Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
At the Zhou familyâs villa, Xue Mei was nestled on the living room sofa, and the housekeeper brought hot water to wash her face.
Although employed by Mr. Zhou, the housekeeper had spent the most time with Xue Mei. Over the years, she had taken care of Xue Mei. She cared for her like her own child.
The housekeeper said with concern, âMeimei, your health is more important. Wash your face and drink this bowl of ginger tea. If you collapse, the one whoâll be pleased is that vixen.â
âMrs. Li, please comfort Madam. Madamâs health isnât good, to begin with, how can she endure such difficulty?â Seeing that Xue Mei remained unmoved, the housekeeper turned to Lin Wan for help.
Lin Wan wasnât particularly skilled at comforting people. When Yang Ruoxi went through a breakup, she hadnât known what to say. She would simply accompany Yang Ruoxi in silence, and perhaps share a drink with her.
Lin Wanâs brows furrowed even tighter than Xue Meiâs. She wished she could summon Mrs. Han. Mrs. Han seemed skilled at consoling people.
However, matters concerning life and death were not something Lin Wan dared to speak lightly about.
After crying for a while, Xue Mei suddenly stopped and clenched her fists. With determination in her eyes, she said vehemently, âRight! I canât be foolish. If I die, theyâll be delighted. Iâll live well. Iâll gather evidence, sue Zhou Zhi, hire the best lavvyer, and leave him with nothing.â
Lin Wan felt that that was unlikely, but she kept quiet. If it comforted Xue Mei, it was all for the better.
âMadam, you should stay calm. Mr. Zhou already knows about this. He might begin transferring assets and destroying evidence,â said the housekeeper.
âBefore the divorce, Mr. Zhou had another wife. She might have evidence too. The evidence must be securely backed up,â Lin Wan said after thinking for a while.
Xue Mei anxiously searched her contacts. âWho should I contact?â
âMeimei, this matter requires careful consideration. Calm down and organize your thoughts before taking any action, â Lin Wan said.
âYes, I need to have a plan. Iâll do that now. Wanwan, thank you for today.â
âItâs nothing. Iâll head home now. If you need anything, call me.â Lin Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
At Royal Water Bay, Li Yanchen was on edge.
He didnât know when Lin Wan would return home. From time to time, he walked to the yard to look at the Zhou familyâs villa
Li Yanchen walked up to her. âWanwanâ¦â
His hand was cold, and Lin Wan shivered. Soon, her other hand covered his. âItâs just a few minutes away. I couldnât lose my way even if I tried to. Why are you waiting outside in the cold?â
âI wasnât waiting the whole time. I just happened to see you when I came out.â
âOf courseâ¦â Lin Wan didnât believe him. âI never thought that wealthy families had such hardships.â
She sighed.
âOld Zhou is reckless. After several marriages, heâs still not settling down. At his age, marrying so many wives⦠He clearly doesnât appreciate what he has.â Li Yanchenâs voice held displeasure and determination as though assuring his wife that he would treat her well.
Lin Wan sighed wearily again. â This might be because the flowers in the house are not as fragrant as the wildflowers. Look at the wives of celebrities. Theyâre all stunning beauties, yet their husbands still cheat. And mistresses are even worse. He canât say he was looking for someone younger. Xue Mei is still so young. I just donât understand,â said Lin Wan.
Lin Wanâs indignation grew. âAnd her best friend⦠Betrayal from a best friend is not unlike your own sister betraying you. I never had siblings. My best friend is my sibling. Betrayal from a best friend hits the hardest.â
Li Yanchen embraced his wife. âI agree. Even best friends should keep their distance from other peopleâs husbands, no matter how close they may be.â
âYour business is getting bigger and bigger, while Zhou Zhiâs business is shrinking. By the way, have you found out anything on your end?â Lin Wan asked.
âI should have the results tomorrow. Iâll call you as soon as I know, Mrs. Li.
Nowadays, Iâm getting more and more invested in other peopleâs matters.â âIâm forcing myself into this. What else can I do? By the way, is the travel date set?â
âYes. Weâre departing on Chinese New Yearâs Eve, and the destination is Yan City. The temperature there is around 25 oc. The hotel and transportation have been arranged. Mama Bao just returned home. Iâll pick her up the day before
Chinese New Yearâs Eve.â
âGreat, Iâm looking forward to this trip. Mama Bao and Auntie Huang will surely enjoy it. And the kids.â Lin Wan felt a bit better.
At Changrong, Yang Ruoxiâs Home, Yang Yiren received a message from Han Jie. It wouldnât be long before she left for the trip. She probably wouldnât be home on Chinese New Yearâs Day, either. Han Jie told Yang Yiren that the spare key was hidden in the yardâs window, and she asked Yang Yiren to help paste window decorations during the New Yearâs celebration.
Yang Yiren genuinely felt happy for her. He called her.
âXiao Bao.â
âOld Yang.â
They addressed each other like colleagues, but it made Auntie Bao feel at ease.
âGoing on a trip, then? Congratulations!â Yang Yiren had been wanting to take his mother out for a trip, but there were always various unexpected interruptions. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âItâs all thanks to Wanwan. She insisted I go with them. I didnât want to go at first. Their family going on a trip is enough. Iâm an old lady, to be honest. I canât walk around much. I canât even play with them. Iâm really afraid of becoming a burden. But Wanwan said weâre going on a vacation, and I wonât have to walk much.â Auntie Bao smiled happily.
Yang Yiren had already figured that out.
âThey consider you family. How could they go on a trip without you? This is great!â
âI feel a bit guilty, to be honest. Theyâve given me a place to stay, and now they treat me as family. Really, I donât know how to thank Yanchen and Wanwan. When I was young, I always thought I had a tough life, but I never expected to meet so many kind people in my old age.â Auntie Bao teared up.
When we reach this age, we just wish to have family around us. If Yanchen and Wanwan werenât taking you away, I would have invited you to spend the festival with us. Yang Ruoxi is returning to China tomorrow,â Yang Yiren said.
âMy mother talks about you all the time. Sheâs lonely at home, and she wanted me to let her stay with you for a few days. I told her that it would be too much trouble for you.â
Auntie Bao understood his words. Since he had spoken openly, there was no need for her to hold back either..