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

"No," Qiao Ran replied decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Mengchuan was stunned for a moment, then laughed self-deprecatingly, "Then why did you marry me in the first place? Was it really for money? But if it was for money, why did you agree to leave with nothing?"

Qiao Ran replied coldly, her face expressionless: "Lin Mengchuan, I admit, I shouldn't have listened to my mother and married someone I had no feelings for. If I could turn back time, I would never have married you."

Lin Mengchuan: "So, you were forced to marry me by your mother?"

Qiao Ran: "What else do you think? I don't even know you, so where does the love come from? If you want to think I'm after your money, that's fine too. I did consider marrying into your family back then, which would have ensured I'd never have to worry about food or clothing in the future."

Who doesn't want a good life?

Lin Mengchuan clenched his fist, looked at Qi Muci, and asked Qiao Ran, "Do you love my cousin? And why did you marry him? Was it to get revenge on me?"

Qiao Ran laughed angrily, "Lin Mengchuan, do you deserve it? Revenge on you? I don't care who you are at all. Is it worth risking my happiness for revenge? Do you think everyone is as naive as you?"

Lin Mengchuan persisted, "Then why did you marry him? Don't tell me you love him."

“That’s right, I love Mu Ci,” Qiao Ran replied decisively. “Because I like him and love him, I want to spend the rest of my life with him. I am especially grateful to you for divorcing me, so that I can find true happiness.”

Lin Mengchuan scoffed at the idea of ​​"happiness," saying, "Stop deceiving yourself, Qiao Ran. There is no such thing as happiness in this world."

Qiao Ran: "You're wrong, Lin Mengchuan. It's because you're selfish and only think about yourself. You don't respect others, and you don't empathize with them, so you don't know what happiness is."

"But just because you don't know doesn't mean there is no happiness in this world."

Lin Mengchuan pursed his lips as he looked at Qiao Ran.

Qi Muci walked back to Qiao Ran's side, intertwined his fingers with hers, and gazed at her affectionately.

Although the two did not speak, Lin Mengchuan felt a sting in his eyes at that moment.

He knew he had lost to Qi Muci.

Qiao Ran was telling the truth; she had fallen for Qi Muci, which fueled Lin Mengchuan's jealousy.

He thought Qiao Ran married Qi Muci to get revenge on him and for the resources of Xingyun Entertainment, but he never expected that Qiao Ran married him out of love.

In that instant, Lin Mengchuan realized that he could not accept that Qiao Ran had fallen in love with another man.

Especially since that man was his cousin.

He suppressed his anger, turned around, and quickly left the private room.

Shen Qingzhu glared at Qiao Ran resentfully, then turned and chased after her, calling out, "Meng Chuan, wait for me!"

Xu Ying felt guilty towards Qiao Ran. If she hadn't insisted on arranging that marriage back then, Qiao Ran wouldn't have been hurt.

"Ranran, don't worry, as long as I live, I won't let Meng Chuan bother you again," Xu Ying assured her, and then turned and left.

Xiang Wanli was still furious. She looked at Qi Muci and Qiao Ran and said, "I will talk to the old man tonight and ask him to call Meng Chuan's father and tell Zhihong to keep a close eye on his son."

"Qingzhu spoils Meng Chuan too much and can't be relied on, but he should have learned his lesson today."

Outside, Shen Qingzhu caught up with her son.

She grabbed Lin Mengchuan's arm and said, "Mengchuan, what's so great about Qiao Ran? Why are you so fixated on her? Mom will introduce you to a girl a hundred times better than her, okay?"

Lin Mengchuan remained silent with a dark expression.

Xu Ying caught up with him, "Lin Mengchuan, let's get married. Let your mother introduce you to someone you're satisfied with, or someone she's satisfied with. You two should get married quickly, and don't bother Qiao Ran anymore."

Shen Qingzhu was greatly surprised, "Mom, you also support me introducing Meng Chuan to potential partners?"

