Chapter 369: Chapter 369 - So You’re Saying I Should Thank You?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Ruan Danchen stood up, she said to Liu Ronghua as her chin was slightly shaking. “I don’t care if this revelation would cause the entire Qi family to hate me, I don’t care if this will cause me to break up with Qi Chenglin, I will never agree to Shen Jialiang’s terms.”

Hearing her daughter’s stern and bold statement, Liu Ronghua frantically stood up and before Ruan Danchen could leave, she immediately grabbed onto her daughter’s arm almost begging her. She said, “Danchen, even if you don’t think about yourself or me, you’ll need to think about Qi Chenglin’s feelings right? I could tell he cares deeply for you, what if the Qi family refused to let you date Qi Chenglin because of my status, do you think Qi Chenglin would just agree to that? He will never give up without a fight. What happens if he had a falling out with his entire family because of you, fracturing his relationship with his family, causing him to be caught in between two hard places. Do you wish to see him like this?”

Ruan Danchen’s lips twitched a little as she replied, “I believe in Qi Chenglin’s ability to defend me, I have faith in the entire Qi family’s ability to fully accept me, I have even more faith that their family is able to ignore my past and accept me for who I am. You and I are 2 completely different people, they will never use the same judgement on me the same way they did on you. I fully believe in their judgement and they will treat me fairly. They will never judge me based on my past and my familial ties. They are good people. If it mattered that much, then I would rather both families to never meet up at all, I never had plans to invite the Shen family to my wedding anyway.”

Ruan Danchen felt tears forming at the edge of her eyes, her nose became increasingly stuffy as she desperately fought back the urge to bawl her eyes out. Through her trembling voice she said. “I will level with you here, I can take a couple steps back and level with you, It does not matter to me if the entirety of Qi family reject the person I am because of my familial ties, I don’t care if I get married or not. It matters so little to me if I am legally married on paper, I have faith in Qi Chenglin to be able to love me for a lifetime, we can live like married couples do, there’s not much of a difference anyway. I know for a fact that he will never betray my feelings. I have a man that loves me to the moon and back, he will never abandon me. Married or not, it matters so little to me, I trust him that he will treat me as well as he possibly can and more. I already have a son and I do mind if Youxuan knew that I am his birth mom or not, even if he never calls me mother, It does not matter. My feelings are clear and that’s all that matters to me.”

“Go ahead and do your worst, tell Shen Jialiang. I would rather stay unmarried for as long as I live and I will be with Qi Chenglin without any formal status, I will never allow him even a sliver of a chance to use me to get close to anyone from the Qi family. He will gain nothing from Qi Chenglin.” Ruan Danchen said as she clenched her teeth so tightly from her boiling anger, it almost seemed like her words were being forced out from the gap between her teeth.

“How could you be so cruel? Danchen, can’t you think of your own mother? You would rather be looked down on in the entire Shen family and everyone else? You would you wish to hold any sort of higher status or class in your life?” Liu Ronghua started to bawl after saying this. Her tears were as if the floodgates were opened. It came out pouring. This was unexpected as she started bawling without any warning. “If I have any sort of higher status or class, you too will be able to benefit from it. Don’t you get it?” Liu Ronghua added

“I can’t understand, since you’ve remained at the bottom of the entirety of the Shen family’s household for all these years, and just by using your own daughter, only then will he offer you a formal place in his house? Why are you so obsessed in staying there anyway? You know, by leaving that hell on Earth, just do you part as a single mother, no one in the Qi family will turn their back on you.” Ruan Danchen explained as she fought back her overwhelming urge to cry as her heart wrenches.

“It’s too late for me to escape now, everyone knew about my ties with the Shen family. If I get out now, people will know that I’ve been kicked out by them. I had nothing all these years, all I ever wanted was a name for myself, to climb higher on the social ladder, and to think that all my hard work amount to nothing, and being kicked out of the Shen family. I can’t lose him now. I need him now more than ever, I had too much on the line to lose! Think about it, even if I do manage to leave that family, everyone knew what I did in the past. It will be the same as you!” Liu Ronghua explained frantically as she grabbed onto Ruan Danchen’s arm.

