After the divorce, my ex-husband's cousin tricked me into getting a marriage certificate.

Upon seeing the tears in Zhao Mengmeng's eyes, Xiang Wanli immediately turned to glare at Qi Mu'an, "Mu'an, what's wrong?"

Qi Mu'an noticed that everyone's eyes were on him, and quickly explained, "We'll get the marriage certificate right after the New Year."

Zhao Mengmeng pouted, "I'm not going. I think we need more time to get to know each other better."

Qi Mu'an panicked and grabbed Zhao Mengmeng, coaxing her, "Don't be angry, we can talk about it when we get home tonight."

Xiang Wanli, with her sharp ears, said, "Why can't we say this here? Qi Mu'an, what are you doing? It's definitely your fault."

Qi Mu'an's lips twitched. No matter what, the old lady always sided with her granddaughter-in-law.

Qi Muci raised an eyebrow and suddenly said, "Grandma, we saw Xu Weiyan when we were shopping today."

Xiang Wanli was very surprised. "Did Xu Weiyan say something?"

Qi Muci looked at his elder brother, "Should you tell me or should I?"

Shen Qinglan couldn't hold back any longer, "Alright, Mu Ci, just tell me, what exactly did Xu Weiyan say?"

Qi Muci: "She broke up with that painter and was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer last month. She apologized to her older brother and said she was wrong."

Xiang Wanli's face flushed red with anger. "So what? Mu An, so you pity her, don't you?"

Qi Mu'an: "No, Grandma, I'm just a little surprised."

Xiang Wanli: "What's so surprising? So many patients are diagnosed in the hospital every day, are you surprised by every single one of them?"

Qi Mu'an: "Grandma, what do the people in the hospital have to do with me?"

Xiang Wanli: "Then what does Xu Weiyan have to do with you? Have you forgotten what she did to you? From the moment she betrayed you, she has nothing to do with you anymore."

"You should sympathize with the children in the orphanage instead of sympathizing with her."

Zhou Yu chimed in, "Yes, Mu An, why are you pitying her? I think she's deliberately telling you this so you'll pity her. Why doesn't she go find that painter? Doesn't she love him very much?"

Xiang Wanli snorted, "That painter is dirt poor. Of course Xu Weiyan knows who would be more useful to her. I think she only thought of Mu An because she can't afford medical treatment."

"Let me tell you, Mu An, her life or death is none of your business. I won't allow you to be the one to take the fall!"

Old Master Qi Zhiheng was also furious. "Qi Mu'an, if you're a man, you should have some backbone. Don't let people talk behind our backs and laugh at us, thinking we're easy to bully."

Qi Mu'an: "Grandpa, I really don't sympathize with her. Don't label me like that."

Xiang Wanli said angrily, "You'd better not have it."

Shen Qinglan knew that her eldest son was soft-hearted, so when no one was paying attention, she pulled her son into the study for questioning.

"Tell Mom the truth, are you feeling sorry for Xu Weiyan?"

"Mom, I really didn't," Qi Mu'an denied.

Shen Qinglan was skeptical. "You can fool others, but you can't fool me. Let me ask you again, why don't you get a marriage certificate with Mengmeng? You two have been dating for more than half a year, how long are you going to drag this out?"

Qi Mu'an: "Mom, I didn't delay. I just don't want to get a marriage certificate casually. I've already been divorced once."

Shen Qinglan: "Don't want to get a marriage certificate casually? I think you're still hung up on Xu Weiyan, aren't you? Are you still thinking about her?"

Qi Mu'an: "Really, Mom, why do you all think that?"

Shen Qinglan: "Then hurry up and take Mengmeng to get the marriage certificate. Mengmeng doesn't mind that you're a divorced woman, but you're pretending. Let me tell you, don't ignore the advice of your elders. If you make Mengmeng run away, you'll regret it."

Qi Mu'an: "Mengmeng has signed with our company, where can she run off to? Mom, don't worry, I just feel it's not the right time yet. When the time comes, I will go with her to get our marriage certificate."

Shen Qinglan: "Okay, then tell me, when do you want to wait?"

Qi Mu'an: "...I don't know, but now is not the time."

Shen Qinglan poked her son's forehead in exasperation, "You, I think you really are still thinking about that Xu Weiyan."

Qi Mu'an was both amused and exasperated. "Mom, I really didn't. Forget it, if you don't believe me, that's fine. I'm not going to waste my breath talking to you anymore. Time will prove everything."

Shen Qinglan crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Fine, I'll wait and see you get your comeuppance."

Outside the door, Zhao Mengmeng, who was going to the restroom, overheard Qi Mu'an and Shen Qinglan's conversation.

I felt very uncomfortable.

Although Qi Mu'an vehemently denied having any lingering feelings for Xu Weiyan, Zhao Mengmeng's woman's intuition told her that Qi Mu'an's heart was wavering.

Zhao Mengmeng silently returned to the living room and joined everyone in chatting and laughing, pretending that she hadn't heard anything.

But her heart was clenched with pain.

The whole roasted lamb that Qi Muci ordered arrived, and everyone moved to the restaurant for dinner.

Zhao Mengmeng pretended to be nonchalant and helped cut the mutton to distribute to the elders, including Qi Mu'an.

Seeing Zhao Mengmeng laughing carefree, Qi Mu'an assumed that she would no longer care about Xu Weiyan, and his heart was at ease.

After dinner, everyone moved to the living room for an hour of tea before parting ways and going home.

Back home, Qi Muci pulled Qiao Ran upstairs to take a bath together.

Qi Mu'an opened his laptop again, saying he needed to check his emails, a habit he had every night before bed.

In the past, Zhao Mengmeng would whine and not allow him to touch the computer, but today, she didn't say anything, grabbed her nightgown and went straight to the bathroom.

Qi Mu'an felt something was off, but he thought Zhao Mengmeng was probably just tired, so he didn't ask any further questions.

Upstairs, Qiao Ran, who was taking a bath with Qi Muci, confessed, "I saw Lin Mengchuan at Sunshine City today. He was with Xu Qing, and it seemed like they were shopping."

While washing Qiao Ran's hair, Qi Muci casually asked, "Hmm, did he say anything to you?"

Qiao Ran curled her lips and said, "I did, and I made a couple of sarcastic remarks."

Qi Muci paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "He's just a childish brat. He's always been like that since he was little. He can't speak properly."

Qiao Ran turned around and hugged Qi Muci's neck. "Actually, what I wanted to say was that even if Lin Mengchuan suddenly told me one day that he had cancer, it wouldn't change my opinion of him."

Qi Muci raised an eyebrow and smiled as he gently touched the tip of her nose. "I know. I've never worried. I believe in you. I know your situation is different from your brother's."

Qiao Ran: "Am I too hard-hearted?"

Qi Muci: "Of course not. You can tell right from wrong. I like your personality. My brother is indeed a bit indecisive sometimes, which is his weakness."

Qiao Ran: "Actually, Mengmeng is feeling really unwell today. I'd like to stay with her for a while, and then we can go to sleep a little later, okay?"

Qi Muci: "Of course, we should keep her company and offer her some advice. However, although my elder brother is indecisive, he may sympathize with the sick Xu Weiyan, but they can't reconcile."

"Mengmeng can rest assured about this."

Qiao Ran: "That's not comfortable either. As long as Xu Weiyan, the ex-wife, is in the middle, Mengmeng's life will not be easy. The world of relationships is selfish and cannot accommodate three people."

"So I want to assure you that no matter what Lin Mengchuan says or does, I will never feel any pity for him. I think this is the most basic respect for you."

"And Mengmeng, she also hopes to gain her older brother's respect."