No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

"What about Qingran? How do you treat Qingran? You've pushed her away time and time again. Now she's engaged to another man. Don't you feel any regret?"

“I can see that Qingran has always had feelings for you. Why can’t you two clear up any misunderstandings between you? Why did it have to come to this? If you’re being misled by her for a while, you should take advantage of the fact that you still have a chance to turn back.”

“It seems… Mrs. Huo hasn’t listened to a word I said.” Pei Zhan decided to stop pretending. “The financial case that Lu Yuanzhou personally took over was resolved in the shortest time possible because I had Kagel step in. It was also my intention to facilitate their marriage.”

The opposing party is one of the largest conglomerates in the area. They could win this lawsuit in hundreds of ways, and they might even have already bought Lu Yuanzhou's life.

"I have said before that I have never had any romantic feelings for her."

Zhou Xu... is dead, and he won't just live in the past.

Pei Zhan knew very well what he wanted right now.

"I've already made things clear with the Bai family about Song Qingran's matter, and I don't want you involved, understand?"

"When you've figured things out, the Huo family mansion can be rebuilt. If you haven't figured it out... I'll leave it as a ruin forever."

"I...do what I say!"

When she learned that the rebuilt Huo family mansion had been destroyed by a fire, her first thought was of the Huo family's old enemies. But she never expected that it was her own son who did it, and for a woman no less.

The reason is still that they don't want the Huo family to return to the capital.

No matter what Xia He said, she couldn't change his decision. Feeling heartbroken and exhausted, she could only leave.

Aunt Zhong, who was taking care of Xia He, noticed that Xia He was in a bad mood and quickly comforted her, saying, "Madam, the doctor said you can't keep holding in your anger anymore, it's not good for your health."

Xia He touched her face: "Am I... really getting old?"

Aunt Zhong looked over and saw that Xia He did indeed have a few gray hairs, probably because she had been sick and bedridden for so many years, which led to her current state. "Madam, what are you saying? Everyone gets old."

"Actually, what the eldest young master said is not wrong. The eldest young master is already so old and has started a family outside. If the madam still interferes in the eldest young master's life and a good marital relationship is broken up like this, given the eldest young master's temper, there is indeed nothing he wouldn't do."

"It will only exacerbate the conflict between mother and child."

"Things from back then are all in the past."

"No matter what, Jiang Qingcheng is already dead. How can a dead person compare to a living one? Rather than making the young master unhappy here, it's better to accept the Jiang family. Madam, don't forget that your greatest support in the future will still be the young master. The master... still has many illegitimate children eyeing the position of Huo family heir. Now... making sure the young master secures this position is the most important thing, so that you can have a life of luxury in the future."

Thinking of him, Xia He felt a pang of pain in her heart. She came from an ordinary background and had given half her life to him, thinking that he loved her and that's why he gave her the position of the matriarch of the Huo family and married her. But she never expected that Huo Tingshan just needed a mistress who was easy to control and posed no threat.

Because they can't control him, he can easily leave behind illegitimate children outside.

She rubbed her forehead, shaking her head in despair. "My husband, and my son, their hearts... aren't with me, their wife and mother. What did I ask for when I married into the Huo family?!"

Xia He was born in a rural area. It was only by chance that she encountered Huo Tingshan, who was being hunted by his enemies, and she saved him…

That rainy night, he was unconscious, as if he had been drugged. The two of them ended up having sex in a dilapidated thatched hut in a daze. When he came to, this man... told her that he needed a wife and asked her if she would like to come with him.

He was extremely handsome, and Xia He was tempted. Since she had no relatives or friends, she agreed without much thought at the time.

She never expected that he would be the head of the Huo family, the richest family in the capital. Overnight, Xia He became his woman and the mistress of the house, and everything about her changed dramatically.

Xia He is a traditional person. All she wants is a husband and a harmonious family, but things don't always go as planned.

No one's heart belongs to her.

"I can't control him, and I can't hold onto his heart. But I can't afford to lose my only support again."

"Let's go back."

Aunt Zhong: "What about Miss Song's matter..."

Xia He: "Let the Bai family handle it."

"I'll observe Jiang Hua's situation further before deciding whether to accept her."

"So much has happened lately, I'm exhausted."

Aunt Zhong nodded, understanding what she meant.