“I am not young anymore, Danchen. Can’t you just let me have this, just promise me this one little favor please? Being a part of the Shen family isn’t all that bad. You will never be wronged by them; instead, you will be the golden girl, the star of the family. No one would dare cross you, all because of your ties with the Qi family.” Liu Ronghua explained.

“I’ve helped you once back then, and I believed that I had made myself very clear then, that would be the first and last time I will ever help you. Back then, you made me leave, just because all you cared about was getting yourself into the Shen family. Was that not enough for you?” Ruan Danchen exclaimed as she pulled her arm away from Liu Ronghua’s grip.

“It’s all thanks to that incident, you were able to meet Qi Chenglin and have such an adorable boy with him. Think about it, if it wasn’t for that, you will never have met him in the first place. The both of you were from a different world altogether, he would never have paid any attention to you right? So all that happened was fated to happen. Your meeting with him was all destiny’s plan!” Liu Ronghua said as she tried to grip onto Ruan Danchen’s arm again, however, this act alone made her took a step back, avoiding her grip.

Ruan Danchen could not believe what she heard from that woman’s mouth. Every word from Liu Ronghua was filled with discrimination and judgement. As if she was looking down on her.

Liu Ronghua had her head caught in the clouds. She thought that by living in the Shen family’s household, made her a person of a higher status, completely outright discriminating against her own daughter who had to climb her way up from the bottom.

So Liu Ronghua actually thought that her own daughter does not match a person like Qi Chenglin.

How could she even say something this vile!

“So you’re saying that I should thank you? Thank you for being Qi Chenglin’s matchmaker? I should probably thank Shen Jialiang and Shen Zhijing then. If it wasn’t for them, I would’ve never slept with Qi Chenglin, that in my lifetime, I would’ve never been noticed by him and that I would’ve never met him, not to mention, gave him a son even. Was that what you meant?” Ruan Danchen said as her heart grew colder. She felt the need to just yell, she wanted to ask Liu Ronghua exactly what was in her brain to make her perceive her own daughter like this.

What kind of mother would be like Liu Ronghua!

“To be absolutely blunt, yes exactly as you said.” Liu Ronghua recoiled a little as she replied with a face full of tears all with a pitiful look on her face.

This reply had finally caused Ruan Danchen to break.Without warning, “Hehehe” as Ruan Danchen muttered softly under her breath. She suddenly started to sob as all could be heard was her sad, depressing wheezing. Her shoulders were trembling violently as she dissolved into a puddle of tears when she looked up.

Liu Ronghua was shocked to see her daughter’s sudden violent crying.

At this very moment, Ruan Danchen felt a strong urge as she was tempted to ask Liu Ronghua if she was actually her own birth daughter. She wanted to tell her there was no mother on the face of the Earth that would do something like this to their own birth daughter.

“Then, I am thankful for all of you guys.” Ruan Danchen replied sarcastically.

“Danchen, no matter how things started, but the outcome was in all honesty, helped you out greatly...” Liu Ronghua said as she sniffled while licking her lips.

“Enough!” Ruan Danchen snapped back at her. “Are you saying that you want me to repay you now as a daughter’s duty? You keep saying that you guys were helping me, however, you never once asked about me or even cared about me for 7 whole years, and here you are shamelessly expecting your daughter to fulfil her duty!” Ruan Danchen said as she fought through her cracked voice.

“Look at how well you’re doing now, is this not enough for you?” Liu Ronghua replied as she shrugged her shoulders.

