Divorced at fifty, I embarked on my path to success.

"Is he really Qin Chu, the famous suspense novelist?" Mei Yusheng looked at Qin Zhan with a mixture of surprise and delight.

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhan's face immediately fell, and a helpless smile appeared on his lips. He thought Mei Yusheng had remembered, but it turned out she still had no recollection at all, and he couldn't help but feel sorry for his second uncle.

"Yes, it's him," Qin Zhan replied calmly.

Mei Yusheng stared wide-eyed in shock. She had met her idol today without even realizing it.

In recent years, a suspense novelist named Qin Chu has emerged. His works are characterized by meticulous thinking, rigorous logic, and dramatic plots that captivate readers at first glance. Not only are the stories exciting, but his writing is also outstanding. It is said that he is no less than Keigo Higashino.

Mei Yusheng bought five of his books in succession, and read each one no less than three times, becoming more and more fascinated with them each time.

No wonder the name sounded so familiar. She never expected to meet the writer she admired face to face, let alone add his contact information and ask him to help her unlock the safe.

She suddenly realized that Qin Chu might have learned lock-picking skills to make the story details more realistic.

Isn't that a bit perverted?

The admiration and worship that had just risen in Mei Yusheng's heart gradually dissipated, and surprise and doubt took over her emotions at this moment.

"Rain Sound, I'm back." Xie Mingqi pushed open the door and came in, her forehead sweating from the heat.

She greeted lawyer Qin Zhan, then whispered in Mei Yusheng's ear, "Guess how much? More than two thousand grams! Yusheng, you've struck it rich!"

Mei Yusheng was also shocked; she hadn't expected that old man to have hidden so much in the safe.

Xie Mingqi quickly learned about the problem that Mei Yusheng and Qin Zhan were struggling with. She frowned and said, "Yusheng, you definitely can't go back to your hometown. First, it's very inconvenient to handle things like divorce procedures. Second, it's not necessarily safe. Also, you'll need to find a job after the divorce, right? There are even fewer job opportunities in your hometown."

“I have an old house that’s currently rented out. I told the tenant to leave immediately, and I’ll waive this month’s rent. You can move in there!”

Mei Yusheng was very grateful, but it would take some time for the tenant to move out, and she probably couldn't hide it for more than a few days.

Even if she doesn't mention divorce for now, once Yue Jiangting discovers that the items in the safe are missing, he will quickly trace it back to her.

“Aunt Mei, why don’t you consider my second uncle’s place?” Qin Zhan brought up Qin Chu again. “If you stay in a hotel, it’s all under your real name, so you can’t hide it from your husband. Other places that aren’t under your real name are too unsafe. Renting a house in the suburbs and facing strangers is not as good as renting my second uncle’s house.”

Mei Yusheng's thoughts were in turmoil, and she didn't know what to do.

"Going to stay at Qin Chu's house?" Xie Mingqi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Why? How could this be? Really?"

Mei Yusheng understood her feelings at that moment after being asked three inexplicable questions, but she didn't know how to answer them.

“Actually, my second uncle has known Aunt Mei for a long time, so they're practically acquaintances.” Qin Zhan pushed up his glasses. “He recognized you as soon as we met today, but you don’t seem to remember him at all?”

Mei Yusheng was taken aback. She tried her best to search her memory of Qin Chu, but she couldn't find anything. She didn't remember ever knowing such a man.

Qin Chu looked much younger than her, around forty years old. If they had met when they were young, when he was still a little boy, she would have had even less of an impression of him.

Seeing her blank expression, Qin Zhan knew she didn't remember at all, and smiled helplessly: "Why don't you go home and pack your things first, and then think about it again?"

Mei Yusheng nodded in agreement. As long as Yue Jiangting didn't open the safe, they could keep it a secret for a few days, and she could sort out her chaotic thoughts and plan where she should go after the divorce.

After saying goodbye to Qin Zhan, Xie Mingqi was unusually silent for a few minutes. Once in the car, she finally spoke: "Yusheng, why don't you pretend nothing's wrong for now? I'll immediately notify the tenants to move out, and then you can move in."

