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

“I can help you. You need to think this through. If you give up, it means all the efforts you’ve made over the years will have been in vain.”

"Are you willing to?"

“It’s not a matter of whether I’m willing or unwilling. If I really coveted the position of the mayor’s wife, I wouldn’t have refrained from asking him for a formal title for over a decade.”

He said she was delusional, that she wanted to gain status through her son, but little did Shen Yebai know that all she ever wanted was to stay by his side.

She really wanted it, but she wouldn't rely on her son for status; she planned to leave after giving birth to Ayan.

She has long since given up on Shen Yebai. All these years she has stayed in the Shen family without a name or status, only for Ayan.

Xu Xiangjun looked up at him with tears streaming down her face. "In all these years since I joined the Shen family, I have almost never left the old Shen family house. I have also confined myself there to avoid contact with anyone. I have also tried my best not to cause him any trouble and to fulfill my duties as a mother and take good care of him as he grows up."

"The elders of the Shen family are getting old, and the old lady cannot protect me forever. Rather than wait until I am kicked out and leave without any dignity."

"It would be better to leave sooner, so that the harm to Ayan can be less."

The only reason she was allowed to stay in the Shen family's old house was because she was Ayan's biological mother. Ye Bai couldn't refute the demands of the Shen family elders, so over the years, he wouldn't set foot in any place where she was.

"I thought you were smarter than I thought, but you chose the most foolish way."

"I'm sorry, I never thought this would implicate your wife. I also know that Ayan hit him. I apologize to you on Ayan's behalf."

Xu Xiangjun lay prostrate at the feet of the shadowy figure he was in. Pei Zhan raised his hand, and she understood. With all her remaining strength, she stood up.

Pei Zhan spoke in a low, authoritative tone, "It wouldn't do him any harm to stay with the Shen family."

"If he's made a mistake, he's made a mistake. He's just going through the same path that Shen Yebai walked back then."

"That child is not as weak-willed as you think."

"As for you... since you've already given up, you might as well find another way out for yourself."

"Without you, he will go further than you think."

"clear?"

Hearing what he said, Xu Xiangjun realized how foolish her idea of ​​taking Ayan away and disappearing was.

Trying to negotiate with a tiger for its skin—this man was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

Only then did she realize the truth. "I...I understand."

"Thank you for being willing to come and see me."

"I know what to do."

...

At 10:30 p.m., Jiang Hua was still lying in bed, unable to fall asleep due to the pain from the injury on his face. It took a while of coaxing to get him to sleep. Looking out the window at the quiet night, dappled shadows of trees swayed in the breeze.

The phone on the bedside table vibrated. Seeing who was calling, Jiang Hua threw off the covers, got out of bed, walked to the window at the end of the corridor, and answered the phone. She asked softly, "Is he alright?"

"Xiao Yan is fine, he just fell asleep." Shen Bao'er looked at the two children sleeping together on the bed. Qianqian was clinging to her older brother, lying on his body, with her doll lying to the side, fast asleep. "Huahua, you don't need to worry. I'll let Xiao Yan stay with Qianqian for a while."

"It just so happens that Qianqian needs a playmate too."

Jiang Hua: "He...didn't lay a hand on the child, did he?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone. Jiang Hua had guessed what was going on. She had expected that Shen Yebai would harm the child, so she contacted Bao'er and asked her to make a trip to the Shen family's old house.

“Huahua, I think I see my brother’s shadow in Xiaoyan. He also went through this alone before. Huahua, I just don’t understand why Xiaoyan is his child too, so he’s like his father and doesn’t treat his own child well.”

Shen Bao'er's voice trembled and choked with emotion; he felt extremely sorry for this child.

Tears fell from her eyes.

“When I got home, Xiaoyan was being punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall. My brother was about to punish him according to family rules, but luckily I arrived in time and stopped him. He was still sick when I brought him home. My brother has always been very good to me since I was little. But why doesn’t he like this child?”

"Huahua, he's so pitiful."

“I don’t want him to become like his brother.”

“I stopped disliking Xu Xiangjun a long time ago. Over the years, it was my great-grandmother who kept her in the Shen family. I knew she had wanted to leave for a long time. After Xu Xiangjun committed suicide, no one from the Shen family went to see her. My great-grandmother and the others are also very old and have difficulty moving around. The doctor said that my great-grandmother doesn’t have many days left. If they really pass away, I think Xu Xiangjun will leave the Shen family too.”

