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

He was so addicted to it, yet the man was not satisfied.

His rough palms rested on her slender waist, and his deep eyes beneath his strong brows were filled with intense desire. She was like a flower that had been drained of all its sweet nectar, drooping softly.

Jiang Hua was completely weak, so Pei Zhan lifted her up and carried her into the master bedroom. As the last piece of clothing covering her body slipped off, faint pleas for mercy could be heard intermittently.

The torment of that night.

The next day, I didn't feel fully awake until noon.

...

The body of Old Mrs. Shen was cremated that very night. Her ashes were placed in the mourning hall, and many people came to pay their respects. The burial was scheduled for tomorrow, which was a suitable day.

The Jiang family went to pay their respects, and they didn't arrive too late. Pei Xun was still at school, but her maternal grandfather, father, and Pei Zhan all came.

When Jiang Hua saw Shen Yebai again, it had been many years since they last met. She could tell that he was deliberately avoiding her, and that there were some things he kept to himself, unspoken and unresolved.

This will always be the case between them.

After a brief stay, we returned.

After getting into the car, Jiang Hua looked at the scene not far away. Xu Xiangjun was squatting in front of the child, talking about something. Not far behind them, a gray sedan was parked. The man was wearing a beige knitted sweater and black casual trousers. From a distance, he looked gentle and handsome, tall and muscular, and exuded an air of scholarly refinement.

Seeing that he looked somewhat familiar, Jiang Hua suddenly remembered that he was a professor in the Department of Astronomy at Imperial University, and was very popular among the students. Among the professors, Yue Chuheng was the youngest.

Jiang Hua never expected that after Xu Xiangjun left the Shen family, they would end up together.

Does Xu Xiangjun's marriage mean she married him?

Pei Zhan noticed her gaze and followed it. "Cutting her losses and leaving the Shen family is a good choice for her."

"So, this is the solution you gave her?"

Pei Zhan came home too late that day, and Jiang Hua questioned him about what he had been doing. He told her everything.

Pei Zhan glanced at her indifferently, then looked away. "This is her own choice. What else can she do besides wasting her time by staying in the Shen family?"

The moment the child was born, Shen Yebai's attitude had already determined whether she could win this gamble.

It is now obvious that Xu Xiangjun lost everything and had to leave the stage in the end.

For nine years, he remained in the Shen family without a name or status, living a life devoid of freedom, gaining no benefits, and receiving no love from Shen Yebai.

This is the price of defeat.

Even after being trapped for nine years, she still couldn't let go of her unwavering love for Shen Yebai.

The cup that Jiang Hua smashed at Xu Xiangjun in the theater ended Xu Xiangjun's career as a stage actress.

Since replacing her, Shen Yebai has gradually lost his favor towards Xu Xiangjun. At that time, she was already an unloved caged bird. Without Shen Yebai, Xu Xiangjun was indeed nothing.

It could even plummet.

When she was favored, Xu Xiangjun received the whole world from him; when she was abandoned, the whole world left her.

However, Xu Xiangjun never regretted it. All she wanted to do was stay by his side and be quiet and obedient, even if she was just a canary that would never speak.

"After all these years, doesn't he have even the slightest feeling for Xu Xiangjun?"

She was the only woman by Shen Yebai's side.

Sometimes, Jiang Hua really didn't understand Xu Xiangjun. If she really wanted the position of mayor's wife and wanted to use her child to climb the social ladder, she had already failed the moment the child was born. She could have simply abandoned the child and left.

Most importantly, she didn't make a fuss or fight over anything during those nine years.

With her looks, she left Shen Yebai, abandoned her child, and found a powerful and wealthy patron.

A woman who climbs the social ladder by relying on her looks, no matter how beautiful she is, will eventually grow old and lose her beauty. Such a person cannot afford to gamble with nine years of her life.

But he insisted on staying in the Shen family for nine years.

If she had left earlier nine years ago and returned to being a stage actress, she would have achieved great success by now.

Perhaps it's an obsession; a person's obsession is indeed terrifying.

I know it's wrong.

But driven by their obsession, they want to keep going even if it's wrong, no matter how bad it is.

Few people can let go of their obsessions.

Xu Xiangjun is one of them.

She's married quite well now. As long as she behaves herself, doesn't cause trouble, and lives a good life with this man, she will be happy.

"The Shen family needs a marriage between people of equal social standing."

"Xu Xiangjun is not suitable."

A cold wind blew into the car, and the windows slowly rolled up. Jiang Hua looked at Pei Zhan and asked, "What about this child?"

“Even without the Shen family, he would have gone much further. Staying in the Shen family is a way to temper his character.”

If it's really as Pei Zhan said, then it's not so bad.

Things you obtain through your own efforts are more likely to stay with you.

Jiang Hua was silent for a while, feeling a little worried about her dog, Gou Dan, "How does he compare to A Xun?"

Pei Zhan held her hand tightly: "He doesn't need this kind of training."

...

"Mom, aren't you going in to take a look?"

Xu Xiangjun touched his face, "Mom won't go in."

"When you're with your dad, you have to be a good boy and listen to him, okay? Dad is very busy, so you have to be understanding and not bother him too often. If he misses you, he'll come to see you."

"I know, Mom."

All he wants is for his mother to be happy.

Mom looked beautiful today, wearing a beige knitted dress, with a lovely hairstyle and lipstick, making her look even more gentle. He said his mom was the most beautiful mom in the world.

"Ayan, your mother will never lie to you about what she said."

"Mom will come to see you again after school tomorrow, Ayan."

Shen Yanli nodded vigorously, "I understand."

He knew it was time for him to leave when he heard Aunt Mei calling him from not far away.

"Young Master..."

Shen Qianqian: "Brother..."

She was happy to see her mother every day; at least her mother hadn't abandoned her.

...

School ended an hour early on Friday.

The driver picked up the child and returned. Jiang Hua lay on the rocking chair with her eyes closed, wearing a face mask and basking in the sun. Pei Zhan was processing the roots and branches of a premium golden ginkgo tree that had been imported from France.

"Mom, I'm back."

Upon seeing his mother lying in the rocking chair, Pei Xun immediately took off his schoolbag and handed it to Kager behind him. Since being scolded by Pei Zhan last time, he had changed his habit of carelessly throwing his schoolbag around. He immediately climbed onto Jiang Hua and squeezed into the rocking chair with her. Jiang Hua moved to the side to make room for him.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

Jiang Hua removed the face mask from her face and wiped the excess mask liquid on the child's face with her hands. Pei Xun, who was sweating, still had a milky fragrance, sweet and pleasant.