Mei Yusheng hesitated for a moment, then shook her head: "No, Mingqi, I don't want Lao Yue to take his anger out on you. Isn't there Lao Chen's election at the end of the year? Don't let my matter affect you."

Xie Mingqi frowned and remained silent.

The car started and drove slowly. Xie Mingqi said again, "The best way is for you to use the evidence you have to blackmail Lao Yue into paying off the mortgage on that villa in one lump sum. Consider it part of the compensation to you, and then you'll have a place to live."

“Or we could ask him for ten million so he can buy his own house.” Xie Mingqi pursed her lips. “Ten million isn’t a lot, is it? If he doesn’t want to ruin his reputation, he probably won’t refuse.”

"Hmm," Mei Yu said, realizing that she was about to face a tough battle, and felt a little scared, which made her mood down.

"The sound of rain?" Xie Mingqi noticed her unusual behavior. "Don't be afraid. You'll have to face this sooner or later. You finally found evidence to blackmail Lao Yue, so don't back down. Otherwise, you'll have to live a life of swallowing your anger and being completely controlled by him."

"I understand," Mei Yusheng said in a low, hoarse voice. "I won't let myself spend the rest of my days in humiliation; that would be worse than death!"

The thought of Yue Jiangting and Han Caiyu's disgusting words and actions together made Mei Yusheng's heart harden with a thick layer of calluses.

I feel nauseous whenever I see Yue Jiangting. I would feel suffocated if I continued to live with him. I even feel like I am dirty myself.

The only thing she can't bear to part with and misses now is Xiao Xuanxuan. In her heart, Xuanxuan is even more difficult for her to let go than her son.

She bit her lip tightly, her heart bleeding at the thought of rarely seeing that cute and cuddly little dumpling again.

"Rain Sound, are you reluctant to part with Xuanxuan?"

True to her best friend status, Xie Mingqi immediately saw through Mei Yusheng's thoughts and sighed, "Try to think positively. Even without you, Xuanxuan still has his parents and grandfather to dote on him. He won't lack anything, neither materially nor emotionally. Maybe he'll forget about you soon. You can't even count on your son, do you really expect to count on your grandson?"

Mei Yusheng felt a sharp pain in her heart. She knew that Xie Mingqi's words, though cold, were the truth.

The essence of life is loneliness. Her father, husband, and son, whom she had relied on, all disappeared, betrayed her, and drifted away.

For the first time, she realized with such clarity that no matter how many days lay ahead, she could only rely on herself.

She took a deep breath, as if she had figured it out, and a slight smile appeared on her lips: "I understand."

At the entrance of the residential area, Mei Yusheng got out of the car and said goodbye to Xie Mingqi.

The sky had already darkened, and people were hurrying home after get off work.

Mei Yusheng was the only one who slowed down; in the late summer and early autumn evening, the wind carried a hint of chill.

The poplars and sycamores planted in the courtyard of the community have turned a dark green, just like myself who has just entered old age, having accumulated too much weight in the days of the four seasons.

In a few days, the leaves will slowly turn yellow and wither, and when the autumn wind sweeps by, they will leave a mess on the ground.

She didn't want her old age to be like a withered leaf blown off the branch; she wanted to be the last leaf still swaying on the branch in winter.

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and strode home. Since she couldn't avoid it, and since she had to do it, she might as well face it bravely.

As soon as I entered the door, I heard Xuanxuan's soft, sweet voice: "Mommy, Xuanxuan wants to eat chocolate!"

Shen Yingying coaxed softly, "Eating too much chocolate will cause cavities in your teeth and make them hurt. How about you eat it tomorrow?"

“The child is greedy, so just give him a small piece, it’s fine,” the mother-in-law interjected.

The living room lights illuminated the entire house, and Mei Yusheng longed to hug Xuanxuan.

"Mei Yusheng, come in!" A threatening voice came from the study.

Mei Yusheng was startled, and her outstretched arm froze in mid-air.

Why is Yuejiangting back?

Why are you back so early today?

Did he find out?