“You could see the fact that I am doing well now, but had the thought of how much I struggled to get to where I am now crossed your mind? I have not even mentioned about my tuition fees, I worked to pay off my fees, slept for only 4 hours a day. I don’t even have the luxury of going home during semester breaks. Every year during Chinese new year, all I could do was stare at the empty B City while everyone left home to celebrate the festive season with their families. I felt so lonely, as I could only seclude myself in my rented house. I had to shut out the sounds of fireworks by increasing the volume of my TV to the max. I do not have the heart to walk outside only to be greeted by people having fun with fireworks. All those happy, laughing children downstairs, being shielded by their parent’s love. I don’t need to talk about the present, even in my childhood, I had never felt the same love and warmth as these kids did. You assumed I was doing well, but where were you then? You’re only busy pleasing and sucking up to the Shen Jialiang and Shen Zhijing!” Ruan Danchen ranted.

“You told me to thank all of you, because without you guys, I would never have been able to date Qi Chenglin now. What does that matter now anyway, does it really matter if I’m doing quite well at the moment? What does my well-being have to do with you anyway? Just because of that little biological relation with you? I am lucky to have met him. What do you think my current fate would be if it were to be someone else instead? Even if that person was the scummiest of men, you would have done the same, you would have still forced me to sleep with him regardless of how much you would’ve ruined my entire life. How would I still have the good fortune I own now?” Ruan Danchen ranted further.

“But...but you were talking about possibilities and what ifs. Since you’re doing so well for yourself right now, why even think about what happened back then? There is no ifs or would’ves. It is all thanks to us, you met Qi Chenglin, you have the life you live now. Danchen, you don’t have much back then, but now you do, just help your mother out would you?” Liu Ronghua attempted to reason with her daughter through her sobbing. Her thick, selfish skull had apparently stopped her from listening to her daughter’s plea earlier.

Hearing her mother’s skewed reasons, Ruan Danchen felt hopeless as there was no redemption for her own mother. All she did was shook her head in disbelief and painful disappointment.

“Mom.” Ruan Danchen cried out.

Liu Ronghua was shocked and surprised at her daughter’s cries, as this was the first time in a very long while, she had called her mom.

“You’ve told me before that I have never once called you mom, now I’ll do it, I’m calling you mom for once now. I’m begging you, just leave me alone alright? I’ve never begged you before. Not even when your selfish needs to get into the Shen family’s household and what you did to me back then. Even then, I’ve never begged. So, I’m begging you now, with everything in my life and from the bottom of my heart I beg you, please leave me alone okay? You want me to help you out, but I’m begging you, help me out here as well, alright?” Ruan Danchen begged her mother.

“I’m begged for you, so just leave me alone, just leave me with my peaceful and happy life okay? I am seriously begging you, don’t back me to a corner, stop using me for your own gain.” Ruan Danchen said as she sobbed. Some words were unclear due to the heavy sobbing. “I’ve never experienced a mother’s love as a child growing up, when you married Uncle Lee back then, he treated me well, he loved me as his own daughter, he came to my school’s Parents Teachers conference. He came to support me for sport’s day, however unfortunately, it never lasted till Chinese New Year. He could not take you any longer. In my entire lifetime, I never had a perfect home, never had a mother’s love. Anything that slightly resembles a father’s love for a child was that short year I had with Uncle Lee. Now that I have met Qi Chenglin, and I have Youxuan, all I could ever want and wish with all my heart was to form a complete and happy, loving family with Qi Chenglin. I will never want Youxuan to grow up without a mother, and I want nothing more than to experience the love of a complete family.That is my only wish. I want a home. So I’m begging you, please leave me alone.” Ruan Danchen pleaded.

Ruan Danchen closed her eyes, as all that heavy crying actually hurts her eyes.

Liu Ronghua’s mouth twitched a little as she started to speak. “You know, if you come live with the Shen family, it would be the same. I will be your mother, your Uncle Shen will be your father and Shen Zhijing will be your sister. You can still marry Qi Chenglin, this way, you’ll have two families. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Hearing her outrageous reply almost drove Ruan Danchen to the brink of insanity, she wanted to yell her lungs out. She squatted on the ground, covered her face with both her hands as she was completely speechless.