Xu Ying: "If we can't control him, let's introduce him to someone who can, so we don't have to clean up his messes every day. It's embarrassing."

With her mother-in-law's support, Shen Qingzhu was in a great mood. "Meng Chuan, you heard what your grandma said, so let's do it this way. Mom will find you a suitable marriage partner as soon as possible."

Lin Mengchuan didn't say anything, unlocked the car and got in. Shen Qingzhu quickly opened the car door and let her mother-in-law get in first.

Xu Qing sat in his car, watching Lin Mengchuan drive away.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ding Ding curled her lip and cursed, "How could you be friends with someone like Lin Mengchuan? Putting everything else aside, how can you tolerate his awful temper? Are you a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?"

Xu Qing cried, her face contorted with tears. "I wanted to get rich by following him."

Ding Ding glanced at Xu Qing sideways, "So you're saying you don't deserve any sympathy either? What did you get out of following him for so long?"

Xu Qing: "There's nothing there."

Ding Ding: "That's right. You might as well go out and try your luck on your own. You have resources and connections, so why do you have to follow him? I really look down on you."

Xu Qing looked at Ding Ding, tears welling up in her eyes.

Seeing his expression, Ding Ding felt a little sorry for him. "Alright, I'll treat you to dinner, but I'll choose the place so you don't take the opportunity to rip me off. Let's go to Sunshine City for lamb spine hot pot."

Xu Qing: "Will you still be my friend in the future?"

Ding Ding rolled her eyes. "What do you think? Why should I pay for your meal?"

Xu Qing smiled broadly, "Thank you. I lost Lin Mengchuan as a friend, but I gained you as a friend, which is also good."

Ding Ding: "Then what are you standing there for? Let's go."

-

Qi Muci and Qiao Ran returned home and bumped into Qi Mu'an as he was leaving.

Qiao Ran glanced at the insulated bag Qi Mu'an was carrying and deliberately asked, "Big brother, are you delivering food to someone?"

Qi Mu'an was a little embarrassed. "Mengmeng can't cook, and I'm afraid she'll go hungry. You don't need to wait for me to come back for dinner. I've brought my portion too. I'll go eat with Mengmeng."

Qi Muci smiled and asked, "Aren't you angry anymore?"

Qi Mu'an said shamelessly, "What are you angry about? When did I get angry? By the way, where did you two go? Why did you take so long? Never mind, I have to hurry up and deliver the food. We'll talk when I get back."

Watching Qi Mu'an run off in a hurry, Qi Muci turned around, hooked his arm around Qiao Ran's waist, and asked, "Are you hungry? Let's go eat?"

Qiao Ran shook her head, "I'm not hungry. It's still early. Let's rest for a while before eating."

Qi Mu'an: "Then go to the study to warm up first, and I'll make you a pot of tea."

"Okay," Qiao Ran said, and went upstairs first. Qi Muci went to the kitchen to ask Aunt Lin to make tea and get some snacks.

Qiao Ran entered the study. The fire in the fireplace was still burning; she guessed it must have been lit by the butler, Uncle Yang.

She took off her coat and tossed it on the sofa, then sat down on the rug in front of the fireplace and reached out to warm her hands.

Empty your mind and don't think about anything.

After a while, Qi Muci brought over tea and snacks.

He placed the tea and snacks on the coffee table, poured her a cup of tea, and handed it to her, saying, "Aunt Lin said she made you some fruit tea."

Qiao Ran took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. "It's delicious. The fruit tea that Aunt Lin brewed is the best fruit tea I've ever had."

Qi Muci took the teacup Qiao Ran handed him. "Would you like more?"

Qiao Ran: "We'll drink later, you should rest for a while."

"Okay," Qi Muci shifted his position and hugged Qiao Ran, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "Were those things you said to Lin Mengchuan just now the truth?"

Qiao Ran smiled and pursed her lips. "Which sentence? I said a lot."

Qi Muci smiled gently, "About the question about why you married me."