Not to mention Mom, even I was prepared for a long battle with Jiang Qing. After all, he had imprisoned Mom for twenty years; if he wanted to let go, he would have done so long ago.
With his status, what kind of woman couldn't he find? It's too much to justify it as possessiveness.
But he really did agree; it felt like a dream.
"Really? Really?" Mom looked at him through teary eyes, tears streaming down her face.
He cupped Mom's face in his hands, wiping away her tears. "At least this time when you leave, don't cry for me anymore, okay?"
Mom bit her lip, agreeing through tears. "You really agree, without any conditions?"
This was so unlike Jiang Qing's character. He was a businessman; even if he couldn't have Mom, he would definitely impose many conditions.
Jiang Qing said, "I have one condition."
"What is it?"
"Even if we can't be husband and wife, at least we can be friends. Don't completely disappear from my world; after all, you're carrying the life we're both carrying."
Hearing this, Mom was almost about to blurt out the truth when I quickly interrupted, "Your marriage is just over. Don't forget the child in your belly; I'm also a link between you. Mom, please agree to Dad's request."
Taking advantage of Jiang Qing's overwhelming guilt, I pressed my advantage and got him to sign the divorce papers.
Mom understood my meaning and her mind cleared. She nodded. "Okay, I agree. Sign now."
"I've seen the divorce agreement you drafted before. You want to leave with nothing, even returning the shares to me. I don't agree to that."
"Then what do you mean?"
"I'll have a lawyer draft it."
Mom glanced at me, her eyes pleading, as if she wanted to know my opinion—was Jiang Qing deliberately stalling?
I shook my head. He wouldn't go that far.
Knowing his personality, if he disagreed with the divorce, he would have said so immediately. Reaching this point clearly shows he wants to make amends to his mother.
This is his heartfelt wish; his mother has no choice but to accept it.
He's been the domineering Jiang Qing from beginning to end.
"Alright, hurry up." Jiang Qing looked at his mother, a helpless smile playing on his lips. "Lan'er, I'm a man of my word. Since I promised you, I won't lie to you. You don't need to treat me like a thief."
"I understand."
"Divorce in our country isn't like in Snow City, where there's a thirty-day cooling-off period. Once you submit the application, you can get the divorce certificate on the same day. So, before the divorce, I have one last request."
"Go ahead." Jiang Qing looked at his mother's wary face and cautiously said, "How about being my wife for three more days? After three days, we'll go back to China to finalize the divorce." Faced with his humble request, his mother didn't refuse. "Okay." After three days, she would no longer belong to him.
Perhaps she would marry Rong Huaixu, who had been waiting for her, or perhaps she would choose a new city to continue her life.
No matter what choice she made, he would have lost her forever. As the story unfolds, I, as an observer, am at a loss for words to describe the complex emotions I feel.
If Jiang Wanwan were still alive, she wouldn't want to see things this way.
Children all want their parents to be well, but I've torn them apart with my own hands.
Wanwan, will you blame me?
I quietly left the room, leaving them the remaining time and space.
Twenty years of grievances—they must have so much to say.
Divorce was the best choice Jiang Qing ever made.
As I left, snow began to fall again.
The plum blossoms in the yard were in full bloom, the white snow and red plum blossoms appearing exceptionally beautiful and hazy under the warm yellow light.
I glanced back and saw Jiang Qing standing on the terrace smoking. I couldn't see his expression clearly; the snow covered him, and so did his loneliness.
But there's no going back in this world.
A mistake is a mistake; no one will wait for you forever.
Wrong actions have consequences.
This is Jiang Qing's retribution; next, it will be the turn of those who have committed evil.
Everyone's fate has already been secretly arranged.
Leaving the courtyard, a black minivan was parked outside. Seeing me emerge, the door slowly opened, and I immediately saw the man in the wheelchair.
He must have been there for a while, working at his desk. He closed his laptop as the door opened, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at me.
"Ayan..."
I hurried towards him. Thankfully, I had already crossed that dark abyss, while Lu Yanchen was the light that had fallen into darkness.
I got into the car, still chilled to the bone, the snowflakes on my clothes slowly melting in the warm breeze.
He noticed the complex emotions in my eyes and asked, "Did your father agree?"
Truly, nothing could be hidden from him. Lu Yanchen was the smartest person I had ever met.
Not just intelligence, but also emotional intelligence. Many times, he only needed a glance at me to judge the course of events.
"How can you be sure he'll agree to a divorce?"
"Because I saw love in his eyes. Someone who truly loves another wouldn't bear to hurt them."
Perhaps this is a mutual understanding between men. I was a little puzzled: "But he used to be a jerk, and he hurt my mother too."
"Mr. Jiang lost both his parents when he was young. He took over the Jiang family business at a young age. He might be very successful at work, but he doesn't understand love, let alone how to love someone. He hurt his mother-in-law before. I guess back then, he felt more hatred than love."
"Hate?" I asked, puzzled.
"He knew about the feud between his mother-in-law and President Rong, and felt that no matter what he did, she would only ever have that one woman in her heart. He was jealous and resentful, like someone who had always had everything. He didn't know how to cherish, only how to destroy and seek revenge. He thought that finding another woman would force his mother-in-law to submit, but little did he know he had messed things up, and the marriage was ruined too."
"If there was no love, he could have divorced long ago. There were so many suitable marriage partners; why did he spend so much money subsidizing the Xu family every year? Love and hate intertwined; he didn't even realize he had long harbored deep feelings for his mother-in-law."
"Such an arrogant man, even using his daughter to take revenge on his mother-in-law, shows how deep his love and hatred were. Perhaps the only time he ever bowed his head in this life was today." Thinking of the way his head drooped when he hugged his mother, I finally understood after hearing Lu Yanchen's analysis.
"Sigh, it's fate." Lu Yanchen held my hand. "You're my fate too, Wanwan. Let's go home."
I nodded and smiled slightly at him. "Okay, let's go home."
We went back to our little home together. As soon as we entered, Xiaobai greeted us. In just a few days, the little guy had grown so much; he didn't look like a stray at all.
So, love does nurture.
Tonight, Mom and Jiang Qing will probably have a sleepless night.
While I was still worried about Mom, someone was already standing behind me.
They smelled pleasantly of post-shower moisture, and the air was filled with a fresh fragrance.
"Ayan, wait, I haven't…"
The word "shower" was swallowed before it could be finished: "Finish before you shower, Wanwan, I can't wait."
[Interested in reading the Jiang Qing and Xu Lan side story? If so, I can write it after the main story is finished.]