Liu Ronghua... How on Earth did she come up with reasons like these!

“If by becoming part of the Shen family is what I need to do to get a family, then I would never! I would rather be without a family my entire life, than to allow Shen Jialiang to use Qi Chenglin and Qi Youxuan! I would rather die than to let the Shen family have their way. Do you wish death on me? Have I not made myself clear enough? It doesn’t matter what you or anyone from the Shen family say to me, I will never give them what they want. Being used and manipulated by you guys once is enough for me. I will never allow you guys any possible way of interacting with Qi Chenglin and Qi Youxuan.” Ruan Danchen said.

“How could you say.. Something like that Danchen? Can’t you just think of my feelings? If I can’t convince you, I’ll be kicked out of the Shen family’s home!” Liu Ronghua pleaded while sobbing hard as she gripped hard on her sleeves of her dress. “This was a good thing for everyone, it benefits everyone, why can’t you just agree to his terms? Do you actually want to see me kicked out from their home, being left alone on the streets? Danchen, is this about revenge? Because of what happened back then, you resented me to the core; and nothing makes you happier than to watch me left to me own devices? You wanted me to go through the same pain you did right?” Liu Ronghua added.

Ruan Danchen looked up as she could only stare at Liu Ronghua with a desperately hopeless look. The look in Ruan Danchen’s eyes as she stared at Liu Ronghua could only be described as a dead, hollow gaze. There was not a single hint of life left in her eyes. Looking at how pathetic Liu Ronghua was made Ruan Danchen shiver a little.

Ruan Danchen stood up from her squatting position. As she stood up, she suddenly felt dizzy as her vision suddenly went dark, before she could tip over and fall, she summoned as much will as she could to swiftly grab onto the edge of the table preventing her fall. She took a short break to recompose herself. As her vision returned, the only thing she could see was the quiet and cold room before her eyes.

“Danchen...” Liu Ronghua pleaded pathetically.

“From this day on, stay...away from me.” Ruan Danchen said through her sobbing voice as she took a deep breath. “Just forget you ever had me as a daughter. If the Qi family mind so deeply about my familial ties and past, so be it. That would mean that I was never lucky enough to marry Qi Chenglin then. Whatever you choose to say to anyone from the Qi family is up to you, since I am mentally prepared to not marry Qi Chenglin now. I will spend my entire life with him, never marrying anyone else anyway.” Ruan Danchen painfully added.

“Whatever matters you have with the Shen family doesn’t concern me. Don’t you come looking me. I’ve told you before, 7 years ago in fact. You’ve promised me as well, and here you are now, not holding up to your end to our bargain. Since nothing I say could get through your head anyway and you somehow convinced yourself that you are free of guilt and that you’re completely right. If you somehow decided to show up in Qilin just to cause a scene and the sole purpose of destroying my reputation, you are welcome to do so as you please. I have completely come to terms with my inability to marry Qi Chenglin anyway, so why should I care? Just do your worst, destroy my name as you please.” Ruan Danchen ranted further.

“Do what you and the Shen family as you guys please, whatever you guys say or do, will be up to you guys to decide.” Ruan Danchen said calmly however, her tears were streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks. Her entire expression looked completely drained of life.

Liu Ronghua could only stare at her daughter. Ruan Danchen at this very moment resembled a living, breathing zombie. Completely devoid of life.

“This is all I had left to say to you. What else do you think you and the Shen family have left to use as a leverage against me? To back me to a tighter corner?” Ruan Danchen was bawling her eyes out as she said that. Her mouth twitched a little as she continued. “I have completely given up of ever hoping to receive any form of motherly love from you, all that I could hope for was for you to think about my feelings, even for the slightest moment would be enough for me. Even for that would be a request of luxury from a person like you.”

“Danchen, you can’t...” Liu Ronghua replied.

Before Liu Ronghua could finish her sentence, the door was swung open forcefully by someone.

