Return to before death

The car sped along the road at dusk, the colorful lights illuminating the night, but unable to illuminate the hearts of the two people inside.

It only takes about forty minutes to get to the ancestral home.

Before getting out of the car, Zong Zhengqing looked at Yan Ran quietly and affectionately, shedding all his pretense. He said, "I know you blame me for being too cold-hearted about Tangtang. I really had no choice. Between Tangtang and you, I chose you without hesitation. Losing Tangtang would make me sad for a while, but without you, I don't know how I would live. I can't live without you. Maybe you blame me for being heartless and indifferent, but I'm willing to accept it. As long as I can protect you, I'm not afraid of anything."

"Yan Ran, I truly love you, which is why I cannot bear the thought of losing you."

Yan Ran bit her lip, remaining silent.

Zong Zhengqing's words and emotions were genuine, and she was indeed moved, but it felt like there was a layer of glass between them, making it seem unreal. She dared not break through this barrier.

"I understand. We'll talk about these things later."

Zong Zhengqing knew that once Yan Ran was released this time, she would never come back, and besides, she wasn't entirely unmoved.

"Please believe me one last time, okay? Were all those years we spent together just a lie? Ranran, you still love me, come back."

Yan Ran didn't speak, but simply walked into the ancestral home.

Zong Zhengqing followed her inside.

The ancestral home remains unchanged.

It was as if Yan Ran and Tang Tang had never left; everything remained in its original place, spotless.

Yan Ran looked at each one and her heart softened. She could see Zong Zhengqing's sincerity, and she knew that Tangtang wasn't the only one suffering from the ordeal.

Moreover, the recordings show that Jung-kyung knew the person behind the kidnappers, and if an investigation were to be conducted, the main family would undoubtedly be the best option.

"Zhengqing." Yan Ran hesitated before speaking.

"Ranran, you're coming back."

Seeing the delighted look in Zong Zhengqing's eyes, Yan Ran finally made up her mind.

“I’m moving back tomorrow, but I need to continue working. Also, I think we should sleep in separate rooms for a while to calm things down.”

Zong Zhengqing hugged her tightly, and Yan Ran could feel the warmth of his chest.

"No problem, Ranran. As long as you're still willing to be with me, I'll do anything you ask."

"Mmm." Yan Ran reached out and hugged him back.

Night gradually fell.

Yan Ran wanted to return to Yu Xiao's house, but Zong Zhengqing tried to persuade her to stay. She explained that she needed to talk to Yu Xiao first, and Zong Zhengqing reluctantly agreed.

When the two of them reached the door.

The door slowly opened.

The matriarch, accompanied by her subordinates, slowly walked into the hall. Her gaze swept over Yan Ran, and her brows furrowed.

"Here to pick up something? Get out of here." She said coldly, then brushed past Yan Ran without even sparing her a glance.

Yan Ran looked at Zong Zhengqing, who paused for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward.

"Mother, Ranran and I are not getting a divorce. I plan to bring Ranran back tomorrow."

The matriarch stopped in her tracks. She had already reached the stairs when she heard this. She turned around and stared at Yan Ran with disdain.

"No. You'd better get a divorce as soon as possible."

“Mother, I am sincere, I truly love Yan Ran. No matter what, no matter whether you agree or not, I will not divorce her,” Zong Zhengqing said firmly, clenching his fist.

Only then did the matriarch show a hint of surprise.

“Fool, what use is love? You’d better marry a lady from a respectable family and give birth to the heir of the Zong family.” As she spoke, her eyes were half-closed, and she casually nodded her chin toward Yan Ran. “If you really like that woman, being her mistress is fine. But the Zong family’s wife is not someone that a lowly family can afford.”

“Mother!” Zong Zhengqing said excitedly, but he obviously could not sway his mother’s decision. The noblewoman just glanced at her son with a look that was slightly better than when she looked at Yan Ran, and then waved her hand, signaling them to leave.

Zong Zhengqing's resistance was like a child resisting its mother; it was simply a matter of helplessness.

Yan Ran gritted her teeth and stepped forward.

"Mother……"

“You don’t deserve to call me mother. My Zong family has no daughter-in-law like that.” After saying this, the matriarch didn’t even give them a chance to speak before turning around and going upstairs. Once upstairs, she coldly left behind a sentence.

"Get her away quickly."

Zong Zhengqing looked at Yan Ran, propping his head up with his hand for a long time, unable to speak.

"I'll take you home, and I'll pick you up tomorrow."

Seeing his dejected look, Yan Ran didn't know whether to feel wronged for herself or to comfort him. In the end, she just nodded lightly and said okay, and then took Zong Zhengqing's car back to Yu Xiao's house.

When Yu Xiao and Ji Shuhai picked her upstairs, she suddenly felt a sense of relief.

It's as if the Zong family is some kind of dragon's den or tiger's lair... At least when facing Madam Zong, it really feels like confronting a dragon and a tiger. She is naturally unable to fight against Madam Zong because she is her husband's mother.

Yu Xiao saw Zong Zhengqing's car and asked her, "Ranran, did Zong Zhengqing ask you to go back again?"

Yan Ran nodded and said before Yu Xiao could interrogate her, "He'll come to pick me up tomorrow."

Yu Xiao sighed softly and said, "I knew it would be like this."

Yu Xiao had said that if Yan Ran really wanted a divorce, given her temperament, she would have gotten the divorce certificate long ago, instead of dragging it out like this. In the end, just as Yu Xiao had predicted, Yan Ran and Zong Zhengqing got back together.

"No matter what happens in the future, you're always welcome here," Yu Xiao said, holding Yan Ran's hand.

Yan Ran was deeply moved and gripped Yu Xiao's hand tightly in return.

Only she is the one who truly wants to help her.

the next day.

Yan Ran's phone rang early in the morning.

She picked up the phone, and Zong Zhengqing's image was displayed on it.

Yan Ran was taken aback. She walked to the window and looked down, where she saw Zong Zhengqing waving at her from afar with a big smile on his face.

Yan Ran didn't have much luggage, just a 20-inch suitcase. Ji Shuhai helped her carry it downstairs, and Zong Zhengqing took it from her, saying to Ji Shuhai and Yu Xiao, "Thank you for taking care of Yan Ran all this time."

Yu Xiaopi turned to Yan Ran and said, "If you have any trouble in the main family's corridor, feel free to come back anytime."

"You're welcome." Ji Shuhai glanced at Yu Xiao and replied helplessly to Zong Zhengqing.

Zong Zhengqing opened the car door and said to Yan Ran, "Ranran, get in the car."

Yan Ran glanced back at Yu Xiao and Ji Shuhai, said goodbye to them, and got into the car.

Zong Zhengjing was waiting at the entrance of the Zong family home. When he saw Zong Zhengqing's car arrive, he went to greet it.

"Yan Ran, you're back."

Yan Ran forced a smile, looking at the Zong family's gate, but couldn't manage to laugh.

Yan Ran went in first, followed by Zong Zhengqing and Zong Zhengjing. Once inside the house, Zong's mother sat on the sofa, gave Yan Ran a disgusted look, and said, "How dare you even step into this house?"

Yan Ran's heart sank.

Zong's mother's attitude made her feel very tired and burdened, but because she was Zong Zhengqing's mother, there was nothing she could do but humble herself.

“Mom…” Yan Ran said.