The old master of the Shen family passed away two years ago. Now, the huge old Shen family mansion is cold and deserted, with only the old lady Shen. She is now old and frail, bedridden and unable to get out of bed. Over the years, Xu Xiangjun has been taking care of her by her side every step of the way.

Jiang Hua didn't know how to comfort them, and she had no way of interfering in the Shen family's affairs.

A lingering sense of melancholy lingered in her heart. Lost in thought for a moment, she didn't notice footsteps approaching from behind until a hand embraced her from behind, and she smelled that familiar sandalwood scent.

Pei Zhan hugged her from behind, lowered his head and let his warm breath fall on her neck, nuzzling her intimately.

After a few brief words, the call ended.

"Let's stop arguing, okay?"

He humbled himself and gave in.

"You raised your voice at me first." There was a hint of grievance in her voice.

He apologized: "I'm sorry."

Jiang Hua turned and leaned against his chest, making a muffled sound, "I just don't want you to keep saying 'leave' or 'break up.' You always do this, even though you know I'm just saying it out of anger, you still want to leave. You should comfort me."

“I’m also afraid… I don’t know how many more years I’ll have to wait after you leave.”

My body trembled slightly as I felt the warmth of the liquid seeping into my suit jacket at that spot on my chest…

...

The prison gates were wide open, and a man in prison clothes, shackled and blindfolded, was led into a black sedan.

A car sped through the streets at night and finally stopped at a villa.

When Xu Zhoulan was escorted into the hall, the scent of women's perfume filled the entire hall.

"Miss Huo, the person has been brought here."

"Thank you for your trouble." The voice, which had not been heard for nearly six years, reached Xu Zhoulan's ears. His thin lips, which were naturally red, curled into a wicked smile. The girl's childish voice had long since transformed into a mature one, making it even more irresistible.

Huo Ling, dressed in a black silk bathrobe, slowly approached him, raising the glass of red wine in her hand and pouring it over his head. The bright red liquid flowed down his black hair, across his cheeks, along his sensual lips, and then slowly dripped from his chin…

"When did Little Ling'er become so playful?"

Huo Ling raised her hand and pulled off the black belt that was covering his vision. Without its superfluous presence, it was blown to the ground by the wind and landed at his feet...

The bright, luxurious crystal chandelier overhead illuminated each other, allowing them to see each other clearly.

...

The hospital corridors were filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant, and the lights were pale and cold.

In the ward, the white curtains fluttered gently in the breeze, and sunlight streamed through the window onto Xu Xiangjun's pale face.

She lay quietly on the hospital bed, her wrists wrapped in thick gauze, with traces of blood still faintly visible.

The fluid in the IV drip was dripping down, drop by drop…

Shen Yanli gently pushed open the door to the ward, his movements careful, as if afraid of disturbing the person in the bed.

He slowly walked to Xu Xiangjun's bedside, his eyes filled with worry and fear.

He reached out his small hand and gently grasped Xu Xiangjun's hand that wasn't receiving an IV drip. Her hand was as cold as ice, which made his heart clench.

"Mom..." Shen Yanli's voice was choked with sobs, and his small body trembled slightly.

His eyes were brimming with tears, ready to burst forth at any moment.

Xu Xiangjun slowly opened her eyes. The moment she saw Shen Yanli, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes—guilt, gratitude, and a hint of indescribable helplessness.

"Why are you here alone?"

Xu Xiangjun spoke weakly, "You're still sick, go back quickly."

Shen Yanli said, "I'm fine, Mom. My fever has gone down. You can feel it if you don't believe me."

Xu Xiangjun touched his forehead, and it was indeed a little better.

"Yes, my aunt took me to get a fever-reducing injection, and that's how I got better. My aunt also accompanied me to the hospital."

"Mom, are you thirsty? I'll go get you some water."

Shen Yanli quickly got up, filled a cup with some warm water, and carefully fed it to Xu Xiangjun. "Mom, drink some water. You'll feel better if you drink water."

Xu Xiangjun drank a few sips of water and felt her throat feel a little better.

She looked at Shen Yanli with heartache in her eyes, "Go back quickly, don't let it interfere with your studies, Mom is fine."