Liu Ronghua was shocked by the sudden intrusion as she turned her head to look. She instantly grew pale as she saw the person that barged into the room was a fuming Qi Chenglin.

Ruan Danchen had apparently secretly sent the location of the cafe to Qi Chenglin the moment she had arrived with her mother. Upon knowing her exact location, Qi Chenglin did not waste any time, as he rushed to the cafe immediately.

He was worried that Ruan Danchen would be bullied in his absence. He knew exactly how unreasonable and shameless Liu Ronnghua could be.

However, the longer he listened to their conversation, the hotter his blood boiled. He was so furious, his arms were literally trembling in his boiling wrath of fury.

As furious as he was, after hearing how willing Ruan Danchen sacrifice everything, to rather have nothing left than to allow them any possible interaction with Qi Chenglin and Qi Youxuan. He was beyond touched by her selfless act of self sacrifice just for his sake. He was speechless as his heart was filled with compassion and the warm love for her.

Her heard Ruan Danchen’s painful, depressing cries as she pleaded with all her heart to her mother, however, nothing was getting through her mother’s ignorant thick skull. All Liu Ronghua cared about was herself. Her selfish motives outweighs her rational mind.

Qi Chenglin could no longer take it as he felt awful for Ruan Danchen. His heart ached deeply for her current circumstances. All he could think of was how Ruan Danchen would be drowning in her own puddle of tears. By that very thought alone, made his heart throb even more in pain.

He could no longer keep his anger suppressed and so he barged in with the full intent of unleashing his unbound fury.

Ruan Danchen Stared at Qi Chenglin with beady teary eyes, she never expected him to come this soon, she had nothing to worry about now.

Ruan Danchen’s cries now possessed a second meaning. Her cries before Qi Chenglin’s arrival was out of pure emotional pain and hurt, however now that Qi Chenglin was present with her, her painful wails had morphed into a coquettish cry. She had someone to shield her for her mother’s torment now, a cushion for her to fall back on. She was now able to allow herself to be fully vulnerable.

Qi Chenglin said nothing as he took giant strides over to Ruan Danchen hugging her with both his arms, shielding her in his warm, loving embrace. His heart wrenched to see Ruan Danchen cried to this extent.

He hugged her face tightly against his body, never minding her tears and snot staining his shirt.

He felt that before hugging her, her body was stiff and tense. However, after embracing her and giving her such a comforting hug, he could feel her body relaxing as she continued sobbing and wheezing as if she was unloading all her emotional torment on Qi Chengling. She was seemingly like a child complaining to their parents about how much they were bullied.

Qi Chenglin lowered his head as he gave her a kiss on top of her head, comforting her. All while staring coldly at Liu Ronghua.

This entire interaction terrified Liu Ronghua as her entire expression grew completely pale. She had no idea what Qi Chenglin was thinking at that moment. The moment his sharp, cold stare met Liu Ronghua’s eyes, she felt her legs grew weak as she unconsciously took a couple steps back.

Qi Chenglin said nothing as all his lips were pressed together extremely tightly. The only time his lips relaxed a little was when he lowered his head to look at Ruan Danchen.

Just like that, he took Ruan Danchen with him and left the cafe.

...

...

Upon entering Qi Chenglin’s car, instead of letting Ruan Danchen to be seated in the front seat, he placed her on his lap, cuddling up with her. Qi Chenglin said nothing, only patting her head, comforting her.

Qi Chenglin waited patiently for Ruan Danchen to calm down a little, when she eventually did, she hiccuped a little while being in Qi Chenglin’s loving cuddles. As she hiccuped, her shoulders too twitched a little.

Looking at Ruan Danchen’s sorrow filled state, Qi Chenlin’s heart ached for her emotional torment, as he took out a piece of tissue to wipe her nose.

“I’m filthy, let me do it myself.” Ruan Danchen said as she reached out to grab onto the piece of tissue from Qi Chenglin. However, he never let go of the tissue.

“Stay put alright, let me do it for you.” Qi Chenglin said in a comforting soft voice.

