deep and probing, "Mom, I just heard something fall to the ground, coming from your bedroom."
"You must have heard wrong, or maybe the wind knocked over a flowerpot on my balcony," Lu Yaqin said with a forced smile, realizing that she had forgotten about that. Now, how was she going to explain it to Shen Junze?
Shen Junze didn’t believe her. His mother was clearly lying. He pushed past her to check, but Lu Yaqin blocked him. Shen Junze looked at her, "Mom, who’s inside?"
"There’s... there’s no one," Lu Yaqin’s eyes darted around, "Jun Ze, there really isn’t anyone in there."
Shen Junze’s expression had turned completely cold. "Is Lu Jincai in there?" It was the only possibility that came to his mind. Otherwise, why would his mother be so nervous?
"No," Lu Yaqin said quickly, then realized she had slipped up.
So there was indeed someone inside. Shen Junze pushed his mother aside and flung open the bedroom door. There was no one there at first glance. Lu Yaqin followed him in, slightly relieved, "See, I told you there was no one in the room."
Shen Junze’s gaze swept back and forth across the room, eventually settling on the wardrobe. Without a word, he went over and opened the doors. A man in his forties was hiding inside the wardrobe, "Who are you?"
The man awkwardly looked at Shen Junze as he crawled out of the wardrobe under Shen Junze’s sharp gaze.
In the living room, the three of them sat in a triangular formation, Shen Junze’s gaze fixed on the man, "Speak, what’s all this about?"
The man glanced at Lu Yaqin, gesturing for her to talk. Lu Yaqin, embarrassed, "Well, Jun Ze, Mom was actually planning to tell you earlier, this is your Uncle Fan Yanghong. He’s... he’s Mom’s boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" Shen Junze quietly pondered those three words to himself, his eyes growing colder as he looked at the man, "If I’m not mistaken, he’s one of Lu Jincai’s people, right?" At first, he didn’t recognize him, but later he remembered this man having appeared at Lu Jincai’s side.
Lu Jincai was really skillful, not only brainwashing his mother but even sorting out her lifetime’s big issue for her, no wonder his mom stubbornly refused to break off relations with Lu Jincai. He had thought it was because Lu Jincai’s brainwashing prowess was too strong, but now it seemed that it was all pillow talk.
"When did this happen?" Shen Junze asked coldly.
"It’s... been a year," Lu Yaqin said softly, attempting an explanation, but staring at Shen Junze’s icy face, an inexplicable sense of shame arose within her, "Jun Ze, let your mom explain."
"Fine, you talk, I’ll listen." Shen Junze was still composed.
"I should be the one to tell you," Fan Hongyu interjected.
"Shut up, I am talking to my mom right now," Shen Junze chastised.
Fan Hongyu’s expression stiffened, and his face turned somewhat green. No matter what, he was an elder, and Shen Junze spoke to him in this manner, it was simply ill-mannered.
Lu Yaqin licked her lips nervously, "Your Uncle Yang and I started dating a year ago. We wanted to tell you earlier, but your relationship with your uncle has always been difficult. Mom was worried that if she told you, you would disagree, so she never dared tell you. Jun Ze, Mom didn’t mean to hide it from you intentionally."
"Heh," Shen Junze sneered. So this was called not hiding it intentionally? Did his mom misinterpret the term ’intentionally’?
"If I hadn’t found out on my own, were you planning to hide this from me forever?" Shen Junze’s tone was very calm, but this calmness made Lu Yaqin somewhat frightened.
"No, Mom didn’t plan to keep it from you forever. I was waiting for the right moment to tell you," Lu Yaqin defended, but no matter what, this matter was a hurtful blow to Shen Junze.
In Shen Junze’s eyes, although his father was often busy with work, he was very good to his mother, and their relationship was extremely strong. Otherwise, his father wouldn’t have had a fallout with his family over his mother, taking her away to live abroad until his health was fading before returning. He had seen the grief and despair in his mother when his father passed away. He didn’t expect his mom to remain alone because of his dad, but couldn’t she have waited longer? A year ago meant it hadn’t been even three years since his dad’s death, and his mom had already found someone else. To his mom, did the emotional ties of over twenty years amount to only two years of fidelity? Was this really the same mother who had deeply loved his father without regret?
At that moment, Shen Junze began to seriously doubt his mother, and of all people, she had to choose someone from Lu Jincai’s circle, which was bitterly ironic.
"Mom, now that I know, I can tell you I disagree. You can be with anyone, but not someone from Lu Jincai’s side. I would never agree to that in this lifetime," Shen Junze spoke harshly.
"Jun Ze, he may be associated with Lu Jincai, but he is not Lu Jincai himself. He just works for him. Is that also wrong?" Lu Yaqin understood Shen Junze’s anger from being deceived, but his irrational stance now, simply because Fan Yanghong was associated with Lu Jincai, made her angry.
