“So…?”
“So, President Mu has to endure the pain of repeatedly pushing you to the side in order to maintain his dignity. This was also the reason why you two didn’t sleep together in the past four years. President Mu was afraid that once he slept in the same bed with you, he could no longer conceal his secret. Moreover, what surprised me the most was that the more President Mu distanced himself from you, the more you drew closer to him. In the end, President Mu forced himself to file for a divorce just to maintain his last bit of dignity. He never thought this would agitate you, resulting in you…”
While Duan Yarong was at the end of her speech, she looked sorrowful. The way she looked at Zhao Youlin inexplicably grew complicated with a hint of heartache. Instead of the pure heart-wrenching feeling she felt for her, she seemed to carry other emotions with her as well. Zhao Youlin could not help but feel a sense of chill creep down her spine.
‘Mother, those words are simply outrageous. How could you fall for this mentally retarded explanation so easily?!’
She was not the original Zhao Youlin, but she had access to the original owner’s memories. No one could understand better than herself how they had interacted with each other during the past four years.
Apparently, Su Ruixin had cooked up a fancy tale. That certain one was talented in the art of speaking to the point that they could look so innocent even when bluffing. As a result, Duan Yarong… actually believed her!
That was very shameful! How disgraceful! She actually manipulated her mother’s sympathy and guilt in order to attain her goals. ‘Madam Mu, don’t you find yourself a muck?!’
Zhao Youlin was truly infuriated by Mu Tingfeng and his family’s shameless deed. Before she managed to explain everything to Duan Yarong, Duan Yarong heaved a sigh and continued.
“The reason why I was reluctant to let you return to the Mu family was because I thought President Mu did not love you at all. Finally, I learned the truth now.” Duan Yarong’s soft gaze rested on Zhao Youlin. Her eyes carried a hint of indulgence and helplessness shown for a child, and said, “How could you two torture each other when you guys are so obviously in love with one another, and ended up divorced?! Now, he has to court you back all over again. What’s the point of doing all this? If only you learned the truth and treated each other with honesty, you never had to create so much fuss about this.”
Zhao Youlin received a hint of rebuke from Duan Yarong’s gaze. She spluttered, and almost wanted to faint.
‘Mother, I never blamed you for turning your back on me and pulling my leg. Now, you’re even rebuking me for everything that has happened?!’
Zhao Youlin rolled her eyes discreetly and decided that she had to separate Duan Yarong from Su Ruixin. The aftermath of brainwashing Duan Yarong once was horrendous, much less brainwashing a few times more in the future. If this continued, Duan Yarong might eventually decide to send her back to the Mu family!
The frustrated Zhao Youlin replied to Duan Yarong dejectedly, “Alright, alright. I got it. I have my own ways of handling my affair with Mu Tingfeng. You could leave them alone for me. When the opportunity arrives, I’ll clarify it to them.”
Right after Zhao Youlin spoke, Duan Yarong paused. Zhao Youlin heaved a sigh of relief. She had to calm herself and thought of ways to solve the problem.
The moment the driver pulled the brake, and the car stopped at the villa of the Zhao family, Zhao Youlin finally came out with a solution.
“Mother, do you still hold true to your words regarding the arrangement of a blind date for me?”
The two people inside the car turned around and looked at Zhao Youlin at the same time upon hearing her question raised abruptly.
Duan Yarong froze. She frowned as she said, “Yes, I still keep my promise. But…”
“But what? Mother, didn’t you want me to go on a blind date previously? Why do you look like you’re having a hard time now?”
“The reason I wanted you to go on a blind date was because I didn’t want you to get involved with Mu Tingfeng anymore. If you found a man, this could end his affection for you. But now…”
Before Duan Yarong finished speaking, Zhao Youlin quickly interrupted her, and said with a sense of righteousness, “What’s now? We’re still the same, right? Mother, I won’t return to him. Since President Mu and I have divorced, our past is past. It’s all about fate in this world.”
Zhao Youlin deliberately added a sense of sorrow by heaving a sigh as she said, “Mother, as you mentioned earlier, both of us have clearly loved each other. Yet, we ended up in a lose-lose situation. This meant that we’re no longer destined to be with each other. If so, why do we have to force our way? Moreover, I no longer have the strong desire of love for President Mu, nor do I have the energy to entangle with him anymore. I am tired of all this. Right now, I only want to find a man who will be good to Joy and myself, and live the rest of my life in peace.”
“But…” Duan Yarong looked hesitant. Seeing this, Zhao Youlin could not help but feel nervous, so she blurted out without hesitation.
“Mother, Madam Mu has already told you that President Mu is dysfunctional in that area. In other words, if I were to return to him, I would be like a widow for the rest of my life. Don’t you think this is inhumane? I hope to add a younger brother or sister for Joy. Don’t you also wish to have more grandchildren in the future?”
Right after Zhao Youlin spoke, Duan Yarong and Xiao Jingyao’s attention were gathered on her once again. Their gazes were akin to rebuking her for being such scum.
Zhao Youlin fell speechless for a brief moment. The corners of her mouth twitched, and she thought to herself, ‘Fine. You guys can call me scum or whatever you want. It would still be better than falling into Su Ruixin’s trap.”
Of course, her words about adding a younger brother or sister for Joy were fake. Zhao Youlin had thought about this before. Joy was severely lacking a sense of security. If she were to add a younger brother or sister for him, his frail little mind might break down anytime.
Therefore, even if she were to give birth to a child again, she had to wait until Joy grew older and become more mature. By then, he would not be so afraid, thinking that he had been abandoned by her.
The reason Zhao Youlin brought this up was because she had been forced into this corner by Su Ruixin. She must have put the blame for Mu Tingfeng’s impotence on her. If so, she could as well play along with her.
Most elders wished to have as many children and grandchildren as possible, so that they could enjoy their company. She believed by speaking so, Duan Yarong would no longer side with Mu Tingfeng.
Within Zhao Youlin’s expectations, right after she said so, even though Duan Yarong felt sorry for a certain one, she said, “Alright, I’ll arrange a blind date for you these days. I’ll let you take a look if any of them suit your preference.”
“Okay!” Zhao Youlin agreed without hesitation. She cocked one of her eyebrows, a hint of cunning appeared in her eyes. She wondered what would be Madam Mu’s reaction if she heard her words and got a taste of her own medicine.
Above all, she wondered what was Mu Tingfeng’s reaction once he found his mother had told others about him in that way.
Meanwhile, Mu Tingfeng, in the hospital, felt a chill creep down his spine. A sense of foreboding unwittingly sprouted from nowhere.