Shen Yanli shook his head vigorously, his little hand tightly holding Xu Xiangjun's hand. "I won't leave, Mom. I'm afraid you'll leave me. Mom, please don't leave Ayan alone, okay?"

As he spoke, tears finally streamed down his face, falling drop by drop onto Xu Xiangjun's hand.

“I know it’s Dad who’s making you unhappy. If Mom wants to leave, can you please not leave Ayan alone? Ayan wants to be with Mom forever. As long as I can be with Mom, I’m willing to go anywhere.”

"I can take care of Mom..."

Xu Xiangjun's eyes also reddened. She gently wiped away Shen Yanli's tears, "Mom will stay by Ayan's side and won't go anywhere."

"Mom promised Ayan that she would watch you grow up."

From then on, Shen Yanli stayed by Xu Xiangjun's side like a little tail, never leaving her side.

During the day, he would sit by the hospital bed and tell Xu Xiangjun about what happened at school.

Even in the evening, Shen Yanli refused to go home.

He would lay out a small mat in the corner of the ward and curl up on it to sleep.

Sometimes, the hospital lights are too bright, and he will cover his eyes with his little hands. But as soon as Xu Xiangjun makes the slightest noise, he will immediately wake up, run to Xu Xiangjun's bedside, and ask with concern, "Mom, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Mom is fine."

After he fell asleep, the ward door opened, and Shen Bao'er walked into the ward, picked him up, and left.

"Thank you for taking care of Ayan."

Looking at her haggard appearance, Shen Bao'er hesitated to speak, "It's your duty, but... remember to take care of yourself too."

"it is good."

The next day.

The nurse came to change Xu Xiangjun's dressing.

When the nurse removed the gauze from Xu Xiangjun's wrist, the shocking wound made him hold back his tears, which welled up in his eyes.

Apart from the servants from the Shen family visiting her a few times these past few days, he has never shown up once.

On the fourth day, Xu Xiangjun left the hospital alone.

I went to Bai Ze and met him.

She gently raised her hand and knocked on the heavy door.

After a while, the door slowly opened.

When the maid saw Xu Xiangjun, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Madam, you've arrived!"

"I'll go call the sir."

The maid stepped aside to let her into the house.

A short while later, the maid came downstairs. "Madam, please go upstairs."

"You don't need to call me that anymore."

The servant did not speak.

Xu Xiangjun stepped into the familiar yet unfamiliar corridor, a place she had visited very few times.

I found the door to his study by relying on my memory.

Xie Huai stood outside the door.

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, he still greeted her, "Miss Xu."

Xu Xiangjun smiled and nodded.

When she entered, she saw that the study was still as elegantly furnished as ever, with antique bookshelves filled with all kinds of books, and a faint sandalwood fragrance permeating the air.

Looking at him, Xu Xiangjun had no idea how long it had been since they last met; it seemed like many years.

"I've said it before, no one is allowed to come to Bai Ze without my permission."

Shen Yebai didn't mention her suicide attempt at all, and seemed indifferent to her affairs.

His voice was cold and distant, utterly unfamiliar.

The words Xu Xiangjun had been wanting to say to him for a long time were, "I'm leaving."

Shen Yebai, "..."

“This time I want to try a different life. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that I am Ayan’s mother.”

"I will get married, and stay in the capital in another way that will never bother you."

"I only hope that my departure will make you treat Ayan better. He is innocent. All the blame is on me, and I can accept any punishment."

Xu Xiangjun touched her injured wrist, glanced down at it, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"I will no longer annoy you, and I will leave as you wish."

"If you marry someone else in the future, please don't abandon Ayan."

"He's only ever wanted your approval since he was a child. Don't blame him; he's more obedient and sensible than you think."

"Because of me, you haven't been home for many years. Great-grandmother, the doctor said she doesn't have many days left, you should go see her too."

From beginning to end, until she left, Shen Yebai didn't even glance at her.

The day she left Bai Ze.

Xu Xiangjun kept her word and had a whirlwind marriage with a university professor in his forties who was majoring in astronomy. His family was quite well-off.

They didn't hold a wedding banquet; they just got their marriage certificate.

In terms of material things, she has never been mistreated.

From the moment they met to getting their marriage certificate, it only took two short days…

Xu Xiangjun used to be a stage actress and had worked in the entertainment industry. She also has over ten million followers on her social media account.

On the day she received her marriage certificate, she posted a photo of it on social media…