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

"Yusheng, you really posted the video online!" Xie Mingqi's tone sounded complicated, it was hard to tell if she was angry, blaming, or excited.

“I’m sorry, Mingqi,” Mei Yusheng hid in the kitchen, not wanting her mother to hear and worry, “Yesterday Yue Jiangting kidnapped my mother and threatened me to hand over the account book. I had no choice but to give it to him.”

"What? That old fox, he's capable of anything!" Xie Mingqi said angrily. "How's Auntie? Was she frightened?"

"Fortunately, I've already brought her to Qin Chu's place for now. We'll find a place to stay in a few days." Mei Yusheng felt relieved and grateful that Xie Mingqi asked about her mother's situation first instead of blaming her.

"Okay, I'll go check on Auntie later." Xie Mingqi's voice was filled with helplessness and exhaustion.

"Mingqi, I'm sorry, I really can't let Yue Jiangting go. My mother is my bottom line," Mei Yusheng said apologetically, biting her lip.

"Forget it, things are what they are now, there's nothing we can do about it." Xie Mingqi hesitated for a moment. "Actually, if it happened to me, I would also take revenge without hesitation. Let's just assume that my husband, Old Chen, isn't destined for that, and we'll think of something later."

Mei Yusheng hesitated for a moment, then decided to wait for her to come over before telling her about Qin Chu's promise: "Okay, I'll wait for you."

As childhood friends, Xie Mingqi didn't choose to break off her friendship with Mei Yusheng after all hope had been lost. Mei Yusheng felt a pang of sadness, increasingly feeling useless, only causing trouble for her friend without being able to help in any way.

Qin Chu didn't want to go out, but a phone call summoned him. Before leaving, he told Mei Yusheng not to go out for the time being, and that he would bring back anything she wanted to buy.

Mei Yusheng knew he was worried, so she readily agreed and reassured him.

After the meal, Mei Yusheng pushed He Qingmin into the courtyard.

The persimmons on the tree are ripe, each one like a little sun, golden and bright.

He Qingmin looked up and smiled, "We can eat persimmons this year. I wonder if they'll be sweet."

Mei Yusheng suspected that Qin Chu planted persimmon trees merely for decoration and did not care whether they were sweet or not.

So he wanted to find a ladder to climb up and pick one to try, but He Qingmin stopped him: "It's too dangerous. Let's wait until Xiao Shitou comes back."

He Qingmin also got used to calling him Little Stone.

She vaguely remembered the time when her daughter brought food to a little boy. Mei Yusheng did a little more than usual, and at first she complained, "Where did this little boy come from? He has such a big appetite, he's almost as big as Zichen!"

Later she got used to it and prepared meals according to the portion size of an adult.

"I was in such a rush yesterday that I didn't have time to ask what was going on at the child's home."

The weather was a bit overcast today, and the air was damp, making my skin feel sticky.

The light shone on He Qingmin's pale, almost translucent face, revealing a faint bluish tinge.

Mei Yusheng knelt down beside her mother, holding her hand, and slowly recounted Qin Chu's childhood story. From the moment she bumped into him at the supermarket entrance to the discovery of the bruises on his body, the image of that little boy's thin frame and stubborn eyes flashed before her eyes, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"Oh, poor child, why didn't you tell me sooner? I would have bought him some clothes." He Qingmin wiped away her tears, her voice choked with sobs. "Who could be so cruel to a little child?"

“Mom, don’t be sad. Look how outstanding Xiao Shitou is now.” Mei Yusheng said with tears in her eyes. “He is not only a famous writer, but also the president of a publishing house and the boss of Chu Yue.”

“It’s true that good deeds are rewarded. I never expected that after thirty years, I would see the child from back then again, and he would give you so much help.” He Qingmin couldn’t help but sigh.

Mei Yusheng also found it incredible that she had met him when she was in trouble.

It's rare that he still remembers her; otherwise, Mei Yusheng wouldn't have recognized him at all.

“Rain sound,” He Qingmin called out, then stopped, her eyes filled with tenderness, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Mei Yusheng probably guessed what her mother wanted to say, her expression froze, and she got up to push her back into the house, but He Qingmin grabbed her.

“Even if you don’t want to listen, I’ll still tell you. Do we really have to get a divorce?” He Qingmin sighed deeply. “I know you’re wronged. No matter how many flaws a man has, infidelity is the most unforgivable.”

"But what I'm worried about is how you'll manage alone after the divorce?" He Qingmin's tears welled up again. "Life isn't easy for a woman, especially for older women. I still have you and Zichen. Even though your father passed away early, you've still taken good care of me. But what about you?"

"Yesterday, I could tell from Xiaozhi's behavior that he was biased towards his father. You only have one son. If he doesn't take care of you, what will you do when you get old?"

Tears streamed down her face without her realizing it. Mei Yusheng suppressed the sob in her throat. In this world, only her mother cared about her, not about laying out numerous interests and relationships in front of her.

She knew that whether it was her son or her best friend, they were outwardly concerned for her interests, but in reality, they were more concerned about their own losses.

Even if her younger brother is genuinely worried about her, he will hesitate if it involves his family.

She didn't blame them, because in their hearts, she was never the most important person.

Only a mother puts her daughter first, even more than her own life.

“Mom, divorce is inevitable, there’s no going back.” Mei Yusheng couldn’t tell her mother that she had personally cut off all avenues of retreat last night, afraid that it would worry her even more. “I’d rather grow old alone than compromise and tolerate Yue Jiangting keeping a woman outside. Besides,”

She sniffed, a hint of sorrow in her eyes: "He's just keeping me calm for now. Once the company issues are resolved, he'll divorce me without hesitation. I heard him promise that to his mistress."

"You scoundrel!" He Qingmin's voice trembled with anger. "I really misjudged him back then! He spoke so well of me, and he was so devoted to our family. I thought you had found a good man like your father, but I never expected..."

"Okay, Mom, don't be sad. It's not worth letting him affect your mood." Mei Yusheng wiped her face and forced a smile. "From now on, we'll live together, mother and daughter. By the way, that bastard Yue Jiangting gave me a villa. I'll take you to see it."

"Really?" He Qingmin exclaimed in astonishment.

“Yes,” Mei Yusheng nodded, then told her about the villa he gave her at the birthday party, but didn’t tell her that the villa was originally mortgaged and was a way for Yue Jiangting to control her.

They walked out of the courtyard gate, and Mei Yusheng slowly pushed the wheelchair, letting He Qingmin see the scenery along the way.

"The environment here is so nice, safe and quiet. Yuejiang Pavilion still has some conscience, knowing it has wronged you." He Qingmin took a breath of the air filled with the fragrance of flowers and grass, and felt a little better.

Mei Yusheng curled her lip, "Yue Jiangting doesn't even have this much conscience."

I don't understand how blind I was back then to have spent thirty years of marriage with him, wasting the best years of my youth.

"Rain! Auntie!" A loud voice rang out, and Xie Mingqi saw them from afar and ran towards them quickly.