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

She had never felt this way before; her heart was racing. It was a feeling of being valued, of being important and needed.

After so many years in the Shen family, her heart had long since become numb.

When she learned that Ye Bai was going to get engaged to her, the joy that welled up in her heart seemed to fill her entire being.

Even if it's just an engagement.

All of this is enough to prove that after spending eight years together, Ye Bai still has her in his heart.

Even if it was just a tiny bit, she was already satisfied.

She coveted his love, yet dared not overstep her bounds.

Knowing his special status, she cut off all her social interactions, fearing that her presence would cause him trouble.

She was careful, afraid of upsetting him.

Therefore, she stayed quietly in the Shen family, taking care of their children and the old lady; this was her duty.

Ayan's birth nearly cost her half her life.

He was sickly from a young age.

I can't live without people around me.

She stayed by his side for eight years, and then stayed in the Shen family for another eight years because of the child…

But in the end, even that engagement was nothing but a sham.

She had hoped, and she had waited.

For thirteen years, she stayed by his side in the Shen family, and all her expectations turned into numbness.

She also knew that any greed would come at a price, and her biggest mistake was wanting to be his wife and become his Mrs. Shen.

What's even more wrong is thinking that as long as she gives birth to his child, he'll be able to see her even once more.

She was always wrong.

Now, she leaves only to make up for the mistakes she made back then. She doesn't ask for anything; she only hopes that her mistakes won't be passed on to this child.

She knew he hated him.

She was willing to accept any price; the child was innocent.

She also wanted to tell him that their child was excellent and sensible, and asked if he could look at him more.

As far back as he can remember, Ayan would help him take care of his great-grandmother.

She helps her great-grandmother with her laundry.

Back then, Xu Xiangjun had already resigned herself to her fate in the Shen family. As long as he didn't kick her out, she would stay in the old Shen family house and take care of Ayan as he grew up.

Even if he marries a woman of equal social standing, even if she stays behind as a servant.

Regardless of the final outcome, she had already accepted her fate.

Just consider yourself as someone who is atoning for your sins by his side.

From greed to eventual numbness, Xu Xiangjun no longer desired anything.

Eight years were spent on the person she loved.

The next eight years were spent on Ayan.

Xu Xiangjun seems to have never lived for herself. Before she turned eighteen, her life was like hell. She dropped out of school starting from junior high...

Because her family could no longer afford it, she had to work in various places. She was beautiful from a young age, and even at a young age, she was not immune to other men taking liberties with her.

She never dared to speak up when she was taken advantage of.

This is a stain on her reputation, something she doesn't want to mention again.

Then, on my eighteenth birthday, I met him.

She stayed by his side.

He asked her if there was anything she wanted to do.

Xu Xiangjun didn't know, and in fact, she understood nothing about many things.

She didn't know how to take the bus, and she didn't even have the money to afford such an expensive ride.

Beside him, all she saw was a very beautiful female celebrity on a large television screen, glamorous and wearing a pretty dress, singing a beautiful song…

That's how she became a stage actress.

He will teach her what she doesn't understand.

He never mentioned the past to her.

Even now, Xu Xiangjun still feels inferior. Unlike Jiang Hua, she doesn't live such a carefree life; her passion and flamboyance...

It is what everyone longs for.

Sometimes she would think that she wished she were Jiang Hua.

The confidence she possessed stemmed from the fact that she never knew what inferiority was.

She was so passionate and beautiful.

It's only natural that Ye Bai fell in love with her.

Ah Yan…

Besides Ye Bai, the person she felt most sorry for was A Yan.

I brought him into this world, but I couldn't make him happy.

She confined herself to his side, willingly accepting her fate.

She never imagined that one day she would leave the Shen family, leave Ayan's side...

I never imagined I would marry him.

He would treat himself so well.

She felt unworthy of someone who treated her so well.

Since my mother passed away, no one has ever put shoes on her again…

Xu Xiangjun didn't recognize the roads around her and was unfamiliar with almost everything in the area. Yue Chuheng drove very slowly, guiding her step by step to find the way to Ayan's school and telling her how to get there.

He said, "If you can't see clearly this time, I'll take you there slowly next time."

Xu Xiangjun: "Thank you."

Clutching the lunchbox in her hands, she couldn't wait to see Ayan.

Licai Primary School.

It was lunchtime when Xu Xiangjun called the school's homeroom teacher, only to be told, "Ayan's mother, don't you know? Ayan was picked up an hour ago."

She asked anxiously, "When will he be back?"

The homeroom teacher said, "I'm sorry, Ayan's mother, I'm not quite sure about that."

"Okay, trouble."

As soon as Xu Xiangjun hung up the phone, she received another call from the Shen family's old residence. The familiar voice of Aunt Mei came through the phone, "Madam, please come back quickly. The old lady... seems to be dying. She's been trying to find you ever since she regained consciousness?"

"Where is Ayan?"

"The young master has been brought back."

