"Xiao Zhe, you don't say anything. Mom says: Back then I forced that girl to leave you. Are you still holding a grudge against me?" Even until today, Xu Qian has no regrets about her actions back then. From the day that girl entered the Wei family's household, she had never liked her. Her own son was going to take over a large corporation in the future, how could he marry a woman with no status and no background, who was even just an adopted daughter? And it was precisely because of this that no matter how much her son liked that girl, she would think of ways to make that girl leave as far away as possible.

  She and Jia Rong discussed it and decided to let Jia Rong pretend to be designed by that girl, almost losing her innocence to a few robbers. She understood her son, so this time her son really quarreled with that girl. It's just that she never expected that her son would care about that little girl to such an extent. And he actually figured out the cause and effect of things within just two short months.

  In Xu Qi's mind, Ye Jiarong is the best candidate for her daughter-in-law. The Wei and Ye families have been friends for generations. Jiarong and her own son are also a good match. Moreover, Jiarong has grown up under her care, so she knows the girl's character very well. With such a virtuous wife, her son will surely be more successful in his business career.

  "Mom, let's not mention the past anymore. I love Yanyan and I will bring her back no matter how long it takes. I am willing to wait." After getting up to pour his mother a cup of water, Wei Zhe clasped his hands together and placed them on his knees, his eyes dimming with a hint of despair.

  "Xiao Zhe, what are you talking about?" Xu Qian became excited upon hearing Wei Zhe's response. "I've already heard everything. That woman was married long ago and as soon as she left you, she found another backer. A woman like her... You still want to chase after her? Xiao Zhe, what kind of education did you receive since childhood? I don't even want to say anything more about that girl. But you know she's a married woman, do you want to bear the burden of being pointed at by thousands of people and fight for her back? Even if that woman is willing to divorce, can a divorced woman still be worthy of you?"

  Xu Qian's chest was heaving violently. Obviously, she had been infuriated by Wei Zhe.

  "Mom, don't be angry. Listen to me, okay?" Wei Zhe hastily got up and helped his mother calm down, a bitter smile spreading across his lips. After a moment of contemplation, he said: "Mom, I know that Yan Yan is married now, and I shouldn't go and ruin someone else's family. But if I could let her go, why would I have waited until today? Mom, do you know how painful it has been for me since Yan Yan left me all these years? Besides being the heir to a large enterprise, I am also your son. Someone once said that there is no mother in this world who doesn't want their child to be happy. So, what about you? Our family's business has already grown so big, is marrying a woman with equivalent wealth and status really that important? Mom, I just hope you can support my happiness. With Zhi Yi in my hands, I will naturally make it bigger and stronger. If you insist on me marrying a woman I don't love, then I want to ask you: what's more important in your heart - your son's happiness or wealth and fame? Mom, since I was young, I have always respected you and thought of you as a great mother. You have strict expectations for me, but I have never complained. So why do you insist on stopping Yan Yan and me from being together? Mom... without Yan Yan, I really won't be able to go on living..."

  After all these years, this is the first time her son has spoken so candidly about his thoughts. Xu Qian looked at Wei Zhe's eyes wandering with pain and couldn't help but moisten the corners of her eyes.

  "Xiao Zhe, even if mom compromises, what's the use? Don't forget, having an affair with a married woman is a crime. The Wei family can't afford to have that." Xu Qian suddenly stood up and went out.

  Is her son's happiness? In the past, she would have sneered at this. But now, with a decline in her physical condition, she has lost her usual strong and overbearing attitude. She has toiled for half her life for fame, for profit, to become one of the best in high society. But do these things really have any meaning? Her child is all she has left. Can she really bear to let him follow the path she has set out for him? Is there no longer even a thread of happiness to be found?

  That woman is really... indispensable to Xiao Zhe.

  Xu Qian walked away. Wei Zhe slammed the sofa beside him heavily. A married woman, a married woman... But even if Yan Yan was already married, he still couldn't let her go.

  Wei Zhe stayed in T City for more than half a month. During this time, he would accompany Xu Qian every day to chat, watch TV together, or take a walk outside together. Occasionally, Wei Zhe would also report some company matters to Xu Qian.

  Late afternoon, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled over the four-story villa. The gorgeous sunset was a fiery red. It's really beautiful. That scene is like something out of a fairy tale. Extremely beautiful. Extremely beautiful.

  In the villa, Wei Zhe and Wei Qinghua surrounded Xu Qian at the dinner table. The table was filled with all kinds of dishes.

