She abandoned her husband first, then her children, and was ecstatic after the divorce.

A former couple has finally brought all their grievances to the forefront.

Lin Qingran said sarcastically, "We are no longer husband and wife. I have my own husband now. Whether it's divorce or widowhood, custody of the child must be awarded to one person. I'm raising my daughter, and you're supporting Fu Xingze. We are now two separate families. Apart from child support, I have no obligation to take care of Fu Xingze for you."

Fu Xiuheng frowned deeply. "Qingran, do you have to be so aggressive? You weren't like this before..."

Lin Qingran scoffed, "The past? Don't bring up the past with me. I used to be a good wife and mother, not because I was supposed to be that way as a woman, nor because it was the only path I could take, but because of the love and care I had for my family. Now that times have changed, of course I can choose to take other paths."

Fu Xiuheng's tone was unfriendly, "So this is the excuse you made up to distance yourself from Xingze?"

Lin Qingran was amused by Fu Xiuheng's question and asked in return.

"Back in the hospital, when you repeatedly tried to confirm my identity, I saw the pain on your face and thought you regretted what you had done before. But it seems I was wrong. You are still the same as before, without any change."

"Qingran!" Fu Xiuheng tried to interrupt Lin Qingran's sharp and sarcastic words, but Lin Qingran retorted.

“Fu Xiuheng, mind your own business and control your dog. If you can give me some peace and quiet, I will teach Fu Xingze properly this year out of blood ties. But if you can't do that, then there is no need for us to continue our contact.”

After saying that, Lin Qingran hung up the phone without hesitation.

Hearing the cold busy tone from his phone, Fu Xiuheng was furious and overturned the documents on the table with one hand.

Lu An's assistant heard the noise and hurriedly pushed the door open and came in.

"President, what's wrong?"

"Get out!" Fu Xiuheng shouted sternly.

The assistant was startled and quickly shrank back, closing the door behind her.

A colleague nearby asked cautiously, "What's wrong? Why is the CEO so angry?"

"I don't know either." The assistant patted his chest, looking still shaken.

"Why isn't Assistant Lu back yet? I can't handle this situation..."

Fu Xiuheng was unaware that his every move now resembled that of a madman.

He felt a surge of anger, as if a mouthful of blood was stuck in his throat, unable to be spat out or swallowed.

He never knew Lin Qingran could be so infuriating.

All she's asking her to do is take care of a child, who is her own son. How can she be so heartless as to ignore him?

Or perhaps she married that pretty boy with the bell in her hair, and then she wasn't afraid of anything anymore!

The thought of Bo Ye made Fu Xiuheng even angrier.

He had Lu An investigate Bo Ye's background. How could someone of ordinary background get close to Lin Qingran?

It seems that Lin Qingran has been living too comfortably these past two years, making her forget the dangers of society.

Fu Xiuheng narrowed his eyes, a fierce light flashing in them.

It seems it's time to give Lin Qingran a little nudge and teach her to tone down her temper.

Lin Qingran had already called the servants who had been searching for Fu Xingze for a long time. They rushed over, their faces pale with fright and covered in sweat. They held Fu Xingze's hand and kept thanking Lin Qingran.

Lin Qingran was too lazy to deal with it, and waved her hand, telling the servants to quickly take Fu Xingze away.

Fu Xingze was reluctant, but Lin Qingran was determined to be touching, and he didn't dare to back out, fearing that it would make Lin Qingran dislike him even more, so he could only follow the servant.

Before leaving, he glared at Lingdang fiercely. Lingdang trembled, and as soon as the door closed, she immediately threw herself into Lin Qingran's arms.

"Mom, how about... you just accept your brother as your brother?"

"Why?" Lin Qingran looked at her curiously.

"I don't want to put Mom in a difficult position," Lingdang said earnestly.

“If Mom doesn’t accept him, someone will cause trouble for her.”

Bo Ye and Su Mian listened from the side, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Lingdang is such a young child, yet she is so sensible and understands Lin Qingran's hardships.

But those two were just as hopeless as the other two.

If they had even the slightest understanding of Lin Qingran, they wouldn't have caused her so much trouble.

"Don't be afraid, Lingdang." Lin Qingran gently patted Lingdang's head.

"Mom will definitely protect the bell, and she will also protect herself."

She waved to the maid, Zhao Ma, who was standing next to her, "Aunt Zhao, Lingdang is tired from playing. Why don't you take her upstairs to rest for a while?"

Aunt Zhao stepped forward, picked up Lingdang, nodded slightly to Lin Qingran, and took Lingdang upstairs, while also giving the other servants a wink.

The servants immediately understood and went to work.

The living room was empty, leaving only the three of them.

Su Mian looked at Lin Qingran with a worried expression, "What did you just say to Fu Xiuheng?"

Lin Qingran sneered, "What else can we say? It's nothing more than tearing off the mask."

Susukino exclaimed, "You admit it?"

Lin Qingran nodded silently. "Now that things have come to this, it's not something I can simply refuse to acknowledge just because I don't want to."

The grudges between her and Fu Xiuheng were already complicated and difficult to explain. If things continued to develop unchecked, they would eventually escalate to an unmanageable point.

It's better to make things clear beforehand, so that you won't be caught off guard if things get out of hand.

Years of experience have taught Lin Qingran that the initiative can only and must be in her own hands.

After a moment of dejection, Bo Ye angrily punched the sofa.

"That Fu Xiuheng is really persistent!"

"Don't get angry yet. He must have his reasons for doing this," Su Mian advised.

She looked at Lin Qingran and said, "Actually, I think Fu Xiuheng is just unwilling to accept it."

He was used to having absolute power, so how could he accept that Lin Qingran, who had once obeyed him without question, not only faked her death and fled, but was also living a carefree life elsewhere?

Lin Qingran snorted coldly, "If you say you can't let go of past feelings, even a dog wouldn't believe it."

He just couldn't stand the fact that something he used to have under his control had suddenly become uncontrollable.

Lin Qingran could only call this kind of person a pervert, with a dark and twisted mind.

Lin Qingran poked a piece of watermelon, slowly put it in her mouth, and chewed it slowly and deliberately.

After a while, Lin Qingran casually threw down the silver fork in her hand.

"He wants to make things difficult for me, but I'd like to see if he has the ability to do so."

Su Mian and Bo Ye's gazes both fell on Lin Qingran at the same time. They both sensed an unusual atmosphere, like the calm before the storm.