"Let's go." Yan Hechuan spoke, breaking the silence.
Meng Xiang was about to agree when he saw Xia Liuyue shake her head slightly, saying,
"I have something to do tonight. You two go back."
The corners of Yan Hechuan's mouth tightened.
He felt somewhat concerned.
But before, he had never interfered with Tang Yinyao's actions; no matter what she did, he wouldn't get involved.
Now, however, he really wanted to know what she was leaving to do, who she was going to see.
Meng Xiang obediently waved. "Okay. Do you need a ride, senior sister?"
Xia Liuyue: "No need, I've already called a car."
Throughout this, Yan Hechuan remained silent, his misty eyes looking ahead as if indifferent.
Only when the taxi arrived did he blurt out,
"Will you be back tonight?"
His tone couldn't hide a trace of nervousness and anticipation.
Xia Liuyue deliberately drew out her words, "Hmm, let me think."
Her next sentence made Yan Hechuan's face instantly burn bright red.
"Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"
Although Yan Hechuan couldn't see, his face felt terribly hot, so embarrassed and shy he could almost curl his toes.
He could only manage to reply, "You should just go."
Xia Liuyue smiled faintly. "Call me by my nickname."
Yan Hechuan: "Yueyue, goodbye."
Meng Xiang, who had been watching the whole time, was utterly confused: "..."
Has he been found out? Or not? Or just a little bit?
Rich lady, your tactics are too deep.
Completely unfathomable!
...
The Du Residence.
By the time Xia Liuyue arrived, Du Jiashu was already having dinner with Mrs. Du.
Hearing the maid come in to announce her arrival,
Du Jiashu couldn't hide his displeasure, saying,
"Mom asked you to come for dinner early. Look how late you are!"
Xia Liuyue ignored him, simply smiling apologetically and nodding at Mrs. Du.
"Sorry, the traffic was bad coming down from the Tangshan hot springs."
Mrs. Du had fair skin and delicate features, a very kind-looking lady of means. She beckoned to her, saying,
"It's fine, Xiao Yue, come sit down quickly. We've only just started eating."
Xia Liuyue moved to sit, but Mrs. Du shook her head, signaling the maid to pull out the chair next to Du Jiashu for her.
She said gently,
"Jiashu's father is always busy with business, and this business trip is another ten days to half a month. I stay in the old house, and you two never come to see me. It's really quite boring."
"Xiao Yue, if you have time, bring Jiashu back to see me more often."
Xia Liuyue smiled and agreed, "Auntie, there's probably one thing Jiashu hasn't told you yet."
A flicker of displeasure crossed Du Jiashu's face.
As if unwilling to reveal in front of his mother that their relationship wasn't good.
Mrs. Du's smile paused, and she asked in surprise,
"Why are you suddenly calling me 'Auntie'? What thing?"
Xia Liuyue said unhurriedly, "Yesterday, Jiashu gave me another divorce agreement document."
Du Jiashu's pupils flickered; he hadn't expected her to play her cards so openly.
Why bring this up now?
Mrs. Du was also shocked, saying,
"How could that be... Is it because of..." She quickly stopped herself, took Xia Liuyue's hand, and said, "Good child, you are the daughter-in-law I've chosen."
"Don't pay any mind to those other strays. Mom will help you deal with them."
As she spoke, she looked questioningly at Du Jiashu.
Xia Liuyue chuckled lightly and slowly withdrew her hand.
She said softly,
"It's not some stray. It's Jiashu's childhood best friend."
"Tang Yinyao."
Mrs. Du's expression changed.
"Didn't she already go abroad?"
Xia Liuyue calmly took photos from her handbag and spread them on the table.
They were clearly pictures from that morning at the airport, showing Du Jiashu and Tang Yinyao parting reluctantly.
After seeing them, Du Jiashu was furious.
"Xia Liuyue! You actually had someone follow me? And take secret photos?"
He was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his hackles raised:
"And here I was thinking about reconciling and trying to make things work with you. I never imagined you could go this far."
Xia Liuyue smiled faintly without a word.
Her slender fingertip tapped on one of the photos.
It showed Tang Yinyao nestled in Du Jiashu's arms, crying pitifully.
Very photogenic.
Also very beautiful.
Du Jiashu's arrogant bluster instantly dissipated by half.
"What on earth is going on here?"
Facing Mrs. Du's questioning gaze, Du Jiashu decided to throw caution to the wind.
"That's right! I like Yaoyao."
"There was never any real feeling between Xia Liuyue and me. It was just a marriage of convenience. So yes, I intended for her to sign the divorce papers yesterday."
"Nonsense!" Mrs. Du, who usually seemed mild-tempered, could be quite intimidating when angry.
She slammed her palm heavily on the table.
"Jiashu, you're a married man! Can't you be more sensible?"
"And that Tang Yinyao has a fiancé. The Yan family is not one we can afford to offend."
Du Jiashu stiffened his neck, stubbornly replying,
"It's just my one-sided feelings for Yaoyao. She doesn't know anything."
"And our relationship has always been completely innocent. It's this photo Xia Liuyue had taken that's misleading."
Xia Liuyue tapped her finger on the table, agreeing,
"That's right, husband. You and your 'best friend' are completely innocent."
"Tang Yinyao was scared into crying by me. I also pressed her head to make her hide in your arms and cry."
"And her hands were under my strict orders to wrap around your waist."
Anyone could hear the sarcasm in her tone.
Du Jiashu wasn't a fool.
Of course he knew.
But he still argued,
"Yaoyao and I grew up together. She just sees me as a good friend."
"It's all because you splashed wine in her face at dinner last night. She was misunderstood by you and didn't want to lose our friendship of so many years, that's why she couldn't help crying."
Saying this, Du Jiashu looked at Mrs. Du,
"Mom! You have no idea how unreasonable Xia Liuyue was!"
"Yaoyao kindly invited her to dinner to apologize. Not only did she refuse to accept it, she even threw wine at her."
Mrs. Du frowned deeply.
Only now did she realize the relationship between her son and daughter-in-law had already reached a freezing point.
Probably because Du Jiashu had always pretended so well, and the original Xia Liuyue had always endured in silence.
Xia Liuyue nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly,
"Auntie, Jiashu is right. I didn't accept it."
"Tang Yinyao wanted to use three glasses of red wine as an apology, in exchange for my child's life."
"So I was being unreasonable. Not only did I not accept it meekly, I even splashed a glass of white wine on her. I was willful and bad-tempered!"
Regarding the child Xia Liuyue had lost,
Mrs. Du had also been heartbroken, though she didn't know the details. When she asked her son, he just said it was an accidental fall.
"What does Tang Yinyao have to do with this?" she asked, greatly puzzled.
Xia Liuyue hadn't chosen to come to the Du Residence tonight for dinner, but to vent her anger.
She coldly recounted what had happened before.
Du Jiashu said nervously, "Yaoyao just meant well but it went wrong! She didn't do it on purpose!"