Xu Xiangjun's heart skipped a beat. "Okay, I'll be right back."

After hanging up the phone.

Xu Xiangjun, "Could you... take me somewhere?"

Yue Chuheng: "Okay."

Yue Chuheng noticed her reaction and accelerated.

Wait until Bai Ze arrives.

Yue Chuheng stopped the car and helped her unbuckle her seatbelt. "Do you need me to wait for you?"

He didn't ask any further questions.

"Okay, I'll go check on the old lady. They'll be down soon." After getting out of the car, she saw the car parked not far away. Her expression froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered and touched the ring on her ring finger.

Aunt Mei was waiting at the door early in the morning. As she approached, Aunt Mei quickly came to greet her, her eyes red, as if she had just been crying.

"Madam, please go upstairs quickly, the old lady is waiting for you."

When Xu Xiangjun stepped onto those steps, she knew what she was about to face.

She stood outside the door watching the old lady who had regained consciousness. Ayan was by her side, and only after seeing her did Ayan run to her side.

"Mother…"

"Xiao Jun...you're here! Come in quickly." The old lady sat by the bedside and, seeing her spirited appearance, knew that it was just a final burst of energy before death.

She understood perfectly.

The two old men were like this before they passed away.

Xu Xiangjun felt a little uncomfortable as she stepped forward, not daring to meet his cold gaze. She walked past him, and that familiar scent brushed past her.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, her voice trembling slightly, "Madam."

"Thank you for your hard work these years."

Xu Xiangjun smiled slightly, "This is what I should do."

"Why are you still calling me 'Old Madam'? Quickly call me 'Grandma'." The old lady looked at the ring on her ring finger, and her smile deepened.

Xu Xiangjun, "Grandma."

“I was worried that Ye Bai wouldn’t accept you. Now that I see your family is harmonious, I can die in peace.”

Xu Xiangjun moved her thin lips slightly, but ultimately did not explain, only her eyes felt a little sore.

"I want to try your sweet and sour pork. It's been so many years since our whole family has eaten together."

"I'm unusually energetic today, so don't leave. Stay and have a family dinner."

Shen Yebai responded in a gentle voice, "Mm."

"You all go out, I'll change my clothes and come downstairs."

Xu Xiangjun pretended to be nonchalant, wiping away her tears. "I'll go prepare now."

"Ayan, let's go." Xu Xiangjun led Ayan away.

Wait until the door is closed.

"Mom, you're not leaving, right?"

Xu Xiangjun squatted down and quickly looked at his hand. There were slight scratches on his palm, and her heart ached. "Let Mom see if it hurts."

“I’m fine, Mom. Ayan doesn’t feel any pain. Auntie has already applied medicine for me.”

"Mom, now that you're here, are you not leaving?"

Xu Xiangjun smiled slightly and touched his face. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Ayan."

Shen Yanli reached out and forcefully wiped away the tears in her eyes. "I'm fine, Mom. I'll listen to my teachers at school."

“Ayan, Grandma Mei is also there to take care of you.”

“Ayan can manage on her own.”

"Mom still has to cook for Great-Grandma, right? Ayan, go wash the vegetables for Mom. Ayan will learn to cook by herself in the future, and will eat her fill every day so she won't go hungry and worry Mom."

The more he acted this way, the more pain Xu Xiangjun felt. It was as if her heart was being torn apart by a thousand knives, and she could hardly breathe.

"Ayan, I'm sorry. Mom can't take you with her."

"If one day you really don't want to stay here anymore, just call Mom, and Mom will take you away, okay?"

He nodded vigorously.

"There are some things you don't understand yet, but you will when you grow up. Staying here will make your future path easier."

"Your mother can't give you anything."

"I know, Mom." Ayan couldn't hold back her tears, but she didn't cry out loud. "As long as Mom comes to see Ayan every day, I'm already very happy."

Just then, a figure descended from above. "Miss Xu, the old lady has just regained consciousness. You can stay and take care of her until she is fully recovered. The doctor said that the old lady doesn't have more than two days left. During this time, you can also spend more time with the young master."

Xu Xiangjun stood up. "Ayan is very sensible. I feel at ease knowing that there are servants to take care of her."

"I'm going to cook now."

Xu Xiangjun went downstairs and habitually washed and chopped vegetables before finally making the sweet and sour pork.

The old lady was the last to come downstairs.

"Why isn't Ye Bai coming downstairs? Xiao Jun, go and call Ye Bai downstairs for dinner."

"Yes, old lady."

Xu Xiangjun walked quietly to the door of the study, stopped, and her gaze fell on him through the crack in the door that was not closed tightly.

He stood quietly in front of the French windows, his back to the door, his figure outlined in the afterglow of the setting sun.

He had a cigarette between his fingers.

Smoke slowly billowed from his mouth, rising and spreading through the air. The faint scent of tobacco drifted in through the crack in the door.

Xu Xiangjun composed herself and then said softly, "Let's go downstairs and have dinner."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet study.