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

“Mom, I know you’re angry, but after decades of marriage, is it really impossible to forgive each other and turn back?” Shen Yingying’s voice was filled with pity. “For Xuanxuan’s sake, please lower your head. Dad was just angry for a moment. As long as you make a clarification statement online, Dad will not hold it against you. We are still a family.”

Mei Yusheng lost all interest in eating. She put down her knife and fork, which clattered on the plate with a crisp, sharp sound.

"If you're here to persuade me, then don't say anything." She said coldly, her face darkening. "You know perfectly well that Yue Jiangting has been planning to divorce me for a long time, but now is not the best time. Keeping me calm for now is just a temporary measure for him."

Shen Yingying's smile froze on her face: "But your releasing the video is not only bad for Dad, but also for Guangzhi. If the company suffers losses because of this, it will harm the interests of our whole family, including Xuanxuan!"

Mei Yusheng looked longingly at Xuanxuan, who was eating like a little hamster, and smiled sadly: "You don't need to use Xuanxuan to control me. I've already thought it through. Admittedly, I do feel sorry for Xuanxuan, just like I felt sorry for my son back then. But now? Xiaozhi doesn't respect me as his mother at all."

"no!"

Shen Yingying was about to retort when Mei Yusheng raised her hand to stop her: "You don't need to argue. I know exactly what's going on. I will no longer be bound by the animalistic instinct of loving children. I can't even count on my son, let alone my grandson!"

When she finished speaking, her tone was icy, as if she had stripped away all her emotions, leaving only a lifeless shell.

She handed Xuanxuan to Shen Yingying's arms. The moment the soft little body left her hands, she wavered for a moment, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself to hold back.

"Mom, please listen to me for a moment." Seeing Mei Yusheng's cold expression and the way she seemed about to leave, Shen Yingying quickly called out to her, "A woman's life is never easy. You've worked hard for thirty years, raising Guangzhi and taking good care of the family. Now that you're over fifty, are you willing to leave that home?"

"Putting aside Dad, just consider your son and grandson. Can you really bear to leave? Besides, you're so old. If Dad doesn't give you compensation, you won't even be able to support that villa. Jobs are hard to find these days. At your age, you don't have many options besides cleaning or being a nanny. You're already struggling to make ends meet; how can you take care of your grandmother?"

“Mom, enduring this moment of anger will bring you a life free from worries about food and clothing, so why not? Besides, Dad doesn’t necessarily want to divorce you. After all, divorce would damage his reputation. He’s been keeping that mistress for twenty years without any recognition or status. He didn’t even give her a proper title when she was young, let alone now that she’s old. Dad can’t be unaware of this. Even if he’s confused, Guangzhi and I can put some pressure on him, and I believe he will choose to maintain the integrity and harmony of the family.”

Mei Yusheng looked at Shen Yingying with some surprise. In her impression, Shen Yingying had always been a gentle and taciturn daughter-in-law who rarely spoke unless it concerned her. She never expected that Shen Yingying would be so eloquent.

"Mom, think carefully about what's in your best interest. You've worked so hard to build this family for thirty years. Are you really willing to hand it over to an outsider?"

If Mei Yusheng truly had no other expectations for his life, he would have been moved by her words.

"You mean, you want me to continue toiling away in that house like a slave until I die of exhaustion?" Mei Yusheng's tone was laced with sarcasm.

Shen Yingying was taken aback: "Why do you say that? If you don't want to do housework, haven't we already hired a housekeeper? In the future, you can go on trips and do things you like. I've told you before that women shouldn't be too hard on themselves. They should live freely and unrestrainedly, using the money earned by men to live a comfortable life. Isn't that great!"

Mei Yusheng looked at Shen Yingying with a sneer. So that's what she was thinking. She felt truly sorry for her son.

"Mom, as a woman gets older, she can't be as unrealistic as she was when she was young. If you really get divorced, you'll be penniless, incapable, and physically weak, living a life of poverty. Not only will Grandma not receive proper care, but Dad and his mistress will also laugh at you. Have you thought about that?"

Mei Yusheng's heart skipped a beat, and she gave a self-deprecating laugh: "You underestimate me like that? Don't worry, even if I beg for food, I won't be able to get it from your door!"

Shen Yingying awkwardly forced a smile: "Mom, we're all women. I'm just being honest with you, and I'm saying all this because I care about you!"

Mei Yusheng nodded, lowered her eyes thoughtfully, and quickly raised her eyes to look directly at her: "Thank you, but I don't accept it."

After she finished speaking, she stood up to leave.

"Mom!" Shen Yingying stood up excitedly, almost knocking over the chair. Xuanxuan was startled, his little mouth stuffed with food bulging as he grinned.

"Why are you so stubborn?" She patted Xuanxuan to comfort him, then put a plate of apple salad in front of him. "To get revenge on your father for cheating, you don't even care about your own son and grandson? Would you be happy if the company went bankrupt because of you?"

Mei Yusheng sneered: "The company's bankruptcy is due to Yue Jiangting's mismanagement. What does it have to do with me? If his reputation were that important, he wouldn't dare to act recklessly!"

She didn't want to argue with Shen Yingying anymore, knowing it was a waste of breath and that neither of them could understand each other. If she continued, they would really fall out.

She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly heard Xuanxuan crying, and she stopped in her tracks without realizing it.

Looking back, he was instantly filled with rage.

Shen Yingying forcibly snatched the pudding that was only half left in Xuanxuan's hand and dragged him away from the table.

Xuanxuan didn't know what was happening. His mother suddenly became furious, which frightened him so much that his face turned pale and he opened his mouth to cry loudly.

"What are you crying for? Shut up!" Shen Yingying hissed angrily in a low voice, "What did I teach you before we came? All you did was eat! Go and stop Grandma!"

Mei Yusheng was so angry her face turned pale. She rushed over, shoved Shen Yingying aside, picked up Xuanxuan, and while wiping away his tears, coaxed him gently, "Sweetie, baby, don't cry, good boy. Grandma will buy you whatever you want to eat. Be good, don't be afraid!"

Shen Yingying's face darkened, her eyes glaring at Xuanxuan.

Xuanxuan had just stopped crying when he looked up and saw his mother's fierce expression, and he started crying again.

Mei Yusheng glared at Shen Yingying fiercely: "What are you doing? Take your anger out on me! Taking it out on the child, are you even a mother? Do you deserve to be a mother?"

The surrounding guests all turned to look at them, and a waiter rushed over to help soothe the child and even handed Xuanxuan a piece of chocolate.

Xuanxuan stopped crying, pouting, grabbed the chocolate with his little hand, and stuffed it into his mouth with teary eyes.

Mei Yusheng repeatedly thanked the waiter and helped Xuanxuan peel off the wrapping paper.

Shen Yingying poked Xuanxuan from behind: "What are you going to say to Grandma? Have you forgotten everything I taught you?"

Xuanxuan's little face froze for a moment, then he rolled his big, dark eyes, tears still clinging to his long, black eyelashes. Suddenly remembering something, he looked at Meiyu Sheng with a pitiful expression and said, "Grandma, please, for Xuanxuan's sake, forgive Grandpa! Go home and make Xuanxuan some millet porridge, and take him to school!"

Mei Yusheng froze, as if struck by lightning.