Xia He is temporarily staying at Junlin Mansion, a property left by the Huo family a long time ago. It has been uninhabited for many years and was only recently cleaned. A dozen or so servants are there to take care of her daily needs.

...

"I'm sorry Qingran, you've suffered a lot these past few days. I haven't been feeling well and I'm not home most of the time. I know what's going on with you, but as you know, 230 million is no small amount. Besides... this whole thing didn't start because of you, so you don't have to take the blame for them."

"I'm sorry, I can't help you with the money."

"If you're worried, I can discuss it with the Jiang family again and see if they can reduce the compensation a bit..."

"After all, I understand. You are all students, and doing business involves both gains and losses. But these friends of yours... I also advise you to reduce your contact with them. Spending too much time with them will only harm you."

Song Qingran lowered her head, feeling utterly ashamed. "I know..."

"I'm sorry, Mama Bai."

"I apologize for bothering you."

"I will ask Mr. Pei for the compensation again. I'm really sorry to trouble you all the time."

Bai He smiled and patted her hand, "You are a loyal and righteous person, but sometimes you have to be discerning. Helping just anyone will only hurt you."

"I won't say any more."

"Stay for lunch today?"

Song Qingran quickly waved her hand and said, "No need, Aunt Bai, I still have classes at school today, I'll go back first."

"Okay, take care on the way back. It's hard to get a taxi here, I'll have the driver take you."

"Thank you, Mama Bai."

After Song Qingran left, a maid rushed over anxiously. "Madam, we just received a call from Junlin Mansion. They said they will no longer be involved in Miss Song's affairs."

"Has...something happened?"

Madam Bai sighed, "I guessed it long ago, it was probably the heir who gave the order..."

Otherwise, no one would dare to go against the Huo family's wishes.

It seems that the Jiang family ultimately won.

Upon seeing the person who came out, Xue Ruyao stepped forward and asked, "Qingran, how is she?"

Did that lady agree to lend it?

Song Qingran shook her head. "I'm sorry, Qingran has done her best. I've helped you with everything I could. The Jiang family has already dropped the lawsuit, so you'll be fine. There's really nothing else I can do."

Ye Qing's eyes widened, unable to accept this fact. "How could this be? Isn't she your godmother? If you had just asked her nicely, she might have lent us a little. Qingran... our whole family is desperate. All our assets have been auctioned off by the bank to pay off Jiang's debts." As she spoke, Ye Qing's eyes reddened, and tears of regret streamed down her face as she pleaded urgently, "Qingran... I... I'm begging you, please. Please go and beg that Madam Bai again."

"It's just a few million, not much. I...we'll write an IOU, and we'll definitely pay it back later."

Song Qingran's hand was held by her. With her eyes lowered, she moved her lips and said in a very soft voice, "I'm sorry, Xiaoyu... Aunt Bai has already helped me a lot, and two hundred million is not a small amount. No matter what, I am not her biological daughter, and she has no reason to give me so much money."

"Where is that Mrs. Xia?"

“I think her status is not ordinary. Even if she doesn’t have tens of millions or millions, a few hundred thousand would be fine to help us get through this difficult time temporarily.”

Song Qingran: "I...I can't get in touch with Aunt Xia anymore."

"Moreover, I have really done everything I was supposed to do for this matter."

"Please stop pressuring me, okay? Ayao, Xiaoyu... I told you from the beginning not to be too greedy, and to take things one step at a time. Yuanzhou has already used almost all his savings to help you pay off your debts because of this, and everything we have now... is really enough."

Xue Ruyao: "What do you mean? Are you planning to abandon us?"

"Qingran, don't forget, when we first established the jewelry restoration studio, we promised to stand together through thick and thin. Now that we're in trouble, are you just going to walk away?"

Xue Ruyao sneered, "That's true. People die for money and birds die for food. It's... We're in this situation because of our own fault. It has nothing to do with you."

“We’re already notorious at school, so it’s right that you don’t want to get involved with us.”

"Song Qingran, you're such a fake!"

"Fine, don't help then. What makes you so great? Who cares about your worthless money? Take your money and get out!" With that, Xue Ruyao took out the bank card from her pocket—the one Lu Yuanzhou had lent them—and threw it at Song Qingran.

"Little Fish, let's go. We can always figure it out ourselves."

Song Qingran squatted down and picked up the bank card that had fallen to the ground.