"Jun Ze." Just as Fan Yanghong began to speak, he was silenced by a stern look from Shen Junze. With the experiences over the years, Shen Junze was no longer the naive troublemaker he used to be; he had developed an aura of his own, which was quite intimidating when he stood his ground.
"You don’t have the right to speak here."
"Jun Ze, you’re going too far. Regardless of anything, Uncle Fan is your elder. Is this how you treat an elder?" Lu Yaqin grew angry when she saw Fan Yanghong’s ashen face. The fragile relationship between mother and son suddenly became tense again.
Shen Junze looked at his mom coldly, "Mom, are you looking to continue arguing with me over this man?"
Lu Yaqin choked on her words and softened, "Jun Ze, don’t be emotional. Let’s sit down and talk this out properly."
Shen Junze crossed his legs, "Aren’t we already having a proper talk right now? I’m not emotional. Mom, I don’t oppose you finding a new partner, but can’t we be selective? Don’t just bring home anything unsavory."
"Shen Junze, who are you insulting?" Fan Yanghong snapped, unable to contain himself any longer. "Your mom and I are in a consensual relationship. Your mom is a widow, I’m single, why can’t we be together? I can understand if you don’t like me, but you have no right to insult me."
Seeing him stand up, Shen Junze casually observed, "What, you want to hit me?" If he really dared to make a move, it would be welcome, as it would show his mom the true nature of the person she had chosen.
Lu Yaqin quickly stood in front of Shen Junze, "Yang Hong, what are you planning to do? He’s my son, can’t we talk this through properly?"
Fan Yanghong glared at Shen Junze, his chest heaving with intense anger. He was truly furious. He had lived for more than forty years and had never been so humiliated, especially by a young brat.
"Yaqin, everyone’s not calm today. There’s no point in continuing this discussion. I’ll leave for today," said Fan Yanghong, suppressing the rage in his heart, trying to keep his tone calm.
"Stay right there. Since we’ve met today, let’s clear things up," said Shen Junze, not willing to let him go.
Fan Hongyu stopped, turning to face Shen Junze with a cold expression, "I now know that you don’t approve of my relationship with your mom, and you’ve said what you wanted to insult me. What more do you want to say?"
"I want you to leave my mom and never come near her again. My mom can be with anyone, but the only person she can’t be with is someone from Lu Jincai’s circle. And by the way, tell Lu Jincai to get his company ready, I could come to take over anytime."
"Jun Ze, how can you talk like that?" Before Fan Yanghong could say anything, Lu Yaqin was the first to speak, looking disapprovingly at Shen Junze. She had not expected that Shen Junze would now even interfere in her matters. Once they had been the closest of mother and son, but now, she and her son were drifting further and further apart, all because of the Shen Family. If it weren’t for the Shen Family’s behind-the-scenes manipulation and undermining of their mother-son relationship, would they have reached the point where they would argue just after exchanging a few words?
Shen Junze didn’t even glance at his mother but stared at Fan Yanghong instead. Fan Yanghong’s neck veins were bulging from extreme rage, but he managed to severely suppress his anger. "Yaqin, I am leaving first." After speaking, he left without a second glance.
Now alone in the room with her son, Lu Yaqin, without another word, slapped him hard across the face. "Shen Junze, you’ve gone too far today."
Shen Junze’s head tilted slightly. He touched the spot on his face that had been struck. "Are you going to hit me again?"
Lu Yaqin’s eyes widened, and her hand trembled. "Jun Ze, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"This is exactly what I want to ask you, Mom. What are you trying to do? Dad died less than three years ago, and you’re already seeking a second spring. Do you really need a man that badly? And to choose such a man?"
"Enough! I was very sad when your dad died, but I am only forty-eight years old. Do you expect me to remain a widow for your dad for the rest of my life?" Lu Yaqin was also aggrieved. Her husband had died, her husband’s family did not recognize her, her son was estranged from her, and her own older brother had seized her husband’s inheritance. Who could understand the pain in her heart? She wanted to mend the relationship with the Shen Family, but they wouldn’t even let her through the door. Being a housewife with no ability to earn money, and with Jun Ze being unsuccessful, the only thing she could do was to swallow the pain of her brother taking the inheritance and reconcile with him, to ensure her and Shen Junze’s livelihood. But even so, not only did she fail to win her son’s understanding, he even became estranged from her because of it. She spent countless sleepless nights, losing her hair in clumps. Who knew of her suffering? And when she finally met someone who showed care and concern, looked after her, was it wrong for her to want to spend the second half of her life with him?
