When Lin Wenhui heard Old Mrs. Lin’s words, the hand holding her chopsticks suddenly froze. She instinctively stole a glance at Xiao Mandong.
She never expected her mother to say something like that out of the blue. How could Xiao Mandong possibly agree? Director Lin frowned, but he did not immediately interrupt.
His wife had brought this up with him before, and the two of them had even argued over it. He knew very well that their son’s mess had become a thorn in her side. Given Xiao Mandong’s personality, there was no way she would wade into this muddy water.
He hadn’t stopped his wife—not because he approved, but because he wanted Xiao Mandong to refuse her in person and put an end to her hopes. Otherwise, nothing anyone said would be of any use.
Old Mrs. Lin remained completely unaware of the tension and continued, “Mandong, Auntie knows that you’re divorced, but you’re an excellent woman. You don’t have any children or other burdens, and with your qualifications, you can absolutely find someone better.”
“Don’t rush to reject him. The two of you can spend some time getting to know each other. I believe you’ve both been hurt before. If you really can be together, you’ll definitely be able to build a stable life.”
Xiao Mandong’s heart tightened. Her lips parted, and she was just about to refuse when—
Click.
The front door was gently pushed open from outside.
Lin Guoan walked in, and behind him, to everyone’s astonishment, was Liu Mengyao, her face deathly pale.
The dining room fell instantly silent. One could hear a pin drop.
The smile on Old Mrs. Lin’s face froze. Her eyes locked onto Liu Mengyao, and she began trembling with rage.
“You… you… Lin Guoan, what on earth are you trying to do? Who gave you permission to bring this woman back here?”
Lin Guoan acted as though he couldn’t see his mother’s livid face, nor the fury roiling in Director Lin’s eyes. He strode straight in front of Liu Mengyao, shielding her from them.
“Dad, Mom, I came back today to make myself clear. I want to be with Mengyao.”
Old Mrs. Lin clutched her chest, so enraged by his words that she nearly couldn’t catch her breath. Her chest rose and fell violently.
Director Lin slammed his hand down on the table in fury. The teacup on it was sent crashing to the floor, where it shattered into pieces.
Liu Mengyao kept her head bowed low, endlessly rubbing the hem of her clothes between her fingers. Her eyes were red, and she looked as if she had suffered some terrible injustice.
She had been released three days earlier. She had felt unwell while in detention, and after her release, she went for an examination—only to discover that she was actually pregnant.
During that period, she and Lin Guoan had been together many times, and they hadn’t taken any precautions. But on the final night, she had been with Director Huang. Even now, she had no idea who the father of the child was.
If she wanted an abortion, she needed an introduction letter from her work unit. She had no way to obtain one, and with nowhere else to turn, she had been forced to seek out Lin Guoan.
What she hadn’t expected was that Lin Guoan would actually be willing to take responsibility for her.
Old Mrs. Lin pointed toward the door with a trembling finger.
“Lin Guoan, get this woman out of my house immediately. I will never allow someone like her through our family’s door.”
Old Mrs. Lin simply couldn’t understand why her son had become like this—why he could be so foolish. Didn’t he know how much trouble this woman could bring to their family? She could very well drag them all into ruin.
His father was the director of the Public Security Bureau, and his sister’s husband was a soldier. Yet he had gotten involved with a spy’s woman. Was he trying to drag the entire family down with him?
A trace of pleading appeared in Lin Guoan’s eyes.
“Mom, Mengyao is pregnant. I can’t just abandon her. She’s an unmarried woman with a child on the way—how is she supposed to live?”
“Brother, what if the child is Director Huang’s? Are you really planning to raise someone else’s child without even figuring that out?”
For the first time, Lin Wenhui realized that her brother was completely devoid of common sense. He was so foolish that he was beyond saving.
Lin Guoan’s expression darkened. Did he really not know that the child might not be his?
“Lin Guoan, if you’re truly determined to be with her, then let’s publish a notice severing our family ties.”
Director Lin had completely lost faith in his son. He could also see how stubborn Lin Guoan was.
When Lin Guoan heard his father’s words, he let out a long breath and answered without the slightest hesitation.
“Fine. I agree to sever our relationship. I don’t want Yanyan anymore. Mengyao is pregnant, and we’re about to have a child of our own.”
The moment Old Mrs. Lin heard this, she lost all reason. She had never imagined that her own son could be so heartless—not even wanting his own daughter anymore.
She didn’t know where she found the strength, but she suddenly rushed in front of Liu Mengyao and slapped her hard across the face.
“You shameless slut! You seduced my son, and we don’t even know whether the bastard in your belly belongs to him. How dare you try to pin this bastard on the Lin family?”
Liu Mengyao had never been the type to swallow her anger. How could she possibly let Old Mrs. Lin hit her without retaliating? She immediately raised her hand to strike back, but Lin Guoan seized her wrist.
“Lin Guoan, you’re just going to let your mother hit me?”
Lin Guoan’s gaze turned vicious. “Liu Mengyao, if you dare lay a finger on my mother, get out of here right now.”
Liu Mengyao had never seen such a cold look in Lin Guoan’s eyes, and it unnerved her. She knew that Lin Guoan was her only hope. She couldn’t anger him—she had to hold on to this lifeline.
With tears of grievance in her eyes, Liu Mengyao ran out of the Lin residence. Lin Guoan cast a cold glance in the direction she had fled, then took a letter of severance he had prepared long ago from inside his coat.
“Dad, Mom, sign it. I’ll go to the newspaper office later and publish a statement severing all ties with the family.”
Director Lin glanced at the contents of the severance agreement. It placed all the responsibility on himself. For a moment, he found himself unable to understand his son. A feeling suddenly rose in his heart—that Lin Guoan had deliberately wanted to cut himself off from the family.
Holding the agreement, Lin Guoan knelt on the floor and kowtowed heavily to his parents three times. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he turned and left.
Xiao Mandong had no desire to stay any longer either. “Uncle Lin, Auntie Lin, I have something else to take care of, so I’ll head back first. I’ll come visit you when I have time.”
Director Lin signaled for Lin Wenhui to escort Xiao Mandong out of the residential compound.
“Sister Mandong, I’m sorry. My mother is a little confused. Please don’t take what she said to heart.”
“It’s all right. I understand.”
With that, Xiao Mandong turned and left.
She would never come back to the Lin family again. What Old Mrs. Lin had said today had left her humiliated. Did she really seem that desperate? Her son had gotten involved with a spy’s woman, and yet she still wanted Xiao Mandong to marry him. Just thinking about it made her feel sick.
Xiao Mandong planned to go back to the hospital to retrieve her bicycle. Tomorrow was the weekend, and she intended to visit her family today.
The weather was growing colder and colder. She needed to deliver winter supplies and padded clothes to her family.
She had just reached the bicycle shed beside the hospital when she heard an argument coming from inside.
“Zhang Chenghui, I can’t believe how disgusting you people are! You haven’t come home for three days, and you haven’t handed over this month’s wages either. What exactly are you trying to do? What did you promise me back then? What, are you trying to go back on your word?”
Qi Yuqing kept her voice very low, but it still trembled uncontrollably. It was obvious that she was furious.