Just then, a black sedan stopped beside her. "Miss Song, Madam asked me to take you back to school."

Sitting in the back passenger seat, Song Qingran clutched her bank card tightly in her hand. The moment she lowered her eyes, tears fell and landed on the back of her hand. Why... did everything turn out like this?

The driver glanced at the crying girl in the rearview mirror and said with some pity, "I saw everything that happened just now. It's actually a good thing to see the people around you clearly through this incident. Miss Song may not understand what I'm saying now, but she will in the future."

"Most friendships nowadays are built on mutual benefit. Without any intermediary benefit, such so-called friendships will quickly break down."

"Not to mention, the reason this happened is because they were too greedy. College students these days... they're really capable of anything. They owe the Jiang Group 230 million yuan. They could never pay that back in several lifetimes."

"If it weren't for Miss Song's intervention, they would have been in jail long ago."

"Leaving them isn't a bad thing."

"Actually, there is a solution to this problem."

Song Qingran looked up. "Is it true?"

The driver said, "The contract was drafted by the Jiang Group. You can actually negotiate with the Jiang Group to reduce your compensation, but ultimately, the amount to be compensated is up to the president of the Jiang Group."

"Two hundred million is nothing to the Jiang Group."

"They might ask for two hundred million, or two million, twenty thousand, or even two hundred dollars..."

Song Qingran suddenly felt enlightened. The gloom in her heart seemed to have been dispelled, and she saw the bright sunshine. "Thank you, Uncle Ma, I understand."

Ma Zhong was also the driver who used to take Song Qingran to and from school. He just saw that this girl was innocent and kind, and he was willing to help her when he met such a friend. There are not many true friends these days, but those two people are never satisfied.

"However, Miss Song, please don't tell anyone that I told you about this."

Song Qingran smiled and nodded, "Yes, I know."

"Thank you so much for saying these things to me."

"I know what I need to do."

Song Qingran went home. Not long ago, she had moved out of the school. The apartment was rented by Lu Yuanzhou. It had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. They were staying there temporarily. The reason Song Qingran agreed to live with him was a deal. As long as she agreed to his conditions, Lu Yuanzhou would lend some money to A Yao and the others to help them through their difficulties.

Back at her apartment, she planned to return the money to him. When she got to the apartment door on her floor, she saw that the door was not closed and wondered if it was Yuanzhou taking the day off.

Curious, she opened the door and walked into the living room, only to suddenly hear a voice coming from the bedroom, "...Not rejecting my advances is revenge for the three years Song Qingran was kept by the president of Jiang's Group?"

"If the girl you love knew that we were in a passionate moment that night and you took me four times, do you think she... wouldn't be heartbroken and break up with you?"

Upon hearing the woman's voice, Song Qingran froze on the spot. It felt as if a hand had ripped her heart open, leaving her breathless and unable to catch her breath.

"If you dare utter a single word to her, I'll take your life!"

"I prefer the thrill of having an affair to being blatant. Do you like it this way?" The woman's seductive voice whispered in my ear.

Song Qingran felt ice-cold all over, her heart numb, and turned to leave…

Song Qingran couldn't bear to listen to the rest of their conversation. How... how could this be... they were already together...

Then what is she anyway?

Outside, a sudden downpour began. Unaware of the cold, Song Qingran walked in the rain, trying to numb her body with the icy water.

My face was a mixture of burning and icy heat, and I couldn't tell if the water on my face was tears or rain.

On that day, it seemed as if she had lost everything.

As Bai's mother grew increasingly distant and cold towards her, it seemed as if she was trying to push her away and take back everything that had once been given to her.

Mr. Pei's meticulous care for her, which she thought was love, turned out to be nothing more than a dispensable substitute. All the love he once gave her and the words he said about wanting to be with her seemed to have become a bubble. It was she who... pushed him to Jiang Hua's side.

And there's Yuanzhou brother...

She thought... even if the whole world betrayed her, he wouldn't.

Now… Song Qingran felt as if everything she once had was gone…

The words coming from the room, even without witnessing what they did, conjured up images in her mind that she shouldn't have described.

Why did he choose to betray her when she wanted to love him properly?

Song Qingran tried to banish the voices from her mind. She desperately covered her ears, trying to block them out, but no matter how hard she tried, it was no use. The voices lingered in her head, refusing to leave. She broke down…

"Why!"

Why is this happening!