  "Xiao Zhe, won't you stay for a few more days? There's no rush to expand your power in the capital right now. It's rare that you've returned home, can't you spend a few more days with Dad and Mom?" Wei Qing's robust face showed a hint of disappointment, and his voice was also filled with quiet sighs. He knew his son's temperament all too well. He feared that going to the capital to develop his power wasn't the main point. The main point was still that woman, after all. Back then, he had opposed his wife interfering in their children's emotional affairs. Now, it seemed like one person wouldn't give up, while another already had a husband and child. Things had become even more complicated.

  He didn't want to get involved in these things either. He just hoped that his son would have some sense and not cause any trouble that would be hard to deal with. The Wei family was a big and influential family, so they weren't afraid of others gossiping about them. However, now his own son seemed to be suspected of ruining other people's families, which wasn't a good thing at all.

  "Dad, Mom, don't worry. I have my own plans for what to do next. Mom, from now on, please put down the company's affairs and take a break. It's me who is in charge of Zhiyi now. I'm not someone who can be easily bullied either. You don't need to worry about it anymore. If there's nothing going on, go out more often and relax your mind. Your son will make time to come back and visit you." Wei Zhe put down his bowl and chopsticks after finishing a bowl of rice, looking at the elderly couple. A hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. However, having accompanied his parents for over half a month, he was indeed reluctant to leave them again so soon. But on the other hand, there was Yan...

  "Never mind, Xiao Zhe. Let's go. Your mom and I are reasonable people. Who knows, maybe one day we'll visit you in the capital." Wei Qinghua waved his hand, letting Wei Zhe leave.

  He nodded slightly. Wei Zhe hooked up a warm smile. "Dad, Mom, I'm leaving."

  Wei Zhe had just taken a few steps when Xu Qian suddenly called out to him. "Xiao Zhe."

  "Mom, what's wrong?" Wei Zhe turned around and looked at Xu Qian with some confusion.

  Xu Qian waved her hand at Wei Zhe. Wei Zhe then returned to the dinner table.

  She grasped Wei Zhe's hand, let out a sigh, and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Xiao Zhe, Mom won't force you anymore. If you don't like Jia Rong, Mom won't make you marry her again. As for that woman with the surname Gu, you handle it yourself. If she's happy, then you shouldn't go and ruin her family either."

  "Mom, thank you. I'll think carefully about it." Wei Zhe remained silent for a long time. Until the butler reminded him not to miss his flight, he responded to Xu Qian with a single word and reluctantly walked out of the hall, carrying a small piece of luggage as he left home.

  Wei Zhe was in T City when Ye Jiarong had several close encounters with him. Each time she wanted to talk to Wei Zhe, he pretended not to know and walked away. That evening when she arrived at the Wei residence, she received the news that Wei Zhe had taken a flight out of town overnight.

  "Auntie, why didn't you make Zhe stay in the city? He must have gone to find that fox spirit again. Auntie, aren't you worried? Ye Jiarong was so angry that she spoke without thinking. "Auntie, it's not like you don't know that Zhe likes that fox spirit. What if something happens between him and that fox spirit? Wouldn't that be a slap in your face?"

  "That's enough, Jiayoung. Don't say such things from now on. I don't want to hear it." Xiu Qian changed the subject and rubbed her temples. A hint of thin anger appeared in her eyes. It seems that all mothers in the world are the same. They can criticize their own children without any scruples, but they cannot tolerate others saying half a sentence about their child being bad.

  "Auntie, you're angry." Noticing the change in Xian's tone, Ye Jiarong belatedly slowed down her speech.

  "Jiarong, Auntie always thought you were the most suitable wife for Xiaozhe. But now that Auntie has fallen ill, she's opened up a lot. Since Xiaozhe doesn't like you, then from now on, don't put your heart on him anymore. Jiarong, you're a smart and lovely girl. Auntie hopes you can find your other half soon. As for Xiaozhe, just forget about him." Xu Qian softly consoled Ye Jiarong. She didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said. After all, he was the child she had liked since young. At this moment, Xu Qian's heart still felt a little regretful.

  Just finished speaking, Xu Qian turned off the TV and got up to make two cups of strong milk tea by herself.

  "Auntie, what are you talking about?" Xū Qiān hadn't taken a few steps yet. Yè Jiāróng reacted and suddenly let out a sharp cry. She hastily ran to Xū Qiān's side. Yè Jiāróng grasped Xū Qiān's arm tightly with both hands. "Auntie, how could you make me forget Zhé? You clearly know I love Wèi Zhé. I've loved him for so many years already. Didn't you always agree that we should be together? How can you change your mind just like that? Auntie, are you deceiving me? This joke isn't funny at all. Not funny."

  Ye Jiarong shook her head frantically, completely disbelieving that this elder who had always been her ally would say such words to make her give up on Wei Zhe.

  Author's Notes