As he was done wiping Ruan Danchen’s nose, the entire tissue was soaked by her snot, some even got onto his fingers, however, he never minded a single bit from that. Ruan Danchen could not help but feel slightly embarrassed for causing this mess.

After that, Qi Chenglin simply took out another piece of tissue slowly and gently wiping away her tears stained eyes.

Her face was flushed from the violent crying, as she wheezed and gasped for air. However, she managed to calm her mind and stop herself from feeling like an emotional wreck. Since, she was being so gently cared for and comforted by Qi Chenglin.

“Better?” Qi Chenglin’s voice echoed in Ruan Danchen’s head. She was focussed on Qi Chenglin’s warm breath as he breathed onto her forehead. It was warm and comforting.

Ruan Danchen nodded, her heart was still wrenching from the emotional torment earlier. She replied sadly. “She’s my mother, I can’t just leave her alone, but how could she...”

Ruan Danchen sighed deeply and said. “In my darkest moments, I used to think just how happy I would be, if I wasn’t her daughter. I would rather not have a mother like her. I felt awful because I know how bad of a person I would be by thinking about that.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to care about her any longer, it’s all going to be okay.” Qi Chenglin said as he lowered his head, kissing away the tears from her eyelashes. “Pay no mind to what she told you, there’s nothing you need to worry about.” Qi Chenglin added.

“You knew?” Ruan Danchen asked while she looked up. Qi Chenglin was hurt as he could not bear looking at her beady tearful eyes.

He replied nothing to her question. All he said was. “I could guess.” while staring out the window.

“I’m not afraid of what they will eventually do, since I’m already mentally prepared for the worst. You’ve told me once that in order to preserve Shen Zhijing’s reputation, they would not dare reveal anything about Qi Youxuan. As long as they keep Youxuan out of this mess, I have zero problems with it.” Ruan Danchen said softly

“I’m here for you.” Qi Chenglin said with a soothing voice,as he kissed her tears dry. “Now that you know what Liu Ronghua’s purpose is, and if she or anyone from the Shen family come looking for you, there is no need for you to meet them at all. If Liu Ronghua preyed on your compassion to meet her just like today and would not leave you alone, let me know, I will meet her alongside you.” Qi Chenglin added.

Ruan Danchen silently nodded her head as if she were a child being comforted by an adult. This adorable sight made Qi Chenglin felt conflicted if he should smile or feel hurt at this pitiful sight.

“It’s all my fault, if only my family is slightly normal, you wouldn’t be dragged into this mess.” Ruan Danchen sighed. She was completely mentally drained and extremely exhausted by Liu Ronghua’s unreasonable torment. She felt guilty as she was being cuddled up in Qi Chenglin, strong and loving embrace.

She felt guilty since she was of no help in his daily tasks, and instead, she was being completely shielded by him now,

It was like when she was being picked on in the city, he was the only person to stand up for her. When she needed a job, Qi Chenglin pulled some strings for her and gave her one. Afraid of internal rumors being spread, he was the one to make sure every single manager of her sector treat her well.

And now, he too was being dragged into the mess with Liu Ronghua and the Shen family, this thought made her feel extremely guilty.

—

—

Mini Scene

Regarding About A Nickname 4

The nickname for Qi Chengzhi had failed, however, the old lady would not relent.

Old lady said. “Liya, would you give Chenglin a nickname please. We already have a not so adorable grandchild now, we can’t allow Chenglin to have the same fate now would we?”

“...” Xia Wenna said nothing.

Qi Chengzhi paid no attention to their conversation as he was busy playing with his toy car on the side.

“Then... What do you think we should call him mom?” Guan Liya asked.

“What about Cheng Cheng?” Old lady asked.

“Isn’t that Qi Chenzhi’s nickname?”

Read the next chapter to know what happens next.

“Don’t you think splitting a scene up in parts like this is a good idea?” Said the Old man.

“Good. It’s better for the monthly ticket.” The old lady replied.