Return to before death

However, the quiet atmosphere did not make them feel awkward at all. No one spoke up to break the stalemate, as if this was how it should be.

I do not know how long it has been……

The silence was broken by a click. Upon hearing the sound, Wu Ma, as if to escape the suffocating atmosphere, hurried to the door to greet the master of the house.

"Young Master, you're finally back." Wu Ma greeted the newcomer softly, then cautiously glanced back, seemingly concerned about something.

Zong Zhengqing almost chuckled at her cautious demeanor. Curious, he gestured towards the living room with his eyes and asked softly, with a mixture of urgency and panic, "How did it go?"

Aunt Wu looked back again, then covered her mouth, frowned, and explained the situation in the living room to Zong Zhengqing with a worried expression: "Miss Yan has been here for a while, and the two of them almost got into a fight." As she spoke, she seemed to remember something, turned her head and gestured towards the living room, her voice becoming much softer, "They're not arguing now, but they're both just sitting there without saying a word, and the atmosphere... it scared me!" She shook her head as she spoke, shaking her body exaggeratedly, as if still shaken. "This can't go on, Young Master, you should think of a way to persuade Madam and Miss Yan."

Because of Madam Zong, the housekeepers in the house all called Yan Ran "Miss Yan" instead of "Mrs. Zong".

"Oh dear, I have to go cook," she suddenly remembered that it was almost time to eat, and quickly apologized to Zong Zhengqing before getting ready to cook, muttering to herself, "I wonder if Miss Yan will stay for dinner."

"Aunt Wu, wait, she's here."

Seeing the bewildered look on the person's face as they turned around, she added, "She ate here; she'll stay."

His expression was firm, and his tone carried an unquestionable air.

Before he finished speaking, he had already walked towards the living room.

"finally come?"

It was a familiar, condescending tone.

"..."

As soon as he entered the living room, two pairs of eyes were fixed on him. The familiar scene made Zong Zhengqing feel a sudden fear. He stopped in his tracks and stood there, unsure whether to go or retreat.

"What are you standing there for? Come here."

Zong Zhengqing sighed deeply in his heart and finally walked in.

Seeing Zong Zhengqing's reaction, Yan Ran didn't know what to feel.

Still so cowardly...

He sat down on a single sofa, facing Yan Ran, with only a coffee table between them.

As soon as she sat down, Madam Zong turned around and gave her a disdainful look, then looked at Yan Ran with a questioning expression, "Speak, what happened?"

"The reason you can't get a divorce is something you'll have to ask your son about."

Yan Ran looked back at the matriarch, her expression unchanged.

"Ranran, I..." Zong Zhengqing suddenly looked up at Yan Ran, wanting to explain, but when he caught a glimpse of his mother's face, his words stopped abruptly, as if someone had grabbed his throat and he couldn't speak. He didn't continue, but just lowered his head again.

Seeing his reaction, the matriarch nodded in satisfaction, but her words carried a different meaning: "Useless thing."

Zong Zhengqing lowered his head even further.

Yan Ran sneered from the side, not pressing him for details about what he wanted to say.

She could guess what he was going to say; she was already tired of hearing his same old lines over the past few days.

Turning to face Mrs. Zong, she spoke with an extremely cold demeanor: "Mr. Zong has been coming to see me frequently lately, saying that he doesn't want a divorce, even though I told him I've already hired a lawyer."

She paused, then added, "Not long ago, I even found my parents and wanted them to come and persuade me."

"However, just recently, when I last visited your home, Mr. Zong had already clearly agreed to sign the divorce agreement."

He put on a fake smile and looked at the matriarch as if he were puzzled.

"So this is how the main family's rules are: going back on your word, harassment?"

As the matriarch listened to what Yan Ran said, her face turned ashen with anger.

"You think I'd believe you just because of what you say? Who knows if you made it up?"

Zong Zhengqing looked up several times, almost interrupting, but each time he swallowed his words when he saw his mother's expression.

"Zhengqing, is what she said true or false?"

"Mom, no, let me explain..." Zong Zhengqing quickly looked up, trying to make amends.

Before he could explain, Yan Ran interrupted him, "Oh, so there's also lying and deception?"

"Ranran..." Zong Zhengqing looked at Yan Ran with an incredulous expression, unable to finish his sentence.

"You!" The matriarch also looked back at Yan Ran, her voice filled with fury.

"Moreover, for the sake of the Zong family's reputation, whether it's me, a daughter-in-law who is not worthy of being in the public eye, or Mr. Zong's attitude." Yan Ran was indifferent to their attitude, after all, she no longer cared, and the various things and people in this family were none of her business.

He paused, then looked meaningfully at the matriarch and continued, "Wouldn't this be a disgrace to the Zong family? If word gets out..."

"Stop talking! Do you dare tell anyone?" The matriarch interrupted Yan Ran sharply, her words full of threat.

"That depends on what your young master decides to do," Yan Ran smiled, not angry at the threat.

"Zhengqing, did you see that? Did you understand? Get a divorce right now! If I find out you've done anything behind my back that disgraces the Zong family, you can forget about being the eldest young master." After hearing Yan Ran's words, Zong's mother immediately turned to Zong Zhengqing and ordered him.

Zong Zhengqing nodded sadly and remained silent.

Stepping out of the main family's gate, Yan Ran looked up at the sky. The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was cloudless.

Taking a deep breath, the fresh air entered her lungs through her nasal cavity, and in this atmosphere, Yan Ran felt inexplicably comfortable.

Remembering what happened on the TV program that afternoon, she smiled and left without looking back.

On the second floor of the Zong family mansion, Zong Zhengqing stood by the window, watching the departing figure with a complex expression, lost in thought.

On the other side, a grand and luxurious mansion.

Sheng Xuanling received the report early in the morning. After taking the document and quickly scanning it, she looked up at her assistant standing in front of the table, pinched her brow, and asked, "Did you find it? A subsidiary of the Zong Group?"

"We found it. There are fifteen private hospitals of all sizes owned by the Zong family, mainly involved in food, medicine, and clothing, as well as some real estate," the assistant replied, looking at the spare documents in his hand with a calm and capable expression.

After listening to what the person said, Sheng Xuanling smiled with satisfaction: "Very good. Let our company's subsidiaries acquire their shares, including Zong's Hospital. Not too many, not too few."

After finishing speaking, seeing that the person was still standing there waiting for more, Sheng Xuanling silently looked at him for a while and asked, "Do you understand?"