Even taking a step back, Shen Rang was already dead. She had given him children, and during his lifetime, she had devoted herself to taking care of him and the family. Wasn’t that enough? She had never cheated on Shen Rang.
Shen Junze had long recognized his mother’s shortcomings, but now, she had once again updated his perception of her. Did she really not understand, or was she pretending to be confused? Knowing full well that her relationship with Lu Jincai had reached a life-or-death point, she still wanted to play the mediator, and now what was she doing?
"Mom, I don’t expect you to mourn for Dad for the rest of your life, and as I said, I wasn’t going to object to you finding a second spring. But why did you choose someone from Lu Jincai’s side? Are there no other men left in this world?"
"Shen Junze, watch how you speak to me. I am your mother. Is this how you talk to me? What about your upbringing?" Lu Yaqin’s chest heaved violently, clearly infuriated by Shen Junze.
Shen Junze’s gaze was cold, filled with deep sadness and disappointment, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly in a smirk. "Upbringing? Didn’t you teach me everything I know? Now you’re complaining about my poor upbringing, where were you before?"
"You..." Lu Yaqin, fuming, raised her hand again. Shen Junze tilted his face, "Hit me."
The slap print on his cheek was exceptionally conspicuous, piercing Lu Yaqin’s heart. She couldn’t bring herself to slap him again. Pointing at the front door, she yelled, "Get out, get out of here!"
Shen Junze stood up and walked out of the house without a backward glance. The door slammed shut with a resounding bang, a door, a wall, separating a mother and son who had been the most familiar to each other, into two different worlds.
Shen Junze didn’t leave but leaned against the wall by the door, staring at the ceiling, his eyes filled with sadness and the rims red, but ultimately, no tears fell. He took out his phone and dialed a number, "Sis, can I talk to you?"
In the café, Shen Qinglan silently observed Shen Junze sitting across from her. Since the beginning of their meeting, Jun Ze hadn’t spoken a word, but the fading handprint on his face hinted at some problems to Qinglan.
"If you keep quiet, I’ll leave," Qinglan spoke indifferently.
"Sis, don’t go," Jun Ze pleaded. "I know it’s shameless to say this now, but sis, can you stay with me for a while? I don’t know who to turn to. After scouring my contacts, I realized I don’t have a single friend in Beijing to talk to. The friends I had in the States were just fair-weather friends, and we’ve long since lost touch. Sis, do you think I’m living a particularly pathetic life?" he said, his expression forlorn.
Qinglan pursed her lips and took a sip of the plain water before her—yes, what she requested was just a cup of plain water.
"Did you have a fight with your mother?" Qinglan asked.
Jun Ze looked up at her, "How did you know?"
Qinglan pointed at his face, and Jun Ze lowered his head. "I actually just wanted to go home for a visit, to have a meal with her, since it’s been so long since I’ve been back. Who knew it would turn into this."
Jun Ze recounted everything that happened in detail, including the issue with Fan Yanghong. For some reason, he used to find Qinglan unpleasant to look at, feeling she always looked down on him with a haughty attitude as if he were trash on the ground. But now, he felt that Qinglan was the only person in the world who might understand him, the only one he could truly rely on.
"Sis, what should I do? I’ve hurt my mother, but that wasn’t my intention. I just wanted her to cut ties with Lu Jincai," Jun Ze said, covering his face, his voice muffled.
Qinglan didn’t expect Lu Yaqin to have found a new partner so soon. Looking at Jun Ze, she saw he was just a big boy, really. If Shen Rang hadn’t died, Jun Ze would still be a carefree playboy, idly living his life without worries or pain.
Being forced to grow up to this point was like swallowing a bitter pill. Now, just as he started to see a glimmer of hope on the path to revenge, his own mother had stabbed him in the heart—a truly painful outcome.
Although Jun Ze didn’t show much, Qinglan could tell that his feelings for his father ran deep, buried deep within him, possibly beyond his own awareness. Lu Yaqin’s current actions, in Jun Ze’s eyes, were tantamount to betrayal of those feelings.
"Jun Ze, you are not a child anymore. In other words, since Second Uncle has passed away, it’s Second Aunt’s choice how she wants to live her life. This day was inevitable."
"I know, I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon, and with that kind of person. I even suspect that he was ordered by Lu Jincai to deliberately get close to my mom." This was a hurdle Jun Ze couldn’t get over. If it turned out to be as he suspected, could his mom’s personality handle it?
Qinglan considered the possibility and then said, "Jun Ze, have you had a proper talk with your mom about this?" Although Lu Yaqin was a bit indiscriminate with her affections and somewhat selfish, she couldn’t be entirely unreasonable, could she?
What Qinglan hadn’t anticipated was that Lu Yaqin’s unreasonableness surpassed her wildest imagination.
